Assessment of aflatoxin exposure using urine biomarker in pregnant and non-pregnant women in Yazd, Center of Iran

Background: Aflatoxins (AFs) are one of the most prevalent toxins, which long-term exposure to them could be a risk factor for liver cancer. AFM1 is the hydroxylated metabolite of AFB1 , therefore, the presence of AFM1 in urine samples can give an appropriate estimation of dietary AF exposure in human. Methods: The present study aimed to evaluate the excretion level of AFM1 in urine samples of pregnant and non-pregnant women in Yazd, Iran. A total of 85 urine samples (42 pregnant and 43 non-pregnant) were selected randomly from women who had referred to health centers of Yazd during March to May 2017. From each participant, a 72-hour dietary recall was asked and the data were recorded and later analyzed by ELISA kits. Results: The results showed that the mean level of AFM1 in pregnant and non-pregnant women was 8.23±2.9 and 35.5±1.05 pg mL-1, respectively. Excretion of AFM1 in urine samples had a significant relationship with some demographic factors and type of consumed foods (P<0.05). Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between the education level, place of residence, and the consumption of nuts with the excretion of AFM1 . It can be concluded that some foods distributed in Yazd are contaminated with AFs, and a significant number of people are exposed to high concentrations of AFM1 .

Comparative Transcriptomic Profiling Revealed Distinctive Patterns in Differentially Expressed Genes Related to Clinicopathologic Features of Parathyroid Carcinoma and Adenoma

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare malignancy which remains as a clinical unmet need lacking effective therapeutic intervention. (1) In this study, we compared mutational profile of parathyroid carcinoma, adenoma, and normal parathyroid tissue using RNA-Seq based transcriptomics analysis and whole exome sequencing. A total of 40 parathyroid specimens [parathyroid carcinoma (n=8), adenoma (n=24), and normal tissue incidentally obtained from thyroidectomy for various reasons (n=8)] from 39 individuals (women n=34, 87%; mean age 51 year) were analyzed. Compared to adenoma and normal parathyroid groups, parathyroid carcinoma group had younger age (carcinoma 35 ± 12 vs. other 56 ± 16 year, p=0.001) and higher serum parathyroid hormone (PTH; 231 [145–474] vs. 114 [88–196] vs. 34 [29–41] pg/mL, p=0.001) prior to surgery. CDC73 mutation was found in 7 of 8 carcinoma specimens, which harbored germline mutation in 6 of them. Among top feature gene mutations for classifying adenoma and carcinoma, carcinoma-specific genes showed high specificity, whereas adenoma-related key features were largely overlapped with normal tissues. Transcriptional profiling revealed 546 carcinoma-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 135 adenoma-specific DEGs, and 323 common DEGs. Hierarchical clustering with 546 carcinoma-specific DEGs detected four clusters with distinctive clinicopathologic characteristics (cluster 1 [n=12]: 7 normal tissues and 5 adenomas; cluster 2 and 3 [n=22]: all adenomas except one normal tissue; cluster 4 [n=9]: all parathyroid carcinomas except one adenoma). Carcinoma-specific DEGs include upregulation of GRIN2A, LYPD1, and SOX2 and downregulation of ENTPPL, MYO3B, and PIK3C2G. Gene ontology enrichment revealed that these DEGs were mainly involved in the binding of cell adhesion molecule, actin, and Rho GTPase, and extracellular matrix structural constituent. Two adenoma clusters significantly differed in urinary calcium excretion level (403 [312–488] vs. 205 [150–327], p=0.037) without significant differences in median PTH (102 [86–138] vs. 125 [92–229] pg/mL) and calcium level (11.1 ± 1.0 vs. 11.0 ± 0.9 mg/dL; P&gt;0.05 for all). In summary, parathyroid carcinoma had distinctive transcriptional profiles which might improve the early detection of parathyroid carcinoma. Parathyroid adenomas were clustered into two groups with regard to urinary calcium excretion level based on transcriptional profiles, which merits further investigation. Reference: (1) Pandya C et al., JCI Insight. 2017 Mar 23; 2(6): e92061. Sources of Research Support: This study was supported by Severance Hospital Research Fund for Clinical Excellence (SHRC C-2019-0032; C-2020-0035).

Comparative Study of the Composition of Sweat from Eccrine and Apocrine Sweat Glands during Exercise and in Heat

This preliminarily study was made to examine the differences in sweat excretions from human eccrine and apocrine sweat glands in dynamic exercise and heat conditions. Sweat samples were collected from six young males while they were either running on a treadmill or sitting in a sauna cabinet. Sweat samples of at least 5 mL from the eccrine (upper−back) and apocrine (armpit) sweat glands were collected during a 20−min running (or inactive overheating) period. The samples were then analyzed for urea, uric acid, and electrolyte (Na+, Cl−, and K+) excretions. The results from a two−way repeated−measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the secretions of urea and K+ were significantly higher during running than during inactive overheating for both glands, as were Na+ secretions for the apocrine glands (all P < 0.05). Under the same sweating conditions, urea and K+ excretions from the apocrine glands were also higher than those from the eccrine glands (all P < 0.05). Significant differences were observed between the Na+ secretions of the apocrine and eccrine glands under the running condition. The effects of various sweating methods and sweat glands on Cl− secretions were nonsignificant, and little uric acid was excreted. A higher urea excretion level during running rather than in hot conditions could be attributed to an elevated metabolic rate.

Relationship between depressive symptoms and cumulative 24-hour urinary norepinephrine excretion level among undergraduate medical students in Uganda

BackgroundDepression is a serious mental health problem in different parts of the world and has been reported to be rising among undergraduate medical students. The incidence of depression has not only been linked to psychosocial factors but also to biological factors, such as altered urinary levels of norepinephrine. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of depression among undergraduate medical students in Uganda and examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and 24-hour urinary norepinephrine excretion levels in the participants.MethodsOne hundred and sixteen undergraduate medical students (75 males and 41 females) of Kampala International University, in southwestern Uganda were evaluated for depression using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI) questionnaire. Twenty-four-hour urine collections from each participant were assayed for norepinephrine excretion levels. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient were computed to examine the data obtained.ResultsThe results of this study showed that, a total of 33 participants (28.4%) have depressive symptoms. Students with depressive symptoms had higher but not significant 24-hour urinary mean norepinephrine excretion levels than those without depressive symptoms (121.97±51.48μg/day Vs 87.58±18.64 μg/day, P>0.05). There was a positive weak relationship between BDI scores and 24-hour urinary norepinephrine levels (r= 0.21, p = 0.28). Regression models accounting for socio-demographic characteristics indicated that, type of accommodation, marital status, relationship with parents, educational sponsorship may be risk factors for depressive symptoms observed in the participants.ConclusionsThese results suggest that increased urinary norepinephrine excretion and other psychosocial factors may be associated with depressive symptoms. Measurements of 24-hour urinary norepinephrine excretion may serve as an integrative parameter in diagnosing and management of patients with depression.

EXCRETION LEVEL OF TRACE MINERALS IN BROILERS FED ORGANIC MINERAL

The aim of this current study was to determine the excretion level of the trace organic minerals copper, iron, manganese, and zinc added to broiler diets at different inclusion levels. The treatments consisted of a corn and soybean meal based diet supplemented with inorganic minerals or levels of organic minerals: basal diet containing 0% of microminerals of organic source (MO), 50% MO, 75% MO, and 100% MO. Excretion levels of organic trace minerals varied quadratically in relation to the inclusion levels of organic minerals. The inclusion levels of 50% and 75% of organic minerals led to animals with lower excretion levels of all trace elements evaluated. The performance variables did not suffer any influence of treatments, even when the amount of organic minerals was equivalent to 50% of the recommended levels. The diet with the addition of trace organic minerals at the level of 50% is more efficient since it provides lower levels of trace minerals excretion keeping poultry performance.