Inter-species comparison of liver and small intestinal microsomal metabolism of fluoranthene.

The magnitude of susceptibility to toxicant exposure may depend on the ability of animals to metabolize the chemicals. The present study has been undertaken to see whether any differences exist among mammals in the metabolism of fluoranthene (FLA), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compound. Microsomes were isolated from the small intestine and liver of rat, mouse, hamster, goat, sheep, pig, dog, cow, monkey, and humans (commercially procured), and incubated with FLA.

Thermodynamic parameters for adsorption equilibrium of heavy metals and dyes from wastewater with low-cost adsorbents.

This note revisits the literature evaluating the thermodynamic parameters of adsorption equilibrium uptakes of heavy metals and dyes from water and wastewater streams using low-cost adsorbents derived from agricultural waste, industrial wastes, inorganic particulates, or some natural products. We highlighted the possible flaws in some adsorption studies when their thermodynamic parameters were assessed, since compensation effects during enthalpy and entropy evaluation were possibly overlooked.

Novel application of layered expression scanning for proteomic profiling of plucked hair follicles.

Background: There is a need for a technology that can quantitatively assay multiple proteins from a single hair follicle while preserving the morphology of the follicle. For proteomic profiling, the technology should be less labor intensive, with a higher throughput, more quantitative and more reproducible than immunohistochemistry.

Objective: To test the ability of a novel method, layered expression scanning of hair (LES-hair) to detect the levels and localization of proteins in plucked hair follicles.

Profiling EGFR activity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by using a novel layered membrane Western blot technology.

Given the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), several rational approaches have now been utilized to abrogate tyrosine kinase activity and its disengagement from downstream signal transducers. Monitoring the activity of these molecules could potentially be useful to determine not only drug efficacy but also to identify HNSCC patients most likely to benefit from this type of therapy. In this study we have used a novel high throughput multi-layered Western blotting (MLWestern) method that allows the detection of multiple proteins from a single experiment in order to characterize key components in the EGFR signaling pathway in HNSCC cells.

Pentameric procyanidin from Theobroma cacao selectively inhibits growth of human breast cancer cells.

A naturally occurring, cocoa-derived pentameric procyanidin (pentamer) was previously shown to cause G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in human breast cancer cells by an unknown molecular mechanism. Here, we show that pentamer selectively inhibits the proliferation of human breast cancer cells (MDA MB-231, MDA MB-436, MDA MB-468, SKBR-3, and MCF-7) and benzo(a)pyrene-immortalized 184A1N4 and 184B5 cells. In contrast, normal human mammary epithelial cells in primary culture and spontaneously immortalized MCF-10A cells were significantly resistant.

Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of Gmelina asiatica LINN. in normal and in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

The hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of alcoholic extract of root of Gmelina asiatica LINN. (G. asiatica) was investigated in normal and in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

Membrane-introduced infrared spectroscopic chemical sensing method for the detection of volatile organic compounds in aqueous solutions.

A novel membrane-introduced infrared (IR) chemical sensing method has been developed for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in aqueous solutions. In this method, a porous Teflon membrane was used to eliminate the problems associated with conventional IR spectroscopic sensing methods. The porous Teflon membrane was sealed below an IR spectroscopic sensing element pre-coated with a hydrophobic film and a two-channel flow cell configuration was established.

Modulation of adult rat benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) metabolism and DNA adduct formation by neonatal diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure.

This study seeks to elucidate the role of diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen on benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) metabolism in the male rat reproductive tissues. Offspring of timed-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were neonatally treated on days 2, 4, and 6 post-partum with 1.45 micromol/kg of DES.

DNA sequence variation and haplotype structure of the ICAM1 and TNF genes in 12 ethnic groups of India reveal patterns of importance in designing association studies.

We have examined the patterns of DNA sequence variation in and around the genes coding for ICAM1 and TNF, which play functional and correlated roles in inflammatory processes and immune cell responses, in 12 diverse ethnic groups of India. We aimed to (a) quantify the nature and extent of the variation, and (b) analyse the observed patterns of variation in relation to population history and ethnic background. At the ICAM1 and TNF loci, respectively, the total numbers of SNPs that were detected were 28 and 12.

Negative ion chemical ionization-gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of residues of different pyrethroid insecticides in whole blood and serum.

A new rapid and sensitive analytical method using negative ion chemical ionization-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selective ion monitoring mode has been developed for the determination of residues of different synthetic pyrethroid insecticides, allethrin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, cyphonothrin, cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, fenpropathrin, permethrin, prallethrin, and trans-fluthrin, in whole blood. The residues of pyrethroid molecules were extracted from the whole blood using a hexane and acetone (8:2, v/v) solvent mixture without separating the serum. The method was found sensitive to detect the residues of pyrethroids up to the level 0.

Bioavailability and risk assessment of orally ingested polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a family of toxicants that are ubiquitous in the environment. These contaminants generate considerable interest, because some of them are highly carcinogenic in laboratory animals and have been implicated in breast, lung, and colon cancers in humans. These chemicals commonly enter the human body through inhalation of cigarette smoke or consumption of contaminated food.

Profiling the expression of mitogen-induced T-cell proteins by using multi-membrane dot-blotting.

High throughput technologies are standard methods for analysis of the proteome. Multi-layer multi-well plate dot-blotting system (MLDot) technology is a high-throughput dot blotting system that provides a simple, cost-effective approach for protein expression profiling in multiple samples. In contrast to traditional dot blot, MLDot uses a layered stack of thin, sieve-like membranes in place of a single nitrocellulose membrane.

Artificial intelligence in medicine.

Introduction: Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science capable of analysing complex medical data. Their potential to exploit meaningful relationship with in a data set can be used in the diagnosis, treatment and predicting outcome in many clinical scenarios.

Methods: Medline and internet searches were carried out using the keywords 'artificial intelligence' and 'neural networks (computer)'.

Interactive effects of saffron with garlic and curcumin against cyclophosphamide induced genotoxicity in mice.

Saffron is a well-known spice and food colorant commonly consumed in different parts of the world. Recently, much attention has been focused on the biological and medicinal properties of saffron. In the present study the interactive effects of saffron with two commonly consumed dietary agents, garlic and curcumin was evaluated for anti-genotoxic effects against cyclophosphamide (CPH) in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test.

STR polymorphism among two tribal populations of India.

Two tribal populations of India, Bison Horn Maria and Muria from Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh in Central India were studied for DNA polymorphisms at tetranucleotide short tandem repeat (STR) loci (F13A01 and HUMvWA). A total of 63 random adult individuals for F13A01 locus and 53 samples for HUMvWA were analyzed in the present study.

Refining the DFNB17 interval in consanguineous Indian families.

We previously mapped the DFNB17 locus to a 3-4 cM interval on human chromosome 7q31 in a large consanguineous Indian family with congenital profound sensorineural hearing loss. To further refine this interval, 30 new highly polymorphic markers and 8 SNPs were analyzed against the pedigree. Re-analysis in the original DFNB 17 family and additional data from a second unrelated consanguineous family with congenital deafness found to map to the interval, limited the area of shared homozygosity-by-descent (HBD) to approximately 4 megabase (Mb) between markers D7S2453 and D7S525.

Acute and subchronic oral toxicity of fluoranthene in F-344 rats.

We have studied the acute and subchronic oral toxicity of fluoranthene (FLA) in male and female F-344 rats. Single acute FLA doses of 0, 1000, 2000, and 3000 mg/kg body weight (BW) dissolved in peanut oil were administered daily by oral gavage. Subchronic doses of 0, 150, 750, and 1500 mg FLA/kg BW/day were administered for 90 days in the rats' diet.

Multimembrane dot-blotting: a cost-effective tool for proteome analysis.

The molecular profiles of protein expression from hundreds of cell lysates can be determined in a high-throughput manner by using fluorescent bead technologies, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and protein microarrays. Although powerful, these tools are costly and technically challenging and thus have limited accessibility for many research groups. We propose a modification of traditional dot blotting that increases throughput of this approach and provides a simple and cost-effective technique for profiling multiple samples.

In vitro quantification of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response against human telomerase reverse transcriptase in breast cancer.

Telomerase is expressed in approximately 90% of breast cancers but not in normal somatic cells. The catalytic subunit of telomerase, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), is a widely expressed tumour-associated antigen against which specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses have been identified. Human CD8+ CTL have been shown to recognise hTERT synthetic peptides in an HLA-restricted manner and to lyse hTERT+ tumour cells.

Environmental contaminant-mixture effects on CNS development, plasticity, and behavior.

Environmental contaminants within the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon class have been shown to cross the placenta exposing the fetus to the contaminant body burden of the mother. Consequently, a gestational exposure to environmental contaminants may result in increased adverse health outcomes, possibly affecting cognitive performance. Benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] and 2,3,7,8, tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are two prototypical environmental contaminants.

Electron ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometric determination of residues of thirteen pyrethroid insecticides in whole blood.

A new rapid and sensitive electron ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method in selective ion monitoring mode (SIM) was developed for the determination of l3 synthetic pyrethroid insecticide molecules and their stereo isomers in whole blood. The pyrethroid insecticides investigated are allethrin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, cyphonothrin, cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, fenpropathrin, imiprothrin, permethrin, prallethrin and transfluthrin. The residues of pyrethroids are extracted from the whole blood using hexane and acetone mixture (80 + 20%) as solvent.

Protective effect of Spirulina fusiformis on chemical-induced genotoxicity in mice.

Spirulina fusiformis given by oral route to mice at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg kg(-1) significantly inhibit the genotoxicity induced by cisplatin and urethane. In addition, a significant reduction in the extent of lipid peroxidation with concomitant increase in the liver enzymatic (GPx, GST, SOD, CAT) and non-enzymatic (reduced glutathione) antioxidants were observed.

Layered expression scanning: multiplex analysis of RNA and protein gels.

Northern blots and immunoblots are utilized in laboratories worldwide and offer several important features for analyzing mRNA and protein expression, including accuracy, low cost, evaluation of probe specificity, and information on transcript and protein forms based on molecular size. However, standard blotting techniques are hampered by three factors. They require a significant amount of input material, are laborious, and are capable of measuring only one protein or transcript at a time.

Inhibitory effects of aqueous crude extract of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on chemical-induced genotoxicity in mice.

Saffron (dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L.), was evaluated in the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test for its possible protective effects against chromosomal damage induced by cisplatin (CIS), mitomycin-C (MMC) and urethane (URE). Three doses of saffron (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) were orally administered to mice for five consecutive days prior to administration of genotoxins under investigation.

Staphylococcal accessory gene regulator (sar) as a signature gene to detect enterotoxigenic staphylococci.

Aims: To evaluate the use of a staphylococcal accessory gene regulator (sar) as a means of detecting enterotoxigenic staphylococci.

Methods And Results: SarA gene-specific primers were designed and applied in PCR, which resulted in the detection of 49 sar-positive isolates from a total of 67 natural food isolates of staphylococci. Colony hybridization using PCR-generated Digoxigenin (DIG)-labelled sarA probe tested in spiked samples of khoa (a traditional heat-concentrated milk product) comprising a mixed microflora ensured the specificity of the probe.