2-Ethylhexyl Diphenyl Phosphate Induces Autism Spectrum Disorder-Like Behaviors in Offspring Mice by Disrupting Postsynaptic Development.

As organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) are constantly detected in human samples, the neurotoxicity of OPFRs is of concern. In this study, pregnant ICR mice were exposed to 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) in drinking water from gestation to lactation to investigate its effects on autism spectrum disorder-like (ASD-like) behaviors in offspring. Serum EHDPP concentrations in dams in the 0.4, 2, and 10 mg/kg groups were 0.282 ± 0.051, 0.713 ± 0.115, and 0.974 ± 0.048 ng/mL, respectively, within the concentration range in humans. At the highest dose, EHDPP exposure induced ASD-like behaviors in both female and male offspring. Significant reductions in mature dendritic spines and structural damage to the postsynaptic density zone were noted in all but the lowest exposure groups, indicating postsynaptic membrane impairment. Mechanistically, EHDPP significantly downregulated disc large MAGUK scaffold protein 4 expression by inhibiting protein kinase B and type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor phosphorylation. In the heterologous synapse formation assay in vivo, EHDPP significantly reduced the levels of postsynaptic density protein 95 expression in neurons at 1 µM. Overall, the study utilized in vitro and in vivo experiments to confirm that EHDPP damaged postsynaptic membrane formation and might increase the incidence of ASD in offspring.

Nontargeted Analysis Reveals a Broad Range of Bioactive Pollutants in Drinking Water by Estrogen Receptor Affinity-Mass Spectrometry.

Exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can cause extensive health issues. However, specific EDCs remain elusive. This work aimed at performing nontargeted identification of estrogen receptor α (ERα)-active compounds using an ERα protein affinity assay combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry in the source and drinking water sampled from major rivers in China. Fifty-one potential ERα-active compounds across 13 categories were identified. For the first time, diisodecyl phenyl phosphate was found to have antiestrogenic activity, and three chemicals (galaxolidone, bensulfuron methyl, and UV234) were plausible ERα ligands. Among the 51 identified compounds, 12 were detected in the aquatic environment for the first time, and the concentration of N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine, a widely used antioxidant in rubber products, was up to 1469 and 1190 ng/L in source and drinking water, respectively. This study demonstrated the widespread presence of known and unknown ERα estrogenic and antiestrogenic pollutants in the major rivers that serve as key sources of drinking water in China and the low removal efficiency of these chemicals in drinking water treatment plants.

Unregistered Hexaphenoxycyclotriphosphazene and Its Metabolite Antagonize Retinoic Acid and Retinoic X Receptors and Cause Early Developmental Damage.

Hexaphenoxycyclotriphosphazene (HPCTP), an unregistered chemical, has been used as a substitute for triphenyl phosphate in flame retardants and plasticizers. Here, we identified its metabolite, pentaphenoxycyclotriphosphazene (PPCTP) in the liver of Japanese medaka exposed to HPCTP. When sexually mature female medaka were exposed to HPCTP at 37.0, 90.4, and 465.4 ng/L for 35 days, the HPCTP concentration (642.1-2531.9 ng/g lipid weight [lw]) in the embryos considerably exceeded that (34.7-298.1 ng/g lw) in the maternal muscle, indicating remarkable maternal transfer. During 0-9 days postfertilization, the HPCTP concentration in the embryos decreased continuously, while the PPCTP concentration increased. HPCTP and PPCTP antagonized the retinoic X receptor with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 34.8 and 21.2 µM, respectively, and PPCTP also antagonized the retinoic acid receptor with IC50 of 2.79 µM. Such antagonistic activities may contribute to eye deformity (4.7% at 465.4 ng/L), body malformation (2.1% at 90.4 ng/L and 6.8% at 465.4 ng/L), and early developmental mortality (11.6-21.7% in all exposure groups) of the embryos. HPCTP was detected in a main tributary of the Yangtze River Basin. Thus, HPCTP poses a risk to wild fish populations, given the developmental toxicities associated with this chemical and its metabolite.

Relationships of Liver X Receptor Antagonists and Atherosclerosis in Drinking Water from Six Chinese Major Cities.

While environmental factors have been considered contributors to atherosclerosis, it remains unclear whether drinking water promotes foam cell formation, the initial event of atherosclerosis. This study revealed that drinking water from six major cities in China, namely, Harbin, Jinan, Shanghai, Wuhan, Chongqing, and Zhuhai, significantly promoted foam cell formation in an in vitro macrophage model at a minimum concentration fold of 2. Moreover, cholesterol efflux was significantly impeded by all samples at 2-16-fold, while cholesterol influx was induced only by samples from Jinan and Chongqing at 16-fold, suggesting the dominant role of efflux in foam cell formation. Interestingly, except for the sample from Jinan, the samples exhibited complete inhibition of liver X receptor α (LXRα) activities at 160-fold, indicating the potential role of chemicals in drinking water in promoting foam cell formation by antagonizing LXRα. Through LXRα protein affinity selection-mass spectrometry, we identified ten LXRα-binding compounds, with efavirenz being revealed for the first time as a significant inducer of foam cell formation through LXRα antagonism. Overall, this study clarifies the atherosclerotic risks posed by drinking water and demonstrates the efavirenz-related atherosclerotic effects.

Discovery of Three Organothiophosphate Esters in River Water Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Records of the environmental occurrence of organothiophosphate esters (OTPEs), which are used as flame retardants and food and industrial additives, are unavailable. In this study, we discovered three OTPEs, namely O,O,O-tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphorothioate (AO168═S), O-butyl O-(butyl-methylphenyl) O-(di-butylphenyl) phosphorothioate (BBMDBPt)/O,O-bis(dibutylphenyl) O-methyl phosphorothioate (BDBPMPt), and O-butyl O-ethyl O-hydrogen phosphorothioate (BEHPt), in the surface water of the Yangtze River Basin by applying a characteristic phosphorothioate fragment-directed high-resolution mass spectrometry method. Among the 17 water samples tested, the detection frequencies of AO168═S and BEHPt were 100% and that of BBMDBPt/BDBPMPt was 29%. The mean concentration of AO168═S was 56.9 ng/L (30.5-148 ng/L), and semi-quantitative analysis revealed that the mean concentrations of BEHPt and BBMDBPt/BDBPMPt were 17.2 ng/L (5.5-65.4 ng/L) and 0.8 ng/L (

Enzyme-Catalyzed Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange between Environmental Pollutants and Enzyme-Regulated Endogenous Metabolites.

Environmental pollutants can disrupt the homeostasis of endogenous metabolites in organisms, leading to metabolic disorders and syndromes. However, it remains highly challenging to efficiently screen for critical biological molecules affected by environmental pollutants. Herein, we found that enzyme could catalyze hydrogen-deuterium (H-D) exchange between a deuterium-labeled environmental pollutant [D38-bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (D38-DEHP)] and several groups of enzyme-regulated metabolites [cardiolipins (CLs), monolysocardiolipins (MLCLs), phospholipids (PLs), and lysophospholipids (LPLs)]. A high-throughput scanning identified the D-labeled endogenous metabolites in a simple enzyme [phospholipase A2 (PLA2)], enzyme mixtures (liver microsomes), and living organisms (zebrafish embryos) exposed to D38-DEHP. Mass fragmentation and structural analyses showed that similar positions were D-labeled in the CLs, MLCLs, PLs, and LPLs, and this labeling was not attributable to natural metabolic transformations of D38-DEHP or incorporation of its D-labeled side chains. Molecular docking and competitive binding analyses revealed that DEHP competed with D-labeled lipids for binding to the active site of PLA2, and this process mediated H-D exchange. Moreover, competitive binding of DEHP against biotransformation enzymes could interfere with catabolic or anabolic lipid metabolism and thereby affect the concentrations of endogenous metabolites. Our findings provide a tool for discovering more molecular targets that complement the known toxic endpoints of metabolic disruptors.

Melatonin ameliorates glyphosate- and hard water-induced renal tubular epithelial cell senescence via PINK1-Parkin-dependent mitophagy.

The combination of glyphosate (Gly) and hard water (Hwt) is a suspected risk factor for chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities (CINAC). Accumulated mitochondrial damage and proximal tubular epithelial (PTE) cell senescence have been implicated in CINAC pathogenesis. Melatonin (Mel) has potential mitochondrial function and renoprotective properties, but its role and mechanism in CINAC are unknown. Here, we detected PTE cell senescence and PTEN-induced putative protein kinase 1 (PINK1)-parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (Parkin)-dependent mitophagy in mice orally administered with different doses of Gly combined with Hwt (Gly: 100 mg/kg·bw and 0.7 mg/L; Hwt: 2,500 mg/L CaCO3 and 250 mg/L Ca2+) for different durations (12 and 36 w) using histological examination, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunofluorescence (IF) analysis, and immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunoblotting, ELISA and biochemical assays with kits. The same assays were performed after combination treatment with Mdivi-1 (an inhibitor of mitophagy, i.p. 10 mg/kg·bw, twice a week for 12 w) or Mel (i.p. 10 mg/kg·bw, once a day for 12 w) under high-level exposure. Gly combined with Hwt (Gly-Hwt) significantly increased P16-P21-dependent PTE cell senescence, mitochondrial fission and oxidative stress, and activated PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy, accompanied by defective autophagic flux at high doses but unaltered autophagic flux at low doses. Improved senescence occurred after Mdivi-1 administration, suggesting that mitophagy is involved in cellular senescence. Mel significantly decreased senescence induced by Gly-Hwt. Furthermore, PINK1-Parkin-dependent mitophagy and autophagic flux were markedly enhanced, and mitochondrial function was improved, as evidenced by reductions in mitochondrial fission and subsequent oxidative damage. Thus, Gly and Hwt synergistically promote PTE cell senescence through PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy, and Mel exerts renoprotective effects by modulating mitophagy, suggesting therapeutic applications in ageing-related CINAC.

The impact of China's high-speed rail investment on regional economy and air pollution emissions.

The high-speed rail (HSR) network in China has experienced rapid development since the 2000s. In 2016, the State Council of the People's Republic of China issued a revised version of the "Mid- and Long-term Railway Network Plan", detailing the expansion of the railway network and construction of an HSR system. In the future, the HSR construction efforts in China will further increase, which is considered to impact regional development and air pollutant emissions. Therefore, in this paper, we apply a transportation network-multiregional computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to estimate the dynamic effects of HSR projects on economic growth, regional disparities, and air pollutant emissions in China. The results indicate that HSR system improvement could generate a positive economic impact but could also increase emissions. The gross domestic product (GDP) growth per unit investment cost stimulated by HSR investment is found to be the largest in eastern China but the smallest in the northwest regions. Conversely, HSR investment in Northwest China contributes to a substantial reduction in regional disparities in terms of the GDP per capita. In regard to air pollution emissions, HSR construction in South-Central China results in the largest increase in CO2 and NOX emissions, while for CO, SO2, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions, the largest increase occurs due to HSR construction in Northwest China. At the regional level, the provinces with large changes in accessibility also experience large changes in their air pollutant emissions.

Tetraphenylphosphonium Chloride-Enhanced Ionization Coupled to Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry for Sensitive and Non-targeted Screening of Polyhalogenated Alkyl Compounds from Limited Serum.

Although many types of halogenated compounds are known to bioaccumulate in humans, few are routinely biomonitored and many have remained uncharacterized in human exposome studies due to a lack of high-sensitivity and high-resolution analytical methods. In this study, we discovered tetraphenylphosphonium chloride (Ph4PCl, 10 µM) as a simple additive to the mobile phase, which enhanced the ionizations of polyhalogenated alkyl compounds (such as organochlorinated pesticides [OCPs], chlorinated paraffins [CPs], dechlorane plus [DPs], and some brominated flame retardants [BFRs]) in the form [M + Cl]- and boosted mass spectrometry responses by an average of 1-3 orders of magnitude at a resolution of 140,000. Ph4PCl-enhanced ionization coupled with a halogenation-guided screening process was used to establish a sensitive and non-targeted method that required only single-step sample preparation and identified Cl- and/or bromine-containing alkyl compounds. The method enabled the identification of ∼700 polyhalogenated compounds from 200 µL of human serum, 240 of which were known compounds: 33 short-chain CPs, 52 median-chain CPs, 97 long-chain CPs, 22 very short-chain CPs (vSCCPs), 19 OCPs, 13 DPs, and 4 BFRs. We also identified 325 emerging contaminants (34 unsaturated CPs, 285 chlorinated fatty acid methyl esters [CFAMEs], and 6 chloro-bromo alkenes) and 130 new contaminants (114 oxygen-containing CPs, 2 hexachlorocyclohexane structural analogs, and 11 amino-containing and 3 nitrate-containing chlorinated compounds). The full scan results highlighted the dominance of CPs, CFAMEs, vSCCPs, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes in the serum samples. Ph4PCl-enhanced ionization enabled the sensitive and non-targeted identifications of polyhalogenated compounds in small volumes of biological fluid.

The causal associations of circulating amino acids with blood pressure: a Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Circulating levels of amino acids were associated with blood pressure (BP) in observational studies. However, the causation of such associations has been hypothesized but is difficult to prove in human studies. Here, we aimed to use two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses to evaluate the potential causal associations of circulating levels of amino acids with BP and risk of hypertension. METHODS: We generated genetic instruments for circulating levels of nine amino acids by conducting meta-analyses of genome-wide association study (GWAS) in UK Biobank participants with metabolomic data (n = 98,317) and another published metabolomics GWAS (n = 24,925). Data on the associations of the genetic variants with BP and hypertension were obtained in the UK Biobank participants without metabolomic data (n = 286,390). The causal effects were estimated using inverse-variance weighted method. RESULTS: Significant evidence consistently supported the causal effects of increased branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs, i.e., leucine, isoleucine, and valine) levels on higher BP and risk of hypertension (all P < 0.006 after Bonferroni correction except for Pleucine-on-diastolicBP = 0.008). For example, per standard deviation higher of genetically predicted isoleucine levels were associated with 2.71 ± 0.78 mmHg higher systolic BP and 1.24 ± 0.34 mmHg higher diastolic BP, as well as with 7% higher risk of hypertension (odds ratio: 1.07, [95% CI: 1.04-1.10]). In addition, per standard deviation higher of genetically predicted glycine level was associated with lower systolic BP (- 0.70 ± 0.17 mmHg, P = 4.04 × 10-5) and a lower risk of hypertension (0.99 [0.98-0.99], P = 6.46 × 10-5). In the reverse direction, genetically predicted higher systolic BP was associated with lower circulating levels of glycine (- 0.025±0.008, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for causal impacts of genetically predicted circulating BCAAs and glycine levels on BP. Meanwhile, genetically predicted higher BP was associated with lower glycine levels. Further investigations are warranted to clarify the underlying mechanisms.

A Machine-Learning Derived Huntington's Disease Progression Model: Insights for Clinical Trial Design.

BACKGROUND: Applying machine-learning algorithms to large datasets such as those available in Huntington's disease offers the opportunity to discover hidden patterns, often not discernible to clinical observation. OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a model of Huntington's disease progression using probabilistic machine learning methods. METHODS: Longitudinal data encompassing 2079 assessment measures from four observational studies (PREDICT-HD, REGISTRY, TRACK-HD, and Enroll-HD) were integrated and machine-learning methods (Bayesian latent-variable analysis and continuous-time hidden Markov models) were applied to develop a probabilistic model of disease progression. The model was validated using a separate Enroll-HD dataset and compared with existing clinical reference assessments (Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale [UHDRS] diagnostic confidence level, total functional capacity, and total motor scores) and CAG-age product. RESULTS: Nine disease states were discovered based on 44 motor, cognitive, and functional measures, which correlated with reference assessments. The validation set included 3158 participants (mean age, 48.4 years) of whom 61.5% had manifest disease. Analysis of transition times showed that "early-disease" states 1 and 2, which occur before motor diagnosis, lasted ~16 years. Increasing numbers of participants had motor onset during "transition" states 3 to 5, which collectively lasted ~10 years, and the "late-disease" states 6 to 9 also lasted ~10 years. The annual probability of conversion from one of the nine identified disease states to the next ranged from 5% to 27%. CONCLUSIONS: The natural history of Huntington's disease can be described by nine disease states of increasing severity. The ability to derive characteristics of disease states and probabilities for progression through these states will improve trial design and participant selection. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Enzyme-Mediated Reactions of Phenolic Pollutants and Endogenous Metabolites as an Overlooked Metabolic Disruption Pathway.

It is generally recognized that phenol-containing molecules mainly undergo phase II metabolic reactions, whereas glucuronide and sulfate are conjugated to form water-soluble products. Here, we report direct reactions of phenolic pollutants (triclosan, alkylphenol, bisphenol A [BPA], and its analogues) and some endogenous metabolites (vitamin E [VE] and estradiol) to generate new lipophilic ether products (e.g., BPA-O-VEs and alkylphenol-O-estradiol). A nontargeted screening strategy was used to identify the products in human liver microsome incubations, and the most abundant products (BPA-O-VEs) were confirmed via in vivo exposure in mice. BPA-O-VEs were frequently detected in sera from the general population at levels comparable to those of glucuronide/sulfate-conjugated BPA. Recombinant human cytochrome P450s were applied to find that CYP3A4 catalyzed the formation of these newly discovered ether metabolites by linking the VE hydroxyl group to the BPA phenolic ring, leading to the significantly reduced antioxidative activities of BPA-O-VEs compared to VEs. The effects of the reaction on the homeostasis of reacted biomolecules were finally assessed by in vitro assay and in vivo mice exposures. The generation of BPA-O-VEs decreased the VE concentrations and increased the reactive oxygen species generation after exposure to BPA at environmentally relevant concentrations. The identified reactions provided an overlooked metabolic disruption pathway for phenolic pollutants.

Source contributions and drivers of physiological and psychophysical cobenefits from major air pollution control actions in North China.

North China is among the most polluted regions in the country, and human exposure to PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm) in this region has led to severe health consequences. The region has also benefited the most from emission reductions in recent years. It is of interest to understand to what extent and through which paths emissions from different sectors cause adverse health impacts. Here, we present the results of a full evaluation of the health benefits of emission control actions implemented in recent years based on segregated emission inventories with an emphasis on residential emissions. Two major causal paths, one from residential emissions to indoor air pollution, exposure, and premature deaths, and the other from nonresidential emissions to ambient air pollution and psychophysical impacts, were identified and quantified. From 2014 to 2019, both ambient (33%) and indoor (39%) PM2.5 decreased significantly, leading to decreasing trends in exposure (36%), premature deaths (10%), and psychophysical impacts (21%). The Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan, the Clean Heating Campaign, and spontaneous residential shifts to clean energy contributed significantly to these reductions when the effects of other drivers, such as population and economic growth, were excluded.

The effectiveness of different education methods conducted at different times for decreasing the time required for a parturient to position herself for epidural placement.

BACKGROUND: Decreasing the anaesthesia preparation time for primiparas experiencing painful uterine contractions is clinically relevant. This prospective intervention study investigated the effect of various educational methods conducted at different times on body positioning for primiparas undergoing labour analgesia. METHODS: Ninety primiparas who were about to receive labour analgesia were randomly divided into a verbal instruction group, a photo instructions group, and an educational video group for immediate education, and 60 primiparas who were willing to receive labour analgesia but were not in labour were randomly divided into a photo instruction group and an educational video group for advance education. The times required for body positioning were compared. RESULTS: In the immediate education cohort, the body positioning time in the verbal group (50.48 ± 28.97 s) was significantly longer than those in the photo group (30.47 ± 6.94 s) and the video group (23.14 ± 9.74 s) (P = 0.00). In the advance education cohort, the time in the photo group (17.47 ± 6.48 s) was longer than that in the video group (13.71 ± 7.01 s) (P = 0.042). Whether photos or videos are used, advance education can significantly decrease body positioning time. CONCLUSIONS: Video or photo education for primiparas who are about to receive labour analgesia can decrease the body positioning time and is more effective when provided in advance.

Melatonin ameliorates renal dysfunction in glyphosate- and hard water-treated mice.

Chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities (CINAC) is a severe and widespread disease that has been associated with environmental and occupational exposure to glyphosate and hard water. However, the potential underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Melatonin is reported to exert protective effects on the kidney, but whether melatonin can attenuate renal tubular injury in mice exposed to glyphosate combined with hard water is unclear. Here, mice were treated with high doses and environmentally relevant doses of glyphosate (100 mg/kg·bw and 0.7 mg/L, respectively) and/or hard water (2500 mg/L CaCO3 and 250 mg/L Ca2+, respectively) via their drinking water for 12 weeks. We found that high-dose glyphosate or hard water treatment significantly increased the levels of biomarkers of renal damage, including ß2-microglobulin, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipid carrier protein, and/or albumin, in the urine; these increased biomarker levels were correlated with obvious morphological changes, and all of these changes were also observed in animals exposed to environmentally relevant doses of glyphosate and/or high Ca2+ water. Melatonin (10 mg/kg·bw, intraperitoneal injection, daily for 12 weeks) administered concomitantly with high doses of glyphosate and hard water inhibited the glyphosate- and hard water-induced increases in the levels of kidney injury biomarkers and changes in morphology; this result was intriguing. Additionally, glyphosate combined with hard water at both high and environmentally relevant doses significantly upregulated the expression of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress marker proteins Bip, ATF6, and PERK as well as the pyroptosis-related proteins (NLRP3 and caspase 1 signaling proteins) in renal tissues. Similarly, melatonin significantly attenuated the increased ER stress and pyroptosis induced by high doses of glyphosate and hard water. In summary, we conclude that exposure to glyphosate and hard water at both high doses and environmentally relevant doses causes renal dysfunction in mice, and this dysfunction can be attenuated by melatonin, possibly through the inhibition of ER stress and pyroptosis. Our results support the notion that melatonin may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of chronic kidney diseases.

[Relationship between dietary nutrition and chronic disease of residents in Gongshan County in Yunnan Province in 2016].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between food intake and chronic diseases of Dulong minority residents living in Yunnan Province. METHODS: 460 Dulong minority residents 6-80-year-old among 304 families(male 191, female 269, children and adolescents aged 6-17 years old 56, aged 18-44 years old 229, aged 45-59 years old 123, aged 60-80 years old 52)in Gongshan County in Yunnan Province were selected with Stratified multistage cluster sampling method. To apply the method of food frequency questionnaire and questionnaire survey obtain the condition of dietary structure and overweight or obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia among Dulong minority. Non-conditional Logistic regression analysis was utilized to analyze the correlation between food intake and chronic diseases. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight or obesity, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia were respectively 20.4%, 19.6%, 32.4% and 50.4% in 2016. Marital status and consumption of melons vegetables(OR=0.540, 95%CI 0.306-0.954), benevolence fruit kind fruit(OR=0.348, 95%CI 0.171-0.706) and low fat milk powder(OR=5.267, 95%CI 1.266-21.911) in the past 12 months were associated with hypertension among the Dulong minority population. For the Dulong minority residents, sex, eaten deep-fried dough stick(OR=0.403, 95%CI 0.182-0.894) in the past 12 months, solanaceous vegetables(OR=0.478, 95%CI 0.275-0.832) and whole milk powder(OR=2.090, 95%CI 1.372-3.184) have something to do with diabetes. Occupation, consumption of beancurd and bamboo vegetables(OR=4.753, 95%CI 1.079-20.937), solanaceous vegetables(OR=2.842, 95%CI 1.175-6.871) and edible fungi(OR=1.794, 95%CI 1.116-2.883) over the past 12 months were linked to the prevalence of overweight. Consumption of fresh legumes(OR=1.991, 95%CI 1.130-3.507), whole milk powder(OR=2.342, 95%CI 1.535-3.575), cooked poultry meat(OR=2.092, 95%CI 1.147-3.815), grass carp(OR=0.580, 95% CI 0.379-0.888)and fresh eggs(OR=0.432, 95%CI 0.196-0.950) and in the past 12 months were associated with dyslipidemia among the Dulong minority residents. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overweight/obesity was mainly related to occupation, consumption of vegetables and products(solanaceous vegetables, edible fungi), and hypertension was mainly related to Marital status, and the intake of melons vegetables, benevolence fruit kind fruit, low fat milk powder), and diabetes was mainly related to sex, deep-fried dough stick, solanaceous vegetables and whole milk powder, and dyslipidemia was mainly related to Marital status, fresh legumes, whole milk powder, cooked poultry meat, grass carp, and fresh eggs for the Dulong nationality residents aged 6-80 years old in Gongshan County, Yunnan Province.

Maternal Transfer of 2-Ethylhexyl Diphenyl Phosphate Leads to Developmental Toxicity Possibly by Blocking the Retinoic Acid Receptor and Retinoic X Receptor in Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes).

2-Ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) has been detected in wild fish with high concentrations, which may pose a risk in the embryo development considering its potential maternal transfer. In this study, EHDPP was demonstrated to elicit antagonistic activity to medaka retinoic acid receptor (mRAR) and retinoic X receptor (mRXR) with 50% inhibitory concentration of 18 and 36 µM, respectively. After adult female medaka were exposed to EHDPP at 156, 405, and 1161 ng/L for 35 days, the embryonic EHDPP concentrations (364-4824 ng/g lipid weight (lw)) were higher than those in the maternal tissues (15.0-4166 ng/g lw), showing notable maternal transfer. The embryonic concentration of EHDPP decreased limitedly during 1-2 day post-fertilization (dpf, the main developmental window of eye) but then decreased sharply after 2 dpf. The transcript abundance of cyp26a1 was inhibited and subsequent increasing embryonic all-trans RA level was observed in embryos, showing RAR/RXR antagonistic activity. These results may specifically contribute to the increased eye deformity incidences in all exposure groups (up to 8.0%; 51/637) relative to the control (1.0%, 7/733). The response behavior of the larvae to light stimulation was impaired in a dose-dependent manner, demonstrating a vision disorder. Because such developmental toxicities were observed at the environmental level, EHDPP may pose a threat to the survival of wild larvae and therefore a population risk for wild fish.

Identification of Three Novel Chloroalkyl Organophosphate Triesters in House Dust Using Halogenation-Guided Nontarget Screening Combined with Suspect Screening.

Several haloalkyl organophosphate triester (OPTE) flame retardants have been restricted in some countries due to their potential health risks, but the usage of alternative haloalkyl OPTEs is of concern. In this study, we comprehensively screened for haloalkyl OPTEs in house dust using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Through halogenation-guided nontarget screening, a rare chloroalkyl OPTE, diethylene glycol bis(bis(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate) (DEGBBCPP), was unequivocally identified (Level 1) in house dust of Beijing, North China. In addition, by screening a suspect list of 61 haloalkyl OPTEs from the EPA's CompTox Chemicals Dashboard, we tentatively identified diethylene glycol bis(bis(2-chloroethyl)phosphate) (DEGBBCEP) and ethylene bis[bis(2-chloroethyl)phosphate] (EBBCEP) (Level 2). DEGBBCPP was detected in all 45 house dust samples, and the median concentration was 98.4 ng/g (13.6-6217 ng/g), that is, approximately one-half that of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, a traditional high-production chloroalkyl OPTE. The detection frequencies of DEGBBCEP and EBBCEP were 96% and 98%, respectively, but at relatively low median concentrations of 10.6 ng/g (from not detected to 152 ng/g) and 3.79 ng/g (from not detected to 130 ng/g), respectively. In standard house dust SRM2585, DEGBBCEP and EBBCEP were detected at 160 ± 15.7 and 1897 ± 38.8 ng/g, respectively, but DEGBBCPP was not detected. Future studies should evaluate the potential adverse health effects of these emerging flame retardants.

Xenobiotics Targeting Cardiolipin Metabolism to Promote Thrombosis in Zebrafish.

Exposure to environmental pollutants is an important factor contributing to the development and severity of thrombosis. However, the important physiological molecules in the thrombotic processes affected by environmental exposures remain unknown. In this study, we show that exposure to environmental chemicals disrupts the equilibrium of cardiolipins (CLs), and directing CL synthesis promotes thrombosis. Using an untargeted metabolomics approach, approximately 3030 molecules were detected in zebrafish embryos exposed to 11 environmental chemicals and automatically clustered into a network. Interconnectivity among CLs and linoleates or isoxanthopterin was discovered through the highly consistent variations in the coregulated metabolites in the network. The chemical exposure resulted in significant upregulation of CLs through influencing the enzymatic activities of phospholipase A2, cardiolipin synthase, and lysocardiolipin acyltransferase. Consequently, metabolic disorders of CLs affected the levels of anticardiolipin antibodies, disrupted the homeostasis between platelet thromboxane A2 and endothelial prostacyclin, and promoted thrombotic events including heart ischemia and tachycardia. Our study thus reveals the common molecular mechanisms underlying the CL-induced thrombosis targeted by environmental exposures.

Synergistic Health Benefits of Household Stove Upgrading and Energy Switching in Rural China.

Rural residential energy switching from solid fuels to electricity and natural gas has resulted in substantial health benefits in China. Here, we quantitatively estimated the environmental and health benefits of stove upgrading, energy switching, and the interaction of stove upgrading and energy switching in rural mainland China during the period of 1980-2014. Driven by government intervention, technical progress, and socioeconomic development, domestic stoves have been upgraded from a domination of open-fire and traditional stoves to energy-saving, clean stoves, and gas range/electric stoves. Furthermore, stove upgrading significantly contributed to the overall reductions in PM2.5 emissions (25%), ambient and indoor PM2.5 concentrations (49 and 28%), population exposure (31%), and premature deaths (37%) attributable to residential emissions. The interaction between stove upgrading and energy switching resulted in an additional 15% reduction in premature deaths. The influences of the residential sector and the beneficial effects of stove upgrading and energy switching are magnified along the causal path from emissions to health impacts. The overall benefit of the transition in residential energy would be substantially underestimated without considering stove upgrading.