Molecular and cellular response of earthworm Eisenia andrei (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) to PCDD/Fs exposure

Challenges in Environmental Health Research and Sustainability in a Less Developed Country: a Case Study From Jordan

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Environmental health research covers many aspects of the complex natural world and how environmental hazards, mainly caused by human activities, can affect population health. Researchers in this field have investigated environmental risks dose or exposure-response relationship, challenged hypotheses and interpreted data and results to solve problems. Researchers investigating environmental issues support the concept of environmental justice (EJ) and understand that they bear more responsibilities because they work to influence the policymakers' decisions in order to minimise hazardous exposure on populations. The environmental justice term has been widely used to describe unequal exposure of anthropogenic pollution or environmentally hazardous exposure to a group of people based on race, colour, national origin or income. The term has been defined and disseminated in many countries through governmental and non-governmental organisations. In Jordan, the government has carried the responsibilities to reduce the disproportionate exposure to environmental pollution between citizens and to promote the concepts of EJ. This review has highlighted the role of non-governmental organisations and the laws and regulations that prohibit assault to the environment and ensure the compliance of private and public organisations to minimise the effect of the undesirable environmental actions. Moreover, it addressed and discussed different possible sources of pollution and areas of heavy hazards exposure.

RECENT FINDINGS

In this review, we highlighted the main causes of lack of research on the EJ in Jordan and the effect of income and ethnicity background. We also recommended applying the responsible conduct of research principles and guidelines to commence researches that can affect policymakers in this field in Jordan.

Toxicity of Vipera palaestinae venom and antagonistic effects of methanolic leaf extract of Eryngium creticum lam

Vipera palaestinae is responsible for many venomous incidents in the Middle East. However, this species is not included in the antigenic pool of venoms for the production of the regionally available polyvalent antivenoms. In an attempt to develop a potential complementary alternative therapy for snakebite patients, this study is investigating the antagonistic effect of Eryngium creticum against V. palaestinae venom. In this context, the concentration of the venom as well as the electrophoretic profile, and the venom LD₅₀ were determined by intraperitoneal injection (ip). The methanolic leaf extract was prepared, and its safety on rats was examined. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 8 groups (n = 6); G1-G3 were injected subplantar in the right hind paws with 2.5, 3.125, and 3.75 mg kg^-1 then 200 mg kg^-1 extract ip. G4-G6 were given the same venom dose with no extract, respectively. Controls were G7 that only had the extract ip, and G8 that was injected subplantar with PBS. The swollen paws were measured at Hour 0 (before injection), Hour 1, Hour 6, and Hour 24. IL-6 and TNF-α were measured in serum using ELISA. Histopathological changes were examined in paw sections. The pooled venom concentration was 176.93 ± 35.81 mg ml^-1, revealed 10 protein bands (5-80 kDa), and the LD₅₀ via ip rout was 6.56 mg kg^-1. Paw edema peaked at Hour 1. At Hour 6, edema in G1 was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared to G6, while at Hour 24 there was no significant difference between all groups including the controls. Treated animals in G1-G3 expressed IL-6 significantly lower (p < 0.001) than untreated G4-G6, respectively. Levels of TNF-α in G1 and G2 were significantly (p < 0.001) lower than G3-G6, while G5 and G6 were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than G1-G4. Histopathological changes showed intensifying edema, hemorrhage, and inflammation with incrementing venom doses. Sections from treated animals expressed less adverse changes compared to untreated animals. Together, the outcomes are encouraging future utilization of E. creticum as a supportive remedy for snakebite cases.

Methomyl induced effect on fortilin and S100A1 in serum and cardiac tissue: Potential biomarkers of toxicity

Methomyl toxicity has been reported as a cause of several accidental and suicidal fatalities. The study is evaluating the effect of lethal methomyl toxicity on fortilin and S100A1 in serum and cardiac tissues. Adult 96 female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into a control (euthanized by cervical dislocation) and a study group (overdosed with methomyl). The levels of fortilin and S100A1 in serum were measured antemortem (to establish the basal levels in serum) and postmortem (to evaluate changes after methomyl exposure) using enzyme-linked immunoassay. S100A1 was immunostained in sections from cardiac tissues. Both proteins in the control were not significantly different ( p > 0.05) compared with the antemortem levels. On the contrast, both biomarkers levels in the intoxicated group were remarkably higher ( p < 0.001) than the control and the antemortem levels. Ventricular tissues from the intoxicated rats presented depleted S100A1 immunostain in cardiomyocytes localized mainly in the epicardium with deeply stained adjacent cardiac fibroblasts. The cardiomyocytes were damaged with a prominent loss of striations compared to normal cardiac tissues from the control. The present outcomes explain to a certain degree the potential toxic effect of methomyl poisoning on the cardiac tissue. Both proteins could be added to the currently available battery of markers for assessing methomyl toxicity.