Mineral and heavy metal content in dry dog foods with different main animal components

Simple potentiometry and cyclic voltammetry techniques for sensing Hg2+ ions in water using a promising flower-shaped WS2-WO3/poly-2-aminobenzene-1-thiol nanocomposite thin film electrode

A highly promising flower-shaped WS2-WO3/poly-2-aminobenzene-1-thiol (P2ABT) nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via a reaction involving 2-aminobenzene-1-thiol, Na2WO4, and K2S2O8 as oxidants. The WS2-WO3/P2ABT nanocomposite demonstrated remarkable potential as a sensor for detecting harmful Hg2+ ions in aqueous solutions. The sensing behavior was evaluated over a wide concentration range, from 10-6 to 10-1 M, using a simple potentiometric study on a two-electrode cell. The calibration curve yielded an excellent Nernstian slope of 33.0 mV decade-1. To further validate the sensing capabilities, cyclic voltammetry was employed, and the results showed an increasing trend in the cyclic voltammetry curve as the Hg2+ concentration increased from 10-6 to 10-1 M with an evaluated sensitivity of 2.4 μA M-1. The WS2-WO3/P2ABT nanocomposite sensor exhibited exceptional selectivity for detecting Hg2+ ions, as no significant effects were observed from other interfering ions such as Zn2+, Ni2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+, and K+ ions in the cyclic voltammetry tests. Furthermore, the sensor was tested on a natural sample that was free of Hg2+ ions, and the cyclic voltammetry curves did not produce any characteristic peaks, confirming the sensor's specificity for Hg2+ detection. The sensor's cost-effectiveness and ease of fabrication present the potential for developing a simple and practical sensor for detecting highly poisonous ions in aqueous solutions.

Nutritional management of a dog with hepatic enzymopathy suspected to be secondary to copper-associated hepatitis: a case report

A 4-year-old, female-spayed American Bulldog presented to the Ontario Veterinary College's Health Sciences Center's Clinical Nutrition Service for nutritional management of hepatic enzymopathy and suspected copper-associated hepatitis. Medical history revealed a 3-month history of gradually increasing serum ALT. Additional diagnostics included negative Leptospira titters, normal bile acids, and laparoscopic liver biopsy. Histopathology findings were consistent with diffuse moderate vacuole hepatocellular degeneration, mild positive copper staining, mild chronic lymphoplasmacytic hepatitis both portal and central, and mild biliary hyperplasia. Hepatic copper quantification results were above normal ranges (630 μg/g dry tissue), but below those seen in familial copper-associated hepatitis (>800-1,000 μg/g dry tissue). The patient was prescribed ursodeoxycholic acid, recommended to be fed a homemade diet (HMD), and referred for a nutrition consult. Two days before the nutrition consult, serum ALT fell within the normal range. The body condition score was 5/9, with a good muscle condition score and the dog's appetite and body weight remained stable. Energy intake was appropriate for maintenance. Key nutrient levels of all diets reported were compared to industry standards (AAFCO, NRC, and FEDIAF). Diet history included a commercially available raw meat-based diet (RMBD), of unknown copper content; a high energy commercial dry food (HEC), with copper content higher than the maximum recommended by FEDIAF and immediately prior to nutrition consult the patient had been eating an unbalanced homemade diet (HMD1) for 4 weeks. HMD1 was low in copper and deficient in the hepatoprotectant nutrients vitamin E and zinc. As per the owner's preference and to accommodate the patient's unique nutritional needs, a homemade diet addressing key nutrients for liver disease was formulated (HMD2), with copper content just above the recommended minimum. The new diet was found palatable and the patient's body weight, body, and muscle condition scores remained unchanged. Two months after starting HMD2, all bloodwork values remained within the normal range, including ALT. The reduction of dietary copper content likely reduced serum ALT. However, unbalanced diets cause a risk of nutrient deficiencies and excess. This dog was maintained with no known adverse effects on a complete and balanced HMD diet with a moderately low copper content, moderate protein, and inclusion of hepatoprotective nutrients.

Exposure Assessment of Essential and Potentially Toxic Metals in Wheat-Based Sweets for Human Consumption: Multivariate Analysis and Risk Evaluation Studies

In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the negative impact of unforeseen contaminants such as metals in commonly consumed food items, which pose a threat to human well-being. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to evaluate the levels of these contaminants to guarantee the safe consumption of these food items. The goal of the current research is to determine the levels of essential (EMs: Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn) and potentially toxic metals (PTMs: Al, Cr, Ni, As, Cd, and Pb) in various brands of wheat-based sweets. One hundred samples were collected and analysed via flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Also, the current study was to investigate the distribution, correlation, and multivariate analysis of 13 metals (Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Al, Cr, Ni, As, Cd, and Pb). Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to interpret the metals' association. The concentration (mg/kg) ranges of EMs were, in order, Mg (12.70-65.67), Ca (24.02-209.12), Mn (1.32-9.61), Fe (4.55-111.23), Co (0.32-8.94), Cu (2.12-8.61), and Zn (2.60-19.36), while the concentration (mg/kg) ranges of PTMs were, in order, Al (0.32-0.87), Cr (0.17-5.74), Ni (0.36-1.54), Cd (0.16-0.56), and Pb (0.14-0.92), and As was not detected in any sample under investigation. The HCA data revealed that Co, Al, and Ni form clusters with other metals. Sweets are prepared at high temperatures, and the elevated temperatures can increase the likelihood of Ni and Al leaching from stainless steel. Tolerable dietary intake (TDI) values for Ni were higher than the values established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The CR value found for the Ni and Cr was at the threshold level of cancer risk, if an amount of 25 g were to be used over a lifetime. In a nutshell, this study highlights the monitoring of EM and PTM levels in wheat-based sweets, and from a food safety perspective, the study is important for consumers of wheat-based sweets.