Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Nitroso Compounds”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 937 records · Page 52Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Specific disulfide formation in the oxidation of HIV-1 zinc finger protein nucleocapsid p7.

In vitro oxidation of the HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein p7 by the C-nitroso compound 3-nitrosobenzamide (NOBA) has been investigated. When reconstituted p7 was incubated with NOBA, three disulfide bonds were formed per molecule of p7, Cys 15-Cys 18, Cys 28-Cys 36, and Cys 39-Cys 49. These were identified using the proteolytic enzyme endoproteinase Lys-C and mass spectrometry. When the denatured protein (Apo-p7) was incubated with NOBA, a more random pattern of multiple S-S linkages was found. Oxidation of reconstituted p7 also occurred on treatment with cupric ions (Cu2+), and the same three major disulfide bonds were formed as in the reaction with NOBA. These results suggest the interpretation that the oxidation reaction occurs at the zinc-binding centers while zinc cations are still bound and that the two zinc fingers are not identical in their chemical properties. This latter point is consistent with the independent biological roles reported previously for the two fingers in the viral infection cycle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1982

Diabetes produced in mice by smoked/cured mutton.

There is circumstantial evidence of a causal connection between type 1 diabetes in young Icelandic males and consumption of smoked cured mutton, containing N-nitroso compounds, by their parents at about the time of conception. This hypothesis has been examined in CD1 mice, and such processed mutton, consumed by the parents before mating and during pregnancy and by the offspring from day 19 until study 1-5 weeks later, produced diabetes in just over 16% of male progeny and 4.2% of female progeny. Light and electron-microscopic changes in the beta-cells were those of stages of cell death. The parent mice showed no features of diabetes. When both parents were fed the Icelandic cured mutton only up to the time of fertilisation, there was first a fall and then a significant rise in the plasma glucose of the male progeny after the 3rd week of age. The female progeny showed a significant fall in plasma glucose at 5-6 weeks of age. These findings suggest that an environmental factor in the aetiology of human diabetes mellitus had been identified. The mechanism seems to involve parental as well as maternal influences of germ cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The chemistry of the S-nitrosoglutathione/glutathione system.

S-Nitrosothiols have generated considerable interest due to their ability to act as nitric oxide (NO) donors and due to their possible involvement in bioregulatory systems-e.g., NO transfer reactions. Elucidation of the reaction pathways involved in the modification of the thiol group by S-nitrosothiols is important for understanding the role of S-nitroso compounds in vivo. The modification of glutathione (GSH) in the presence of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) was examined as a model reaction. Incubation of GSNO (1 mM) with GSH at various concentrations (1-10 mM) in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) yielded oxidized glutathione, nitrite, nitrous oxide, and ammonia as end products. The product yields were dependent on the concentrations of GSH and oxygen. Transient signals corresponding to GSH conjugates, which increased by one mass unit when the reaction was carried out with 15N-labeled GSNO, were identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. When morpholine was present in the reaction system, N-nitrosomorpholine was formed. Increasing concentrations of either phosphate or GSH led to lower yields of N-nitrosomorpholine. The inhibitory effect of phosphate may be due to reaction with the nitrosating agent, nitrous anhydride (N2O3), formed by oxidation of NO. This supports the release of NO during the reaction of GSNO with GSH. The products noted above account quantitatively for virtually all of the GSNO nitrogen consumed during the reaction, and it is now possible to construct a complete set of pathways for the complex transformations arising from GSNO + GSH.

Glutathione↗
PubMed2001

S-Transnitrosylation of albumin in human plasma and blood in vitro and in vivo in the rat.

S-Nitrosoalbumin (SNOALB) is the most abundant physiological circulating nitric oxide (NO) carrier regulating NO-dependent biological actions in humans. The mechanisms of its formation and biological actions are still incompletely understood. Nitrosation by authentic NO and S-transnitrosylation of the single sulfhydryl group located at Cys-34 of human albumin by the physiological S-nitroso compounds S-nitrosocysteine (SNOC) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) are two possible mechanisms. On a quantitative basis, we investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry the contribution of these two mechanisms to SNOALB formation in human plasma and blood in vitro. GSNO and SNOC (0-100 microM) rapidly and efficiently (recovery=35%) S-transnitrosylated albumin to form SNOALB. NO (100 microM) S-nitrosated albumin to SNOALB at a considerably lower extent (recovery=5%). The putative NO-donating drugs glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitroprusside (each 100 microM) failed completely in S-nitrosating albumin. Bubbling NO into human plasma and blood resulted in formation of SNOALB that inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Infusion of GS(15)NO in the rat resulted in formation of S(15)NOALB, [(15)N]nitrate and [(15)N]nitrite. Our results suggest that S-transnitrosylation of albumin by SNOC and GSNO could be a more favored mechanism for the formation of SNOALB in the circulation in vivo than S-nitrosation of albumin by NO itself.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1978

Blockade by N-methylhydroxylamine of activation of guanylate cyclase and elevations of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate levels in nervous tissues.

Hydroxylamine and N-methylhydroxylamine prevented the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by the endogenous activator as well as by nitroso compounds such as N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine or nitroprusside, while other derivaties of hydroxylamine were ineffective. Hydroxylamine and N-methylhydroxylamine did not alter the basal guanylate cyclase activity of purified enzyme preparations. Kinetics analysis indicated that N-methylhydroxylamine competes with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine for guanylate cyclase. The activation of guanylate cyclase by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and its inhibition by N-methylhydroxylamine were reversible reactions. These effects of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and N-methylhydroxylamine were observed with guanylate cyclase from other tissues. N-Methylhydroxylamine prevented the increase of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) levels in cerebellar slices of guinea pig by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, veratridine and adenosine, while the elevations of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate by these agents were not effected. N-Methylhydroxylamine also blocked the increases of cyclic GMP levels by carbachol, prostaglandin E1 and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in neuroblastoma N1E 115 cells. Thus N-methylhydroxylamine prevents the activation of guanylate cyclase and the increased synthesis of cyclic GMP in response to transmitters without blocking the synthesis of cyclic GMP via basal enzyme activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Role of bacterial overgrowth in the stomach as an additional risk factor for gastritis.

Gastric bacteria can either be ingested or ascend from the distal bowel; however, their survival is usually limited by gastric acidity and motility. A reduction in gastric acid can result in bacterial overgrowth in the stomach and proximal small bowel, and the number of organisms rises as the intragastric pH rises. The increased risk of noncardia gastric cancer seen in patients with hypochlorhydria may be explained by an excess of nitrites and N-nitroso compounds (NOCs). These compounds are found in the diet of populations with a high gastric cancer risk, but can also be produced by the organisms that exist in the hypochlorhydria stomach. It has long been hypothesized that nitrites and NOCs act as one of the triggers in the atrophy-metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma path. However, although indirect data have linked the premalignant changes of metaplasia and dysplasia to NOCs, direct measurement of gastric nitrites and NOCs has not confirmed such a link. The role of Helicobacter pylori in bacterial overgrowth is mainly as a cause of hypochlorhydria resulting from atrophic gastritis, leading to a reduction in the parietal cell mass. Acid-suppressing drugs can result in bacterial overgrowth and increased nitrites and NOCs, although there is no current evidence for an increased risk of gastric cancer in patients taking them. One explanation is that the stomach appears to be colonized by different organisms than those in patients with hypochlorhydria for other reasons. There is some evidence that bacterial overgrowth per se can cause gastric inflammation in mice; however, although in humans the degree of gastric inflammation is greater when overgrowth is more prominent this may simply reflect the greater degree of hypochlorhydria in patients with a more severe H pylori-induced inflammation.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1989

Nitrosatable drug exposure during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcome.

Recent investigations have suggested that drugs that are amines can undergo endogenous or exogenous nitrosation reactions to form N-nitroso compounds. These compounds have been extensively characterized in animal models as carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens. In order to examine the possible effects of exposure to nitrosatable drugs during gestation on pregnancy outcome, data were utilized from the Collaborative Perinatal Project of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke. Pregnancy outcomes for 6061 pregnancies in which the mother ingested a drug known to undergo nitrosation were compared with 6921 randomly sampled pregnancies without such exposure. The major outcome factors of interest were birth defects, fetal, neonatal and infant death and birthweight. Our findings suggest that no significant increases in risk of fetal, neonatal and infant death or low birthweight were associated with nitrosatable drug exposure during pregnancy. However, the risk of a tumour in the offspring of exposed mothers was increased (relative risk, RR = 2.29; 95% Cl 0.99-5.26). Increases in relative risk of major malformations was also observed and this increase was greater when exposure during the first four months of pregnancy was examined separately (RR = 1.33; 1.11-1.58). There were specific individual malformations that were observed to have increased relative risks (for example: eye malformations, hydrocephaly, craniosynostosis and meningomyelocoele/meningocoele) but interpretation was difficult due to multiple comparisons and some of these observations were associated with wide confidence intervals. These types of adverse pregnancy outcomes were consistent with animal study outcomes.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1998

Prodrugs of nitroxyl and nitrosobenzene as cascade latentiated inhibitors of aldehyde dehydrogenase.

The prototypic aromatic C-nitroso compound, nitrosobenzene (NB), was shown previously to mimic the effect of nitroxyl (HN=O), the putative active metabolite of cyanamide, in inhibiting aldehyde dehydrogenase (AlDH). To minimize the toxicity of NB in vivo, pro-prodrug forms of NB, which were designed to be bioactivated either by an esterase intrinsic to AlDH or the mixed function oxidase enzymes of liver microsomes, were prepared. Accordingly, the prodrug N-benzenesulfonyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine (3) was further latentiated by conversion to its O-acetyl (1a), O-methoxycarbonyl (1b), O-ethoxycarbonyl (1c), and O-methyl (2) derivatives. Similarly, pro-prodrug forms of nitroxyl were prepared by derivatization of the hydroxylamino moiety of methanesulfohydroxamic acid with N, O-bis-acetyl (7a), N,O-bis-methoxycarbonyl (7b), N, O-bis-ethoxycarbonyl (7c), and N-methoxycarbonyl-O-methyl (7d) groups. It was expected that the bioactivation of these prodrugs would initiate a cascade of nonenzymatic reactions leading to the ultimate liberation of NB or nitroxyl, thereby inhibiting AlDH. Indeed, the ester pro-prodrugs of both series were highly active in inhibiting yeast AlDH in vitro with IC50 values ranging from 21 to 64 microM. However, only 7d significantly raised ethanol-derived blood acetaldehyde levels when administered to rats, a reflection of the inhibition of hepatic mitochondrial AlDH-2.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A meta-analysis of maternal cured meat consumption during pregnancy and the risk of childhood brain tumors.

OBJECTIVE: N-Nitroso compounds (NOCs) are recognized neural carcinogens in animal models and are suspected human carcinogens. A meta-analysis was performed examining the possible association of maternal intake of cured meat (an important source of dietary NOCs) during pregnancy and the risk of pediatric brain tumors. METHODS: Data from epidemiological studies were pooled using a general variance-based meta-analytic method employing confidence intervals described by Greenland in 1986. The outcome of interest was a summary relative risk (RR) reflecting the risk of childhood brain tumor (CBT) development associated with maternal intake of cured meats during pregnancy. Sensitivity analyses were performed when necessary to explain any observed statistical heterogeneity. RESULTS: Seven observational studies were found that met the protocol-specified inclusion criteria. Analysis for heterogeneity demonstrated a lack of statistical heterogeneity (p = 0.59), indicating that the data could be statistically combined. Pooling data from the 6 reports containing data on maternal cured meat intake of all types yielded an RR of 1.68 (1.30- 2.17), being a statistically significant result. Analyzing CBT risk by type of cured meat ingested showed that hot dog consumption increased CBT risk by 33% (1.08-1.66), with a similar increase shown by frequent ingestion of sausage, i.e. 44%. CONCLUSION: The data provide support for the suspected causal association between ingestion of NOCs from cured meats during pregnancy and subsequent CBT in offspring. Limitations in study design preclude definitive conclusions, but the relationship warrants exploration via additional observational and laboratory-based studies.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

Thiocyanate-independent nitrosation in humans with carcinogenic parasite infection.

Infection with the liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, is a causative agent of cholangiocarcinoma. One possible contributing factor in this carcinogenesis is the chronic, local generation of nitric oxide by inflammatory cells expressing inducible nitric oxide synthase and the production of N-nitroso compounds via the reaction between amines and nitrosating agents derived from nitric oxide. Our previous studies provided evidence that nitric oxide synthesis is elevated during human liver fluke infection. Here we present data on the same sample of men which definitively demonstrates increased nitrosation of proline and thioproline (thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid) among infected men compared to uninfected control subjects on a low nitrate diet. This difference was specifically abolished by co-administration of ascorbic acid with proline and by elimination of parasites by praziquantel treatment. Multivariate statistical models demonstrate the importance of salivary thiocyanate levels to variation in the nitrosation of proline among uninfected individuals, but not among those with current fluke infection. This suggests that considerable generation of nitrosating agents (N203/N204) in infected people may be occurring via oxidation of arginine by nitric oxide synthase in inflamed tissue which is thiocyanate insensitive. Analyses revealed positive associations between N-nitrosoproline excretion and nitrate/nitrite levels in urine, plasma and saliva and with usual alcohol intake; with variation in these trends between groups. In conclusion, we have confirmed the relationship between O.viverrini infection and enhanced endogenous nitrosation, showing evidence of its extragastric site. New information is also provided on the determinants of N-nitrosamino acid excretion in men on a controlled low nitrate diet without smoking, conditions which reduce exogenous sources of nitrosating agents.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Endogenous formation of nitrosamines and oxidative DNA-damaging agents in tobacco users.

One-third of all cancers worldwide can be attributed to various tobacco habits. Both in tobacco smoke and smokeless tobacco, carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds (NOC) are implicated as DNA-damaging agents in cancers of the aerodigestive tract and the pancreas. The exposure from nitrosamines in certain types of tobacco use such as "toombak" in Sudan could be as high as a few milligrams per day. Using the N-nitrosoproline test, it has been shown that smoking contributes to endogenous nitrosation and likely increases NOC formation in vivo. Smokeless tobacco, most widely used in the form of chewing of betel quid (BQ) with tobacco, was shown to particularly enhance endogenous nitrosation in the oral cavity, a site where chewing habits are causally associated with cancer. Poor oral hygiene was found to contribute to the formation of nitrosamines in the oral cavity. The evidence so far accumulated demonstrates that tobacco habits increase endogenous NOC formation, thus adding to the burden of exposure by preformed carcinogenic NOC in tobacco products. In snuff dippers, the unexpected higher level of HPB released from hemoglobin, an exposure marker for carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines, has been attributed to the endogenous formation of these carcinogens. Recent studies have demonstrated that besides carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines, reactive oxygen species derived from BQ ingredients could also play a role in the etiology of oral cancer in chewers. Although the use of chemopreventive agents may block nitrosation reactions in vivo in tobacco users, cessation of tobacco habits is the only safe way for an efficient reduction of cancer risk, in view of the high exposure to other (preformed) tobacco-related carcinogens.

Areca↗
PubMed2005

Agricultural pesticide use and risk of glioma in Nebraska, United States.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the risk of the adult glioma associated with farming and agricultural pesticide use, the authors conducted a population based case control study in eastern Nebraska. METHODS: Telephone interviews were conducted with men and women diagnosed with gliomas (n = 251) between 1988 and 1993 and controls (n = 498) randomly selected from the same geographical area. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for farming and for use of individual and chemical classes of insecticides and herbicides, including pesticides classified as nitrosatable (able to form N-nitroso compounds upon reaction with nitrite). Non-farmers were used as the reference category for all analyses. RESULTS: Among men, ever living or working on a farm and duration of farming were associated with significantly increased risks of glioma (> or =55 years on a farm OR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.8 to 8.6); however, positive findings were limited to proxy respondents. Among women, there were no positive associations with farming activities among self or proxy respondents. Specific pesticide families and individual pesticides were associated with significantly increased risks among male farmers; however, most of the positive associations were limited to proxy respondents. For two herbicides and three insecticides, use was positively associated with risk among both self and proxy respondents. Based on a small number of exposed cases, ORs were significantly increased for the herbicides metribuzin (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.2 to 9.7) and paraquat (OR = 11.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 101), and for the insecticides bufencarb (OR = 18.9, 95% CI 1.9 to 187), chlorpyrifos (OR = 22.6, 95% CI 2.7 to 191), and coumaphos (OR = 5.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 32). CONCLUSION: The authors found significant associations between some specific agricultural pesticide exposures and the risk of glioma among male farmers but not among female farmers in Nebraska; however, most of the positive associations were limited to proxy respondents. These findings warrant further evaluation in prospective cohort studies where issues of recall bias are not a concern.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by NO-hemoproteins involves NO-heme exchange. Comparison of heme-containing and heme-deficient enzyme forms.

The mechanism of activation of soluble guanylate cyclase purified from bovine lung by high molecular weight, nitrosyl-hemoprotein complexes is reported. Heme-containing, heme-deficient, and heme-reconstituted forms of guanylate cyclase were studied. Nitric oxide (NO) and nitroso compounds activated heme-containing and heme-reconstituted enzymes (over 50-fold), with an accompanying shift in the Soret absorption peak from 431 to 398 nm, but failed to activate or alter the spectral characteristics of heme-deficient enzyme. In contrast, preformed NO-hemoprotein complexes as well as low molecular weight NO-heme activated all forms of guanylate cyclase. Heme-deficient guanylate cyclase was first reacted with excess amounts of NO-hemoglobin, NO-myoglobin, or NO-catalase and then rapidly separated from the NO-hemoprotein by column chromatography. Spectrophotometric analysis indicated that the NO-heme moiety was transferred from each of the NO-hemoproteins to heme-deficient guanylate cyclase. Approximately 1 mol of NO-heme was bound per mol of holoenzyme and the specific activity of this enzyme form was over 50-fold greater than that of unreacted, heme-deficient enzyme. NO-heme was tightly bound to guanylate cyclase as no transfer of enzyme-bound NO-heme to apohemoglobin was evident. Enzyme activated by NO-hemoproteins closely resembled, kinetically, that activated by NO or NO-heme. In contrast, reactions between heme-deficient guanylate cyclase and hemoproteins did not result in heme transfer, whereas heme alone rapidly reconstituted the enzyme. These observations indicate that soluble guanylate cyclase can be readily reconstituted with, and thereby activated by, NO-heme through an exchange reaction with NO-hemoproteins.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Dietary nitrites and nitrates, nitrosatable drugs, and neural tube defects.

BACKGROUND: Amine-containing (nitrosatable) drugs can react with nitrite to form N-nitroso compounds, some of which are teratogenic. Data are lacking on whether dietary intake of nitrates and nitrites modifies the association between maternal nitrosatable drug exposure and neural tube defects (NTDs) in offspring. METHODS: We examined nitrosatable drug exposure and NTD-affected pregnancies in relation to dietary nitrite and total nitrite intake in a case-control study of Mexican American women. We interviewed 184 women with NTD-affected pregnancies and 225 women with normal live births, including questions on periconceptional drug exposures and dietary intake. For 110 study participants, nitrate was also measured in the usual source of drinking water. RESULTS: Women who reported taking drugs classified as nitrosatable were 2.7 times more likely to have an NTD-affected pregnancy than women without this exposure (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4-5.3). The effect of nitrosatable drugs was observed only in women with higher intakes of dietary nitrite and total nitrite (dietary nitrite + 5% dietary nitrate). Women within the highest tertile (greater than 10.5 mg/day) of total nitrite were 7.5 times more likely to have an NTD-affected pregnancy if they took nitrosatable drugs (95% CI = 1.8-45.4). The association between nitrosatable drug exposure and NTDs was also stronger in women whose water nitrate levels were higher. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that effects of nitrosatable drug exposure on risk for neural tube defects in offspring could depend on the amounts of dietary nitrite and total nitrite intake.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Nitrosation of dietary precursors.

The diet contains a large number of constituents which can be nitrosated in the gastrointestinal tract (especially in the stomach) to potentially carcinogenic nitroso compounds (NOC). The nitrosation of food mixtures has been investigated with a number of assays, such as chemical analysis or detection of alkylating potential, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Relatively good information is available on the formation of stable nitrosamines using high nitrite concentrations. Little is known, however, about the formation of chemically unstable NOC at low nitrite concentration and their genotoxicity in target cells. A comparison of the precursor classes, alkylamines, aromatic amines, amino acids, amides and peptides, ureas and guanidines, reveals a vast range, both with respect to daily intake (10(5)-fold) and nitrosation rate (10(4)-fold both for 1st and 2nd order nitrite dependence). A total span of 10(8) results for the relative yield of NOC in the stomach. The endogenous NOC burden from dietary ureas and aromatic amines may represent as large a hazard as the intake of preformed NOC. Recent evidence also indicates that heterocyclic amines and phenols must be considered and that the half-life of nitrosated alpha-amino acids can be much longer than that of nitrosated primary alkylamines. In these classes, more information should be collected on dietary concentrations, on the nitrosation under realistic conditions and on the genotoxicity in stomach lining cells. Within a chemical precursor class, a wide range is seen with respect to alkylating potency. It cannot, therefore, be excluded that individual precursors within the top ranking classes might become more important than single preformed NOC. Not considered in the above analysis but probably just as important for a risk evaluation in a population is the knowledge of the nitrosation conditions and target cell susceptibility in individuals.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Ras oncogene mutations in childhood brain tumors.

Although N-nitroso compounds (NNC) are ubiquitous in the human environment and are known neurocarcinogens in animal models, results of epidemiological studies have not yet convincingly associated NNCs with brain tumor occurrence in humans. Animal studies have suggested that specific codons (12, 13, and 61) in the ras family are mutable by exposure to NNCs. The purpose of this study was to measure the presence of mutations in the ras family of oncogenes in tissue from childhood brain (CB) tumors as a preliminary step toward investigating their potential use as biomarkers of chemical exposure. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded formalin-fixed CB tumors from tissues resected during neurosurgical operations. Using the PCR, designed RFLP-screening methods, and sequencing, we attempted to screen brain tumors from 46 children for the presence of H, K, and N-ras mutations at codons 12, 13, and 61. Screening for oncogene mutations using PCR, RFLP methods, and DNA sequencing was successfully completed for a high proportion of the available specimens. Astrocytoma specimens from three children for whom screening with PCR was successfully completed were found to contain CAA-->GAA point mutations in K-ras at codon 61. None of the specimens contained mutations at any of the other locations. These results, although preliminary, provide a potential clue for future mechanistic studies of CB tumors. The possible roles of NNCs in inducing this mutation, or of this mutation as an early or late event in tumor progression, however, remain unclear.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Processed meats and risk of childhood leukemia (California, USA).

The relation between the intake of certain food items thought to be precursors or inhibitors of N-nitroso compounds (NOC) and risk of leukemia was investigated in a case-control study among children from birth to age 10 years in Los Angeles County, California (United States). Cases were ascertained through a population-based tumor registry from 1980 to 1987. Controls were drawn from friends and by random-digit dialing. Interviews were obtained from 232 cases and 232 controls. Food items of principal interest were: breakfast meats (bacon, sausage, ham); luncheon meats (salami, pastrami, lunch meat, corned beef, bologna); hot dogs; oranges and orange juice; and grapefruit and grapefruit juice. We also asked about intake of apples and apple juice, regular and charcoal broiled meats, milk, coffee, and coke or cola drinks. Usual consumption frequencies were determined for both parents and the child. When the risks were adjusted for each other and other risk factors, the only persistent significant associations were for children's intake of hot dogs (odds ratio [OR] = 9.5, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 1.6-57.6 for 12 or more hot dogs per month, trend P = 0.01), and fathers' intake of hot dogs (OR = 11.0, CI = 1.2-98.7 for highest intake category, trend P = 0.01). There was no evidence that fruit intake provided protection. While these results are compatible with the experimental animal literature and the hypothesis that human NOC intake is associated with leukemia risk, given potential biases in the data, further study of this hypothesis with more focused and comprehensive epidemiologic studies is warranted.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vivo nitrosoproline formation and other risk factors in Costa Rican children from high- and low-risk areas for gastric cancer.

The hypothesis that intragastric synthesis of N-nitroso compounds (NOC) in early life could play a role in gastric carcinogenesis was tested by applying the N-nitrosoproline (NPRO) test to about 50 children living in high- and low-risk areas for stomach cancer in Costa Rica. The median values of excretion of NPRO and the sum of three nitrosamino acids (micrograms/12 h urine) were 10-20% of those in adults from other geographical high-risk areas for stomach cancer. The urinary NPRO level after proline intake was higher in children from the high-risk area (P < 0.04) and markedly reduced after ingestion of ascorbic acid together with proline (P < 0.05). NPRO levels on the day of proline intake were highly correlated with levels of nitrate excretion (P < 0.001). Mean levels of total NOC in an aqueous (pH 2) extract of cooked beans from the high- and low-risk areas were similar. Acid-catalyzed nitrosation of the extract increased the total NOC concentration up to 1000-fold, but there was no difference between samples from the two areas. About 10% of bean extracts from both areas showed weak direct-acting genotoxicity in Escherichia coli; after acid-catalyzed nitrosation, all samples were genotoxic at similar levels. The diet of children in the low-risk area satisfied recommended levels of intake of energy and most nutrients except riboflavin and retinol equivalents. Diets from the high-risk area were deficient in energy intake and all nutrients except protein and vitamin C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗