Uses and occurrences of five major alternative plasticizers, and their exposure and related endocrine outcomes in humans: A systematic review

Non-phthalate plasticizers are being increasingly used in commercial and consumer products, to replace phthalates. Among major non-phthalate plasticizer groups, we chose five alternative plasticizers of DEHA, DINCH, DEHTP, ATBC, and TOTM, and conducted a systematic literature review for current knowledge on their use and occurrences in major sources, and their exposure and endocrine outcomes in humans. Relevant articles published between January 2000 and December 2022 were identified from PubMed and Scopus search and analyzed. For occurrence, biomonitoring, and endocrine-related outcomes, 79, 73, and 14 studies were finally identified, respectively. The alternative plasticizers were widely used in food packaging, children’s products, hygiene products, medical devices, and construction materials, and frequently detected in indoor dust. Food packaging materials and children’s products were major sources of direct exposure to humans. Human exposure to alternative plasticizers is reported mostly via biomonitoring of urine. Urinary levels of DEHTP and DINCH metabolites were higher among infants, children, and pregnant women than in general adults. In humans, DEHTP, DINCH, or ATBC exposure were associated with sex hormone disruption and reproductive outcomes, but these associations varied by sex and age. This review showed that the use of and exposure to these alternative plasticizers have increased over time. Their potential health implications, especially among susceptible humans, warrant greater attention and further investigation.</p

Analysis of Chain Branch of Polyolefins by a New Proton NMR Approach

The crystallinity of polyethylene, which significantly affects the properties of the polymer, is quite sensitive to the concentration of its branches. Thus, it is necessary to estimate branch concentration with reasonable accuracy. Currently, ¹³C NMR and gel permeation chromatography–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are widely-used analysis methods for the analysis of branch concentration. Despite several advantages, these methods sometimes have limitations. For instance, the preparation of samples for ¹³C- NMR is tedious because high-concentration samples are required and the time for analysis is greater than 12 h. To more efficiently estimate the branch concentration of polyethylene, we developed a new high-field ¹H NMR method with an improved peak resolution by employing (1) homonuclear decoupling and (2) 2D heteronuclear correlation. The new method was observed to significantly reduce the experimental time to ∼30 min; furthermore, sample preparation was relatively simple because the method did not require high-concentration samples

Interaction between body mass index and hormone-receptor status as a prognostic factor in lymph-node-positive breast cancer

<div><p>The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) at a breast cancer diagnosis and various factors including the hormone-receptor, menopause, and lymph-node status, and identify if there is a specific patient subgroup for which the BMI has an effect on the breast cancer prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 8,742 patients with non-metastatic invasive breast cancer from the research database of Asan Medical Center. The overall survival (OS) and breast-cancer-specific survival (BCSS) outcomes were compared among BMI groups using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional-hazards regression models with an interaction term. There was a significant interaction between BMI and hormone-receptor status for the OS (<i>P</i> = 0.029), and BCSS (<i>P</i> = 0.013) in lymph-node-positive breast cancers. Obesity in hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer showed a poorer OS (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.92 to 2.48) and significantly poorer BCSS (HR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.08 to 2.99). In contrast, a high BMI in hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer revealed a better OS (HR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.16 to 1.19) and BCSS (HR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.19 to 1.44). Being underweight (BMI < 18.50 kg/m²) with hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer was associated with a significantly worse OS (HR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.00–3.95) and BCSS (HR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.12–4.47). There was no significant interaction found between the BMI and hormone-receptor status in the lymph-node-negative setting, and BMI did not interact with the menopause status in any subgroup. In conclusion, BMI interacts with the hormone-receptor status in a lymph-node-positive setting, thereby playing a role in the prognosis of breast cancer.</p></div

Clinicopathologic characteristics of the different body mass index groups.

<p>Clinicopathologic characteristics of the different body mass index groups.</p

Overall survival and breast-cancer-specific survival curves for the hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer patients according to the four body mass index groups.

<p>(A) Overall survival. (B) Breast-cancer-specific survival.</p

Overall survival and breast-cancer-specific survival curves according to the four body mass index groups.

<p>(A) Overall survival. (B) Breast-cancer-specific survival.</p

Interaction between body mass index and hormone-receptor status for overall survival and breast-cancer-specific survival in lymph-node-positive breast cancer patients.

<p>(A) Overall survival. (B) Breast-cancer-specific survival. Error bars show 95% confidence intervals.</p

Cox proportional-hazards regression models with an interaction term for body mass index and hormone-receptor status in lymph-node-negative breast cancer patients.

<p>Cox proportional-hazards regression models with an interaction term for body mass index and hormone-receptor status in lymph-node-negative breast cancer patients.</p