Does malaoxon play a role in the geno- and cytotoxic effects of malathion on human choriocarcinoma cells?

This investigation was undertaken to elucidate whether the active metabolite of malathion, malaoxon, has any role in exerting cyto- and genotoxic effects for human choriocarcinoma (JAR) cell line which is an acceptable model for human placental cells. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were separately performed on the cell compartment and supernatant cell culture medium after subjecting the cell line to different malathion concentrations (10-400 µg/mL) and for various incubation periods (0.5 to 24 hours). GC-MS analysis showed that the sonication performed for the disruption of the cells did not cause the chemical change of malathion. The uptake of malathion by the cells was relatively fast. However, the presence of malaoxon, even in trace amounts, could not be confirmed either in samples originating from disrupted cells or in the cell culture medium. Although the hydrolysis of malaoxon occurred in the culture medium, this degradation process could not be counted as a reason for the absence of malaoxon. Since both malathion and malaoxon standard compounds could be accurately detected and distinguished by the applied liquid-liquid extraction and GC-MS methods, one can conclude that, in the case of JAR cells, the parent compound, (i.e. malathion itself) is responsible for the observed in vitro cyto- and genotoxic effects. Our results indicate that the direct toxicity of malathion contributes to the complications of pregnancy observed for environmental malathion exposure.

[Can the decrease of blood alcohol level be accelerated? Results of a clinical study]. / Gyorsítható-e a véralkoholszint csökkentése? Egy klinikai vizsgálat eredményei.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Guardian Angel powder (GA) on the blood alcohol level. According to the experimental protocol, two sets of measurement were performed: modeling the eating and drinking habit of a typical family or social meeting, alcohol containing drinks corresponding to 70 g of pure alcohol and copious amount of food were consumed first without GA powder, then with GA powder. In the latter case GA powder was dissolved in water and one dose was taken before eating, the other one was consumed during eating. Blood samples were hourly collected from the volunteers in both sets for four hours. The measurement of blood alcohol level was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method proceeding to Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME). Our results show that the blood alcohol level decreased significantly when two doses of GA powder were consumed. After two hours of taking GA powder, the blood alcohol level was significantly lower in each volunteers compared to their own blood alcohol level measured in the absence of GA powder. This result shows that the individual variation of the alcohol metabolism does not influence significantly the effect of GA powder. Further studies are needed to investigate the detailed mechanism of the action of GA powder to find out whether GA powder influences the absorption of alcohol or/and the metabolism of alcohol.