Environmental exposure to pyrethroids and sperm sex chromosome disomy: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background The role of environmental pesticide exposures, such as pyrethroids, and their relationship to sperm abnormalities are not well understood. This study investigated whether environmental exposure to pyrethroids was associated with altered frequency of sperm sex chromosome disomy in adult men. Methods A sample of 75 subjects recruited through a Massachusetts infertility clinic provided urine and semen samples. Individual exposures were measured as urinary concentrations of three pyrethroid metabolites ((3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3PBA), cis- and trans- 3-(2,2-Dichlorovinyl)-1-methylcyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (CDCCA and TDCCA)). Multiprobe fluorescence in situ hybridization for chromosomes X, Y, and 18 was used to determine XX, YY, XY, 1818, and total sex chromosome disomy in sperm nuclei. Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the association between aneuploidy rates and pyrethroid metabolites while adjusting for covariates. Results Between 25-56% of the sample were above the limit of detection (LOD) for the pyrethroid metabolites. All sex chromosome disomies were increased by 7-30% when comparing men with CDCCA and TDCCA levels above the LOD to those below the LOD. For 3PBA, compared to those below the LOD, those above the LOD had YY18 disomy rates 1.28 times higher (95% CI: 1.15, 1.42) whereas a reduced rate was seen for XY18 and total disomy (IRR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.87; IRR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.87-0.97), and no association was seen for XX18 and 1818. Conclusions Our findings suggest that urinary concentrations of CDCCA and TDCCA above the LOD were associated with increased rates of aneuploidy. However the findings for 3BPA were not consistent. This is the first study to examine these relationships, and replication of our findings is needed before the association between pyrethroid metabolites and aneuploidy can be fully defined.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134538/1/12940_2013_Article_854.pd

Environmental exposure to pyrethroids and sperm sex chromosome disomy: A cross-sectional study

Background The role of environmental pesticide exposures, such as pyrethroids, and their relationship to sperm abnormalities are not well understood. This study investigated whether environmental exposure to pyrethroids was associated with altered frequency of sperm sex chromosome disomy in adult men. Methods A sample of 75 subjects recruited through a Massachusetts infertility clinic provided urine and semen samples. Individual exposures were measured as urinary concentrations of three pyrethroid metabolites ((3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3PBA), cis- and trans- 3-(2,2-Dichlorovinyl)-1-methylcyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (CDCCA and TDCCA)). Multiprobe fluorescence in situ hybridization for chromosomes X, Y, and 18 was used to determine XX, YY, XY, 1818, and total sex chromosome disomy in sperm nuclei. Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the association between aneuploidy rates and pyrethroid metabolites while adjusting for covariates. Results Between 25-56% of the sample were above the limit of detection (LOD) for the pyrethroid metabolites. All sex chromosome disomies were increased by 7-30% when comparing men with CDCCA and TDCCA levels above the LOD to those below the LOD. For 3PBA, compared to those below the LOD, those above the LOD had YY18 disomy rates 1.28 times higher (95% CI: 1.15, 1.42) whereas a reduced rate was seen for XY18 and total disomy (IRR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.87; IRR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.87-0.97), and no association was seen for XX18 and 1818. Conclusions Our findings suggest that urinary concentrations of CDCCA and TDCCA above the LOD were associated with increased rates of aneuploidy. However the findings for 3BPA were not consistent. This is the first study to examine these relationships, and replication of our findings is needed before the association between pyrethroid metabolites and aneuploidy can be fully defined

Crisis discharges and readmission risk in acute psychiatric male inpatients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Severe pressures on beds in psychiatric services have led to the implementation of an early ("crisis") discharge policy in the Western Cape, South Africa. The study examined the effect of this policy and length of hospital stay (LOS) on readmission rates in one psychiatric hospital in South Africa.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Discharge summaries of adult male patients (<it>n </it>= 438) admitted to Stikland Psychiatric Hospital during 2004 were retrospectively examined. Each patient's clinical course was then analysed for the period between January 1^st, 2004, and August 31^st, 2006.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although shorter LOS was associated with decreased readmission rates, the effect of crisis discharges was far more powerful. Patients discharged as usual had a far lower risk of readmission than those discharged due to bed pressures (i.e. crisis discharge).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Increased risks associated with the early discharge policy necessitate the urgent review of the current management of bed shortages in this inpatient facility. The strengthening of community initiatives, particularly assertive outreach could be a way forward.</p

Replication Timing: A Fingerprint for Cell Identity and Pluripotency

Many types of epigenetic profiling have been used to classify stem cells, stages of cellular differentiation, and cancer subtypes. Existing methods focus on local chromatin features such as DNA methylation and histone modifications that require extensive analysis for genome-wide coverage. Replication timing has emerged as a highly stable cell type-specific epigenetic feature that is regulated at the megabase-level and is easily and comprehensively analyzed genome-wide. Here, we describe a cell classification method using 67 individual replication profiles from 34 mouse and human cell lines and stem cell-derived tissues, including new data for mesendoderm, definitive endoderm, mesoderm and smooth muscle. Using a Monte-Carlo approach for selecting features of replication profiles conserved in each cell type, we identify “replication timing fingerprints” unique to each cell type and apply a k nearest neighbor approach to predict known and unknown cell types. Our method correctly classifies 67/67 independent replication-timing profiles, including those derived from closely related intermediate stages. We also apply this method to derive fingerprints for pluripotency in human and mouse cells. Interestingly, the mouse pluripotency fingerprint overlaps almost completely with previously identified genomic segments that switch from early to late replication as pluripotency is lost. Thereafter, replication timing and transcription within these regions become difficult to reprogram back to pluripotency, suggesting these regions highlight an epigenetic barrier to reprogramming. In addition, the major histone cluster Hist1 consistently becomes later replicating in committed cell types, and several histone H1 genes in this cluster are downregulated during differentiation, suggesting a possible instrument for the chromatin compaction observed during differentiation. Finally, we demonstrate that unknown samples can be classified independently using site-specific PCR against fingerprint regions. In sum, replication fingerprints provide a comprehensive means for cell characterization and are a promising tool for identifying regions with cell type-specific organization

Relationship Between 1-Hour Glucose Challenge Test Results and Perinatal Outcomes

To estimate the relationship between 1-hour 50 gm glucose challenge test (GCT) values and perinatal outcomes

Infecciones concurrentes por dos serotipos del virus dengue durante un brote en el noroeste de Perú, 2008

Objetives. To establish the existence of concurrent infections by different dengue virus (DENV) serotypes in an outbreak in the Northwestern in Peru during 2008. Material and methods. 73 serum samples from patients with dengue were analyzed during an outbreak that occurred in Northwestern in Peru between May and June 2008. Molecular biology techniques were used to serotype the DENV, thus, firstly the viral RNA viral was extracted using Viral QIAamp RNA mini kit (Qiagen, Valencia, California, USA), then the viral cDNA fragments were reverse transcripted and amplified by means of the Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and the RT-Nested PCR region techniques and finally, genetic sequencing of the viral cDNA fragments were performed using the Big Dye Terminator v.3,1 kit. Results. The 73 dengue cases presented infections by different serotypes: 34 (46.6%) by DENV-3, 29 (39.7%) by DENV-1, 4 (5.5%) by DENV-4, and 6 (8.2%) concurrent infections by DENV-1 and DENV-3. The most frequent clinical manifestations observed among dengue patients were fever and headache (100%), myalgia (94.5%), ocular pain (83.6%), arthralgia (78.1%), shivers (63.0%), nausea/vomiting (38.4%), positive tourniquet test (30.1%), and rash (20.5%). All patients with concurrent infections presented light clinical course of dengue fever (Df) except one patient who had moderate hemorrhagic manifestations. Conclusion. This is the first Peruvian report of patients with concurrent infections of two DENV serotypes without severe clinical manifestations.Objetivo. Describir la existencia de infecciones concurrentes por diferentes serotipos del virus dengue (DENV) en un brote ocurrido en el noroeste de Perú durante el 2008. Materiales y métodos. Se analizó 73 muestras séricas de pacientes con dengue en un brote en el noroeste de Perú entre mayo y junio de 2008. Para la serotipificación del DENV se utilizó técnicas de biología molecular; así, primero se realizó la extracción del ARN con el kit QIAamp viral RNA Mini, luego se realizó la transcripción inversa y amplificación de los fragmentos de ADNc viral mediante las técnicas de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con trans criptasa inversa (RT-PCR multiplex) y de RT-Anidada PCR (RT-Nested PCR), y finalmente de realizó el secuenciamiento genético de los fragmentos de ADNc viral utilizando el kit Big Dye Terminator v.3,1. Resultados. Los 73 casos de dengue presentaron infecciones por diferentes serotipos: 34 (46,6%) por DENV-3, 29 (39,7%) por DENV-1, 4 (5,5%) por DENV-4 y 6 casos (8,2%) por DENV-1 y DENV-3. Las manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes fueron fiebre y cefalea (100%), mialgia (94,5%), dolor ocular (83,6%), artralgia (78,1%), escalofríos (63,0%), nauseas/vómitos (38,4%), prueba de lazo positiva (30,1%) y erupción cutánea (20,5%). Los pacientes con infecciones concurrentes presentaron cuadros leves, excepto una paciente que presentó prueba de lazo positivo y sangrado genital. Conclusión. Es el primer reporte de pacientes peruanos con infecciones concurrentes por dos serotipos del DENV sin formas graves de la enfermedad

Production-Related Contaminants (Pesticides, Antibiotics And Hormones) In Organic And Conventionally Produced Milk Samples Sold In The Usa

"We sought to determine if contaminant levels differ by the production method used. Half-gallon containers of organic and conventional milk were collected in each of nine US regions and shipped on ice for analysis. Pesticide, antibiotic and hormone (bovine growth hormone (bGH), bGH-associated insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)) residues were measured using liquid or gas chromatography coupled to mass or tandem mass spectrometry. Levels were compared against established federal limits and by production method. Current-use pesticides and antibiotics were detected in several conventional (26–60 %; n 35) but not in organic (n 34) samples. Among the conventional samples, residue levels exceeded federal limits for amoxicillin in one sample (3 %) and in multiple samples for sulfamethazine (37 %) and sulfathiazole (26 %). Median bGH and IGF-1 concentrations in conventional milk were 9·8 and 3·5 ng/ml, respectively, twenty and three times that in organic samples (P < 0·0001).

Pesticide Mixtures and Risks of Human Sperm Aberrations

Background: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid (PYR) pesticides, affect human reproductive health. Investigating “real-life” environmentally relevant concentrations and mixtures of EDCs is important to identify potential interactions between highly correlated environmental exposures and reproductive health outcomes. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of combined environmental exposures to OP and PYR pesticides and their association with the frequency of sperm chromosomal abnormalities (disomy) among adult men. We evaluated the hypothesis that pesticide mixtures, specifically OP and PYR interactions, alter associations of sperm chromosomal abnormalities. Methods: One hundred fifty-nine men originating from a parent study of couples seeking infertility evaluation were evaluated. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used for chromosomes X, Y, and 18 to determine disomy in sperm nuclei. Urine was analyzed for concentrations of PYR metabolite [3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3PBA)] using high-performance liquid chromatography. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used to analyze urinary concentrations of dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites of OPs. Poisson regression models were used to calculate incidence rate ratios for each disomy type by exposure quartile of OP and PYR pesticides, controlling for potential confounders. Interactions between each DAP metabolite and 3PBA and associations with each disomy outcome were examined. Results: Significant interactions were found between DAP metabolites and 3PBA for all disomy outcomes. Most of the associations showed increased disomy rates, higher than the values previously reported for each individual chemical class, by levels of specific DAP metabolites and 3PBA exposure. Increase in disomy rates occurred mainly between the second and third exposure quartiles and without substantial additional increases between the third and fourth exposure quartile, producing non-linear dose responses. Nonmonotonic patterns were observed in depicted graphs (displaying bell-shaped profiles). Significant inverse and positive parameter estimates were seen across all DAP metabolites by 3PBA quartiles. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the methodological problems posed when evaluating environmental chemical mixtures, particularly when the health outcome is a count that is best suited for non-logistic modeling, such as Poisson regression. Consistent interactions were observed between OP and PYR pesticides, which strengthened the associations seen beyond the main effects of each individual exposure. Methods specific to investigating interactions in Poisson models are needed to determine an optimized approach for evaluating pesticide mixtures (with different EDC modes of action) and their effects on count based outcomes