Heavy Metals in the Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) in Mersin Bay, Turkey.

The concentrations of four metals (copper, cadmium, zinc and lead) were quantified in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) tissues collected in January, April, June and September at two stations in Mersin Bay, northeastern Mediterranean Sea, using ICP-MS. The metal concentrations in crabs from the two stations differed significantly. The hepatopancreas was the major organ accumulating metals, followed by gill and muscle tissues. Except for lead, the highest concentrations of metals were measured in the hepatopancreas. The hepatopancreas had higher concentrations of all heavy metals (Cu 321.1 ± 4.30; Zn 182.2 ± 3.40; Cd 48.2 ± 2.00) compared to gill (Cu 90.2 ± 1.35; Zn 104.3 ± 2.30; Cd 22.3 ± 3.40) and muscle (Cu 19.1 ± 1.10; Zn 55.1 ± 3.25; Cd 2.5 ± 0.20). Among the metals analyzed, Cu, Zn and Pb were the most abundant in the different tissues while Cd was the least abundant in C. sapidus. Seasonality in the levels of the four metals was determined.The highest concentrations of all metals were observed in the June (Zn 55.1 ± 3.25; Cu 19.1 ± 1.10; Cd 2.5 ± 0.20; Pb 5.1 ± 0.18) compared to all other months (Zn 34.1 ± 3.23; Cu 11.1 ± 1.15; Cd 0.9 ± 0.20; Pb 3.1 ± 0.21).

Can N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein help to predict short and long term mortality?

BACKGROUND: There is limited data about ICU, short and long-term mortality prediction of severe CAP with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR): N-terminal proB- type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP): C-reactive protein (CRP). AIM: Besides the known severity indexes of ICU, can NLR, NT-proBNP, CRP predict ICU, short and long term mortality? METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in a level III ICU of a tertiary training hospital for chest diseases and thoracic surgery. RESULTS: Over the study period, a total of 143 patients were enrolled in the study. The APACHE II scoring showed a significantly higher predicting performance for ICU mortality (p = 0.002). The performance for predicting short term mortality NLR (p = 0.039) and long term mortality NTproBNP (p = 0.002) had a significantly higher performance. The survival analysis revealed that mortality was significantly higher in patients with CURB65 score ≥ 4 (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: NLR, NTproBNP > 2000pg/mL can be used to predict pneumonia severity in ICU alike CURB65 and PSI. Higher NLR, APACHE II and atrial fibrillation can cause an important mortality factor in long term. Consequently, clinicians should take an attention for good cardiac evaluation and cardiac follow-up of patients with CAP (Tab. 4, Fig. 3, Ref. 36).

Heavy metals in Patella caerulea (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in polluted and non-polluted areas from the Iskenderun Gulf (Mediterranean Turkey).

The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Co were measured in gastropod mollusks Patella caerulea in the Mediterranean area. The organisms were collected at two coastal sites in Iskenderun Gulf during winter, spring, summer, and autumn 2008. Samples of the digestive gland, gill, and muscle were analyzed for heavy metals. The aim of study is to determine heavy metal levels in tissues of P. caerulea in different locations. Tissues of P. caerulea from the polluted site showed metal concentrations appreciably higher than unpolluted organisms. The highest metal levels were registered in the digestive gland of P. caerulea. Generally, digestive gland and gills showed higher metal concentrations than muscle. The average concentrations of heavy metals analyzed exhibited the following decreasing order: Fe>Zn>Cu>Ni>Cd>Pb>Co for both stations 1 and 2. Seasonal changes in metal concentrations were observed in the tissues of P. caerulea from a polluted and an unpolluted population.

Concentrations of Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn and Fe in crab Charybdis longicollis and shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus from the Iskenderun Bay, Turkey.

Copper, chromium cadmium, iron and zinc concentrations were determined in marine crab Charybdis longicollis and marine shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus in order to assess the impact of industrial activities and the sinking of M/V Ulla ship. Liver, gill and muscle sample solutions prepared analyzed using the atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique. The order of the metal concentrations found in muscle of crab was: Cu>Cr>Fe>Zn>Cd, while in muscle of shrimp the order was different: Cr>Cu>Zn>Fe>Cd. The highest Cu, Cr, Cd, Fe and Zn concentrations were found in the liver, and this was followed by the gill and muscle in both species. The levels of all metals in a given tissue were always higher in C. longicollis than in P. semisulcatus. Metals in both species show seasonal variations. In both species the highest concentrations were detected for all metals in summer.

Metal concentrations in fish species from the northeast Mediterranean Sea.

Samples of Mugil cephalus and Mullus barbatus were collected in the Northeast Mediterranean coast of Turkey the contents of cadmium, copper, iron, zinc and lead in the liver, gill and muscle tissues were determined by atomic absorption flame spectrophotometry. Except for lead, highest levels of each metal were found in the liver and this was followed by the gill and muscle in both species. Among the metals analyzed, Cu, Zn and Fe were the most abundant in the different tissues while Cd and Pb were the least abundant both in M. cephalus and M. barbatus. Seasonal changes in metal (Cd, Cu, Pb, Fe and Zn) concentration were observed in the tissues of both species, but these seasonal variations may not influence consumption advisories. In general, the highest concentrations were detected for all metals in summer.

Oxidative stress and non-enzymatic antioxidative status in dogs with visceral Leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is a potentially fatal chronic protozoan disease in human, canine and rodent species. The infection by Leishmania is endemic in the Mediterranean Sea region, Africa, Asia and South America. Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanVL) is a systemic disease caused by Leishmania infantum and Leishmania chagasi from the Leishmania donovani complex group. The blood glutathione (GSH), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbic acid (AA), beta-carotene, retinol and ceruloplasmin levels of dogs with CanVL were investigated to establish the status of the antioxidant defense mechanism in the infected animals. Dogs diagnosed as CanVL with amastigotes in lymph node smear examination and/or antibody titers > or = 128 were used as subjects, while those with no serological response against leishmaniasis were used as healthy controls. The glutathione and retinol amounts were decreased although not significantly (p > 0.05), but the MDA levels were significantly higher in dogs with VL, suggesting increased lipid peroxidation.