Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are halogenated organic compounds of special interest because of their persistent, pervasive and exceptionally toxic nature. Sediments collected in the vicinity of petroleum production facilities in the Escravos River basin (ERB) of Nigeria were analyzed for 20 OCPs and 39 PBDEs by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The OCP concentrations in the ERB sediments varied from 0.69 to 10.7 ng g-1 (mean = 5.65 ng g-1), while those of the Σ39 PBDEs ranged between 0.19 and 435 ng g-1 (mean = 39.1 ng g-1). The OCP class profiles in the sediments followed the order: Drins > Chls > DDTs > Endos > HCHs, while those of the PBDEs were in the order: tetra- > penta- > hexa- > tri- > hepta- > di- > mono- > deca-BDE. The ecological risk assessment suggests rare adverse effects for OCPs in the ERB sediments and potential adverse effects for penta-BDEs in the sediments. The results from the carcinogenic risk assessment suggest that human exposure to OCPs in the majority of the sites can be of moderate carcinogenic risk, while there is no risk for exposure to PBDEs in the sediments. The source analyses reflect the prominence of historically used sources over recent inputs for OCPs, while those of PBDEs reflect products of debromination of higher BDEs and the use of penta-BDEs rather than the deca-PBE mixture in the region.

• Keywords
• Ecological risk, Escravos River basin, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Nigeria, Sediments,
• MeSH
• Water Pollutants, Chemical * analysis   MeSH
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated * analysis   MeSH
• Geologic Sediments * chemistry   MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers * analysis   MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring * MeSH
• Pesticides * analysis   MeSH
• Oil and Gas Industry MeSH
• Rivers * chemistry   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Nigeria MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Water Pollutants, Chemical * MeSH
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated * MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers * MeSH
• Pesticides * MeSH

Vehicles are unique indoor environments, with interiors dominated by plastic/synthetic materials and exposure to extremes of temperature and radiation, leading to substantial potential for emissions of plastic additives from vehicle materials and subsequent exposure to drivers and passengers. Flame retardants (FRs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were measured in 30 dust samples collected from dashboards, seats, and trunks of cars of the same make and model (year of manufacture 1996-2021) to evaluate levels in dust and time patterns in additive use across cars of different ages. PFAS were detected in all dust samples at low levels, while FRs were detected in all samples, with some compounds consistently exceeding µg/g levels, especially tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), substantially higher than in other indoor environments. Although cars were of the same model, large variations were observed in FR concentrations in dust between cars, emphasizing the challenge in generalizing FR exposures from vehicle dust. Concentrations of BDE-209 in vehicle dust did not decrease over the 1996-2021 period, suggesting that restrictions on DecaBDE have had limited impact, likely due to exemptions in regulations for the automotive industry. The high FR levels indicate ongoing use of both organophosphate and brominated FRs in vehicles on the European market, although flammability standards for interior car materials are not mandated by European regulations, and the continued presence of long-restricted FRs suggests the presence of recycled plastics in vehicles; this potential exposure source may be increasing as vehicle producers aim to improve material circularity.

• Keywords
• Cars, Dust exposure, Flame retardants, PFAS, Time trends,
• MeSH
• Automobiles MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers analysis   MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring * MeSH
• Organophosphates * analysis   MeSH
• Dust * analysis   MeSH
• Flame Retardants * analysis   MeSH
• Air Pollution, Indoor * analysis   statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• decabromobiphenyl ether MeSH Browser
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers MeSH
• Organophosphates * MeSH
• Dust * MeSH
• Flame Retardants * MeSH

BACKGROUND: HER2-positive breast cancer occurs in about 15-20 % of all breast cancers. It is both a prognostic and predictive biomarker and the introduction of anti-HER2 therapy over the last 20 years has significantly improved outcomes in this subset of patients, so that they are now comparable to or better than those of patients with HER2-negative tumors. Approximately 5-10% of patients are diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. It was good news for these patients when, on April 17, 2020, the FDA approved tucatinib in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine for adult patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who had received one or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting. The efficacy of the regimen was demonstrated in the HER2CLIMB trial, which enrolled 612 patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who had previously been treated with trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and/or trastuzumab emtansine. Median overall survival for patients in the tucatinib arm was 21.9 months (95% CI 18.3-31.0) compared with 17.4 months (95% CI 13.6-19.9) for patients in the control arm (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.50-0.87; P = 0.00480). CASE: Our patient is a middle-aged woman without visceral metastatic involvement, but with extensive nodal involvement, skeletal metastatic involvement and left breast almost completely consumed by tumor. This woman had a more or less successful three lines of anti-HER2 therapy and the fourth line of one-year-long systemic treatment with the cytostatic eribulin. The inclusion of tucatinib with trastuzumab and capecitabine in the fifth line of systemic therapy achieved a very nice partial regression of the primary tumor without significant toxicity. CONCLUSION: In this case report, we describe the case of a highly pretreated patient with HER-2 positive metastatic breast cancer.

• Keywords
• HER2 positivity, breast cancer, highly pretreated patient, palliative biotherapy,
• MeSH
• Quinazolines therapeutic use   MeSH
• Furans therapeutic use   MeSH
• Ketones therapeutic use   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Breast Neoplasms * drug therapy   pathology   MeSH
• Oxazoles MeSH
• Palliative Care * MeSH
• Polyether Polyketides MeSH
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols therapeutic use   MeSH
• Pyridines therapeutic use   MeSH
• Receptor, ErbB-2 * metabolism   MeSH
• Trastuzumab therapeutic use   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Quinazolines MeSH
• ERBB2 protein, human MeSH Browser
• eribulin MeSH Browser
• Furans MeSH
• Ketones MeSH
• Oxazoles MeSH
• Polyether Polyketides MeSH
• Pyridines MeSH
• Receptor, ErbB-2 * MeSH
• Trastuzumab MeSH
• tucatinib MeSH Browser

New voltammetric and flow amperometric methods for the determination of guaifenesin (GFE) using a perspective screen-printed sensor (SPE) with boron-doped diamond electrode (BDDE) were developed. The electrochemical oxidation of GFE was studied on the surface of the oxygen-terminated BDDE of the sensor. The GFE provided two irreversible anodic signals at a potential of 1.0 and 1.1 V (vs. Ag|AgCl|KCl sat.) in Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 2), which was chosen as the supporting electrolyte for all measurements. First, a voltammetric method based on differential pulse voltammetry was developed and a low detection limit (LOD = 41 nmol L-1), a wide linear dynamic range (LDR = 0.1-155 μmol L-1), and a good recovery in the analysis of model and pharmaceutical samples (RSD <3.0 %) were obtained. In addition, this sensor demonstrated excellent sensitivity and reproducibility in the analysis of biological samples (RSD <3.2 %), where the analysis took place in a drop of serum (50 μL) without pretreatment and additional electrolyte. Subsequently, SP/BDDE was incorporated into a flow-through 3D printed electrochemical cell and a flow injection analysis method with electrochemical detection (FIA-ED) was developed, resulting in excellent analytical parameters (LOD = 86 nmol L-1, LDR = 0.1-50 μmol L-1). Moreover, the mechanism of electrochemical oxidation of GFE was proposed based on calculations of HOMO spatial distribution and spectroelectrochemical measurements focused on IR identification of intermediates and products.

• Keywords
• Boron-doped diamond electrode, Flow injection analysis with electrochemical detection, Guaifenesin, Screen-printed sensor, Spectroelectrochemistry, Voltammetry,
• MeSH
• Boron * chemistry   MeSH
• Diamond * chemistry   MeSH
• Electrochemical Techniques * methods   instrumentation   MeSH
• Electrodes * MeSH
• Guaifenesin * analysis   chemistry   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Limit of Detection MeSH
• Oxidation-Reduction MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Boron * MeSH
• Diamond * MeSH
• Guaifenesin * MeSH

Electronic waste (e-waste) poses significant environmental and health risks in Thailand due to both domestic production and international imports. A notable portion of this waste is processed in small-scale, community-based workshops, often located in poorer regions, where safety regulations are improperly enforced or entirely ignored. This study focuses on the Kalasin province in Northern Thailand, a region with numerous such workshops, where no comprehensive analysis of exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and dechlorane plus (DP) has been conducted. The study's objective was to quantify these toxic substances in environmental and biological samples to assess its contamination and human health risks. Environmental samples, including soil, dust, sediment, ash, eggs, crabs, snails, fish, and rice, were collected from e-waste processing sites and compared with control areas. Blood samples from e-waste workers and a control group were also analysed. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry operated in negative ion chemical ionization (GC-NCI-MS) was used to quantify PBDEs and DP isomers. Results showed significantly higher concentrations of these toxic compounds in e-waste sites compared to control areas. E-waste workers also had elevated levels of these substances in their blood, suggesting exposure through contaminated dust and food. These findings underscore the severe environmental contamination and health risks associated with improper e-waste management, highlighting the urgent need for regulatory measures and improved recycling practices to safeguard both environmental and public health.

• Keywords
• Dechlorane plus, E-waste, Environmental pollution, Human health impact, POPs, Polybrominated diphenyl ethers,
• MeSH
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated * analysis   blood   MeSH
• Electronic Waste * analysis   MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers * analysis   toxicity   blood   MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Environmental Pollutants analysis   blood   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring methods   MeSH
• Polycyclic Compounds * analysis   MeSH
• Dust analysis   MeSH
• Occupational Exposure analysis   MeSH
• Recycling * MeSH
• Environmental Exposure adverse effects   analysis   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Thailand MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated * MeSH
• dechlorane plus MeSH Browser
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers * MeSH
• Environmental Pollutants MeSH
• Polycyclic Compounds * MeSH
• Dust MeSH

Plants can sense and respond to non-damaging mechanical stimulation such as touch, rain, or wind. Mechanical stimulation induces an increase of cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]cyt), accumulation of phytohormones from the group of jasmonates (JAs) and activation of gene expression, which can be JAs-dependent or JAs-independent. Response to touch shares similar properties with reactions to stresses such as wounding or pathogen attack, and regular mechanical stimulation leads to changes in growth and development called thigmomorphogenesis. Previous studies showed that well-known seismonastic plants such as Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) or sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) lost their touch-induced motive responses during exposure to general volatile anaesthetic (GVA) diethyl ether. Here, we investigated the effect of diethyl ether anaesthesia on touch response in Arabidopsis thaliana. We monitored [Ca2+]cyt level, accumulation of JAs and expression of touch-responsive genes. Our results showed that none of the investigated responses was affected by diethyl ether. However, diethyl ether alone increased [Ca2+]cyt and modulated JAs-independent touch-responsive genes, thus partially activating touch response non-specifically. Together with our previous studies, we concluded that GVA diethyl ether cannot block the local rise of [Ca2+]cyt but only its systemic propagation dependent on GLUTAMATE LIKE RECEPTOR 3s (GLR3s) channels.

• Keywords
• Anaesthetic, Arabidopsis thaliana, Calcium, Diethyl ether, Jasmonates, Touch response,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis * physiology   genetics   drug effects   MeSH
• Cyclopentanes * metabolism   pharmacology   MeSH
• Ether * pharmacology   MeSH
• Touch physiology   MeSH
• Oxylipins * metabolism   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Plant drug effects   MeSH
• Plant Growth Regulators metabolism   MeSH
• Calcium * metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Cyclopentanes * MeSH
• Ether * MeSH
• jasmonic acid MeSH Browser
• Oxylipins * MeSH
• Plant Growth Regulators MeSH
• Calcium * MeSH

The Black Sea is a permanently anoxic, marine basin serving as model system for the deposition of organic-rich sediments in a highly stratified ocean. In such systems, archaeal lipids are widely used as paleoceanographic and biogeochemical proxies; however, the diverse planktonic and benthic sources as well as their potentially distinct diagenetic fate may complicate their application. To track the flux of archaeal lipids and to constrain their sources and turnover, we quantitatively examined the distributions and stable carbon isotopic compositions (δ13 C) of intact polar lipids (IPLs) and core lipids (CLs) from the upper oxic water column into the underlying sediments, reaching deposits from the last glacial. The distribution of IPLs responded more sensitively to the geochemical zonation than the CLs, with the latter being governed by the deposition from the chemocline. The isotopic composition of archaeal lipids indicates CLs and IPLs in the deep anoxic water column have negligible influence on the sedimentary pool. Archaeol substitutes tetraether lipids as the most abundant IPL in the deep anoxic water column and the lacustrine methanic zone. Its elevated IPL/CL ratios and negative δ13 C values indicate active methane metabolism. Sedimentary CL- and IPL-crenarchaeol were exclusively derived from the water column, as indicated by non-variable δ13 C values that are identical to those in the chemocline and by the low BIT (branched isoprenoid tetraether index). By contrast, in situ production accounts on average for 22% of the sedimentary IPL-GDGT-0 (glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraether) based on isotopic mass balance using the fermentation product lactate as an endmember for the dissolved substrate pool. Despite the structural similarity, glycosidic crenarchaeol appears to be more recalcitrant in comparison to its non-cycloalkylated counterpart GDGT-0, as indicated by its consistently higher IPL/CL ratio in sediments. The higher TEX86 , CCaT, and GDGT-2/-3 values in glacial sediments could plausibly result from selective turnover of archaeal lipids and/or an archaeal ecology shift during the transition from the glacial lacustrine to the Holocene marine setting. Our in-depth molecular-isotopic examination of archaeal core and intact polar lipids provided new constraints on the sources and fate of archaeal lipids and their applicability in paleoceanographic and biogeochemical studies.

• Keywords
• archaea, core lipids, intact polar lipids, lipid sources, lipid turnover, lipidomics, stable carbon isotope,
• MeSH
• Archaea * chemistry   MeSH
• Geologic Sediments chemistry   MeSH
• Glycerol MeSH
• Glyceryl Ethers * MeSH
• Lipids chemistry   MeSH
• Seawater chemistry   MeSH
• Water * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Black Sea MeSH
• Names of Substances
• crenarchaeol MeSH Browser
• Glycerol MeSH
• Glyceryl Ethers * MeSH
• Lipids MeSH
• Water * MeSH

Globin adducts of various chemicals, persisting in organism over the whole lifetime of erythrocytes, have been used as biomarkers of cumulative exposures to parent compounds. After removal of aged erythrocytes from the bloodstream, cleavage products of these adducts are excreted with urine as alternative, non-invasively accessible biomarkers. In our biomonitoring studies on workers exposed to ethylene oxide, its adduct with globin, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)valine, and the related urinary cleavage product N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-valyl-L-leucine have been determined. To describe a toxicokinetic relationship between the above types of biomarkers, a general compartmental model for simulation of formation and removal of globin adducts has been constructed in the form of code in R statistical computing environment. The essential input variables include lifetime of erythrocytes, extent of adduct formation following a single defined exposure, and parameters of exposure scenario, while other possible variables are optional. It was shown that both biomarkers reflect the past exposures differently as the adduct level in globin is a mean value of adduct levels across all compartments (subpopulations of erythrocytes of the same age) while excretion of cleavage products reflects the adduct level in the oldest compartment. Application of the model to various scenarios of continuous exposure demonstrated its usefulness for human biomonitoring data interpretation.

• Keywords
• Cleavage products, Compartmental toxicokinetic model, Globin adducts, Human biomonitoring, Non-invasive biomarkers,
• MeSH
• Biomarkers * urine   blood   MeSH
• Models, Biological MeSH
• Biological Monitoring * MeSH
• Erythrocytes * metabolism   drug effects   MeSH
• Ethylene Oxide toxicity   pharmacokinetics   urine   MeSH
• Globins metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Computer Simulation MeSH
• Occupational Exposure * MeSH
• Toxicokinetics MeSH
• Valine analogs & derivatives   pharmacokinetics   urine   blood   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Biomarkers * MeSH
• Ethylene Oxide MeSH
• Globins MeSH
• Valine MeSH

This study investigated the concentrations of 39 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in sediments from three rivers in the western Niger Delta of Nigeria that have been affected by pollution from urbanization and industrial activities. The Σ39 PBDE concentrations in sediments from these rivers ranged from 0.29 to 95.5, 5.15 to 121, and 0.73 to 66.1 ng g-1 for the Afiesere (AR), Edor (ER), and Okpare Rivers (OR), respectively. The homologue distribution patterns indicated the prominence of tetra- and penta-BDE congeners in sediments from these rivers. The ecological risk assessment results showed that the penta-BDEs were the primary source of risk to sediment-dwelling organisms in these rivers. However, the human health risk assessment indicated negligible risks for exposure of both adults and children to PBDEs in these sediments. The source apportionment suggests that the PBDE contamination in these river sediments was derived from long-distance migration, debromination of highly brominated congeners, and commercial penta-BDEs. These results reflect the use of penta-BDE formulations in this region rather than octa- and deca-BDE formulations.

• Keywords
• Niger Delta, Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, River systems, Sediments,
• MeSH
• Water Pollutants, Chemical * analysis   MeSH
• Geologic Sediments * chemistry   MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers * analysis   MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring * MeSH
• Rivers * chemistry   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Nigeria MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Water Pollutants, Chemical * MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers * MeSH

Research to prevent releases of brominated flame retardants listed as persistent organic pollutants by the Stockholm Convention (POP-BFRs) was conducted through an international cooperation project in Colombia. Six waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management facilities implemented: 1) sorting e-waste by product type and color (black, white, and other; henceforth called chromoproducts), 2) sampling test products and their plastic fraction (called sets, separated by polymer type), 3) monitoring mass, bromine and antimony contents by hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and POP-BFRs such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 4) differentiated treatment according to categories that used the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (RoHS) hazardousness threshold of 1000 mg ∑PBDEs/kg. This scheme led to the proposal of a methodology for WEEE management called the "chromoproduct approach". 994,230 products were managed and grouped into 222 chromoproducts, from which 77 were analyzed: 50 below RoHS hazardousness (BRH), 16 above RoHS hazardousness (ARH), and 11 unknown RoHS hazardousness (URH). XRF indicators using bromine and antimony contents could rule out pollution in BRH chromoproducts; however, categorization still required GC-MS. One ARH plastics sample had 3620 mg ∑PBDEs/kg, while no POP-BFRs were found in the BRH plastics sample. The implementation of the chromoproduct approach traced 153.6 tonnes of ARH plastics. BRH plastics composition was estimated and used in a pilot-scale closed-loop economic activity. The chromoproduct approach seems promising for avoiding POP-BFR releases and promoting the upcycling of recyclable e-waste plastics.

• Keywords
• Chromoproduct, E-waste, Plastic, Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, Separation,
• MeSH
• Antimony analysis   MeSH
• Bromine analysis   MeSH
• Electronic Waste * analysis   MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers analysis   MeSH
• Waste Products analysis   MeSH
• Plastics analysis   MeSH
• Flame Retardants * analysis   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Colombia MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antimony MeSH
• Bromine MeSH
• Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers MeSH
• Waste Products MeSH
• Plastics MeSH
• Flame Retardants * MeSH