Screening the foods of an endangered parrot, the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), for oestrogenic activity using a recombinant yeast bioassay

In recent years the possibility of environmental oestrogens affecting the reproduction of vertebrates has become an issue of both public and scientific interest. Although the significance of such chemicals remains controversial there is clear evidence that, in some contexts, environmental oestrogens can influence the fertility of vertebrates. Highly endangered species represent a situation in which even modest reductions in the fertility of key individuals may have implications for the survival of the entire species. This paper reports the screening of both natural and supplementary foods of the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), a critically endangered New Zealand nocturnal parrot, for oestrogenic activity using a recombinant yeast based bioassay. Low levels of oestrogenic activity were detected in one of the 'chick-raising' foods, but no oestrogenic activity was detected in the adult supplementary foods. The oestrogenicity of a range of phytochemicals possibly associated with the kakapo natural diet was also examined. Two such phytochemicals, podocarpic acid and its reduced derivative podocarpinol, showed weak oestrogenic activity (approximately 10(-6) and 10(-4) of the activity of 17-beta-oestradiol, respectively).

Adverse effects of drugs used in the management of opportunistic infections associated with HIV infection

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is one of the most common AIDS-defining diagnoses. First-line therapy is cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), despite a high incidence of toxic effects, and a greater incidence of hypersensitivity reactions among HIV-positive patients compared with the seronegative population. Alternative agents such as intravenous pentamidine, or clindamycin with primaquine, and trimethoprim with dapsone, also have a wide range of serious adverse effects, but remain treatment options. Atovaquone appears promising for the treatment of both PCP and toxoplasmosis, and has a lower reported incidence of toxicity than the alternative agents. The most toxic antifungal drugs are reserved for serious infections, such as cryptococcal meningitis. Liposomal amphotericin B has less renal toxicity than standard formulations, and exemplifies that new formulations of existing drugs, although often expensive, may have a better adverse effect profile. There are 2 different drugs currently available for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, ganciclovir and foscarnet. Both have a high incidence of serious adverse effects; ganciclovir mainly causes bone marrow toxicity and foscarnet leads to renal toxicity. The drugs used for mycobacterial infection (including mycobacteria as well as tuberculosis) have a wide range of adverse effects, particularly skin rashes and drug-induced hepatitis. Some of these compounds are quite new, such as rifabutin and clarithromycin, and it is important to be ever vigilant for previously unreported adverse effects.

Development and Testing of Attractants for Feral Cats, Felis Catus L

As part of a programme to improve feral-cat control and eradication techniques, various odours were tested as candidate lures. They included food odours (fish oils), social odours (urine and its components, anal-sac secretions and commercial wild-animal lures) and plant materials (catnip, matatabi and their essential oils). Pen bioassay experiments used a preference procedure on captive feral and domestic cats to compare the time spent investigating the odours and the number of cats visiting each odour. Field trials at rubbish dumps used scent stations to assess cat activity. Catnip and matatabi were the most promising candidate lures in both the pen bioassay and the field trials. Future directions for lure developments are suggested.

A Synthesis of (-)-12,15-Epoxylabda-8(17),12,14-trien-16-yl Acetate and (-)-Pumiloxide

Sclareol (7) and manoyl oxide (8) have each been converted into the (-)-enantiomers of the naturally occurring diterpenoids 12,15-epoxylabda-8(17),12,14-trien-16-yl acetate (2) and pumiloxide (1).

Volatile nitrosamine levels in rubber teats and pacifiers available in New Zealand

Samples of rubber baby bottle teats and pacifiers available in New Zealand were analyzed for nitrosamines by HPLC-TEA. These products, which were manufactured in the USA, Singapore, West Germany, England, and Japan contained one to three nitrosamines. All but one product, which was made of synthetic polyisoprene rubber complied with the US Food and Drug Administration regulatory limit of 60 ng/g. The mean level of total nitrosamines in 11 of the 12 products was 34 ng/g with a range from 9-63 ng/g. The twelfth product recorded a level of 190 ng/g total nitrosamines.

Non-linear curve-fitting programs for Phadezyme IgE PRIST using a Hewlett-Packard HP-97 and a Texas Instruments TI-59 with a PC-100A printer

A non-linear curve-fitting program using a modified Hoerl's function on the Hewlett-Packard HP-97 and Texas Instruments TI-59 programmable calculators for the determination of Phadezaym IgE PRIST (IgE) results is described. Excellent correlation between the reference serum concentration and the curve fit concentration results were obtained. The equation used in the curve fit is ln y = A + B ln x + CxD, where A, B, C and an accuracy of fit term R are calculated by the program. The value of D must be specified by the user before the curve fit is performed.

Chemistry of the Podocarpaceae. LIV. Lignans from the Wood of Dacrydium intermedium

Structures and absolute configurations are established for three new lignans isolated from the wood of the New Zealand gymnosperm Dacrydium intermedium Kirk by preparative h.p.l.c. of their acetates (1), (3) and (5). The 1H and 13C N.M.R. spectra of phenyltetralin lactones and acetals are described.

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of naturally occurring substances. LI. Solanum glycoalkaloids

.The 13C n.m.r. spectra of the glycoalkaloids solasonine and tomatine, as well as of their naturally occurring aglycones solasodine and tomatidine, were recorded and the signals assigned completely. The carbon shifts confirm the proposed stereochemistry at the spiro ring junction.

The diterpenes of Dacrydium kirkii

Examination of the heartwood of Dacrydium kirkii has shown the presence of isopimaradiene, sclarene, cis-biformene, trans-biformene, manoyl oxide, 14,15-bisnorlabd-8(17)-en-13-one, labda-8(17),13-dien-15-ol, manool, isopimaradienol, β-sitosterol, torulosol, sandaracopimaradiene- 3β,19-diol, and isopimaric acid. Two new diterpene alcohols isolated have been shown to be 7α-hydroxymanool (I) and 2β,3β-dihydroxymanoyl oxide (II).