Mixture of Organophosphates Chronic Exposure and Pancreatic Dysregulations in Two Different Population Samples.

Organophosphates (OP) are a major agrochemical. The application of OP pesticides is expected to increase multifold in the coming decades. The etiology of diabetic diseases is attributed to multiple factors including OP pesticide exposure. The present study investigates pancreatic dysregulation with respect to exocrine enzymes and diabesity in groups of Pakistani and Cameroonian people exposed to a mixture of OP pesticides. Nine hundred and four OP exposed individuals were enrolled for this cross-sectional study after due consent and approval from an ethical review committee. Pesticides' residues were measured by GC-MS spectrometry. Cholinergic enzymes were measured by Elman's method. Serum glucose, insulin, serum amylase, lipase, and triglyceride were measured by spectrophotometry and ELISA; HOMA-IR was determined in OP exposed and non-exposed participants. Stata 15 and R 3.2.0 software were used for statistical analysis of the data. Malathion, chlorpyrifos, and parathion residues were evident in plasma samples. RBC-acetylcholinesterase was significantly depressed in OP exposed groups. In both population samples, investigated pancreatic functions were found to be statistically significantly more dysregulated than non-exposed. OP exposure indicated risk of diabetes and insulin, glycaemia, adiponectin, triglycerides, and TNF-α dysregulations. The study concludes that both OP exposed population groups exhibited a mixture of OP residues and pancreatic dysregulation, although the effect was more pronounced in the Cameroonian population. In addition, serum lipase has a positive correlation with OP exposure and diabetes and may be suggested as an alternate/additional diagnostic marker for diabesity under OP exposure. However, screening of other environmental co-factors with OP for pancreatic dysregulation is suggested.

Analysis of PON1 gene polymorphisms (rs662 and rs854560) and inflammatory markers in organophosphate pesticides exposed cohorts from two distinct populations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Organophosphate (OPs) anticholinesterases are one of the main groups of pesticides used in agriculture. Harmful effects of OPs on health have been attributed primarily for irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) at nerve synapse. However, studies have shown that inhibition of AChE alone cannot explain all the maladies encountered in prolonged exposure to OPs. Predisposition to population heterogeneity and irregularities in various biochemicals like paraoxonases and inflammatory biochemicals are the possible affects of OPs long term exposure that may lead to sequels of diseases and are less addressed in literature. The study was aimed to assess the cholinergic enzymes (AChE and BChE), PON1, and inflammatory markers (IL1ß, IL6, TNFα, CRP, Apo AI, Apo B) and determine the toxicogenetics association of PON1 gene (rs 662 and rs 85456) to chronically OPs exposed groups from Pakistan and Cameroon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AChE, BChE and PON1 were measured by colorimetric method using spectrophotometry. Inflammatory markers were determined by Elisa assay. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using salting out method was employed for SNP genotyping. RESULTS: The results revealed the significant (p ≤ 0.05) inhibition of cholinergic enzymes PON 1 was found to be 6.91 ng/mL±1.03 and 2.84 ng/mL±1.40 (mean ± SD) in Pakistan and Cameroon groups respectively. IL6, TNFα, CRP were increased and Apo AI was less while Apo B was increased in OP exposed groups in both population groups. SNPs analysis of PON1 showed significant differences in allelic and genotype frequencies of OPs exposed and non-exposed groups. CONCLUSIONS: PON1 was noticeably less in Cameroonian than Pakistani, albeit both groups have significant decrease in PON1 actity. In addition, the study concludes that OPs induce low grade inflammation, an aetiology of many diseases. Selected PON1 SNPs analysis showed a significant toxicogenetics association with OPs exposure marker enzymes. The results of this study may help in regulation of usage of OPs anticholinesterases in different populations. The study will further open new avenues in toxicogenetic and exploration of SNPs based strategies on organophosphate intoxication.

In vitro biological activities of aqueous extracts of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schumach. & Thonn.) taub. and Aframomum citratum (C. Pereira) K.Schum from three Agroecologic Zones in Cameroon

Objective: To investigate some phytochemical constituents and biological activities of twelve samples of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schumach & Thonn.) taub. and nine samples of Aframomum citratum (C. Pereira) K. Schum fruits collected in the bimodal forest zone (ZONE V), the unimodal forest zone (ZONE IV) and the highlands zone (ZONE III) in Cameroon. Methods: Fresh fruits extracts were obtained by aqueous infusion (100 °C during 15 min) and evaluated by spectrophotometric methods for total polyphenol (TPP), total flavonoids (TFLV) contents and antioxidant (DPPH, total antioxidant capacity by the phosphomolybdenum method, iron reducing power or ferric reducing antioxidant power and inhibition of beta carotene discoloration assays) and anti-inflammatory (inhibitions of protein denaturation and 5-LOX represented by INH.PROT and INH.5- LOX respectively) properties. Principal component analysis was performed. Results: For both species, fruits from ZONE V have the highest TPP, TFLV levels and biological activities. TPP and TFLV content of Aframomum citratum and Tetrapleura tetraptera fruits are positively and significantly (P<0.05) correlated. The biological activities of all extracts (0.25, 2.5, 25, 250 mg/mL) were dosedependent and the extracts have shown strong antioxidant and anti- inflammatory activities, but less than references (ascorbic acid, diclofenac, quercetin, and butylated hydroxytoluene). There was a positive correlation between TPP, TFLV and total antioxidant capacity, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and inhibition of beta carotene discoloration assays, and inverse correlations were observed with the IC