Quantification of Toxic Metals Derived from Macroplastic Litter on Ookushi Beach, Japan

The potential risk of toxic metals that could leach into a beach environment from plastic litter washed ashore on Ookushi Beach, Goto Islands, Japan was estimated by balloon aerial photography, in situ beach surveys, and leaching experiments in conjunction with a Fickian diffusion model analysis. Chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), and lead (Pb) were detected in plastic litter collected during the beach surveys. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fishing floats contained the highest quantity of Pb. Balloon aerial photography in conjunction with a beach survey gave an estimated mass of Pb derived from plastic litter of 313 ± 247 g. Lead leaching experiments on collected PVC floats showed that Pb in the plastic litter could leach into surrounding water on the actual beach, and that plastic litter may act as a “transport vector” of toxic metals to the beach environment. Using the experimental data, the total mass of Pb that could leach from PVC plastic litter over a year onto Ookushi Beach was estimated as 0.6 ± 0.6 g/year, suggesting that toxic metals derived from plastic beach litter are a potential “pathway” to contamination of the beach environment due to their accumulation in beach soil over time

Images of postprocedural complications that could be prevented with an upper arm CV port.

<p>(<b>A</b>) <b>Catheter pinch-off syndrome and fracture. </b><i>Arrow</i> indicates a “pinched-off” and fractured site of a catheter. <i>Arrowheads</i> indicate the fractured distal catheter fragments that had migrated into the pulmonary artery through the heart. (<b>B</b>) <b>Catheter inversion.</b> Left panel, <i>Arrow</i> indicates a normal catheter placed centrally. Note that there is a sweep turning point at this puncture site that may cause tension derived from an elastic restoring force. Right panel, <i>Arrowheads</i> indicate the peripherally inverted distal portion of a catheter for the same case.</p

Proportion of Success and Complications.

†<p>Total parenteral nutrition was administered in all cases.</p

Characteristics of the Patients.

<p>Characteristics of the Patients.</p

Real-time ultrasound-guided venipuncture.

<p>(<b>A</b>) <b>“Two-person method” and “one-person method.”</b> With the “two-person method,” the ultrasound-guidance step and the puncturing step are assigned separately to two operators. This can increase the success rate for beginners. (<b>B</b>) <b>Tips for puncture with the correct angle.</b> The axes between the probe and needle must be kept in one line.</p

Preparation.

<p>(<b>A</b>) <b>Minimum specific materials for the procedure.</b> In this kit, a CV port/catheter, a dilator sheath, and a guide wire are supplied. For venipuncture, we use common peripheral intravenous catheters with appropriate lengths and gauge sizes through which a guide wire can be passed. In this kit, an 18-gauge needle is sufficient. In case of “Seldinger technique”-based kits, a 20- or 22-gauge needle might be sufficient because those guide wires are usually thinner than “peel-off sheath”-based kits. Further, commonly used materials such as surgical caps, masks, eye protection, sterile gloves, gowns, drapes, disinfectant sponges, gauzes, sutures with needles, scalpels, anesthetic syringes, and 1% or 2% lidocaine anesthetic solutions are also required (not shown). (<b>B</b>) <b>Arm position.</b> The patient should be asked to lie down in the supine position, which allows the upper limb to abduct, upper arm to rotate outward, forearm to supinate, and medial side of the arm to be upward for better demonstration of the basilic vein. The elbow should not be bent, and the forearm should not be pronated. (<b>C</b>) <b>Tips for applying the probe with the correct angle.</b> The probe should be applied at the correct angle.</p

Port Implantation.

<p>(<b>A</b>) <b>Skin incision.</b> A scalpel should be used to make a skin incision from 2 cm to the right to 2 cm to the left of the puncture point. This incision should be used later as the entrance for making a subcutaneous pocket with a forceps. (<b>B</b>) <b>Making a slit between the skin and wire.</b> The connective tissues between the skin and wire should be cut with a scalpel to make a slit a few millimeters long over the wire in the puncture point. (<b>C</b>) <b>The purpose of a slit.</b> Without this step, the catheter route will be shallower from the skin surface; subsequently, the risk of catheter exteriorization will increase.</p

Examples of anticipated preoperative difficulties with the procedure confirmed on CT scan images.

<p>(<b>A</b>) <b>SVC syndrome.. </b><i>Arrow</i> indicates the excluded SVC by a tumor. (<b>B</b>) <b>Tortuous collateral blood circulation.. </b><i>Arrows</i> indicate the contrast-enhanced tortuous collateral blood circulation attributable to a modification caused by surgery, radiation, or spontaneous occlusion.</p

Additional file 2: Figure S1. of microRNA-193a-3p is specifically down-regulated and acts as a tumor suppressor in BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer

Correlations between the microarray results and the qPCR results in a screening set (n = 30). The signal intensities obtained by microarray analysis were well correlated with the expression results determined by qPCR for a miR-193a-3p and b miR-16. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was presented. (PPTX 42 kb

Occurrence of Natural Mixed Halogenated Dibenzo‑<i>p</i>‑Dioxins: Specific Distribution and Profiles in Mussels from Seto Inland Sea, Japan

In addition to unintentional formation of polychlorinated (PCDD/Fs), polybrominated (PBDD/Fs), and mixed halogenated (PXDD/Fs) dibenzo-<i>p</i>-dioxins/dibenzofurans during industrial activities, recent studies have shown that several PBDD and PXDD congeners can be produced by marine algal species from the coastal environment. However, multiple exposure status of anthropogenic and naturally derived dioxins in marine organisms remains unclear. The present study examined the occurrence, geographical distribution, and potential sources of PCDD/Fs, PBDD/Fs, and PXDD/Fs using mussels and brown algae collected in 2012 from Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The results showed the widespread occurrence of not only PCDD/Fs but also PBDDs and PXDDs in Seto Inland Sea. The geographical distribution pattern of PBDDs was similar to that of PXDDs, which were obviously different from that of PCDDs and PCDFs, and a significant positive correlation was observed between the levels of their predominant congeners, i.e., 1,3,7-/1,3,8-TrBDDs and DiBMoCDDs. Interestingly, potential precursors of 1,3,7-/1,3,8-TrBDDs and DiBMoCDDs, hydroxylated tetrabrominated diphenyl ethers (6-HO-BDE-47 and 2′-HO-BDE-68) and their mixed halogenated analogue (HO-TrBMoCDE), were also identified in the mussel and brown alga samples collected at the same site, by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–ToFMS) analyses. It is noteworthy that residue levels of 1,3,7-/1,3,8-TrBDDs and DiBMoCDDs in the mussel were 30 times higher than those in the brown alga, suggesting the bioaccumulation of these natural dioxins