Effects of some endocrine disruptors on cell cycle progression and murine dendritic cell differentiation.

Endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs), which are predominantly present in the environment, are able to mimic or antagonise the biological activity of hormones primarily through the interaction with specific receptors. The main consequences are adverse effects on the growth and development of reproductive organs, the induction of cancer and effects on neuronal differentiation. In this study, we investigated the ability of certain EDCs, Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol B (BPB), Bisphenol F (BPF), 4-n Nonylphenol (NP) and Octylphenol (OP), belonging to a homogeneous group of phenol origin, to interfere with specific cellular processes, namely, proliferation, by using MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells, and differentiation, by using murine bone marrow dendritic cells.

An acetylcholinesterase biosensor for determination of low concentrations of Paraoxon and Dichlorvos.

The characterization of an economic and ease-to-use carbon paste acetylcholinesterase (AChE) based biosensor to determine the concentration of pesticides Paraoxon and Dichlorvos is discussed. AChE hydrolyses acetylthiocholine (ATCh) in thiocoline (TC) and acetic acid (AA). When AChE is immobilized into a paste carbon working electrode kept at +410 mV vs.

Biodegradation of bisphenols with immobilized laccase or tyrosinase on polyacrylonitrile beads.

The biodegradation of waters polluted by some bisphenols, endowed with endocrine activity, has been studied by means of laccase or tyrosinase immobilized on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) beads. Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol B (BPB), Bisphenol F (BPF) and Tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA) have been used. The laccase-PAN beads system has been characterized as a function of pH, temperature and substrate concentration.

Bisphenol A content in fish caught in two different sites of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy).

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor (ED) that is abundant in the environment because of its extensive use in human-manufactured products. In this study, the BPA concentration was measured in the muscle and liver of five edible fish, characterized by different habitat and habits, caught in two different sites of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy). Our results show that: (i) fish livers are about 2.

Apple juice clarification by immobilized pectolytic enzymes in packed or fluidized bed reactors.

The catalytic behavior of a mixture of pectic enzymes, covalently immobilized on different supports (glass microspheres, nylon 6/6 pellets, and PAN beads), was analyzed with a pectin aqueous solution that simulates apple juice. The following parameters were investigated: the rate constant at which pectin hydrolysis is conducted, the time (tau(50)) in which the reduction of 50% of the initial viscosity is reached, and the time (tau(comp,dep)) required to obtain complete depectinization. The best catalytic system was proven to be PAN beads, and their pH and temperature behavior were determined.