OBJECTIVE: Prenatal phthalate exposure has been associated with placental inflammatory factors and infant allergic rhinitis (AR). However, the results are inconclusive. We designed a population-based cohort study to examine the effects of placental inflammatory biomarkers on the sex-dependent associations between maternal phthalate exposure and infant AR. METHODS: A total of 2,348 pregnant women from Ma'anshan, Anhui Province, China, who were screened before antenatal visits and met the inclusion criteria, were included in the present study. We assessed AR in their offspring aged 36 months with a questionnaire. Quantitative PCR was performed to measure placental inflammatory factor mRNAs. The independent samples t-test and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine the associations between infant AR and maternal phthalates. RESULTS: Childhood AR may be related to education and family monthly income ( P = 0.01). The phthalate metabolites, mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyl) phthalate (MEHHP), in pregnant women were associated with a significantly increased risk for infant AR in males [ P < 0.05; odds ratio ( OR): 1.285; 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.037-1.591, and OR: 1.232, 95% CI: 1.008-1.507, respectively], but not females. Additionally, irritably-increased expression levels of HO-1 and IL-4 were associated with AR in male infants ( OR: 1.175; 95% CI: 1.038-1.329 and OR: 1.181; 95% CI: 1.056-1.322, respectively). The association between maternal urinary MEHHP and placental HO-1 was marginally significant according to mediation analysis. CONCLUSION The associations of maternal MEHHP and MEOHP levels with fetal AR in males were significant. Placental HO-1 was a fractional mediator in the associations between MEHHP and AR. Thus, the placenta should be further investigated as a potential mediator of maternal exposure-induced disease risk in children.
Biomarkers ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate/analogs & derivatives* ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-4/pharmacology* ; Male ; Maternal Exposure/adverse effects* ; Phthalic Acids/adverse effects* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Rhinitis, Allergic/epidemiology*

The oral cavity of each person is home to hundreds of bacterial species.While taxa for oral diseases have been studied using culture-based characterization as well as amplicon sequencing,metagenomic and genomic information remains scarce compared to the fecal microbiome.Here,using metagenomic shotgun data for 3346 oral metagenomic samples together with 808 published samples,we obtain 56,213 metagenome-assembled genomes(MAGs),and more than 64％of the 3589 species-level genome bins(SGBs)contain no publicly available genomes.The resulting genome collection is representative of samples around the world and contains many genomes from candi-date phyla radiation(CPR)that lack monoculture.Also,it enables the discovery of new taxa such as a genus Candidatus Bgiplasma within the family Acholeplasmataceae.Large-scale metagenomic data from massive samples also allow the assembly of strains from important oral taxa such as Por-phyromonas and Neisseria.The oral microbes encode genes that could potentially metabolize drugs.Apart from these findings,a strongly male-enriched Campylobacter species was identified.Oral sam-ples would be more user-friendly collected than fecal samples and have the potential for disease diagnosis.Thus,these data lay down a genomic framework for future inquiries of the human oral microbiome.

The vagina contains at least a billion microbial cells,dominated by lactobacilli.Here we perform metagenomic shotgun sequencing on cervical and fecal samples from a cohort of 516 Chinese women of reproductive age,as well as cervical,fecal,and salivary samples from a second cohort of 632 women.Factors such as pregnancy history,delivery history,cesarean section,and breastfeeding were all more important than menstrual cycle in shaping the microbiome,and such information would be necessary before trying to interpret differences between vagino-cervical micro-biome data.Greater proportion of Bifidobacterium breve was seen with older age at sexual debut.The relative abundance of lactobacilli especially Lactobacillus crispatus was negatively associated with pregnancy history.Potential markers for lack of menstrual regularity,heavy flow,dysmenor-rhea,and contraceptives were also identified.Lactobacilli were rare during breastfeeding or post-menopause.Other features such as mood fluctuations and facial speckles could potentially be predicted from the vagino-cervical microbiome.Gut and salivary microbiomes,plasma vitamins,metals,amino acids,and hormones showed associations with the vagino-cervical microbiome.Our results offer an unprecedented glimpse into the microbiota of the female reproductive tract and call for international collaborations to better understand its long-term health impact other than in the settings of infection or pre-term birth.

Objective:To apply ¹³N-ammonia PET/CT cerebral blood perfusion imaging combined with methazolamide challenge for cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) evaluation in ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. Methods:From January, 2014 to December, 2016, 56 ischemic stroke patients with serious stenosis of unilateral internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery accepted basal and stress PET/CT with methazolamide challenge. The patients were divided into normal-CVR group (n = 29) and reduced-CVR group (n = 27) according to the results of CVR, and followed up for 24 months. The ischemic cerebrovascular events and cerebral blood flow were observed. Results:The incidence of transient ischemic attack was more in the reduced-CVR group than in the normal-CVR group (χ² = 4.389, P < 0.05), while the incidence of ischemic stroke increased a little with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The CBF was improved in normal-CVR group after treatment (t = 2.409, P < 0.05), and the improvement was not significant in reduced-CVR group (t = 0.648, P > 0.05). Conclusion:¹³N-ammonia PET/CT cerebral blood flow perfusion imaging combined with methazolamide challenge can be used to evaluate CVR to predict the outcome for patients with cerebral ischemic disease, which is helpful for early intervention.

Objective: To introduce a new method for assessing coronal balance in surgical treatment of scoliosis, and to explore its effectiveness in preventing postoperative coronal imbalance. Methods: The data of forty-six consecutive patients, who underwent posterior surgery for spine deformity correction from January 2016 to December 2016, were retrospectively analyzed. The series included 19 males and 27 females with an average age of 28.24±21.16 years (7-76 years), and with lower instrumented vertebra (LIV) located at the level of L3 or below. Point-line method was used to evaluate coronal balance by determining whether the center of upper instrumented vertebra was located at the measuring rod passing through the centers of symphysis pubis and LIV among all patients during surgery. Preoperative, postoperative 1 week and 3 months Cobb angle, coronal balance distance (CBD), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaires-22 (SRS-22) were measured and recorded, and statistical analysis was conducted. And then, subgroup analysis was performed according to preoperative coronal imbalance classification to further evaluate the effectiveness of the new method. Results: Among 46 patients in this study, the prevalence of preoperative coronal imbalance was 47.82% (22/46). Of them, ten patients were type B coronal imbalance and eleven patients were type C coronal imbalance. The prevalence of coronal imbalance at one week after operation was 17.39% (8/46), and the prevalence of coronal imbalance at final follow-up was 10.87% (5/46). The results showed that the mean main Cobb angle was 57.24°±26.51° and 14.71°±10.17° at pre-operation and immediate post-operation, respectively. The difference was statistically significant compared to preoperative value (t=13.211, P=0.000), and the average improvement rate was 73.53%±1.88%. Preoperative coronal balance distance CBD ranged from 2.76 mm to 66.73 mm, with an average of 22.54±13.97 mm; the mean CBD was 16.00±14.85 mm at immediate post-operation. The difference was statistically significant (t=3.665, P=0.001), with an average correction rate of 25.58%±52.39%. Our clinical outcome analysis showed that among 46 patients, the preoperative VAS was 8.11±0.89, and the final follow-up VAS was 4.15±0.79. There was a significant difference between pre-operation and the last follow-up (t=21.529, P=0.000). The preoperative ODI score was 49.76±5.84, and the final follow-up ODI score was 25.74±3.92. The difference was statistically significant (t=44.434, P=0.000). The preoperative SRS-22 was 10.57±2.13, and the final follow-up SRS-22 was 21.89±2.35. Compared to pre-operation, the difference was statistically significant (t=24.023, P=0.000). The subgroup analysis showed that in patients with type B coronal imbalance, the mean Cobb angle correction rate was 70.34%±6.02% at immediate post-operation, and there was a significant difference compared to pre-operation (t=5.437, P=0.000); the average CBD correction rate was 37.45%±29.03%, and significant difference was found (t=2.607, P=0.028). In type C patients, the average Cobb angle and CBD correction rate at immediate post-operation was 72.92%±3.67% and 44.79%±5.63%, respectively, and significant difference was found (t=7.319, P=0.000; t=7.545, P=0.000). Conclusion Point-line method was a simple and effective technique for intraoperative assessment of coronal balance, which could assist surgeons to objectively evaluate the result of restoration of the coronal alignment. The use of point-line method is contributed to improve clinical outcomes of spinal deformity correction surgery, and to prevent the occurrence of postoperative coronal imbalance.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical selection and application of cell suspension examination (CSE) or histopathological technique (HPT) in detecting sperm in the testis tissue obtained by testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA).

METHODSTotally, 1 006 NOA patients underwent TESA and their testis tissues were subjected to CSE or HPT for sperm detection. Based on the results of CSE, the testicular tissue samples were divided into groups A (with sperm, n = 567) and B (without sperm, n = 439) and the results were compared with those of HPT.

RESULTSHPT showed 508 cases with but 59 without sperm in group A, and 403 with and 36 without sperm in group B. The consistency rate of CSE with that of HPT was 90.56% (Kappa =0.809), and CSE exhibited a significantly higher rate of sperm detection than HPT (56.36% vs 54.08%, P=0.023).

CONCLUSIONSCSE combined with HPT for detecting sperm in the testis tissue of NOA patients undergoing diagnostic TESA helps clinical diagnosis and treatment. The results of CSE have a decisive significance for assisted reproductive therapy, while those of HPT may provide some definite etiological evidence for drug therapy or surgery.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a highly infectious pathogen that can cause severe diseases in pigs and result in enormous economic losses in the worldwide swine industry. Previous studies revealed that PEDV exhibits an obvious capacity for modulating interferon (IFN) signaling or expression. The newly discovered type III IFN, which plays a crucial role in antiviral immunity, has strong antiviral activity against PEDV proliferation in IPEC-J2 cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of PEDV nucleocapsid (N) protein on type III IFN-λ. We found that the N proteins of ten PEDV strains isolated between 2013 and 2017 from different local farms shared high nucleotide identities, while the N protein of the CV777 vaccine strain formed a monophyletic branch in the phylogenetic tree. The N protein of the epidemic strain could antagonize type III IFN, but not type I or type II IFN expression induced by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) in IPEC-J2 cells. Subsequently, we demonstrated that the inhibition of poly(I:C)-induced IFN-λ3 production by PEDV N protein was dependent on the blocking of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) nuclear translocation. These findings might help increase understanding of the pathogenesis of PEDV and its mechanisms for evading the host immune response.
Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; Animals ; Coronavirus Infections ; immunology ; veterinary ; virology ; Genes, Viral ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; immunology ; Interferons ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Interleukins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; physiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; immunology ; virology

BACKGROUND: The stress distribution is different between implants and natural teeth, and the biomechanical characters of implant-natural tooth supported fixed partial dentures need to be explored.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distributions of stress and strain on the implant interface and natural tooth ligaments by loading a vertical force to a single implant crown, natural tooth crown and a implant-natural tooth supported fixed partial denture.METHODS: Two male healthy Beagle dogs were selected, and their right mandibular first molars were exacted under general anesthesia. Three months later, a 3.3 mm×10 mm RN ITI implant was implanted into the defect region of each dog. The dogs were killed under anesthesia after another 3 months to remove the mandible. One dog was restored by a single implant and natural tooth crown, and the other was restored by the implant-natural tooth supported fixed partial dentures. The specimens were fixed to the load device after embedded with self caring acrylic resin, and the strain gauges were pasted to the cortical bone around the implant and natural tooth neck. The vertical force was loaded to the implant, natural tooth and fixed denture with 40, 60, 80,120, and 160 N.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: When the force was loaded to the implant of combined denture, the implant stress of combined denture was less than that of the single implant repair, and partial force was loaded on natural teeth; when the force was loaded to the natural tooth of combined denture, the stress to the natural tooth of combined denture was less than that of the single natural tooth repair. When the force was loaded to the natural tooth of combined denture, the stress was assumed by the whole prostheses. However, the stress was almost assumed by the implant when the force was loaded to the implant of combined denture. That is to say, it is feasible to use the implant-natural tooth supported fixed partial dentures.

Objective To study the anti-fatigue and hypoxia tolerance function of Coix lacryma-jobi leaf's water extract in mice.Methods Normal male mice were averagely selected and divided into four groups by weight:control group,low dose,medium dose and high dose experimental groups.Coix lacryma-jobi leaf's water extract of different dose (1.5,4.5,7.5 g · kg-1) was given into the mice's stomach respectively in three experimental groups and distilled water was given in control group,every day for a continuous 14 days.Burdened swimming test and hypoxia tolerance test were conducted in mice to determine their swimming time and death time.Dissociating the mouse's liver,weighing the mouse's liver and calculating the liver weight coefficient.Results The burdened swimming time of the high dose group,medium dose group and low dose group were respectively 6.74,10.47,5.51 min.The hypoxia tolerance time of the high dose group,medium dose group and low dose group were respectively 46.48,54.96,54.90 min.The liver weight coefficient of the high dose group,medium dose group and low dose group were respectively 0.054,0.050,0.051.Compared with the control group,the burdened swimming time of the medium dose group was longer than that of the control group with significantly (P ＜ 0.05).The death time of the low dose group and the medium dose group were prolonged than that of the control group with significantly(all P ＜0.01).Weighing the mouse's liver and the liver weight coefficient in three experimental groups were all higher than the control group with significantly (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Coix lacryma-jobi leaf's water extract had anti-fatigue and hypoxia tolerance function in mice.

Objective To study on the anti-fatigue and hypoxia tolerance function of Jasmine leaves' water extract in mice.Methods Forty-eight normal male mice were averagely selected and divided into four groups by weight:blank control group,low concentration experimental group,medium concentration experimental group and high concentration experimental group.Jasmine leaves' water extract of different concentrations (0,200,400,600 mg· mL-1 respectively for the four groups) was given into the mice's stomach for a continuous 16 days,each mice was given 10 mL · kg-1 a day.Burdened swimming test and hypoxia tolerance test were conducted in the mice to determine their swimming time and death time.The liver weight coefficient was calculated.Results The burdened swimming time:Compared with blank control group 9.27 min,that were 9.41,15.42,10.63 min in low,medium,high concentrations experimental groups respectively while medium experimental group had significantly (P ＜ 0.05).The hypoxia tolerance time:Compared with blank control group (47.56 ± 5.61)min,that were (56.24 ± 10.99),(47.20 ± 4.51),(53.44 ± 7.56) min in low,medium,high concentrations experimental groups respectively while low experimental group had significantly (P ＜ 0.01).The liver weight coefficient:Compared with blank control group (4.84 ± 0.29) × 10-2,that were (5.20 ± 0.72) × 10-2,(5.43 ±0.39) × 10-2,(5.42 ± 0.57) × 10-2 in low,medium,high concentrations experimental groups respectively while medium,high experimental groups had significantly(all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Jasmine leaves' water extract is proved to have anti-fatigue and hypoxia tolerance function in mice.