Chemical pathology

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Endocrine disruptors-arsenic, cadmium and lead in pre and postmenopausal black women with breast cancer
(University College Hospital, Ibadan, 2017) Ajayi, O. O.; Charles-Davies, M. A.; Anetor, J. I.; Ademola, A. F.
Background: The involvement of toxic metals in adiposity has been suggested to be contributory to the high incidence of breast cancer, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This study is aimed at evaluating serum arsenic, cadmium and lead in relation to adiposity and blood pressure in Nigerian women with breast cancer. Methodology: The study comprised 85 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer pre-therapy (cases) matched with 84 apparently healthy women without breast cancer (controls) according to age and menstrual phase. Arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Blood pressure and anthropometry were determined by standard methods. Data analysed by Student’s t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. Results: Cd and Pb levels were significantly higher in cases, compared with controls (p<0.05). Waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), weight, height, waist hip ratio (WHR), waist height ratio (WHtR) were significantly higher in cases compared with controls (p<0.05). Cadmium positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure while FT4 inversely correlated with arsenic in the cases (p<0.05). Conclusion: Observations in this study suggest the involvement of these toxic metals in adiposity which could be involved in breast carcinogenesis.
The impact of selected heavy metals to dyspermia in Nigeria
(2014-06) Opurum, H. C.; Abbiyesuku, F. M.; Charles-Davies, M. A.
Declining male fertility is of global concern and has been linked to the effects of some heavy metals which are recognised as testicular toxins. Selenium and zinc play specific roles in heavy metal detoxification, testosterone metabolism, sperm formation and motility. This study was aimed at identifying the possible contribution of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) to sperm defects in Nigerian men. 120 males (20-54 years) were recruited after informed consent. These were age-matched 77 dyspermics and 43 normospermics. Semen samples were collected from subjects by masturbation after 3-5 days of abstinence from sexual intercourse. Spermiogram and sperm morphological characteristics were done using WHO guidelines and Tygerberg Strict criteria respectively. 10 ml of blood was obtained from each participant. Serum and seminal plasma were obtained by centrifugation of clotted blood and semen respectively. Cd, Pb, Se and Zn were assayed in serum and seminal plasma by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Data were analysed using t-test, ANOVA and multiple regressions at p=0.05. Increased serum Zn/Cd (p=0.04) and Se/Cd (p=0.03) significantly predicted increased semen volume in dypermics. Increased seminal plasma Se/Pb (p=0.05) significantly predicted increased normal sperm morphology. Increased serum Cd significantly predicted increased tail defects (p=0.008) whereas, increased serum Se/Cd significantly predicted decreased tail defects (p=0.01) in normospermics only. Increased serum Zn/Cd significantly predicted (p=0.048) decreased Teratozoospermia index (TZI). Increased seminal plasma Zn (p=0.04) and Zn/Pb (p=0.04) significantly predicted decreased sperm deformity index (SDI) respectively. Reduced levels of selenium and zinc in dyspermic males may account for the loss of their protective effect against cadmium and lead toxicity to the testes.
Cadmium level in pregnancy, influence on neonatal birth weight and possible amelioration by some essential trace elements
(2013) Ikeh-Tawari, E. P.; Anetor, J. I.; Charles-Davies, M. A.
Cadmium (Cd) is currently of great concern in rapidly industrializing countries‑India, China. Their products consumed especially due to increase demand in many developing countries like Nigeria can result in adverse effects. Cd is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and toxicant and humans are continually exposed to the toxic effects of Cd primarily through food as well as from environmental pollution through industrial activities. Maternal exposure to Cd has been associated with the delivery of low‑birth weight babies and an increase incidence of spontaneous abortion. Cd a toxic metal can displace zinc (Zn) an essential element necessary for normal fetal development and growth. With this consideration, 160 subjects comprising of 125 pregnant and 35 non‑pregnant subjects as controls were recruited for this study. The pregnant subjects were classified according to the three trimesters of pregnancy as followed; 35, 35, and 55 from the first to the third trimesters respectively. The third trimester subjects were followed‑up until after delivery where neonatal parameters (birth weight, head circumference, and length) of babies were measured. 32 (58%) of the women delivered babies with normal birth weight, 19 women (35%) delivered babies with low‑birth weight while four women (7%) delivered babies with high‑ birth weight. Subject who delivered low‑birth weight babies had significantly higher Cd concentration and lower Zn concentration and body mass index when compared with those with normal weight babies. These results suggest that Cd indeed has some toxic effects on neonatal birth weight.

Chemical pathology

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