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Bouachba A, Gorincour G, Charlier P, Ville Y. Pregnancy in Times of War: What Are the Fallouts? A Review. Fetal Diagn Ther 2024:1-12. [PMID: 39047700 DOI: 10.1159/000540508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The beginning of the conflict in Ukraine has reminded Europeans of the many and diverse consequences of armed conflicts. Indeed, the ever more sophisticated conflicts have led to the diffusion of numerous chemicals whose consequences spread even after the end of the war. We present through this paper a review of the consequences of pregnancies from the major conflicts that took place since the end of World War II. SUMMARY MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase were screened for articles linking perinatal death (PD) or birth defects (BD) to wartime. A total of 50 papers treating 8 countries and 4 major and medically documented conflicts were included in the final analysis. An increase in BD and PD during and after the end of the conflicts was reported through all the conflicts analyzed. KEY MESSAGE While more data are needed to conclude, maternal-fetal medicine specialists ought to be wary when dealing with exposed populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amine Bouachba
- Société Française de fœtopathologie, SOFFOET, Paris, France
- EA FETUS 7328 and LUMIERE Platform, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | | | - Philippe Charlier
- Direction, Département de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement, Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, Paris, France
- Laboratoire Anthropologie, Archéologie, Biologie (LAAB), Université Paris-Saclay (UVSQ), Paris, France
- Fondation Anthropologie, Archéologie, Biologie (FAAB), Institut de France, Palais de l'Institut, Paris, France
| | - Yves Ville
- EA FETUS 7328 and LUMIERE Platform, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Service d'Obstétrique et de Médecine Fœtale, Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
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2
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Glick DR, Brown CH, Li L, Gucer P, Gaitens JM, McDiarmid MA, Hines SE. Performance of Impulse Oscillometry in Identifying Restrictive Lung Defects in a Veteran Cohort. Open Respir Med J 2024; 18:e18743064304109. [PMID: 39130647 PMCID: PMC11311798 DOI: 10.2174/0118743064304109240611054726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Impulse oscillometry (IOs) is a technique used to evaluate lung function that uses sound waves imposed over tidal breathing to characterize the airways and lung parenchyma. IOs has been particularly useful in the identification of obstructive lung defects. The present analysis seeks to explore the use of IOs in the identification of restrictive lung physiology among a group of Gulf War I veterans exposed to depleted uranium (DU). Methods A total of 36 out of a dynamic 85-veteran cohort attended in-person surveillance visits in 2019 and completed both IOs and PFTs. Performance on IOs was evaluated in a cross-sectional analysis of the group overall and in those identified as having restrictive lung defects defined by either spirometry (FEV1/FVC ≥ LLN and FVC < LLN) or lung volumes (TLC < LLN). Results A total of 6 individuals were identified as having restriction (4 based on spirometry alone and an additional 2 by lung volumes). When restriction was present, IOs values of both resistance and reactance were significantly more abnormal. Conclusion In the assessment of lung function, IOs may be advantageous over PFTs because it is faster to perform and effort-independent. Although little is known about the utility of IOs in identifying restrictive lung physiology, our results support its use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle R Glick
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Clayton H Brown
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lan Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Patricia Gucer
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joanna M Gaitens
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Melissa A McDiarmid
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Stella E Hines
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
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3
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Bhatti G, Villalon A, Li R, Elammari M, Price A, Steele L, Garcia JM, Marcelli M, Jorge R. Hormonal changes in veterans with Gulf War Illness. Life Sci 2023; 328:121908. [PMID: 37406768 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a multi-system condition of complex etiology and pathophysiology without specific treatment. There is an overlap between the symptoms of GWI and endocrinopathies. This study aimed to identify hormonal alterations in 1990-91 Gulf War (GW) veterans and the relationship between GWI and hormonal dysregulation. MAIN METHODS Data from 81 GW veterans (54 with GWI and 27 controls without GWI) was analyzed in a cross-sectional, case-control observational study. Participants completed multiple questionnaires, neuropsychiatric assessments, and a comprehensive set of hormone assays including a glucagon stimulation test (GST) for adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) and a high-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test for adrenal insufficiency. KEY FINDINGS The GWI group had lower quality of life and greater severity of all symptoms compared to controls. Pain intensity and pain-related interference with general activity were also higher in the GWI group. AGHD was observed in 18 of 51 veterans with GWI (35.3 %) and 2 of 26 veterans without GWI (7.7 %) (p = 0.012 for interaction). Veterans with GWI also exhibited reduced insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and IGF-1 Z-scores compared to controls. One participant with GWI met the criteria for adrenal insufficiency. No significant changes were observed in other hormonal axes. SIGNIFICANCE The frequency of AGHD was significantly higher in veterans with GWI compared to controls. Recombinant human growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) may become a breakthrough therapeutic option for this subgroup. A large clinical trial is needed to evaluate the efficacy of GHRT in patients with GWI and AGHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gursimrat Bhatti
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Audri Villalon
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ruosha Li
- UT Health Science Center School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mohamed Elammari
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexandra Price
- Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lea Steele
- Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jose M Garcia
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, and Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine-Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Ricardo Jorge
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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4
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Shi P, Wang X, Zhang H, Sun Q, Li A, Miao Y, Shi C, Guan J, Gong S, Diwu J. Boosting Simultaneous Uranium Decorporation and Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging Efficiency by Lacunary Polyoxometalates. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:54423-54430. [PMID: 36455139 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c11226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The chemical toxicity and the oxidative stress induced by the internal exposure of uranium is responsible for the long-term adverse effect of in vivo contamination of uranium. An agent with simultaneous removal capability of uranium and excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) is highly desired. Herein, the lacunary Keggin-type polyoxometalate (POM) is demonstrated to selectively bind with uranyl ions in the presence of excess essential divalent ions and exhibits a compelling ROS scavenging efficiency of 78.8%. In vivo uranium decorporation assays illustrate the uranium sequestration efficiencies of 74.0%, 49.4%, and 37.1% from kidneys by prophylactic, prompt, and delayed administration of lacunary POM solution, respectively. The superior ROS quenching and uranium removal performance in comparison with all reported bifunctional agents endow lacunary polyoxometalates as novel agents to effectively protect people from injuries caused by the internal exposure of actinides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiheng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiaomei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Hailong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Qiwen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yu Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Cen Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jingwen Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shicheng Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Juan Diwu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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5
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Uranium: occurrence, distribution across India and its potential health effects. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08373-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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6
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Guéguen Y, Frerejacques M. Review of Knowledge of Uranium-Induced Kidney Toxicity for the Development of an Adverse Outcome Pathway to Renal Impairment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084397. [PMID: 35457214 PMCID: PMC9030063 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
An adverse outcome pathway (AOP) is a conceptual construct of causally and sequentially linked events, which occur during exposure to stressors, with an adverse outcome relevant to risk assessment. The development of an AOP is a means of identifying knowledge gaps in order to prioritize research assessing the health risks associated with exposure to physical or chemical stressors. In this paper, a review of knowledge was proposed, examining experimental and epidemiological data, in order to identify relevant key events and potential key event relationships in an AOP for renal impairment, relevant to stressors such as uranium (U). Other stressors may promote similar pathways, and this review is a necessary step to compare and combine knowledge reported for nephrotoxicants. U metal ions are filtered through the glomerular membrane of the kidneys, then concentrate in the cortical and juxtaglomerular areas, and bind to the brush border membrane of the proximal convoluted tubules. U uptake by epithelial cells occurs through endocytosis and the sodium-dependent phosphate co-transporter (NaPi-IIa). The identified key events start with the inhibition of the mitochondria electron transfer chain and the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, due to cytochrome b5/cytochrome c disruption. In the nucleus, U directly interacts with negatively charged DNA phosphate, thereby inducing an adduct formation, and possibly DNA strand breaks or cross-links. U also compromises DNA repair by inhibiting zing finger proteins. Thereafter, U triggers the Nrf2, NF-κB, or endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways. The resulting cellular key events include oxidative stress, DNA strand breaks and chromosomal aberrations, apoptosis, and pro-inflammatory effects. Finally, the main adverse outcome is tubular damage of the S2 and S3 segments of the kidneys, leading to tubular cell death, and then kidney failure. The attribution of renal carcinogenesis due to U is controversial, and specific experimental or epidemiological studies must be conducted. A tentative construction of an AOP for uranium-induced kidney toxicity and failure was proposed.
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7
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Vechetti IJ, Wen Y, Hoffman JF, Alimov AP, Vergara VB, Kalinich JF, Gaitens JM, Hines SE, McDiarmid MA, McCarthy JJ, Peterson CA. Urine miRNAs as potential biomarkers for systemic reactions induced by exposure to embedded metal. Biomark Med 2021; 15:1397-1410. [PMID: 34541869 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2021-0120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Explore the potential of urine microRNAs as biomarkers that may reflect the biological responses to pure metals embedded in skeletal muscle over time. Materials & methods: We tested a panel of military-relevant metals embedded in the gastrocnemius muscles of 3-month-old, male, Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 8/group) for a duration of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, and performed small RNA-sequencing on the urine samples. Results: Results provide potential tissue targets affected by metal exposure and a list of unique or common urine microRNA biomarkers indicative of exposure to various metals, highlighting a complex systemic response. Conclusion: We have identified a panel of miRNAs as potential urine biomarkers to reflect the complex systemic response to embedded metal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan J Vechetti
- Department of Nutrition & Health Sciences, College of Education & Human Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Yuan Wen
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Jessica F Hoffman
- Internal Contamination & Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Alexander P Alimov
- Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Vernieda B Vergara
- Internal Contamination & Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - John F Kalinich
- Internal Contamination & Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Joanna M Gaitens
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Stella E Hines
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Melissa A McDiarmid
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - John J McCarthy
- Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Charlotte A Peterson
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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8
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Longitudinal Evaluation of Lung Function in Gulf War I Veterans Exposed to Depleted Uranium. J Occup Environ Med 2021; 62:1059-1062. [PMID: 33055525 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Gulf War I (GWI) Veterans exposed to depleted uranium (DU) have undergone biennial surveillance to assess for DU-related health effects. No DU-specific respiratory effects have been observed cross-sectionally, but longitudinal lung function decline has not been assessed. METHODS A dynamic cohort of 71 Veterans underwent spirometry testing between 1999 and 2019. Longitudinal rates of decline of spirometry values were compared among Veterans with high versus low uranium levels using a linear mixed model. RESULTS There was no significant difference in rate of decline of spirometry values between Veterans with high versus low uranium levels. The overall rate of decline was similar to that of the general population. CONCLUSIONS In 20 years of follow-up, there does not appear to be an accelerated rate of decline of lung function among veterans exposed to depleted uranium.
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9
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Carrera Arias FJ, Aenlle K, Abreu M, Holschbach MA, Michalovicz LT, Kelly KA, Klimas N, O’Callaghan JP, Craddock TJA. Modeling Neuroimmune Interactions in Human Subjects and Animal Models to Predict Subtype-Specific Multidrug Treatments for Gulf War Illness. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168546. [PMID: 34445252 PMCID: PMC8395153 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a persistent chronic neuroinflammatory illness exacerbated by external stressors and characterized by fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, cognitive, and neurological problems linked to underlying immunological dysfunction for which there is no known treatment. As the immune system and the brain communicate through several signaling pathways, including the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, it underlies many of the behavioral and physiological responses to stressors via blood-borne mediators, such as cytokines, chemokines, and hormones. Signaling by these molecules is mediated by the semipermeable blood–brain barrier (BBB) made up of a monocellular layer forming an integral part of the neuroimmune axis. BBB permeability can be altered and even diminished by both external factors (e.g., chemical agents) and internal conditions (e.g., acute or chronic stress, or cross-signaling from the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis). Such a complex network of regulatory interactions that possess feed-forward and feedback connections can have multiple response dynamics that may include several stable homeostatic states beyond normal health. Here we compare immune and hormone measures in the blood of human clinical samples and mouse models of Gulf War Illness (GWI) subtyped by exposure to traumatic stress for subtyping this complex illness. We do this via constructing a detailed logic model of HPA–HPG–Immune regulatory behavior that also considers signaling pathways across the BBB to neuronal–glial interactions within the brain. We apply conditional interactions to model the effects of changes in BBB permeability. Several stable states are identified in the system beyond typical health. Following alignment of the human and mouse blood profiles in the context of the model, mouse brain sample measures were used to infer the neuroinflammatory state in human GWI and perform treatment simulations using a genetic algorithm to optimize the Monte Carlo simulations of the putative treatment strategies aimed at returning the ill system back to health. We identify several ideal multi-intervention strategies and potential drug candidates that may be used to treat chronic neuroinflammation in GWI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J. Carrera Arias
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA; (F.J.C.A.); (K.A.); (M.A.); (N.K.)
| | - Kristina Aenlle
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA; (F.J.C.A.); (K.A.); (M.A.); (N.K.)
- Department of Clinical Immunology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33125, USA
| | - Maria Abreu
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA; (F.J.C.A.); (K.A.); (M.A.); (N.K.)
- Department of Clinical Immunology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33125, USA
| | - Mary A. Holschbach
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA;
| | - Lindsay T. Michalovicz
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (L.T.M.); (K.A.K.); (J.P.O.)
| | - Kimberly A. Kelly
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (L.T.M.); (K.A.K.); (J.P.O.)
| | - Nancy Klimas
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA; (F.J.C.A.); (K.A.); (M.A.); (N.K.)
- Department of Clinical Immunology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33125, USA
| | - James P. O’Callaghan
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (L.T.M.); (K.A.K.); (J.P.O.)
| | - Travis J. A. Craddock
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA; (F.J.C.A.); (K.A.); (M.A.); (N.K.)
- Department of Clinical Immunology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA;
- Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computing, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-954-262-2868
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10
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McDiarmid MA, Gaitens JM, Hines S, Cloeren M, Breyer R, Condon M, Oliver M, Roth T, Gucer P, Kaup B, Brown L, Brown CH, Dux M, Glick D, Lewin-Smith MR, Strathmann F, Xu H, Velez-Quinones MA, Streeten E. Surveillance of Depleted Uranium-exposed Gulf War Veterans: More Evidence for Bone Effects. HEALTH PHYSICS 2021; 120:671-682. [PMID: 33867437 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000001395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Gulf War I veterans who were victims of depleted uranium (DU) "friendly-fire" incidents have undergone longitudinal health surveillance since 1994. During the spring of 2019, 36 members of the cohort were evaluated with a monitoring protocol including exposure assessment for total and isotopic uranium concentrations in urine and a comprehensive review of health outcomes, including measures of bone metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD) determination. Elevated urine U concentrations were observed in cohort members with retained depleted uranium (DU) shrapnel fragments. In addition, a measure of bone resorption, N-telopeptide, showed a statistically significant increase in those in the high DU subgroup, a finding consistent with a statistically significant decrease in bone mass also observed in this high DU subgroup compared to the low DU subgroup. After more than 25 y since first exposure to DU, an aging cohort of military veterans continues to show few U-related health effects in known target organs of U toxicity. The new finding of impaired BMD in the high DU subgroup has now been detected in two consecutive surveillance visits. While this is a biologically plausible uranium effect, it is not reflected in other measures of bone metabolism in the full cohort, which have largely been within normal limits. However, ongoing accrual of the U burden from fragment absorption over time and the effect of aging further impairing BMD suggest the need for future surveillance assessments of this cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Richard Breyer
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, MD
| | - Marian Condon
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, MD
| | | | | | | | - Bruce Kaup
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Clayton H Brown
- Biophysical Toxicology, The Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Moira Dux
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, MD
| | - Danielle Glick
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Michael R Lewin-Smith
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Frederick Strathmann
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Hanna Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Maria A Velez-Quinones
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Elizabeth Streeten
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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11
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Ahmed RS, Mohammed RS. Assessment of uranium concentration in blood of Iraqi females diagnosed with breast cancer. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2021; 60:193-201. [PMID: 33221962 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-020-00881-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a widespread significant health problem in Iraq and contributes 11% to total deaths. Throughout the Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003, about 1200 tons of ammunition were dropped around Iraq. After the wars, cancer incidence in Iraq is about 7,000 to 8,000 cancers cases per year, and the overall incidence of lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer, and lung cancer has increased twofold and even tripled, as compared to the time before the wars. This increase could result from environmental pollution with radioactive materials including uranium, as cancer can be caused by ionizing radiation. To investigate this hypothesis, uranium concentration in the blood of 64 Iraqi females has been measured by means of CR-39 track etch detectors (42 blood samples collected from females diagnosed with breast cancer and 22 blood samples from females without breast cancer). The results show that the uranium concentrations ranged from 19.1 ± 0.3 to 238.4 ± 0.4 with an average value of 94.9 ± 5.0 ng L-1 in the blood of women with breast cancer and from 5.2 ± 0.2 to 18.7 ± 0.04 with an average value of 10.5 ± 0.1 ng L-1 in the blood of women without breast cancer. In comparison with the literature data, elevated levels of uranium concentration were recorded in both groups, and significantly higher average uranium concentrations were found in the blood of women with breast cancer as compared to those in the blood samples of women without breast cancer. It is concluded that there is a correlation between the incidence of breast cancer in Iraqi women and elevated levels of uranium concentrations in their blood. Whether this is a casual relationship is unclear, because cancer can be caused by various carcinogens, including environmental pollution in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha S Ahmed
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Alkadhimiya, PO box 70010, Baghdad, Iraq.
| | - Raghad S Mohammed
- Department of Physics, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
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12
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Hoffman JF, Vergara VB, Kalinich JF. Brain region- and metal-specific effects of embedded metals in a shrapnel wound model in the rat. Neurotoxicology 2021; 83:116-128. [PMID: 33453298 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The health effects of prolonged exposure to embedded metal fragments, such as those found in shrapnel wounds sustained by an increasing number of military personnel, are not well known. As part of a large collaborative effort to expand this knowledge, we use an animal model of shrapnel wounds originally developed to investigate effects of embedded depleted uranium to investigate effects of military-relevant metals tungsten, nickel, cobalt, iron, copper, aluminum, lead, and depleted uranium compared to an inert control, tantalum. Rats are surgically implanted with pellets of one of the metals of interest in the gastrocnemius (leg) muscle and tracked until 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months from the time of implant, at which point they are euthanized and multiple organs and tissue samples are collected for inspection. Here we focus on four regions of the brain: frontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebellum. We examined changes in accumulated metal concentration in each region as well as changes in expression of proteins related to blood brain barrier tight junction formation, occludin and ZO-1, and synapse function, PSD95, spinophilin, and synaptotagmin. We report few changes in metal accumulation or blood brain barrier protein expression, but a large number of synapse proteins have reduced expression levels, particularly within the first 6 months of exposure, but there are regional and metal-specific differences in effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica F Hoffman
- Internal Contamination and Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vernieda B Vergara
- Internal Contamination and Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - John F Kalinich
- Internal Contamination and Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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13
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Wen Y, Vechetti IJ, Alimov AP, Hoffman JF, Vergara VB, Kalinich JF, McCarthy JJ, Peterson CA. Time-course analysis of the effect of embedded metal on skeletal muscle gene expression. Physiol Genomics 2020; 52:575-587. [PMID: 33017228 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00096.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
As a consequence of military operations, many veterans suffer from penetrating wounds and long-term retention of military-grade heavy metal fragments. Fragments vary in size and location, and complete surgical removal may not be feasible or beneficial in all cases. Increasing evidence suggests retention of heavy metal fragments may have serious biological implications, including increased risks for malignant transformation. Previous studies assessed the tumorigenic effects of metal alloys in rats, demonstrating combinations of metals are sufficient to induce tumor formation after prolonged retention in skeletal muscle tissue. In this study, we analyzed transcriptional changes in skeletal muscle tissue in response to eight different military-relevant pure metals over 12 mo. We found that most transcriptional changes occur at 1 and 3 mo after metal pellets are embedded in skeletal muscle and these effects resolve at 6 and 12 mo. We also report significant immunogenic effects of nickel and cobalt and suppressive effects of lead and depleted uranium on gene expression. Overall, skeletal muscle exhibits a remarkable capacity to adapt to and recover from internalized metal fragments; however, the cellular response to chronic exposure may be restricted to the metal-tissue interface. These data suggest that unless affected regions are specifically captured by biopsy, it would be difficult to reliably detect changes in muscle gene expression that would be indicative of long-term adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wen
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.,Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Ivan J Vechetti
- Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.,Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Alexander P Alimov
- Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.,Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Jessica F Hoffman
- Internal Contamination and Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Vernieda B Vergara
- Internal Contamination and Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - John F Kalinich
- Internal Contamination and Metal Toxicity Program, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - John J McCarthy
- Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.,Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Charlotte A Peterson
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.,Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
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14
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Meltzer GY, Watkins BX, Vieira D, Zelikoff JT, Boden-Albala B. A Systematic Review of Environmental Health Outcomes in Selected American Indian and Alaska Native Populations. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2020; 7:698-739. [PMID: 31974734 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-020-00700-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Economic and social marginalization among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) results in higher chronic disease prevalence. Potential causal associations between toxic environmental exposures and adverse health outcomes within AI/AN communities are not well understood. OBJECTIVES This review examines epidemiological literature on exposure to toxicants and associated adverse health outcomes among AI/AN populations. METHODS PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Environment Complete, Web of Science Plus, DART, and ToxLine were searched for English-language articles. The following data were extracted: lead author's last name, publication year, cohort name, study location, AI/AN tribe, study initiation and conclusion, sample size, primary characteristic, environmental exposure, health outcomes, risk estimates, and covariates. RESULTS About 31 articles on three types of environmental exposures met inclusion criteria: persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, and open dumpsites. Of these, 17 addressed exposure to POPs, 10 heavy metal exposure, 2 exposure to both POPs and heavy metals, and 2 exposure to open dumpsites. Studies on the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne; Yupik on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska; Navajo Nation; Gila River Indian Community; Cheyenne River Sioux; 197 Alaska Native villages; and 13 tribes in Arizona, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and South Dakota that participated in the Strong Heart Study support associations between toxicant exposure and various chronic conditions including cardiovascular conditions, reproductive abnormalities, cancer, autoimmune disorders, neurological deficits, and diabetes. DISCUSSION The complex interplay of environmental and social factors in disease etiology among AI/ANs is a product of externally imposed environmental exposures, systemic discrimination, and modifiable risk behaviors. The connection between environmental health disparities and adverse health outcomes indicates a need for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Y Meltzer
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, 715/719 Broadway, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
| | - Beverly-Xaviera Watkins
- Department of Epidemiology, New York University School of Global Public Health, 715/719 Broadway, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Dorice Vieira
- Health Sciences Library, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Judith T Zelikoff
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 341 East 25th Street, New York, NY, 10010, USA
| | - Bernadette Boden-Albala
- Department of Population Health, University of California Irvine, 653 East Peltason Drive, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
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15
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Bjørklund G, Pivina L, Dadar M, Semenova Y, Rahman MM, Chirumbolo S, Aaseth J. Depleted uranium and Gulf War Illness: Updates and comments on possible mechanisms behind the syndrome. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 181:108927. [PMID: 31796256 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Indications of proximal tubule effects have been observed in recent surveillance study of Gulf War veterans exposed to depleted uranium (DU). This gives some support for the suspicion that DU may represent one of the causes for the so-called Persian Gulf syndrome. Proposed effects may be especially harmful if the toxicity hits the mitochondrial DNA since the mitochondria lack the nucleotide excision repair mechanism, which is needed for repairing bulky adducts that have been associated with DU. It is a plausible working hypothesis that a significant part of the symptoms from various organs, which have been observed among veterans from Gulf War 1 and that have been grouped under the name of the Persian Gulf syndrome, may be explained as a consequence of mitochondrial DNA damage in various cell types and organs. Interpretation of observations, on military personnel and civilians after Gulf War 1, is associated with difficulties because of the abundance of potential confounding factors. The symptoms observed on veterans from Gulf War 1 may be attributed to a multiplicity of substances functioning directly or indirectly as mitochondrial mutagens. A concise analysis of the cascade of toxic effects initiated by DU exposure in the human body is the subject of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Mo i Rana, Norway.
| | - Lyudmila Pivina
- Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan; CONEM Kazakhstan Environmental Health and Safety Research Group, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
| | - Maryam Dadar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Yuliya Semenova
- Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan; CONEM Kazakhstan Environmental Health and Safety Research Group, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
| | - Md Mostafizur Rahman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; CONEM Scientific Secretary, Verona, Italy
| | - Jan Aaseth
- Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway; IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
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16
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McDiarmid MA, Gucer P, Centeno JA, Todorov T, Squibb KS. Semen Uranium Concentrations in Depleted Uranium Exposed Gulf War Veterans: Correlations with Other Body Fluid Matrices. Biol Trace Elem Res 2019; 190:45-51. [PMID: 30293130 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-018-1527-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Environmental metal exposure, as well as dietary metals, may adversely affect semen quality even as others play an essential role in normal spermatogenesis and fertility. Measures of seminal fluid metals have therefore been of high interest in the last several decades but have shown inconsistent results in correlations with some semen quality parameters. As well, environmental metal measures across various body fluid matrices have not been consistently correlated contrary to what one might hypothesize based on a systemic body burden of metal. This may be due to the body fluid matrices assessed and to other differences in laboratory methods and sample preparation. Measures of uranium, a potentially toxic metal in humans, have not previously been reported in the semen of environmentally metal-exposed populations. We report here uranium seminal fluid results and the high correlation of uranium concentrations across several body fluid matrices in a cohort of military veterans exposed to depleted uranium in combat events during the Iraqi Gulf War. These results inform the risk communication conversation for exposed populations and broaden the public health assessments from various exposure scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A McDiarmid
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Patricia Gucer
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Jose A Centeno
- Center for Devices and Radiological Health Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Todor Todorov
- Center for Devices and Radiological Health Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Katherine S Squibb
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
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17
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Winde F, Geipel G, Espina C, Schüz J. Human exposure to uranium in South African gold mining areas using barber-based hair sampling. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219059. [PMID: 31247044 PMCID: PMC6597193 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Uranium (U) measurements in water, soil, and food related to gold mining activities in populated areas in Gauteng Province, South Africa, suggest the possibility of exposure levels that may lead to adverse health consequences, including cancer. Theoretical considerations on pathways of human uptake of significant exposures are plausible, but few data on directly measured human exposure are available. A cross-sectional study was conducted using human measurements to compare U levels with other settings around the globe (based on literature review), to explore potential exposure variability within the province, and to test the feasibility of recruiting subjects partially coming from vulnerable and difficult-to-reach populations. Wards of potentially high (HE) and low exposure (LE) were identified. Composite hair samples representing the respective local populations were collected from regular customers of selected barber shops over a period of 1-2 months. A total of 70 U concentrations were determined in 27 composite samples from 1332 individuals. U concentrations ranged from 31 μg/kg to 2524 μg/kg, with an arithmetic mean of 192 μg/kg (standard deviation, 310 μg/kg) and a median of 122 μg/kg. Although HE wards collectively showed higher U levels than LE wards (184 vs 134 μg/kg), differences were smaller than expected. In conclusion, detected U levels were higher than those from most other surveys of the general public. The barber-based approach was an efficient hair collection approach. Composite hair samples are not recommended, due to technical challenges in measuring U, and individual hair samples are needed in follow-up studies to determine predictors of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Winde
- North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, Research Unit Environmental Science and Management, Mine Water Re-Search Group, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
| | - Gerhard Geipel
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute for Resource Ecology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Carolina Espina
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Section of Environment and Radiation, Lyon, France
| | - Joachim Schüz
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Section of Environment and Radiation, Lyon, France
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18
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Vidaud C, Robert M, Paredes E, Ortega R, Avazeri E, Jing L, Guigonis JM, Bresson C, Malard V. Deciphering the uranium target proteins in human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells. Arch Toxicol 2019; 93:2141-2154. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-019-02497-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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19
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Bešić L, Muhović I, Mrkulić F, Spahić L, Omanović A, Kurtovic-Kozaric A. Meta-analysis of depleted uranium levels in the Middle East region. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 192:67-74. [PMID: 29890359 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Since the first widespread use of depleted uranium in military in the 1991 Gulf War, the so-called "Gulf War Syndrome" has been a topic of ongoing debate. However, a low number of reliable scientific papers demonstrating the extent of possible contamination as well as its connection to the health status of residents and deployed veterans has been published. The authors of this study have therefore aimed to make a selection of data based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. With the goal of clarifying the extent of DU contamination after the Gulf Wars, previously published data regarding the levels of DU in the Middle East region were analyzed and presented in the form of a meta-analysis. In addition, the authors attempted to make a correlation between the DU levels and their possible effects on afflicted populations. According to results observed by comparing 234U/238U and 235U/238U isotopic activity ratios, as well as 235U/238U mass ratios in air, water, soil and food samples among the countries in the Middle East region, areas indicating contamination with DU were Al Doha, Manageesh and Um Al Kwaty in Kuwait, Al-Salman, Al-Nukhaib and Karbala in Iraq, Beirut in Lebanon and Sinai in Egypt. According to these data, no DU contamination was observed in Algeria, Israel, Afghanistan, Oman, Qatar, Iran, and Yemen. Due to the limited number of reliable data on the health status of afflicted populations, it was not possible to make a correlation between DU levels and health effects in the Middle East region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa Bešić
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University, Francuske Revolucije bb, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Imer Muhović
- Ascidea Genomics & Bioinformatics CRO, Cami Can Colders 8, 2-1, 08172, Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Fatima Mrkulić
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University, Francuske Revolucije bb, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Lemana Spahić
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University, Francuske Revolucije bb, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Ammar Omanović
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University, Francuske Revolucije bb, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University, Francuske Revolucije bb, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Department of Pathology, Cytology and Human Genetics, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Department of Biology, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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20
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A comparative study of the typical toxic metals in serum by patients of schizophrenia and healthy controls in China. Psychiatry Res 2018; 269:558-564. [PMID: 30199697 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.08.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Toxic metals are ubiquitous environmental pollutants, and their potential risks associated with the development of schizophrenia remain a subject of debate. In this study, we investigated the associations between six typical toxic metals (mercury, lead, chromium, silver, antimony, and uranium) in serum with the risk of schizophrenia using a case-control study design. In total, 109 patients with schizophrenia (cases) and 106 normal subjects (controls) from Shandong Province, China were recruited. Fasting blood samples were collected from all participants, as well as serum samples from the cases before and after medical treatment. The six metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Only three metals (antimony, silver and uranium) had acceptable detection rates of >80%. The concentrations of antimony and uranium were significantly higher in the cases than in the controls, while no significant difference for silver. Moreover, the serum concentrations of antimony and uranium were significantly lower after medical treatment. Clear dose-response relationships between serum metal concentrations and the risk of schizophrenia were observed, even after adjusting for potential covariates. This suggests that higher levels of antimony and uranium may be one of the factors associated with an elevated risk of schizophrenia.
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21
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McDiarmid MA, Cloeren M, Gaitens JM, Hines S, Streeten E, Breyer RJ, Brown CH, Condon M, Roth T, Oliver M, Brown L, Dux M, Lewin-Smith MR, Strathmann F, Velez-Quinones MA, Gucer P. Surveillance results and bone effects in the Gulf War depleted uranium-exposed cohort. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2018; 81:1083-1097. [PMID: 30373484 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2018.1538914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A small group of Gulf War I veterans wounded in depleted uranium (DU) friendly-fire incidents have been monitored in a clinical surveillance program since 1993. During the spring of 2017, 42 members of the cohort were evaluated with a protocol which includes exposure monitoring for total and isotopic uranium concentrations in urine and a comprehensive assessment of health outcomes including measures of bone metabolism, and for participants >50 years, bone mineral density (BMD) determination. Elevated urine U concentrations were observed in cohort members with retained DU shrapnel fragments. Only the mean serum estradiol concentration, a marker of bone metabolism, was found to be significantly different for lower-vs- higher urine U (uU) cohort sub-groups. For the first time, a significant deficit in BMD was observed in the over age 50, high uU sub-group. After more than 25 years since first exposure to DU, an aging cohort of military veterans continues to exhibit few U-related adverse health effects in known target organs of U toxicity. The new finding of reduced BMD in older cohort members, while biologically plausible, was not suggested by other measures of bone metabolism in the full (all ages) cohort, as these were predominantly within normal limits over time. Only estradiol was recently found to display a difference as a function of uU grouping. As BMD is further impacted by aging and the U-burden from fragment absorption accrues in this cohort, a U effect may be clarified in future surveillance visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A McDiarmid
- a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore , Baltimore , MD , USA
- b Department of Medicine , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Marianne Cloeren
- a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore , Baltimore , MD , USA
- b Department of Medicine , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Joanna M Gaitens
- a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore , Baltimore , MD , USA
- b Department of Medicine , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Stella Hines
- a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore , Baltimore , MD , USA
- b Department of Medicine , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Elizabeth Streeten
- b Department of Medicine , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Richard J Breyer
- a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Clayton H Brown
- d Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Marian Condon
- a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Tracy Roth
- a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore , Baltimore , MD , USA
- b Department of Medicine , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Marc Oliver
- a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore , Baltimore , MD , USA
- b Department of Medicine , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Lawrence Brown
- a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore , Baltimore , MD , USA
- c Department of Pathology , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Moira Dux
- a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Michael R Lewin-Smith
- e Environmental Toxicology Laboratory, The Joint Pathology Center , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Silver Spring , MD , USA
| | - Frederick Strathmann
- e Environmental Toxicology Laboratory, The Joint Pathology Center , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Silver Spring , MD , USA
| | - Maria A Velez-Quinones
- e Environmental Toxicology Laboratory, The Joint Pathology Center , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Silver Spring , MD , USA
| | - Patricia Gucer
- a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore , Baltimore , MD , USA
- b Department of Medicine , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
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22
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Hines SE, Barnes AH, Brown C, Gucer P, Oliver MS, Gaitens JM, Condon M, McDiarmid M. Impulse oscillometry measurement of distal airways obstruction in depleted uranium-exposed Gulf War veterans. Am J Ind Med 2018; 61:308-316. [PMID: 29424024 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A cohort of Gulf War I veterans who sustained exposure to depleted uranium undergoes biennial surveillance for potential uranium-related health effects. We performed impulse oscillometry and hypothesized that veterans with higher uranium body burdens would have more obstructive abnormalities than those with lower burdens. METHODS We compared pulmonary function of veterans in high versus low urine uranium groups by evaluating spirometry and oscillometry values. RESULTS Overall mean spirometry and oscillometry resistance values fell within the normal ranges. There were no significant differences between the high and low uranium groups for any parameters. However, more veterans were classified as having obstruction by oscillometry (42%) than spirometry (8%). CONCLUSIONS While oscillometry identified more veterans as obstructed, obstruction was not uranium-related. However, the added sensitivity of this method implies a benefit in wider surveillance of exposed cohorts and holds promise in identifying abnormalities in areas of the lung historically described as silent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella E. Hines
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; The University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine; The University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Ashley H. Barnes
- The University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Clayton Brown
- Department of Epidemiology & Public Health; The University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Patricia Gucer
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; The University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Marc S. Oliver
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; The University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Joanna M. Gaitens
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; The University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Marian Condon
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; The University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Melissa McDiarmid
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; The University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
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McDiarmid MA, Gaitens JM, Hines S, Condon M, Roth T, Oliver M, Gucer P, Brown L, Centeno JA, Dux M, Squibb KS. The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs depleted uranium exposed cohort at 25 Years: Longitudinal surveillance results. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 152:175-184. [PMID: 27792941 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A small group of Gulf War I veterans wounded in depleted uranium (DU) friendly-fire incidents have been monitored for health changes in a clinical surveillance program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore since 1994. METHODS During the spring of 2015, an in-patient clinical surveillance protocol was performed on 36 members of the cohort, including exposure monitoring for total and isotopic uranium concentrations in urine and a comprehensive assessment of health outcomes. RESULTS On-going mobilization of U from embedded fragments is evidenced by elevated urine U concentrations. The DU isotopic signature is observed principally in participants possessing embedded fragments. Those with only an inhalation exposure have lower urine U concentration and a natural isotopic signature. CONCLUSIONS At 25 years since first exposure to DU, an aging cohort of military veterans continues to show no U-related health effects in known target organs of U toxicity. As U body burden continues to accrue from in-situ mobilization from metal fragment depots, and increases with exposure duration, critical tissue-specific U concentration thresholds may be reached, thus recommending on-going surveillance of this veteran cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A McDiarmid
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Joanna M Gaitens
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Stella Hines
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Marian Condon
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Tracy Roth
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Marc Oliver
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Patricia Gucer
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Lawrence Brown
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jose A Centeno
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Moira Dux
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Katherine S Squibb
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Baltimore, Maryland, 10 N. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W Baltimore S, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Albina ML, Belles M, Gomez M, Sanchez DJ, Domingo JL. Influence of Maternal Stress on Uranium-Induced Developmental Toxicity in Rats. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2016; 228:1072-7. [PMID: 14530518 DOI: 10.1177/153537020322800914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that uranium is an embryo/fetal toxicant when given orally or subcutaneously to pregnant mice. On the other hand, maternal stress has been shown to enhance the developmental toxicity of a number of metals. In this study, maternal toxicity and developmental effects of a concurrent exposure to uranyl acetate dihydrate (UAD) and restraint stress were evaluated in rats. Four groups of pregnant animals were given subcutaneous injections of UAD at 0.415 and 0.830 mg/kg/day on Days 6 to 15 of gestation. Animals in two of these groups were also subjected to restraint for 2 hr/day during the same gestational days. Control groups included restrained and unrestrained pregnant rats not exposed to UAD. Cesarean sections were performed on gestation Day 20, and the fetuses were weighed and examined for malformations and variations. Maternal toxicity and embryotoxicity were noted at 0.830 mg/kg/day of UAD, while fetotoxicity was evidenced at 0.415 and 0.830 mg/kg/day of UAD by significant reductions in fetal body weight and increases in the total number of skeletally affected fetuses. No teratogenic effects were noted in any group. Maternal restraint enhanced uranium-induced embryo/fetal toxicity only at 0.830 mg/kg/day, a dose that was also significantly toxic to the dams. As in previous studies with other metals, maternal stress enhances uranium-induced developmental toxicity at uranium doses that are highly toxic to the dams; however, at doses that are less acutely toxic the role of maternal stress would not be significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Luisa Albina
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Rovira i Virgili University, 43201 Reus, Spain
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Abstract
Depleted uranium munitions have been used in recent military operations in both the Gulf and the Balkans and there have been concerns that exposure to depleted uranium may be a cause of `Gulf War Syndrome’ and cancer clusters. We recount the properties of depleted uranium, its military uses, and the situations in which personnel may be exposed. Following a review of scientific literature, the health effects of depleted and natural uranium exposure are described and the major outcomes of research into Gulf Veterans’ Illnesses are summarised. We conclude that, although there is the potential for uranium exposures to cause renal damage or lung cancer, the risk of harm following depleted uranium exposure in military settings seems to be low. We advise on the management of casualties exposed to depleted uranium and suggest control measures that may be appropriate to protect personnel who provide casualty care.
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Affiliation(s)
- JPG Bolton
- Ministry of Defence, Gulf Veterans’ Illnesses Unit, London, UK
| | - CRM Foster
- Department of Submarine and Radiation Medicine, Institute of Naval Medicine, Gosport, UK
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26
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Gudkov SV, Chernikov AV, Bruskov VI. Chemical and radiological toxicity of uranium compounds. RUSS J GEN CHEM+ 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1070363216060517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Li L, Zhang Y, Li X, Shen S, Huang H, Bai Y, Liu H. Study on the interaction of uranyl with sulfated beta-cyclodextrin by affinity capillary electrophoresis and molecular dynamics simulation. Electrophoresis 2016; 37:2567-2573. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.201600074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Linnan Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; Peking University; Beijing P. R. China
| | - Yiding Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; Peking University; Beijing P. R. China
| | - Xianjiang Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; Peking University; Beijing P. R. China
| | - Sensen Shen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; Peking University; Beijing P. R. China
| | - Hexiang Huang
- Sichuan Institute of Materials and Technology; Mianyang P. R. China
| | - Yu Bai
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; Peking University; Beijing P. R. China
| | - Huwei Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering; Peking University; Beijing P. R. China
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28
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Zimmerman KL, Barber DS, Ehrich MF, Tobias L, Hancock S, Hinckley J, Binder EM, Jortner BS. Temporal Clinical Chemistry and Microscopic Renal Effects Following Acute Uranyl Acetate Exposure. Toxicol Pathol 2016; 35:1000-9. [DOI: 10.1080/01926230701748446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Military use of depleted uranium (DU) has renewed interest in the toxicology of this metal. In this study, the nephrotoxicity of single exposure DU was assessed with and without pre-exposure stress. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 288) were administered a single IM dose of 0, 0.1, 0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg DU. Corticosterone concentrations (ng/ml, mean ± SD) were 763.65 ± 130.94 and 189.80 ± 90.81 for swim stressed and unstressed rats. Serum and kidney uranium concentration, hematocrit, chemistry, and renal histology were assessed on sacrifice days 1, 3, 7 and 30 post-DU-dosing. Dose related increases in serum and kidney uranium were noted. DU concentration peaked day 1 in the kidney and days 3–7, in the serum. Dose-related elevations of Cr and BUN concentrations were seen on days 3 and 7. A decline in serum albumin coincided with Cr and BUN suggesting protein losing nephropathy. Dose related acute tubular necrosis and proliferative glomulonephritis were seen. Tubular regeneration in low dose rats was almost complete by day 30. High dose rats had extensive tubular necrosis and delayed regeneration with focal residual chronic interstitial nephritis and cortical scarring. Glomular changes were reversed in all treatment groups by day 30. Stress exposure had no impact on any measured renal parameter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt L. Zimmerman
- Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - David S. Barber
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Marion F. Ehrich
- Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Lynette Tobias
- Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Sandra Hancock
- Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - J. Hinckley
- Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Ellen M. Binder
- Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Bernard S. Jortner
- Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Stammler L, Uhl A, Mayer B, Keller F. Renal Effects and Carcinogenicity of Occupational Exposure to Uranium: A Meta-Analysis. NEPHRON EXTRA 2016; 6:1-11. [PMID: 27275162 PMCID: PMC4886082 DOI: 10.1159/000442827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Uranium is a heavy metal with alpha radioactivity. We state the hypothesis that uranium exposure is harmful to human kidneys and carcinogenic to body tissues. Therefore, we review epidemiological studies from people with known long-lasting uranium exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three meta-analyses are performed using clinical studies published in the PubMed database and applying RevMan 5.3 from the Cochrane Collaboration to calculate the outcome. The first two meta-analyses examine the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and the standardized incidence ratio for any cancers of uranium workers who were operating in areas ranging from uranium processing to the assembly of final uranium products. The third meta-analysis evaluates the nephrotoxic risk in uranium workers as well as soldiers and of individuals with exposure to drinking water containing uranium. RESULTS Overall and contrasting to our hypothesis, the tumor risk is significantly lower for uranium workers than for control groups (SMR = 0.90 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.84 to 0.96). In addition and also contrasting to our hypothesis, the risk of nephrotoxicity is not increased either. This holds for both the incidence and the mortality due to renal cell carcinoma or due to acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease. In contrast, a significantly better creatinine clearance is found for the uranium cohort as compared to the control groups (mean difference = 7.66 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.12 to 15.2). CONCLUSION Our hypothesis that a chronic uranium exposure is associated with an increased risk of cancer mortality or of kidney failure is refuted by clinical data. The decreased risk may result from better medical surveillance of uranium workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonhard Stammler
- Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine 1, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Benjamin Mayer
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Frieder Keller
- Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine 1, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Saint-Marc B, Elie C, Manens L, Tack K, Benderitter M, Gueguen Y, Ibanez C. Chronic uranium contamination alters spinal motor neuron integrity via modulation of SMN1 expression and microglia recruitment. Toxicol Lett 2016; 254:37-44. [PMID: 27153795 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Consequences of uranium contamination have been extensively studied in brain as cognitive function impairments were observed in rodents. Locomotor disturbances have also been described in contaminated animals. Epidemiological studies have revealed increased risk of motor neuron diseases in veterans potentially exposed to uranium during their military duties. To our knowledge, biological response of spinal cord to uranium contamination has not been studied even though it has a crucial role in locomotion. Four groups of rats were contaminated with increasing concentrations of uranium in their drinking water compared to a control group to study cellular mechanisms involved in locomotor disorders. Nissl staining of spinal cord sections revealed the presence of chromatolytic neurons in the ventral horn. This observation was correlated with a decreased number of motor neurons in the highly contaminated group and a decrease of SMN1 protein expression (Survival of Motor Neuron 1). While contamination impairs motor neuron integrity, an increasing number of microglial cells indicates the trigger of a neuroinflammation process. Potential overexpression of a microglial recruitment chemokine, MCP-1 (Monocyte Chimioattractant Protein 1), by motor neurons themselves could mediate this process. Studies on spinal cord appear to be relevant for risk assessment of population exposed via contaminated food and water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brice Saint-Marc
- Institut de Radioprotection et de SÛreté Nucléaire, Pôle Radioprotection de l'Homme, Service de Radiobiologie et d'Epidémiologie, Laboratoire de Radiotoxicologie Expérimentale, BP17, 92262 Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Christelle Elie
- Institut de Radioprotection et de SÛreté Nucléaire, Pôle Radioprotection de l'Homme, Service de Radiobiologie et d'Epidémiologie, Laboratoire de Radiotoxicologie Expérimentale, BP17, 92262 Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Line Manens
- Institut de Radioprotection et de SÛreté Nucléaire, Pôle Radioprotection de l'Homme, Service de Radiobiologie et d'Epidémiologie, Laboratoire de Radiotoxicologie Expérimentale, BP17, 92262 Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Karine Tack
- Institut de Radioprotection et de SÛreté Nucléaire, Pôle Radioprotection de l'Homme, Service de Radiobiologie et d'Epidémiologie, Laboratoire de Radiotoxicologie Expérimentale, BP17, 92262 Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Marc Benderitter
- Institut de Radioprotection et de SÛreté Nucléaire, Pôle Radioprotection de l'Homme, Service de Radiobiologie et d'Epidémiologie, Laboratoire de Radiotoxicologie Expérimentale, BP17, 92262 Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Yann Gueguen
- Institut de Radioprotection et de SÛreté Nucléaire, Pôle Radioprotection de l'Homme, Service de Radiobiologie et d'Epidémiologie, Laboratoire de Radiotoxicologie Expérimentale, BP17, 92262 Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Chrystelle Ibanez
- Institut de Radioprotection et de SÛreté Nucléaire, Pôle Radioprotection de l'Homme, Service de Radiobiologie et d'Epidémiologie, Laboratoire de Radiotoxicologie Expérimentale, BP17, 92262 Fontenay aux Roses, France.
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Bolognesi C, Migliore L, Lista F, Caroli S, Patriarca M, De Angelis R, Capocaccia R, Amadori S, Pulliero A, Balia C, Colognato R, La Gioia V, Bonassi S, Izzotti A. Biological monitoring of Italian soldiers deployed in Iraq. Results of the SIGNUM project. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2015; 219:24-32. [PMID: 26306831 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Revised: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 08/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leukemia/lymphoma cases reported in 2001 among United Nation soldiers or peacekeepers deployed to the Balkans aroused alert on the exposure to depleted uranium. Recent epidemiological studies carried out in different European countries among peacekeepers who served in the Balkans failed to demonstrate a higher than expected risk of all cancers but, mostly due to their limitations in size and follow up time, leave open the debate on health risk of depleted uranium. The aim of SIGNUM (Study of the Genotoxic Impact in Military Units) was to identify potential genotoxic risk associated with the exposure to depleted uranium or other pollutants in the Italian Army military personnel deployed in Iraq. METHODS Blood and urine samples were collected before and after the deployment from 981 Italian soldiers operating in Iraq in 2004-2005. As, Cd, Mo, Ni, Pb, U, V, W, and Zr were determined in urine and serum. DNA-adducts, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanine and micronuclei frequency were evaluated in blood lymphocytes. Three different genetic polymorphisms, GSTM1, XRCC1, OGG1 were analyzed. RESULTS Significant T0-T1 reduction in the total concentration of uranium, increases for Cd, Mo, Ni, Zr, and decreases for As, Pb, W, and V in urine and plasma were observed. Increases in oxidative alterations and in micronuclei frequency, included in the range of values of non-occupationally exposed populations, were observed at the end of the period of employment. CONCLUSIONS Our results did not detect any toxicologically relevant variation of DNA-damage biomarkers related to the deployment in the operational theater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Bolognesi
- IRCCS AUO San Martino-IST Istituto Nazionale Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Lucia Migliore
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Florigio Lista
- Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Caroli
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Patriarca
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta De Angelis
- National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion (CNESPS), Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Capocaccia
- National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion (CNESPS), Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Pulliero
- IRCCS AUO San Martino-IST Istituto Nazionale Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cristina Balia
- IRCCS AUO San Martino-IST Istituto Nazionale Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy
| | - Renato Colognato
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Bonassi
- Unit of Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Izzotti
- IRCCS AUO San Martino-IST Istituto Nazionale Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy; Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
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Albertini RJ, Vacek PM, Carter EW, Nicklas JA, Squibb KS, Gucer PW, Engelhardt SM, McDiarmid MA. Mutagenicity monitoring following battlefield exposures: Longitudinal study of HPRT mutations in Gulf War I veterans exposed to depleted uranium. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2015; 56:581-593. [PMID: 25914368 DOI: 10.1002/em.21955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A total of 70 military Veterans have been monitored for HPRT T-cell mutations in five separate studies at 2-year intervals over an 8-year period. Systemic depleted uranium (DU) levels were measured at the time of each study by determining urinary uranium (uU) excretion. Each HPRT study included 30-40 Veterans, several with retained DU-containing shrapnel. Forty-nine Veterans were evaluated in multiple studies, including 14 who were in all five studies. This permitted a characterization of the HPRT mutation assay over time to assess the effects of age, smoking and non-selected cloning efficiencies, as well as the inter- and intra-individual variability across time points. Molecular analyses identified the HPRT mutation and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement in 1,377 mutant isolates. An unexpected finding was that in vivo clones of HPRT mutant T-cells were present in some Veterans, and could persist over several years of the study. The calculated HPRT mutant frequencies (MFs) were repeatedly elevated in replicate studies in three outlier Veterans with elevated urinary uranium excretion levels. However, these three outlier Veterans also harbored large and persistent in vivo HPRT mutant T-cell clones, each of which was represented by a single founder mutation. Correction for in vivo clonality allowed calculation of HPRT T-cell mutation frequencies (MutFs). Despite earlier reports of DU associated increases in HPRT MFs in some Veterans, the results presented here demonstrate that HPRT mutations are not increased by systemic DU exposure. Additional battlefield exposures were also evaluated for associations with HPRT mutations and none were found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Albertini
- Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Pamela M Vacek
- Medical Biostatistics Unit, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Elizabeth W Carter
- Center for Clinical and Translational Science-Biomedical Informatics Unit, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Janice A Nicklas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Katherine S Squibb
- Occupational Health Program, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Patricia W Gucer
- Occupational Health Program, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Melissa A McDiarmid
- Occupational Health Program, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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McDiarmid MA, Gaitens JM, Hines S, Condon M, Roth T, Oliver M, Gucer P, Brown L, Centeno JA, Streeten E, Squibb KS. Biologic monitoring and surveillance results for the department of veterans affairs' depleted uranium cohort: Lessons learned from sustained exposure over two decades. Am J Ind Med 2015; 58:583-94. [PMID: 25907888 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A small group of Gulf War I veterans wounded in depleted uranium (DU) friendly fire incidents have been monitored in a clinical surveillance program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore since 1994. METHODS An in-patient clinical surveillance protocol was performed on 35 members of the cohort, including exposure monitoring for total and isotopic uranium concentrations in urine and a comprehensive assessment of health outcomes. RESULTS Although urine U concentrations continue to be elevated in this group, illustrating on-going in situ mobilization of U from embedded fragments, no consistent U-related health effects have been observed. CONCLUSIONS Now more than 20 years since first exposure to DU, an aging cohort of military veterans continues to show no U-related health effects in known target organs of U toxicity. As tissue concentrations continue to accrue with exposure duration, critical tissue-specific U concentration thresholds may be reached, thus recommending on-going surveillance of this veteran cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A. McDiarmid
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine; University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Joanna M. Gaitens
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine; University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Stella Hines
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine; University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Marian Condon
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Tracy Roth
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine; University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Marc Oliver
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine; University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Patricia Gucer
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine; University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Lawrence Brown
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Pathology; University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Jose A. Centeno
- Biophysical Toxicology; The Joint Pathology Center; Silver Spring Maryland
| | - Elizabeth Streeten
- Department of Medicine; University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
| | - Katherine S. Squibb
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Baltimore Maryland
- Department of Medicine; University of Maryland School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland
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Hande PE, Samui AB, Kulkarni PS. Highly selective monitoring of metals by using ion-imprinted polymers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:7375-404. [PMID: 25663338 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3937-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Ion imprinting technology is one of the most promising tools in separation and purification sciences because of its high selectivity, good stability, simplicity and low cost. It has been mainly used for selective removal, preconcentration, sensing and few miscellaneous fields. In this review article, recent methodologies in the synthesis of IIPs have been discussed. For several applications, different parameters of IIP including complexing and leaching agent, pH, relative selectivity coefficient, detection limit and adsorption capacity have been evaluated and an attempt has been made to generalize. Biomedical applications mostly include selective removal of toxic metals from human blood plasma and urine samples. Wastewater treatment involves selective removal of highly toxic metal ions like Hg(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), As(V), etc. Preconcentration covers recovery of economically important metal ions such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium. It also includes selective preconcentration of lanthanides and actinides. In sensing, various IIP-based sensors have been fabricated for detection of toxic metal ions. This review article includes almost all metal ions based on the ion-imprinted polymer. At the end, the future outlook section presents the discussion on the advancement, corresponding merits and the need of continued research in few specific areas. Graphical Abstract IIPs for the selective monitoring of metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj E Hande
- Energy and Environment Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Deemed University, Pune, 411025, India
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Ibanez C, Suhard D, Tessier C, Delissen O, Lestaevel P, Dublineau I, Gourmelon P. Intranasal exposure to uranium results in direct transfer to the brain along olfactory nerve bundles. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2015; 40:477-88. [PMID: 23672198 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Accepted: 05/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Uranium olfactory uptake after intranasal exposure raises some concerns for people potentially exposed to airborne radionuclide contamination as the brain could be a direct target for these contaminants. A model of nasal instillation was used to elucidate the transport mechanisms of uranium to the brain and to map its localization. METHODS Increasing concentrations of depleted uranium containing solutions were instilled in the nasal cavity of adult male rats. Uranium concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) 4 h after instillation. Olfactory neuroepithelium cytoarchitecture was studied using immunohistochemistry experiments. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) microscopy was performed to localize uranium in the olfactory system. RESULTS ICP-MS analyses showed a frontal accumulation of uranium in the olfactory bulbs associated with a smaller increase in more caudal brain regions (frontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum). Uranium concentrations in the olfactory bulbs do not reach a saturation point. Olfactory nerve bundle integrity is not affected by uranium as revealed by immunohistochemistry. SIMS microscopy allowed us to show that uranium localization is mainly restricted to the olfactory neuroepithelium and around olfactory nerve bundles. It is subsequently detected in the olfactory nerve layer of the olfactory bulb. DISCUSSION These results suggest the existence of a transcellular passage from the mucosa to the perineural space around axon bundles. Uranium bypasses the blood brain barrier and is conveyed to the brain via the cerebrospinal fluid along the olfactory nerve. Future studies might need to integrate this new contamination route to assess uranium neurotoxicity after nasal exposure.
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Wilson J, Zuniga MC, Yazzie F, Stearns DM. Synergistic cytotoxicity and DNA strand breaks in cells and plasmid DNA exposed to uranyl acetate and ultraviolet radiation. J Appl Toxicol 2014; 35:338-49. [PMID: 24832689 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Depleted uranium (DU) has a chemical toxicity that is independent of its radioactivity. The purpose of this study was to explore the photoactivation of uranyl ion by ultraviolet (UV) radiation as a chemical mechanism of uranium genotoxicity. The ability of UVB (302 nm) and UVA (368 nm) radiation to photoactivate uranyl ion to produce single strand breaks was measured in pBR322 plasmid DNA, and the presence of adducts and apurinic/apyrimidinic sites that could be converted to single strand breaks by heat and piperidine was analyzed. Results showed that DNA lesions in plasmid DNA exposed to UVB- or UVA-activated DU were only slightly heat reactive, but were piperidine sensitive. The cytotoxicity of UVB-activated uranyl ion was measured in repair-proficient and repair-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells and human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. The cytotoxicity of co-exposures of uranyl ion and UVB radiation was dependent on the order of exposure and was greater than co-exposures of arsenite and UVB radiation. Uranyl ion and UVB radiation were synergistically cytotoxic in cells, and cells exposed to photoactivated DU required different DNA repair pathways than cells exposed to non-photoactivated DU. This study contributes to our understanding of the DNA lesions formed by DU, as well as their repair. Results suggest that excitation of uranyl ion by UV radiation can provide a pathway for uranyl ion to be chemically genotoxic in populations with dermal exposures to uranium and UV radiation, which would make skin an overlooked target organ for uranium exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
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Bardack S, Dalgard CL, Kalinich JF, Kasper CE. Genotoxic changes to rodent cells exposed in vitro to tungsten, nickel, cobalt and iron. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2014; 11:2922-40. [PMID: 24619124 PMCID: PMC3987013 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph110302922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2013] [Revised: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Tungsten-based materials have been proposed as replacements for depleted uranium in armor-penetrating munitions and for lead in small-arms ammunition. A recent report demonstrated that a military-grade composition of tungsten, nickel, and cobalt induced a highly-aggressive, metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma when implanted into the leg muscle of laboratory rats to simulate a shrapnel wound. The early genetic changes occurring in response to embedded metal fragments are not known. In this study, we utilized two cultured rodent myoblast cell lines, exposed to soluble tungsten alloys and the individual metals comprising the alloys, to study the genotoxic effects. By profiling cell transcriptomes using microarray, we found slight, yet distinct and unique, gene expression changes in rat myoblast cells after 24 h metal exposure, and several genes were identified that correlate with impending adverse consequences of ongoing exposure to weapons-grade tungsten alloy. These changes were not as apparent in the mouse myoblast cell line. This indicates a potential species difference in the cellular response to tungsten alloy, a hypothesis supported by current findings with in vivo model systems. Studies examining genotoxic-associated gene expression changes in cells from longer exposure times are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Bardack
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201, USA.
| | - Clifton L Dalgard
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - John F Kalinich
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA.
| | - Christine E Kasper
- Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
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Shelley R, Kim NS, Parsons PJ, Lee BK, Agnew J, Jaar BG, Steuerwald AJ, Matanoski G, Fadrowski J, Schwartz BS, Todd AC, Simon D, Weaver VM. Uranium associations with kidney outcomes vary by urine concentration adjustment method. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2014; 24:58-64. [PMID: 23591699 PMCID: PMC5457699 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2013.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2012] [Revised: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/12/2013] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Uranium is a ubiquitous metal that is nephrotoxic at high doses. Few epidemiologic studies have examined the kidney filtration impact of chronic environmental exposure. In 684 lead workers environmentally exposed to uranium, multiple linear regression was used to examine associations of uranium measured in a 4-h urine collection with measured creatinine clearance, serum creatinine- and cystatin-C-based estimated glomerular filtration rates, and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). Three methods were utilized, in separate models, to adjust uranium levels for urine concentration--μg uranium/g creatinine; μg uranium/l and urine creatinine as separate covariates; and μg uranium/4 h. Median urine uranium levels were 0.07 μg/g creatinine and 0.02 μg/4 h and were highly correlated (rs=0.95). After adjustment, higher ln-urine uranium was associated with lower measured creatinine clearance and higher NAG in models that used urine creatinine to adjust for urine concentration but not in models that used total uranium excreted (μg/4 h). These results suggest that, in some instances, associations between urine toxicants and kidney outcomes may be statistical, due to the use of urine creatinine in both exposure and outcome metrics, rather than nephrotoxic. These findings support consideration of non-creatinine-based methods of adjustment for urine concentration in nephrotoxicant research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Shelley
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nam-Soo Kim
- Institute of Industrial Medicine, SoonChunHyang University, Asan, South Korea
| | - Patrick J. Parsons
- Laboratory of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, New York
| | - Byung-Kook Lee
- Institute of Industrial Medicine, SoonChunHyang University, Asan, South Korea
| | - Jacqueline Agnew
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Bernard G. Jaar
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD
| | - Amy J. Steuerwald
- Laboratory of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, New York
| | - Genevieve Matanoski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
| | - Jeffrey Fadrowski
- Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Brian S. Schwartz
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Andrew C. Todd
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | | | - Virginia M. Weaver
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD
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Long-term exposure to depleted uranium in Gulf-War veterans does not induce chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Mutat Res 2013; 757:132-9. [PMID: 23933231 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2013.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2013] [Revised: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Depleted uranium (DU) is a high-density heavy metal that has been used in munitions since the 1991 Gulf War. DU is weakly radioactive and chemically toxic, and long-term exposure may cause adverse health effects. This study evaluates genotoxic effects of exposure to DU by measuring chromosome damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes with fluorescence in situ hybridization whole-chromosome painting. Study participants are Gulf War-I Veterans with embedded DU fragments and/or inhalation exposure due to involvement in friendly-fire incidents; they are enrolled in a long-term health surveillance program at the Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center. Blood was drawn from 35 exposed male veterans aged 39 to 62 years. Chromosomes 1, 2, and 4 were painted red and chromosomes 3, 5, and 6 were simultaneously labeled green. At least 1800 metaphase cells per subject were scored. Univariate regression analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of log(urine uranium), age at time of blood draw, log(lifetime X-rays), pack-years smoked and alcohol use, against frequencies of cells with translocated chromosomes, dicentrics, acentric fragments, color junctions and abnormal cells. No significant relationships were observed between any cytogenetic endpoint and log(urine uranium) levels, smoking, or log(lifetime X-rays). Age at the time of blood draw showed significant relationships with all endpoints except for cells with acentric fragments. Translocation frequencies in these Veterans were all well within the normal range of published values for healthy control subjects from around the world. These results indicate that chronic exposure to DU does not induce significant levels of chromosome damage in these Veterans.
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Pulmonary Health Effects in Gulf War I Service Members Exposed to Depleted Uranium. J Occup Environ Med 2013; 55:937-44. [DOI: 10.1097/jom.0b013e31829176c7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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McDiarmid MA, Gaitens JM, Hines S, Breyer R, Wong-You-Cheong JJ, Engelhardt SM, Oliver M, Gucer P, Kane R, Cernich A, Kaup B, Hoover D, Gaspari AA, Liu J, Harberts E, Brown L, Centeno JA, Gray PJ, Xu H, Squibb KS. The Gulf War depleted uranium cohort at 20 years: bioassay results and novel approaches to fragment surveillance. HEALTH PHYSICS 2013; 104:347-361. [PMID: 23439138 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0b013e31827b1740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
During the 1991 GulfWar, U.S. service members were exposed to depleted uranium (DU) through friendly-fire incidents involving DU munitions and vehicles protected by DU armor. Routes of exposure to DU involved inhalation of soluble and insoluble DU oxide particles, wound contamination, and retained embedded DU metal fragments that continue to oxidize in situ and release DU to the systemic circulation. A biennial health surveillance program established for this group of Veterans by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has shown continuously elevated urine DU concentrations in the subset of veterans with embedded fragments for over 20 years. While the 2011 assessment was comprehensive, few clinically significant U-related health effects were observed. This report is focused on health outcomes associated with two primary target organs of concern for long term effects of this combat-related exposure to DU. Renal biomarkers showed minimal DU-related effects on proximal tubule function and cytotoxicity, but significant biomarker results were observed when urine concentrations of multiple metals also found in fragments were examined together. Pulmonary tests and questionnaire results indicate that pulmonary function after 20 y remains within the clinical normal range. Imaging of DU embedded fragment-associated tissue for signs of inflammatory or proliferative reactions possibly associated with foreign body transformation or with local alpha emissions from DU was also conducted using PET-CT and ultrasound. These imaging tools may be helpful in guiding decisions regarding removal of fragments.
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Hao Y, Li R, Leng Y, Ren J, Liu J, Ai G, Xu H, Su Y, Cheng T. RETRACTED ARTICLE: reproductive toxicity and pathomorphological changes in rats after chronic oral exposure to low-dose depleted uranium. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2013; 52:169. [PMID: 21259018 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-011-0355-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2009] [Accepted: 01/09/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
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Shaki F, Hosseini MJ, Ghazi-Khansari M, Pourahmad J. Depleted uranium induces disruption of energy homeostasis and oxidative stress in isolated rat brain mitochondria. Metallomics 2013; 5:736-44. [DOI: 10.1039/c3mt00019b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Al-Hadithi TS, Al-Diwan JK, Saleh AM, Shabila NP. Birth defects in Iraq and the plausibility of environmental exposure: A review. Confl Health 2012; 6:3. [PMID: 22839108 PMCID: PMC3492088 DOI: 10.1186/1752-1505-6-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2011] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An increased prevalence of birth defects was allegedly reported in Iraq in the post 1991 Gulf War period, which was largely attributed to exposure to depleted uranium used in the war. This has encouraged further research on this particular topic. This paper reviews the published literature and provided evidence concerning birth defects in Iraq to elucidate possible environmental exposure. In addition to published research, this review used some direct observation of birth defects data from Al-Ramadi Maternity and Paediatric Hospital in Al-Anbar Governorate in Iraq from1st July 2000 through 30th June 2002. In addition to depleted uranium other war-related environmental factors have been studied and linked directly or indirectly with the increasing prevalence of birth defects. However, the reviewed studies and the available research evidence do not provide a clear increase in birth defects and a clear indication of a possible environmental exposure including depleted uranium although the country has been facing several environmental challenges since 1980.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq S Al-Hadithi
- Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Jawad K Al-Diwan
- Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Baghdad University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Abubakir M Saleh
- Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Nazar P Shabila
- Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
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Surveillance for Long-Term Health Effects Associated With Depleted Uranium Exposure and Retained Embedded Fragments in US Veterans. J Occup Environ Med 2012; 54:724-32. [DOI: 10.1097/jom.0b013e31824fe138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Weiner MW, Meyerhoff DJ, Neylan TC, Hlavin J, Ramage ER, McCoy D, Studholme C, Cardenas V, Marmar C, Truran D, Chu PW, Kornak J, Furlong CE, McCarthy C. The relationship between Gulf War illness, brain N-acetylaspartate, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Mil Med 2011; 176:896-902. [PMID: 21882779 DOI: 10.7205/milmed-d-10-00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A previous study (Haley RW, Marshall WW, McDonald GG, Daugherty MA, Petty F, Fleckenstein JL: Brain abnormalities in Gulf War syndrome: evaluation with 1H MR spectroscopy. Radiology 2000; 215: 807-817) suggested that individuals with Gulf War Illness (GWI) had reduced quantities of the neuronal marker N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in the basal ganglia and pons. This study aimed to determine whether NAA is reduced in these regions and to investigate correlations with other possible causes of GWI, such as psychological response to stress in a large cohort of Gulf War veterans. Individuals underwent tests to determine their physical and psychological health and to identify veterans with (n=81) and without (n=97) GWI. When concentrations of NAA and ratios of NAA to creatine- and choline-containing metabolites were measured in the basal ganglia and pons, no significant differences were found between veterans with or without GWI, suggesting that GWI is not associated with reduced NAA in these regions. Veterans with GWI had significantly higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, supporting the idea that GWI symptoms are stress related.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W Weiner
- Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VA Medical Center, 4150 Clement Street (114M), San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
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McDiarmid MA, Albertini RJ, Tucker JD, Vacek PM, Carter EW, Bakhmutsky MV, Oliver MS, Engelhardt SM, Squibb KS. Measures of genotoxicity in Gulf war I veterans exposed to depleted uranium. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2011; 52:569-581. [PMID: 21728185 DOI: 10.1002/em.20658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2011] [Revised: 04/12/2011] [Accepted: 04/13/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to depleted uranium (DU), an alpha-emitting heavy metal, has prompted the inclusion of markers of genotoxicity in the long-term medical surveillance of a cohort of DU-exposed Gulf War veterans followed since 1994. Using urine U (uU) concentration as the measure of U body burden, the cohort has been stratified into low-u (<0.10 μg U/g creatinine) and high-u groups (≥ 0.10 μg U/g creatinine). Surveillance outcomes for this cohort have historically included markers of mutagenicity and clastogenicity, with past results showing generally nonsignificant differences between low- vs. high-U groups. However, mean hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) mutant frequencies (MFs) have been almost 50% higher in the high-U group. We report here results of a more comprehensive protocol performed in a 2009 evaluation of a subgroup (N = 35) of this cohort. Four biomarkers of genotoxicity [micronuclei (MN), chromosome aberrations, and MFs of HPRT and PIGA] were examined. There were no statistically significant differences in any outcome measure when results were compared between the low- vs. high-U groups. However, modeling of the HPRT MF results suggests a possible threshold effect for MFs occurring in the highest U exposed cohort members. Mutational spectral analysis of HPRT mutations is underway to clarify a potential clonal vs. a threshold uU effect to explain this observation. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of a human population chronically exposed to DU and demonstrates a relatively weak genotoxic effect of the DU exposure. These results may explain the lack of clear epidemiologic evidence for U carcinogenicity in humans. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A McDiarmid
- Occupational Health Program, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
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Long term depleted uranium exposure in Gulf War I veterans does not cause elevated numbers of micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes. MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2011; 720:53-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2010.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2010] [Revised: 12/06/2010] [Accepted: 12/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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