Biomarkers indicate mixture toxicities of fluorene and phenanthrene with endosulfan toward earthworm (Eisenia fetida).

α-Endosulfan and some polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) are persistent in the environment and can reach crop products via contaminated agricultural soils. They may even be present as mixtures in the soil and induce mixture toxicity in soil organisms such as earthworms. In this study, the combined toxicities of PAHs with α-endosulfan were determined in Eisenia fetida adults using an artificial soil system. α-Endosulfan and five PAHs were tested for their acute toxicity toward E. fetida in artificial soils. Only α-endosulfan, fluorene, and phenanthrene showed acute toxicities, with LC50 values of 9.7, 133.2, and 86.2 mg kg-1, respectively. A mixture toxicity assay was conducted using α-endosulfan at LC10 and fluorene or phenanthrene at LC50 in the artificial soils. Upon exposure to the mixture of fluorene and α-endosulfan, earthworms were killed in increasing numbers owing to their synergistic effects, while no other mixture showed any additional toxicity toward the earthworms. Along with the acute toxicity results, the biochemical and molecular changes in the fluorene- and phenanthrene-treated earthworms with or without α-endosulfan treatment demonstrated that enhancement of glutathione S-transferase activity was dependent on the addition of PAH chemicals, and the HSP70 gene expression increased with the addition of α-endosulfan. Taken together, these findings contribute toward understanding the adverse effects of pollutants when present separately or in combination with other types of chemicals.

Monitoring and risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in agricultural soil from two industrialized areas.

For monitoring and risk assessment, levels and distributions of Σ29 PCBs in paddy soil samples collected from Gwangyang (10 sites) and Ulsan (20 sites), heavily industrialized cities in Korea, were investigated using high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. Overall, total concentrations of Σ29 PCBs in Gwangyang (216.4-978.6 pg g-1 dw) and Ulsan (273.8-1824.1 pg g-1 dw) were higher than those (106.6-222.6 pg g-1 dw) in agricultural soil from Anseong in Korea. The TEQ (toxic equivalency) values from Gwangyang (0.06-0.40 ng TEQ kg-1 dw) and Ulsan (0.06-0.22 ng TEQ kg-1 dw) were higher than those (0.04-0.11 ng TEQ kg-1 dw) in Anseong but lower than the WHO threshold level (20 ng TEQ kg-1). However, one of the most toxic congeners, PCB 126, gave the highest concentration, possibly posing a risk to the biota. Seven indicator PCB congeners contributed to 50-80% of the total concentration of Σ29 PCBs, indicating the 7 PCBs can be used as valuable indicators for monitoring. The principal component analysis and cluster analysis for the homologue profiles of PCBs indicated that all the samples from both cities had the similar PCB contamination patterns, and the major sources of the PCB contamination were most likely from the usage of Aroclor 1254 than those of Aroclors 1242 and 1260. These PCB technical mixtures were possibly significantly used by various industries including iron and steel industries in Gwangyang and petrochemical and shipbuilding industries in Ulsan.

Determination of biomarkers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) toxicity to earthworm (Eisenia fetida).

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds are persistent, carcinogenic, and mutagenic. When PAHs enter agricultural soils through sewage sludge, they pose an environmental risk to soil organisms, including earthworms. Therefore, we aimed to determine the toxic effects of PAHs on earthworms. Five PAHs were used: fluorene, anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene. Only fluorene and phenanthrene exhibited toxicity (LC50 values 394.09 and 114.02 g L(-1), respectively) against the earthworm Eisenia fetida. None of the other PAHs tested in this study enhanced the mortality of adult earthworm until the concentrations reached to 1000 g L(-1). After exposure to PAHs, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in E. fetida decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, and phenanthrene exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on AChE, followed by fluorene. Activity of a representative detoxifying enzyme, carboxylesterase, was dramatically reduced in E. fetida exposed to all tested PAHs in comparison with that observed in the control test. The remaining glutathione S-transferase activity significantly decreased in E. fetida after exposure to PAHs. To profile small proteins <20 kDa, SELDI-TOF MS with Q10 ProteinChips was used, and 54 proteins were identified as being significantly different from the control (p = 0.05). Among them, the expressions of three proteins at 4501.8, 4712.4, and 4747.9 m/z were only enhanced in E. fetida exposed to anthracene and pyrene. One protein with 16,174 m/z was selectively expressed in E. fetida exposed to fluorene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene. These proteins may be potential biomarkers for the five PAHs tested in E. fetida.

Increased signal intensity on postoperative T2-weighted axial images in cervical spondylotic myelopathy: Patterns of changes and associated impact on outcomes.

Although T2-weighted axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has strength in demonstrating morphologic characteristics of the spinal cord in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), no study has investigated postoperative changes. We aimed to assess postoperative changes on T2-weighted axial MRI using the classification system based on axial imaging in cervical compressive myelopathy (Ax-CCM) and associated impact on outcome in CSM. In total, 250 patients with CSM who underwent decompressive surgery with preoperative and postoperative MRI were included. At first, we investigated the presence of increased signal intensity (SI) in cervical spinal cord on T2-weighted sagittal images. Next, the increased SI was assessed using Ax-CCM on T2weighted axial images. The classifications were type 0, no-signal abnormality; single-level type 1, diffuse; single-level type 2, fuzzy focal; single-level type 3, discrete focal; and two-level. The recovery rates (RRs) of modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score were evaluated from 5 to 10 months postoperatively. Eighty-seven patients (34.8%) exhibited postoperative changes. Most of postoperative changes were in single-level type 1 and 2. Patterns of changes were resolution, reduced extent, or transition to discrete margin. The most common pattern was resolution in type 1 (23.9%) and transition to discrete margin in type 2 (46.5%). In each group, resolution showed the best RR, but insignificantly (p > 0.05).

Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis using acoustic structure quantification: comparison with transient elastography in chronic viral hepatitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) parameters [mode, average, and focal distribution (FD) ratio] in the staging of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and to compare it with transient elastography (TE) by using liver biopsy as reference standard. METHODS: We studied 62 patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Each patient underwent ASQ evaluation and liver biopsy; 54 of these patients received TE. Thirty-six participants without any liver disease were enrolled as normal group, who also underwent ASQ evaluation and TE. All three parameters of ASQ were compared with the histologic fibrosis grade according to the METAVIR scoring (F0-F4). Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the correlations and the diagnostic values of ASQ parameters and compare them to TE. RESULTS: All three ASQ parameters and TE were significantly correlated with liver fibrosis stage. Of the ASQ parameters, the mode parameter showed the best correlation (P < 0.001). On the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), the mode parameter of ASQ analysis showed both significant correlation and good accuracy for diagnosis of F ≥ 1, F ≥ 2, and F ≥ 3. These values were significantly better than those of the average and FD ratio parameters in F ≥ 1 and F ≥ 2 (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in AUROC between the mode parameter and TE in diagnosis of F ≥ 1, F ≥ 2, or F ≥ 3. CONCLUSIONS: The mode parameter is the most reliable ASQ parameter, comparable to TE, as a non-invasive method for the detection and grading of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.