The effect of tDCS on inhibitory control and its transfer effect on sustained attention in children with autism spectrum disorder: An fNIRS study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have inhibitory control deficits. The combination of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and inhibitory control training produces good transfer effects and improves neuroplasticity. However, no studies have explored whether applying tDCS over the dlPFC improves inhibitory control and produces transfer effects in children with ASD. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether multisession tDCS could enhance inhibitory control training (response inhibition), near-transfer (interference control) and far-transfer effects (sustained attention; stability of attention) in children with ASD and the generalizability of training effects in daily life and the class, as reflected by behavioral performance and neural activity measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). METHODS: Twenty-eight autistic children were randomly assigned to either the true or sham tDCS group. The experimental group received bifrontal tDCS stimulation at 1.5 mA, administered for 15 min daily across eight consecutive days. tDCS was delivered during a computerized Go/No-go training task. Behavioral performance in terms of inhibitory control (Dog/Monkey and Day/Night Stroop tasks), sustained attention (Continuous Performance and Cancellation tests), prefrontal cortex (PFC) neural activity and inhibitory control and sustained attention in the class and at home were evaluated. RESULTS: Training (response inhibition) and transfer effects (interference control; sustained attention) were significantly greater after receiving tDCS during the Go/No-go training task than after receiving sham tDCS. Changes in oxyhemoglobin (HbO) concentrations in the dlPFC and FPA associated with consistent conditions in the Day/Night Stroop and Continuous Performance test were observed after applying tDCS during the inhibitory control training task. Notably, transfer effects can be generalized to classroom environments. CONCLUSION: Inhibitory control training combined with tDCS may be a promising, safe, and effective method for improving inhibitory control and sustained attention in children with ASD.

Exploring the Structural Attributes of Yoda1 for the Development of New-Generation Piezo1 Agonist Yaddle1 as a Vaccine Adjuvant Targeting Optimal T Cell Activation.

Piezo1, a mechano-activated ion channel, has wide-ranging physiological and therapeutic implications, with the ongoing development of specific agonists unveiling cellular responses to mechanical stimuli. In our study, we systematically analyzed the chemical subunits in Piezo1 protein agonist Yoda1 to comprehend the structure-activity relationship and push forward next-generation agonist development. Preliminary screening assays for Piezo1 agonism were performed using the Piezo1-mCherry-transfected HEK293A cell line, keeping Yoda1 as a positive control. We introduce a novel Piezo1 agonist Yaddle1 (34, 0.40 µM), featuring a trifluoromethyl group, with further exploration through in vitro studies and density functional theory calculations, emphasizing its tetrel interactions, to act as an ambidextrous wedge between the domains of Piezo1. In contrast to the poor solubility of the established agonist Yoda1, our results showed that the kinetic solubility of Yaddle1 (26.72 ± 1.8 µM at pH 7.4) is 10-fold better than that of Yoda1 (1.22 ± 0.11 µM at pH 7.4). Yaddle1 (34) induces Ca2+ influx in human CD4+ T cell, suggesting its potential as a vaccine adjuvant for enhanced T cell activation.

Phylogenomic data exploration with increased sampling provides new insights into the higher-level relationships of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera).

A robust and stable phylogenetic framework is a fundamental goal of evolutionary biology. As the third largest insect order in the world following Coleoptera and Diptera, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) play a central role in almost every terrestrial ecosystem as indicators of environmental change and serve as important models for biologists exploring questions related to ecology and evolutionary biology. However, for such a charismatic insect group, the higher-level phylogenetic relationships among its superfamilies are still poorly resolved. Compared to earlier phylogenomic studies, we increased taxon sampling among Lepidoptera (37 superfamilies and 68 families containing 263 taxa) and acquired a series of large amino-acid datasets from 69,680 to 400,330 for phylogenomic reconstructions. Using these datasets, we explored the effect of different taxon sampling with significant increases in the number of included genes on tree topology by considering a series of systematic errors using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. Moreover, we also tested the effectiveness in topology robustness among the three ML-based models. The results showed that taxon sampling is an important determinant in tree robustness of accurate lepidopteran phylogenetic estimation. Long-branch attraction (LBA) caused by site-wise heterogeneity is a significant source of bias giving rise to unstable positions of ditrysian groups in phylogenomic reconstruction. Phylogenetic inference showed the most comprehensive framework to reveal the relationships among lepidopteran superfamilies, and presented some newly relationships with strong supports (Papilionoidea was sister to Gelechioidea and Immoidea was sister to Galacticoidea, respectively), but limited by taxon sampling, the relationships within the species-rich and relatively rapid radiation Ditrysia and especially Apoditrysia remain poorly resolved, which need to increase taxon sampling for further phylogenomic reconstruction. The present study demonstrates that taxon sampling is an important determinant for an accurate lepidopteran tree of life and provides some essential insights for future lepidopteran phylogenomic studies.

RNA editing in host lncRNAs as potential modulator in SARS-CoV-2 variants-host immune response dynamics.

Both host and viral RNA editing plays a crucial role in host's response to infection, yet our understanding of host RNA editing remains limited. In this study of in-house generated RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data of 211 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with PreVOC, Delta, and Omicron variants, we observed a significant differential editing frequency and patterns in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), with Delta group displaying lower RNA editing compared to PreVOC/Omicron patients. Notably, multiple transcripts of UGDH-AS1 and NEAT1 exhibited high editing frequencies. Expression of ADAR1/APOBEC3A/APOBEC3G and differential abundance of repeats were possible modulators of differential editing across patient groups. We observed a shift in crucial infection-related pathways wherein the pathways were downregulated in Delta compared to PreVOC and Omicron. Our genomics-based evidence suggests that lncRNA editing influences stability, miRNA binding, and expression of both lncRNA and target genes. Overall, the study highlights the role of lncRNAs and how editing within host lncRNAs modulates the disease severity.

Environmental factors and particle size shape the community structure of airborne total and pathogenic bacteria in a university campus.

Given the dense population on university campuses, indoor and outdoor airborne bacterial contamination may lead to the rapid spread of diseases in a university environment. However, there are few studies of the characteristics of airborne and pathogenic bacterial communities in different sites on a university campus. In this study, we collected particulate matter samples from indoor and outdoor locations at a university in Bengbu City, Anhui Province, China, and analyzed the community characteristics of airborne and pathogenic bacteria using a high-throughput sequencing technique. The results showed that the composition of the dominant airborne and pathogenic bacterial communities was consistent among sites at the phylum and genus levels, with differences in their relative abundance. There were significant differences in the structure of the airborne and pathogenic bacterial communities between indoor and outdoor sites (p < 0.05). An analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) indicated that the structure of airborne bacterial communities in indoor sites was influenced by the room occupancy rate, ventilation conditions, and the extent of indoor furnishing (p < 0.05), while the structure of pathogenic bacterial communities was influenced by the number of individuals and spatial dimensions (p < 0.05). The impact of particle size on the structure of airborne and pathogenic bacterial communities was relatively minor. A total of 194 suspected pathogenic bacterial species were identified, accounting for 0.0001-1.3923% of the total airborne bacteria, all of which were conditional pathogens. Among them, Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula, Acinetobacter johnsonii, and Moraxella osloensis exhibited relatively high relative abundance, accounting for 24.40, 16.22, and 8.66% of the total pathogenic bacteria, respectively. Moreover, 18 emerging or re-emerging pathogenic bacterial species with significant implications for human health were identified, although their relative abundance was relatively low (0.5098%). The relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria in indoor environments was significantly higher than outdoors, with the laboratory and dormitory having the highest levels. The findings of this study provide valuable guidance for the prevention and control of airborne bacterial contamination and the associated health risks in both a campus environment and other public spaces with high occupancy rates.

The scheme, and regulative mechanism of pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis in radiation injury.

Radiotherapy (RT) stands as the primary treatment for tumors, but it inevitably causes damage to normal cells. Consequently, radiation injury is a crucial consideration for radiation oncologists during therapy planning. Cell death including apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis play significant roles in tumor treatment. While previous studies elucidated the induction of apoptosis and autophagy by ionizing radiation (IR), recent attention has shifted to pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis, revealing their effects induced by IR. This review aims to summarize the strategies employed by IR, either alone or in combination therapy, to induce pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis in radiation injury. Furthermore, we explore their effects and molecular pathways, shedding light on their roles in radiation injury. Finally, we summarize the regulative agents for these three types of cell death and their mechanisms. In summary, optimizing radiation dose, dose rate, and combined treatment plans to minimize radiation damage and enhance the killing effect of RT is a key focus.

Source analysis and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) in total suspended particulate matter (TSP) from Bengbu, China.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in total suspended particulate matter (TSP) samples collected from October, 2021 to September, 2022 were analyzed to clarify the pollution characteristics and sources of 16 PAHs in the atmospheric TSP in Bengbu City. The ρ(PAHs) concentrations ranged from 1.71 to 43.85 ng/m3 and higher concentrations were detected in winter, followed by spring, autumn, and summer. The positive matrix factorization analysis revealed that, in spring and summer, PAH pollution was caused mainly by industrial emissions, gasoline and diesel fuel combustion, whereas in autumn and winter, it was coal, biomass and natural gas combustion. The cluster and potential source factor analyses showed that long-range transport was a significant factor. During spring, autumn, and winter, the northern and northwestern regions had a significant impact, whereas the coastal area south of Bengbu had the greatest influence in summer. The health risk assessment revealed that the annual total carcinogenic equivalent concentration values for PAHs varied from 0.0159 to 7.437 ng/m3, which was classified as moderate. Furthermore, the annual incremental lifetime cancer risk values ranged from 1.431 × 10-4 to 3.671 × 10-3 for adults and from 6.823 × 10-5 to 1.749 × 10-3 for children, which were higher than the standard.

Synthesis and superconductivity in yttrium-cerium hydrides at high pressures.

Further increasing the critical temperature and/or decreasing the stabilized pressure are the general hopes for the hydride superconductors. Inspired by the low stabilized pressure associated with Ce 4f electrons in superconducting cerium superhydride and the high critical temperature in yttrium superhydride, we carry out seven independent runs to synthesize yttrium-cerium alloy hydrides. The synthetic process is examined by the Raman scattering and X-ray diffraction measurements. The superconductivity is obtained from the observed zero-resistance state with the detected onset critical temperatures in the range of 97-141 K. The upper critical field towards 0 K at pressure of 124 GPa is determined to be between 56 and 78 T by extrapolation of the results of the electrical transport measurements at applied magnetic fields. The analysis of the structural data and theoretical calculations suggest that the phase of Y0.5Ce0.5H9 in hexagonal structure with the space group of P63/mmc is stable in the studied pressure range. These results indicate that alloying superhydrides indeed can maintain relatively high critical temperature at relatively modest pressures accessible by laboratory conditions.

Cost-effectiveness of tumor-treating fields plus standard therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer progressed after platinum-based therapy in the United States.

Background: Tumor treating fields (TTF) was first approved for treatment of glioblastoma. Recently, the LUNAR study demonstrated that TTF + standard therapy (ST) extended survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This primary objective of this study is to analyze the cost-effectiveness of this treatment from the United States healthcare payers' perspective. Methods: A 3-health-state Markov model was established to compare the cost-effectiveness of TTF + ST and that of ST alone. Clinical data were extracted from the LUNAR study, supplemented by additional cost and utility data obtained from publications or online sources. One-way sensitivity analysis, probabilistic sensitivity analysis, and scenario analysis were conducted. The willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold per quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained was set to $150,000. The main results include total costs, QALYs, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and incremental net monetary benefit (INMB). Subgroup analyses were conducted for two types of ST, including immune checkpoint inhibitor, and docetaxel. Results: During a 10-year time horizon, the costs of TTF + ST and ST alone were $431,207.0 and $128,125.9, and the QALYs were 1.809 and 1.124, respectively. The ICER of TTF + ST compared to ST was $442,732.7 per QALY, and the INMB was -$200,395.7 at the WTP threshold. The cost of TTF per month was the most influential factor in cost-effectiveness, and TTF + ST had a 0% probability of being cost-effective at the WTP threshold compared with ST alone. Conclusion: TTF + ST is not a cost-effective treatment for advanced NSCLC patients who progressed after platinum-based therapy from the perspective of the United States healthcare payers.

An exploration of the value of NLR, PLR, LMR, and WBC × CRP for the diagnosis and treatment of influenza B in adults.

The aim of the study was to study the diagnostic and therapeutic utility of NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), LWR (lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio), PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio), and WBC × CRP (WBC: white cell count, CRP: C-reactive protein) in patients with influenza B. This retrospective study included 122 adult patients with influenza B, 176 adult patients with bacterial infection, and 119 adult healthy physical examinees for routine blood examination and CRP testing, calculation of NLR, LMR, PLR, and WBC × CRP for relevant statistical analysis, monitoring of NLR, LMR, PLR and WBC × CRP in patients with influenza B during relevant treatment. All indicators, except for WBC and NLR, had no statistical differences between the influenza B group, the normal control group, and the influenza B group and bacterial infection group, respectively, and showed no statistical significance for the differences between the groups. The diagnostic effect of LMR and WBC × CRP was deemed good or excellent in patients with influenza B, healthy people, and patients with a bacterial infection. Conversely, NLR and PLR could only distinguish patients with influenza B from healthy people but remained unable to identify different pathogens. Moreover, many false negatives were noted for WBC and CRP during the diagnosis of influenza B. Also, NLR, LMR, PLR, and WBC × CRP exerted a good effect in evaluating curative effect and conditions for influenza B. LMR and WBC × CRP have a relatively high value in the early diagnosis of adults suffering from influenza B. Also, NLR and PLR excelled at differentiating adult patients with influenza B from healthy people. Therefore, NLR, PLR, LMR, and WBC × CRP can all be used for disease course monitoring and efficacy evaluation.

Optimal sequence of LT for symptomatic BM in EGFR-mutant NSCLC: a comparative study of first-line EGFR-TKIs with/without upfront LT.

BACKGROUND: The third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) can penetrate blood-brain barrier and are effective for brain metastases (BMs). There is no consensus on the optimal sequence of local therapy (LT) and EGFR-TKIs for symptomatic BM patients because patients suffering neurological symptoms were not enrolled in most clinical trials. METHODS: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutation (EGFRm) and symptomatic BM receiving first-line osimertinib and aumolertinib from two medical centers were collected. All participants were allocated into the third-generation EGFR-TKIs (TKIs) group and the upfront LT (uLT) plus third-generation EGFR-TKIs (TKIs + uLT) group. Demographic data, survival outcomes, treatment failure patterns, and adverse events were evaluated between the two groups. We also conducted subgroup analyses to explore the impact of BM number on survival outcomes. RESULTS: 86 patients were enrolled, 44 in the TKIs group and 42 in the TKIs + uLT group. There were no significant differences in the short-term response between the groups. TKIs + uLT was associated with significantly longer overall survival (OS) (43 vs. 28 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17-0.77; p = .011). No differences in progression-free survival (PFS), intracranial PFS (iPFS), failure patterns, or safety were observed. In subgroup analyses of oligo-BM patients, TKIs + uLT could prolong OS (43 vs. 31 months; HR 0.22; 95% CI 0.05-0.92; p = .015). CONCLUSIONS: EGFRm NSCLC patients with symptomatic BM might benefit from uLT, particularly oligo-BM patients. However, larger prospective cohort studies should be carried out to confirm the responses of the TKIs + uLT scheme.

Differences in energy-saving benefits between the rich and poor: data-driven method to study equity of mandatory energy efficiency policy in Chongqing.

The equity of mandatory building energy efficiency design standards (BEEDSs) has not received sufficient attention, for there is little study emphasizing the equity between the rich and the poor from the perspective of mandatory energy policies. Therefore, this study is aimed at evaluating the heterogeneous effect of BEEDSs on the energy consumption of households with varying incomes based on household-level data (n = 1196) from Chongqing in China. The study indicates that the actual energy efficiency of the high-income group is 47%, whereas those of the middle- and low-income groups are 32% and 25%, respectively, compared to groups in the absence of BEEDSs. Furthermore, the energy-saving benefits of the rich are approximately twice that of the poor. Also, the Lorenz curve is used to describe the inequality in the distribution of energy-saving benefits, showing that the inequality coefficient is 0.25. This study provides a strong reference for the research and policy-making related to building energy efficiency.

Robotic-assisted organ-preserving or parenchymal-sparing pancreatectomy in pancreatic benign or low-grade malignant tumors: a single institute's experience.

AIM: Robotic-assisted pancreatectomy has been widely used. Organ-preserving pancreatectomy (OPP) and parenchymal-sparing pancreatectomy (PSP) has been gradually adopted for pancreatic benign or low-grade malignant tumors. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted OPP/PSP in our institute. METHODS: Patients undergoing robotic-assisted OPS/PSP at First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between July 2015 and October 2021 were included in this study. The short-term and long-term outcomes of patients were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were enrolled, including spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy, central pancreatectomy, duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection, and enucleation. Patients included were more likely to be young female (female: 46/72, median age: 47 years old). The median intraoperative blood loss and operation time was 50 ml and 255 min, respectively. Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula was 20.8% (grade B: 15/72, 20.8%; no grade C). The overall complication rate was 22.2% with the median postoperative length-of-stay of 8 days. At a median follow-up time of 28.5 months, the 5-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival rate were 100.0% and 100.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The short-term and long-term outcomes of patients receiving robotic-assisted OPP/PSP were acceptable. Robotic-assisted OPP/PSP was a feasible and safe technique for pancreatic benign or low-grade malignant lesions.

Resource Utilization of Waste Cooking Oil Catalyzed by Na2CO3/ZSM-5.

A catalyst with a simple synthetic process and good catalytic performance was prepared using Na2CO3 as the active component and ZSM-5 as the carrier for the resource utilization of waste cooking oil. The structure of Na2CO3/ZSM-5 was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy, and the effects of parameters such as Na2CO3 loading, catalyst percentage, and reaction time on the yield of fatty acid methyl esters were investigated. The results showed that the conversion of waste cooking oil to fatty acid methyl esters yielded up to 96.89% when the Na2CO3 loading was 35%, the reaction temperature was 65 °C, the reaction time was 2 h, and the catalyst percentage was 1 wt %. The Na2CO3/ZSM-5 catalyst could be used to replace H2SO4 or NaOCH3 in the industrial treatment of waste cooking oil for its resource utilization.

City-level building operation and end-use carbon emissions dataset from China for 2015-2020.

The building sector, which accounts for over 20% of China's total energy-related carbon emissions, has great potential to reduce emissions and is critical to achieving China's emissions peak and carbon neutrality targets. However, the lack of data on operational carbon emissions and end-use carbon emissions in the building sector at the city level has become a major barrier to the development of building energy conservation policies and carbon peaking action plans. This study uses a combination of "top-down" and "bottom-up" methods to account for the operational carbon emissions of buildings in 321 cities in China from 2015 to 2020. The energy consumption in buildings is further broken down into six end uses: central heating, distributed heating, cooking and water heating (C&W), lighting, cooling, appliances and others (A&O). The dataset can serve as a reference to support city-level policies on peak building emissions and is of great value for the improvement of the carbon emissions statistical accounting system.

Radiotherapy in Preclinical Models of Brain Metastases: A Review and Recommendations for Future Studies.

Brain metastases (BMs) frequently occur in primary tumors such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma, and are associated with notably short natural survival. In addition to surgical interventions, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, radiotherapy (RT) is a crucial treatment for BM and encompasses whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Validating the efficacy and safety of treatment regimens through preclinical models is imperative for successful translation to clinical application. This not only advances fundamental research but also forms the theoretical foundation for clinical study. This review, grounded in animal models of brain metastases (AM-BM), explores the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and emerging technologies such as nanomaterials and oxygen-containing microbubbles. Initially, we provided a concise overview of the establishment of AM-BMs. Subsequently, we summarize key RT parameters (RT mode, dose, fraction, dose rate) and their corresponding effects in AM-BMs. Finally, we present a comprehensive analysis of the current research status and future directions for combination therapy based on RT. In summary, there is presently no standardized regimen for AM-BM treatment involving RT. Further research is essential to deepen our understanding of the relationships between various parameters and their respective effects.

Application of thromboelastography to predict the severity of bleeding after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy in patients with hematological malignancy.

OBJECTIVES: We aim to analyze the predictive value of thromboelastography on bleeding severity of patients with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with refractory/relapsed hematological malignancy were enrolled and divided into two groups: the severe bleeding group and the non-severe bleeding group. The thromboelastography data was collected on the day of CAR-T infusion and the 3rd, 7th, 10th, 13th, 17th, and 20th day after CAR-T cell infusion. RESULTS: The patients of the severe bleeding group had lower platelet (p < .007), maximum amplitude (p = .002), coagulation index (p = .005), and longer coagulation time (p = .019). Increasing trend in reaction time and coagulation time and decreasing trend in Alpha, maximum amplitude, and coagulation index on Days 0-10, opposite on Days 10-20. Univariate logistic regression analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis showed maximum amplitude on the 3rd day after CAR-T cell infusion (MA3) (OR = 0.9; 95% CI = 0.84-0.95; p < .001) and cytokine release syndrome grade (OR = 2.57; 95% CI = 1.35-5.32; p = .006) were significantly associated with high bleeding severity. CONCLUSIONS: Thromboelastography was considered to be a good predictor of bleeding severity.

The Hybrid of Cu─TCPP@Mn3 O4 for Inflammation Relief by ROS Scavenging and O2 Production: An Efficient Strategy for Antiviral Therapy.

Seasonal influenza still greatly threatens public health worldwide, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Antiviral medications for influenza treatment are limited and accompanied by increased drug resistance. In severe influenza virus infection, hyperinflammation and hypoxia may be the significant threats associated with mortality, so the development of effective therapeutic methods to alleviate excessive inflammation while reducing viral damage is highly pursued. Here, a multifunctional MOF-based nanohybrid of Cu─TCPP@Mn3 O4 as a novel drug against influenza A virus infection (MOF = metal-organic framework; TCPP = tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin) is designed. Cu─TCPP@Mn3 O4 exhibits potent inhibitory capability against influenza A virus infection in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism study reveals that Cu─TCPP@Mn3 O4 inhibits the virus entry by binding to the HA2 subunit of influenza A virus hemagglutinin. In addition, the nanoparticles of Mn3 O4 in Cu─TCPP@Mn3 O4 can scavenge intracellular ROS with O2 generation to downregulate inflammatory factors and effectively inhibit cytokines production. By reconstructing the antioxidant microenvironment, Cu─TCPP@Mn3 O4 features as a promising nanomedicine with anti-inflammatory and anti-viral synergistic effects.

Multi-pathway exposure assessment of organophosphate flame retardants in a southern Chinese population: Main route identification with compound-specificity.

In this study, we conducted comprehensive organophosphorus flame retardant (PFR) exposure assessments of both dietary and non-dietary pathways in a rural population in southern China. Skin wipes were collected from 30 volunteers. Indoor and outdoor air (gas and particles), dust in the houses of these volunteers, and foodstuffs consumed by these volunteers were simultaneously collected. The total PFR concentrations in dust, gas, and PM2.5 varied from 53.8 to 5.14 × 105 ng/g, 0.528 to 4.27 ng/m3, and 0.390 to 16.5 ng/m3, respectively. The forehead (median of 1.36 × 103 ng/m2) and hand (median of 920 ng/m2) exhibited relatively high PFR concentrations, followed by the forearm (median of 440 ng/m2) and upper arm (median of 230 ng/m2). The PFR concentrations in the food samples varied from 0.0700 to 10.9 ng/g wet weight in the order of egg > roast duck/goose and vegetable > pork > chicken > fish. Tris(1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate (TCPP) was the main PFR in the non-diet samples, whereas the profiles of PFR individuals varied by food type. Among the multiple pathways investigated (inhalation, dermal exposure, dust ingestion, and food ingestion), dermal absorption and dust ingestion were the predominant pathways for tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and bisphenol A-bis(diphenyl phosphate) (BDP), respectively, whereas dietary exposure was the most important route for other chemicals.