Histological, haematological, and thyroid hormones toxicity of female rats orally exposed to CuO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles synthesized by Ar plasma jets.

Advancements in nanomedicine helped scientists design a new class of nanoparticles known as hybrid nanoparticles (core/shell) for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. An essential requirement for the successful use of nanoparticles in biomedical applications is their low toxicity. Therefore, toxicological profiling is necessary to understand the mechanism of nanoparticles. The current study aimed to assess the toxicological potential of CuO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles with a size of 32 nm in Albino female rats. In vivo toxicity was evaluated by oral administration of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 (mg/L) of CuO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles to a female rate for 30 consecutive days. During the time of treatment, no deaths were observed. The toxicological evaluation revealed significant (p < 0.01) alteration in white blood cells (WBC) at a 5 (mg/L) dose. Also, increase in red blood cells (RBC) at 5, 10 (mg/L) doses, while hemoglobin (Hb) levels and hematocrit (HCT) increased at all doses. This maybe indicates that the CuO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles stimulated the rate of blood corpuscle generation. The anaemia diagnostic indices (mean corpuscular volume MCV and mean corpuscular haemoglobin MCH) remained unchanged throughout the experiment for all the doses tested 5, 10, 20, and 40 (mg/L). According to the results of this study, exposure to CuO/ZnO core/shell NPs deteriorates the Triiodothyronine hormone (T3) and a Thyroxine hormone (T4) activated by Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH), which is generated and secreted from the pituitary gland. There is possibly related to an increase in free radicals and a decrease in antioxidant activity. Significant (p < 0.01) growth retardation in all groups treated due to rats' infection by Hyperthyroidism induced by thyroxine (T4) level increase. Hyperthyroidism is a catabolic state related to increased energy consumption, protein turnover, and lipolysis. Usually, these metabolic effects result in weight reduction and a decrease in fat storage and lean body mass. The histological examination indicates that the low concentrations of CuO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles are safe for desired biomedical applications.

Estimation of in vivo toxicity of MgO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles synthesized by eco-friendly non-thermal plasma technology.

MgO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles were synthesized using the atmosphere plasma jets technique. The physical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were investigated by a series of techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD and EDS analyses confirmed the purity of the nanoparticles synthesized with an average nanoparticle crystallite size of 36 nm. TEM confirmed the successful synthesis of spindle-shaped MgO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles with an average size of 70 nm. To evaluate their toxicity, the MgO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles were tested in vivo. Twenty-five albino female rats were randomly divided into five groups (five rats in each group); one was used as the control group and the other four as the experimental groups. Doses of the MgO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles solution were orally administered to the test groups to examine the toxicity. For 30 consecutive days, each rat in test groups 2-5 received 1 mL of the MgO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles solution at the respective doses of 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg L-1. The rats' growth, hematology, thyroid gland function, and histopathology were examined after 30 days. Findings indicate that the growth retardation in the rats treated with MgO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles may be due to their infection by Hyperthyroidism. The hematology results show the nonsignificant effect of MgO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles on white blood cells, implying that these nanoparticles have no harmful impact on the immune system. Moreover, the levels of the thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormones increased, and that of the triiodothyronine hormone decreased. The histological analysis results show that low concentrations of MgO/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles are safe for desired biomedical applications.

Evaluation of uranium concentration in the blood breast cancer women with CR-39 detector.

Some governorates of Iraq are considered as uranium-contaminated areas. The spread of cancerous tumors injuries was recorded in different parts of Iraq at very high rates. As cancer is closely related to high level of uranium in the blood, this study was conducted on women with breast cancer to evaluate the uranium concentrations in their blood. The aim of the study is to assess the concentration of uranium in the blood Iraqi breast cancer women to establish reference values for the levels of toxic uranium in their blood and the possibility of getting breast cancer. A total of 39 blood samples were collected from breast cancer women and a control group. CR-39 track detector has been used to evaluate the uranium concentration in blood samples by placing a drop of blood on the detectors and calculating the uranium concentrations by irradiating the detectors with a neutron source. Statistical analysis is achieved utilizing SPSS programme. The outcomes show elevated levels of uranium concentration in the blood of women with breast cancer, which was found to be 92±0.6 ngL-1 compared to the control group (40 ±0.4 ngL-1), and internationally published data. The results show that the uranium concentration in the blood of breast cancer women is higher than those in the control group and some of the globally published data. This indicated that there is a relationship between the elevated concentrations of uranium in blood and the risk of getting breast cancer.

Assessment of uranium concentration in blood of Iraqi females diagnosed with breast cancer.

Cancer is a widespread significant health problem in Iraq and contributes 11% to total deaths. Throughout the Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003, about 1200 tons of ammunition were dropped around Iraq. After the wars, cancer incidence in Iraq is about 7,000 to 8,000 cancers cases per year, and the overall incidence of lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer, and lung cancer has increased twofold and even tripled, as compared to the time before the wars. This increase could result from environmental pollution with radioactive materials including uranium, as cancer can be caused by ionizing radiation. To investigate this hypothesis, uranium concentration in the blood of 64 Iraqi females has been measured by means of CR-39 track etch detectors (42 blood samples collected from females diagnosed with breast cancer and 22 blood samples from females without breast cancer). The results show that the uranium concentrations ranged from 19.1 ± 0.3 to 238.4 ± 0.4 with an average value of 94.9 ± 5.0 ng L-1 in the blood of women with breast cancer and from 5.2 ± 0.2 to 18.7 ± 0.04 with an average value of 10.5 ± 0.1 ng L-1 in the blood of women without breast cancer. In comparison with the literature data, elevated levels of uranium concentration were recorded in both groups, and significantly higher average uranium concentrations were found in the blood of women with breast cancer as compared to those in the blood samples of women without breast cancer. It is concluded that there is a correlation between the incidence of breast cancer in Iraqi women and elevated levels of uranium concentrations in their blood. Whether this is a casual relationship is unclear, because cancer can be caused by various carcinogens, including environmental pollution in the region.

Uranium, Thorium, Potassium, and Cesium Radionuclides Concentrations in Desert Truffles from the Governorate of Samawah in Southern Iraq.

Studies have been conducted in some southern Iraqi governorates to measure the radioactive contamination in the soil and have revealed that these areas are contaminated with radioactive materials. In these test sites, where many military operations have been conducted and that may have been affected by the Chernobyl accident, pollution and its impact on the truffle crop have been examined. Truffles are fungi that grow in the ground and can be contaminated by radiation from polluted soil. Uranium, thorium, potassium, and cesium activities were analyzed in truffles collected from the desert of Samawah governorate in the southern part of Iraq, and the results were compared with global values. The radionuclide activities were measured with a high-purity germanium detector. The average activities of 238U, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs were 3.9500, 2.5300, 260.36, and 1.7800 Bq kg-1 dry biomass, respectively. These results indicate that radionuclide activities are low and that desert truffles are suitable for human consumption.

The Activity Concentrations and Radium Equivalent Activity in Soil Samples Collected from the Eastern Part of Basrah Governorate in Southern Iraq.

Clay soil samples (0, 30, and 60 cm depths) were collected from two districts (Abu Al Khasib and Ad Dayr) in Basrah governorate in southern Iraq for gamma-ray spectroscopy. The activity concentrations for natural existing radionuclides in 18 soil samples were measured using high-purity germanium detector HPGe. From the obtained results of γ-ray spectroscopy, the 238U activity concentrations were found to be ranging from 2.4 to 5.6 ppm with an average of 3.5 ppm in Abu Al Khasib and ranging from 2.1 to 4.5 ppm with an average of 2.9 ppm in Ad Dayr. 232Th concentrations were ranging from 3.6 to 7.5 ppm with an average of 4.7 ppm in Abu Al Khasib and ranging from 3.7 to 7.9 ppm with an average of 5.0 ppm in Ad Dayr. 40K concentration was ranging from 0.1% to 2.0% with an average of 1.2% in Abu Al Khasib and ranging from 0.9% to 1.8% with an average of 1.3% in Ad Dayr. High 238U and 226Ra concentration levels were recorded in both study regions. The concentrations of 232Th are within the normal limits in both regions. High levels of 40K were recorded in some locations. Generally, in most locations, 40K activity was within normal ranges. The radium equivalent activity, the external hazard index, the internal hazard index, and the radioactivity level index were calculated to estimate the radiation hazard in Basrah. The estimated radiation hazard indices were within normal limits, except the radioactivity level index, which shows elevated values. The obtained results were compared with other countries and with the worldwide median certified values.