Genotoxicity associated with oxidative damage in the liver and kidney of mice exposed to dimethoate subchronic intoxication

Background and aims  

Because of the widespread use of pesticides for domestic and industrial applications, the evaluation of their toxic effects is of major concern to public health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the propensity of dimethoate (DM), an organophosphorus pesticide, to cause oxidative damage in the liver and kidney of mice and its associated genotoxic effect.     

Removal and pre-concentration of phenolic species onto beta-cyclodextrin modified poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate-ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate) microbeads

Poly(Hydroxyethylmethacrylate-Ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate), poly(HEMA-EGDMA), microbeads with 150-200 microm in size, was prepared by suspension polymerization. Beta-cyclodextrin was modified onto the polymeric microbeads using glutaraldahyde activation in an acidic medium at pH=2.5. FT-IR and TGA were used for the characterization of modified polymers and the determination of the nature of the interaction between phenolic compounds and the modified polymeric microbeads. Plain and beta-cyclodextrin modified microbeads were used in adsorption-desorption studies of phenolic species in single solution. Adsorption capacities of the phenolic species onto the plain microbeads were found to be 28.2, 17.0, 14.3, 9.8, and 1.92 mg/g polymer for o-chloro phenol, p-nitro phenol, p-chloro phenol, o-nitro phenol, and phenol, respectively. However, for beta-cyclodextrin modified microbeads, adsorption capacity of phenolic species was determined as 274, 365, 128, 182, and 87 mg/g for phenol, o-nitro phenol, p-nitro phenol, o-chloro phenol, and p-chloro phenol, respectively. Desorption ratio for the phenolic species was more than 90%, except for o-nitro phenol. Detection limits of the phenolic species were improved at least 500-fold for UV-Vis spectrophotometric detection, after the pre-concentration of all phenolic species used in this study. Adsorption time for the phenolic species onto beta-cyclodextrin-modified poly(HEMA-EGDMA) microbeads was found to be reasonable short (10-60 min) and suitable for the applications. Also, synthesized microbeads were useful for the repeated use for the removal and pre-concentration of phenolic species.     

Probiotics and plant-derived compounds as eco-friendly agents to inhibit microbial toxins in poultry feed: a comprehensive review

Some of pathogenic bacteria and fungi have the ability to produce fetal toxins which may be the direct causes of cytotoxicity or cellular dysfunction in the colonization site. Biological and non-biological environmental factors, challenge and microbes influence the effect of toxins on these pathogens. Modern research mentions that many natural materials can reduce the production of toxins in pathogenic microbes. However, researches that explain the mechanical theories of their effects are meager. This review aimed to discuss the ameliorative potential role of plant-derived compounds and probiotics to reduce the toxin production of food-borne microbes either in poultry bodies or poultry feedstuff. Moreover, studies that highlight their own toxicological mechanisms have been discussed. Adding natural additives to feed has a clear positive effect on the enzymatic and microbiological appearance of the small intestine without any adverse effect on the liver. Studies in this respect were proposed to clarify the effects of these natural additives for feed. In conclusion, it could be suggested that the incorporation of probiotics, herbal extracts, and herbs in the poultry diets has some beneficial effects on productive performance, without a positive impact on economic efficiency. In addition, the use of these natural additives in feed has a useful impact on the microbiological appearance of the small intestine and do not have any adverse impacts on intestinal absorption or liver activity as evidenced by histological examination.     

Biosynthesis and Characterization of Laccase Catalyzed Poly(Catechol)

Enzymatic polymerization of catechol was conducted batch-wise using laccase enzyme produced by the culture Trametes versicolor (ATCC 200801). The polymerization reaction was carried out in 1:1 (v/v) aqueous-acetone solution, buffered at pH 5.0 with sodium acetate (50 mM) in a sealed, temperature-controlled reactor at 25°C. The molecular weight of the produced polymer was determined with GPC. FT-IR, DSC, and TGA were employed to investigate the structure and thermal behavior of synthesized poly(catechol). It was found that catechol units were linked together with ether bonds and thermal stability of the catechol increased in the poly(catechol) polymeric structure effectively. The number average molecular weight of poly(catechol) was found as 813 ± 3 Da with a very narrow polydispersity value of 1.17 showing selective polymerization of catechol by the enzyme.     

Evaluation of waste slags produced by zinc industry in bituminous hot mixtures

Owing to the large amount of waste slags produced by zinc industry, it has become necessary to recycle it in some areas. Road construction has significant potential for the use of waste materials because more material is always needed. In this study, the engineering behaviour of asphalt concrete was investigated using mineral aggregates with waste slag, which is a by-product of the zinc–lead production industry. The asphalt concrete tested in this study was fabricated using 25, 50, 75 and 100 % mixing ratios instead of the conventional fine mineral aggregate (11, 22, 33 and 44 % rate of total aggregate mixture) to determine the possibility of using slags in the binder course of bituminous hot mixtures. The asphalt concretes, made of waste slags and conventional asphalt concrete, were evaluated in terms of their fundamental engineering properties such as Marshall stability, flow, Marshall quotient (MQ), bulk specific gravity, air voids and voids filled with bitumen in the total mix characteristics. The results indicate that the addition of waste slag as mineral aggregate improves the engineering characteristic performance and that it can be used in bituminous hot mixtures. In addition, principal component analyses were applied to examine the significance of each Marshall parameter, and a regression model was developed to estimate the MQ value using effective parameters.     

Real-Time PCR Detection of Norovirus in Mussels Collected from the Bosphorus in Istanbul,Turkey

Norovirus (NoV) is recognised as one of the most common causes of foodborne infections, and shellfish are a well-documented source of this virus. The presence of NoV in shellfish has not previously been investigated in Turkey, and hence the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of human NoV genogroups I and II in mussels collected from the Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 320 mussels representing 110 samples originating along the Bosphorus coast were collected from fish distributors. RNA was extracted using the RNeasy Mini Kit and real-time RT–PCR performed using primers specific for NoV genogroup I and II. Amongst the 110 samples, 5 (4.5%) were found to be positive for NoV genogroup II by SYBR Green assay; no genogroup I was detected. A positive signal was obtained by SYBR Green for NoV Genogroup II in mussels collected in October, November and December 2008, and February and July 2009. Only four out of five SYBR Green positive samples could be confirmed by the use of a NoV GII probe-based real-time RT–PCR. The average count and SD of Enterobactericaeae, E. coli and sulphide reductase anaerobic bacteria in PCR positive mussels were 3.56 log ± 0.96 log, 2.32 log ± 0.77 log and 1.70 log ± 0.56 log, respectively. This study shows that NoV Genogroup II is present in mussels collected from the Bosphorus, Istanbul, and may constitute a risk to human health.     

Isolation and characterization of a mesophilic cellulolytic endophyte Preussia africana from Juniperus oxycedrus

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The medicinal plant Juniperus oxycedrus is less recognized for the diversity of its fungal endophytes and their potential to produce extracellular...     

Low-cost Posidonia oceanica bio-adsorbent for efficient removal of antibiotic oxytetracycline from water

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The presence of antibiotics as micro-contaminants in the water and aqueous environments is a health concern to humans and the ecosystem. Therefore,...     

An assessment of copper,zinc and cadmium contamination and their ecotoxicological effects in O. mediterranea Costa, 1853 (Amphipoda,Talitridae)

This study was conducted to compare metals bioaccumulation in the Talitrid O. mediterranea collected from the banks of Bizerte lagoon. Individuals were exposed to a series of contaminated soil with different concentrations of cadmium, copper, and zinc. Biological and physiological responses were highlighted. Body metals concentrations were measured in the talitrid using flame atomic emission spectrometry. Results showed that after the second week, the mortality increased especially with cadmium exposure, and a mass gain was obtained between weeks for copper and zinc. Furthermore, the concentration factor indicated that O. mediterranea could be considered as a macroconcentrator of copper and zinc. Histopathological analysis showed that the different metals concentrations induced significant changes in the morphology and in the ultrastructural organisation of hepatopancreatic cells. Significant alterations obtained after metals exposure were the increase in the number of the majority cell organelles. Also, heavy metals were present in the form of numerous granules with different size in the cell surface. Furthermore, metals exposure affected the brush border causing the disruption of microvilli filament. Through these results, O. mediterranea could be a good indicator providing measurable responses. It could be an attractive candidate for the biochemical study of heavy metals toxicity in coastal ecosystems.     

Allele-specific amplification for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of spinal muscular atrophy

We have developed a new allele-specific amplification method for the preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA; Werdnig-Hoffmann disease) from a single cell. This method is based on the detection of the deletion of exon 7 of the telomeric copy of the survival motor neurone (SMN^t) gene. An oligonucleotide was designed to be specific to the SMN^t nucleotidic sequence with exonic mismatch G (for SMN^t)→A (for SMN^c) at its 3′ end. This test produces reliable PCR products in 95% of single lymphoblasts (85/88) tested as well as in 16/16 blastomeres from normal controls. Specificity analysis showed that we were able to detect homozygous deletion of the SMN^t gene in 99% of single lymphoblasts (103/104) from a SMA patient. No contamination was detected in 68 blanks tested. Multiple cell and DNA dilution analysis revealed that the test is accurate and specific up to 100 pg DNA and should thus also be suitable for PGD at the blastocyst stage. This rapid procedure requires a single round of fluorescent PCR and no restriction digestion, while previously described single cell methods include nested PCR followed by restriction enzyme digestion. Two PGD cycles for SMA using this procedure were performed in our centre. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.