Persistently Upregulated Hippocampal mTOR Signals Mediated by Fecal SCFAs Impair Memory in Male Pups with SMM Exposure in Utero / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the molecular mechanisms of the adverse effects of exposure to sulfamonomethoxin (SMM) in pregnancy on the neurobehavioral development of male offspring.@*METHODS@#Pregnant mice were randomly divided into four groups: control- (normal saline), low- [10 mg/(kg•day)], middle- [50 mg/(kg•day)], and high-dose [200 mg/(kg•day)] groups, which received SMM by gavage daily during gestational days 1-18. We measured the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces from dams and male pups. Furthermore, we analyzed the mRNA and protein levels of genes involved in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in the hippocampus of male pups by RT-PCR or Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#Fecal SCFA concentrations were significantly decreased in dams. Moreover, the production of individual fecal SCFAs was unbalanced, with a tendency for an increased level of total fecal SCFAs in male pups on postnatal day (PND) 22 and 56. Furthermore, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3k)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mTOR or mTOR/ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1)/4EBP1 signaling pathway was continuously upregulated until PND 56 in male offspring. In addition, the expression of Sepiapterin Reductase (SPR), a potential target of mTOR, was inhibited.@*CONCLUSION@#In utero exposure to SMM, persistent upregulation of the hippocampal mTOR pathway related to dysfunction of the gut (SCFA)-brain axis may contribute to cognitive deficits in male offspring.

Blood Pressure Associated with Arsenic Methylation and Arsenic Metabolism Caused by Chronic Exposure to Arsenic in Tube Well Water / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The effects of arsenic exposure from drinking water, arsenic metabolism, and arsenic methylation on blood pressure (BP) were observed in this study.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The BP and arsenic species of 560 participants were determined. Logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the odds ratios of BP associated with arsenic metabolites and arsenic methylation capability.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BP was positively associated with cumulative arsenic exposure (CAE). Subjects with abnormal diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and pulse pressure (PP) usually had higher urinary iAs (inorganic arsenic), MMA (monomethylated arsenic), DMA (dimethylated arsenic), and TAs (total arsenic) than subjects with normal DBP, SBP, and PP. The iAs%, MMA%, and DMA% differed slightly between subjects with abnormal BP and those with normal BP. The PMI and SMI were slightly higher in subjects with abnormal PP than in those with normal PP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our findings suggest that higher CAE may elevate BP. Males may have a higher risk of abnormal DBP, whereas females have a higher risk of abnormal SBP and PP. Higher urinary iAs may increase the risk of abnormal BP. Lower PMI may elevate the BP. However, higher SMI may increase the DBP and SBP, and lower SMI may elevate the PP.</p>

Effects of bromopropane exposure on expression of DNA methyltransferases and level of histone acetylation in testis of male rats / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and activities of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) in the testis of male rats exposed to bromopropanes (BPs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-seven male rats were randomly divided into three groups to be intraperitoneally injected with 1-BP,2-BP, or corn oil (as a control) for two weeks. The sperm count and morphology in the epididymis were evaluated. The mRNA expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b and activities of HAT and HDAC in the testis were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the BP exposure groups showed significant decreased absolute and relative sperm counts; the proportion of tailless sperm increased in the 1-BP exposure group, while the proportion of sperm with abnormal heads increased in the 2-BP exposure group. The 2-BP exposure group had significantly lower mRNA expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b than the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the activities of HAT and HDAC between the control group and 1-BP exposure group; the 2-BP exposure group showed significantly higher HAT activity than the control group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in HDAC activity between them.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Exposure to 2-BP might induce abnormal DNA methylation and histone acetylation, and epigenetic regulation might play an important role in the reproductive toxicity of 2-BP.</p>

Relationship of childhood physical abuse and internet addiction disorder in adolescence: the mediating role of self-esteem / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To find out whether the effects of childhood physical abuse on internet addiction disorder in adolescence could be mediated by self-esteem.Methods 3798 high school students selected from 76 classes in Grade One and Grade Two,were asked to fill in the anonymous questionnaire,which including the demographic characteristics of students,Young' s Internet Addiction Scale,Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales and Rosenberg' s Self-Esteem Scale.Results Childhood physical abuse could directly predict less self-esteem and internet addiction disorder (r=-0.108,P＜0.01,r=0.057,P＜0.01 ) and had significant indirect effects on intemet addiction disorder which could be mediated through self-esteem (a=-0.703,standardized b=-0.104,z=5.052,P＜0.001 ).Self-esteem had mediated 22.5％ of the childhood physical abuse cases on their internet addiction disorders during the period of adolescence.Conclusion Self-esteem could partially mediate the relationship between childhood physical abuse and internet addiction disorder.The mediating roles of self-esteem suggested that salient leverage points could make a change through empowerment training,self-esteem group training on self-esteem enhancement in the stage of adolescence.

Study on the current status and influential factors of neglect of left-behind children in rural area of Anhui province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the status and influential factors of those neglect of left-behind children in rural area,and to provide bases for the development of intervention measures.Methods 2917 students were selected as the study subjects from Changfeng county of Anhui province with cluster sampling method and were evaluated by a Parents-Child Conflict Tactics Scales and questionnaire on influential factors.Results 1694 left-behind children,accounted for 58.1％ of the total students,were surveyed in this investigation.The prevalence rates of neglect,among total children,left-behind children,non-left-behind children were 67.4％,70.2％,63.5％,respectively.The prevalence of neglect among left-behind children was higher than that among non-left-behind children (x2=14.322,P＜0.000).There were no significant associations with the neglect rate of left-behind children regarding gender or age differences.Result from multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the neglect among the left-behind children were associated with family dysfunction(OR values of moderate and serious family dysfunctions compared to good family function were 1.628 and 2.341,respectively)and the rate of keeping in touch with parents(OR values of sometimes and seldom keeping in touch compared to regular in touch were 1.299 and 1.844,respectively).The starting age of being left-behind(OR values of starting age that being left-behind from 6 to 10 and ≤5 years relative to starting age of left-behind ≥11 years were 0.703 and 0.630,respectively)appeared to be the protection factor to the neglect of those left-behind children.Conclusion Our findings indicated that the status of neglect among the left-behind children was serious.Prevention programs on the issue should target on a number of factors,including the characteristics of the chldren them-selves,as well as on the family of the children.

Sleep and quality of life among rural elderly in Anhui province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective The primary purposes of this article were to examine the distributions and correlation between conditions of sleep and the quality of life,so as to explore the risk factors of abnormal sleep among elderly in the rural areas of Anhui province.Methods Elderly who aged 60 years or more (n= 1680) were randomly selected from rural areas in Anhui province.Conditions of sleep and quality of life of the subjects were assessed independently,using the pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQ1) scale and SF-36 scale.A generalized logistic model analysis was performed,using sleep-related factors as explanatory variables.Results The average PSQI score was 7.43 + 4.13.Persons whose sleep conditions were graded as well,common or poor were accounted for 29.4%,24.3%,46.3%,respectively.Sex and sleep quality were different in terms of quality of life among all the factors (P＜0.05).Men had better quality than women,and poor sleepers had poorer quality of life as compared to the one with better conditions.Factors as being married/living alone/economically independent,having better social function,often eating meat or wheat were significant predictors for having good sleep conditions.However,factors as better education received,living alone,with poor vitality/general health,having chronic diseases (back pain,coronary heart or stomach disease),less meat intake,rice as major foods etc.were predictors for poorer sleeping condition.Conclusion Our data showed that it was unsatisfactory on the quality of sleep among the rural elderly in Anhui province.Conditions on general,health and nutrition should be improved in order to prevent the poor sleep condition.

Association between adolescent internet addiction and suicidal behaviors / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To examine the association between internet addiction and suicidal behaviors in adolescences and to explore whether the association could be partly or fully accounted by depression or/and behaviors related to the impulsity. Methods A total of 3507 urban adolescent students in Hefei were administered to complete the questionnaire concerning interact addiction disorder(IAD), suicidal behaviors during the 12 months preceding the survey, behaviors related to the impulsity, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and early childhood adversities,respectively. Hierarchical logistic regressions were used to evaluate the associations and possible roles of depression and behaviors related to the impulsity between internet addition and suicidal behaviors after adjustment for confounding factors. Results Of the 3507 participants, 5.2% were diagnosed as IAD, 27.4% reported suicidal ideation during the 12 months preceding the survey, with another 9.5% had a plan and 2.6% had an attempt. Internet addition was associated with suicidal ideation(OR=1.79, 95%CI: 1.32-2.44), plan(OR=2.32, 95%CI: 1.57-3.42), and attempt(OR=2.08, 95%CI:1.03-4.22). After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the association between internet addition and attempt was insignificant. When depression and behaviors related to the impulsity were entered into Hierarchical regression respectively, the associations between internet addition, suicidal ideation and plan were substantially reduced. While internet addition was enter into Hierarchical regression, the associations between depression, behaviors related to the impulsity, suicidal ideation and plan were not reduced. Conclusion Adolescent intemet addition seems to be associated with suicidal ideation and plan, and the association is possibly mediated by depression and behaviors related to the impulsity.

The relationship between emotional,physical abuse and internet addiction disorder among middle school students / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the relationship between emotional,physical abuse and internet addiction disorder(IAD)among middle school students.in order to lay foundation for the development of prevention and control programs on IAD.Methods Students selected from 76 classes in Grade One and Grade Two,filled out the anonymous questionnaire,which including demographic characteristics of students,Young's Intemet Addiction Scale,Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales.etc.Non-conditional multivariate logistic regression model was employed to explore the relationship between child abuse and IAD.Independent variable was child abUSe while dependent variable was IAD.Covariant variables would include demographic characteristics,as sex,age,style of household,et al.Results Among 3798 students,the overail prevalence of emotional abuse was 81.1%.with 55.1% of them reported having experienced physical abuse.Among 3507 intemet users,5.2%was diagnosed as IAD.Results from the nonconditional multivariate Iogistic regression model showed that odds ratio of severe physical abuse and moderate physical abuse were 3.02(1.63-5.58)and 4.00(2.01-7.93).Conclusion Moderate physical abuse and severe physical abuse were possible risk factors of IAD.