Behaviors of Glucocorticoids, Androgens and Progestogens in a Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant: Comparison to Estrogens

This work investigated the behaviors of seven glucocorticoids, eight androgens, and nine progestogens compared to six estrogens in a municipal sewage treatment plant (STP) in Beijing, China. Among all of the hormones considered, androgens were the dominant steroids detected in all samples (total concentrations up to 10 216 ± 912 ng/L for influents, 171 ± 10 ng/L for effluents, and 647 ± 52 ng/g for dehydrated sludge samples), followed by estrogens (102 ± 8 ng/L, 14 ± 2 ng/L, and 14 ± 1 ng/g), progestogens (57 ± 6 ng/L, 8 ± 2 ng/L, and 13 ± 3 ng/g), and glucocorticoids (42 ± 2 ng/L, 0.7 ± 0.1 ng/L, and 1.2 ± 0.3 ng/g). With the exception of 19-nor-4-androstene-3,17-diol (NAD, 67%), removal rates for androgens were relatively high (98−99%), while those for glucocorticoids, estrogens, and all progestogens except 6α-methylhydroxyprogesterone (MHPT) were 85−99%, 78−99%, and 73−96%, respectively. Glucocorticoids, androgens, and progestogens were mainly removed by degradation as with estrogens, while different behaviors were observed in the aerated grit chamber, anaerobic tank, anoxic tank, and aerobic tank units. Many of the detected glucocorticoids, androgens, and progestogens were eliminated in the anaerobic tank, but estrogens were largely degraded in the aerobic one. Significant increases in the mass of 21α-hydroxyprogesterone (21-HPT) and MHPT in the anaerobic tank and anoxic tank, respectively, were due to deconjugation

Formation of Decatrienones with a Pineapple-like Aroma from 1-¹³C‑Acetate by Cell Cultures of the Birch Polypore, Fomitopsis betulina

During submerged cultivation, the edible basidiomycete Fomitopsis betulina (previously Piptoporus betulinus) developed a fruity odor, strongly reminding of pineapple. Olfactometric analysis showed that this impression was mainly caused by the two (5E/Z,7E,9)-decatrien-2-ones. At the time of maximum concentration on the 5th day, the (5E/5Z)-ratio was 94:6. Three hypotheses were experimentally examined to shed light onto the genesis of the uncommon volatiles: first, an indirect effect of agro-industrial side-streams, such as cabbage cuttings, supporting good growth; second, an unsaturated odd-numbered fatty acid precursor; and third, a polyketide-like pathway. In the presence of 1-13C- or 2-13C-acetate up to five acetates were incorporated into the molecular ions of the C10-body. Addition of 1-13C-pyruvate or 1-13C-lactate did not confirm an odd-numbered starter of the polyketide chain. None of the methylketones was found in pineapple or any other food before

Balancing the Budget: Accounting for Glucocorticoid Bioactivity and Fate during Water Treatment

Numerous studies have identified the presence and bioactivity of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) active substances in water; however, the identification and activity-balance of GR compounds remained elusive. This study determined the occurrence and attenuation of GR bioactivity and closed the balance by determining those substances responsible. The observed in vitro GR activity ranged from 39 to 155 ng dexamethasone-equivalent/L (ng Dex-EQ/L) in the secondary effluents of four wastewater treatment plants. Monochromatic ultraviolet light of 80 mJ/cm² disinfection dose was efficient for GR activity photolysis, whereas chlorination could not appreciably attenuate the observed GR activity. Ozonation was effective only at relatively high dose (ozone/TOC 1:1). Microfiltration membranes were not efficient for GR activity attenuation; however, reverse osmosis removed GR activity to levels below the limits of detection. A high-sensitivity liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was then developed to screen 27 GR agonists. Twelve were identified and quantified in effluents at summed concentrations of 9.6–21.2 ng/L. The summed Dex-EQ of individual compounds based on their measured concentrations was in excellent agreement with the Dex-EQ obtained from bioassay, which demonstrated that the detected glucocorticoids can entirely explain the observed GR bioactivity. Four synthetic glucocorticoids (triamcinolone acetonide, fluocinolone acetonide, clobetasol propionate, and fluticasone propionate) predominantly accounted for GR activity. These data represent the first known publication where a complete activity balance has been determined for GR agonists in an aquatic environment

Detection, Occurrence and Fate of Indirubin in Municipal Sewage Treatment Plants

Indirubin which has been isolated from human urine is an extremely potent AhR agonist. This paper first established an analytical method based on liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) for indirubin in complex environmental waters, and then applied this method to investigate its occurrence and fate in sewage treatment plants (STPs). For the various types of aqueous matrices considered, the absolute recoveries were from 64 to 81%, and the limits of quantification were below 0.05 ng/L. Among the seven STPs studied, the average concentrations of indirubin in influents ranged from 8.3 to 29.7 ng/L, and their aqueous-phase removal rates were 72−91%. In the receiving waters, the Tonghui and Qinghe Rivers, the concentrations of indirubin (0.65−3.7 ng/L) in some samples were much higher than those in their corresponding STP effluents, suggesting that there is random discharging of untreated sewage. The fate of indirubin was investigated in mechanical and biological sewage treatment as well as in sewage-sludge treatment at a STP consisting of anoxic, anaerobic, and aerobic tanks. The indirubin was largely removed in the anoxic tank and the secondary clarifier mainly due to the biodegradation and sorption on sludge, respectively. An increase of indirubin was observed in the aerobic tank, which was due to the cleavage of indirubin conjugates

Age distribution of patients with HFMD and viral infection in Central China.

<p>During April 2011 to March 2012, a total of 1844 HFMD patients from Central China were hospitalized at Wuhan Medical Treatment Center and enrolled. Among them, 422 were infected with CVA16, 334 were infected with EV71, 38 were co-infected with EV71 and CVA16, and 35 were infected with other enteroviruses. Age distribution of the 1844 patients with HFMD, including the 422 patients infected with CVA16, the 334 patients infected with EV71, and the 38 patients co-infected with EV71 and CVA16, were described.</p

Co-Circulation and Genomic Recombination of Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71 during a Large Outbreak of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Central China

<div><p>A total of 1844 patients with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), most of them were children of age 1–3-year-old, in Central China were hospitalized from 2011 to 2012. Among them, 422 were infected with coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16), 334 were infected with enterovirus 71 (EV71), 38 were co-infected with EV71 and CVA16, and 35 were infected with other enteroviruses. Molecular epidemiology analysis revealed that EV71 and CVA16 were detected year-round, but EV71 circulated mainly in July and CVA16 circulated predominantly in November, and incidence of HFMD was reduced in January and February and increased in March. Clinical data showed that hyperglycemia and neurologic complications were significantly higher in EV71-infected patients, while upper respiratory tract infection and C-reactive protein were significantly higher in CVA16-associated patients. 124 EV71 and 80 CVA16 strains were isolated, among them 56 and 68 EV71 strains were C4a and C4b, while 25 and 55 CVA16 strains were B1a and B1b, respectively. Similarity plots and bootscan analyses based on entire genomic sequences revealed that the three C4a sub-genotype EV71 strains were recombinant with C4b sub-genotype EV71 in 2B–2C region, and the three CVA16 strains were recombinant with EV71 in 2A–2B region. Thus, CVA16 and EV71 were the major causative agents in a large HFMD outbreak in Central China. HFMD incidence was high for children among household contact and was detected year-round, but outbreak was seasonal dependent. CVA16 B1b and EV71 C4b reemerged and caused a large epidemic in China after a quiet period of many years. Moreover, EV71 and CVA16 were co-circulated during the outbreak, which may have contributed to the genomic recombination between the pathogens. It should gain more attention as there may be an upward trend in co-circulation of the two pathogens globally and the new role recombination plays in the emergence of new enterovirus variants.</p></div

Geographic distribution of HFMD patients infected with CVA16 or EV71 within Henan and Hubei Provinces in Central China.

<p>(A) Location of Henan and Hubei Provinces in China. (B) During April 2011 to March 2012, a total of 1844 HFMD patients from Central China were hospitalized at Wuhan Medical Treatment Center and enrolled. Among them, 422 were infected with CVA16, 334 were infected with EV71, 38 were co-infected with EV71 and CVA16, and 35 were infected with other enteroviruses. Geographic distribution of the 422 patients infected with CVA16, the 334 patients infected with EV71, and the 38 patients co-infected with EV71 and CVA16 within Henan and Hubei Provinces in Central China were described. 4 patients are not in the display because they lived far from Wuhan City.</p

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analyses of enterovirus 71 (EV71) isolates.

<p>Phylogenetic dendrogram constructed by the neighbor-joining method based on 508-bp partial VP1 sequence of the 124 EV71 strains isolated in this study and 38 reference strains. Strains indicated by a filled circle (•) and triangle (▴) are EV71 strains isolated from mild cases and severe cases, respectively, in a HFMD outbreak During April 2011 to March 2012. Bootstrap values with >70 replications are shown at the branch nodes as percentages. The scale bar represents the genetic distance. Strain CVA16 G-10 and CVA16 FY18 strain from China were used as out groups.</p

Percentage gender distribution of patients with HFMD in Central China.

<p>During April 2011 to March 2012, a total of 1844 HFMD patients from Central China were hospitalized at Wuhan Medical Treatment Center and enrolled. Among them, 422 were infected with CVA16, 334 were infected with EV71, 38 were co-infected with EV71 and CVA16, and 35 were infected with other enteroviruses. Percentage gender distribution of the 1844 patients with HFMD, including the 422 patients infected with CVA16, the 334 patients infected with EV71, and the 38 patients co-infected with EV71 and CVA16, were described.</p

Similarity plot and bootscan analyses of enterovirus 71 (EV71) strain Wuhan1042/HuB/CHN/2011.

<p>(A) Similarity plot of EV71 strain Wuhan1042/HuB/CHN/2011 and its potential parent. The y-axis gives the percentage identity in a sliding 200-bp window with 20-bp steps. (B) Bootscan analyses of EV71 strain Wuhan1042/HuB/CHN/2011 and its potential parent. The y-axis gives the percentage of permutated trees in a sliding 200-bp window with 20-bp steps.</p