Single and combined acute and subchronic toxic effects of microplastics and copper in zebrafish (Danio rerio) early life stages.

The evaluation of the interaction between microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals is of special importance for risk assessment. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to MPs (2 mg/L), two sub-lethal concentrations of copper (Cu, 60 and 125 µg/L) and their mixtures (Cu60 + MPs, Cu125 + MPs), from 2-h post-fertilization (hpf) until 14-days post-fertilization (dpf). Lethal and sublethal endpoints were evaluated, along with a set of biochemical and genetic biomarkers between 2 and 14 dpf. Exposure to MPs and Cu, single or combined, induced high mortality and oxidative stress in zebrafish larvae, with data showing that the antioxidant enzymes were inhibited at 6 dpf, increasing thereafter until 14 dpf, due to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. MPs and Cu, single or combined, caused neurotoxicity in larvae by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity. There was an increased and significant effect of Cu + MPs groups on the evaluated biomarkers, concerning the corresponding Cu groups, suggesting that MPs may have a synergistic effect in relation to Cu. The Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) evidenced that a higher degree of stress occurred at the larval period. Our findings highlight that MPs can act as a vector for heavy metals, therefore, influencing their bioavailability and toxicity in the organisms.

Toxicological effects induced on early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio) after an acute exposure to microplastics alone or co-exposed with copper.

Data about the toxicological interactions of MPs and heavy metals in biota is limited, particularly in fish early life stages. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicological effects of MPs and copper (Cu), alone or combined, in zebrafish early life stages. Embryos were exposed from 2 until 96-h post-fertilization (hpf) to MPs (2 mg/L), three sub-lethal concentrations of Cu (15, 60 and 125 µg/L) and binary mixtures containing Cu and MPs (Cu15+MPs, Cu60+MPs, Cu125+MPs). Lethal and sub-lethal parameters, histopathological changes, biochemical biomarkers, gene expression and behavior were assessed. Our findings showed that Cu and Cu + MPs decreased embryos survival and hatching rate. Increased ROS levels were observed in larvae exposed to the two lowest Cu and Cu + MPs groups, suggesting an induction of oxidative stress. An increased CAT and GPx activities were observed in Cu and Cu + MPs, implying a response of the antioxidant defense system to overcome the metal and MPs stress. The sod1 expression was downregulated in all Cu groups and in the two highest Cu + MPs exposed groups. AChE was significantly inhibited in Cu and Cu + MPs groups, indicating neurotoxicity. A disruption of avoidance and social behaviors were also noticed in the Cu125 and Cu125+MPs exposed larvae. Evidences of Cu-toxicity modulation by MPs were observed in some endpoints. Overall, the findings of this study highlight that Cu alone or co-exposed with MPs lead to oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and ultimately behavioral alterations in early life stages of zebrafish, while MPs alone do not produce significant effects on zebrafish larvae.

Violencia basada en género en zonas urbanas y urbano-marginales de Lima y Callao: 2007-2010 / Gender-based violence in Lima and CallaoÆs urban areas and urban fringe: 2007-2010

Objetivos: Determinar y comparar las características de la violencia en pobladores de zonas urbanas y urbano-marginales. Diseño: Estudio epidemiológico descriptivo. Institución: Escuela de Obstetricia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. Participantes: Mujeres de Lima y Callao. Intervenciones: Entre los años 2007 y 2010, se aplicó una entrevista estructurada a 3 971 mujeres de zonas urbanas y urbano-marginales de Lima y Callao. Se incluyó mujeres residentes de la zona, excluyéndose aquellas con problemas psicológicos evidentes y problemas del habla. Los datos fueron analizados con estadísticas descriptivas y con el estadístico chi cuadrado, significativo a un nivel p<0,05. Principales medidas de resultados: Violencia física. Resultados: De las entrevistadas, 39 por ciento tenía entre 20 y 24 años de edad. El 47 por ciento identificó violencia física, siendo similar en zonas urbanas y urbano-marginales. Los empujones y bofetadas fueron la forma más frecuente de violencia en ambas áreas. Con respecto al estudio de la violencia psicológica, fueron más frecuentes la utilización de gritos y celos por posesividad, también en ambas áreas. El gasto de la pareja sin la consulta fue ligeramente mayor para el área urbano marginal (49 por ciento) que para el área urbana (42 por ciento). El intento de tener relaciones sexuales contra su voluntad fue el tipo de violencia más frecuente (37 por ciento), más en el área urbana (41 por ciento) que en el área urbano marginal (34 por ciento). Conclusiones: Se evidenció episodios de violencia física, psicológica, económica y sexual similares para el área urbana y el área urbano-marginal, siendo la violencia sexual más frecuente en el área urbana.

Objectives: To determine and compare gender-based violence characteristics in urban populations and urban fringe. Design: Comparative cross-sectional prospective study. Setting: School of Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Participants: Women from Lima and Callao. Interventions: Between 2007 and 2010 a structured interview was applied to 3 971 women from urban areas and marginal urban areas of Lima and Callao. Women included were local residents, and women with obvious psychological problems and speech problems were excluded. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi-square method, with significant level p <0,05. Main outcome measures: Violence. Results: Thirty-nine per cent of respondents were between 20 to 24 years of age; 47 per cent identified physical violence, similar at urban and marginal urban areas. Pushing and slapping were the most frequent violence forms at both areas. Psychological violence consisted in shouting, possessiveness and jealousy at both urban and marginal urban areas. Spending without consulting the couple was slightly higher at marginal urban areas (49 per cent) than in urban areas (42 per cent). Attempt to have sex against will was the most frequent type of violence (37 per cent), more in the urban area (41 per cent) than in marginal urban areas (34 per cent). Conclusions: Episodes of physical, psychological, economic, and sexual violence episodes were similar for urban and urban fringe areas, but marginal sexual violence was more frequent in the urban area.

Nevo melanocítico congénito gigante: presentación de un caso / Giant congenital melanocitic Nevus: case report

Los nevo melanocíticos congénitos gigantes (NMCG) son lesiones dérmicas que llaman la atención a todo Neonatólogo que hace la primera exploración física en el recién nacido, por lo tanto no pasan inadvertidos. Se caracterizan por placas y nódulos hiperpigmentados que miden desde 4.6 cm hasta varios decímetros pudiendo involucrar una extremidad, o varias regiones anatómicas.Se reporta el caso de neonato femenino de 4 días de edad que presenta placa cutánea hiperpigmentada “en prenda de vestir” que ocupa parte del tronco, abdomen, genitales y región proximal de extremidades inferiores. Esta lesión se acompaña de numerosas pápulas satélites distribuidas en el tronco, cabeza y una tumoración en genitales cuyo diagnóstico histopatológico fue de Neurofibroma.

Giant Pigmented Melanocytic Nevus, a lesion presented in the dermis, is a birthmark that can be noted at first sight by all Pediatric physicians who are performing the first time inspection in newborns, therefore they are not hidden lesions. They are described as plaques or hyperpygmented nodes, with a surface from 0,6cm to the entire trunk, expanded to the limbs and other anatomical zones.We report a clinic case of a female newborn, 4 days old, who present a skin lesion described as a hyperpigmented plaque, its distribution looks like a bathing dress “bathing trunk nevi”, localized in multiple zones such as, the trunk, abdomen, genitals areas and the upper part of the inferior extremities. This lesion is surrounded by numerous satellite papules which are spreading in the trunk and head. Besides that, we describe a tumor located in the genital area whose hystopatological report was Neurofibroma.