[Reconsideration of the role of aflatoxins in public health].

The pathogenicity of aflatoxins for human has been largely demonstrated. Although aflatoxin contamination of some foodstuffs has been unquestionably established, stress should be laid upon a certain lack of information: some of the affected foodstuffs have been "forgotten" in the enumeration of contaminated products (especially soybeans); relations between mycotoxins and food balance have not yet been taken into account: for instance, the influence of some vitamins, of various compounds (carotenoids, methionine, ..

[Specific induction by phorbol ester of the gene transcription and of the activity of ornithine decarboxylase in two control and transformed epithelial cell lines. Modulator effect of anti-inflammatory agents].

The mechanism of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) induction by phorbol ester (TPA) has been studied in two permanent epithelial cell lines, a control (Ctr) and a Benzo (a) pyrene transformed line (BaP-tr); the degree of ODC gene expression (ODC-mRNA) was evaluated in comparison to the ODC activity. A small dose of TPA (4 x 10(-8) M) highly induced ODC activity in these cells. The induction levels differed however, corresponding respectively to 4:1 (induced: basal ODC) in Ctr cells and to 2:1 in BaP-tr cells.

The concept of the acceptable daily intake: an historical review.

In the first section the sequence of events is outlined which leads to the author's proposal to consider the concept of acceptable daily intake (ADI) for pesticide residues. He developed his theory referring to specific aspects during meetings with experts on the toxicological evaluation of chemical agents which become introduced into foodstuffs intentionally or unintentionally. These meetings were organized periodically by the European Council or Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committees on food additives (JECFA) or pesticide residues (JMPR).