Penetrating injury of the cornea by a barbed fish hook and its surgical management by “Cut-it out technique”

Fishing is a worldwide pastime enjoyed by millions of people. Ocular fishing injuries though uncommon may cause potentially devastating ocular trauma. We report a rare case of penetrating injury of the cornea by a barbed fish hook and its successful surgical management by “cut-it out technique”. We are discussing the various techniques available for removal of fish hooks. The hook can be successfully removed with minimal trauma to ocular structures by understanding the structure of the fish hook and by employing the appropriate method of extraction.     

In vitro evaluation of the metabolic stability of nine fragrance chemicals in trout and human hepatocytes

In vitro metabolic stability of nine fragrance chemicals: p-tolyl acetate, cashmeran, ethylene brassylate, celestolide, galaxolide, traseolide, ambretone, tonalide and pentadecanolide, was evaluated in trout and human hepatocytes. The compounds were incubated with trout hepatocytes at 12°C and human hepatocytes at 37°C. Quantification of compound disappearance with time was performed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. in vivo hepatic intrinsic clearance values were calculated from the in vitro data. Significant metabolism was observed with trout hepatocytes for five of the nine fragrance chemicals, while all nine were metabolized significantly with human hepatocytes. Previously published models were used to examine expected bioaccumulation and persistence in whole organisms. Calculated half-lives due to metabolism of the nine chemicals are significantly shorter for humans than trout: <1 hour and <1 day, respectively. For all chemicals with demonstrated hepatic metabolism, the models indicate a lack of accumulation. For those where metabolism was demonstrated in trout, calculated bioconcentration factors would not be classified as bioaccumulative under prevailing regulatory systems.     

Does Periconceptional Fish Consumption by Parents Affect the Incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intelligence Deficiency? A Case-control Study in Tianjin,China

Objective This study aimed to explore the association between periconceptional fish consumption by parents and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intelligence deficiency (ID). Methods A case-control study was conducted through a questionnaire with 108 ASD cases, 79 ID cases, and 108 controls. The ASD and ID cases were students from special educational schools in Tianjin from 2012 to 2014. The age- and sex-matched controls were from a high school, three primary schools, and a kindergarten in Tianjin. Multivariate logistic regression was performed. Results Paternal habit of eating hairtail before fertilization, maternal preference for fruits during pregnancy, and maternal habit of eating grass carp during pregnancy were preventive factors for ASD. Paternal habit of drinking alcohol before fertilization was a risk factor for ID, whereas maternal preference for fruits during pregnancy and maternal habit of eating crucian carp during pregnancy were protective factors for ID. Conclusion Parental fish consumption is beneficial for the prevention of ASD and ID. Meanwhile, the protective effects of fish consumption on ASD and ID differ. More attention should be paid to the combined effect of other food when eating fish.     

Development of leiomyosarcoma of the uterus in MMTV-CR-1 transgenic mice

Overexpression of Cripto-1 (CR-1) in FVB/N mice using the MMTV-LTR promoter results in increased mammary tumourigenesis in these female transgenic mice (MMTV-CR-1). Here, we characterize uterine tumours that developed in 15/76 (19.7%) of MMTV-CR-1 female nulliparous or multiparous mice during 24 months of observation compared with 0/33 (0%) of FVB/N normal control mice observed during the same time period (p < 0.01). The uterine tumours collected from the MMTV-CR-1 mice were classified as leiomyosarcomas and found to express the CR-1 transgene by polymerase chain reaction analysis and immunohistochemistry. Detection by western blot analysis showed higher levels of phosphorylated (P) forms of c-src, Akt, GSK-3beta, and dephosphorylated (DP)-beta-catenin in lysates from MMTV-CR-1 uterine leiomyosarcomas in comparison with lysates from normal control FVB/N uteri. Immunostaining showed increased nuclear localization of beta-catenin in the MMTV-CR-1 uterine leiomyosarcomas. Increased immunostaining for CR-1 was detected in 9/13 (69.2%) cases of human leiomyosarcoma compared with staining in 3/15 (20%) human leiomyoma sections. Stronger immunostaining for P-src, P-Akt, P-GSK-3beta and increased nuclear localization of beta-catenin was also seen in human leiomyosarcomas in comparison with leiomyomas. Normal human uterine smooth muscle (UtSM) cells treated with exogenous soluble rhCR-1 showed increased levels of P-src, P-Akt, P-GSK-3beta and dephosphorylated (DP)-beta-catenin and increased proliferation (p < 0.05) and migration (p < 0.01) in comparison with untreated control UtSM cells. Inhibitors against c-src, Akt or beta-catenin, individually or in combination, significantly reduced CR-1-induced migration. These results suggest a role for CR-1 during uterine tumourigenesis either directly by activating c-src and Akt and/or via cross-talk with the canonical Wnt signalling pathway, as suggested by the increased expression of P-GSK-3beta, DP-beta-catenin, and increased nuclear localization of beta-catenin in human and MMTV-CR-1 mice leiomyosarcomas.     

Mercury,omega-3 fatty acids,and seafood intake are not associated with heart rate variability or QT interval

Mercury (Hg), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations differ across seafood types. Our aim was to investigate the association of Hg, EPA, and DHA, as well as avid consumption of diverse seafood types, with cardiovascular variables heart rate variability (HRV) and QT interval duration (QTc) in a contemporary population. We measured HRV and QTc by Holter monitor, EPA and DHA in plasma, total Hg in whole blood, and possible confounders in 94 avid seafood consumers from Long Island, NY. Participants had mean Hg of 8.4 mcg/L, mean EPA of 1.2%, and mean DHA of 3.7% of total fatty acids. Adjusted for possible confounders, EPA+DHA, Hg, and total seafood consumption were not associated with HRV or QTc. Associations with consumption of specific seafood types were suggested (eg, tuna steak with QTc and anchovies with HRV) but require verification.     

Dietary intake in people consuming a low‐carbohydrate diet in the UK Biobank

Background

Low‐carbohydrate diets are becoming increasingly popular, although their dietary quality outside of clinical studies is unknown. A previous study analysed the dietary intake in people consuming a reduced‐carbohydrate diet (<40% calories). However, it is not clear what foods people consume when carbohydrate is reduced to below 26% of total calories.

Methods

In the present cross‐sectional study, the dietary and nutrient intake collected via up to five consecutive 24‐h dietary recalls and a food frequency questionnaire of 444 individuals (aged 46‐79 years) consuming <26% of calories from carbohydrate (LCHO ) was compared with that of 131 897 individuals consuming ≥45% calories from carbohydrate (NCHO ) using the UK Biobank Dataset. Absolute cut‐offs to define the low‐carbohydrate group (<130 g day^–1; n  = 1953 versus ≥225 g day^–1, n  = 113 036) were also used.

Results

Both NCHO (>45% calories and ≥225 g) groups consumed significantly more high‐sugar, high‐fat snacks [median 6.0, interquartile range (IQR ) = 2.0–11.0 and median 6.0, IQR  = 3.0–11.8, respectively) compared to the LCHO (<26% calories and <130 g) groups (median 0, IQR  = 0–2.8 and median 1, IQR  = 0–3.8, respectively) (P  < 0.0001). Both LCHO groups reported consuming significantly more red meat, oily fish, nuts and seeds but fewer fruits, vegetables and pulses compared to the NCHO groups. In general, the consumption of oily fish, nuts, seeds and pulses was low across the whole cohort and differences in intake between the LCHO and NCHO groups were small. After adjusting for socio‐economic status, most differences remained.

Conclusions

Carbohydrate restriction is associated with both beneficial and potentially deleterious dietary changes compared to a normal carbohydrate intake.

     

神经前体细胞在成年小鼠脊髓颈段的分布特征

目的观察和分析在成年动物脊髓颈段的神经前体细胞（NPCs）分布特征。方法采用巢蛋白第二内含子增强子控制的LacZ启动子转基因小鼠和LacZ染色及阳性细胞量化技术，观察分析脊髓颈段的NPCs分布特征。结果NPCs在成年小鼠的整个脊髓颈段都可见，但是在不同区其数量和密度不同，在后角最多，其次是中央管，前角和侧角最少。在脊髓后角区NPCs主要分布在胶状质，在中央管NPCs主要分布在室管膜带，在脊髓髓质（白质）区很少，灰质明显比白质多，左右两边无明显差别。结论在NPCs的分布可能与临床疾病脊髓的损伤和修复有相关性，NPCs分布少的区易于损伤且难于修复，像前角和侧角。在后角、中央管和神经胶质细胞分布最多，则难于损伤，较易修复。     

A subchronic in situ exposure method for evaluating effects in small‐bodied fish at contaminated sites

In situ fish‐caging studies at contaminated sites can provide information that is more realistic compared to traditional laboratory‐based studies. However, few methods have been developed for exposing sentinel fish species for subchronic durations, and fewer still are optimized for exposing small‐bodied fish while maintaining fish health and growth throughout the caging trial. Those methods typically lack a feeding regimen during the fish caging trial. While that may be acceptable or even appropriate for typical short‐term toxicity testing, it does limit the duration of the exposure, and may not be suitable when post‐caging trials or observations are necessary. Returning healthy fish to the lab following the in situ exposure would be important, for example, in studies designed to examine long‐term or multigenerational effects following an in situ exposure. In this article we describe a subchronic method for caging small fish at contaminated sites while maintaining growth and reproductive development. Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) were caged in situ for 6 weeks, after which time they were returned to the lab where they were evaluated for health and reproductive performance. Growth and reproductive endpoints revealed no adverse effect on fish due to fish caging and related handling, demonstrating the suitability of our caging and feeding method for long‐term caging studies. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 54–63, 2014.     

Effects of quercetin and fish n‐3 fatty acids on testicular injury induced by ethanol in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin and fish n‐3 fatty acids on the changes in testis induced by ethanol. Forty‐five rats divided into five groups, control, ethanol, ethanol+quercetin, ethanol+fish n‐3 fatty acids and ethanol+quercetin+fish n‐3 fatty acids. At the end of 8 weeks, all the rats were sacrificed. Degenerative changes in histopathological analyses, the decreased body weight gain and seminiferous tubule diameters in ethanol group have been observed. TUNEL assay also showed an increase in apoptotic cell number. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), xanthine oxidase (XO) and testosterone levels were decreased as well as the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were increased in ethanol group. Histopathological changes caused by ethanol have been improved by quercetin and fish n‐3 fatty acids. It was also found that protection was provided by increasing SOD, CAT and GSH‐Px activities in groups administered quercetin, fish n‐3 fatty acids and quercetin+fish n‐3 fatty acids, and by decreasing the levels of MDA and NO in groups administered both quercetin and fish n‐3 fatty acids together. These results suggest that quercetin and fish n‐3 fatty acids are beneficial agents to reduce testicular injury induced by ethanol except for testosterone levels.