Appraisal and validation of rapid, integrated chemical and biological assays of environmental quality

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/2372 on 13.20.2017 by CS (TIS)To assess the significance of pollutants released into the environment it is necessary to determine both the extent of contamination and the biological effects they give rise to. This research is based on a tiered system, which commences with conventional analytical chemistry (gas chromatography), followed by the development, evaluation and application of rapid and simple immunochemical techniques and, finally, the integration of chemical and biological markers to assess pollution. GC-ECD/FID/MS have been used to investigate the status of chemical contamination of the Black Sea by organochlorine residues, hydrocarbons and faecal sterols. Useful information is provided and problems with e.g. HCHs and sewage contamination are highlighted. Contamination by DDTs, PCBs, "total" hydrocarbons and PAHs is also reported. Next, these techniques are used to develop rapid screening methods. Four distinct applications of immunochemical techniques are presented. Initially, the BTEX RaPDD Assay® ELISA is evaluated to detect semi-volatile hydrocarbons in contaminated groundwater. Although overestimating concentrations when compared to GC-FID/PID, results are well correlated. Secondly, the effectiveness o f the BTEX and c-PAH RaPID Assay® to detect hydrocarbons in sediments is tested. Once again, good agreement with GC-FID/MS confirms the ELISA to be a useful screening protocol to focus more expensive high-resolution analytical techniques. The adaptability and applicability of an ELISA (PCB RaPID Assay®) method in measuring "total" PCB levels in mussel tissue is demonstrated. An underestimation of concentrations, despite of covariability between ELISA and cGC-ECD, is discussed. Next, ELISA (RaPID Assay®) and fluorometry were successfully applied to quantify PAH metabolites in crab urine as a measure of exposure. HPLC analyses indicated that conjugate PAH metabolites were dominant in urine of crabs exposed to pyrene. Differences could also be identified between crabs taken from clean and contaminated sites. Finally, an integration of chemical and biological techniques is used to investigate contamination and effects in mussels within a pollution gradient. Results indicate a correlation between micronucleus formation, heart rate and PCB and PAH level.Plymouth Marine Laborator

Biochemical normalization of trace metals in Arctocephalus australis

Arctocephalus australis foi usado como organismo indicador para concentrações de metal traço na costa do Rio Grande do Sul. Metais foram analisados em tecidos extraídos do coração, rins e fígado. Os baixos teores encontrados no coração inicialmente poderiam indicar que este órgão não traria resultados relevantes. Porém, mediante a aplicação de um procedimento de normalização, foram encontrados coeficientes de pré-concentração de 43.1 e de 8.6 para o coração e para os rins, respectivamente, indicando o tecido do coração como o melhor bioindicador para Hg. Para Cd, os coeficientes de pré-concentração foram 128.1, 195.3 e 5.2 para fígado, rins e coração, respectivamente, demonstrando alta capacidade acumulativa especialmente para fígado e rins. Foram encontradas altas correlações positivas entre o Fe e os metais Zn, Cu, Cd, Hg, Ag, Mn, Ni, Cr e Pb, indicando ser este elemento normalizante para definição da concentração bioquímica natural de metais na população de Arctocephalus australis no extremo sul do Brasil.Initially, the heart concentration data does not seem relevant for use as a bioindicator, mainly due to its low concentration level. After applying a normalizing procedure, the heart results were a better Hg bioindicator (preconcentration coefficient 43.1) than those of the kidney (preconcentration coefficient 8.6). Cadmium preconcentration coefficients were 128.1, 195.3 and 5.2 for liver, kidney and heart, respectively, demonstrating the high accumulative capacity especially for the liver and kidneys. Iron is proposed as a normalizing element for the definiton of the regional natural biochemical population of the metals. In general, positive correlation coefficients were found between Fe and other metals

Design orientado para o tato : diretrizes de representação de figuras táteis para o estímulo precoce em crianças com deficiência visual

Esta pesquisa aborda, sob o olhar do design, diretrizes para a representação de figuras táteis para a aplicação em livros, lâminas e outros materiais de apoio, destinados ao estímulo tátil precoce de crianças na fase da educação infantil, entre zero e cinco anos de idade. A investigação parte da inquietação sobre o modo como os significados das ilustrações de publicações táteis não são bem compreendidas pelas pessoas com deficiência visual. Junto a isso, a verificação sobre a percepção positiva sobre dois modelos de ensino de desenho para pessoas com deficiência visual, somados à contribuição dos critérios para a produção de livros táteis estabelecidos por duas renomadas instituições internacionais. A partir desses três pontos e de sua análise de convergência, são elencados os critérios para a representação de figuras em livros táteis e outros materiais educacionais para estimular o sentido háptico das crianças. Por ser um estudo conduzido sob o olhar do design gráfico, o objetivo foi o de produzir, sob o viés do processo de projeto, um instrumento com orientações para mediadores, educadores e familiares de crianças com deficiência visual, de modo a orientá-los para o uso adequado de figuras que gerem estímulo tátil. A partir da base teórica estabelecida, a pesquisa qualitativa foi desenvolvida a partir da coleta de dados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada com um grupo de educadores experientes no ensino para pessoas com deficiência visual. Com isso, chegou-se à proposição final de um guia contendo diretrizes para o desenvolvimento de figuras táteis para as crianças com deficiência visual. Esse guia foi validado por especialistas em educação, e as conclusões apontam para a adequação deste tipo de instrumento para a representação de material tátil, evidenciando a importância do projetar do design para todos, incluindo crianças deficiência visual.This research addresses, under the eyes of the project, guidelines for the representation of tactile figures for application in books, slides and other supporting materials, aiming at early tactile stimulation of children in the early phase of education, between zero and five years. Research arises from concerns about how visually impaired people do not understand the meaning of illustrations in tactile publications. Along with this, the verification of the positive perception of two models of design education for visually impaired people added the contribution of the criteria to the production of tactile books established by two renowned international institutions. From these three points and their convergence analysis, the criteria for representing figures in tactile books and other educational materials to stimulate children's haptic sense are listed. Being a study conducted under the eye of graphic design, the objective was to produce, under the bias of the design process, an instrument with guidelines for mediators, educators and families of children with visual impairment, in order to guide them for the use. appropriate. of figures that generate tactile stimulation. Based on the established theoretical basis, qualitative research was developed from data collection through semi-structured interviews with a group of educators with experience in teaching visually impaired people. This led to the final proposal for a guide containing guidelines for developing tactile figures for visually impaired children. This guide has been validated by education experts and the results point to the appropriateness of this type of instrument for the representation of tactile material, highlighting the importance of design for everyone, including children with visual impairment.Esta investigación aborda, bajo los ojos del proyecto, pautas para la representación de figuras táctiles para su aplicación en libros, diapositivas y otros materiales de apoyo, con el objetivo de la estimulación táctil temprana de los niños en la fase temprana de la educación, entre cero y cinco años. años La investigación surge de las preocupaciones sobre cómo las personas con discapacidad visual no entienden el significado de las ilustraciones en publicaciones táctiles. Junto con esto, la verificación de la percepción positiva de dos modelos de educación en diseño para personas con discapacidad visual agregó la contribución de los criterios a la producción de libros táctiles establecidos por dos instituciones internacionales de renombre. A partir de estos tres puntos y su análisis de convergencia, se enumeran los criterios para representar figuras en libros táctiles y otros materiales educativos para estimular el sentido háptico de los niños. Al ser un estudio realizado bajo el ojo del diseño gráfico, el objetivo era producir, bajo el sesgo del proceso de diseño, un instrumento con pautas para mediadores, educadores y familias de niños con discapacidad visual, con el fin de guiarlos para su uso. apropiado de figuras que generan estimulación táctil. Sobre la base de la base teórica establecida, la investigación cualitativa se desarrolló a partir de la recopilación de datos a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas con un grupo de educadores con experiencia en la enseñanza de personas con discapacidad visual. Esto llevó a la propuesta final de una guía que contiene pautas para desarrollar figuras táctiles para niños con discapacidad visual. Esta guía ha sido validada por expertos en educación y los resultados apuntan a la idoneidad de este tipo de instrumento para la representación de material táctil, destacando la importancia del diseño para todos, incluidos los niños con discapacidad visual

Increasing levels of persistent organic pollutants in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following a mega-flooding episode in the Negro River basin, Argentinean Patagonia

In 2006, a severe flooding episode in the Negro River basin, Argentinean Patagonia, occurred and mainly affected the middle valley where lands are devoted to agriculture and soils known to be polluted with persistent organic pollutants. The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of this event on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), endosulfans (α-, β-, sulfate), DDTs (p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) levels in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) tissues. Post-event fish showed higher contaminants levels than pre-event at expenses of all groups. DDTs presented the highest concentrations in all tissues followed by PCBs, endosulfans and PBDEs. The metabolite p,p'-DDE represented about 80% of total DDTs, while PCBs were dominated by penta- and hexa-chlorobiphenyls congeners. BDE-47 was the predominant congener among PBDEs. Endosulfan showed the maximum differences between post- and pre-flood fish (up to 43-fold) with a α-/β- ratio > 1, suggesting exposure to fresh technical mixture. Contaminant profiles observed in rainbow trout tissues from both periods (pre- and post-event) were consistent with previous results from water, suspended particle matter and soils, showing that this species is a good biomonitor of aquatic pollution of Negro River basin. The presence of the pesticides in the Negro River system resulted from past and current agricultural practices and it was modified and enhanced by the flooding. Additionally, PCBs and PBDEs occurrence in the aquatic environment deserve more attention, and monitoring programs are recommended in order to diminish their incorporation to aquatic ecosystem.Fil: Ondarza, Paola Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Marinas. Laboratorio de Ecotoxicología; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Marinas. Laboratorio de Ecotoxicología; ArgentinaFil: Fillmann, Gilberto. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande; BrasilFil: Miglioranza, Karina Silvia Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Marinas. Laboratorio de Ecotoxicología; Argentin

Levels and sources of hydrocarbons in the Patos Lagoon estuary and Cassino Beach mud bank (South Atlantic, Brazil): evidence of transference between environments

This study assessed the concentrations and sources of natural and anthropogenic aliphatic (AHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in superficial sediments collected along the Patos Lagoon estuary and in sediment cores obtained from the Cassino Beach mud bank. Levels and distribution of n-alkanes indicate terrestrial sources, overlapping with a low amount of petrogenic hydrocarbons (heavy oils). Unresolved complex mixture (UCM) was observed in all samples. On the other hand, the distribution of PAHs in the sediments showed a predominance of pyrolytic over petrogenic sources. In general, hydrocarbons (HCs) contamination in the Patos Lagoon estuary and its adjacent coastal area can be considered low, except for sites near urban or industrial effluents, where moderate to high levels of contamination were found. Concentrations of hydrocarbons were homogeneous throughout the sediment cores, suggesting that mixing processes may have occurred along the layers or that HCs inputs to the mud banks were uniform during the studied deposition period. In addition, the levels and profile of HCs in the coastal sediments were similar to those observed in the estuary. Moreover, the frequent remobilization of sediments from the mud bank towards Cassino beach does not seem to pose any threats to the local biota or beach users since the levels of contamination were relatively low and below the threshold limits of sediment quality guideline

Organotin pollution from pleasure craft at Paraty, a tourist area of Southeastern Brazil: amelioration or interference?

Some organotin compounds, such as TBT, are endocrine disruptors and harm marine ecosystems. Even after the global ban on organotins, increasing imposex levels have been detected in Stramonita haemastoma analyzed in 2004 and 2011 in some locations at Paraty, a tourist area in southeastern Brazil. The results of this study indicate that particulate and dissolved organic carbon and xenoestrogens might be interfering in this syndrome's development, leading to underestimation of imposex evaluation. Chemical analysis of three mangrove swamp sediments in the area showed the presence of TBT (16.0 - 205.7 ng Sn g-1), DBT (10.1 - 16.4 ng Sn g-1) and MBT (10.1 - 10.2 ng Sn g-1) even at the reference sites. The concentrations of butyltins and the increased incidence of imposexat some stations indicate recent inputs of TBT in the study area due to its illegal use on small vessels.Alguns compostos organoestânicos, como o TBT, são desreguladores endócrinos e causam danos aos ecossistemas marinhos. Mesmo após a proibição global de organoestânicos, níveis crescentes de imposex foram detectados em indivíduos Stramonita haemastoma analisados em 2004 e 2011, em Paraty, área turística no sudeste do Brasil. Os resultados deste estudo indicam que partículas e carbono orgânico dissolvido e xenoestrógenos podem estar interferindo no desenvolvimento dessa síndrome, levando à subestimação de avaliação do imposex. A análise química de três sedimentos de mangue na área mostrou a presença de TBT (16,0-205,7 ng Sn g-1), DBT (10,1-16,4 ng Sn g-1) e MBT (10,1-10,2 ng Sn g-1), mesmo nos locais de referência. As concentrações de butilestânicos e o aumento da incidência de imposex em algumas estações indicam entradas recentes de TBT na área estudada devido ao uso ilegal em pequenas embarcações

Co-exposure of the organic nanomaterial fullerene C60 with benzo[a]pyrene in Danio rerio (zebrafish) hepatocytes: Evidence of toxicological interactions

Compounds from the nanotechnology industry, such as carbon-based nanomaterials, are strong candidates to contaminate aquatic environments because their production and disposal have exponentially grown in a few years. Previous evidence shows that fullerene C60, a carbon nanomaterial, can facilitate the intake of metals or PAHs both in vivo and in vitro, potentially amplifying the deleterious effects of these toxicants in organisms. The present work aimed to investigate the effects of fullerene C60 in a Danio rerio (zebrafish) hepatocyte cell lineage exposed to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in terms of cell viability, oxidative stress parameters and BaP intracellular accumulation. Additionally, a computational docking was performed to investigate the interaction of the fullerene C60 molecule with the detoxificatory and antioxidant enzyme πGST. Fullerene C60 provoked a significant (p 0.05) alter the enzyme activity when added to GST purified extracts from the zebrafish hepatocyte cells. These results show that fullerene C60 can increase the intake of BaP into the cells, decreasing cell viability and impairing the detoxificatory response by phase II enzymes, such as GST, and this latter effect should be occurring at the transcriptional level.Fil: Ribas Ferreira, Josencler L.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Lonné, María Noelia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: França, Thiago A.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Maximilla, Naiana R.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Lugokenski, Thiago H.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Departamento de Química; BrasilFil: Costa, Patrícia G.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Fillmann, Gilberto. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Soares, Félix A.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Departamento de Química; BrasilFil: de la Torre, Fernando Roman. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Monserrat, José María. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Nanomateriais de Carbono; Brasi

Is there any association BETWEEN TACSTD2, KIAA1253, Ku70 and mutant kras gene expression and clinical-pathological features of colorectal cancer?

Aim of this article is to determine the quantitative gene expression of KRAS codon 12 mutant, TACSTD2, Ku70 and SERIN1 in samples of tumor tissue and to relate them with clinical-pathological characteristics of colorectal cancer

Efeito do sexo e da gestação sobre os níveis séricos de frutosamina de indivíduos normais

A frutosamina é um índice do controle metabólico no diabete mélito, refletindo as variações da glicemia nas últimas 2-3 semanas. Representa um conjunto de proteínas glicosadas, cuja fração principal é a albumina. Com o objetivo de es tabelecer os valotes normais da frutosamina em homens, mulheres e gestantes, os níveis séricos de frutosamina forilm medidos em 42 indivíduos normais (homens, n=21, idades 24-81 anos; mulheres, n=21, idades 22-71 anos) e 36 gestantes (idades 18-38 anos, idade gestacional 17-37 semanas). A frutosamina foi medida pelo método colorimétTico em um analisador automático COBAS MIRA-ROCHE. Os valores de frutosamina (média ± desvio padrão) observados em homens (2,99 ± 0.32 mmoljl) foram maiores do que nas mulheres (2,70 ± 0.26 mmol/1). Os valores nom1ais nas gestantes foram menores (2.40 ± 0.22 mmoljl) do que nas mulheres não-grávidas e a correção di! frutosamina de acordo com os túveis de albumina sérica não modificaram os resultados. Os dados apresentados indicam que devem ser considemdos o sexo ea presença ou não de gravidez pam se definir os limites normais dos valores de frutosamina sérica.Serum fructosamine is an index of metabolic control in diabetes mellitus, reflecting the glucose variations during the last 2-3 weeks. It represents a group of glycated proteins, in which the main fraction is albumin. The aim of this study was to determine the normal values in men, women and pregnants. Serum fructosamine was measured in 42healthy subjects (men n=21, aged 24-81 years; women n=21, aged 22-71years) and 36 normal pregnants (aged 18-38 years; gestacional age 17-37weeks). The fructosamine was determined by colorimetric method in an auto-analyser COBAS MIRA-ROCHE. The normal values (mean ± standard deviation) observed in men (2,99 ± 0,32 mmol/L)was higher than women (2,70 ± 0.26 mmol/L). The normal values in pregnants (2.40 ± 0.22mmol/L) were lower than non-pregnant women and the values were not dependent on serum albumin concentration. This data indicated the sex and pregnancy should be taken in account in order to establish the normal range of serum fructosamine