Deciphering the Role of the Gut Microbiota in Exposure to Emerging Contaminants and Diabetes: A Review.

Emerging pollutants, a category of compounds currently not regulated or inadequately regulated by law, have recently become a focal point of research due to their potential toxic effects on human health. The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in human health; it is particularly susceptible to disruption and alteration upon exposure to a range of toxic environmental chemicals, including emerging contaminants. The disturbance of the gut microbiome caused by environmental pollutants may represent a mechanism through which environmental chemicals exert their toxic effects, a mechanism that is garnering increasing attention. However, the discussion on the toxic link between emerging pollutants and glucose metabolism remains insufficiently explored. This review aims to establish a connection between emerging pollutants and glucose metabolism through the gut microbiota, delving into the toxic impacts of these pollutants on glucose metabolism and the potential role played by the gut microbiota.

Emerging Contaminants: An Emerging Risk Factor for Diabetes Mellitus.

Emerging contaminants have been increasingly recognized as critical determinants in global public health outcomes. However, the intricate relationship between these contaminants and glucose metabolism remains to be fully elucidated. The paucity of comprehensive clinical data, coupled with the need for in-depth mechanistic investigations, underscores the urgency to decipher the precise molecular and cellular pathways through which these contaminants potentially mediate the initiation and progression of diabetes mellitus. A profound understanding of the epidemiological impact of these emerging contaminants, as well as the elucidation of the underlying mechanistic pathways, is indispensable for the formulation of evidence-based policy and preventive interventions. This review systematically aggregates contemporary findings from epidemiological investigations and delves into the mechanistic correlates that tether exposure to emerging contaminants, including endocrine disruptors, perfluorinated compounds, microplastics, and antibiotics, to glycemic dysregulation. A nuanced exploration is undertaken focusing on potential dietary sources and the consequential role of the gut microbiome in their toxic effects. This review endeavors to provide a foundational reference for future investigations into the complex interplay between emerging contaminants and diabetes mellitus.

Characteristics of Step-Shaped Laser-Driven Flyers on Fiber End Face Based on a Ti/Al Ablation Layer.

Laser-driven flyers (LDF), which can launch the flyer on the interaction of a laser pulse with a thin film of metal, have been widely used in many fields, such as ignition, space scrap metal science, and dynamic high-pressure physics. However, at present, further development of LDF is being hindered by the high reflectivity of the ablation layer and low energy utilization efficiency of LDF on the fiber end face. Herein, improved LDFs were designed and fabricated by mask plate and magnetron sputtering. Improved LDF incorporates a Ti/Al composite film as the ablation layer, while the flyer layer features a smaller diameter round platform design. Reflectivity of samples under static and dynamic conditions and driving characteristics of samples were tested using an optical isolator and photonic doppler velocimetry system. The velocity of the improved LDFs reaches 1.7 km/s with a peak acceleration of 8.7 × 1010 m/s2. LDF with a Ti/Al composite film as the ablation layer demonstrates a static absorption rate of 59%, which gradually increases to 65% under laser irradiation. This absorption rate is notably higher compared with the static absorption rate (20%) and the peak absorption rate under laser irradiation (40%) of an Al layer. Consequently, there is a substantial improvement of about 35% in the flyer velocity. In contrast to the plane-shaped LDF, the velocity profile of the flyer and impact crater morphology suggest that the step-shaped LDF offers a 15% improvement in velocity and a 50% increase in acceleration, with better flyer integrity observed.

Enhancing nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell radiosensitivity by suppressing AKT/mTOR via CENP-N knockdown.

OBJECTIVE: Investigating the impact of centromere protein N (CENP-N) on radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to detect CENP-N expression in tissues from 35 patients with radiosensitive or radioresistant NPC. Assessing the effect of combined CENP-N knockdown and radiotherapy on various cellular processes by CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, and Western blotting. Establishing a NPC xenograft model. When the tumor volume reached 100 mm3, a irradiation dose of 6 Gy was given, and the effects of the combined treatment were evaluated in vivo using immunofluorescence and Western blotting techniques. RESULTS: The level of CENP-N was significantly reduced in radiosensitive tissues of NPC (p < 0.05). Knockdown of CENP-N enhanced NPC radiosensitivity, resulting in sensitizing enhancement ratios (SER) of 1.44 (5-8 F) and 1.16 (CNE-2Z). The combined treatment showed significantly higher levels of proliferation suppression, apoptosis, and G2/M phase arrest (p < 0.01) compared to either CENP-N knockdown alone or radiotherapy alone. The combined treatment group showed the highest increase in Bax and γH2AX protein levels, whereas the protein Cyclin D1 exhibited the greatest decrease (p < 0.01). However, the above changes were reversed after treatment with AKT activator SC79. In vivo, the mean volume and weight of tumors in the radiotherapy group were 182 ± 54 mm3 and 0.16 ± 0.03 g. The mean tumor volume and weight in the combined treatment group were 84 ± 42 mm3 and 0.04 ± 0.01 g. CONCLUSION: Knockdown of CENP-N can enhance NPC radiosensitivity by inhibiting AKT/mTOR.

Hourly Air Pollution Exposure and Emergency Hospital Admissions for Stroke: A Multicenter Case-Crossover Study.

BACKGROUND: Daily exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with stroke morbidity and mortality; however, the association between hourly exposure to air pollutants and risk of emergency hospital admissions for stroke and its subtypes remains relatively unexplored. METHODS: We obtained hourly concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), respirable particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO) from the China National Environmental Monitoring Center. We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study among 86 635 emergency hospital admissions for stroke across 10 hospitals in 3 cities (Jinhua, Hangzhou, and Zhoushan) in Zhejiang province, China, between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021. Using a conditional logistic regression combined with a distributed lag linear model, we estimated the association between hourly exposure to multiple air pollutants and risk of emergency hospital admissions for total stroke, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and undetermined type. RESULTS: Hourly exposure to PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2 was associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions for total stroke and ischemic stroke. The associations were most pronounced during the concurrent hour of exposure and lasted for ≈2 hours. We found that the risk was more pronounced among male patients or those aged <65 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that exposure to PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2, but not CO and O3, is associated with emergency hospital admissions for total stroke or ischemic stroke shortly after exposure. Implementing targeted pollution emission reduction measures may have significant public health implications in controlling and reducing the burden of stroke.

Establishment of a prediction model for histological chorioamnionitis and its association with outcomes of premature infants.

Aim: This study aims to construct a prediction model for histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) and analyze the associations between the predicted risk of HCA and adverse outcomes in preterm infants. Methods: In total, 673 subjects were included in this cohort study and divided into HCA group (n = 195) and non-HCA group (n = 478). A stepwise method was used to screen the predictors for HCA, binary logistic regression was used to construct the prediction model, and the associations between the predicted risk of HCA and adverse outcomes were analyzed. Results: HCA occurred in 195 patients, accounting for 29.0%. The sensitivity of the prediction model was 0.821 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.767-0.874)], the specificity was 0.684 (95% CI: 0.642-0.726), the positive predictive value was 0.514 (0.459-0.570), the negative predictive value was 0.903 (95% CI: 0.873-0.934), the area under the curve was 0.821 (95% CI: 0.786-0.855), and the accuracy was 0.724 (95% CI: 0.690-0.757). The predicted risk of HCA was associated with a higher risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) [odds ratio (OR) = 3.48, 95% CI: 1.10-10.95)], sepsis (OR = 6.66, 95% CI: 2.17-20.43), and neonatal infections (OR = 9.85, 95% CI: 3.59-26.98), but not necrotizing enterocolitis (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.24-1.88), retinopathy of prematurity (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 0.37-6.85), and brain damage (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 0.82-3.83). After adjusting for confounders including gestational week at birth and birth weight, the risk of neonatal infections (OR = 5.03, 95% CI: 2.69-9.41) was increased in preterm infants' exposure to HCA. Conclusion: The model showed good predictive performance for identifying pregnant women with a higher risk of HCA. In addition, HCA was associated with the risk of BPD, sepsis, and infections in neonates.

Relationship of individual and mixed urinary metals exposure with liver function in the China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) of Zhejiang Province.

BACKGROUND: Heavy metals have been reported to affect liver function. However, there is currently little and inconsistent knowledge about the effects of combined and individual urinary metals on specific parameters of liver function in the general population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate their associations. METHODS: This study involved 807 general population from the China National Human Biomonitoring of Zhejiang Province 2017-2018. Concentrations of urinary metals, including Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Nickle (Ni), Arsenic (As), Selenium (Se), Molybdenum (Mo), Cadmium (Cd), Thallium (Tl) and Lead (Pb) were measured. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), direct bilirubin (DBIL), total bilirubin (TBIL) as liver function biomarkers. Multivariable linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were employed to explore the associations of urinary metals with liver function biomarkers. Subgroup analysis stratified by gender and age, excluding smokers and drinkers for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Both statistical models indicated that urinary metals were positively associated with ALT and AST, while negatively with TP, ALB, DBIL and TBIL. In the WQS analysis, each quartile increase in the ln-transformed levels of metal mixtures was associated with 4.11 IU/L (95% CI: 1.07, 7.15) higher ALT and 3.00 IU/L (95% CI: 1.75, 4.25) higher AST, as well as, with 0.67 g/L (95% CI: 1.24, -0.11) lower TP, 0.74 g/L (95% CI: 1.09, -0.39) lower ALB, 0.38 µmol/L (95% CI: 0.67, -0.09) lower DBIL, and 1.56 µmol/L (95% CI: 2.22, -0.90) lower TBIL. The association between urinary metals and ALT was primarily driven by Cd (55.8%), Cr contributed the most to the association with AST (20.2%) and TBIL (45.2%), while the association with TP was primarily driven by Ni (38.2%), the association with ALB was primarily driven by As (32.8%), and the association with DBIL was primarily driven by Pb (30.9%). The associations between urinary metals and liver function might differ by sex and age. CONCLUSION: Urinary metals were significantly associated with liver function parameters. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between heavy metals and liver function.

Serum Iodine as a Potential Individual Iodine Status Biomarker: A Cohort Study of Mild Iodine Deficient Pregnant Women in China.

Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is a widespread public health concern, but indicators and methods for assessing iodine nutritional status are lacking. Serum iodine concentration (SIC) is an important iodine metabolism biomarker and can, to some extent, predict the risk of thyroid diseases, making it a potential biomarker for assessing individual iodine nutrition levels. Our study aimed to analyze the relationship between SIC and thyroid function in a cohort of mild iodine deficient pregnant women in China in order to explore the potential of SIC as a biomarker of individual iodine status in pregnancy. A total of 1540 early pregnant women (gestation < 10 weeks) aged 18 to 45 years old were included in the final study from a Zhejiang multicenter population-based mother and child cohort. Repeated measures of SIC, urinary iodine concentration (UIC), and thyroid function were taken at approximately 10, 17, and 32 weeks of gestation. The SIC was statistically correlated with all thyroid function indexes in the first trimester, and a very strong positive correlation with FT4 over three trimesters (r = 0.449, 0.550, and 0.544, respectively). Pregnant women with an SIC < 72.4 µg/L were at a higher risk of hypothyroxinemia (adjusted OR = 8.911, 95% CI = 5.141-15.447) and iodine deficiency (adjusted OR = 1.244, 95% CI = 1.031-1.502), while those with an SIC > 93.9 µg/L were at a higher risk of thyrotoxicosis (adjusted OR = 11.064, 95% CI = 6.324-19.357) and excessive iodine (adjusted OR = 11.064, 95% CI = 6.324-19.357). In contrast, the UIC was not correlated with thyroid diseases (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that the SIC is a potential biomarker for assessing individual iodine nutrition and thyroid dysfunction in pregnant women.

Characterizing the Gut Microbial Metabolic Profile of Mice with the Administration of Berry-Derived Cyanidin-3-Glucoside.

Dietary modulation of the gut microbiota has recently received considerable attention. It is well established that consumption of berries confers a number of health benefits. We previously reported that a black raspberry (BRB)-rich diet effectively modulates the gut microbiota. Given the role of anthocyanins in the health benefits of berries, coupled with interactions of gut microbial metabolites with host health, the objective of this follow-up study was to further characterize the profile of functional metabolites in the gut microbiome modulated by anthocyanins. We utilized a berry-derived classic anthocyanin, cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), combined with a mouse model to probe C3G-associated functional metabolic products of gut bacteria through a mass spectrometry-based metabolomic profiling technique. Results showed that C3G substantially changed the gut microbiota of mice, including its composition and metabolic profile. A distinct metabolic profile in addition to a variety of key microbiota-related metabolites was observed in C3G-treated mice. Microbial metabolites involved in protein digestion and absorption were differently abundant between C3G-treated and control mice, which may be linked to the effects of berry consumption. Results of the present study suggest the involvement of the gut microbiota in the health benefits of C3G, providing evidence connecting the gut microbiota with berry consumption and its beneficial effects.

Specific knockout of Notch2 in Treg cells significantly inhibits the growth and proliferation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Notch2 gene knockout in Treg cells on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in mice. METHODS: A mouse model of HNSCC was constructed. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to examine the numbers of related immune cells and programmed cell death in tumor cells in the spleen and tumor microenvironment of mice. Western blotting was used to measure the expression of related proteins in tumor tissues. RESULTS: The tumor volume of regulatory T (Treg) cell-specific Notch2-knockout mice (experimental group) was significantly smaller than that of control mice (control group) (P < 0.05). Compared with those in the control group, the number of Treg cells and the expression of Ki67 in Treg cells in the spleen and tumor tissue were significantly decreased in the experimental group, while the numbers of CD45+ hematopoietic cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, T helper 1 (Th1) cells, CD11b+ cells (macrophages), and CD11b+CD11c+ cells (dendritic cells) and the expression of Ki67 in CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells were significantly increased (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of Th2 cells between the two groups (P > 0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis showed that the numbers of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in the tumor tissue in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with that in the control group, programmed cell death in the experimental group was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Moreover, the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD in the tumor tissues of the experimental group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01), while the expression levels of BCL2, Bax, ATG5, LC3 and p62 were not significantly different (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Specific knockout of the Notch2 gene in Treg cells significantly decreases the function of Treg cells, inhibits the growth of HNSCC and improves the immune microenvironment in mice, thus effectively treating HNSCC.

Successful replantation of amputated facial tissues by supermicrosurgery.

BACKGROUND: Although replantation of amputated facial segments remains challenging in reconstructive surgery, it offers excellent aesthetic and functional outcomes. METHODS: From May 2004 to October 2019, 12 patients underwent replantation of amputated facial tissues by supermicrosurgery. The case details, such as the rationale for replantation, the operation method, and postoperative therapy, are described. Four cases are discussed to demonstrate the replantation of different facial parts. RESULTS: Facial tissue replantation was successful in all 12 patients without secondary surgery. The cases included the nose (1 patient), ears (8 patients), lips (2 patients), and one of the soft tissue segments surrounding the lower jaw. Venous congestion occurred in three patients who received a solitary arterial repair and were treated with bloodletting. All patients expressed satisfaction with the cosmetic and functional results at the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Supermicrosurgical facial tissue replantation is a promising and effective procedure for providing patients with the best aesthetic and functional outcomes.

Are Microplastics Toxic? A Review from Eco-Toxicity to Effects on the Gut Microbiota.

Emerging studies have presented an initial picture of the toxic effects of exposure to environmental micro- and nanoplastics. They have indicated that micro- and nanoplastics may induce toxicity by leading to oxidative stress, energy metabolism disorders, gene damage, and so forth in environmental organisms, marine invertebrates and vertebrates, and laboratory mouse models. In recent years, micro- and nanoplastics have been discovered in human fecal samples, placentas, lung tissue, and even blood; thus, micro- and nanoplastics pose an alarming and ever-increasing threat to global public health. However, current research on the health effects of micro- and nanoplastics and the possible adverse outcomes in humans has only presented the tip of the iceberg. More robust clinical data and basic experiments are still warranted to elucidate the specific relationships and mechanisms. In this paper, we review studies on micro- and nanoplastic toxicity from the perspectives of eco-toxicity, the adverse effects on invertebrates and vertebrates, and the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on the gut microbiota and its metabolites. In addition, we evaluate the toxicological role of micro- and nanoplastic exposure and its potential implications in respect to human health. We also summarize studies regarding preventive strategies. Overall, this review provides insights on micro- and nanoplastic toxicity and its underlying mechanisms, opening up scientific avenues for future in-depth studies.

Theoretical Analysis and Numerical Simulation of the Motion of RDX Deflagration-Driven Flyer Plate Based on Laser-Initiated Micro-Pyrotechnic Devices.

Miniaturized laser-initiated pyrotechnic devices have great application prospects in aerospace and modern weapon systems due to their excellent energy output performance and reliability. In order to develop a low-energy insensitive laser detonation technology based on a two-stage charge structure, it is important to deeply analyze the motion law of a titanium flyer plate driven by the deflagration of the first-stage charge (RDX). The effects of the charge mass of RDX, flyer plate mass, and barrel length on the motion law of flyer plates were studied through a numerical simulation method based on the Powder Burn deflagration model. The consistency between the numerical simulation and the experimental results was analyzed using the paired t confidence interval estimation method. The results show that the Powder Burn deflagration model can effectively describe the motion process of the RDX deflagration-driven flyer plate with a 90% confidence level, and its velocity error is ≤6.7%. The speed of the flyer plate is proportional to the mass of the RDX charge, inversely proportional to the mass of the flyer plate, and exponentially related to its moving distance. As the moving distance of the flyer plate increases, the RDX deflagration products and air in front of the flyer plate are compressed, which inhibits the motion of the flyer plate. In the optimum state (the mass of the RDX charge is 60 mg, the mass of the flyer is 85 mg, and the length of the barrel is 3 mm), the speed of the titanium flyer reaches 583 m/s, and the peak pressure of the RDX deflagration reaches 2182 MPa. This work will provide a theoretical basis for the refined design of a new generation of miniaturized high-performance laser-initiated pyrotechnic devices.

Deciphering Gut Microbiome Responses upon Microplastic Exposure via Integrating Metagenomics and Activity-Based Metabolomics.

Perturbations of the gut microbiome are often intertwined with the onset and development of diverse metabolic diseases. It has been suggested that gut microbiome perturbation could be a potential mechanism through which environmental chemical exposure induces or exacerbates human diseases. Microplastic pollution, an emerging environmental issue, has received ever increasing attention in recent years. However, interactions between microplastic exposure and the gut microbiota remain elusive. This study aimed to decipher the responses of the gut microbiome upon microplastic polystyrene (MP) exposure by integrating 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing with metabolomic profiling techniques using a C57BL/6 mouse model. The results indicated that MP exposure significantly perturbed aspects of the gut microbiota, including its composition, diversity, and functional pathways that are involved in xenobiotic metabolism. A distinct metabolite profile was observed in mice with MP exposure, which probably resulted from changes in gut bacterial composition. Specifically, untargeted metabolomics revealed that levels of metabolites associated with cholesterol metabolism, primary and secondary bile acid biosynthesis, and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism were changed significantly. Targeted approaches indicated significant perturbation with respect to the levels of short-chain fatty acids derived from the gut microbiota. This study can provide evidence for the missing link in understanding the mechanisms behind the toxic effects of microplastics.

Ambient temperature and major structural anomalies: A retrospective study of over 2 million newborns.

BACKGROUND: Maternal exposure to ambient heat may be associated with congenital anomalies, but evidence is still limited. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to estimate the association between maternal exposure to ambient heat during the 3-12 weeks post-conception (critical window of organogenesis) and risk of total and various diagnostic categories of major structural anomalies among live singleton births in the contiguous United States (US). METHODS: We included data on 2,352,529 births with the first day of critical developmental windows falling within months of May through August from 2000 to 2004 across 525 US counties. We used a validated spatial-temporal model to estimate daily county-level population-weighted temperature. We used logistic regression to estimate the association between ambient temperature and risk of diagnostic categories of anomalies during the critical window after adjusting for individual and county-level factors. We conducted subgroup analysis to identify potential susceptible subpopulations. RESULTS: A total of 29,188 anomalies (12.4 per 1000 births) were recorded during the study period. Maternal exposure to extreme heat (> 95th percentile) was associated with higher risk of total anomalies, central nervous system anomalies, and other uncategorized anomalies with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.05 (95 % CI: 1.00, 1.11), 1.17 (95 % CI: 1.01, 1.37), and 1.16 (95 % CI: 1.04, 1.29) compared with minimum morbidity temperature, respectively. The associations were homogeneous across subgroups defined by maternal age, maternal race/ethnicity, marital status, educational attainment, and parity, but were more pronounced among mothers residing in more socially vulnerable counties and births with multiple anomalies. CONCLUSIONS: Among US live singleton births, maternal exposure to ambient heat may be associated with higher risk of total anomalies, central nervous system anomalies, and other uncategorized anomalies. We suggest additional research is carried out to better understand the relations between maternal heat exposure and congenital anomalies in the presence of global warming.

Dietary Administration of Black Raspberries and Arsenic Exposure: Changes in the Gut Microbiota and Its Functional Metabolites.

Mounting evidence has linked berries to a variety of health benefits. We previously reported that administration of a diet rich in black raspberries (BRBs) impacted arsenic (As) biotransformation and reduced As-induced oxidative stress. To further characterize the role of the gut microbiota in BRB-mediated As toxicity, we utilized the dietary intervention of BRBs combined with a mouse model to demonstrate microbial changes by examining associated alterations in the gut microbiota, especially its functional metabolites. Results showed that BRB consumption changed As-induced gut microbial alterations through restoring and modifying the gut microbiome, including its composition, functions and metabolites. A number of functional metabolites in addition to bacterial genera were significantly altered, which may be linked to the effects of BRBs on arsenic exposure. Results of the present study suggest functional interactions between dietary administration of black raspberries and As exposure through the lens of the gut microbiota, and modulation of the gut microbiota and its functional metabolites could contribute to effects of administration of BRBs on As toxicity.

The 3D-Dynamic Fire Risk Evaluation Method of Modern Logistics Warehouses: A Modified Gustav Method.

International trade connections with COVID-19 impeding the development of the logistics industry in express delivery, the world has become an inseparable part of daily life. To improve protection competency, there is a need for effective research on logistics warehouse fire accident alarms. The goal of this study is to create a novel fire risk evaluation method for fire safety managers in logistics warehouses. The Gustav method is used to convert a plane model to a stereoscopic model. Hazards to construction, hazards to life, and fire rescue competency are all taken into account. The empirical study used JingDong Gu'an logistics park as a case study, and the evaluation results revealed differences in fire risk levels between the two warehouses. The results show that the transmit warehouse had a higher fire risk level than the sorting warehouse. The method describes the total risk of a warehouse fire. It is appropriate for the various types and processes found in modern logistics warehouses. The results of the developed 3D-Dynamic method demonstrate the model's feasibility and practicability even to laypeople with limited professional knowledge.

Maternal exposure to ozone and risk of gestational hypertension and eclampsia in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to ambient ozone during pregnancy may be linked with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, but evidence is largely unknown. We aimed to estimate the association between maternal exposure to ozone and risk of gestational hypertension and eclampsia in the contiguous United States (US). METHODS: We included 2,393,346 normotensive mothers aged from 18 to 50 years old who had a live singleton birth documented in the National Vital Statistics system in the US in 2002. We obtained information on gestational hypertension and eclampsia from birth certificates. We estimated daily ozone concentrations from a spatiotemporal ensemble model. We used distributed lag model and logistic regression to estimate the association between monthly ozone exposure and risk of gestational hypertension or eclampsia after adjusting for individual-level covariates and county poverty rate. RESULTS: Of the 2,393,346 pregnant women, there were 79,174 women with gestational hypertension and 6034 with eclampsia. A 10 parts per billion (ppb) increase in ozone was associated with an increased risk of gestational hypertension over 1-3 months before conception (OR = 1.042, 95 % CI: 1.029, 1.056), 2-3 months after conception (OR = 1.058, 95 % CI: 1.040, 1.077), and 3-5 months after conception (OR = 1.031, 95 % CI: 1.018, 1.044). The corresponding OR for eclampsia was 1.115 (95 % CI: 1.074, 1.158), 1.048 (95 % CI: 1.020, 1.077), and 1.070 (95 % CI: 1.032, 1.110), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to ozone was associated with an increased risk of gestational hypertension or eclampsia, especially during 2 to 4 months after conception.

Pendant Length-Dependent Electrochemical Performances for Conjugated Organic Polymers as Solid-State Polymer Electrolytes in Lithium Metal Batteries.

The development of solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) has been plagued by poor ionic conductivity, low ionic transference number, and limited electrochemical potential window. The exploitation of ionized SPEs is a feasible avenue to solve this problem. Herein, conjugated organic polymers (COPs) with excellent designability and rich pore structures have been selected as platforms for exploration. Three cationic COPs with different chain lengths of quaternary ammonium salts (CbzT@Cx, x = 4, 6, 9) are designed and applied to SPEs for the first time. Meanwhile, the effects of chain lengths on their electrochemical performances are compared. Especially, CbzT@C9 shows the most attractive electrochemical performance due to its high specific surface area of 212.3 m2 g-1. The larger specific surface area allows more exposure of the long-chain quaternary ammonium cation groups, which is more favorable for the dissociation of lithium salts. Moreover, the flexible long-chain structure increases the compatibility with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and reduces the crystallinity of PEO to some extent. The richer pore structure can accommodate more PEO, further disrupting the crystallinity of PEO and creating more channels for the ether-oxygen chain to transport lithium ions. At 60 °C, the SPE (CbzTM@C9) presents an excellent ionic conductivity (σ) of 8.00 × 10-4 S cm-1. CbzTM@C9 has a lithium-ion transference number (tLi+) of 0.48. Thus, the assembled Li/CbzTM@C9/LiFePO4 battery provides a good discharge capacity of 158.8 mAh g-1 at 0.1C. After 70 cycles, the capacity retention rate is 93.8% with a Coulombic efficiency of 98%. The excellent flexibility brings stable power supply capability under various bending angles to the assembled Li/CbzTM@C9/LiFePO4 soft-packed battery. The project uses conjugated organic polymers in SPEs and creates an avenue to develop flexible energy storage equipment.

Quantifying the associations of the air pollutant SO2 on outpatient visits for conjunctivitis in Hangzhou, China.

The aim of this study is to further investigate the single and cumulative associations of SO2 on outpatient visits for conjunctivitis. Data from outpatient visits, air pollutants, and meteorology was collected by the Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Zhejiang University School of Medicine, the Environmental Protection Department of Zhejiang Province, and the Meteorological Administration of Zhejiang Province from July 1, 2014, to November 30, 2019. A Poisson generalized linear regression model (PGLM), combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM), was employed to analyze the association between SO2 and outpatient visits for conjunctivitis using PM2.5 and NO2 as covariates. Of the 539,649 outpatients for conjunctivitis recruited for analysis, 58.1% were female. Obvious single associations of SO2 were observed in outpatient visits for conjunctivitis, which is consistent with our previous results using a time-stratified case crossover design. A delay in the associations of SO2 on outpatient visits for conjunctivitis was further confirmed, with the longest lag being 12 days. The strongest lag effect was found at lag 0-11 with RR95th vs 25th = 1.30 (1.24, 1.37), and RR90h vs 25th = 1.23 (1.18, 1.28). Furthermore, the results showed that old people may be more sensitive to the associations of SO2 than adults and the younger ones. Our study provides the first evidence that outpatient visits for conjunctivitis are positively associated with both single and cumulative air pollutant SO2 exposure, suggesting that people especially elders had better to decrease outdoor activities when the SO2 concentration is above safe level.