Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
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Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol. · Sep 2013
Effect of blueberry pretreatment on diethylnitrosamine-induced oxidative stress and liver injury in rats.
Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) treatment increases the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, necrosis and proliferation in the liver. Blueberries (BB; Vaccinium corymbosum L.) contain polyphenols and other active components and have high antioxidant capacities. We investigated the effect of BB pretreatment on DEN-induced liver injury and oxidative and nitrosative stress in male rats. ⋯ Pretreatment with high dose of BB reduced apoptotic, necrotic and proliferative changes in the liver induced by DEN. Dietary BB also decreased hepatic lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and nitrotyrosine levels together with increased GST activity. In conclusion, BB may have an inhibiting effect on acute liver injury by reducing apoptosis, necrosis, proliferation, oxidative and nitrosative stress in DEN-treated rats.
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Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol. · Nov 2012
Effects of isoflurane inhalation on the male reproductive system in rats.
The 15-day intact adult male assay was used to evaluate effects of isoflurane on the testes and sexual hormones. Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups exposed to air containing 0, 50, 300, 1800 or 10,800 ppm isoflurane. After the treatments, serum was collected for the hormones assay. ⋯ The serum follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone concentrations reduced significantly at doses of 1800 and 10,800 ppm. Isoflurane induced impairments of seminiferous tubules and spermatogenesis. The testicular damages caused by isoflurane can be related to the imbalances in the sexual hormones.
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Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol. · Sep 2012
Comparative StudyStructure-toxicity relationship of chloroacetanilide herbicides: relative impact on soil microorganisms.
The research was carried out to ascertain the effect of three chloroacetanilide herbicides, alachlor, butachlor and pretilachlor on soil microbial biomass growth and activity. Laboratory experiments were performed in a silty clay loam soil to relate changes of soil enzymatic activity to the herbicide persistence under laboratory condition up to 42 days at three application rates. The results showed that all the three herbicides caused enhancement of dehydrogenase activity. ⋯ Based on the extent of impact for dehydrogenase activity in soil, the order was pretilachlor>alachlor>butachlor; whereas in case of urease activity, the order changed to pretilachlor>butachlor>alachlor. The soil half-lives of alachlor, butachlor and pretilachlor respectively, were 9.3, 12.7 and 7.3 days, which could be accounted for in terms of their respective chemical structures, as well as variable adsorption, degradation, differential effects of the agents on soil microbes. Soil management practices and the differing physicochemical properties of the herbicides may contribute to their rates of decay in soil.
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Although studies that use the double-blind placebo-controled food challenge (DBPCFC) suggest that the prevalence of food allergy is about 2%, public belief in food allergy appears to be considerably higher. The study was undertaken to determine the magnitude and features of the American public's belief in food allergy by surveying a large, demographically balanced population. A simple question about food allergy was incorporated into a broad, self-reported, mailed consumer questionnaire. ⋯ Trends were consistent over the time period studied. Perceived food allergy is widespread and persistent. The characteristics and demographic patterns of this belief are not reflective of known food allergy epidemiology derived from studies in which the DBPCFC is used.