Assessment of oil refinery wastewater and effluent integrating bioassays, mechanistic modelling and bioavailability evaluation.

Water is used in petroleum oil refineries in significant volumes for cooling, steam generation and processing of raw materials. Effective water management is required at refineries to ensure their efficient and responsible operation with respect to the water environment. However, ascertaining the potential environmental risks associated with discharge of refinery effluents to receiving waters is challenging because of their compositional complexity. Recent European research and regulatory initiatives propose a more holistic approach including biological effect methods to assess complex effluents and surface water quality. The study presented here investigated potential effects of effluent composition, particularly hydrocarbons, on aquatic toxicity and was a component of a larger study assessing contaminant removal during refinery wastewater treatment (Hjort et al 2021). The evaluation of effects utilised a novel combination of mechanistic toxicity modelling based on the exposure composition, measured bioavailable hydrocarbons using biomimetic solid phase microextraction (BE-SPME), and bioassays. The results indicate that in the refinery effluent assessments measured bioavailable hydrocarbons using BE-SPME was correlated with the responses in standard bioassays. It confirms that bioassays are providing relevant data and that BE-SPME measurement, combined with knowledge of other known non-hydrocarbon toxic constituents, provide key tools for toxicity identification. Overall, the results indicate that oil refinery effluents treated in accordance to the EU Industrial Emissions Directive requirements have low to negligible toxicity to aquatic organisms and their receiving environments. Low-cost, animal-free BE-SPME represents a compelling tool for rapid effluent characterization.

An ecotoxicological view on neurotoxicity assessment.

The numbers of potential neurotoxicants in the environment are raising and pose a great risk for humans and the environment. Currently neurotoxicity assessment is mostly performed to predict and prevent harm to human populations. Despite all the efforts invested in the last years in developing novel in vitro or in silico test systems, in vivo tests with rodents are still the only accepted test for neurotoxicity risk assessment in Europe. Despite an increasing number of reports of species showing altered behaviour, neurotoxicity assessment for species in the environment is not required and therefore mostly not performed. Considering the increasing numbers of environmental contaminants with potential neurotoxic potential, eco-neurotoxicity should be also considered in risk assessment. In order to do so novel test systems are needed that can cope with species differences within ecosystems. In the field, online-biomonitoring systems using behavioural information could be used to detect neurotoxic effects and effect-directed analyses could be applied to identify the neurotoxicants causing the effect. Additionally, toxic pressure calculations in combination with mixture modelling could use environmental chemical monitoring data to predict adverse effects and prioritize pollutants for laboratory testing. Cheminformatics based on computational toxicological data from in vitro and in vivo studies could help to identify potential neurotoxicants. An array of in vitro assays covering different modes of action could be applied to screen compounds for neurotoxicity. The selection of in vitro assays could be guided by AOPs relevant for eco-neurotoxicity. In order to be able to perform risk assessment for eco-neurotoxicity, methods need to focus on the most sensitive species in an ecosystem. A test battery using species from different trophic levels might be the best approach. To implement eco-neurotoxicity assessment into European risk assessment, cheminformatics and in vitro screening tests could be used as first approach to identify eco-neurotoxic pollutants. In a second step, a small species test battery could be applied to assess the risks of ecosystems.

Bringing obesity to light: Rev-erbα, a central player in light-induced adipogenesis in the zebrafish?

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have led to an expansion of potential factors capable of stimulating obesity. Increasing evidence indicates that environmental factors, including disturbance of circadian rhythms, also contribute to its etiology. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of altered circadian rhythms on adipogenesis and to better understand how circadian and adipogenic regulatory pathways are linked, zebrafish larvae were exposed to various light/dark cycles or hypercaloric feeding (HCF). METHODS: Clock and adipogenic gene expression was quantitative real time PCR. Adipogenesis was characterized using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy (CARS) and whole-mount lipid composition was analyzed by gas chromatography. The clock protein Rev-erbα and the adipogenesis-regulating protein Pparγ were localized by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Zebrafish larvae exposed to continuous light (LL) had a sevenfold higher prevalence of adipocytes compared with control fish under a 14 h light and 10 h dark cycle. It was also significantly higher compared with that in HCF larvae with control light/dark cycle, which showed a 5.5-fold increase compared with control animals. Although total fatty acid content was unaffected, adipocyte lipid composition was altered in LL zebrafish. In contrast, shifting the onset and duration of the light periods did not affect adipogenesis or total fatty acid content. Gene expression analysis revealed effects of LL and HCF on circadian cyclicity, with increased expression of the clock gene period2 and altered circadian rev-erbα expression in LL larvae. Immunostaining revealed for the first time that Rev-erbα and Pparγ colocalize in adipocytes, which together with the gene expression analysis suggests interplay between Rev-erbα and Ppar isoforms. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of light, but not shifted light/dark cycles, affected adipogenesis and lipid composition, possibly due to increased period2 expression, which, in turn, enhances Rev-erbα-regulated gene expression. As the pparßδ promoter includes three Rev-erbα binding sites, we hypothesize that pparßδ may be a direct target that ultimately activates Pparγ.

Comparability of behavioural assays using zebrafish larvae to assess neurotoxicity.

Testing of compounds for neurotoxicity has become increasingly important in recent years. It has been shown that neurological disorders like autism may be related to chemical exposures, which may play a crucial role in the progression of these diseases. Special attention has been be given to the substances causing developmental neurotoxicity as the developing nervous system is more vulnerable to impacts by chemicals than the adult nervous system. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a well-established model species in developmental biology and an emerging model in behavioural and neurological studies. Zebrafish larvae display numerous behavioural patterns highly similar to rodents and humans. Their physical characteristics make them well suited for automated high-throughput screening. In the last years, the number of behavioural studies conducted with zebrafish larvae has increased notably. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of behavioural assays commonly used to test substances for developmental neurotoxicity. Literature from 1995 to 2014 was reviewed and focussed on assays performed with zebrafish larvae younger than 7 days post fertilization (dpf). The behavioural tests were scrutinized, and parameters describing the different experimental setups were defined. In the next step, we investigated if differences in the experimental parameters alter the outcome of the test. In order to test the comparability of behavioural assays, we analysed several studies using ethanol, valproate and pentylenetetrazole as model substances. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations which could help improve future behavioural studies performed with zebrafish larvae.

[Ureteroureterostomy following Coffey operation (author's transl)]. / Termino-Laterale Ureteroureterostomie nach Coffey-Operation.

Ipsilateral end-to-side uretero-ureterostomy of a duplicated ureter was carried out following a Coffey operation for bladder contracture. The advantages of this procedure over an additional uretero-intestinal anastomosis are outlined.

Diagnostic ultrasound in urology.

Diagnostic ultrasound has been used over the last eight years for the demonstration of various space-occupying lesions of the urogenital tract, for the estimation of the prostate size and for the identification of intrascrotal processes and tumours. 918 patients were studied by this method. In 595 (87.3 per cent) of the 682 surgical cases in this series ultrasonic diagnosis was confirmed by the surgical finding. False-positive and false-negative results totalled 17.7 per cent. The method is particularly suited for the differential diagnosis of renal cysts from tumours without the need for other procedures involving discomfort to the patients. This procedure, which is free from any iatrogenic hazard, provides accurate information on the size and structure of space-occupying lesions.

[Papillary tumors of the renal pelvis: 25-year-old clinical material]. / Uber die papillären Tumoren des Nierenhohlsystems--25jähriges klinisches Material.

A total of 83 patients with papillary tumour in the renal pelvis have been observed in 25 years. The peak incidence was in the age group between 51 and 70 years. The first symptom was almost always haematuria without any other symptom. The therapy is surgical, complemented with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. The problem of the involvement of the bladder is discussed.

Ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of hydrocele.

In addition to the conventional examination methods, ultrasonography was applied in the diagnostics of testicular lesions in 18 cases. This harmless method differentiating hydrocele from testicular tumour and inguinal hernia is recommended.

[Bilateral testicular tumors]. / Uber bilaterale Hodentumoren.

Five patients with bilateral testicular tumours were treated in the ten year period 1966 to 1975. In two patients the tumour appeared on both sides at the same time, while in three cases it developed 3/4, 6 and 7 years apart, respectively. The tumour was detected in one case in a retained testicle; in 4 cases the testicles were in the scrotum. Factors promoting development of the tumour and the diagnostic possibilities are discussed. It is recommended to remove the testicle by high division of the funiculus and to apply postoperative radiotherapy. In the presence of metastases administration of cytostatics is necessary. The possibilities of hormone substitution are discussed.

Ultrasonic diagnosis in a case of hydronephrosis.

A case of hydroneophrosis is reported in which the diagnosis has been confirmed on the ground of renal echography. The physical principles of the method are outlined. Its expediency, safety and efficiency are emphasized. It is considered the most reliable diagnostic procedure if hydronephrosis is suspected in case of renal occlusion.

[Ultrasonic diagnosis of bladder tumors]. / Ultrachalldiagnostik der Blasentumoren.

A total of 63 patients was examined by echosonography and allowed to determine the localization and size of the tumour particularly in progressed cases. The picture appearing on the video tube could be stored for about one hour and photographed for documentation. The method is considered reliable, but it is stressed that its result can be evaluated only together with those of tests applied in urology. The echo test is harmless and has no contraindications.

[Ultrasonic diagnosis of kidney diseases]. / Ultraschalldiagnostik der Nierenkrankheiten.

Applied concomitantly with other methods ultrasonic testing is claimed to furnish reliable results in the diagnosis of renal disease. A total of 177 cases with radiologically confirmed urologic renal disease were tested by means of the ultrasonic method. Of the cases 128, [72.3%] were renal tumours and cysts. The echo-tests involves no risk, can be performed on outpatients, and repeated whenever necessary without special preparation.

Estimation of the size of prostatic adenoma by ultrasonography. A preliminary report.

17 patients with prostatic adenoma awaiting surgery were examined. The size of the adenomas was established by palpation, cystoscopy, urethro-cystography and ultrasonography. Echographic scanning was found to yield the most accurate results.

[Anemia of chronically hemodialyzed patients]. / Uber die Anämie der chronisch hämodialysierten Nierenkranken

The correlation between the circulating erythrocyte count, and the NPN level, the number of performed dialyses and the quantity of transfused blood was investigated in 10 patients subjected to haemodialysis for more than six months. No evaluable relationship was found between the circulating erythrocyte count and the NPN level and the number of dialyses. Though the majority of patients had received more transfusions than usual, their anaemia persisted. The quantity of transfused blood can considerably be reduced by carefully chosen indications.