Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers and the second cause of cancer-related deaths among men. Metals are recognized as chemical carcinogens where chronic exposures to such metals are implicated in the development of cancer, including prostate cancer. This in vitro study demonstrates the relative death sensitivity of prostatic (RWPE-1) cells to arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) as environmental pollutants through its apoptotic effects and the effect of these chemicals on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) gene expression as a marker for their carcinogecity. RWPE-1 cells were divided into three groups that were treated with As, Cd, and Cr in three replicates, at three different concentrations for each metal for 48 h. A control group consisted of untreated RWPE1 cells was used. Apoptosis was assessed using comet assay and caspase 3 gene expression; meanwhile, PSA gene expression was evaluated by semiqualitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR). One of the novel findings of this study is that arsenic and cadmium at low concentrations decreased apoptosis of RWPE-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner while chromium induced significant concentration-dependent increase in apoptosis. Yet, at the highest concentrations, apoptosis was relatively more induced by all chemicals. Arsenic was the most chemical inhibiting apoptosis in RWPE-1 cells at low concentration. While at the moderate and highest concentrations, cadmium was the most inhibiting chemical of RWPE-1 cells' apoptosis. No distinct differences between treated and untreated cells for PSA gene expression were observed. It can be concluded that As and Cd, at low concentrations, can reduce apoptosis of prostatic cells in a concentration-dependent manner while chromium induced it; however, all metal salts used in this study did not induce PSA gene expression.

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term toxic effect of ofloxacin on the testes and epididymides of 72 adult male albino rats. The rats were divided into group A and group B. Group A, which received ofloxacin for 14 days, was subdivided into two subgroups; LD-14 received low dose 72 mg KBW(-1) daily and HD-14 received high dose 216 mg KBW(-1) daily. Group B, which received ofloxacin for 28 days, was subdivided into two subgroups; LD-28 received 72 mg KBW(-1) and HD-28 received 216 mg KBW(-1) daily. Two matched control groups were followed up for 14 and 28 days respectively. The animals were evaluated for body weight, testicular weight, relative testicular weight, serum testosterone (T), epididymal sperm analysis (sperm count, motility, morphology, curvilinear velocity, linear velocity and linearity index) and testicular histopathology. The adverse effects of ofloxacin were correlated with increased treatment duration and/or dose. It is concluded that long-term ofloxacin has a direct detrimental effect on the testicles of albino rats at the studied doses and durations.

No abstract

Heavy metals as environmental pollutants have been recognized to have a role in induction of malignant human growths. Recently, certain heavy metals showed a close association to breast cancer. This research was conducted to find out the role of some toxic heavy metals (cadmium, iron, copper, lead and zinc) in induction of breast cancer in-vivo. The study was carried out on 100 female patients: 75 with breast cancer (cancerous group) and 25 with benign breast diseases (non-cancerous group). Patients were chosen from those attending to the Oncology Center, Mansoura University. Heavy metals concentrations were measured in the urine and breast tissue samples using inductive coupled plasma (ICP)-spectrometer. The present results showed a significant increase in urine and tissue cadmium concentrations and urine copper concentration in cancerous patients compared to their corresponding non-cancerous ones (p < 0.05). Also, there was a significant reduction in iron concentration in urine samples of cancerous group compared to their corresponding non-cancerous one (p < 0.05). On the other hand, lead had no significant difference between cancerous and non cancerous groups but it was generally high in the tissue samples while zinc had no significant difference between studied groups. It could be concluded that the present study posits a causal association between cadmium and copper increase with reduction of iron and breast cancer. were more prevalent in women. The present study is designed to find out the role of some toxic heavy metals (cadmium, iron, copper, lead and zinc) in induction of breast cancer in-vivo. Materials and Methods This study was carried out on 100 female patients attending to the Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt during the period from December 2008 till December 2009. Their ages ranged from 30-70 years. Relevant information was obtained from each patient before surgery regarding residence, occupational history, smoking habits and reproductive history. Patients with positive family history of breast cancer were excluded from the study. Informed consent was obtained from each patient. Study groups Patients were divided into two groups. A cancerous group (75 female patients) with histologically confirmed breast cancer lesions. A non-cancerous group (25 female patients) with non risky non proliferative benign breast diseases that served as a control group. Study design According to Ionescu [11], 10 ml urine sample and 10 gm of breast adipose tissue were obtained from each patient. Samples were Jour n a l o f C linical T o x ic o log y

Seminal quality could be affected by metallosis caused by intramedullary nailing (IMN). Our objectives were to estimate metal ion levels in the seminal plasma of subjects with IMN, to determine their effects on semen parameters and on spermatozoal apoptotic gene expression, and to determine whether these expressed genes could be used as candidate biomarkers of seminal deterioration in individuals with IMN or not. Semen samples were collected from 60 subjects with IMN and 30 age-matched healthy controls. Seminal plasma contents of cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), and molybdenum (Mo) were assayed. Spermatozoal Bcl-2 and Bax gene expressions were determined. Studied semen parameters were significantly lower in subjects with IMN for ≥5 years in relation to controls while the concentrations of Co, Cr, and Mo in the seminal plasma samples were significantly higher. There were significantly lower spermatozoal Bcl-2 expression, higher Bax expression, and lower Bcl-2/Bax ratio in subjects with IMN for ≥5 years than in controls. In subjects with IMN for ≥5 years, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of studied gene expressions and Bcl-2/Bax ratio were done showing priority of the ratio with 86.7 % sensitivity, 100 % specificity, 100 % positive predictive value, and 93.8 % negative predictive value at cutoff values ≤0.777. Co, Cr, and Mo metals are found at high concentrations in the seminal plasma of individuals with IMN leading to increased spermatozoal apoptotic activity. Spermatozoal Bcl-2/Bax ratio could be used as a candidate biomarker of reproductive disorders in individuals with intramedullary nailing.