In vitro blastocyst implantation and trophoblast migration are disrupted by the UV filter benzophenone-3 (BP3)

Benzophenone-3 (BP3) is a common ingredient in personal care products (PCPs) due to its well-established effectiveness in absorbing UV radiation. Sunscreen products are among the most widely used PCPs-containing BP3 applied to the skin, resulting in significant human exposure to BP3 primarily through a dermal application. In the present work, we have tested the action of three environmentally relevant concentrations of BP3 (2, 20 and 200 μg/L) on an in vitro model of implantation of murine blastocysts and on migration ability of the human trophoblast cell line Swan 71. We showed that BP3 caused a significant reduction of blastocyst expansion and a delayed hatching in a non-monotonic way. Besides, embryos displayed a delayed attachment in the three BP3 groups, resulting in a smaller implantation area on the 6th day of culture: BP3(2) (0.32 ± 0.07 mm2); BP3(20) (0.30 ± 0.08 mm2) and BP3(200) (0.25 ± 0.06 mm2) in comparison to the control (0.42 ± 0.07 mm2). We also found a reduced migration capacity of the human first-trimester trophoblast cell line Swan 71 in a scratch assay when exposed to BP3: the lowest dose displayed a higher uncovered area (UA) at 6h when compared to the control, whereas a higher UA of the wound was observed for the three BP3 concentrations at 18 and 24 h of exposure. The changes in UA provoked by BP3 restored to normal values in the presence of flutamide, an androgen receptor (AR) inhibitor. These results indicate that a direct impairment on early embryo implantation and a defective migration of extravillous trophoblast cells through the androgen receptor pathway can be postulated as mechanisms of BP3-action on early gestation with potential impact on fetal growth.

Comparison of five organic wastes regarding their behaviour during composting: part 2, nitrogen dynamic

This paper aimed to compare household waste, separated pig solids, food waste, pig slaughterhouse sludge and green algae regarding processes ruling nitrogen dynamic during composting. For each waste, three composting simulations were performed in parallel in three similar reactors (300 L), each one under a constant aeration rate. The aeration flows applied were comprised between 100 and 1100 L/h. The initial waste and the compost were characterized through the measurements of their contents in dry matter, total carbon, Kjeldahl and total ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrite and nitrate. Kjeldahl and total ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrite and nitrate were measured in leachates and in condensates too. Ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions were monitored in continue. The cumulated emissions in ammonia and in nitrous oxide were given for each waste and at each aeration rate. The paper focused on process of ammonification and on transformations and transfer of total ammoniacal nitrogen. The parameters of nitrous oxide emissions were not investigated. The removal rate of total Kjeldahl nitrogen was shown being closely tied to the ammonification rate. Ammonification was modelled thanks to the calculation of the ratio of biodegradable carbon to organic nitrogen content of the biodegradable fraction. The wastes were shown to differ significantly regarding their ammonification ability. Nitrogen balances were calculated by subtracting nitrogen losses from nitrogen removed from material. Defaults in nitrogen balances were assumed to correspond to conversion of nitrate even nitrite into molecular nitrogen and then to the previous conversion by nitrification of total ammoniacal nitrogen. The pool of total ammoniacal nitrogen, i.e. total ammoniacal nitrogen initially contained in waste plus total ammoniacal nitrogen released by ammonification, was calculated for each experiment. Then, this pool was used as the referring amount in the calculation of the rates of accumulation, stripping and nitrification of total ammoniacal nitrogen. Separated pig solids were characterised by a high ability to accumulate total ammoniacal nitrogen. Whatever the waste, the striping rate depended mostly on the aeration rate and on the pool concentration in biofilm. The nitrification rate was observed as all the higher as the concentration in total ammoniacal nitrogen in the initial waste was low. Thus, household waste and green algae exhibited the highest nitrification rates. This result could mean that in case of low concentrations in total ammoniacal nitrogen, a nitrifying biomass was already developed and that this biomass consumed it. In contrast, in case of high concentrations, this could traduce some difficulties for nitrifying microorganisms to develop.

Comparison of five organic wastes regarding their behaviour during composting: part 1, biodegradability, stabilization kinetics and temperature rise

This paper aims to compare household waste, separated pig solids, food waste, pig slaughterhouse sludge and green algae regarding their biodegradability, their stabilization kinetics and their temperature rise during composting. Three experiments in lab-scale pilots (300 L) were performed for each waste, each one under a constant aeration rate. The aeration rates applied were comprised between 100 and 1100 L/h. The biodegradability of waste was expressed as function of dry matter, organic matter, total carbon and chemical oxygen demand removed, on one hand, and of total oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production on the other. These different variables were found closely correlated. Time required for stabilization of each waste was determined too. A method to calculate the duration of stabilization in case of limiting oxygen supply was proposed. Carbon and chemical oxygen demand mass balances were established and gaseous emissions as carbon dioxide and methane were given. Finally, the temperature rise was shown to be proportional to the total mass of material biodegraded during composting.

Prognostic significance of estrogen receptor determination in primary breast cancer

The authors report on 767 consecutive primary Stage I-II breast cancer cases followed-up from 3 to 8 years. The estrogen receptor (ER) content was determined in all cases and did not influence the treatment choice. A correlation was attempted between ER and menstrual or pathological nodal status (N) or the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS). ER was correlated with menopausal status ER+ cases being more frequent in postmenopausal patients, whereas no correlation was observed between ER and nodal status. In absence of nodal involvement (N-) the prognosis was not influenced by the ER status. A significantly better DFS was evident for ER+ respect to ER- patients in the N+ series but such a correlation is questionable as the adjuvant treatment (hormone or chemotherapy) given to such patients may have influenced the DFS according to the ER status. According to the present study, ER determination should not be used as a discriminant in the performance of adjuvant postoperative treatment based on a prognostic judgment.