Epigenetic inactivation of LHX6 mediated microcystin-LR induced hepatocarcinogenesis via the Wnt/β-catenin and P53 signaling pathways.

Microcystins (MCs) have been shown to be carcinogenic by animal and cellular experiments and found to be associated with the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through epidemiological studies. However, the molecular mechanism of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) induced HCC is still unclear. This study is determined to clarify the role and mechanism of LHX6 in MC-LR-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

Epigenetic silencing of ALX4 regulates microcystin-LR induced hepatocellular carcinoma through the P53 pathway.

Recent studies have shown that microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is one of the principal factors that cause liver cancer. Previously we have found that Aristaless-like Homeobox 4 (ALX4) was differentially expressed in MC-LR-induced malignant transformed L02 cells. However, the expression regulation, role and molecular mechanism of ALX4 during the process of liver cancer induced by MC-LR are still unclear.

Gene expression network regulated by DNA methylation and microRNA during microcystin-leucine arginine induced malignant transformation in human hepatocyte L02 cells.

Microcystin (MC) is a cyclic heptapeptide compound which could lead to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the underlying epigenetic regulation mechanism is largely unknown. In this study, microcystin-LR (L: lysine, R: arginine, MC-LR) was used to induce the malignant transformation of human hepatocyte L02 cell line.

Upregulated long non-coding RNA LOC90784 promotes cell proliferation and invasion and is associated with poor clinical features in HCC.

A growing amount of literature has indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important factors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, the significance of lncRNAs in the progression and prognosis of liver cancer is largely unknown. In the present study, upregulated lncRNA LOC90784 was identified through integrative analysis of GSE58043 and GSE55191.

Experimental comparison of the reproductive outcomes and early development of the offspring of rats given five common types of drinking water.

Tap water (unfiltered), filtered tap water and processed bottled water (purified water, artificial mineralized water, or natural water) are now the five most widely consumed types of drinking water in China. However, the constituents (organic chemicals and inorganic ingredients) of the five waters differ, which may cause them to have different long-term health effects on those who drink them, especially sensitive children. In order to determine which type of water among the five waters is the most beneficial regarding reproductive outcomes and the developmental behaviors of offspring, two generations of Sprague-Dawley rats were given these five waters separately, and their reproductive outcomes and the developmental behaviors of their offspring were observed and compared.

Arsenite exposure altered the expression of NMDA receptor and postsynaptic signaling proteins in rat hippocampus.

Chronic arsenic exposure has an adverse effect on neurobehavioral function. Our previous study demonstrated an elevated arsenic level, ultra-structure changes and reduced NR2A gene expression in hippocampus, and impaired spatial learning in arsenite-exposed rats. The NMDA receptor and the postsynaptic signaling proteins CaMKII, postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), synaptic Ras GTPase-activating protein (SynGAP) and nuclear activated extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) play important roles in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory.

[Comparison of organic component and di-n-butyl phthalate between human milk and cow milk products].

Objective: To explore types of organic components and pollution level of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) between human milk and cow milk products.

Methods: Forty healthy postpartum women with an average age of (27.44 ± 3.

Reproductive toxicity in male mice caused by organic extracts in tap water from the Jialing River in Chongqing, China.

Background: Recently, male reproductive disturbances caused by organic pollutants have aroused particular public concern about the safety of drinking water. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity of organic extracts (OE) in tap water from the source of the Jialing River in China on the reproductive system of male mice.

Methods: Kunming male mice were randomly divided into four groups, which included a solvent control (dimethylsulfoxide), a low-, mid-, and high-dose of OE (12.

[Effect of the influent COD and C/N ratio on phosphorus removal of UCT system].

UCT is deeply influenced by COD and C/N ratios. To check this infection, the UCT system was designed to run at variety of influent COD and C/N ratios. The results show that: when the influent C/N ratio is lower than 15, the high influent concentration of COD increases the proliferation of heterotrophic bacteria and decreases the phenomenon release rate.

Identification of microcystins contamination in surface water samples from the Three Gorges Reservoir, China.

Physicochemical and biological parameters related to water quality and microcystins (MCs) contamination in aquatic environment of the Three Gorges Reservoir were investigated in August 2004 and January 2005. A solid-phase extraction method and an HPLC equipped with photodiode array were used for MC-LR detection. A quantitative analysis showed the total MC-LR concentrations of water samples ranged from non-detectable to 0.

[The antagonistic action of epigallocatechin-3-gallate on microcystin LR-induced oxidative damage on hepatocytes of mice and the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of antagonistic action of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on microcystin LR (MC-LR) induced oxidative damage on mice and the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) which was one of phase Iota detoxification enzymes.

Methods: A total of 24 specific pathogen free (SPF) male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups, including control group, MC-LR group, low concentration EGCG group, and high concentration EGCG group. Mice were sacrificed on the 15th day, body weight, and the relative organ weight, liver antioxidant enzyme level and lipid peroxidation product, liver histopathology and CYP2E1 gene and protein expression were detected and analyzed respectively.

Evaluation of ovotoxicity in female mice caused by organic extracts in tap water from Jialing River in Chongqing, China.

Background: Recently, toxic effects of widespread organic pollutants have received much attention due to the hazards they pose to female reproductive health. The aim of the present study was to determine the female reproductive toxicity of organic extracts (OE) in tap water from the Jialing River in Chongqing, China.

Methods: In our experiment, Kunming female mice that exhibited normal estrous cycles were randomly divided into 4 groups, which included a control group (OE 0 L/kg bw) as well as low- (OE 12.

Effects of arsenic exposure from drinking water on spatial memory, ultra-structures and NMDAR gene expression of hippocampus in rats.

Epidemiological investigations indicate that chronic arsenic exposure can damage neurobehavioral function in children. The present study was aimed to study the effects of arsenic exposure from drinking water on the spatial memory, and hippocampal ultra-structures and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) gene expression in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four groups: rats in control group drank regular water, rats in other groups drank water with final arsenic concentration of 2.

[Long-term drinking purified water may aggravate the inhibition of NMDA expression and spatial learning ability induced by lead on rat].

Objective: To compare brain lead accumulation and neurotoxicity induced by lead under drinking purified water and tap water on rat.

Methods: All 104 male weaning SD rats were randomly divided into eight groups, matched-four pairs according to drinking water: tap water, purified water, tap water with lead 50 mg/L(lead acetate water-solution), purified water with lead 50 mg/L, tap water with lead 200 mg/L, purified water with lead 200 mg/L, tap water with lead 800 mg/L. All were fed with normal food and environmental cognitions kept consistent Morris water maze(including Place Navigation, Spatial Probe Test, Visible Platform Trial) was measured to test rat spatial learning at the 12 and 24 week.

Reproductive and neurobehavioral outcome of drinking purified water under magnesium deficiency in the rat's diet.

Taking magnesium deficient diet and drinking soft water (including purified water, essentially mineral free) are common consumed in the world. The present study was conducted to assess the potential combined influence of maternal drinking purified water and taking magnesium deficient diet on postnatal development and behavior in the offspring of exposed rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat were assigned to four groups: group 1 fed with control diet (Mg(2+) 0.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes as adsorbents of solid-phase extraction for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental waters coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used as a novel kind of solid-phase extraction adsorbents in this work as well as an analytical method based on MWCNTs solid-phase extraction (SPE) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was established for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which belong to typical persistent organic pollutants (POPs) owing to their carcinogenicity and endocrine disrupting activity. Several conditions that probably affected the extraction efficiency including the eluent volume, sample flow rate, sample pH and the sample volume were optimized in detail. The characteristic data of analytical performance were determined to investigate the sensitivity and precision of the method, and the method was applied to the determination of PAHs in environmental water samples such as river water sample, tap water sample and wastewater sample from the constructed wetland effluent.

Protective effects of green tea polyphenols against subacute hepatotoxicity induced by microcystin-LR in mice.

Green tea polyphenols (GTP) have been shown to possess anti-oxidative, anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic activities. The present study aimed to evaluate the chemopreventive efficacy of GTP against subacute hepatotoxicity induced by microcystin-LR (MC-LR) in mice and also elucidates the underlying mechanisms. In this study, healthy Kunming male mice (24-26gbw) were randomly assigned to five groups.

[Antagonism effects of green tea against microcystin induced oxidant damage on liver and kidney].

Objective: To evaluate the antagonism effects of green tea (GT) against microcystin LR (MC-LR) induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in mice.

Methods: All 40 male mice were randomly divided into four groups. Mice in group III and IV were pretreated with green tea for free drink at doses of 2 g/L and 12 g/L prior to MC-LR intoxication, for consecutively 18 days.

[Comparison of perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctane acid in serum of non-occupational human from Shenyang and Chongqing areas].

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to illustrate the perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctane acid (PFOA) levels in serum of non-occupational exposure human from Shenyang and Chongqing areas and to compare the distributing character and region difference of PFOS and PFOA in those two region human.

Methods: Sera samples of non-occupational human from Shenyang and Chongqing areas were collected, and the concentration of PFOS and PFOA in serum were measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Selective Detector (HPLC/MS-MIS).

Results: The average Shenyang and Chongqing fluorochemical concentrations, respectively, were as follows: PFOS, 22.

[Progress in phthalate ester toxicity in the female reproductive system].

Phthalates are high-production-volume synthetic chemicals with ubiquitous environmental pollution because of their use in plastics and other common consumer products. Epidemiological evidence suggests the relation between women-exposure and the potential health hazards of Phthalates. Here we review research about how phthalates interact with the female reproductive system in vivo, in vitro models, embryo development toxicity and the mechanisms of female toxicity.