[Prevalence and influencing factors on food allergy among children aged 0-5 years in China].

Objective: To describe the prevalence of food allergy among children aged 0-5 years in China and to explore related influencing factors. Methods: Multistage stratified random sampling method was used to collect data from 275 surveillance sites of the China National Nutrition and Health Survey of Chinese children and lactating mothers programs in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) of China in 2016-2017. A total of 70 107 participants aged 0-5 years were included in this study. The study collected information of participants' demographic characteristics and food allergies by face-to-face questionnaire. The prevalence of food allergy was analyzed, using the complex data weighting method. The logistic regression models were used to analyze the influencing factors related to food allergy. Results: The overall prevalence of self-reported food allergy among children aged 0-5 years was 4.81%. Prevalence rates in infants aged 0-5 months, and 6-23 months and preschool children aged 2-5 years were 0.81%, 4.68% and 5.26%, respectively. The results of logistic analysis showed that there was a significantly positive correlation between factors including children from 6 months to 5 years old, urban area, southwest area, first-born, mothers with college education or above, and the prevalence of food allergy in children. Shrimp, poultry eggs, crab shellfish, fruit, milk and fish appeared the common allergic foods in children aged 0-5 years, with prevalence rates of self-reported food allergy as 1.55%, 1.25%, 0.99%, 0.97%, 0.87% and 0.86%, respectively. The proportion of single food allergy in children with allergies was 69.85%. Conclusions: Among children aged 0-5 years, the prevalence of self-reported food allergy increases with age, in China. Foods that is prone to allergies include fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish, poultry eggs, milk and fruits, etc. Most allergies were only caused by single food in children, under observation.

[Preliminary study on automatic quantification and grading of leopard spots fundus based on deep learning technology].

Objective: To achieve automatic segmentation, quantification, and grading of different regions of leopard spots fundus (FT) using deep learning technology. The analysis includes exploring the correlation between novel quantitative indicators, leopard spot fundus grades, and various systemic and ocular parameters. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The data were sourced from the Beijing Eye Study, a population-based longitudinal study. In 2001, a group of individuals aged 40 and above were surveyed in five urban communities in Haidian District and three rural communities in Daxing District of Beijing. A follow-up was conducted in 2011. This study included individuals aged 50 and above who participated in the second 5-year follow-up in 2011, considering only the data from the right eye. Color fundus images centered on the macula of the right eye were input into the leopard spot segmentation model and macular detection network. Using the macular center as the origin, with inner circle diameters of 1 mm, 3 mm, and outer circle diameter of 6 mm, fine segmentation of the fundus was achieved. This allowed the calculation of the leopard spot density (FTD) and leopard spot grade for each region. Further analyses of the differences in ocular and systemic parameters among different regions' FTD and leopard spot grades were conducted. The participants were categorized into three refractive types based on equivalent spherical power (SE): myopia (SE<-0.25 D), emmetropia (-0.25 D≤SE≤0.25 D), and hyperopia (SE>0.25 D). Based on axial length, the participants were divided into groups with axial length<24 mm, 24-26 mm, and>26 mm for the analysis of different types of FTD. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, Bonferroni test, and Spearman correlation analysis. Results: The study included 3 369 participants (3 369 eyes) with an average age of (63.9±10.6) years; among them, 1 886 were female (56.0%) and 1, 483 were male (64.0%). The overall FTD for all eyes was 0.060 (0.016, 0.163); inner circle FTD was 0.000 (0.000, 0.025); middle circle FTD was 0.030 (0.000, 0.130); outer circle FTD was 0.055 (0.009, 0.171). The results of the univariate analysis indicated that FTD in various regions was correlated with axial length (overall: r=0.38, P<0.001; inner circle: r=0.31, P<0.001; middle circle: r=0.36, P<0.001; outer circle: r=0.39, P<0.001), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) (overall: r=-0.69, P<0.001; inner circle: r=-0.57, P<0.001; middle circle: r=-0.68, P<0.001; outer circle: r=-0.72, P<0.001), age (overall: r=0.34, P<0.001; inner circle: r=0.30, P<0.001; middle circle: r=0.31, P<0.001; outer circle: r=0.35, P<0.001), gender (overall: r=-0.11, P<0.001; inner circle: r=-0.04, P<0.001; middle circle: r=-0.07, P<0.001; outer circle: r=-0.11, P<0.001), SE (overall: r=-0.20; P<0.001; inner circle: r=-0.19, P<0.001; middle circle: r=-0.20, P<0.001; outer circle: r=-0.20, P<0.001), uncorrected visual acuity (overall: r=-0.18, P<0.001; inner circle: r=-0.26, P<0.001; middle circle: r=-0.24, P<0.001; outer circle: r=-0.22, P<0.001), and body mass index (BMI) (overall: r=-0.11, P<0.001; inner circle: r=-0.13, P<0.001; middle circle: r=-0.14, P<0.001; outer circle: r=-0.13, P<0.001). Further multivariate analysis results indicated that different region FTD was correlated with axial length (overall: ß=0.020, P<0.001; inner circle: ß=-0.022, P<0.001; middle circle: ß=0.027, P<0.001; outer circle: ß=0.022, P<0.001), SFCT (overall: ß=-0.001, P<0.001; inner circle: ß=-0.001, P<0.001; middle circle: ß=-0.001, P<0.001; outer circle: ß=-0.001, P<0.001), and age (overall: ß=0.002, P<0.001; inner circle: ß=0.001, P<0.001; middle circle: ß=0.002, P<0.001; outer circle: ß=0.002, P<0.001). The distribution of overall (H=56.76, P<0.001), inner circle (H=72.22, P<0.001), middle circle (H=75.83, P<0.001), and outer circle (H=70.34, P<0.001) FTD differed significantly among different refractive types. The distribution of overall (H=373.15, P<0.001), inner circle (H=367.67, P<0.001), middle circle (H=389.14, P<0.001), and outer circle (H=386.89, P<0.001) FTD differed significantly among different axial length groups. Furthermore, comparing various levels of FTD with systemic and ocular parameters, significant differences were found in axial length (F=142.85, P<0.001) and SFCT (F=530.46, P<0.001). Conclusions: The use of deep learning technology enables automatic segmentation and quantification of different regions of theFT, as well as preliminary grading. Different region FTD is significantly correlated with axial length, SFCT, and age. Individuals with older age, myopia, and longer axial length tend to have higher FTD and more advanced FT grades.

Reentrance of interface superconductivity in a high-Tc cuprate heterostructure.

Increasing the carrier density in a Mott insulator by chemical doping gives rise to a generic superconducting dome in high temperature superconductors. An intriguing question is whether a second superconducting dome may exist at higher dopings. Here we heavily overdope La2-xSrxCuO4 (0.45 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) and discover an unprecedented reentrance of interface superconductivity in La2-xSrxCuO4 /La2CuO4 heterostructures. As x increases, the superconductivity is weakened and completely fades away at x = 0.8; but it revives at higher doping and fully recovers at x = 1.0. This is shown to be correlated with the suppression of the interfacial charge transfer around x = 0.8 and the weak-to-strong localization crossover in the La2-xSrxCuO4 layer. We further construct a theoretical model to account for the sophisticated relation between charge localization and interfacial charge transfer. Our work advances both the search for and control of new superconducting heterostructures.

High mechanical Q-factor measurement of Si using a 3D cantilever support.

Thermal noise in test mass substrates and coatings is a significant noise contribution in the detection band of current and proposed future gravitational wave detectors. Substrate thermal noise can be reduced by using high mechanical Q-factor materials and cooling the test mass mirrors. Silicon is a promising potential candidate for the next generation detector test masses. The low thermal expansion and high thermal conductivity of silicon allow efficient cryogenic operation, and a significant increase in the amount of optical power that can be used in the detectors by decreasing thermal deformation and aberration. Mechanical stress, damage, poor surface quality or contamination can result in increased loss and thermal noise. Therefore, the characterization of mechanical loss in silicon test masses is necessary. In this project, we developed a technique to measure high Q-factor mechanical modes. We used finite element modeling to optimize the design of the test mass support structure to minimize the loss coupling from the support structure over a wide frequency range. Mechanical Q-factors of the order of 107 were achieved for several modes of a 10 cm diam. × 3 cm cylindrical silicon test mass with such a support at room temperature.

Osteoarthritis & stroke: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: The epidemiological evidence on the link between osteoarthritis (OA) and stroke remains inconclusive. Herein, we adopted a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study to determine the causality relationship between OA and stroke. DESIGN: Summary-level data derived from the published genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were employed for analyses. The data for OA at any site (n = 455,211), knee OA (n = 403,124), and hip OA (n = 393,873) were obtained from a meta-analysis of GWAS available in the UK Biobank and Arthritis Research UK Osteoarthritis Genetics resources. The MEGASTROKE consortium provided data for stroke (n = 446,696), ischemic stroke (IS) (n = 440,328) and its subtypes, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (n = 3,026). The main MR analysis was conducted by the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. MR-Egger regression, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier, weighted median, Cochran Q statistic, and leave-one-out analysis approach were leveraged as supplements. RESULTS: We detected that higher risk of hip OA was significantly associated with overall stroke [IVW odds ratio (OR): 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.20, P = 0.0002], IS (OR: 1.13, 95%CI: 1.06-1.21, P = 0.0003), and small vessel IS (OR: 1.25, 95%CI: 1.10-1.42, P = 0.0006). However, we found no evidence that stroke and subtypes had casual effects on OA in the reverse MR analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides genetic support that hip OA is a potential risk factor for overall stroke, IS, and small vessel IS. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of causal associations between site-specific OA and stroke subtypes.

Acoustic and vibration isolation for a gravity gradiometer.

Vibration in the audio frequency band affects the performance of rotating gravity gradiometers used for airborne mineral exploration. This is probably due to translation to rotation coupling inside the gradiometer platform. It was found that the DC gravity gradient signal was proportional to the square of the third time derivative of position, or jerk squared. The demanding airborne environment for such instrumentation demands a light weight broadband acoustic shield and vibration isolator. This paper presents the design principles for such an isolator, based on vibration isolated spherical shell structures. Performance data are presented as well as flight test data that demonstrated a 14% gravity gradient noise reduction compared with an unshielded instrument.

[Activation of cGAS/STING signaling pathway and its immunological role in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease].

Today, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease remains the most dominant chronic liver disease. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monosphosphate synthase (cGAS) is a cytosolic DNA sensor that catalyzes the synthesis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate, activates stimulator of interferon genes (STING), and releases type-I interferon cytokines to trigger immune responses. Exogenous or endogenous DNA acts as a cGAS ligand to activate the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, which plays a role in hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver cancer and other diseases, and affects liver disease progression and metabolism through mechanisms such as autophagy. This article reviews the activation of cGAS-STING pathway and its molecular immunological role in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease progression.

Nanoscale Electrostatic Modulation of Mega-Ampere Electron Current in Solid-Density Plasmas.

Transport of high-current relativistic electron beams in dense plasmas is of interest in many areas of research. However, so far the mechanism of such beam-plasma interaction is still not well understood due to the appearance of small time- and space-scale effects. Here we identify a new regime of electron beam transport in solid-density plasma, where kinetic effects that develop on small time and space scales play a dominant role. Our three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that in this regime the electron beam can evolve into layered short microelectron bunches when collisions are relatively weak. The phenomenon is attributed to a secondary instability, on the space- and timescales of the electron skin depth (tens of nanometers) and few femtoseconds of strong electrostatic modulation of the microelectron current filaments formed by Weibel-like instability of the original electron beam. Analytical analysis on the amplitude, scale length, and excitation condition of the self-generated electrostatic fields is clearly validated by the simulations.

[Effect of PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone on the prolifeiration of malignant nesothelionma cells induced by HMGB1].

Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of PPAR-γ agonist Pioglitazone (PGZ) on the proliferation of malignant mesothelioma (MM) cells. Methods: In December 2019, MM cell lines MSTO-211H and NCI-H2452 were incubated with different final concentrations of PGZ (0, 10, 50, 100, 150, and 200 µmol/L) for different periods of time (24 h, 48 h, and 72 h) , and then the cell proliferation level was detected by CCK8 assay. After given various final concentration of PGZ (0, 10, 50, 100, 150, 200 µmol/L) the for 72 hours, the changes of number and morphology of MM cells were observed under an inverted microscope. The expressions of PPAR-γ and HMGB1 mRNA were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) after treatment of MM cells with PGZ of 0, 10, 50, 100 µmol/L for 72 h. The MM cells were treated with PGZ at concentration of 0, 100 µmol/L for 72 h, and the protein expressions of HMGB1 were examined using Western blotting and immunofluorescence; the protein expressions of Ki67 were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results: The cell viability rate of MM cells was decreased after treated with PGZ (P<0.05) . Cell number in PGZ-treated group was significantly less than that in control group and morphology changes were observed under light microscope. QRT-PCR results revealed significantly increased PPAR-γ mRNA expression in the PGZ-treated group compared to the control group (P<0.05) . There was a significant decrease in the mRNA expression level of HMGB1 in the PGZ-treated group (100 µmol/L) as compared to the control group in MSTO-211H (P<0.05) ; however, the expression level of HMGB1 in NCI-H2452 was an increase or no significant differences (P>0.05) . Western blotting and immunofluorescence results showed that the protein expression of HMGB1 was reduced in the PGZ-treated group compared with the control group in MSTO-211H (P<0.05) , but the protein expression of that in NCI-H2452 was no significant differences (P>0.05) . Immunohistochemistry results showed increased expression of proliferation marker Ki-67. Conclusion: Pioglitazone suppresses the proliferation of MM cells through inhibition of HMGB1 by the activation of PPAR-γ.

A multi-orientation low-frequency rotational accelerometer.

We present a low frequency rotational accelerometer coined ALFRA with a few nrad/Hz readout sensitivity above 20 mHz and 0.1 nrad/Hz above 50 mHz. The ALFRA is a beam-balance style rotation sensor, which pivots about a cross flexure designed to allow mounting with any orientation, the axis of the pivot determining which rotational component is measured. The high sensitivity is achieved through the use of a walk-off sensor readout used in a feedback loop with an electromagnetic coil to keep the beam dynamically locked. The ALFRA is relatively compact for a ground rotation sensor, measuring at 780 × 240 × 55 mm3.

Six degrees of freedom vibration isolation with Euler springs.

A novel design allows column springs in Euler buckling mode to be laterally stable and thus provides vibration isolation in six degrees of freedom. Analytical models of the stiffness were used to develop a design with a vertical resonance of 1.13 Hz, a horizontal resonance of 1.68 Hz, and a roll resonance of 2.58 Hz. A prototype vibration isolator reduces vertical vibration by a factor of 2 at 2 Hz. Vertical, horizontal, and roll vibrations are reduced by a factor of 100 at frequencies above 20 Hz.

[Chronic toxicity of Multi-walled carbon nanotubes in human pleural mesothelial cells].

Objective: To explore the chronic toxicity and its potential mechanism of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) in human pleural mesothelial cells. Methods: A sustainable exposure of MeT-5A cells to MWCNT at 10 µg/cm(2) for one year was conducted in 2016. During the exposure, the cell images and cell proliferation was recorded every 4 weeks. The cell apoptosis, cell cycle, cell migration and cell invasion were compared between the control cells and the cells after MWCNT exposure. Finally, the gene expression was screened with Affymetrix clariom D assay, and some of the significantly differential expressed genes was verified by RT-PCR. Results: Compared with the control group, the proliferation ability of the cells in the 1-year exposed group was significantly increased, and the rate of proliferation was about 2-3 times as that in the Control Group (F=481.32, P<0.05) . MeT-5A cells all showed cell cycle arrest effect, which showed the increase of G1 phase and the decrease of s phase and G2 phase (F=14.94, P<0.05) . The apoptosis rate of cells in the treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group after 6 months (F=15.12, P<0.05) , but the early apoptosis rate and the total apoptosis rate of cells in the treated group were not significantly different from those in the control group after 1 year (F=3.97, P<0.05) . The cell migration and invasion were both promoted by MWCNT. Furthermore, the differentially expressed genes was screened, to find 2, 878 genes with more than 2 folds changes. To further verified, RT-PCR was conducted with PIK3R3、WNT2B、VANGL2、ANXA1, and their expression changes were consistent with above. Conclusion: MWCNT might have a carcinogenic potential to MeT-5A cells after the long term exposure.

[microRNA-30d can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of human mesothelial cell MSTO-211H].

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect and molecular mechanism of microRNA-30d (miR-30d) in the process of proliferation, migration and invasion of malignant mesothelioma cell line MSTO-211H. Methods: In April 2017, the human MSTO-211H cells was used to establish miR-30d overexpressed MSTO-211H cell model by transfection of miR-30d mimics. The qRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression level of miR-30d in the cells transfected miR-30d mimics. The effects of miR-30d on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of MSTO-211H cells were analyzed by CCK-8 experiment, flow cytometry, cell scratch experiment and Transwell method. Results: After transfection of miR-30d, the expression level of miR-30d in the MSTO-211H+miR-30d cells group was significantly higher than MSTO-211H+miR NC cells group (P<0.01) . The cell activity of MSTO-211H+miR-30d group (105.13%±2.35%) was significantly lower than MSTO-211H+miR NC cells group (115.40%±1.35%) , and the level of apoptosis (3.97%±0.36%) was significantly higher than MSTO-211H+miR NC cells group (1.47%±0.10%) (P<0.01) . The relative migration areas at 12 and 24 h of MSTO-211H+miR-30d cells group (9.35±3.16 µm(2) and 58.19±1.82 µm(2)) were significantly lower than MSTO-211H+miR NC cells group (54.42±5.26 µm(2) and 88.32±1.96 µm(2)) (P<0.01) . Compared with the MSTO-211H+miR NC cells group, the numbers of cell migration and cell invasion were reduced in the MSTO-211H+miR-30d cells group (P<0.01) . Conclusion: miR-30d can regulate the progression of malignant pleural mesothelioma by inhibiting the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of MSTO-211H cells.

[Study on malignant transformation of MeT-5A cells induced by chrysotile].

Objective: To study the cytotoxicity and malignant transformation ability of chrysotile on MeT-5A cells. Methods: In June 2016, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) method was used to detect the cytotoxicity of chrysotile to MeT-5A cells. MeT-5A cells were treated with 5 µg/cm(2) chrysotile intermittently for 24 h a time, once a week and a total of 28 times. After the cells showed anchorage independent growth, the cell features of malignant transformation were identified by colony forming frequency in soft agar, and the soft agar colony formation rates were calculated. The activities of key speed limiting enzymes of glycolysis metabolism including hexokinase (HK) , phosphofructokinase (PFK) and pyruvate kinase (PK) were determined by UV colorimetry. Results: Chrysotile was cytotoxic to MeT-5A cells in a concentration-dependent decline. Compared with the control group, the relative survival rates of MeT-5A cells were significantly decreased after exposed to chrysotile at 10, 20, 40 and 80 µg/cm(2) (P<0.05) . After 28 times of exposure, the growth rate of the cells in chrysotile transformed MeT-5A cells was accelerated, the arrangement was disordered, the contact inhibition was lost, and the double layer growth appeared, which could grow on soft agar. The colony forming rate of the chrysotile transformed MeT-5A cells was 18.33‰±2.49‰. Compared with the control group (0) , the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01) . The activities of glycolysis related kinase including PK [ (19.51±1.52) U/L], PFK[ (0.12±0.02) U/10(4) cell] and HK[ (0.26±0.01) U/10(4) cell] were increased in the chrysotile transformed MeT-5A cells compared with control group [ (25.00±1.04) U/L、(0.15±0.01) U/10(4) cell and (0.33±0.01) U/10(4) cell] (P<0.01) . Conclusion: Chrysotile can induce malignant transformation of MeT-5A cells and increase the activities of glycolysis related kinases including PK, PFK and HK.

Rotational isolation with neutrally buoyant suspension.

Rotational vibration isolation is of critical importance for many airborne instrumentation applications. Such isolators require very low frequency isolation for the rotational degrees of freedom combined with translational rigidity and negligible translation to rotation coupling. This paper describes a vibration isolator using neutrally buoyant flotation to provide high translation rigidity combined with very low rotational rigidity. The isolator reduces the rotational vibration at all frequencies above its resonance (0.18 ± 0.01 Hz) and has a large dynamic range (±30°) suitable for airborne surveying. Viscous, inviscid, and mechanical coupling inside the isolator have been analyzed. A recent fixed wing flight test shows the isolator reducing the rotational vibration by more than a factor of 1000 at frequencies above 10 Hz.

[Analysis of influencing factors of textile workers' occupational stress].

Objective: To explore the occupational stress status and influencing factors of workers in a textile factory in Zhejiang Provice. Methods: In October 2018, 505 workers from a textile factory in Zhejiang Province were selected as research objects by convenient sampling method. A total of 505 questionnaires were distributed, 495 of which were effective and the effective recovery rate was 98.0%. Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and Effort Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (REI) were used to investigate textile workers' occupational stress and analyze its influencing factors. The differences of the composition ratio of different groups were tested by χ(2) test. The influencing factors such as age, gender and occupation on occupational stress were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results: ERI analysis results showed that the high and low occupational stress accounted for 30.1% and 69.9%, respectively. The differences of occupational stress among workers of different job types and working ages were statistically significant (P<0.05) . The detection rates of high occupational stress of paper workers and spinners were 47.8% (11/23) and 44.8% (30/67) , respectively, higher than other jobs. The detection rate of high occupational stress for workers with more than 5 years of service was 46.4% (13/28) . The results of JCQ analysis showed that there was no statistical significance in the differences of daily working hours and length of service between different gender, education levels, types of work patterns, and occupational stress (P>0.05) . Job types had significant effects on the occupational stress defined by ERI (P<0.05) , the risk of occupational stress was 2.151 times than that of the coiler. Conclusion: There are significant differences in occupational stress risk among workers of different types of work in textile industry, so different measures should be taken to prevent and control occupational stress in different jobs.

A laser walk-off sensor for high-precision low-frequency rotation measurements.

We present an optical walk-off sensor with an angular sensitivity of a few nrad/Hz above 1 mHz and 0.4 nrad/Hz above 100 mHz. This experiment furthers previous research into the walk-off sensor capabilities through an improved input laser, reduction in air optical travel length, and position control on photo-diodes. The angle change measured in this walk-off scheme features a knife edge to split the beam into two separate fiber coupled photo-diodes to minimize power dissipation in the thermally sensitive region. Using this photo-diode power differential as an error signal, a simple control scheme is used to maintain the balance position, increasing common mode rejection and improving dynamic range by mitigating thermal drift. The in-vacuum component of the optical readout takes up a volume less than 100 mm × 100 mm × 50 mm. This experiment shows that the walk-off sensor provides a simple and compact readout scheme with nanoradian sensitivity for angle sensing at low frequencies.

Role of epigenetic mechanisms in transmitting the effects of neonatal sevoflurane exposure to the next generation of male, but not female, rats.

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies report learning disabilities and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders in those exposed to general anaesthesia early in life. Rats, primarily males, exposed to GABAergic anaesthetics as neonates exhibit behavioural abnormalities, exacerbated responses to stress, and reduced expression of hypothalamic K+-2Cl- Cl- exporter (Kcc2). The latter is implicated in development of psychiatric disorders, including male predominant autism spectrum disorders. We tested whether parental early life exposure to sevoflurane, the most frequently used anaesthetic in paediatrics, affects the next generation of unexposed rats. METHODS: Offspring (F1) of unexposed or exposed to sevoflurane on postnatal day 5 Sprague-Dawley rats (F0) were subjected to behavioural and brain gene expression evaluations. RESULTS: Male, but not female, progeny of sevoflurane-exposed parents exhibited abnormalities in behavioural testing and Kcc2 expression. Male F1 rats of both exposed parents exhibited impaired spatial memory and expression of hippocampal and hypothalamic Kcc2. Offspring of only exposed sires had abnormalities in elevated plus maze and prepulse inhibition of startle, but normal spatial memory and impaired expression of hypothalamic, but not hippocampal, Kcc2. In contrast to exposed F0, their progeny exhibited normal corticosterone responses to stress. Bisulphite sequencing revealed increased CpG site methylation in the Kcc2 promoter in F0 sperm and F1 male hippocampus and hypothalamus that was in concordance with the changes in Kcc2 expression in specific F1 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal exposure to sevoflurane can affect the next generation of males through epigenetic modification of Kcc2 expression, while F1 females are at diminished risk.