PCBs contamination in water and Mytilus edulis along the north Portuguese Atlantic Ocean coastline and analysis of potential carcinogenic risk to human health.

Seven seawater polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in water (DAP), suspended particulate matter (SPM), and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from four beaches in northwest Portugal. PCBs were extracted using solid-phase-extraction, ultrasound-extraction and QuEChERS before GC-MS analysis. The two-year annual average concentrations of PCBs in DAP, SPM and the four-year analysis in mussels were ∼ 4.

A Proof-of-Concept for a Hypolipidemic Brown Trout Model.

The impacts of hypolipidemic pharmaceuticals on fish lipid metabolism remain unexplored. However, data points to similar effects and mechanisms of action between fish and humans. Therefore, fish may be a strong model for screening hypolipidemic drug candidates and water pollution by lipid-modulating agents.

Fish as models to study liver and blood lipid-related effects of fibrates and statins and screen new hypolipidemic drugs.

Fibrates and statins lead worldwide prescriptions of lipid-lowering drugs, whose consumption is increasing considerably due to the growing incidence of dyslipidemias, particularly in high-income areas. Consequently, these chemicals are frequently found in aquatic environments, usually closer to highly urbanized and populated areas, reaching the water systems primarily through waste-water treatment plant (WWTP) effluents. Despite that, the knowledge regarding the effects caused by fibrates and statins in fish, namely in liver lipid metabolism and blood-related parameters, is still very limited.

Chemical Survey and Risk Assessment of 56 Pesticides in the Sado River Estuary (Iberian Peninsula, Portugal).

The Sado basin (~8000 km) is an area where intensive agriculture occurs. However, this region still has few data about the water levels of priority pesticides such as fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. Therefore, water samples were collected every two months at nine sites along the Sado River Estuary and analyzed by GC-MS/MS to determine the influx of pesticides in that ecosystem.

Chemical monitoring and risk assessment of 56 pesticides in the Ave River and adjoining Atlantic coastline (Iberian Peninsula, Portugal).

The Ave basin (North Atlantic Ocean Ecoregion) is highly disturbed by anthropogenic activities. The amounts and distribution patterns of 56 priority pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides) dissolved in the aqueous phase (DAP) and suspended particle matter (SPM) were evaluated seasonally along the river, estuary and coastline. Over 83 % of the GC-MS/MS-identified pesticides were quantified in DAP and 91 % in SPM.

Morvan's Syndrome: The Importance of Knowing Different Risk-Associated Phenotypes and Antibodies in Identifying the Correct Underlying Tumor.

Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes (PNS) are neurologic disorders that can affect any part of the nervous system, occur in association with cancer, and have an immune-mediated mechanism that produces direct damage to the neural tissue. Neurological symptoms frequently precede, in months to years, the symptoms directly attributed to the primary tumor, requiring a high clinical suspicion for adequate investigation. We report the case of a man in his early 80s admitted for an altered level of consciousness, alternating between periods with stupor and drowsiness, short-term waking states and psychomotor agitation, respiratory failure and dysautonomia, resembling a Morvan's syndrome.

A Stereological Study of the Three Types of Ganglia of Male, Female, and Undifferentiated (Bivalvia).

Neurotransmitters modulate gonadal maturation in bivalves. However, it remains unclear whether there are differences in the nervous system structure between sexes, maturation, and ganglia. Therefore, a stereological study was conducted on the ganglia of adult peppery furrow shell ().

Synthetic Progestins in Waste and Surface Waters: Concentrations, Impacts and Ecological Risk.

Synthetic progestins (PGs) are a large family of hormones used in continuously growing amounts in human and animal contraception and medicinal therapies. Because wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are unable to eradicate PGs after excretion, they are discharged into aquatic systems, where they can also be regenerated from conjugated PG metabolites. This review summarises the concentrations of 12 PGs in waters from 2015 to 2021.

Temporal-spatial survey of PAHs and PCBs in the Atlantic Iberian northwest coastline, and evaluation of their sources and risks for both humans and aquatic organisms.

Herein, sixteen priority sixteen priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), considered seawater quality indicators, were quantified in four beaches of the Iberian (Portuguese) northwest coastline, including one ornithological reserve. These seashores are close to an important industrial region and a harbour. Water samples were extracted for PAHs and PCBs in their aqueous phase (DAP) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) and analysed by GC-MS/MS.

Concentrations, sources and risks of PAHs in dissolved and suspended material particulate fractions from the Northwest Atlantic Coast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Anthropogenic activities can introduce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coastal waters. Here, 16 priority PAHs were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) in seawater samples from three Iberian Atlantic habitats. Results showed global concentrations of ≅9 ng/L in the aqueous phase (DAP) and ≅94 ng/g, dw in suspended particulate matter (SPM).

Histological characterization of the maturation stages of the ovarian follicles of the goldfish Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758).

The goldfish is a model organism showing great potential for research, particularly in comparative endocrinology concerning the neuroendocrine signalling and regulation of vertebrate reproduction. Furthermore, this teleost is increasingly stressed as a relevant alternative to more common fish model organisms, namely zebrafish. However, quality descriptions and illustrations of the complete goldfish gonadal histology are surprisingly scarce, but needed, to support research using this fish.

Histology and design-based estimation of hepatocellularity and volumes of hepatocytes in control and ethynylestradiol exposed males of platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus).

The liver hosts numerous vital functions, such as biotransformation and excretion of xenobiotics. Synthetic oestrogens influence liver structure and function, leading to adaptations or to dysfunctions/injury. They are often stated to induce increases in fish liver weight, but there is controversy regarding how: if by changes in hepatocyte size (hypertrophy) and/or number (hyperplasia).

Central leukotrienes modulate fever tolerance to LPS in rats.

Leukotrienes mediate several inflammatory events such as neutrophil chemoattraction, leukocyte adhesion, and central-release of cytokines and fever. However, there is no information available about their putative role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) tolerance. The rational of the present study was to find out if central leukotrienes are involved in the development of LPS tolerance.

Magnetic nanosorbents with siliceous hybrid shells of alginic acid and carrageenan for removal of ciprofloxacin.

Water contamination with antibiotics is a serious environmental threat. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is one of the most frequently detected antibiotics in water. Herein, silica-based magnetic nanosorbents prepared using three seaweed polysaccharides, alginic acid, κ- and λ-carrageenan, were developed and evaluated in the uptake of ciprofloxacin.

Meeting report: IUPS and ADInstruments 2017 Teaching Workshop.

Every 4 yr, the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) Teaching Workshop is held as a traditional satellite event of the IUPS Congress. The 2017 satellite workshop was held August 5-8, 2017 in Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The workshop provided an opportunity for discussion and experiences in physiology teaching for educators at various levels, graduate students, and undergraduate students.

Characterization and spatial relationships of the hepatic vascular-biliary tracts, and their associated pancreocytes and macrophages, in the model fish guppy (Poecilia reticulata): A study of serial sections by light microscopy.

The guppy is a tropical fish that has been used as an experimental model organism in science. It is a species well adapted to the natural environment and that can support adverse environmental conditions, and so, at occasions, its presence can be indicative of environmental disturbances. Moreover, as the liver is very important when studying fish diseases, the knowledge of normal microanatomy is essential to assess histological changes, e.

PAHs in water and surface sediments from Douro River estuary and Porto Atlantic coast (Portugal)-impacts on human health.

This study investigated the presence of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) in waters from the Douro River estuary and nearby Atlantic seacoast, which both bath the Porto metropolis. In the area, there is an oil refinery, an important harbour, an intense maritime traffic, small marinas and highly inhabited cities. For the analysis of PAHs, water samples were taken from four sampling sites, at six different times of the year (2011), and extracted by solid-phase extraction (dissolved fraction) and by ultrasound technique (suspended fraction), before their quantification by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Determination of 54 pesticides in waters of the Iberian Douro River estuary and risk assessment of environmentally relevant mixtures using theoretical approaches and Artemia salina and Daphnia magna bioassays.

As a case study, the estuary of the international Douro River (Iberian Peninsula) was sampled over a year (2010) at six sampling sites to determine the presence of 56 pesticides of different categories (insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides). 96% of measured pesticides were detected in 79% of the quantified samples. Individual average pesticide concentrations ranged from 39 to 1 265ng/L, indicating a ubiquitous presence of the selected compounds; moreover, twelve pesticides were above the 2013/39/EU Directive limits.

[Uterine Rupture at 18 Weeks of Pregnancy in the Context of Malformed Uterus].

Birth defects of the female genital tract are relatively common and often asymptomatic. Despite the pregnancy outcome can be favorable, adverse obstetric outcomes are described in women with uterine malformations. The authors report the case of an obstetric emergency which enhances the possibility of a very adverse and rare outcome of uterine rupture in a left hemi-cavity of a bicornuate uterus away from the term, at 18 weeks of pregnancy, in a pregnant woman with history of caesarean in the right hemi-cavity and with placenta increta.

Curcumin suppresses inflammatory cytokines and heat shock protein 70 release and improves metabolic parameters during experimental sepsis.

Context: Curcumin has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic properties, besides reducing mortality in sepsis.

Objective: This study evaluates the biological activities of a curcumin dispersion formulated by spray-drying in experimental sepsis.

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar rats were subjected to sepsis by caecal ligation and puncture (CLP), controls were sham operated.

Multi-matrix quantification and risk assessment of pesticides in the longest river of the Iberian peninsula.

The distribution of pesticides in dissolved aqueous phase (DAP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and Scrobicularia plana soft tissues from the Tagus River estuary was determined to evaluate the chemicals pollution status and their hazard potential in this area. Samples were collected in 6 campaigns (December 2012-October 2013), from 3 strategical sites, and analysed via different extraction procedures followed by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) determination. The contamination profile among matrices (DAP, SPM, and soft tissue from bivalves (STB)) was marked by average concentrations of 345ng/L, 0.

Brazilian actions to promote physiology learning and teaching in secondary and high schools.

Members of the Education Committee of the Brazilian Society of Physiology have developed multiple outreach models to improve the appreciation of science and physiology at the precollege level. The members of this committee act in concert with important Brazilian governmental strategies to promote training of undergraduate students in the teaching environment of secondary and high schools. One of these governmental strategies, the Programa Institucional de Bolsas de Iniciação à Docência, a Brazilian public policy of teaching enhancement implemented by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) since 2007, represents a well-articulated public policy that can promote the partnership between University and Schools (7).

Seasonal changes in hepatocytic lipid droplets, glycogen deposits, and rough endoplasmic reticulum along the natural breeding cycle of female ohrid trout (Salmo letnica Kar.)-A semiquantitative ultrastructural study.

This study on wild female Ohrid trout was primarily designed to provide a general overview of the breeding cycle influence upon selected aspects of hepatocytes. According with a semiquantitatively evaluation, some of these cell's structural compartments change during the breeding cycle. Structural modifications were disclosed in the relative occurrence of lipid, glycogen, and RER content during breeding cycle.