Carbon nanotubes in macrophages: imaging and chemical analysis by X-ray fluorescence microscopy

X-ray fluorescence microscopy (microXRF) is applied for the first time to study macrophages exposed to unpurified and purified single-walled (SW) and multiwalled (MW) carbon nanotubes (CNT). Investigating chemical elemental distributions allows one to (i) image nanotube localization within a cell and (ii) detect chemical modification of the cell after CNT internalization. An excess of calcium is detected for cells exposed to unpurified SWCNT and MWCNT and related toxicological assays are discussed.     

Including sorption to black carbon in modeling bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: uncertainty analysis and comparison to field data

Model estimations of bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been higher than field or laboratory data. This has been explained by strong sorption to black carbon (BC). In this paper, eight previously published bioaccumulation datasets were reinterpreted in terms of additional BC sorption. Biota--Solids Accumulation Factors (BSAFs) of PAHs typically decreased by 1-2 orders of magnitude and were better in line with field data in marine, fresh water, and terrestrial ecosystems. Probabilistic BC-inclusive modeling showed that if BC content is not accurately known, uncertainty in BSAFs is 2-3 orders of magnitude (90 percentile confidence interval) due to uncertainty in the BC sorption term. When BC contents are measured, the deviation between model estimations and field measurements reduces to about a factor of 3. This implies that including routine measurements of BC contents is crucial in improving risk estimations of PAHs.     

Influence of water on potato starch–lipid interactions. An electron spin resonance (ESR) probe study

Electron spin resonance (ESR) was used in order to study the mechanism of interaction of potato starch with lipids in systems with different water contents (40, 50 and 60% w/w) during heating and cooling. Different spin probes were used, on the one hand spin‐labelled stearic acids (5‐DSA and 16‐DSA), which limited lipids, and on the other hand the water‐soluble probe 4‐hydroxy‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (Tempol), which was sensitive to changes in the dynamic properties of the water phase associated with the temperature‐induced starch structural transformations. Whatever the water content in the hydration range considered, Tempol was observed to be relatively mobile in the presence of potato starch, whereas a strong absorption of spin‐labelled stearic acids on potato starch granules took place at room temperature for all investigated starch–water systems. Spin‐labelled stearic acids were expected to stick on the starch granules. The mobility of the spin‐labelled stearic acid was less upon cooling than upon heating as a result of starch gelation. The mobility of spin probes decreased with increasing starch concentration. Introduction of a doxyl fragment at position 16 of the hydrocarbon chain leads to a lower degree of immobilisation of the spin probe as compared with 5‐DSA. This result suggests that there is a stronger interaction of polar sites of stearic acid with starch granules. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Textural and ultrastructural changes during processing and storage of lightly preserved salmon (Salmo salar) products

The effect of a controlled lactic fermentation on textural and ultrastructural properties of salmon fillets was evaluated. When compared with a non‐inoculated cured sample, fermented salmon had unique textural properties since it exhibited significantly higher force (p < 0.05) and work (p < 0.001) values in a penetration test on two sampling days but a consistently lower hardness (p < 0.05) in a Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) rheological test. Study of the myofibrillar ultrastructure showed that basic structures were drastically damaged during processing and storage of fermented and cured salmon. Nevertheless, Z‐lines were better preserved in fermented samples. It is suggested that the slight protective effect of lactic fermentation with the starter L sake may be the consequence of a lower pH, by putatively inhibiting neutral or alkaline proteolytic enzymes. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Production of short-chain fatty acids from resistant starch in a pig model

This study was performed to estimate the pool of SCFA produced in the digestive tract of growing pigs after the consumption of diets containing dif-ferent sources of resistant starch (RS) (15 g per meal) (potato starch (PoS), high amylose maize starch (HS) and retrograded extruded HS (RHS)). SCFA production in vitro was respectively 19, 23 and 21 mmol g⁻¹ of fermented PoS, HS and RHS. The highest butyric acid production was observed with PoS. Fifty six, 36 and 19% respectively of ingested PoS, HS and RHS escaped digestion in the small intestine, whereas residual starch was completely fermented in the large bowel. Luminal total SCFA in the caeco-colon 7 h after the experimental meal were respectively 33, 78 and 105 mmol for PoS, HS and RHS, with PoS providing the highest production of butyric acid. Theoretical in vivo SCFA production, calculated on the basis of results for in vitro fermentation and ileal digestibility, differed from in vivo results for PoS (+65%) and HS (-13%), but not for RHS. This study reveals different rates of disappearance of RS both in vitro and in vivo. © 1998 SCI.     

Looking at calcimimetics impact on hypercalcemia of immobilization: hypotheses and a case study

For the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPTH-II) in dialysis patients and hypercalcemia in patients with parathyroid carcinoma. Calcimimetics are a new class of drugs approved in the European Community and the United States by the Food and Drug Administration that were designed to suppress parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels with a simultaneous reduction in serum calcium and phosphorus levels, and calcium phosphorus product (Ca x P). Hypocalcemia is a frequent finding during the correction phase of the HPTH-II with calcimimetics. By contrast, the appearance of a hypercalcemia has yet to be described. In this paper, we report a case of severe hypercalcemia of immobilization in a 40-year-old hemodialyzed woman treated by cinacalcet HCl for a severe HPTH-II (PTH>1,000 pg/mL). A kidney transplantation recipient 1983 to 1995, she was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie Tooth disease in 1991. She had multiple orthopedic interventions for kidney-related osteoarticular problems probably favored by the kidney graft and the immunosuppressive treatment. While she was receiving the maximum dose of 180 mg/day of cinacalcet HCl and PTH at 443 pg/mL, she needed to be hospitalized for a right hip prothesis. Two weeks after the intervention she developed a symptomatic hypercalcemia of 3.57 mmol/L which was resistant to several measures including lowering the calcium concentration in the dialysate, withdrawing all vitamin D and calcium supplementation and the administration of calcitonin. Her serum calcium level was finally stabilized in the 2.37-2.95 mmol/L by administration of a single intravenous dose of pamidronate. This observation illustrates that the pharmacological activation of the parathyroid CaR and other putative CaR on bone cells by calcimimetics did not protect against the occurrence of hypercalcemia of immobilization favored by a severe HPTH-II in a hemodialysis patient.     

Modulation of Starch Digestibility in Breakfast Cereals Consumed by Subjects with Metabolic Risk: Impact on Markers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation during Fasting and the Postprandial Period

Scope : Decreasing postprandial glycaemic excursions may have a beneficial effect on inflammatory and oxidative stress profiles. In this study, we investigated the impact of carbohydrate digestibility modulation per se, as a means of reducing the glycaemic response, on metabolic and inflammatory responses in subjects with metabolic risk factors. Methods and results : Twenty healthy subjects with metabolic risk consumed a cereal product either high in Slowly Digestible Starch (HSDS) or low in SDS (LSDS) at breakfast daily for 3 weeks, in a cross‐over design. Following each 3‐week session, postprandial glycaemia, insulinaemia, the lipid profile, inflammation and oxidative stress markers were assessed and compared to those induced by ingestion of a glucose solution (as a reference). The 2‐h glycaemic and insulinaemic responses were significantly lower following the HSDS breakfast compared with the LSDS breakfast or glucose. No significant differences between the products were observed in terms of the lipid profile, C‐reactive protein, IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha. We observed a slight increase in fasting lipid peroxidation markers, including an increase in plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and a decrease in whole blood glutathione (GSH), without significant alteration of urinary F2‐isoprostanes or plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. Conclusion : Consumption of HSDS products for 3 weeks significantly altered both postprandial glycaemia and insulinaemia, but was not sufficient to modify the inflammatory profile. Consumption of both cereal products was associated with a slightly higher fasting oxidative stress profile.     

Herbivore-Mediated Effects of Glucosinolates on Different Natural Enemies of a Specialist Aphid

The cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae is a specialist herbivore that sequesters glucosinolates from its host plant as a defense against its predators. It is unknown to what extent parasitoids are affected by this sequestration. We investigated herbivore-mediated effects of glucosinolates on the parasitoid wasp Diaeretiella rapae and the predator Episyrphus balteatus. We reared B. brassicae on three ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana that differ in glucosinolate content and on one genetically transformed line with modified concentrations of aliphatic glucosinolates. We tested aphid performance and the performance and behavior of both natural enemies. We correlated this with phloem and aphid glucosinolate concentrations and emission of volatiles. Brevicoryne brassicae performance correlated positively with concentrations of both aliphatic and indole glucosinolates in the phloem. Aphids selectively sequestered glucosinolates. Glucosinolate concentration in B. brassicae correlated negatively with performance of the predator, but positively with performance of the parasitoid, possibly because the aphids with the highest glucosinolate concentrations had a higher body weight. Both natural enemies showed a positive performance-preference correlation. The predator preferred the ecotype with the lowest emission of volatile glucosinolate breakdown products in each test combination, whereas the parasitoid wasp preferred the A. thaliana ecotype with the highest emission of these volatiles. The study shows that there are differential herbivore-mediated effects of glucosinolates on a predator and a parasitoid of a specialist aphid that selectively sequesters glucosinolates from its host plant.