An updated weight of evidence approach for deriving a health-based guidance value for 4-nonylphenol.

4-Nonylphenol (NP) is a persistent estrogen-active compound. Human exposure to NP is primarily through water and food. Although risk assessments of NP have been conducted by the European Union and a few other countries, only the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, in 2000, proposed a tolerable daily intake of 0.005 mg kg-1 body weight (bw) day-1 . New data have been accumulated since then, prompting an update on the risk assessment of NP. A weight of evidence approach is recommended for use in scientific assessments by several agencies, e.g., European Food Safety Authority, etc. Based on the results of a weight of evidence approach, two methods were used to derive the health-based guidance value (HBGV) for NP in this study, namely a no observed adverse effects level/lowest observable adverse effect level method, and a benchmark dose method. Considering the considerable uncertainty of benchmark dose model fitting of the available data, a tolerable daily intake value of 0.025 mg kg-1 bw day-1 was derived as a provisional HBGV for NP based on the lowest observable adverse effect level value of 15 mg kg-1 bw day-1 of the renal toxicity in rats, together with the uncertainty factor of 600. However, the HBGV of NP still needs further investigation.

[Protective effects of deep sea water against subacute alcoholic liver injury].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effects of two deep sea water( DSW)samples with different ion concentration against sub-acute alcoholic liver injury. METHODS: A total of 72 male KM mice( 18-22 g) were randomly assigned into six groups, i. e. the control group, model group, DSW-A1 fold concentration group( A1), DSW-A5 folds concentration group( A5), DSW-A 10 folds concentration group( A10), DSW-B5 fold concentration group( B). The corresponding DSW solution was ingested freely by each DSW group, and deionized water was ingested freely by the other two groups. The total administration duration was 30 consecutive days. Groups were given 50% ethanol solution( 0. 10 m L/10( g·d)) by ig since the 15 th day except the control group. After administration period, detect serum aspartate aminotransferase( AST), alanine aminotransferase( ALT), total bilirubin( T-BIL), total cholesterol( TC), triglyceride( TG) and low density lipoprotein( LDL), liver TC, TG, GSH, malonaldehyde( MDA), glutathione/glutathione oxidized( GSH/GSSG), superoxide dismutase( SOD), glutathione peroxidase( GSH-Px), catalase( CAT), xanthine oxidase( XOD). Livers were also further detected by microscopic examinations. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the model group had serious liver steatosis. The histological score and serum T-BIL were significantly increased( P < 0. 01), serum TC, LDL, AST and liver MDA were significantly increased( P < 0. 05), liver GSH-Px was significantly decreased( P < 0. 01). Compared with the model group, in A1 group, the serum T-BIL was significantly decreased( P < 0. 05), liver GSH-Px( P < 0. 01) and XOD( P < 0. 05) were significantly increased. In A5 group, serum T-BIL, liver MDA and pathologic changes were significantly decreased( P < 0. 01), serum TG and TC were significantly decreased( P <0. 05), liver GSH( P < 0. 01), GSH/GSSG( P < 0. 05), GSH-Px( P < 0. 01) and XOD( P < 0. 01) were significantly increased. In A10 group, serum LDL and AST were significantly decreased( P < 0. 05), serum TG, TC, T-BIL, liver MDA and the pathologic changes were significantly decreased( P < 0. 01), liver GSH/GSSG( P < 0. 05) and GSHPx( P < 0. 01) were significantly increased. In B group, serum TC and liver MDA were significantly decreased( P < 0. 05), serum TG, T-BIL, AST and liver pathologic changes were significantly decreased( P < 0. 01), liver XOD( P < 0. 05) and GSH-Px( P< 0. 01) were significantly increased. CONCLUSION: Middle and high concentration DSWA and DSW-B have protective effects against sub-acute alcoholic liver injury by decreasing serum lipid level, and improving the ability of antioxidation.

[Effects of bamboo charcoal powder on lipid metabolism in hyperlipidaemic rats fed high fat diet].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate of bamboo charcoal powder( BCP) on the lipid profile and mechanism in hyperlipidaemia model rats. METHODS: 40 male Sprague-Dawley( SD) animals of 4 weeks old were randomly assigned into five groups: the control group fed with low-fat diet; the model control group and the test group( 2. 81, 5. 62, 11. 24 g /kg). Each group gived BCP or distilled water correspondingly, the total administration duration was 90 consecutive days. After the blood samples were collected, liver, kidneys, and white adipose around bilateral epididymis and kidneys were excised and weighed. Serum biomarkers of liver and kidney function were detected. The activities of TC, TGand MDA, T-AOC, CAT, SOD of liver were determined by corresponding test kits according to the manufacturer's protocols. Livers were also further detected by macroscopic and microscopic examinations. RESULTS: After 90 days of treatment, the weight of rats more than 4 weeks, liver weight and percentage of body fat, serum AST, TG and VLDL, hepatic MDA, TG, TC and liver steatosis in the model control group was all increased compared with the negative control group, indicating that the model has been successfully built. It showed that the weight of rats, liver weight and white adipose weight, serum AST, TG and VLDL, hepatic MDA, TC and liver steatosis in the three dose group was all decreased. The hepatic SOD, CAT, T-AOC in the three dose groups were all increased. CONCLUSION: The BCP could reduce the accumulation of body fat, inmprove blood lipid and hepatic steatosis in hyperlipidemia model rats.