Effects of dietary active soybean trypsin inhibitors on pancreatic weights, histology and expression of STAT3 and receptors for androgen and estrogen in different tissues of rats.

Our previous study showed that soy milks could contain high levels of active soybean trypsin inhibitors (SBTI) if they were not properly processed. This study investigated the effects of consuming active SBTI on pancreatic weights, histology, trypsinogen production and expression of STAT3, receptors for androgen (AR) and estrogen (ER) in pancreas, liver and uterus of rats. Weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (8 females and 8 males/group) and fed diets containing either 20% casein protein (Casein) or 20% soy protein (SP) in the presence of high (1.

An overview of research and development themes in the measurement and occurrences of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in dusts and particulates.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic compounds consisting of two or more fused aromatic rings and are probably one of the most studied groups of organic chemicals in environmental research. PAHs originate mainly from anthropogenic processes, particularly from incomplete combustion of organic fuels. PAHs are distributed widely in particulate matter.

Phenotypic responses in Caenorhabditis elegans following chronic low-level exposures to inorganic and organic compounds.

Responses of organisms to sublethal exposure of environmental stressors can be difficult to detect. We investigated phenotypic changes in the tissue of Caenorhabditis elegans via Raman spectroscopy, as well as survival and reproductive output when exposed to chronic low doses of metals (copper, zinc, or silver), an herbicide (diuron), and a pesticide (imidacloprid). Raman spectroscopy measures changes in phenotype by providing information about the molecular composition and relative abundance of biomolecules.

Classification of agents using Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay (CTA) with ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis.

The Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay (pH 6.7) has a reported sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 83%, and an overall concordance of 85% with in vivo rodent bioassay data. To date, the SHE assay is the only in vitro assay that exhibits multistage carcinogenicity.

Interactions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with algal cells: quantification of association, visualization of uptake, and measurement of alterations in the composition of cells.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered promising materials in nanotechnology. We quantified CNT accumulation by the alga Desmodesmus subspicatus. Cells were exposed to radiolabeled CNTs ((14)C-CNTs;1 mg/L) to determine uptake and association, as well as elimination and dissociation in clear media.

Harmonising conflicts between science, regulation, perception and environmental impact: the case of soil conditioners from bioenergy.

As the global population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, humanity needs to balance an ever increasing demand for food, energy and natural resources, with sustainable management of ecosystems and the vital services that they provide. The intensification of agriculture, including the use of fertilisers from finite sources, has resulted in extensive soil degradation, which has increased food production costs and CO2 emissions, threatening food security. The Bioenergy sector has significant potential to contribute to the formation of a circular economy.

The impact of soil organic matter and soil sterilisation on the bioaccessibility of 14C-azoxystrobin determined by desorption kinetics.

As soils represent a major sink for most pesticides, factors influencing pesticide degradation are essential in identifying their potential environmental risk. Desorption of (14)C-azoxystrobin was investigated over time in two soils under sterile and non-sterile conditions using exhaustive (solvent) and non-exhaustive (aqueous) methods. Desorption data were fitted to a two-compartment model, differentiating between fast and slow desorbing fractions.

Mid-infrared spectroscopic assessment of nanotoxicity in gram-negative vs. gram-positive bacteria.

Nanoparticles appear to induce toxic effects through a variety of mechanisms including generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), physical contact with the cell membrane and indirect catalysis due to remnants from manufacture. The development and subsequent increasing usage of nanomaterials has highlighted a growing need to characterize and assess the toxicity of nanoparticles, particularly those that may have detrimental health effects such as carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs). Due to interactions of nanoparticles with some reagents, many traditional toxicity tests are unsuitable for use with CBNs.

Impact of black carbon on the bioaccessibility of organic contaminants in soil.

The ability of carbonaceous geosorbents (CGs) such as black carbon (BC) to extensively sorb many common environmental contaminants suggests that they potentially possesses qualities useful to the sequestration of harmful xenobiotics within contaminated land. Presently, however, there is limited understanding of the implications for the bioaccessibility, mobility and environmental risk of organic contaminants while sorbed to BC in soil and sediment, in addition to the inherent toxicity of BC itself to terrestrial flora and fauna. We review both the processes involved in and factors influencing BC sorption characteristics, and ultimately consider the impacts BC will have for bioavailability/bioaccessibility, toxicity and risk assessment/remediation of contaminated land.

Chemical measures of bioavailability/bioaccessibility of PAHs in soil: fundamentals to application.

Risk assessment and remediation of contaminated land is inherently dependent on the contaminants present and their availability for interaction with soil biota. An ever-growing body of evidence suggests that current regulatory procedures over-estimate the 'true' fraction available to biota. Thus, a procedure that predicts the 'bioavailable fraction' would be useful for predicting 'actual' exposure limits and provide a more relevant basis for risk assessment.

Influence of activated charcoal on desorption kinetics and biodegradation of phenanthrene in soil.

The observed strong sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to black carbon (BC) presents potential implications for PAH bioaccessibility in soils. The effects of BC on the desorption kinetics and mineralization of phenanthrene in four soils was investigated after 1, 25, 50, and 100 d soil-PAH contact time, using sequential hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) extractions in soils amended with 0, 0.1, 1, and 5% (dry wt.

Mechanistic insights into nanotoxicity determined by synchrotron radiation-based Fourier-transform infrared imaging and multivariate analysis.

Our ability to identify the mechanisms by which carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) exert toxicity in cells is constrained by the lack of standardized methodologies to assay endpoint effects. Herein we describe a method of mechanistically identifying the effects of various CBN types in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells using multi-beam synchrotron radiation-based Fourier-transform infrared imaging (SR-FTIRI) at diffraction-limited resolution. This technique overcomes many of the inherent difficulties of assaying nanotoxicity and demonstrates exceptional sensitivity in identifying the effects of CBNs in cells at environmentally-relevant concentrations.

Concentration-dependent effects of carbon nanoparticles in gram-negative bacteria determined by infrared spectroscopy with multivariate analysis.

With increasing production of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), environmental release of these entities becomes an ever-greater inevitability. However, many questions remain regarding their impact on soil microorganisms. This study examined the effects of long or short multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), C60 fullerene and fullerene soot in Gram-negative bacteria.

Integrating a FISH imaging system into the cytology laboratory.

We have implemented an interactive imaging system for the interpretation of UroVysion fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to improve throughput, productivity, quality control and diagnostic accuracy. We describe the Duet imaging system, our experiences with implementation, and outline the financial investment, space requirements, information technology needs, validation, and training of cytotechnologists needed to integrate such a system into a cytology laboratory. Before purchasing the imaging system, we evaluated and validated the instrument at our facility.

The service architecture of the TeraGyroid experiment.

We describe the service architecture of the successful TeraGyroid experiment. In particular we discuss the use of the open Grid service infrastructure (OGSI) to build the services used during the experiment and illustrate the problems we encountered.

Force-feedback in Web-based surgical simulators.

There is a growing requirement in the field of surgical training to allow trainees to practice procedures in a way that does not place patients in any risk. Computer based simulators allow students to gain experience and develop three-dimensional awareness in a safe and controlled environment. Typically systems that have been developed to perform this task are, due to their specialist nature, expensive to buy.

Web-based surgical educational tools.

This paper describes work being undertaken as part of the WebSET (Web-based Standard Educational Tools) project. The project is producing a standardised suite of interactive three-dimensional educational tools, delivered across the WWW. The major focus will be the use of open technology and standards, and the production of learning components that can be used as building blocks for further development in a wide range of application areas.

Simultaneous onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus in identical infant twins with enterovirus infection.

This report describes classical Type 1 insulin deficient diabetes mellitus (DM) arising in twins aged 14 months, both of whom had evidence of enterovirus infection. The diagnosis of Type 1 DM was made in the second twin within 12 days of the first. Enterovirus infection was detected in each twin at diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

MRI and nonverbal cognitive deficits in children with neurofibromatosis 1.

Magnetic resonance imaging brain scans and neuropsychological assessments of 17 children who met the NIH consensus diagnostic criteria for neurofibromatosis Type 1 were carried out in order to determine if there is a relationship between presence of high intensity signal abnormalities on MRI scans and nonverbal cognitive deficits. Cranial MRI scans in 10 patients (58.8%) demonstrated high intensity signal abnormalities, most frequently in the cerebral peduncles.

Enteroviral polymerase chain reaction in the investigation of aseptic meningitis.

We used a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) to seek evidence for enteroviruses in clinical samples from patients with symptoms of aseptic meningitis. When compared with conventional virus isolation methods on a total of 366 samples collected during 1994-1995, an increase in positivity from 6% to 27% was shown. The results indicate that nPCR would be a valuable aid to the laboratory diagnosis of enteroviral infections as it can detect those enteroviruses that cannot be identified by current isolation methods.

CT and MR of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A lyase deficiency.

Siblings with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A lyase deficiency were evaluated with CT and MR. Both imaging studies demonstrated a leukodystrophy with preferential involvement of the deeper arcuate fibers.

Sequences specific for enterovirus detected in spinal cord from patients with motor neurone disease.

Objective: To investigate the association of enteroviruses with motor neurone disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Design: Analysis by enterovirus polymerase chain reaction of wax embedded material from spinal cords taken at necropsy from subjects with motor neurone disease and from age and sex matched controls.

Setting: Specimens were collected in the west of Scotland and in London between 1982 and 1992.