Scientific Guidance on the data required for the risk assessment of flavourings to be used in or on foods

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA developed a new scientific guidance to assist applicants in the preparation of applications for the authorisation of flavourings to be used in or on foods. This guidance applies to applications for a new authorisation as well as for a modification of an existing authorisation of a food flavouring, submitted under Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008. It defines the scientific data required for the evaluation of those food flavourings for which an evaluation and approval is required according to Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008. This applies to flavouring substances, flavouring preparations, thermal process flavourings, flavour precursors, other flavourings and source materials, as defined in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008. Information to be provided in all applications relates to: (a) the characterisation of the food flavouring, including the description of its identity, manufacturing process, chemical composition, specifications, stability and reaction and fate in foods; (b) the proposed uses and use levels and the assessment of the dietary exposure and (c) the safety data, including information on the genotoxic potential of the food flavouring, toxicological data other than genotoxicity and information on the safety for the environment. For the toxicological studies, a tiered approach is applied, for which the testing requirements, key issues and triggers are described. Applicants should generate the data requested in each section to support the safety assessment of the food flavouring. Based on the submitted data, EFSA will assess the safety of the food flavouring and conclude whether or not it presents risks to human health and to the environment, if applicable, under the proposed conditions of use

A comparative study between catalase gene therapy and the cardioprotector monohydroxyethylrutoside (MonoHER) in protecting against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in vitro

50) limited the possibility to increase catalase activity more than 3.5-fold, which was not enough to protect infected NeRCaMs against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and (2) confirms the efficacy of monoHER as a cardioprotector. Thus, the use of monoHER proves more suitable for the prevention of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity than catalase gene transfer employing adenovirus vectors

VASOCONSTRICTION AND BRONCHOCONSTRICTION INDUCED BY 2,5-DI-(TERT-BUTYL)1,4-BENZOHYDROQUINONE, AN ENDOPLASMIC RETICULAR CA2+-ATPASE INHIBITOR, IN ISOLATED AND PERFUSED RAT LUNG

The microsomal Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone (tBuBHQ) induced bronchoconstriction and vasoconstriction in the isolated perfused and ventilated rat lung. Thes effects were accompanied by increased levels of thromboxane and prostacyclin in the effluent perfusate. The effect of tBuBHQ was inhibited by L-655,240, a thromboxane receptor antagonist, indicating thromboxane-A2-mediated bronchoconstriction and vasoconstriction. Accordingly, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin largely blocked the effects of tBuBHQ. The involvement of a phospholipase in the generation of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) was supported by dibucaine protection on tBuBHQ effects. The results from this study indicate that tBuBHQ, probably by inhibiting the microsomal Ca2+-ATPase, can trigger the arachidonic acid cascade leading to the formation of TXA2, which in turn causes bronchoconstriction and vasoconstriction in rat lung

MODIFICATIONS OF CELLULAR THIOLS DURING GROWTH AND SQUAMOUS DIFFERENTIATION OF CULTURED HUMAN BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS

Thiol modifications during growth and differentiation of cultured normal human bronchial epithelial cells was studied by analysis of their content and redox state of low-molecular-weight thiols and protein thiols. Subculture of the cells with trypsin decreased the cellular content of the major low-molecular-weight thiol, i.e., reduced glutathione, although the glutathione content had returned to levels comparable to those before subculture already after 4 h in conjunction with cell attachment. During subsequent culture, increases in the cellular contents of glutathione, total cysteine equivalents, and total protein thiols occurred. These modifications in the amounts and redox balance of thiols were transient and preceded the major growth phase. Exposure of cells at clonal density to either diethylmaleate, a thiol-depleting agent, or buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, decreased the proliferative ability of the cells as demonstrated by a markedly decreased colony forming efficiency. Moreover, in mass cultures exposed to buthionine sulfoximine, a marked depletion of the glutathione content was again accompanied by inhibition of growth. Exposure of the cells to agents known to induce growth arrest and terminal squamous differentiation, i.e., fetal bovine serum, Ca2+, or transforming growth factor-beta 1, resulted in increased levels of reduced glutathione. No consistent alteration in the contents of the other thiols was noted. Overall, the results demonstrate consistent variations in the amounts and redox state of cellular thiols, particularly reduced glutathione, supporting a role of thiols in regulation of growth and squamous differentiation of human bronchial epithelial cells. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc

SULFUR DIOXIDE-INDUCED BRONCHOCONSTRICTION IN THE ISOLATED PERFUSED AND VENTILATED GUINEA-PIG LUNG

SO2 exposure (50-500 ppm) of isolated, perfused and ventilated guinea pig lungs, via the air passages, caused a concentration-related reduction in dynamic compliance and conductance. No changes in pulmonary perfusion flow was noted at any SO2 concentration. Formed sulfite was detected in lung lavage fluid as well as in the perfusate. Pretreatment of the lungs with a low concentration of SO2 (10 ppm) for 30 min protected against bronchoconstriction by a high concentration of SO2 (250 ppm). A similar protective effect was noted by pretreatment with sodium sulfite (3 mM) in the lung perfusate