Indole derivatives and their associated microbial genera are associated with the 1-year changes in cardiometabolic risk markers in Chinese adults.

Background: Although emerging evidence suggests that indole derivatives, microbial metabolites of tryptophan, may improve cardiometabolic health, the effective metabolites remain unclear. Also, the gut microbiota that involved in producing indole derivatives are less studied. We identified microbial taxa that can predict serum concentrations of the key indole metabolite indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) at population level and investigated the associations of indole derivatives and IPA-predicting microbial genera with cardiometabolic risk markers.

A homozygous loss-of-function mutation in CEP250 is associated with acephalic spermatozoa syndrome in humans.

Background: The presence of predominantly headless sperm in semen is a hallmark of acephalic spermatozoa syndrome, which is primarily caused by gene mutations in humans.

Purpose: To identify genetic causes for acephalic spermatozoa syndrome.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing were performed to define mutations in SUN5 and PMFBP1.

The relationships of metals exposure and disturbance of the vaginal microbiota with the risk of PROM: Results from a birth cohort study.

The vaginal microbiota is proposed to be associated with reproductive health. Exposure to metals during pregnancy is a risk factor for premature rupture of membranes (PROM). PROM can lead to serious maternal complications, thus, identifying the cause and therapeutic targets for it is crucial.

Chrononutrition behaviors and cardiometabolic risk in adolescence: an ecological momentary assessment study.

Purpose: To investigate the potential associations between unhealthy chrononutrition behaviors (meal timing, frequency, and regularity) and their combined impact on cardiometabolic risk in adolescence.

Methods: Chrononutrition behaviors were assessed using a 7-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA). The unhealthy chrononutrition score (ranging from 0 to 8) was determined based on late meal timing, low meal frequency, and meal irregularity.

Predictive analysis of bullying victimization trajectory in a Chinese early adolescent cohort based on machine learning.

Background: The development of bullying victimization among adolescents displays significant individual variability, with general, group-based interventions often proving insufficient for partial victims. This study aimed to conduct a machine learning-based predictive analysis of bullying victimization trajectories among Chinese early adolescents and to examine the underlying determinants.

Methods: Data were collected from 1549 students who completed three assessments of bullying victimization from 2019 to 2021.

The impact of prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter and its components on maternal and neonatal thyroid function and birth weight: a prospective cohort study.

Maternal and child health has garnered considerable attention recently. The effects of prenatal exposure to PM and its components on thyroid function in both mothers and fetuses, as well as on offspring birth weight, remain unexplored. This study involved 446 mother-infant pairs from a cohort study in Ma'anshan, China, during 2021-2022.

Associating prenatal phthalate exposure with childhood autistic traits: Investigating potential adverse outcome pathways and the modifying effects of maternal vitamin D.

The association between prenatal phthalate mixture exposure and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, as well as the potential mechanism and impact of maternal vitamin D, remains unclear. We analyzed data from 3209 mother-child pairs. The associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and autistic traits in children aged 1.

The associations of the concentrations of toxic metals (including metalloid) in blood and follicular fluid with the risk of diminished ovarian reserve.

Background: Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), a triggering factor for female infertility, affects 10% ∼ 35% of women of reproductive age. It is still unclear whether exposure to toxic metals (including metalloid) is associated with DOR risk, especially with respect to their relationships with the clinical phenotypes of DOR.

Methods: A case-control study including 439 patients was conducted, and Ba, Ni, As, Tl, Cd, Pb, Hg, Al and Cr levels in BL and FF were measured.

Comparison between grip strength and relative grip strength in their relationship with allostatic load among adolescents.

Purpose: To assess the associations of muscle strength, measure by grip strength and relative grip strength (grip strength divided by body weight), on the allostatic load (AL) index in adolescent boys and girls.

Methods: A total of 1,323 students were recruited (boys = 776, girls = 547). Data on general demographic characteristics, anthropometric indicators, grip strength, blood pressure, pulse rate, and biological samples were collected.

Association of FOXL2 and ERCC6 variants with premature ovarian insufficiency and their potential use in clinical IVF guidance.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is the main cause of infertility in women. Some cases of POI are thought to be caused by genetic defects and the clinical outcomes of these patients are unknown. Here, we performed whole-exome sequencing of the peripheral blood of a cohort of 55 subjects with POI and identified one heterozygous missense variant in FOXL2 (c.

Associating prenatal antibiotics exposure with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in preschool children: The role of maternal vitamin D.

Background: The associations between prenatal antibiotics exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preschoolers, and the role of maternal vitamin D in these associations, remain to be explored.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationships between multiple maternal urinary antibiotics levels and preschoolers' ADHD symptoms, and to identify the potential modifying effects of maternal vitamin D.

Methods: Based on a prospective birth cohort, the present study included 2033 motherchild pairs.

Association of novel DNAH11 variants with asthenoteratozoospermia lead to male infertility.

Background: Bi-allelic variants in DNAH11 have been identified as causative factors in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, leading to abnormal respiratory cilia. Nonetheless, the specific impact of these variants on human sperm flagellar and their involvement in male infertility remain largely unknown.

Methods: A collaborative effort involving two Chinese reproductive centers conducted a study with 975 unrelated infertile men.

CALR3 defects disrupt sperm-zona pellucida binding in humans: new insights into male factor fertilization failure and relevant clinical therapeutic approaches.

Study Question: Do biallelic deleterious variants of Calreticulin 3 (CALR3) cause fertilization failure (FF), resulting in male infertility in humans?

Summary Answer: Biallelic mutations in CALR3 were identified in two infertile men from unrelated families and were shown to cause FF associated with failed sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) binding.

What Is Known Already: In male mice, the Calr3-knockout has been reported to cause male infertility and FF. However, the mechanism behind this remains unclear in humans.

Association between maternal antibiotic exposure and emotional and behavioural problems in children at four years of age: A biomonitoring-based prospective study.

Background: Maternal exposure to multiple antibiotics exposure during pregnancy has attracted extensive attention, but biomonitoring studies linking prenatal antibiotic exposure to emotional and behavioural problems in children are limited.

Methods: A total of 2475 pregnant women from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort were included, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was completed when their children turned four years of age. The levels of 41 maternal urinary antibiotics and two metabolites were measured during the first, second and third trimesters.

Leisure activity engagement attenuates the risks of cognitive impairment induced by unhealthy plant-based diets: a nationwide cohort study.

Objective: We intended to reveal the joint effects between LAE and uPDI on cognition in Chinese older adults.

Methods: Data were collected from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. In total, 10,617 individuals aged 65 years and above without cognitive impairment or dementia at baseline were enrolled in 2008 and followed up in 2011, 2014, and 2018.

Plin4 exacerbates cadmium-decreased testosterone level via inducing ferroptosis in testicular Leydig cells.

Strong evidence indicates that environmental stressors are the risk factors for male testosterone deficiency (TD). However, the mechanisms of environmental stress-induced TD remain unclear. Based on our all-cause male reproductive cohort, we found that serum ferrous iron (Fe⁺) levels were elevated in TD donors.

Exploring noninvasive matrices for assessing long-term exposure to phthalates: a scoping review.

The phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are one class of the most abundant and frequently studied pseudo-persistent organic pollutants. Noninvasive urine is an effective substrate for evaluating PAE exposure, but repeated sampling is needed to overcome this bias. This adds much work to on-site collection and the cost of detection increases exponentially.