Geochemical distribution of heavy metal elements and potential ecological risk assessment of Matsushima Bay sediments during 2012-2016.

Heavy metal pollution of marine sediments has attracted a great deal of attention because of its persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. To evaluate the effects of mega-tsunami, anthropogenic activities, and redox conditions on heavy metal accumulation in coastal areas, sediments from Matsushima Bay, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, were sampled to test variations in heavy metal spatial distribution on the bay floor during 4 years following the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake tsunami. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis were performed to assess the influencing factors and potential sources of heavy metal enrichment in the sediments of the bay. Additionally, the sediment enrichment levels of heavy metals were assessed on the basis of the enrichment factor (EF). The results of multivariate statistical analyses showed that the Ti, Fe, V, Pb, and Zn contents in Matsushima Bay sediments, which were transported mainly from Sendai Bay, depended on the mud content. The value of EF < 2 for Fe, V, Pb, and Zn indicated that these elements were not enriched. The value of EF > 7 for Cu suggested that the contamination levels in western Matsushima Bay were moderate to severe in every sampling year from 2012 to 2016 by anthropogenic activities. From the values of EF > 5 for U and Mo during 2012 and 2014, the severe enrichment of both elements in these periods may be explained by contamination with 2011 tsunami deposits; the improvement in 2015-2016 suggests that there was recovery of the tsunami-affected sediment composition to its original state. The values of EF > 3 for Mn and As indicated moderate to severe contamination with these heavy metals in the bay mouth area during 2015. This was likely explained by more oxic bottom conditions in the mouth of Matsushima Bay during that year.

A case of a warfarinized renal cancer patient monitored for prothrombin time-international normalized ratio during methadone introduction.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin, a widely used anticoagulant, interacts with various agents used in palliative care, such as oxycodone, morphine, acetaminophen, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); however, there are no reports of its interaction with methadone. We report a case of a patient receiving warfarin when methadone was introduced for pain control with monitoring of the prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) and deduced the pharmacological background. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old male was emergently admitted to our university hospital for the sudden onset of severe back pain. Abdominal CT imaging revealed that the vertebral body of the ninth thoracic vertebra was occupied by bone metastasis and crushed, which caused his back pain. He received warfarin 3.5 mg/day for atrial fibrillation and tapentadol 100 mg p.o. daily for pain relief. The prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) was maintained at >2.2. The patient's history included diabetes mellitus and hypertension, but his laboratory test was unremarkable with the exception that his eGFR was 34 ml/min.Initially, a fentanyl dermal patch was used instead of tapentadol to avoid interactions with warfarin. We started concomitant administration of oxycodone and 2.4 g/day of acetaminophen while monitoring the PT-INR because acetaminophen increased the PT-INR to 2.93. A continuous intravenous infusion of oxycodone was introduced, in increments of the dose, resulting in an increase of the PT-INR to 3.41, which is required to reduce the dose of warfarin to 1.5 mg. Because of the lack of effective pain relief, methadone was introduced and the dose was gradually increased. The PT-INR was not changed and the dose of warfarin was not changed. An infusion of oxycodone and oral methadone was used to allow the patient to walk in his room, and he was later transferred to the palliative hospital. CONCLUSIONS: In an oral warfarinized patient, methadone seemed to undergo different metabolism than oxycodone. When warfarin and methadone are used together, we have to consider their interaction by comparing the competitive inhibition of CYP2C9 to the induction of CYP3A4 by methadone, because CYP3A4 metabolize various drugs including oxycodone.

Anthropogenic impacts on meiobenthic Ostracoda (Crustacea) in the moderately polluted Kasado Bay, Seto Inland Sea, Japan, over the past 70 years.

Two sediment cores were obtained from Kasado Bay, a moderate-polluted enclosed bay in Japan, to examine anthropogenic impacts on Ostracoda over the past ca. 70 years. We analyzed ostracode abundance and diversity, grain size, and CHN, and used (210)Pb and (137)Cs as the dating method. The present study showed that cross-plot comparisons of ostracode abundance and each environmental factor, based on sediment core data, could be used to identify ostracode species as indicators for anthropogenic influences. Ostracode abundance reflected mainly the changes that had occurred in total organic carbon content in sediments related to eutrophication, but heavy metal concentration did not directly influence several ostracode abundance in the bay. Environmental deterioration because of eutrophication started in the 1960s. The regulations regarding the chemical oxygen demand in waters introduced in the 1980s probably influence ostracode abundance for certain species in this period. Currently, Kasado Bay is not experiencing severe degradation.

On-line measurement of perchlorate in atmospheric aerosol based on ion chromatograph coupled with particle collector and post-column concentrator.

An automated analysis system has been developed for measuring perchlorate concentration in atmospheric aerosol. The perchlorate in aerosol sample, which has been collected with water mist in a hydrophobic filter/mist chamber based particle collector, is continuously preconcentrated. The matrix ions such as sulfate are subsequently removed from the preconcentrator. The remaining perchlorate is then analyzed on-line with an ion chromatograph in conjunction with a Nafion membrane tube based post-column concentrator. The sensitivity is increased by a factor of 7.7 with the post-column concentration technique. The proposed system has been successfully operated at Tokushima, Japan. The limit of detection is 0.35 ng/m(3) for 3 h sampling cycle. The perchlorate concentration in the atmospheric aerosol averaged 1.01±1.75 ng/m(3) (n=12).

Effects of hyperprolactinemia on toxicological parameters and proliferation of islet cells in male rats.

Prolactin has a wide variety of biological effects. Consequences of hyperprolactinemia on islet B cell proliferation as well as general toxicological parameters were here examined using anterior pituitary-grafted rats. Three or six anterior pituitary glands were implanted under single renal capsules of F344 male rats and left there for 13 weeks afterward. Clinical observation along with measurement of body weight and food consumption was conducted during the observation period, and subsequently hematology, blood biochemistry, gross pathology, organ weights and histopathology were examined. In addition, the proliferation rate of islet B cells was measured by a 5-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine (BrdU) labeling technique. Serum prolactin concentrations at week 13 were 36, 70, 75 and 105 ng/ml in the sham-operated, 3-pituitary-grafted groups from male or female donors, and 6-pituitary-grafted group from male donors, respectively. Higher cholinesterase and total cholesterol values, lower trigriceride and leutenizing hormones (LH) values, and higher adrenal weights compared to those in the sham-operated group were apparent in the 3- and/or 6-pituitary-grafted groups. Also, the study revealed that mammary gland structure was transformed with change of differentiation from a male to a female acinar pattern. Furthermore a specific increase of islet cell proliferation rate was found, positively correlated with serum prolactin concentration. These findings suggest that elevation of serum prolactin level over 13 weeks induces islet cell proliferation and changes in toxicological parameters, including cholinesterase activity, elements of lipid metabolism and histopathology/morphology of the adrenals and mammary glands in male rats.

Lack of estrogenic or (anti-)androgenic effects of d-phenothrin in the uterotrophic and Hershberger assays.

Synthetic pyrethroids are among the most common insecticides and pesticides currently in use worldwide. Recently, d-phenothrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, is suspected to have endocrine activities through the estrogen and androgen receptors. However, no study has been conducted to evaluate its potential for hormonal activity using an in vivo test specifically focused on estrogenic and androgenic activities. In this study, we evaluated the interaction of d-phenothrin (0, 100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg per day, p.o.) with estrogen- or androgen-mediated mechanisms using in vivo short-term assays. While internationally standardized protocols for the uterotrophic and Hershberger assays have not yet been fully developed, both are widely used and are being considered by the OECD as short-term screening assays for hormonal activity. The highest dose level tested for d-phenothrin was a limit dose (1000 mg/kg per day) designated in the current draft protocol by the OECD, and in fact there was no excessive systemic toxicity in both assays; slightly increased liver weight but no change of serum androgen levels in accessing anti-androgenicity. Potential estrogenic effect of d-phenothrin was evaluated by means of 3-day uterotrophic assay using immature Crj:CD(SD)IGS rats (20 days of age). No increase in uterine weight (wet or blotted) was observed following oral exposure to d-phenothrin. Reference control ethynyl estradiol (0.001 mg/kg per day) showed a significant effect in this assay protocol. A 10-day Hershberger assay using castrated peripubertal male rats measures the androgenic or anti-androgenic effects of the test chemicals on several accessory glands/tissues (the ventral prostate, dorso-lateral prostate, seminal vesicles with coagulating glands, levator ani plus bulbocavernosus muscles, glans penis and Cowper's glands). d-Phenothrin was administered by oral gavage for 10 days to castrated male Crj:CD(SD)IGS rats (7 weeks of age, rats were castrated at 6 weeks of age) with or without co-administration of 0.2 mg/kg per day testosterone propionate (subcutaneous injection on the dorsal surface). Reference controls of methyltestosterone and p,p'-DDE (100 mg/kg per day) provided significant effects in this assay protocol, whereas d-phenothrin did not show any androgenic or anti-androgenic effects. It is concluded that, based on the results of these two reliable in vivo assays, d-phenothrin exhibits no potential to cause adverse estrogenic or (anti-)androgenic effects even at dose of 1000 mg/kg per day, the limit dose designated in the current draft protocol by the OECD.