Anniversaries and Special Events ; Alkanesulfonic Acids

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the prenatal exposure of per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and the neonatal outcome. Methods: A total of 506 maternal infant cohort samples were collected in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province from 2020 to 2021. The exposure levels of seven PFASs in maternal serum before delivery were detected by solid-phase extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Multivariable linear regression model was used to analyze the influence of prenatal exposure of PFASs on birth weight, birth length and Apgar score. Results: The maternal age, prenatal body mass index and gestation age were (31.3±4.3) years old, (26.7±3.2) kg/m² and (265.0±28.3) days, respectively. The birth weight, birth length and scores of Apgar-1 and Apgar-5 were (3.1±0.8) kg, (49.3±2.9) cm, (9.88±0.47) points and (9.99±0.13) points, respectively. PFASs were widely distributed in maternal serum, with the highest concentration of (18.453±19.557) ng/ml, (6.756±9.379) ng/ml and (5.057±8.555) ng/ml for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 6∶2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (Cl-PFESA), respectively. Maternal age, parity and delivery mode were associated with the exposure level of PFASs (P<0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that PFOS had negative effects on birth weight (β=-0.958), birth length (β=-0.073) and Apgar-5 score (β=-0.288) for neonates in the low birth weight (LBW) group. 6∶2 Cl-PFESA and 8∶2 Cl-PFESA inhibited the birth weight (β=-0.926; β=-0.552) and length (β=-0.074; β=-0.045) of newborn in the LBW group. In addition, 4∶2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (FTS) was associated with increased birth weight (β=0.111) and decreased Apgar-5 score (β=-0.030) in the normal weight group. Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to PFASs is associated with birth weight, birth length and Apgar-5 score. It is necessary to continue to pay attention to the impact of PFASs on fetal growth and development through maternal-fetal transmission.
Pregnancy ; Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Birth Weight ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Alkanesulfonic Acids/analysis* ; Alkanesulfonates/analysis* ; Fluorocarbons/analysis* ; Ethers/analysis* ; Ethyl Ethers/analysis* ; Environmental Pollutants/analysis* ; Maternal Exposure

Metabolic profile of bile acids was used to evaluate hepatotoxicity of mice caused by ethanol extraction of Dioscorea bulbifera L. (ethanol extraction, ET) and diosbulbin B (DB), separately. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was applied to determine the contents of all kinds of endogenous bile acids including free bile acids, taurine conjugates and glycine conjugates. Obvious liver injuries could be observed in mice after administrated with ET and DB. Based on the analysis using principle components analysis (PCA), toxic groups could be distinguished from their control groups, which suggested that the variance of the contents of bile acids could evaluate hepatotoxicity caused by ET and DB. Meanwhile, ET and DB toxic groups were classified in the same trends comparing to control groups in the loading plot, and difference between the two toxic groups could also be observed. DB proved to be one of the toxic components in Dioscorea bulbifera L. Bile acids of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), taurocholic acid (TCA), taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA), cholic acid (CA) and others proved to be important corresponds to ET and DB induced liver injury according to analysis of partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and the statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences between the control groups and toxic groups (P < 0.01). Furthermore, good correlation could be revealed between the foregoing bile acids and ALT, AST. It indicated that taurine conjugated bile acids as TUDCA, TCDCA, TCA and TDCA along with CA could be considered as sensitive biomarkers of ET and DB induced liver injury. This work can provide the base for the further research on the evaluation and mechanism of hepatotoxicity caused by Dioscorea bulbifera L.
Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts ; metabolism ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; metabolism ; Cholic Acid ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Dioscorea ; toxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plants, Medicinal ; toxicity ; Principal Component Analysis ; Rhizome ; toxicity ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid ; metabolism ; Taurocholic Acid ; metabolism ; Taurodeoxycholic Acid ; metabolism

A total of 262 dietitians (in 97 college foodservices nationwide, 86 elementary school foodservices, and 79 middle & high school foodservices in the Changwon area) were given a survey questionnaire composed of 18 GMP and 29 SSOP items from May to July, 2011. As a whole, total usage level of GMP facilities (3.65/5 points) and total management level of SSOP (3.86) in college foodservices showed no significant differences compared to those in elementary school foodservices (GMP 3.74, SSOP 4.02) and middle & high school foodservices (GMP 3.75, SSOP 3.95). However, the results of this study suggest that seven items of the GMP facilities and five items of the SSOP should be improved for the development of the HACCP facility model in college foodservices. Those items that showed considerably lower points in GMP were as follows: 'Drain pipes from sinks of the cooking area are connected directly to the drain (3.74)' (P<0.001), 'The grease trap is installed outside the cooking area equipped with an oil separator (3.24)' (P<0.01), 'Entrance and the cooking area are adequately equipped with hand-washing and shoe disinfecting facilities (3.61)' (P<0.001), 'Cooking area, food storage, and dining area are adequately equipped with insect and rodent repellents (3.72)' (P<0.001), 'Cooking areas are equipped with air-conditioning/heating system and ventilation facility for maintenance of temperature and humidity (3.35)' (P<0.05), and 'Toilets for cooking staff only are provided; the its doorways are not directly accessible from the cooking area (3.25)' (P<0.01).
Alkanesulfonic Acids ; Compliance ; Cooking ; Food Storage ; Humans ; Humidity ; Insects ; Piperazines ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rodentia ; Shoes ; Ventilation

Adult ; Alkanesulfonic Acids ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; chemically induced

BACKGROUND: To observe the effect of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS) on oxidative stress and collagen fiber in skin tissue of mice and to explore the correlation between oxidative stress and collagen metabolism.
 METHODS: Forty healthy Kunming mice (male) were randomly divided into 4 groups: a control group, a low-, middle- and high-dose group of LAS (LD, MD and HD groups), treated with LAS at 150, 300 and 600 mg/L respectively (n=10 per group). The skin on the back of mice was smeared with distilled water or different dosage of LAS for 60 days. The measured indexes included general condition of mice, HE and Masson staining of skin, the content of hydroxyproline (Hyp) in skin tissue, the activity of super oxidase dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in skin tissue and serum, and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum.
 RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the changes of diet, daily activities and mental state of mice with different dose of LAS were not obvious during the experiment, but the body weight of mice in the experimental groups reduced obviously after 4 weeks of experiment (P<0.01), and their skin tissue was thinner, some of epidermis of skin contained areas with cellular necrosis and abscission. Superficial layer of dermis was infiltrated by inflammatory cells. The collagen fibers were looser and dimmer. At the same time, the content of MDA and the activity of LDH increased remarkably (P<0.01), while the activity of SOD and the content of Hyp decreased obviously (P<0.01).
 CONCLUSIONS LAS can induce oxidative stress in the skin tissue of mice, which can destroy the integrity of skin structure and collagen fiber and reduce the content of collagen fiber. The oxidative damage might be the primary cause for disorders of collagen fiber.
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Alkanesulfonic Acids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Skin ; drug effects ; metabolism

A chemical mutagenesis technique was employed for development of mutant strains of Sparassis crispa targeting the shortened cultivation time and the high beta-glucan content. The homogenized mycelial fragments of S. crispa IUM4010 strain were treated with 0.2 vol% methyl methanesulfonate, an alkylating agent, yielding 199 mutant strains. Subsequent screening in terms of growth and beta-glucan content yielded two mutant strains, B4 and S7. Both mutants exhibited a significant increase in beta-glucan productivity by producing 0.254 and 0.236 mg soluble beta-glucan/mg dry cell weight for the B4 and S7 strains, respectively, whereas the wild type strain produced 0.102 mg soluble beta-glucan/mg dry cell weight. The results demonstrate the usefulness of chemical mutagenesis for generation of mutant mushroom strains.
Agaricales ; Efficiency ; Mass Screening ; Mesylates ; Methyl Methanesulfonate ; Mutagenesis ; Sprains and Strains

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) on Taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA)-induced HepG2 cell apoptosis and to clarify the molecular mechanism of its anti-apoptosis effect of TUDCA.

METHODSMorphologic evaluation of apoptotic cells was performed by Hoechst 33258 staining and electron microscope. DNA fragment was detected by electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose gels. Apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry using PI dye. Following incubation of HepG2 cells either with TDCA alone, or coincubation with TUDCA and TDCA, the releasing level of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol was determined by western blot, also the activity of caspase-3, 8, 9.

RESULTSIncubating the cells with 400 micromol/L TDCA for 12 h induced the cells apoptosis significantly. The apoptotic rate decreased from 50.35% +/- 2.20% to 13.78% +/- 0.84% after coincubation with TUDCA, and this anti-apoptotic effect of TUDCA was confirmed by morphological and DNA ladder detection. TUDCA significantly inhibited the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria into cytosol, and the activity of caspase-9, 3 (t > or = 13.00, P < 0.01), especially at 12 h, caspase-3 activity decreased by 54.9% (t = 16.88, P < 0.01) and 52.5%, however it had no obvious effect on the activity of caspase-8 (t = 1.94, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTUDCA prevents HepG2 cells apoptosis induced by TDCA through modulating mitochondrial membrane stability, inhibiting the release of cytochrome c and the activation of procaspase-9 and 3. Anti-apoptotic mechanism of TUDCA may be considered to be one of the most important reasons that TUDCA exerts significant efficacy in the treatment of cholestatic liver diseases.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; Caspase 9 ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid ; pharmacology ; Taurodeoxycholic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) as a measure of the night eating syndrome (NES) in a sample of outpatients with schizophrenia. METHODS: The behavioral and psychological symptoms of NES were assessed with the 14-item self-report questionnaire (NEQ). Body weight and height were measured to calculate the body mass index (BMI). Subjective estimates of depression, binge eating patterns, sleep quality and weight-related quality of life were evaluated using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), the Binge Eating Scale (BES), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Korean version of Obesity-related Quality of Life (KOQoL) Scale. RESULTS: Among 165 schizophrenic outpatients who completed the NEQ, 15 (9.1%) patients screened as having NES (total NEQ > or =25). The NEQ demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.72), and the item-total correlations (r=0.29-0.75 ; p<0.001, respectively) were acceptable, except for morning anorexia. A principal components analysis revealed five factors (nocturnal ingestions, evening hyperphagia, mood/sleep, morning anorexia, and delayed morning meal), which explained 65.7% of the total variance. Although the NEQ total score was not correlated with BMI, age at onset, duration of illness, or use of atypical antipsychotics, it was significantly correlated with total scores on the BDI, BES, PSQI and KOQoL. Test-retest reliability was also good (r=0.74, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the NEQ appears to be an efficient, valid measure of NES in outpatients with schizophrenia.
Alkanesulfonic Acids ; Anorexia ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Bulimia ; Depression ; Eating ; Humans ; Hyperphagia ; Outpatients ; Psychometrics ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Schizophrenia

PURPOSE: In spite of its safety and fesibility, it is not completely certain whether two-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be applied for the same indications as four-port cholecystectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the prospectively collected data of the patients who had undergone either two-port or four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the Department of Surgery, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital between March 2007 and August 2009. A total of 341 patients were included. For our two-port cholecystectomy, combining a transumbilical wound retractor with a surgical glove on which there was a 11 mm trocar and two pipes were attached comprised an umbilical common channel, and another port was inserted through the epigastrium. The overall procedure was similar to four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy. RESULTS: The patients were classified into the four-port group (n=261) and the two-port group (n=80) according to the operative method. All the two-port cholecystectomies were followed by four-port procedures. The operative indications for these two procedures were identical. No significant difference was observed for the mean operation time, the conversion rate, the postoperative hospital stay and the complications between each group. Multivariate analysis revealed that the factors making two-port surgery longer than the 75 percentile of the overall operation time were the development of intraoperative complications (RR 14.3; p=0.005; C.I. 2.255-90.853), a operation for the patients who visited the emergency room (RR 10.4; p=0.012; C.I. 1.684-63.798), open conversion or making additional port(s) (RR 9.9; p=0.032; C.I. 1.219-80.958) and a body-mass index greater than 25 (RR 5.5; p=0.025; C.I. 1.244-24.731). CONCLUSION: This study documents that our two-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy seems to have the potential to replace the conventional four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Alkanesulfonic Acids ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Emergencies ; Gloves, Surgical ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Length of Stay ; Multivariate Analysis ; Piperazines ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Instruments