Clinicopathological biomarker patterns, venom detection and venom proteomics in canine Vipera berus envenomation.

Vipera berus (V. berus) bites are associated with high morbidity, including kidney injury, in dogs. Although antivenom is often used and perceived effective to treat this type of snakebite, it is costly and associated with adverse events and specific diagnostics for this type of snakebite are lacking.

A longitudinal study of the blood and urine metabolome of Vipera berus envenomated dogs.

Envenomation of dogs by the common European adder (Vipera berus) is associated with high morbidity. The cytotoxic venom of Vipera berus contains enzymes with the potential to cause acute kidney injury, among other insults, however robust biomarkers for such effects are lacking. A prospective observational follow-up study of naturally envenomated dogs and controls was conducted to fill knowledge gaps regarding canine Vipera berus envenomation, attempt to identify novel biomarkers of envenomation and related kidney injury, and elucidate potential long-term effects.

[Strengths and Difficulties of 3- to 15-Year-Old Children and Adolescents in the Second andThird Year of the Corona Pandemic - Results of a Household-Representative Survey in Germany].

Behavioural strengths and psychosocial problems in children and adolescents between the ages of 3 and 15 are reported. The survey is based on a household-representative sample of 2,421 parents or guardians providing information on their everyday family-life in summer 2021 by online-questionnaire. 704 of the respondents participated again in the spring of 2022.

Exposure to persistent organic pollutants alters the serum metabolome in non-obese diabetic mice.

Introduction: Autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes (T1D) are believed to be caused by the interplay between several genetic and environmental factors. Elucidation of the role of environmental factors in metabolic and immune dysfunction leading to autoimmune disease is not yet well characterized.

Objectives: Here we investigated the impact of exposure to a mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on the metabolome in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, an experimental model of T1D.

Comparison of young male mice of two different strains (C57BL/6J and the hybrid B6129SF1/J) in selected behavior tests: a small scale study.

Background: All mouse strains are different, before choosing a strain for a large study, a small scale study should be done. In this study, we compared young males of two mouse strains, C57BL/6J and the hybrid B6129SF1/J, and gained knowledge on their performance in three different behavioral tests; open field (OF) test, Barnes maze (BM) test and a restraint stress test.

Results: We found that the young males of the C57BL/6J strain spent more time moving in the OF.

Exposure to a human relevant mixture of persistent organic pollutants or to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid alone dysregulates the developing cerebellum of chicken embryo.

Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. In the present study, we explored whether a human-relevant POP mixture affects the development of chicken embryo cerebellum. We used a defined mixture of 29 POPs, with chemical composition and concentrations based on blood levels in the Scandinavian population.

Peripherally administered persistent organic pollutants distribute to the brain of developing chicken embryo in concentrations relevant for human exposure.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can reach the fetal brain and contribute to developmental neurotoxicity. To explore the distribution of POPs to the fetal brain, we exposed chicken embryos to a POP mixture, containing 29 different compounds with concentrations based on blood levels measured in the Scandinavian human population. The mixture was injected into the allantois at embryonic day 13 (E13), aiming at a theoretical concentration of 10 times human blood levels.

Perinatal exposure to a human relevant mixture of persistent organic pollutants: Effects on mammary gland development, ovarian folliculogenesis and liver in CD-1 mice.

The ability of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with endocrine disrupting properties to interfere with the developing reproductive system is of increasing concern. POPs are transferred from dams to offspring and the high sensitivity of neonates to endocrine disturbances may be caused by underdeveloped systems of metabolism and excretion. The present study aimed to characterize the effect of in utero and lactational exposure to a human relevant mixture of POPs on the female mammary gland, ovarian folliculogenesis and liver function in CD-1 offspring mice.

Serial serum creatinine, SDMA and urinary acute kidney injury biomarker measurements in dogs envenomated by the European adder (Vipera berus).

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality in dogs, but diagnosis may be impaired due the insensitivity of routine renal function biomarkers to detect earlier or milder forms of injury. Snake envenomation is one of several causes of AKI in dogs and humans. Dogs are commonly envenomated by the European adder (Vipera berus) between April and October each year, but few studies exist examining serial serum creatinine (sCr) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) measurements and AKI biomarkers in these dogs.

Maternal exposure to a human based mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) affect gene expression related to brain function in mice offspring hippocampus.

Male and female mice pups were exposed to a low and high dose of a human relevant mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) during pregnancy and lactation. Most compounds detected in the dams were found in offspring brains. The mice offspring exhibited changed expression of hippocampal genes involved in cognitive function (Adora2a, Auts2, Crlf1, Chrnb2, Gdnf, Gnal, Kcnh3), neuroinflammation (Cd47, Il1a), circadian rhythm (Per1, Clock), redox signalling (Hmox2) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation (Cyp1b1).

A human relevant mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) differentially affect glutamate induced excitotoxic responses in chicken cerebellum granule neurons (CGNs) in vitro.

Primary cultures of cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) derived from chicken embryos were used to explore the effects on developmental neurotoxicity by a complex defined mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Its chemical composition and concentrations were based on blood levels in the Norwegian/Scandinavian population. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) alone, its most abundant compound was also evaluated.

Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances modulates neonatal serum phospholipids, increasing risk of type 1 diabetes.

In the last decade, increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) stabilized in Finland, a phenomenon that coincides with tighter regulation of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Here, we quantified PFAS to examine their effects, during pregnancy, on lipid and immune-related markers of T1D risk in children. In a mother-infant cohort (264 dyads), high PFAS exposure during pregnancy associated with decreased cord serum phospholipids and progression to T1D-associated islet autoantibodies in the offspring.

Maternal exposure to a human relevant mixture of persistent organic pollutants reduces colorectal carcinogenesis in A/J Min/+ mice.

An increased risk of developing colorectal cancer has been associated with exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and alteration in the gut bacterial community. However, there is limited understanding about the impact of maternal exposure to POPs on colorectal cancer and gut microbiota. This study characterized the influence of exposure to a human relevant mixture of POPs during gestation and lactation on colorectal cancer, intestinal metabolite composition and microbiota in the A/J Min/+ mouse model.

A Human Relevant Defined Mixture of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Affects In Vitro Secretion of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1), but Does Not Affect Translocation of Its Receptor.

Environmental exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been suggested as a contributing factor for the increased rate of type 2 diabetes and obesity. A complex mixture of 29 POPs (Total mixture), based on human blood concentrations, was used to expose a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secreting enteroendocrine cell line (pGIP/neo: STC-1) in vitro for 3 and 24 h. Significant increases of GLP-1 occurred when cells were exposed to the Total mixture at ×500 blood levels.

A human exposure based mixture of persistent organic pollutants affects the stress response in female mice and their offspring.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are found in the food chain of both humans and animals and exert a wide spectrum of potentially adverse effects. The present experiment aimed to investigate whether a defined mixture of 29 POPs, based on the dietary intake of Scandinavians, could affect the stress response in female mice exposed through ingestion, and in their offspring. Female mice 129:C57BL/6F0 hybrids were exposed from weaning, throughout pregnancy, and up until necropsy, to either 5000 × or 100 000 × the estimated daily intake for Scandinavians.

Decreased macrophage phagocytic function due to xenobiotic exposures in vitro, difference in sensitivity between various macrophage models.

Both autoimmune disease prevalence and exposure to immunotoxic chemicals have increased the last decades. As a first screening of immunotoxic chemicals possibly affecting development of autoimmunity through attenuated macrophage function, we demonstrate a promising model measuring macrophage function in isolated peritoneal macrophages (PCM) from Wistar rats and C57Bl/6 mice. Immunotoxic effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and a selection of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were analysed in vitro assessing phagocytic function of macrophages from different sources.

The design of an environmentally relevant mixture of persistent organic pollutants for use in in vivo and in vitro studies.

Amongst the substances listed as persistent organic pollutants (POP) under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (SCPOP) are chlorinated, brominated, and fluorinated compounds. Most experimental studies investigating effects of POP employ single compounds. Studies focusing on effects of POP mixtures are limited, and often conducted using extracts from collected specimens.

Maternal exposure to a mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) affects testis histology, epididymal sperm count and induces sperm DNA fragmentation in mice.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are widespread throughout the environment and some are suspected to induce reproductive toxicity. As animals and humans are exposed to complex mixtures of POPs, it is reasonable to assess how such mixtures could interact with the reproductive system. Our aim is to investigate how maternal exposure to a mixture of 29 different persistent organic pollutants, formulated to mimic the relative POP levels in the food basket of the Scandinavian population, could alter reproductive endpoints.

A Mixture of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid Induces Similar Behavioural Responses, but Different Gene Expression Profiles in Zebrafish Larvae.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are widespread in the environment and some may be neurotoxic. As we are exposed to complex mixtures of POPs, we aimed to investigate how a POP mixture based on Scandinavian human blood data affects behaviour and neurodevelopment during early life in zebrafish. Embryos/larvae were exposed to a series of sub-lethal doses and behaviour was examined at 96 h post fertilization (hpf).

Endocrine effects of real-life mixtures of persistent organic pollutants (POP) in experimental models and wild fish.

A series of studies have assessed the occurrence, levels, and potential adverse effects of persistent organic pollutants (POP) in fish from Lake Mjøsa. In this lake, high levels of various POP were detected in biota. Fish from the nearby Lake Losna contain background levels of POP and served as reference (controls) in these studies.

Effects of defined mixtures of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on multiple cellular responses in the human hepatocarcinoma cell line, HepG2, using high content analysis screening.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic substances, highly resistant to environmental degradation, which can bio-accumulate and have long-range atmospheric transport potential. Most studies focus on single compound effects, however as humans are exposed to several POPs simultaneously, investigating exposure effects of real life POP mixtures on human health is necessary. A defined mixture of POPs was used, where the compound concentration reflected its contribution to the levels seen in Scandinavian human serum (total mix).

Do persistent organic pollutants interact with the stress response? Individual compounds, and their mixtures, interaction with the glucocorticoid receptor.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic substances, highly resistant to environmental degradation, which can bio-accumulate and have long-range atmospheric transport potential (UNEP, 2001). The majority of studies on endocrine disruption have focused on interferences on the sexual steroid hormones and so have overlooked disruption to glucocorticoid hormones. Here the endocrine disrupting potential of individual POPs and their mixtures has been investigated in vitro to identify any disruption to glucocorticoid nuclear receptor transcriptional activity.

Development of rapid temporal processing and its impact on literacy skills in primary school children.

In a longitudinal study, auditory and visual temporal order thresholds (TOTs) were investigated in primary school children (N = 236; mean age at first data point = 6;7) at the beginning of Grade 1 and the end of Grade 2 to test whether rapid temporal processing abilities predict reading and spelling at the end of Grades 1 and 2. Auditory and visual TOTs differed but showed comparable developmental trajectories over 20 months. Visual TOTs were not predictive of literacy measures; auditory TOTs in Grade 1 were the best predictor.

Policy relevant results from an expert elicitation on the human health risks of decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD).

Aim: Apply a recently developed expert elicitation procedure to evaluate the state of the current knowledge of the two brominated flame retardants (BFRs) most commonly used today; decabromo-diphenyl ether (decaBDE) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and their potential impact on human health in order to support policy considerations. This expert elicitation was organized by the HENVINET (Health and Environment Network) Consortium.

Method: The HENVINET expert elicitation procedure that was used in the evaluations of decaBDE and HBCD is a rapid assessment tool aimed at highlighting areas of agreement and areas of disagreement on knowledge-related key issues for environment and health policy decision making.