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Thao PN, Nishijo M, Tai PT, Nghi TN, Yokawa T, Hoa VT, Tien TV, Kien NX, Anh TH, Nishino Y, Nishijo H. Impacts of dioxin exposure on brain connectivity estimated by DTI analysis of MRI images in men residing in contaminated areas of Vietnam. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1344653. [PMID: 38726030 PMCID: PMC11079160 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1344653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Effects of dioxin exposure on gray matter volume have been reported in previous studies, but a few studies reported effects of dioxin exposure on white matter structure. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the impact of dioxin exposure on white matter microstructure in men living in the most severely dioxin-contaminated areas in Vietnam. Methods In 2019 brain MRI scans from 28 men living near Bien Hoa airbase were obtained at Dong Nai General Hospital, Vietnam, on a 3 T scanner using a conventional diffusion tensor imaging sequence. Two exposure markers were indicated by perinatal exposure estimated by assessment of maternal residency in a dioxin-contaminated area during pregnancy and by measurement of blood dioxin levels. A general linear model was used to compare fractional anisotropy (FA) values in 11 white matter tracts in both hemispheres between groups with and without perinatal dioxin exposure and groups with high and low blood dioxin levels after adjusting for covariates. Results The adjusted mean FA value in the left cingulum hippocampal part (CGH) was significantly lower in the perinatal dioxin exposure group compared with the group without perinatal dioxin exposure. The high blood TCDD group showed significantly reduced FA values in the left and right CGH and right uncinate fasciculus (UNC). Moreover, the high blood TEQ-PCDDs group showed significantly lower FA values in the left and right CGH and the left UNC. There were no significant differences in FA values between the groups with high and low TEQ-PCDFs levels or between the groups with high and low TEQ-PCDD/Fs levels. Discussion It was concluded that dioxin exposure during the perinatal period and adulthood may alter the microstructure of white matter tracts in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pham Ngoc Thao
- Department of Functional Diagnosis, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Muneko Nishijo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Pham The Tai
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Tran Ngoc Nghi
- Ministry of Health, Vietnamese Government, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | - Vu Thi Hoa
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Tran Viet Tien
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Xuan Kien
- Department of Military Medical Command and Organization, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Tran Hai Anh
- Department of Physiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Yoshikazu Nishino
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Hisao Nishijo
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of East Asia, Yamaguchi, Japan
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Kaneko N, Nishijo M, Vu HT, Pham-The T, Pham TN, Tran NN, Takiguchi T, Nishino Y. Altered Sex Ratio at Birth with Maternal Exposure to Dioxins in Vietnamese Infants. TOXICS 2024; 12:276. [PMID: 38668499 PMCID: PMC11053781 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12040276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Excess female births (lower sex ratio at birth) associated with paternal exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) have been reported in Italy. However, no significant effects of maternal TCDD exposure on the sex ratio were reported. We investigated the effects of maternal TCDD exposure and the toxic equivalent quantity of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (TEQ-PCDD/Fs) on the sex ratio at birth in 576 Vietnamese infants from three birth cohorts. TCDD and TEQ-PCDD/Fs in breast milk were stratified (low, mild, moderate, and high) as maternal exposure markers. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate associations between female birth and dioxin exposure groups after adjusting for confounders. In sprayed and unsprayed areas, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of female birth (reference: low-TCDD group) were 2.11 in the moderate-TCDD group and 2.77 in the high-TCDD group, which were significantly associated with increased TCDD exposure. In sprayed areas, a significantly increased OR in the high-TCDD group was observed. No significant associations, however, were found between having a girl and TEQ-PCDD/F levels. These results suggest that maternal TCDD exposure may alter the sex ratio at birth among Vietnamese residents of areas with high dioxin contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Kaneko
- Department of Nursing, Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University, Kahoku 929-1210, Japan;
- Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 920-0293, Japan; (T.T.); (Y.N.)
| | - Muneko Nishijo
- Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 920-0293, Japan; (T.T.); (Y.N.)
| | - Hoa Thi Vu
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 12108, Vietnam; (H.T.V.); (T.P.-T.)
| | - Tai Pham-The
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 12108, Vietnam; (H.T.V.); (T.P.-T.)
| | - Thao Ngoc Pham
- 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 12108, Vietnam;
| | - Nghi Ngoc Tran
- Ministry of Health, Vietnam Government, Hanoi 10060, Vietnam;
| | - Tomoya Takiguchi
- Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 920-0293, Japan; (T.T.); (Y.N.)
| | - Yoshikazu Nishino
- Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 920-0293, Japan; (T.T.); (Y.N.)
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Geris R, Malta M, Soares LA, de Souza Neta LC, Pereira NS, Soares M, Reis VDS, Pereira MDG. A Review about the Mycoremediation of Soil Impacted by War-like Activities: Challenges and Gaps. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:94. [PMID: 38392767 PMCID: PMC10890077 DOI: 10.3390/jof10020094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The frequency and intensity of war-like activities (war, military training, and shooting ranges) worldwide cause soil pollution by metals, metalloids, explosives, radionuclides, and herbicides. Despite this environmentally worrying scenario, soil decontamination in former war zones almost always involves incineration. Nevertheless, this practice is expensive, and its efficiency is suitable only for organic pollutants. Therefore, treating soils polluted by wars requires efficient and economically viable alternatives. In this sense, this manuscript reviews the status and knowledge gaps of mycoremediation. (2) Methods: The literature review consisted of searches on ScienceDirect and Web of Science for articles (1980 to 2023) on the mycoremediation of soils containing pollutants derived from war-like activities. (3) Results: This review highlighted that mycoremediation has many successful applications for removing all pollutants of war-like activities. However, the mycoremediation of soils in former war zones and those impacted by military training and shooting ranges is still very incipient, with most applications emphasizing explosives. (4) Conclusion: The mycoremediation of soils from conflict zones is an entirely open field of research, and the main challenge is to optimize experimental conditions on a field scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Geris
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Bahia, Barão de Jeremoabo Street, s/n, Campus Ondina, 40170-115 Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Marcos Malta
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Bahia, Barão de Jeremoabo Street, s/n, Campus Ondina, 40170-115 Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Luar Aguiar Soares
- Department of Exact and Earth Sciences, Bahia State University, Silveira Martins Street, N. 2555, Cabula, 41150-000 Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Lourdes Cardoso de Souza Neta
- Department of Exact and Earth Sciences, Bahia State University, Silveira Martins Street, N. 2555, Cabula, 41150-000 Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Natan Silva Pereira
- Department of Exact and Earth Sciences, Bahia State University, Silveira Martins Street, N. 2555, Cabula, 41150-000 Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Miguel Soares
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Bahia, Barão de Jeremoabo Street, s/n, Campus Ondina, 40170-115 Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Vanessa da Silva Reis
- Department of Exact and Earth Sciences, Bahia State University, Silveira Martins Street, N. 2555, Cabula, 41150-000 Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Madson de Godoi Pereira
- Department of Exact and Earth Sciences, Bahia State University, Silveira Martins Street, N. 2555, Cabula, 41150-000 Salvador, BA, Brazil
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Thao PN, Nishijo M, Tai PT, Nghi TN, Hoa VT, Anh TH, Tien TV, Nishino Y, Nishijo H. Impacts of perinatal dioxin exposure on gaze behavior in 2-year-old children in the largest dioxin-contaminated area in Vietnam. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20679. [PMID: 38001134 PMCID: PMC10673870 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47893-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Fifty-five children aged 2 years from a birth cohort in the largest dioxin-contaminated area in Bien Hoa city, Vietnam participated in this survey to examine gaze behavior. Exposure levels were indicated by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dibenzodioxin (TCDD) and toxic equivalent of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (TEQ-PCDD/Fs) levels in maternal breast milk. The percentage of the total fixation duration on the face (% Face), mouth (% Mouth), and eye areas (% Eyes) when viewing silent and conversation scenes was used as gaze behavior indices. When they reached 3-year-old, autistic behavior was assessed using the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (ASRS). A general linear model adjusted for confounding factors was used to compare gaze indices and ASRS scores between high and low dioxin exposure groups. Effects of perinatal dioxin exposure on gaze behavior were found only when viewing conversation scenes indicated by lower % Face for boys in high TCDD exposure group and lower % Eyes for girls in high TEQ-PCDD/Fs group. Increased autistic traits showed by higher ASRS scores at 3-year-old were found in both gender in the high TCDD exposure group. These findings indicate that perinatal TCDD and TEQ-PCDD/Fs exposure may reduce gaze behavior in 2-year-old children, predicting increased autistic traits at 3-year-old.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pham Ngoc Thao
- Department of Functional Diagnosis, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung, Ha Dong, 12108, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
- Department of Functional Diagnosis, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, 261 Phung Hung Street, Phuc La Commune, Ha Dong District, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
| | - Muneko Nishijo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Pham The Tai
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, 12108, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Tran Ngoc Nghi
- Ministry of Health, Vietnamese Government, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Vu Thi Hoa
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Tran Hai Anh
- Department of Physiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, 12108, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Tran Viet Tien
- Department of Tropical and Infectious diseases, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, 12108, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Yoshikazu Nishino
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Hisao Nishijo
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of East Asia, Shimonoseki-Shi, Yamaguchi, 751-8503, Japan
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Vu HT, Pham TN, Nishijo M, Yokawa T, Pham The T, Takiguchi T, Nishino Y, Nishijo H. Impact of dioxin exposure on brain morphometry and social anxiety in men living in the most dioxin-contaminated area in Vietnam. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 166:169-177. [PMID: 37774667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previously, we reported that the global brain volume was significantly higher in men with estimated perinatal dioxin exposure in Vietnam. In this study, we aimed to clarify which brain lobes, consisting of several gyri, contributed to the increased global brain volume. We then analyzed associations between changes in brain volume and social anxiety symptoms to investigate the role of structural changes of the brain on social anxiety following perinatal dioxin exposure. METHODS Thirty-three men living near the dioxin-contaminated Bien Hoa airbase, underwent MRI examination. The regional gray matter volumes were extracted using the SPM12 in a MATLAB environment, and compared between subgroups with and without perinatal dioxin exposure estimated from their maternal residency in Bien Hoa during pregnancy. The social anxiety questionnaire for adults (SAQ-A30) was used to assess social anxiety. RESULTS In both hemispheres, higher gray matter volume in the frontal and temporal lobes, particularly in the superior frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and temporal pole were found in men with perinatal dioxin exposure. Superior temporal gyrus volume was significantly higher in men with perinatal exposure also after adjusting for reduction of its volume associated with increasing 1,2,3,7,8-PentaCDD levels in blood. Increased volume of these gyri, which showed higher volume in men with perinatal exposure, was associated with increased SAQ-A30 scores. CONCLUSION Perinatal dioxin exposure may increase the brain volume of gyri involved in social behavior, which was associated with increased social anxiety symptoms, suggesting functional effects accompanied the morphological effects of dioxin exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoa Thi Vu
- Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Japan; Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Center, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Thao Ngoc Pham
- Department of Functional Diagnosis, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Muneko Nishijo
- Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Japan.
| | | | - Tai Pham The
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Center, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam
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Vu TS, Nishijo M, Nishino Y, Vu CT, Nguyen VC, Pham TT, Do NA, Vu NH, Le DC, Dao VN, Dinh VH, Pham NT, Do DT. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in blood samples from historically herbicide-sprayed areas and rural and industrialized unsprayed areas in Vietnam. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 326:138331. [PMID: 36958494 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We investigated dioxin concentrations in the blood of residents living in areas with different sources of dioxin pollution in Vietnam. A total of 823 individual blood samples were collected in 2014-2015 from residents of 16 provinces in Vietnam who were born between 1972 and 1976, and who lived in rural unsprayed areas (the control area), industrialized unsprayed areas (the industrialized area), and areas in which herbicides were sprayed during the Vietnam War (the sprayed area). After blood collection, pooled samples were obtained by combining 10-25 individual samples by age and sex for each area. A total of 6, 10, and 26 pooled blood samples were obtained for the control area, industrialized area, and sprayed area, respectively. The concentrations of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans were quantified in each pooled blood sample. The concentrations of TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF, and OCDF were significantly higher in the sprayed area than in the unsprayed area, which comprised the control and industrialized areas. The toxic equivalents of PCDDs, TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF, and 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF were significantly higher in the sprayed area than in the control area. No significant difference in dioxin concentration was found between the sprayed and industrialized areas after adjusting for sex. The 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF concentration was significantly higher in the industrialized area than in the control area. The findings indicate that there are different dioxin congener blood profiles in residents of industrialized areas and areas in which herbicides were historically sprayed during the Vietnam War.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tung Son Vu
- Department of Epidemiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, 12108, Viet Nam
| | - Muneko Nishijo
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Kanazawa Medical University, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Nishino
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Kanazawa Medical University, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Chien Thang Vu
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Hanoi, 11300, Viet Nam
| | - Van Chuyen Nguyen
- Department of Hygiene, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, 12108, Viet Nam
| | - The Tai Pham
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, 12108, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Ngoc Anh Do
- Department of Parasitology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, 12108, Viet Nam
| | - Ngoc Hoan Vu
- Department of Epidemiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, 12108, Viet Nam
| | - Duy Chi Le
- Department of Ultrasound, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, 12108, Viet Nam
| | - Van Nhat Dao
- Department of Urology, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, 12108, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Viet Hung Dinh
- Deparment of Psychiatric, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, 12108, Viet Nam
| | - Ngoc Thao Pham
- Department of Functional Diagnosis, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, 12108, Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
| | - Duc Thuan Do
- Department of Stroke, 103 Military Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University, 12108, Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
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Tran NN, Pham-The T, Pham TN, Vu HT, Luong KN, Nishijo M. Neurodevelopmental Effects of Perinatal TCDD Exposure Differ from Those of Other PCDD/Fs in Vietnamese Children Living near the Former US Air Base in Da Nang, Vietnam. TOXICS 2023; 11:103. [PMID: 36850978 PMCID: PMC9961255 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11020103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study reports that children exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetra-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the major toxin in Agent Orange, from the breast milk of mothers residing near the former Da Nang US air base in Vietnam may have specific alterations in higher brain functions, resulting in social and communication deficits, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). After the age of 8 years, girls with high TCDD showed increased attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like behaviors and altered mirror neuron activity, which is often observed in children with ASD. However, no significant relationship between autistic traits and toxic equivalency values of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (TEQ-PCDD/Fs) was found in these children. Notably, boys with high levels of TEQ-PCDD/Fs showed poor language and motor development in the first 3 years of life, although boys with high TCDD levels did not. However, at 8 years of age, boys with high TCDD showed reading learning difficulties, a neurodevelopmental disorder. These findings suggest that perinatal TCDD exposure impacts social-emotional cognitive functions, leading to sex-specific neurodevelopmental disorders-learning difficulty in boys and ADHD in girls. Future studies with a greater number of children exposed to high levels of TCDD are necessary to estimate the threshold values for neurodevelopmental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nghi Ngoc Tran
- Ministry of Health, Vietnam Government, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam
| | - Tai Pham-The
- Faculty of Medicine, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam
| | - Thao Ngoc Pham
- Faculty of Medicine, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam
| | - Hoa Thi Vu
- Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medial University, Uchinada 252-0815, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Khue Ngoc Luong
- Ministry of Health, Vietnam Government, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam
| | - Muneko Nishijo
- Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medial University, Uchinada 252-0815, Ishikawa, Japan
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Metabolomic and exposomic biomarkers of risk of future neurodevelopmental delay in human milk. Pediatr Res 2022; 93:1710-1720. [PMID: 36109618 PMCID: PMC10172108 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02283-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The chemical composition of human milk has long-lasting effects on brain development. We examined the prognostic value of the human milk metabolome and exposome in children with the risk of neurodevelopmental delay (NDD). METHODS This retrospective cohort study included 82 mother-infant pairs (40 male and 42 female infants). A total of 59 milk samples were from mothers with typically developing children and 23 samples were from mothers of children at risk. Milk samples were collected before 9 months of age (4.6 ± 2.5 months, mean ± SD). Neurocognitive development was assessed by maternal report at 14.2 ± 3.1 months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires-2. RESULTS Metabolome and exposome profiling identified 453 metabolites and 61 environmental chemicals in milk. Machine learning tools identified changes in deoxysphingolipids, phospholipids, glycosphingolipids, plasmalogens, and acylcarnitines in the milk of mothers with children at risk for future delay. A predictive classifier had a diagnostic accuracy of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.66-0.96) for females and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.62-0.94) for males. CONCLUSIONS Once validated in larger studies, the chemical analysis of human milk might be added as an option in well-baby checks to help identify children at risk of NDD before the first symptoms appear. IMPACT Maternal milk for infants sampled before 9 months of age contained sex-specific differences in deoxysphingolipids, sphingomyelins, plasmalogens, phospholipids, and acylcarnitines that predicted the risk of neurodevelopmental delay at 14.2 months of age. Once validated, this early biosignature in human milk might be incorporated into well-baby checks and help to identify infants at risk so early interventions might be instituted before the first symptoms appear.
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Trang TB, Tai PT, Nishijo M, Anh TN, Thao PN, Hoa VT, Nghi TN, Van Luong H, Nishijo H. Adverse effects of dioxins on cognitive ability and motor performance of 5-year-old children residing in a hotspot of dioxin contamination originating from Agent Orange in Vietnam: A prospective cohort study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 833:155138. [PMID: 35405238 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Bien Hoa airbase is the most dioxin-polluted hotspot in Vietnam. In 2012, a birth cohort living around Bien Hoa airbase was recruited for assessment of physical and neurological development. In the present study, neurodevelopment scores at 5 years of age were assessed by the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition for 185 children in Bien Hoa and 104 children in Ha Dong (unexposed control group) to clarify the effects of dioxin. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin concentrations in breast milk of women in Bien Hoa were approximately three times higher than those of women in Ha Dong (2.33 vs. 0.69 pg/g fat, p < 0.001). In general, neurodevelopment scores were lower in Bien Hoa children than in Ha Dong children. In boys, scores differed for number recall (12.6 vs. 14.0, p = 0.036), triangles (10.7 vs. 12.4, p = 0.005), manual dexterity (8.3 vs. 9.7, p = 0.037), balance (7.4 vs. 10.3, p < 0.001), and total movement scores (8.0 vs. 10.1, p = 0.003). After adjusting for covariates, linear regression analysis indicated that the scores of the triangles, balance, and total movement tests were inversely associated with levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and of toxic equivalency of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. In girls, scores differed for the triangles test (11.0 vs. 12.6, p = 0.005), hand movement test (9.6 vs. 11.3, p = 0.003), and balance test (9.1 vs. 10.7, p = 0.050); toxic equivalency of polychlorinated dibenzofurans was inversely associated with hand movement and balance scores. Overall, perinatal dioxin exposure appears to have a long-term impact on neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thieu Ban Trang
- Department of Anatomy, Vietnam Military Medical University, 160-Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Pham The Tai
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, 222-Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
| | - Muneko Nishijo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan.
| | - Tran Ngoc Anh
- Department of Anatomy, Vietnam Military Medical University, 160-Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Pham Ngoc Thao
- Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, 261-Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Vu Thi Hoa
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Tran Ngoc Nghi
- Ministry of Health, 138 A-Giang Vo, Kim Ma, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Hoang Van Luong
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, 222-Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Hisao Nishijo
- System Emotional Science, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
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Dioxin Congener Patterns in Breast Milk Samples from Areas Sprayed with Herbicide during the Vietnam War 40 Years after the War Ended. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10060323. [PMID: 35736931 PMCID: PMC9227303 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10060323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Large amounts of herbicides containing polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans (PCDD/Fs) were sprayed in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Levels of PCDD/Fs in the environment of South Vietnam remained high even 40 years later. A total of 861 breast milk samples (597 from three areas sprayed with herbicides, Quang Tri, Da Nang, and Bien Hoa, and 264 from three unsprayed areas in North Vietnam) were collected between 2007 and 2015 and the PCDD/F concentrations in the samples were determined. Levels of TEQ-PCDD/Fs and 17 PCDD/F congeners were higher in the sprayed area samples than the unsprayed area samples. We found particular PCDD/F congener patterns for different areas. High tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) concentrations were found in Bien Hoa, high TCDD and 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexadibenzo-p-dioxin concentrations were found in Da Nang, and high 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptadibenzo-p-dioxin concentrations were found in Quan Tri. High 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexadibenzofuran and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptadibenzofuran concentrations were also found in Da Nang and Quang Tri. However, breast feeding may have caused associations between the TCDD and polychlorinated dibenzofuran congener concentrations. Advanced statistical analysis will need to be performed in future to assess the characteristic PCDD/F congener profiles in breast milk samples from areas of Vietnam previously sprayed with herbicides.
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Yim G, Minatoya M, Kioumourtzoglou MA, Bellavia A, Weisskopf M, Ikeda-Araki A, Miyashita C, Kishi R. The associations of prenatal exposure to dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls with neurodevelopment at 6 Months of age: Multi-pollutant approaches. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 209:112757. [PMID: 35065939 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs), and nondioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs), has been hypothesized to have a detrimental impact on neurodevelopment. However, the association of prenatal exposure to a dioxin and PCB mixture with neurodevelopment remains largely inconclusive partly because these chemical levels are correlated. OBJECTIVES We aimed to elucidate the association of in utero exposure to a mixture of dioxins and PCBs with neurodevelopment measured at 6 months of age by applying multipollutant methods. METHODS A total of 514 pregnant women were recruited between July 2002 and October 2005 in the Sapporo cohort, Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health. The concentrations of individual dioxin and PCB isomers were assessed in maternal peripheral blood during pregnancy. The mental and psychomotor development of the study participants' infants was evaluated using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-2nd Edition (n = 259). To determine both the joint and individual associations of prenatal exposure to a dioxin and PCB mixture with infant neurodevelopment, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based g-computation were employed. RESULTS Suggestive inverse associations were observed between in utero exposure to a dioxin and PCB mixture and infant psychomotor development in both the BKMR and quantile g-computation models. In contrast, we found no association of a dioxin and PCB mixture with mental development. When group-specific posterior inclusion probabilities were estimated, BKMR suggested prenatal exposure to mono-ortho PCBs as the more important contributing factors to early psychomotor development compared with the other dioxin or PCB groups. No evidence of nonlinear exposure-outcome relationships or interactions among the chemical mixtures was detected. CONCLUSIONS Applying the two complementary statistical methods for chemical mixture analysis, we demonstrated limited evidence of inverse associations of prenatal exposure to dioxins and PCBs with infant psychomotor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyeyoon Yim
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Machiko Minatoya
- Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Kita 12, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | | | - Andrea Bellavia
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marc Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Atsuko Ikeda-Araki
- Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Kita 12, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan; Hokkaido University Faculty of Health Sciences, Kita 12, Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Chihiro Miyashita
- Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Kita 12, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Reiko Kishi
- Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Kita 12, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan.
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12
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Effect of Perinatal Dioxin Exposure Originating from Agent Orange on Gaze Behavior in 3-Year-Old Children Living in the Most Dioxin-Contaminated Areas in Vietnam. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10040150. [PMID: 35448411 PMCID: PMC9032459 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10040150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the effect of perinatal dioxin exposure indicated by dioxins in breast milk on children’s gaze behavior. We studied 142 children aged 3 years from the 2012 Bien Hoa birth cohort in a hotspot of dioxin contamination in Vietnam. Children’s faces were viewed using the eye-tracking method. Associations between gaze behavior of faces and neurodevelopmental indices and head circumference were analyzed to determine whether poor gaze behavior indicates increased autistic traits in these children. The gaze fixation duration on facial areas when viewing 10 still images of children was calculated as the gaze behavior index. Autistic behavior was assessed using the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale, and language development was evaluated by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Ver. 3. The face fixation duration (%) significantly decreased as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) concentrations increased in a dose−effect manner in girls, which suggested atypical gaze behavior for watching human faces. Furthermore, these girls with atypical gaze behavior showed lower social communication scores and smaller head sizes, suggesting increased autistic traits in girls. In conclusion, our findings show sex-specific effects (girls > boys) of perinatal TCDD exposure on gaze behavior in young children.
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13
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Alterations in Regional Brain Regional Volume Associated with Dioxin Exposure in Men Living in the Most Dioxin-Contaminated Area in Vietnam: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Analysis Using Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM). TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9120353. [PMID: 34941787 PMCID: PMC8703540 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9120353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
To clarify the influence of dioxin exposure on brain morphometry, the present study investigated associations between dioxin exposure at high levels and brain structural irregularities in 32 Vietnamese men. Two exposure markers were used: blood dioxin levels, as a marker of exposure in adulthood, and perinatal dioxin exposure, estimated by maternal residency in a dioxin-contaminated area during pregnancy. All subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. We analyzed correlations between regional gray matter volumes and blood dioxin levels, and compared regional volumes between men with and without perinatal dioxin exposure using the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) tool from Statistical Parametric Mapping 12 (SPM12). Blood 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was associated with low volume of the medial temporal pole and fusiform gyrus. Toxic equivalency (TEQ)-PCDDs were correlated with low medial temporal pole volume. However, 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD was associated with high middle frontal gyrus and cerebellum volume. In men with perinatal dioxin exposure, the left inferior frontal gyrus pars orbitalis volume was significantly lower than in those without perinatal exposure. These results suggest that dioxin exposure during the perinatal period and in adulthood may alter regional brain volume, which might lead to cognitive deficits and unusual social emotional behavior in Vietnamese men living in dioxin-contaminated areas.
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Kimia R, Thom DH, Dinh PT, Hung PT, Van Son N, Nguyen PD. Epidemiology of Craniofacial Pathology in Northern Vietnam Using Digital Platforms: Utilization of Electronic Medical Records and an SMS-Based Reporting System in a Low-Middle Income Country. Ann Plast Surg 2021; 87:343-347. [PMID: 33833162 DOI: 10.1097/sap.0000000000002836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Current disease surveillance in Vietnam relies on underdeveloped electronic medical record (EMR) systems, which are insufficient for timely standardized data collection about craniofacial and cleft pathologies. Concurrently, the World Bank reports Vietnamese mobile cellular subscription rates (per 100 people) of 128, some of the highest in the world. Herein, we discuss the development of a short messaging service (SMS)-based surveillance system based in Hanoi, Vietnam, and its utility in contrast to an EMR-based approach to craniofacial epidemiology study. METHODS Vietnam National Children's Hospital (VNCH) is a pediatric tertiary care center serving approximately 12 million children. Four plastic surgeons were trained in SMS data entry. The SMS database was designed using FrontlineSMS, a 2-way mobile gateway software application with automated messaging capabilities. The VNCH EMR database was queried for individual demographic data for patients seen by the department from 2010 to 2019. RESULTS A corrected prevalence for cleft lip and palate of 0.098% (1 in 1020 live births) was calculated based on EMR data. Six rural provinces greater than 150 km from Hanoi were found to be significantly (P < 0.01) underserved surgically by the VNCH. A significantly (P < 0.01) higher rate of Pierre Robin in Lang Son province and facial clefts in Ha Tinh province were identified. The prospective data collection system received 7 patient data sets over 4 months, resulting in a capture rate of 2.9%. CONCLUSIONS This feasibility study offers valuable insight into the true cleft and craniofacial prevalence in Vietnam and alternative methods to study in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rotem Kimia
- From the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Dang Hoang Thom
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vietnam National Children's Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Phuong Tran Dinh
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vietnam National Children's Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Pham Tuan Hung
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vietnam National Children's Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Van Son
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vietnam National Children's Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Phuong D Nguyen
- Division of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
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15
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Turco AE, Oakes SR, Keil Stietz KP, Dunham CL, Joseph DB, Chathurvedula TS, Girardi NM, Schneider AJ, Gawdzik J, Sheftel CM, Wang P, Wang Z, Bjorling DE, Ricke WA, Tang W, Hernandez LL, Keast JR, Bonev AD, Grimes MD, Strand DW, Tykocki NR, Tanguay RL, Peterson RE, Vezina CM. A mechanism linking perinatal 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin exposure to lower urinary tract dysfunction in adulthood. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:271057. [PMID: 34318329 PMCID: PMC8326766 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Benign prostatic hyperplasia/lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) affects nearly all men. Symptoms typically present in the fifth or sixth decade and progressively worsen over the remainder of life. Here, we identify a surprising origin of this disease that traces back to the intrauterine environment of the developing male, challenging paradigms about when this disease process begins. We delivered a single dose of a widespread environmental contaminant present in the serum of most Americans [2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 1 µg/kg], and representative of a broader class of environmental contaminants, to pregnant mice and observed an increase in the abundance of a neurotrophic factor, artemin, in the developing mouse prostate. Artemin is required for noradrenergic axon recruitment across multiple tissues, and TCDD rapidly increases prostatic noradrenergic axon density in the male fetus. The hyperinnervation persists into adulthood, when it is coupled to autonomic hyperactivity of prostatic smooth muscle and abnormal urinary function, including increased urinary frequency. We offer new evidence that prostate neuroanatomical development is malleable and that intrauterine chemical exposures can permanently reprogram prostate neuromuscular function to cause male LUTD in adulthood. Summary: We describe a new mechanism of benign prostate disease, initiated by fetal chemical exposure, which durably increases prostatic noradrenergic axon density and causes smooth muscle hyperactivity and urinary voiding dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne E Turco
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison,Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Steven R Oakes
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Kimberly P Keil Stietz
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Cheryl L Dunham
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Diya B Joseph
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | | | - Nicholas M Girardi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Andrew J Schneider
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Joseph Gawdzik
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Celeste M Sheftel
- Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Peiqing Wang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Zunyi Wang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Dale E Bjorling
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - William A Ricke
- Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Weiping Tang
- Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Laura L Hernandez
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Janet R Keast
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Adrian D Bonev
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Matthew D Grimes
- Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Douglas W Strand
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Nathan R Tykocki
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 58823, USA
| | - Robyn L Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Richard E Peterson
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison,Madison, WI 53705, USA.,School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Chad M Vezina
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison,Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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16
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Geretto M, Ferrari M, De Angelis R, Crociata F, Sebastiani N, Pulliero A, Au W, Izzotti A. Occupational Exposures and Environmental Health Hazards of Military Personnel. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5395. [PMID: 34070145 PMCID: PMC8158372 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Military personnel are frequently exposed to environmental pollutants that can cause a variety of diseases. METHODS This review analyzed publications regarding epidemiological and biomonitoring studies on occupationally-exposed military personnel. RESULTS The exposures include sulfur mustard, organ chlorines, combustion products, fuel vapors, and ionizing and exciting radiations. Important factors to be considered are the lengths and intensities of exposures, its proximity to the sources of environmental pollutants, as well as confounding factors (cigarette smoke, diet, photo-type, healthy warrior effect, etc.). Assessment of environmental and individual exposures to pollutants is crucial, although often omitted, because soldiers have often been evaluated based on reported health problems rather than on excessive exposure to pollutants. Biomarkers of exposures and effects are tools to explore relationships between exposures and diseases in military personnel. Another observation from this review is a major problem from the lack of suitable control groups. CONCLUSIONS This review indicates that only studies which analyzed epidemiological and molecular biomarkers in both exposed and control groups would provide evidence-based conclusions on exposure and disease risk in military personnel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Geretto
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Marco Ferrari
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, 8715 W. Military Drive, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA;
| | - Roberta De Angelis
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Filippo Crociata
- General Inspectorate of Military Health, 00184 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (N.S.)
| | - Nicola Sebastiani
- General Inspectorate of Military Health, 00184 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (N.S.)
| | | | - William Au
- Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania;
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Alberto Izzotti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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Latchney SE, Majewska AK. Persistent organic pollutants at the synapse: Shared phenotypes and converging mechanisms of developmental neurotoxicity. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 81:623-652. [PMID: 33851516 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The developing nervous system is sensitive to environmental and physiological perturbations in part due to its protracted period of prenatal and postnatal development. Epidemiological and experimental studies link developmental exposures to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and benzo(a)pyrene to increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Mechanistic studies reveal that many of the complex cellular processes that occur during sensitive periods of rapid brain development are cellular targets for developmental neurotoxicants. One area of research interest has focused on synapse formation and plasticity, processes that involve the growth and retraction of dendrites and dendritic spines. For each chemical discussed in this review, we summarize the morphological and electrophysiological data that provide evidence that developmental POP exposure produces long-lasting effects on dendritic morphology, spine formation, glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling systems, and synaptic transmission. We also discuss shared intracellular mechanisms, with a focus on calcium and thyroid hormone homeostasis, by which these chemicals act to modify synapses. We conclude our review highlighting research gaps that merit consideration when characterizing synaptic pathology elicited by chemical exposure. These gaps include low-dose and nonmonotonic dose-response effects, the temporal relationship between dendritic growth, spine formation, and synaptic activity, excitation-inhibition balance, hormonal effects, and the need for more studies in females to identify sex differences. By identifying converging pathological mechanisms elicited by POP exposure at the synapse, we can define future research directions that will advance our understanding of these chemicals on synapse structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Latchney
- Department of Biology, St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's City, MD, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Ania K Majewska
- Department of Neuroscience, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.,Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
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18
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Gileadi TE, Swamy AK, Hore Z, Horswell S, Ellegood J, Mohan C, Mizuno K, Lundebye AK, Giese KP, Stockinger B, Hogstrand C, Lerch JP, Fernandes C, Basson MA. Effects of Low-Dose Gestational TCDD Exposure on Behavior and on Hippocampal Neuron Morphology and Gene Expression in Mice. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:57002. [PMID: 33956508 PMCID: PMC8101924 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a persistent and toxic environmental pollutant. Gestational exposure to TCDD has been linked to cognitive and motor deficits, and increased incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits in children. Most animal studies of these neurodevelopmental effects involve acute TCDD exposure, which does not model typical exposure in humans. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to establish a dietary low-dose gestational TCDD exposure protocol and performed an initial characterization of the effects on offspring behavior, neurodevelopmental phenotypes, and gene expression. METHODS Throughout gestation, pregnant C57BL/6J mice were fed a diet containing a low dose of TCDD (9 ng TCDD/kg body weight per day) or a control diet. The offspring were tested in a battery of behavioral tests, and structural brain alterations were investigated by magnetic resonance imaging. The dendritic morphology of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal Cornu Ammonis (CA)1 area was analyzed. RNA sequencing was performed on hippocampi of postnatal day 14 TCDD-exposed and control offspring. RESULTS TCDD-exposed females displayed subtle deficits in motor coordination and reversal learning. Volumetric difference between diet groups were observed in regions of the hippocampal formation, mammillary bodies, and cerebellum, alongside higher dendritic arborization of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region of TCDD-exposed females. RNA-seq analysis identified 405 differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus, enriched for genes with functions in regulation of microtubules, axon guidance, extracellular matrix, and genes regulated by SMAD3. DISCUSSION Exposure to 9 ng TCDD/kg body weight per day throughout gestation was sufficient to cause specific behavioral and structural brain phenotypes in offspring. Our data suggest that alterations in SMAD3-regulated microtubule polymerization in the developing postnatal hippocampus may lead to an abnormal morphology of neuronal dendrites that persists into adulthood. These findings show that environmental low-dose gestational exposure to TCDD can have significant, long-term impacts on brain development and function. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7352.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talia E. Gileadi
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Abhyuday K. Swamy
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Zoe Hore
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Stuart Horswell
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Conor Mohan
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Keiko Mizuno
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | - K. Peter Giese
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Jason P. Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - M. Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, UK
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Naffaa V, Laprévote O, Schang AL. Effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on myelin development and diseases. Neurotoxicology 2020; 83:51-68. [PMID: 33352275 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In the central and peripheral nervous systems, myelin is essential for efficient conduction of action potentials. During development, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells differentiate and ensure axon myelination, and disruption of these processes can contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. In adults, demyelination can lead to important disabilities, and recovery capacities by remyelination often decrease with disease progression. Among environmental chemical pollutants, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are of major concern for human health and are notably suspected to participate in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we have combined the current knowledge on EDCs impacts on myelin including several persistent organic pollutants, bisphenol A, triclosan, heavy metals, pesticides, and nicotine. Besides, we presented several other endocrine modulators, including pharmaceuticals and the phytoestrogen genistein, some of which are candidates for treating demyelinating conditions but could also be deleterious as contaminants. The direct impacts of EDCs on myelinating cells were considered as well as their indirect consequences on myelin, particularly on immune mechanisms associated with demyelinating conditions. More studies are needed to describe the effects of these compounds and to further understand the underlying mechanisms in relation to the potential for endocrine disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Naffaa
- Université de Paris, UMR 8038 (CiTCoM), CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France.
| | - Olivier Laprévote
- Université de Paris, UMR 8038 (CiTCoM), CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France; Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Service de Biochimie, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France.
| | - Anne-Laure Schang
- Université de Paris, UMR 1153 (CRESS), Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France.
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20
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Pham NT, Nishijo M, Nghiem TTG, Pham TT, Tran NN, Le VQ, Vu TH, Tran HA, Phan HAV, Do Q, Takiguchi T, Nishino Y, Nishijo H. Effects of perinatal dioxin exposure on neonatal electroencephalography (EEG) activity of the quiet sleep stage in the most contaminated area from Agent Orange in Vietnam. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 232:113661. [PMID: 33296778 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of perinatal dioxin exposure indicated by dioxins in breast milk on neonatal electroencephalography (EEG) power in the quiet sleep stage, and associations with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age. STUDY DESIGN Fifty-one mother-newborn pairs were enrolled for neonatal EEG analysis in the quiet sleep stage from a birth cohort recruited at a prefecture hospital in Bien Hoa city, Vietnam. Relative EEG power in intra-burst-intervals and high-voltage-bursts in the trace alternant pattern were computed from EEG data during the quiet sleep stage. Forty-three mother-child pairs participated in a 2-year follow-up survey to examine neurodevelopment using the Bayley-III scale and gaze behavior exhibited by fixation duration on the face of a child talking in videos. The general linear model and regression linear model were used for data analysis after adjusting for confounding factors. RESULTS Perinatal dioxin exposure, particularly 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure, influenced relative EEG power values mainly in the intra-burst-interval part of the trace alternant pattern in the quiet sleep stage. In intra-burst-intervals, decreased frontal delta power and increased frontal and parietal alpha power values in the left hemisphere and temporal beta power values in the right hemisphere were associated with increased TCDD exposure, with significant dose-response relationships. Almost none of the relative power values in these brain regions were associated with Bayley III scores, but relative delta power values were significantly associated with face fixation duration in left frontal and parietal regions at 2 years of age. CONCLUSION Perinatal dioxin exposure influences neuronal activity in the quiet sleep stage, leading to poor communication ability indicated by gaze behavior in early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc Thao Pham
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Muneko Nishijo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan.
| | - Thi Thuy Giang Nghiem
- System Emotional Science, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - The Tai Pham
- Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Ngoc Nghi Tran
- Ministry of Health, Vietnamese Government, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Van Quan Le
- Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Thi Hoa Vu
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Hai Anh Tran
- Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Huy Anh Vu Phan
- Department of Health, Dongnai Prefectural Government, Bienhoa, Dongnai, Viet Nam
| | - Quyet Do
- Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Tomoya Takiguchi
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Nishino
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Hisao Nishijo
- System Emotional Science, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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Fukushi JI, Tsushima H, Matsumoto Y, Mitoma C, Furue M, Miyahara H, Nakashima Y. Influence of dioxin-related compounds on physical function in Yusho incident victims. Heliyon 2019; 5:e02702. [PMID: 31687523 PMCID: PMC6820256 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Few studies have examined the influence of dioxin-related compounds on human physical function, and existing results are inconsistent. In 1968, accidental human exposure to rice oil contaminated with dioxin-related compounds resulted in the development of Yusho oil disease in Japan. We aimed to determine whether the degree of exposure to dioxin-related compounds was associated with physical function in Yusho patients. Methods In 2016, 65 men (average age: 65.7 years) and 77 women (average age: 64.7 years) participated in a nationwide health examination in Fukuoka prefecture. Functional reach, gait speed, hand grip strength, and toe grip strength were evaluated as part of physical function. The serum levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls were measured using high-resolution gas chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry. We examined the association between physical function tests and serum toxic equivalency (TEQ) values. Results A 10-fold increase in serum TEQ levels was negatively associated with functional reach (adjusted b = -4.07, p = 0.017) and hand grip strength (adjusted b = -2.20, p = 0.0245) in men. No association was observed between serum TEQ level and physical function in women. Conclusion Our findings suggest that dioxin-related compounds have a negative influence on physical function in men. However, these findings should be interpreted carefully. Future studies examining additional data on musculoskeletal disorders are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Ichi Fukushi
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Jigyohama1-8-1, Chuoh-ku, Fukuoka 810-8583, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Tsushima
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Jigyohama1-8-1, Chuoh-ku, Fukuoka 810-8583, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Matsumoto
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Chikage Mitoma
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Masutaka Furue
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Hisaaki Miyahara
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Jigyohama1-8-1, Chuoh-ku, Fukuoka 810-8583, Japan
| | - Yasuharu Nakashima
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
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Tuomisto J. Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds: toxicity in humans and animals, sources, and behaviour in the environment. WIKIJOURNAL OF MEDICINE 2019. [DOI: 10.15347/wjm/2019.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
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