Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate contamination of retail packed lunches caused by PVC gloves used in the preparation of foods

Plasticizer contamination of foods sold in retail packed lunches and set lunches in restaurants was determined by GC/MS. The phthalate esters were as follows: diethyl, dipropyl, dibutyl, dipentyl, dihexyl, butylbenzyl, dicyclohexyl, di(2-ethylhexyl), dioctyl, diisooctyl (mixture of isomers) and diisononyl (mixture). Di(2- ethylhexyl) adipate was also determined. Sixteen packed lunches and ten set lunches were analysed, and in all samples the concentration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the highest, at 0.80-11.8 mg/ kg in packed lunches and 0.012-0.30 mg/kg in set lunches. The DEHP content of five packed lunches exceeded 1.85 mg, which is the EU tolerable daily intake (TDI) for a person of 50 kg body weight. Foodstuffs that were components of the packed lunches were taken from the factory at each step of preparation and phthalates were determined. For example, chicken contained 0.08 mg/kg DEHP when uncooked, 13.1 mg/ kg after frying and 16.9 mg/kg after packing. Disposable PVC gloves used in the preparation of foods were apparently the source of high DEHP concentrations. The gloves used during cooking or packaging were sprayed with 68% (w/w) ethanol to sterilize them. PVC gloves from the factory contained 22 or 41% by weight of DEHP. To confirm the link with the contamination problem, samples of boiled rice, croquette and boiled dry radish were handled in the laboratory with PVC gloves containing 30% (w/w) DEHP. DEHP migration levels of 0.05 mg/kg in rice or 0.33 mg/kg in croquette, and 11.1 mg/kg in radish were found. The alcohol sprayed onto the gloves increased the migration of DEHP to 2.03 mg/kg in rice, 2.45 mg/ kg in croquette, and 18.4 mg/kg in radish.     

Synthesis and properties of novel poly(tetramethylsilnaphthylenesiloxane) derivatives

Novel poly(tetramethylsilnaphthylenesiloxane) derivatives were synthesized and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), and X-ray diffraction analyses. Poly(tetramethylsilnaphthylenesiloxane) derivatives were obtained by condensation polymerization of the corresponding disilanol derivatives, i.e. 1,4-, 1,5-, 2,6-, and 2,7-bis(dimethylhydroxysilyl)naphthalenes, which were prepared by the Grignard reaction using chlorodimethylsilane and the corresponding dibromonaphthalene derivatives followed by the hydrolyses, catalyzed by palladium on charcoal. The obtained poly(tetramethyl-1,5-silnaphthylenesiloxane) was insoluble in common organic solvents; however, the other polymers exhibited the good solubility in common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, dichloromethane, and toluene. The introduction of tetramethyl-1,5-silnaphthylenesiloxane units into the resulting polymer was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectrum of the copolymer obtained by condensation copolymerization of 1,5-bis(dimethylhydroxysilyl)naphthalene with 1,4-bis(dimethylhydroxysilyl)naphthalene. It was revealed from the DSC and X-ray diffraction measurements that poly(tetramethyl-1,5-silnaphthylenesiloxane) and poly(tetramethyl-2,6-silnaphthylenesiloxane) exhibited the crystallinity; however, poly(tetramethyl-1,4-silnaphthylenesiloxane) and poly(tetramethyl-2,7-silnaphthylenesiloxane) were amorphous. The glass transition temperature (T_g) and the temperature at 5% weight loss (T_d5) of poly(tetramethylsilnaphthylenesiloxane) derivatives with dimethylsilyl group at 1-position of the naphthylene moiety were higher than those at 2-position of the naphthylene moiety. The T_g and melting point (T_m) of the present polymers were higher than those of poly(tetramethyl-1,4-silphenylenesiloxane).     

Stabilization of liposomal membranes by carotenoids: Zeaxanthin,zeaxanthin glucoside and thermozeaxanthin

We investigated the membrane-stabilizing effect of three synthesized polar carotenoids, thermozeaxanthin (TZ), zeaxanthin glucoside (ZG) and zeaxanthin (Z), using the fluorescent calcein-leakage measurement from the calcein-entrapped liposomes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). The addition of TZ stabilized the liposomal membranes composed of DPPC at pH values ranging from 4.0 to 10.0. The addition of three carotenoids, TZ, ZG and Z, stabilized the membrane at acidic and neutral pH values ranging from 4.0 to 7.5. The values of leakage were lower at 30 °C and highest at 40 °C, and subsequently, gradually decreased at the higher temperature. The addition of TZ and Z stabilized the membranes, whereas, ZG destabilized the membranes at a temperature higher than 50 °C. In addition, the membrane-stabilizing effect of the carotenoids with the calcein-entrapped liposomes composed of lipids extracted from Thermus thermophilus were investigated. The addition of TZ resulted in stabilization of the membrane at all ranges of pH values. However, the addition of Z and ZG destabilized the membrane.     

Paramyosin of the disc abalone Haliotis discus discus: Identification as a new allergen and cross-reactivity with tropomyosin

Tropomyosin, a 35–38 kDa myofibrillar protein, represents a major allergen in molluscs, as well as in crustaceans. Besides tropomyosin, a 100 kDa allergen was newly detected in the disc abalone Haliotis discus discus. The 100 kDa allergen was purified from the muscle of the disc abalone by salting-out and hydroxyapatite HPLC and identified as paramyosin based on the determined amino acid sequences of the peptide fragments produced by lysylendopeptidase digestion. Based on analysis by fluorescence ELISA, as many as 16 of the 18 patient sera tested, reacted to the disc abalone tropomyosin. The same patient sera also reacted to the disc abalone paramyosin, although rather less potently than to tropomyosin, suggesting that paramyosin is a major allergen. Immunoblotting data showed that IgE-reactive paramyosin is distributed in some species of molluscs other than the disc abalone. Interestingly, cross-reactivity between paramyosin and tropomyosin was demonstrated by inhibition immunoblotting and inhibition ELISA.     

Structure of the Extracted Complex in the Ni(II)‐LIX84I System and the Effect of D2EHPA Addition

Abstract

The structure of the Ni(II) complex extracted with the commercial hydroxyoxime, LIX84I, and the effect of adding bis(2‐ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) to LIX84I on the extraction rate and the coordination of Ni(II) were investigated by solvent extraction and XAFS methods. The XANES spectrum and the curve fits of the EXAFS spectrum of the Ni‐LIX84I complex showed that the complex is four‐coordinate square‐planar with a 1:2 stoichiometry. In the Ni(II)–D2EHPA–LIX84I system, the coordination geometry changes from square‐planar to six‐coordinate octahedral with an increase in the D2EHPA concentration. Although the rate of Ni(II) extraction from the model spent electroless nickel plating bath with LIX84I is significantly accelerated by adding a small amount of D2EHPA ([LIX84I]: 0.5 M, [D2EHPA]: 0.05 M), most of the Ni(II) complexes extracted with this organic solution remain square‐planar. This indicates that the increase in the extraction rate does not depend on the change in the coordination structure of the extracted complex.     

Deletion of MCD 4 involved in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor synthesis leads to an increase in beta-1,6-glucan level and a decrease in GPI-anchored protein and mannan levels in the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Most proteins involved in the synthesis of the GPI core structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are essential for growth. To explore the relationship between the GPI anchor structure and beta-1,6-glucan synthesis, we screened deletion mutants in genes involved in GPI synthesis for osmotic remedial growth. Heterozygous diploid strains were dissected on medium with osmotic support and slow growth of the mcd 4 deletion mutant was observed. The mcd 4 mutant showed abnormal morphology and cell aggregation, and was hypersensitive to SDS, hygromycin B and K1 killer toxin. Incorporation of GPI cell wall proteins was examined using a GPI-Flo 1 fusion protein. The result suggested that the mcd 4 deletion causes a decrease in GPI cell wall proteins levels. The mutation also caused a decrease in mannan levels and an increase in alkali-insoluble beta-1,6-glucan and chitin levels in the cell wall.     

Dimer Interface in Natural Variant NK1 Is Dispensable for HGF-Dependent Met Receptor Activation

NK1, a splicing variant of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), binds to and activates Met receptor by forming an NK1 dimer and 2:2 complex with Met. Although the structural mechanism underlying Met activation by HGF remains incompletely resolved, it has been proposed that the NK1 dimer structure participates in this activation. We investigated the NK1 dimer interface’s role in Met activation by HGF. Because N127, V140, and K144 are closely involved in the head-to-tail NK1 dimer formation, mutant NK1 proteins with replacement of these residues by alanine were prepared. In Met tyrosine phosphorylation assays, N127-NK1, V140-NK1, and K144-NK1 showed 8.3%, 23.8%, and 52.2% activity, respectively, compared with wild-type NK1. Although wild-type NK1 promoted cell migration and scattering, N127-NK1, V140-NK1, and K144-NK1 hardly or marginally promoted them, indicating loss of activity of these mutant NK1 proteins to activate Met. In contrast, mutant HGFs (N127-HGF, V140-HGF, and K144-HGF) with the same amino acid replacements as in NK1 induced Met tyrosine phosphorylation and biological responses at levels comparable to those of wild-type HGF. These results indicate that the structural basis responsible for NK1-dependent Met dimer formation and activation differs from, or is at least distinguishable from, the structural basis responsible for HGF-dependent Met activation.     

Does the Rayleigh equation apply to evaluate field isotope data in contaminant hydrogeology?

Stable isotope data have been increasingly used to assess in situ biodegradation of organic contaminants in groundwater. The data are usually evaluated using the Rayleigh equation to evaluate whether isotope data follow a Rayleigh trend, to calculate the extent of contaminant biodegradation, or to estimate first-order rate constants. However, the Rayleigh equation was developed for homogeneous systems while in the subsurface, contaminants can migrate at different velocities due to physical heterogeneity. This paper presents a method to quantify the systematic effect that is introduced by applying the Rayleigh equation to field isotope data. For this purpose, the travel time distribution between source and sampling point is characterized by an analytical solution to the advection-dispersion equation. The systematic effect was evaluated as a function of the magnitude of physical heterogeneity, geometry of the contaminant plume, and degree of biodegradation. Results revealed that the systematic effect always leads to an underestimation of the actual values of isotope enrichment factors, the extent of biodegradation, or first-order rate constants, especially in the dispersion-dominant region representing a higher degree of physical heterogeneity. A substantial systematic effect occurs especially for the quantification of first-order rate constants (up to 50% underestimation of actual rate) while it is relatively small for quantification of the extent of biodegradation (< 5% underestimation of actual degree of biodegradation). The magnitude of the systematic effect is in the same range as the uncertainty due to uncertainty of the analytical data, of the isotope enrichment factor, and the average travel time.     

Bioactivities of surimi from southern blue whiting prepared by different ways

Surimi is stabilized minced fish meat that is washed with water and blended with cryoprotectants. In this study, surimi from southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis), surimi not subjected to washing entailing several changes of cryoprotectants following Patent WO/2003/013280 (hereafter termed unwashed surimi), heated surimi samples, and their hydrolysates were prepared to compare their compositions and bioactivities. Methanolic extracts of surimi and their hydrolysates were prepared for further analysis. The heated surimi samples showed different characteristics from the raw materials and released amino acids with enzymatic treatment. Unwashed surimi showed a significantly stronger 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity than surimi, and its effect on radical scavenging was compatible with that of southern blue whiting muscle. There was no significant difference in angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity between unwashed and washed surimi. Soybean lipoxygenase was inhibited by heated unwashed surimi, indicating that unwashed surimi can be used for soymilk and its products.     

Chemical composition,functional properties,and bioactivities of rapeseed protein isolates

In order to utilize rapeseed protein from oil industry waste for food applications, rapeseeds were pretreated to remove the oil using hexane. Two protein isolates were prepared, one by precipitation at controlled pH and the other by ultrafiltration. The precipitated and ultrafiltered protein isolates, respectively, contained 70.8% and 98.7% protein. The ultrafiltered protein isolate had a better emulsification capacity than had whole egg. The ultrafiltered protein isolate had a protein solubility of 52.5–97.2% in the range pH 3–9, whilst the maximum protein solubility of the precipitated protein isolate was 26.4% in the pH range 7–9. There were no significant differences between the precipitated and ultrafiltered protein isolates regarding their angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition are their bile acid-binding capacity. Their bile acid-binding capacity and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition capacities were lower than of those de-oiled soybean. They showed stronger DPPH radical-scavenging activity than did de-oiled soybean.