Reactive oxygen species

In modern-day medicine, nanotechnology and nanoparticles are some of the indispensable tools in disease monitoring and therapy. The term “nanomaterials” describes materials with nanoscale dimensions (< 100 nm) and are broadly classified into natural and synthetic nanomaterials. However, “engineered” nanomaterials have received significant attention due to their versatility. Although enormous strides have been made in research and development in the field of nanotechnology, it is often confusing for beginners to make an informed choice regarding the nanocarrier system and its potential applications. Hence, in this review, we have endeavored to briefly explain the most commonly used nanomaterials, their core properties and how surface functionalization would facilitate competent delivery of drugs or therapeutic molecules. Similarly, the suitability of carbon-based nanomaterials like CNT and QD has been discussed for targeted drug delivery and siRNA therapy. One of the biggest challenges in the formulation of drug delivery systems is fulfilling targeted/specific drug delivery, controlling drug release and preventing opsonization. Thus, a different mechanism of drug targeting, the role of suitable drug-laden nanocarrier fabrication and methods to augment drug solubility and bioavailability are discussed. Additionally, different routes of nanocarrier administration are discussed to provide greater understanding of the biological and other barriers and their impact on drug transport. The overall aim of this article is to facilitate straightforward perception of nanocarrier design, routes of various nanoparticle administration and the challenges associated with each drug delivery method.

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Therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticles and routes of administration

One dilemma with health claims is that too much information can confuse consumers and too little information can mislead them. Instead of using only one side of the package, a laboratory study is used to examine the effectiveness of various front-sided health claims when used in combination with a full health claim on the back panel. The results indicate that the presence of a short health claim on the front label generates more specific attribute-related thoughts, more inferences, and creates a more believable and positive image of the product in the consumers’ mind than does a longer health claim on the front label. This article concludes with a discussion of how labeling information needs to be presented to effectively allow consumers to understand and use claim information.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/5/31255/01454916.pdf

Information processing

SUMMARY Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal found as an environmental contaminant, both through natural occurrence and from industrial and agricultural sources. Foodstuffs are the main source of cadmium exposure for the non-smoking general population. Cadmium absorption after dietary exposure in humans is relatively low (3–5 %) but cadmium is efficiently retained in the kidney and liver in the human body, with a very long biological half-life ranging from 10 to 30 years. Cadmium is primarily toxic to the kidney, especially to the proximal tubular cells where it accumulates over time and may cause renal dysfunction. Cadmium can also cause bone demineralisation, either through direct bone damage or indirectly as a result of renal dysfunction. After prolonged and/or high exposure the tubular damage may progress to decreased glomerular filtration rate, and eventually to renal failure. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified cadmium as a human carcinogen (Group 1) on the basis of occupational studies. Newer data on human exposure to cadmium in the general population have been statistically associated with increased risk of cancer such as in the lung, endometrium, bladder, and breast. Cadmium bioavailability, retention and consequently toxicity are affected by several factors such as nutritional status (low body iron stores) and multiple pregnancies, preexisting health conditions or diseases. A health based guidance value for cadmium of 7 μg/kg body weight (b.w.) per week (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI)) was established previously by the Joint 1 For citation purposes: Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain on a request from the European

/pdf/scientific-opinion-of-the-panel-on-contaminants-in-the-food-4g58bdunry.pdf

Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain

Cytokine mRNA quantification is widely used to investigate cytokine profiles, particularly in small samples Real-time polymerase chain reaction is currently the most reliable method of quantifying low-level transcripts such as cytokine and cytokine receptor mRNAs This accurate technique allows the quantification of a larger pattern of cytokines than quantification at the protein level, which is limited to a smaller number of proteins Although fluorogenic probes are considered more sensitive than fluorescent dyes, we have developed SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR protocols to assay pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1a, IL1b and IL6, TNFa), cytokine receptors (IL1-r1, IL1-r2, IL6-r, TNF-r2) and related molecules (IL1-RA, SOCS3) mRNA in rats This method enables normalisation against several housekeeping genes (beta-actin, GAPDH, CypA, HPRT) dependent on the specific experimental treatments and tissues using either standard curve, or comparative CT quantification method PCR efficiency and sensitivity allow the assessment of; i) basal mRNA levels in many tissues and even decreases in mRNA levels, ii) mRNA levels from very small samples Real-time RT-PCR is currently the best way to investigate cytokine networks The investigations should be completed by the analysis of genes regulated by cytokines or involved in cytokine signalling, providing indirect information on cytokine protein expression

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Rat pro-inflammatory cytokine and cytokine related mRNA quantification by real-time polymerase chain reaction using SYBR green.

http://www.laka.org/docu/boeken/pdf/6-05-0-00-27.pdf

The brain is a target organ after acute exposure to depleted uranium

https://serval.unil.ch/resource/serval:BIB_4DAAFC86E4D2.P001/REF.pdf

Nano- and neurotoxicology: An emerging discipline.

Uranium is well known to induce chemical toxicity in kidneys, but several other target organs, such as central nervous system, could be also affected. Thus in the present study, the effects on sleep-wake cycle and behavior were studied after chronic oral exposure to enriched or depleted uranium. Rats exposed to 4% enriched uranium for 1.5 months through drinking water, accumulated twice as much uranium in some key areas such as the hippocampus, hypothalamus and adrenals than did control rats. This accumulation was correlated with an increase of about 38% of the amount of paradoxical sleep, a reduction of their spatial working memory capacities and an increase in their anxiety. Exposure to depleted uranium for 1.5 months did not induce these effects, suggesting that the radiological activity induces the primary events of these effects of uranium.

https://www.irsn.fr/EN/Research/publications-documentation/Aktis/envirhom/cerveau/Documents/sdarticle(3).pdf

Philippe Lestaevel

Papers

The brain is a target organ after acute exposure to depleted uranium

Nano- and neurotoxicology: An emerging discipline.

Enriched but not depleted uranium affects central nervous system in long-term exposed rat

Bioaccumulation and behavioural effects of depleted uranium in rats exposed to repeated inhalations

The neurotoxicology of uranium.