Renal and hepatic effects following neonatal exposure to low doses of Bisphenol-A and 137Cs.

137-Cesium (137Cs) is one of the most important distributed radionuclides after a nuclear accident. Humans are usually co-exposed to various environmental toxicants, being Bisphenol-A (BPA) one of them. Exposure to IR and BPA in early life is of major concern, due to the higher vulnerability of developing organs. We evaluate the renal and hepatic effects of low doses of ionizing radiation (IR) and BPA. Sixty male mice (C57BL/6J) were randomly assigned to six experimental groups (n=10) and received a single subcutaneous dose of 0.9% saline solution, 137Cs and/or BPA on postnatal day 10: control, BPA (25 µg/kgbw), Cs4000 (4000 Bq 137Cs/kgbw), Cs8000 (8000 Bq 137Cs/kgbw), BPA/Cs4000 and BPA/Cs8000. At the age of two months, urines (24h) and blood samples were collected from animals of each group to determine biochemical parameters. Finally, kidneys and liver were removed to quantify DNA damage (8-OHdG), as well as to determine CYP1A2 mRNA expression. Data suggest that both BPA and 137Cs induced renal and liver damage evidenced by oxidative stress. However, when there is a co-exposure, it seems that there are compensatory mechanisms that may reverse the damage induced by each toxic itself. Notwithstanding, more studies are necessary to better understand the synergistic mechanisms behind.

Reaching consensus on communication of critical laboratory results using a collective intelligence method.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus in the literature about what analytes or values should be informed as critical results and how they should be communicated. The main aim of this project is to establish consensual standards of critical results for the laboratories participating in the study. Among the project's secondary objectives, establishing consensual procedures for communication can be highlighted. METHODS: Consensus was reached among all participating laboratories establishing the basis for the construction of the initial model put forward for consensus in conjunction with the clinicians. A real-time Delphi, methodology "health consensus" (HC), with motivating and participative questions was applied. The physician was expected to choose a numeric value within a scale designed for each analyte. RESULTS: The medians of critical results obtained represent the consensus on critical results for outpatient and inpatient care. Both in primary care and in hospital care a high degree of consensus was observed for critical values proposed in the analysis of creatinine, digoxin, phosphorus, glucose, international normalized ratio (INR), leukocytes, magnesium, neutrophils, chloride, sodium, calcium and lithium. For the rest of critical results the degree of consensus obtained was "medium high". The results obtained showed that in 72% of cases the consensual critical value coincided with the medians initially proposed by the laboratories. CONCLUSIONS: The real-time Delphi has allowed obtaining consensual standards for communication of critical results among the laboratories participating in the study, which can serve as a basis for other organizations.

Behavioral effects in mice of postnatal exposure to low-doses of 137-cesium and bisphenol A.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is the most important plasticizer used in many household products such as polycarbonate plastics or epoxy resins. Public and scientific concerns exist regarding the possibility that the neonatal exposure to BPA may contribute to neurobehavioral disorders. On the other hand, there is little information on the effects of low doses of ionizing radiation during critical phases of postnatal brain development, as well as the combination of radiation and environmental chemicals. In this study, C57BL/6J mice were exposed to low doses of internal radiation ((137)Cs), and/or BPA on postnatal day 10 (PND10). At the age of two months, animals were submitted to several tests to assess anxiety, activity, learning, and memory. Results showed that exposure to (137)Cs, alone or in combination with BPA, increased the anxiety-like of the animals without changing the activity levels. Animals exposed to (137)Cs showed impaired learning, and spatial memory, an impairment that was not observed in the groups co-exposed to BPA.

Neurobehavioral effects of concurrent exposure to cesium-137 and paraquat during neonatal development in mice.

As a result of nuclear power plants accidents such as Chernobyl or Fukushima, some people were exposed to external and internal ionizing radiation (IR). Human brain is highly sensitive to IR during fetal and postnatal period when the molecular processes are not completely finished. Various studies have shown that exposure to low doses of IR causes a higher incidence of cognitive impairment. On the other hand, in industrialized countries, people are daily exposed to a number of toxicant pollutants. Exposure to environmental chemicals, such as paraquat (PQ), may potentiate the toxic effects induced by radiation on brain development. In this study, we evaluated the cognitive effects of concomitant exposure to low doses of internal radiation ((137)Cs) and PQ during neonatal brain development. At the postnatal day 10 (PND10), two groups of mice (C57BL/6J) were exposed to (137)Cs (4000 and 8000 Bq/kg) and/or PQ (7 mg/kg). To investigate the spontaneous behavior, learning, memory capacities and anxiety, behavioral tests were conducted in the offspring at two months of age. The results showed that cognitive functions were not significantly affected when (137)Cs or PQ were administered alone. However, alterations in the working memory and anxiety were detected in mice exposed to (137)Cs combined with PQ.