No abstract

The collaborative study enabled us to evaluate rational methods for deriving RIs and comparing the RVs based on real-world datasets obtained in a harmonized manner.

Tobacco is an important cash crop of Pakistan. Pesticides are commonly used to increase the crop yield, but their health impact has not been studied yet. The objectives of the study were to determine the frequency of pesticide poisoning and to explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards safety measures among the tobacco farmers in Swabi, Pakistan. One hundred and five tobacco farmers involved in pesticide application were randomly selected from two villages of district Swabi. A structured questionnaire was used for clinical and KAP information. Plasma cholinesterase (PChE) levels were measured by Ellman's method by using GD Italy kits. All tobacco farmers were males with a mean (SD) age of 26 (9) years. The majority of the farmers reported multiple symptoms headache, dizziness, vomiting, shortness of breath, muscle weakness and skin rash correlate with the clinically significant depression of PChE levels. Out of 105 pesticide applicators, 58 (55%) had post-exposure reduction in PChE levels o20% from baseline, 35 (33%) had mild poisoning (20-40% reduction) and 12 (11%) had moderate poisoning (440% reduction). Most of the farmers did not use any personal protective equipment during pesticide handling. Only a few used shoes (31%), masks (14%) and gloves (9%) during pesticide spray. In conclusion, the tobacco farmers had mild to moderate pesticide poisoning, which was correlated with depression in PChE levels. Moreover, most farmers had little knowledge about the safety measures, casual attitude and unsatisfactory safety practices with regard to the use of basic protective equipments during pesticide applications on the tobacco crop.

The study aimed to determine the hazardous health effects of pesticides exposure in the factory workers by measuring plasma cholinesterase (PChE), pesticides residues, and renal and hepatic biochemical markers. In addition, we also assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and safety practices adopted by the industrial workers. The study was conducted in three different sizes of factories located in Lahore (large), Multan (medium), and Karachi (small) in Pakistan. Total 238 adult males consisting of 184 pesticide industrial workers (exposed group) from large-sized (67), medium-sized (61), small-sized (56) industrial formulation factories, and 54 controls (unexposed) were included in the study. All the participants were male of aged 18 to 58 years. PChE levels were estimated by Ellmann's method. Plasma pesticides residue analysis was performed by using reverse phase C-18 on high-performance liquid chromatograph and GC with NPD detector. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, urea, and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) were measured on Selectra E auto analyzer. Plasma and C-reactive protein was analyzed by Immulite 1000. The results revealed a significant decrease in plasma post exposure PChE levels (<30%) as compared to baseline in the workers of small (29%) and medium (8%) industrial units (p < 0.001). Plasma cypermethrin, endosulfan, imidacloprid, thiodicarb, carbofuran, and methamidophos levels were found to be higher than allowable daily intake. Serum AST, ALT, creatinine GGT, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant, and CRP were significantly raised among the workers of small and medium pesticide formulation factories as compared to large industrial unit and controls (p < 0.001). The study demonstrated that unsafe practices among small- and medium-sized pesticides industrial workers cause significant increase in pesticide exposure, oxidative stress, and derangement of hepatic and renal function.

No abstract

No abstract

Background: Although, α-tocopherol is the most bioavailable form of vitamin E, but several animal and clinical studies have demonstrated tocotrienol bioavailability to various tissues. There are few reports on bioavailability of tocotrienols in humans. Most studies were carried out with mixtures of tocotrienols + tocopherols rather than pure tocotrienols. Moreover, dietary α-tocopherol interferes with the bioavailability of tocotrienols, and prevents absorption and delivery to organs and tissues.Aim: Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of annatto-based δ-tocotrienol, plasma levels of α-, β-, γ-, δ-tocotrienol and tocopherols were quantified. In addition, several cytokines and microRNAs were examined. Study design:An open-label, randomized study evaluated pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of δ-tocotrienol in 33 healthy fed subjects. All subjects (11/dose) were randomly assigned to doses of 125, 250, or 500 mg/d. Plasma samples collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 h intervals were estimated by HPLC for tocols (tocotrienols and tocopherols). Results:The present study describes the effects of δ-tocotrienol on pharmacokinetic parameters of all eight tocol isomers. Supplementation of 125, 250 and 500 mg/d doses resulted in dose-dependent increases of (a) area under concentration-time curve (AUC t0 -t10 , ng/ml) 2464, 5412, 14986; (b) maximum concentration (C max , ng/ml) 829, 1920, 3278 (P<0.001); (c) time to achieve maximum peak (T max ; h) 3, 3, 6; (d) elimination of half-life (t 1/2 h) 1.74, 1.39, 2.54; (e) time of clearance (Cl-T, h -1 ) 0.049, 0.045, 0.030; (f) volume of distribution (Vd/f, mg/h) 0.119, 0.114, 0.113; and (g) elimination rate constant (Ke; h -1 ) 0.412, 0.401, 0.265. Similar results were reported for the other tocols. Maximum plasma levels of δ-tocotrienol were observed at 3 h with doses of 125 and 250 mg/d, and 6 h with 500 mg/d. γ-tocotrienol, β-tocotrienol, α-tocotrienol, δ-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol β-tocopherol and α-tocopherol were appeared in the plasma after 2 h. Moreover, δ-tocotrienol treatment resulted in down-regulation of eight cytokines and upregulation of adiponectin, TGF-β1, and leptin. The expression of miR-34a (increased in bipolar disorder) was down-regulated, but expression of miR-107, miR-122a, and miR-132 (decreased in Alzheimer's disease) was upregulated by δ-tocotrienol treatment.Conclusion: This is the first study describing the effect of δ-tocotrienol on pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of all eight tocol isomers. When tocotrienols are supplemented in absence of tocopherols, δ-tocotrienol has better bioavailability, and δ-tocotrienol is converted stepwise to other tocotrienols/tocopherols. These results support that tocotrienol, particularly δ-tocotrienol, as a dietary supplement might be useful in the prevention of age-related and chronic ailments. Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability of Annatto δ-tocotrienol in Healthy Fed Subjects IntroductionSeveral studies have reported the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hypocholesterolemic and neuroprotec...

Background Dysregulated immune function associated with ageing has been implicated in a variety of human diseases. We have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory properties of resveratrol, pterostilbene, morin hydrate, quercetin, δ-tocotrienol, riboflavinin a variety of experimental animal models, and determined that these compounds act by inhibiting proteasome activity. Aims To determine whether serum nitric oxide (NO) levels increase with age in humans, and whether the combined cholesterol-lowering and inflammation-reducing properties of resveratrol, pterostilbene, Morin hydrate, quercetin, δ-tocotrienol, riboflavin, and nicotinic acid would reduce cardiovascular risk factors in humans when used as nutritional supplements with, or without, other dietary changes. Methods Elderly human subjects were stratified into two groups based on total serum cholesterol levels. Initial total serum cholesterol levels were normal and elevated in Group 1 and 2 subjects, respectively. Baseline serum NO, C-reactive protein (CRP), γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) activity, uric acid, total antioxidant status (TAS), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides levels were established over a four week period. Group 1 subjects subsequently received nutritional supplementation with one of two different combinations (NS-7 = 25 mg of each, resveratrol, pterostilbene, quercetin, δ-tocotrienol, nicotinic acid, morin hydrate or NS-6 = morin hydrate replaced with quercetin, 50 mg/capsule). Group 2 subjects also received these nutritional supplements (two capsules/d), but an AHA Step-1 diet was also implemented. After these interventions were administered for four weeks, the above parameters were re-measured and changes from baseline levels determined. Nitric acid (NO) levels in children, young adults, and seniors were also compared. Results The key results of the current study were: 1) that serum NO levels were significantly increased in seniors compared to both children (~80%) and young adults (~65%); 2) that the intake of two capsules/d of NS-7 or NS-6 for four weeks significantly (P < 0.05) decreased serum NO (39%, 24%), CRP (19%, 21%), uric acid (6%, 12%) levels, and γ-GT activity (8%, 6%), respectively in free-living healthy seniors; 3) that serum NO (36%, 29%), CRP (29%, 20%), uric acid (6%, 9%) γ-GT activity (9%, 18%), total cholesterol (8%, 11%), LDL-cholesterol (10%, 13%), and triglycerides (16%, 23%) levels were significantly (P < 0.02) decreased in hypercholesterolemic subjects restricted to AHA Step-1 diet plus intake of SN-7 or SN-6 (two capsules/d), respectively; 4) that TAS was increased (3%, 9%; P < 0.05) in free-living healthy seniors receiving NS-7 or NS-6 alone, and in hypercholesterolemic subjects plus AHA Step-1 diet (20%, 12%; P < 0.02) with either of the combinations tested. Conclusions Serum NO levels are elevated in elderly humans compared to children or young adults. Diet supplementation with combinations of resveratrol, pterostilbene, morin hydrate, quercetin, δ-tocotrienol, riboflavin,...