Antifungal activity of Rubia tinctorum, Rhamnus frangula and Caloplaca cerina.

The results of a preliminary antifungal screening of the methanol extracts and the major anthraquinone aglycones, alizarin and emodin, of Rubia tinctorum and Rhamnus frangula in comparison with the antifungal activity of the anthraquinone-containing lichen Caloplaca cerina and its main secondary metabolite parietin are reported.

Cytotoxic effects of air pollutants on mammalian cells in vitro.

Extract and fractions of city smog collected from a heavy industrialized area caused in vitro dose-dependent reduction of cell survival of mouse macrophages and a growth inhibition of human fetal diploid lung fibroblasts. Great differences were observed in both cell systems between the total extract and its different fractions. Cytotoxicity declined in the sequence of total extract followed by fractions of cyclohexane, methanol, propanol and of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Our results illustrate that samples of city smog contain highly toxic substances for mammalian cells in vitro. Differences in cytotoxicity of particular fractions indicate that toxic agents belong to various classes of chemical substances.

[Toxicity of lead chloride influenced by zinc iones in cultures of mouse macrophages (authors transl)]. / Einfluss von Zink-Ionen auf die toxische Wirkung vor Bleichlorid (PbCl2) untersucht an Mäusemakrophagen in vitro

We analysed the toxic effect of lead chloride employing peritoneal macrophages of the mouse. Toxic effects were determined using the following parameters: viability by dye exclusion test, membrane permeability estimating release of lactate dehydrogenase and carbohydrate metabolism measuring lactate production. Our results demonstrate that Zinc iones in a concentration of 1 X 10(-5) M reduce the toxic effect of lead chloride of 2-4 X 10(-4) M.

[The effect produced by fine-dust extracts on cells in vitro, with particular regard to cancerogenic components (author's transl)]. / Die Wirkung von Feinstaubextrakten auf Zellen in vitro unter besonderer Berücksichtigung krebserzeugender Komponenten

Airborne dust is toxic for cells cultured in vitro and able to transform these cells to cancerous. The effect of extracts from atmospheric dust has been investigated. The dust samples were extracted by means of DMSO alone or in combination acetone-DMSO. Dosage of the extract was done according to its benzo(a)pyrene content (mug/ml medium). Dust extract with a concentration of 1 mug benzo(a)pyrene/ml exerted a toxic effect upon mouse macrophages (cell line IC-21) and human lymphocytes after stimulation. The degree of toxicity was estimated from the percentage of damaged cells seen in the dye exclusion test and from the amount of lactate dehydrogenase and lactate released into the medium in the case of macrophages. In the case of lymphocytes the degree of toxicity was estimated from the extent of inhibition of DNA synthesis. In the carcinogenicity test, hamster kidney cells were first treated with the extract and then incubated with Simian Virus (SV-)40. Treatment of the cell cultures with extract from airborne dust in a concentration of 0.01 and 0.1 mug benzo(a)pyrene/ml clearly enhances the rate of transformation caused by SV 40.

[Analysis of the biological effect of city smog extract IV. Growth inhibition of kidney cell cultures (cercopithecus aethiops) under the influence of a city smog extract and its polyaromatic fractions (author's transl)]. / Untersuchung der biologischen Wirkung von atmosphärischen Feinstaubextrakten IV. Wachstumshemmung von Nierenzellkulturen (Cercopithecus aethiops) unter Einwirkung eines atmosphärischen Feinstaubextraktes und seiner Polyaromatenfraktionen.

The cell growth of exponentially growing kidney cell cultures of Cercopithecus aethiops was determined by estimation of protein content. The effect of city smog extracts and its polyaromatic fractions on cell growth was examined. Based on the benzo(a)pyren-content the crude extract of city smog exerted the strongest inhibition of cell growth, followed by non purified and purified fraction of polyaromates. The inhibition of cell growth was dose dependent. Results indicate, that for cell growth inhibition are of importance concentrations of toxic substances and exposition time.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas with primary localization in large bowel and rectum.

From 1989, at the Department of Medical Oncology of the Institute for Oncology and Radiology in Belgrade, seven patients with primary NHL of large bowel and rectum have been observed and treated, 3 males and 4 females. In 3 patients an urgent laparotomy without previous diagnostic procedures was performed, while 4 patients had laparotomy only after radiographic and endoscopic diagnosis of a tumor. Six patients had radical surgery and 1 palliative only. Five patients had lymphoma localized in cecoascedental part of colon (2 centroblastic, 1 lymphoplasmocytic, 1 Burkitt and 1 Burkitt's like), 1 patient had it in the transversal part of colon (centroblastic), and one in the rectum (diffuse centrocytic). By further investigation, in 2 cases with localization within transversal part of colon and rectum no other sites of NHL were found. They are under regular controls with 45+ and 45+ months disease free survival. Out of 5 patients with localization within cecum or ascendent part of colon, in 2 cases with Burkitt/Burkitt-like histology retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy were found, one female had NHL central propagation, and the other one lymphoma generalization. Both patients had early death from lymphoma. The remaining three patients following chemotherapy with the ProMACE regimen (as they too had a post laparotomy stage II disease) achieved a complete response lasting for 36+, 41+ and 66+ months. Since the median survival in our group of patients is at the moment 41+ months and the median has not yet been reached, our experience does not confirm literature data claiming bad prognosis of primary NHL of the colon and rectum. A long disease free survival can be obtained in these patients either with surgery only or surgery + chemotherapy, depending on disease stage and possibly initial topographic localization.

[Analysis of the biological effect of city smog extract. I. Cytotoxicity of city smog extract from an urban area and of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on mouse macrophages in vitro (author's transl)]. / Untersuchung der biologischen Wirkung von atmosphärischen Feinstaubextrakten. I. Prüfung der zytotoxischen Wirkung eines Feinstaubextraktes aus einem Ballungsgebiet und von polyzyklischen Kohlenwasserstoffen an Mäusemakrophagen in vitro.

We analyzed the cytotoxic effect of a city smog extract from a large urban area, employing mouse macrophages in vitro. In parallel experiments we tested carcinogenic and non carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: benzo(a)pyrene, 7, 12-dimethylbenzanthracene, pyrene and anthracene. City smog extract induced a dose-dependent reduction of cell viability and an alteration in cell membrane permeability. In contrast to city smog extract the carcinogenic and non carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced no detectable cytotoxic effects in the dose range we analyzed. Possible implications of the cytotoxic effect of city smog extract on the lung are discussed.

[Analysis of the biological effect of city smog extract. II. Effect of a city smog extract on cell growth and DNA synthesis of hamster kidney cells in vitro (author's transl)]. / Untersuchung der biologischen Wirkung von atmosphärischen Feinstaubextrakten. II. Einfluss eines atmosphärischen Feinstaubextraktes auf die Zellvermehrung und die DNS-Synthese von Hamsternierenzellen in vitro.

A city smog extract from an urban area inhibits the cell growth of hamster kidney cells in vitro. Parallel to an inhibition of cell multiplication a diminished rate of total DNA synthesis appeared. The number of cells in DNA synthesis is depressed in presence of city smog extract. These phenomena revealed a dose-response relationship. The biological effect of city smog extract is discussed.

[Analysis of the biological effect of city smog extract. III. Comparative investigations on the effect of city smog extracts on cell replication and DNA-synthesis of kidney cells in vitro from the primate Cercopithecus aethiops (author's transl)]. / Untersuchung der biologischen Wirkung von atmosphärischen Feinstaubextrakten. III. Vergleichende Untersuchungen über die Wirkung von Feinstaubextrakten auf die Zellvermehrung und DNS-synthese von Nierenzellen des Primaten Cercopithecus aethiops in vitro.

We analysed the cytotoxic effect of city smog extracts from a heavy industrialized area using kidney cell cultures from the primate Cercopithecus aethiops.--Using logarithmically growing cell cultures we determined cell replication and the rate of DNA-synthesis after incorporation of 3H-thymidine.--In presence of city smog extracts we found a dose dependent reduction of cell replication and of DNA-synthesis. In presence of high concentrations (BP-aquivalent 0.25-0.5 microgram/ml) of city smog extract we found no increase in cell number over a period of 72 h. Under the same conditions hardly any DNA-synthesis was detected.--In presence of middle and low concentrations of city smog extract a dose- and time-dependent increase in cell number and rate of DNA-synthesis was detected.

A controversial issue: could a watch-and-wait policy for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma clinical stage I or IE with no lymphoma left following diagnostic surgery be justified? Results of a single centre study.

BACKGROUND: A subset of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with clinical stage I or IE at presentation is left without other NHL localizations following surgery performed for diagnostic histology, and thus without any target lesion to judge the immediate effectiveness of immediately applied additional treatment modalities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since 1988 we have adopted in this single centre, prospective non-randomized study, a watch-and-wait policy for such patients, who in addition had to have non-bulky disease, normal LDH levels, no 'B' symptoms and no Burkitt, lymphoblastic and cutaneous T-cell histology. Up to 1993 we have observed 50 consecutive cases. Patients were regularly followed with the endpoint to determine the relapse-free interval and overall survival. NHL relapses were treated, either with locoregional radiotherapy, or with chemotherapy, or both. RESULTS: The median observation time is at the moment 53.5+ months (range 6-106+). The initial NHL localizations were: a solitary cervical or auxillary lymph node in 18 patients, inguinal or scarpal lymph node in eight, tonsil in 12 and skin/subcutis in 12 (B-cell NHL only for skin/subcutis). Nine patients had low, 15 intermediate, and 26 high-grade histology. Within the observation period NHL relapses occurred in 10/50 patients (20 per cent). At the moment 46/50 patients (92 per cent) are alive and NHL free. The estimated 9-year freedom from relapse is 79 per cent and overall survival 92 per cent, and for 41 patients with intermediate/high-grade histologies 80 per cent and 95 per cent respectively. CONCLUSION: It seems that a proportion of the very selected subgroup of patients with stage I of IE NHL and absolutely no NHL left following diagnostic surgery, with additional criteria as described in this study can achieve a substantial freedom from relapse and overall survival rate without immediate additional therapeutic procedures following diagnosis of NHL, but no prognostic factors predicting this outcome seem yet available.

Environmental exposure to cadmium and renal function of elderly women living in cadmium-polluted areas of the Federal Republic of Germany.

An epidemiological study was performed to assess whether environmental pollution by cadmium as found in cadmium-polluted areas of the Federal Republic of Germany is associated with an increased prevalence of biological signs of kidney dysfunction in population groups non-occupationally exposed to heavy metals. The study was run in two industrial areas known to be highly contaminated by cadmium, lead and other heavy metals, viz. Stolberg and Duisburg. Düsseldorf was selected as a reference area. As a study population we selected 65- and 66-year-old women (n = 286) who had spent the major part of their lives in one of these areas. The average cadmium levels in blood (CdB) and urine (CdU) revealed significant differences in exposure to cadmium in the order Stolberg greater than Duisburg greater than Düsseldorf. Serum creatinine levels were, on average, significantly higher in the Stolberg group than in the Duisburg and Düsseldorf groups. However, with respect to the urinary excretion of low molecular weight proteins (beta 2-microglobulin, retinol-binding protein), albuminuria, total proteinuria, aminoaciduria, phosphaturia and some other biological findings, no significant differences between the study populations were noted. Similarly, the prevalence of clinically-confirmed hypertension as well as the relative frequency of hypertensive subjects (systolic greater than or equal to 160 and/or diastolic greater than or equal to 95 mm Hg) did not differ significantly among the three study groups. There was no exposure-response relationship between CdU and tubular proteinuria in the range of the CdU-levels found (0.1 to 5.2 micrograms/g creatinine). However, albuminuria tended to be increased at CdU levels greater than 2 micrograms/g creatinine.

Exposure to lead and cadmium of children living in different areas of north-west Germany: results of biological monitoring studies 1982-1986.

Between 1982 and 1986 several surveys were carried out to determine the levels of lead and cadmium in blood, urine, and shed deciduous teeth (incisors only) of children living in rural, suburban, urban, and industrial areas of North-West Germany. Blood lead (PbB) and blood cadmium (CdB) were measured in about 4000 children. In rural, suburban and urban areas the median PbB levels vary between 5.5 and 7 micrograms/dl, with 98th percentiles varying between 10 and 13 micrograms/dl. The median CdB levels are between 0.1 and 0.2 microgram/dl, with 95th percentiles between 0.3 and 0.4 microgram/l. Children from urban areas have significantly higher PbB levels than children from rural and suburban areas. Regarding CdB no differences could be detected. Children living in areas around lead and zinc smelters, particularly those living very close to the smelters, have substantially increased PbB and CdB levels. Children from lead worker families also have substantially increased PbB and CdB levels. The lead levels in shed milk teeth (PbT) were determined in about 3000 children. In rural, suburban and urban areas the median PbT levels are between 2 and 3 micrograms/g, with 95th percentiles between 4 and 7 micrograms/g. Children from urban areas have significantly higher PbT levels than children from rural and suburban areas. The highest PbT levels (on a group basis) are in children from nonferrous smelter areas. The median levels of lead in urine (PbU) are between 6 and 10 micrograms/g creatinine, with 95th percentiles between 20 and 30 micrograms/g creatinine. Children from polluted areas have higher PbU levels than children from less polluted areas. The median levels of cadmium in urine (CdU) are in the order of 0.1 microgram/g creatinine, with 95th percentiles being in the range of 0.5 and 1.0 microgram/g creatinine. Girls have higher CdU levels than boys. There are no differences between groups of children from different areas. Children from lead worker families have higher PbU and CdU levels than otherwise comparable children. The results of the present studies indicate a further decrease of PbB in children from North-West Germany since the CEC blood lead campaigns carried out in 1979 and 1981. The decrease of lead exposure also seems to be reflected by a decrease of tooth lead levels.