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Extensive research has examined the diffusion of innovations for products that can be trialed, and where the most adverse outcome, if a product fails, is a financial loss. However, less research has explored consumer responses to innovations in highly uncertain contexts characterized by health losses, lack of trialability, and the opportunity to free ride on other's adoption. This research focuses on vaccine decision making as a unique case within such contexts and extends the findings to other domains. Four studies (Ntotal = 1,796; five supplementary studies, Ntotal = 643) test the propositions of a formal model that incorporates uncertainty and others' choices into the adoption decision. The results show that consumers are surprisingly averse to products that are described as employing a new technology (e.g., mRNA technology) and require an "efficacy premium" to compensate for higher perceived uncertainty. However, considerable heterogeneity exists due to individual differences in technology readiness, trust in government, and risk attitudes. Notably, despite the prominent threat of free riding, a social proof nudge (communicating increasing population adoption) effectively reduces aversion to new technology. In this context, social proof information does not merely drive conformity or social learning, but instead increases adoption of new technology by alleviating perceived uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our paper, we encompass the topic of socioeconomic disparities intrinsic to drug pricing and look at ways to ensure that every individual in the United States can access antibiotics equally and equitably. In the United States, a multitude of individuals find themselves struggling with high, out-of-pocket costs for necessary antibiotics or medications.  These issues are generally caused by factors surrounding monopolistic drug markets, high costs for development, and the severity of disease that an individual is facing. We explore these challenges from a plethora of perspectives, such as; the role of specialty pharmacies, limited distribution networks, and the usage of psychotropic medications among youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). High prices and restricted access of certain antibiotics for conditions like Hepatitis C highlight the systemic and intrinsic issues within the pharmaceutical industry and how it affects individuals who suffer from this disease or diseases similar to it. On a similar topic to that, ongoing shortages of ADHD medications continue to show the consistent and heavy impact of supply constraints amongst the pharmaceutical industry in the United States. We discuss potential solutions, including but not limited to, accelerating the approval of basic drugs, implementing ceiling prices to prevent high costs, and better integrating health-system specialty pharmacies. By concentrating on the need for policy reforms within the United States and collaboration amongst the various stakeholders that remain involved with drug pricing disparities, this study aims to offer a varied approach in reducing drug pricing disparities and making necessary medications accessible to every individual in the United States, regardless of socioeconomic or health status.

IntroductionIn recent years, Volcanoes National Park has seen a rise in its wildlife population, primarily due to the diligent efforts of the Rwandan government in safeguarding endangered species, notably the mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei spp. beringei). This population growth has led to a pressing need for more expansive habitats, ensuring these creatures have ample space, sustenance, and shelter for their wellbeing. Consequently, there are planned park expansion activities on the horizon. However, before initiating this expansion, a critical prelude involves identifying potential threats, particularly toxic substances stemming from agricultural activities in the surrounding environment of Volcanoes National Park.MethodsTo address this concern, a comprehensive study was conducted, aimed at pinpointing potential toxic hazards and assessing the awareness of the local population regarding the harm these hazards pose to wildlife species. Data was collected from individuals with no prior knowledge of the study using a pre-tested questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into three sections: socio-demographic issues, potential toxic hazards assessment, and a section to determine awareness and risk of potential toxic hazards to humans, animals, and the environment. Respondents were selected based on specific criteria, which included being 18 years or older and residing within the National Volcano Park (NVP) area.ResultsThe study's findings revealed four main categories of potential toxic hazards, which include household chemicals, pharmaceutical products, agricultural pesticides, and poisonous plants. These hazards could jeopardize the health and survival of wildlife species if they consume or come into contact with them. Furthermore, the study exposed an inadequacy in the knowledge and skills of the local community in preventing these toxic hazards, which can result in death of wildlife species and ecosystem contamination and degradation.ConclusionStudy results also underscored the significance of education and training in enhancing the awareness of local communities concerning these toxic threats. Therefore, it is imperative to implement immediate measures to mitigate the adverse effects of these toxic hazards on wildlife species, especially in light of the planned park expansion.

The presence of pharmaceuticals in water bodies has been reported to be mainly due to their incomplete removal by the conventional wastewater treatment processes, resulting to their release into the aquatic environment where they thratens to human health and aquatic life. Therefore, it is important to remove these pollutants from the aquatic environment using affordable highly efficient materials. The goal of this study was to incorporate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into MIPs for selective removal of sulfamethoxazole, nevirapine, and ibuprofen in wastewater. The AgNPs were synthesized using starch (St) and macadamia (MCD) as both reducing and stabilizing agents. Thermogravimetric analysis showed high stability for the St/MCD‐nanoMIPs. The ANOVA analysis revealed that the parameters affecting adsorption of St/MCD‐nanoMIPs have a significant difference (p<0.05). The St/MCD‐AgNPs experimental data fitted to both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, however, the non‐linear Langmuir isotherm model yielded a better fit based on the higher R2 value (0.999). The non‐linear Freundlich model best fitted for the St/MCD‐nanoMIPs. The linear pseudo‐second order model shown best fit for St/MCD‐nanoMIPs, the thermodynamic results revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. The St/MCD‐nanoMIPs showed improved qualities and were highly selective (>70 %) and effective in removing the selected pharmaceuticals from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PACs) are ubiquitous contaminants that can pollute the environment. This study critically analyzes the sorption of PACs to soil materials based on 137 published papers encompassing 106 PACs and 212 soil materials. The batch technique is commonly employed for sorption studies of PACs to soil, but the experimental setups vary in terms of the type and number of PACs, mixing time, solid to liquid (S/L) ratio, solution type, range of initial concentration, and bio-inhibition method. Sorption competition among PACs or between PACs and dissolved organic matter occurs for certain cases. Linear or close to linear behavior was reported for sorption of many PACs to soil, but sorption of some PACs deviates from linearity. The reaction of PACs to soil is fast at the initial stages but slows down as it approaches equilibrium. PACs characteristics, soil properties, and solution attributes intricately influence the sorption process. Zwitterionic PACs exhibit the highest sorption affinity, whereas neutral PACs display increased sensitivity to soil hydrophobicity. The average sorption coefficient (K) ranges from 0.0915 mL/g for anionic sulfonamides to 84725.5 mL/g for zwitterionic norfloxacin. An increase in the molar volume corresponds to heightened sorption for cationic PACs and reduced sorption for anionic PACs. Increasing solubility, soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, S/L ratio, and soil surface area while decreasing pH, ionic strength, and temperature result in an increase in K. The values of K determined by the batch technique are higher than their column-determined counterparts, possibly due to variations in the employed residence times between the two systems. Several models have been developed to estimate K of PACs, but they are limited in their applicability to specific PACs and soil types. Future research related to sorption of PACs to soils has been suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotopically labeled alkanes play a crucial role in organic and pharmaceutical chemistry. While some deuterated methylating agents are readily available, the limited accessibility of other deuteroalkyl reagents has hindered the synthesis of corresponding products. In this study, we introduce a nickel‐catalyzed system that facilitates the synthesis of various deuterium‐labeled alkanes through the hydrodeuteroalkylation of d2‐labeled alkyl TT salts with unactivated alkenes. Diverging from traditional deuterated alkyl reagents, alkyl thianthrenium (TT) salts can effectively and selectively introduce deuterium at α position of alkyl chains using D2O as the deuterium source via a single‐step pH‐dependent hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE). Our method allows for high deuterium incorporation, and offers precise control over the site of deuterium insertion within an alkyl chain. This technique proves to be invaluable for the synthesis of various deuterium‐labeled compounds, especially those of pharmaceutical relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micropollutants are increasingly prevalent in the aquatic environment. A major part of these originates from wastewater treatment plants since traditional treatment technologies do not remove micropollutants sufficiently. Moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs), however, have been shown to aid in micropollutant removal when applied to conventional wastewater treatment as a polishing step. Here, we used Total RNA sequencing to investigate both the active microbial community and functional dynamics of MBBR biofilms when these were exposed to increasing micropollutant concentrations over time. Concurrently, we conducted batch culture experiments using biofilm carriers from the MBBRs to assess micropollutant degradation potential. Our study showed that biofilm eukaryotes, in particular protozoa, were negatively influenced by micropollutant exposure, in contrast to prokaryotes that increased in relative abundance. Further, we found several functional genes that were differentially expressed between the MBBR with added micropollutants and the control. These include genes involved in aromatic and xenobiotic compound degradation. Moreover, the biofilm carrier batch experiment showed vastly different alterations in benzotriazole and diclofenac degradation following the increased micropollutant concentrations in the MBBR. Ultimately, this study provides essential insights into the microbial community and functional dynamics of MBBRs and how an increased load of micropollutants influences these dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sequential injection analysis method for the determination of glutathione (GSH) in pharmaceuticals has been developed. It is based on the reduction of the Cu(II)-neocuproine complex by GSH and the formation of an orange-yellow colored Cu(I)-neocuproine complex with maximum absorbance at 458 nm. Under optimal conditions the method is characterized by a linear calibration range of 6.0 × 10−7–8.0 × 10−5 mol L−1 (Amax = 3270 CGSH − 0.0010; R2 = 0.9983), limit of detection of 2.0 × 10−7 mol L−1, limit of quantification of 6.7 × 10−7 mol L−1, repeatability (expressed as relative standard deviation) of 3.8%, and sampling rate of 60 h−1. The newly developed method has been successfully applied to the determination of GSH in pharmaceutical samples with no statistically significant difference between the results obtained and those produced by the standard Pharmacopoeia method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting the toxic effects of chemicals on reproduction and development without using mammalian animal models is crucial in the exploitation of pharmaceuticals for human use. Zebrafish are a promising animal model for investigating pharmacological effects and toxicity during vertebrate development. Several studies have suggested the use of zebrafish embryos for the assessment of malformations or embryo-fetal lethality (MEFL). However, a reproducible protocol as a standard for the zebrafish MEFL test method that fulfills global requests has not been established based on the International Council of Harmonisation (ICH) S5 (R3) guidelines. To establish such a toxicity test method, we developed a new and easy protocol to detect MEFL caused by chemicals, especially those with teratogenic potential, using fertilized zebrafish eggs (embryos) within 5 days of development. Our toxicity test trials using the same protocol in two to four different laboratories corroborated the high inter-laboratory reproducibility. Our test method enabled the detection of 18 out of 22 test compounds that induced rat MEFL. Thus, the prediction rate of our zebrafish test method for MEFL was almost 82% compared with that of rat MEFL. Collectively, our study proposes the establishment of an easy and reproducible protocol for the zebrafish MEFL test method for reproductive and developmental toxicity that meets ICH guideline S5 (R3), which can be further considered in combination with information from other sources for regulatory use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the massive use of pharmaceuticals has led to the detection of a large number of relevant residues in water. As emerging contaminants, pharmaceuticals residues in the environment pose a major threat to human health and ecosystems. Covalent organic polymers (COPs) possess high stability, uniform pore size, and easy functionalization, which have attracted great attention in water treatment. In this study, a novel covalent organic polymer was successfully studied by a simple synthesis method, combining p-phenylenediamine (Pd) and isophthalaldehyde (Is) via a Schiff-base (referred to PdIs-COP), which was used as an absorbent for the removal of indomethacin from aqueous solutions. The composite was characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis. The effect of changes in the pH values and the adsorption time on the adsorption capacity was also investigated. The results of this study indicated that the absorbent had a high adsorption capacity for indomethacin. The adsorption capacity of PdIs-COP for indomethacin is 92.86 mg g−1 at pH of five and a contact time of 2 min. This shows that PdIs-COP is a novel material with good affinity for pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, blockchain-based solutions for drug traceability encounter challenges related to counterfeit drug prevention, user identity verification, and scalability. This paper presents BE-AC, an enhanced blockchain-based drug traceability solution. To bolster the authenticity and integrity of drug information, we innovatively upgraded the EdDSA (Edwards-curve Digital Signature Algorithm) digital signature algorithm. Our enhancement incorporates the more advanced and efficient BLAKE3 hash function, replacing the conventional SHA-512 (Secure Hash Algorithm 512-bit). By employing larger hash windows and secure, efficient hash iteration modes, we expedite the generation and verification of digital signatures for drug information, thereby enhancing the overall performance and security of the system. Additionally, we have devised a decentralized identity authentication scheme. Through on-chain stored identity information, all participants can mutually verify each other's identities, effectively preventing identity impersonation and fraudulent transactions. Furthermore, we have implemented smart contracts to record and store all transaction information on-chain during the drug distribution process, ensuring reliable and convenient drug transaction traceability. To address scalability and information security, we introduced a collaborative on-chain and off-chain drug information storage solution. Experimental results demonstrate a remarkable 78.65% improvement in signature verification efficiency compared to the original algorithm. The designed solution exhibits noteworthy enhancements in identity authentication, system throughput, and storage efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated the adsorption of propranolol (PROP) by functionalized green carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-B), assessing the influence of pH, in addition to kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic studies and reuse of the material. For this purpose, speciation of PROP and the point of zero charge (pHPZC) of MWCNT-B were performed, indicating a pKa of 9.67 and pHPZC of 3.31. The adsorption tests at different pH values revealed that in the range of pH 3 to 9, there is no significant variation in PROP uptake, despite this, at pH 11, the removal decreases. Regarding PROP adsorption, the equilibrium time ranged from 30 to 90 min, and the PFO model best represented the kinetic data. The Langmuir model was more predictive in representing isotherms (R2 > 0.95), and the adsorption process was spontaneous and favorable (ΔG < − 20 kJ mol−1) and indicated exothermic behavior (ΔH = − 33 kJ mol−1) for PROP removal. In addition, the material showed satisfactory thermal regeneration results and can be reused for four cycles. The results suggest that MWCNT-B is an attractive adsorbent and exhibits effective removal of propranolol from aqueous matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tingui biochar (TB) activated with potassium hydroxide (TB-KOH) was synthesized in the present study. The adsorption capacity of TB-KOH was evaluated for the removal of acetaminophen and caffeine in monocomponent and bicomponent solutions. As a result, the study of the TB-KOH characterization as well as the adsorption kinetics, isotherm, thermodynamics, and a suggestion of the global adsorption mechanism are presented. TB-KOH was characterized through physical–chemical analysis to understand its surface morphology and how it contributes to the adsorption of these drugs. Furthermore, modelling using advanced statistical physical models was performed to describe how acetaminophen and caffeine molecules are adsorbed in the active sites of TB-KOH. Through the characterizations, it was observed that the activation with KOH contributed to the development of porosity and functional groups (-OH, C-O, and C = O) on the surface of TB. The monocomponent adsorption equilibrium was reached in 90 min with a maximum adsorption capacity of 424.7 and 350.8 mg g−1 for acetaminophen and caffeine, respectively. For the bicomponent solution adsorption, the maximum adsorption capacity was 199.4 and 297.5 mg g−1 for acetaminophen and caffeine, respectively. The isotherm data was best fitted to the Sips model, and the thermodynamic study indicated that acetaminophen removal was endothermic, while caffeine removal was exothermic. The mechanism of adsorption of acetaminophen and caffeine by TB-KOH was described by the involvement of hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions between the surface of TB-KOH and the molecules of the contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the presence of Pharmaceutical Active Compounds (PhACs) in ecosystems has become a serious environmental problem due to their capacity to induce harmful effects at extremely low concentrations in both humans and wildlife. Water treatment plants have not been designed to remove these types of compounds efficiently. Thus, the detection of these pollutants is essential to evaluate their negative impacts and is one of the emerging issues in environmental chemistry. The main objective of this study is to determine the bacterial toxicity of two PhACs (both individually and as a mixture) through the quantification of bioluminescence inhibition in the marine bacteria Aliivibrio fischeri, a commonly used method in short-term toxicity tests. In this work, Acetaminophen and Edaravone, two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration, have been studied. The acute toxicity of these PhACs has been tested at two exposure times (5 and 15 min) and different concentrations, by estimation of the median effective concentration (EC50) for each individual compound or in combination at different concentrations. Moreover, the EC50 of the binary mixtures Acetaminophen/Edaravone have been forecast using two traditional predictive models, Concentration Addition and Independent Action. The results show that toxicity decreases with exposure time and depends on the concentration tested. Furthermore, a novel semi-empirical Van Laar-based model has been proposed and validated with the experimental data from this study and literature data, obtaining satisfactory estimations of the EC50 for binary mixtures. Highlights: The bacterial toxicity of Acetaminophen and Edaravone, as well as their binary mixtures, was evaluated using an Aliivibrio fischeri bioluminescence assay. The predictive power of Concentration Addition and Independent Action models was evaluated for combined bacterial toxicity of PhACs. A new semi-empirical Van Laar-based model was developed and validated to predict the bacterial toxicity of binary mixtures of Acetaminophen and Edaravone, providing accurate estimations with limited experimentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns related to environmental risks associated with pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have led researchers to seek methods for assessing and monitoring these contaminants in the aquatic environment. Identifying and validating risk assessment tools that can evaluate ecological concerns and risks associated with PPCPs is critical. Herein, the suitability of a dose-related risk and effect assessment model, which estimates predicted environmental concentrations and allowed comparisons with predicted no effect concentrations determined, in combination with in vitro analyses of the whole effluent toxicity, was verified for the characterization of a PPCP hazard. Concentrations of the most utilized PPCPs in Norway were measured in influent and effluent samples and used to parameterize the fate model. Greater than 90% removal was attained for 12 out of 22 detected PPCPs. Removal was not dependent on the class or the concentration of the specific substance and varied between 12% and 100%. The PPCPs detected in the discharged wastewater were utilized to assess individual contributions to the risk of the effluent, and no risk was identified for the targeted 30 PPCP. The simulations provided valuable information regarding the discharge plume distribution over time, which can aid planning of future environmental monitoring investigations. Bioassays (using fish liver cells, PLHC-1) were used for assessing overall effluent toxicity, through cell viability, production of reactive oxygen species, and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities. The present study may allow regulators to use risk-based strategies over removal criteria for monitoring studies and confirms the importance to take PPCP contamination into consideration when establishing environmental regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceuticals, which are closely linked to human activities, have attracted global attention. This study investigated the occurrence characteristics of 20 pharmaceuticals in surface water of the Yangtze Estuary and adjacent sea. A total of 14 targeted pharmaceuticals were detected in both spring and summer sampling campaigns. The mean concentrations of sulfonamides and non-sulfonamides were 36.60 ± 19.43 ng·L−1 and 50.02 ± 41.07 ng·L−1, respectively. As for non-antibiotics, their concentrations were in the range of 24.34 ± 916.8 ng·L−1 with caffeine accounting for 6.17 ~ 86.70% (average percentage of 42.22%). Meanwhile, spatial distribution patterns showed similarities between antibiotics and non-antibiotics, with high levels occurring near the upper estuary, aquaculture areas, wastewater treatment plants, and the maximum turbidity zone. This phenomenon could be related to the sources of pharmaceuticals and the physicochemical properties of water bodies. Obviously, the first three areas are highly impacted by human activities or serve as important sources of terrestrial contaminants entering the East China Sea. The last area retains high amounts of suspended particles which may exert strong trapping effects on hydrophobic chemicals. Principal component analysis revealed the presence of three potential sources for pharmaceuticals in the Yangtze Estuary, with a relatively high percentage originating from incompletely treated municipal sewage. As for the temporal trend, pharmaceutical contamination was found to be higher in spring compared to summer, potentially due to variations in pharmaceutical consumption patterns, local rainfalls, and water temperatures. These findings provide fundamental data support for implementing appropriate local management strategies for pharmaceutical usages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we employed a new ambient ionization mass spectrometry technique, sandpaper spray mass spectrometry (SPS‐MS), as an efficient tool to analyze pills and tablets of pharmaceutical formulations. The following samples were analyzed: regulators of blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, and drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Additionally, a hard candy of Cannabis sativa containing Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9‐THC) and its related isomer cannabidiol (CBD) was also evaluated. The surfaces of the samples, without any prior treatment, were sanded onto triangular‐cut sandpaper, and full MS scans (and MS/MS) were acquired in both positive and negative ionization modes. SPS‐MS (and MS/MS) allowed for prompt detection of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in each formulation. Other components of the formulations, added as excipients, were also tentatively identified. The results described herein indicate that the SPS‐MS technique can be applied to fast screening of pills and tablets being potentially used as an efficient tool to detect counterfeit pharmaceutical and illicit products, a current issue of increasing concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the current situation and possible health risks due to pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) including analgesics, antibiotics, antifungals, anti-inflammatories, psychiatric and cardiovascular drugs, and metabolites, in indoor environments. To achieve this objective, a total of 85 dust samples were collected in 2022 from three different Spanish indoor environments: homes, classrooms, and offices. The analytical method was validated meeting SANTE/2020/12830 and SANTE/12682/2019 performance criteria. All indoor dust samples except one presented at least one PhAC. Although concentration levels ranged from < LOQ to 18 µg/g, only acetaminophen, thiabendazole, clotrimazole, and anhydroerythromycin showed quantification frequencies (Qf %) above 19% with median concentrations of 166 ng/g, 74 ng/g, 25 ng/g and 14 ng/g, respectively. The PhAC distribution between dust deposited on the floor and settled on elevated (> 0.5 m) surfaces was assessed but no significant differences (p > 0.05, Mann–Whitney U-test) were found. However, concentrations quantified at the three types of locations showed significant differences (p < 0.05, Kruskal–Wallis H-test). Homes turned out to be the indoor environment with higher pharmaceutical concentrations, especially acetaminophen (678 ng/g, median). The use of these medicines and their subsequent removal from the body were identified as the main PhAC sources in indoor dust. Relationships between occupant habits, building characteristics, and/or medicine consumption and PhAC concentrations were studied. Finally, on account of concentration differences, estimated daily intakes (EDIs) for inhalation, ingestion and dermal adsorption exposure pathways were calculated for toddlers, adolescents and adults in homes, classrooms and offices separately. Results proved that dust ingestion is the main route of exposure, contributing more than 99% in all indoor environments. Moreover, PhAC intakes for all studied groups, at occupational locations (classrooms and offices) are much lower than that obtained for homes, where hazard indexes (HIs) obtained for acetaminophen (7%—12%) and clotrimazole (4%-7%) at the worst scenario (P95) highlight the need for continuous monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The irrigation of soils with reclaimed contaminated wastewater or its amendment with sewage sludge contributes to the uptake of pharmaceuticals by vegetables growing in the soil. A multiresidue method has been devised to determine five pharmaceuticals and nine of their main metabolites in leafy and root vegetables. The method employs ultrasound-assisted extraction, clean-up via dispersive solid-phase extraction, and analysis through liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Box–Behnken design was used to refine variables such as extraction solvent volume, time of extraction, number of extraction cycles, and the type and amount of d-SPE sorbent. The method achieved linearity (R2) greater than 0.994, precision (relative standard deviation) under 16% for most compounds, and detection limits ranging from 0.007 to 2.25 ng g−1 dry weight. This method was applied to a leafy vegetable (lettuce) and to a root vegetable (carrot) sourced from a local market. Parent compounds were detected at higher concentrations than their metabolites, with the exception of carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The United States is deeply entangled in an opioid crisis that began with the overuse of prescription painkillers. At the height of the prescription opioid crisis (2006–2012), Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals was the nation's largest opioid manufacturer. This study explores Mallinckrodt's strategies for expanding its market share by promoting a new opioid. Methods: The authors used the Opioid Industry Document Archive to analyze the incentive structures, sales contests, and rhetorical strategy behind Mallinckrodt's "Operation Change Agent," a campaign to switch patients from OxyContin to Mallinckrodt-manufactured painkillers. A structured search of the archive in October 2022 retrieved 464 documents dated between 2010 and 2020. Findings: The authors identified a range of Mallinckrodt's sales force motivational techniques, including hypertargeting high-decile prescribers, providing free trial kits, using emotion-based language to connect with prescribers, and strategies for opposing prescriber resistance. Throughout, managers used specific incentivization metaphors to frame strategies in terms of sport and ultramarathons. Conclusions: This research on internal corporate strategy joins the growing challenges to industry claims that opioid sales teams simply educated providers and helped fill existing demand for their products. It has important implications for regulatory policy and consumer protections that can better protect health in the face of competitive market forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antidepressant venlafaxine, a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is commonly prescribed to treat major depressive disorder and is found at high concentrations in the aquatic environment. Concerns have been raised related to the health of aquatic organisms in response to this nontargeted pharmaceutical exposure. For instance, we previously demonstrated that exposure to venlafaxine perturbs neurodevelopment, leading to behavioural alterations in zebrafish (Danio rerio). We also observed disruption in serotonin expression in the pineal and raphe, regions critical in regulating circadian rhythms, leading us to hypothesize that zygotic exposure to venlafaxine disrupts the circadian locomotor rhythm in larval zebrafish. To test this, we microinjected zebrafish embryos with venlafaxine (1 or 10 ng) and recorded the locomotor activity in 5‐day‐old larvae over a 24‐h period. Venlafaxine deposition reduced larval locomotor activity during the light phase, but not during the dark phase of the diurnal cycle. The melatonin levels were higher in the dark compared to during the light photoperiod and this was not affected by embryonic venlafaxine deposition. Venlafaxine exposure also did not affect the transcript abundance of clock genes, including clock1a, bmal2, cry1a and per2, which showed a clear day/night rhythmicity. A notable finding was that exposure to luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist, decreased the locomotor activity in the control group in light, whereas the activity was higher in larvae raised from the venlafaxine‐deposited embryos. Overall, zygotic exposure to venlafaxine disrupts the locomotor activity of larval zebrafish fish during the day, demonstrating the capacity of antidepressants to disrupt the circadian rhythms in behaviour. Our results suggest that disruption in melatonin signalling may be playing a role in the venlafaxine impact on circadian behaviour, but further investigation is required to elucidate the possible mechanisms in larval zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals by aquatic organisms continues to receive scientific attention, the internal disposition of these contaminants among different tissue compartments of fish species has been infrequently investigated, particularly among fish at different trophic positions. We tested a human to fish biological read‐across hypothesis for contaminant disposition by examining tissue‐specific accumulation in three understudied species, longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus; piscivore), gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum; planktivore/detritivore), and smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus; benthivore), from a river influenced by municipal effluent discharge. In addition to surface water, fish plasma, and brain, gill, gonad, liver, and lateral muscle fillet tissues were analyzed via isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Caffeine and sucralose, two common effluent tracers, were quantitated at low micrograms per liter levels in surface water, while an anticonvulsant, carbamazepine, was observed at levels up to 37 ng/L. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine and sertraline and primary metabolites were detected in at least one tissue of all three species at low micrograms per kilogram concentrations. Within each species, brain and liver of select fish contained the highest levels of SSRIs compared to plasma and other tissues, which is generally consistent with human tissue disposition patterns. However, we observed differential accumulation among specific tissue types and species. For example, mean levels of sertraline in brain and liver tissues were 13.4 µg/kg and 1.5 µg/kg in gizzard shad and 1.3 µg/kg and 7.3 µg/kg in longnose gar, respectively. In contrast, smallmouth buffalo did not consistently accumulate SSRIs to detectable levels. Tissue‐specific eco‐exposome efforts are necessary to understand mechanisms associated with such marked bioaccumulation and internal dispositional differences among freshwater fish species occupying different trophic positions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1894–1902. © 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceuticals have been classified as an environmental concern due to their increasing consumption globally and potential environmental impact. We examined the toxicity of sediment‐associated diclofenac and citalopram administered as both single compounds and in a mixture to the sediment‐living amphipod Corophium volutator. This laboratory‐based study addressed the following research questions: (1) What is the toxicity of sediment‐associated diclofenac and citalopram to C. volutator? (2) Can the mixture effect be described with either of the two mixture models: concentration addition (CA) or independent action (IA)? (3) What is the importance of the choice of (i) exposure measure (start concentration, time‐weighted average [TWA], full exposure profile) and (ii) effect model (concentration–response vs. the toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic model general unified threshold model for survival in its reduced form [GUTS‐RED]) for the derived effect concentration values? Diclofenac was more toxic than citalopram to C. volutator as a single compound (10‐day exposure). Diclofenac exposure to C. volutator provided median lethal concentrations (LC50s) within the same range (11 µg g−1 dry wt sediment) using concentration–response based on TWA and both GUTS‐RED models. However, concentration–response based on measured start concentrations provided an approximately 90% higher LC50 (21.6 ± 2.0 µg g−1 dry wt sediment). For citalopram, concentration–response parameters were similar regardless of model or concentration used (LC50 85–97 µg g−1 dry wt sediment), however, GUTS‐RED with the assumption of individual tolerance resulted in a lower LC50 (64.9 [55.3–74.8] µg g−1 dry wt sediment). The mixture of diclofenac and citalopram followed the CA quite closely, whereas the result was synergistic when using the IA prediction. In summary, concentration–response based on TWA and GUTS‐RED provided similar and reasonably good fits compared to the data set. The implications are that GUTS‐RED will provide a more flexible model, which, in principle, can extend beyond the experimental period and make predictions based on variable exposure profiles (toxicity at different time frames and at different variable exposure scenarios) compared to concentration–response, which provides contaminant toxicity at one point in time. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1767–1777. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pharmaceuticals are considered as contaminants of emerging concern, and their occurrence in diverse environmental matrices has been described during the last 25 years. Nonetheless, pharmaceutical occurrence has not been evenly described worldwide, and reports from some geographical areas such as most parts of Latin America are scarce. This work aims to address the situation of water pollution due to pharmaceuticals in Latin America by means of two main goals: i. First, reviewing the monitoring studies performed in Latin America on this topic (period 2009—2024), which were conducted in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Argentina, to highlight the most frequently detected compounds from each therapeutic group in the region. ii. Second, analyzing the case of Costa Rica through the hazard assessment and prioritization of pharmaceuticals based on the monitoring performed in this country (years 2011; 2018—2019). The monitoring in Costa Rica comprised a total of 163 sampling points: wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (14 urban WWTPs plus two landfill WWTPs; total samples n = 44 influents and n = 34 effluents), nine hospital effluents (n = 32), wastewater from livestock farms (six swine farms and seven dairy farms; n = 23 influents and n = 37 effluents), 64 continental surface water sampling points (n = 137), and 61 coastal seawater sampling points (n = 61). Risk assessment of detected concentrations by the hazard quotient (HQ) approach (period 2018–2019) revealed a total of 25 medium or high-hazard compounds (out of 37 detected compounds). The prioritization approach (which included the Frequency of Appearance (FoA), the Frequency of PNEC exceedance (FoE), and the Extent of predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) exceedance (EoE)), showed a critical list of nine pharmaceuticals: caffeine, diphenhydramine, acetaminophen, lovastatin, gemfibrozil, ciprofloxacin, ibuprofen, doxycycline and norfloxacin. These compounds should be taken into account as a first concern during the implementation of environmental policies related to pharmaceutical products in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs (PIDs) are only partially removed by conventional wastewater treatment plants. The origin, sources, and ecological risk of PIDs in Las Vegas Wash are studied scarcely. Therefore, this study aimed to provide insights into the impact of large social events [Electric Dance Carnival (EDC) and National Football League Draft (NFL Draft)] on the levels of PIDs of a unique surface water system located in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA), a contributary to the Colorado River. Thus, distribution of PIDs was evaluated at multiple locations (n = 10) along the Las Vegas Wash. The results of this study showed that the concentrations of benzoylecgonine, ketamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and methamphetamine were 8–41 ng L−1, 14–192 ng L−1, 3.5–2118 ng L−1, and 13.7–194 ng L−1, respectively. Compared the control period, usage of drugs of abuse was significantly elevated during the EDC period. For example, the median concentration of MDMA (558 ng L−1) in surface water during the EDC festival was 46 times higher over the control period. The source of PIDs contamination was determined with principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). LDA provides a perspective in assessing the 2022 EDC impacts on the usage of drugs of abuse. MDMA has low to moderate median risk quotient ranging from 0.07 to 6.1, indicating ecological concerns. This study demonstrated that surface water analysis can capture changes in illicit drug use pattern during large music events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaching of pharmaceutical ingredients into water bodies poses an escalating threat, demanding urgent remediation strategies. Among several techniques advanced for their remediation, advanced oxidation methods utilizing persulfate (PS) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) stand out as promising avenues for pharmaceutical degradation in wastewater. This article consolidates the research on photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical contaminants, focusing on PMS‐based photoactive composites, and elucidates their efficacy in removing active pharmaceutical ingredients from water. Moreover, it delineates alternative techniques for activating PS and PMS, providing a holistic understanding of the field's advancements. By outlining research limitations and knowledge gaps, this review underscores the imperative for further investigation and innovation in pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Utilization of Freshwater aquatic plants' bioactives for functional foods, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications with anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and antioxidant health promoting properties. Despite significant progress, certain inflammation related to chronic disorders, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer, still present high mortality rates. Thus, further study is needed to address such pathologies more appropriately. Apart from classic therapeutics, natural bioactives with less toxic side effects have gained attention, including those with potential pharmaceutical properties derived from several plants. Within this article, the potential utilization of freshwater aquatic plants as sources of bioactives with antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties is outlined. Emphasis is given to a well-established aquatic plant with known but not fully clarified and overviewed bio-functional and pharmaceutical properties, the Chinese lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), as well as to a so far neglected aquatic plant, Lemna minor, which has not yet been thoroughly reviewed for such applications. The latent usually grows naturally in large numbers at the surface of stored water basins of retrieved water from the last stages of wastewater treatment facilities. The continuous growth of this aquatic plant in such conditions further suggests that it can be a sustainable source of natural bioactives, if appropriately valorized, with an economic benefit and in a friendly environmental approach. The abundant content of both freshwater aquatic plants in bioactive components with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic activities is thoroughly outlined, while their applications as functional ingredients in several functional products (functional foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals) are also discussed. The outlined outcomes urge further study of both aquatic plants and especially of Lemna spp. to fully elucidate their potential as alternative sustainable sources of bioactive ingredients for functional foods, supplements, nutraceuticals, nutricosmetics, cosmeceuticals, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products with health-promoting properties against inflammation and thrombosis related manifestations and their associated chronic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the presence of drugs targeting adrenergic receptors in aquatic ecosystems, considerable attention has been directed towards their environmental distribution and fate in recent decades. However, their potential impacts on non-target aquatic organisms, particularly fish, have received relatively limited investigation. In this study, moxisylyte (MOX) and propranolol (PRO) were selected as representatives of α- or β-adrenergic receptor antagonist, respectively, and we assessed their effects on the early life stages of zebrafish, especially on the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Although both compounds exhibited marginal effects on zebrafish survival, hatching and gross abnormality following exposure to concentrations ranging from 1 to 625 μg/L, they adversely affected the development of cardiovascular and nervous systems, but through different mechanisms of action, as evidenced by variations in gene transcriptional responses and enzyme activities. Notably, cardiovascular responses appear promising for use as potential biomarkers for exposure to drugs targeting adrenergic receptors. This study enhances our understanding of the ecotoxicological risks posed by α- and β-blockers in fish. Nonetheless, further investigation is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying the impacts of drugs targeting adrenergic receptors due to our limited knowledge of the physiological functions of the adrenergic system in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystal agglomeration is a common phenomenon for most chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The formation of agglomerates usually lowers product purity and generates a broad particle size distribution. This review focuses on preventing agglomeration in solution crystallization, the storage of crystals, and pharmaceutical preparation processes. The agglomeration mechanisms in these stages are analyzed and the effects of operating parameters are summarized. Furthermore, effective control means related to the crystallization environment are elaborated, including solvents, ultrasound, and additives. Special attention is paid to the influence of additives in preventing the aggregation of both suspensions and dried powders. Besides additives used in solution crystallization, the roles of anti-caking agents, stabilizers of nanosuspensions, and excipients of solid dispersions are also discussed. The additive type and properties like hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, ionic strength, viscosity, the steric hindrance effect, and intermolecular interactions between additives and crystals can greatly affect the degree of agglomeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In this work, a process development study for the crystallization step of dexlansoprazole API has been demonstrated under the Quality‐by‐Design (QbD) paradigm. Dexlansoprazole (crystalline) samples prepared under different crystallization conditions of reactor temperature and addition time of anti‐solvent were subjected to solid‐state characterization with variety of analytical techniques, including X‐ray powder diffraction (XRPD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic vapour sorption (DVS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size distribution (PSD) by laser diffraction and intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR). RESULTS: The crystalline samples were observed to have identical polymorphic phase integrity but differed in their physical characteristics. The particle size distribution and microscopy data collectively elucidated the particle growth kinetics and the extent of agglomeration could be correlated to crystallization conditions, namely reactor temperature and addition time of anti‐solvent. The intrinsic dissolution rate of samples was in good agreement with the morphological properties. CONCLUSION: An empirical model has been proposed for intrinsic dissolution rate correlating with crystallization process parameters. In conclusion, it was possible to elucidate the impact of crystallization parameters on the solid‐state behaviour of dexlansoprazole for development of appropriate pharmaceutical dosage forms. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nHIGHLIGHTSThe rising demand for global food resources, combined with an overreliance on land-based agroecosystems, poses a significant challenge for the sustainable production of food products. Macroalgae cultivation is a promising approach to mitigate impending global food insecurities due to several key factors: independence from terrestrial farming, rapid growth rates, unique biochemical makeup, and carbon capture potential. Furthermore, macroalgae are rich in vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and fiber, demonstrating significant potential as sustainable alternatives for enhancing dietary diversity and fulfilling nutritional requirements. This review provides an overview of the nutritional composition and functional properties of commercially cultivated macroalgae species, with emphasis on their viability as value additions to the functional food market. Furthermore, the review discusses the technological aspects of integrating macroalgae into food products, covering both innovative solutions and existing challenges. Macroalgae, beyond being nutritional powerhouses, contain a plethora of bioactive compounds with varied biological activities, including anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties, making them excellent candidates in developing novel pharmaceuticals. Thus, this review also summarizes the pharmaceutical applications of macroalgae, identifies research gaps and proposes potential strategies for incorporating macroalgae-derived bioactive compounds into therapeutic products.Macroalgae contain diverse bioactives for food and pharmaceutical applications.Integration of macroalgae into functional foods increases its nutritional value.Surging macroalgae-based foods indicate strong commercial potential.Clinical validation is essential for macroalgae-based products’ therapeutic effects.Rigorous quality control ensures safety and compliance in macroalgae applications.Macroalgae contain diverse bioactives for food and pharmaceutical applications.Integration of macroalgae into functional foods increases its nutritional value.Surging macroalgae-based foods indicate strong commercial potential.Clinical validation is essential for macroalgae-based products’ therapeutic effects.Rigorous quality control ensures safety and compliance in macroalgae applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel antipsychotic medication named brexpiprazole (BRX) is currently employed for the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Because BRX's molecular structure includes a benzothiophene ring, it natively fluoresces. To detect BRX with precision and speed, a flow injection-fluorometric method, which is both sensitive and selective, is recommended. The fluorescence detection was conducted at 364 nm following excitation at 326 nm to capture the strong intrinsic fluorescence of BRX. The carrier solution employed was a mixture of phosphate buffer (pH 4, 10 mM) and acetonitrile (50: 50, v/v), with a flow rate of 0.5 mL min− 1. The calibration curve, based on peak areas, exhibited linearity within the concentration range of 20–350 ng mL− 1, with a remarkable correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.9999. The limit of quantitation was 9.7 ng mL− 1, and the limit of detection was found to be 3.2 ng mL− 1. This method was applied to quantify BRX in Neopression® tablets, achieving recovery within an acceptable range without interference from the tablet's additives. Additionally, the proposed approach was successfully utilised to quantify the drug in spiked human plasma. The approach underwent validation following ICH requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pharmaceutical residues are widely detected in aquatic environment and can be taken up by nontarget species such as fish. The cytochromes P450 (CYP) represent an important detoxification mechanism in fish, like in humans. In the present study, we assessed the correlation of the substrate selectivities of rainbow trout CYP1A and CYP3A homologues with those of human, through determination of the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of a total sixteen human pharmaceuticals toward CYP1A-like ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and CYP3A-like 7-benzyloxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin O-debenzylase (BFCOD) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver S9 fractions (RT-S9). Methods: The inhibitory impacts (IC50) of atomoxetine, atorvastatin, azelastine, bimatoprost, clomethiazole, clozapine, desloratadine, disulfiram, esomeprazole, felbinac, flecainide, orphenadrine, prazosin, quetiapine, sulpiride, and zolmitriptan toward the EROD and BFCOD activities in RT-S9 were determined using the IC50 shift assay, capable of identifying time-dependent inhibitors (TDI). Additionally, the nonspecific binding of the test pharmaceuticals to RT-S9 was assessed using equilibrium dialysis. Results: Most test pharmaceuticals were moderate to weak inhibitors of both EROD and BFCOD activity in RT-S9, even if most are noninhibitors of human CYP1A or CYP3A. Only bimatoprost, clomethiazole, felbinac, sulpiride, and zolmitriptan did not inhibit either activity in RT-S9. EROD inhibition was generally stronger than that of BFCOD and some substances (atomoxetine, flecainide, and prazosin) inhibited selectively only EROD activity. The strongest EROD inhibition was detected with azelastine and esomeprazole (unbound IC50 of 3.8 ± 0.5 µM and 3.0 ± 0.8 µM, respectively). None of the test substances were TDIs of BFCOD, but esomeprazole was a TDI of EROD. Apart from clomethiazole and disulfiram, the nonspecific binding of the test pharmaceuticals to the RT-S9 was extensive (unbound fractions <0.5) and correlated well (R2 = 0.7135) with their water-octanol distribution coefficients. Discussion: The results indicate that the P450 interactions in RT-S9 cannot be explicitly predicted based on human data, but the in vitro data reported herein can shed light on the substrate selectivity of rainbow trout CYP1A1 and CYP3A27 in comparison to their human homologues. The IC50 concentrations are however many orders of magnitude higher than average environmental concentrations of pharmaceuticals. The time-dependent EROD inhibition by esomeprazole could warrant further research to evaluate its possible interlinkages with hepatotoxic impacts on fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals have higher risk than antibiotics in landfill leachates. • Population size contributed to the regional differences of pharmaceuticals in leachates. • Solid waste composition and loading affect pharmaceutical concentrations in leachate. • High level of pharmaceuticals was observed in the leachate of residual/food waste. Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill sites have been identified as a significant source of pharmaceuticals in the environment because unused or expired pharmaceuticals are discarded into MSW, which eventually percolate into leachates. However, the contamination of pharmaceuticals in landfill leachate in China is not comprehensively understood. Previous research into factors influencing pharmaceutical concentrations focused on a limited number and type of target pollutants or restricted study area. In the present study, 66 pharmaceuticals were analyzed (including 45 antibiotic and 21 non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals, also categorized as 59 prescription and 7 non-prescription pharmaceuticals) in leachate samples from landfill sites with various characteristics in different regions of China. The results indicated that non-antibiotic pollutants were present at significantly higher concentrations than antibiotic pollutants, with median concentrations of 1.74 μg/L and 527 ng/L, respectively. Non-antibiotic pollutants also presented a higher environmental risk than antibiotic pollutants, by 2 to 4 orders of magnitude, highlighting that non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals should not be overlooked during the assessment of landfill leachate. Pharmaceutical concentrations in landfill leachate samples exhibited regional differences; the population size served by the landfills was the dominant factor contributing to the observed differences. In addition, landfill characteristics such as the solid waste composition and MSW loading can also affect pharmaceutical concentrations in landfill leachate. Despite the implementation of the classification and disposal policy of MSW in Shanghai, China since July 2019, specifying that unused or expired pharmaceuticals should be discarded as hazardous waste, high levels of pharmaceutical contaminations were detected in leachate from the main components of classified MSW (i.e., residual and food waste). These findings emphasize the importance of pharmaceutical management in solid waste systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal areas are increasingly exposed to global warming and emerging contaminants from anthropogenic activities; however, the interactive effects of these stress factors in shaping the offspring's vulnerability to them are poorly understood. The present study aimed to assess the influence of temperature on the toxicity of the pharmaceutical carbamazepine (CBZ) in the parental (F0) and in the first (F1) generation of Tigriopus fulvus, through a full life cycle study, measuring several biological parameters. At control temperature (20 °C), exposure to CBZ significantly inhibited larval development, especially in the F1 generation. In contrast, under warmer conditions (27 °C), even after exposure to CBZ, the development was stimulated, proving that temperature was the main factor influencing it. As regards the other investigated life traits (body length, sex ratio, and fecundity), both temperature and generation modulated toxic effects of CBZ, which is evidenced by the onset of higher alterations in F1 co-exposed copepods. Our findings suggest that temperature and contaminants could increase the long-term vulnerability to stressors of T. fulvus, potentially affecting the population structure over multiple generations of exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutically active compounds have been considered contaminants of emerging concern, in response to evidence that these substances may adversely affect non-target organisms. The pharmaceutical metformin is the most commonly prescribed anti-diabetes medicine throughout the world. Metformin has been detected in numerous freshwater systems as well as in seawater at a number of sites around the world over the last few years, but has never been reported in the Indonesian capital city Jakarta. Several recent studies have highlighted various ecotoxicological effects of this medicine on aquatic organisms. Here we report the first evidence of metformin's presence in Jakarta waters. Samples from the Angke river, one of the main rivers in Jakarta, were collected from six sites. Metformin was detected at three sites in concentrations ranging from 27 ng/L to 414 ng/L. Metformin is one of the most detected APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) in aquatic environments worldwide, and there is increasing concern regarding its impact on the health of wildlife and humans. However, this is the first report of metformin contamination in Jakarta waters, adding to the evidence of potentially increased pollution with pharmaceuticals, as noted in our previous studies. With no natural degradation processes, these chemical compounds can be easily reintroduced to the food chain and impact human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Medication errors are known to cause adverse drug reactions, hospital admissions and mortality. In most resource-poor settings, medication errors occur but are undocumented. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to investigate medication errors in a diabetic clinic at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana. METHODS: The research combined both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The quantitative aspect involved retrospectively reviewing patient folders over two years (1st January 2019 to 31st December 2021). Patients' folders were reviewed to identify possible medication errors. The qualitative arm explored underlying factors and experiences related to medication errors through interviews with healthcare workers. Ten healthcare professionals at KATH were interviewed using an interview guide. RESULTS: A total of 264 patients' folders were retrieved. The majority (23.11%) of the patients were between 18 and 25 y.o., and there were more females (52.27%) than males. About 60% of the patients had diabetes and hypertension comorbidity. The overall prevalence of medication errors was 18.18%. The most prevalent type of medication error identified was wrong drug formulation (n = 19, 39.58%). About 47.92% of the medication errors resulted in adverse events and this was predominantly caused by antidiabetic drugs (47.83%) and anti-hypertensive drugs (34.78%). Patients in the age category of 26–35 y.o. [aOR: 0.31, CI: 0.11–0.90] had reduced odds of medication errors whilst patients with comorbidity of diabetes and hypertension [aOR: 5.95, CI: 2.43–14.60] had an increased odds of medication errors. Large patient population, low staff numbers and inadequate knowledge of drugs by healthcare workers were factors that contributed to medication errors. CONCLUSION: Medication errors was moderately high in this diabetic clinic, and the errors led to a number of adverse events. Age, diabetes and hypertension comorbidity, large patient population, low staff numbers, and inadequate knowledge about drugs were identified as factors that influenced medication errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive sensor based on carbon fiber paper modified with a shungite–copper formazanate composite is presented for the voltammetric determination of lidocaine. The synthesized organometallic complex, composite, and modified electrode are characterized by infrared spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and cyclic and linear sweep voltammetry. The twofold increase in the current of the lidocaine oxidation peak on the modified electrode compared to the unmodified one is associated with the sensitizing effect of the composite modifier, which is due to an increase in the electroactive area and the number of lidocaine binding sites on the electrode surface. The sensor exhibits a wide dynamic range from 2 to 2120 µM with a low limit of detection of 0.18 µM lidocaine and high sensitivity of 0.755 µA/V µM. The interelectrode and intraelectrode repeatability of the analytical signal do not exceed 3.5%. The sensor response is stable within three weeks. The developed sensor was used for the determination of lidocaine in pharmaceuticals. The results of an analysis of real samples demonstrated good reproducibility (RSD ≤ 5.5%) and recovery (98–102%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the adsorption of acetaminophen and caffeine using CO2-activated biochar (BT-CO2) and hydrochar (HT-CO2) derived from Tingui shell biomass. The experimental data from kinetic and equilibrium adsorption tests were employed in batch and fixed-bed systems. In the batch system, a specific amount of the adsorbent was added to a known volume of the solution, and the mixture was agitated for a set period to allow adsorption to occur. In the fixed-bed system, the solution was passed through a column packed with the adsorbent, allowing for continuous adsorption. These systems pave the way for future research. The findings revealed that HT-CO2 exhibited a greater surface area and a higher presence of oxygen-containing functional groups than BT-CO2. These functional oxygen groups had a notable impact on the adsorption capacity of the adsorbents for pharmaceutical substances. In the batch systems, BT-CO2 demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity of 221.4 mg g−1 for acetaminophen and 162.7 mg g−1 for caffeine, while HT-CO2 exhibited higher capacities of 383.2 mg g−1 for acetaminophen and 189.7 mg g−1 for caffeine. In the fixed bed configuration, HT-CO2 displayed a maximum adsorption capacity of 82.2 mg g−1 for acetaminophen and 45.60 mg g−1 for caffeine. The predominant mechanisms involved in the removal of acetaminophen and caffeine were identified as H-bonding and π-π bonds. These results underscore the promising potential of these carbons as effective adsorbents for treating water contaminated with pharmaceutical residues, inspiring further exploration in this field and offering hope for the future of water treatment by providing a solid foundation for future research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is to exhibit validation studies of developed analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 168 micropollutants including pharmaceuticals and several pesticides in surface water and wastewater samples with direct injection using jet stream ESI LC-MS/MS. Method development in the LC-MS/MS system was carried out to determine the best chromatographic column and MS conditions allowing the retention and the maximum number of analytes. The linearity of the analytical response across the studied range of 0.5–500 ng/L was evaluated as excellent, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.995 with a few exceptions such as bentazone (0.993), carbyl (0.994), etoxazole (0.994), fenthion (0.978), fludioxonil (0.985), metformin (0.844), metolachlor (0.992), naproxen (0.990) and sulfametoksazol (0.993). The LOD of 67% (113 analytes) of the analytes included important pesticides and pharmaceuticals was in the range of 0.5–2.0 ng/L. The recoveries of analytes in wastewater ranged mostly from 80% to 120% and RSD (%) values changed generally between 1 and 10. The recoveries of analytes in surface water were in the range of 80% and 100% and relevant RSD (%) values changed generally between 2 and 8. Repeatability studies were performed in the wastewater injected with three different concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 ng/L in seven measurements and in surface water with 100 ng/L in eight measurements. Reproducibility studies were performed by seven analyses on two different days. The matrix effect was further evaluated for ion suppression between the standards prepared in pure solvent and the standards prepared in the matrix, and the matrix effect was found in a range of 16–22%. In real samples, Propiconazole, Imidachloprid, Quinoxyfen, Carbendazim and Prochloraz are the five compounds detected in the highest amount in real samples. The results demonstrate that this LC-MS/MS method is suitable for the determination of pharmaceuticals and several pesticides in water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing highly active and available, environmentally friendly, and low-cost photocatalytic materials is one of the most popular topics in photocatalytic degradation systems. In the present study, a series of BiOCl/Sepiolite composite photocatalysts were prepared (in the range of 5%BiOCl/Sepiolite–30%BiOCl/Sepiolite). Their characterization was conducted using X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen physical physisorption at the temperature of liquid nitrogen (77 K), and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results showed that composite photocatalysts possess superior efficiency than the parent materials for losartan, an antihypertensive agent, degradation in water, with the sample with only 10%wt. BiOCl shows the highest performance. The beneficial effect of the addition of sepiolite to BiOCl is derived from the increase in surface area, the prevention of particle aggregation, and the efficient separation of photogenerated species. Increasing catalyst concentration from 125 mg/L up to 500 mg/L was accompanied by an increase in the apparent kinetic constant from 0.077 min−1 to 0.197 min−1 while varying losartan concentration from 0.25 to 5.00 mg/L slowed down the removal efficiency. In addition, losartan degradation was only partially hampered in the case of bottled water, whereas it was practically stopped in a secondary wastewater effluent. Overall, this study serves as a useful guide for using geopolymers in photocatalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amlodipine (AM) is a long active calcium channel blocker used to relax blood vessels by preventing calcium ion transport into the vascular walls and its supporting molecules acetaminophen (AP) and ascorbic acid (AA) are recommended for hypertension control and prevention. Considering their therapeutic importance and potential side effects due to over dosage, we have fabricated a sensor for individual and simultaneous determination of AA, AP, and AM in pharmaceuticals and human urine using novel Zn-doped Ca2CuO3 nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Optimally doped Ca2CuO3 (2.5 wt% Zn at Cu site) enhanced the detection of target molecules over much wider concentration ranges of 50 to 3130 µM for AA, 0.25 to 417 µM for AP, and 0.8 to 354 µM for AM with the corresponding lowest detection limits of 14 µM, 0.05 µM, and 0.07 µM, respectively. Furthermore, the Zn-Ca2CuO3/GCE exhibited excellent selectivity and high sensitivity even in the presence of several potential interfering agents. The usefulness of the developed electrode was tested using an amlodipine besylate tablet and urine samples of seven hypertension patients under medication. The results confirmed the presence of a significant amount of AP and AM in six patients' urine samples indicating that the personalized medication is essential and the quantum of medication need to be fixed by knowing the excess medicines excreted through urine. Thus, the Zn-Ca2CuO3/GCE with a high recovery percentage and good sensitivity shall be useful in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent often releases pharmaceuticals like venlafaxine (a serotonin–norephinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressant) to freshwater ecosystems at levels causing adverse metabolic effects on fish. Changes to fish metabolism can be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms like microRNA (small RNA molecules that regulate mRNA translation), including regulating mitochondrial mRNAs. Nuclear‐encoded microRNAs regulate mitochondrial gene expression in mammals, and have predicted effects in fish. We aimed to identify whether venlafaxine exposure changed mitochondrial respiration and resulted in differentially abundant mitochondrial microRNA (mitomiRs) in zebrafish brains. In vitro exposure of brain homogenate to below environmentally relevant concentrations of venlafaxine (<1 µg/L) caused a decrease in mitochondrial respiration, although this was not driven by changes to mitochondrial Complex I or II function. To identify whether these effects occur in vivo, zebrafish were exposed to 1 µg/L venlafaxine for 0, 1, 6, 12, 24, and 96 h. In vivo, venlafaxine exposure had no significant effects on brain mitochondrial respiration; however, select mitomiRs (dre‐miR‐301a‐5p, dre‐miR‐301b‐3p, and dre‐miR‐301c‐3p) were also measured, because they were bioinformatically predicted to regulate mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) abundance. These mitomiRs were differentially regulated based on venlafaxine exposure (with miR‐301c‐3p abundance differing during the day and miR‐301b‐3p being lower in exposed fish at night), and with respect to sex and time sampled. Overall, the results demonstrated that in vitro venlafaxine exposure to zebrafish brain caused a decrease in mitochondrial respiration, but these effects were not seen after acute in vivo exposure. Results may have differed because in vivo exposure allows for fish to mitigate effects through mechanisms that could include mitomiR regulation, and because fish were only acutely exposed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1569–1582. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse are organic micropollutants of emerging concern in both surface and groundwater worldwide. These compounds are considered to be pseudo‐persistent because of their continuous release into water systems. The presence of these compounds in the environment at any concentration poses a potential risk to nontarget organisms. The main sources of these contaminants are wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The primary goal of our study was to identify and quantify a panel of 28 commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals (mood‐altering drugs, cardiovascular drugs, antacids, antibiotics) and high‐prevalence drugs of abuse (cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, cannabis) in river water samples collected from 19 locations in the Hudson and East rivers in New York City. The second goal was to investigate the possible source (WWTP or CSOs) of these micropollutants. Samples were collected weekly from May to August 2021 (n = 224) and May to August 2022 (n = 232), and placed at −20 °C until analysis by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The most frequently detected analytes in 2021 were metoprolol (n = 206, 92%), benzoylecgonine (n = 151, 67%), atenolol (n = 142, 63%), and methamphetamine (n = 118, 53%), and in 2022 the most frequently detected were methamphetamine (n = 194, 84%), atenolol (n = 177, 76%), metoprolol (n = 177, 76%), and 2‐ethylene‐1,5‐dimethyl‐3,3‐diphenylpyrrolidine (n = 159, 69%). Measured concentrations ranged from the limit of detection (0.50–5.00 ng/L) to 103 ng/L. More drugs and higher concentrations were detected in water contaminated by Enterococci (>60 most probably number) and after rainfall, indicating the influence of CSOs. The presence of drugs in samples with little to no Enterococci and after dry weather events indicates that WWTPs contribute to the presence of these substances in the river, probably due to a low removal rate. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1592–1603. © 2024 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous structural and conductive properties of barium cerate (BC) make this material a promising candidate for energy storage applications. In this work, we demonstrated that BC can be proficiently functionalized by incorporating trivalent samarium ions to give rise to optical properties. Single-phased BaCeO3:Sm3+ (BCS) phosphors were synthesized by gel combustion technique followed by calcination. The crystal structure, optical properties, and prospective applications in LEDs were investigated systematically. By linking the information acquired from the diffuse reflectance spectra with that of the PL spectra, we better understood the electronic level structure and energy transfer mechanism. Fine yellow-orange luminescence with 100% color purity (CP) and lower Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) has been achieved via energization at 348 nm wavelength. The x = 0.02 Sm3+ has been identified as the optimized content for the luminescence with a quantum efficiency of 34.2%. Obtained yellow-orange coordinates (0.564, 0.435) are proximate to commercialized L3 rank amber LED (Nichia corporation). The present results signify that UV light can suitably energize the BCS phosphor to get monochromatic amber light which can be used to guard medications during manufacture and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in water bodies is of growing concern as they pose potential toxicity to wildlife and humans. Since the removal of these compounds via conventional wastewater treatment plants is typically not efficient, advanced processes such as oxidation and adsorption are considered alternatives. In this review study, ozonation combined with adsorption filtration systems is evaluated for the removal of pharmaceuticals and their transformation products from municipal wastewater effluents. Ozonation has a large capacity for the removal of pharmaceuticals from municipal wastewater; however, potential toxic transformation products can be created which require a post-treatment step to mitigate the adverse effects in recipient waters. Various sorption methods have been investigated as post-treatment, with activated carbon being addressed as the most common one. Other sorption technologies such as ion exchange, biochar, constructed wetlands, and biofiltration were also evaluated in this review article. Biochar was considered to have great potential as a promising alternative adsorbent which is known as a more sustainable material. The combination of ozonation with the adsorption method enables the limitations of each single treatment to be reduced and allows the treatment train to become more efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the pharmaceutical industry is one of the most developing and dynamic sectors of the global economy. Existing methods of wastewater treatment do not always allow the complete removal of pharmacological preparations, which leads to the fact that these substances enter water resources and can have a negative impact on ecosystems and human health. Due to the increase in water pollution with pharmacological preparations, there is a need for more in-depth research in this area. Assessment of the level of contamination with pharmacological substances in the wastewater of megacities is an important aspect of environmental protection and public health. The purpose of this research work is to evaluate pharmacological pollutants in the wastewater of megacities. This study is aimed at identifying APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) that are most likely to have a negative impact on the environment in Kazakhstan. To analyze the content of Amoxicillin, Clarithromycin, Ofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Atenolol, Metoprolol, Propranolol, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Cabramazepine and other medicinal substances, standards of these substances were added to the wastewater sample and analyzed by the HPLC-MS method. As a result of this research work, information was obtained on the current level of contamination with pharmacological substances in the wastewater of megacities and their impact on ecosystems and human health. The results of the study can be used to develop measures to reduce pollution and conserve water resources for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]