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Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology

Contents

1. Effects of Intraperitoneal Administration of ATRA on the Testis of Elastase Induced Emphysematous Rats Swati Uniyal, Nimisha Sharma, Sudhir Kotnala, Amit Tyagi, Jai Prakash Muyal 1 2. Toxicological Effect of Khat (Catha edulis) in Male Reproductive System Adhanom Gebreslassie Berhe

13

3. Levels of Some Essential and Non-Essential Metals in Selected Cereals Marketed at Holeta City, Ethiopia Mulatu Yohannes, Tarekegn Berhanu 19 4. Practices and Health Related Toxic Symptoms of Pesticide Use among Farm Workers Manpreet Kaur, Jyoti, Rajwant Kaur

25

5. Study of Road Traffic Accident (RTA) Fatalites Coming for Autopsy in FAAMCH, Barpeta, Assam Manoj Kumar Singha, Pradip Kumar Thakuria, Parthapratim Das, Arpan Mazumder

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Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology ISSN: 2231-3834(online), ISSN: 2349-1264(print) Volume 6, Issue 3 www.stmjournals.com

Effects of Intraperitoneal Administration of ATRA on the Testis of Elastase Induced Emphysematous Rats Swati Uniyal1, Nimisha Sharma1, Sudhir Kotnala1, Amit Tyagi2, Jai Prakash Muyal1,* 1

School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India Nuclear Medicine Department, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied sciences, Defence Research Development Organization, New Delhi, India

2

Abstract Emphysema is the pathological manifestation primarily associated with lungs. However, there are evidences of extra-pulmonary manifestations related to emphysema. The inflammation developed during emphysema triggers the release of several inflammatory mediators, which affects the proximal as well as distal organs. The present study was designed to determine the effect of inflammatory spillage on testicular tissue of male Sprague dawley rats; moreover, the main focus was to assess the potential role of ATRA as an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory molecule. Three experimental groups (i.e., control, SS; emphysema, ES; and therapy, EA) were prepared. Subsequently, the testis from each rat was collected for elastase activity assay, histopathology, catalase activity assay, protein expression of TNF-α and mRNA expression of genes associated with male fertility. The endogenous elastase activity in testis was significantly high in ES group as compared to SS group, while in EA group the activity was reduced significantly. Testis histopathology photomicrographs clearly shows degenerated leydig cell population in ES group, while, the population was regenerated in EA group. The catalase activity was reduced while protein expression of TNF-α was significantly increased in ES group, whereas, in response to ATRA the catalase activity was increased and protein expression of TNF-α was significantly decreased. The male fertility genes were significantly downregulated in ES group, while, significantly upregulated in EA group. ATRA supplementation has proven to be beneficial in reducing the inflammation along with maintaining the normal testis architecture as well as the male fertility genes.

Keywords: ATRA, Systemic Inflammation, Testis, Male fertility

INTRODUCTION Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is a broad category of disease associated with lungs. COPD is characterised by alveolar destruction, poor airflow and chronic inflammation of airway. These characteristics are attributable to a mixture of small airway diseases, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD is fourth leading cause of death worldwide, thus having high mortality and morbidity rate [1]. In emphysema alveoli burst to form large air spaces which trap the inhaled air inside the broken alveoli due to collapsed walls. This causes shortness of breath in emphysematous patients [2).]. The major causes of emphysema are tobacco smoking, outdoor, occupational and indoor air pollution (burning of wood and other biomass fuel) [3]. Past studies show higher prevalence of COPD in males but now it’s almost equal in

men and women, probably due to changing patterns in tobacco smoking [4–8]. According to a review carried out in 28 countries between 1990–2004, stated that COPD exists more commonly in smokers and ex smokers than in non smokers, in men than in women and in age group above 40 [9].

Smoking affects the female as well as male reproductive health. In females, smoking during pregnancy may cause foetal growth retardation, neonatal deaths, pregnancy complications, premature delivery and possible effects on lactation and long-term effects on surviving children, decreased fertility in women, increases the frequency of menstrual abnormalities and decreases the age of spontaneous menopause [10, 11]. Smoking in men may cause changes in chromosome or DNA damage which affects male fertility,

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Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology ISSN: 2231-3834(online), ISSN: 2349-1264(print) Volume 6, Issue 3 www.stmjournals.com

Toxicological Effect of Khat (Catha edulis) in Male Reproductive System Adhanom Gebreslassie Berhe* Department of Anatomy and Histology, Institute of Bio-Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia Abstract In this project paper, databases such as Pubmed, Medline, Hinary and Google search, were systematically searched for literature on the different aspects of Catha edulis (Khat) to synthesize, review, and present various research publications on the toxicology to document the effect of khat consumption on the histology and function of male reproductive system. The euphoric effects have been demonstrated to arise from the main constituent, (-)-S cathinone.

Detailed studies on the effects of khat on reproduction are lacking. However, the limited available data reveal that chewing of khat has a negative impact on human reproductive health. The effect of khat increased, as exposure of khat and time of exposure increased.

Several studies revealed that experimental animals treated with the higher dose of khat show histopathological alterations in both, the seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissues with decreased semen quality, sperm concentration, level of testosterone and exhibited sign of pyknosis in some nuclei of spermatogonia, degeneration of primary spermatocytes and hypoplasia of interstitial tissue, many seminiferous tubules were severely damaged. In chronic chewers, sperm count, sperm volume and sperm motility were decreased; in addition to this, deformed spermatozoa have been found in daily khat users, with different patterns including head and flagella malformations in complete spermatozoa, flagellate heads, headless flagella, and multiple heads and flagella.

Keywords: Khat, flagella cathinone, Catha edulis, impotence, testosterone, spermatogenesis, libido

INTRODUCTION Khat is an evergreen tree grown in Middle East Somalia, East Africa, Arabian Peninsula and Ethiopia. The habit of khat chewing has prevailed for centuries among populations in the horn of Africa and the Arabian peninsula including the Yemen [1]. Fresh leaves of khat contain the alkaloids of the phenyl propyl amine type, of which the two psychoactive constituents are, the stimulants cathinone (S-()-Îą-aminopropiophenone) and cathine (S, S(+)-norpseudoephedrine) [2]. Khat was considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1964 as a material that can cause psychological addiction [3]. Chewing of khat leaves was found to be more common among adult men than women [4] and was found to be common among children as well [5]. The effect of khat leaves on the central nervous system is considered as the most important effect causing euphoria, increased alertness, logorrhoea, hyperactivity, anxiety, and

aggressiveness and may be followed by insomnia [1]. Long-term chronic users may develop personality disorders and mental deterioration [6]. In addition to psychological disorder, various studies also revealed that khat produces toxicological effect to reproductive structures in human beings and experimental animals [5]. Chronic chewing of khat may cause spermatorrhoea and may lead to decreased sexual functioning and impotence [4]. Long term and regular consumption of khat may lead to progressive and diminished sex performance and this suggests that chronic consumption of may be the cause of sexual impotence [7]. Therefore, there is a need to understand the impact of khat consumption on the reproductive organs of humans and develop intervention strategies to control the abuse. Accordingly, there is a limited documentation on the effect of khat consumption on various reproductive parameters. Here, we review different

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Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology ISSN: 2231-3834(online), ISSN: 2349-1264(print) Volume 6, Issue 3 www.stmjournals.com

Levels of Some Essential and Non-Essential Metals in Selected Cereals Marketed at Holeta City, Ethiopia Mulatu Yohannes1,*, Tarekegn Berhanu2 1

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Computation Science, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia 2 Consultant, Strengthening of Agricultural Pesticide Residues Analysis System Project, JICA-MoA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract Cereals are the most commonly and widely used sources of food in Ethiopia; hence determining the nutrient contents has a vital importance for the health of consumers. In the present study, the concentration of metals (Na, K, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd, Co, Pb, and Ag) were determined in three cereal types (maize, sorghum and barely) using FAAS and flame photometry. The optimized wet digestion involving both, concentrated HNO3 and HClO4 was employed for the decomposition of each cereal samples. The accuracy of an optimized procedure was confirmed by spiking some cereal samples and evaluating their recoveries.

Satisfactory linearity of standard curves was obtained with elemental correlation coefficients over 0.9999. Metals were detected in all cereal types except Ag in all three cereal samples and Cd in maize and sorghum, which are below the method detection limit. The general pattern of concentration of metals in three cereal samples follow the decreasing order of K>Na>Fe>Co>Zn>Mn>Ni>Cu>Pb. However, the concentration of Mn in sorghum and Ni in both, barely and sorghum are out of this trend. The result of this study indicates that all types of cereals contain considerable concentration of metals and the results are comparable with literature values. Hence, the cereals could be considered as essential sources of dietary minerals and possible means of entrance for nutrients to food chain.

Keywords: Cereals, metals, flame photometry, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy

INTRODUCTION For the health and wellbeing of human beings, consumption of diets adequate in both, quality and quantity with good nutritional value is prerequisite. In Ethiopia, cereals are the most common and wider sources of food and by far the largest group in terms of their share in area cultivated, output and consumption. They are bases for the well balanced and healthy diet because they are rich in carbohydrate [1]. In the Ethiopian agricultural systems, cereals are the most extensively grown crops in terms of the magnitude of the area under crops and volumes of crop production. Cereals contribute about 80% of the country’s crops area and 77% of the crop production [2].

In the cereal category, teff, maize, sorghum, wheat and barley are the main food crops in the country. Oromia region contributes to the country about 46 and 51% of country’s total

area and production of cereals, respectively [3]. Essential and non-essential metals are persistent, which can be available naturally and anthropogenic activities via degradation [4]. Humans can be exposed to those metals through various ways in food chain such as excessive uptake by plants that lead to higher accumulation in several tissues, which can cause phytotoxic effect [5]. Some of these metals such as Cd, Pb, Cr are also harmful to human beings and others such as Ni, Cu, Zn are essential minerals that are required for the maintenance of normal structure, function and proliferation of cells [6].

Furthermore, besides their importance for various activities, they are potentially harmful if consumed in excessive amount than required by the human body [7, 8]. Various investigations have shown that industrialization, mining and transportation

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Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology ISSN: 2231-3834(online), ISSN: 2349-1264(print) Volume 6, Issue 3 www.stmjournals.com

Practices and Health Related Toxic Symptoms of Pesticide Use among Farm Workers Manpreet Kaur*, Jyoti, Rajwant Kaur Department of Nursing Science, SGRD College of Nursing, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Vallah, Amritsar, Punjab, India Abstract The present study was conducted among farm workers at Amritsar, Punjab with the objectives to assess the practices related to purchase, storage and usage before and after spraying of pesticides and to assess the health related toxic symptoms of pesticide use. Data was collected from 100 farm workers selected by purposive sampling with the help of self-structured tool.

The study revealed varied and inappropriate practices related to purchase, storage and usage of pesticides. The study also signified that majority of the farm workers (90.9%) reported skin rash/itching/burning, more than forty percent farm workers reported burning of eyes and one fourth farm workers reported lacrimation. Findings also reveal that there was significant association of health related toxic symptoms with family monthly income at (p<0.05).

Keywords: Pesticide, farm workers, toxicity

INTRODUCTION Farming is a main occupation in Punjab. The unbridled use of pesticides in agriculture sector poses a serious environmental degradation problem besides, being intimately associated with public and workers’ health hazard. Although the use of pesticides helps to considerably control diseases, hence reduce crop losses and result in better yield of the crops. Pesticides pose significant occupational health and environmental risks throughout the world (WHO 1990). It is widely recognized that agriculture workers are the largest occupational group at risk of adverse health effects. Although most agriculture workers may be facing pesticide hazards, spray men are usually the most highly exposed group because of inadequate clothing, drift of spray droplets, leaks and other defects in the spray equipment, or other reasons [1].

The Malwa region of Punjab, India, is facing an unprecedented crisis of environmental health linked to indiscriminate, excessive, and unsafe use of pesticides, fertilizers, and poor groundwater quality. The region has been described as India's “cancer capital” due to abnormally high number of cancer cases, which have increased 3-fold in the last 10 years. Studies of this region have also highlighted a sharp increase in many other pesticide-related diseases, such as mental retardation and reproductive disorders. The

most affected individuals are the agricultural workers who are directly exposed to pesticides [2].

Elements of unsafe use of pesticides that have been identified by past research include erroneous beliefs of farmers about pesticide toxicity, lack of attention to safety precautions, environmental hazards, and information about first aid and antidotes given by the label, the use of faulty spraying equipment or lack of proper maintenance of spraying equipment, and lack of the use of protective gear and appropriate clothing during handling of pesticides [3–7].

Farming populations exposed to pesticides suffer from several health problems, primarily neurological abnormalities, respiratory ailments and reproductive, endocrinological, and dermal problems [8]. From the above mentioned facts, it is very clear that inappropriate use of pesticides is very harmful for farm workers. The farm workers should be made aware of using pesticides in agriculture and safely to avoid these adverse effects on health.

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Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology ISSN: 2231-3834(online), ISSN: 2349-1264(print) Volume 6, Issue 3 www.stmjournals.com

Study of Road Traffic Accident (RTA) Fatalites Coming for Autopsy in FAAMCH, Barpeta, Assam Manoj Kumar Singha1, *, Pradip Kumar Thakuria2, Parthapratim Das1, Arpan Mazumder2 1

Department of Forensic Medicine, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College, Barpeta, Assam, India Department of Forensic Medicine, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, India

2

Abstract Analysis of fatal road traffic accident cases in medico-legal autopsies, present study was conducted in the department of forensic medicine, FAAMC, Barpeta Assam from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2015. The study was undertaken upon 210 victims of road traffic accident cases, who died due to various injuries, and were autopsied at Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College. Most of the accidents occurred in the afternoon hours and there was male dominance. Most affected age group was 21–30 years and two wheeler occupants were most commonly involved. Head injury is the most common causes of death.

Keywords: Road traffic accident, injury, two wheelers, death

INTRODUCTION Accident is not often due to ignorance, but is due to carelessness, thoughtlessness and at times over confidence. Road traffic accidents were associated with numerous problems.

Globally, road traffic accident is the leading case of unnatural deaths in the world as well as India. Over population, increased number of vehicles on road, poor road conditions and disregard to traffic rules and regulations are some of the major cause of increased fatalities in India.

Careless driving by young people and under influence of alcohol is the most common factor of RTA. So, the present study around the Barpeta district is a small attempt to understand the magnitude of problem.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 51 cases of road accidents took place every one hour during 2014, wherein 16 persons were killed [1]. During 2014, a total of 450898 cases of road accidents were reported which rendered 477731 persons injured and 141526 deaths. Maximum fatalities, 26.4% victims of road accidents were riders of two wheelers.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Barpeta district Assam, over a period of one year from 1st January’15 to 31st December’15. The epidemiological data such as age, sex, time of accident, type of victim, type of vehicular occupants etc. were noted at the autopsy examination with related history as well.

Observations Total number of post mortem cases during the study period was 537, out of which numbers of road traffic accident fatalities cases were 210 (39.1) (Table 1). The decomposed bodies were excluded from the study.

Table 1: Post Mortem Case Study.

Total

Males

Females

210

176

34

In this study, total male fatalities in RTA were 176(83.8%) and female were 34(16.2%) and male female ratio is 5.18:1. The maximum number of road traffic accident fatalities was recorded in the age group of 21–30 years 68(32.4%). Numbers of RTA fatalities in extreme age group 0–10 were three and 61–70 were two (Table 2).

The present study was conducted in the department of Forensic Medicine FAAMC Barpeta. It includes the retrospective study and analysis of 210 cases of RTA fatalities brought for autopsy from different police station of

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