Associations of Childhood and Perinatal Blood Metals with Children’s Gut Microbiomes in a Canadian Gestation Cohort

Background: The gut microbiome is important in modulating health in childhood. Metal exposures affect multiple health outcomes, but their ability to modify bacterial communities in children is poorly understood.Objectives: We assessed the associations of childhood and perinatal blood metal levels with childhood gut microbiome diversity, structure, species, gene family-inferred species, and potential pathway alterations.Methods: We assessed the gut microbiome using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing in stools collected from 6- to 7-year-old children participating in the GESTation and Environment (GESTE) cohort study. We assessed blood metal concentrations [cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), selenium (Se)] at two time points, namely, perinatal exposures at delivery (N=70) and childhood exposures at the 6- to 7-y follow-up (N=68). We used multiple covariate-adjusted statistical models to determine microbiome associations with continuous blood metal levels, including linear regression (Shannon and Pielou alpha diversity indexes), permutational multivariate analysis of variance (adonis; beta diversity distance matrices), and multivariable association model (MaAsLin2; phylum, family, species, gene family-inferred species, and pathways).Results: Children’s blood Mn and Se significantly associated with microbiome phylum [e.g., Verrucomicrobiota (coef=−0.305, q=0.031; coef=0.262, q=0.084, respectively)] and children’s blood Mn significantly associated with family [e.g., Eggerthellaceae (coef=−0.228, q=0.052)]-level differences. Higher relative abundance of potential pathogens (e.g., Flavonifractor plautii), beneficial species (e.g., Bifidobacterium longum, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii), and both potentially pathogenic and beneficial species (e.g., Bacteriodes vulgatus, Eubacterium rectale) inferred from gene families were associated with higher childhood or perinatal blood Cd, Hg, and Pb (q<0.1). We found significant negative associations between childhood blood Pb and acetylene degradation pathway abundance (q<0.1). Finally, neither perinatal nor childhood metal concentrations were associated with children’s gut microbial inter- and intrasubject diversity.Discussion: Our findings suggest both long- and short-term associations between metal exposure and the childhood gut microbiome, with stronger associations observed with more recent exposure. Future epidemiologic analyses may elucidate whether the observed changes in the microbiome relate to children’s health. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9674     

Natural and Socioeconomic Factors and Their Interactive Effects on House Collapse Caused by Typhoon Mangkhut

Typhoons are an environmental threat that mainly affects coastal regions worldwide.The interactive effects of natural and socioeconomic factors on the losses ca...     

Allergy accelerates the disease progression of chronic rhinosinusitis

Background: The role of allergy in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in East Asians is not clear.

Aims/objectives: The aim was to investigate the impact of allergies in the clinical characteristics of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Material and methods: A total of 138 CRS patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery were included. A brief history of rhinosinusitis symptoms, blood eosinophil count, blood-specific allergen tests, computed tomography (CT) scan findings, Lund-Mackay (LM) CT scores, and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) Questionnaire scores, and sinoscopy findings at 3 and 6 months postoperatively.

Results: The ImmunoCAP test was positive in 71(51%) patients and negative in 67(49%) patients. The mean age of those who received endoscopic sinus surgery was 7-years younger in the allergic group compared with the non-allergic group (p?=?.008). The peripheral eosinophil count in the allergic group was higher than that of the non-allergic group (p?=?.008). The LM scores and SNOT-22 scores were not significantly different between the two groups. The recurrence rate of nasal polyps in the allergic group was higher but without statistical significance.

Conclusions and significance: Allergy may accelerate the disease progression of CRS. The presence of the serum-specific IgE was correlated with peripheral eosinophil percentage, especially in the CRSwNP patients.     

Preparation of graphene aerogel and application in photon-enhanced thermionic emission

Photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) is a novel concept of solar energy conversion in recent years. Porous 3D graphene aerogels (GA) were prepared by hydrothermal reduction of graphene oxide (GO). The morphology of GO and GA was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy respectively. The functional groups of GO and GA were characterized by Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. The PETE properties of the samples were tested by a self-made device. Thermoelectron emission can be detected when the energy density of the excitation laser was higher than 35 W. The efficiency of the device was between 8.14 × 10⁻⁶% and 1.89 × 10⁻⁵%, and the output voltage was about 1 V. Compared with 3D graphene powder and 2D graphene in the control group, GA has more significant and stable thermionic emission properties. GA is a promising cathode material for a PETE solar energy converter, and the conductivity of GA should be further optimized.

Photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) is a novel concept of solar energy conversion in recent years.     

Redox properties of nano-sized biochar derived from wheat straw biochar

Nano-sized biochar (NBC) has received increasing attention due to its unique physicochemical characteristics and environmental behaviour, but an understanding of its redox properties is limited. Herein, the redox properties of NBC derived from wheat straw were investigated at two pyrolysis temperatures (400 and 700 °C). These NBC materials were prepared from bulk-biochar by grinding, ultrasonication and separation treatments. The resulting NBC had average particle sizes of 78.8 ± 1.9 and 122.0 ± 2.1 nm after 400 and 700 °C treatments, respectively. The physicochemical measurements demonstrated that both the NBC prepared at 400 °C (NBC-400) and the NBC prepared at 700 °C (NBC-700) were enriched in carboxyl and phenolic oxygen-content groups. Electrochemical analyses showed that both NBC-400 and NBC-700 were redox active and had an electron transfer capacity (ETC) of 196.57 μmol⁻¹ g_C⁻¹ and 363.47 μmol⁻¹ g_C⁻¹, respectively. On the basis of its redox activity of NBC, the NBC was capable of mediating the reduction of iron and manganese minerals as well as the degradation of methyl orange (MO) by sulfide. The NBC-700 could stimulate these reactions better than the NBC-400 due to its higher redox activity. Meanwhile, the NBC was more active in stimulating these reactions than bulk-biochar. Our results highlight the importance of size in evaluating the redox reactivity of biochar and related environmental processes and improve our understanding of the redox properties of biochar.

NBC exhibit significant efficiency in mediating MO or minerals reduction by accelerating electron transfer. NBC-700 has higher SSA, ETC and stronger redox property than NBC-400.     

Methylation‐ and homologous recombination deficiency‐related mutant genes predict the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma

BackgroundLung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a lung cancer subtype with poor prognosis. We investigated the prognostic value of methylation‐ and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)‐associated gene signatures in LUAD.MethodsData on RNA sequencing, somatic mutations, and methylation were obtained from TCGA database. HRD scores were used to stratify patients with LUAD into high and low HRD groups and identify differentially mutated and expressed genes (DMEGs). Pearson correlation analysis between DMEGs and methylation yielded methylation‐associated DMEGs. Cox regression analysis was used to construct a prognostic model, and the distribution of clinical features in the high‐ and low‐risk groups was compared.ResultsPatients with different HRD scores showed different DNA mutation patterns. There were 272 differentially mutated genes and 6294 differentially expressed genes. Fifty‐seven DMEGs were obtained; the top 10 upregulated genes were COL11A1, EXO1, ASPM, COL12A1, COL2A1, COL3A1, COL5A2, DIAPH3, CAD, and SLC25A13, while the top 10 downregulated genes were C7, ERN2, DLC1, SCN7A, SMARCA2, CARD11, LAMA2, ITIH5, FRY, and EPHB6. Forty‐two DMEGs were negatively correlated with 259 methylation sites. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis of the DMEGs revealed enrichment of loci involved in extracellular matrix‐related remodeling and signaling. Six out of the 42 methylation‐associated DMEGs were significantly associated with LUAD prognosis and included in the prognostic model. The model effectively stratified high‐ and low‐risk patients, with the high‐risk group having more patients with advanced stage disease.ConclusionWe developed a novel prognostic model for LUAD based on methylation and HRD. Methylation‐associated DMEGs may function as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for LUAD. Further studies are needed to elucidate their roles in LUAD carcinogenesis.     

Local injection of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) prevents scarring esophageal stricture caused by electrocautery in rabbit models

BackgroundBenign esophageal strictures are common in clinical practice. The commonly used methods for preventing benign esophageal strictures still have many shortcomings. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect and possible mechanism of endoscopic local injection of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) on scarring esophageal stricture caused by electrocautery in rabbit models, with an attempt to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of BTX-A in the prevention of benign esophageal stricture.MethodsAdult male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: cautery group (cauterized with 30 W electrocoagulation power without other intervention), saline group (injected with normal saline at 4 spots in the local esophagus after modeling), BTX-A I group (injected with 10 U of BTX-A after modeling), and BTX-A II group (injected with 20 U of BTX-A after modeling). Body weight was measured at postoperative weeks 1, 2, and 4. Esophagography was performed, and the internal diameter of the esophagus was measured. The esophageal tissues were harvested for hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining. Type I, type III collagen levels and the mRNA expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in esophageal tissues were detected.ResultsCompared with the cautery and saline groups, the BTX-A I and BTX-A II groups had significantly higher body weight, larger esophageal internal diameter, lower type I and type III collagen levels, and lower TGF-β1 mRNA expression levels in esophageal tissues at postoperative week 4. Comparisons between the BTX-A I and BTX-A II groups showed no significant differences in terms of body weight, esophageal internal diameter, and type I collagen level at postoperative week 4. However, the BTX-A II group had a significantly lower type III collagen level and TGF-β1 mRNA expression level than the BTX-A I group.ConclusionsLocal injection of BTX-A can alleviate esophageal stricture after electrocautery and has a preventive effect on benign esophageal stricture caused by electrocautery in rabbits. The mechanism may be that BTX-A down-regulates the expression of TGF-β1 in the esophageal tissue at the burn site and reduces the deposition of collagen.     

Baseline Objective Malnutritional Indices as Immune-Nutritional Predictors of Long-Term Recurrence in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: The controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) score were designed as indicators of patients’ immune-nutritional status. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of the CONUT and PNI scores on long-term recurrent ischemic stroke (RIS) and adverse outcomes for adults with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 991 AIS patients. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess the relationships of the malnutritional indices and RIS and major cardiovascular events (MACEs). Results: During a median follow-up at 44 months (IQR 39–49 months), 203 (19.2%) patients had RIS and 261 (26.3%) had MACEs. Compared with normal nutritional status, moderate to severe malnutrition was significantly related to an increased risk of RIS in the CONUT score (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 3.472, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.223–5.432, p < 0.001). A higher PNI value tertile (tertile two, adjusted HR 0.295, 95% CI 0.202–0.430; tertile three, adjusted HR 0.445, 95% CI 0.308–0.632, all p < 0.001) was related to a lower risk of RIS. Similar results were found for MACEs. The PNI exhibited nonlinear association with the RIS and both two malnutritional indices improved the model’s discrimination when added to the model with other clinical risk factors. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the CONUT and PNI are promising, straightforward screening indicators to identify AIS patients with impaired immune-nutritional status at higher risk of long-term RIS and MACEs.     

Effect of Tempering Temperature on Microstructure and Sulfide Stress Cracking of 125 Ksi Grade Casing Steel

The influence of tempering temperature on the microstructure of 0.5Cr0.4W steels was investigated by scanning electron microscope, and the roles of grain boundary character, dislocation, and Taylor factor in sulfide stress cracking (SSC) resistance were interpreted using the election backscattered diffraction technique. The 0.5Cr0.4W steels tempered at 690 °C, 700 °C, and 715 °C all showed tempered martensites. The specimen tempered at 715 °C exhibited a higher critical stress intensity factor (K_ISSC) of 34.58 MPa·m^0.5, but the yield strength of 800 MPa did not meet the criterion of 125 ksi (862 MPa) grade. When the specimen was tempered at 690 °C, the yield strength reached 960 MPa and the K_ISSC was only 21.36 MPa·m^0.5, displaying poorer SSC resistance. The 0.5Cr0.4W steel tempered at 700 °C showed a good combination of yield strength (887 MPa) and SSC resistance (K_ISSC: 31.16 MPa·m^0.5). When increasing the tempering temperature, the local average misorientation and Taylor factor of the 0.5Cr0.4W steels were decreased. The reduced dislocation density, and greater number of grains amenable to slippage, produced less hydrogen transport and a lower crack sensitivity. The SSC resistance was, thus, increased, owing to the minor damage to hydrogen aggregation. Therefore, 700 °C is a suitable tempering temperature for 0.5Cr0.4W casing steel.