Citrinin (CTN) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin produced by several fungal strains belonging to the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Monascus. It contaminates various commodities of plant origin, cereals in particular, and is usually found together with another nephrotoxic mycotoxin, ochratoxin A (OTA). These two mycotoxins are believed to be involved in the aetiology of endemic nephropathy. In a...

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence and patterns of alcohol and drug use in patients with major trauma. METHODS Consecutive trauma patient enrollment, 24 hours a day, was envisaged with anonymised patient data on gender, age band, and mechanism of injury collected. The study group had surplus plasma quantitatively analysed for ethanol concentration, and urine samples were initially screene...

• Absorption of arsenic is largely dependent on the solubility and particle size • Concentrations of arsenic or its metabolites in blood, hair, nails and urine may be used as biomarkers of arsenic exposure • Blood arsenic is a useful biomarker only in the case of acute arsenic poisoning or stable chronic high-level exposure • Since the elimination of arsenic takes place mainly via the kidneys, ...

The primary purpose of this chapter is to provide public health officials, physicians, toxicologists, and other interested individuals and groups with an overall perspective on the toxicology of diazinon. It contains descriptions and evaluations of toxicological studies and epidemiological investigations and provides conclusions, where possible, on the relevance of toxicity and toxicokinetic da...

To investigate the adaptive response of astrocytes to an environmental chemical, methylmercury (MeHg), we herein examined transcription factors activated in rat primary astrocytes treated with 10 μM MeHg for 6 hr using the Combo Protein/DNA Array. The activities of 38 transcription factors increased by 5-fold or greater in response to MeHg. The paired box family of transcription factors were st...

Saccharin is a widely used sweetener especially prescribed for the diabetics. But since its discovery, its use has been a matter of controversy due to its tumour promoting abilities in second generations of rats. As a result, saccharin was thought to be unfit for human consumption. Later on various studies focused on the possible mechanism of carcinogenic effects of saccharin on different anima...

Oral malodor is an unpleasant condition experienced by most individuals around the world. Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) may be the main source of oral malodor both in humans and dogs. The purpose of this study was to examine the suitability for measurement of oral malodor levels in dogs using OralChromaTM, a portable gas chromatograph developed for human use. Oral malodor and periodontal dis...

To understand selenium (Se) circulation in the biosphere, the metabolism of organic Se, in particular, Se metabolites, in animals and plants should be elucidated. In this study, garlic, Allium sativum, a well-known Se accumulator with high Se metabolic ability, was hydroponically cultivated and then exposed to trimethylselenonium ion (TMSe), a urinary metabolite. Thereafter, the Se concentratio...