A method to determine BPA, BPB, and BPF levels in fruit juices by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

The monitoring of the contamination levels of bisphenol A (BPA) and its congeners bisphenol B (BPB) and bisphenol F (BPF) in foodstuffs is a necessary process for assessment of consumers' risk. After development and validation of a method using Strata® C18-E cartridge cleanup with detection by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, forty-six samples of fruit juices, sold on Italian markets, have been analysed to assess the concentration of BPA, BPB and BPF. BPB and BPF were not detected in any samples, BPA was found in 33 % of the samples. The observed levels ranged from 0.50 ng mL^-1 to 2.85 ng mL^-1. Potential Daily Intakes (PDI) of BPA for Italian populations were calculated by the budget method model. PDIs ranged from 0.012 to 0.285 μg kg^-1 bw day^-1. None of the calculated values exceeded the current temporary TDI of 4 μg kg^-1 bw day^-1.

Significantly Improved Survival Time in Pigs with Complete Liver Ischemia Treated with a Novel Bioartificial Liver

Aim of the study was to evaluate treatment efficacy and safety of a scaled-up version of our porcine hepatocytes based BAL system in pigs with complete liver ischemia (LIS).

Thirty-one pigs underwent total devascularization of the liver (LIS) by termino-lateral porta-caval shunts and sutures around the bile duct, the common hepatic and gastroduodenal arteries and their accessory branches. The hepato-duodenal ligament was completely transected. Four experimental groups were studied: the first control group (LIS Control, n = 10) received glucose infusion only, the second control group (LIS Plasmapheresis, n = 8) was connected to a centrifugal plasma-separator with a bottle representing the bioreactor volume, the third control group (LIS Empty-BAL, n = 5) received BAL treatment without cells, and the treated group (LIS Cell-BAL, n = 8) was connected for a maximum period of 24 hours to our scaled-up BAL seeded with around 14 billion viable primary porcine hepatocytes.

BAL treatment significantly prolonged life in large animals (-35 kg) with complete LIS (Controls, mean ± SEM: 33.1 ± 3 h, Cell-BAL: 51.1 ± 3.4 h; p = 0.001; longest survivor 63 h). In addition, blood ammonia and total bilirubin levels decreased significantly, indicating metabolic activity of porcine hepatocytes in the bioreactor. No significant differences were noticed among the three control groups, indicating that there was no device effect and that the plasmapheresis procedure was well tolerated. No important adverse effectes were observed.

Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S release in milk under household conditions from baby bottles marketed in Italy

A simple and sensitive validated analytical method based on liquid chromatography coupled to tandem fluorescence (FD) and ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry was applied to monitor the presence of bisphenol A and bisphenol S in plastic baby bottles marketed in Italy. The limits of detection (LOD) were 3.75 ng mL^-1 and 80.00 ng mL^-1, and those of quantification (LOQ) were 12.51 ng mL^-1 and 260.00 ng mL^-1 for BPA (FD detection) and for BPS (UV detection), respectively. BPA was found in only four samples, two samples undergone to microwave heating and two samples undergone to bottle warmer heating either at 40°C or at 80°C. Although the quantities of leached BPA were well below the reference dose for daily intake established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (4.0 µg kg^-1 bw/day), the release of BPA and BPS from these plastic materials should be carefully considered by the government authorities to increase people's awareness on this issue and to protect the most vulnerable population group.

Occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins and their dietary intake through beer consumption by the European population

Since cereals are raw materials for production of beer and beer-based drinks, the occurrence mycotoxins in 154 beer samples was topic of investigation in this study. The analyses were conducted using QuEChERS extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry determination. The analytical method showed recoveries for vast majority of analytes ranged from 70% to 110%, relative standard deviations lower than 15% and limits of detection from 0.05 to 8 μg/L. A significant incidence of HT-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol (DON) were found in 9.1% and 59.7% of total samples, respectively. The exposure of European population to mycotoxins through beer consumption was assessed. No toxicological concern was associated to mycotoxins exposure for average beer consumers. Despite that, for heavy beer drinkers, the contribution of this commodity to the daily intake is not negligible, approaching or even exceeding the safety levels.

Network integration of data and analysis of oncology interest

The Human Genome Project has deeply transformed biology and the field has since then expanded to the management, processing, analysis and visualization of large quantities of data from genomics, proteomics, medicinal chemistry and drug screening. This huge amount of data and the heterogeneity of software tools that are used implies the adoption on a very large scale of new, flexible tools that can enable researchers to integrate data and analysis on the network. ICT technology standards and tools, like Web Services and related languages, and workflow management systems, can support the creation and deployment of such systems. While a number of Web Services are appearing and personal workflow management systems are also being more and more offered to researchers, a reference portal enabling the vast majority of unskilled researchers to take profit from these new technologies is still lacking. In this paper, we introduce the rationale for the creation of such a portal and present the architecture and some preliminary results for the development of a portal for the enactment of workflows of interest in oncology.

Identification of a novel mutation in the ryanodine receptor gene (RYR1) in a malignant hyperthermia Italian family

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an inherited autosomal dominant pharmacogenetic disorder and is one of the main causes of death subsequent to anaesthesia. Around 50% of affected families are linked to the ryanodine receptor (RYR1) gene. To date, 19 mutations have been identified in the coding region of this gene and appear to be associated with the MH-susceptible phenotype. Here we report the identification by two independent methods of a novel mutation associated with the MH-susceptible phenotype in the RYR1 gene: the 6488G-->C transversion, resulting in the replacement of the Arg2163 with a proline residue.

Significantly improved survival time in pigs with complete liver ischemia treated with a novel bioartificial liver

Aim of the study was to evaluate treatment efficacy and safety of a scaled-up version of our porcine hepatocytes based BAL system in pigs with complete liver ischemia (LIS). Thirty-one pigs underwent total devascularization of the liver (LIS) by termino-lateral porta-caval shunts and sutures around the bile duct, the common hepatic and gastroduodenal arteries and their accessory branches. The hepato-duodenal ligament was completely transected. Four experimental groups were studied: the first control group (LIS Control, n = 10) received glucose infusion only, the second control group (LIS Plasmapheresis, n = 8) was connected to a centrifugal plasma-separator with a bottle representing the bioreactor volume, the third control group (LIS Empty-BAL, n = 5) received BAL treatment without cells, and the treated group (LIS Cell-BAL, n = 8) was connected for a maximum period of 24 hours to our scaled-up BAL seeded with around 14 billion viable primary porcine hepatocytes. BAL treatment significantly prolonged life in large animals (approximately 35 kg) with complete LIS (Controls, mean +/- SEM: 33.1 +/- 3 h, Cell-BAL: 51.1 +/- 3.4 h; p = 0.001; longest survivor 63 h). In addition, blood ammonia and total bilirubin levels decreased significantly, indicating metabolic activity of porcine hepatocytes in the bioreactor. No significant differences were noticed among the three control groups, indicating that there was no device effect and that the plasmapheresis procedure was well tolerated. No important adverse effects were observed.

Minimal flow and half-closed system ventilation in lung surgery

BACKGROUND

This study aimed at determining the applicability of minimal flow anaesthesia in lung surgery.

METHODS

The standards anaesthesiological technique was modified to perform minimal flow half-closed system ventilation. For procedures on left lung orobronchial intubation was performed by a White no. 41 and no. 39 orotracheal tube, respectively in male and in female patients, in order to achieve a perfect tight of bronchial cuff and prevent gas loss from the circuit, because of the greater calibre of the right stem bronchus. The metal double lumen connector was replaced by a plastic tube that is clamped to exclude the lung from ventilation, whenever necessary. Fibrin glue was systematically applied on the bronchial stump or resected lung tissue before restoring ventilation.

RESULTS

No significant changes were recorded in heart rate, arterial systolic and diastolic pressure, end-expiratoy CO2 concentration, oxygen saturation, airways maximum and minimum pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

Minimal flow half-closed system ventilation can be easily performed also in pulmonary surgery provided that gas loss from the circuit is 50 ml/min by means of specific technical adjustments.

beta 25-35 alters calcium homeostasis and induces neurotoxicity in cerebellar granule cells

We studied the neurotoxic effects of beta 25-35 amyloid fragment (beta 25-35) on cerebellar granule cells and the intracellular mechanisms involved. Treatment for 3 days with peptide greatly reduced the survival of 1 day in vitro (DIV) cultures kept in 5 mM KCI but slightly modified the survival of 25 mM KCI-cultured cerebellar granule cells. We also studied the effect of glutamate on survival of undifferentiated cerebellar granules. We report no neurotoxic effect of glutamate on 3-DIV-treated cultures; whereas in beta 25-35-pretreated cells, a significant glutamate toxicity was observed. Treatment of 6-DIV cells with beta 25-35, performed with 25 mM KCI, induced a late but significant neurotoxic effect after 5 days of exposure, and death occurred within 8 days. Differentiated cerebellar granule cells were also sensitive to glutamate-related neurotoxicity, and this effect was enhanced by beta 25-35 pretreatment. To study the molecular mechanisms underlying the neurotoxic effects of beta 25-35, changes in calcium homeostasis after glutamate stimulation were evaluated in control and beta 25-35-treated cells. beta 25-35 did not affect basal [Ca2+]i but modified glutamate-induced [Ca2+]i increase, causing a sustained plateau phase that persisted even after the removal of the agonist. These results show that beta 25-35 induces neurotoxicity in cerebellar granule cells and that this effect is related to modifications in the control of calcium homeostasis.

Somatostatin inhibits PC Cl3 thyroid cell proliferation through the modulation of phosphotyrosine activity. Impairment of the somatostatinergic effects by stable expression of E1A viral oncogene

In this study, we report the effects of somatostatin on the proliferation of PC C13 thyroid cell line and the intracellular mechanisms involved. We also evaluated the possible alterations, induced by E1A oncogene transformation on the intracellular pathways mediating somatostatin inhibition of cell proliferation. We showed that somatostatin was able to powerfully inhibit insulin- and insulin + TSH-dependent cell proliferation by inducing a block in the G1/S progression in the cell cycle. These cytostatic effects were completely reverted by vanadate, suggesting that somatostatin may induce antiproliferative effects through the modulation of phosphotyrosine phosphatases. In the E1A-transformed cell line, somatostatin was completely ineffective. The lack of somatostatin inhibitory effects on cell proliferation were not due to alterations in the expression of somatostatin receptors, which were regularly expressed and coupled to adenylyl cyclase activity, but were dependent on an alteration in their coupling with the phosphotyrosine phosphatase. In fact, although in PC C13 cells somatostatin increased by 100% phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity, it was completely ineffective in E1A-expressing cells. In conclusion we demonstrated that somatostatin activates phosphotyrosine phosphatases in PC C13 thyroid cells to inhibit cell proliferation and that the stable expression of E1A oncogene in these cells completely abolishes this antiproliferative effect.

Alpha 1 B, but not alpha 1A, adrenoreceptor activates calcium influx through the stimulation of a tyrosine kinase/phosphotyrosine phosphatase pathway, following noradrenaline-induced emptying of IP3 sensitive calcium stores, in PC Cl3 rat thyroid cell line

In PC Cl3 rat thyroid cell line noradrenaline-induced Ca2+ response, mainly due to the activation of alpha 1B receptors, is characterized by a rapid peak phase, due to the Ca2+ mobilization from inositol trisphosphate-sensitive internal stores, followed by a sustained plateau, representing the capacitative calcium entry. The plateau phase elicited by noradrenaline returns to the basal value within 100 sec from the removal of agonist. The tyrosine kinases inhibitor genistein completely abolishes the plateau upon noradrenaline withdrawal. On the contrary, the tyrosine phosphatases blocker, vanadate, potentiates the plateau phase of calcium response to noradrenaline and prevents the gradual decrease of [Ca2+]i after removal of noradrenaline. The noradrenaline-induced Ca2+ influx, due to the activation of alpha 1A receptor-operated Ca2+ entry is not affected by vanadate. The treatment with noradrenaline induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of specific substrates in lysates derived from PC Cl3 cells, an effect inhibited by genistein pretreatment. These results show that a balance between tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation is required for the regulation of capacitative calcium entry following noradrenaline stimulation of alpha 1B receptor, whilst the influx of Ca2+ directly operated by alpha 1A receptor activation seems to be independent of the tyrosine phosphorylating pathway.