Extractable organic matter from PM inhibits cardiomyocyte differentiation via AHR-mediated mA RNA methylation.

An ever-increasing body of research has established a link between maternal PM2.5 exposure and congenital heart diseases in the offspring, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We recently reported that activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) by PM2.

PFOS and PFOSA induce oxidative stress-mediated cardiac defects in zebrafish via PPARγ and AHR pathways, respectively.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and its precursor, perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA), are widespread in the environment. Evidence suggests a strong link between maternal exposure to PFOS/PFOSA and congenital heart diseases in the offspring, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that PFOS and PFOSA induce cardiac defects through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathways, respectively.

Associations between brain imaging-derived phenotypes and cognitive functions.

We aimed to evaluate the potential causal relationship between brain imaging-derived phenotypes and cognitive functions via Mendelian randomization analyses. Genetic instruments for 470 brain imaging-derived phenotypes were selected from a genome-wide association study based on the UK Biobank (n = 33,224). Statistics for cognitive functions were obtained from the genome-wide association study based on the UK Biobank.

Maternal PFOS exposure in mice induces hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation in adult female offspring: Involvement of microbiome-gut-liver axis and autophagy.

Perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS) are the persistent organic pollutants. In the present study, 0, 0.3, or 3-mg/kg PFOS were administered to pregnant mice from GD 11 to GD 18.

Dry eye symptoms and health-related quality of life among Chinese individuals: a national-based study.

Aims: To assess the impact of dry eye symptoms (DESs) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Chinese residents.

Methods: A total of 21 916 participants were involved in this nationwide cross-sectional study. All of them completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index-6 and the five-level European Quality of Life 5-Dimensional (EQ-5D) Questionnaire to assess the severity of DES and HRQOL, respectively.

Association between CORIN promoter methylation and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy - A nested case-control study.

Introduction: Corin protein and its coding gene variants have been associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. As a mediator linking fixed genome with the dynamic environment, DNA methylation at the CORIN gene may link corin with HDP but not has been studied. This study aimed to examine whether CORIN promoter methylation and HDP in Chinese pregnant women.

Genetically predicted circulating interleukin-18 levels are associated with risk of systemic lupus erythematosus and type 1 diabetes.

Objective: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine. This study aims to determine whether there is a causal relationship between circulating IL-18 concentrations and the risk of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Methods: We collected significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with circulating IL-18 levels ( < 5 × 10) as instrumental variables (IVs) from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 21,758 individuals of European descent.

Association between Plasma Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Level and Alzheimer's Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: High brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations have been found to be associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in observational studies, but the causality for this association remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to examine the association between genetically determined plasma BDNF levels and AD using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method.

Methods: Twenty single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with plasma BDNF concentrations were identified as genetic instruments based on a genome-wide association study with 3301 European individuals.

Plasma trimethylamine N-oxide metabolites in the second trimester predict the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a nested case-control study.

The relationship between gut microbiota products trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) and related metabolites including betaine, choline and L-carnitine and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is unclear. In order to examine whether plasma TMAO and related metabolites predict the risk of HDP, a nested case-control study was conducted in Chinese women based on a prospective cohort including 9447 participants. 387 pairs of pregnant women (n = 774) were matched and their plasma TMAO, betaine, choline, and L-carnitine at 16-20 gestational weeks were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Genetic analyses identify brain imaging-derived phenotypes associated with the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Brain imaging-derived phenotypes have been suggested to be associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in observational studies, but whether these associations are causal remains unclear. We aimed to assess the potential bidirectional causal associations between imaging-derived phenotypes and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using bidirectional 2-sample Mendelian randomization analyses. Summary statistics for 469 imaging-derived phenotypes (33,224 individuals) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (20,806 cases and 59,804 controls) were obtained from 2 large-scale genome-wide association studies of European ancestry.

Physiological Effects of Co-exposure to Ionizing Radiation and Noise within Occupational Exposure Limits.

Workers are frequently exposed to the occupational hazards of ionizing radiation and noise. Co-exposure to these hazards is not well understood in terms of their physiological effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological effects of co-exposure to ionizing radiation and noise within the occupational limit.

Association between CORIN methylation and hypertension in Chinese adults.

Background: Corin, a physical activator of atrial natriuretic peptide, has been associated with hypertension with unclear mechanisms. Here, we aimed to examine whether CORIN gene methylation was involved in the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods: DNA methylation levels of CORIN were measured by target bisulfite sequencing using genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 2498 participants in the Gusu cohort (discovery sample) and 1771 independent participants (replication sample).

The relationship between arginine vasopressin gene polymorphisms and plasma copeptin and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a nested case-control study.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the relationship between polymorphism of the arginine vasopressin (AVP) gene and plasma copeptin concentration with the occurrence of hypertension in pregnancy.

Methods: We conducted a matched nested case-control study in Chinese women. The genotypes of rs3729965, rs3761249, rs1410713, rs2740204, and rs2282018 loci of AVP gene and plasma copeptin at 16-20 gestational weeks were detected in 288 patients with gestational hypertension (GH), 82 with preeclampsia (PE), and 14 with chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia (CH-PE) and their healthy matched controls.

A Prediction Model for Rapid Identification of Ischemic Stroke: Application of Serum Soluble Corin.

Objective: Rapid identification is critical for ischemic stroke due to the very narrow therapeutic time window. The objective of this study was to construct a diagnostic model for the rapid identification of ischemic stroke.

Methods: A mixture population constituted of patients with ischemic stroke (n = 481), patients with hemorrhagic stroke (n = 116), and healthy individuals from communities (n = 2498) were randomly resampled into training (n = 1547, mean age: 55 years, 44% males) and testing (n = 1548, mean age: 54 years, 43% males) samples.

Association Between Human Blood Metabolome and the Risk of Psychiatric Disorders.

Background And Hypothesis: To identify promising drug targets for psychiatric disorders, we applied Mendelian randomization (MR) design to systematically screen blood metabolome for potential mediators of psychiatric disorders and further predict target-mediated side effects.

Study Design: We selected 92 unique blood metabolites from 3 metabolome genome-wide association studies (GWASs) with totally 147 827 participants. Summary statistics for bipolar disorder (BIP), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SCZ), panic disorder (PD), autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), and anorexia nervosa (AN) originated from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, involving 1 143 340 participants.

Serum Atrial Natriuretic Peptide, Promoter Methylation, and Cardiovascular Disease: A 10-year Follow-Up Study in Chinese Adults.

Background: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related risk factors, but the clinical application is limited and the underlying mechanisms are not very clear. Here, we aimed to examine whether proANP and its coding gene methylation were associated with CVD in the Chinese population.

Methods: Serum proANP and peripheral blood DNA methylation of natriuretic peptide A gene () promoter was quantified at baseline for 2,498 community members (mean aged 53 years, 38% men) in the Gusu cohort.

Relationship between Gestational Weight Gain Rate Trajectory and Overweight in Offspring at Three Years of Age.

The incidence of childhood obesity has increased rapidly, and its relationship with adult diseases is constantly being revealed. Maternal factors have been shown to play an important role in the growth and development of newborns. In this article, we explored the relationship between the gestational weight gain (GWG) rate and overweight/obesity in offspring at 3 years of age.

NPPA Promoter Hypomethylation Predicts Central Obesity Development: A Prospective Longitudinal Study in Chinese Adults.

Introduction: Atrial natriuretic peptide plays a potential role in obesity with unclear molecular mechanisms. The objective of this study was to examine the association between its coding gene (natriuretic peptide A [NPPA]) methylation and obesity.

Methods: Peripheral blood DNA methylation of NPPA promoter was quantified at baseline by targeted bisulfite sequencing for 2,497 community members (mean aged 53 years, 38% men) in the Gusu cohort.

The mediating role of gestational diabetes mellitus in the associations of maternal prepregnancy body mass index with neonatal birth weight.

Background: Both prepregnancy obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have been linked to adverse neonatal birth weight. However, the mediating role of GDM between prepregnancy obesity and neonatal birth weight is unclear.

Method: The cohort study included 17 260 singleton pregnant women and their newborns.

Metabolomic Profiles of Shift Workers and Day Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize the metabolomic profiles of shift workers and day workers and to discover the effect of shift work on workers' metabolic health.

Methods: A total of 824 participants aged 25 to 55 years were recruited, and 485 (275 shift workers and 210 day workers) completed the study. The mean age of the shift workers was 37.

Association between parental socioeconomic status and offspring overweight/obesity from the China Family Panel Studies: a longitudinal survey.

Objective: To examine the association between parental socioeconomic status (SES) and the risk of offspring overweight/obesity and the changes of the association that occur as children grow older.

Design: We used data from the nationally representative longitudinal survey of the China Family Panel Studies of 2010 and its three follow-up waves in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

Participants: A total of 6724 children aged 0-15 years old were included.

Association of semenogelin (SEMG) gene variants in idiopathic male infertility in Chinese-Han population.

Infertility is known to occur frequently worldwide, and the incidence is continuing to rise in China. It is known that semenogelin (SEMG) protein secreted by human seminal vesicles plays an important role in male reproductive system function. However, an association between alterations in gene functions and idiopathic male infertility occurrence in Chinese-Han population has not been examined.

Circadian rhythm genes mediate fenvalerate-induced inhibition of testosterone synthesis in mouse Leydig cells.

Fenvalerate (Fen), a widely used pesticide, is known to impair male reproductive functions by mechanisms that remain to be elucidated. Recent studies indicated that circadian clock genes may play an important role in successful male reproduction. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Fen on circadian clock genes involved in the biosynthesis of testosterone using TM3 cells derived from mouse Leydig cells.

Antiviral activity of shikonin ester derivative PMM-034 against enterovirus 71 in vitro.

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the major causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), particularly in infants and children below 4 years of age. Shikonin is a bioactive compound with anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial activities derived from the roots of the Chinese medicinal herb Lithospermum erythrorhizon. This study aimed to examine the antiviral activity of PMM-034, a shikonin ester derivative, against EV71 in rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells.