Pyrethroid exposure biomarker 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) binds to transthyretin and is positively associated with free T3 in pregnant women.

Pyrethroids constitute a large group of insecticides widely used in agriculture, indoor environments, and in vector control. Structurally, pyrethroids resemble thyroid hormones, and have been suggested to be thyroid hormone disruptors based on experimental studies. During pregnancy, even minor disturbances in maternal levels can affect fetal brain development.

In vitro antiandrogenic effects of the herbicide linuron and its metabolites.

Although the herbicide linuron is banned for use in the EU due to its reproductive and developmental toxicity, it can still be found in randomly sampled foods grown in and outside the EU. It is not clear if metabolites of linuron can contribute to the endocrine disrupting effects following exposure to the parent compound. To address this gap, we analysed linuron and the metabolites 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) urea (DCU), 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) and 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-methoxyurea (DCXU) for androgen receptor (AR) activities and effects on steroidogenesis.

Human risk associated with exposure to mixtures of antiandrogenic chemicals evaluated using in vitro hazard and human biomonitoring data.

Background: Scientific evidence for underestimated toxicity from unintentional exposure to chemical mixtures is mounting. Yet, harmonized approaches on how to assess the actual risk of mixtures is lacking. As part of the European Joint programme 'Human Biomonitoring for Europe' we explored a novel methodology for mixture risk assessment of chemicals affecting male reproductive function.

Mixture Risk Assessment of Complex Real-Life Mixtures-The PANORAMIX Project.

Humans are involuntarily exposed to hundreds of chemicals that either contaminate our environment and food or are added intentionally to our daily products. These complex mixtures of chemicals may pose a risk to human health. One of the goals of the European Union's Green Deal and zero-pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment is to tackle the existent gaps in chemical mixture risk assessment by providing scientific grounds that support the implementation of adequate regulatory measures within the EU.

Parameter-tuning stochastic resonance as a tool to enhance wavelength modulation spectroscopy using a dense overlapped spot pattern multi-pass cell.

The parameter-tuning stochastic resonance (SR) method can convert part of the noise energy into the signal energy to suppress the noise and amplify the signal, comparing with traditional weak periodic signal detection methods (e.g., time average method, filtering method, and correlation analysis method).

Pathogen Distribution and Antimicrobial Resistance of Early Onset Sepsis in Very Premature Infants: A Real-World Study.

Introduction: Early onset sepsis (EOS) remains a potentially fatal newborn condition, especially in very preterm infants. Data on the pathogen distribution and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of EOS among very preterm infants are scarce but essential for the choice of empirical antibiotic administration. We sought to assess the epidemiologic characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of pathogens causing EOS among a cohort of very preterm infants in China.

Excessively Prolonged Early Antibiotic Duration in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study in a Developing Country.

Purpose: Significant antibiotic overuse due to prolonged antibiotic duration has not draw enough attention in developing countries with high antibiotic consumption. We aimed to describe the current status of prolonged early antibiotic duration in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants in a large regional multicenter cohort in China.

Patients And Methods: Institution-based prospective cohort study was conducted in all VLBW infants admitted to 16 Grade A tertiary hospitals between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020.

Effect of combustion-derived particles on genotoxicity and telomere length: A study on human cells and exposed populations.

Particulate matter (PM) from combustion processes has been associated with oxidative stress to DNA, whereas effects related to telomere dysfunction are less investigated. We collected air-borne PM from a passenger cabin of a diesel-propelled train and at a training facility for smoke diving exercises. Effects on oxidative stress biomarkers, genotoxicity measured by the comet assay and telomere length in PM-exposed A549 cells were compared with the genotoxicity and telomere length in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from human volunteers exposed to the same aerosol source.

microRNA-211 promotes invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cells by targeting FABP4 via PPARγ.

Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) is a novel tumor regulator that is abnormally expressed in many human cancers. In our study, upregulated microRNA-211 (miR-211) and reduced FABP4 expression were detected in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and CRC cells. Mimic miR-211 or anti-miR-211 were transfected to investigate the effects of miR-211 on SW480 cells.

Raman analysis of cobalt blue pigment in blue and white porcelain: A reassessment.

Cobalt blue is a famous pigment in human history. In the past decade it is widely reported that the cobalt aluminate has been detected in ancient ceramics as blue colorant in glaze, yet the acquired Raman spectra are incredibly different from that of synthesised references, necessitating a reassessment of such contradictory scenario with more accurate analytic strategies. In this study, micro-Raman spectroscopy (MRS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in association with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) were performed on under-glaze cobalt pigments from one submerged blue and white porcelain shard dated from Wanli reign (1573-1620CE) of Ming dynasty (1365-1644CE) excavated at Nan'ao I shipwreck off the southern coast of China.