A benchmark dose study of prenatal exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and behavioral problems in children

IntroductionPrenatal exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been reported to be associated with adverse effects on neurodevelopment that yield behavior syndromes in young children with an estimated median exposure lower than the currently recommended tolerable daily intake (TDI) and reference dose (RfD).ObjectivesOur aim was to derive the benchmark dose for prenatal exposure to DEHP for the neurodevelopmental health in children.MethodsA total of 122 mother-child pairs from the Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study were analyzed for the dose-response relationship between maternal exposure to DEHP and children's behavioral syndromes evaluated at 8 years (n = 122, 2009), 11 years (n = 96, 2012), and 14 years (n = 78, 2015) of age. We employed a multivariate regression model to assess the statistical associations between the estimated maternal average daily intake of DEHP and child's individual CBCL scores for boys and girls at each separate age, followed by a mixed model for all the children across three ages accounting for individual variations. We then employed structural equation models by combining the children's specific behavioral problem scores at different ages and obtained a simulated overall latent score in relation to maternal exposure. Based on the established dose-response relationship, we derived the benchmark dose (BMD) and the lower limit (BMDL).ResultsAssociations of maternal DEHP exposure (median 4.54$\mu g/kg\_bw/day$) with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) scores were all significant, except for somatic complaints, adjusting for child's age, gender, IQ, and family income. The BMDL, given a benchmark response of 0.10 (0.05) and a background response of 0.05, was 6.01 (2.16) $\mu g/kg\_bw/day$for an integrated CBCL score.ConclusionsThe current TDI (RfD) of 50 (20) $\mu g/kg\_bw/day$ for DEHP might not protect pregnant women for their children from behavioral problems. There remains the lack of comparable toxicological data. Further investigations are needed.     

人参皂苷Rg5调控lncRNA-PCAT12抑制胃癌细胞生长实验研究

目的:探讨人参皂苷Rg5通过抑制长链非编码RNA-PCAT12(lncRNA-PCAT12)抑制胃癌(GC)细胞增殖与迁移的价值。方法:对数生长期的人胃癌SNU-1 细胞分为四组,A组,B组与C组加入0.03,0.06,0.09 μmol/L Rg5处理,对照组加入5% DMSO进行处理。MTT法检测细胞增殖、双染法检测细胞凋亡、划痕实验检测细胞迁移、实时定量PCR检测lncRNA-PCAT12表达。结果:处理后24、48、72 h,对照组中lncRNA-PCAT12表达水平和癌细胞增殖指数高于各实验组(P<0.05),C组均低于B组与A组(P<0.05)。实验各组细胞凋亡率均比对照组高(P<0.05),C组比B组与A组高(P<0.05)。转染48 h后,实验各组细胞迁移距离都小于对照组(P<0.05),而C组小于其他两个实验组(P<0.05)。结论:人参皂苷Rg5能通过抑制lncRNA-PCAT12的表达,且高浓度的效果更显著,可通过抑制GC细胞增殖与迁移,促进其凋亡,从而发挥抑癌作用。     

Implementation of Recommendations for Long-Acting Contraception Among Women Aged 13 to 18 Years in Primary Care

ObjectiveClinical specialty societies recommend long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) as first-line contraception for adolescent women. We evaluated whether a combined educational and process improvement intervention enhanced LARC placement in primary care within an integrated health care system.MethodsThe intervention included journal clubs, live continuing education, point-of-care guidelines, and new patient materials. We conducted a retrospective cohort study across 3 time periods: baseline (January 2013?September 2015), early implementation (October 2015–March 2016), and full implementation (April 2016–June 2017). The primary outcome was the proportion of LARCs placed by primary care clinicians among women aged 13 to 18 years compared with gynecology clinicians.ResultsKaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado cared for approximately 20,000 women aged 13 to 18 years in each calendar quarter between 2013 and 2017. Overall, LARC placement increased from 7.0 per 1000 members per quarter at baseline to 13.0 per 1000 during the full intervention. Primary care clinicians placed 6.2% of all LARCs in 2013, increasing to 32.1% by 2017 (P < .001), including 45.5% of contraceptive implants. Clinicians who attended educational sessions were more likely to adopt LARCs than those who did not (17.9% vs 6.4% respectively, P = .009). Neither overall LARC placement rates (relative risk, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 0.7?5.6) nor contraceptive implant rates (relative risk, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.9?9.8) increased significantly in clinicians who attended educational activities.ConclusionsThis multimodal intervention was associated with increased LARC placement for adolescent women in primary care. The combination of education and process improvement is a promising strategy to promote clinician behavior change.     

Correlation study of increase of pharyngeal airway space after mandibular advancement,taking natural head position into consideration

The increase in the pharyngeal airway space after mandibular advancement has not been well explained, and in this study we aimed to show whether there is a correlation in the increase of pharyngeal airway space as a consequence of the mandibular advancement or of the relative change between the mandibular position and the natural head position (NHP). Fifteen patients who had bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for mandibular advancement with or without genioplasty were studied retrospectively. The primary variables of mandibular position, NHP, and pharyngeal airway space were measured in three dimensions using preoperative and postoperative cone-beam computed tomographic datasets and were compared using the paired t test. The secondary variable of pharyngeal airway space was defined as the square root of the mean cross-sectional area (CSA^1/2) of the pharyngeal airway space. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to find out whether there was a correlation between the change in CSA^1/2 and the change in mandibular position, or the relative change between the mandibular position and the NHP. Volumes and minimal cross-sectional areas were increased in the pharyngeal airway space, and lengths of airways decreased. Correlation existed only between the increase in CSA^1/2 and the relative change between the mandibular position and NHP. The increase in pharyngeal airway space after mandibular advancement correlated with the relative changes between the mandibular position and the NHP.     

Patterns of Use of Induction Therapy for T2N0 Esophageal Cancer

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Evaluation of Routine Coronary Angiography Before Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy

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