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Objective: This study aims to determine the dynamics of the discharge of micropollutants in the Amazon River from an advanced wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and discusses the importance of management in order to minimize impacts. Methodology: A total of 13 micropollutants: ibuprofen (IBP), paracetamol (PCM), atenolol (ATL), loratadine (LTD), fexofenadine hydrochloride (FXF), amoxicillin (AMX), 17α-ethynyl estradiol (EE2), caffeine (CAF), sodium diclofenac (DCF), estrone (E1), estriol (E3), bisphenol A (BPA), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were analyzed in effluent samples that came from different treatment stages of a WWTP with advanced treatment technology at different periods of the day. The presence of micropollutants and their quantification were obtained using LC-MS and GC-MS techniques. Originality/Relevance: This is the first study carried out at a WWTP in Manaus, a city in Brazil that is located within one of the most extensive fluvial system in the world. The data obtained are important for understanding the dynamics of the discharge of micropollutants into the Amazon River and its implications. Main results: After the treatment process, the micropollutants paracetamol, fexofenadine hydrochloride, caffeine, sodium diclofenac, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were detected in the final effluent. Contributions: The results obtained in this study indicate the need for integrated management, considering technical, governmental, organizational and community-based approaches to minimize the effects of the discharge of micropollutants into the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Infertility is defined as the inability to generate children, and affects a significant part of the population. Because it affects the quality of life of the patient, they usually seeks treatments that, in short, are based on hormonal replacement, which has several side effects, opening, thus, a door for the study of alternative treatments, such as the case of medicinal plants. Objective: To measure testosterone, progesterone and estradiol in mice, as well as their weight variation by means of supplementation with Tribulus terrestris L. Methods: Twenty-eight female Swiss mice were divided into four groups, two controls with and without supplementation and two that underwent the process of bilateral ovariectomy, with and without supplementation. The plant extract was administered for 21 days by gavage. The animals were weighed weekly and, after 21 days, were euthanized and the sage was collected for the hormonal dosages. Results: There was a significant fall in testosterone in the groups supplemented with the plant and in the ovariectomized groups in relation to the control group. There were no significant changes in estradiol between groups, whereas progesterone significantly decreased in the castrated groups with and without supplementation. Regarding the weight variation when comparing the ovariectomized and non-ovariectomized groups, a significant increase in weight was observed. Conclusion: Castration promoted weight gain in animals. The same associated with supplementation reduced testosterone and serum progesterone and did not alter estradiol levels in the animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like other estrogenic steroids, such as estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3), 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) is a synthetic hormone derived from the natural hormone that can be disposal of domestic sewage and untreated industrial effluent. It is one of the most commonly used drugs, which increases its potential for presence in the environment. It can also contaminate the environment when used in livestock and agricultural activities. This study focuses on the effects of EE2 on human and animal health, as well as informing that several studies point to the ineffectiveness of treatment of this drug by Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), as well as Effluents (ETEs). The mechanisms and some methods of treatment of water contaminated with EE2 are discussed without disregarding some other steroids of the same ethinyl group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Physical capabilities are an important parameter of the functional development of adolescents, not only by chronological age but also by their maturational state, as individuals with the same chronological age can have different performance to their less mature counterparts. Objective: To compare and relate the physical capabilities and hormonal markers according to sex and maturity of adolescents. Methods: The sample consisted of adolescents of both sexes, aged 10 to 14 years. We evaluated the maturity achieved by a predictive equation of skeletal age, physical capabilities (explosive power of upper and lower limbs, velocity of upper limbs and agility) and hormonal markers (testosterone and oestradiol) via chemiluminescence. Results: Females showed more advanced maturational status, higher weight, body height and oestradiol levels; males performed better in the explosive force of upper and lower limbs, upper limb speed, agility and testosterone levels. In the normal maturational state males showed greater skeletal age, body weight, body height, explosive strength of upper and lower limbs, and testosterone levels; the females in the normal maturational state had higher skeletal age, body weight, body height, explosive upper limb strength and oestradiol levels. In the male correlation analysis, bone age was related to the explosive strength of upper and lower limbs and testosterone; while bone age in females was related to explosive upper limb strength and oestradiol. Conclusion: It is concluded that maturation, testosterone and oestradiol levels play an important role in the physical aspects and performance of motor skills of adolescents, especially in upper limb force which was more related to the maturation obtained by skeletal age of males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cleaning technique validation method was developed and validated, based on swab sampling and simultaneous chromatographic determination of gestodene and ethynyl estradiol residues. The method exhibited limits of quantitation (LOQs) of 0.036 µg/mL for ethynyl estradiol and 0.009 µg/mL for gestodene. It was considered selective, precise, accurate and robust, according to the standards set by ANVISA, the Brazilian regulatory agency. Mean swab recovery factors were 90.45% for ethynyl estradiol and 83.52 % for gestodene on an inox surface and 87.31% for ethynyl estradiol and 81.21 % for gestodene on a rubberized surface. The method was successfully applied to the assay of actual swab samples collected from all points on equipment surfaces. The cleaning method was validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the estrous cycle and the number of smooth muscle cells (NSMC) of the middle coat (MC) of female rats treated with estrogen. Methods: We used twenty female Wistar rats, without sexual experience, were divided into two groups: Control group (n = 10 - 0.2 ml of vehicle) and Estradiol group [(n = 10 - 0.125mcg estradiol valerate (EV)]. The administration of the solutions were made by gavage for twenty-eight days, during this period were performed vaginal smears for evaluation of the estrous cycle. After treatment, the rats were euthanized and the segment of the right popliteal vein was removed for histological procedures. The vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of MC were observed under an optical microscope at 100x magnification and counted with the aid of manual cell counter brand Digitimer. Results: According to the daily evaluation of vaginal smears, there were no changes in the phases of the estrous cycle. The counting of NSMC between groups GC (n = 8, 30.50 ± 6.28) and GE (n = 8, 29.22 ± 3.41) showed no significant change. Conclusions: We concluded that the hormone EV, in oral daily dose, at concentration of 0.125mcg, do not predispose to estrous cycle and do not alter NSML in the popliteal vein, for twenty eight days of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]