Effects of bis(4-chlorophenyl) sulfone on rats following 28-day dietary exposure.

The short-term oral toxicity of a recently identified environmental pollutant, bis(4-chlorophenyl) sulfone (BCPS), was studied. Groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6) were administered BCPS via the diet at 0 (control), 10, 100, or 1000 ppm for 4 wk. Additional control and 1000 ppm groups were also treated for 1, 2, and 3 wk.

Unruptured congenital aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva presenting with pulmonary stenosis.

Congenital aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva is a rare cardiovascular anomaly. It is usually silent until rupture occurs. The natural history of unruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva is still not clear, and the therapeutic strategy is uncertain.

Development of nonionic surfactant/phospholipid o/w emulsion as a paclitaxel delivery system.

Paclitaxel is an anticancer agent with low aqueous solubility. More extensive clinical use of this drug is somewhat delayed due to lack of appropriate delivery vehicles. An attempt was made to adopt an o/w emulsion as the drug carrier which incorporated paclitaxel in the triacylglycerol stabilized by a mixed-emulsifier system.

The removal of beta-2-microglobulin by an immunoadsorption wall.

The accumulation of beta-2-microglobulin (beta2M) in collagen-rich tissues has been proven to be the main cause of dialysis related amyloidosis. However, it remains uncertain which technique for the removal of beta2M can be used without compromising the advantages of other dialysis strategies. A new concept, an immunoadsorption wall, which combines the principles of immunoisolation and immunoadsorption is proposed to remove beta2M.

Subchronic toxicity of benzothiophene on rats following dietary exposure.

The systemic and neurobehavioral effects of benzo[b]thiophene (routinely referred to as benzothiophene) were studied in rats following 13-wk oral exposure. Male (170 +/- 16 g) and female (146 +/- 12 g) Sprague-Dawley rats (10 animals per group) were fed diet containing 0.5, 5, 50, or 500 ppm benzothiophene for 13 wk.

Measurement of the distribution of m-xylene in rat tissues by head space gas chromatography.

An automated head space-gas chromatography (HS-GC) method was developed and evaluated for reliability in measurement of m-xylene in rat tissues. For tissue samples spiked with m-xylene (n = 2), the analytical precision was better than 12% relatives standard deviation (RSD) over the concentration range of 0.1 to ca 100 micrograms/g for liver and kidney, 0.

Subchronic toxicity of PCB 105 (2,3,3',4,4'-pentachlorobiphenyl) in rats.

The toxicity of 2,3,3',4,4'-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 105) was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats following dietary exposure to this substance at levels of 0, 0.05, 0.5, 5 or 50 ppm for 13 weeks.

PCB congener 77-induced ultrastructural alterations in the rat liver: a quantitative study.

Liver alterations were estimated morphometrically in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats that were fed PCB congener 77 (3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl) in concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 ppm or corn oil in diets for 13 weeks.

Inhalation toxicity of methanol/gasoline in rats: effects of 13-week exposure.

The subchronic inhalation toxicity of a methanol/gasoline blend (85% methanol, 15% gasoline, v/v) was studied in rats. Sprague Dawley rats (10 animals per group) of both sexes were exposed to vapours of methanol/gasoline at 50/3, 500/30 and 5000/300ppm for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 13 weeks. Control animals inhaled filtered room air only.

Application of an automated HS-GC method in partition coefficient determination for xylenes and ethylbenzene in rat tissues.

An automated static head space-gas chromatography method was used in the determination of partition coefficients (Kd) for the xylene isomers and ethylbenzene in blood, brain, muscle, kidney, liver and fat of Sprague Dawley rats. Since homogenization resulted in the potential loss of analytes from tissue samples, unhomogenized samples were used. With a few exceptions, tissue:air Kd values were independent of the concentrations of the analytes, singly or as a mixture.

Effects of potassium antimony tartrate on rat erythrocyte phosphofructokinase activity.

In an earlier study, we observed a marked accumulation of antimony in erythrocytes of rats administered potassium antimony tartrate (Sb) in drinking water. This observation has raised concerns of possible adverse effects on the hematological systems. A study was therefore carried out to investigate the effects of Sb on phosphofructokinase (PFK), a rate-limiting enzyme of erythrocyte glycolysis.

Pharmacokinetics of benzo[a]pyrene in the rat.

Groups of 4 male Wistar rats were dosed intravenously with 14C-labeled benzo[a]pyrene dissolved in an Emulphor/water vehicle at 3 different dose levels and killed at 1 of 15 specific time intervals from 5 min to 32 h after dosing. 14C-Radiolabel concentration-time data were obtained for blood, brain, adipose, heart, kidney, liver, lung, spleen, and testes. Benzo[a]pyrene concentration-time data were obtained for blood, adipose, kidney, liver, and lung.

Interaction of PCB congeners and 2,3,7,8-TCDD in the rat liver: an electron microscope study.

Polyhalogenated aromatic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins continue to be environmental contaminants because of their bioaccumulation in the food chain and resistance to biodegradation. This study was undertaken to determine if WHO-IPCS PCB congeners or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) individually or their coadministration in rats produced morphological alterations in the liver. Groups (N = 5) of female Sprague Dawley rats received TCDD (0, 2.

Effects of antimony on rats following 90-day exposure via drinking water.

The subchronic toxicity of antimony in drinking water was studied in the rat. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats (127-135 g body weight, 15 animals per group) were exposed to a soluble trivalent antimony salt, potassium antimony tartrate, in drinking water at concentrations of 0.5, 5, 50 and 500 ppm for 13 wk.

Transcatheter closure of a huge pulmonary arteriovenous fistula with embolization coils.

A 46-year-old female with bilateral pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas was treated with Gianturco coil occlusion. The small right lung fistula was closed with a 6 mm coil, whereas the huge left lung fistula was occluded with three coils (one 10-mm and two 8-mm). Angiography 3 d later demonstrated recanalization of the left fistula.

Maternal and developmental toxicity of polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDEs) in Swiss-Webster mice and Sprague-Dawley rats.

Polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDEs) are industrial byproducts found in many ecosystems at low levels. PCDEs are not markedly toxic to adult rodents, but their developmental toxicity has not previously been examined. We evaluated the maternal and perinatal toxicity of nine PCDE congeners to outbred mice when compounds were administered from gestation day (GD) 6 through GD 15.

Characterization of modified alginate-poly-L-lysine microcapsules.

Various modifications of alginate-poly-L-lysine microcapsules were made, such as the inclusion of polyethylenimine (PEI) or carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) in the core and the coating of bis(polyoxyethylene bis[amine]) (PEGA) onto the microcapsule membrane surface. A characterization of the modified microcapsules in terms of mechanical and mass transfer properties as well as their chemical composition was performed. The PEI treatment greatly enhanced the mechanical stability of the microcapsules, and this treatment did not affect the coating process of poly-L-lysine or PEGA.

Reproductive and thyroid hormone levels in rats following 90-day dietary exposure to PCB 28 (2,4,4'-trichlorobiphenyl) or PCB 77 (3,3'4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl).

Subchronic exposure to the PCB congener 77 (PCB 77) and 28 (PCB 28) was previously shown to induce histological changes in the thyroid and in the brain biogenic amines levels, suggesting possible effects on thyroid and reproductive hormone levels. Thus, the effects of a 90-day dietary exposure to PCB 28 or 77 on luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone concentrations were studied in male rats, as well as the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine (T4) and uridine diphosphate-glucuronyl transferase (UDP-GT) activity in both genders. Weanling Sprague Dawley rats were randomly distributed into groups of 10 rats and were fed, for the next 13 weeks, purina lab chow containing 50, 500, 5,000 or 50 000 ppb of PCB 28 or 10, 100, 1000, or 10 000 ppb of PCB 77.

Effect of environmental conditions on the penetration of benzene through human skin.

The in vitro penetration of [14C]benzene through freshly prepared human skin was examined under a variety of skin conditions associated with swimming and bathing. The experimental system utilized a recirculating donor solution and a flow-through receiver solution, and was modified to accommodate the analysis of volatiles. The permeability coefficient of 0.

Polychlorinated biphenyl congener 153-induced ultrastructural alterations in rat liver: a quantitative study.

Alterations in the liver of male and female Sprague-Dawley rats fed PCB congener 153 (2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl) at 0.5, 5, or 50 ppm concentrations in diets for 13 weeks were determined morphometrically. A dose-dependent increase in hepatocyte volume was detected; the cytoplasmic compartment contributed to the increase in cell volume in an overwhelming fashion.

The subchronic toxicity of acridine in the rat.

The subchronic toxicity of acridine was investigated in rats following dietary exposure at 0, 1, 10, 100 and 500 ppm for 13 weeks. The growth rate and food consumption were not affected by treatment and no clinical signs of toxicity were observed. There was a slight but significant decrease in spleen weight, both in absolute terms and as a percent of body weight, in the 500 ppm males and a slight increase in absolute thymus weight in the females of the same dose group.

Subchronic toxicity of 2,2',3,3',4,4'-hexachlorobiphenyl in rats.

The subchronic toxicity of 2,2',3,3',4,4'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 128) was investigated in rats following dietary exposure at 0, 0.05, 0.5, 5, or 50 ppm for 13 wk.

Effects of maternal exposure to chlorinated diphenyl ethers on thyroid hormone concentrations in maternal and juvenile rats.

Polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDEs) are industrial byproducts and widespread environmental contaminants. Their structural similarity to PCBs suggests that they may exhibit subtle effects on both adult and juvenile mammals. We examined the effects of 3 PCDEs (2,2',4,5,6'-pentachlorodiphenyl ether, 2',3,4,6'-tetrachlorodiphenyl ether, and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorodiphenyl ether) on maternal rat thyroid levels shortly after exposure, and on the thyroid levels of 16 day old juvenile rats that had been prenatally exposed.

Antimony in drinking water, red blood cells, and serum: development of analytical methodology using transversely heated graphite furnace atomization-atomic absorption spectrometry.

An atomic absorption spectrometric (AAS) method has been developed for determining microg/L levels of Sb in samples of water and blood. The AAS method is based on the concept of stabilized temperature platform furnace atomization (STPF) realized through the use of a transversely heated graphite atomizer (THGA) furnace, longitudinal Zeeman-effect background correction, and matrix modification with palladium nitrate-magnesium nitrate-nitric acid. The method of standard additions is not mandatory.

Effects of subchronic exposure of monochloramine in drinking water on male rats.

A subchronic rat study with paired-water control was conducted to resolve the question of whether monochloramine at 200 ppm in drinking water can cause reduced body weight gain and other changes observed in earlier investigations. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (93 +/- 5 g) were divided into three groups of 10 rats each: the treatment group was fed drinking water containing 200 ppm monochloramine, the control group was fed bicarbonate-buffered water ad libitum, and the paired-water control rats were given a daily volume of bicarbonate-buffered water equal to that consumed by the monochloramine treatment group. Compared to the control group, rats in the treatment group consumed an average of 42% less fluid and 16% less food over the 13-week treatment period and had 15-20% lower final body weight gain.