Bjarne Styrishave
Lektor

E-mail: bst(at)farma.ku.dk
Telefon: 35 33 62 65
Rum: 10/460

Endocrine disrupting chemicals
Public awareness concerning endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment had increased the last few years, as these are presumed to affect reproductive ability and to increase the occurrence of hormone-dependent cancers. Endocrine disrupting chemicals are, however, generally much less potent than physiological hormones, and therefore there is doubt as to whether or not these substances can affect humans. Recent research indicate that simultaneous exposure to a cocktail of endocrine disrupting chemicals, each at concentrations far below effect level, might result in a significant additive or synergistic effect. The present project wishes to uncover interactions between selected hormone-disturbing substances in various in vitro test systems and/or animal experiments with selected endpoints, including hormonal activity, changes in aromatase activity and the impacts of endocrine disrupting chemicals on endogenous hormone metabolism.
Contact persons: Bjarne Styrishave (bst(at)farma.ku.dk), Erland Björklund (ebj(at)farma.ku.dk) and Bent Halling-Sørensen (bhs(at)farma.ku.dk).

Environmental assessment of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitorsOver the past 15 years, the occurrence of drugs in the environment has received much attention and it is now recognised that this occurrence is widespread. Due to low concentrations, the effects of the active substances’ on humans or the environment has so far only been demonstrated in a few cases. New results show, however, that a number of anti-depressive substances, the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs, used in for instance Fontex and Cipramil), have the potential to affect the environment. These drugs came into use fairly recently and their use is rapidly increasing. Therefore, these substances present a potential future problem. Research results show that SSRIs can affect early life stages in a number of organisms (embryos in fish, frog metamorphosis, crustacean moulting, etc.). Moreover, limited data on the degradation of these substances are available.Examples of aims of Master’s theses in this area:- Investigation of the effects of SSRIs on organisms in the environment- Development of chemical analytical methods for SSRI analysis in environmental samples- Investigating the biodegradation of SSRIs in the environment - Performing SSRI environmental risk assessment Contact person: Bjarne Styrishave (bst@farma.ku.dk)

Antibiotic Drug use, Monitoring and Evaluation of Resistance in Ghana (ADMER)
Diseases of bacterial origin are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low-income countries, like Ghana. Antibiotics are still the main therapy for many of them. In Ghana, antibiotics are available to the public from a variety of sources, including hospitals and pharmacies; licensed medicine stalls and drugstores; markets and roadside stalls and hawkers. They are commonly purchased without a prescription, even when this practice is illegal. This widespread availability has lead to inappropriate use by patients and health care providers, and a steady increase in drug resistance. However, the magnitude and determinants of the impact of resistance on human health is unknown. We will monitor potency and antibiotic concentration level of tablets using already developed HPLC and LC-MS/MS methods at the partner institutions. Furthermore we will measure antibiotics in hospital-based controlled studies, urine and blood serum samples will be obtained from patients on antibiotic treatment to measure concentrations of administered antibiotics and their metabolites. Results obtained will be used to assess quality of consumed antibiotics and dosing regimes. Parts of the work are likely to be conducted in Ghana, Africa.
Contact person: Bjarne Styrishave (bst(at)farma.ku.dk)

Endocrine disruption in arctic top predators
Several endocrine disrupters such as organochlorides (PCBs, DDTs, HCHs, HCB and chlordane-related compounds) accumulate through the food chains and are found in considerable amounts in top predators. In arctic food chains, these top predators are, among others, seals and polar bears. Impaired reproduction in these species is assumed to result from endocrine disrupters interfering with the natural hormone production. Studies on natural hormones are complicated by the very low levels these hormones are found in in vivo. We have recently developed at method allowing for the analysis of several hormones in different soft tissues. This project aims at investigating the impact of chlorinated endocrine disrupters on hormone levels in arctic top predators using in vivo and in vitro technology. Parts of this project may be conducted at NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.
Contact person: Bjarne Styrishave (bst(at)farma.ku.dk)

 Safe water for food
Production of foods requires water and climate changes will further aggravate the problems with limited fresh water resources in many African countries. Agriculture in the future will depend on the use of low quality water for irrigation, in particular for the increasing urban productions. This project will address these challenges by doing both risk assessment-based and policy-oriented research in Ghana and Tanzania that will allow farmers safely to use low quality water for food production. The content of pharmaceuticals in particular antibiotics and antimalarials in low quality water will be investigated as well as the potential agricultural plant uptake of pharmaceuticals. Parts of this project may be conducted in Ghana or Tanzania, Africa.
Contact persons: Kristine A. Krogh (kak(at)farma.ku.dk), Bjarne Styrishave (bst(at)farma.ku.dk), Martin Hansen (mah(at)farma.ku.dk) and Erland Björklund (ebj(at)farma.ku.dk