The brominated flame retardants TBECH and DPTE alter prostate growth, histology and gene expression patterns in the mouse.

The brominated flame retardants (BFRs), 1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2 dibromoethyl)cyclohexane (TBECH) and 2,3-dibromopropyl-2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (DPTE) bind to the androgen receptor (AR). in vitro bioassays have shown that TBECH is a potent androgen agonist while DPTE is a potent AR antagonist. Both TBECH and DPTE alter gene expression associated with AR regulation. However, it remains to be determined if TBECH and DPTE can affect the prostate. For this reason, we exposed CD1 mice to a 1:1 mixture of TBECH diastereomers α and ß, a 1:1 mixture of γ and δ, and to DPTE, and tested their effects on prostate growth, histology and gene expression profiles. Castrated mice were used to study the androgenic effects of TBECHαß and TBECHγδ while the antagonistic effects of DPTE were studied in non-castrated mice. We observed that testosterone and TBECHγδ increased body and prostate weights while TBECHαß affected neither of them; and that DPTE had no effect on body weight but reduced prostate weight drastically. Histomorphometric analysis of the prostate revealed epithelial and glandular alterations in the TBECHγδ group comparable to those in testosterone group while alterations in the TBECHαß group were less pronounced. DPTE displayed androgen antagonist activity reminiscent of castration. The transcription profile of the prostate was altered by castration and exposure to testosterone and to TBECHγδ reversed several of these changes. Testosterone and TBECHγδ also regulated the expression of several androgen responsive genes implicated in prostate growth and cancer. While DPTE resulted in a drastic reduction in prostate weight, it only affected a small number of genes. The results indicate that TBECHγδ and DPTE are of high human health concern as they may contribute to changes in prostate growth, histology and function.

Long-term trends of airborne halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) by means of tree leaf and shoot analyses.

The historical air pollution with halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) in Germany was assessed by investigating tree leaf and shoot samples which have been archived in the German environmental specimen bank. Samples covered the period from 1985 to 2016. 43 HFRs comprising polybrominated diphenyl ethers as well as emerging brominated and chlorinated compounds such as Dechlorane Plus, DBDPE, or DPTE, were analysed in 115 samples from ten sub sites originating from six areas characterised by different land uses, including urban as well as a background site. HFRs were observed in each sample showing the widespread distribution of HFRs in Germany in tree leaves and shoots as bioindicators of past and present atmospheric pollution. Analytes observed at elevated concentrations were BDE 209, DBDPE and DPTE. Observed HFR-levels differed between analytes as well as sampling locations, particularly prior to the year 2000. They were typically highest at conurbation areas. Concentrations at the background site often belonged to the lowest ones observed, however, lowest values were not exclusively found there. The quantification frequencies appeared to decrease from the past to most recent samples. With few exceptions, atmospheric pollution of both, legacy and emerging HFRs, decreased significantly.

Direction of information flow between brain regions in ADHD and healthy children based on EEG by using directed phase transfer entropy.

Directed information flow between brain regions might be disrupted in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which is related to the behavioral characteristics of ADHD. This paper aims to investigate the different information pathways of brain networks in children with ADHD in comparison with healthy subjects. EEG recordings were obtained from 61 children with ADHD and 60 healthy children without neurological disorders during attentional visual task. Effective connectivity among all scalp channels was calculated using directed phase transfer entropy (dPTE) for delta, theta, alpha, beta, and lower-gamma frequency bands. Group differences were evaluated using permutation tests in connectivity between regions. Significant posterior to anterior patterns of information flow in theta frequency bands were found in healthy subjects (p-value < 0.05), while disrupted pattern flow, in an opposite way, was found in ADHD children. In the beta band, information flow in pathways between anterior regions was significantly higher in healthy individuals than in the ADHD group. These differences are more indicated in connectivity that leads from frontal and central regions to the right frontal regions of the brain (F8 electrode). Furthermore, connections from central and lateral parietal areas to Pz electrode areas are statistically significant and higher in healthy children in this band. In the delta band, internal connections in the anterior region show a significant difference between the two groups, as this amount is higher in the ADHD group. Our analysis may provide new insights into information flow in brain regions of ADHD children in comparison with healthy children.

Recent findings of halogenated flame retardants (HFR) in the German and Polar environment.

To get an overview about distribution, levels and temporal trends of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and halogenated flame retardants (HFR) of emerging concern, different types of environmental samples archived in the German Environment Specimen Bank as well as fish filet samples from the Arctic (n = 13) and Antarctica (n = 5) were analysed for 43 substances (24 PBDE, 19 HFR) using a multi-column clean-up and GC-API-MS/MS or GC-MS. Sample types were herring gull egg (n = 3), blue mussel (n = 3) and eelpout filet (n = 3) from the German North- and Baltic Sea, bream filet (n = 7), zebra mussel (n = 6) and suspended particulate matter (SPM, n = 7) from German freshwater ecosystems as well as tree leaves (n = 9)/shoots (n = 10), soil (n = 4), earthworm (n = 4) and deer liver (n = 7) as representatives of German terrestrial ecosystems. PBDE and emerging HFR were present in each investigated matrices from Germany and Polar regions showing their widespread distribution. The presence in Arctic and Antarctic fish samples confirms their long-range transport potential. Average concentrations of total emerging HFR were highest in SPM (26 ng g-1 dry weight (dw)), zebra mussel (10 ng g-1 dw) and herring gull egg (2.6 ng g-1 dw). Lowest levels were measured in fish filet samples from Antarctica (0.02 ng g-1 dw). Average total PBDE concentrations were highest in bream filet (154 ng g-1), herring gull egg (61 ng g-1 dw), SPM (21 ng g-1 dw), and zebra mussel 18 (ng g-1) and lowest in deer liver (0.04 ng g-1 dw). The patterns of non-fauna terrestrial samples (leaves, shoots, soil) as well as SPM were dominated by DBDPE and BDE209. Elevated proportions of DPTE and in most cases the absence of DBDPE characterized all fauna samples with the exception of Polar samples. Overall, emerging HFR appeared to be less bioaccumulative than PBDE. Temporal trends were generally decreasing with few exceptions such as DBDPE.

Self-concept clarity buffers the impact of societal threat to safety on right-wing authoritarianism.

Exposure to societal threat can elicit an increase in right-wing authoritarianism (RWA). In this study, using a quasi-experimental vignette design (Italian community sample, N = 86), we tested the moderating role of self-concept clarity (SCC). A moderated regression showed that manipulated societal threat to safety fostered RWA only among low SCC scorers. It is concluded that SCC is an important resource for individuals facing threat conditions.

The brominated flame retardants TBP-AE and TBP-DBPE antagonize the chicken androgen receptor and act as potential endocrine disrupters in chicken LMH cells.

Increased exposure of birds to endocrine disrupting compounds has resulted in developmental and reproductive dysfunctions. We have recently identified the flame retardants, allyl-2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (TBP-AE), 2-3-dibromopropyl-2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (TBP-DBPE) and the TBP-DBPE metabolite 2-bromoallyl-2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (TBP-BAE) as antagonists to both the human androgen receptor (AR) and the zebrafish AR. In the present study, we aimed at determining whether these compounds also interact with the chicken AR. In silico modeling studies showed that TBP-AE, TBP-BAE and TBP-DBPE were able to dock into to the chicken AR ligand-binding pocket. In vitro transfection assays revealed that all three brominated compounds acted as chicken AR antagonists, inhibiting testosterone induced AR activation. In addition, qRT-PCR studies confirmed that they act as AR antagonists and demonstrated that they also alter gene expression patterns of apoptotic, anti-apoptotic, drug metabolizing and amino acid transporter genes. These studies, using chicken LMH cells, suggest that TBP-AE, TBP-BAE and TBP-DBPE are potential endocrine disrupters in chicken.

Episodio de Hipotonía e Hiporreactividad posterior a la aplicación de vacunas en Cuba durante el período 2012-2013 / Hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes after the application of vaccines in Cuba during the period 2012-2013

Introducción: la vacuna contra la difteria, la tos ferina (células enteras) y el tétanos que protege contra estas enfermedades, inició su uso en la década de 1940, logró una disminución considerable de estas enfermedades. Pero también, surgieron numerosos eventos asociados a esta vacuna. Uno de ellos es el Episodio de Hipotonía e Hiporreactividad, reportado con menor frecuencia, a las vacunas contra Haemophilus influenzae tipo b y la hepatitis B. Es un evento poco conocido y raro. Objetivo: mejorar el conocimiento sobre esta entidad. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional retrospectivo de los Episodio de Hipotonía e Hiporreactividad (según niveles de certeza diagnóstica), reportados durante 2012 y 2013 por el médico de familia al sistema de vigilancia de eventos adversos, procedentes de todas las provincias. Resultados: fueron reportados 27 Episodio de Hipotonía e Hiporreactividad. El 92,6 por ciento correspondió a la vacuna pentavalente, para una tasa de 3,2 x 105 Dosis Aplicadas. El 74 por ciento se notificaron en las primeras 12 horas. Se observó con mayor frecuencia después de la primera dosis, para un 48 por ciento y el 85,4 por ciento ocurrió en los menores de 6 meses. La fiebre, el llanto persistente, los vómitos, el decaimiento y la somnolencia fueron los síntomas asociados con esta entidad. Conclusiones: la vigilancia de este episodio ha permitido conocer el tiempo de aparición después de aplicar la vacuna, dosis, edad y si está asociado con otros síntomas. Constituye un primer acercamiento a este evento, para mejorar su conocimiento, lo cual permitirá continuar con la seguridad y confiabilidad del Programa Nacional de Inmunización en Cuba(AU)