Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is ubiquitous in the environment and has been proposed to lead to reproductive disruption. In this study, we systematically investigated the effects of different doses of DEHP exposure on female hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis development. Female Sprague–Dawley rats were gavaged with vehicle (corn oil) or DEHP (5 or 500 mg kg–1 day–1) during postnatal Days (PNDs) 22–28 or PNDs 22–70. Results demonstrated that the low and high doses of DEHP exerted opposite effects on puberty onset, circulating luteinising hormone, serum oestradiol and progesterone levels, with the low dose (5 mg kg–1) promoting and the high dose (500 mg kg–1) inhibiting these parameters. Significant dose-related differences were also found in the D500 group with longer oestrous cycle duration, lower ovarian/bodyweight ratio, fewer corpus lutea and more abnormal ovarian stromal tissue in comparison with the oil or D5 groups. Molecular data showed that the hypothalamic Kiss1 mRNA expression in the anteroventral periventricular but not in the arcuate nucleus significantly decreased in the D500 rats and increased in the D5 rats relative to the rats in the oil group. These findings suggested that the kisspeptin system is a potential target for DEHP to disrupt reproductive development and function.

Diquat (DQ) is among the most widely used herbicides, and its intake can cause severe systemic toxicity that manifests rapidly. The resultant symptoms can cause the dysfunction of a range of tissues and organs,. As there is no specific antidote for diquat poisoning and the efficacy of extant treatments is suboptimal, physicians must acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the most effective approaches to managing affected patients. Relative few studies have been published to date focused on diquat poisoning in pediatric patients. In this report, we compare two similar cases of juvenile diquat poisoning with dynamic changes in clinical manifestations, laboratory values, and imaging results. For the first time, the difference in whether to perform blood flow perfusion and the time difference of initiation of hemoperfusion had a clear clinical difference in the subsequent effects of diquat poisoning in children with diquat poisoning. Limited evidence is available regarding the efficacy of early hemoperfusion for diquat poisoning; however, the differences in clinical outcomes articulated here highlight the benefits of early and timely hemoperfusion therapy in the treatment of DQ toxicity in children, in conjunction with primary supportive care in the management of DQ poisoning in children.

Background: WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the WW-containing oxidoreductase gene, characterized by the onset of refractory seizures in infants. Early-onset epilepsy, electroencephalography abnormalities, and developmental delay or degeneration are the main clinical manifestations. Early death can occur in severe cases. In the present study, a novel variant in WWOX was detected in a patient with epilepsy and his healthy parents.Case presentation: A 5-month-old boy presented with epilepsy. The main manifestations were intractable seizures, mental and motor retardation and hearing impairment. Subsequent genetic testing revealed the presence of an epilepsy-associated novel mutation: c.991C>A (amino acid change: p.Ser304Tyr) in the WWOX gene. Variants were inherited from parents with healthy phenotypes. Finally, a patient died at 6 months of age.Conclusion: The discovery of novel variants has enriched the existing database of WWOX gene variants and may expand the range of clinical options for treating WWOX-related disorders.

Background: To address the unmet need for targeted therapeutic strategies for neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), we developed a brain-targeting lipid nanoparticle delivery system capable of silencing circular RNA homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (circHIPK2) in astrocytes and investigated its ability to mediate neuroinflammation and improve neurological outcomes. Methods: Dual-modified 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-poly (ethylene glycol)-neurotropic virus-derived peptide (DSPE-PEG2000-RVG29) peptide/mannose-functionalized lipid nanoparticles loaded with circHIPK2 small interfering RNA (M-R@siC-NPs) were constructed, and their physicochemical properties, stability, and biocompatibility were characterized. Using an in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model and a neonatal murine hypoxic–ischemic brain damage (HIBD) model, we evaluated the effects of circHIPK2 silencing by the M-R@siC-NPs on the expression of two astrocyte activation markers, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), via western blotting, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and immunofluorescence staining. Neurobehavioral recovery was assessed through righting reflex, negative geotaxis, and Morris water maze tests. Results: M-R@siC-NPs exhibited a uniform size distribution (134 nm), good blood–brain barrier penetrability, and astrocyte-targeting specificity. The nanoparticles effectively silenced circHIPK2 while demonstrating excellent colloidal stability and biosafety. In vitro, circHIPK2 knockdown by M-R@siC-NPs markedly suppressed OGD-induced astrocyte activation, reducing GFAP and IL-1β expression (p < 0.01). In HIBD mice, M-R@siC-NPs attenuated hippocampal astrocyte activation and improved motor coordination (shortened righting reflex latency, p < 0.0001) and spatial memory (increased platform crossings in Morris water maze, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The RVG29/mannose dual-modified M-R@siC-NPs precisely regulated astrocyte activation and attenuated neuroinflammation, effectively ameliorating brain injury in HIBD mice. This study establishes a novel RNA interference-based therapeutic strategy for targeted neuroinflammatory modulation, providing a promising translational platform for HIE treatment.

OBJECTIVES: This study intended to explore the effect of T regulatory cells (Tregs) in the perinatal liver against LPS-induced inflammation in a preterm birth mouse model. Moreover, the role of adoptive Tregs on the inflammatory response induced by LPS was also studied. METHODS: Female BALB/C mice were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with LPS dissolved in normal saline solution at a dose of 50 µg/kg. Spleens from pregnant mice were used to obtain Tregs. The expression of Forkhead family transcription factor-3 (Foxp3), [...] OBJECTIVES: This study intended to explore the effect of T regulatory cells (Tregs) in the perinatal liver against LPS-induced inflammation in a preterm birth mouse model. Moreover, the role of adoptive Tregs on the inflammatory response induced by LPS was also studied. METHODS: Female BALB/C mice were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with LPS dissolved in normal saline solution at a dose of 50 µg/kg. Spleens from pregnant mice were used to obtain Tregs. The expression of Forkhead family transcription factor-3 (Foxp3),

Objective: To genetically characterize a case of neonatal complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) and identify the underlying molecular defect.Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the clinical data, diagnosis, and treatment of a case of CAIS in the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University. Genetic testing of the patient and their parents was done; the pathogenic genes of the child were detected using whole exome sequencing (WES) technology.Results: The social sex of the proband was female, but the chromosomal sex was male. WES detected Exon 1 deletion mutation of AR gene in the proband and Exon 1 heterozygosity deletion in the mother. This mutation may cause disease according to the ACMG guidelines, but this variation has not been reported in CAIS caused by an AR gene.Conclusion: This study genetically characterized a neonate with CAIS, identifying a novel Exon 1 deletion in the AR gene as the underlying cause. This finding expands the spectrum of known mutations associated with CAIS and provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of this condition.