Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in dry tea.

Twenty-eight different tea samples sold in the United States were evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection (FLD) for their contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Many PAHs exhibit carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic properties and have been related to several kinds of cancer in man and experimental animals. The presence of PAHs in environmental samples such as water, sediments, and particulate air has been extensively studied, but food samples have received little attention.

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in roasted coffee.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are suspected to be carcinogenic and mutagenic. This study describes the presence of PAHs in light, medium and dark roasted coffee including instant and decaffeinated brands. Total PAHs concentration was related to the degree of roasting with light roasted coffee showing the least and dark roasted coffee showing the highest level.

Neonatal estrogen down-regulates prostatic androgen receptor through a proteosome-mediated protein degradation pathway.

Brief exposure of male rats to estrogens during the neonatal period interrupts normal prostate development, alters epithelial cell differentiation, and predisposes this gland to hyperplasia and severe dysplasia analogous to prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) with aging. Previous work demonstrated that the reduced growth, secretory activity, and androgen sensitivity that are observed in the adult ventral lobe are a function of reduced androgen receptor (AR) levels. Down-regulation of AR protein was found to occur immediately following neonatal exposure to estradiol benzoate (EB) and persist through adulthood and aging, indicating a permanent imprint on the ability of the prostate to express normal AR levels.