In vivo visual reporter system for detection of estrogen-like substances by transgenic medaka

Detection of endocrine disrupting chemicals, in particular, environmental estrogens with living organisms, has many advantages if compared to chemical analysis. The screening of novel pollutants with meaningful endpoints, the integration of uptake, bioconcentration, and excretion as well as the evaluation of endocrine disrupting effects with respect to toxicity require in vivo biotests for estrogen-like substances (ELSs). Critical disadvantages of whole organism biotests are their low sensitivity and the need for laborious and time-consuming work. To overcome these problems, we have developed a transgenic medaka strain harboring the green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene driven by choriogenin H gene regulatory elements. Choriogenin H is an egg envelope protein induced by estrogens in the liver. With yolk sac larvae of this strain, GFP induction in liver was observed 24 h after onset of aqueous exposure to 0.63 nM 17beta-estradiol (E2), 0.34 nM ethynylestradiol, or 14.8 nM estrone. Furthermore, concentrated sewage treatment effluent induced GFP expression. Comparison of E2 equivalents estimated by GFP-induction in transgenic medaka, a YES assay, and GC/MS showed detection limits in the same order of magnitude. These results indicated that the sensitivity of the transgenic medaka strain was sufficient for application as an alternative model in monitoring environmental water samples for ELSs.     

Antimicrobial activity of nutmeg against Escherichia coli O157

We examined the difference between Escherichia coli O157 and non-pathogenic E. coli in their tolerance to spices. Various spices (5 g each) were homogenized at 25 degrees C for 10 min with 5 ml of 70% ethyl alcohol, and the supernatant solutions obtained by centrifugation were used as spice extracts. When the E. coli strains were incubated with each spice extract at concentrations of 0.01% and 0.1%, a noteworthy difference was observed between the O157 and non-pathogenic strains in their tolerance to nutmeg. The populations of the non-pathogenic strains could not be reduced, but those of the O157 strains were remarkably reduced. Antibacterial activity by the nutmeg extract was also found against the enteropathogenic E. coli O111, but not against enterotoxigenic (O6 and O148) and enteroinvasive (O29 and O124) E. coli. When we examined the antibacterial effect of volatile oils in nutmeg on the O157 and non-pathogenic E. coli strains, all O157 strains tested were found to be more sensitive to beta-pinene than non-pathogenic E. coli strains.     

Association of Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Progression—Comparative Microarray Gene Expression Analysis

The role of the ligamentum flavum (LF) in the pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is not well understood. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we investigated the degrees of LF hypertrophy in 18 patients without scoliosis and on the convex and concave sides of the apex of the curvature in 22 patients with AIS. Next, gene expression was compared among neutral vertebral LF and LF on the convex and concave sides of the apex of the curvature in patients with AIS. Histological and microarray analyses of the LF were compared among neutral vertebrae (control) and the LF on the apex of the curvatures. The mean area of LF in the without scoliosis, apical concave, and convex with scoliosis groups was 10.5, 13.5, and 20.3 mm², respectively. There were significant differences among the three groups (p < 0.05). Histological analysis showed that the ratio of fibers (Collagen/Elastic) was significantly increased on the convex side compared to the concave side (p < 0.05). Microarray analysis showed that ERC2 and MAFB showed significantly increased gene expression on the convex side compared with those of the concave side and the neutral vertebral LF cells. These genes were significantly associated with increased expression of collagen by LF cells (p < 0.05). LF hypertrophy was identified in scoliosis patients, and the convex side was significantly more hypertrophic than that of the concave side. ERC2 and MAFB genes were associated with LF hypertrophy in patients with AIS. These phenomena are likely to be associated with the progression of scoliosis.     

Fourier transform near‐infrared and electron spin resonance studies on the crosslinking reaction of liquid carboxylated poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐butadiene) rubber with dicumyl peroxide in dioxane

The crosslinking reaction of liquid carboxylated poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐butadiene) [or nitrile rubber (NBR); acrylonitrile = 10 wt %] with dicumyl peroxide (DCPO) was studied in dioxane by means of Fourier transform near‐infrared spectroscopy (FT‐NIR) and electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). Among the three butadiene units (1,2, cis‐1,4, and trans‐1,4 units) of NBR, only the pendant vinyl group of the 1,2 unit showed an absorption at 6110 cm^?1 from the FT‐NIR examination of dioxane solutions of NBR, 1‐octene, 3,3‐dimethyl‐1‐butene, trans‐2‐octene, cis‐5‐octen‐1‐ol, poly‐cis‐1,4‐butadiene, and poly‐1,2‐butadiene. The crosslinking reaction was followed in situ in dioxane by the monitoring of the disappearance of the pendant vinyl double bond with FT‐NIR. The initial disappearance rate (R₀) of the vinyl group was expressed by R₀ = k[DCPO]^0.9[NBR]^?0.2 (120°C). The overall activation energy of the reaction was calculated to be 20.7 kcal/mol. This unusual rate equation suggests unimolecular termination due to degradative chain transfer and depressed reactivity of the vinyl group caused by crosslinking. ESR study of the reaction mixture revealed that an allyl‐type polymer radical was formed in the reaction, and its concentration increased with time and was then saturated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2095–2101, 2003     

A simple method for estimating carbonyl content in peroxide-containing oils

A simple method is described for the estimation of carbonyl content in peroxide-containing oils. In this method, peroxides, which interfere with carbonyl determination, are reduced with triphenyl phosphine prior to carbonyl determination. Carbonyl content is measured by a colorimetric 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazone procedure. Neither triphenyl phosphine nor triphenyl phosphine oxide, oxidation products of triphenyl phosphine by reaction with peroxides, interfere with the measurement of carbonyl content. The method is applicable to several kinds of oxidized oils in any oxidation stage.     

Synthesis and characterization of soluble hyperbranched polymer via initiator‐fragment incorporation radical polymerization of divinylbenzene with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate

The homopolymerization of divinylbenzene (DVB) as an excellent crosslinker (0.20 mol/L) with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) proceeded homogeneously without any gelation at 80°C in benzene when the MAIB concentrations as high as 0.30–0.50 mol/L were used, yielding soluble polymers. In the polymerization at the concentrations of [DVB] = 0.20 mol/L and [MAIB] = 0.50 mol/L, the polymer yield increased with time and leveled off over 90 min. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution increased with polymer yield. The vinyl groups of DVB were observed to be almost completely consumed in about 80 min, by FT near‐IR spectroscopic analysis. The homogeneous polymerization system involved ESR‐observable polymer radical, the concentration of which increased with time up to 3.4 × 10^?5 mol/L. The polymer formed in the polymerization for 2 h consisted of 46 mol % of DVB unit and 54 mol % of the methoxycarbonylpropyl group as MAIB fragment, indicating that an initiator‐fragment incorporation radical polymerization proceeds in the present polymerization. The polymer was soluble in benzene, tetrahydrofuran, ethyl acetate, chloroform, acetone, and N,N‐dimethylformamide, while it was insoluble in n‐hexane, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, methanol, and water. The results of the multiangle laser light scattering and viscometric measurements revealed that the individual polymer molecules were formed as hyperbranched polymer nanoparticles. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 664–670, 2006     

Higher social intelligence can impair source memory.

Source monitoring is made difficult when the similarity between candidate sources increases. The current work examines how individual differences in social intelligence and perspective-taking abilities serve to increase source similarity and thus negatively impact source memory. Strangers first engaged in a cooperative storytelling task. On each trial, a single word was shown to both participants, but only 1 participant was designated to add a story sentence, using this assigned word. As predicted, social intelligence negatively predicted performance in a subsequent source-monitoring task. In a 2nd study, preventing participants from being able to anticipate their partner’s next contribution to the story eliminated the effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of raw materials, intermediates and subsidiary colours in Food Yellow No. 5 (Sunset Yellow FCF) by LC/MS

Raw materials, intermediates and subsidiary colours in Food Yellow No. 5 (Sunset Yellow FCF) were determined using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with electrospray ionization. A gradient consisting of acetonitrile and 0.04% aqueous ammonium carbonate solution was used for the HPL C mobile phase. Quasi-molecular ions of impurities were used as monitor ions. It was necessary to use fragment ions of the sodium salts of 6-hydroxy-5-phenylazo-2-naphthalenesulphonic acid (SS-AN) and 4-(2- hydroxy-1- naphthylazo) benzenesulphonic acid (2N-SA) as monitor ions because the compounds are not resolved by chromatography and have the same molecular weight. Fifteen samples of commercial Sunset Yellow FCF were examined. The results obtained by UV-Vis spectroscopy were in good agreement with the results of LC/MS analyses. The detection limits of the impurities in Sunset Yellow FCF ranged from 0.01 to 0.1%.