Routine blood parameters as auxiliary diagnostic tools for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children.

Introduction. Recently, the incidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) infection in children has been increasing annually. Early differential diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection can not only avoid the abuse of antibiotics, but also is essential for early treatment and reduction of transmission.Gap statement. The change of routine blood parameters may have important clinical significance for the diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection, but it has not been reported so far.Aim. This study aims to establish a predictive model for M. pneumoniae infection and explore the changes and clinical value of routine blood parameters in children with M. pneumoniae infection, serving as auxiliary indicators for the diagnosis and differentiation of clinical M. pneumoniae infection.Methodology. A total of 770 paediatric patients with respiratory tract infections were enrolled in this study, including 360 in the M. pneumoniae group, 40 in the SARS-CoV-2 group, 200 in the influenza A virus group, and 170 in the control group. The differences of routine blood parameters among all groups were compared, and risk factors were analysed using multivariate logistics analysis, and the diagnostic efficacy of differential indicators using ROC curves.Results. This study revealed that Mono% (OR: 3.411; 95% CI: 1.638-7.102; P=0.001) was independent risk factor associated with M. pneumoniae infection, and Mono% (AUC=0.786, the optimal cutoff at 7.8%) had a good discriminative ability between patients with M. pneumoniae infection and healthy individuals. Additionally, Mono% (OR: 0.424; 95% CI: 0.231-0.781; P=0.006) and Lymp% (OR: 0.430; 95% CI: 0.246-0.753; P=0.003) were independent risk factors for distinguishing M. pneumoniae infection from influenza A virus infection, and the Lymp% (AUC=0.786, the optimal cutoff at 22.1%) and Net% (AUC=0.761, the optimal cutoff at 65.2%) had good discriminative abilities between M. pneumoniae infection and influenza A infection. Furthermore, platelet distribution width (OR: 0.680; 95% CI: 0.538-0.858; P=0.001) was independent risk factor for distinguishing M. pneumoniae infection from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Meanwhile, the ROC curve demonstrated that PDW (AUC=0.786, the optimal cutoff at 15%) has a good ability to differentiate between M. pneumoniae infection and SARS-CoV-2 infection.Conclusion. This study demonstrates that routine blood parameters can be used as auxiliary diagnostic indicators for M. pneumoniae infection and provide reference for the diagnosis and differentiation of clinical M. pneumoniae infection.

Elastic Self-Recovering Hybrid Nanogenerator for Water Wave Energy Harvesting and Marine Environmental Monitoring.

To achieve large-scale development of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for water wave energy harvesting and powering the colossal sensors widely distributed in the ocean, facile and scalable TENGs with high output are urgently required. Here, an elastic self-recovering hybrid nanogenerator (ES-HNG) is proposed for water wave energy harvesting and marine environmental monitoring. The elastic skeletal support of the ES-HNG is manufactured using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, which is more conducive to the large-scale integration of the ES-HNG. Moreover, the combination of a TENG and an electromagnetic generator (EMG) optimizes the utilization of device space, leading to enhanced energy harvesting efficiency. Experimental results demonstrate that the TENG achieves a peak power output of 42.68 mW, and the EMG reaches a peak power output of 4.40 mW. Furthermore, various marine environment monitoring sensors, such as a self-powered wireless meteorological monitoring system, a wireless alarm system, and a water quality monitoring pen, have been successfully powered by the sophisticated ES-HNG. This work introduces an ES-HNG for water wave energy harvesting, which demonstrates potential in marine environment monitoring and offers a new solution for the sustainable development of the marine internet of things.

Pd-Catalyzed Enantioselective Desymmetrizing 1,7-Enyne Cycloisomerization of Alkyne-Tethered Cyclopentenes.

An enantioselective Pd-catalyzed intramolecular desymmetrizing cycloisomerization of N-(cyclopent-3-en-1-yl)propiolamides has been developed by employing a new chiral phosphoramidite ligand. A series of structurally unique bridged azabicycles are achieved in moderate to excellent yields with good E/Z selectivity and high enantioselectivity. Synthetic transformations are conducted to demonstrate the practical utility of this reaction.

Radiomics-enhanced early regression index for predicting treatment response in rectal cancer: a multi-institutional 0.35 T MRI-guided radiotherapy study.

PURPOSE: The accurate prediction of treatment response in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients undergoing MRI-guided radiotherapy (MRIgRT) is essential for optimising treatment strategies. This multi-institutional study aimed to investigate the potential of radiomics in enhancing the predictive power of a known radiobiological parameter (Early Regression Index, ERITCP) to evaluate treatment response in LARC patients treated with MRIgRT. METHODS: Patients from three international sites were included and divided into training and validation sets. 0.35 T T2*/T1-weighted MR images were acquired during simulation and at each treatment fraction. The biologically effective dose (BED) conversion was used to account for different radiotherapy schemes: gross tumour volume was delineated on the MR images corresponding to specific BED levels and radiomic features were then extracted. Multiple logistic regression models were calculated, combining ERITCP with other radiomic features. The predictive performance of the different models was evaluated on both training and validation sets by calculating the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: A total of 91 patients was enrolled: 58 were used as training, 33 as validation. Overall, pCR was observed in 25 cases. The model showing the highest performance was obtained combining ERITCP at BED = 26 Gy with a radiomic feature (10th percentile of grey level histogram, 10GLH) calculated at BED = 40 Gy. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of this combined model was 0.98 for training set and 0.92 for validation set, significantly higher (p = 0.04) than the AUC value obtained using ERITCP alone (0.94 in training and 0.89 in validation set). CONCLUSION: The integration of the radiomic analysis with ERITCP improves the pCR prediction in LARC patients, offering more precise predictive models to further personalise 0.35 T MRIgRT treatments of LARC patients.

Palladium-Catalyzed Dearomative Heck/Suzuki Coupling of C2-Deuterated or C2-Nonsubstituted Indoles.

A palladium-catalyzed dearomative diarylation of C2-deuterated or C2-nonsubstituted indoles through domino Heck/Suzuki coupling is established. Relying on electron-deficient phosphite ligand, side reactions including intermolecular Suzuki coupling and intramolecular C-D/H arylation are inhibited and a wide range of 2,3-diarylated indolines bearing vicinal tertiary stereocenters including deuterated ones are afforded in moderate to excellent yields (up to 94%) and excellent diastereoselectivities (>20:1). The catalyst loading can be lowered to 0.02 mol % at elevated temperature.

[Response Characteristics of Soil Fungal Community Structure to Long-term Continuous Cropping of Pepper].

This study aimed to clarify the effect of long-term continuous cropping of pepper on soil fungal community structure, reveal the mechanism of continuous cropping obstacles, and provide a theoretical basis for the ecological safety and sustainable development of pepper industry. We took the pepper continuous cropping soil in the vegetable greenhouse planting base of Tongren City as the research object. The diversity and community structure of fungi in farmland soil were analyzed using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing, the responses of soil physio-chemical properties and fungal community characteristics to long-term continuous pepper cropping were discussed, and the relationships between the characteristics of fungal community structure and environmental factors were determined using CCA and correlation network analysis. The results showed that with the extension of pepper continuous cropping years, the soil pH value and organic matter (OM) content decreased, total phosphorus (TP) and available phosphorus (AP) contents increased, hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN) and available potassium (AK) contents decreased first and then increased, and total nitrogen (TN) and total potassium (TK) contents did not change significantly. Long-term continuous cropping decreased the Chao1 index and observed species index and decreased the Shannon index and Simpson index. The change in continuous cropping years had a significant effect on the relative abundance of soil fungal dominant flora. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Mortierellomycota decreased with the extension of pepper continuous cropping years, the relative abundance of Ascomycota increased first and then decreased, and the relative abundance of Basidiomycota decreased first and then increased. At the genus level, with the increasing of pepper continuous cropping years, the relative abundance of Fusarium increased, and the relative abundance of Mortierella and Penicillium decreased. In addition, long-term continuous cropping simplified the soil fungal symbiosis network. CCA analysis indicated that pH, OM, TN, AN, AP, and AK were the driving factors of soil fungal community structure, and correlation network analysis showed that pH, OM, TN, TP, TK, AN, AP, and AK were the driving factors of soil fungal community structure, including Fusarium, Lophotrichus, Penicillium, Mortierella, Botryotrichum, Staphylotrichum, Plectosphaerella, and Acremonium. In conclusion, continuous cropping changed the soil physical and chemical properties, affected the diversity and community structure of the soil fungal community, changed the interaction between microorganisms, and destroyed the microecological balance of the soil, which might explain obstacles associated with continuous cropped pepper.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-Induced Protein-3 Inhibits the Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells by Regulating the p65 Molecule in the NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein-3, also called A20, is a zinc-finger protein that participates in various inflammatory responses; however, the putative relationship between A20 and hepatic fibrosis remains unelucidated. Therefore, we investigated the role and mechanism of action of A20 in activating hepatic stellate cells (HSC) during the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), colony growth, transwell assays, cell cycle analysis, and apoptosis assays were performed to explore the effect of A20 on cell function in vitro. An interspecies intravenous injection of the adeno-associated virus was used to assess the in vivo role of A20. The regulation of A20 on p65 was detected using mass spectrometry and immunoprecipitation. Our findings revealed that A20 was highly expressed in the liver tissues of patients with hepatic fibrosis and that the expression level of A20 in the liver tissue was closely correlated with the stage of liver fibrosis. In the LX-2 cell line, the downregulation of A20 upregulated the expression of fibrosis-related proteins and increased the expression of inflammatory factors, indicating the activation of HSC and vice versa. In addition, overexpression of A20 in mice reduced the degree of liver fibrosis in thioacetamide model mice. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that A20 could interact with p65. Hence, A20 inhibits HSC activation by binding to p65.

Analysis of effects of trastuzumab assisted modified DOF fortnightly regimen on serum tumor markers and survival rate in patients with cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer / 中国癌症杂志

Background and purpose:Trastuzumab has a relatively low incidence of drug resistance,which can be used as an adjuvant treatment to improve clinical efficacy.It has been used to treat breast cancer in the past,but its application in other cancers has been less studied.This study aimed to explore the effects of trastuzumab assisted modified DOF fortnightly regimen on serum tumor markers and survival rate in cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer patients,in order to provide more references for the selection of clinical treatment methods for cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer.Methods:Eighty patients with cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer treated in Harison International Peace Hospital from January 2017 to January 2019 were selected as the study objects,and they were divided into observation group and control group according to random number table method.All of them received improved DOF fortnightly treatment,and trastuzumab adjuvant treatment was added to the observation group on this basis.The serum tumor markers[serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9),CA72-4],serum neovascular markers[vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),pigment epithelial derived factor(PEDF),angiopoietin-2(Ang-2)],biochemical indicators[N-terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide(NT proBNP),aspartate transaminase(AST),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),alanine aminotransferase(ALT)],adverse reactions and survival rate were compared between two groups.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Harison International Peace Hospital(number:20160511).Results:After treatment,CEA,CA19-9 and CA72-4 in both groups decreased,and CEA,CA19-9 and CA72-4 levels were lower in the observation group than in the control group with statistical significance(P＜0.01).After treatment,VEGF,PEDF and Ang-2 in two groups decreased,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).The levels of VEGF,PEDF and Ang-2 were compared between the two groups before and after treatment,and there was no significant difference(P＞0.05).The levels of NT-proBNP,AST,BUN and ALT were compared between the two groups before and after treatment,and there was no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).The number of patients with fatigue,gastrointestinal reaction and myelosuppression and the total incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups,and there was no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).At 5 years after treatment,11 cases(27.5%)survived and 29 cases(72.5%)died in the observation group.There were 3 cases(7.5%)of survival and 37 cases(92.5%)of death in the control group.The median survival was 2 years(95%CI:1.8-2.2)in the observation group and 1 year(95%CI:0.6-1.4)in the control group.The survival rate of 1-5 years was higher in the observation group than in the control group.The difference was statistically significant(log-rank χ2 = 13.853,P = 0.001).Conclusion:In the clinical treatment of cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer,trastuzumab assisted modified DOF fortnightly regimen suggests that it can reduce the expression levels of serum tumor markers,improve the 5-year survival rate of patients,and has certain drug safety.

Effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on mitochondrial oxidative damage and PKCε-Nampt pathway in rats following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion / 中成药

AIM To explore the effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on mitochondrial oxidative damage and PKCε-Nampt pathway in rats following cerebral ischemia reperfusion(I/R).METHODS The rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group,the model group,Buyang Huanwu Decoction group(14.3 g/kg)and edaravone group(3 mg/kg).Except those of the sham operation group,SD rats of other groups were induced into models of brain I/R injury by MCAO method,followed by corresponding drug administration 24 hours after operation.After 7 days of administration,the rats had their neurological deficit evaluated by neurological function scoring;thier expression of neuron marker MAP-2 detected by immunofluorescence staining;their neuron damage observed and the oxidative damage evaluated through assessment of their ROS levels and MDA and SOD activities;their changes of mitochondrial membrane potential detected by fluorescent probe JC-1;their ratio of NAD+/NADH detected using modified enzyme circulation method;their expressions of PKCε,p-PKCε and Nampt proteins detected with Western blot;and their positive expressions of p-PKCε and Nampt proteins detected with immunohistochemistry method.RESULTS Compared with the model group,Buyang Huanwu Decoction group shared decreased cerebral infarction volume and neurological function score(P<0.05);increased cerebral fluorescence intensity of MAP-2(P<0.05);reduced neuronal damage,decreased cerebral levels of ROS and MDA(P<0.05);increased SOD activity,mitochondrial membrane potential and NAD+/NADH ratio(P<0.05);and increased protein expressions of p-PKCε and Nampt(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Buyang Huanwu Decoction can improve mitochondrial function and reduce brain I/R injury in rats by activating their PKCε-Nampt signaling pathway.

A nomogram model for predicting spontaneous rupture and bleeding of renal angiomyolipoma / 现代泌尿外科杂志

【Objective】 To establish a risk model for predicting spontaneous rupture bleeding of renal angiomyolipoma (RAML) in order to better assess and deal with the risk. 【Methods】 The information of 436 RAML patients diagnosed during Jan.2018 and Dec.2022 was retrospectively analyzed.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 216 patients were included and divided into the rupture bleeding group (n=35) and non-rupture bleeding group (n=181).The factors influencing spontaneous rupture bleeding were identified using univariate and multivariate analysis, and a nomogram was constructed accordingly with R language.The nomogram was evaluated using Calibration curve and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC). 【Results】 It was found that clinical manifestations, tumor diameter, tumor convexity, tumor blood supply, and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) were significantly correlated with rupture bleeding.The Calibration curve fitted well with the nomogram.The AUC was 0.956 (95%CI: 0.856-0.943), indicating that the nomogram had good statistical performance. 【Conclusion】 The model can effectively predict the risk of spontaneous rupture bleeding of renal angiomyolipoma.

The relationship between HRD score based on GSS algorithm and clinicopathological characteristics, genomic mutations and prognosis in patients with high-risk and metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer / 现代泌尿外科杂志

【Objective】 To statistically analyze the relationship between homologous recombination repair deficiency (HRD) score and clinicopathological characteristics, genomic mutations in patients with high-risk and metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) and the prognostic predictive value in mHSPC. 【Methods】 A total of 127 patients diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer and mHSPC, treated at the Department of Urology of Chinese PLA General Hospital during Dec.2021 and Nov.2023 were enrolled.Homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene sequencing was performed, and the genomic scar score (GSS) algorithm were conducted to calculate the HRD score.The relationship between HRD scores and clinicopathological features, genomic alterations, and prognosis were analyzed. 【Results】 The median HRD score was 1.6(0.8, 5.2), 30(23.6%) patients’ HRD scores ≥10, and 11(8.7%) patients’ HRD scores ≥20.Clinicopathological features, including ISUP classification ≥4 (P=0.044) and metastatic status (P=0.008) were associated with high HRD score.Patients with mutations in the BRCA, TP53 and MYC systems had significantly higher HRD score than those with wild-type genes (P<0.05).In mHSPC, the risk of biochemical recurrence was 12.836 times higher in patients with HRD score ≥20 than in those with <20 [OR:12.836 (1.332-124.623), P=0.028]. 【Conclusion】 Baseline HRD score was lower in patients with high-risk prostate cancer and mHSPC.Patients with high HRD score may have higher histological grading (ISUP≥4) and later clinical stage.Further investigation is needed to determine the threshold of HRD scores as biochemical markers suggestive of a poor prognosis.

Analysis of depressive symptoms and influencing factors among middle and high school students from 2018 to 2021 in Zhejiang Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms among middle and high school students in Zhejiang Province, so as to provide scientific basis for the implementation of depressive intervention.@*Methods@#Based on the health status and associated factors of middle and high school students in the project "Monitoring of Common Diseases and Health Influencing Factors of Students" during 2018 to 2021, a total of 73 309 students including middle school, ordinary high school and vocational high school surveyed in 11 cities of Zhejiang Province were selected by multi stage stratified cluster random sampling method. From 2018 to 2021, there were 6 008, 21 917, 23 712 and 21 672 students, respectively. The Chi square test and Logistic regression model were used to analyze the influencing factors of depressive symptoms in middle and high school students.@*Results@#From 2018 to 2021, depressive symptoms detection rate of middle school students was 14.8%, with higher rate in girls (17.1%) than in boys (12.7%), higher rate in high school (17.1% in ordinary high school, 17.6% in vocational high school) than middle school (12.5%)( χ 2=278.77, 327.22, P <0.05). Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in depressive symptoms detection rate among middle school students with different years (2018: 16.7%，2019: 17.9% , 2020: 13.1%, 2021: 13.0%), residence (yes: 16.3%, no:13.5%), body mass index classification (not overweight or obesity: 14.8%, overweight: 14.2%, Obesity: 15.7%), weekly exercise days (0-2 d: 17.1%, 3-5 d: 12.5%, 6-7 d: 13.1%) and bullying (yes: 35.5%, no: 10.7%) ( χ 2=293.40, 118.35, 7.83, 287.24, 4 978.84, P <0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that female students, ordinary high schools, vocational high schools, obesity, school bullying were positively correlated with depression ( OR =1.65, 1.70, 1.60, 1.12, 5.21), exercise 3 to 5 days per week, exercise 6 to 7 days per week were negatively correlated with depression ( OR=0.77, 0.81, P <0.01).@*Conclusions@#Depressive symptoms among middle and high school students in Zhejiang Province are prominent. Strengthening mental health education for students and providing attention and support from families, schools, and society are essential steps to reduce the occurrence of depressive symptoms among these students.

Analysis of micronucleus rate in 394 radiation workers with cytokinesis-block micronucleus method / 中国辐射卫生

Objective To analyze the micronucleus rate of radiation workers and to provide accurate occupational health monitoring basis in radiation workers exposed to low-level ionizing radiation for a long time. Methods The radiation group consisted of 353 radiation workers who had been exposed to ionizing radiation during work, while the control group consisted of 41 radiation workers who had not yet been exposed to ionizing radiation before work. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus method was used to determine the micronucleus rate. Results The average micronucleus rate in the radiation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (t = −2.95, P < 0.05). In the radiation group, the micronucleus rate gradually increased with age, and the difference was statistically significant (F = 8.36, P < 0.05). The micronucleus rates of workers with > 10 and > 30 years of service were significantly higher than those of workers with < 10 years of service (χ2 = −44.79, −60.47, P < 0.05). The micronucleus rate in females was significantly higher than that in males (t = 3.93, P < 0.05). The micronucleus rates in the diagnostic radiology group and the industrial detection group were significantly higher than that in the control group (t = 3.51, 3.65, P < 0.05). Conclusion The micronucleus rate has increased among the radiation workers exposed to low-level ionizing radiation for a long time. It is necessary to further strengthen occupational health monitoring and radiation protection education for radiation workers, especially the medical workers that constitute the largest population of radiation exposure workers.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of direct thrombectomy and bridging thrombectomy in the treat-ment of acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke under different collateral circulation statuses / 新乡医学院学报

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of direct thrombectomy versus bridging thrombectomy in the treatment of acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke under different collateral circulation statuses.Methods Totally 93 patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from September 2020 to March 2023 were selected as the research subjects.Patients were divided into direct throm-bectomy group(n=47)and bridging thrombectomy group(n=46)based on the type of thrombectomy.Patients in the direct thrombectomy group received direct intravascular thrombectomy,while patients in the bridging thrombectomy group received intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase combined with mechanical thrombectomy.According computed tomography angiography,the collateral circulation Tan classification was applied to divide the patients into good collateral circulation sub-group and poor collateral circulation sub-group.The modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grading(mTICI)was used to evaluate vessel recanalization.Head computed tomography plain scan was performed at 24-48 hours postoperatively to assess if there was hemorrhagic transformation,and modified Rankin Scale score was performed at 90 days postoperatively.Information such as imaging examination time,femoral artery puncture time,vessel recanalization time after thrombectomy,prognosis and spontaneous non-traumatic symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage(SICH)were collected.Results The age,gender,baseline Alberta stroke program early computed tomography score,baseline national institutes of health stroke scale score,proportions of hypertension,diabetes and atrial fibrillation,baseline systolic pressure,creatinine,baseline blood glucose,platelet count,occlusion site,stroke etiologies and collateral circulation status of patients in the two groups were not statistically significantly different(P＞0.05).There were no significant differences in the post-admission imaging examination time,femoral artery puncture time,vessel recanalization time after thrombectomy,successful vascular reperfusion rate,good prognosis rate,mortality rate,and SICH incidence between the two groups(P＞0.05).The hemorrhagic transformation rate of patients in the direct thrombectomy group was significantly lower than that in the bridging thrombectomy group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the post-admission imaging examination time,femoral artery puncture time,vessel recanalization time after thrombectomy,successful vascular reperfusion rate,good prognosis rate,mortality rate,and SICH incidence between patients with good collateral circulation and patients with poor collateral circulation in the two groups(P＞0.05).The hemorrhagic transformation rate of patients with good and poor collateral circulation in the direct thrombectomy group was significantly lower than that in the bridging thrombectomy group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Under different collateral circulation conditions,the safety and efficacy of direct thrombectomy and bridging thrombectomy in the treatment of acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke are similar,but bridging thrombectomy is more likely to result in cerebral hemorrhage transformation compared with direct thrombectomy.

Concentrations and sociodemographic determinants of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in women pregnant using assisted reproduction technology in comparison with women pregnant naturally / 环境与职业医学

Background Per- and polyfuoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are categorized as persistent organic pollutants and commonly detected in humans, and their toxicity has attracted widespread attention. However, few studies have reported comparison of PFAS levels and potential factors between women pregnant using assisted reproduction technology (ART) and women pregnant naturally. Objective To analyze and compare serum concentrations and sociodemographic determinants of PFAS in pregnant women conceiving through ART and conceiving naturally from Shanghai. Methods Based on the China National Birth Cohort (CNBC) in Shanghai from 2017 to 2019, 333 pregnant women conceiving through ART and 689 pregnant women conceiving naturally were recruited during the same period as study subjects. The concentrations of 32 PFAS were measured in early-pregnancy serum of all pregnant women, and four PFAS with the highest co-exposure levels in both groups were included in the subsequent analysis. Multiple linear regression models were performed to evaluate the associations of sociodemographic factors with serum PFAS concentrations in the two groups respectively. Beta coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were exponentiated to calculate the ratio of the geometric mean (GM) of PFAS concentrations after each unit change in the independent variable. Results Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), 6∶2 chlorinated polyfluoroethersulfonic acid (6∶2 Cl-PFESA), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) were four major PFAS in serum of pregnant women conceiving through ART and conceiving naturally, and the concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and 6∶2 Cl-PFESA were higher in pregnant women conceiving through ART than in pregnant women conceiving naturally (P <0.05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that age at pregnancy and household income were associated with serum PFAS levels in both groups. The serum concentrations of PFOS were higher in pregnant women aged ≥35 years old who conceiving through ART (GM ratio=1.26, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.54) and conceiving naturally (GM ratio=1.24, 95%CI: 1.08, 1.42) than pregnant women aged <30 years old respectively. Pregnant women conceiving through ART and conceiving naturally whose household annual income >300000 CNY had lower serum concentrations of PFOA [GM ratio (95%CI): 0.82 (0.72, 0.95) and 0.89 (0.81, 0.97), respectively] and PFHxS [GM ratio (95%CI): 0.66 (0.51, 0.86) and 0.77 (0.66, 0.90), respectively] than those women whose household annual income <200000 CNY. Additionally, pregnant women conceiving naturally with a graduate education or above had lower serum 6∶2 Cl-PFESA concentrations than women with an education below college (GM ratio: 0.81), and multiparous pregnant women conceiving naturally had higher serum concentrations of PFOS, 6∶2 Cl-PFESA, and PFHxS than primiparous pregnant women (GM ratio: 1.14, 1.25, and 1.27 respectively). Conclusion Although differences in serum PFAS levels are found between pregnant women conceiving through ART and women conceiving naturally in this study, maternal age and household income are common determinants of PFAS exposure levels in both populations. We find no special sociodemographic factors to affect PFAS concentrations of pregnant women conceiving through ART compared to pregnant women conceiving naturally. Further research is required to explore other potential factors.

Preconceptional exposure levels and determinants of multiple pesticides among women undergoing assisted reproductive technology in Shanghai / 环境与职业医学

Background Pesticide exposure may impact the reproductive health of women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, data on pesticide exposure levels in women undergoing ART in China are scarce, and current research on influencing factors is limited. Objective To evaluate the preconceptional pesticide exposure levels and identify potential determinants among women undergoing ART. Methods This study was designed as a cross-sectional survey and recruited 508 women undergoing ART from July 2017 to December 2018 at the fertility clinic of the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Gas chromatography/liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine the metabolite concentrations of organophosphate pesticides (OPs), pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs), and neonicotinoid pesticides (NEOs) in urine. The sum of molar concentrations of the three pesticide classes (∑2OPs, ∑2PYRs, and ∑2NEOs) were calculated. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics, dietary habits, and behavioral information. Multiple linear regression was employed to analyze the associations of demographic characteristics, dietary habits, and behavioral variables with the concentrations of pesticide metabolites in urine among the participants. Results The median creatinine-adjusted concentrations of ∑2OPs, ∑2PYRs, and ∑2NEOs in this study were 419.77, 2.95, and 20.36 nmol·g−1, respectively. The multiple linear regression results showed that the urinary concentration of ∑2OPs was 42.88% higher in the participants with daily vegetable intake than in those who consumed vegetables ≤3 d per week (P<0.05), and the urinary concentration of ∑2PYRs was 37.24% higher in the participants with daily fruit intake than in those who consumed fruits ≤3 d per week (P<0.01). Similarly, the urinary concentrations of ∑2NEOs were 24.51% and 29.30% higher in the participants who consumed fruits daily and 4-6 d per week, respectively, than in those who consumed fruits ≤3 d per week (P<0.05). Besides, we also found that the urinary concentration of ∑2PYRs was negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI) in the participants (P<0.05). Furthermore, the urinary concentration of ∑2NEOs was not only positively correlated with age (P<0.05), but also significantly associated with pet ownership and infertility causes among the participants. Specifically, the participants who continued to own pets after conception had a 30.11% higher urinary concentration of ∑2NEOs than those who never owned pets (P<0.05), and the participants with infertility due to female factors had a 24.10% lower urinary concentration of ∑2NEOs than those who received ART treatment for infertility caused by male factors (P<0.05). Conclusion The women undergoing ART in Shanghai are widely exposed to pesticides. Age, BMI, frequency of vegetable and fruit intake, pet ownership, and infertility causes may be related to the pesticide exposure levels in this population. However, more human data are needed to confirm these findings.

Effect of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 on chemotherapy sensitivity of vincristine-resistant in retinoblastoma cells / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To investigate the effect of long non-coding RNA-HIF1A-AS1(lncRNA HIF1A-AS1)on the chemotherapy sensitivity of vincristine(VCR)-resistant in retinoblastoma(RB)cells by regulating the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α).METHODS: The human RB VCR-resistant cell line SO-RB50/VCR was established, expression of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 in SO-RB50 and SO-RB50/VCR cells were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR(RT-qPCR); inhibition of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 expression or simultaneous overexpression of HIF-1α in SO-RB50/VCR cells, and then median inhibitory concentration(IC50)of VCR and cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected in SO-RB50/VCR cells; the protein expressions of HIF-1α, multidrug resistance associate protein(MRP)and P-glycoprotein(P-gp)were measured by Western blot.RESULTS: Compared with SO-RB50 cells, the expression levels of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 and HIF-1α protein in SO-RB50/VCR cells were increased(P&#x003C;0.05); after inhibiting the expression of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 in SO-RB50/VCR cells, the apoptosis rate was significantly increased(P&#x003C;0.05), optical density(OD450), the IC50 value of VCR on cells and the expression levels of HIF-1α, MRP and P-gp proteins were significantly reduced(P&#x003C;0.05); overexpression of HIF-1α attenuates the inhibitory effect of down-regulated lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 expression on drug resistance in SO-RB50/VCR cells.CONCLUSION: The lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 was highly expressed in SO-RB50/VCR cells, and inhibition of lncRNA HIF1A-AS1 expression reduced VCR resistance in SO-RB50/VCR cells by down-regulating HIF-1α expression.

Associations between lifestyle and comorbid anxiety and depression in pregnant women / 环境与职业医学

Background Anxiety and depression are common perinatal mental health issues that often occur together and can have serious negative effects on both maternal and infant health. Objective To examine the relationships between lifestyle factors and comorbid anxiety and depression (CAD) among pregnant women in Shanghai. Methods The study estimated the prevalence of CAD during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy using the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) based on data from the China National Birth Cohort (CNBC) embryonic-derived diseases with assisted reproductive technology (ART) sub-cohort. Information on demographics, sleep status, nutritional intake, and exercise during each trimester was collected through self-made questionnaires, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Lifestyle factors (such as sleep status, nutritional intake, and exercise during each trimester) were analyzed using logistic regression and generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to determine their impacts on the prevalence of CAD (yes or no) among pregnant women. Results A total of 2876 pregnant women were included in this study. The prevalence of CAD was 10.6% (305), 3.6% (103), and 5.5% (159) in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. The logistic regression analysis revealed that poor sleep quality throughout the entire pregnancy were statistically associated with an increased prevalence of CAD, and the odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were 2.817 (1.845, 4.301), 2.840 (1.855, 4.347), and 9.316 (5.835, 14.876) for the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively, when compared to good sleep quality. Additionally, compared to an intake frequency of 7 times per week, the frequency of egg intake ≤3 times per week in the first trimester (OR=2.025, 95%CI: 1.197, 3.425) and the frequency of egg intake of 4–6 times per week (OR=1.896, 95%CI: 1.117, 3.216) or ≤3 times per week (OR=1.906, 95%CI: 1.082, 3.357) in the third trimester were associated with an increased risk of CAD (P<0.05). Moreover, when compared to a frequency of exercise >3 times per week, never or almost never exercising in the second trimester (OR=2.218, 95%CI: 1.220, 4.035) was associated with an increased risk of CAD (P<0.05). The GLMM analysis also demonstrated a significant association between poor sleep quality, lower exercise frequency, or lower intake frequency of vegetables, eggs, or milk and an increased risk of CAD (P<0.05). Conclusion The prevalence of CAD among pregnant women in Shanghai follows a U-shaped distribution, with the highest rate occurring in early pregnancy and the lowest rate in mid-pregnancy. Factors such as poor sleep quality, inadequate intake of vegetables, eggs, or milk, and lack of exercise during pregnancy may increase the risk of CAD. Implementing lifestyle interventions during pregnancy could potentially reduce the risk of mental health problems and improve the overall health of both mothers and babies.

Glutathione-dependent redox homeostasis is critical for chlorothalonil detoxification in tomato leaves.

Glutathione plays a critical role in plant growth, development and response to stress. It is a major cellular antioxidant and is involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics in many organisms, including plants. However, the role of glutathione-dependent redox homeostasis and associated molecular mechanisms regulating the antioxidant system and pesticide metabolism remains unclear. In this study, endogenous glutathione levels were manipulated by pharmacological treatments with glutathione synthesis inhibitors and oxidized glutathione. The application of oxidized glutathione enriched the cellular oxidation state, reduced the activity and transcript levels of antioxidant enzymes, upregulated the expression level of nitric oxide and Ca2+ related genes and the content, and increased the residue of chlorothalonil in tomato leaves. Further experiments confirmed that glutathione-induced redox homeostasis is critical for the reduction of pesticide residues. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that miRNA156 and miRNA169 that target transcription factor SQUAMOSA-Promoter Binding Proteins (SBP) and NUCLEAR FACTOR Y (NFY) potentially participate in glutathione-mediated pesticide degradation in tomato plants. Our study provides important clues for further dissection of pesticide degradation mechanisms via miRNAs in plants.

[Pollution Characteristics, Source Analysis, and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Surrounding Farmlands of Manganese Mining Area].

In order to understand the status of heavy metal pollution and the resulting ecological risk of farmland soil surrounding the manganese mining area, 174 soil samples were collected, and the heavy metals(Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Mn, As, and Hg) were analyzed. Principal component analysis (PCA) and the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model were used to determine the source of heavy metals in the soils. The single-factor pollution index method, geo-accumulation index method, potential ecological risk assessment method, and US EPA health risk assessment model were used to evaluate the ecological environment risk of heavy metals. The results showed that the average values of Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Mn, and Hg exceeded the background value of Guizhou. 100% of Zn samples and 38.86% of Cu samples exceeded the risk screening value for agricultural land soil pollution. Source analysis revealed that the main sources of soil heavy metals were mining emission, mixed agricultural activity and transportation, nature, and agricultural activities. The risk evaluation showed that Ni, Cr, Pb, and As belonged to the clean level, Hg and Cu were in a light pollution stage, Zn fell into the category of moderate contamination, and Mn reached the heavy pollution level. Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Mn, As, and Cd posed low potential ecological risk, while Hg caused a considerable potential ecological risk. In total, the integrated potential ecological risk of heavy metals was ranked "strong", eight types of heavy metals had carcinogenic risks and non-carcinogenic risks for children aged 0-5 years, and the main contributing factors were Cr and Mn, respectively.