Review of historical aquatic toxicity and bioconcentration data for the brominated flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA): effects to fish, invertebrates, algae, and microbial communities

Abstract

This paper summarizes the historical and recent research on the aquatic toxicology and bioconcentration potential of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a major flame retardant in electronics. Historical studies on TBBPA are presented in detail, and are compared with more recent research. The historical studies have not been published to date, though they were pivotal in regulatory assessments by the European Union, Canada, and the USA. These assessments have enabled the use of TBBPA as a flame retardant in electronic applications, to the present. The studies were conducted under a Test Rule by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1987, and were sponsored by member companies of the North American Flame Retardants Alliance (NAFRA) through the American Chemistry Council. The studies were conducted under Good Laboratory Practice procedures, and include 6 acute toxicity tests of TBBPA with fish, invertebrates, algae, and microbes, eight chronic tests, and three bioconcentration studies with fish and invertebrates. Methods and empirical data for each study are detailed in an electronic supplement. Results of the NAFRA studies are compared with recent findings on TBBPA toxicity. Molluscan shell growth may be uniquely sensitive to TBBPA, more sensitive than chronic fish or crustacean toxicity endpoints. Several of the NAFRA studies and several independent studies have reported toxicities exceeding the empirical water solubility limits of TBBPA (in the range of 2.0 mg/L depending on pH). The validity of these results is discussed.

LncRNA LINC00152 promoted glioblastoma progression through targeting the miR-107 expression

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) LINC00152 plays important roles in the progression of some tumors. However, the role of LINC00152 in human l glioblastoma is still unknown. In this study, we indicated that LINC00152 expression level was upregulated in glioblastoma tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of LINC00152 promoted the U87 and LN229 cell proliferation and invasion. Moreover, overexpression of LINC00152 suppressed the E-cadherin expression, where ectopic expression of LINC00152 promoted the N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail expression. These results suggested that LINC00152 enhanced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program in the glioblastoma cell. Overexpression of LINC00152 suppressed the miR-107 expression in the U87 cell and enhanced the HMGA2 expression, which is a direct target gene of miR-107. In addition, we showed that the miR-107 expression was downregulated in the glioblastoma tissues and cell lines. Interesting, the expression of LINC00152 was negatively related with miR-107 expression in the glioblastoma tissues. Furthermore, LINC00152 promoted the glioblastoma cell proliferation and invasion through inhibiting miR-107 expression. These data suggested that LINC00152 acted as oncogene roles in the glioblastoma cell partly through targeting the miR-107 expression.

Skow on robust passage and the moving spotlight theory

Issue Information

Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, Volume 45, Issue 5, May 2018.

Allocating on coal consumption and CO 2 emission from fair and efficient perspective: empirical analysis on provincial panel data of China

Abstract

This paper considers a problem of how to allocate resource effectively and equitably among provinces. To address the problem, a total factor resource input-oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA) model is used to evaluate the energy and environmental efficiency for 30 provinces in China during 2009–2013 in this paper. Based on the evaluation results, from efficient and fair perspective, a revised DEA-based resource allocation model is established. It is worth pointing out that the model takes the input orientation and output orientation into account at the same time and can be used to allocate coal consumption and carbon emission by 2020 for 30 provinces in China. Results indicate that if the Chinese government wants to fulfill the CO₂ emission reduction targets of 40–45% by 2020, and coal consumption intensity reduction target during 13th Five-Year Plan, inefficient provinces will undertake more coal consumption and carbon emission intensity reduction obligation share. And provinces with historical high coal consumption and high CO₂ emission intensity will have greater potential of coal consumption and carbon emission intensity reduction. In addition, this paper set several scenarios of gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, under the scenarios analysis, finds the growth rate of GDP has negative effect on reduction of coal consumption and carbon dioxide emissions intensity. This research provides more realistic practical significance for achieving sustainable economic development.

Correction to: Formation of brominated and chlorinated dioxins and its prevention during a pilot test of mechanochemical treatment of PCB and PBDE contaminated soil

Abstract

The destruction of persistent organic pollutants(POPs) is a large challenge in particular in developing and emerging economies.

Comparison of different advanced degradation processes for the removal of the pharmaceutical compounds diclofenac and carbamazepine from liquid solutions

Abstract

Carbamazepine and diclofenac are two examples of drugs with widespread geographical and environmental media proliferation that are poorly removed by traditional wastewater treatment processes. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been proposed as alternative methods to remove these compounds in solution. AOPs are based on a wide class of powerful technologies, including UV radiation, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, Fenton process, catalytic wet peroxide oxidation, heterogeneous photocatalysis, electrochemical oxidation and their combinations, sonolysis, and microwaves applicable to both water and wastewater. Moreover, processes rely on the production of oxidizing radicals (•OH and others) in a solution to decompose present pollutants. Water radiolysis-based processes, which are an alternative to the former, involve the use of concentrated energy (beams of accelerated electrons or γ-rays) to split water molecules, generating strong oxidants and reductants (radicals) at the same time. In this paper, the degradation of carbamazepine and diclofenac by means of all these processes is discussed and compared. Energy and byproduct generation issues are also addressed.

Dietary patterns and serum of DDT concentrations among reproductive-aged group of women in Bangladesh

Abstract

This research was conducted in order to propose ways to reduce human exposure to DDT, especially for women of reproductive age in Bangladesh, and to find a relation between DDT exposure levels in serum and questionnaire information including sociodemographic and food frequency (FFQ). In this study, a significant relationship was found between the education level and BMI, and the serum p,p′-DDE concentration. This result suggests that people with higher education (relating to higher income) and BMI in Bangladesh actively buy expensive foodstuff, like meat and/or fatty fish, which relates to a higher fat intake. Additionally, a weak positive relationship between p,p′-DDE concentration in serum and the frequency of beef consumption was observed among the nullipara women subgroup. In a previous study, beef and fish showed large contributions on DDT intake of Bangladesh population. Those results suggest that the control of fatty food consumption such as meat (beef) and marine fish might help to regulate the levels of DDT.

Flushes, neurodermatology, and surroundings

To the Editor: As a dermatologist engaged in consultations in neurologic settings for almost 2 decades, I have read the review about cutaneous flushing by Sadeghian et al,1 and this compels me to put forward some specifications.

Reply to: “Facial erythromelalgia?”

To the Editor: A few predominantly facial cases of potential erythromelalgia have been described, but these appear to be exceedingly rare.1-4 In 1 of the case reports, the condition was mistaken for other dermatologic conditions (rosacea and contact dermatitis) for years until the patient developed symptoms of erythromelalgia elsewhere.1 Another case report highlights the importance of keeping this in the differential diagnosis to avoid confusion with dermatologic connective tissue disorders that involve the face.

Activated mTORC1 signaling: The common driving force of type 2 diabetes and hidradenitis suppurativa

To the Editor: The results of the recent meta-analysis by Bui et al have confirmed that hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is significantly associated with an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).1 According to the authors, this association could be due to the fact that HS patients tend to be more obese.1 In this regard, we think that altered mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling might contribute and explain the connection between HS and T2DM. mTOR is the core constituent of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–related kinase protein family that forms at least 2 multiprotein complexes known as mTORC1 and mTORC2.

Introducing a curriculum in ethics and professionalism for dermatology residencies

There is general agreement on what constitutes ethical reasoning and professional behavior, but standardized methods to teach these skills in dermatology residency are currently unavailable. We introduce a model curriculum designed to impart the knowledge and skills to meet the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Dermatology Milestones for Professionalism over a 3-year cycle.

Journal Based CME Instructions and Information

Performance of a computer-aided digital dermoscopic image analyzer for melanoma detection in 1,076 pigmented skin lesion biopsies

Digital dermoscopic image analysis of pigmented skin lesions (PSLs) has become increasingly popular, despite its unclear clinical utility. Unbiased, high-powered studies investigating the efficacy of commercially available systems are limited.

Facial erythromelalgia?

To the Editor: I enjoyed reading the excellent reviews of the many causes of cutaneous flushing by Sadeghian et al.1,2 One cause of facial flushing mentioned is erythromelalgia. I write to suggest that the term erythromelalgia be restricted to patients with additional flushing of their feet and/or hands.

Answers to CME examination

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