Carcinogenicity of lifelong administration of capsaicin of hot pepper in mice

Capsaicin was administered in a semisynthetic powdered diet at 0.03125% level for the lifespan of Swiss mice starting from 6 weeks of age. As a result of C treatment, tumors of the cecum were induced in 22% of females and 14% of males, whereas the corresponding tumor incidences in untreated female and male controls were both 8%. Histopathologically, the tumors were classified as benign polypoid adenomas. Capsaicin is the main pungent principle of hot pepper, which is consumed in high quantities by humans worldwide. The capsaicin content of some chili varieties ranges up to 0.53%.

Tumor induction with hexanal methylformylhydrazone of Gyromitra esculenta

Hexanal methylformylhydrazone (HMFH) was administered to Swiss mice by intragastric instillations at weekly intervals of 52 times at 50 or 100 micrograms/g body weight. The treatment induced tumors of the lungs, liver and preputial glands. The tumor incidences in the group that received the lower dose were 74, 4 and 0% in females and 78, 8 and 6% in the males. In the group with the higher dose, the incidences were 90, 28 and 0% in females and 70, 6 and 86% in males. The corresponding tumor incidences in the untreated animals were 26, 0 and 0% in females and 26, 0 and 0% in males. The histopathological examination revealed adenomas and adenocarcinomas of lungs, benign hepatomas and liver cell carcinomas, and squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas and adenomas of preputial glands. HMFH is the sixth carcinogenic ingredient found in one of the false morel mushrooms, Gyromitra esculenta. Because this fungus is considered edible, the health hazard implications cannot be discounted.

Poisoning by Gyromitra esculenta--a review

Gyromitra esculenta (Pers.: Fr.) Fr. and a few other mushrooms have caused severe poisonings and even deaths in humans. Clinical data are characterized primarily by vomiting and diarrhoea, followed by jaundice, convulsions and coma. Gastrointestinal disorders distinguish this poisoning. Frequent consumption can cause hepatitis and neurological diseases. The species of concern are mainly G. esculenta and G. gigas (Kromb.) Cooke (non Phill.). Nevertheless, recent advances in chromatography, biochemistry and toxicology have established that other Ascomycetes species also may prove toxic. Gyromitrin (acetaldehyde methylformylhydrazone, G) and its homologues are toxic compounds that convert in vivo into N-methyl-N-formylhydrazine (MFH), and then into N-methylhydrazine (MH). The toxicity of these chemicals, which are chiefly hepatotoxic and even carcinogenic, has been established through in vivo and in vitro experiments using animals, cell cultures and biochemical systems. When we consider the chemical nature and the reactivity of these natural compounds, we suggest that chemical and biochemical mechanisms may explain their intrinsic biological activity.

Laryngeal lipoma

We present a rare case of an intrinsic lipoma of the left false vocal cord in a 62-year-old man. The tumor was a manifestation of generalized lipomatosis. Successful endolaryngeal removal was accomplished.

Carcinogenic fungal hydrazines

The carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic activity of 11 hydrazine analogues and diazonium ions are described. These chemicals are ingredients of 22 mushroom species. Of these, one is cultivated, while the remaining 21 are wild fungi. To date, many of these mushrooms are considered to be edible. The appropriate chemistry and biochemistry investigations of the mushroom chemicals are summarized briefly. Human consumption estimates also are provided in as much as possible.

8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine formation during the catalytic oxidation of hydrazines in the presence of 2'-deoxyguanosine

The reaction of 2'-deoxyguanosine (1), substituted hydrazines (Hy) and oxygen, in the presence of Cu(II) as catalyst, yields 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (2). The rate of formation of 2 was found to be dependent upon the oxidation potential of the Hy and on structural factors of the Hy. The conversion of 1 to 2 under these conditions suggested that a Haber-Weiss/Fenton type of process was involved with Hy acting as reductant. However, the dependence of the rate of the conversion of 1 to 2 upon the structure of Hy suggested that the Hy substrates studied may be more directly involved in the process than that of a reducing agent. Additional studies of this reaction system, including the oxygen consumption, radical trapping studies and direct ESR measurements suggest that the conversion of 1 to 2, under the conditions used, involves the intermediacy of complex composed of the metal catalyst, 1, Hy and oxygen. The rate data for the conversion of 1 to 2 appear to be correlated with the carcinogenicity of Hy and therefore 2 may be an important DNA adduct in the carcinogenesis of hydrazines.

Carcinogenesis study in mice by 3-methylbutanal methylformylhydrazone of Gyromitra esculenta

3-Methylbutanal methylformylhydrazone (3-MBMFH) was given to Swiss mice by intragastric instillations at weekly intervals 53 or 2 times at 50 micrograms/g body weight. The treatments induced tumors of the lungs, liver, gallbladder, preputial glands and thyroid. The tumor incidences in the group treated 53 times were 84, 32, 10, 0 and 0% in females, and 76, 38, 6, 48 and 0% in the males, respectively. In the group treated twice the incidences were 38, 0, 4, 0 and 10% in females, and 30, 0, 2, 0 and 6% in males, respectively. The corresponding tumor incidences in the untreated controls were 26, 0, 0, 0 and 0% in females, and 26, 0, 0, 0 and 0% in males, respectively. The light microscopic examination of these neoplasms showed adenomas and adenocarcinomas of lungs, hepatomas and liver cell carcinomas, adenomas and adenocarcinomas of gallbladder, squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of preputial glands; and, adenomas and adenocarcinomas of thyroid. Gyromitra esculenta mushroom contains 3-MBMFH along with the other hydrazine derivatives. Because at least five ingredients of this fungus exhibit carcinogenic properties, the health hazard implications should be considered.

Oral administration of vanadate to streptozotocin-diabetic rats restores the glucose-induced activation of liver glycogen synthase

Isolated hepatocytes from streptozotocin-diabetic rats failed to respond to a glucose load with an activation of glycogen synthase. This lesion was associated with severely decreased activities of glycogen-synthase phosphatase and of glucokinase. All these defects were abolished after consumption for 13-18 days of drinking water containing Na3VO4 (0.7 mg/ml), and they were partially restored after 3.5 days, when the blood glucose concentration was already normalized. In all conditions the maximal extent of activation of glycogen synthase in cells closely parallelled the activity of glycogen-synthase phosphatase.

Short-term hormonal control of protein phosphatases involved in hepatic glycogen metabolism

The prominent protein phosphatases involved in liver glycogen metabolism are the AMD (ATP, Mg-dependent, type-1) and PCS (polycation-stimulated, type-2A) phosphatases. The glycogen synthase phosphatase activity, measured from the rate of activation of liver glycogen synthase, is virtually accounted for by AMD phosphatases; the bulk of the activity belongs to the glycogen-bound protein phosphatase G and a small part is present in the cytosol. The major part of the phosphorylase phosphatase activity present in the post-mitochondrial supernatant is shared by protein phosphatase G and cytosolic enzymes, and a minor part belongs to a microsomal AMD phosphatase. In the liver cytosol, the phosphorylase phosphatase activity is about equally distributed between AMD and PCS phosphatases. Studies in vivo as well as on isolated, perfused livers have shown that glucagon (which raises the level of cyclic AMP) as well as vasopressin (which increases the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration) decrease the phosphorylase phosphatase activity in liver extract or cytosol (filtered through Sephadex G-25) by about 25% within a few minutes. These effects were not additive, and the activity of glycogen synthase phosphatase was not affected. Conversely, insulin as well as glucose increased both phosphatase activities by about 25%, and these effects were additive. Vanadate mimicked the effect of insulin on the perfused liver. All the activity changes were only observed when the assays were performed at high tissue concentration. Upon subcellular fractionation all the effects were well expressed in the cytosol, but not in the particulate fraction (glycogen and microsomes). However, quantitatively the hormonal responses were largely lost during the fractionation procedure; they could be restored by recombination of the liver cytosol from a hormone-treated rat with the particulate fraction from either a treated or an untreated animal. It appears that the effects of glucagon, insulin and glucose are mediated by cytosolic, transferable effectors of the Vmax of protein phosphatases. These effectors are eluted in the void volume of a Sephadex G-25 column. Rats of the gsd/gsd strain, which have a genetic deficiency of hepatic phosphorylase kinase, responded to an injection of insulin plus glucose with a normal increase in the cytosolic phosphorylase phosphatase activity. In contrast, they failed to respond to glucagon as well as vasopressin. A transient 80% inhibition of the phosphorylase phosphatase activity could be induced in vitro in a concentrate liver cytosol from Wistar rats upon addition of MgATP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Decreased activity and impaired hormonal control of protein phosphatases in rat livers with a deficiency of phosphorylase kinase

1. Livers from gsd/gsd rats, which do not express phosphorylase kinase activity, also contain much less particulate type-1 protein phosphatases. In comparison with normal Wistar rats, the glycogen/microsomal fraction contained 75% less glycogen-synthase phosphatase and 60% less phosphorylase phosphatase activity. This was largely due to a lower amount of the type-1 catalytic subunit in the particulate fraction. In the cytosol, the synthase phosphatase activity was also 50% lower, but the phosphorylase phosphatase activity was equal. 2. Both Wistar rats and gsd/gsd rats responded to an intravenous injection of insulin plus glucose with an acute increase (by 30-40%) in the phosphorylase phosphatase activity in the liver cytosol. In contrast, administration of glucagon or vasopressin provoked a rapid fall (by about 25%) in the cytosolic phosphorylase phosphatase activity in Wistar rats, but no change occurred in gsd/gsd rats. 3. Phosphorylase kinase was partially purified from liver and subsequently activated. Addition of a physiological amount of the activated enzyme to a liver cytosol from Wistar rats decreased the V of the phosphorylase phosphatase reaction by half, whereas the non-activated kinase had no effect. The kinase preparations did not change the activity of glycogen-synthase phosphatase, which does not respond to glucagon or vasopressin. Furthermore, the phosphorylase phosphatase activity was not affected by addition of physiological concentrations of homogeneous phosphorylase kinase from skeletal muscle (activated or non-activated). 4. It appears therefore that phosphorylase kinase plays an essential role in the transduction of the effect of glucagon and vasopressin to phosphorylase phosphatase. However, this inhibitory effect either is specific for the hepatic phosphorylase kinase, or is mediated by an unidentified protein that is a specific substrate of phosphorylase kinase.

Cancer induction in mice by 4-hydroxybenzenediazonium sulfate of the Agaricus xanthodermus mushroom

4-Hydroxybenzenediazonium sulfate (HBD) was administered to Swiss mice by subcutaneous injection at weekly intervals of two or 36 times at 10 or 2 micrograms per gram body weight, respectively. The HBD given 36 times induced tumors of the subcutis in 22% of females and in 22% of males. The corresponding tumor incidences in the untreated controls were 2% in females and 8% in males. Histopathologically, the neoplasms were classified as fibromas, fibrosarcomas, myxosarcomas and rhabdomyosarcomas. The HBD given two times was, however, without tumor-inducing effect. HBD is an ingredient of the Agaricus xanthodermus, a non-cultivable unedible mushroom, which is closely related to the mushroom of commerce Agaricus bisporus. HBD is now the third compound of the diazonium class to exhibit carcinogenic activity.

Tumor induction by 4-(methyl)benzenediazonium sulfate in mice

4-(Methyl)benzenediazonium sulfate (MBD) was administered to Swiss mice by subcutaneous injection at weekly intervals 19 or 16 times at 50 micrograms/g body weight. The treatment gave rise to tumors of the subcutaneous tissue and skin. The tumor incidences in the groups with 19 injections were 12 and 6% in females and 12 and 4% in males, respectively, while in the group with 16 injections were 24 and 14% in females and 50 and 4% in males, respectively. The corresponding tumor incidences in the untreated controls were 2 and 2% in females and 8 and 2% in males, respectively. Histopathologically, the tumors were classified as fibromas, fibrosarcomas, myxosarcomas, fibromyxosarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas and angiosarcomas in subcutis and squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of skin. MBD is closely related to 4-(hydroxymethyl)benzenediazonium ion (HMBD), an ingredient of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus. The conversion of HMBD to MBD appears to be a distinct possibility.

Toxicities of hydrazines: a review

The toxic properties of sixty carcinogenic hydrazines are reviewed and presented. Many of these chemicals are synthesized by man and used in industry, agriculture and medicine, while others occur in nature as ingredients of fungi and plants. The human population is, therefore, exposed to them to a considerable degree. These compounds, in addition to being carcinogens, have toxic effects in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory, nervous, lymphoreticular, hematopoietic, cardiovascular, genitourinary, integumentary, musculoskeletal systems, etc., of 15 animal species and man. Because they caused toxic damage in practically every organ and tissue, earlier claims concerning their tissue specificity are discounted. Their hazardous properties deserve careful attention.

Aortic rupture and aortic smooth muscle tumors in mice. Induction by p-hydrazinobenzoic acid hydrochloride of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus

p-Hydrazinobenzoic acid (HBA), an ingredient of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus, was given in hydrochloride form at a dosage of 0.125% in drinking water for life to randomly bred Swiss mice. Previous studies had demonstrated that either synthetic or naturally occurring hydrazines are carcinogenic in mice with the main tumors so-induced being peripheral angiomas and angiosarcomas. As a result of HBA treatment in the present experiments, smooth muscle cell tumors of the aorta and large arteries were induced in 14% of females and 42% of males, whereas the corresponding frequency of tumors in untreated female and male controls was 0 and 4%, respectively. Tumors were observed as early as at 17 weeks of age. Numerous experimental animals (32% of females and 50% of males) died of aortic rupture. Histopathologically, two major changes were observed to explain both the ruptures and tumors. First, the intimal and inner medial aspect of the aortic walls had undergone effacement with widespread fibrinoid necrosis, accompanied by medial elastinolysis. Second, a proliferation of cells arising in the media, benign in some aortae and frankly malignant in others, was strikingly positive by immunohistochemistry for cytoplasmic actin and myosin, moderately positive for desmin, weakly positive for vimentin, and negative for factor VIII-related antigen. When malignant, the tumors extended into the periaortic adventitial connective tissue. The tumors were classifiable as leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas. Thus, HBA is an additional carcinogenic ingredient of the widely consumed mushroom, A. bisporus. A continuum from toxic tissue injury to cellular hyperplasia, dysplasia, and ultimate neoplasia is well-illustrated by HBA.

Carcinogenesis by pentanal methylformylhydrazone of Gyromitra esculenta in mice

Pentanal methylformylhydrazone (PMFH) given in propylene glycol as 52 weekly intragastric instillations on a 50 micrograms/g body weight basis, induced tumors of the lungs, liver and preputial glands in Swiss mice. The tumor incidences in these tissues were 72, 16 and 0% in the treated females, while these tumor incidences in the males of this group were 60, 2 and 12%, respectively. The corresponding tumor incidences in the propylene glycol instilled solvent control females were 26, 0 and 0%, whereas in the males of this group they were 22, 0 and 0%, respectively. Histopathologically, the tumors were classified as adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the lungs, benign hepatomas and squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of the preputial glands. Pentanal methylformylhydrazone is an ingredient of the edible wild mushroom Gyromitra esculenta which is consumed by a segment of the human population around the world.

Cancer induction by the sulfate form of 4-(hydroxymethyl) benzenediazonium ion of Agaricus bisporus

The sulfate form of 4-(hydroxymethyl) benzenediazonium ion (HMBD) of Agaricus bisporus was given by 26 weekly subcutaneous injections at 50 micrograms/g body weight to Swiss mice. As a result of treatment, tumors of subcutis and skin developed in 32% and 14% of the females and 40% and 4% of the males, respectively. The corresponding tumor incidences in the sodium sulfate-injected solvent control groups were 0% and 2% in females and 4% and 0% in males, respectively. Histopathologically, the tumors were fibrosarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas and angiosarcomas of the subcutis, squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of skin. The present finding discounts an earlier allegation that the tetrafluoroborate portion of the diazonium ion acted as a cocarcinogen. HMBD was found at a 0.6 ppm level in the mushroom of commerce Agaricus bisporus.

Carcinogenesis by N2-[gamma-L(+)-glutamyl]-4-carboxyphenylhydrazine of Agaricus bisporus in mice

N2-[gamma-L(+)-glutamyl]-4-carboxyphenylhydrazine (GCPH), an ingredient of the cultivated mushroom of commerce Agaricus bisporus (AB), was administered as 52 weekly intragastric instillations of 1.4 mg/g body weight to randomly bred Swiss mice. In comparison with the untreated controls, the subcutaneous tumor incidences rose from 0 to 26% in the males, while in the females the corresponding tumor incidences were 6 and 2%, respectively. Histopathologically the tumors were fibrosarcomas, fibromas and myxomas. The study is part of a long - range objective to reveal the biological effect of N-N-bond-containing hydrazines and related chemicals of AB.

Cancer induction in mice by feeding of the uncooked cultivated mushroom of commerce Agaricus bisporus

The cultivated mushroom of commerce in the Western hemisphere, Agaricus bisporus, was given p.o. to randomly bred Swiss mice for 3 days and was followed by semisynthetic diet for 4 days each week for life. The mice were 6 weeks old at the beginning of the experiment. As a result of treatment, tumors were induced in the bone, forestomach, liver, and lungs in the following incidences: 16, 38, 8, and 40% in females and 16, 28, 12, and 62% in males, respectively. The corresponding tumor incidences in the untreated controls were 0, 0, 0, and 26% in females and 0, 4, 2, and 34% in males, respectively. Histopathologically, the tumors were classified as osteomas and osteosarcomas, squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of forestomach, benign hepatomas, and adenomas and adenocarcinomas of lungs. The investigation thus proves the carcinogenicity of uncooked Agaricus bisporus.

The axial frontonasal flap revisited

After 15 years of experience and 50 cases, we think that the axial frontonasal flap is of great value for the repair of large skin defects of the nose. This flap mobilizes all the skin cover of the nose located above the defect and the adjacent frontal skin and rotates it on a vascular pedicle existing at the level of the inner canthi. The excess of skin of the glabella is then transferred to the nose, and this large flap allows coverage of the defect without tension or distortion. The long-term results are very good, with a hardly visible repair in 26 of 50 patients, the long scar being very well hidden at the periphery of the nose.

Methodologies, findings, and implications of chemical carcinogenesis studies: their significance for hazard assessment (review)

The experimental techniques, methods of evaluation, and environmental implications of the findings of chemical carcinogenesis studies and related subject areas are herein critically reviewed. It is concluded that firstly, certain presently used procedures provide the best possibilities for the study of the hazardous nature of chemicals. Secondly, other matters, including the dosage of chemicals, animal species, meaning of the term "tumor induction", values of short-term tests, evaluation of tumor incidences, relation of the responses of humans and animals to carcinogenic stimuli, require new attitudes, innovative approaches, and meaningful changes. Thirdly, some of the issues are and will remain controversial until our basic knowledge substantially improves. Finally, it appears advisable to abandon some of the dogmatic attitudes for a more flexible approach.

Head and neck manifestations of the chronic graft vs. host disease

Bone marrow transplantations are being used with increasing frequency in the treatment of patients with leukemia and aplastic anemia. The graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) is a serious complication that affects long-term survivors following bone marrow transplantation. It is the result of an immunologic reaction mounted by the grafted reticuloendothelial cells against the tissues of the recipient, and it affects multiple organ systems. Involvement of the skin and mucosal surfaces of the head and neck region, in particular the oral cavity, occurs in a large number of patients with GVHD. In this report we present four patients with GVHD in whom mucosal lesions and infections of the head and neck region were prominent features. Our observations indicate that the clinical and histological characteristics of these lesions vary according to the time elapsed from the onset of the disease. Therefore, clinical examination of the head and neck region and biopsy of the oral mucosa are important not only in the diagnosis of the GVHD, but also in the evaluation of its progress and response to treatment.

Effect of Metamucil on tumour formation by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride in mice

The effect of the plant cellulose metamucil on the tumorigenicity of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride (1,2-DMH) was studied in random-bred Swiss mice. Three groups of mice, which were 5, 6 and 6 weeks old at the beginning of the experiment, were given the following treatments: (1) metamucil (20%, w/w) in powdered diet for their lifespan; (2) 1,2-DMH, ten weekly subcutaneous injections at 20 mg/kg body weight; (3) combination of treatments given to groups 1 and 2. The administration of metamucil enhanced the appearance of colon tumours induced by 1,2-DMH in males only. Metamucil had no statistically significant effect on the development of tumours elicited by 1,2-DMH at seven additional sites. It was expected that a high amount of dietary fibre would inhibit carcinogenesis in the large intestine. Instead, metamucil increased the incidence of colon tumours induced by 1,2-DMH, although only in males.