Occurrence and Profiles of the Artificial Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A and Natural Endocrine Disruptor Phytoestrogens in Urine from Children in China.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to artificial or natural endocrine disruptors, such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phytoestrogens has been demonstrated to have health effects, especially in children. Biomonitoring of BPA and phytoestrogens in human urine can be used to assess the intake levels of these compounds. METHODS: In this study, BPA and phytoestrogens in urine specimens (n = 256) collected from children in China were measured by liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). RESULTS: BPA was detected in most specimens, with a geometric mean concentration of 1.58 ng/mL. For the first time, levels of urinary phytoestrogens in Chinese children were reported. Daidzein and enterolactone are the typical isoflavones and lignans compounds in urine, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Relatively high levels of urinary BPA indicate an increasing risk of BPA exposure to Chinese children. Urinary concentrations of daidzein in Chinese children are higher when compared with those reported in the U.S. children, while concentrations of urinary enterolactone and enterodiols are significantly lower. This suggests a significant difference in phytoestrogen intake between the children from China and from the U.S.

Effects of zinc deficiency and zinc supplementation on homocysteine levels and related enzyme expression in rats.

Methionine synthase (MS) and betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) are both zinc (Zn)-dependent methyltransferases and involved in the methylation of homocysteine. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary Zn supply on homocysteine levels and expression of the two enzymes in growing rats. Male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned randomly to four dietary groups (n=8/group) for 3 weeks: Zn deficient (ZD; <1mg Zn/kg); Zn control (ZC; 30mg Zn/kg); Zn supplemented (ZS; 300mg Zn/kg); pair fed (PF; 30mg Zn/kg) to the ZD group. Serum and femur Zn concentrations were 83% and 58% lower in ZD, and 49% and 62% higher in ZS compared to ZC (P<0.001), respectively. The ZD rats had lower feed intake (37%), body weight gains (45%), liver (43%) and kidney (31%) weights than those of ZC (P<0.001), but these parameters in ZD were not significantly different from the PF controls. Serum homocysteine concentrations were 65% higher in ZD compared to PF (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in serum folate levels between ZD and PF groups. The mRNA expression of liver and kidney MS was 57% and 38% lower in ZD than PF (P<0.001), respectively. Hepatic and renal BHMT mRNA levels were not altered in ZD compared to controls. The aforementioned measurements were not significantly different between ZS and ZC groups, except Zn levels. These results demonstrated that homocysteine homeostasis appeared to be disturbed by Zn deficiency but not Zn supplementation, and elevated serum homocysteine might be due to reduced expression of MS during Zn deficiency.

Trans-10,cis-12-conjugated linoleic acid worsens renal pathology and alters cyclooxygenase derived oxylipins in obesity-associated nephropathy.

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces indicators of early renal disease progression and the associated elevated cyclooxygenase (COX) levels in young obese rats with obesity-associated nephropathy (OAN). Therefore, renal function and injury and COX and its metabolites were assessed in obese fa/fa Zucker rats with more advanced renal disease. Obese rats at 16 weeks of age were provided with either cis(c)9, trans(t)11 (fa/fa-9,11) or t10,c12 (fa/fa-10,12) CLA for 8 weeks, and compared to lean (lean-CTL) and obese (fa/fa-CTL) rats provided the control diet without CLA. Obese rats displayed significantly reduced renal function and increased renal injury compared to lean rats. In the obese rat groups, glomerular hypertrophy was reduced in both CLA-supplemented groups. While all other measures of renal function or injury were not different in fa/fa-9,11 compared to fa/fa-CTL rats, the fa/fa-10,12 rats had greater renal hypertrophy, glomerular fibrosis, fibrosis, tubular casts and macrophage infiltration compared to the fa/fa-CTL and fa/fa-9,11 groups. The fa/fa-10,12 group also had elevated levels of renal COX1, which was associated with increased levels of two oxylipins produced by this enzyme, 6-keto-prostaglandin F(1α), and thromboxane B2. Renal linoleic acid and its lipoxygenase products also were lower in obese compared to lean rats, but CLA supplementation had no effect on these or any other lipoxygenase oxylipins. In summary, supplementation with c9,t11 CLA did not improve more advanced OAN and t10,c12 CLA worsened the renal pathology. Altered production of select COX1 derived oxylipins was associated with the detrimental effect of the t10,c12 isomer.

[Pharmacodynamical research of Jingu Tongxiao granule].

OBJECTIVE: To study functions of Jingu Tongxiao granule (JGTXG, treatmenting ache of bones and muscles) in antiphlogistic and antalgic aspect, invigorating the circulation of blood and absorbing clots and antitraumatic soft tissue. METHOD: Animal models of inflammation, ache, gore and traumatic soft tissue were adopted, and pharmacodynamic actions of Jingu Tongxiao granule were observed. RESULT: JGTXG could conspicuously restrain inflammatory reactions of mouse ear tumid model treated by croton oil tumid and rat foot metatarsus tumid model treated by carrageenan, and restrain pain responses of mouse caused with whipping back end method by heat stimulating and of mouse caused with wriggling body method by acetic acid being injected in its abdominal cavity. It could significantly improve petechia degree in traumatic rat blood stasis model, and prominently improve raumatized limb's tumefaction degree and alleviate blood stasis, swelling and phlogistic cell soakage in traumatic rat soft tissue model. At the same time, it could prominently restrain platelet aggregation and improve whole blood viscosity. CONCLUSION: Jingu Tongxiao granule has antiphlogistic and antalgic functions, invigorating the circulation of blood and absorbing clots and antitraumatic soft tissue, and it could keep curative effect of original dosage form.

[Studies on effects of aluminum compounds on aluminum contents in serum and brain of mice with high performance capillary electrophoresis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of alum, aluminum chloride and aluminum hydroxide on aluminum contents in serum and brain of mice with high performance capillary. METHOD: 60 days after the mice were given daily alum, aluminum chloride and aluminum hydroxide with the same aluminum content of 14.25, 57 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), respectively, the aluminum content in serum and brain of mice were determined with high performance capillary chromatography. RESULT: The average recoveries of serum aluminum determination was 96.5%-103%. The average recoveries of brain aluminum assay was 92.2%-105.3%. Except control group, serum aluminum increased obviously. Brain aluminum increased in all the large doses groups. 2 weeks after the mice were stopped being given these drugs, serum and brain aluminum recovered to normal level, except aluminum chloride large doses group. CONCLUSION: The metabolism and excretion mechanism of aluminum in mice depends on the chemical states of the aluminum compound.