The Therapeutic Effect of Catechin on Nephrolithiasis Induced by Co-Exposure to Melamine and Cyanuric Acid in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

This study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of catechin against experimentally induced kidney stones resulting from co-exposure to melamine (MEL) and cyanuric acid (CYA) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. To induce nephrolithiasis, a combination of MEL and CYA (1:1 ratio, each at a dose of 31.5 mg/kg bw/day) was administered to the rats for 28 consecutive days. After nephrolithiasis was successfully induced, the rats were randomly divided into two groups: a treatment group and a sham group. The treatment group was given a daily oral dose of 50 mg/kg of catechin for 28 days, while the sham group received no intervention. Urine and blood samples were collected throughout the treatment period, and kidney samples were taken on day 28. Our findings demonstrated that treatment with catechin significantly reduced crystal deposition and pathological damage in the rats from nephrolithiasis. Additionally, renal injury markers were significantly decreased in the treatment group compared to the sham group. These findings suggest that catechin has potential therapeutic benefits in treating nephrolithiasis induced by co-exposure to MEL and CYA.

Detection of various microplastics in placentas, meconium, infant feces, breastmilk and infant formula: A pilot prospective study.

Pregnancy and infancy are sensitive windows for environmental exposures. However, no study has investigated the presence of microplastics (MPs) in mother-infant pairs, and the exposure sources. Therefore, we aim to assess MPs exposure in placenta, meconium, infant feces, breast milk and infant formula samples, and assess the potential sources of pregnancy and lactational exposure to MPs. A total of 18 mother-infant pairs were recruited, and placentas and meconium samples were collected. Infant feces, breast milk and infant formula samples were collected at 6 months of age. We also collected data on plastic use and feeding habits through two questionnaires to determine the source of exposure. We used an Agilent 8700 laser infrared imaging spectrometer to analyze samples. Sixteen types of MPs were identified, and polyamide (PA) and polyurethane (PU) were dominant. >74 % of the MPs found were 20-50 µm in size. The water intake and usage of scrub cleanser or toothpaste may be exposure sources of pregnant women. The breastfeeding and usage of feeding bottles and plastic toys may be exposure sources for infants. Given the lack of relevant studies, our results highlight the need of investigating the contribution of plastic products to the MPs exposure during the lactational period.

The Association Between Microplastics and Microbiota in Placentas and Meconium: The First Evidence in Humans.

Pregnancy and infancy are vulnerable times for detrimental environmental exposures. However, the exposure situation of microplastics (MPs) for mother-infant pairs and the adverse health effect of MPs are largely unknown. Therefore, we explored MP exposure in placentas and meconium samples, and the potential correlation of MP exposure with microbiota in placentas and meconium. A total of 18 mother-infant pairs were effectively recruited from Shanghai, China. The study required pregnant women to provide placentas and meconium samples. An Agilent 8700 laser infrared imaging spectrometer (LDIR) was applied to identify MPs. Microbiota detection was identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Sixteen types of MPs were found in all matrices, and polyamide (PA) and polyurethane (PU) were the major types we identified. MPs detected in samples with a size of 20-50 µm were more than 76.46%. At the phylum level, both placenta and meconium microbiota were mainly composed of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Firmicutes. We also found some significant differences between placenta and meconium microbiota in ß-diversity and gut composition. Additionally, we found polystyrene was inversely related with the Chao index of meconium microbiota. Polyethylene was consistently inversely correlated with several genera of placenta microbiota. The total MPs, PA, and PU consistently impacted several genera of meconium microbiota. In conclusion, MPs are ubiquitous in placentas and meconium samples, indicating the wide exposure of pregnant women and infants. Moreover, our findings may support a link between high concentration of MPs and microbiota genera in placentas and meconium. Additionally, there were several significant associations between the particle size of MPs in 50-100 µm and meconium microbiota.

Urinary Excretion of Cyanuric Acid in Association with Urolithiasis: A Matched Case-Control Study in Shanghai Adults.

Melamine (MEL) has raised human concern since the 2008 milk scandal. Co-exposure to MEL and one of its analogues, cyanuric acid (CYA), has been reported to have a synergistic effect on promoting urolithiasis. However, few epidemiological studies have reported urolithiasis in association with exposure to CYA based on our knowledge. We therefore conducted a case-control study to investigate whether cases of urolithiasis had higher excretion of urinary CYA than the controls. Spot urine samples from 70 adult cases and first-morning urine samples from 70 controls (matched by age and sex) were collected for the measurement of MEL, CYA, and other two analogues in urine. The case group also had 2.81-fold higher concentration of urinary CYA than the control group (34.87 versus 12.43 ng/mL, p-value < 0.001). Multivariate conditional logistic regression models adjusting potential confounders of personal characteristics identified the risk factor of urinary CYA as a continuous variable with odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval, 95%CI) of 1.11 (1.02−1.21) (p-value = 0.021) and having meals at restaurants with OR of 5.71 (1.01−32.31) (p-value = 0.049). Compared to the participants having the lowest quartile of CYA concentration in urine, participants at the second, third, and fourth quartile groups had ORs of 13.94, 83.69, and 118.65 with p-values of 0.004, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively. The high excretion of urinary CYA in urolithiasis cases might be the sign of stones in patients consisting of CYA, then proving the attribution of CYA exposure in the etiology of urolithiasis. These findings are important since CYA is a degraded by-product of chlorinated isocyanuric acid disinfectants, which are widely used in daily life not only in swimming pool water but also in other scenarios, such as serving as anti-pandemic disinfectants. Risk assessment of CYA serving as a by-product of disinfectants needs to be conducted in future studies.

Exposure to melamine and its derivatives in Chinese adults: The cumulative risk assessment and the effect on routine blood parameters.

Melamine (MEL) and its derivatives, ammeline (AMN), ammelide (AMD), cyanuric acid (CYA) are widely existed in environmental media. Animal studies have reported the cumulative risk assessment (CRA) of simultaneous exposure to MEL and its derivatives and explored the associations between exposure and routine blood parameters. Such information is largely unknown in human studies. In this study, we detected the urinary concentrations of MEL and its derivatives in 239 Chinese adults to conduct the CRA by evaluating their hazard quotients (HQ) and hazard Index (HI), and also explored the possible associations between exposure and measured routine blood parameters in study population. The detectable frequencies of MEL, AMN, AMD and CYA were 96.65%, 41.00%, 97.91% and 97.07%, respectively. The median values of creatinine (Cr)-adjusted MEL, AMN, AMD, CYA and the total concentrations of MEL and its derivatives (∑MEL) were 11.41 µg/g Cr, not detected (ND), 2.64 µg/g Cr, 15.30 µg/g Cr, 35.02 µg/g Cr, respectively. There were 9 (3.77%) participants with estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of CYA exceeding the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 2500 ng/kg bw/day, and 12 (5.02%) participants with HI of ∑MEL exposure exceeding 1 based on the strictest TDI value. Urinary concentrations of MEL and its derivatives were positively associated with specific routine blood parameters, including hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, white blood cell, neutrophil count (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, exposure to MEL and its derivatives increased the risk of red blood cell abnormality (P < 0.05). Our study is the first study to provide evidence-based data on the CRA of exposure to MEL and its derivatives in Chinese adults, and to propose a possible association between such exposure and routine blood parameters in human.

Associations of exposure to melamine, cyanuric acid, phthalates with markers of early kidney impairment, and their interactions in US adults: analyses of NHANES 2003-2004 data.

Melamine (MEL), cyanuric acid (CYA), and phthalates have kidney toxicity, respectively. Still, no study has explored whether there is an interaction of co-exposure to MEL, CYA, and phthalates on early kidney impairment, including cystatin C (CYST), beta 2-microglobulin (ß2-MG), albumin creatinine ratio (ACR), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Urine samples were collected from 333 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004, and urinary MEL, CYA, and ten metabolites of phthalates were quantified. The multiple markers of early kidney impairment were also measured, including serum CYST, ß2-MG, urinary ACR, and eGFR. Their associations were explored by multiple linear and multivariate logistic regression models. Meanwhile, the interactions of co-exposure to MEL, CYA, and phthalates on early kidney impairment were analyzed by Wilcoxon rank-sum test combined with the LSD test. In the multiple linear regression model, urinary concentrations of monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP), mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), and mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) were positively associated with urinary ACR, serum ß2-MG, and CYST, respectively. Urinary concentrations of MBzP and MCPP were negatively associated with eGFR. In the multivariate logistic regression model, increased urinary CYA concentration was the risk factor of CYST abnormality with an odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval, 95% CI) of 2.38 (1.01, 5.60) (P = 0.047) and increased urinary MBzP concentration was the risk factor of ACR abnormality with an OR of 2.59 (1.41, 4.75) (P = 0.002). The co-exposure to MEL, CYA, and four phthalate metabolites (MEHP, MBzP, MCPP, and MECPP) presented significantly interactive effects on the markers of early kidney impairment, respectively. There were the independent and interactive effects of exposure to MEL, CYA, and specific phthalate metabolites on early kidney impairment. Due to co-exposure to multiple environmental chemicals in our daily life, more attention should be paid to the health damage raised by the synergistic effects of environmental chemicals.

Corrigendum: Interactive Brain Activity: Review and Progress on EEG-Based Hyperscanning in Social Interactions.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01862.].

Using Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) to Improve Romantic Relationships Can Be a Promising Approach.

The romantic relationship refers to the specific relationship in which partners are dependent upon each other to obtain satisfactory outcomes and facilitate the pursuit of their most important needs and goals. Satisfying romantic relationships is a strong predictor of better psychological well-being, better physical health, and longer life expectancy. However, romantic relationships are not all smooth-sailing and lovers are often confronted with a variety of unavoidable issues that constantly challenge the stability of their romantic relationships. Dissatisfying romantic relationships are harmful and even destructive. Dyads of lovers engage in a variety of efforts to protect and maintain their romantic relationships based on qualitative research methods including theories- and psychological consultation-based approaches. Unfortunately, those existing approaches do not seem to effectively improve romantic relationships. Thus, it is necessary to seek an efficient approach regulating dyads of lovers in romantic relationships simultaneously. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with advantages over existing approaches satisfies this purpose. We discuss the practicability of tACS in detail, as well as why and how tACS can be utilized to improve romantic relationships. In summary, this review firstly introduced the concept of romantic relationship and the necessity of enhancing it. Then, it discussed methods to improve romantic relationships including some existing approaches. This review next discussed the practicability of using tACS to improve romantic relationships. Finally, it shone a spotlight on potential future directions for researches aiming to improve romantic relationships.

Interactive Brain Activity: Review and Progress on EEG-Based Hyperscanning in Social Interactions.

When individuals interact with others, perceived information is transmitted among their brains. The EEG-based hyperscanning technique, which provides an approach to explore dynamic brain activities between two or more interactive individuals and their underlying neural mechanisms, has been applied to study different aspects of social interactions since 2010. Recently there has been an increase in research on EEG-based hyperscanning of social interactions. This paper summarizes the application of EEG-based hyperscanning on the dynamic brain activities during social interactions according to the experimental designs and contents, discusses the possibility of applying inter-brain synchrony to social communication systems and analyzes the contributions and the limitations of these investigations. Furthermore, this paper sheds light on some new challenges to future EEG-based hyperscanning studies and the emerging field of EEG-based hyperscanning for pursuing the broader research field of social interactions.

Testing chemotherapeutic agents in the feather follicle identifies a selective blockade of cell proliferation and a key role for sonic hedgehog signaling in chemotherapy-induced tissue damage.

Chemotherapeutic agents induce complex tissue responses in vivo and damage normal organ functions. Here we use the feather follicle to investigate details of this damage response. We show that cyclophosphamide treatment, which causes chemotherapy-induced alopecia in mice and man, induces distinct defects in feather formation: feather branching is transiently and reversibly disrupted, thus leaving a morphological record of the impact of chemotherapeutic agents, whereas the rachis (feather axis) remains unperturbed. Similar defects are observed in feathers treated with 5-fluorouracil or taxol but not with doxorubicin or arabinofuranosyl cytidine (Ara-C). Selective blockade of cell proliferation was seen in the feather branching area, along with a downregulation of sonic hedgehog (Shh) transcription, but not in the equally proliferative rachis. Local delivery of the Shh inhibitor, cyclopamine, or Shh silencing both recapitulated this effect. In mouse hair follicles, those chemotherapeutic agents that disrupted feather formation also downregulated Shh gene expression and induced hair loss, whereas doxorubicin or Ara-C did not. Our results reveal a mechanism through which chemotherapeutic agents damage rapidly proliferating epithelial tissue, namely via the cell population-specific, Shh-dependent inhibition of proliferation. This mechanism may be targeted by future strategies to manage chemotherapy-induced tissue damage.