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Background: Phytoestrogens have been praised for their beneficial health effects, whereas synthetic xenoestrogens have been connected to ailments. Aims: To ascertain whether the toxicities of natural and synthetic estrogens differ, we examined the potent phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), the common synthetic xenoestrogen tartrazine, and the physiological estrogen 17β-estradiol (E2). Methods: These three compounds were tested for cytotoxicity, cell proliferation and genotoxicity in human HepG2 and rat H4IIE hepatoma cells. Results: All three estrogens elicited cytotoxicity at high concentrations in both cell lines. They also inhibited cell proliferation, with E2 being the most effective. They all tended to increase micronuclei formation. Conclusion: Natural estrogens were no less toxic than a synthetic one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alleviating the increasingly critical environmental pollution problems entails the sensing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a hazardous factor for human health wherein the development of gas sensor platforms offers an efficient strategy to detect such noxious gases. Nanomaterials, particularly carbon-based nanocomposites, are desired sensing compounds for gas detection owing to their unique properties, namely a facile and affordable synthesis process, high surface area, great selectivity, and possibility of working at room temperature. To achieve that objective, g-C3N4 (graphitic carbon nitride) was prepared from urea deploying simple heating. The ensuing porous nanosheets of g-C3N4 were utilized as a substrate for loading Au nanoparticles, which were synthesized by the laser ablation method. g-C3N4 presented a sensing sensitivity toward organic vapors, namely methanol, ethanol, and acetone vapor gases, which were significantly augmented in the presence of Au nanoparticles. Specifically, the as-prepared nanocomposite performed well with regard to the sensing of methanol vapor gas and offers a unique strategy and highly promising sensing compound for electronic and electrochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this experiment was to study contagious mastitis pathogen effects on Iranian white cheese properties. Iranian white brine cheeses (2 trials) were made by healthy and containing pathogen bulk tank milk. All types of cheese were ripened at 13 °C for 2 weeks and at 6 °C to the end of ripening period. Cheeses were analyzed for the composition, color, lipolysis and proteolysis. The cheese of each trial was sampled at 1 and 60 days during ripening. No significant differences were observed between the fat, protein, ash and moisture contents of manufactured cheeses. Color parameters, lipolysis and proteolysis indices were not significantly different in two cheese groups. Therefore, incidence of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Corynebacteria spp and Mycoplasma spp in bulk milk tank does not change the physicochemical properties of Iranian white cheese. Despite the potential of these pathogens to cause health problems for consumers, they do not alter the characteristics of the cheese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]