Prophylactic role of B vitamins against bulk and zinc oxide nanoparticles toxicity induced oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis in rat livers

The aim of this work is to explore the protective of B vitamins [B[3], B[6] and B[12]] against the hepatotoxic potency of either bulk zinc oxide [ZnO-bulk] or its nanoparticles [ZnO-NPs]-induced liver damage in rats. ZnO- bulk or its NPs were administered orally [500 mg/kg b.w.] for 10 successive days. The results revealed that oral coadministration of combination of B vitamins [250 mg B[3], 60 mg B[6] and 0.6 mg B[12] /Kg body weight] daily for 3 weeks to rats intoxicated by either ZnO- bulk or its NPs markedly ameliorated increases in serum of alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and lactate dehdrogenase [LDH]. The B vitamins also down-regulated increases in serum glucose level as well as increases in immuno-inflammatory biomarkers, including tumor necrosis factor- alpha [TNF- alpha] and C-reactive protein compared with intoxicated, untreated rats. Beside, the used agent successfully modulated the alterations in serum vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], attenuated liver oxidative DNA damage compared with ZnO intoxicated groups. We showed that the used B complex mitigated increased malondialdehyde [MDA], decrease in glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and increase in the apoptosis marker caspase 3 of liver tissue in response to either ZnO-bulk or its NP toxicity. In conclusion, early treatment with vitamin B complex may protect liver tissue from deleterious damage induced by the toxic effects of ZnO- bulk or its NPs

Cytotoxicity evaluation of two root canal sealers and a commercial calcium hydroxide paste on THP1 cell line by Trypan Blue assay

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of two brands of root canal sealers, epoxy-resin based and zinc oxide-eugenol based, and one commercial calcium hydroxide paste on a monocyte cell line THP-1. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Undiluted (crude extract) and diluted extracts to 10 percent, 1 percent, 0.1 percent, 0.01 percent, 0.001 percent and 0.0001 percent of the sealers were tested for cytotoxicity to THP-1 cells using the trypan blue assay. Extracts were obtained according to ISO standard. Data were analyzed statistically by the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests at 5 percent significance level. RESULTS: Crude extract of AH Plus and Fill Canal killed approximately 90 percent of THP-1 cells versus 36 percent of THP-1 cells killed by L&C crude extract (p<0.05). Ten-fold dilutions of L&C, Fill Canal and AH Plus killed 24, 35 and 61 percent of THP-1 cells (p<0.05), respectively. Dilutions lesser than 1 percent caused minimal cell death as compared to the control groups (p>0.05), except for L&C 1 percent extract. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that the L&C paste crude extract was less cytotoxic to THP-1 cells than AH Plus or Fill Canal crude extracts.

Febre dos fumos metalicos em trabalhadores da construção nava: uma revisão clínico epidemiológica e imunotoxicológica / Blue Smoke of metal in the construction Nava workers: an epidemiological and clinical review immunotoxicology

O presente trabalho buscou fazer uma revisão de literatura a respeito da febre dos fumos metálicos, patologia identificada em trabalhadores da indústria naval de Niterói e adjacências, fazendo parte de um projeto mais amplo de avaliação destes trabalhadores. A autora faz um relato da ocorrência da síndrome no estado (apesar da não notificação); faz uma revisão clínico epidemiológica e imunotoxicológica da mesma, e por fim, fornece dados para a sua identificação, além de chamar a atenção para a importância da notificação. Desta forma, pretende-se contribuir para a melhoria das condições de trabalho na Construção Naval no Estado.