Measurement of human CYP1A2 induction by inhalation exposure to benzo(a)pyrene based on in vivo isotope breath method.

Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) is an enzyme involved in the metabolic activation of certain carcinogens, and inducible by toxic substrates. To date, few studies have investigated in vivo CYP1A2 induction in humans and its relationship to polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) like benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). Non-smoking healthy male coke-oven workers (n = 30) were recruited as 'exposure' group, and non-smoking healthy office workers in the same city (n = 10) were selected as 'control' group, to test whether high inhalation exposure to PAHs can induce CYP1A2 activity in human livers.

Gestational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans induced asymmetric hearing loss: Yucheng children study.

Introduction: In 1979, approximately 2000 people in central Taiwan were exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans (PCBs/PCDFs) due to ingestion of contaminated rice oil. The children born to mothers exposed to PCBs/PCDFs were called Yucheng children. We conducted a follow-up study to examine the association between gestational PCBs/PCDFS exposure and auditory function in Yucheng children's early adulthood.

Genetic susceptibility to dioxin-like chemicals' induction of cytochrome P4501A2 in the human adult linked to specific AhRR polymorphism.

Background: Dioxin-like chemicals are known to exert their effect by binding to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), forming complexes with aryl hydrocarbon nuclear translocator (ARNT), and binding to dioxin responsive elements (DREs) in promoter region to regulate the transcription of specific genes. In a previous study of the Yucheng cohort of humans who were exposed to high toxic levels of dioxin-like chemicals (PCDFs and PCBs), we reported marked induction of cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) activity and this induction was an excellent biomarker of the exposure and adverse human health effects seen in the Yucheng cohort.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between inducibility of CYP1A2 and genetic polymorphisms of AhR, ARNT, and AhRR in human.

HLA-DR4 as a risk allele for autism acting in mothers of probands possibly during pregnancy.

Objectives: To test whether HLA-DR4 acts in the mother, possibly during pregnancy, to contribute to the phenotype of autistic disorder in her fetus.

Design: Transmission disequilibrium testing in case mothers and maternal grandparents.

Setting: Previous studies have consistently shown increased frequency of HLA-DR4 in probands with autism and their mothers, but not their fathers.

Genetic variant of glutathione peroxidase 1 in autism.

Genetic factors can contribute to autistic disorder (AD). Abnormal genes of oxidative stress pathways and increased oxidative stress have been reported in autism spectrum disorders. Polymorphisms of genes involved in glutathione metabolism, e.

Clinical and biological activity of soy protein powder supplementation in healthy male volunteers.

Purpose: To determine if a commonly used soy protein supplement exhibits biological activity in vivo and in vitro, we evaluated an over-the-counter soy protein powder supplement using blood from healthy male volunteers and in an estrogen receptor in vitro assay.

Subjects And Methods: We recruited healthy male volunteers 18 years of age or older that were in good health. Treatment consisted of consuming two scoops (56 g) of pure soy protein powder (Puritan's Pride, Oakdale, NY) daily for 28 days.

Risk of autistic disorder in affected offspring of mothers with a glutathione S-transferase P1 haplotype.

Objective: To test whether polymorphisms of the glutathione S-transferase P1 gene (GSTP1) act in the mother during pregnancy to contribute to the phenotype of autistic disorder (AD) in her fetus.

Design: Transmission disequilibrium testing (TDT) in case mothers and maternal grandparents.

Setting: Autistic disorder may result from multiple genes and environmental factors acting during pregnancy and afterward.

Intralipid medication errors in the neonatal intensive care unit.

These findings suggest that most intralipids errors occur during the administration phase. This complex process can generate high opportunities for error directly related to the use of IV pumps. Nursing staff members are prone to making dosing errors while accurately programming the infusion devices, especially during times of high workload.

Brief report: brain activation to social words in a sedated child with autism.

A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was performed on a 4-year-old girl with autism. While sedated, she listened to three utterances (numbers, hello, her own first name) played through headphones. Based on analyses of the fMRI data, the amount of total brain activation varied with the content of the utterance.

Induced CYP1A2 activity as a phenotypic biomarker in humans highly exposed to certain PCBs/PCDFs.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) continue to be a worldwide public health concern due to their levels in the environment and humans, and associated adverse health effects. In animals, one of the most sensitive effects of physiologically significant body burdens has been the induction of cytochrome P450 1 (CYP1) family of enzymes. This study examined the capacity of CYP1 enzyme induction to be a biomarker of exposure to a mixture of PCBs and PCDFs and of adverse human health effects.

Analysis of case-parent trios at a locus with a deletion allele: association of GSTM1 with autism.

Background: Certain loci on the human genome, such as glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), do not permit heterozygotes to be reliably determined by commonly used methods. Association of such a locus with a disease is therefore generally tested with a case-control design. When subjects have already been ascertained in a case-parent design however, the question arises as to whether the data can still be used to test disease association at such a locus.

Community-based participatory research: lessons learned from the Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research.

Over the past several decades there has been growing evidence of the increase in incidence rates, morbidity, and mortality for a number of health problems experienced by children. The causation and aggravation of these problems are complex and multifactorial. The burden of these health problems and environmental exposures is borne disproportionately by children from low-income communities and communities of color.

Biomarker measurements in a coastal fish-eating population environmentally exposed to organochlorines.

The Lower North Shore region of the St. Lawrence River is home to a fish-eating population that displays an unusually high body burden of several organochlorines, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin-like compounds (DLCs). We measured biomarkers indicative of liver enzyme induction and investigated the relationship with organochlorine body burden in adult volunteers from this population.

Serum hormones in boys prenatally exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are persistent environmental pollutants shown to adversely interact with several functions of the endocrine system. In 1978-1979, over 2000 Taiwanese people ingested rice oil accidentally contaminated with PCBs and PCDFs. This is one of the major toxic exposure episodes that occurred globally and was later called Yucheng (oil disease in Chinese).

The endocrine and reproductive function of the female Yucheng adolescents prenatally exposed to PCBs/PCDFs.

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and related compounds such as polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins (PCDDs) alter sexual maturation and endocrine function in animals. In 1978-1979, a mass poisoning occurred in central Taiwan from cooking oil contaminated by heat-degraded PCBs and oxidated compounds PCDFs. We tested the hypothesis that in utero exposed to PCBs/PCDFs alter sexual maturation, endocrine, and reproductive function in the human pubescent females.

PCB exposure and in vivo CYP1A2 activity among Native Americans.

Cytochrome P-450 1A2 (CYP1A2) is an enzyme involved in the metabolic activation of some carcinogens and is believed to be induced by xenobiotics. Very few studies, however, have investigated the association between environmental exposures and in vivo CYP1A2 activity in humans. To address this issue, a study was conducted of CYP1A2 activity among Native Americans exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the consumption of fish from the St.

Pilot evaluation of black cohosh for the treatment of hot flashes in women.

Background: Hot flashes cause significant morbidity in postmenopausal women, including women with breast cancer. We undertook a pilot study to estimate the effectiveness of black cohosh to reduce hot flashes.

Methods: Women who reported significant hot flashes (> or = 14 per week) were enrolled.

Exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate among premature neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: Premature neonates who spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit may be at increased risk of adverse health effects from exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) because of their increased risk of high exposure, their small body size, and their physical condition. DEHP, a reproductive toxicant in animals, is a major component in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, which are frequently used in medical tubing and blood storage bags. DEHP is not covalently bound to PVC, and it may be easily released from the PVC medical devices.

Yucheng: health effects of prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans.

Yucheng ("oil-disease") victims were Taiwanese people exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and their heat-degradation products, mainly polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), from the ingestion of contaminated rice oil in 1978-1979. Serial studies in Yucheng offspring born between 1978 and 1992 are summarized. Children of the exposed women were born with retarded growth, with dysmorphic physical findings, and, during development, with delayed cognitive development, increased otitis media, and more behavioral problems than unexposed children.

Neonatal and childhood teeth in relation to perinatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans: observations of the Yucheng children in Taiwan.

In order to determine the effect of perinatal polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans (PCBs/PCDFs) exposure on neonatal and childhood teeth in Yucheng children, we carried out complete dental examinations on 73 Yucheng children born to mothers who ingested high levels of PCBs/PCDFs and 75 matched controls, aged 7-11 years, in 1992. Ten of 73 (10%) exposed children were reported to have borne teeth during the neonatal period, while none of the controls did. The exposed group also had a significantly higher percentage of teeth with congenitally missing tooth germ compared to the controls (29 vs 2.

Collagen messenger RNA expression in the human amniochorion in premature rupture of membranes.

Objective: It has been suggested that there is a decrease in the collagen content of the fetal membranes when there is premature rupture of the membranes before the onset of labor. This study was designed to determine whether decreased amniochorion collagen production (as measured by reduced amounts of messenger RNA) or alterations in relative production of different fibrillar and nonfibrillar collagens are associated with premature rupture of the membranes.

Study Design: Fetal membranes were collected after preterm (24-36 weeks of gestation) and term (> or =37 weeks of gestation) deliveries both with and without premature rupture of the membranes.