Subchronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate differentially affects the colon and ileum in adult female mice.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a large-molecular-weight phthalate added to plastics to impart versatile properties. DEHP can be found in medical equipment and devices, food containers, building materials, and children's toys. Although DEHP exposure occurs most commonly by ingesting contaminated foods in the majority of the population, its effects on the gastrointestinal tract have not been well studied.

Daily longitudinal sampling of SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals substantial heterogeneity in infectiousness.

The dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 replication and shedding in humans remain poorly understood. We captured the dynamics of infectious virus and viral RNA shedding during acute infection through daily longitudinal sampling of 60 individuals for up to 14 days. By fitting mechanistic models, we directly estimated viral expansion and clearance rates and overall infectiousness for each individual.

Isolation of DiNP-Degrading Microbes from the Mouse Colon and the Influence DiNP Exposure Has on the Microbiota, Intestinal Integrity, and Immune Status of the Colon.

Di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) is a plasticizer used to impart flexibility or stability in a variety of products including polyvinyl chloride, cable coatings, artificial leather, and footwear. Previous studies have examined the impact of DiNP on gut integrity and the colonic immune microenvironment, but this study further expands the research by examining whether DiNP exposure alters the colonic microbiota and various immune markers. Previous studies have also revealed that environmental microbes degrade various phthalates, but no studies have examined whether anaerobic gut bacteria can degrade DiNP.

Perfluorooctanoic Acid Disrupts Ovarian Steroidogenesis and Folliculogenesis in Adult Mice.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a synthetic fluorosurfactant used in the manufacturing of fluorotelomers. Although PFOA is no longer produced in the United States, it is environmentally persistent and found in imported food packaging, cookware, and textiles. Previous studies have identified developmental toxicity of PFOA, but little is known about the effects of PFOA on the adult ovary.

Higher Tablet Use Is Associated With Better Sustained Attention Performance but Poorer Sleep Quality in School-Aged Children.

There are growing concerns that increased screen device usage may have a detrimental impact on classroom behaviour and attentional focus. The consequences of screen use on child cognitive functioning have been relatively under-studied, and results remain largely inconsistent. Screen usage may displace the time usually spent asleep.

Subacute Exposure to an Environmentally Relevant Dose of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate during Gestation Alters the Cecal Microbiome, but Not Pregnancy Outcomes in Mice.

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer commonly found in polyvinyl chloride, medical equipment, and food packaging. DEHP has been shown to target the reproductive system and alter the gut microbiome in humans and experimental animals. However, very little is known about the impact of DEHP-induced microbiome changes and its effects during pregnancy.

The Impact of Di-Isononyl Phthalate Exposure on Specialized Epithelial Cells in the Colon.

Di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) is a high-molecular-weight phthalate commonly used as a plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride and other end products, such as medical devices and construction materials. Most of our initial exposure to DiNP occurs by ingestion of DiNP-contaminated foods. However, little is known about the effects of DiNP on the colon.

Daily sampling of early SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals substantial heterogeneity in infectiousness.

The dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 replication and shedding in humans remain poorly understood. We captured the dynamics of infectious virus and viral RNA shedding during acute infection through daily longitudinal sampling of 60 individuals for up to 14 days. By fitting mechanistic models, we directly estimate viral reproduction and clearance rates, and overall infectiousness for each individual.

Longitudinal Assessment of Diagnostic Test Performance Over the Course of Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Background: Serial screening is critical for restricting spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by facilitating timely identification of infected individuals to interrupt transmission. Variation in sensitivity of different diagnostic tests at different stages of infection has not been well documented.

Methods: In a longitudinal study of 43 adults newly infected with SARS-CoV-2, all provided daily saliva and nasal swabs for quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Quidel SARS Sofia antigen fluorescent immunoassay (FIA), and live virus culture.

Fermentation Product Did Not Attenuate Clinical Signs, but Psyllium Husk Has Protective Effects in a Murine Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis Model.

Background: Yeast products and psyllium husk may provide relief from clinical signs of colitis due to their ability to promote gut integrity, modulate gut microbiota, or positively affect immune responses, which have been demonstrated in several species.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a fermentation product (SCFP) and psyllium husk (PH) on cecal and fecal microbiota, colonic gene expression and histopathology, and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) immune cells in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model.

Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice ( = 54) were assigned to a control, 5% SCFP, or 5% PH diet.

Subacute exposure to di-isononyl phthalate alters the morphology, endocrine function, and immune system in the colon of adult female mice.

Di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP), a common plasticizer used in polyvinyl chloride products, exhibits endocrine-disrupting capabilities. It is also toxic to the brain, reproductive system, liver, and kidney. However, little is known about how DiNP impacts the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

The Impact of Environmental Chemicals on the Gut Microbiome.

Since the surge of microbiome research in the last decade, many studies have provided insight into the causes and consequences of changes in the gut microbiota. Among the multiple factors involved in regulating the microbiome, exogenous factors such as diet and environmental chemicals have been shown to alter the gut microbiome significantly. Although diet substantially contributes to changes in the gut microbiome, environmental chemicals are major contaminants in our food and are often overlooked.

Sanitary pads and diapers contain higher phthalate contents than those in common commercial plastic products.

Sanitary pads and diapers are made of synthetic plastic materials that can potentially be released while being used. This study measured the amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (methylene chloride, toluene, and xylene) and phthalates (DBP, DEHP, DEP, and BBP) contained in sanitary pads and diapers. In sanitary pads, 5,900- and 130-fold differences of VOC and phthalate concentrations were seen among the brands.

Neuronavigated high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for chronic post-stroke dysphagia: A randomized controlled study.

Objective: There are potential benefits of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in improving swallowing functions after stroke; however, few studies have been performed in the chronic stroke population. This study aims to distil the key effects of rTMS on swallowing functions and swallowing-related quality of life.

Methods: Twenty-two participants with chronic post-stroke dysphagia were randomly assigned into active or sham rTMS groups.

Are baby hammocks safe for sleeping babies? A randomised controlled trial.

Aim: Two reports of infants found dead after sleeping in baby hammocks have raised international concern about the safety of infant hammocks. We therefore tested whether hammock sleep affected oxygenation in infants, when they were at an age of high risk of sudden, unexpected infant death.

Methods: Healthy, full-term 4- to 8-week-old infants were randomised to sleep either in a commercially available hammock (n = 14) or a standard bassinet (n = 9), and sleep state, oxygen desaturation (a fall in peripheral haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) ≥ 4%, for ≥ 4 sec from baseline to nadir), apnoea and hypopnoea, and mean SpO2 were analysed.

Effects of polymer molecular weight on the size, activity, and stability of PEG-functionalized trypsin.

Polymer conjugation increases an enzyme's circulation time and stability for use as a therapeutic agent, but this attachment indubitably affects its properties. Covalent attachment of multiple polyethylene glycol chains with sizes of either 2, 5, 10, or 20 kDa increases the molecular weight and hydrodynamic radius of the model enzyme trypsin. The sizes of these polymer-enzyme conjugates are increased to be within the recommended limits for PDEPT applications.

HIV-1 replication through hHR23A-mediated interaction of Vpr with 26S proteasome.

HIV-1 Vpr is a virion-associated protein. Its activities link to viral pathogenesis and disease progression of HIV-infected patients. In vitro, Vpr moderately activates HIV-1 replication in proliferating T cells, but it is required for efficient viral infection and replication in vivo in non-dividing cells such as macrophages.

The chemopreventive bioflavonoid apigenin inhibits prostate cancer cell motility through the focal adhesion kinase/Src signaling mechanism.

Prostate cancer mortality is primarily attributed to metastatic rather than primary, organ-confined disease. Acquiring a motile and invasive phenotype is an important step in development of tumors and ultimately metastasis. This step involves remodeling of the extracellular matrix and of cell-matrix interactions, cell movement mediated by the actin cytoskeleton, and activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Src signaling.

Inhibition of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF expression by the chemopreventive bioflavonoid apigenin is accompanied by Akt inhibition in human prostate carcinoma PC3-M cells.

Progression of cancer leads to hypoxic solid tumors that mount specific cell signaling responses to low oxygen conditions. An important objective of anti-cancer therapy is the development of new drugs that suppress hypoxic responses in solid tumors. Apigenin is a natural flavone that has been shown to have chemopreventive and/or anti-cancer properties against a number of tumor types.

Whole-word phonological representations of disyllabic words in the Chinese lexicon: data from acquired dyslexia.

This study addresses the issue of the existence of whole-word phonological representations of disyllabic and multisyllabic words in the Chinese mental lexicon. A Cantonese brain-injured dyslexic individual with semantic deficits, YKM, was assessed on his abilities to read aloud and to comprehend disyllabic words containing homographic heterophonous characters, the pronunciation of which can only be disambiguated in word context. Superior performance on reading to comprehension was found.

Processing of semantic radicals in writing Chinese characters: Data from a Chinese dysgraphic patient.

This paper describes a case study of a Chinese brain-injured patient with mild dyslexia and more severe dysgraphia. The distributions of his reading and writing errors across tasks are consistent with previous reports. Semantic errors predominated in naming tasks in both modalities, while the preponderance of LARC or phonologically similar errors in reading and phonologically plausible errors in writing-to-dictation was found.

Preserved reading aloud with semantic deficits: evidence for a non-semantic lexical route for reading Chinese.

This article describes a Cantonese dyslexic patient with a dissociation between reading ability and oral naming, similar to previously reported cases of Chinese dyslexia. Additional semantic tests without pictorial input were given to localize his impairment to the semantic system. His largely preserved reading performance vis-à-vis semantic deficits, together with the absence of assembled phonology in Chinese, support a model of the Chinese lexicon in which reading can be achieved via two different lexical routes, one with semantic mediation and one without.