scholarly journals Copper and Human Health- A Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 08 (02) ◽  
pp. 117-122
Author(s):  
Nasim Karim

Copper (Cu), is an essential trace element. Along with lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium etc. it is classified as a member of heavy metal group. Deficiency of copper is involved in the etiology and promotion of many disease processes related to gastrointestinal and neurological systems as well as affect functions of heart, blood vessel, pancreas etc. Deficiency of copper in early part of gestation can produce major organ malformations in the developing fetus and this in turn if persistently present can lead to neurological as well as immunological abnormalities in the newborn. Conversely presence of enormous concentrations of copper is also a great danger for the human health. Acute copper toxicity predisposes to various pathological conditions and can cause death in severe cases. Chronic exposure to copper produces anemia, liver toxicity and severe neurological defects.

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 1955-1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Speciale ◽  
Antonella Saija ◽  
Romina Bashllari ◽  
Maria Sofia Molonia ◽  
Claudia Muscarà ◽  
...  

: Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), mostly represented by cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic pulmonary diseases, cancers, and several chronic pathologies, are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality, and are mainly related to the occurrence of metabolic risk factors. Anthocyanins (ACNs) possess a wide spectrum of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective and chemopreventive properties, which are able to promote human health. Although ACNs present an apparent low bioavailability, their metabolites may play an important role in the in vivo protective effects observed. : This article directly addresses the scientific evidences supporting that ACNs could be useful to protect human population against several NCDs not only acting as antioxidant but through their capability to modulate cell redox-dependent signaling. In particular, ACNs interact with the NF-κB and AP-1 signal transduction pathways, which respond to oxidative signals and mediate a proinflammatory effect, and the Nrf2/ARE pathway and its regulated cytoprotective proteins (GST, NQO, HO-1, etc.), involved in both cellular antioxidant defenses and elimination/inactivation of toxic compounds, so countering the alterations caused by conditions of chemical/oxidative stress. In addition, supposed crosstalks could contribute to explain the protective effects of ACNs in different pathological conditions characterized by an altered balance among these pathways. Thus, this review underlines the importance of specific nutritional molecules for human health and focuses on the molecular targets and the underlying mechanisms of ACNs against various diseases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 541-547
Author(s):  
Bao Sun ◽  
Yue Yang ◽  
Mengzi He ◽  
Yanan Jin ◽  
Xiaoyu Cao ◽  
...  

Background: The liver is one of the major organ involved in drug metabolism. Cytochrome P450s are predominantly involved in drug metabolism. A wide range of CYPs have been reported in the liver which have been involved in its normal as well as in diseased conditions. Doxorubicin, one of the most potent chemotherapeutic drugs, although highly efficacious, also has adverse side effects, with its targets being liver and cardiac tissue. Objective: The study aims to evaluate the reversal potentials of berberine on Doxorubicin induced cyp conversion. Methodology: In the present study, the interplay between anti-oxidants, cytochrome and inflammatory markers in DOX induced liver toxicity and its possible reversal by berberine was ascertained. Results: DOX administration significantly elevated serum as well as tissue stress, which was reverted by berberine treatment. A similar response was observed in tissue inflammatory mediators as well as in serum cytokine levels. Most profound reduction in the cytochrome expression was found in Cyp 2B1, 2B2, and 2E1. However, 2C1, 2C6, and 3A1 although showed a decline, but it did not revert the expression back to control levels. Conclusion: It could be concluded that berberine may be an efficient anti-oxidant and immune modulator. It possesses low to moderate cytochrome modulatory potentials.


Author(s):  
Marco Giammanco ◽  
Fulvio Plescia ◽  
Manfredi M. Giammanco ◽  
Gaetano Leto ◽  
Carla Gentile

Citrus fruits are the main fruits of the Mediterranean diet and have been long recognized for their beneficial effects on human health. Observational studies have shown a significant association between dietary flavo-noid intake and reduced risk of cardiovascular and malignant diseases. The beneficial effects of citrus fruits on human health appear to be due to their high content in vitamins, minerals and fibers. In particular, the an-tioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities have been indicated as some of the mechanisms through which citrus fruits may thwarts the development of chronic degenerative diseases such as atherosclerosis and can-cer. This review would critically examine the results from numerous studies carried out in order assess the contribute of citrus flavonoids to the prevention of chronic pathological conditions including athero-sclerosis and cancer.


2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 1607-1611 ◽  
Author(s):  
IRLAPATI RAJENDRA VARAPRASAD ◽  
SUMEET AGRAWAL ◽  
VADIVELMURUGAN NAGASUBRAMANI NAGA PRABU ◽  
LIZA RAJASEKHAR ◽  
MEENA ANGAMUTHU KANIKANNAN ◽  
...  

Objective.To study the clinical profile of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and analyze the risk factors and outcomes associated with it.Methods.We identified patients with SLE and PRES from January 2006 to October 2010. Data were collected on demographic details, lupus characteristics, PRES-related features, laboratory abnormalities, treatment details, and outcomes.Results.We studied 13 patients (all female) ages 14–37 years (median 23 yrs; 4 were aged < 18 yrs with juvenile SLE). Duration of lupus ranged from 1.5 to 36 months (median 6 mo). Six patients had PRES as a part of their initial presentation of lupus. All had active lupus and hypertension; 9 had nephritis. Four patients were on treatment with cyclophosphamide therapy when they developed PRES. Antihypertensives and antiepileptics were the mainstay of treatment along with supportive care. Immunosuppressive therapy was guided by lupus-related major organ manifestations. Two patients had focal neurological deficits; one had persistent hemiparesis at followup. One patient died.Conclusion.PRES occurs in young lupus patients and in the early part of the disease. Focal deficits are not uncommon. It can be the presenting manifestation of lupus. Management is predominantly symptomatic. Immunosuppression is directed by other major organ manifestations. Early diagnosis and appropriate management is productive.


Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ondřej Brózman ◽  
Barbara Kubickova ◽  
Pavel Babica ◽  
Petra Laboha

Changes in ecological and environmental factors lead to an increased occurrence of cyanobacterial water blooms, while secondary metabolites-producing cyanobacteria pose a threat to both environmental and human health. Apart from oral and dermal exposure, humans may be exposed via inhalation and/or swallowing of contaminated water and aerosols. Although many studies deal with liver toxicity, less information about the effects in the respiratory system is available. We investigated the effects of a prevalent cyanotoxin, microcystin-LR (MC-LR), using respiratory system-relevant human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells. The expression of specific organic-anion-transporting polypeptides was evaluated, and the western blot analysis revealed the formation and accumulation of MC-LR protein adducts in exposed cells. However, MC-LR up to 20 μM neither caused significant cytotoxic effects according to multiple viability endpoints after 48-h exposure, nor reduced impedance (cell layer integrity) over 96 h. Time-dependent increase of putative MC-LR adducts with protein phosphatases was not associated with activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK1/2 and p38 during 48-h exposure in HBE cells. Future studies addressing human health risks associated with inhalation of toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins should focus on complex environmental samples of cyanobacterial blooms and alterations of additional non-cytotoxic endpoints while adopting more advanced in vitro models.


Author(s):  
Camille Martin-Gallausiaux ◽  
Ludovica Marinelli ◽  
Hervé M. Blottière ◽  
Pierre Larraufie ◽  
Nicolas Lapaque

In recent years, the importance of the gut microbiota in human health has been revealed and many publications have highlighted its role as a key component of human physiology. Owing to the use of modern sequencing approaches, the characterisation of the microbiome in healthy individuals and in disease has demonstrated a disturbance of the microbiota, or dysbiosis, associated with pathological conditions. The microbiota establishes a symbiotic crosstalk with their host: commensal microbes benefit from the nutrient-rich environment provided by the gut and the microbiota produces hundreds of proteins and metabolites that modulate key functions of the host, including nutrient processing, maintenance of energy homoeostasis and immune system development. Many bacteria-derived metabolites originate from dietary sources. Among them, an important role has been attributed to the metabolites derived from the bacterial fermentation of dietary fibres, namely SCFA linking host nutrition to intestinal homoeostasis maintenance. SCFA are important fuels for intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and regulate IEC functions through different mechanisms to modulate their proliferation, differentiation as well as functions of subpopulations such as enteroendocrine cells, to impact gut motility and to strengthen the gut barrier functions as well as host metabolism. Recent findings show that SCFA, and in particular butyrate, also have important intestinal and immuno-modulatory functions. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms and the impact of SCFA on gut functions and host immunity and consequently on human health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 265 ◽  
pp. 02008
Author(s):  
Robert Kayombo ◽  
Svetlana E. Mazina

A study was aimed at assessing the anthropogenic impacts on Karst water in Lusaka’s Chainda peri-urban area on the quality of groundwater by physical, chemical and microbiological indicators. It was observed that concentrations of the Total and Faecal Coliforms in all the samples from the shallow wells and private boreholes were all above the Zambia Bureau of Standards. In terms of bacteriological quality, the water used for consumption in Chainda is poor. This poses great danger to human health. pH values of all the samples tested were within the Zambia Bureau of Standards.The study also revealed that the karst water in Chainda is high in nitrates due to lack of sanitation facilities. Nitrates concentration were above the Zambian Bureau of Standards of 10mg/l in all the shallow wells and private boreholes. While nitrate concentrations in water kiosks of LWSC are below ZABS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (05) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asif ◽  
Abdul Haq Wazir ◽  
Tayaba Basharat ◽  
Masood Uz Zaman ◽  
Shabir Hussain ◽  
...  

Background: Liver plays a central role in the process of metabolism, storage of glycogen and detoxification. It acts as major organ in the physiologic role of body. Paracetomol is oftenly used as a pain reliever and antipyretic, its overdose can liver toxicity and produces free radicals which is dangerous for human health. Objectives: To find the role of trifolium extract in the limitation of hepatotoxicity instigate by paracetamol overdose. Study Design: _____________. Setting: Pathology Department, Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Lahore. Period:  April 2016 to October 2016 for the period of 6 months. Material and Methods: Total 32 rabbits were taken for the study. They were divided into four groups. Group I was control, group II, III, IV were intoxicated with paracetamol dose 1, 1.5, 2 g/kg body weight respectively. Each group was composed of 8 rabbits. Each paracetamol intoxicated rabbit was treated with triflolim extract for 5 days. Results: Paracetamol overdose causes a significant raise in the liver functions eg alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Asparate aminotransfearse (AST) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin (T. bilrubin). There is remarkable improvement in the liver functions when the intoxicated rabbits were treated with triflolium extract. Conclusion: Triflolium extracts has better results and can limits the damaging effects of paracetamol overdose on liver functions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (22) ◽  
pp. 12466
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Izadi ◽  
Tayyiba Akbar Ali ◽  
Ehsan Pourkarimi

Research in biomedical sciences has changed dramatically over the past fifty years. There is no doubt that the discovery of apoptosis and autophagy as two highly synchronized and regulated mechanisms in cellular homeostasis are among the most important discoveries in these decades. Along with the advancement in molecular biology, identifying the genetic players in apoptosis and autophagy has shed light on our understanding of their function in physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we first describe the history of key discoveries in apoptosis with a molecular insight and continue with apoptosis pathways and their regulation. We touch upon the role of apoptosis in human health and its malfunction in several diseases. We discuss the path to the morphological and molecular discovery of autophagy. Moreover, we dive deep into the precise regulation of autophagy and recent findings from basic research to clinical applications of autophagy modulation in human health and illnesses and the available therapies for many diseases caused by impaired autophagy. We conclude with the exciting crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy, from the early discoveries to recent findings.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken-ichiro Inoue ◽  
Hirohisa Takano

Although the adverse health effects of nanoparticles/materials have been proposed and are being clarified, their facilitating effects on preexisting pathological conditions have not been fully examined. In this paper, we provide insights into the immunotoxicity of nanoparticles/materials as an aggravating factor in hypersusceptible subjects, especially those with immune-related respiratory disorders using ourin vivoexperimental model. We first exhibit the effects of nanoparticles/materials on lung inflammation induced by bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide: LPS)in vivoas a disease model in innate immunity, and demonstrated that nanoparticles instilled through both an intratracheal tube and an inhalation system can exacerbate the lung inflammation. Secondly, we introduce the effects of nanoparticles/materials on allergic asthmain vivoas a disease model in adaptive immunity, and showed that repetitive pulmonary exposure to nanoparticles has aggravating effects on allergic airway inflammation, including adjuvant effects on Th2-milieu. Taken together, nanoparticle exposure may synergistically facilitate pathological inflammatory conditions in the lung via both innate and adaptive immunological abnormalities.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document