scholarly journals Thallium Use, Toxicity, and Detoxification Therapy: An Overview

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 8322
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Genchi ◽  
Alessia Carocci ◽  
Graziantonio Lauria ◽  
Maria Stefania Sinicropi ◽  
Alessia Catalano
Keyword(s):  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Bone Cancer ◽  
Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽  
General Information ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Accidental Poisoning ◽  
Glutathione Metabolism ◽  
Toxic Heavy Metals ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Solanum Nigrum L

Thallium (Tl) is released into the environment, where is present at very low levels, from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Tl is considered as one of the most toxic heavy metals; it is a non-essential metal, present in low concentrations in humans. Tl toxicity causes dermatological and gastrointestinal diseases and disorders of the nervous system, and may even result in death. Many isotopes of Tl exist, with different uses. One of the isotopes of this metal (201Tl) is used in cardiovascular scintigraphy and for the diagnosis of malignant tumors such as breast or lung cancer and osteosarcoma bone cancer. Many Tl compounds are tasteless, colorless, and odorless. Due to these characteristics and their high toxicity, they have been used as poisons in suicides and murders for criminal purposes, as well as instances of accidental poisoning. Impaired glutathione metabolism, oxidative stress, and disruption of potassium-regulated homeostasis may play a role in the mechanism of Tl toxicity. Solanum nigrum L. and Callitriche cophocarpa have been suggested as promising agents for the phytoremediation of Tl. In addition, macrocyclic compounds such as crown ethers (18-crown-6) are good candidates to absorb Tl from wastewater. Through this review, we present an update to general information about the uses and toxicity of Tl. Furthermore, the attention is focused on detoxification therapies.

scholarly journals Thallium Toxicity in Humans

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Cvjetko ◽  
Ivan Cvjetko ◽  
Mirjana Pavlica
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Glutathione Metabolism ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Toxic Heavy Metals ◽  
High Tech Industry ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Thallium Poisoning ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Living Organisms

Thallium Toxicity in HumansThallium is a naturally occurring trace element, widely distributed in the earth's crust, but at very low concentrations. It does not have a known biological use and does not appear to be an essential element for life. It has been considered one of the most toxic heavy metals.Occasionally, there are reports on thallium poisoning as results of suicide or murder attempt or accident. The main threat to humans is through occupational exposure, environmental contamination, and accumulation in food, mainly in vegetables grown on contaminated soil. Increasing use in emerging new technologies and demanding high-tech industry constantly raise concern about exposure risk to all living organisms. Thallium is considered a cumulative poison that can cause adverse health effects and degenerative changes in many organs. The effects are the most severe in the nervous system. The exact mechanism of thallium toxicity still remains unknown, although impaired glutathione metabolism, oxidative stress, and disruption of potassium-regulated homeostasis may play a role. The lack of data about mutagenic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic effects of thallium compounds in humans calls for further research.

scholarly journals Deregulation of Trace Amine-Associated Receptors (TAAR) Expression and Signaling Mode in Melanoma

Biomolecules ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Anastasia N. Vaganova ◽  
Savelii R. Kuvarzin ◽  
Anastasia M. Sycheva ◽  
Raul R. Gainetdinov
Keyword(s):  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Differential Expression Analysis ◽  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Clinicopathological Characteristics ◽  
Pathway Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Pathway Enrichment ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Trace Amine ◽  
Specific Association ◽  
Amine Compounds

Trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) interact with amine compounds called “trace amines” which are present in tissues at low concentrations. Recently, TAARs expression in neoplastic tumors was reported. In this study, TAARs expression was analyzed in public RNAseq datasets in nevi and melanoma samples and compared to the expression of dopamine receptors (DRDs) that are known to be involved in melanoma pathogenesis. It was found that all DRDs and TAARs are expressed in nevi at comparable levels. Differential expression analysis demonstrated the drastic decrease of TAAR1, TAAR2, TAAR5, TAAR6, and TAAR8 expression in melanomas compared to benign nevi with only TAAR6, TAAR8, and TAAR9 remaining detectable in malignant tumors. No association of TAARs expression levels and melanoma clinicopathological characteristics was observed. TAARs co-expressed genes in melanoma and nevi were selected by correlation values for comparative pathway enrichment analysis between malignant and benign neoplasia. It was found that coexpression of TAARs with genes inquired in neurotransmitter signaling is lost in melanoma, and tumor-specific association of TAAR6 expression with the mTOR pathway and inflammatory signaling is observed. It is not excluded that TAARs may have certain functions in melanoma pathogenesis, the significance of which to tumor progression is yet to be understood.

scholarly journals Metabolic Changes Induced by Silver Ions in Carlina acaulis

Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dresler ◽  
Hawrylak-Nowak ◽  
Strzemski ◽  
Wójciak-Kosior ◽  
Sowa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Translocation Factor ◽  
Silver Ions ◽  
Metabolic Changes ◽  
Oxide Content ◽  
Toxic Heavy Metals ◽  
Promoting Effect ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Nonenzymatic Antioxidants ◽  
Intracellular Binding ◽  
The Impact

Silver is one of the most toxic heavy metals for plants, inducing various toxic symptoms and metabolic changes. Here, the impact of Ag(I) on Carlina acaulis physiology and selected metabolites was studied using two Ag concentrations (1 or 10 µM) after 14 days of exposure. The higher concentration of Ag(I) evoked reduction of growth, while 1 µM Ag had a growth-promoting effect on root biomass. The translocation factor (<0.04) showed that Ag was mainly retained in the roots. The 1 µM Ag concentration increased the level of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs), while 10 µM Ag depleted these compounds in the roots. The increased concentration of Ag(I) elevated the accumulation of phytochelatins (PCs) in the roots and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the shoots (but not in the roots). At 1 µM, Ag(I) elevated the level of phenolic and triterpene acids, while the 10 µM Ag treatment increased the carlina oxide content in the roots. The obtained results indicate an alteration of metabolic pathways of C. acaulis to cope with different levels of Ag(I) stress. Our data imply that the intracellular binding of Ag(I) and nonenzymatic antioxidants contribute to the protection against low concentrations of Ag ions.

Glutathione metabolism under the influence of hydroperoxides in the lactating mammary gland of the rat. Effect of glucose and extracellular ATP

1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
José M. Estrela ◽  
Juan B. Montoro ◽  
Juan R. Viña ◽  
José Viña
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Atp ◽  
Glutathione Metabolism ◽  
Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase ◽  
Extracellular Medium ◽  
Mixed Disulfide ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Tert Butyl Hydroperoxide ◽  
Subsequent Degradation ◽  
Lactating Mammary Gland ◽  
Glutamyl Transpeptidase

Tert-butyl hydroperoxide decreases GSH and total free glutathione (GSH+2GSSG) contents of acini from lactating mammary glands. The decrease in total free glutathione can be explained by an increase in mixed disulfide formation and by excretion of GSS G to the extracellular medium, and subsequent degradation catalyzed by gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Low concentrations of glucose prevented the changes in glutathione levels induced by the peroxide. In the presence of extracellular ATP, glucose did not prevent these changes. However, incubations with the peroxide, did not alter the rate of other metabolic pathways by acini.

scholarly journals Improving zinc phytoremediation characteristics in Salix pedicellata with a new acclimation approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryad Amdoun ◽  
Nassim Bendifallah ◽  
Fatiha Sahli ◽  
Khaled Moustafa ◽  
Kathleen Hefferon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Sulfate ◽  
Maintenance Phase ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Zinc Toxicity ◽  
Induction Phase ◽  
Toxic Heavy Metals ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Applied Approach ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Adaptive Abilities

Salix sp. (willows) is a phytoremediator plant species that can accumulate and detoxify soils contaminated with pollutants and toxic heavy metals such as zinc. However, high concentrations of zinc inhibit plant growth and reduce biomass accumulation. In an attempt to overcome this inconvenience and to enhance plant adaptive abilities to zinc toxicity, we tested a new phytoremediation procedure in two clones of Salix pedicellata, named SPK-12 and SP-K20. The approach comprises two successive phases. The first is an "induction phase" consisting of gradual exposure of plants to low concentrations of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) at short and regular intervals. And, the second is a "maintenance phase" to uphold the acquired tolerance to zinc as long as possible. One of the two clones, SP-K20, tolerated up to 20 mg/L ZnSO4 over 33 days without noticeable symptoms of chlorosis or growth inhibition. The SP-K20 clone was also able to accumulate high concentrations of zinc in its tissues, suggesting that phytoremediation abilities of Salix have been improved throughout the applied approach.

Health Risk Assessments of Arsenic and Toxic Heavy Metals Exposure in Drinking Water in Central Gangetic Plain, Uttar Pradesh

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shailesh kumar Yadav ◽  
Alagappan Ramanathan
Keyword(s):  
Hot Spot ◽  
Green Revolution ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Toxic Heavy Metals ◽  
Gangetic Plain ◽  
Weathering Processes ◽  
Arsenic In Groundwater ◽  
The World ◽  
Chemical Factors

&lt;p&gt;The current study was focused on the characterization of recharge, weathering processes and to check the aptness of groundwater for household and agriculture utility in the Central Gangetic Plain, Uttar Pradesh, India. Arsenic contamination in groundwater recognized as a vital catastrophic problem that affect millions of people across the world and have geogenic as well as anthropogenic sources. In central gangetic, plain, high geogenic arsenic in groundwater is extensively present in Holocene alluvial aquifers. The severity of this problem is further accelerated through in-situ physio-chemical factors in the fluvial environment. In our studied areas, newer alluvium has organic rich clay, which plays an important role in arsenic mobilization by reductive dissolution of Fe-oxyhydroxide. The aim of this paper is to compare and contrast the long-term similarities and differences in arsenic hot spot regions in central gangetic plain with those of other parts of the world and assess the unique socio-cultural factors that determine the human health risks of exposure to arsenic in local groundwater. It documents how the pathways of exposure to this poison have been greatly expanded through intensive application of groundwater in agriculture in the region within the Green Revolution framework.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Differential expression and processing of secretogranin II in relation to the status of pheochromocytoma: implications for the production of the tumoral marker EM66

2012 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Guillemot ◽  
E Thouënnon ◽  
M Guérin ◽  
V Vallet-Erdtmann ◽  
A Ravni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Blot ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Benign Tumors ◽  
Secretogranin Ii ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
The Status ◽  
Responsive Element ◽  
Plasma Marker

We have previously demonstrated that measurement of tissue concentrations of the secretogranin II (SgII or SCG2 as listed in the HUGO database)-derived peptide EM66 may help to discriminate between benign and malignant pheochromocytomas and that EM66 represents a sensitive plasma marker of pheochromocytomas. Here, we investigated the gene expression and protein production of SgII in 13 normal adrenal glands, and 35 benign and 16 malignant pheochromocytomas with the goal to examine the molecular mechanisms leading to the marked variations in the expression of EM66 in tumoral chromaffin tissue. EM66 peptide levels were 16-fold higher in benign than in malignant pheochromocytomas and had an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.95 for the distinction of benign and malignant tumors. Q-PCR experiments indicated that the SgII gene was significantly underexpressed in malignant tumors compared with benign tumors. Western blot analysis using antisera directed against SgII and SgII-derived fragments revealed lower SgII protein and SgII-processing products in malignant tumors. Western blot also showed that low p-cAMP-responsive element-binding (CREB) concentrations seemed to be associated with the malignant status. In addition, the prohormone convertase PC1 and PC2 genes and proteins were overexpressed in benign pheochromocytomas compared with malignant pheochromocytomas. Low concentrations of EM66 found in malignant tumors are associated with reduced expression and production of SgII and SgII-derived peptides that could be ascribed to a decrease in SgII gene transcription, probably linked to p-CREB down-regulation, and to lower PC levels. These findings highlight the mechanisms leading to lower concentrations of EM66 in malignant pheochromocytoma and strengthen the notion that this peptide is a suitable marker of this neuroendocrine tumor.

scholarly journals Concentrations, Source Characteristics, and Health Risk Assessment of Toxic Heavy Metals in PM2.5 in a Plateau City (Kunming) in Southwest China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11004
Author(s):  
Xinyu Han ◽  
Shuai Li ◽  
Zezheng Li ◽  
Xiaochen Pang ◽  
Yuzhai Bao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Carcinogenic Risk ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Toxic Heavy Metals ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Vehicles Emissions

To explore the mass concentration levels and health risks of heavy metals in the air in dense traffic environments, PM2.5 samples were collected at three sites in the city of Kunming in April and October 2013, and January and May 2014. Ten heavy metals––V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb––were analyzed by ICP–MS, and the results showed PM2.5 concentrations significantly higher in spring and winter than in summer and autumn, especially for Zn and Pb. The concentration of heavy metals on working days is significantly higher, indicating that vehicle emissions are significant contributors. An enrichment factor analysis showed that Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb come mainly from anthropogenic sources, while V and Co may be both anthropogenic and natural. The correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb mainly come from vehicles emissions and metallurgical industries; Cr and Mn, from vehicles emissions and road dust; and As, mainly from coal combustion. The health risk assessment shows that the non-carcinogenic risk thresholds of the heavy metals in PM2.5 to children and adult men and women are all less than 1. The carcinogenic risk of Cr for men and women in traffic-intensive areas exceeds 10−4, reaching 1.64 × 10−4 and 1.4 × 10−4, respectively.

scholarly journals Dependence of the content and distribution of metals in snow cover on natural and anthropogenic factors (south Sakhalin, Sea of Okhotsk)

2012 ◽  
Vol 53 (61) ◽  
pp. 45-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.N. Kazakova ◽  
V.A. Lobkina ◽  
N.V. Zarubina ◽  
E.V. Elovskiy
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Sea Of Okhotsk ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Sample Analysis ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Flow Processes ◽  
South Sakhalin ◽  
Natural And Anthropogenic Factors

AbstractSnow cover contains various impurities from natural and anthropogenic sources. These impurities percolate into the soil, groundwater and surface water during snowmelt, significantly influencing their composition. We consider the metals content in snow cover in south Sakhalin, Sea of Okhotsk. Samples were taken in February–April 2011 by the Laboratory of Avalanche and Debris-flow Processes of the Sakhalin Department of the FEGI FEB RAS. Sample analysis was performed by the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, FEGI FEB RAS. Overall, the metals present in the highest concentrations were Ca, K, Mg and Na. Other metals have low concentrations at the level of total mineralization of surface water and groundwater. Thus, the main sources of metals in south Sakhalin snow cover are the water surface of the sea and anthropogenic sources.

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