Comparative analysis of root associated microbes in tropical cultivated and weedy rice (Oryza spp.) and temperate cultivated rice.

Weedy rice is a major problem in paddy fields around the world. It is well known that weedy rice appears to grow faster and mature earlier than cultivated rice. It is possible that differences in the root microbial genetics are correlated with this characteristic. This study incorporated 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to study the microbial composition in the rhizosphere and endosphere of rice root. No significant difference was found between the microbiota associated with weedy and cultivated rice lines grown in the same field. It was found that the endosphere had less microbial diversity compared to the rhizosphere. The major groups of bacteria found in the endosphere are from the phylum Proteobacteria, Myxococcota, Chloroflexota, and Actinobacteria. In addition, by analyzing the microbiome of japonica rice grown in the field in a temperate climate, we found that despite differences in genotype and location, some bacterial taxa were found to be common and these members of the putative rice core microbiome can also be detected by in situ hybridization. The delineation of a core microbiome in the endosphere of rice suggests that these bacterial taxa might be important in the life cycle of a wide range of rice types.

Bioaccessibility of halogenated flame retardants and organophosphate esters in settled dust: Influences of specific dust matrices from informal e-waste and end-of-life vehicle processing areas in Vietnam.

Bioaccessibility of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and organophosphorus esters (OPEs) is necessarily investigated to provide more accurate risk assessment and information about absorption behavior of these pollutants. In this study, total and bioaccessible concentrations of HFRs (including legacy and alternative substances) and OPEs were determined in settled dust samples collected from Vietnamese e-waste and end-of-life vehicle (ELV) processing areas. Concentrations of both HFRs and OPEs were significantly higher in the e-waste dust than ELV dust. Bioavailability of HFRs and OPEs in dust was determined by using an in vitro assay with human-simulated digestive fluids, dialysis membrane, and Tenax® TA sorptive sink. Bioaccessibility of HFRs was markedly lower than that of OPEs, which could be largely due to higher hydrophobicity of HFRs compared to OPEs. Bioaccessibility of almost hydrophobic compounds were markedly lower in the e-waste dust (containing micronized plastic debris) than in the ELV dust (containing oily materials), suggesting the influence of specific dust matrices on pollutant bioaccessibility. Although the daily uptake doses of selected HFRs and OPEs from dust were markedly higher in the e-waste sites compared to the ELV sites, the direct exposure risk was not significant. Our results suggest that bioaccessibility can partly explain the differences between dust and uptake profiles, which may relate to accumulation profiles of HFRs and OPEs in human samples.

Global discharge of microplastics from mechanical recycling of plastic waste.

The increasing production of plastic products and generation of plastic waste have had increasingly negative environmental impacts. Although recycling could reduce plastic pollution, microplastics can be generated during the process of crushing plastic products during mechanical recycling. We conducted crushing tests with 13 different plastics and documented the size distribution of particles generated. We then estimated the discharge of microplastics associated with recycling and their removal in wastewater treatment plants. We estimated that the global discharge of microplastics would increase from 0.017 Mt in 2000 to 0.749 Mt in 2060. Although mechanical recycling was estimated to account for 3.1% of the total emissions of microplastics for 2017, discharges of microplastics from plastic recycling may increase, even if plastic pollution from well-known sources decreases. Non-OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Asia could be a major discharging region and would play a vital role in reducing discharges of microplastics. Reduction of the discharge of microplastics will require less use of plastic products and upgrading wastewater treatment in many countries.

Jasmonic acid (JA)-mediating MYB transcription factor1, JMTF1, coordinates the balance between JA and auxin signalling in the rice defence response.

The plant hormone jasmonic acid (JA) is a signalling compound involved in the regulation of cellular defence and development in plants. In this study, we investigated the roles of a JA-responsive MYB transcription factor, JMTF1, in the JA-regulated defence response against rice bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). JMTF1 did not interact with any JASMONATE ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing JMTF1 showed a JA-hypersensitive phenotype and enhanced resistance against Xoo. JMTF1 upregulated the expression of a peroxidase, OsPrx26, and monoterpene synthase, OsTPS24, which are involved in the biosynthesis of lignin and antibacterial monoterpene, γ-terpinene, respectively. OsPrx26 was mainly expressed in the vascular bundle. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsPrx26 showed enhanced resistance against Xoo. In addition to the JA-hypersensitive phenotype, the JMTF1-overexpressing rice plants showed a typical auxin-related phenotype. The leaf divergence and shoot gravitropic responses were defective, and the number of lateral roots decreased significantly in the JMTF1-overexpressing rice plants. JMTF1 downregulated the expression of auxin-responsive genes but upregulated the expression of OsIAA13, a suppressor of auxin signalling. The rice gain-of-function mutant Osiaa13 showed high resistance against Xoo. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsEXPA4, a JMTF1-downregulated auxin-responsive gene, showed increased susceptibility to Xoo. JMTF1 is selectively bound to the promoter of OsPrx26 in vivo. These results suggest that JMTF1 positively regulates disease resistance against Xoo by coordinating crosstalk between JA- and auxin-signalling in rice.

Results of an international interlaboratory study on dioxin-like activities in drinking-, river surface- and wastewater using DR CALUX bioassay.

Aquatic animals and consumers of aquatic animals are exposed to increasingly complex mixtures of known and as-yet-unknown chemicals with dioxin-like toxicities in the water cycle. Effect- and cell-based bioanalysis can cover known and yet unknown dioxin and dioxin-like compounds as well as complex mixtures thereof but need to be standardized and integrated into international guidelines for environmental testing. In an international laboratory testing (ILT) following ISO/CD 24295 as standard procedure for rat cell-based DR CALUX un-spiked and spiked extracts of drinking-, surface-, and wastewater were validated to generate precision data for the development of the full ISO-standard. We found acceptable repeatability and reproducibility ranges below 36 % by DR CALUX bioassay for the tested un-spiked and spiked water of different origins. The presence of 17 PCDD/Fs and 12 dioxin-like PCBs was also confirmed by congener-specific GC-HRMS analysis. We compared the sum of dioxin-like activity levels measured by DR CALUX bioassay (expressed in 2,3,7,8-TCDD Bioanalytical Equivalents, BEQ; ISO 23196, 2022) with the obtained GC-HRMS chemical analysis results converted to toxic equivalents (TEQ; van den Berg et al., 2013).

[Preparation of Nanoplastic Particles as Potential Standards for the Study of Nanoplastics].

Nanoplastics (NPs) are plastic fragments that are small enough to be absorbed by organisms through ingestion or inhalation. Recent studies indicate that nanoplastics can be ubiquitous in the environment, and there are growing concerns regarding the impacts of nanoplastics on the health of humans and other organisms. However, quantitative information on nanoplastics in the environment is still very limited, and most previous toxicity studies have used only polystyrene (PS) particles because of a lack of appropriate model particles of other plastics. We developed a nanoprecipitation-based method for the preparation of nanoplastic particles of five major polymers: low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene. A major advantage of our method is that the nanoplastic particles are prepared without using reagents that can remain in the particles as impurities. Analysis of the prepared particles' molecular weight (Mw) distributions, crystallinities, and thermal properties revealed that their compositions and constitutions were within the general ranges for commercial products. The mechanisms underlying the formation of low-density polyethylene particles via our method were investigated by means of a simple population balance model, and particle diameter was found to be linearly correlated with the suspension density of the nanoplastic dispersion up to 0.4 mg·mL-1. Future studies should focus on improving our method to allow for precise, scale-independent production of nanoplastic particles. Methods for the preparation of labeled particles are also needed so that such particles can be used in nanoplastic risk assessments.

2-Chloro-3,7,8-tribromodibenzofuran as a new environmental pollutant inducing atypical ultrasonic vocalization in infant mice.

Epidemiological and experimental studies indicate that maternal exposure to environmental pollutants impairs the cognitive and motor functions of offspring in humans and laboratory animals. Infant ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), the communicative behavior of pups toward caregivers, are impaired in rodent models of neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting a useful method to evaluate the developmental neurotoxicity of environmental pollutants. Therefore, we investigated USVs emitted by mouse pups of dams exposed to 2-chloro-3,7,8-tribromodibenzofuran (TeXDF) and 1,2,3,7,8-pentabromodibenzofuran (PeBDF), which are detected in the actual environment. The USV duration and number in the pups born to dams administered with TeXDF 40 µg/kg body weight (b.w.), but not 8 µg/kg b.w., on gestational day (GD) 12.5, were significantly lower than those in the corresponding pups on postnatal days 3-9. Conversely, there was no statistical change in the USVs emitted by the pups of dams administered with PeBDF 35 or 175 µg/kg b.w. on GD 12.5. To examine whether maternal exposure leads to behavioral impairments in adulthood, we analyzed exploratory behaviors in a novel environment using IntelliCage, a fully automated testing apparatus for group-housed mice. Neither TeXDF nor PeBDF exposure induced significant differences in offspring exploration. Considered together, our findings revealed that TeXDF induces atypical USV emission in infant mice, suggesting the importance of further studies on the risk assessment of mixed brominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans.

Genes possibly related to symbiosis in early life stages of Acropora tenuis inoculated with Symbiodinium microadriaticum.

Due to the ecological importance of mutualism between reef-building corals and symbiotic algae (Family Symbiodiniaceae), various transcriptomic studies on coral-algal symbiosis have been performed; however, molecular mechanisms, especially genes essential to initiate and maintain these symbioses remain unknown. We investigated transcriptomic responses of Acropora tenuis to inoculation with the native algal symbiont, Symbiodinium microadriaticum, during early life stages, and identified possible symbiosis-related genes. Genes involved in immune regulation, protection against oxidative stress, and metabolic interactions between partners are particularly important for symbiosis during Acropora early life stages. In addition, molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that some possible symbiosis-related genes originated by gene duplication in the Acropora lineage, suggesting that gene duplication may have been the driving force to establish stable mutualism in Acropora, and that symbiotic molecular mechanisms may vary among coral lineages.

Cerebral edema associated with diabetic ketoacidosis: Two case reports.

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is associated with a high mortality rate, especially if cerebral edema develops during the disease course. It is rarer and more severe in adults than in children. We present cases of two patients with cerebral edema-related DKA. Case presentation: The first patient was a 38-year-old man with diabetes mellitus who presented with DKA-related disturbed consciousness. Although glycemic correction was performed slowly, he showed pupil dilation 11 h later. He underwent emergency ventricular drainage, but died of cerebral herniation. The second patient was a 25-year-old woman who presented with impaired consciousness secondary to DKA. Head computed tomography showed subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral edema. No related intraoperative findings were observed; it was concluded that the first computed tomography scan revealed pseudo-subarachnoid hemorrhage. Conclusion: Diabetic ketoacidosis-related cerebral edema develops despite treatment according to guidelines and is difficult to predict. Therefore, adult patients should be treated cautiously during DKA management.

Size-Controlled Preparation of Polyethylene Nanoplastic Particles by Nanoprecipitation and Insights into the Underlying Mechanisms.

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in the environment, and nanoplastics (<1 µm) are of growing concern as they pose more health risks than larger particles. However, because of a lack of appropriate model particles, studies examining the risks of polyolefin nanoplastics are very limited, despite the prevalence of these plastics in the environment. Although nanoprecipitation using organic solvents is a promising method for preparing model nanoplastic particles of polyolefins, there are currently no methods for controlling the particle size. Here, we examined how the concentration and volume of the feedstock polymer solution affect the size of polyethylene particles produced by nanoprecipitation. The mechanisms underlying the particle formation were investigated by using a simple population balance model. Increasing the concentration of the feedstock solution increased the growth rate and decreased the nucleation rate, and increasing the volume of the feedstock solution increased the growth rate, resulting in an increase in the mean particle diameter in both cases. These changes in particle diameter were linearly correlated with the suspension density of the dispersion up to a suspension density of 0.4 mg·mL-1. In addition, at these suspension densities, spherical particles were prepared without generating aggregates. Together, these results show that the diameter of polyethylene particles prepared by nanoprecipitation could be controlled according to the suspension density up to a suspension density of 0.4 mg·mL-1. This study provides a basis for the development of nanoprecipitation-based techniques for the precise, scale-independent production of model nanoplastic particles, which we hope will accelerate the risk assessment of nanoplastics.

Cross-sectional microstructural analysis to evaluate the crack growth pattern of weathered marine plastics.

Fragmentation of degraded plastics and release of smaller secondary microplastics is usually attributed to the growth of environmental stress cracks. Analysis of crack patterns derived from chemical degradation can be useful not only for assessing the cause of plastic fracture and evaluating the useful lifetime of a product, but it can also potentially provide valuable information on the generation of microplastics. However, the literature with respect to microplastics generation is generally limited to surface observations of polypropylene and polyethylene. Here, we used ion-beam milling to prepare cross-sections of fragments of 15 plastic products made from five commodity plastics (polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate) that were collected at two beaches in Japan, and then we examined the microstructures of those cross-sections by means of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Crack growth in the depth direction was examined to provide insights into microplastic generation behavior. In all of the polypropylene samples, and some of the low-density polyethylene and polystyrene samples, cracks with a depth exceeding 100 µm from the sample surface were observed. Considering that crack growth causes fracture of degraded plastic and microplastic release, these observations suggest the release of sharp-edged microplastics from the crack fracture surface. In contrast, in the high-density polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride samples, crack growth was limited to within 20 µm of the sample surface, suggesting the release of irregularly shaped microplastics and additive particles. The present results suggest that the degradation behavior of plastic products in the depth direction is dependent on the type of plastic.

MLPK function is not required for self-incompatibility in the S29 haplotype of Brassica rapa L.

KEY MESSAGE: S29 haplotype does not require the MLPK function for self-incompatibility in Brassica rapa. Self-incompatibility (SI) in Brassicaceae is regulated by the self-recognition mechanism, which is based on the S-haplotype-specific direct interaction of the pollen-derived ligand, SP11/SCR, and the stigma-side receptor, SRK. M locus protein kinase (MLPK) is known to be one of the positive effectors of the SI response. MLPK directly interacts with SRK, and is phosphorylated by SRK in Brassica rapa. In Brassicaceae, MLPK was demonstrated to be essential for SI in B. rapa and Brassica napus, whereas it is not essential for SI in Arabidopsis thaliana (with introduced SRK and SP11/SCR from related SI species). Little is known about what determines the need for MLPK in SI of Brassicaceae. In this study, we investigated the relationship between S-haplotype diversity and MLPK function by analyzing the SI phenotypes of different S haplotypes in a mlpk/mlpk mutant background. The results have clarified that in B. rapa, all the S haplotypes except the S29 we tested need the MLPK function, but the S29 haplotype does not require MLPK for the SI. Comparative analysis of MLPK-dependent and MLPK-independent S haplotype might provide new insight into the evolution of S-haplotype diversity and the molecular mechanism of SI in Brassicaceae.

Gender-related differences in the coagulofibrinolytic responses and long-term outcomes in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury: A 2-center retrospective study.

Coagulation function differs by gender, with women being characterized as more hypercoagulable. Even in the early stages of trauma, women have been shown to be hypercoagulable. Several studies have also examined the relationship between gender and the prognosis of trauma patients, but no certain conclusions have been reached. Patients with isolated traumatic brain injury (iTBI) are known to have coagulopathy, but no previous studies have examined the gender differences in detail. This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective registry conducted at 2 centers. The study included adult patients with iTBI enrolled from April 2018 to March 2021. Coagulofibrinolytic markers were measured in each patient at 1 hour, 24 hours, 3 days, and 7 days after injury, and neurological outcomes were assessed with the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended at 6 months. Subgroup analysis was also performed by categorizing patients into groups according to neurological prognosis or age at 50 years. Males (n = 31) and females (n = 21) were included in the analysis. In males, there was a significant difference in the levels of activated partial thromboplastin time (P = .007), fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (P = .025), D-dimer (P = .034), α2-plasmin inhibitor (P = .030), plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complex (P = .004) at 1 hour after injury between favorable and unfavorable long-term neurological outcome groups, while in females there was no significant difference in these markers between 2 groups. In the age group under 50 years, there were significant gender differences in fibrinogen (day 3: P = .018), fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (1 hour: P = .037, day 3: P = .009, day 7: P = .037), D-dimer (day 3: P = .005, day 7: P = .010), plasminogen (day 3: P = .032, day 7: P = .032), and plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complex (day 3: P = .001, day 7: P = .001), and these differences were not evident in the age group over 50 years. There were differences in coagulofibrinolytic markers depending on gender in patients with iTBI. In male patients, aggravation of coagulofibrinolytic markers immediately after traumatic brain injury may be associated with poor neurologic outcome 6 months after injury.

Estrogenic, androgenic, and glucocorticoid activities and major causative compounds in river waters from three Asian countries.

Estrogen, androgen, and glucocorticoid receptors (ER, AR, and GR) agonist activities in river water samples from Chennai and Bangalore (India), Jakarta (Indonesia), and Hanoi (Vietnam) were evaluated using a panel of chemical-activated luciferase gene expression (CALUX) assays and were detected mainly in the dissolved phase. The ER agonist activity levels were 0.011-55 ng estradiol (E2)-equivalent/l, higher than the proposed effect-based trigger (EBT) value of 0.5 ng/l in most of the samples. The AR agonist activity levels were < 2.1-110 ng dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-equivalent/l, and all levels above the limit of quantification exceeded the EBT value of 3.4 ng/l. GR agonist activities were detected in only Bangalore and Hanoi samples at dexamethasone (Dex)-equivalent levels of < 16-150 ng/l and exceeded the EBT value of 100 ng/l in only two Bangalore samples. Major compounds contributing to the ER, AR, and GR agonist activities were identified for water samples from Bangalore and Hanoi, which had substantially higher activities in all assays, by using a combination of fractionation, CALUX measurement, and non-target and target chemical analysis. The results for pooled samples showed that the major ER agonists were the endogenous estrogens E2 and estriol, and the major GR agonists were the synthetic glucocorticoids Dex and clobetasol propionate. The only AR agonist identified in major androgenic water extract fractions was DHT, but several unidentified compounds with the same molecular formulae as endogenous androgens were also found.

Identification and quantification of additive-derived chemicals in beached micro-mesoplastics and macroplastics.

Although marine plastic debris are expected to retain various chemical additives, little is known about the additives that are retained. We conducted a screening analysis of additives in 261 macroplastic and micro-mesoplastic debris from two beaches. We detected 52 chemicals-antioxidants, phthalates, ultraviolet stabilizers, hindered amine light stabilizers, and flame retardants-and quantified the concentrations of 15 of them. Comparison of the concentrations of Irgafos 168, an antioxidant stabilizer, among sample categories indicated that leaching had occurred from micro-mesoplastics. Differences in diffusion rates between polymer types may explain faster leaching from polyethylene than polypropylene. The significant amounts of Irgafos 168 retained in even micro-mesoplastics indicated the importance of plastics as a vector of additives. This study provides fundamental data needed to assess the risks to organisms from exposure to plastic additives and to understand the effect of stabilizers on the aging behavior of marine plastics.

A review on management practices, environmental impacts, and human exposure risks related to electrical and electronic waste in Vietnam: findings from case studies in informal e-waste recycling areas.

Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) has become a global concern, especially in developing countries. In this review, we conducted a literature survey of e-waste management practices, processing activities, and adverse effects in Vietnam, an emerging country in Southeast Asia, by gathering data from peer-reviewed articles published between 2009 and 2021. This is the first review paper to comprehensively discuss management and research aspects regarding e-waste in an Asian developing country. Due to the lack of an effective management and recycling system, a certain portion of Vietnamese e-waste has been processed by informal sectors without appropriate recycling and pollution control technology, resulting in localized contamination and human exposure to toxic chemicals. Primitive processing activities, such as manual dismantling, open burning, and plastic recycling, have been identified as important contributors to the environmental emission and human exposure to toxic elements (notably As, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and organic pollutants like flame retardants, PAHs, PCBs, and dioxin-related compounds. Informal e-waste processing from these small-scale workshops can release pollutants at similar levels compared to large-scale facilities in developed countries. This fact suggests an urgent need to develop management best practices for e-waste in Vietnam as well as other emerging and developing countries, in order to increase recycling efficiency and minimize their adverse impacts on environmental and human health.

Hyperfibrinolysis and fibrinolysis shutdown in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with coagulation/fibrinolysis disorders. We retrospectively evaluated 61 TBI cases transported to hospital within 1 h post-injury. Levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), D-dimer, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were measured on arrival and 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 day, 3 days and 7 days after injury. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors for coagulation and fibrinolysis. Plasma TAT levels peaked at admission and decreased until 1 day after injury. Plasma D-dimer levels increased, peaking up to 3 h after injury, and decreasing up to 3 days after injury. Plasma PAI-1 levels increased up to 3 h after injury, the upward trend continuing until 6 h after injury, followed by a decrease until 3 days after injury. TAT, D-dimer, and PAI-1 were elevated in the acute phase of TBI in cases with poor outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that D-dimer elevation from admission to 3 h after injury and PAI-1 elevation from 6 h to 1 day after injury were significant negative prognostic indicators. Post-TBI hypercoagulation, fibrinolysis, and fibrinolysis shutdown were activated consecutively. Hyperfibrinolysis immediately after injury and subsequent fibrinolysis shutdown were associated with poor outcome.

Neurointensive Care of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Based on Coagulation and Fibrinolytic Parameter Monitoring.

Coagulopathy, a common complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI), is characterized by a hypercoagulable state developing immediately after injury, with hyperfibrinolysis and bleeding tendency peaking 3 h after injury, followed by fibrinolysis shutdown. Reflecting this timeframe, the coagulation factor fibrinogen is first consumed and then degraded after TBI, its concentration rapidly decreasing by 3 h post-TBI. The fibrinolytic marker D-dimer reaches its maximum concentration at the same time. Hyperfibrinolysis in the acute phase of TBI is associated with poor prognosis via hematoma expansion. In the acute phase, the coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters must be monitored to determine the treatment strategy. The combination of D-dimer plasma level at admission and the level of consciousness upon arrival at the hospital can be used to predict the patients who will "talk and deteriorate." Fibrinogen and D-dimer levels should determine case selection and the amount of fresh frozen plasma required for transfusion. Surgery around 3 h after injury, when fibrinolysis and bleeding diathesis peak, should be avoided if possible. In recent years, attempts have been made to estimate the time of injury from the time course of coagulation and fibrinolysis parameter levels, which has been particularly useful in some cases of pediatric abusive head trauma patients.

Determination of the relative potencies of brominated dioxins for risk assessment in aquatic environments using the early-life stage of Japanese medaka.

World Health Organization toxic equivalency factors (WHO-TEFs) are recommended for risk management of brominated dioxins in aquatic environments because limited information is available on their toxicity to fish. To validate this approach, we obtained the relative potencies of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polybrominated dibenzofurans and mixed-halogenated furans (PXDF, X = Cl/Br) against 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) based on their toxicity to the early-life stage of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). 2,3,7,8-substituted brominated dibenzofurans caused typical dioxin exposure effects, such as blue-sac disease. The TCDD-relative potency factors (REPs) of test substances were calculated based on the concentrations in water and eggs that caused 20% lethality on day 28 post-fertilization, and were in the order of: 2-chloro-3,7,8-tribromodibenzofuran (REPwater 3.3, REPegg 4.6) > 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzofuran (0.85, 0.92) > 2,3,4,7,8-pentabromodibenzofuran (0.053, 0.55) > 1,2,3,7,8-pentabromodibenzofuran (0.0091, 0.19). The transfer rate from water to eggs was lower for pentabrominated furans than tetrabrominated congeners, and was expected to decrease with the log Kow of the test substance. Although the REPegg value can be used to compare the toxicity potential of brominated dioxins, REPwater may be more suitable for environmental risk assessment because the uptake potential of these compounds from water should be considered. This study is the first to report higher toxicity of a PXDF congener compared with TCDD in vivo, further investigations of the toxicity of mixed-halogenated dioxins and environmental behavior are necessary for environmental risk assessment.

Antithrombin activity levels for predicting long-term outcomes in the early phase of isolated traumatic brain injury.

Coagulopathy management is an important strategy for preventing secondary brain damage in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Antithrombin (AT) is a natural anticoagulant that controls coagulation and inflammation pathways. However, the significance of AT activity levels for outcomes in patients with trauma remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between AT activity levels and long-term outcomes in patients with TBI; this was a sub-analysis of a prior study that collected blood samples of trauma patients prospectively in a tertiary care center in Kawaguchi City, Japan. We included patients with isolated TBI (iTBI) aged ≥16 years admitted directly to our hospital within 1 h after injury between April 2018 and March 2021. General coagulofibrinolytic and specific molecular biomarkers, including AT, were measured at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after injury. We analyzed changes in the AT activity levels during the study period and the impact of the AT activity levels on long-term outcomes, the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE), 6 months after injury. 49 patients were included in this study; 24 had good neurological outcomes (GOSE 6-8), and 25 had poor neurological outcomes (GOSE 1-5). Low AT activity levels were shown within 1 h after injury in patients in the poor GOSE group; this was associated with poor outcomes. Furthermore, AT activity levels 1 h after injury had a strong predictive value for long-term outcomes (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.871; 95% CI: 0.747-0.994). Multivariate logistic regression analysis with various biomarkers showed that AT was an independent factor of long-term outcome (adjusted odds ratio: 0.873; 95% CI: 0.765-0.996; p=0.043). Another multivariate analysis with severity scores showed that low AT activity levels were associated with poor outcomes (adjusted odds ratio: 0.909; 95% CI: 0.822-1.010; p=0.063). We demonstrated that the AT activity level soon after injury could be a predictor of long-term neurological prognosis in patients with iTBI.