The relationship between the presence of Helicobacter pylori and the composition of ionic and organic microelements in drinking water from Cracow.

Although the natural niche for H. pylori (Hp) is the human stomach, for widespread infection to occur this microorganism may need to survive in the external environment. Molecular techniques such as polymerase (PCR) have revealed the presence of Hp DNA in water, indicating that this environment could act as a reservoir for this bacterium. The aim of this study was to analyse the occurrence of Hp in tap water from Cracow and to examine the relationship between 26 parameters and the presence of Hp DNA due to the lack of such information related to this issue in Poland. Additional aim of this study was to determine whether the correlation between Hp DNA detection and seasonal changes of water quality in 379 water samples collected from various water treatment plants (WTPs), could be found. Water samples were subjected to PCR for glmM and cagA genes. Ionic and organic composition of microelements were determined in accordance to Polish and ISO standards. The data obtained from tests show that 212 (55.96%) objects were Hp DNA (glmM) positive and among them 145 (68.40%) waters samples revealed expression of cagA. Linear Discriminant Analysis and Principal Component Analysis were used and provided that the selected variables (p < 0.05): colour, pH, conductivity at 25°C, chlorides, nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, chlorates, chlorites, sulphates, free chlorine, sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, organic carbon, trichloromethane, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloroethane, total iron, ammonium ion, and Æ©TMHs distinguished the water samples that contain Hp DNA and do not contain Hp DNA. We conclude that the ionic and organic composition of microelements in water might influence the presence of Hp. Thus, determination of the selected microelements may indirectly indicate or sometimes predict the presence of Hp in drinking water.

Chronic but not acute antidepresant treatment alters serum zinc/copper ratio under pathological/zinc-deficient conditions in mice.

Depression is the leading psychiatric disorder with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Clinical studies report lower serum zinc in depressed patients, suggesting a strong link between zinc and mood disorders. Also copper as an antagonistic element to zinc seems to play a role in depression, where elevated concentration is observed. In the present study we investigated serum copper and zinc concentration after acute or chronic antidepressant (AD) treatment under pathological/zinc-deficient conditions. Zinc deficiency in mice was induced by a special diet administered for 6 weeks (zinc adequate diet - ZnA, contains 33.5 mgZn/kg; zinc deficient diet - ZnD, contains 0.2 mgZn/kg). Animals received acute or chronically saline (control), imipramine, escitalopram, reboxetine or bupropion. To evaluate changes in serum copper and zinc concentrations the total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was performed. In ZnD animals serum zinc level was reduced after acute ADs treatment (similarly to vehicle treatment), however, as demonstrated in the previous study after chronic ADs administration no differences between both ZnA and ZnD groups were observed. Acute ADs in ZnD animals caused different changes in serum copper concentration with no changes after chronic ADs treatment. The calculated serum Zn/Cu ratio is reduced in ZnD animals (compared to ZnA subjects) treated with saline (acutely or chronically) and in animals treated acutely with ADs. However, chronic treatment with ADs normalized (by escitalopram, reboxetine or bupropion) or increased (by imipramine) this Zn/Cu ratio. Observed in this study normalization of serum Zn/Cu ratio in depression-like conditions by chronic (but not acute) antidepressants suggest that this ratio may be consider as a marker of depression or treatment efficacy.

The evaluation of 137Cs radioactivities in soils taken from the Babia Góra National Park.

The aim of this work was to determine 137Cs and 40K radioactivities in soil samples taken from the Babia Góra National Park (BPN) in south Poland. The cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to discuss the obtained data. 10 cm thick soil cores were collected from the BPN area. Each sample was divided into three sub-samples. The samples were dried, homogenized and packed in polyethylene containers. The radioactivities of 137Cs and 40K were measured by means of gamma spectrometry. It was found that 137Cs radioactivity in the whole 10 cm soil cores was in the range from 1,916 to 28,551 Bq m-2. The radioactivity of 40K varied from 1,642 to 25,654 Bq m-2. Using CA it was possible to diverse the soils taking into account soil types. By use of the PCA method, it was chosen three factors which are appropriate to characterize researched parameters.

Importance of luminal and mucosal zinc in the mechanism of experimental gastric ulcer healing.

Zinc has been reported to exert a gastroprotective action against various experimental gastric lesions suggesting that this trace element is involved in the integrity of the gastric mucosa. Compounds containing zinc, such as polaprezinc, were developed in Japan and used as an antiulcer drugs in the treatment of human peptic ulcer disease. However, the precise mechanism of Zn(2+) containing compounds and their effects on mucosal integrity, gastroprotection and ulcer healing remain unclear. We have determined the efficacy of zinc hydroaspartate, a compound containing Zn(2+), in the mechanism of gastric secretion and ulcer healing in rats with chronic gastric ulcers induced by acetic acid (initial ulcer area = 28 mm(2)). Rats with gastric ulcers were randomized into two groups: A) with gastric fistulas (GF) and B) without gastric fistulas and received a daily treatment with zinc hydroaspartate (32-130 mg/kg-d i.g.) for 3, 7 and 14 days. At the termination of each treatment, the area of gastric ulcers were examined by planimetry, the gastric blood flow (GBF) at ulcer margin was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry and H(2)-gas clearance methods. The venous blood was withdrawn for a measurement of plasma gastrin levels by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The concentration of Zn(2+) in the gastric juice and mucosa at the ulcer margin were determined by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) methods and the gastric biopsy samples were taken for histopathological assessment of the quality of ulcer healing. The ulcers healed gradually, with the ulcer area in the vehicle control rats being diminished by 15%, 48% and 78% upon ulcer induction at 3, 7 and 14 days, respectively. Zinc hydroaspartate dose-dependently inhibited the area of gastric ulcer, the dose reducing this area by 50% (ID(50)) being about 60 mg/kg-d. The mucosal concentration of Zn(2+) significantly was unchanged from the baseline immediately after ulcer induction (day 0) and at day 3 but then it rose significantly at day 7 after ulcer induction. Treatment with zinc hydroaspartate (65 mg/kg-d i.g.), which significantly raised the gastric luminal and mucosal levels of Zn(2+), significantly accelerated ulcer healing at day 7 upon ulcer induction. The GBF, which reached a significantly higher value at the ulcer margin than the ulcer bed, was significantly increased in rats treated with zinc hydroaspartate compared with vehicle-controls. The gastric acid output was significantly inhibited in GF rats with gastric ulcer at day 3 then restored at day 14 followed by a significant rise in the plasma gastrin levels. Treatment with zinc hydroaspartate significantly inhibited gastric secretion and also significantly raised the plasma gastrin level when compared to vehicle-control rats. We concluded that 1) trace micronutrients such as Zn(2+) could be successfully measured in the gastric juice and gastric mucosa during ulcer healing; 2) compounds chelating of Zn(2+) can exert a beneficial influence on the ulcer healing via Zn(2+) mediated increase in gastric microcirculation, antisecretory activity and gastrin release, which may enhance the cell proliferation and differentiation during ulcer healing, ultimately exerting a trophic action on the ulcerated gastric mucosa.

Metals distribution and interactions in tissues of shrews (Sorex spp.) from copper- and zinc-contaminated areas in Poland.

To assess the risk from heavy metal accumulation to insectivorous species exposed to different pollutants, shrews [Sorex araneus (Linnaeus 1758) and Sorex minutus (Linnaeus 1766)] were collected in the Olkuski Ore Region (OOR; a Zn and Cd smelter area), Legnicko-Glogowski Copper Mine Region (LGCR; a copper ore-mining area), and Bialowieza Forest (BF; a control area). A few sites were chosen in each region and a total of 57 animals were collected from them. The liver and kidneys were dissected from the animals, dried, and digested in a 4:1 mixture of HNO3 (nitric acid) and HClO4 (perchloric acid). Cadmium, lead, zinc, copper, and iron were determined in the samples by flame or flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The interactions between toxic and essential metals were calculated for each tissue. The data showed that accumulation of metals by insectivores is high; shrews accumulated much higher amounts of cadmium and lead than bank voles, studied by other researchers, from the same areas. The expected high tissue accumulation of copper at LGCR and zinc at OOR was not seen, but the levels of both elements were higher in the tissues of shrews from OOR than from LGCR. The lowest copper concentrations were in the tissues of shrews from BF. The highest cadmium and lead concentrations were found in the tissues of shrews from OOR. Some significant correlations were found between the tissue concentrations of xenobiotic and essential metals (e.g., between cadmium and zinc and between lead and iron).