Prenatal Exposure to Glyphosate and Its Environmental Degradate,Aminomethylphosphonic Acid (AMPA), and Preterm Birth: A Nested Case–Control Study in the PROTECT Cohort (Puerto Rico)

Background: Glyphosate (GLY) is the most heavily used herbicide in the world. Despite nearly ubiquitous exposure, few studies have examined prenatal GLY exposure and potentially adverse pregnancy outcomes. Preterm birth (PTB) is a risk factor for neonatal mortality and adverse health effects in childhood.Objectives: We examined prenatal exposure to GLY and a highly persistent environmental degradate of GLY, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and odds of PTB in a nested case–control study within the ongoing Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) pregnancy cohort in northern Puerto Rico.Methods: GLY and AMPA in urine samples collected at 18±2 (Visit 1) and 26±2 (Visit 3) wk gestation (53 cases/194 randomly selected controls) were measured using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate associations with PTB (delivery <37wk completed gestation).Results: Detection rates in controls were 77.4% and 77.5% for GLY and 52.8% and 47.7% for AMPA, and geometric means (geometric standard deviations) were 0.44 (2.50) and 0.41 (2.56)μg/L for GLY and 0.25 (3.06) and 0.20 (2.87)μg/L for AMPA, for Visits 1 and 3, respectively. PTB was significantly associated with specific gravity–corrected urinary GLY and AMPA at Visit 3, whereas associations with levels at Visit 1 and the Visits 1–3 average were largely null or inconsistent. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for an interquartile range increase in exposure at Visit 3 were 1.35 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.83) and 1.67 (95% CI: 1.26, 2.20) for GLY and AMPA, respectively. ORs for Visit 1 and the visit average were closer to the null.Discussion: Urine GLY and AMPA levels in samples collected near the 26th week of pregnancy were associated with increased odds of PTB in this modestly sized nested case–control study. Given the widespread use of GLY, multiple potential sources of AMPA, and AMPA’s persistence in the environment, as well as the potential for long-term adverse health effects in preterm infants, further investigation in other populations is warranted. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7295     

Addition of platelet‐rich plasma supports immune modulation and improved mechanical integrity in Alloderm mesh for ventral hernia repair in a rat model

The recurrence of ventral hernias continues to be a problem faced by surgeons, in spite of efforts toward implementing novel repair techniques and utilizing different materials to promote healing. Cadaveric acellular dermal matrices (Alloderm) have shown some promise in numerous surgical subspecialties, but these meshes still suffer from subsequent failure and necessitation of re‐intervention. Here, it is demonstrated that the addition of platelet rich plasma to Alloderm meshes temporally modulates both the innate and cytotoxic inflammatory responses to the implanted material. This results in decreased inflammatory cytokine production at early time points, decreased matrix metalloproteinase expression, and decreased CD8+ T cell infiltration. Collectively, these immune effects result in a healing phenotype that is free from mesh thinning and characterized by increased material stiffness.     

The middle range of the number line orients attention to the left side of visual space

Mental representation of numbers is believed to be spatial in nature, with small numbers occupying the left and large numbers the right side of a putative mental number line. Consistent with this, presentation of numbers from the low and high ends of the mental number line induces covert shifts of spatial attention to the left and right side of visual space, respectively. However, the effect of the presentation of the middle range (containing numbers below and above the midpoint) of the number line on visual perception has so far not been studied. Here we show in two experiments, using a line bisection task and a simple target detection task, that processing of middle-range numbers affects allocation of visuospatial attention in a similar way as processing of small numbers, with attention shifted to the left side of space. We suggest that this pattern of results arises due to “anchoring” heuristics that participants use in number processing.     

Evaluation of the novel DiaSorin LIAISON®Campylobacter assay for the rapid detection of Campylobacter spp.

Introduction

Campylobacter spp. infection is one of the leading causes of foodborne diarrhoeal illness in humans worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the DiaSorin LIAISON^®Campylobacter assay for human campylobacteriosis diagnosis.