Perfluoroalkyl Acids in Follicular Fluid and Embryo Quality during IVF: A Prospective IVF Cohort in China.

BACKGROUND: Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) have been measured in ovarian follicular fluid from women using in vitro fertilization (IVF), although associations between follicular fluid PFAA and IVF outcomes have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association between follicular fluid PFAA and embryo quality in women undergoing IVF. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 729 women undergoing IVF treatment in Guangxi province, China, from July 2018 to December 2018. We measured 32 PFAA, including branched isomers, in follicular fluid using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We applied restricted cubic splines, linear regression, and log-binominal regression models to investigate associations between follicular fluid PFAA and embryo quality, adjusting for confounding variables and investigated oocyte maturity as an intervening variable using causal mediation analysis. We further estimated the overall effect of the PFAA mixture on outcomes using Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). RESULTS: We detected 8 of 32 measured PFAA in >85% of follicular fluid samples. Higher PFAA concentrations were associated with fewer high-quality embryos from IVF. The high-quality embryo rates at the 50th percentile of linear perfluoro-1-octanesulfonate acid (n-PFOS), all branched PFOS isomers (Br-PFOS) and linear perfluoro-n-octanoic acid (n-PFOA) were -6.34% [95% confidence interval (CI): -9.45, -3.32%], -16.78% (95% CI: -21.98, -11.58%) and -8.66% (95% CI: -11.88, -5.43%) lower, respectively, than the high quality embryo rates at the reference 10th percentile of PFAA. Oocyte maturity mediated 11.76% (95% CI: 3.18, 31.80%) and 14.28% (95% CI: 2.95, 31.27%) of the n-PFOS and n-PFOA associations, respectively. The results of the BKMR models showed a negative association between the PFAA mixture and the probability of high-quality embryos, with branched PFOS isomers having posterior inclusion probabilities of 1 and accounting for the majority of the association. DISCUSSION: Exposure to higher PFAA concentrations in follicular fluid was associated with poorer embryo quality during IVF. Branched PFOS isomers may have a stronger effect than linear PFOS isomers. More studies are needed to confirm these findings and to directly estimate the effects on pregnancy and live-birth outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10857.

[Emergency plan for inter-hospital transfer of newborns with SARS-CoV-2 infection].

Since December 2019, the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become the most serious public health issue. As the special population with immature immune function, newborns with COVID-19 have been reported. Newborns with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be transferred to designated hospitals for isolation treatment. An emergency transfer response plan for newborns with COVID-19 has been worked out. This plan puts forward the indications for neonatal COVID-19 transfer, organization management, protection strategies for medical staff, work procedures, and disinfection methods for transfer equipment, in order to provide guidance and suggestions for the inter-hospital transfer of suspected or confirmed neonatal COVID-19.

Neck circumference as an independent indicator of visceral obesity in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Neck circumference (NC) was reported to be associated with visceral obesity in some specific subjects. However, no studies have reported whether NC could identify visceral obesity in the general population. Here, we mainly aimed to explore whether NC is suitable to identify visceral obesity in the general population. METHODS: Our data were from a cross-sectional survey on the prevalence of metabolic diseases and risk factors in East China from 2014 to 2015. A total of 9366 participants aged 18-93 were identified for analysis. Anthropometric indices, biochemical parameters and clinical characteristics were measured. The NC values were quartered according to sex. Spearman's correlation coefficient was employed to test the correlations between different variables. Linear regression and logistic regression were conducted to explore the relationship of NC with visceral adiposity indices and visceral obesity. RESULTS: Among the 9366 participants, 3938 (42.05%) were male and 5428 (57.95%) were female. NC had a positive correlation with the visceral adiposity indices, regardless of sex. In all quartiles of NC, in both men and women, as NC values increased, the values of all the fatness indices showed a tendency to increase (all P < 0.001). After full adjustment for demographic variables and metabolic factors, linear regression showed that NC was still associated with the fatness indices for visceral obesity (all P < 0.001). In addition, logistic analysis showed that a larger NC was associated with a higher risk of visceral obesity in both males (OR 32.34, 95% CI 24.02-43.53; P < 0.001) and females (OR 21.43, 95% CI 17.30-26.55; P < 0.001) after adjusting for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSION: NC can be a supplemental indicator for identifying visceral obesity in the general Chinese population.

The nine-year changes of the incidence and characteristics of metabolic syndrome in China: longitudinal comparisons of the two cross-sectional surveys in a newly formed urban community.

BACKGROUND: To assess the 9-year changes of the incidence and characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Chinese community under the background of dramatically changed environment. METHODS: Two cross-sectional surveys of the general population were carried out in 2005 and 2014 in Dengmin and Hongnan villages of Fengcheng community, a newly formed urban community from rural area 10 years ago. All permanent adult residents aged 18-80 without active malignant tumors and pregnancy were invited to attend the study. They participated in clinical examinations for anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Fasting blood samples were drawn for analysis of lipids and glucose. Presence of MetS was defined based on the IDF/AHA harmonized criteria. MetS z-score was calculated to evaluate the degree of total metabolic disorder. RESULTS: A total of 1042 subjects in 2005 and 1053 subjects in 2014 were included in the final analysis. The participants were stratified by gender. The incidence of MetS was higher in 2014 than 2005 in both genders (female, 48.28 vs 31.61 %; male, 41.12 vs 26.30 %; p value, both <0.001). Of the five MetS components, the FBG and TG levels were higher in 2014 than 2005 in both gender, however, the SBP and DBP values were even lower in 2014 than 2005. The differences of FBG, blood pressure and lipid levels between 2005 and 2014 still exist after ruling out recognized diabetic, hypertensive and dyslipidemic subjects, individually. In MetS subjects, MetS z-score showed the whole metabolic profile get worse in 2014 than 2005 in both sex (female, 1.97 ± 2.53 vs 1.74 ± 2.29; male, 2.51 ± 2.79 vs 1.01 ± 2.38. both P < 0.001). Using 3 abnormal components as a combination, we found the frequency of different kinds of combination also changed in MetS subjects. In female, the combination of WC + BP + HDL disorder decreased from 29.7 % (2005) to 11.0 % (2014) and WC + FBG + BP disorder became the most popular phenotype (18.8 %) in 2014. CONCLUSIONS: The dramatically changed environments have extensive influence on metabolic parameters of local residents. More targeted measures need to be taken to meet the serious challenges of metabolic diseases. Trial registration ChiCTR-ECS-14005052, http://www.chictr.org, Survey on Prevalence in East China for Metabolic Diseases and Risk Factors (SPECT-China).

The bioconcentration and degradation of nonylphenol and nonylphenol polyethoxylates by Chlorella vulgaris.

Nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPnEOs), a major class of nonionic surfactants, can easily enter into aquatic environments through various pathways due to their wide applications, which leads to the extensive existence of their relative stable metabolites, namely nonylphenol (NP) and mono- to tri-ethoxylates. This study investigated the bioconcentration and degradation of NP and NPnEO oligomers (n = 1-12) by a green algae, Chlorella vulgaris. Experimental results showed that C. vulgaris can remove NP from water phase efficiently, and bioconcentration and degradation accounted for approximately half of its loss, respectively, with a 48 h BCF (bioconcentration factor) of 2.42 × 10(3). Moreover, C. vulgaris could concentrate and degrade NPnEOs, distribution profiles of the series homologues of the NPnEOs in algae and water phase were quite different from the initial homologue profile. The 48 h BCF of the NPnEO homologues increased with the length of the EO chain. Degradation extent of total NPnEOs by C. vulgaris was 95.7%, and only 1.1% remained in water phase, and the other 3.2% remained in the algal cells. The algae removed the NPnEOs mainly through degradation. Due to rapid degradation, concentrations of the long chain NPnEO homologous in both water (n ≥ 2) and the algal phase (n ≥ 5) was quite low at the end of a 48 h experiment.

Distribution and fate of nonylphenol in an aquatic microcosm.

An aquatic microcosm consisting of four compartments, namely surface microlayer (SM), water sediment and biota (zebra fish), was developed to investigate the distribution and fate of nonylphenol (NP) in an aquatic environment. Level III and level IV fugacity-based multimedia models were used to calculate the distribution and fate of NP. Data obtained from model calculations were in good agreement with those of the experiments. Results of the model calculations showed that 86.50% of all NP input was removed by advective outflow, while 61.99% of the remainder was distributed to the sediment phase, 34.89% to the water phase, 2.50x10(-2)% to SM and 3.13% to the biotic phase. This finding demonstrates that sediment plays a key role in the fate of NP and acts as a sink in the aquatic environment. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) of NP in the zebra fish was high and varied in different parts of the fish. The highest BCF was 1440 in the viscera. After the uptake experiment, depuration of NP in clean water indicated that, the concentration of residue NP in the zebra fish was still high. This implies that NP in fish can pose a potential threat to human health due to its bioaccumulation in the food chain.

[Photodegradation of nonylphenol polyethoxylates in aqueous solution].

Two lamps, including simulated sunlight lamp and UVA-365 nm lamp, were used to study the kinetics and changes of component distribution of NPEOs mixture in solution during photodegradation, as well as the effect of H2O2 on the photodegradation. LC-MS was used to analyze the products of NPEOs photodegradation. It was found that photodegradation of NPEOs occurred under both simulated sunlight and UVA irradiation, with the degradation rate being 6.20 x 10(-3) micromol/(L x h) and 1.18 x 10(-2) micromol/(L x h), respectively. The component distribution of short chain NPEO(1,3) increased during the photodegradation process under simulated sunlight, while no obvious change was observed under UVA irradiation. The presence of the oxidant, H2O2, was found to be propitious to the photodegradation of NPEOs, especially under the irradiation of simulated sunlight. At different added concentrations of H2O2, the 96 h degradation percentage of NPEOs increased from 20.9% (non-H2O2) to 44.4% (0.01 mmol/L H2O2) and even 91.5% (1.00 mmol/L H2O2), respectively. The analysis for degradation products using LC-MS suggested that CA(3-9)PEC3 might he the major photodegradation products of NPEOs, based on which the reaction mechanism of NPEOs photodegradation was speculated.

Toxic effects of pentachlorophenol on Lemna polyrhiza.

This paper reports the toxic effects of pentachlorophenol (PCP) on duckweed, Lemna polyrhiza. The 8-day IC(50) of PCP to L. polyrhiza was 8.08 mg/L. At 0.2 and 0.5 mg/L, PCP inhibited L. polyrhiza chloroplast activity. At low PCP exposures, chloroplast activity was more sensitive than chlorophyll content of L. polyrhiza. At 0.2 and 0.5mg/L, PCP stimulated L. polyrhiza nitrate reductase activity. At 0.2 and 0.5mg/L PCP, duckweed peroxidase activity was 78.3% and 91.0% of the control test, respectively. The bioaccumulation factors (BCFs) of PCP in L. polyrhiza were 79 and 62 at 0.2 and 0.5mg/L PCP, respectively. This is the first study of the effect of PCP on peroxidase activity, nitrate reductase activity, and chloroplast activity of L. polyrhiza. The BCFs of PCP in L. polyrhiza are also for reported the first time.

Effect of illumination of nitrate and phosphate removal by coimmobilized Chlorella pyrenoidosa and activated sludge.

Chlorella pyrenoidosa and activated sludge were co-immobilized with simplifying modified PVA-sulfate method. Effects of light intensity and light:dark ratio on the growth of co-immobilized algae cells and removal of nitrate and phosphate were studied. The results indicate that the growth rate of co-immobilized algae cells reduces when light intensity is decreased from 4000 Lux to 1000 Lux, while optimal light:dark ratio for algal growth is 16:8. The influence of illumination on nitrate removal is so weak that the removal percentage can reach 90 approximately 100% within 12 approximately 24 h during the experimental periods in spite of changing illumination conditions. On the other hand, phosphate removal efficiency reduces when light intensity or light:dark ratio is decreased. The highest phosphate removal percentage is 99.6% under the circumstances of 4000 Lux and full-time illumination in our experiment, while the average phosphate removal is about 78%. The change of pH value in water samples is also observed. When water sample is treated by the co-immobilized system, pH value increases in light and decreases in dark. Microorganisms' physiological action is considered as the main mechanism that leads to the change of pH value.

Simultaneous determination of 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol and bisphenol A in Guanting Reservoir using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring.

The wide occurrence of estrogenic compounds 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol, bisphenol A in surface water of Guanting Reservoir was successfully determined. The target compounds in water samples were preconcentrated by liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane, derivatized by trifluoroacetic anhydride, and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) with selected ion monitoring (SIM). In the selected seven sampling sites (S1-S7), the concentration of NP in sample S7 was significantly higher than the other in reservoir. The status of pollution in S3 and S7 were much more serious. The concentrations of OP, NP and BPA were in the range of 44.5-48.8, 221.6-349.6 and 30.2-82.7 ng/L, respectively. The pollutants were mainly inputted from the upper river and released from sediments in Guanting Reservoir.

Determination of 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol and bisphenol A in surface waters from the Haihe River in Tianjin by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring.

The estrogenic pollutants 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), 4-nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) were determined in surface water samples from the Haihe River, Tianjin, China. The analytes were extracted and concentrated from 300 ml acidified water samples by liquid-liquid extractions using dichloromethane, derivatized with trifluoroacetic anhydride, and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with selected ion monitoring (SIM). Among the samples collected from 14 sampling sites, only one sample was found to have a relatively high concentration of BPA (8.30 microgl(-1)) and NP (0.55 microgl(-1)). The concentrations of OP, NP and BPA in the other samples were in the range of 18.0-20.2, 106-296 and 19.1-106 ngl(-1), respectively. Recoveries for OP, NP and BPA in the spiked water samples were all over 80%.

Photodegradation of pentachlorophenol by sunlight in aquatic surface microlayers.

Photodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in aquatic surface microlayer (SM) was examined under natural sunlight. SM samples were collected using a glass plate, along with corresponding subsurface waters. PCP was added to samples of the SM and subsurface water. When all samples were exposed to the same natural sunlight conditions, the first order photodegradation rates of PCP in the SM water samples were different from those of PCP in corresponding subsurface water samples. The difference was correlated with the enrichment of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in SM compared to the corresponding subsurface waters. Enhanced photodegradation in SM may be due to increased abundance of photoreactants related to the UV-absorbing properties of dissolved organic materials in the SM as the result of photo-induced reactions. Effects of environmental factors, pH and salinity, on photodegradation process of PCP in SM were also evaluated.

DEHP enrichment in the surface microlayer of a small eutrophic lake.

Investigation of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in the surface microlayer (SM) and subsurface water (SSW) of a small eutrophic lake was carried out from April to June 2002. Results obtained from the field samples showed that tens to several hundred mug/L of DEHP was found in each sample of SM and SSW, indicating that the lake has been polluted by DEHP. Linear regression analysis showed that concentrations of DEHP were more strongly correlated with sampling temperature than with chlorophyll a concentrations. Correlation between DEHP concentrations and total phosphor concentrations was also obtained. Enrichment factors (EFs) of DEHP in the SM comparing with the corresponding SSW were ranging over 0.85-2.12 with an average of 1.35. DEHP EFs were significantly related to both enrichment of chlorophyll a in the SM and sampling temperature.

Uptake of waterborne tributyltin in the brain of fish: axonal transport as a proposed mechanism.

In previous studies, it was shown that waterborne Hg(II), Cd(II), and Mn(II) enter nerves innervating water-exposed sensory organs of fish and are transported to the brain by axonal transport. However, it is not known if organometals, such as tributyltin (TBT), can reach the brain of fish via the same route. In this work, we exposed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to waterborne [113Sn]-TBT (4.2 kBq/L). Three fish were sampled after a 2-week exposure, and three others were sampled after a 2-week depuration period. Another group of four fish received an intravenous injection of [113Sn]-TBT and were sampled after 2 and 14 d. Distribution of the radiolabel was visualized and quantified by quantitative whole-body autoradiography. The brain accumulated a significant amount of 113Sn, with hot spots being found in parts receiving sensory nerves from water-exposed sensory organs, such as eminentia granulares (lateral lines organs). Labeling of the brain was also seen for i.v.-injected fish, indicating that the blood-brain barrier is not impervious to TBT or its metabolites. Nevertheless, the distribution of radioactivity in the brain was much more uniform, with no evident hot spot. Though the transfer [water --> gills --> blood stream --> blood-brain barrier --> brain] may account for a certain proportion of the radiolabel accumulation in fish brain, exposure to [113Sn]-TBT via water resulted in higher accumulation in some areas of the brain, of which the specific location strongly suggests that it was taken up in different water-exposed sensory nerve terminals and transported directly to the brain by axonal transport, as the parent compound or as a metabolite. The resulting local enhancement of the accumulation of butyltins might jeopardize the integrity of nervous system. Further work is needed to assess the toxicological significance of this process.

Temporal changes in the toxicity of pentachlorophenol to Chlorella pyrenidosa algae.

The toxicity of pentachlorophenol (PCP) on Chlorella pyrenidosa algae was investigated with specific attention given to possible variation of toxic effects with time. A concentration-effect relationship was observed in which there was significant inhibition of PCP on cell density and chlorophyll A content. The inhibition rate of PCP on cell density was dependent on exposure time. The IC50 values after exposure times of 2, 4 and 6 days for cell growth were 4.18 +/- 0.49, 3.49 +/- 0.40 and 3.30 +/- 0.26 mg/L, respectively. There was also inhibition of chlorophyll A production, which appeared to increase marginally with exposure time for a given concentration of PCP. The corresponding IC50 values on day 2, 4 and 6 were 2.30 +/- 0.12, 2.63 +/- 0.38 and 3.30 +/- 0.34 mg/L, respectively. The effect of PCP on nitrate reductase (NR), was first stimulation followed by an inhibition phase. It is postulated that the observed temporal changes in the activity of nitrate reductase (NR) may occur through the addition or loss of phosphorus in the NR protein.

Immobilization of Spirulina subsalsa for removal of triphenyltin from water.

Spirulina subsalsa is immobilized with alginate, which increases the growth rate, chlorophyll content, phycocyanin content and nitrate reductase activity. Immobilized Spirulina subsalsa with alginate increases absorption of triphenyltin chloride (TPT). The phycocyanin of immobilized Spirulina subsalsa is more sensitive to TPT then free alga. The immobilization enhances the toxic effect of TPT on nitrate reductase activity of Spirulina subsalsa. Experimental results demonstrate that the immobilization of Spirulina subsalsa is feasible. Removal of TPT by immobilized Spirulina subsalsa reaches 68%. Biosorption mechanism of TPT by Spirulina subsalsa should be further studied.

A multimedia fugacity river model of pentachlorophenol in South Drainage Canal, China.

An investigation of Pentachlorophenol (PCP) in South Drainage Canal and Haihe Estuary, Tianjin, China was carried out from 1998 to 1999. PCP was found in each sample of the surface microlayer, subsurface water, sediment and air. The waste drainage from a PCP-producing plant was the main pollution source of PCP to Haihe Estuary. The enrichment phenomenon of PCP in the surface microlayer was reported for the first time. The maximum enrichment factor was 4.11. A multimedia (including air, the surface microlayer, water and sediment) fugacity river model was established and successfully applied to fate data for pentachlorophenol in South Drainage Canal. The results showed that under steady state, 97.09% of the loaded PCP was removed by advective outflow into Bohai Bay and 2.46% was by the biodegradation in the water phase. The residue of PCP in South Drainage Canal mainly distributed (99.56%) in the water phase. The discharge rate of PCP from South Drainage Canal to Bohai Bay was 53.4 kg/h.