Single laboratory evaluation of a planar waveguide-based system for a simple simultaneous analysis of four mycotoxins in wheat

The accuracy and precision of a commercially available system based on an indirect competitive immunoassay and planar waveguide technology was evaluated for the analysis of deoxynivalenol (DON), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEAR), and T-2 toxin in wheat. The system generally performed well at the tested concentrations that were close to the regulatory limits of DON and OTA in wheat. The mean percent recovery of OTA from certified and in-house reference materials ranged from 90 to 111 %, with a relative standard deviation of 8–16 % (at 4.2, 4.9, and 7.0 μg/kg). Mean percent recoveries of DON ranged from 75 to 103 %, with a relative standard deviation of 14–20 % (at 610, 940, and 1300 μg/kg). As analyte concentrations approached the lower limits of the working range of 3 μg/kg OTA and 400 μg/kg DON, the mean percent recoveries and relative standard deviation increased for both DON and OTA. A lack of reference materials precluded a thorough evaluation of the method for the analysis of ZEAR and T-2. The particular strength of the technology was that multiple mycotoxins were analyzed simultaneously.     

Uptake of dissolved organic nitrogen by size-fractionated plankton along a salinity gradient from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is known for its ecological problems due to eutrophication caused by high nutrient input via nitrogen fixation and rivers, which deliver up to 70% of nitrogen in the form of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) compounds. We therefore measured organic nitrogen uptake rates using self produced ¹⁵N labeled allochthonous (derived from Brassica napus and Phragmites sp.) and autochthonous (derived from Skeletonema costatum) DON at twelve stations along a salinity gradient (34 to 2) from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea in August/September 2009. Both labeled DON sources were exploited by the size fractions 0.2–1.6 μm (bacteria size fraction) and >1.6 μm (phytoplankton size fraction). Higher DON uptake rates were measured in the Baltic Sea compared to the North Sea, with rates of up to 1213 nmol N l^?1 h^?1. The autochthonous DON was the dominant nitrogen form used by the phytoplankton size fraction, whereas the heterotrophic bacteria size fraction preferred the allochthonous DON. We detected a moderate shift from >1.6 μm plankton dominated DON uptake in the North Sea and central Baltic Sea towards a 0.2–1.6 μm dominated DON uptake in the Bothnian Bay and a weak positive relationship between DON concentrations and uptake. These findings indicate that DON is an important component of plankton nutrition and can fuel primary production. It may therefore also contribute substantially to eutrophication in the Baltic Sea especially when inorganic nitrogen sources are depleted.     

Effect of caffeine concentration on biomass production, caffeine degradation, and morphology of Aspergillus tamarii

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the initial caffeine concentration (1–8 g/L) on growth and caffeine consumption by Aspergillus tamarii as well as pellet morphology, in submerged fermentation. Caffeine was used as sole nitrogen source. At 1 g/L of initial caffeine concentration, caffeine degradation was not affected, resulting in a production of 8.7 g/L of biomass. The highest biomass production (12.4–14.8 g/L) was observed within a range of 2 to 4 g/L of initial caffeine concentration. At these initial caffeine concentrations, after 96 h of fermentation, 41–51 % of the initial caffeine was degraded. Using an initial caffeine concentration of 2–3 g/L, the highest specific growth rate was observed (μ?=?0.069 1/h). Biomass production decreased at 8 g/L of initial caffeine concentration. A. tamarii formed mainly pellets at all concentrations tested. The size of the pellet decreased at a caffeine concentration of 8 g/L.     

Effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its microbial biotransformation product deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1) on a trout,pig, mouse,and human cell line

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a trichothecene produced by various Fusarium species, is one of the most prevalent food- and feed-associated mycotoxins. The effects of DON and deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1) were assessed in five different cell lines from different tissues and species starting from the first line of defense, the trout gill (RTgill-W1) and pig intestinal cells (IPEC-1 and IPEC-J2) over immune cells, as second line of defense (mouse macrophages RAW 264.7) to human liver cells (HepG2). Viability was assessed with a WST-1 assay, except for RTgill-W1, where a neutral red (NR) and sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay was performed. Additionally, more sensitive parameters, such as interleukin-, nitric oxide (NO)-, and albumin-release were determined. Viability was affected by DON at concentrations starting at 10 μmol/L (RTgill-W1), 0.9 μmol/L (IPEC-1), 3.5 μmol/L (IPEC-J2), and 0.9 μmol/L (HepG2), whereas DOM-1 did not have such an effect. Additionally, NO was decreased (0.84 μmol/L DON), whereas interleukin (IL)-6 was increased (0.42 μmol/L DON) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated DON-, but not DOM-1-treated RAW cells. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α release, however, was not affected. Interestingly, albumin secretion of HepG2 cells was decreased by both DON and DOM-1 but at a much higher concentration for DOM-1 (228 versus 0.9 μmol/L for DON). 98.9% of DOM-1 was retrieved by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry at the end of the experiment, proving its stability. In this study, IL-6 was the most sensitive parameter, followed by NO and albumin release and viability for HepG2 and IPEC-1.     

Waterborne copper disrupts circadian rhythm in red seabream (Pagrus major)

We investigated the effect of copper (Cu) on circadian rhythms in red seabream, Pagrus major, under various concentrations of Cu (10, 20, 30 and 40 μg/L). To examine variability in circadian rhythms, we measured changes in the period 2 (Per2), cryptochrome 1 (Cry1), serotonin and arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT2) proteins. We found that circadian rhythm-related plasma proteins were significantly lower in a high-Cu environment (30–40 μg/L) than in low-Cu concentration (0, 10, or 20 μg/L). Our results indicate that environmental Cu at concentrations greater than 30 μg/L can have deleterious effects on fish circadian rhythms.     

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) modulate the metabolism of deoxynivalenol (DON) in the pig

Pigs might be exposed to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and deoxynivalenol (DON) at the same time, and both toxins are thought to interactively affect the intestinal barrier, the innate immune system, and the xenobiotics metabolism. Hence, we aimed at examining the single and combined effects of both toxins on nutrient digestibility and DON metabolism. For this purpose, barrows (26?±?4 kg) were fed restrictedly either a control diet (CON) or a diet contaminated with 3.1 mg DON/kg (DON) for 37 days. At day 37 of the experiment, pigs were infused intravenously for 60 min either with 100 μg DON/kg body weight (BW) (CON-DON), 7.5 μg LPS/kg BW (CON-LPS, DON-LPS) or a combination of both substances (CON-DON?+?LPS), or physiological saline (CON-CON, DON-CON). Blood samples were collected frequently until 3.25 h before the pigs were sacrificed for bile, liver, and kidney collection. The apparent digestibility of N-free extractives was significantly increased by 1 % when the DON-contaminated diet was fed. The total DON content in blood was significantly higher in endotoxemic pigs (34.8 ng/mL; CON-DON?+?LPS) when compared to the pigs infused with DON alone (18.8 ng/mL; CON-DON) while bile concentrations were not influenced by LPS. DON residue levels in liver and kidney closely reflected the treatment effects as described for blood. In contrast to DON infusion, the LPS challenge resulted in a significantly lower total DON concentration (13.2 vs. 7.5 ng/mL in groups DON-CON and DON-LPS, respectively) when the pigs were exposed to DON through the diet. The conjugation degree for DON in blood and bile was not influenced by treatments. In conclusion, endotoxemic pigs are characterized by higher DON residue levels in blood, liver, and kidney, probably by a compromised elimination.     

Occurrence of type A,B and D trichothecenes in barley and barley products from the Bavarian market

Fifty-nine samples of barley and barley products were analysed for 18 trichothecene mycotoxins by a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method (detection limits 0.062-0.70 μg/kg) after sample extract clean-up on MycoSep®-226 columns. The samples were collected in 2009 from barley processing facilities (mills and malt houses) and at wholesale and retail stage from the Bavarian market. The predominant toxins were T-2 toxin (T-2), HT-2 toxin (HT-2) and deoxynivalenol (DON). For all samples, the mean levels of T-2 and HT-2 were 3.0 μg/kg and 6.8 μg/kg with rates of contamination of 63% and 71%, respectively. The maximum values were 40 μg/kg for T-2 and 47 μg/kg for HT-2. The rate of contamination with DON was high (95%) with a low mean level of 23 μg/kg. The DON levels ranged between 3.4 to 420 μg/kg. For T-2 tetraol, a mean level of 9.2 μg/kg and a maximum level of 51 μg/kg with a rate of contamination of 71% were determined. NIV was detected in 69% of the samples with a mean level of 11 μg/kg and a maximum level of 72 μg/kg. Other type A and B trichothecenes were detected only in traces. Type D trichothecenes, fusarenon-X, verrucarol and 4,15-diacetylverrucarol were not detected in any sample. Winter barley and malting barley were the most contaminated groups of all samples in this study. In malting barley, the highest levels of contamination with type A trichothecenes were found. In contrast, winter barley showed the highest contamination with type B trichothecenes. The lowest mycotoxin concentrations were found in de-hulled and naked barley and in pearl barley.     

Iron Deficiency Increases Blood Cadmium Levels in Adolescents Surveyed in KNHANES 2010–2011

Discrepancies have been reported in the relationships between iron and cadmium concentrations. The distribution of blood cadmium concentrations was assessed in a representative sample of Korean adolescents participating in the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010–2011, and the association between blood cadmium and iron concentrations was determined. This study was based on data from KNHANES, in which a rolling sampling design was used to perform a complex, stratified, multistage probability cluster survey of a representative sample of the noninstitutionalized civilian population in South Korea. Serum ferritin was categorized as low (<15.0 μg/L), low normal (15.0–<30.0 μg/L for girls, 15.0–<50.0 μg/L for boys), or normal (≥30.0 μg/L for girls, ≥50.0 μg/L for boys), and the association between serum ferritin and blood cadmium concentrations was assessed after adjustment for various demographic and lifestyle factors. The geometric mean (GM) of blood cadmium was significantly higher among both boys and girls in the low than in the normal ferritin group. After controlling for covariates, multiple regression analysis showed that blood cadmium concentration was inversely correlated with serum ferritin concentration in both boys and girls. In conclusion, iron deficiency is associated with increased blood cadmium concentrations in a representative sample of Korean adolescents, as evaluated in KNHANES.     

Characterising the seasonal cycle of dissolved organic nitrogen using Cefas SmartBuoy high-resolution time-series samples from the southern North Sea

The Cefas SmartBuoy network provides a unique insight into the biogeochemical dynamics of the Northern European shelf seas, particularly the North Sea, through high-resolution automated offshore water sampling. We present total dissolved nitrogen and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) from the Dowsing SmartBuoy site (53.531° N, 1.053° E) from January to October 2010, the first high resolution seasonal (winter-autumn) cycle of DON from the open North Sea. On top of a refractory background DON concentration of approximately 5 μM, a rapid increase in DON of a further ～5 μM is observed over the course of the spring bloom. This rapidly produced DON declines at an estimated net decay rate of between 0.6 and 1.8 μM month^?1. The slow decay suggests that the majority of the additional DON produced during the spring bloom is of semi-labile nature and has a lifetime of weeks to months. The dataset allows us to tightly constrain the budget for water column nitrogen over the winter, spring and summer of 2010 and clearly demonstrates the ‘sawtooth’ nature of the seasonal cycle of DON in the open North Sea, which has been impossible to resolve with a more traditional ship-based mode of operation. This work highlights the importance of autonomous sampling approaches in better understanding shelf sea biogeochemistry in the future.     

Effect of High Flow Events on In-Stream Dissolved Organic Nitrogen Concentration

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) can comprise a large and biologically important fraction of total dissolved N in surface water. Biotic and abiotic processes result in heterogeneous DON concentrations and bioavailability in soils, and as hydrologic connectivity expands and flow paths change in watersheds, novel sources of DON can be mobilized and transported to surface water. Although the relationship between in-stream DOC concentration and stream discharge has previously been examined in the literature, up to now there has not been a synthesis examining how DON concentrations, loads, and composition change during transitions from base flow to pulse flow conditions. We present a meta-analysis examining the effect of high flow on DON concentration ([DON]). The ratio of mean pulse flow [DON] to mean base flow [DON] (P:B) was calculated for individual events and averaged (geometric) within and then across sites to generate an overall effect size. For 47 sites (78 events), mean P:B was 1.58, which was significantly different from unity. This moderate increase in DON concentration contributed to over a more than 10-fold average increase in the rate of DON yield from base flow to high flow. The response of [DON] to high flow was significant in catchments where individual storm events or snowmelt runoff events were responsible for elevated flows, whereas the response was not significant in catchments where high discharge resulted from a mixture of upstream snowmelt and rain events. Additionally, an examination of DOC:DON ratios during high flow indicates that multiple sources of DON may be mobilized during high flow. Finally, current models of annual DON export may be improved by including a positive relationship between discharge and DON.     

Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in urban and rural watersheds of south-central Texas: land use and land management influences

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) concentrations were quantified in urban and rural watersheds located in central Texas, USA between 2007 and 2008. The proportion of urban land use ranged from 6 to 100% in our 12 study watersheds which included nine watersheds without waste water treatment plants (WWTP) and three watersheds sampled downstream of a WWTP. Annual mean DOC concentrations ranged 20.4–52.5 mg L^?1. Annual mean DON concentrations ranged 0.6–1.9 mg L^?1. Only the rural watersheds without a WWTP had significantly lower DOC concentrations compared to those watersheds with a WWTP but all the streams except two had significantly reduced DON compared to those with a WWTP. Analysis of the nine watersheds without a WWTP indicated that 68% of the variability in mean annual DOC concentration was explained by urban open areas such as golf courses, sports fields and neighborhood parks under turf grass. There was no relationship between annual mean DON concentration and any land use. Urban open area also explained a significant amount of the variance in stream sodium and stream sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). Ninety-four percent of the variance in annual mean DOC concentration was explained by SAR. Irrigation of urban turf grass with domestic tap water high in sodium (>181 mg Na⁺ L^?1) may be inducing sodic soil conditions in watershed soils in this region resulting in elevated mean annual DOC concentrations in our streams.     

Assessment of biostimulation and bioaugmentation for removing chlorinated volatile organic compounds from groundwater at a former manufacture plant

Site in a former chemical manufacture plant in China was found contaminated with high level of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs). The major contaminants chloroform (CF), 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) and vinyl chloride (VC) in groundwater were up to 4.49 × 10⁴, 2.76 × 10⁶ and 4.35 × 10⁴ μg/L, respectively. Ethene and methane were at concentrations up to 2219.80 and 165.85 μg/L, respectively. To test the hypothesis that the CVOCs in groundwater at this site could be removed via biodegradation, biomarker analyses and microcosm studies were conducted. Dehalococcoides 16S rRNA gene and VC-reductase gene vcrA at densities up to 1.5 × 10⁴ and 3.2 × 10⁴ copies/L were detected in some of the groundwater samples, providing strong evidence that dechlorinating bacteria were present in the aquifer. Results from the microcosm studies showed that at moderate concentrations (CF about 4000 μg/L and 1,2-DCA about 100 μg/L), CF was recalcitrant under natural condition but was degraded under biostimulation and bioaugmentation, while 1,2-DCA was degraded under all the three conditions. At high concentration (CF about 1,000,000 μg/L and 1,2-DCA about 20,000 μg/L), CF was recalcitrant under all the three treatments and 1,2-DCA was only degraded under bioaugmentation, indicating that high concentrations of contaminants were inhibitory to the bacteria. Electron donors had influence on the degradation of contaminants. Of the four fatty acids (pyruvate, acetate, propionate and lactate) examined, all could stimulate the degradation of 1,2-DCA at both moderate and high concentrations, whereas only pyruvate and acetate could stimulate the degradation of CF at moderate concentration. In the microcosms, the observed first-order degradation rates of CF and 1,2-DCA were up to 0.12 and 0.11/day, respectively. Results from the present study provided scientific basis for remediating CVOCs contaminated groundwater at the site.     

Hydrothermal treatment of naturally contaminated maize in the presence of sodium metabisulfite, methylamine and calcium hydroxide; effects on the concentration of zearalenone and deoxynivalenol

Fusarium toxin-contaminated ground maize was hydrothermally treated in the presence of different combinations of chemicals in order to simultaneously reduce zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations. Treatments were carried out in a laboratory conditioner at 80 °C and 17 % moisture. Six different treatments were performed, consisting of 3 doses of methylamine (MMA; 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg maize) at a constant dose of 5 g sodium metabisulfite (SBS)/kg, either with or without the addition of 20 g calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂)/kg. The used maize was contaminated with approximately 45.99 mg DON/kg and 3.46 mg ZEA/kg. Without the addition of Ca(OH)₂, DON reductions reached approximately 82 % after 1-min treatment and the toxin disappeared nearly completely after 10 min when 2.5 or 5 g MMA were applied. ZEA concentrations were only marginally affected. In the presence of Ca(OH)₂, reductions in DON concentrations were lower, but were enhanced by increasing doses of MMA. ZEA concentrations were reduced by 72, 85 and 95 % within the first 5 min of the treatment at MMA dosages of 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg maize, respectively. The application of SBS in combination with a strong alkaline during hydrothermal treatment seems to be a promising approach to simultaneously decontaminate even high amounts of DON and ZEA in ground maize and may contribute to reduce the toxin load of diets     

Human Exposure to Metals: Levels in Autopsy Tissues of Individuals Living Near a Hazardous Waste Incinerator

The concentrations of a number of metals were determined in the brain, bone, kidney, liver, and lung of 20 autopsied subjects who had lived, at least 10 years, in the neighborhood of a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) in Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). Results were compared with those obtained in 1998 (baseline survey) and previous surveys (2003 and 2007). Arsenic, Be, Ni, Tl, and V showed concentrations below the corresponding detection limits in all tissues. Cadmium showed the highest levels in the kidney, with a mean value of 21.15 μg/g. However, Cd was found below the detection limit in the brain and bone. Chromium showed similar concentrations in the kidney, brain, and lung (range of mean values, 0.57–0.66 μg/g) and higher in the bone (1.38 μg/g). In turn, Hg was below the detection limit in all tissues with the exception of the kidney, where the mean concentration was 0.15 μg/g (range, <0.05–0.58 μg/g). On the other hand, Mn could be detected in all tissues showing the highest levels in the liver and kidney (1.45 and 1.09 μg/g, respectively). Moreover, Pb showed the highest concentrations in bone (mean, 1.39 μg/g; range, <0.025–4.88 μg/g). Finally, Sn could be detected only in some tissue samples, reaching the highest values in the bone (0.17 μg/g). The current metal levels in human tissues from individuals living near the HWI of Tarragona are comparable and of a similar magnitude to previously reported results corresponding to general populations, as well as those of our previous surveys.     

Protective Role of Selenium in Immune-Relevant Cytokine and Immunoglobulin Production by Piglet Splenic Lymphocytes Exposed to Deoxynivalenol

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin that causes immunosuppression, especially in swine. Selenium (Se) is essential for proper functioning of the immune system in animals. However, little is known about the effects of DON and Se on cytokine or immunoglobulin production in piglets. Here, we addressed this gap by examining piglet splenic lymphocyte responses in vitro. Cells were stimulated with concanavalin A, a T cell stimulatory lectin, in the absence or presence of DON (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 μg/mL), Se (Na₂SeO₃, 2 μM), or combinations of Se 2 μM and DON 0.1–0.8 μg/mL for 12, 24, or 48 h. At each time point, supernatants and cells were collected and the expression of cytokine and immunoglobulin protein and mRNA was examined. Compared with control and Se-alone treatments, DON exposure significantly and dose dependently decreased the expression levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, IgG, and IgM mRNA and protein. By contrast, co-treatment with DON + Se significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of all factors examined, except IL-4 and IL-6, compared with DON treatment alone. The results of this investigation demonstrate that Se has the potential to counteract DON-induced immunosuppression in piglets and is a promising treatment for DON-mediated toxicity.     

A Rapid Method with UPLC for the Determination of Fusaric Acid in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> Strains and Commercial Food and Feed Products

A rapid, sensitive and validated method for the determination of fusaric acid (FA) in several Fusarium strains and different commercial food and feed products is reported based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography. This method requires only crude sample by a simple extraction with methanol, and requires a very short time of 8 min for completion. Separation of FA was performed at injection volume of 1 μl with a 20:80 (v/v) water/acetonitrile mobile phase containing 0.1 % formic acid at a flow rate of 0.05 ml/min and detected with UV at 220 nm. Nice linearity and good correlation coefficient (R² > 0.99) were obtained in the concentration range of 1–200 μg/ml. Validation was demonstrated using blank samples spiked at three different concentrations with standard solution, and the method yielded more than 98.2 % recovery efficiencies and below 2.56 % R.S.D. when applied in the analysis of FA produced by Fusarium verticillioides and a set of transgenic strains of this fungus. Satisfactory recoveries in the range of 79.1–105.8 % and R.S.D lower than 10 % were also obtained for the tested commercial food and feed products. The concentration FA detection in the transgenic strains ranged from 9.65 to 135 μg/kg (0.29–4.05 μg per gram of biomass). However, FA was not detected in most of the commercial products with the exception of niblet, oatmeal, red kidney bean and soybean, for which the concentrations of FA ranged from 2.5 to 18 μg/kg (below the permitted maximum). These results show that the proposed method has a great potential application to analyze FA from different sources rapidly.     

Arginine Silicate Inositol Complex Accelerates Cutaneous Wound Healing

The objective of this study was to assess the accumulation and depletion of cadmium in the blood, milk, hair, feces, and urine of Holstein cows during and after treatment. Three Holstein cows received daily oral cadmium administrations (as cadmium chloride) of 0.182 mg/kg body weight/day for 21 days followed by a 63-day withdrawal period. Blood, milk, hair, feces, and urine were collected during treatment and withdrawal periods. Cadmium concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Cadmium concentrations in blood (0.61–1.12 μg/L), milk (0.39–1.04 μg/L), and urine (0.41–2.05 μg/L) were low. Comparatively, cadmium concentrations in feces were higher, especially on treatment day 14 (20.11 mg/kg dry matter). Fecal cadmium concentrations decreased to baseline levels (0.12 mg/kg dry matter) on withdrawal day 21. Hair cadmium concentrations increased with treatment, reaching the highest levels on withdrawal day 7 (24.33 μg/kg). Most of the cadmium was excreted via the feces and very little was present in urine or milk. Cadmium residues were detected in blood and milk more than 63 days after cadmium withdrawal. Hair cadmium concentrations may reflect exposure to the metal.     

Evaluation of Calcium and Magnesium in Scalp Hair Samples of Population Consuming Different Drinking Water: Risk of Kidney Stone

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in underground water (UGW), bottled mineral water (BMW), and domestic treated water (DTW) with related to risk of kidney stones. The water samples were collected from different areas of Sindh, Pakistan. The scalp hair samples of both genders, age ranged 30–60 years, consuming different types of water, have or have not kidney disorders, were selected. The Ca and Mg concentrations were determined in scalp hair of study subjects and water by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The Ca and Mg contents in different types of drinking water, UGW, DTW, and BMW, were found in the range of 79.1–466, 23.7–140, and 45–270 mg/L and 4.43–125, 5.23–39.6, and 7.16–51.3 mg/L, respectively. It was observed that Ca concentration in the scalp hair samples of kidney stone patients consuming different types of drinking water was found to be higher (2,895–4721 μg/g) while Mg level (84.3–101 μg/g) was lower as compare to referents subjects (2,490–2,730 μg/g for Ca, 107–128 μg/g for Mg) in both genders. The positive correlation was found between Ca and Mg levels in water with related to kidney stone formations in population, especially who consumed underground water. A relative risk and odd ratio were calculated; the relative risk had a strong positive association with incidence of kidney stone which depends on types of drinking water.     

Maternal Cadmium Levels During Pregnancy and the Relationship with Preeclampsia and Fetal Biometric Parameters

Preeclampsia, which is caused by multiple factors, still remains one of the most serious complications of pregnancy. This study was designed to determine cadmium levels in women with preeclampsia compared to those of normotensive women. In this case-control study, maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and placental cadmium levels were measured by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry system in 51 women presenting consecutively with preeclampsia and 51 normotensive pregnant women. Groups were matched for maternal age, parity, and gestational age. Birth outcomes were recorded, such as gestational age at delivery, birth weight, and Apgar score. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) blood cadmium concentration was 1.21 μg/L (0.76–1.84 μg/L) and 1.09 μg/L (0.72–1.31 μg/L) in women with preeclampsia and normotensive, respectively; values for placental cadmium levels of women with preeclampsia and normotensive were 3.61 μg/kg (2.19–4.37 μg/kg) and 4.28 μg/kg (3.06–5.71 μg/kg), respectively. We observed a statistically significant increase in blood and placental cadmium levels in women with preeclampsia compared to healthy pregnant women. After adjusting for pre-pregnancy body mass index, maternal age, parity, gestational age at sample collection, and maternal calcium and magnesium levels, the odds ratio of having preeclampsia in the high tertile was markedly increased (odds ratio, 7.83 [95% CI, 1.64–37.26]) compared with the low tertile. Interestingly, there was no difference in the cadmium level in umbilical cord blood between the groups. Within the preeclamptic group, higher cadmium status was significantly associated with decreased birth weight. Our study suggested that elevated cadmium level in the maternal circulation could potentially increase the risk of preeclampsia. The results also demonstrate that higher cadmium status may contribute to fetal growth restriction in preeclamptic patients.     

Heterogeneous dissolved organic nitrogen supply over a coral reef: first evidence from nitrogen stable isotope ratios

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) potentially plays a major role in sustaining the high productivity and biological diversity of coral reefs. However, data are scarce regarding sources and sinks of DON. This study, for the first time, determined the ¹⁵N isotopic composition of total dissolved nitrogen (δ¹⁵N_TDN), reflecting the isotopic signature of DON, in the water column over a coral reef. The uniformity in δ¹⁵N_TDN during high tide (3.2 ± 0.3 ‰) indicated that the DON was mainly derived from offshore waters. In contrast, higher spatial heterogeneity of δ¹⁵N_TDN (3.1 ± 0.9 ‰) and DON concentrations during low tide indicated the existence of local DON sources patchily distributed over the reef. Low δ¹⁵N_TDN values located mid-reef were indicative of DON release from organisms that obtained their N via N₂ fixation, whereas high δ¹⁵N_TDN appeared to reflect localized release of DON by organisms exposed to dissolved inorganic nitrogen with elevated ¹⁵N, such as from terrestrial and offshore inputs. Collectively, the results highlight the importance of spatial patterns in DON release from reef communities in the N cycling of coral reefs.