Prenatal Perfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure in Association with Global Histone Post-Translational Methylation in 2-Year-Old Children.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have elimination half-lives in years in humans and are persistent in the environment. PFASs can cross the placenta and impact fetal development. Exposure to PFASs may lead to adverse effects through epigenetic mechanisms.

Exposure to ambient temperature and heat index in relation to DNA methylation age: A population-based study in Taiwan.

Background: Climate change caused an increase in ambient temperature in the past decades. Exposure to high ambient temperature could result in biological aging, but relevant studies in a warm environment were lacking. We aimed to study the exposure effects of ambient temperature and heat index (HI) in relation to age acceleration in Taiwan, a subtropical island in Asia.

Letter to editor 'Non-invasive model for predicting high-risk esophageal varices based on liver and spleen stiffness'.

This letter to the editor relates to the study entitled "Non-invasive model for predicting high-risk esophageal varices based on liver and spleen stiffness". Acute bleeding caused by esophageal varices is a life-threatening complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. Due to the discomfort, contraindications, and associated complications of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy screening, it is crucial to identify an imaging-based non-invasive model for predicting high-risk esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis.

Non-invasive model for predicting high-risk esophageal varices based on liver and spleen stiffness.

Background: Acute bleeding due to esophageal varices (EVs) is a life-threatening complication in patients with cirrhosis. The diagnosis of EVs is mainly through upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, but the discomfort, contraindications and complications of gastrointestinal endoscopic screening reduce patient compliance. According to the bleeding risk of EVs, the Baveno VI consensus divides varices into high bleeding risk EVs (HEVs) and low bleeding risk EVs (LEVs).

Zinc finger protein 671 has a cancer-inhibiting function in colorectal carcinoma via the deactivation of Notch signaling.

Zinc finger protein 671 (ZNF671) has been described as a vital cancer inhibitor in multiple neoplasms, yet the functional roles of ZNF671 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remain unresolved. This project examined the possible link between ZNF671 and CRC. Lower levels of ZNF671 were observed in CRC tissue compared with noncancerous tissue, which were related to a worse survival rate in CRC patients.

The developmentally timed decay of an essential microRNA family is seed-sequence dependent.

MicroRNA (miRNA) abundance is tightly controlled by regulation of biogenesis and decay. Here, we show that the mir-35 miRNA family undergoes selective decay at the transition from embryonic to larval development in C. elegans.

Specific Amino Acid Substitutions in OXA-51-Type -Lactamase Enhance Catalytic Activity to a Level Comparable to Carbapenemase OXA-23 and OXA-24/40.

The chromosomal -type gene encodes carbapenem-hydrolyzing class D β-lactamases (CHDLs), specific variants shown to mediate carbapenem resistance in the Gram-negative bacterial pathogen . This study aims to characterize the effect of key amino acid substitutions in OXA-51 variants of carbapenem-hydrolyzing class D β-lactamases (CHDLs) on substrate catalysis. Mutational and structural analyses indicated that each of the L167V, W222G, or I129L substitutions contributed to an increase in catalytic activity.

Precise delivery of multi-stimulus-responsive nanocarriers based on interchangeable visual guidance.

Cancer treatment is imminent, and controlled drug carriers are an important development direction for future clinical chemotherapy. Visual guidance is a feasible means to achieve precise treatment, reduce toxicity and increase drug efficacy. However, the existing visual control methods are limited by imaging time-consuming, sensitivity and side effects.

Associations between prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances, hypomethylation of MEST imprinted gene and birth outcomes.

Prenatal perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure has been linked to adverse birth outcomes, but the underlying mechanism has yet to be elucidated. DNA methylation changes in mesoderm-specific transcript (MEST) imprinted gene may be a mechanism of the prenatal exposure effects of PFASs on fetal growth. The aim was to investigate the prenatal PFASs exposure effects on DNA methylation changes in MEST imprinted gene involved in fetal growth.

Selective Synthesis of Carbon Nanorings via Asymmetric Intramicellar Phase-Transition-Induced Tip-to-Tip Assembly.

The selective synthesis of energetically less favorable ring-shaped nanostructures by liquid phase synthetic chemistry is a huge challenge. Herein, we report a precise synthesis of carbon nanorings with a well-defined morphology and tunable thickness based on asymmetric intramicellar phase-transition-induced tip-to-tip assembly via mixing hydrophobic long-chain octadecanol and block copolymer F127. This orientational self-assembly depends on the hydrophobicity difference of the intermediate's surface, which triggers directional interactions that surpass the entropy cost of undesired connections and help assemble intermediates into defined ringlike structures.

Association of Ambient Fine Particulate Matter (PM) with Elevated Fecal Hemoglobin Concentration and Colorectal Carcinogenesis: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

The roles of ambient fine particulate matter (PM) in the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) have been scarcely highlighted as there is short of empirical evidence regarding the influences of PM on multistep carcinogenic processes of CRC. A retrospective cohort design with multistate outcomes was envisaged by linking monthly average PM concentrations at 22 city/county level with large-scale cohorts of cancer-screened population to study the influences of PM on short-term inflammatory process and multistep carcinogenic processes of CRC. Our study included a nationwide CRC screening cohort of 4,628,995 aged 50-69 years who attended first screen between 2004 and 2009 and continued periodical screens until 2016.

M1BP cooperates with CP190 to activate transcription at TAD borders and promote chromatin insulator activity.

Genome organization is driven by forces affecting transcriptional state, but the relationship between transcription and genome architecture remains unclear. Here, we identified the Drosophila transcription factor Motif 1 Binding Protein (M1BP) in physical association with the gypsy chromatin insulator core complex, including the universal insulator protein CP190. M1BP is required for enhancer-blocking and barrier activities of the gypsy insulator as well as its proper nuclear localization.

FIGLA, LHX8 and SOHLH1 transcription factor networks regulate mouse oocyte growth and differentiation.

Germ-cell transcription factors control gene networks that regulate oocyte differentiation and primordial follicle formation during early, postnatal mouse oogenesis. Taking advantage of gene-edited mice lacking transcription factors expressed in female germ cells, we analyzed global gene expression profiles in perinatal ovaries from wildtype, FiglaNull, Lhx8Null and Sohlh1Null mice. Figla deficiency dysregulates expression of meiosis-related genes (e.

Children's environmental health based on birth cohort studies of Asia (2) - air pollution, pesticides, and heavy metals.

The life style and child raising environment in Asia are quite different compared with Western countries. Besides, the children's environmental threats and difficulties in conducting studies could be different. To address children's environmental health in Asia area, the Birth Cohort Consortium of Asia (BiCCA) was co-established in 2011.

Prenatal Perfluorooctyl Sulfonate Exposure and Alu DNA Hypomethylation in Cord Blood.

Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are stable and persistent in the environment, animals, and humans. PFASs can penetrate placenta and affect fetal growth. We investigated associations between prenatal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA) and global methylation levels.

Children's environmental health based on birth cohort studies of Asia.

Numerous studies have explored the associations between environmental pollutants and pediatric health. Recent studies have investigated the issue in Asia, but no systematic review has been published to date. This study aims to elucidate the issue by summarizing relevant epidemiologic evidence for cohorts in Asia, using information from the Birth Cohort Consortium of Asia (BiCCA).

Particle Size Influences on the Coating Microstructure through Green Chromia Inclusion in Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation.

In an effort to color the aluminum alloy surface green via plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO), two alkaline solutions have been employed with particulate inclusions and sodium aluminate. Electrolyte I comprises a self-made chromia pigment with a mean particle size 69 nm, whereas electrolyte II contains a commercially available pigment, GN-M, with a larger particle size 351 nm. Both pigments are oxygen deficient CrO of corundum-type structure before coating, the oxidative environment of PEO converts them into stoichiometric CrO.

Genome-wide Gene-Asbestos Exposure Interaction Association Study Identifies a Common Susceptibility Variant on 22q13.31 Associated with Lung Cancer Risk.

Background: Occupational asbestos exposure has been found to increase lung cancer risk in epidemiologic studies.

Methods: We conducted an asbestos exposure-gene interaction analyses among several Caucasian populations who were current or ex-smokers. The discovery phase included 833 Caucasian cases and 739 Caucasian controls, and used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with gene-asbestos interaction effects.

Polymorphisms in ERCC1 and ERCC2/XPD genes and carcinogen DNA adducts in human lung.

Objectives: In this exploratory study, we aimed to investigate whether polymorphisms in excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1) and excision repair cross-complementing group 2/xeroderma pigmentosum group D (ERCC2/XPD) in the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathways associated with DNA adducts in human lung tissue. We also analyzed the association stratified by the major histologic subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC).

Methods: The study population consisted of 107 early stage NSCLC patients from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston who underwent curative surgical resection.

Right hemicolectomy and multivisceral resection of right colon cancer: A report of 21 cases.

The long- and short-term outcomes in 21 patients with right colon cancer after right hemicolectomy and multivisceral resection surgery were investigated. Short-term therapeutic effects and long-term survival rate were retrospectively analyzed in patients with right colon cancer. These individuals underwent right hemicolectomy in combination with multivisceral resections including pancreatic head, duodenum, kidney, liver, gallbladder, and abdominal wall at the Department of General Surgery in the Henan Tumor Hospital between January 2003 and August 2014.

Performance of the Los Alamos National Laboratory spallation-driven solid-deuterium ultra-cold neutron source.

In this paper, we describe the performance of the Los Alamos spallation-driven solid-deuterium ultra-cold neutron (UCN) source. Measurements of the cold neutron flux, the very low energy neutron production rate, and the UCN rates and density at the exit from the biological shield are presented and compared to Monte Carlo predictions. The cold neutron rates compare well with predictions from the Monte Carlo code MCNPX and the UCN rates agree with our custom UCN Monte Carlo code.

Design and analysis issues in gene and environment studies.

Both nurture (environmental) and nature (genetic factors) play an important role in human disease etiology. Traditionally, these effects have been thought of as independent. This perspective is ill informed for non-mendelian complex disorders which result as an interaction between genetics and environment.