Anti-MBP monoclonal antibody, clone 1

Exposure to phthalates is a public health concern. In this study, we collected both urine and wastewater samples from 2012 to 2017 and analysed for 14 phthalate metabolites to assess human exposure to phthalates in Southeast Queensland (SEQ), and for associations between phthalate metabolites in urine and wastewater samples. Twenty-four pooled urine samples were prepared from 2400 individual specimens every two years (stratified by age, gender and collection year). Wastewater samples were collected from the three major wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) representing locations in the SEQ region including a regional city, part of the state capital city and a third major urban WWTP in the region. Over the period, decreases for most phthalate metabolites, i.e. mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), monocyclohexyl phthalate (MCHP), mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP), mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), and monomethyl phthalate (MMP), but an increase in monoethyl phthalate (MEP, particularly in young children) were observed in urine. In general, temporal changes were smaller in urine pools representing older age groups. We also found substantial variation in per capita mass loads of phthalate metabolites between samples from the three WWTPs with generally higher concentrations of most phthalates in the metropolitan areas. Per capita mass loads of most phthalate metabolites in wastewater were higher than would be expected from the per-capita excretion in urine, suggesting there are additional sources contributing to the majority of the observed phthalate metabolites in wastewater. For MEHHP and MEOHP we estimate that the urinary excretion accounts for a substantial fraction (average about 50%) of the mass load observed in the wastewater hence wastewater data may provide useful for monitoring trends in exposure.

Specific IgG antibodies against fungi, bacteria, and avian antigens are of great relevance in serologic diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. With the determination of IgG antibodies, false-positive results can occur due to non-specific reactions. In the present study, this was observed in a collective of - 10,000 patient sera tested for specific IgGs using ImmunoCAP (R) between April 2017 and December 2018 in 2% (203 patients). Nonspecific background activity can be detected in this test system by an additional determination of IgG(s) against MBP (maltose-binding protein) or HSA (human serum albumin). By substracting the MBP readings from the IgG-CAP readings, the "real" specific IgG antibodies can be identified. With thermophilic bacteria and moulds, normalization of the results occurs with greater frequency after this correction than with avian antigens. 58% of the MBPpositive patients had a definite diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, in only 19% hypersensitivity pneumonitis was excluded. When diagnosing hypersensitivity pneumonitis, it should always be remembered that in patients whose IgG readings are all above the cut-off limits there may be a non-specific component and that there is the possibility of determining this with an additional test using IgG-ImmunoCAP (R).