Jedinstveni obrazac djelovanja bisfenola A na ekspresiju gena čimbenika rasta živca embrionske mišje stanične linije N-44 dobivene iz hipotalamusa

We investigated the toxicity of bisphenol A (BPA) by determining the gene expression of nerve growth factor (Ngf) in the embryonic mouse cell line mHypoE-N44 derived from the hypothalamus exposed to BPA dose range between 0.02 and 200 μmol L-1 for 3 h. Ngf mRNA levels decreased in a dose-dependent manner, with significant reductions observed in the 2 to 50 μmol L-1 BPA treatment groups compared to controls. However, at 100 to 200 μmol L-1 the Ngf mRNA gradually increased and was significantly higher than control, while the expression of the apoptosis-related genes Caspase 3 and transformation-related protein 73 decreased significantly. These results suggest that in an embryonic hypothalamic cell line the higher doses of BPA induce a unique pattern of Ngf gene expression and that BPA has the potential to suppress apoptosis essential for early-stage brain development.U istraživanju toksičnosti bisfenola A (BPA) utvrđena je ekspresija gena čimbenika rasta živca (eng. nerve growth factor - NGF) embrionske mišje stanične linije mHypoE-N44 dobivene iz hipotalamusa nakon trosatnog izlaganja BPA-u u rasponu doza od 0,02 do 200 μmol L-1. Razine Ngf mRNA snizile su se ovisno o dozi, a značajne razlike od kontrolne skupine zamijećene su za raspon od 2 do 50 μmol L-1. Međutim, počevši od doze od 100 do 200 μmol L-1, razine Ngf mRNA značajno su se povećale u odnosu na kontrolu, a ekspresija gena kaspaze 3 i transformacijskog proteina 73 značajno snizila. Ti rezultati upućuju na to da visoke doze BPA u embrionskoj hipotalamičkoj staničnoj liniji stvaraju jedinstveni obrazac ekspresije gena Ngf te da BPA može suprimirati apoptozu koja je nužna za rani razvoj mozga

The Physics of the B Factories

This work is on the Physics of the B Factories. Part A of this book contains a brief description of the SLAC and KEK B Factories as well as their detectors, BaBar and Belle, and data taking related issues. Part B discusses tools and methods used by the experiments in order to obtain results. The results themselves can be found in Part C

Influence of acute exposure to a low dose of systemic insecticide fipronil on locomotor activity and emotional behavior in adult male mice

Fipronil (FPN) is a systemic insecticide that antagonizes the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors in insects. Recently, adverse effects of FPN on mammals have been reported, but most of those were caused by high doses of FPN and additives in the products. We investigated the effects of low-dose pure FPN on the emotional behavior of mice. Nine-week-old male mice conducted behavioral tests 24 hr after FPN administration by gavage at doses of 0.05 or 5 mg/kg based on the no-observed-effect level (NOEL), showed a significant increase in locomotor activity and dose-dependent responses on the time they spent in the central zone in the open field test. Pure FPN below the NOEL dose may affect the emotional behavior of mice

Specific ultrasound findings associated with fetal chromosome abnormality.

Cytogenetic amniocentesis (CA) has been performed as a reliable prenatal diagnostic method for decades. The aims of the present study were to reveal the frequency of fetal chromosome abnormalities according to medical indications of CA, and to assess the risks of specific abnormal ultrasound findings. Data on chromosome karyotypes of fetuses from 5043 Japanese mothers were collected. Group I comprised 4626 fetuses whose mothers underwent CA due to a variety of parental reasons. Group II comprised 417 fetuses whose mothers underwent CA due to fetal abnormality, abnormality of amniotic fluid volume and fetal growth restriction. The frequency of chromosome abnormalities in Group II (17.7%) was significantly higher than in Group I (1.8%). The frequencies of chromosome abnormalities in Group II singleton fetuses with fetal abnormality, polyhydramnios and fetal growth restriction were 21.5, 22.9 and 19.6%, respectively. By multivariate analyses, we found that cystic hygroma (odds ratio 5.6, 95% CI 2.7-11.6), abnormal extremity (5.0, 1.7-14.4) and cardiovascular abnormality (3.3, 1.1-10.1) were significant variants associated with fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Information revealed in the present study constitutes a beneficial reference for genetic counseling