Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
SIDS is an acronym for sudden infant death syndrome, a condition referring to the unexpected death of children under the age of one year, often between the second and fourth months of life, which occurs during sleep. The syndrome has been known for decades and has never found a definite explanation. The autopsies which the corpses of the children have undergone have never revealed anything which could be called abnormal, except for some rare cases such as that of a 7-month-old girl in whose brain, in the area postrema, the area at the base of the fourth ventricle, characterised by a great vascularity and outside the blood-brain barrier, evident traces of a household insecticide were found [68].
Finding nothing in the short clinical history of the baby or any specific cause, the most disparate reasons came up, from the prone position of the child in the cradle (but there are no reliable data reporting how many of the dead children were sleeping in that position) to alleged maturation defects of the brain circuits which govern the awakening of children, especially in dangerous conditions such as oxygen deficiency during respiratory infections (but also in this case, not a few babies who died in the cradle suffered from those infections or, however, of other pathologies).
Mortality rates vary significantly by population.
At the time of writing these notes (early 2020), thanks to the collaboration with the Italian foundation Lino Rossi which gives us the samples, we are analysing according to our electron microscopy technique some brain samples from children who died of SIDS.
All our analyses on autopsic brains showed the presence of mainly metallic foreign bodies which, being electrically conductive, may have interfered with the electrical activity of the nervous tissue.
A particularly interesting finding was that of ‘petrified’ cells where silicon was present, somehow recalling the chemical phenomenon which occurs in the petrifaction of trees. We do not yet have the opportunity to put forward any hypothesis in this regards, and we merely report the results of our observations.
Figure 6.16 Baby's brain. The image shows part of a baby's brain with a cell which is completely transformed in its silicon content.
Sexually Transmissible Diseases by Particles
That sexually transmitted diseases exist has been known for centuries. Viruses and bacteria are the accused and often the actual culprits.
Our research has shown that another pathogen exists, and this is constituted by inorganic micro- and nanoparticles which are found more and more often in the seminal fluid of those who are in contact with pollution, and this regardless of its source.
As will be illustrated in the next chapter, these particles modify the proteins of the seminal fluid, causing reactions at the level of the mucous membranes. Furthermore, precisely because of the inflammation of the mainly vaginal and anal mucous membranes, their permeability increases, leaving an easier passage for particles.
This must be taken into account when evaluating the biocompatibility of a substance made of nanoparticles, as is the case with nanotechnological products, especially those used in medicine. Among the most used products, vaginal plugs and internal vaginal pads have never been evaluated from this point of view. Biocompatibility, in fact, is different and can vary much according to the tissue with which those particles come into contact.
References
- 1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation (1989). Report to Congress on Indoor Air Quality, Volume II: Assessment and Control of Indoor Air Pollution.
- 2. International Agency for Research on Cancer (2006). IARCMonographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans (88) Formaldehyde, 2-Butoxyethanol and l-tert-Butoxypropan-2-ol. Retrieved June 10, 2011, from: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol88/ Index.phpExit Disclaimer.
- 3. National Toxicology Program (2011). Report on Carcinogens, 12th ed. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program, http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/rocl2.
- 4. Hauptmann, M., Stewart, P. A., and Lubin, J. H„ et al. (2009). Mortality from lymphohematopoietic malignancies and brain cancer among embalmers exposed to formaldehyde./. Natl. Cancer Inst., 101(24), pp. 1696-1708, [PubMed Abstract],
- 5. Hauptmann, M., Lubin, J. H., Stewart, P. A., Hayes, R. B., and Blair, A. (2003). Mortality from lymphohematopoietic malignancies among workers in formaldehyde industries./. Natl. Cancer Inst., 95(21), pp. 1615-1623, [PubMed Abstract],
- 6. Beane Freeman, L„ Blair, A., Lubin, J. H., et al. (2009). Mortality from lymphohematopoietic malignancies among workers in formaldehyde industries: The National Cancer Institute Cohort./. Natl. Cancer Inst., 101(10), pp. 751-761, [PubMed Abstract],
- 7. Pinkerton, L. E., Hein, M. J., and Stayner, L. T. (2004). Mortality among a cohort of garment workers exposed to formaldehyde: an update. Occup. Environ. Med., 61, pp. 193-200, [PubMed Abstract],
- 8. Coggon, D., Harris, E. C„ Poole, J., and Palmer, K. T. (2003). Extended follow-up of a cohort of British chemical workers exposed to formaldehyde./. Natl. Cancer Inst., 95(21), pp. 1608-1615, [PubMed Abstract],
- 9. Hauptmann, M., Lubin, J. H., Stewart, P. A., Hayes, R. B„ and Blair, A. (2004). Mortality from solid cancers among workers in formaldehyde industries. Am. J. Epidemiol., 159(12), pp. 1117-1130, [PubMed Abstract],
- 10. Graves, A. B., Rosner, D., Echeverria, D., Mortimer, J. A., and Larson, E. B. (1998). Occupational exposures to solvents and aluminium and estimated risk of Alzheimer's disease. Occup. Environ. Med., 55, pp. 627-633, [PMC free article],
- 11. Gun, R. T, Korten, A. E„ Jorm, A. R, et al. (1997). Occupational risk factors for Alzheimer disease: a case-control study. Alz. Dis. Assoc. Dis., 11, pp. 21-27.
- 12. Sal ib, E. (2000). Risk factors in clinically diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease: a retrospective hospital-based case control study in Warrington. Aging Ment. Health, 4, pp. 259-267.
- 13. Priest, N. D. (2004). The biological behaviour and bioavailability of aluminium in man, with special reference to studies employing aluminium-26as a tracer: review and study update./. Environ. Monitor, 6, pp. 375-403.
- 14. Nday, C. M., Drever, B. D., Salifoglou,T.,and Platt, B. (2010). Aluminium interferes with hippocampal calcium signaling in a species-specific manner.]. Inorg. Biochem., 104, pp. 919-927.
- 15. Jankowska, A., Madziar, B„ Tomaszewicz, M., and Szutowicz, A. (2000). Acute and chronic effects of aluminum on acetyl-CoA and acetylcholine metabolism in differentiated and nondifferentiated SN56 cholinergic cells./. Neurosci. Res., 62, pp. 615-622.
- 16. Letzel, S., Lang, C. J. G., Schaller, K. H., et al. (2000). Longitudinal study of neurotoxicity with occupational exposure to aluminium dust. Neurology, 54, pp. 997-1000.
- 17. Zschocke,S.andHansen,H.C.(2012).KlinischeElektroenzephalographie. Springer, Heidelberg.
- 18. Bhattacharjee,S., Zhao, Y.,Hill,J.M.,etal. (2013). Selective accumulation of aluminum in cerebral arteries in Alzheimer’s disease (AD)./. Inorg. Biochem., 126, pp. 35-37, [PMC free article].
- 19. Klatzo, I., Wisniewski, H., and Streicher, E. (1965). Experimental production of neurofibrillary degeneration I. Light microscopic observations./. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol., 24, pp. 187-199.
- 20. Katsetos, C. D., Savory, J., Herman, M. M., et al. (1990). Neuronal cytoskeletal lesions induced in the CNS by intraventricular and intravenous aluminium maltol in rabbits. Neuropathol. Appl. Neurobiol., 16, pp. 511-528.
- 21. Zhang, Q. L„ Jia, L„ Jiao, X., et al. (2012). APP/PS1 transgenic mice treated with aluminum: an update of Alzheimer’s disease model. Int.J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol., 25, pp. 49-58.
- 22. Ulusoy, H. B., Sonmez, M. F., Kilic, E., et al. (2015). Intraperitoneal administration of low dose aluminium in the rat: how good is It to produce a model for Alzheimer disease. Arch. Ital. Biol., 153, pp. 266-278.
- 23. Akiyama, H., Hosokawa, M., Kametani, F., et al. (2012). Long-term oral intake of aluminium or zinc does not accelerate Alzheimer pathology in AbetaPP and AbetaPP/tau transgenic mice. Neuropathology, 32, pp. 390-397.
- 24. Mannello, F., Tonti, G. A., Medda, V., Simone, P., Darbre, P. D. (2011). Analysis of aluminium content and iron homeostasis in nipple aspirate fluids from healthy women and breast cancer-affected patients./. Appl. Toxicol., 31, pp. 262-269.
- 25. Milios, J., Costas-Rodriguez, M., Lavilla, I., and Bendicho, C. (2009). Multiple small volume microwave-assisted digestions using conventional equipment for multielemental analysis of human breast biopsies by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Taianta, 77, pp. 1490-1496.
- 26. Exley, C., Charles, L. M., Barr, L., Martin, C., Polwart, A., and Darbre, P. D. (2007). Aluminium in human breast tissue./. Inorg. Biochem., 101, pp. 1344-1346.
- 27. Ng, К. H., Bradley, D. A., and Looi, L M. (1997). Elevated trace element concentrations in malignant breast tissues. Br.J. Radiol., 70, pp. 375-382.
- 28. Romanowicz-Makowska, H„ Forma, E„ Brys, M., Krajewska, W. M„ and Smolarz, B. (2011). Concentration of cadmium, nickel and aluminium in female breast cancer. Pol. J. Pathol., 62, pp. 257-261.
- 29. Mu lay, I. L, Roy, R„ Knox, В. E., Suhr, N. H„ and Delaney, W. E. (1971). Trace-metal analysis of cancerous and noncancerous human tissues./. Natl. Cancer Inst., 47, pp. 1-13.
- 30. Mandriota, S. J., Tenan, M., Ferrari, P., and Sappino, A. P. (2016). Aluminium chloride promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis in normal murine mammary gland epithelial cells. Int.J. Cancer, 139(12), pp. 2781-2790
- 31. http://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_pubblicazioni_2608_allegato. pdf.
- 32. Han,S., Lemire,J.,Appanna,V. P.,Auger,C.,Castonguay,Z.,and Appanna, V. D. (2013). How aluminum, an intracellular ROS generator promotes hepaticand neurological diseases: the metabolic tale. Cell Biol. Toxicol., 29(2), pp. 75-84.
- 33. Kawahara, M. and Kato-Negishi, M. (2011). Link between aluminum and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: the integration of the aluminum and amyloid cascade hypotheses. Int.J. Alzheimers Dis., 17, p. 276393.
- 34. Lukiw, W. J. and Pogue, A. I. (2007). Induction of specific micro RNA (miRNA) species by ROS-generating metal sulfates in primary human brain cells./. Inorg. Biochem., 101(9), pp. 1265-1269.
- 35. Wu, Z„ Du, Y, Xue, H„ Wu, Y, and Zhou, B. (2012). Aluminum induces neurodegeneration and its toxicity arises from increased iron accumulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Neurobiol. Aging, 33(1), pp. 199.el-199.el2.
- 36. Kumar, V., Bal, A., and Gill, K. D. (2009). Aluminium-induced oxidative DNA damage recognition and cell-cycle disruption in different regions of rat brain. Toxicology, 264(3), pp. 137-144.
- 37. Vanduyn, N., Settivari, R., Levora, J., Zhou, S., Unrine, J., and Nass, R. (2013). The metal transporter SMF-3/DMT-1 mediates aluminum-induced dopamine neuron degeneration. /. Neurochem., 124(1), pp. 147-157.
- 38. Spevackova, V., Kratzer, K„ Cejchanova, M„ and Benes, B. (1997). Determination of some metals in biological samples for monitoring purposes. Cent. Eur.J. Public Health, 5(4), pp. 177-179.
- 39. Bolann, B. J., Rahil-Khazen, R., Henriksen, H„ Isrenn, R., and Ulvik, R. J. (2007). Evaluation of methods for trace-element determination with emphasis on their usability in the clinical routine laboratory. Scand.J. Clin. Lab. Invest., 67(4), pp. 353-366.
- 40. Rosin, A. (2009). The long-term consequences of exposure to lead. Isr. Med. Assoc. J., 11(11), pp. 689-694.
- 41. Martin, B. L. (1999). Development of a scale for the comparison of metals in enzyme action./. Inorg. Biochem., 75(4), pp. 245-254.
- 42. Tomljenovic, L. (2011). Aluminum and Alzheimer's disease: after a century of controversy, is there a plausible link? J. Alzheimers Dis., 23(4), pp. 567-598.
- 43. McLachlan, D. R. C„ Dalton, A. J., Kruck, T. P. A., et al. (1991). Intramuscular desferrioxamine in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Lancet, 337(8753), pp. 1304-1308.
- 44. Bohrer, D., Schmidt, M., Marques, R. C., et al. (2014). Distribution of aluminum in hair of Brazilian infants and correlation to aluminum-adjuvanted vaccine exposure. Clin. Chim. Acta, 428, pp. 9-13.
- 45. Bohrer, D., Dessuy, M. B., Kaizer, R., et al. (2008). Tissue digestion for aluminum determination in experimental animal studies. Anal. Biochem., 377(2), pp. 120-127.
- 46. Ivanenko, N. B., Ivanenko,A.A., Solovyev, N. D., Zeimal,A. E., Navolotskii, D. V., and Drobyshev, E. J. (2013). Biomonitoring of 20 trace elements in blood and urine of occupationally exposed workers by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Taianta, 116, pp. 764-769.
- 47. Exley, C., Ahmed, U., Polwart, A., and Bloor, R. N. (2007). Elevated urinary aluminium in current and past users of illicit heroin. Addict. Biol., 12(2), pp. 197-199.
- 48. Sandberg-Wollheim, M. and Olsson, T. (2013). Cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands are important in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, unreasonably downplayed by the McDonald criteria 2010: yes. Mult. Scler., 19(6), pp. 714-716.
- 49. Wasi, S., Tabrez, S., and Ahmad, M. (2013). Toxicological effects of major environmental pollutants: an overview. Environ. Monit. Assess., 185(3), pp. 2585-2593.
- 50. Gura, К. M. (2010). Aluminum contamination in products used in parenteral nutrition: has anything changed? Nutrition, 26(6), pp. 585-594.
- 51. Ganz, T. (2011). Hepcidin and iron regulation, 10 years later. Blood, 117(17), pp. 4425-4433.
- 52. Perl, D. P. and Moalem, S. (2006). Aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease, a personal perspective after 25 years./. Alzheimers Dis., 9(3), pp. 291-300.
- 53. Yumoto, S., Kakimi, S., Ohsaki, A., and Ishikawa, A. (2009). Demonstration of aluminum in amyloid fibers in the cores of senile plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. J. Inorg. Biochem., 103(11), pp. 1579-1584.
- 54. Ruipdrez, E, Mujika, J. L, Ugalde, J. M., Exley, C., and Lopez, X. (2012). Pro-oxidant activity of aluminum: promoting the Fenton reaction by reducing Fe(III) to Fe(ll)./. Inorg. Biochem., 117, pp. 118-123.
- 55. Percy, M. E„ Kruck, T. P. A., Pogue, A. I., and Lukiw, W. J. (2011). Towards the prevention of potential aluminum toxic effects and an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. J. Inorg. Biochem., 105(11), pp. 1505-1512.
- 56. Kan, W„ Chien, C„ Wu, C., Su, S„ Hwang, J., and Wang, H. (2010). Comparison of low-dose deferoxamine versus standard-dose deferoxamine for treatment of aluminium overload among haemodialysis patients. Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., 25(5), pp. 1604-1608.
- 57. Sivakumar, S., Sivasubramanian, J., and Raja, B. (2012). Aluminium induced structural, metabolic alterations and protective effects of desferrioxamine in the brain tissue of mice: an FTIR study. Spectrochim. Acta, Part A, 99, pp. 252-258.
- 58. Shrivastava, S. (2012). Combined effect of HEDTA and selenium against aluminum induced oxidative stress in rat brain. J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol., 26(2-3), pp. 210-214.
- 59. Exley, C., Mamutse, G., Korchazhkina, O., et al. (2006). Elevated urinary excretion of aluminium and iron in multiple sclerosis. Mult. Scler., 12(5), pp. 533-540.
- 60. Fulgenzi, A., Zanella, S. G., Mariani, M. M., Vietti, D., and Ferrero, M. E. (2012). A case of multiple sclerosis improvement following removal of heavy metal intoxication. BioMetals, 25(3), pp. 569-576.
- 61. Shaw, C. A. and Tomljenovic, L. (2013). Aluminum in the central neivous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity. Immunol. Res., 56(2-3), pp. 304-316.
- 62. Zhu, Y. Z., Liu, D. W., Liu, Z. Y, and Li, Y. E (2013). Impact of aluminum exposure on the immune system: a mini review. Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 35(1), pp. 82-87.
- 63. Exley, C. (2014). What is the risk of aluminium as a neurotoxin? Expert Rev. Neurother., 14(6), pp. 589-591.
- 64. Bamonti, E, Fulgenzi, A., Novembrino, C„ and Ferrero, M. E. (2011). Metal chelation therapy in rheumathoid arthritis: a case report. Successful management of rheumathoid arthritis by metal chelation therapy. BioMetals, 24(6), pp. 1093-1098.
- 65. Corsello, S., Fulgenzi, A., Vietti, D., and Ferrero, M. E. (2009). The usefulness of chelation therapy for the remission of symptoms caused by previous treatment with mercury-containing pharmaceuticals: a case report. Cases J., 2(11), 199, https://casesjournal.biomedcentral. com/articles/10.1186/1757-1626-2-199.
- 66. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-152.pdf.
- 67. Gatti, A. and Montanari, S. (2017). New quality-control investigations
on vaccines: micro- and nanocontamination. Int. J. Vaccines Vaccin., 4(1), p.00072, https://medcraveonline.com/ijw/new-quality-
control-investigations-on-vaccines-micro-and-nanocontamination. html.
68. Lavezzi, A. M., et al. (2015). Sudden infant death with area postrema lesion likely due to wrong use of insecticide. Pediatrics, 136(4), pp. 1-7.
|