Association between prenatal dietary methyl mercury exposure and developmental outcomes on acquisition of articulatory-phonologic skills in children in the Republic of Seychelles

Methyl mercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxicant that with sufficient exposure can seriously impair the central nervous system and cause mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and neuromotor dysfunction. The level of exposure needed to adversely affect the nervous system is unknown. Human exposure to low levels of MeHg is common from consumption of fish. We examined the relationship between MeHg exposure and development of articulatory-phonologic speech skills in children whose mothers consumed a diet high in fish during pregnancy to determine whether any adverse associations could be detected. A total of 544 children from the Republic of Seychelles were given a speech assessment when they were 66 months of age. Exposure level was determined by measuring MeHg in maternal hair growing during pregnancy. No adverse associations between articulatory- phonologic speech skills and prenatal MeHg exposure were detected. The findings of this investigation are compatible with previous developmental assessments of Seychellois children that have indicated no adverse effects of prenatal MeHg exposure from fish consumption.     

Observations on the levels of total mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) in species common to the artisanal fisheries of Seychelles

Exposure to mercury (Hg) in Seychelles is expected to be high owing to the large amounts of fish regularly consumed. In spite of this consumption, a recent long-term study of child development found no evidence that higher prenatal exposure to Hg increases the risk of neurological disorders. To identify the major sources of mercury in the diets of Seychellois fish consumers, 16 species of fish common to local markets were tested for total Hg. Selenium (Se), which may act as an antidote to Hg toxicity, was also measured. Mercury and selenium were measured using standardised laboratory procedures. The average total Hg concentration across all species was 0.07 mg/kg while the Se concentrations averaged 0.29 mg/kg. Based on the pooled species dataset, there was no correlation between total Hg and Se concentrations, suggesting that joint bioaccumulation of these elements does not occur in the reef fishes tested. Barracuda (Sphyraena jello) had the highest concentration of Hg (0.36 mg/kg), a level that was below European Union guidelines. Although Seychellois traditionally eat a large amount of fish, barracuda would need to be consumed more than 5 times a week for FAO/WHO Total Hg Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) limits to be exceeded, an unusual rate of consumption. Further investigations are needed to assess the risks posed to the population through the consumption of marine fish and fish products.     

Mercury,APOE, and children's neurodevelopment

The benefit of the nutritious elements in fish is insufficient for explaining the controversial finding regarding prenatal mercury (Hg) exposure and neurodevelopment; the varying frequency of susceptible genes among these populations may shed light on these observations. However, limited studies have been reported on the association between genetic susceptibility of prenatal Hg exposure and child development. Apolipoprotein E (APOE, protein; Apoe, gene) is a major protein transporter expressed in the brain. The Apoe epsilon 4 (ɛ4) allele is associated with poor neural repair function and is a risk factor associated with Alzheimer disease. We conducted a prospective cohort study in 2004 and 2005. In this study, 168 subjects were recruited at delivery and followed up at two years of age, and genetic polymorphisms of Apoe were included to assess genetic susceptibility and to determine the relationship between Hg concentrations in cord blood and neurodevelopment. The results showed that adverse effects on neurodevelopment were consistently associated with prenatal Hg exposure in all subtests of Comprehensive Developmental Inventory for Infants and Toddlers (CDIIT) among ɛ4 carriers as assessed by both simple linear and multiple linear regression models. After controlling for confounding factors, statistical significance was found in the subtests of cognition tests (β = −8.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −16.10 to −0.84), social tests (β = −11.02, 95% CI = −20.85 to −1.19) and the whole test of CDIIT (β = −10.45, 95% CI = −17.36 to −3.54) in a multiple linear regression model. Additionally, the interaction effect between gene polymorphisms of Apoe and Hg levels was significant in the whole test CDIIT and subtests of cognition, language and fine motor tests. In conclusion, Apoe modifies the adverse effects of cord blood Hg on neurodevelopment at the age of two years.     

肉类样品中总汞的直接测定方法研究

目的探讨直接测定肉类样品中汞含量的方法。方法应用测汞仪建立汞标准应用液含量标准曲线,肉类样品经粉碎机捣碎后称取适量直接测定汞含量,并与原子荧光光谱法测定汞含量进行比较。结果试验筛选出肉类样品直接测定法最佳测定条件分别为干燥温度200℃,时间1 min;分解温度650℃,时间1.5 min。标准曲线相关系数≥0.999 8,加标回收实验汞回收率93%-98%,标准物质质控样品测定相对标准偏差4.79%-5.37%,与原子荧光光谱法测定汞含量差异无统计学意义（t=0.608,P〉0.05）。结论采用测汞仪直接测定样品中总汞含量,方法简便、快速、准确、重复性好、样品勿须前处理。     

Comparison of Two Automatic Devices and the Standard Mercury Sphygmomanometer in Hypertensive Patients

The standard mercury sphygmomanometer (SMS) and two automatic blood pressure recording devices, Dinamap 845 (D) and Sentron (S), were compared by means of a randomized 3-period cross-over experiment. Both devices recorded diastolic BP lower than SMS, on average and for most individual patients. Systolic BP was similar for SMS and S, and slightly lower for D, with variations for individual patients. A second study failed to detect effects of the physician's presence when BP was measured, whereas the difference between D and SMS was substantially confirmed.     

降糖保健品致汞砷中毒性周围神经病3例报道

目的：分析3例汞砷中毒性周围神经病的临床特点,总结重金属中毒周围神经病的诊疗经验。方法：回顾3例口服同一种降糖保健品（汞砷超标）引起中毒性周围神经病患者的临床诊疗情况。结果：3例患者发病前口服摩柯复合片数月,亚急性起病,病情进行性加重,以四肢末梢型感觉和运动障碍为主要表现,神经电生理检查均提示多发性运动和（或）感觉周围神经损害,轴索损害为主。1例呼吸困难者应用激素和丙种球蛋白后疗效差,其他2例应用激素后均有缓解。结论：激素和丙种球蛋白对重金属中毒所致周围神经病的疗效有差异,临床需重视既往药物和保健品的使用史。     

Mercury content in marketed cosmetics: analytical survey in Shijiazhuang,China

Context: Mercury is one of the skin-lightening ingredients in cosmetics as mercury ions are thought to inhibit the synthesis of the skin pigment melanin in melanocyte cells.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the mercury levels of cosmetics currently marketed in Shijiazhuang, a northern city in China.

Methods: We collected 146 random cosmetic samples and analyzed for mercury concentrations or levels by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry.

Results: Among the 146 samples, 134 (91.8%) were positive for mercury, and the concentrations of mercury ranged from not detectable to 592?ng/g. Cosmetic samples for children and babies had the highest detection rate (100%), followed by shampoo and hair conditioner (92.3%) and skin-lightening cream (92.0%). All of them were lower than the acceptable limit (1?μg/g) in China.

Discussion and conclusions: Cosmetics for skin had the highest mean mercury content (45?ng/g), followed by hair products (42.1?ng/g). The concentrations of mercury detected in samples were lower than the current legal limit in China, indicating it may not pose a risk to consumers.     

Mortality outcomes based on ED qSOFA score and HIV status in a developing low income country

Objective

To evaluate the utility of the quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score to predict risks for emergency department (ED) and hospital mortality among patients in a sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) setting.

Toxic trace elements at gastrointestinal level

Many trace elements are considered essential [iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu)], whereas others may be harmful [lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As)], depending on their concentration and chemical form. In most cases, the diet is the main pathway by which they enter our organism. The presence of toxic trace elements in food has been known for a long time, and many of the food matrices that carry them have been identified. This has led to the appearance of legislation and recommendations concerning consumption. Given that the main route of exposure is oral, passage through the gastrointestinal tract plays a fundamental role in their entry into the organism, where they exert their toxic effect. Although the digestive system can be considered to be of crucial importance in their toxicity, in most cases we do not know the events that occur during the passage of these elements through the gastrointestinal tract and of ascertaining whether they may have some kind of toxic effect on it. The aim of this review is to summarize available information on this subject, concentrating on the toxic trace elements that are of greatest interest for organizations concerned with food safety and health: Pb, Cd, Hg and As.     

A Novel D‐π‐A Conjugated Polymer Chemosensor Based on Benzo[c][1,2,5]selenadiazole for Highly Selective and Sensitive Recognition of Mercury (II) Ions

A novel‐donor‐π‐acceptor‐type conjugated polymer based on the benzo[c][1,2,5]selenadiazole moiety and the fluorene group via an alkyne module is prepared by the the Sonogashira–Hagihara reaction. The polymer displays an absorption peak at a longer wavelength at 477 nm and shows orange fluorescence at 576 nm. The responsive optical properties of the polymer on various metal ions are investigated by fluorescence emission and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy measurements. Compared with other metal cations, Hg²⁺ shows the most pronounced UV–vis absorption and fluorescence response of the polymer. The visible color and the fluorescence color of the polymer sensor both disappear after addition of Hg²⁺, which can be easily detected by the naked eye. The results indicate this kind of polymer containing benzoselenadiazole units can be used as a highly selective and sensitive chemosensor for Hg²⁺ detection.