Loss of Mitochondrial DNA by Gemcitabine Triggers Mitophagy and Cell Death.

Gemcitabine (2,2-difluorodeoxycytidine nucleic acid), an anticancer drug exhibiting a potent ability to kill cancer cells, is a frontline chemotherapy drug. Although some chemotherapeutic medicines are known to induce nuclear DNA damage, no investigation into mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage currently exists. When we treated insulinoma pancreatic β-cells (line INS-1) with high mitochondrial activity with gemcitabine for 24 h, the mtDNA contents were decreased.

Emission of volatile organic compounds from solid waste disposal sites and importance of heat management.

The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a solid waste disposal site for municipal solid wastes was quantified. The VOCs contained in the landfill gas taken at the site were benzene, toluene, xylenes, ethyl benzenes, and trimethyl benzenes, while the concentrations of chlorinated compounds were very low. The concentration of benzene in the landfill gas samples ranged from below the detection limit to 20 mg m(-3), and the ratio of benzene to toluene ranged from 0.