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Heavy metals contamination in agricultural environment and its deleterious effects on the crops and human health is an issue of serious concern in the present time. Agricultural fields receive various heavy metals such as Zn, Ni, Mn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, As and Hg etc. mainly from natural and anthropogenic sources. The greater concentration of heavy metals in the fields spoils the soil characteristics and has extreme consequences on both crops and human. Their persistence and non-degradable nature increases its accumulation in the agricultural field, crops and human body through various food chains. The present chapter highlights various sources of heavy metals in agricultural environment and its impacts on both crops and human health and gives various strategies to mitigate the heavy metal concentrations in agricultural environment.

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis is an immunologically driven chronic synovitis showing heterogeneity in disease progression, treatment, and variability of response to therapy. This study investigated the effectiveness of methotrexate, folic acid, and vitamin C for treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods:The effects of methotrexate with folic acid, vitamin C, and an occasional steroid were analyzed in 62 patients with rheumatoid arthritis selected on the basis of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, before and after 24 wk of therapy on (1) lipoprotein profile, (2) Disease Activity Score (DAS)-28, Creactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and (3) oxidative stress. Results:After 24 wk of therapy, the response rates were ACR70 in 72% (45), ACR50 in 21% (13), and ACR20 in 7% (4). The median initial DAS-28-CRP of 5.2 was reduced to 2.5 and median VAS of 7.7 was reduced to 2.4. Assuming normality in the control data, the power of the analysis was 92%. The mean level of lowdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), total cholesterol, malondialdehyde, CRP, and triglycerides were significantly (P < 0.05) higher, but blood pressure, uric acid, and creatinine were normal in RA patients at baseline. Significant improvements in level of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), total cholesterol, CRP, malondialdehyde, and triglycerides were observed in rheumatoid patients treated with methotrexate. At baseline, CRP positively correlated with total lipids (r ¼ 0.28, P < 0.05) and total cholesterol (r ¼ 0.64, P < 0.01). Total cholesterol was negatively correlated with HDL-c (r ¼ À 0.40, P < 0.01). The blood pressure and liver function tests were within normal range at 4 yr follow-up. Conclusions:Methotrexate combination therapy was effective in (1) reducing disease activity, (2) improving rest pain and morning stiffness, and (3) improving lipid profile due to suppression of inflammation. However, whether or not it is capable of lowering or eliminating cardiovascular disease risk requires further investigation as morbidity and mortality are higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to the general population.

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Background:Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), a transcription factor is thought to be the master regulator of regulatory T (Treg) cells in maintaining peripheral tolerance and autoimmunity. The number and functional capabilities have been reported to be low in several diseases including RA, which affects the immune regulatory action of Treg cells. Proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), are important in RA pathogenesis, but the influence on Treg cells is poorly understood. Methods:In the present study, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of FOXP3 and TNF-α in a group of patients with RA (N = 23) and a healthy control group (N = 17) were studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs were chosen as they are practical samples in which changes caused by disease or therapy can be conveniently monitored. Results:Expression of FOXP3 was lower (P < 0.0001, 0.76 folds) and TNFα gene expression was higher (P < 0.0001, 2.28 folds) in RA patients when compared with the healthy control group. However, a statistically significant correlation could not be established between the FOXP3 and disease activity, but relative mRNA expression of FOXP3 and TNF-α showed a statistically significant correlation (P < 0.0283) in RA patients when compared with the healthy control group. Conclusions:The results suggested that decreased expression of FOXP3 gene and increased level of TNF-α expression in the presence of rheumatoid factor antibodies (RF) may impair the activity of Treg cells with higher TNF-α levels when compared with patients who were negative for RF.