Ethanol extracts of chickpeas alter the total lipid content and expression levels of genes related to fatty acid metabolism in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Desi-type chickpeas, which have long been used as a natural treatment for diabetes, have been reported to lower visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance induced by a chronic high-fat diet in rats. In this study, in order to examine the effects of chickpeas of this type in an in vitro system, we used the 3T3-L1 mouse cell line, a subclone of Swiss 3T3 cells, which can differentiate into cells with an adipocyte-like phenotype, and we used ethanol extracts of chickpeas (ECP) instead of chickpeas. Treatment of the 3T3-L1 cells with ECP led to a decrease in the lipid content in the cells. The desaturation index, defined as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)/saturated fatty acids (SFAs), was also decreased by ECP due to an increase in the cellular content of SFAs and a decrease in the content of MUFAs. The decrease in this index may reflect a decreased reaction from SFA to MUFA, which is essential for fat storage. To confirm this hypothesis, we conducted a western blot analysis, which revealed a reduction in the amount of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), a key enzyme catalyzing the reaction from SFA to MUFA. We observed simultaneous inactivations of enzymes participating in lipogenesis, i.e., liver kinase B1 (LKB1), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and AMPK, by phosphorylation, which may lead to the suppression of reactions from acetyl-CoA to SFA via malonyl-CoA in lipogenesis. We also investigated whether lipolysis is affected by ECP. The amount of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), an enzyme important for the oxidation of fatty acids, was increased by ECP treatment. ECP also led to an increase in uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), reported as a key protein for the oxidation of fatty acids. All of these results obtained regarding lipogenesis and fatty acid metabolism in our in vitro system are consistent with the results previously shown in rats. We also examined the effects on SCD1 and lipid contents of ethanol extracts of Kabuli-type chickpeas, which are used worldwide. The effects were similar, but of much lesser magnitude compared to those of ECP described above. Thus, Desi-type chickpeas may prove to be effective for the treatment of diabetes, as they can alter the lipid content, thus reducing fat storage.

Radioactive nuclides in the incinerator ashes of municipal solid wastes before and after the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Radioactive nuclides in the incinerator ashes of municipal solid wastes were determined by γ-ray spectrometry before and after the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant (March 11, 2011). Incinerator ash samples were collected in northern Kyushu, Japan, which is located approximately 1200 km west-southwest (WSW) of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, from April 2006 to March 2007 and from March 2011 to October 2011. (40)K, (137)Cs, (208)Tl, (212)Pb, (214)Pb, (212)Bi, (214)Bi, and (228)Ac were identified in the ashes before the accident (~February 2011) and (134)Cs was identified along with these eight nuclides in the ashes after the accident (March 2011~). A sequential extraction procedure based on a modified Tessier method with added water extraction was used for 1st fly ash sampled in August 2011 because the highest activity concentrations of (134)Cs and (137)Cs were observed for this sample. The speciation of radioactive nuclides in the fly ash was achieved by γ-ray spectrometry and powder X-ray diffractometry for the extraction residues. Little variation was observed in the distribution of the chemical forms of (134)Cs and (137)Cs in 1st fly ash of municipal solid waste; one half of (134)Cs existed as water soluble salts and the other half as carbonate compounds, whereas 75% of (137)Cs existed as water soluble salts with the remainder as carbonates(10%) and sulfides (15%). These results show that 88% of the total radioactive Cs existed in water soluble and ion extractive forms and might be at risk for elution and diffusion with rain and wind.

Comparing laboratory- and field-measured biota-sediment accumulation factors.

Standardized laboratory protocols for measuring the accumulation of chemicals from sediments are used in assessing new and existing chemicals, evaluating navigational dredging materials, and establishing site-specific biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) for contaminated sediment sites. The BSAFs resulting from the testing protocols provide insight into the behavior and risks associated with individual chemicals. In addition to laboratory measurement, BSAFs can also be calculated from field data, including samples from studies using in situ exposure chambers and caging studies. The objective of this report is to compare and evaluate paired laboratory and field measurement of BSAFs and to evaluate the extent of their agreement. The peer-reviewed literature was searched for studies that conducted laboratory and field measurements of chemical bioaccumulation using the same or taxonomically related organisms. In addition, numerous Superfund and contaminated sediment site study reports were examined for relevant data. A limited number of studies were identified with paired laboratory and field measurements of BSAFs. BSAF comparisons were made between field-collected oligochaetes and the laboratory test organism Lumbriculus variegatus and field-collected bivalves and the laboratory test organisms Macoma nasuta and Corbicula fluminea. Our analysis suggests that laboratory BSAFs for the oligochaete L. variegatus are typically within a factor of 2 of the BSAFs for field-collected oligochaetes. Bivalve study results also suggest that laboratory BSAFs can provide reasonable estimates of field BSAF values if certain precautions are taken, such as ensuring that steady-state values are compared and that extrapolation among bivalve species is conducted with caution.

Comparing laboratory and field measured bioaccumulation endpoints.

An approach for comparing laboratory and field measures of bioaccumulation is presented to facilitate the interpretation of different sources of bioaccumulation data. Differences in numerical scales and units are eliminated by converting the data to dimensionless fugacity (or concentration-normalized) ratios. The approach expresses bioaccumulation metrics in terms of the equilibrium status of the chemical, with respect to a reference phase. When the fugacity ratios of the bioaccumulation metrics are plotted, the degree of variability within and across metrics is easily visualized for a given chemical because their numerical scales are the same for all endpoints. Fugacity ratios greater than 1 indicate an increase in chemical thermodynamic activity in organisms with respect to a reference phase (e.g., biomagnification). Fugacity ratios less than 1 indicate a decrease in chemical thermodynamic activity in organisms with respect to a reference phase (e.g., biodilution). This method provides a holistic, weight-of-evidence approach for assessing the biomagnification potential of individual chemicals because bioconcentration factors, bioaccumulation factors, biota-sediment accumulation factors, biomagnification factors, biota-suspended solids accumulation factors, and trophic magnification factors can be included in the evaluation. The approach is illustrated using a total 2393 measured data points from 171 reports, for 15 nonionic organic chemicals that were selected based on data availability, a range of physicochemical partitioning properties, and biotransformation rates. Laboratory and field fugacity ratios derived from the various bioaccumulation metrics were generally consistent in categorizing substances with respect to either an increased or decreased thermodynamic status in biota, i.e., biomagnification or biodilution, respectively. The proposed comparative bioaccumulation endpoint assessment method could therefore be considered for decision making in a chemicals management context.

Determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) at sub-ppb levels in water with solid-phase extraction/metal furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

A simple method using solid-phase extraction combined with metal furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was developed for the determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) at sub-ppb levels in water. A 500-ml water sample was adjusted to pH 3 with nitric acid and then passed through an iminodiacetate extraction disk placed on a cation-exchange extraction disk at a flow rate of 20-40 ml min(-1) for concentrating Cr(III). The filtrate was adjusted to pH 10 with aqueous ammonia and then passed through an anion-exchange extraction disk at a flow rate of 2 ml min(-1) for concentrating Cr(VI). The Cr(III) and Cr(VI) collected were eluted with 40 ml of 3 mol l(-1) nitric acid for Cr(III) and 40 ml of 1 g l(-1) diphenylcarbazide solution for Cr(VI). Each eluate was diluted to 50 ml with deionized water and injected into a U-type tungsten board on the metal furnace. The calibration curves of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) showed good linearity in the range of 0.1-0.5 ng. The detection limits corresponding to three times the standard deviation (n = 5) of blank values were 8.1 pg for both Cr(III) and Cr(VI). The analytical value of total Cr (Cr(III) + Cr(VI)) in certified reference material of river water (JSAC 0302-3) was in good agreement with the reference value. The recovery test for 0.50 µg (1.00 µg l(-1)) of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) added to 500 ml of the water samples showed sufficient values (98.1-106%), except for river water sampled downstream due to relatively higher COD(Mn) value. The relative standard deviations (n = 5) were less than 5% for both Cr(III) and Cr(VI).

Molecular mechanisms of ginsenoside Rp1-mediated growth arrest and apoptosis.

Ginsenoside Rp1, a semi-synthesized ginseng saponin, was shown to have chemopreventive action and anti-metastatic potential. However, the molecular mechanisms of Rp1 on cell growth and death are not fully understood. In this study, the antiproliferative effect of Rp1 on HeLa cells in vitro was investigated. Treatment with Rp1 at 40 microM inhibited the proliferation and partial accumulation of cells at the G1 phase. Rp1-mediated G1 arrest was accompanied by decreased expression of cyclin D1, E, and A and increased expression of p21 without any significant change in p53 or phospho-p53 (Ser15). On the other hand, prolonged incubation with Rp1 at 40 microM caused apoptosis and activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9. The participation of these three caspases in apoptosis was more clearly shown in experiments using inhibitors, which markedly prevented Rp1-induced apoptosis in the case of each caspase. Cleavage of the polyADP-ribose polymerase, often used as an apoptotic marker, was also found in Rp1-induced apoptosis. Among Bcl-2 family proteins (Bad, Bax, Bid, Bcl-2), Bax and Bid were activated by Rp1 treatment, which resulted in the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, following activation of caspase-9. These observations indicate that multiple cell cycle regulatory proteins and apoptosis-inducing proteins are regulated by Rp1 and contribute to Rp1-induced growth arrest and apoptosis.