Priority list of potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals in food chemical contaminants: a docking study and in vitro/epidemiological evidence integration.

Diet is an important exposure route of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), but many unfiltered potential EDCs remain in food. The in silico prediction of EDCs is a popular method for preliminary screening. Potential EDCs in food were screened using Endocrine Disruptome, an open-source platform for inverse docking, to predict the binding probabilities of 587 food chemical contaminants with 18 human nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) conformations. In total, 25 contaminants were bound to multiple NHRs such as oestrogen receptor α/ß and androgen receptor. These 25 compounds mainly include pesticides and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). The prediction results were validated with the in vitro data. The structural features and the crucial amino acid residues of the four NHRs were also validated based on previous literature. The findings indicate that the screening has good prediction efficiency. In addition, the epidemic evidence about endocrine interference of PFASs in food on children was further validated through this screening. This study provides preliminary screening results for EDCs in food and a priority list for in vitro and in vivo research.

[Neuroprotective effect of alpha-dihydroergocryptine depends on activation of nuclear factor kappa B].

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the neuroprotective effect of alpha-dihydroergocryptine (alpha-DHEC) and the activation of nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-Kappa B). METHODS: Adult male rats were subjected to cerebral ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). DNA binding activity of NF-Kappa B was determined with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) in animals subjected to varying durations of cerebral ischemia. Neuroapoptosis induced by ischemic damage was measured by deoxynucleotidy transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometry (FCM) analysis. RESULTS: No change was observed in nuclear NF-Kappa B DNA binding in normal animal. A low level of constitutive NF-Kappa B DNA binding was detected in animals subjected to cerebral ischemia of 1 h, and significant increase in the amount of active NF-Kappa B in nuclear extracts was observed after cerebral ischemia of 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h. Peak of NF-Kappa B DNA binding was observed at the time point of 3 h. Animals subjected to cerebral ischemia of 3 h potentially initiates neuroapoptosis and activates NF-Kappa B in nuclear extract. Alpha-DHEC (100 micrograms.kg-1 and 150 micrograms.kg-1) showed significant protective effect on neuroapoptosis-induced by cerebral ischemia of 3 h, and inhibiting NF-Kappa B activation using 100 mg.kg-1 pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) in the continuous presence of alpha-DHEC, the neuroprotective effect of alpha-DHEC was blocked. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the neuroprotetive effect of alpha-DHEC may depend on the activation of NF-Kappa B.

[Clinical and experimental study on rapid bladder ultrasound developer of Chinese medicinal herbs].

OBJECTIVE: To seek for a rapid type B ultrasound developer of Chinese medicinal herbs, so that the bladder and pelvic cavity developed clearly and pelvic cavity diseases could be diagnosed rapidly. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-two patients were observed clinically and animal experiments were performed. The rapid bladder ultrasonography developer (RBUD-1, a preparation of Chinese herbal medicine) alone was used in Group 1, composite prescription of Western and Chinese medicine was used in group 2. The control groups were using lasix or mineral water. RESULTS: Rapid diuresis and the decrease of the bladder capacity needed for development could be realized by Chinese medical herbs preparation, the difference between Group 1 and control group in developing time and bladder capacity were very significant. Results of animal experiments, which were referred to clinical grouping, showed the diuretic intensity of RBUD-1 within one hour was significantly higher than that in the other groups. Toxicological study showed the RBUD-1 was a non-toxic preparation. CONCLUSION: RBUD-1 could effectively develop bladder and pelvic cavity, it would help to diagnose in time, on the other hand, it would also contribute for the combination imaging of Chinese and Western medicine.