The chemistry and parent material of urban soils in Bristol (UK): implications for contaminated land assessment

An earlier survey of topsoil from parks and allotment in the city of Bristol (UK) revealed the presence of relatively high levels of "pseudo-total" Cd, As, Cu, Pb and Zn, with Cd and As exceeding present UK soil guidelines. This follow-up work aimed at (1) estimating geochemical thresholds for these elements based on "near-total" soil, bedrock and sediment heavy metals and (2) determining the genetic relationship between soil and bedrock using rare earth elements (REEs or lanthanides) as tracers. "Near-total" concentration of 34 elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Li, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Sc, Ti, V, Zn, Y and the rare earth elements Ce, Dy, Er, Eu, Gd, Ho, La, Lu, Nd, Pr, Sm, Tb, Yb) were obtained by ICP-MS and ICP-OES. The results show that the soil composition is largely controlled by the soil parent material, though extreme outliers are indicative of contamination at a few sites of parkland and allotments. Cumulative frequency plots show the presence of different data sets for which separate "background" values should be determined. The REE data provide evidence that weathering of the underlying sandstone was a determinant factor leading to the relatively high heavy metal enrichment found in soil samples and sediments. Reference to UK soil guidelines to decide on possible remediation measures could be very misleading due to the natural high background levels of some elements in the underlying bedrock. Before defining land as "contaminated", a thorough geochemical investigation is required at local scale in order to produce a more realistic and correct environmental assessment.

Social cognition disorders in military police officers affected by posttraumatic stress disorder after the attack of An-Nasiriyah in Iraq 2006

Emotional numbness in individuals affected by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be a result of the depletion of emotional capacities. The ability to process emotions in a social context is a part of social cognition, which is still an under-explored topic in PTSD. The present study investigated deficits in social cognition, such as emotion recognition and theory of mind, and their relationship to emotional numbing in 35 military police officers who were in Iraq in April 2006 during a terrorist attack in An-Nasiriyah. Our results indicated that individuals suffering from PTSD showed deficits in social cognition when compared with healthy subjects. These disorders seemed to involve emotional numbing rather than clinical symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Future research directions are suggested to improve the measurement of emotional functioning in PTSD.

Proteomic analysis of saliva: a unique tool to distinguish primary Sjögren's syndrome from secondary Sjögren's syndrome and other sicca syndromes

Introduction

A growing interest has arisen in salivary proteomics as a tool for the identification of biomarkers for primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Nonetheless, only a limited number of preclinical validation studies have been performed, limiting the possibility of translating proteomic results into clinical practice. The primary aim of this study was to refine the diagnostic power of a panel of candidate salivary biomarkers described in pSS with respect to both healthy volunteers and pathological controls. We also explored the pathogenetic function of the detected putative biomarkers both in the local exocrinopathy and in the systemic inflammatory processes of SS.

Methods

One hundred and eighty patients were included in the study overall. In the first "exploratory phase", we enrolled 40 females with pSS, 40 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers, 10 patients with sicca non-SS and 15 secondary SS (sSS) patients. The testing cohort of the second "challenge phase" of the study was represented by 75 unselected, consecutive subjects: 19 pSS, 21 healthy volunteers, 10 sicca non-SS and 25 sSS patients. Salivary proteomic analysis was performed combining two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Western blot (WB) analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were employed to validate 2DE results. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) Knowledge base was adopted to associate candidate biomarkers in a signalling pathogenetic network.

Results

A total of 28, 6, 7 and 12 protein spots were found to be significantly different in pSS samples with respect to healthy volunteers, non-SS sicca syndrome, SSc-sSS and rheumatoid arthritis-sSS, leading to the identification of 15 differently expressed proteins. Among them, α-amylases precursor, carbonic anhydrase VI, β-2 microglobulin, glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), epidermal fatty acid binding protein (E-FABP) and immunoglobulin k light chain (IGK-light chain) apparently showed the most significant differences in pSS when compared to healthy volunteers and non-SS pathological controls. On the other hand, as expected, pSS and sSS salivary profiles shared a great number of similarities.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that salivary fluid might represent a novel ideal milieu for the detection of a diagnostic panel of candidate biomarkers for pSS, and to gain an insight into the pathogenetic processes underlying glandular and systemic autoimmune disorders.

[MALDI-TOF and SELDI-TOF analysis: "tandem" techniques to identify potential biomarker in fibromyalgia]

OBJECTIVE

Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by the presence of chronic widespread pain throughout the musculoskeletal system and diffuse tenderness. Unfortunately, no laboratory tests have been appropriately validated for FM and correlated with the subsets and activity. The aim of this study was to apply a proteomic technique in saliva of FM patients: the Surface Enhance Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (SELDI-TOF).

METHODS

For this study, 57 FM patients and 35 HC patients were enrolled. The proteomic analysis of saliva was carried out using SELDI-TOF. The analysis was performed using different chip arrays with different characteristics of binding. The statistical analysis was performed using cluster analysis and the difference between two groups was underlined using Student’s t-test.

RESULTS

Spectra analysis highlighted the presence of several peaks differently expressed in FM patients compared with controls. The preliminary results obtained by SELDI-TOF analysis were compared with those obtained in our previous study performed on whole saliva of FM patients by using electrophoresis. The m/z of two peaks, increased in FM patients, seem to overlap well with the molecular weight of calgranulin A and C and Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 2, which we had found up-regulated in our previous study.

CONCLUSION

These preliminary results showed the possibility of identifying potential salivary biomarker through salivary proteomic analysis with MALDI-TOF and SELDI-TOF in FM patients. The peaks observed allow us to focus on some of the particular pathogenic aspects of FM, the oxidative stress which contradistinguishes this condition, the involvement of proteins related to the cytoskeletal arrangements, and central sensibilization.

Correspondence between salivary proteomic pattern and clinical course in primary Sjögren syndrome and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case report

Background

In the last years human proteomic has represented a promising tool to promote the communication between basic and clinical science.

Methods

To explore the correspondence between salivary proteomic profile and clinical response, herein, we used a proteomic approach to analyse the whole saliva of a patient with primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) and non-Hodgkin's-MALT type parotid lymphoma before, during and after a standard treatment with cyclophosphamide (CTX) and rituximab (RTX). To identify any discriminatory therapeutic salivary biomarker patient's whole saliva was collected at the baseline, after the fourth infusion of rituximab, and on remission and analysed combining two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry.

Results

Proteomic results obtained from the comparison of salivary samples indicated several qualitative and quantitative modifications in the salivary expression of putative albumin, immunoglobulin J chain, Ig kappa chain C region, alpha-1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin and Ig alpha-1 chain C region.

Conclusion

This study suggests that clinical and functional changes of the salivary glands driven by autoimmune and lymphoproliferative processes might be reflected in patients' whole saliva proteins, shedding new light on the potential usefulness of salivary proteomic analysis in the identification of prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers for patients with pSS and non Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Fine-needle aspiration for proteomic study of tumour tissues

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a technique largely applied in the diagnosis of tumours. FNA is a safe diagnostic procedure that is widely employed in the examination of masses at relatively low cost and minimal risk to the patient. In this review, we report on the state-of-the-art and the potential role of FNA to search for protein biomarkers by the proteomic approach.

A proteomic approach to study parathyroid glands

Parathyroid tumours are heterogeneous and in some cases the diagnosis may be difficult using histological features. In this study we used a two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D)/mass spectrometry (MS)-based approach to examine the global changes of parathyroid adenoma tissues protein profile compared to the parathyroid normal tissues. Validation of protein expression was performed by immunoblotting using specific antibodies. Ingenuity software was used to identify the biological processes to which these proteins belong and to construct a potential network. A total of 30 proteins were found to be differentially expressed, of which 22 resulted in being over-expressed. Proteins identified by 2D/MS/MS proteomics were classified into functional categories and a major change (≥ 2-fold) in terms of expression was found in proteins involved in response to biotic stimuli, cell organization and signal transduction. After Ingenuity analysis, 14-3-3 ζ/δ appears to be a key protein in the network of parathyroid adenoma, where it is linked to other proteins such as annexin A2, B box and SPRY domain-containing protein (BSPRY), p53 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Our results suggest that the proteomic approach was able to differentiate the protein profiles of normal parathyroid and parathyroid adenoma and identify a panel of proteins which are differentially expressed. The functional role of these proteins in the network of intracellular pathways is discussed.

Is GRP78/BiP a potential salivary biomarker in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

PURPOSE

In the last few years, serum and joint synovial fluid have been extensively analyzed for the proteomic research of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) biomarkers. Nonetheless, to date, there have been no studies investigating salivary biomarkers in this condition. Therefore, aim of this study is to investigate the presence of potential biomarkers of RA in human whole saliva.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We combined 2-DE and MS to analyze the whole saliva protein profile of 20 RA patients in comparison with 20 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects.

RESULTS

Eight salivary proteins resulted differentially expressed, namely calgranulin A, calgranulin B, apolipoprotein A-1, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, peroxiredoxin 5, epidermal fatty acid-binding protein, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein precursor (GRP78/BiP), and 14-3-3 proteins. It is particularly interesting that chaperone GRP78/BiP showed the greatest increase in RA patients. This finding was validated by Western Blot analysis and the over-expression of GRP78/BiP appear to be distinctive of RA and drugs treatment independent.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This study provides a rationale for further studies aimed at evaluating any correlation between GRP78/BiP and different clinical/serological aspects of the disease in order to improve the diagnostic algorithms of RA.

Stability and efficiency of biofilms for landfill leachate treatment

The objective of this work was to assess the feasibility of a fixed-film biological aerated filtration process for the treatment of the leachate produced at Harnhill landfill site (South Gloucestershire, UK). The laboratory scale plant consisted of four identical biological aerated filters (a triplicate and a "control" column) packed with small brick fragments. Biofilm formed within 24h of immersion of the support material in the reactor, and had a high resistance to antibiotics and other toxic agents. The plant maintained a stable operation in the 20-45 degrees C temperature range, showing the best results (35.4+/-6.6% COD removal and 73.9+/-5.5% BOD(5) reduction) at 40 degrees C. The lowest COD and BOD(5) values obtained at the outlet of the columns were 7067 mg/L and 1050 mg/L, respectively.

Detection of potential markers of primary fibromyalgia syndrome in human saliva

In the last few years, many attempts have been carried out for the research of specific biological biomarkers in fibromyalgia (FM) since, so far, no laboratory tests have been appropriately validated for the diagnosis and the prognostic stratification of the disease. In our study for the first time, we carried out a proteomic analysis of the whole saliva of FM patients in order to evaluate salivary biomarkers. Twenty-two FM patients with all fulfilling the American College of Rheumathology diagnostic criteria for FM and 26 sex-and age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Proteomic analysis was performed by combining 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS. The most relevant observation which emerged from the data analysis was the exclusive and significant over-expression of transaldolase and phosphoglycerate mutase I. These findings were validated by Western blot analysis and the total optical density confirmed the significant up-regulation of transaldolase and phosphoglycerate mutase I in FM samples with respect to healthy subjects. It was noteworthy that seven further salivary proteins resulted differentially expressed, namely: calgranulin A, calgranulin C, cyclophilin A, profilin 1, Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 2, proteasome subunit-α-type-2 and haptoglobin-related protein precursor. These preliminary results demonstrated the utility of salivary proteomic analysis in the identification of salivary biomarkers in FM patients and in clarifying some of the pathogenetic aspects of the disease.

A review of waste management practices and their impact on human health

This work reviews (i) the most recent information on waste arisings and waste disposal options in the world, in the European Union (EU), in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OEDC) countries, and in some developing countries (notably China) and (ii) the potential direct and indirect impact of waste management activities on health. Though the main focus is primarily on municipal solid waste (MSW), exposure to bioaerosols from composting facilities and to pathogens from sewage treatment plants are considered. The reported effects of radioactive waste are also briefly reviewed. Hundreds of epidemiological studies reported on the incidence of a wide range of possible illnesses on employees of waste facilities and on the resident population. The main conclusion of the overall assessment of the literature is that the evidence of adverse health outcomes for the general population living near landfill sites, incinerators, composting facilities and nuclear installations is usually insufficient and inconclusive. There is convincing evidence of a high risk of gastrointestinal problems associated with pathogens originating at sewage treatment plants. In order to improve the quality and usefulness of epidemiological studies applied to populations residing in areas where waste management facilities are located or planned, preference should be given to prospective cohort studies of sufficient statistical power, with access to direct human exposure measurements, and supported by data on health effect biomarkers and susceptibility biomarkers.

Association of psoriasin (S100A7) with clinical manifestations of systemic sclerosis: is its presence in whole saliva a potential predictor of pulmonary involvement?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate psoriasin (S100A7) expression in whole saliva (WS) of patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis (dSSc) and limited SSc (lSSc), and to correlate its presence with the different clinical manifestations of the disease.

METHODS

Forty-four patients with limited or diffuse SSc were enrolled for study. WS proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and psoriasin was identified by Western blot analysis using a specific polyclonal antibody. Patients with other rheumatic diseases with and without lung involvement were enrolled as pathological controls. Statistical analysis was performed to correlate each clinical manifestation with the presence of psoriasin.

RESULTS

Three bands of 12, 24, and 50 kDa corresponding to monomeric and dimeric/multimeric forms of psoriasin were evidenced by immunoblot analysis in WS of 31 out of 44 patients with SSc (70.4%). In the other 13 WS samples, the 12 kDa band was totally absent, while the dimeric and multimeric bands were expressed at optical intensity (OD) levels comparable to the other samples. From a clinical point of view, the presence of 12 kDa monomeric psoriasin was significantly associated with SSc pulmonary involvement and with anti-Scl-70 antibody positivity. No control showed the psoriasin 12 kDa band.

CONCLUSION

Our results identified salivary 12 kDa psoriasin as a potential predictor of pulmonary involvement in SSc. Thus, a psoriasin assay might be considered as a rapid, noninvasive, useful salivary biomarker for the detection of pulmonary involvement in SSc.

The veterinary food hygienist in the food industry: contextual analysis and perspectives

After an introduction concerning the structure of Italian and European Veterinary Offices, the authors outline the features of food production in the provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia, particularly concerning the role of veterinary hygienists and of the other professionals operating along the food chain. The authors underline that veterinarians should improve their managerial skills, together with the technical and legal competences acquired during the bachelor course, (eventually integrated by stages in food factories) and undertake continuous post-university improvement, enabling them to face the competition presented by new professionals.

ATP, calcium and magnesium levels in platelets of patients with primary fibromyalgia

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the intracellular levels of the high energy adenosine triphosphate nucleotide ATP and essential divalent cations, calcium and magnesium, in platelets of patients affected by primary fibromyalgia syndrome (FMs).

DESIGN AND METHOD

Platelet ATP and cation concentrations were measured in 25 patients affected by FMs and 25 healthy volunteers through a chemiluminescent and a fluorimetric assay, respectively.

RESULTS

Significant lower ATP levels were observed inside platelets of FM patients (fmol ATP/plt: 0.0169+/-0.0012 vs. healthy controls, fmol ATP/plt: 0.0306+/-0.0023, mean+/-SEM) (*** P<0.0001). A trend towards higher calcium concentrations (P=0.06) together with significant increased magnesium levels were also reported in platelets of patients by comparison with controls (P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary study suggests that disturbances in the homeostasis of platelet ATP metabolism-signaling and calcium-magnesium flows might have a relevance in the pathogenesis of FMs.

Proteomic diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome

In the last few years, a growing interest has arisen in the application of proteomic analysis to rheumatic disease. Sjögren's syndrome is a systemic disease that affects exocrine glands directly, and is therefore expected to influence the composition of the whole human saliva and lachrymal fluid. Therefore, a rising number of studies have been performed in an attempt to characterize the salivary and lachrymal protein profiles of patients with Sjögren's syndrome by using a proteomic approach. This review summarizes the state of the art and the potential application of proteomics in the systematic search for diagnostic biomarkers in Sjögren's syndrome.

Proteomic analysis of the saliva: a clue for understanding primary from secondary Sjögren's syndrome?

The clinical entity of secondary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is controversial and the relationship with primary SS and other systemic autoimmune diseases is still far from being completely understood. In the last few years, proteomic approaches have been applied with a growing interest in the search for diagnostic biomarkers for many rheumatic diseases and it is possible that, in the near future, proteomic analysis of human saliva could help in distinguishing also primary from secondary SS. This review summarizes the state of the art of proteomic analysis of human saliva in the diagnosis of connective diseases focusing its advantages, limits and future perspectives.

Proteomic analysis of human thyroid fine needle aspiration fluid

The aim of this study was to determine the protein pattern of human thyroid fine needle aspiration fluid (FNA) using a proteomic approach. FNA proteins were separated using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE), digested and then analyzed by peptide mass fingerprinting. For the first time, we provided an image of the protein components of the FNA, in which approximately 220 protein spots can be identified. The proteome analysis revealed a specific fingerprint of FNA with proteins appertaining to various functional systems. Our preliminary results of FNA protein pattern could be a starting point in studying the presence of potential markers implicated in thyroid diseases.

Natural and anthropogenic contamination of the Fratta-Gorzone river (Veneto, Italy)

Stream-bed sediment samples were collected in 2001 and 2004 along the Fratta-Gorzone River (Italy) to assess the level of heavy metal contamination. The river stretch most affected by discharges of tannery effluent showed total and pseudo-total Cr levels (up to 2,860 mg/kg) that greatly exceed national and international chemical sediment quality standards. The most contaminated section of the river bed is located downstream of the main industrial discharge. However, a large fraction of the Cr present in the sediment appears to be of lithogenic origin. At most sites, more than 50% of Cr is not soluble in aqua-regia and thus unlikely to be very mobile or easily bio-available. A negligible risk to the benthic community can be inferred for Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu and Ni. This work highlights the limitation of using existing chemical sediment quality standards alone for risk assessment. The collection and analysis of suspended solids, the determination of river discharge and of dissolved Cr at 10 field stations allowed to estimate the particulate and dissolved Cr load and to locate the river stretch that was the likely source of contaminated sediment. The pumping of dilution water from the Adige River into the Fratta-Gorzone River did not produce the expected contaminant dilution effect due to re-suspension of contaminated solid particles and the release of Cr in solution.

Specific proteins identified in whole saliva from patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the global changes of salivary protein profiles in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) using a proteomic approach.

METHODS

Whole saliva (WS) was collected from 15 patients with diffuse SSc and 15 healthy volunteers. Protein expression profiles for each sample were generated by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and protein spots of interest were identified using peptide mass fingerprinting.

RESULTS

The level of all the most representative salivary proteins except keratin 6L remained unchanged and only qualitative differences were observed between control subjects and patients with SSc. A total of 19 spots were found in SSc that were not matched with the controls. Fourteen out of a total of 19 spots were identified by mass analysis and were found to collapse into 9 unique proteins. These spots were identified to be cyclophilin A, calgranulin B, psoriasin, beta2-microglobulin, calgranulin A, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, triose phosphate isomerase (TPI), actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 2 (Arp2/3 complex), and cystatin B.

CONCLUSION

Our study is the first reporting the WS protein pattern of patients with SSc and comparing the differences between WS of patients with SSc and WS of healthy subjects. Both previously identified and newly identified proteins were detected in WS using a proteomic approach. Some of these proteins, like keratin 6L, psoriasin, TPI, and Arp2/3 complex, might have a pathological significance for SSc. It is possible that some of them can be defined as new therapeutic targets or diagnostic markers for SSc disease.