Associations of exposure to phthalate with serum uric acid and hyperuricemia risk, and the mediating role of systemic immune inflammation.

Background: Previous studies found that urinary phthalates (PAEs) metabolites may be associated with increased serum uric acid concentration and hyperuricemia risk. However, no population-based study has investigated the underlying biological mechanisms.

Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional study analyzed the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2018.

Timing determines programming of energy homeostasis by maternal PM exposure in mouse models.

Maternal exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM) is believed to be a risk factor of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), but its effect on offspring's susceptibility to obesity, a common target disease of DOHaD, remains controversial. To pinpoint the effect of maternal PM exposure on offspring's energy homeostasis, female C57BL/6J mice were exposed to filtered air (FA) or concentrated ambient PM (CAP) for 12 weeks and mated with normal male mice to produce offspring.

Nicotinamide improves the impaired extravillous trophoblast cell invasion induced by PM exposure-associated increase of TNFα secretion through the ROS/NF-κB/FLT1 pathway.

It has been well acknowledged that maternal exposure to fine particulate matters (PM) might lead to poor pregnancy outcomes including the intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by interfering with the placental development. Our previous studies have demonstrated that maternal PM exposure induces IUGR, accompanied with increased maternal circulating TNFα level and impaired extravillous trophoblast cells (EVTs) invasion in mice. In this study, HTR8/SVneo cells, the immortalized human EVTs line, were used to assess effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms of nicotinamide on the impaired EVTs invasion.

Gut microbiota mediates ambient PM exposure-induced abnormal glucose metabolism via short-chain fatty acids.

PM exposure has been found to cause gut dysbiosis and impair glucose homeostasis in human and animals, yet their underlying biological connection remain unclear. In the present study, we aim to investigate the biological significance of gut microbiota in PM-induced glucose metabolic abnormalities. Our results showed that microbiota depletion by antibiotics treatment significantly alleviated PM-induced glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, as indicated by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, glucose-induced insulin secretion, insulin tolerance test, insulin-induced phosphorylation levels of Akt and GSK-3β in insulin sensitive tissues.

Changes of serum CA125 and PGE2 before and after high-intensity focused ultrasound combined with GnRH-a in treatment of patients with adenomyosis.

This study aimed to investigate the changes of serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in patients with adenomyosis before and after treatment with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) combined with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a). One hundred and sixty-five patients with adenomyosis who received HIFU combined with GnRH-a were selected as case group. Sixty-five healthy women who underwent physical examination at the same time were taken as normal control group.

Indoor metabolites and chemicals outperform microbiome in classifying childhood asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Indoor microorganisms impact asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR), but the associated microbial taxa often vary extensively due to climate and geographical variations. To provide more consistent environmental assessments, new perspectives on microbial exposure for asthma and AR are needed. Home dust from 97 cases (32 asthma alone, 37 AR alone, 28 comorbidity) and 52 age- and gender-matched controls in Shanghai, China, were analyzed using high-throughput shotgun metagenomic sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

High-Yield Synthesis of Lacto--Neotetraose from Glycerol and Glucose in Engineered .

Lacto--neotetraose (LNnT) is a neutral human milk oligosaccharide with important biological functions. However, the low LNnT productivity and the incomplete conversion of the intermediate lacto--tetraose II (LNT II) currently limited the sustainable biosynthesis of LNnT. First, the LNnT biosynthetic module was integrated in .

The bio-distribution, clearance pathways, and toxicity mechanisms of ambient ultrafine particles.

Ambient particles severely threaten human health worldwide. Compared to larger particles, ultrafine particles (UFPs) are highly concentrated in ambient environments, have a larger specific surface area, and are retained for a longer time in the lung. Recent studies have found that they can be transported into various extra-pulmonary organs by crossing the air-blood barrier (ABB).

The Role of Indoor Microbiome and Metabolites in Shaping Children's Nasal and Oral Microbiota: A Pilot Multi-Omic Analysis.

Maintaining a diverse and well-balanced nasal and oral microbiota is vital for human health. However, the impact of indoor microbiome and metabolites on nasal and oral microbiota remains largely unknown. Fifty-six children in Shanghai were surveyed to complete a questionnaire about their personal and environmental characteristics.

Assessing the Impact of Programmed Intermittent Pulse Injection on Pelvic Floor Function Following Childbirth.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of different administration timings of Programmed Intermittent Pulse Injection (PIEB) on pelvic floor function and postpartum rehabilitation in patients who underwent analgesic delivery and received postpartum rehabilitation nursing.

Methods: An observational comparative study was conducted between January 2021 and October 2021. We enrolled 85 patients who received PIEB analgesia during delivery and postpartum rehabilitation nursing at our hospital.

Regulation of Microglial Activation by Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling After Global Cerebral Ischemia in Mice.

Microglia are immunocompetent cells in the central nervous system. Following cerebral ischemia, microglia will be rapidly activated and undergo proliferation, morphological transformation, and changes in gene expression and function. At present, the regulatory mechanisms of microglial activation following ischemia remain largely unclear.

Improved ambient air quality is associated with decreased prevalence of childhood asthma and infancy shortly after weaning is a sensitive exposure window.

Background: The urban ambient air quality has been largely improved in the past decade. It is unknown whether childhood asthma prevalence is still increasing in ever top-ranking city of Shanghai, whether the improved air quality is beneficial for children's asthma and what time window of exposure plays critical roles.

Methods: Using a repeat cross-sectional design, we analyzed the association between early life exposure to particles and wheezing/asthma in each individual and combined surveys in 2011 and 2019, respectively, in 11,825 preschool children in Shanghai.

Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway mediates diesel exhaust PM-induced pulmonary and systemic inflammation.

Previous research has indicated that the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) can regulate the duration and intensity of inflammatory responses. A wide range of research has demonstrated that PM exposure may induce various negative health effects via pulmonary and systemic inflammations. To study the potential role of the CAP in mediating PM-induced effects, mice were treated with vagus nerve electrical stimulation (VNS) to activate the CAP before diesel exhaust PM (DEP) instillation.

Impact of environmental characteristics on children's gut microbiota - A pilot study in assessing the role of indoor microbiome and metabolites.

Background: A diverse and balanced human gut microbiota is crucial for maintaining normal human physiological functions. However, the impact of indoor microbiome and metabolites on gut microbiota is not well understood.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on more than 40 personal and environmental characteristics and dietary habits from 56 children in Shanghai, China.

Organic Semiconducting Nanoparticles for Biosensor: A Review.

Highly bio-compatible organic semiconductors are widely used as biosensors, but their long-term stability can be compromised due to photo-degradation and structural instability. To address this issue, scientists have developed organic semiconductor nanoparticles (OSNs) by incorporating organic semiconductors into a stable framework or self-assembled structure. OSNs have shown excellent performance and can be used as high-resolution biosensors in modern medical and biological research.

Caffeine-Induced Sleep Restriction Alters the Gut Microbiome and Fecal Metabolic Profiles in Mice.

Insufficient sleep is becoming increasingly common and contributes to many health issues. To combat sleepiness, caffeine is consumed daily worldwide. Thus, caffeine consumption and sleep restriction often occur in succession.

Ferroptosis contributes to nickel-induced developmental neurotoxicity in zebrafish.

Nickel (Ni) is a widely utilized heavy metal that can cause environmental pollution and health hazards. Its safety has attracted the attention of both the environmental ecology and public health fields. While the central nervous system (CNS) is one of the main targets of Ni, its neurotoxicity and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Deficiency of interleukin-6 receptor ameliorates PM exposure-induced pulmonary dysfunction and inflammation but not abnormalities in glucose homeostasis.

Background: Ambient fine particulate matter (PM) exposure increases local and systemic interleukin-6 (IL-6). However, the pathogenic role of IL-6 signalling following PM exposure, particularly in the development of pulmonary dysfunction and abnormal glucose homeostasis, has hardly been investigated.

Results: In the study, IL-6 receptor (IL-6R)-deficient (IL-6R) and wildtype littermate (IL-6R) mice were exposed to concentrated ambient PM (CAP) or filtered air (FA), and their pulmonary and metabolic responses to these exposures were analyzed.