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Journal Article 2014; 35(Suppl 2): 64-70 PubMed PMID: 25638368 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Anti-Bacterial Agents:toxicity, Ciprofloxacin:toxicity, Oxidative Stress:drug effects, Toxicity Tests, Subchronic, Zebrafish,.   

<strong>OBJECTIVES:strong> The aim of this study was to assess the impact of ciprofloxacin in Danio rerio on growth, on the development of histopathological changes in selected organs (gills, kidney, liver), and on the activity of some oxidative stress markers during a 28-day toxicity test.

<strong>METHODS:strong> Juvenile growth tests were performed on D. rerio according to OECD guideline No. 215. Fish at the age of 30 days were exposed for 28 days to a range of concentrations of ciprofloxacin (0.7 μg x L(-1)--environmental concentration, 100, 650, 1100 and 3 000 μg x L(-1)).

<strong>RESULTS:strong> There were no significant differences between the specific growth rates of fish from the test groups and from the control group. Histopathological examination revealed no pathological changes in organs of fish exposed to any ciprofloxacin concentration. The activity of glutathione S-transferase increased at the ciprofloxacin concentrations of 0.7 and 100 μg x L(-1) compared to the control. A significant decrease in glutathione reductase activity was obtained in fish exposed to ciprofloxacin at 1100 and 3000 μg x L(-1); a significant decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity was also found, but at all tested concentrations except for 100 μg x L(-1). A decrease in the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was noted only at 100 μg x L(-1) compared to the control.

<strong>CONCLUSIONS:strong> According to our results, all tested concentrations of ciprofloxacin, including the environmental concentration, had an influence on oxidative stress markers and detoxifying enzymes in exposed fish, but did not affect fish growth or cause the development of histopathological changes in the fish organism.

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Journal Article 2014; 35(Suppl 2): 57-63 PubMed PMID: 25638367 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Arsenic:toxicity, Biomass, Cyanobacteria, Environmental Exposure, Microcystins:toxicity, Oncorhynchus mykiss:blood,.   

<strong>OBJECTIVES:strong> Fish can be exposed under environmental conditions to multiple stressors including natural toxins and environmental or feed contamination at the same time. This study brings new knowledge about the effects of controlled exposure to multiple stressors in fish. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that influence of cyanobacterial biomass and arsenic in feed can combine to enhance the effects on fish.

<strong>METHODS:strong> Rainbow trouts were sorted into six groups, each with 25 specimens: control group (fed with commercial feed), groups exposed to toxic cyanobacterial biomass (81 mg x kg(-1) MCs of feed), two groups exposed to arsenic (concentration of 5 mg x kg(-1), and 50 mg x kg(-1) of fish feed) and two groups exposed to combination of cyanobacterial biomass and arsenic in two concentrations mentioned above. The experiment lasted 30 days. During the experiment we evaluated the influence of co-exposure on plasmatic parameters mentioned above. Samples were collected on days 10, 20 and 30 of exposure.

<strong>RESULTS:strong> Biochemical analysis revealed a significant decrease in calcium (T20) and an increase in natrium (T10) and chlorides (T10) values in combined cyanobacterial and arsenic exposures. Our results showed a significant decrease in the values of magnesium after exposure to higher concentration of arsenic compared to control and feeding with addition of cyanobacterial biomass groups. The changes of other monitored plasmatic parameters were not significantly increased or decreased in comparison with controls.

<strong>CONCLUSIONS:strong> Our results confirmed the hypothesis that influence of toxic cyanobacterial biomass and a chemical agent represented by arsenic can combine to enhance the effects on fish. This work originally shows that while the single agents in sub-lethal doses do not cause changes in the plasmatic parameters, their co-exposure leads to the significantly decrease or increase of the electrolytes of rainbow trout.

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Journal Article 2014; 35(Suppl 2): 51-56 PubMed PMID: 25638366 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Astacoidea:drug effects, Environmental Exposure:adverse effects, Herbicides:toxicity, Toxicity Tests, Subchronic, Triazines:toxicity, Water Pollutants, Chemical:toxicity, Water Pollution, Chemical:adverse effects,.   

<strong>OBJECTIVES:strong> The aim of the study was to investigate effects of the triazine herbicide metribuzin on signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana by determining oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and antioxidant indices (total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase) in hepatopancreas, muscle, and gill as well as assessing their histopathology.

<strong>DESIGN:strong> Crayfish were exposed to metribuzin concentrations of 0.52 μg x l(-1) (realistic environmental concentration) and 3.06 mg x l(-1) (10% 96hLC50) for 10 and 30 days followed by a 30-day depuration period without exposure to metribuzin.

<strong>RESULTS:strong> In the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were observed differences in all examined tissues compared to the control group. Differences from control were observed in glutathione reductase activity in hepatopancreas after 10 days for both exposure concentrations and after 30 days at 3.06 mg x l(-1). Histological examination revealed extensive focal autolytic disintegration of tubular epithelium in hepatopancreas of crayfish exposed to metribuzin for 30 days.

<strong>CONCLUSIONS:strong> Chronic exposure of metribuzin resulted in oxidative damage to cell lipids, in changes of antioxidant activity in crayfish tissue, and pathological changes in hepatopancreas. The results suggest that selected oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzymes, and pathologies of hepatopancreas may have potential as biomarkers for monitoring residual triazine herbicides in the aquatic environment.

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Journal Article 2014; 35(Suppl 2): 43-50 PubMed PMID: 25638365 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Environmental Monitoring, Oligochaeta:drug effects, Palladium:toxicity, Platinum:toxicity, Rhodium:toxicity, Soil, Soil Pollutants:toxicity,.   

<strong>OBJECTIVES:strong> The platinum group elements (PGE) platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh) are used in automobile catalytic converters, from which they have been emitted into the environment to an increasing degree over the last 20 years. Despite the bioavailability of these metals to plants and animals, studies determining the effects of PGE on organisms are extremely rare. Enchytraeids are ecologically relevant soil organisms, due to their activity in decomposition and bioturbation in many soil types worldwide.

<strong>DESIGN:strong> The experiments were carried out as described in the OECD Guideline 220 [CSN EN ISO 16387--Soil quality--Effects of pollutants on Enchytraeidae (Enchytraeus sp.)--Determination of effects on reproduction]. The reproductive effects of platinum (PtCl4), palladium (PdCl2) and rhodium (RhCl3) were examined. The concentrations of PGE tested were as follows: 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 μmol x L(-1) PdCl2; 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 μmol x L-1 PtCl4/RhCl3. The EC50 (medium effective concentration) was determined after 28 days of exposure. The inhibition of the reproduction of PGE-exposed enchytraeids was compared against controls.

<strong>RESULTS:strong> Values of 28dEC50 of PtCl4, PdCl2 and RhCl3 amounted to 161.9 μmol x L(-1), 70.0 μmol x L(-1) and 246.6 μmol x L(-1), respectively. We can confirm that the relative order of toxicities is Pd (II) >Pt(IV) >Rh(III).

<strong>CONCLUSION:strong> To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to use Enchytraeus crypticus as an indicator species to assess the risk of soil contamination by platinum, palladium and rhodium. Results of this study contribute important data on the ecotoxicity of a rarely studied elements.

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Journal Article 2014; 35(Suppl 2): 35-42 PubMed PMID: 25638364 Citation  Keywords:  Environmental Monitoring, Palladium:toxicity, Plants:anatomy & histology, Platinum Compounds:toxicity, Rhodium:toxicity, Water Pollution, Chemical:adverse effects,.   

<strong>OBJECTIVES:strong> Road traffic pollutants and the residues of cytostatics that are widely used in anti-cancer therapy are a significant sources of platinum group elements (PGE; Pt, Pd and Rh) in environment. These metals can migrate into sewage and thus pollute surface waters. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of PtCl4 on the antioxidant and enzymatic activity of duckweed (Lemna minor), a bioindicator of the aquatic environment.

<strong>METHODS:strong> The study was performed using a 7-day conventional test based on the OECD 221 (CSN EN ISO 20079)--Lemna sp. Growth Inhibition Test. We also conducted a microbiotest to analyse the effects of PtC4, PdCl2 and RhCl3 on the morphology and vegetative growth of colonies of this plant and compared their inhibitory effects during the microbiotest.

<strong>RESULTS:strong> We observed inhibition of colony growth and clear morphological changes. Antioxidant and enzymatic activities increased with platinum doses increased. The 168hEC50 of PtCl4 was 12.16 μM (95% confidence interval = 9.88-14.44) and the 168hEC50 of PdCl2 was 50.39 (95% confidence interval = 23.83-76.96). The greatest inhibition of growth by RhCl3 was observed at 25 μM.

<strong>CONCLUSIONS:strong> The obtained results suggest that L. minor phytotoxicity tests should be widely used in the biomonitoring.

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Journal Article 2014; 35(Suppl 2): 26-34 PubMed PMID: 25638363 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Czech Republic, Environmental Pollution:analysis, Fishes, Geologic Sediments:analysis, Metals, Heavy:analysis, Muscles:chemistry, Rivers:chemistry, Water Pollutants, Chemical:analysis,.   

OBJECTIVES:&nbsp;This study presents the concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Hg, Zn and Pb) in the water, sediment, and muscle of two fish species from the middle and lower reaches of the Dyje river basin (Dyje, Jihlava, Svratka, Svitava and Trkmanka rivers), in the Czech Rebublic.

METHODS:&nbsp;Samples of water, sediment (Tab. 1.) and fish muscle were obtained during the seasons of 2012-2013. As the reference species were chosen chub (Squalius cephalus) and roach (Rutilus rutilus) due to their occurrence in all of the evaluated fishing grounds.

RESULTS:&nbsp;The potential ecological risk analysis of heavy metal concentrations in the sediments indicated that nine sites in the middle and lower reaches posed moderate or considerable ecological risk. The health risk analysis of individual heavy metals in fish muscle indicated safe levels for the general population, but there was a possible risk in terms of the total target hazard quotients. The contents of the analysed metals in fish muscles were low at seven sites and did not exceed the values of limits admissible in the Czech Republic.

CONCLUSIONS:&nbsp;The increased values of heavy metals in the fish muscle from the Svratka and Svitava rivers may be mainly derived from metal processing, electroplating industries, industrial wastewater and domestic sewage....

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Journal Article 2014; 35(Suppl 2): 3-25 PubMed PMID: 25638362 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Fishes, Herbicides:toxicity, Triazines:toxicity, Water Pollutants, Chemical:toxicity,.   

<strong>:strong> Triazines are an important group of herbicides, which have been used extensively or selectively both in agricultural and non-agricultural areas worldwide for more than fifty years to control broadleaf and some grassy weeds. As a consequence of their massive application, they have become and remain significant environmental pollutants, especially in aquatic ecosystems. Fish are an integral part of the aquatic environment and are, therefore, suitable models for the study of the behavioral, biological, and biochemical effects of triazine exposure. We have summarized and evaluated the effects of triazine herbicides on fish in order to provide an overview of current information on triazines. The overall effects of triazine herbicide exposure on the physiology of fish were evaluated by considering a variety of parameters in a number of reports. Haematological and biochemical profiles of blood provide important information about the internal environment of the organism and the general physiology and health status of triazine exposed fish. According to studies using biotransformation and bioaccumulation indices to estimate the effects of triazines on fish, changes in fish metabolism reflect the pollution of the environment by these herbicides. The responses of antioxidant defence systems in fish to triazine exposure could be an adaptive mechanism to protect the fish from triazine-induced oxidative stress. Acute exposure to triazines affects reproduction or reproductive development in fish; however, some triazines did not affect fish behavior during long-term exposure to low concentrations. Nevertheless, an impact on the overall behavioral response of fish cannot be excluded.

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Journal Article 2014; 35(7): 645-652 PubMed PMID: 25617890 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anti-Anxiety Agents:therapeutic use, Antidepressive Agents:therapeutic use, Antipsychotic Agents:therapeutic use, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Medication Adherence:psychology, Middle Aged, Outpatients:psychology, Psychotic Disorde.   

OBJECTIVE:&nbsp;Adherence to treatment of mental disorders is one of the key factors influencing its success and, secondarily, the patients' quality of life and social adaptation. The cross-sectional study of 90 outpatients diagnosed with psychotic disorders aimed at determining if there was a relationship between discontinuation of psychoactive drugs in the past, current adherence to treatment and self-stigma.

METHODS:&nbsp;The assessment was made with the objective and subjective Clinical Global Impression - Severity scale, Drug Attitude Inventory, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale and demographic data. The questionnaires were filled out by 79 patients, of whom 5 handed in incomplete questionnaires. Complete sets of data were obtained from 74 patients.

RESULTS:&nbsp;The data analysis showed that the levels of self-stigma as assessed by the total ISMI scores was not statistically significantly correlated with most of the demographic factors (age, age of illness onset, gender, education, marital status, employment, duration of the illness, number of hospitalizations and antipsychotic dosage). However, there was a significant negative correlation with current adherence to treatment....

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