Effects of deoxycorticosterone acetate on muscle electrolytes, resting potential and mitochondria in rats

Deoxycorticosterone acetate, injected daily for 5, 10, 20 or 30 days, reduced the serum potassium levels of rats by about 25%, a decrease that was independent of the treatment period employed. Serum sodium concentrations were unchanged with treatment duration. The potassium concentrations in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL) muscles were significantly decreased, and those of sodium increased, after treatment. Accompanying these changes of electrolyte concentration, the resting membrane potentials of treated EDL and SOL were hyperpolarized in vivo, and showed depolarization with the decreases of external potassium concentrations in vitro. The mitochondria in the muscles of treated rats were damaged. The degree of damage was more serious in EDL than in SOL and was dependent on the duration of deoxycorticosterone acetate treatment.     

Alkali metal intercalated fullerene-like MS(2) (M = W, Mo) nanoparticles and their properties

Layered metal disulfides-MS(2) (M = Mo, W) in the form of fullerene-like nanoparticles and in the form of platelets (crystallites of the 2H polytype) have been intercalated by exposure to alkali metal (potassium and sodium) vapor using a two-zone transport method. The composition of the intercalated systems was established using X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The alkali metal concentration in the host lattice was found to depend on the kind of sample and the experimental conditions. Furthermore, an inhomogeneity of the intercalated samples was observed. The product consisted of both nonintercalated and intercalated phases. X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy of the samples, which were not exposed to the ambient atmosphere, showed that they suffered little change in their lattice parameters. On the other hand, after exposure to ambient atmosphere, substantial increase in the interplanar spacing (3-5 A) was observed for the intercalated phases. Insertion of one to two water molecules per intercalated metal atom was suggested as a possible explanation for this large expansion along the c-axis. Deintercalation of the hydrated alkali atoms and restacking of the MS(2) layers was observed in all the samples after prolonged exposure to the atmosphere. Electric field induced deintercalation of the alkali metal atoms from the host lattice was also observed by means of the XPS technique. Magnetic moment measurements for all the samples indicate a diamagnetic to paramagnetic transition after intercalation. Measurements of the transport properties reveal a semiconductor to metal transition for the heavily K intercalated 2H-MoS(2). Other samples show several orders of magnitude decrease in resistivity and two- to five-fold decrease in activation energies upon intercalation. These modifications are believed to occur via charge transfer from the alkali metal to the conduction band of the host lattice. Recovery of the pristine compound properties (diamagnetism and semiconductivity) was observed as a result of deintercalation.     

COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF UVA AND UVB ON CULTURED RABBIT LENS

Abstract Effects on lens physiology of UVB and UVA used separately and sequentially were investigated using 4 week old rabbit lenses in organ culture. Narrowband UVB at 0.3 J/cm²= joules/lens (1 h exposure) has little effect on sodium and calcium concentrations in the lens interior or transparency of lenses subsequently cultured for 20 h after a 1 h exposure. With an incident energy of 3 J/cm² of broadband UVB (295–330 nm), lenses become opaque and slightly swollen with significant ion imbalances during culture over a 1 day period. In contrast, lenses exposed to approximately 6–24 J/cm² of UVA (330–400 nm) remain transparent after 1 day of culture. Extended culture up to 4 days reveals no signs of opacification. Ion homeostasis and normal lens hydration are also maintained in UVA-irradiated lenses. The presence of 95% oxygen during UVA irradiation is also without effect. Broadband UVA irradiation is damaging, however, if lenses are first exposed to subthreshold doses of narrowband UVB (307 ± 5 nm) irradiation, viz . 0.3 J/cm². Thus, sequential UVB/UVA irradiation at subthreshold doses causes impaired active cation transport and accumulation of sodium and calcium accompanying lens opacification.     

EFFECTS OF DEOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE ON MUSCLE ELECTROLYTES,RESTING POTENTIAL AND MITOCHONDRIA IN RATS

Deoxycorticosterone acetate, injected daily for 5, 10, 20 or 30 days, reduced the serum potassium levels of rats by about 25%, a decrease that was independent of the treatment period employed. Serum sodium concentrations were unchanged with treatment duration. The potassium concentrations in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL) muscles were significantly decreased, and those of sodium increased, after treatment. Accompanying these changes of electrolyte concentration, the resting membrane potentials of treated EDL and SOL were hyperpolarized in vivo, and showed depolarization with the decreases of external potassium concentrations in vitro. The mitochondria in the muscles of treated rats were damaged. The degree of damage was more serious in EDL than in SOL and was dependent on the duration of deoxycorticosterone acetate treatment.     

Effects of thermal ageing on mechanical and thermal behaviors of linear low density polyethylene pipe

The mechanical and thermal behaviors of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) pipe with variation in thermal exposure time were studied. The prolongation of thermal exposure time leads to a progressive increase, until 6000 h, in tensile strength and a slight increase in hardness, while a proportional decrease in elongation at break. These results can be explained by the increase of crystallinity, followed by the increase of crosslinking density and the decrease in chain mobility due to thermal oxidation as the exposure time increases. The additional ageing to the antioxidant-depleted LLDPE pipe induces the formation of T2 endotherm, which leads to a negative effect in mechanical properties. Long-term hydrostatic pressure test result implies the existence of transition point from ductile to brittle fracture in terms of the thermal exposure time. Chemiluminescence (CL) and oxidation induction time (OIT) tests are employed to monitor the thermo-oxidative degradation of LLDPE pipe. The CL emission intensity increases with increasing with thermal exposure time. Furthermore, the OIT result suggests that after 6000 h of the thermal ageing, the depletion of antioxidant originally added in LLDPE pipe occurs. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy results show the increase of carbonyl (-CO) and hydroxyl (O-H) function groups on the surface of thermally exposed LLDPE pipe. This result suggests that the hydrocarbon groups locally undergo the oxidation on the LLDPE surface due to thermal degradation.     

499 bis—The surface compartment model—voltage clamp

Solutions of the SCM equations under voltage clamp show that a transient inward sodium flux can occur at certain settings of the parameters. If there is a nonspecific increase in cation permeability upon depolarization, the positive sodium flux arises because the ion concentration changes in the electrical double layer compensate for the decrease in the electrical driving force, while parallell changes in the potassium ion concentrations lead to a decreased (but still outward) potassium flux. The sodium flux is quite sensitive to the magnitudes of the ionic permeabilities and mobilities, as well as the ion binding equilibrium and release rate constants. The values of the parameters determined here suggest magnitudes for the properties of the membrane components associated with the permeability change.     

THE EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LIGHT EXPOSURE ON DRUG-INDUCED PORPHYRIA IN THE RAT

Abstract— The porphyrinogenic drug, 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl 1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) when administered orally to rats evoked large increases in hepatic δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase (ALAS) activity and hepatic protoporphyrin levels. These increases varied markedly according to light exposure patterns of the animals. DDC-treated animals continuously exposed for one week to fluorescent Blacklight lamps (Westinghouse FS-40) demonstrated a greater than two-fold increase in hepatic ALAS and a greater than threefold increase in liver protoporphyrin levels as compared to DDC-treated animals exposed to ambient light-dark cycling. Furthermore, the skin of porphyric animals continuously exposed to light showed larger increases in porphyrin content as compared to rats exposed to ambient light. These studies indicate that light exposure patterns can profoundly alter the activity of the hepatic heme pathway in the rat and suggest that light exposure could play a role in the production of drug-induced porphyria in man.     

Changes in cell proliferation due to environmental non-ionizing radiation: 2. Microwave radiation

Due to the use of mobile telephones, there is an increased exposure of the environment to weak radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields, emitted by these devices. This study was undertaken to investigate if the microwave radiation from these fields will have a similar effect on cell proliferation as weak electromagnetic (ELF) fields. The field was generated by signal simulation of the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) of 960 MHz. Cell cultures, growing in microtiter plates, were exposed in a specially constructed chamber, a Transverse Electromagnetic (TEM) cell. The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values for each cell well were calculated for this exposure system. Experiments were performed on cell cultures of transformed human epithelial amnion cells (AMA), which were exposed to 960 MHz microwave fields at three different power levels and three different exposure times, respectively. It was found that cell growth in the exposed cells was decreased in comparison to that in the control and sham exposed cells. Cell proliferation during the period following exposure varied not only with the various SAR levels, but also with the length of exposure time. On the other hand, repeated periods of exposure did not seem to change the effects. There was a general linear correlation between power level and growth change. However, the exposure time required to obtain the maximum effect was not the same for the various power levels. It turned out that at low power level, a maximum effect was first reached after a longer exposure time than at higher power level. A similar phenomenon was registered in the studies on ELF electromagnetic fields. Here, it was found that there was a linear correlation between the length of exposure time to obtain maximum effect and field strength.     

UVB-lnduced Decreased Resistance to Trichinella spiralis in the Rat Is Related to Impaired Cellular Immunity

Abstract— Our laboratory has demonstrated in preliminary experiments that UVB exposure using the Kromayer lamp can induce increased numbers of Trichinella spiralis larvae in carcasses of infected Wistar rats, without affecting specific antibody titers to this parasite. In this study, orally T. spiralis-infected Wistar rats were exposed to subery-themal doses of UVB radiation using FS40 lamps during different time periods before or after infection. A significant increase in the number of T. spiralis larvae was found in the carcasses of rats that were UVB irradiated daily for 7 consecutive days in the second week after infection. Additionally, increased numbers of larvae were also detected histologically in the tongue of rats that were exposed the first and the second week after infection. Lymphocyte stimulation assays using mesenteral lymph node cells indicated that UVB exposure also impaired the specific lymphocyte response to T. spiralis. Moreover, DTH responses to T. spiralis were severely impaired in rats that were UVB irradiated daily for 7 consecutive days in the second week after infection. Thus, these data combined with the data of the Kromayer study indicate that exposure of rats to FS40 irradiation following oral infection with T. spiralis leads to increased numbers of larvae in systemic sites and impaired T-cell immunity to the parasite.     

Quality control in large sample analysis

To investigate the effects of lanthanum exposure on regional distribution of inorganic elements in rat brain. Wistar rats were exposed to lanthanum chloride through oral administration at 0, 0.1, 2, and 40 mg/kg concentration for 6 months. The elements such as Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn were identified in the brain slices by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) analysis. Differences of brain elemental distributions were noticed. Cl, Ca, and Zn were primarily concentrated in hippocampus of the controls. With the increase of the lanthanum dosage, the Ca and Zn levels significantly decreased, while the Cu levels significantly elevated in cortex, hippocampus and thalamus. Our results suggest that subchronic lanthanum exposure in rats appears to change elemental distributions in brain.     

Rat lens glycolysis after in vivo exposure to narrow band UV or blue light radiation

UV radiation and short wavelength visible light are known to damage various tissues in the eye. This paper investigates the effect on rat lens glycolysis after in vivo exposure with 90 kJ m⁻² narrow band UV radiation (UVB, 300 nm) and 90 kJ m⁻² blue light (435 nm) radiation. After exposure, all lenses were incubated in Medium 199. Samples of culture medium were withdrawn after 2, 4, 6 h and 5, 10, 20 h in two UVB studies and after 5, 10 and 20 h in a blue light study. Lactate is the major end product of lens glycolysis. Lactate was determined with a modified enzymatic-photometric method. Intralenticular lactate was determined in one UVB experiment. In the UVB experiments we found a lower lactate production in the exposed lenses 2–6 h after exposure. There was an accumulation of lactate inside UVB-exposed lenses after 6 h incubation compared with their contralateral lenses. No significant effect on lactate production was observed in the blue light experiment. Conclusions. UVB induced a reversible inhibition of glycolysis. UVB also induced an accumulation of lactate inside the lens. Blue light tended to increase glycolysis.     

Redox polymerization of methyl acrylate in absence and in presence of some inorganic silicon compounds

The polymerization of methyl acrylate in water using ammonium, potassium, and sodium persulphates with sodium bisulphite as redox initiation system was studied. It has been found that ammonium persulphate had the least activity on the rate of polymerization and resulted in the formation of the highest viscosity average molecular weights for the obtained polymers. The rate of polymerization was found to increase with sodium bisulphite concentration in the redox system, but the viscosity average molecular weights were found to decrease with the increase of sodium bisulphite concentration. Addition of some inorganic silicon compounds (containing the same weight equivalent of SiO₂) resulted in increasing the rate of polymerization and decreasing the induction period. The average molecular weights obtained in presence of china clay were found to be the highest and those obtained in presence of talc were the least.     

Concentration effect in copolymerization of sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate with sodium acrylate in aqueous solutions

The effect of the concentration of the initial monomer mixture, the comonomer ratio, and temperature on the kinetic parameters of the process and the characteristics of the resulting copolymers in the homogeneous copolymerization of sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate with sodium acrylate in aqueous solutions at 50–80°C in the presence of potassium persulfate is studied. The initial rate of copolymerization and the molecular mass of copolymers increase with the total initial concentration of the monomer mixture and the content of sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate. As temperature increases, the initial rate of copolymerization increases and the molecular mass of the copolymer diminishes. When copolymerization is performed in 10, 30, and 40% aqueous solutions of the monomers, the resulting copolymers are enriched in sodium acrylate units. The content of sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-sulfonate units in the copolymer slightly increases with an increase in the total initial concentration of the monomer mixture.     

UVA Light‐mediated Ascorbate Oxidation in Human Lenses

Whether ascorbate oxidation is promoted by UVA light in human lenses and whether this process is influenced by age and GSH levels are not known. In this study, we used paired lenses from human donors. One lens of each pair was exposed to UVA light, whereas the other lens was kept in the dark for the same period of time as the control. Using LC‐MS/MS analyses, we found that older lenses (41–73 years) were more susceptible to UVA‐induced ascorbate oxidation than younger lenses (18–40 years). Approximately 36% of the ascorbate (relative to control) was oxidized in older lenses compared to ~16% in younger lenses. Furthermore, lenses with higher levels of GSH were less susceptible to UVA‐induced ascorbate oxidation compared to those with lower levels, and this effect was not dependent on age. The oxidation of ascorbate led to elevated levels of reactive α‐dicarbonyl compounds. In summary, our study showed that UVA light exposure leads to ascorbate oxidation in human lenses and that such oxidation is more pronounced in aged lenses and is inversely related to GSH levels. Our findings suggest that UVA light exposure could lead to protein aggregation through ascorbate oxidation in human lenses.     

New insights into structural alteration of enamel apatite induced by citric acid and sodium fluoride solutions

Attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy and complementary scanning electron microscopy were applied to analyze the surface structure of enamel apatite exposed to citric acid and to investigate the protective potential of fluorine-containing reagents against citric acid-induced erosion. Enamel and, for comparison, geological hydroxylapatite samples were treated with aqueous solutions of citric acid and sodium fluoride of different concentrations, ranging from 0.01 to 0.5 mol/L for citric acid solutions and from 0.5 to 2.0% for fluoride solutions. The two solutions were applied either simultaneously or consecutively. The citric acid-induced structural modification of apatite increases with the increase in the citric acid concentration and the number of treatments. The application of sodium fluoride alone does not suppress the atomic level changes in apatite exposed to acidic agents. The addition of sodium fluoride to citric acid solutions leads to formation of surface CaF2 and considerably reduces the changes in the apatite P-O-Ca framework. However, the CaF2 globules deposited on the enamel surface seem to be insufficient to prevent the alteration of the apatite structure upon further exposure to acidic agents. No evidence for fluorine-induced recovery of the apatite structure was found.     

二硫化碳对机体铜、锌水平的影响

为观察二硫化碳（CS2）对机体铜，锌水平的影响，对某化纤厂35名接触CS2工人和41名非接触工人的血铜，锌值进行调查，比较，并进行了动物染毒实验。SD大鼠吸入CS2浓度分别为5和50mg/m^3，每日5h，每周6d，连续6个月，于染毒2，4，6个月时测定血浆铜，锌值及染毒6个月时肝脏铜，锌含量。结果显示，CS2接触组工人血铜，锌水平较对照组显著降低（P＜0．05）。在CS2染毒6个月时，50mg/m^3 CS2染毒组血浆及肝脏铜水平均较对照组及5mg/m^3 CS2染毒组显著降低（P＜0．05）。可见接触CS2能干扰机体铜，锌代谢，导致体内铜，锌含量减少。     

Particle size distribution of major inorganic species in atmospheric aerosols from Majorca (Spain)

Atmospheric aerosols collected by means of a cascade impaction system at the campus of the University of the Balearic Islands (Majorca, Spain) from November 1993 to February 1994 were analysed for chloride, nitrate, sulphate, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. Based on particle size distribution, the species studied were classified into three groups: (a) concentration decrease with particle size (sulphate and ammonium), (b) concentration increase with particle size (chloride, calcium, magnesium and sodium), and (c) independent of particle size (nitrate and potassium). A principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a clear relationship between particle size and analyte origin. Also, the origin of sulphate and potassium fine and coarse particles was found to be different.     

MEMBRANE PHOTOMODIFICATION OF CARDIAC MYOCYTES: POTASSIUM AND LEAKAGE CURRENTS

Cardiac myocytes were isolated from the atria of frogs (Rana pipiens) and whole cell potassium (IK) and "leakage" (Ileak) currents were monitored using the patch clamp technique. Cells were photosensitized by exposure to Rose Bengal (0.125-0.5 microM). Illumination produced an exponential decrease in IK, and an increase in Ileak. Current modifications varied with light intensity and sensitizer concentration. IK stabilized when illumination ceased, while Ileak continued to increase at a slower rate after illumination ended. The exponential nature of IK modification suggests that potassium channels are photomodified with single hit kinetics. The stabilization of IK following illumination suggests (1) that the photomodification of the potassium channel does not involve long lasting (minutes) radical chain reactions and (2) that this photomodification is not repaired in the course of a few minutes.     

Characterization of an ion-selective polypyrrole coating and application to the joint determination of potassium, sodium and ammonium by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and partial least squares method

A stable immobilization of ionophores (INPHs) was achieved by selectively electropolymerizing overoxidized pyrrol on the working electrode surface. The optimal conditions found allowed the immobilization of a huge amount of INPH which remained its recognition properties. A single sensing chip, containing a generic INPH or an INPH mixture, was employed to the joint quantification of potassium, ammonium and sodium in fertilizer samples. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and partial least square (PLS) regression were used to obtain and process the data, respectively. The sensing element (INPH) and the exposure time were optimized. The best results were obtained by using the dibenzo-18-crown-6 INPH after waiting for 60 s, the time required to stabilize the impedimetric measurement. Taking into account that a single chip was employed, acceptable relative errors were obtained in the determination of potassium and ammonium (17% and 9%, respectively) in real fertilizer samples, also containing sodium. Although sodium concentration could not be estimated with precision, it had to be introduced into the calibration set data in order to model its interference with the other two ions.     

脱灰预处理对水稻秸秆物化性/水蒸气气化反应特性的影响

在固定床反应器中研究了水洗、不同浓度酸洗预处理对水稻秸秆物化性/水蒸气气化反应特性的影响。结果表明,水洗处理后稻秆中的钾、钠脱除率分别为90.5%和82.1%,酸洗处理后稻秆中的钾脱除率达到99.2%,而钠脱除率随酸种类略有差异,在84.6%~92.3%;酸洗并未改变稻秆中主要组分含量,但破坏了稻秆微观物理结构。比较不同浓度酸洗后稻秆的孔容、孔径分布、BET比表面积发现,各指标的排列顺序均为水洗稻秆>3%硫酸洗后稻秆>原稻秆>7%硫酸洗后稻秆>10%硫酸洗后稻秆;各种预处理酸的浓度均为3%时,硫酸洗后稻秆的孔容、孔径分布、BET比表面积最大,而磷酸洗后稻秆各指标则最小。水蒸气气化结果表明,钾、钠及丰富的孔径结构均能促进H₂的生成,且钾、钠对气化过程的作用明显强于孔径结构对气化过程的影响。水洗稻秆气化产气中H₂、CO₂的瞬时释放浓度高于酸洗稻秆;CO、CH₄则相反。4种酸的浓度为3%时,稻秆气化中H₂、CO₂瞬时释放浓度与稻秆孔径分布呈正相关性;CO、CH₄瞬时释放浓度则与稻秆孔径分布呈负相关性。4种酸浓度为3%时,孔径越丰富,气化速率越快。脱灰预处理虽降低了稻秆气化氢气产率,但提高了气化气体热值。