Toxicology of 3-epi-deoxynivalenol,a deoxynivalenol-transformation product by Devosia mutans 17-2-E-8

Microbial detoxification of deoxynivalenol (DON) represents a new approach to treating DON-contaminated grains. A bacterium Devosia mutans 17-2-E-8 was capable of completely transforming DON into a major product 3-epi-DON and a minor product 3-keto-DON. Evaluation of toxicities of these DON-transformation products is an important part of hazard characterization prior to commercialization of the biotransformation application. Cytotoxicities of the products were demonstrated by two assays: a MTT bioassay assessing cell viability and a BrdU assay assessing DNA synthesis. Compared with DON, the IC₅₀ values of 3-epi-DON and 3-keto-DON were respectively 357 and 3.03 times higher in the MTT bioassay, and were respectively 1181 and 4.54 times higher in the BrdU bioassay. Toxicological effects of 14-day oral exposure of the B6C3F₁ mouse to DON and 3-epi-DON were also investigated. Overall, there were no differences between the control (free of toxin) and the 25 mg/kg bw/day or 100 mg/kg bw/day 3-epi-DON treatments in body and organ weights, hematology and organ histopathology. However, in mice exposed to DON (2 mg/kg bw/day), white blood cell numbers and serum immunoglobulin levels were altered relative to controls, and lesions were observed in adrenals, thymus, stomach, spleen and colon. Taken together, in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that 3-epi-DON is substantially less toxic than DON.     

广州市番禺区学龄前儿童各年龄组间RBC、HGB及MCV比较

目的：探讨广州市番禺地区学龄前儿童各年龄组间红细胞计数(RBC)、血红蛋白浓度（HGB）及平均红细胞体积(MCV)的参考值范围。方法选择2014年在番禺区中心医院就诊的6个月≤年龄≤6岁的健康儿童3290例;筛除离群数据后,按性别、年龄分组,采用SPSS19.0软件进行统计分析。结果除了女童不同年龄组间及2~3岁男女儿童间RBC水平、6个月~1岁及4~6岁男女童间HGB水平、2~3岁男女童间MCV水平比较差异均无统计学意义(P<0.05)外,其他参数在不同年龄组间比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);学龄前儿童各参数与《全国临床检验操作规程》(第4版)参考范围比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论番禺地区应根据本地域人群特点、不同年龄及性别建立合适RBC、HGB、MCV参考值范围,为临床诊断儿童贫血和评价儿童的营养和生长发育状况提供可靠的依据。     

Indocyanine green loaded hyaluronan-derived nanoparticles for fluorescence-enhanced surgical imaging of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is highly lethal and surgical resection is the only potential curative treatment for the disease. In this study, hyaluronic acid derived nanoparticles with physico-chemically entrapped indocyanine green, termed NanoICG, were utilized for intraoperative near infrared fluorescence detection of pancreatic cancer. NanoICG was not cytotoxic to healthy pancreatic epithelial cells and did not induce chemotaxis or phagocytosis, it accumulated significantly within the pancreas in an orthotopic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma model, and demonstrated contrast-enhancement for pancreatic lesions relative to non-diseased portions of the pancreas. Fluorescence microscopy showed higher fluorescence intensity in pancreatic lesions and splenic metastases due to NanoICG compared to ICG alone. The in vivo safety profile of NanoICG, including, biochemical, hematological, and pathological analysis of NanoICG-treated healthy mice, indicates negligible toxicity. These results suggest that NanoICG is a promising contrast agent for intraoperative detection of pancreatic tumors.     

高原藏区健康人群血红蛋白值检测结果分析

目的了解高原藏区健康人群血红蛋白值增高的原因。方法随机选择甘孜藏区道孚县950名健康成年男性和760名健康成年女性作血红蛋白值检测,并与平原对照标准作比较。结果高原藏区人群血红蛋白水平高于平原地区(P0.01),该地区男性血红蛋白水平高于女性(t=26.133,P0.01)。其男女性各年龄段健康人群血红蛋白值差别无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论高原藏区健康男性血红蛋白值较女性明显增高,除与高海拔缺氧相关外,与男性不良生活习惯有一定关系。     

BC-2000血液细胞分析仪常见故障

介绍了BC-2000血液细胞分析仪在使用中WBC堵孔和HGB单元故障的解决方法。     

Oral toxicological studies of black soybean (Glycine max) hull extract: Acute studies in rats and mice, and chronic studies in mice

Black soybean (Glycine max) has been used for traditional medicine and food in Asian countries, but safety of its hull has not been studied. We conducted acute and chronic oral toxicity studies. For the acute study, an extract of black soybean hull (BE; 2.5 g/kg body weight) was administered singly by intragastric intubation to Sprague–Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice. There was no death or significant decrease in body weight in rats and mice, and the oral LD₅₀ of BE was >2.5 g/kg body weight. In the chronic study, BE was administered at dietary levels of 0% (control), 2.0%, and 5.0% to male and female C57BL/6 mice for 26 weeks. No mortality or toxicologically significant clinical changes were observed through the experimental period. Although body weights, as well as abdominal fat, blood levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol in 5.0% males were significantly lower than that in control and 2.0% groups, these changes were considered not to be adverse. Hematology and histopathological observation revealed no toxicologically significant changes. The no-observed adverse-effect-level of BE was estimated to be 5.0% in the diet (5074.1 mg/kg body weight/day for males and 7617.9 mg/kg body weight/day for females).     

Two generation reproduction and teratogenicity studies of feeding cyadox in Wistar rats

To investigate the teratogenic potential and reproductive toxicity of cyadox, a growth promoting agent, Wistar rats (F₀) were fed with diets containing cyadox (0, 50, 150 and 2500 mg/kg) or olaquindox (150 mg/kg), approximately equivalent to cyadox 5, 15, 250 or olaquindox 15 mg/kg b.w./day across two generations. Half of the pregnant rats (F₀, F_1b) were subjected to caesarean section on gestational day 20 for teratogenic examination and the other half produced pups F_1a and F_2a, respectively. At the 250 mg/kg b.w./day cyadox group, body weights of F_1b pregnant rats and F_2a on day 21 after birth decreased; fetal body lengths and tail lengths decreased; the number of fetal resorptions increased significantly; litter weights, number of viable fetuses decreased; number of embryo resorptions increased significantly; number of liveborn F_1a, F_1b and F_2a decreased. No macroscopic or microscopic change of any significance was found in the reproductive organs. Significant increases in the incidence of cervial ribs or lumbar ribs in F_2a pups and significant increases of relative organ weight of testis and epididymis in F_1b were observed at the 250 mg/kg b.w./day cyadox group. The NOAEL for reproduction/development of cyadox for rats was estimated to be 150 mg/kg diet, which was equivalent to approximately 15 mg/kg b.w./day.     

A flavonoid component from Docynia delavayi (Franch.) Schneid represses transplanted H22 hepatoma growth and exhibits low toxic effect on tumor-bearing mice

The fruit of Docynia delavayi (Franch.) Schneid is a kind of popular food in southwestern areas of China. Additionally, its rhizome has been long used as a folk medicine in the treatment of liver cancer by local people. Chrysin is a kind of flavonoid which induces cancer cell death in vitro. However, its anti-tumor activity in vivo and toxicological effects on the tumor-bearing animals still remain poorly understood. In this study, we obtained four flavonoids from this herb. Among them, chrysin showed the strongest cytotoxic effect on an array of cultured tumor cells. Further investigations revealed that it significantly repressed transplanted H22 ascitic hepatic tumor cell growth in vivo. Moreover, this compound displayed little toxic effects. Additionally, we demonstrated that in transplanted tumor tissues, chrysin not only activated caspase-3 and induced apoptosis, but also inhibited the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and suppressed angiogenesis. These data showed that chrysin exhibited prominent anti-tumor activities and low toxic effects in vivo.     

Acute and subchronic oral toxicity assessment of the herbal formula Kai-Xin-San

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Kai-Xin-San (KXS) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. It has been used in the treatment of diseases including neurasthenia, Alzheimer's disease and neurosis.

Aim of the study

To provide information on the potential toxicity of KXS, we evaluated the acute and subchronic toxicity in rodents.

Materials and methods

In acute study, a single administration of KXS was given orally to mice at doses ranging from 19.67 to 60.04 g/kg. In the sub-chronic oral toxicity study, KXS was administered to rats at 0, 1, 3 and 9 g/kg for 13 weeks. Moreover, 30 days of post treatment (withdrawal study) was conducted. Mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes, food and water consumption, haematological and biochemical parameters, gross findings and organ weights were monitored during the study period.

Results

In the sub-chronic study in rats, daily oral administration of KXS at the dose of 9 g/kg/day result in significant increase in WBC, lymphocyte, alkaline phosphatase, blood sugar and significant decrease in bodyweight, serum Cre, CK and CHO at the last week of treatment. Recovery except for the body weight was observed after 30 days of post treatment.

Conclusions

KXS is relatively safe for oral medication. The LD₅₀ of KXS was over 32.59 g/kg for mice. The no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) was considered to be 19.67 g/kg/day for rats.