-
Aquatic Toxicology (Amsterdam,... Nov 2021Continuous exposure to high levels of ammonia can cause oxidative damage to fish tissues and organs. To date, the mechanism by which juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus...
Effects of acute ammonia exposure and recovery on the antioxidant response and expression of genes in the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway in the juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus).
Continuous exposure to high levels of ammonia can cause oxidative damage to fish tissues and organs. To date, the mechanism by which juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) are poisoned by ammonia exposure has not been thoroughly elucidated. although the mechanisms of ammonia toxicity are not well described for the pompano, many other studies presented these effects to other fish species. So an overview would be given. First, an acute ammonia nitrogen toxicity experiment on juvenile golden pompano obtained a 96-h half-lethal concentration (96 h LC50) of 26.9 mg/L. In the ammonia exposure experiment, fish were sampled at 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h after exposure to ammonia water (26.93 mg/L). The results showed that with the prolonged ammonia nitrogen exposure, plasma cortisol (COR), total cholesterol (TC), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (AST) and malonaldehyde (MDA) levels continued to rise, while glucose (GLU) levels first increased and later gradually decreased after 12 h. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in the liver and the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant genes (SOD, CAT, and GPX) first increased and subsequently decreased with increasing exposure time. Through microscopic observation, it was found that the degree of liver damage increased with increasing stress time and was most serious at 96 h. In the post-poison recovery experiment, the fish exposed to ammonia were transferred to clean water, and samples were taken at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h after recovery. The results showed that with the increasing recovery time, each index recovered to the initial level to varying degrees, but the recovery time of 96 h was not enough for the fish to return to the normal level. We also examined the regulation of the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway by the molecular mechanism of the antioxidant defense system. The results of this analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between Nrf2 and liver antioxidant gene expression levels, while there was a negative correlation between Keap1 and liver antioxidant gene expression levels, which may be observed because Nrf2 plays a key role in inducing antioxidant genes, and Keap1 may hinder the response to Nrf2. These results may provide a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the impact of ammonia exposure on fish and help to provide a foundation for managing the healthy reproduction of juvenile fish.
Topics: Ammonia; Animals; Antioxidants; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Oxidative Stress; Signal Transduction; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 34600396
DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105969 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2022Our previous study shows that serum ammonia in sepsis patients without hepatic failure is associated with a poor prognosis. The relationship between serum ammonia level...
OBJECTIVES
Our previous study shows that serum ammonia in sepsis patients without hepatic failure is associated with a poor prognosis. The relationship between serum ammonia level and the prognosis of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) patients without hepatic failure remains unclear. We aimed to explore the relationship between serum ammonia levels and the prognosis of patients with SAE.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study is a retrospective cohort study. We collected 465 patients with SAE admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC IV) from 2008 to 2019. Patients with SAE were divided into a survival group (369 patients) and a non-survival group (96 patients). We used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the multivariate logistic regression analysis to analyze the relationship between serum ammonia levels and the prognosis of patients with SAE. R software was used to analyze the dataset.
RESULTS
The primary outcome was the relationship between serum ammonia level and hospital mortality of SAE. The secondary outcomes were the relationship between serum ammonia level and hospital stays, simplified acute physiology score (SAPS II), Charlson, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), and lactate level of SAE. The mortality of patients with SAE was 20.6%. The serum ammonia level was not significantly associated with hospital mortality, longer hospital stays, higher SAPS II and Charlson scores, and lower GCS of patients with SAE. The serum ammonia level was associated with higher SOFA scores and lactate levels in patients with SAE. The SAPS II and Charlson scores were independent risk factors for death in patients with SAE.
CONCLUSION
Serum ammonia level was associated with higher SOFA scores and lactate levels in patients with SAE. In addition, the SAPS II and Charlson scores can be used to assess the prognosis of patients with SAE. Therefore, we should closely monitor serum ammonia, SAPS II, and Charlson levels in patients with SAE.
Topics: Humans; Ammonia; Lactates; Liver Failure; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy
PubMed: 36684934
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1016931 -
MSphere Apr 2020Ammonia availability due to chloramination can promote the growth of nitrifying organisms, which can deplete chloramine residuals and result in operational problems for...
Ammonia availability due to chloramination can promote the growth of nitrifying organisms, which can deplete chloramine residuals and result in operational problems for drinking water utilities. In this study, we used a metagenomic approach to determine the identity and functional potential of microorganisms involved in nitrogen biotransformation within chloraminated drinking water reservoirs. Spatial changes in the nitrogen species included an increase in nitrate concentrations accompanied by a decrease in ammonium concentrations with increasing distance from the site of chloramination. This nitrifying activity was likely driven by canonical ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (i.e., ) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (i.e., ) as well as by complete-ammonia-oxidizing (i.e., comammox) -like bacteria. Functional annotation was used to evaluate genes associated with nitrogen metabolism, and the community gene catalogue contained mostly genes involved in nitrification, nitrate and nitrite reduction, and nitric oxide reduction. Furthermore, we assembled 47 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) representing a highly diverse assemblage of bacteria. Of these, five MAGs showed high coverage across all samples, which included two , and -like MAGs. Systematic genome-level analyses of these MAGs in relation to nitrogen metabolism suggest that under ammonia-limited conditions, nitrate may be also reduced back to ammonia for assimilation. Alternatively, nitrate may be reduced to nitric oxide and may potentially play a role in regulating biofilm formation. Overall, this study provides insight into the microbial communities and their nitrogen metabolism and, together with the water chemistry data, improves our understanding of nitrogen biotransformation in chloraminated drinking water distribution systems. Chloramines are often used as a secondary disinfectant when free chlorine residuals are difficult to maintain. However, chloramination is often associated with the undesirable effect of nitrification, which results in operational problems for many drinking water utilities. The introduction of ammonia during chloramination provides a potential source of nitrogen either through the addition of excess ammonia or through chloramine decay. This promotes the growth of nitrifying microorganisms and provides a nitrogen source (i.e., nitrate) for the growth for other organisms. While the roles of canonical ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in chloraminated drinking water systems have been extensively investigated, those studies have largely adopted a targeted gene-centered approach. Further, little is known about the potential long-term cooccurrence of complete-ammonia-oxidizing (i.e., comammox) bacteria and the potential metabolic synergies of nitrifying organisms with their heterotrophic counterparts that are capable of denitrification and nitrogen assimilation. This study leveraged data obtained for genome-resolved metagenomics over a time series to show that while nitrifying bacteria are dominant and likely to play a major role in nitrification, their cooccurrence with heterotrophic organisms suggests that nitric oxide production and nitrate reduction to ammonia may also occur in chloraminated drinking water systems.
Topics: Ammonia; Archaea; Bacteria; Chloramines; Drinking Water; Metagenome; Nitrates; Nitrification; Nitrogen; Oxidation-Reduction
PubMed: 32350093
DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00274-20 -
BMC Ecology and Evolution Oct 2023Cyclic di-guanylate (c-di-GMP), synthesized by diguanylate cyclase, is a major second messenger in prokaryotes, where it triggers biofilm formation. The dictyostelid...
BACKGROUND
Cyclic di-guanylate (c-di-GMP), synthesized by diguanylate cyclase, is a major second messenger in prokaryotes, where it triggers biofilm formation. The dictyostelid social amoebas acquired diguanylate cyclase (dgcA) by horizontal gene transfer. Dictyostelium discoideum (Ddis) in taxon group 4 uses c-di-GMP as a secreted signal to induce differentiation of stalk cells, the ancestral somatic cell type that supports the propagating spores. We here investigated how this role for c-di-GMP evolved in Dictyostelia by exploring dgcA function in the group 2 species Polysphondylium pallidum (Ppal) and in Polysphondylium violaceum (Pvio), which resides in a small sister clade to group 4.
RESULTS
Similar to Ddis, dgcA is upregulated after aggregation in Ppal and Pvio and predominantly expressed in the anterior region and stalks of emerging fruiting bodies. DgcA null mutants in Ppal and Pvio made fruiting bodies with very long and thin stalks and only few spores and showed delayed aggregation and larger aggregates, respectively. Ddis dgcA- cells cannot form stalks at all, but showed no aggregation defects. The long, thin stalks of Ppal and Pvio dgcA- mutants were also observed in acaA- mutants in these species. AcaA encodes adenylate cyclase A, which mediates the effects of c-di-GMP on stalk induction in Ddis. Other factors that promote stalk formation in Ddis are DIF-1, produced by the polyketide synthase StlB, low ammonia, facilitated by the ammonia transporter AmtC, and high oxygen, detected by the oxygen sensor PhyA (prolyl 4-hydroxylase). We deleted the single stlB, amtC and phyA genes in Pvio wild-type and dgcA- cells. Neither of these interventions affected stalk formation in Pvio wild-type and not or very mildly exacerbated the long thin stalk phenotype of Pvio dgcA- cells.
CONCLUSIONS
The study reveals a novel role for c-di-GMP in aggregation, while the reduced spore number in Pvio and Ppal dgcA- is likely an indirect effect, due to depletion of the cell pool by the extended stalk formation. The results indicate that in addition to c-di-GMP, Dictyostelia ancestrally used an as yet unknown factor for induction of stalk formation. The activation of AcaA by c-di-GMP is likely conserved throughout Dictyostelia.
Topics: Dictyostelium; Ammonia; Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases; Dictyosteliida; Oxygen
PubMed: 37803310
DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02169-z -
International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2023Using Poland as an example, it was shown that 41.6% of the requests for intervention in 2016-2021 by Environmental Protection Inspections were related to odour nuisance.... (Review)
Review
Using Poland as an example, it was shown that 41.6% of the requests for intervention in 2016-2021 by Environmental Protection Inspections were related to odour nuisance. Further analysis of the statistical data confirmed that approximately 5.4% of wastewater treatment plants in the group of municipal facilities were subject to complaints. Detailed identification of the subject of odour nuisance at wastewater treatment plants identified hydrogen sulphide (HS), ammonia (NH) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as the most common malodorous substances within these facilities. Moreover, the concentrations of hydrogen sulphide and ammonia exceed the reference values for some substances in the air (0.02 mg/m for HS and 0.4 mg/m for NH). A thorough assessment of the properties of these substances made it clear that even in small concentrations they have a negative impact on the human body and the environment, and their degree of nuisance is described as high. In the two WWTPs analysed in Poland (WWTP 1 and WWTP 2), hydrogen sulphide concentrations were in the range of 0-41.86 mg/m (Long-Term Exposure Limit for HS is 7.0 mg/m), ammonia 0-1.43 mg/m and VOCs 0.60-134.79 ppm. The values recognised for HS cause lacrimation, coughing, olfactory impairment, psychomotor agitation, and swelling of the cornea with photophobia. Recognition of the methods used in practice at WWTPs to reduce and control malodorous emissions indicates the possibility of protecting the environment and human health, but these solutions are ignored in most facilities due to the lack of requirements specified in legislation.
Topics: Humans; Hydrogen Sulfide; Poland; Ammonia; Odorants; Volatile Organic Compounds; Water Purification
PubMed: 37047993
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075379 -
Biochemical Pharmacology Apr 2024The urea cycle (UC) is a critically important metabolic process for the disposal of nitrogen (ammonia) produced by amino acids catabolism. The impairment of this... (Review)
Review
The urea cycle (UC) is a critically important metabolic process for the disposal of nitrogen (ammonia) produced by amino acids catabolism. The impairment of this liver-specific pathway induced either by primary genetic defects or by secondary causes, namely those associated with hepatic disease or drug administration, may result in serious clinical consequences. Urea cycle disorders (UCD) and certain organic acidurias are the major groups of inherited rare diseases manifested with hyperammonemia (HA) with UC dysregulation. Importantly, several commonly prescribed drugs, including antiepileptics in monotherapy or polytherapy from carbamazepine to valproic acid or specific antineoplastic agents such as asparaginase or 5-fluorouracil may be associated with HA by mechanisms not fully elucidated. HA, disclosing an imbalance between ammoniagenesis and ammonia disposal via the UC, can evolve to encephalopathy which may lead to significant morbidity and central nervous system damage. This review will focus on biochemical mechanisms related with HA emphasizing some poorly understood perspectives behind the disruption of the UC and mitochondrial energy metabolism, namely: i) changes in acetyl-CoA or NAD levels in subcellular compartments; ii) post-translational modifications of key UC-related enzymes, namely acetylation, potentially affecting their catalytic activity; iii) the mitochondrial sirtuins-mediated role in ureagenesis. Moreover, the main UCD associated with HA will be summarized to highlight the relevance of investigating possible genetic mutations to account for unexpected HA during certain pharmacological therapies. The ammonia-induced effects should be avoided or overcome as part of safer therapeutic strategies to protect patients under treatment with drugs that may be potentially associated with HA.
Topics: Humans; Hyperammonemia; Ammonia; Liver Diseases; Urea
PubMed: 38307136
DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116034 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Providing employees with proper work conditions should be one of the main concerns of any employer. Even so, in many cases, work shifts chronically expose the workers to... (Review)
Review
Providing employees with proper work conditions should be one of the main concerns of any employer. Even so, in many cases, work shifts chronically expose the workers to a wide range of potentially harmful compounds, such as ammonia. Ammonia has been present in the composition of products commonly used in a wide range of industries, namely production in lines, and also laboratories, schools, hospitals, and others. Chronic exposure to ammonia can yield several diseases, such as irritation and pruritus, as well as inflammation of ocular, cutaneous, and respiratory tissues. In more extreme cases, exposure to ammonia is also related to dyspnea, progressive cyanosis, and pulmonary edema. As such, the use of ammonia needs to be properly regulated and monitored to ensure safer work environments. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work have already commissioned regulations on the acceptable limits of exposure to ammonia. Nevertheless, the monitoring of ammonia gas is still not normalized because appropriate sensors can be difficult to find as commercially available products. To help promote promising methods of developing ammonia sensors, this work will compile and compare the results published so far.
Topics: Ammonia; Humans; Electronic Nose; Occupational Exposure; Workplace; Occupational Health; Environmental Monitoring; Working Conditions
PubMed: 38794006
DOI: 10.3390/s24103152 -
Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of... Jun 2020
Topics: Ammonia; Animals; Cations; Cattle
PubMed: 32448954
DOI: 10.1007/s00424-020-02394-1 -
BMC Psychiatry Apr 2023Methamphetamine is an addictive drug with various effects on the neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. Methamphetamine-induced encephalopathy in the absence...
BACKGROUND
Methamphetamine is an addictive drug with various effects on the neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. Methamphetamine-induced encephalopathy in the absence of hyperammonemia presents a unique challenge in a clinical setting. Previously published cases of methamphetamine-induced encephalopathy suggested that methamphetamine-induced hepatotoxicity and subsequent hyperammonemia may be the cause of encephalopathy. However, the literature is limited on methamphetamine-induced encephalopathy without hyperammonemia.
CASE
This case presents a disoriented patient with methamphetamine use disorder in acute toxicity, unable to ambulate independently, and poorly responsive to verbal stimuli. The patient was found to have normal ammonia levels.
DISCUSSION
This patient's presentation and laboratory findings, namely normal ammonia levels, suggest a different pathophysiological pathway for methamphetamine-induced encephalopathy. One potential pathway is through the direct action of methamphetamine on the central nervous system through acute disruption of neurotransmitter signaling and disruption of the blood-brain barrier.
CONCLUSION
Further research should be conducted into the prevalence and pathophysiology of methamphetamine-induced encephalopathy in the absence of hyperammonemia.
KEY POINTS
Methamphetamine-induced encephalopathy (MIE) in the absence of hyperammonemia presents a unique challenge in a clinical setting. Previously published cases of MIE suggest that methamphetamine-induced hepatotoxicity and subsequent hyperammonemia may be the cause of encephalopathy. Further research should be conducted into the prevalence and pathophysiology of MIE in the absence of hyperammonemia.
Topics: Humans; Hyperammonemia; Methamphetamine; Ammonia; Brain Diseases; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
PubMed: 37081388
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04764-2 -
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.) Jul 2023Bioacidification of animal slurry has proven to be a good alternative to traditional acidification with sulfuric acid for reducing ammonia emissions. However, the...
Bioacidification of animal slurry has proven to be a good alternative to traditional acidification with sulfuric acid for reducing ammonia emissions. However, the fertiliser value of the bioacidified slurry is yet to be determined before a whole-system assessment can be made. The N fertiliser value of pig slurry either untreated or bioacidified with glucose and/or fermented brown juice (BJ) was investigated in a pot experiment with maize (Zea mays L.) grown in a greenhouse. The slurry treatments were either pre-acidified with sulfuric acid to pH 6.5 or 5.5 before bioacidification, or bioacidified without pre-acidification. Plant growth was good in all treatments, but the bioacidified treatments showed a lower mineral fertiliser equivalence (MFE) value than the non-bioacidified treatments. Average MFE values were 71 %, 62 %, 59 % and 41 % for the non-bioacidified (noC), glucose (glu), glucose and brown juice (glu + BJ20) and brown juice (BJ50) treatments respectively. This reduction was most likely caused by immobilisation of N due to the addition of easily available C from the substrates. The fertiliser value was not affected by the pH, C/N ratio and C content of the treatments, while a positive correlation was found with NH4 + -N content. Pre-acidification positively affected MFE, probably due to higher nutrient availability. Further studies on the effect of different inclusion rates of substrates for bioacidification and the effect of application method on the fertiliser value, as well as studies under field conditions, are needed before recommendations can be made about bioacidification as an alternative to traditional acidification.
Topics: Animals; Swine; Nitrogen; Fertilizers; Sulfuric Acids; Ammonia; Minerals; Manure
PubMed: 37163971
DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.04.050