scholarly journals Effects of Heavy Metal Toxicity on Anxiety Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (8) ◽  
pp. 660-668
Author(s):  
Mfem CC ◽  
Seriki SA ◽  
Oyama SE

Background: Several heavy metals are found naturally in the earth crust and are exploited for various industrial and economic purposes. Among these heavy metals, a few have impact on the human body. Though some of these metals only have effect on human physiology in high doses, others such as cadmium, mercury, lead, chromium, silver, and arsenic have delirious effects in the body even in minute quantities, causing acute and chronic toxicities in human. Anxiety is a common psychiatric disorder among men and women. Occasional anxiety may be a normal a part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). This study examined a major environmental risk factor of anxiety disorder and how the adverse impact of anxiety disorder could be ameliorated using zinc and vitamin E. Methods: Animals used for the researched were grouped into four. Group 1 represents control group; Group 2 represents animals exposed a heavy metal (CaCl2); Group 3 represents animals exposed to CaCl2 and then treated with zinc; and Group 4 represents animals exposed to CaCl2 and then treated vit E. Results: Results showed that exposure to heavy metals (CaCl2 in particular) causes severe anxiety disorders. Results also showed zinc and vit E have the capacity to ameliorate anxiety disorder caused by heavy metals. Conclusion: The human body should be adequately protected as man interacts with heavy metals to prevent anxiety disorder, and where a patient becomes a victim of the disorder, zinc and vit E could be used to manage the case.

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 29-33
Author(s):  
Kim R. Gottshall ◽  
Michael E. Hoffer ◽  
Helen S. Cohen ◽  
Robert J. Moore

Study design: Four groups, between-subjects study. Objectives: To investigate the effects of exercise on adaptation of normal subjects who had been artificially spatially disoriented. Background: Many patients referred for rehabilitation experience sensory changes, due to age or disease processes, and these changes affect motor skill. The best way to train patients to adapt to these changes and to improve their sensorimotor skills is unclear. Using normal subjects, we tested the hypothesis that active, planned head movement is needed to adapt to modified visual input. Methods and measures: Eighty male and female subjects who had normal balance on computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) and the dynamic gait index (DGI), were randomly assigned to four groups. All groups donned diagonally shift lenses and were again assessed with CDP and DGI. The four groups were then treated for 20 min. Group 1 (control group) viewed a video, Group 2 performed exercise that involved translating the entire body through space, but without separate, volitional head movement, Group 3 performed exercises which all incorporated volitional, planned head rotations, and Group 4 performed exercises that involved translating the body (as in Group 2) and incorporated volitional, planned head motion (as in Group 3). All subjects were post-tested with CDP and DGI, lenses were removed, and subjects were retested again with CDP and DGI. Results: The groups did not differ significantly on CDP scores but Groups 3 and 4 had significantly better DGI scores than Groups 1 and 2. Conclusions: Active head movement that is specifically planned as part of the exercise is more effective than passive attention or head movements that are not consciously planned, for adapting to sensorimotor change when it incorporates active use of the changed sensory modality, in this case head motion.


2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ugur Kuyumcuoglu ◽  
Bilal Eryildirim ◽  
Murat Tuncer ◽  
Gokhan Faydaci ◽  
Fatih Tarhan ◽  
...  

Background: We investigated whether the frequency of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) increased in patients in whom double-J stents were applied. We also evaluated several medical therapy protocols to treat symptoms related with ureteral stents.Materials and Methods: A total of 108 patients, in whom unilateral double-j stent was applied during ureteral stone treatment, were included. Before the double-J stent was applied, all patients completed storage components of the “International Prostate Symptom Score” (IPSSs), quality of life components of the IPSS (IPSS-QOL) and “Overactive Bladder Questionnaire” (OABq) forms and scores were calculated. After the procedure, cases were randomized into 5 groups, an antiinflammatory was given to Group 1, spasmolytic to Group 2, anticholinergic to Group 3 and α-blocker to Group 4. No additional drug was given to Group 5 as this control group. During the fourth week of the procedure, IPSSs, IPSS-QOL and OABq forms were again completed and scores were compared with the previous ones.Results: When all the cases were evaluated, the IPSSs, IPSS-QOLand OABq scores of patients in whom the double-J stent was applied were statistically significantly higher the procedure. Compared to the control group, the cases where the double-J stent was applied showed a higher IPSSs, IPSS-QOL and OABq scores and none of the medical therapies could prevent this increase.Interpretation: The frequency of LUTS increased in cases where the ureteral stent was applied and discomfort continued as long as the stent stayed in the body.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 280-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julietpoornamathy J ◽  
Parameswari C.S.

In medical sciences, toxicity is an area wherein extensive studies have been carried to improve the diseases as well as to prevent. So, there is a high requirement for novel and improved alternative therapeutic strategies to manage diseases. The liver is the largest gland in the body, which executes several important mechanisms; it stores minerals and vitamins and releases them in periods of need. The main aim of this study was to give a closer insight into potent non- toxic compounds that is capable of modifying the responses. Animals were divided into five equal groups viz control (Group 1), administered with food and water ad libitum, (Group 2) administered with olive oil, (Group 3) administered with zingerone, (Group 4) administered with concanavalin A, (Group 5) administered with cyclosporine A followed by zingerone. Our results revealed significant changes in liver marker enzymes and liver histology of zingerone treated rats when compared to control rats.  A corollary, zingerone has no toxic effect on hepatocytes and was found to be safe at a dose of 10mg/kg b wt and also ameliorates hepatotoxicity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 50-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aziza A. Saad ◽  
Amany El-Sikaily ◽  
Hany Kassem

Background. When heavy metals accumulate in air, soil, and water, the risk of human exposure increases among industrial workers, as well as in people living near polluted areas. Heavy metals adversely affect a variety of bodily systems such as the cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, immune, and reproductive systems. In addition, long-term exposure and accumulation of heavy metals in the body may disturb oxidative stress genes and thus increase the susceptibility to various diseases. Objectives. The aim of this study is to estimate the metallothionein concentration in both mussel samples from Abu Qir Bay, Egypt and the blood of local fishermen as a biomarker of exposure to metal pollution. Methods. Levels of metallothionein and heavy metals were measured in mussels. Blood levels of metallothionein and heavy metals of local fishermen were measured and compared with a control group. The effect of heavy metal exposure on oxidative stress status was investigated through the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase and glutathione content. Results. The results of this study showed high concentrations of metallothionein in mussels and in fishermen's blood, accompanied by high concentrations of metals such as cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and zinc (Zn). At the same time, a significant decrease in glutathione content and catalase enzyme activity was associated with a significant increase in the malondialdehyde concentrations in sera of fishermen. Conclusions. The present study found that the El Maadiya region is polluted with heavy metals, inducing oxidative stress in fishermen in the vicinity. These results reveal the necessity of further environmental monitoring in the study area in order to evaluate other types of pollutants and their effects on human health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 262 ◽  
pp. 02010
Author(s):  
Boris Dzagurov ◽  
Oleg Getokov ◽  
Vladimir Gukezhev ◽  
Taladin Kokov ◽  
Vitaly Vorokov

Based on the results of previous studies on pigs and poultry, in which encouraging results of a significant decrease in the concentration of heavy metals in the body were obtained, respectively, in pork, poultry and eggs, the study provided for the use of the bentonite clay of the Zamankul deposit (RNO-Alania) as an enterosorbent in relation to heavy metals and detoxification of the organism of dairy cows. In order to study the feasibility of using bentonite as an enterosorbent, studies were performed on dairy cows of the Simmental breed in the Kaloyev farm located in st. Zmeyskaya, Kirovsky district of North Ossetia-Alania. To conduct research on the principle of analog pairs, two experimental groups of cows (control and experimental, five cows in each group) of the 3rd and 4th lactation were formed. The experiment lasted for 305 days of lactation from March 2018 to January 2019. Herewith, the control group of cows was fed with a basic diet balanced in all nutritional elements, the experimental livestock, together with the main diet, daily in the composition of the concentrates was injected with crushed bentonite with a particle diameter of 4-6 mm based on the dry matter of the feed (137 g/animal). The study of the concentration of heavy metals (cadmium, lead and zinc) in soil, feed, blood and milk was performed in two periods of lactation (on the 250th and 300th days of lactation). Herewith, an increased content of heavy metals in the soil was established, relative to the MPL: cadmium - 10.1; lead - 7.4; zinc - 9.7 times more, in drinking water: cadmium - 2.5 times; lead - 9.0 times and zinc - 9.7 times more, in feed: cadmium - from 1.7 to 5.3 times; lead - from 1.1 to 1.7; zinc - from 1.0 to 2.5 times the MPL. The inclusion of bentonite to the ration of the animals of the experimental group, in comparison with the control group, in both study periods (250 and 300 days of lactation) contributed to a significant decrease in the concentration of the studied heavy metals in the blood from 17 to 20%, in milk - from 16 to 18 %. The transformation ration values of heavy metals from feed into the body, respectively, into milk, were also lower in the animals of the experimental group, relative to the control.


Author(s):  
Mojtaba Arjomandi ◽  
*Hamid Shirkhanloo

Heavy metals are vital and necessary in our daily lives. Moreover, if the amounts of heavy metals are more than the acceptable amounts (mentioned by WHO) in soil, water, and air, indeed, they cause a lot of diseases in human bodies. Therefore, monitoring and measuring the amounts of heavy metals that are arduous and difficult are so important. In this review paper, a lot of studies that have been carried out on the determination and quantification of heavy metals in human bodies, soil, and water are considered. Moreover, the effect of toxicity of each heavy metal on human health is assessed. According to WHO, EPA, NIOSH, ACGIH, and clinical chemistry, the determination of heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg, Cu, Mn is very important in the human body and Environmental matrixes. 


2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 448-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Knappe ◽  
J. Klotsche ◽  
A. Strobel ◽  
R.T. LeBeau ◽  
M.G. Craske ◽  
...  

AbstractPurposePsychometric properties and clinical sensitivity of brief self-rated dimensional scales to supplement categorical diagnoses of anxiety disorders in the DSM-5 were recently demonstrated in a German treatment seeking sample of adults. The present study aims to demonstrate sensitivity of these scales to clinical severity levels.MethodsThe dimensional scales were administered to 102 adults at a university outpatient clinic for psychotherapy. Diagnostic status was assessed using the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview. To establish a wide range of clinical severity, we considered subthreshold (n= 83) and threshold anxiety disorders (n= 49, including Social Phobia, Specific Phobia, Agoraphobia, Panic Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder).ResultsIndividuals with either subthreshold or threshold anxiety disorder scored higher on all dimensional scales relative to individuals without anxiety. In addition, individuals with a threshold anxiety disorder scored higher on the dimensional scales than individuals with a subthreshold anxiety disorder (except for specific phobia). Disorder-related impairment ratings, global functioning assessments and number of panic attacks were associated with higher scores on dimensional scales. Findings were largely unaffected by the number of anxiety disorders and comorbid depressive disorders.ConclusionThe self-rated dimensional anxiety scales demonstrated sensitivity to clinical severity, and a cut-off based on additional assessment of impairment and distress may assist in the discrimination between subthreshold and threshold anxiety disorders. Findings suggest further research in various populations to test the utility of the scales for use in DSM-5.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viswanathan Saraswathi ◽  
Curtis Perriotte-Olson ◽  
Robert D Heineman ◽  
Cyrus V Desouza

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is a prevalent condition in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Although fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3) is a widely used hypolipidemic agent, it is often required at high doses. At high doses, these fatty acids can induce oxidative stress or endothelial activation and therefore, strategies to improve their beneficial effects are needed. We previously reported that fish oil in combination with cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors exerts enhanced hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects in low density lipoprotein receptor knock-out mice. Here, we sought to determine the effects of ω-3 fatty acids in combination with naproxen (NX), a COX inhibitor, on dyslipidemia and gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (scAT) in humans. Methods: Obese dyslipidemic patients were randomly assigned to receive one of these interventions (n=8/group) for 12 wk: 1) Standard nutrition counseling (control), 2) ω-3 (2 g twice daily), 3) NX (220 mg twice daily), and 4) ω-3 (2 g twice daily) + NX (220 mg twice daily). Results: The body mass index, HOMA-IR, and plasma total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels were not altered significantly in any of the groups. The percent change in plasma triglycerides (TG) from baseline was 75% ( P <0.1) and 68% ( P <0.05) in ω-3 and ω3 + NX-treated subjects, respectively. Notably, 25% of subjects who received ω-3s alone did not show a reduction in TG whereas all the patients that received ω-3 + NX showed a reduction in TG. Realtime PCR analysis of scAT showed that the expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4), a marker of glucose uptake and a key regulator of glucose homeostasis was significantly reduced in ω-3 compared to control group ( P <0.01). However, combining NX with ω-3 abolished this effect. Moreover, the expression of MCP-1 and VCAM-1, markers of inflammatory response or endothelial activation, was significantly increased in ω-3 but not in ω-3 + NX group. The plasma levels of MCP-1 and E-selectin did not vary significantly in any of the groups. Conclusions: Our data reveal previously unrecognized effects of fish oil in scAT. Our data suggest that combining NX with ω-3 fatty acids will increase their effectiveness in reducing plasma TG and improve the benefits of ω-3 supplements by favorably altering gene expression in scAT.


Author(s):  
Himalaya Bhardwaj ◽  
Chanchal Singh ◽  
Shashi Nayyar

Background: With the pace of industrialization, heavy metal level has been increasing in animals thereby causing deleterious effects, which emanate as public health concern, associated with their accumulation in food chain. The present study was undertaken to assess the systemic damage caused by heavy metals in buffaloes. Methods: The assessment of adverse effects of the lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd), in blood was determined by monitoring the levels of biochemical parameters, antioxidants and expression of metallothionein in buffaloes. Blood and tissue (liver, kidney, pancreas and ovary) samples (n=50) were collected from local abattoir to estimate the levels of lead, nickel and cadmium using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Antioxidants and biochemical parameters were estimated using standard procedures and while the expression of metallothionein-2 was analyzed using real-time PCR.Result: After determining the concentration of heavy metals in samples the buffaloes were classified as heavy metal exposed and non-exposed groups. The plasma level of heavy metals were found to be significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than the permissible limit in exposed buffaloes. In tissues, heavy metals levels were within the permissible limits. Malondialdehyde level in each of lead, nickel and cadmium exposed groups was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than the non-exposed, control group. The antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione was found to be increased significantly (p less than 0.05) in exposed groups. Also, plasma glucose, cholesterol, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), urea and creatinine levels were found to be significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in the blood of the animal model used for the study. The fold change expression of MT-2 in blood was found to be at maximum level in cadmium and minimum in nickel exposed buffaloes. It can be concluded from the results of the experiment that heavy metals affect major organs (liver, kidney and muscle etc.) as evident by altered intracellular expression of MT-2, antioxidants and biochemical parameters.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Oluwafunso Oladipo Awosusi ◽  
Adeshina Luqman Adisa

Heavy metal pollution has been a source of health problems in humans. These metals are persistent, toxic, non-degradable and often take a long time to be eliminated from the body. This study is, therefore, designed to assess heavy metal pollution of River Basin in Nigeria. Seventy stream sediment samples were systematically collected from an area, approximately 400km2, latitude 7O 00’ and 7O 15’N and longitude 5O 11’ and 5O 19’E. The pollution status of the sediments by heavy metals were assessed by Enrichment Factor (EF), Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo). The concentrations of the heavy metals were also compared with United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Sediment quality guidelines (SQG). The samples were dried in the laboratory, disaggregated, sieved to minus 80 (<177 microns) mesh size using nylon sieve. The sieved samples were, then, digested and the concentrations of As, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn were determined by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (WD-XRFS). Results revealed that the mean concentrations of the heavy metals are in the order V>Zn>Pb>As>Ni>Co>Fe>Mn. Furthermore, the mean concentration of lead exceeded both the average world shale and the USEPA SQG values. However, the mean concentration of cobalt, nickel, manganese and zinc were lower than the average world shale values for these elements. The Enrichment Factor (EF) revealed that cobalt was moderately enriched while arsenic and lead were significantly enriched in the sediments. On the basis of the geoaccumulation index, the stream sediments were largely uncontaminated except at some sites that were moderately to strongly contaminated by As and Pb.  


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