Influence of prenatal hexachlorobenzene, PCB and selenium levels on growth trajectories in the first year of life: Findings from the NEHO birth cohort.

Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may impact postnatal growth trajectories, increasing the risk of various diseases later in life. This issue is of particular concern in industrially contaminated areas, where environmental matrices contain mixtures of pollutants. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between cord serum concentrations of organochlorine pollutants (hexachlorobenzene-HCB and polychlorinated biphenyls-PCBs) and essential elements (EEs), and weight growth trajectories during the first year of life.

Determination of additives as markers of microplastic contamination in the environment.

Microplastics are mostly inert particles and, therefore, may exhibit low toxicity, but adverse health effects may result from chemical additives commonly added to plastics. Plastic additives serve to make the material workable and thermodynamically stable as well as acting as softeners, fillers and colorants. They may include hazardous chemicals, such as organic phosphates, phthalates, terephthalates, adipates, benzoates, citrates, sebacates, trimellitates, etc.

Hyperostotic meningiomas in children. A case-based update.

Background: Meningiomas are rare tumors in children compared with adults. Their main peculiarities are the frequent convexity or intraventricular location, the common association with neurofibromatosis-2 (NF-2) and the relatively high rate of aggressive and/or hyperostotic variants. Hyperostosis may complicate the surgical management.

Antigen presentation of post-translationally modified peptides in major histocompatibility complexes.

T cells of the adaptive immune system recognize pathogens and malignantly transformed cells through a process called antigen presentation. During this process, peptides are displayed on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II molecules. Self-reactive T cells are typically removed or suppressed during T-cell development and through peripheral tolerance mechanisms, ensuring that only T cells recognizing peptides that are either absent or present in low abundance under normal conditions remain.