Biodegradation of [(14)C] ring-labeled nonylphenol ethoxylate.

Nonylphenol (NP) and the 9-mole ethoxylate of nonylphenol (NPE9) were synthesized with a uniform radioactive (14)C label in the aromatic ring. The [(14)C]NP isomer distribution and [(14)C]NPE9 oligomer distribution closely matched that of commercial NPE9. Biodegradation of [(14)C]NPE9 was examined under conditions simulating a river water environment, and changes in the oligomer distribution and mineralization to (14)CO(2) were monitored for 128 days. Over 40% of the [(14)C]NPE aromatic ring carbon was converted to (14)CO(2) and another 21% was incorporated into the biomass. Primary degradation of NPE (conversion to metabolites other than NP, NPE ethoxylates, and NPE carboxylates) was estimated to be 87-97%. NP was a minor metabolite, accounting for less than 0.4% of the initial NPE. These studies demonstrate that the phenolic ring of NPE is opened, metabolized, and mineralized in the aquatic environment.

Nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates in fish, sediment, and water from the Kalamazoo River, Michigan.

A survey measuring concentrations of nonylphenol (NP) and its ethoxylates (NPEs) in fish was performed in the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, USA, in 1999. Of 183 fish analyzed, 59% had no detectable NP or NPE. Detected concentrations were reported to range from 3.3 (limit of detection) to 29.1 ng NP/g wet weight. To further explore the means of exposure of NP and NPE in the fish, concentrations of NP and its mono-through tri-ethoxylates (NPE(1-3)) were measured in fish, sediment, and water collected near two wastewater treatment plants on the Kalamazoo River in 2000. Samples were analyzed using exhaustive steam distillation with concurrent liquid extraction. Nonylphenol ethoxycarboxylates (NPE(1-3)C) were also analyzed in water. Concentrations of NP and NPEs in fish were less than the method detection limits (MDLs) in all the samples except one fish, which contained 3.4 ng NP/g wet weight, just above the detection limit of 3.3 ng/g. Three of 36 sediments and 1 of 24 water samples contained detectable concentrations of NP or NPE(1). NPE(2), NPE(3), and NPEC were not detected in water samples.

Ultimate biodegradation of alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactants and their biodegradation intermediates.

The ultimate biodegradation of the commercial products nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE9), octylphenol ethoxylates (OPE9), and their biodegradation intermediates, NPE1.5, OPE1.5, NP, and OP, was measured using conventional methods. The extent of biodegradation was also determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of metabolites and measurement of dissolved organic carbon. Optimized pseudo-first order degradation rate constants and half-lives were calculated from these data and from previously published data, using Larson's equation for surfactant degradation kinetics. Ultimate aerobic biodegradation of alkylphenol ethoxylates and their biodegradation intermediates has now been examined using acclimated wastewater treatment plant sludge as the microbial seed, household wastewater treatment systems, and unacclimated fresh water, seawater, and soil. Ultimate biodegradation half-lives ranged from about one to four weeks and provide definitive evidence for the extensive biodegradability of alkyphenol ethoxylates (APE) surfactants and their metabolites and their lack of persistence in the environment.

Identification and quantitation method for nonylphenol and lower oligomer nonylphenol ethoxylates in fish tissues.

Substantial research is currently focused on the toxicological effects of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and alkylphenols (APs) on aquatic animals. Considerable data are available on the concentrations of APEs and APs in river systems in the United States; however, few if any data are available on the tissue concentrations of fish living in these rivers. A reliable method for the analysis of nonylphenol (NP) and lower oligomer nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE1-3) in fish tissues has been developed. Nonylphenol and NPE1-3 were extracted from fish tissues using extractive steam distillation. Normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HLPC) was used as a cleanup step prior to analysis by gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC/MSD) using selected ion monitoring. Optimization of this technique resulted in consistent recoveries in excess of 70%, with the exception of NPE3 (17%). Method detection limits (MDLs) and limits of quantitation using the technique range from 3 to 20 and 5 to 29 ng/g wet weight, respectively. Nonylphenol and NPE1 were detected in subsamples (n = 6) of a single common carp captured in the Las Vegas Bay of Lake Mead (NV, USA) at average concentrations of 184+/-4 ng/g and 242+/-9 wet weight, respectively. Nonylphenol ethoxylates were not detected in the carp collected at Lake Mead.

Identification and quantitation of nonylphenol ethoxylates and nonylphenol in fish tissues from Michigan.

Nonylphenol (NP) and its lower ethoxylates, nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NPE1) and nonylphenol diethoxylate (NPE2), can be present in aquatic environments at total concentrations of more than 10 microg/L. They are metabolites of nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPE) and have been found to be weakly estrogenic. To evaluate bioaccumulation potential and identify potential risks posed by these chemicals, concentrations of NP, NPE1, NPE2, and nonylphenol triethoxylate (NPE3) were determined in the tissues of fish inhabiting various waters in Michigan. This method involves extraction of samples using exhaustive steam distillation with concurrent liquid extraction. Concentrations of NP among all sites and species ranged from <3.3 to 29.1 ng/g, ww and varied little among sites. NPE1 was detectable in some samples but at concentrations less than the method detection limit (16.8 ng/g). Concentrations of NPE2 and NPE3 in all samples were less than their respective MDLs of 18.2 and 20.6 ng/g.

[Comparative study between the use and the non-use of steroids in Guillain-Barré syndrome]. / Estudo comparativo entre emprego e não emprego de esteróides na síndrome de Guillain-Barré.

We studied 21 patients admitted at Servidores do Estado do Rio de Janeiro Hospital with clinical and laboratorial diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome from May 1966 to December 1983. It was not observed any prevalence of symptoms at any special season of the year; 14 male patients and 7 female at the 2nd. and 4th. decades were analysed. The average time of hospitalization for patients without steroids was 52.6 days and for patients taking steroids was of 63.6 days. We discussed the therapeutic value of steroids and our conclusion is that improvement was shorter and better in patients without steroids. They acquired less time of hospitalization. Besides this, side effects on patients with steroids was greater.

Criptococose: meningoencefalite subaguda com hidrocefalia e hidrocefalia oculta, como expressoes clinicas - a proposito de tres casos. / Cryptococcosis: subacute meningoencephalitis with hydrocephalus and occult hydrocephalus as clinical expressions - apropos of 3 cases

Os autores registram tres casos de hidrocefalia secundaria a meningoencefalite subaguda de etiologia criptococica. Nao tendo o fungo sido encontrado no liquido cefalorraquidiano, foi iniciado, em todos os tres enfermos, esquema triplice contra tuberculose associado a corticoide. Em dois destes pacientes, derivacao ventriculo-peritoneal precedeu o reconhecimento da etiologia fungica. No terceiro doente, foi realizada drenagem ventricular de emergencia, substituida posteriomente por derivacao ventriculo-atrial. As meningites que obedecem a esta etiologia sao muito mais frequentes do que se julga e, quando a puncao lombar nao revela o fungo, e importante colher liquor da cisterna magna ou dos ventriculos para exame direto e cultura. Estes casos e outros indicam a necessidade da implantacao, em nosso meio, do diagnostico sorologico da criptococose.Por outro lado, trazem o ensinamento de que, em presenca de meningoencefalites subagudas e/ou de hidrocefalia, devem ser esgotados todos os recursos disponiveis para a procura desta etiologia, o que representa reais vantagens, pois o tratameto com anfotericina B e 5-fluorocitosina pode eximir o paciente da insercao de derivacao e de suas complicacoes, bem como evitar a dsseminacao da micose