Repeated-dose toxicity and toxicokinetic study of isobutylparaben in rats subcutaneously treated for 13 weeks.

Parabens have historically served as antimicrobial preservatives in a range of consumables such as food, beverages, medications, and personal care products due to their broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal properties. Traditionally, these compounds were believed to exhibit low toxicity, causing minimal irritation, and possessing limited sensitization potential. However, recent evidence suggests that parabens might function as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

Biocidal products: Opportunities in risk assessment, management, and communication.

In the coronavirus disease 2019 era, biocidal products are increasingly used for controlling harmful organisms, including microorganisms. However, assuring safety against adverse health effects is a critical issue from a public health standpoint. This study aimed to provide an overview of key aspects of risk assessment, management, and communication that ensure the safety of biocidal active ingredients and products.

Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction of Ptaquiloside in Bracken Fern.

This study was conducted to determine the optimal boiling time to reduce ptaquiloside (PTA) and to carry out a risk assessment for PTA, a representative toxic substance found in bracken fern (BF; ), which is frequently consumed as food in East Asian countries. High-performance liquid chromatography showed that the concentration of PTA in BF was reduced by up to 99% after boiling for 20 min. Risk assessment results showed that the cancer margin of exposure (MOE; ≥ 25,000 = safe) to PTA for an average daily exposure scenario after boiling BF for 20 min was considered safe.

Current trends in read-across applications for chemical risk assessments and chemical registrations in the Republic of Korea.

Read-across, an alternative approach for hazard assessment, has been widely adopted when data are unavailable for chemicals of interest. Read-across is enabled via tools such as quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) modeling. In this study, the current status of structure activity relationship (SAR)-based read-across applications in the Republic of Korea (ROK) was examined considering both chemical risk assessments and chemical registrations from different sectors, including regulatory agencies, industry, and academia.

Read-across approaches: current applications and regulatory acceptance in Korea, Japan, and China.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the current status of read-across approaches in the Republic of Korea, Japan, and China in terms of applications and regulatory acceptance. In the Republic of Korea, over the last 6 years, approximately 8% of safety data records used for chemical registrations were based upon read-across, and a guideline published on the use of read-across results in 2017. In Japan, read-across is generally accepted for screening hazard classification of toxicological endpoints according to the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL).

Effects of tobacco compound 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) on the expression of epigenetically regulated genes in lung carcinogenesis.

Cigarette smoking is a major cause of lung cancer. Although tobacco smoking-induced genotoxicity has been well established, there is apparent lack of abundance functional epigenetic effects reported On cigarette smoke-induced lung carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine effects of intratracheal administration of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) utilizing target gene expression DNA methylation patterns in lung tissues of mice following twice weekly for 8 weeks treatment.

Using intracellular metabolic profiling to identify novel biomarkers of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in NRK-52E cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the intracellular metabolism resulting from cisplatin (CDDP)-induced nephrotoxicity in normal kidney tubular epithelial NRK-52E cells. Cytotoxicity, cell cycle analysis, and apoptotic cell death were all evaluated in NRK-52E cells treated with CDDP. Subsequently, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-NMR) spectroscopy was used to investigate cellular metabolic profiles.

Validation of Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) and Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship (QSPR) approaches as alternatives to skin sensitization risk assessment.

The aim of this study was conducted to validate the physicochemical properties of a total of 362 chemicals [305 skin sensitizers (212 in the previous study + 93 additional new chemicals), 57 non-skin sensitizers (38 in the previous study + 19 additional new chemicals)] for skin sensitization risk assessment using quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR)/quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) approaches. The average melting point (MP), surface tension (ST), and density (DS) of the 305 skin sensitizers and 57 non-sensitizers were used to determine the cutoff values distinguishing positive and negative sensitization, and correlation coefficients were employed to derive effective 3-fold concentration (EC3 (%)) values. QSAR models were also utilized to assess skin sensitization.

Thirteen-week subcutaneous repeated dose toxicity study of butylparaben and its toxicokinetics in rats.

Parabens are widely used preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products and are approved as food additives. These chemicals have been considered safe for many years. However, the literature classifies parabens as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and an assessment of their influence on the endocrine system and systemic toxicity is important.

Current opinion on risk assessment of cosmetics.

Risk assessment of cosmetic ingredients is a useful scientific method to characterize potential adverse effects resulting from using cosmetics. The process of risk assessment consists of four steps: hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Hazard identification of chemicals refers to the initial stage of risk assessment and generally utilizes animal studies to evaluate toxicity.

Potential protective roles of curcumin against cadmium-induced toxicity and oxidative stress.

Curcumin, used as a spice and traditional medicine in India, exerts beneficial effects against several diseases, owing to its antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Evidence indicates that curcumin might protect against heavy metal-induced organ toxicity by targeting biological pathways involved in anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-tumorigenesis. Curcumin has received considerable attention owing to its therapeutic properties, and the mechanisms underlying some of its actions have been recently investigated.

Anti-diabetic activity of field cricket glycosaminoglycan by ameliorating oxidative stress.

Background: Field cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) is newly emerged as an edible insect in several countries. Anti-inflammatory effect of glycosaminoglycan derived from this cricket on chronic disease animal model such as diabetic mouse has not been fully investigated yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the anti-oxidative effect of such glycosaminoglycan on diabetic mouse.

Risk communication for labeling all ingredients in consumer products.

The labeling of all ingredients contained in consumer products has been requested by consumers concerned regarding their safety. Consequently, regulatory agencies have set guidelines for industries on how to provide safety information regarding the ingredients in their products. However, discordant opinions were raised from stakeholders, resulting in the formation of a risk communication forum among industries, regulatory agencies, consumer groups, and academia.

Risk assessment of unintentional phthalates contaminants in cosmetics.

A risk assessment was performed for three types of phthalates, benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) unintentionally contaminated in cosmetics. A total of 100 products of 8 types of cosmetics were analyzed employing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). By applying the maximum detected values of phthalates based on the worst exposure cases, their systemic exposure dosage (SED) was calculated.

Adverse health risk from prolonged consumption of formaldehyde-preserved carps in eastern region of Indian population.

Presence of formaldehyde as a preservative in commonly available fishes (Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Anabas testudineus and Clarias gariepinus) has become a serious health concern in the public health of eastern region of India. Formaldehyde content was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed high formaldehyde content in frozen carp (19.

Integration of transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics identifies biomarkers for pulmonary injury by polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p), a humidifier disinfectant, in rats.

Polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p) was used as a humidifier disinfectant in Korea. PHMG induced severe pulmonary fibrosis in Koreans. The objective of this study was to elucidate mechanism of pulmonary toxicity caused by PHMG-p in rats using multi-omics analysis.

Detoxifying effects of optimal hyperoxia (40% oxygenation) exposure on benzo[a]pyrene-induced toxicity in human keratinocytes.

Detoxifying effects of hyperoxia, which is widely used in clinical practice, were investigated using HaCat cells (human keratinocytes) treated with benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) as a model agent to induce adverse effects in the skin. It is well-established that B[a]P may produce toxicities including cancer, endocrine disruption, and phototoxicity involving DNA damage, free radical generation, and down regulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). It is well-known that Nrf2 is associated increase of antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) or detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) in HaCat cells treated with B[a]P under optimal condition of hyperoxia (40% oxygenation) conditions.

Protective effect of EX-527 against high-fat diet-induced diabetic nephropathy in Zucker rats.

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity is implicated in diabetic nephropathy (DN). EX-527, a selective Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor, has multiple biological functions; however, its protective effect against DN is yet to be properly understood. This study was aimed to explore the protective effect of EX-527 against DN in HFD-induced diabetic Zucker (ZDF) rats.

Protects against Renal Fibrosis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

The aquatic extract of (DP) is typically consumed as a beverage in Korea and China and is also used in various traditional medicines. However, the functional role of DP on diabetes-induced renal fibrosis is unclear. Here, the protective effects of DP extract against diabetes-induced renal fibrosis were evaluated.

Knockdown of Pyruvate Kinase M2 Inhibits Cell Proliferation, Metabolism, and Migration in Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Emerging evidence indicates that the activity of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) isoform is crucial for the survival of tumor cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the function of PKM2 in renal cancer is undetermined. Here, we reveal the overexpression of PKM2 in the proximal tubule of renal tumor tissues from 70 cases of patients with renal carcinoma.

Curcumin Ameliorates Benzo[a]pyrene-Induced DNA Damages in Stomach Tissues of Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a well-known carcinogen formed during the cooking process. Although BaP exposure has been implicated as one of the risk factors for lung cancer in animals and humans, there are only limited data on BaP-induced gastrointestinal cancer. Therefore, this study investigated the protective effects of curcumin on BaP-induced DNA damage in rat stomach tissues.

Protective effects of Croton hookeri on streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy.

In this study, the protective effects of Croton hookeri (CH) extract on renal injury were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of STZ (45 mg/kg) to Sprague-Dawley rats. After 5 days, CH extract (200 mg/kg) was administered daily by oral gavage for 2 weeks.