Associations between co-exposure to multiple heavy metals and age-related macular degeneration: A cross-sectional study.

Background & Aims: Accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to single heavy metal can facilitate the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the effects of exposure to mixtures of heavy metals on AMD remain largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate both the joint and individual impacts of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) on AMD within a co-exposure framework.

Associations of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Excessive Gestational Weight Gain with Offspring Obesity Risk.

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and gestational weight gain (GWG) are important risk factors that are known to affect offspring growth, but these outcomes are inconsistent and it remains unknown if both risk factors have a synergetic effect on early childhood growth. The present study aimed to conduct offspring body mass index-for-age Z-scores (BMIZ) trajectories and to evaluate the independent and interactive effect of the status of GDM and excessive GWG on the risks of overweight/obesity from birth to 24 months of age.

Methods: A total of 7949 mother-child pairs were enrolled in this study.

Prenatal and postnatal cadmium exposure and cellular immune responses among pre-school children.

Background: Experimental studies have demonstrated that cadmium exposure induces alterations on immune function, but epidemiological evidence is lacking.

Objective: To examine the associations between prenatal and postnatal cadmium exposure and cellular immune responses among pre-school children.

Methods: Pre-school aged children (n = 407) were followed from a prospective birth cohort study in Wuhan, China.

Comparative proteomic analysis of rats subjected to water immersion and restraint stress as an insight into gastric ulcers.

In the present study, comparative proteomic analysis was performed in rats subjected to water immersion‑restraint stress (WRS). A total of 26 proteins were differentially expressed and identified using matrix‑assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Among the 26 differentially expressed protein spots identified, 13 proteins were significantly upregulated under WRS, including pyruvate kinase and calreticulin, which may be closely associated with energy metabolism.

Type IV secretion system in Helicobacter pylori: a new insight into pathogenicity.

Objective: To review the research progress on Type IV secretion system (T4SS) in Helicobacter pylori.

Data Sources: The data used in this review were identified by searching of PUBMED (1995 - 2007) online resources using the key terms 'Type IV secretion system' and 'Helicobacter pylori'.

Study Selection: Mainly original articles and critical reviews written by major pioneer investigators of this field were selected.