ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo study the relationship between the exposure to two kinds of phthalate esters （PAEs） ［Di-N-butyl phthalate，（DBP） and Di-（2-ethylhexyl）phthalate （DEHP）］ and estrogen homeostasis in pregnant women. MethodsIn 2021， we classified the Jiading District of Shanghai into five geographical areas， east， west， south， north and central. A total of 151 pregnant women from each area were selected for questionnaire survey， with random urine samples during first， second， and third trimesters collected. A DBP metabolite ［Mono-N-butyl phthalate （MBP）］ and two DEHP metabolites ［Mono（2-ethylhexyl） phthalate （MEHP）， Mono（2-ethyl5-oxohexyl） phthalate， （MEOHP）］ and three estrogens ［estrone （E1）， 17β -estradiol （E2）， and estriol （E3）］ in urine were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. After a natural logarithmic transformation of PAEs metabolite levels and estrogen concentration， multivariable linear regression was used to control potential confounders and determine the relationship between PAEs metabolite levels and estrogen concentration. ResultsThe detection rates of three PAEs metabolites in urine of pregnant women were more than 98%. The median corrected concentrations of MBP， MEHP and MEOHP were 5.18， 0.59 and 4.23 mg·kg-1， respectively. During the whole pregnancy， MEOHP was positively correlated with E1 （β=0.450， 95%CI： 0.057‒0.844）， and MBP was positively correlated with E3 （β=0.250， 95%CI： 0.034‒0.465）. Stratified by trimesters， MBP was positively correlated with E3 in the first trimester （β=0.428， 95%CI： 0.103‒0.752）. MEOHP was positively correlated with E1 in the second trimester （β=0.734， 95%CI： 0.130‒0.752）， and had a possitive trend with E1 in the third trimester （β=0.744， 95%CI： -0.140‒1.629）. In addition， MEHP had a negative correlation with E1 in the second trimester （β=-0.498， 95%CI： -1.063‒0.066）. MEOHP had a positive correlation trend with E2 （β=0.628， 95%CI： -0.101‒1.356） in the third trimester. ConclusionPAEs exposure may interfere with estrogen homeostasis during pregnancy and differs by trimesters. Given the cross-sectional nature of this study， it warrants further study to validate the findings.
ABSTRACT
Phages can fight against sepsis through directly lysing the bacteria and influence the patients′ self-response to the pathogens through the immunomodulation effects in a coordinated way. Under the situation of the rising antimicrobial resistance, phage has attracted wide attention of researchers at home and abroad. Along with the development of researches and clinical related trials, we believe phage therapy in sepsis treatment can be expected soon in the future.
ABSTRACT
Phages are traditionally deemed to lyse host bacteria, while new evidences have convinced their immunomodulation effects in metazoan hosts during period of anti-infection treatment. For sepsis induced by bacteria, phage therapy has attracted widespread attention of researchers at home and abroad for its lytic and immunoregulation functions. Clinical and basic researches in mechanism, usage, dosage, and safety of phages in China are inadequate and urgent to be carried out in depth and strengthened. Here we review overall anti-inflammation functions of phages in the treatment of sepsis, influence of phages in human immune cells, and clinical advances in present researches of phage therapy for sepsis.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To explore the effects of vitamin D3 on intestinal mucosal barrier of mice with severe burns.@*Methods@#Forty-two C57BL/6C male mice aged eight to twelve weeks were divided into vitamin D3 vehicle+ sham injury group of seven mice, vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group of fourteen mice, vitamin D3+ sham injury group of seven mice, and vitamin D3+ burn injury group of fourteen mice according to random number table. Mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ sham injury group and vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group were injected with vehicle of vitamin D3 at a dose of 0.1 mL intraperitoneally at 1, 24, and 48 h before burn experiment. Mice in vitamin D3+ sham injury group and vitamin D3+ burn injury group were injected with vitamin D3 at a dose of 100 ng/kg dissolved in 0.1 mL vehicle intraperitoneally at the same time points. Mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group and vitamin D3+ burn injury group were inflicted with 30% total body surface area full-thickness dermal scald (hereinafter referred to as burn) on the back by 98 ℃ hot water for 3 to 4 seconds. And mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ sham injury group and vitamin D3+ sham injury were treated with 37 ℃ water on the back for 3 to 4 seconds to simulate injury. Seven mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ sham injury group and seven mice in vitamin D3+ sham injury group at post injury hour (PIH) 24, and seven mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group and seven mice in vitamin D3+ burn injury group at PIH 6 and 24 were sacrificed respectively to collect mesentery lymph nodes, spleens, livers, and intestinal tissue. The mesentery lymph nodes, spleens, and livers of mice in each group were collected to observe growth of bacteria, and number of bacteria was counted. Intestinal tissue of mice in each group was collected to detect protein expressions of zonal occludin 1 (ZO-1) and occludin by immunohistochemistry staining method, distribution of ZO-1 by immunofluorescence staining method, and expression of occludin by Western blotting. Data were processed with Kruskal-Wallis H test, Nemenyi test, one-way analysis of variance, t test, and Bonferroni correction.@*Results@#(1) At PIH 6 and 24, bacterial counts of mesentery lymph nodes, livers, and spleens of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group were significantly higher than those of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ sham injury group (P<0.05). At PIH 6, bacterial counts of livers and spleens of mice in vitamin D3+ burn injury group were significantly lower than those of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group (P<0.05). At PIH 24, bacterial counts of mesentery lymph nodes and livers of mice in vitamin D3+ burn injury group were significantly lower than those of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group (P<0.05). (2) At PIH 6 and 24, expressions of ZO-1 and occludin of intestinal tissue of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group were significantly lower than those of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ sham injury group, and expressions of ZO-1 and occludin of intestinal tissue of mice in vitamin D3+ burn injury group were close to those of mice in vitamin D3+ sham injury group. At PIH 6 and 24, expressions of ZO-1 and occludin of intestinal tissue of mice in vitamin D3+ burn injury group were significantly higher than those of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group. (3) At PIH 6 and 24, compared with that of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ sham injury group, distribution of ZO-1 of intestinal mucosal epithelium of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group was discontinuous. Distribution of ZO-1 of intestinal mucosal epithelium of mice in vitamin D3+ sham injury group was normal, and the distribution of ZO-1 of intestinal mucosal epithelium of mice in vitamin D3+ burn injury group was with good continuity. (4) At PIH 6 and 24, expressions of occludin of intestinal tissue of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group were 0.720±0.003, 0.638±0.052 respectively, significantly lower than 0.918±0.003 of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ sham injury group (t=57.33, 5.36, P<0.05). At PIH 6 and 24, expressions of occludin of intestinal tissue of mice in vitamin D3+ burn injury group were 0.994±0.058, 1.064±0.060, close to 0.938±0.023 of mice in vitamin D3+ sham injury group (t=0.91, 1.96, P>0.05). At PIH 6 and 24, expressions of occludin of intestinal tissue of mice in vitamin D3 vehicle+ burn injury group were significantly lower than those of mice in vitamin D3+ burn injury group (t=4.75, 5.35, P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#Intestinal bacterial translocation can occur in the early stage of severe burn. And vitamin D3 plays a protective role in the intestinal mucosal barrier post severe burn to reduce the bacterial translocation by protecting tight junction proteins of intestinal epithelium.