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Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) or Endocrine Disruptors are unique assemblage or cluster of emerging pollutants as they affect the synthesis, release and transport of hormones. EDCs have been associated with a diverse array of health issues and diseases. EDCs can alter the endocrine system and are involved in carcinogenesis and inducing poly-cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The objective of this article is to furnish an outline of research on environmental aspects of EDCs and their effects on human health specially on cancer and PCOS based on evidence from animal and human studies. EDCs include natural compounds such as phytoestrogens and various synthetic chemicals which are utilized by the chemical, agriculture, cosmetic and food industries. Several EDCs may work as carcinogens and causes initiation and advancement of cancer. Uterine and ovarian cancers of female have been associated with exposure to EDC. Bisphenol-A (BPA), an EDC which is found in plastic bottles, household materials, canned food, waste water, beverage containers and thermal paper, can increase risk of breast cancer. Even low levels of BPA exposure may poses threat of prostate cancer in men. Testicular cancer and thyroid cancer could be influenced by EDCs. Comprehensive studies have been conducted by many researchers in the light of toxicity pattern of EDC that render interpretation of impact of EDCs on development of cancer and PCOS inducing capacity in female reproductive system. Keywords: Endocrine disrupting chemicals; EDC; Cancer; Endocrine Disruptor, Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome; PCOS

The patterns of practices within the school which construct femininity and masculinity in everyday school life is the backdrop to the hidden curriculum of gender. These patterns constitute a gender “code”. The gender code provides the cues for “gender-appropriate” behaviour for all social actors within a particular school setting. For the school child, “clueing in” to the gender code involves reading gender into the contexts of social interaction within the school. This chapter shows how, within the specific cultural context of the primary school, everyday practices and interactions define the contours of the child’s “gendering.” Through description of everyday contexts of school life and children’s responses to these contexts, it explores how the child accommodates to these contours in order to be perceived as a “normal” competent member of her/his gender category. Sex-segregated routines are encountered every day by children in coeducational schools.

The reduction of tris(pyridine-2-carboxylato)manganese(III) by dithionite has been investigated within the temperature window 288–303 K and at pH range 5.22–6.10 in sodium picolinate–picolinic acid buffer medium. The reaction obeys the following stoichiometry: S2O42−+2 Mn III +2H2O→2 HSO 3−+2 Mn II +2H+ The reaction is described in terms of a mechanism that involves an initial complex formation between S2O42− and [MnIII(C5H4NCO2)3] followed by S–S bond cleavage to give 2HSO3− and [MnII(C5H4NCO2)2(H2O)2] as the products via the formation of SO2●− radical anion. Kinetics and spectrophotometric evidences are cited in favor of the suggested mechanism. Thermodynamic parameters associated with the equilibrium step and the activation parameters with the rate-determining step have been computed.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether potentized cholesterinum (Chol) intermittently used with another homeopathic remedy, Natrum Sulphuricum (Nat Sulph) can provide additional benefits in combating hepatotoxicity generated by chronic feeding of carcinogens, p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB), and phenobarbital (PB). Mice were categorized into subgroups: normal untreated (Gr-1); normal + alcohol "vehicle" (Alc) (Gr-2), 0.06% p-DAB +0.05% PB (Gr-3), p-DAB+PB+Alc (Gr-4), p-DAB+PB+Nat Sulph-30 (Gr-5), p-DAB+PB+Chol-200 (Gr-6), p-DAB+PB+Nat Sulph-30+Chol-200 (Gr-7), p-DAB+PB+Nat Sulph-200 (Gr-8), and DAB+PB+Nat Sulph-200+Chol-200 (Gr-9). Hepatotoxicity was assessed through biomarkers like aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT), acid and alkaline phosphatases (AcP and AlkP), reduced glutathione content (GSH), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and analysis of lipid peroxidation (LPO) at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days and antioxidant biomarkers like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) were assayed. Electron microscopic studies (scanning and transmission) and gelatin zymography for matrix metalloproteinases were conducted in liver. The feeding of the homeopathic drugs showed intervention in regard to the increased activities of AST, ALT, AcP, AlkP, GGT, LDH, and LPO and decreased activities of G6PD, SOD, CAT, GR, and GSH noted in the intoxicated mice, more appreciable in Groups 7 and 9. Thus, combined therapy provided additional antihepatotoxic and anticancer effects.

To examine if a potentized homeopathic drug, Natrum Sulphuricum 200 (Nat Sulph-200) has protective potentials against hepatocarcinogenesis, liver tumors were induced in mice through chronic feeding ofP-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB; initiator of hepatocarcinogenesis) and phenobarbital (PB; promoter). Mice were divided into five sub-groups: fed normal low protein diet (Gr. I, normal control); fed normal low protein plus alcohol-200 (vehicle of the homeopathic remedy) (Gr. II); fed diet mixed with 0.06% p-DAB plus 0.05% PB (Gr. III); fed diet and carcinogens like Gr.III, plus alcohol 200 (positive control for drug fed mice) (Gr. IV) and fed diet and carcinogens like Gr. III, plus Natrum Sulphuiricum-200 (Gr. V; drug fed). Mice were sacrificed at day 7, 15, 30, 60, 90 and day 120 for study of cytogenetical endpoints like chromosome aberrations (CA), micronuclei (MN), mitotic index (MI) and sperm head anomaly (SHA) and biochemical toxicity parameters like aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), acid (AcP) and alkaline (AlkP) phosphatases, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content. Less number of liver tumors were observed in Gr. V (drug fed) mice. Administration of Nat Sulph 200 reduced genomic damage, activities of AcP, AlkP, AST, ALT, LPO and increased GSH content. Therefore, independent replication of the study by others is encouraged.

Millions of people are at risk of groundwater arsenic contamination, but supply of arsenic-free drinking water is grossly inadequate. The present study was intended to examine if a potentized homeopathic remedy reportedly showing ameliorating potentials in people inhabiting high-risk arsenic-contaminated areas but drinking arsenic-free water, can also ameliorate arsenic toxicity in subjects living in high-risk arsenic-contaminated areas, and drinking arsenic-contaminated water. This pilot study was conducted on 20 males and 19 females of village Dasdiya (arsenic contaminated) who initially agreed to act as volunteers; but as many as 14, mostly placebo-fed subjects, later dropped out. 18 volunteers, 14 males and 4 females, from a distant village, Padumbasan (arsenic-free), served as negative controls. In a double blind placebo-controlled study, a potentized remedy of homeopathic Arsenicum Album-30 and its placebo (Succussed Alcohol-30) were given randomly to volunteers. Arsenic contents in urine and blood and several widely accepted toxicity biomarkers and pathological parameters in blood were analyzed before and after 2 months of administration of either verum or placebo. Elevated levels of ESR, creatinine and eosinophils and increased activities of AST, ALT, LPO and GGT were recorded in arsenic exposed subjects. Decreased levels of hemoglobin, PCV, neutrophil percentages, and GSH content and low G-6-PD activity were also observed in the arsenic exposed people. The administration of "verum" appeared to make positive modulations of these parameters, suggestive of its ameliorative potentials. Most of the subjects reported better appetite and improvement in general health, thereby indicating possibility of its use in remote arsenic-contaminated areas as an interim health support measure to a large population at risk.

The present study examines if Lycopodium 200 (Lyco-200) has demonstrable anti-cancer activities in mice which are chronically fed carcinogens, p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB) and phenobarbital (PB) to induce liver cancer. Materials and Methods: Mice in 5 different groups were chronically fed for varying periods of time: group I: normal diet; group II: normal diet + alcohol 200); group III: p-DAB + PB; group IV: p-DAB + PB + alcohol 200 (vehicle of Lyco-200 being ethyl alcohol); group V: p-DAB + PB + Lyco-200. They were sacrificed at day 7, 15, 30, 60, 90 or 120, and the following parameters were assessed: cytogenetic endpoints like chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, mitotic index and sperm-head anomaly; toxicity biomarkers like acid and alkaline phosphatases, alanine and aspartate amino transferase, glutathione reductase, succinate dehydrogenase and catalase activities, lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione content. Additionally, scanning and transmission electron microscopic analyses of liver tissues were made at day 90 and 120, and immunodetection of p53 protein as well as gelatin zymography for matrix metalloproteinases in liver tissue were performed. Furthermore, studies were conducted on blood glucose, hemoglobin and cholesterol, estradiol, testosterone and cortisol, and lymphocyte and hepatic cell viabilities. Physical properties of Lyco-200 and potentized alcohol 200 were analyzed by using methods such as UV, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Fluorescence Spectroscopy, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy). Results: Lyco-200 reduced cytogenetic damages yielding positive modulations of all biochemical, pathological and other risk factors, cell viability and expression of p53 protein and matrix metalloproteinases as compared to controls. Conclusion: Studies on other mammals are recommended to further investigate the potential of Lyco-200 in liver cancer.

To examine whether elevated antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers reported in random human population of arsenic contaminated villages can be reverted to the normal range by administration of a potentized homeopathic drug,Arsenicum album, randomly selected volunteers in two arsenic contaminated villages and one arsenic-free village in West Bengal (India) were periodically tested for their ANA titer as well as various blood parameters in two types of experiments: ‘placebo-controlled double blind’ experiment for shorter duration and ‘uncontrolled verum fed experiment’ for longer duration. Positive modulation of ANA titer was observed along with changes in certain relevant hematological parameters, namely total count of red blood cells and white blood cells, packed cell volume, hemoglobin content, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and blood sugar level, mostly within 2 months of drug administration. Thus,Arsenicum albumappears to have great potential for ameliorating arsenic induced elevated ANA titer and other hematological toxicities.

This study was conducted to examine whether the potentized homeopathic remedy Carcinosin 200, fed alone and in combination with Chelidonium 200, has differential protective effects against p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice.Liver tumors were induced in mice through chronic feeding of p-DAB (initiator) and phenobarbital (PB, promoter). The mice were divided into two subgroups: (1) one was fed potentized Alcohol 200 and served as controls; and (2) the other was fed Carcinosin 200 alone or in combination with Chelidonium 200 and divided into several sets. The relative efficacy of the two potentized remedies, alone or in combination, in combating hepatocarcinogenesis was assessed through several cytogenetical endpoints such as chromosome aberrations, induction of micronuclei, sperm head anomaly, and mitotic index at several intervals of fixation (days 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120). Several toxicity biomarkers such as acid and alkaline phosphatases, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, and lipid peroxidation activity were also assayed in three organs of treated and control mice. In addition, recovery by the homeopathic drugs, if any, of tissue damage inflicted because of chronic feeding of p-DAB and PB was also assessed by optical, scanning, and transmission electron microscopies of liver done at days 60 and 120.Both Carcinosin 200 and Chelidonium 200 when administered alone show considerable ameliorative effect against p-DAB-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice; but the conjoint feeding of these two drugs appears to have had a slightly greater protective effect.These homeopathic remedies have the potential to be used as complementary and alternative medicine in liver cancer therapy, particularly as supporting palliative measures.

Groundwater arsenic (As) has affected millions of people globally distributed over 20 countries. In parts of West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh alone, over 100 million people are at risk, but supply of As-free water is grossly inadequate. Attempts to remove As by using orthodox medicines have mostly been unsuccessful. A potentized homeopathic remedy, Arsenicum Album-30, was administered to a group of As affected people and thereafter the As contents in their urine and blood were periodically determined. The activities of various toxicity marker enzymes and compounds in the blood, namely aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione, were also periodically monitored up to 3 months. The results are highly encouraging and suggest that the drug can alleviate As poisoning in humans.

The kinetics of the oxidation of styrene, cinnamic acid, and some of their substituted derivatives by hexachloroiridate(IV) in dimethyl formamide–water mixtures and in the presence of perchloric acid have been investigated. The reactions appear to proceed via the formation of an unstable intermediate 1:1 complex between iridium(IV) and the substrate, followed by the decomposition of the complex in the rate-determining step. Correlation with σ yielded ρ values of −4.0 and −3.5 which suggests the formation of a cationic intermediate in the rate-determining step of the reaction. Subsequent cleavage of the carbon–carbon bond yielded the product aldehydes. Thermodynamic and activation parameters associated with the equilibrium and the rate-determining steps were also evaluated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 411–417, 2002

The kinetics of oxidation of the neutralized α-hydroxy acids: lactic, α-hydroxyisobutyric, mandelic, benzilic and atrolactic acids by tris(pyridine-2-carboxylato)manganese(III) have been studied. The reactions were carried out in a Na(pic)-picH [Na(pic) = sodium salt of pyridine-2-carboxylic acid and picH = pyridine-2-carboxylic acid] buffer medium in the 4.89–6.10pH range. The oxidation rate was found to be independent of pH, and rate follows the order: benzilate > mandelate >atrolactate>lactate > α-hydroxy isobutyrate. The oxidation products are MeCHO, Me2CO, PhCHO, Ph2CO and PhCOMe for the respective reactions. A mechanism is proposed involving intermediate formation of hepta-coordinated MnIII complexes in a fast step. The complexes then decompose to give free radicals and MnII in the rate determining step. The free radicals subsequently react with another molecule of the MnIII species to give the respective carbonyl compounds in a fast step.

The kinetics of oxidation of three alpha beta-unsaturated compounds, CH2CHX (X=CN, CONH2 and CO2-) by bis(dihydrogentellurato)metallate(III) ions ([MIII-(H2TeO6)2]5-, M=Cu or Ag) have been studied in an alkaline medium. The reactions take place according to the rate expression

The study was undertaken to examine whether Carcinosin-200 (Car-200) could provide additional ameliorative effect, if used intermittently with Natrum sulphuricum-30 (Nat Sulph-30) against hepatocarcinogenesis induced by chronic feeding of p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB) and phenobarbital (PB) in mice (Mus mnusculus). Mice were randomly divided into seven sub-groups: (i) normal untreated; (ii) normal + succussed alcohol; (iii) p-DAB (0.06%) + PB (0.05%); (iv) p-DAB + PB + succussed alcohol, (v) p-DAB + PB + Nat Sulph-30, (vi) p-DAB + PB + Car-200, and (vii) p-DAB + PB + Nat Sulph-30 + Car-200. They were sacrificed at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days for assessment of genotoxicity through cytogenetical end-points like chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, mitotic index and sperm head anomaly and cytotoxicity through assay of widely accepted biomarkers and pathophysiological parameters. Additionally, electron microscopic studies and gelatin zymography for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were conducted in liver at 90 and 120 days. Results showed that administration of Nat Sulph-30 alone and in combination with Car-200 reduced the liver tumors with positive ultrastructural changes and in MMPs expression, genotoxic parameters, lipid peroxidation, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, blood glucose, bilirubin, creatinine, urea and increased GSH, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenasc, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase activities and hemoglobin, cholesterol, and albumin levels. Thus, intermittent use of Car-200 along with Nat Sulph-30 yielded additional benefit against genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by the carcinogens during hepatocarcinogenesis.

Repeated injections of arsenic trioxide induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in mice as revealed from elevated levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminases, glutamate pyruvate transaminases, acid and alkaline phosphatases, lipid peroxidation along with reduction of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione content, glutathione reductase and succinate dehydrogenase activities. The present investigation was undertaken to test whether simultaneous feeding of Vitamin-C can combat hepatotoxicity in arsenic intoxicated mice. Hepatoprotective potential of Vitamin-C was indicated by its ability to restore GSH, SOD, CAT, AcP, AlkP and GRD levels towards near normal. Electron microscopic studies further supported the biochemical findings confirming the hepatoprotective potential of ascorbic acid. Besides, cytogenetical endpoints (chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, mitotic index and sperm head anomaly) were also analyzed. Administration of Vitamin-C alone did not show any sign of toxicity of its own. Based on the present findings, ascorbic acid appears to have protective effects against arsenic toxicity and oxidative stress.

Ethanolic whole plant extract of Chelidonium majus, extensively used in traditional systems of medicine against various liver ailments, has been tested for its possible anti-tumor, hepato-protective and anti-genotoxic effects in p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB) induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice through multiple assays: cytogenetical, biochemical, histological and electron microscopical. Different sets of mice, 5 (for 7, 15 and 30 days' treatment) or 10 (for 60, 90 and 120 days) each, were chronically fed a diet suitably mixed with p-DAB and phenobarbital to develop liver tumors. One sub-group of carcinogen fed mice was also fed C. majus extract; 0.1 ml daily (drug-treated) while the other equal amount of dilute ethyl alcohol ("vehicle" of plant extract) (positive control). A separate group of mice was maintained with normal diet without any carcinogen treatment (negative control). Data of several cytogenetical endpoints and biochemical assay of some toxicity marker enzymes at all fixation intervals and histology of liver sections through ordinary, scanning and transmission electron microscopy at 60 and 120 days and that of spleen and kidney at 90 days were critically analyzed in the treated lots vis-a-vis controls. The results suggest anti-tumor, anti-genotoxic and hepato-protective effects of the plant extract, showing potentials for use in cancer therapy.

Department of Chemistry, Jadavpur University, Calcutta-700 032, India Manuscript received 8 June 1999, revised 28 October 1999, accepted 11 November 1999 The kinetics of oxidation of some aldoses and aminosugars by potassium bromate in hydrochloric acid medium have been studied. The reactions appear to proceed through the intermediate formation of bromate esters followed by the decomposition of the esters to give products. Hydrogen ion accelerates the rate of each reaction. The thermodynamic values associated with the equilibrium stage and the activation parameters associated with the rate-determining step have been computed.