Hourly Air Pollution Exposure and Emergency Hospital Admissions for Stroke: A Multicenter Case-Crossover Study.

BACKGROUND: Daily exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with stroke morbidity and mortality; however, the association between hourly exposure to air pollutants and risk of emergency hospital admissions for stroke and its subtypes remains relatively unexplored. METHODS: We obtained hourly concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), respirable particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO) from the China National Environmental Monitoring Center. We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study among 86 635 emergency hospital admissions for stroke across 10 hospitals in 3 cities (Jinhua, Hangzhou, and Zhoushan) in Zhejiang province, China, between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021. Using a conditional logistic regression combined with a distributed lag linear model, we estimated the association between hourly exposure to multiple air pollutants and risk of emergency hospital admissions for total stroke, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and undetermined type. RESULTS: Hourly exposure to PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2 was associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions for total stroke and ischemic stroke. The associations were most pronounced during the concurrent hour of exposure and lasted for ≈2 hours. We found that the risk was more pronounced among male patients or those aged <65 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that exposure to PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2, but not CO and O3, is associated with emergency hospital admissions for total stroke or ischemic stroke shortly after exposure. Implementing targeted pollution emission reduction measures may have significant public health implications in controlling and reducing the burden of stroke.

Enhancing nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell radiosensitivity by suppressing AKT/mTOR via CENP-N knockdown.

OBJECTIVE: Investigating the impact of centromere protein N (CENP-N) on radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to detect CENP-N expression in tissues from 35 patients with radiosensitive or radioresistant NPC. Assessing the effect of combined CENP-N knockdown and radiotherapy on various cellular processes by CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, and Western blotting. Establishing a NPC xenograft model. When the tumor volume reached 100 mm3, a irradiation dose of 6 Gy was given, and the effects of the combined treatment were evaluated in vivo using immunofluorescence and Western blotting techniques. RESULTS: The level of CENP-N was significantly reduced in radiosensitive tissues of NPC (p < 0.05). Knockdown of CENP-N enhanced NPC radiosensitivity, resulting in sensitizing enhancement ratios (SER) of 1.44 (5-8 F) and 1.16 (CNE-2Z). The combined treatment showed significantly higher levels of proliferation suppression, apoptosis, and G2/M phase arrest (p < 0.01) compared to either CENP-N knockdown alone or radiotherapy alone. The combined treatment group showed the highest increase in Bax and γH2AX protein levels, whereas the protein Cyclin D1 exhibited the greatest decrease (p < 0.01). However, the above changes were reversed after treatment with AKT activator SC79. In vivo, the mean volume and weight of tumors in the radiotherapy group were 182 ± 54 mm3 and 0.16 ± 0.03 g. The mean tumor volume and weight in the combined treatment group were 84 ± 42 mm3 and 0.04 ± 0.01 g. CONCLUSION: Knockdown of CENP-N can enhance NPC radiosensitivity by inhibiting AKT/mTOR.

Characterization of subunit interactions in the hetero-oligomeric retinoid oxidoreductase complex.

The hetero-oligomeric retinoid oxidoreductase complex (ROC) catalyzes the interconversion of all-trans-retinol and all-trans-retinaldehyde to maintain the steady-state output of retinaldehyde, the precursor of all-trans-retinoic acid that regulates the transcription of numerous genes. The interconversion is catalyzed by two distinct components of the ROC: the NAD(H)-dependent retinol dehydrogenase 10 (RDH10) and the NADP(H)-dependent dehydrogenase reductase 3 (DHRS3). The binding between RDH10 and DHRS3 subunits in the ROC results in mutual activation of the subunits. The molecular basis for their activation is currently unknown. Here, we applied site-directed mutagenesis to investigate the roles of amino acid residues previously implied in subunit interactions in other SDRs to obtain the first insight into the subunit interactions in the ROC. The results of these studies suggest that the cofactor binding to RDH10 subunit is critical for the activation of DHRS3 subunit and vice versa. The C-terminal residues 317-331 of RDH10 are critical for the activity of RDH10 homo-oligomers but not for the binding to DHRS3. The C-terminal residues 291-295 are required for DHRS3 subunit activity of the ROC. The highly conserved C-terminal cysteines appear to be involved in inter-subunit communications, affecting the affinity of the cofactor binding site in RDH10 homo-oligomers as well as in the ROC. Modeling of the ROC quaternary structure based on other known structures of SDRs suggests that its integral membrane-associated subunits may be inserted in adjacent membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), making the formation and function of the ROC dependent on the dynamic nature of the tubular ER network.

Mice lacking the epidermal retinol dehydrogenases SDR16C5 and SDR16C6 display accelerated hair growth and enlarged meibomian glands.

Retinol dehydrogenases catalyze the rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of retinoic acid, a bioactive lipid molecule that regulates the expression of hundreds of genes by binding to nuclear transcription factors, the retinoic acid receptors. Several enzymes exhibit retinol dehydrogenase activities in vitro; however, their physiological relevance for retinoic acid biosynthesis in vivo remains unclear. Here, we present evidence that two murine epidermal retinol dehydrogenases, short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family 16C member 5 (SDR16C5) and SDR16C6, contribute to retinoic acid biosynthesis in living cells and are also essential for the oxidation of retinol to retinaldehyde in vivo Mice with targeted knockout of the more catalytically active SDR16C6 enzyme have no obvious phenotype, possibly due to functional redundancy, because Sdr16c5 and Sdr16c6 exhibit an overlapping expression pattern during later developmental stages and in adulthood. Mice that lack both enzymes are viable and fertile but display accelerated hair growth after shaving and also enlarged meibomian glands, consistent with a nearly 80% reduction in the retinol dehydrogenase activities of skin membrane fractions from the Sdr16c5/Sdr16c6 double-knockout mice. The up-regulation of hair-follicle stem cell genes is consistent with reduced retinoic acid signaling in the skin of the double-knockout mice. These results indicate that the retinol dehydrogenase activities of murine SDR16C5 and SDR16C6 enzymes are not critical for survival but are responsible for most of the retinol dehydrogenase activity in skin, essential for the regulation of the hair-follicle cycle, and required for the maintenance of both sebaceous and meibomian glands.

Correlation between antibiotic use in childhood and subsequent inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Antibiotic use leads to a cascade of inflammatory reaction in the gastrointestinal tract due to its association with a temporary disruption of human microbiome.Objectives: To explore the undetermined correlation between antibiotic use in childhood and subsequent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Methods: PUBMED, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to identify related articles. We extracted and pooled the (adjusted) odds ratio (OR) and (adjusted) risk ratio (RR).Results: This systematic review and meta-analysis included 11 studies. The pooled OR of all 11 studies was 1.5 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-1.85). The pooled ORs of the subsequent Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis after antibiotic use in childhood were 1.59 (95% CI: 1.06-2.4) and 1.22 (95% CI: 0.82-1.8). The sensitivity analysis showed no change. The meta-regression showed there was not statistical significance for the publication year, research area and research methods. Egger's test showed publication bias in the IBD studies (p = .006 < .05) but no publication bias for the CD (p = .275>.05) and UC studies (p = .537>.05).Conclusions: There was a positive association between antibiotic use in childhood and the subsequently risk of Crohn's disease in non-European countries in the west during 2010-2013. Children in the United States taking antibiotics will have a higher risk of subsequently IBD than Europe, Asia and Australia. Registration number: CRD42019147648 (PROSPERO).

Retinol dehydrogenase 11 is essential for the maintenance of retinol homeostasis in liver and testis in mice.

Retinol dehydrogenase 11 (RDH11) is a microsomal short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase that recognizes all-trans- and cis-retinoids as substrates and prefers NADPH as a cofactor. Previous work has suggested that RDH11 contributes to the oxidation of 11-cis-retinol to 11-cis-retinaldehyde during the visual cycle in the eye's retinal pigment epithelium. However, the role of RDH11 in metabolism of all-trans-retinoids remains obscure. Here, we report that microsomes isolated from the testes and livers of Rdh11-/- mice fed a regular diet exhibited a 3- and 1.7-fold lower rate of all-trans-retinaldehyde conversion to all-trans-retinol, respectively, than the microsomes of WT littermates. Testes and livers of Rdh11-/- mice fed a vitamin A-deficient diet had ∼35% lower levels of all-trans-retinol than those of WT mice. Furthermore, the conversion of ß-carotene to retinol via retinaldehyde as an intermediate appeared to be impaired in the testes of Rdh11-/-/retinol-binding protein 4-/-(Rbp4-/-) mice, which lack circulating holo RBP4 and rely on dietary supplementation with ß-carotene for maintenance of their retinoid stores. Together, these results indicate that in mouse testis and liver, RDH11 functions as an all-trans-retinaldehyde reductase essential for the maintenance of physiological levels of all-trans-retinol under reduced vitamin A availability.

Preferred Experience of Modifications to Emergency Surgical Treatment for Total Scalp Avulsion With Halo-Vest Head Ring and Quick Hair Removing.

BACKGROUND: Total scalp avulsion is a fairly rear but severe soft tissue injury. Even with microsurgical replantation, the survival rate is still low. In this study, the authors incorporated 2 main modifications (Halo-Vest head ring and quick hair removing) and assessed the surgical outcomes versus those of traditional replantation. METHODS:: Eighteen patients were included in the study who suffered from total scalp avulsion. After consideration of the outcomes from the first 7 patients, the authors modified our surgical procedures and introduced the use of Halo-Vest head ring and quick hair removing in the treatments for the rest 11 patients. The surgical outcomes with both approaches were observed and compared, including the operation time and incidence of scalp necrosis. RESULTS:: The mean debridement time was 3.5 hours in traditional treatment versus 1.68 hours in modified treatment. The mean operative time was 11.14 hours in traditional treatment versus 8.05 hours in modified treatment. After the replantation, in those 7 patients without modifications, there was 1 total scalp necrosis and 6 partial scalp necrosis. In those 11 patients with modifications, there was 1 total scalp necrosis and 1 suffered a partial scalp necrosis, while the scalp survived well in other 9 patients. Classical cases with modified or traditional methods were reported respectively. CONCLUSION: The application of Halo-Vest head ring and quick hair removing provides a reliable method to treat total scalp avulsion. It is safe, technically easy and worth being widely used in the clinical application.

The antagonistically bifunctional retinoid oxidoreductase complex is required for maintenance of all-trans-retinoic acid homeostasis.

All-trans-retinoic acid (RA), a bioactive derivative of vitamin A, exhibits diverse effects on gene transcription and non-genomic regulatory pathways. The steady-state levels of RA are therefore tightly controlled, but the mechanisms responsible for RA homeostasis are not fully understood. We report a molecular mechanism that allows cells to maintain a stable rate of RA biosynthesis by utilizing a biological circuit generated by a bifunctional retinoid oxidoreductive complex (ROC). We show that ROC is composed of at least two subunits of NAD+-dependent retinol dehydrogenase 10 (RDH10), which catalyzes the oxidation of retinol to retinaldehyde, and two subunits of NADPH-dependent dehydrogenase reductase 3 (DHRS3), which catalyzes the reduction of retinaldehyde back to retinol. RDH10 and DHRS3 also exist as homo-oligomers. When complexed, RDH10 and DHRS3 mutually activate and stabilize each other. These features of ROC ensure that the rate of RA biosynthesis in whole cells is largely independent of the concentration of the individual ROC components. ROC operates in various subcellular fractions including microsomes, mitochondria, and lipid droplets; however, lipid droplets display weaker mutual activation between RDH10 and DHRS3, suggesting reduced formation of ROC. Importantly, disruption of the ROC-generated circuit by a knockdown of DHRS3 results in an increased flux through the RA biosynthesis pathway and elevated RA levels despite the decrease in RDH10 protein destabilized by the absence of DHRS3, hence demonstrating a loss of control. Thus, the bifunctional nature of ROC provides the RA-based signaling system with robustness by safeguarding appropriate RA concentration despite naturally occurring fluctuations in RDH10 and DHRS3.

The retinaldehyde reductase activity of DHRS3 is reciprocally activated by retinol dehydrogenase 10 to control retinoid homeostasis.

The retinoic acid-inducible dehydrogenase reductase 3 (DHRS3) is thought to function as a retinaldehyde reductase that controls the levels of all-trans-retinaldehyde, the immediate precursor for bioactive all-trans-retinoic acid. However, the weak catalytic activity of DHRS3 and the lack of changes in retinaldehyde conversion to retinol and retinoic acid in the cells overexpressing DHRS3 undermine its role as a physiologically important all-trans-retinaldehyde reductase. This study demonstrates that DHRS3 requires the presence of retinol dehydrogenase 10 (RDH10) to display its full catalytic activity. The RDH10-activated DHRS3 acts as a robust high affinity all-trans-retinaldehyde-specific reductase that effectively converts retinaldehyde back to retinol, decreasing the rate of retinoic acid biosynthesis. In turn, the retinol dehydrogenase activity of RDH10 is reciprocally activated by DHRS3. At E13.5, DHRS3-null embryos have ∼4-fold lower levels of retinol and retinyl esters, but only slightly elevated levels of retinoic acid. The membrane-associated retinaldehyde reductase and retinol dehydrogenase activities are decreased by ∼4- and ∼2-fold, respectively, in Dhrs3(-/-) embryos, and Dhrs3(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts exhibit reduced metabolism of both retinaldehyde and retinol. Neither RDH10 nor DHRS3 has to be itself catalytically active to activate each other. The transcripts encoding DHRS3 and RDH10 are co-localized at least in some tissues during development. The mutually activating interaction between the two related proteins may represent a highly sensitive and conserved mechanism for precise control over the rate of retinoic acid biosynthesis.

Characteristics of Step-Shaped Laser-Driven Flyers on Fiber End Face Based on a Ti/Al Ablation Layer.

Laser-driven flyers (LDF), which can launch the flyer on the interaction of a laser pulse with a thin film of metal, have been widely used in many fields, such as ignition, space scrap metal science, and dynamic high-pressure physics. However, at present, further development of LDF is being hindered by the high reflectivity of the ablation layer and low energy utilization efficiency of LDF on the fiber end face. Herein, improved LDFs were designed and fabricated by mask plate and magnetron sputtering. Improved LDF incorporates a Ti/Al composite film as the ablation layer, while the flyer layer features a smaller diameter round platform design. Reflectivity of samples under static and dynamic conditions and driving characteristics of samples were tested using an optical isolator and photonic doppler velocimetry system. The velocity of the improved LDFs reaches 1.7 km/s with a peak acceleration of 8.7 × 1010 m/s2. LDF with a Ti/Al composite film as the ablation layer demonstrates a static absorption rate of 59%, which gradually increases to 65% under laser irradiation. This absorption rate is notably higher compared with the static absorption rate (20%) and the peak absorption rate under laser irradiation (40%) of an Al layer. Consequently, there is a substantial improvement of about 35% in the flyer velocity. In contrast to the plane-shaped LDF, the velocity profile of the flyer and impact crater morphology suggest that the step-shaped LDF offers a 15% improvement in velocity and a 50% increase in acceleration, with better flyer integrity observed.

Deciphering the Role of the Gut Microbiota in Exposure to Emerging Contaminants and Diabetes: A Review.

Emerging pollutants, a category of compounds currently not regulated or inadequately regulated by law, have recently become a focal point of research due to their potential toxic effects on human health. The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in human health; it is particularly susceptible to disruption and alteration upon exposure to a range of toxic environmental chemicals, including emerging contaminants. The disturbance of the gut microbiome caused by environmental pollutants may represent a mechanism through which environmental chemicals exert their toxic effects, a mechanism that is garnering increasing attention. However, the discussion on the toxic link between emerging pollutants and glucose metabolism remains insufficiently explored. This review aims to establish a connection between emerging pollutants and glucose metabolism through the gut microbiota, delving into the toxic impacts of these pollutants on glucose metabolism and the potential role played by the gut microbiota.

Emerging Contaminants: An Emerging Risk Factor for Diabetes Mellitus.

Emerging contaminants have been increasingly recognized as critical determinants in global public health outcomes. However, the intricate relationship between these contaminants and glucose metabolism remains to be fully elucidated. The paucity of comprehensive clinical data, coupled with the need for in-depth mechanistic investigations, underscores the urgency to decipher the precise molecular and cellular pathways through which these contaminants potentially mediate the initiation and progression of diabetes mellitus. A profound understanding of the epidemiological impact of these emerging contaminants, as well as the elucidation of the underlying mechanistic pathways, is indispensable for the formulation of evidence-based policy and preventive interventions. This review systematically aggregates contemporary findings from epidemiological investigations and delves into the mechanistic correlates that tether exposure to emerging contaminants, including endocrine disruptors, perfluorinated compounds, microplastics, and antibiotics, to glycemic dysregulation. A nuanced exploration is undertaken focusing on potential dietary sources and the consequential role of the gut microbiome in their toxic effects. This review endeavors to provide a foundational reference for future investigations into the complex interplay between emerging contaminants and diabetes mellitus.

The 3D-Dynamic Fire Risk Evaluation Method of Modern Logistics Warehouses: A Modified Gustav Method.

International trade connections with COVID-19 impeding the development of the logistics industry in express delivery, the world has become an inseparable part of daily life. To improve protection competency, there is a need for effective research on logistics warehouse fire accident alarms. The goal of this study is to create a novel fire risk evaluation method for fire safety managers in logistics warehouses. The Gustav method is used to convert a plane model to a stereoscopic model. Hazards to construction, hazards to life, and fire rescue competency are all taken into account. The empirical study used JingDong Gu'an logistics park as a case study, and the evaluation results revealed differences in fire risk levels between the two warehouses. The results show that the transmit warehouse had a higher fire risk level than the sorting warehouse. The method describes the total risk of a warehouse fire. It is appropriate for the various types and processes found in modern logistics warehouses. The results of the developed 3D-Dynamic method demonstrate the model's feasibility and practicability even to laypeople with limited professional knowledge.

Serum Iodine as a Potential Individual Iodine Status Biomarker: A Cohort Study of Mild Iodine Deficient Pregnant Women in China.

Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is a widespread public health concern, but indicators and methods for assessing iodine nutritional status are lacking. Serum iodine concentration (SIC) is an important iodine metabolism biomarker and can, to some extent, predict the risk of thyroid diseases, making it a potential biomarker for assessing individual iodine nutrition levels. Our study aimed to analyze the relationship between SIC and thyroid function in a cohort of mild iodine deficient pregnant women in China in order to explore the potential of SIC as a biomarker of individual iodine status in pregnancy. A total of 1540 early pregnant women (gestation < 10 weeks) aged 18 to 45 years old were included in the final study from a Zhejiang multicenter population-based mother and child cohort. Repeated measures of SIC, urinary iodine concentration (UIC), and thyroid function were taken at approximately 10, 17, and 32 weeks of gestation. The SIC was statistically correlated with all thyroid function indexes in the first trimester, and a very strong positive correlation with FT4 over three trimesters (r = 0.449, 0.550, and 0.544, respectively). Pregnant women with an SIC < 72.4 µg/L were at a higher risk of hypothyroxinemia (adjusted OR = 8.911, 95% CI = 5.141-15.447) and iodine deficiency (adjusted OR = 1.244, 95% CI = 1.031-1.502), while those with an SIC > 93.9 µg/L were at a higher risk of thyrotoxicosis (adjusted OR = 11.064, 95% CI = 6.324-19.357) and excessive iodine (adjusted OR = 11.064, 95% CI = 6.324-19.357). In contrast, the UIC was not correlated with thyroid diseases (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that the SIC is a potential biomarker for assessing individual iodine nutrition and thyroid dysfunction in pregnant women.

Characterizing the Gut Microbial Metabolic Profile of Mice with the Administration of Berry-Derived Cyanidin-3-Glucoside.

Dietary modulation of the gut microbiota has recently received considerable attention. It is well established that consumption of berries confers a number of health benefits. We previously reported that a black raspberry (BRB)-rich diet effectively modulates the gut microbiota. Given the role of anthocyanins in the health benefits of berries, coupled with interactions of gut microbial metabolites with host health, the objective of this follow-up study was to further characterize the profile of functional metabolites in the gut microbiome modulated by anthocyanins. We utilized a berry-derived classic anthocyanin, cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), combined with a mouse model to probe C3G-associated functional metabolic products of gut bacteria through a mass spectrometry-based metabolomic profiling technique. Results showed that C3G substantially changed the gut microbiota of mice, including its composition and metabolic profile. A distinct metabolic profile in addition to a variety of key microbiota-related metabolites was observed in C3G-treated mice. Microbial metabolites involved in protein digestion and absorption were differently abundant between C3G-treated and control mice, which may be linked to the effects of berry consumption. Results of the present study suggest the involvement of the gut microbiota in the health benefits of C3G, providing evidence connecting the gut microbiota with berry consumption and its beneficial effects.

Pendant Length-Dependent Electrochemical Performances for Conjugated Organic Polymers as Solid-State Polymer Electrolytes in Lithium Metal Batteries.

The development of solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) has been plagued by poor ionic conductivity, low ionic transference number, and limited electrochemical potential window. The exploitation of ionized SPEs is a feasible avenue to solve this problem. Herein, conjugated organic polymers (COPs) with excellent designability and rich pore structures have been selected as platforms for exploration. Three cationic COPs with different chain lengths of quaternary ammonium salts (CbzT@Cx, x = 4, 6, 9) are designed and applied to SPEs for the first time. Meanwhile, the effects of chain lengths on their electrochemical performances are compared. Especially, CbzT@C9 shows the most attractive electrochemical performance due to its high specific surface area of 212.3 m2 g-1. The larger specific surface area allows more exposure of the long-chain quaternary ammonium cation groups, which is more favorable for the dissociation of lithium salts. Moreover, the flexible long-chain structure increases the compatibility with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and reduces the crystallinity of PEO to some extent. The richer pore structure can accommodate more PEO, further disrupting the crystallinity of PEO and creating more channels for the ether-oxygen chain to transport lithium ions. At 60 °C, the SPE (CbzTM@C9) presents an excellent ionic conductivity (σ) of 8.00 × 10-4 S cm-1. CbzTM@C9 has a lithium-ion transference number (tLi+) of 0.48. Thus, the assembled Li/CbzTM@C9/LiFePO4 battery provides a good discharge capacity of 158.8 mAh g-1 at 0.1C. After 70 cycles, the capacity retention rate is 93.8% with a Coulombic efficiency of 98%. The excellent flexibility brings stable power supply capability under various bending angles to the assembled Li/CbzTM@C9/LiFePO4 soft-packed battery. The project uses conjugated organic polymers in SPEs and creates an avenue to develop flexible energy storage equipment.

Quantifying the associations of the air pollutant SO2 on outpatient visits for conjunctivitis in Hangzhou, China.

The aim of this study is to further investigate the single and cumulative associations of SO2 on outpatient visits for conjunctivitis. Data from outpatient visits, air pollutants, and meteorology was collected by the Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Zhejiang University School of Medicine, the Environmental Protection Department of Zhejiang Province, and the Meteorological Administration of Zhejiang Province from July 1, 2014, to November 30, 2019. A Poisson generalized linear regression model (PGLM), combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM), was employed to analyze the association between SO2 and outpatient visits for conjunctivitis using PM2.5 and NO2 as covariates. Of the 539,649 outpatients for conjunctivitis recruited for analysis, 58.1% were female. Obvious single associations of SO2 were observed in outpatient visits for conjunctivitis, which is consistent with our previous results using a time-stratified case crossover design. A delay in the associations of SO2 on outpatient visits for conjunctivitis was further confirmed, with the longest lag being 12 days. The strongest lag effect was found at lag 0-11 with RR95th vs 25th = 1.30 (1.24, 1.37), and RR90h vs 25th = 1.23 (1.18, 1.28). Furthermore, the results showed that old people may be more sensitive to the associations of SO2 than adults and the younger ones. Our study provides the first evidence that outpatient visits for conjunctivitis are positively associated with both single and cumulative air pollutant SO2 exposure, suggesting that people especially elders had better to decrease outdoor activities when the SO2 concentration is above safe level.

Dietary Administration of Black Raspberries and Arsenic Exposure: Changes in the Gut Microbiota and Its Functional Metabolites.

Mounting evidence has linked berries to a variety of health benefits. We previously reported that administration of a diet rich in black raspberries (BRBs) impacted arsenic (As) biotransformation and reduced As-induced oxidative stress. To further characterize the role of the gut microbiota in BRB-mediated As toxicity, we utilized the dietary intervention of BRBs combined with a mouse model to demonstrate microbial changes by examining associated alterations in the gut microbiota, especially its functional metabolites. Results showed that BRB consumption changed As-induced gut microbial alterations through restoring and modifying the gut microbiome, including its composition, functions and metabolites. A number of functional metabolites in addition to bacterial genera were significantly altered, which may be linked to the effects of BRBs on arsenic exposure. Results of the present study suggest functional interactions between dietary administration of black raspberries and As exposure through the lens of the gut microbiota, and modulation of the gut microbiota and its functional metabolites could contribute to effects of administration of BRBs on As toxicity.

Maternal exposure to ozone and risk of gestational hypertension and eclampsia in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to ambient ozone during pregnancy may be linked with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, but evidence is largely unknown. We aimed to estimate the association between maternal exposure to ozone and risk of gestational hypertension and eclampsia in the contiguous United States (US). METHODS: We included 2,393,346 normotensive mothers aged from 18 to 50 years old who had a live singleton birth documented in the National Vital Statistics system in the US in 2002. We obtained information on gestational hypertension and eclampsia from birth certificates. We estimated daily ozone concentrations from a spatiotemporal ensemble model. We used distributed lag model and logistic regression to estimate the association between monthly ozone exposure and risk of gestational hypertension or eclampsia after adjusting for individual-level covariates and county poverty rate. RESULTS: Of the 2,393,346 pregnant women, there were 79,174 women with gestational hypertension and 6034 with eclampsia. A 10 parts per billion (ppb) increase in ozone was associated with an increased risk of gestational hypertension over 1-3 months before conception (OR = 1.042, 95 % CI: 1.029, 1.056), 2-3 months after conception (OR = 1.058, 95 % CI: 1.040, 1.077), and 3-5 months after conception (OR = 1.031, 95 % CI: 1.018, 1.044). The corresponding OR for eclampsia was 1.115 (95 % CI: 1.074, 1.158), 1.048 (95 % CI: 1.020, 1.077), and 1.070 (95 % CI: 1.032, 1.110), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to ozone was associated with an increased risk of gestational hypertension or eclampsia, especially during 2 to 4 months after conception.

Establishment of a prediction model for histological chorioamnionitis and its association with outcomes of premature infants.

Aim: This study aims to construct a prediction model for histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) and analyze the associations between the predicted risk of HCA and adverse outcomes in preterm infants. Methods: In total, 673 subjects were included in this cohort study and divided into HCA group (n = 195) and non-HCA group (n = 478). A stepwise method was used to screen the predictors for HCA, binary logistic regression was used to construct the prediction model, and the associations between the predicted risk of HCA and adverse outcomes were analyzed. Results: HCA occurred in 195 patients, accounting for 29.0%. The sensitivity of the prediction model was 0.821 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.767-0.874)], the specificity was 0.684 (95% CI: 0.642-0.726), the positive predictive value was 0.514 (0.459-0.570), the negative predictive value was 0.903 (95% CI: 0.873-0.934), the area under the curve was 0.821 (95% CI: 0.786-0.855), and the accuracy was 0.724 (95% CI: 0.690-0.757). The predicted risk of HCA was associated with a higher risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) [odds ratio (OR) = 3.48, 95% CI: 1.10-10.95)], sepsis (OR = 6.66, 95% CI: 2.17-20.43), and neonatal infections (OR = 9.85, 95% CI: 3.59-26.98), but not necrotizing enterocolitis (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.24-1.88), retinopathy of prematurity (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 0.37-6.85), and brain damage (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 0.82-3.83). After adjusting for confounders including gestational week at birth and birth weight, the risk of neonatal infections (OR = 5.03, 95% CI: 2.69-9.41) was increased in preterm infants' exposure to HCA. Conclusion: The model showed good predictive performance for identifying pregnant women with a higher risk of HCA. In addition, HCA was associated with the risk of BPD, sepsis, and infections in neonates.