toxicity

Toxicity mechanism identified for Parkinson's disease

harminka — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:48:10 -0600

Neurologists have observed for decades that Lewy bodies, clumps of aggregated proteins inside cells, appear in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Toxicity adversely impacts reproduction and prenatal development

harminka — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:45:43 -0600

Typically, tobacco companies market harm-reduction cigarettes as being safer than traditional "full-flavored" brands, leading many smokers to conclude that the use of harm-reduction brands lowers their exposure to toxicants.

Link possible between pet food contamination and baby formula contamination

harminka — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:09:07 -0500

A study published in the November issue of a scientific journal, Toxicological Sciences, which is published by Oxford Journals on behalf of the Society of Toxicology, describes the kidney toxicity of melamine and cyanuric acid based on research that was done to characterize the toxicity of the compounds that contaminated pet food in North America in 2007.

Lack of cancer risk for patients exposed to this impurity in Viracept

harminka — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:38:20 -0500

New data from studies presented at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City have provided unprecedented insight into the toxicity of an impurity called ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS).

Lanthanum chloride catalyzes hydrogen–chlorine exchange between chlorinated hydrocarbons

harminka — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:56:00 -0500

Because of its toxicity and the dangers involved in handling it, tetrachloromethane (carbon tetrachloride, CCl4) can no longer be used or produced in many countries. However, the processes used in the production of other chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as chloroform (trichloromethane, CHCl3), also produce CCl4 as a byproduct.

US Plans Use of Automated Toxicity Screening, Could End Animal Testing

seher — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:42:22 -0600

Federal scientists are collaborating on a new approach to testing the toxicity of chemicals ranging from pesticides to household cleaners. They plan to use new automated high-speed cell tests to get more reliable data faster and more cheaply, and with less reliance on animal testing.

NIH collaborates with EPA to improve safety testing of chemicals

harminka — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:25:09 -0600

Testing the safety of chemicals ranging from pesticides to household cleaners will benefit from new technologies and a plan for collaboration, according to federal scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who today announced a new toxicity testing agreement.

Biochip mimics body to reveal toxicity of industrial compounds

harminka — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:02:29 -0600

A new biochip technology could eliminate animal testing in the chemicals and cosmetics industries, and drastically curtail its use in the development of new pharmaceuticals, according to new findings from a team of researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of California at Berkeley, and Solidus Biosciences Inc.

Study questions FDA genetic-screening guidelines for cancer drug

harminka — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:27:41 -0500

Not everyone needs a genetic test before taking the cancer drug irinotecan, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should modify its prescription guidelines to say so, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Researcher engineers sorghum that grows in poisonous soils

harminka — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 05:36:18 -0500

When soils are too acidic, aluminum that is locked up in clay minerals dissolves into the soil as toxic, electrically charged particles called ions, making it hard for most plants to grow. In fact, aluminum toxicity in acidic soils limits crop production in as much as half the world's arable land, mostly in developing countries in Africa, Asia and South America.

Infusion of IgG helps imaging antibodies from circulation

harminka — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 05:41:25 -0500

The use of monoclonal IgG antibodies attached to toxins or radioactive substances for treating and imaging cancer is currently limited by the ability of IgG to remain in the blood for a long time because this decreases the tumor-to-background contrast and increases normal tissue toxicity.

Easing concerns about promising new medical imaging agent

harminka — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:56:39 -0500

In a study that eases concern about the toxicity of nanoparticles being considered for use in medical imaging and biomedical research, scientists in North Dakota are reporting “no significant toxic effects” from tests of silica nanoparticles.