Distribution of radiocesium and stable elements within a pine tree.

Distributions of (137)Cs and stable elements in different parts of a pine tree collected in Chernobyl-contaminated area in Belarus were determined. Samples include annual tree rings of wood, branches and needles with different ages. The concentrations of (137)Cs and stable Cs in annual tree rings were the highest in cambium and decreased sharply towards inside.

Cadmium-induced synthesis of HSP70 and a role of glutathione in Euglena gracilis.

The effect of cadmium-induced oxidative stress, with or without glutathione supplementation, was investigated in the single cell eukaryotic phytoflagellate, Euglena gracilis strains Z and its achlorophyllous mutant SMZ as experimental models. Both these strains actively synthesize thiols to prevent or resist cadmium toxicity. The content of glutathione, as a representative antioxidant, was also examined in both strains.

Cadmium-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial DNA breaks in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic strains of Euglena gracilis.

The photosynthetic strain Z of Euglena gracilis is more susceptible to cadmium chloride (Cd) than the non-photosynthetic strain SMZ. We investigated the correlation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels with Cd-induced cellular damage. Flow cytometry with dihydrorhodamine 123 showed that strain Z generated higher levels of ROS, probably H(2)O(2) and/or ONOO(-), than strain SMZ, and that this difference between the two strains became more pronounced with increasing Cd dose.

Oxidative stress-induced cellular damage caused by UV and methyl viologen in Euglena gracilis and its suppression with rutin.

The effects of ultraviolet radiation (UV-A: 320-400 nm and UV-B: 280-320 nm) and methyl viologen (MV) single or combined exposure, on the cell growth, viability and morphology of two strains of the unicellular flagellate Euglena gracilis, using the Z strain as a plant model and the achlorophyllous mutant SMZ strain as an animal model were investigated. Cell growth was not affected by MV only, whereas UV-A or UV-B single and combined exposure with MV inhibited the cell growth or decreased the viability. The SMZ strain had a higher number of abnormal cells than the Z strain after the third dose of UV-B was delivered simultaneously with MV.

Involvement of reactive oxygen stress in cadmium-induced cellular damage in Euglena gracilis.

Inorganic cadmium (Cd) causes cellular damage to eukaryotes and to tissues of higher organisms, including DNA strand breaks and intracellular membrane damage, as a result of reactive oxygen stress. We previously reported cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced abnormal cell morphologies in the unicellular eukaryote Euglena gracilis Z (a plant cell model) and its achlorophyllous mutant SMZ strain (an animal cell model). The present study was undertaken to examine whether exposure of both strains to CdCl2 would lead to similar cellular responses, especially with regard to reactive oxygen stress loading and cellular damage.

Decontamination of aflatoxin-forming fungus and elimination of aflatoxin mutagenicity with electrolyzed NaCl anode solution.

Electrolysis of a 0.1% (17.1 mM) solution of NaCl using separate anode and cathode compartments gives rise to solutions containing active chemical species.

Inactivation of staphylococcal enterotoxin-A with an electrolyzed anodic solution.

Electrolyzed anodic NaCl solutions [EW+], prepared by the electrolysis of 0.1% NaCl, have been shown to instantly inactivate most pathogens that cause food-borne disease. Elimination of food-borne pathogens does not necessarily guarantee food safety because enterotoxins produced by pathogens may remain active.