Molecular level toxicological evaluation of a dental composite implanted in albino rats

Dental composite (DC) resins are synthetic resins which are used as restorative material or adhesives in dentistry. Monomers and other components released into the oral environment from the DC material even after polymerization might affect the surrounding tissues and even the whole body gradually. Biocompatibility of DC has to be stringently evaluated since the fillings are in close contact with mucosa, tooth, and pulp. Common difficulties with various current dental materials include allergies, chemical leakage from the material, and pulpal irritation which are due to the byproducts of chemical reactions during different stages of material hardening. Dental Products Laboratory of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology developed a new BIS-GMA-based DC. In this study the oxidative stress induced by this DC material in vivo was tested for a period of 1, 4, 8, 26, or 52 weeks in albino rats. Dental materials were implanted intramuscularly into the gluteus muscle and oxidative biomarkers such as lipid peroxidation, 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentration, and total glutathione content analyzed. Data showed no significant changes in antioxidant defense system and 8-OHdG levels in nuclear DNA of the tissue. Serum biochemical results confirmed that animals were in normal functioning physiological state.     

Effects of Simulated Sulphuric Acid Deposition On Calluna Vulgaris/Peat Microcosms and Associated Soil Solutions

Calluna vulgaris/peat microcosms have been used in an outdoor simulated acid rain experiment to test a series of hypotheses about sulphuric acid deposition effects upon the growth of Calluna on peat soil, namely: (1) Initially, enhanced acid input will enhance base cation and ammonium concentrations in soil solution. This may enhance uptake of these species, increasing foliar concentrations of base cations and nitrogen, and possibly foliar chlorophyll a and b concentrations. (2) If changes are induced in nutritional status, they may influence plant growth. (3) in the longer term, enhanced ammonium and base cation solubility occurring as a consequence of cation exchange reactions will lead, especially in winter months, to enhanced leaching losses. Hence any positive effects upon plant nutrition will not be sustainable. (4) the peat will acidify significantly over two years, in the shorter term primarily as a consequence of an enhanced mobile anion effect. (5) Acidification may reduce the rate of mineralisation of organic phosphorus and, in a phosphorus-deficient peat soil, this may lead to reduced foliar phosphate concentration and possibly induce phosphorus deficiency.

Most of these hypotheses were supported to some extent by the experimental results. the peat soil solution pH fell immediately in response to the acid treatments, and longer-term acidification continued progressively over the two years of the experiment. in the first year, the treatments significantly influenced the calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and nitrogen status of the leaves from Calluna new shoots, whereas in the second year calcium, potassium and phosphorus were influenced. However, in both years foliar phosphate concentration was enhanced, rather than reduced, in response to increased acid load. Foliar carbon and nitrogen concentrations fell with increasing acidity of     

植物彗星实验及其在生态毒理监测中的应用

植物彗星实验(Comet assay)是近几年发展起来的一项检测DNA损伤的新技术,具有快速、简便、灵敏性高和可靠性强等特点.本文总结了近年来国内外植物彗星实验的研究成果,详细介绍了植物彗星实验方法及其在生态毒理学中的应用.     

人血淋巴细胞检测浊漳河地表水的遗传毒性

为评价浊漳河水体中有机污染物的致突变性,采用单细胞凝胶电泳(SCGE)技术,研究了浊漳河水体3个不同样点的有机提取物对人外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤效应。结果显示,各水样中的有机提取物均能引起DNA损伤,且随剂量的增高,有机物对DNA的损伤加重;细胞DNA损伤与对照组相比均有显著性差异(p<0.01)。这表明人外周血淋巴细胞对水体有机污染物的毒作用非常敏感。细胞彗星尾部DNA含量(%DNAT)和染毒剂量呈极显著正相关(R2>0.8547,p<0.01)。以上结果表明,浊漳河水体受到一定程度的有机物污染,这些有机污染物可诱导淋巴细胞DNA损伤,具有遗传毒性。SCGE技术作为一种简便、快速和灵敏的检测方法在水环境遗传毒性监测方面具有较大的应用价值。     

彗星实验技术及其应用

彗星实验是瑞典科学家Ostling和Johanson于1984年发明的检测毒物DNA损伤效应的方法。它经历了从最初的微电泳技术、中性彗星实验、碱性彗星实验、酶切彗星实验和双向垂直彗尾彗星实验等不断完善的发展过程。在毒理学、遗传学和环境生态科学等领域有着重要的应用,是经济合作与发展组织(OECD)和欧洲食品安全局等国际组织推荐的测定遗传毒性的方法之一。彗星实验的关键点包括单细胞悬液的制备、细胞裂解液的成分与比例,低熔点琼脂糖凝胶的浓度,电泳条件等。在典型应用领域,如蚯蚓、鱼、两栖动物、鼠和人的彗星实验很难找到标准实验方案。成功的彗星实验还需关注,实验设计时必须包括阳性对照,结果表述时必须有图为证,实验方案可能因物种或细胞而异。     

二溴联苯醚对纤细裸藻的生态遗传毒性效应

通过检测纤细裸藻生长、抗氧化酶活性和单细胞凝胶电泳(彗星试验)研究了4,4’-二溴联苯醚(BDE-15)对纤细裸藻(Euglena gracilis)的生态遗传毒性效应.结果表明,低浓度BDE-15(3×10-6mg/L)对纤细裸藻的生长无显著影响,高浓度时(3mg/L)具有明显的抑制作用,相比空白抑制率达69.70%;叶绿素a和类胡萝卜素含量在高浓度BDE-15作用下显著上升;谷胱甘肽(GSH)和细胞总蛋白含量则随BDE-15浓度增加明显下降;抗氧化酶系统中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性随BDE-15浓度升高显著下降,具明显的剂量-效应关系,过氧化物酶(POD)活性随BDE-15浓度增加呈上升趋势,最高浓度组(3mg/L)比空白对照提高93.45%,显示BDE-15胁迫可诱导抗氧化酶活性;彗星试验结果显示纤细裸藻细胞DNA损伤程度随BDE-15浓度增加而加重,表明高浓度BDE-15具有潜在致突变性.     

垃圾渗滤液的Fenton氧化预处理研究

采用Fenton氧化法对垃圾渗滤液进行预处理,考察了渗滤液初始pH值、H2O2和FeSO4.7H2O投加量、H2O2/Fe2＋投加的物质的量比及氧化反应时间等对Fenton氧化处理效果的影响,获得Fenton氧化处理垃圾渗滤液的最佳工艺条件：初始pH=3.0,H2O2投加量为5.0 mL.L-1,FeSO4.7H2O投加量为3.48 g.L-1,H2O2/Fe2＋物质的量比为4-1,反应时间为1.5 h。最佳条件下处理后垃圾渗滤液COD为5 220 mg.L-1,COD去除率达57.8%。凝胶渗透色谱和三维荧光光谱分析结果表明,垃圾渗滤液中主要含有腐殖酸类大分子物质,经Fenton氧化后降解变成小分子化合物。     

火箭推进剂单推-Ⅲ对大鼠肺的毒性效应

为探讨新型火箭推进剂单推-Ⅲ(主成分为肼)对大鼠肺的毒性效应及其作用机制,将24只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为4组:生理盐水对照组、低剂量组、中剂量组和高剂量组,采用气管滴注法染毒,染毒剂量分别为每次0、5.50、13.75、27.50mg·kg-(1以每kg大鼠滴注的肼(mg)计算),每天1次,连续染毒14d,腹主动脉放血处死,检测肺组织病理学改变、氧化损伤、炎性因子和肺组织细胞DNA损伤.结果表明,1)单推-Ⅲ染毒可导致大鼠肺组织炎症:低剂量组表现为轻度肺间质性炎症,中、高剂量组表现为中度肺间质性炎症;2)单推-Ⅲ染毒可导致大鼠肺组织氧化损伤:随着染毒剂量的增加,大鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)逐渐升高,而总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)逐渐降低,高剂量组与对照组差异显著(p<0.05);3)单推-Ⅲ可导致大鼠肺组织炎性免疫损伤:随着染毒剂量的增加,肺组织匀浆液中肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和白细胞介素-6(IL-6)均逐渐升高,高剂量组与对照组差异显著(p<0.05);4)单推-Ⅲ可导致大鼠肺组织细胞DNA损伤:随着染毒剂量的增加,尾部DNA含量、尾长、尾矩、Olive尾矩均逐渐升高,其中高剂量组尾长、Olive尾矩与对照组差异显著(p<0.05).综合以上实验结果可以看出火箭推进剂单推-Ⅲ对大鼠肺组织可产生一定的毒性效应.     

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell diseases using oligonucleotide ligation assay coupled with laser-induced capillary fluorescence detection

Prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell diseases has been available for several years, and our laboratory has performed over 1000 prenatal diagnoses. However, currently available techniques are labor-intensive and time-consuming, and thus the diagnosis is delayed, making the mother's decision difficult. We describe a rapid, high-throughput technique based on the ligation assay coupled with automated capillary fluorescence detection. This new approach allows the diagnosis of both Hgb S and Hgb C to be available in a few hours. We have utilized this technique in 30 prenatal diagnoses and found it to be in complete agreement with the standard diagnoses. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Statistical analysis of bioassays,based on hazard modelling

A stochastic model is proposed to describe time-dependent lethal effects of toxic compounds. It is based on simple mechanistic assumptions and provides a measure for the toxicity of a chemical compound, the so-called killing rate. The killing rate seems a promising alternative for the LC50. The model also provides the no-effect level and the LC50, both as a function of exposure time. The model is applied to real data and to simulated data.