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Chemosphere Apr 2020Minamata disease in Japan and the large-scale poisoning by methylmercury (MeHg) in Iraq caused wide public concerns about the risk emanating from mercury for human... (Review)
Review
Minamata disease in Japan and the large-scale poisoning by methylmercury (MeHg) in Iraq caused wide public concerns about the risk emanating from mercury for human health. Nowadays, it is widely known that all forms of mercury induce toxic effects in mammals, and increasing evidence supports the concern that environmentally relevant levels of MeHg could impact normal biological functions in wildlife. The information of mechanism involved in mercurial toxicity is growing but knowledge gaps still exist between the adverse effects and mechanisms of action, especially at the molecular level. A body of data obtained from experimental studies on mechanisms of mercurial toxicity in vivo and in vitro points to that disruption of the antioxidant system may play an important role in the mercurial toxic effects. Moreover, the accumulating evidence indicates that signaling transduction, protein or/and enzyme activity, and gene regulation are involving in mediating toxic and adaptive response to mercury exposure. We conducted here a comprehensive review of mercurial toxic effects on wildlife and human, in particular synthesized key findings of molecular pathways involved in mercurial toxicity from the cells to human. We discuss the molecular evidence related mercurial toxicity to the adverse effects, with particular emphasis on the gene regulation. The further studies relying on Omic analysis connected to adverse effects and modes of action of mercury will aid in the evaluation and validation of causative relationship between health outcomes and gene expression.
Topics: Animals; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Pollutants; Humans; Japan; Mercury; Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System; Methylmercury Compounds
PubMed: 31881386
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125586 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2021The industrial activities of the last century have caused massive increases in human exposure to heavy metals. Mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic have been... (Review)
Review
The industrial activities of the last century have caused massive increases in human exposure to heavy metals. Mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic have been the most common heavy metals that induced human poisonings. Here, we reviewed the mechanistic action of these heavy metals according to the available animal and human studies. Acute or chronic poisonings may occur following exposure through water, air, and food. Bioaccumulation of these heavy metals leads to a diversity of toxic effects on a variety of body tissues and organs. Heavy metals disrupt cellular events including growth, proliferation, differentiation, damage-repairing processes, and apoptosis. Comparison of the mechanisms of action reveals similar pathways for these metals to induce toxicity including ROS generation, weakening of the antioxidant defense, enzyme inactivation, and oxidative stress. On the other hand, some of them have selective binding to specific macromolecules. The interaction of lead with aminolevulinic acid dehydratase and ferrochelatase is within this context. Reactions of other heavy metals with certain proteins were discussed as well. Some toxic metals including chromium, cadmium, and arsenic cause genomic instability. Defects in DNA repair following the induction of oxidative stress and DNA damage by the three metals have been considered as the cause of their carcinogenicity. Even with the current knowledge of hazards of heavy metals, the incidence of poisoning remains considerable and requires preventive and effective treatment. The application of chelation therapy for the management of metal poisoning could be another aspect of heavy metals to be reviewed in the future.
PubMed: 33927623
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.643972 -
Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine... Jul 2019This review illustrates heavy metals toxicity, currently available therapies and the role and efficacy of chelation therapy for its management. (Review)
Review
AIM
This review illustrates heavy metals toxicity, currently available therapies and the role and efficacy of chelation therapy for its management.
SUMMARY
Heavy metals are necessary for various biological processes, but they become harmful in excess. Specifically, they induce oxidative stress by generating free radicals and reducing antioxidant levels. Heavy metals also alter the confirmation of protein and DNA and inhibit their function. Chelation therapy is commonly used to treat metals toxicity. Chelation is a chemical process that occurs when interaction between a central metal atom/ion and ligand leads to formation of a complex ring-like structure. The ligand has a donor ion/molecule, which has a lone pair of electrons and may be monodentate to polydentate. Each metal has a different reactivity with a ligand, so a specific chelation agent is required for each metal. Combination therapy with a chelating agent and an antioxidant led to improved outcome.
CONCLUSION
Heavy metal poisoning is a common health problem because of mining, smelting, industrial, agricultural and sewage waste. Heavy metals can be efficiently excreted from the body following treatment with proper chelation agents.
Topics: Arsenic; Cadmium; Chelating Agents; Copper; Heavy Metal Poisoning; Humans; Iron; Lead; Metals, Heavy
PubMed: 31109617
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.05.003 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Nov 2022
Topics: Humans; Mercury Poisoning
PubMed: 36383715
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm2202896 -
Neurotoxicology Jul 2020
Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Child; Child Development; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Dietary Exposure; Fishes; Food Contamination; Humans; Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System; Methylmercury Compounds; Nervous System; Nutritional Status; Nutritive Value; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Seafood; Seychelles
PubMed: 32387194
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.04.001 -
The Journal of the Association of... Jul 2022
Topics: Embolism; Humans; Mercury; Mercury Poisoning; Pulmonary Embolism
PubMed: 35833404
DOI: No ID Found -
Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and... 2020Intoxication syndromes may be travel acquired, and are related to intentional or accidental inhalational or percutaneous exposures or ingestions. Due to their myriad... (Review)
Review
Intoxication syndromes may be travel acquired, and are related to intentional or accidental inhalational or percutaneous exposures or ingestions. Due to their myriad clinical presentations, initial differential diagnosis of such intoxications in returned travelers is broad, and typically requires detailed history and laboratory investigations to disentangle. We herein use a case-based clinical problem solving approach to illumination of a mercury intoxication syndrome, which presented in a 48-year-old VFR traveler to Guyana. Common clinical presentations, differential diagnoses, laboratory investigations, and therapeutic interventions are discussed.
PubMed: 32099658
DOI: 10.1186/s40794-020-0103-y -
La Medicina Del Lavoro Dec 2019.
UNLABELLED
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BACKGROUND:
The Clinica del Lavoro of Milan provided several contributions to industrial hygiene and occupational toxicology during the twentieth century.
OBJECTIVES:
Describe the first years of the laboratory of industrial hygiene of Milan through three figures who played a leading role: Enrico Carlo Vigliani, Nicola Zurlo and Gianmario Cavagna.
METHODS:
Scientific literature of the period 1948-1970 was investigated, also interviewing first-hand witnesses of that period.
RESULTS:
Enrico Vigliani was the first European scholar to understand the importance of a laboratory of industrial hygiene within his institution. Thanks to the support of private (Montecatini) and public (INAIL) institutions he succeeded in creating a laboratory in 1948. Nicola Zurlo, who directed this structure in the first thirty years, conducted innovative studies on chronic mercury intoxication, lead intoxication and silicosis, designing and creating instruments for capturing and analyzing atmospheric dust and protection devices. He conducted analysis of the health effects of organophosphorus insecticides and started to study the air pollution. Zurlo also provided an epistemological and methodological content to the discipline. Gianmario Cavagna, one of the first Italian toxicologists, contributed to the discovery of the origin of fevers caused by the inhalation of metal fumes and to the studies on the pathogenesis of byssinosis, hypothesizing a role of bacterial endotoxins in the genesis of this disease.
CONCLUSIONS:
The contributions provided by these three protagonists to industrial hygiene and occupational toxicology were relevant and made in those years the Clinica del Lavoro of Milan as a landmark, not only in Italy but also abroad.
Topics: History, 20th Century; Humans; Italy; Laboratories; Lead Poisoning; Occupational Health; Occupational Medicine
PubMed: 31846445
DOI: 10.23749/mdl.v110iS1.8875 -
Journal of Clinical Pathology Feb 2023Historically, heavy metal measurement and interpretation has been a highly specialised area performed only in a handful of centres within the UK. However, recent years... (Review)
Review
Historically, heavy metal measurement and interpretation has been a highly specialised area performed only in a handful of centres within the UK. However, recent years have seen a move to more local testing due to the repatriation of referred work into pathology networks and the increased availability of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technology. While management of significant poisoning is still overseen by tertiary care poisoning specialists, management of milder cases may be undertaken locally.Non-specialist clinical scientists and clinicians need to know when heavy metal testing is appropriate, which samples are required (and any specific requirements around collection) and how to interpret and act on the results.This Best Practice article provides guidance on the investigation and monitoring of the toxic elements most frequently encountered in general medical practice; lead, mercury and arsenic. It is intended as a reference guide for the non-specialist and as a comprehensive summary for clinical toxicologists and clinical scientists.
Topics: Humans; Heavy Metal Poisoning; Metals, Heavy; Arsenic; Mercury; Environmental Monitoring
PubMed: 36600633
DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2021-207793