Role of low-molecular-weight organic compounds on photochemical formation of Mn(III)-ligands in aqueous systems: Implications for BPA removal

Aqueous trivalent manganese [Mn(III)], an important reactive intermediate, is ubiquitous in natural surface water containing humic acid (HA). However, the effect of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) on the formation, stability and reactivity of Mn(III) intermediate is still unknown. In this study, six LMWOAs, including oxalic acid (Oxa), salicylic acid (Sal), catechol (Cat), caffeic acid (Caf), gallic acid (Gal) and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), were selected to investigate the effects of LMWOAs on the degradation of BPA induced by in situ formed Mn(III)-L in the HA/Mn(II) system under light irradiation. The chromophoric constituents of HA could absorb light radiation and generate superoxide radical to promote the oxidation of Mn(II) to form Mn(III), which was further involved in transformation of BPA. Our results implied that different LMWOAs did significantly impact on Mn(III) production and its degradation of BPA due to their different functional group. EDTA, Oxa and Sal extensively increased the Mn(III) concentration from 50 to 100 μM compared to the system without LMWOAs, following the order of EDTA > Oxa > Sal, and also enhanced the degradation of BPA with the similar patterns. In contrast, Cat, Caf and Gal had an inhibitory effect on the formation of Mn(III), which is likely because they consumed the superoxide radicals generated from irradiated HA, resulting in the inhibition of Mn(II) oxidation and further BPA removal. The product identification and theoretical calculation indicated that a single electron transfer process occurred between Mn(III)-L and BPA, forming BPA radicals and subsequent self-coupling products. Our results demonstrated that the LMWOAs with different structures could alter the cycling process of Mn via complexation and redox reactions, which would provide new implications for the removal of organic pollutants in surface water.

Feasibility of sulfated BPA and BPS as wastewater-based epidemiology biomarkers: Insights from wastewater and reported human urine analysis

In wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), the selection of appropriate biomarkers presents a significant challenge. Recently, sulfated bisphenols have garnered attention as potential WBE biomarkers due to their increased stability in wastewater compared to glucuronide conjugates. This study aims to comprehensively assess the feasibility of employing sulfated BPA and BPS as WBE biomarkers by analyzing both WBE and human biomonitoring data. To conduct this research, wastewater samples were collected from six domestic wastewater treatment plants in Guangzhou, China, and urinary concentration of BPA and BPS were obtained from peer-reviewed literature. The results revealed that mean urinary concentrations of BPA and BPS, calculated using Monte Carlo simulations, significantly exceeded those reported in human biomonitoring studies. Furthermore, the per capita mass load ratio of sulfated BPA and BPS in human urine to the mass load in wastewater was found to be below 10 %. This outcome suggests that the excretion of BPA-S and BPS-S in urine does not make a substantial contribution to wastewater, hinting at the existence of other notable sources. Consequently, our study concludes that sulfated BPA-S and BPS-S are not suitable candidates as WBE biomarkers. This work provides a referenceable analytical framework for evaluating the feasibility of WBE biomarkers and emphasizes the necessity for caution when utilizing WBE to assess human exposure to chemicals.

Deciphering the mechanisms and interactions of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A and its analogs with the androgen receptor

Bisphenol A (BPA) and its various forms used as BPA alternatives in industries are recognized toxic compounds and antiandrogenic endocrine disruptors. These chemicals are widespread in the environment and frequently detected in biological samples. Concerns exist about their impact on hormones, disrupting natural biological processes in humans, together with their negative impacts on the environment and biotic life. This study aims to characterize the interaction between BPA analogs and the androgen receptor (AR) and the effect on the receptor's normal activity. To achieve this goal, molecular docking was conducted with BPA and its analogs and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) as a reference ligand. Four BPA analogs exhibited higher affinity (-10.2 to -8.7 kcal/mol) for AR compared to BPA (-8.6 kcal/mol), displaying distinct interaction patterns. Interestingly, DHT (-11.0 kcal/mol) shared a binding pattern with BPA. ADMET analysis of the top 10 compounds, followed by molecular dynamics simulations, revealed toxicity and dynamic behavior. Experimental studies demonstrated that only BPA disrupts DHT-induced AR dimerization, thereby affecting AR's function due to its binding nature. This similarity to DHT was observed during computational analysis. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted strategies to mitigate BPA toxicity, offering crucial insights for interventions in human health and environmental well-being.

Efficacy of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and its underlying mechanism in preventing bisphenol-A-induced metabolic disorders in mice

To investigate the efficacy of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and its underlying mechanism in preventing bisphenol-A-induced metabolic disorders, in this study, a mice model of metabolic disorders induced by BPA was developed to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of EGCG using microbiomes and metabolomics. The results showed that EGCG reduced body weight, liver weight ratio, and triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in mice by decreasing the mRNA expression of genes related to fatty acid synthesis (Elov16) and cholesterol synthesis (CYP4A14) and increasing the mRNA expression of genes related to fatty acid oxidation (Lss) and cholesterol metabolism (Cyp7a1). In addition, EGCG normalized BPA-induced intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that low-dose EGCG was more effective than high-dose EGCG at affecting the biosynthesis of L-cysteine, glycerophosphorylcholine, and palmitoleic acid. These results provide specific data and a theoretical basis for the risk assessment of BPA and the utilization of EGCG.

Assessing iPhone LiDAR & Recon-3D for determining area of origin in bloodstain pattern analysis

Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) has proven to be a useful tool in forensic and criminal investigations for quite some time. Traditionally, documenting a crime scene for a bloodletting event was completed using manual techniques, physical strings, and a tape measure. In more recent years, laser scanners and 3D software programs have become a preferred method to capture accurate data that improves the validity and reliability of BPA. The initial cost of laser scanning equipment is relatively high, rendering these systems inaccessible to some police and smaller agencies. Recon-3D is a newly developed iPhone application that utilizes the iPhone LiDAR sensor in combination with video data to create 3D point clouds of crime scenes. To assess the viability of Recon-3D for area of origin analysis, two tests were performed. One was a series of bloodstain impacts which were analyzed in FARO Zone 3D software, while the second was a series of 6 repeated Recon-3D scans of two 90-degree walls which was then compared to the FARO Focus S350 scanner using CloudCompare software. A total of eight impact patterns were made at three different distances from a wall. The area of origin was measured and compared to the known location of the blood source. The average total 3D error for the area of origin set at 25, 50, and 100 cm from two perpendicular walls was found to be 6.04, 15.16, and 36.59 cm, respectively. These results are similar to past studies where programs such as HemoSpat have been used. The results of the point cloud comparison show that on average, 95% of the points from Recon-3D fall below a threshold of 3.6 mm when compared to a FARO Focus S350 laser scanner. Thus, the results of this test suggest that Recon-3D is an accurate and affordable scanning application for bloodstain patterns at crime scenes and the data provide acceptable results for area of origin analysis in BPA programs which accept laser scanner data.

Bisphenol A promotes cell death in healthy respiratory system cells through inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a substance that can harm the environment and human health by interfering with the normal functioning of the body's hormonal system. It is commonly found in various plastic-based products such as cosmetics, canned foods, beverage containers, and medical equipment and as well as it can also be absorbed by inhalation. There have been limited studies on the effects of BPA on lung fibroblasts, and it is still unclear how high levels of BPA can impact respiratory system cells, particularly the lungs and trachea. In this research, we aimed to investigate the cell cycle disruption potential of BPA on respiratory system cells by examining healthy trachea and lung cells together for the first time. The findings indicated that BPA exposure can alter the healthy cells' morphology, leading to reduced cellular viability that has been assessed by MTT and SRB assays. BPA treatment was able to activate caspase3 as expected, which could cause apoptosis in treated cells. Although the highest dose of BPA did not increase the apoptotic rate of rat trachea cells, it remarkably caused them to become necrotic (52.12%). In addition to quantifying the induction of apoptosis and necrosis by BPA, cell cycle profiles were also determined using flow cytometry. Thereby, BPA treatment unexpectedly inhibited the cell cycle's progression by causing G2/M cell cycle arrest in both lung and tracheal cells, which hindered cell proliferation. The findings of the study suggested that exposure to BPA could lead to serious respiratory problems, even respiratory tract cancers via alterations in the cell cycle.

Plastic-related Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Significantly Related to the increased Risk of Estrogen-dependent Diseases in Women

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between exposure to plastic-related endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), specifically Bisphenol A (BPA), Phthalates, Cadmium, and Lead, and the risk of estrogen-dependent diseases (EDDs) such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, or endometrial cancer by conducting a meta-analysis of relevant studies.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were used for literature retrieval of articles published until the 21st of April, 2023. Literature that evaluated the association between BPA, phthalates, cadmium, and/or lead exposure and the risk of PCOS, endometriosis, or endometrial cancer development or exacerbation were included in our analysis. STATA/MP 17.0 was used for all statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Overall, 22 articles were included in our meta-analysis with a total of 83,641 subjects all of whom were females aged between 18 to 83 years old. The overall effect size of each study was as follows: endometriosis risk in relation to BPA exposure ES 1.82 (95% CI; 1.50, 2.20). BPA and PCOS risk ES 1.61 (95% CI; 1.39, 1.85). Phthalate metabolites and endometriosis risk; MBP ES 1.07 (95% CI; 0.86, 1.33), MEP ES 1.05 (95% CI; 0.87, 1.28), MEHP ES 1.15 (95% CI; 0.67, 1.98), MBzP ES 0.97 (95% CI; 0.63, 1.49), MEOHP ES 1.87 (95% CI; 1.21, 2.87), and MEHHP ES 1.98 (95% CI; 1.32, 2.98). Cadmium exposure and endometrial cancer risk ES 1.14 (95% CI; 0.92, 1.41). Cadmium exposure and the risk of endometriosis ES 2.54 (95% CI; 1.71, 3.77). Lead exposure and the risk of endometriosis ES 1.74 (95% CI; 1.13, 2.69).

CONCLUSION

Increased serum, urinary, or dietary concentration of MBzP and MEHP in women is significantly associated with endometriosis risk. Increased cadmium concentration is associated with endometrial cancer risk.

Bisphenol Z exposure inhibits oocyte meiotic maturation by rupturing mitochondrial function

The use of bisphenol A (BPA) has been restricted due to its endocrine-disrupting effects. As a widely used alternative to BPA today, environmental levels of bisphenol Z (BPZ) continue to rise and accumulate in humans. Oocyte quality is critical for a successful pregnancy. Nevertheless, the toxic impacts of BPZ on the maturation of mammalian oocytes remain unexplored. Therefore, the impacts of BPZ and BPA on oocyte meiotic maturation were compared in an in vitro mouse oocyte culture model. Exposure to 150 μM of both BPZ and BPA disrupted the assembly of the meiotic spindle and the alignment of chromosomes, and BPZ exerted stronger toxicological effects than BPA. Furthermore, BPZ resulted in aberrant expression of F-actin, preventing the formation of the actin cap. Mechanistically, BPZ exposure disrupted the mitochondrial localization pattern, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP content, leading to impaired mitochondrial function. Further studies revealed that BPZ exposure resulted in oxidative stress and altered expression of genes associated with anti-oxidative stress. Moreover, BPZ induced severe DNA damage and triggered early apoptosis in oocytes, accompanied by impaired lysosomal function. Overall, the data in this study suggest that BPZ is not a safe alternative to BPA. BPZ can trigger early apoptosis by affecting mitochondrial function and causing oxidative stress and DNA damage in oocytes. These processes disrupt cytoskeletal assembly, arrest the cell cycle, and ultimately inhibit oocyte meiotic maturation.

Gene Target Prediction of Environmental Chemicals Using Coupled Matrix-Matrix Completion

Human exposure to toxic chemicals presents a huge health burden. Key to understanding chemical toxicity is knowledge of the molecular target(s) of the chemicals. Because a comprehensive safety assessment for all chemicals is infeasible due to limited resources, a robust computational method for discovering targets of environmental exposures is a promising direction for public health research. In this study, we implemented a novel matrix completion algorithm named coupled matrix-matrix completion (CMMC) for predicting direct and indirect exposome-target interactions, which exploits the vast amount of accumulated data regarding chemical exposures and their molecular targets. Our approach achieved an AUC of 0.89 on a benchmark data set generated using data from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. Our case studies with bisphenol A and its analogues, PFAS, dioxins, PCBs, and VOCs show that CMMC can be used to accurately predict molecular targets of novel chemicals without any prior bioactivity knowledge. Our results demonstrate the feasibility and promise of computationally predicting environmental chemical-target interactions to efficiently prioritize chemicals in hazard identification and risk assessment.

Empirical investigation of passive blood drop trajectory and first point of contact on inclined surfaces

The first point of contact between a spherical blood drop and a surface is related to the angle between the trajectory of the blood drop and the surface being struck. This angle is often referred to as the impact angle which can be estimated by knowing the width and length of the resultant elliptical bloodstain. Most software programs dedicated to area of origin analysis indicate the location of the backtracked bloodstain trajectory to be at the geometric centre or at the tip of the bloodstain ellipse. However, it is unknown how the first point of contact and the blood drop trajectory (here defined as the locus of the centre of mass of the drop as it travels) are related empirically. Thus, this study aims to look at how the initial point of contact and the trajectory at the impact of a blood drop relates to the formed bloodstain ellipse. Two volumes of blood (0.013 ml and 0.071 ml) were dropped from a height of 10 cm and 40 cm onto an inclined surface at 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 75°. The transition from a spherical blood drop to an elliptically shaped bloodstain was recorded using a high-speed camera for all tests. A total of 72 ellipses were analyzed to determine the location of the first point of contact and trajectory point of the blood drop and how they relate to the formed elliptical bloodstain. A relationship was found between the first point of contact and the bloodstain trajectory which was dependent on the impact angle. However, there were clear deviations from theoretical assumptions due to blood drop oscillations, the effects of gravity, and the natural fluid characteristics of blood. The results of this study may assist bloodstain pattern analysts and software developers by more accurately applying the location of the blood drop trajectory based on empirical data.

UV and pulsed electron beam radiation for effective bisphenol A degradation

The paper presents the results of studying the efficiency of the bisphenol A transformation in water exposed to ultraviolet radiation and a high-energy-pulse-electron beam (e-beam). It has been shown that in both cases, degradation of dissolved bisphenol A occurs, accompanied by an increase in the absorption coefficient in the wavelength region of more than 300 nm. After exposure, products were recorded that fluoresced in the region of more than λ = 400 nm. The fluorescent transformation product of bisphenol A in water (λ = 425 nm) was maximum formatted after an KrCl excilamp irradiated, and under the action of an e-beam, the accumulation of this product was minimal. Under e-beam radiation (170 keV) the efficiency of bisphenol A (1 mM) removal reached 97%. The data obtained allow us to develop ideas about photolysis and radiolysis in natural water systems when knowledge about targeted and optimal conditions for the degradation of bisphenol A is needed.

Bisphenol A exposure affects specific gut taxa and drives microbiota dynamics in childhood obesity

Cumulative xenobiotic exposure has an environmental and human health impact which is currently assessed under the One Health approach. Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and its potential link with childhood obesity that has parallelly increased during the last decades deserve special attention. It stands during prenatal or early life and could trigger comorbidities and non-communicable diseases along life. Accumulation in the nature of synthetic chemicals supports the "environmental obesogen" hypothesis, such as BPA. This estrogen-mimicking xenobiotic has shown endocrine disruptive and obesogenic effects accompanied by gut microbiota misbalance that is not yet well elucidated. This study aimed to investigate specific microbiota taxa isolated and selected by direct BPA exposure and reveal its role on the overall children microbiota community and dynamics, driving toward specific obesity dysbiosis. A total of 333 BPA-resistant isolated species obtained through culturing after several exposure conditions were evaluated for their role and interplay with the global microbial community. The selected BPA-cultured taxa biomarkers showed a significant impact on alpha diversity. Specifically, Clostridium and Romboutsia were positively associated promoting the richness of microbiota communities, while Intestinibacter, Escherichia-Shigella, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus were negatively associated. Microbial community dynamics and networks analyses showed differences according to the study groups. The normal-weight children group exhibited a more enriched, structured, and connected taxa network compared to overweight and obese groups, which could represent a more resilient community to xenobiotic substances. In this sense, subnetwork analysis generated with the BPA-cultured genera showed a correlation between taxa connectivity and more diverse potential enzymatic BPA degradation capacities.IMPORTANCEOur findings indicate how gut microbiota taxa with the capacity to grow in BPA were differentially represented within differential body mass index children study groups and how these taxa affected the overall dynamics toward patterns of diversity generally recognized in dysbiosis. Community network and subnetwork analyses corroborated the better connectedness and stability profiles for normal-weight group compared to the overweight and obese groups.

Structural insight into the mechanisms and interacting features of endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A and its analogs with human estrogen-related receptor gamma

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a very important chemical from the commercial perspective. Many useful products are made from it, so its production is increasing day by day. It is widely known that Bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogs are present in the environment and that they enter our body through various routes on a daily basis as we use things made of this chemical in our daily lives. BPA has already been reported to be an endocrine disruptor. Studies have shown that BPA binds strongly to the human estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ) and is an important target of it. This study seeks to understand how it interacts with ERRγ. Molecular docking of BPA and its analogs with ERRγ was performed, and estradiol was taken as a reference. Then, physico-chemical and toxicological analysis of BPA compounds was performed. Subsequently, the dynamic behavior of ERRγ and ERRγ-BPA compound complexes was studied by molecular dynamics simulations over 500 ns, and using this simulated data, their binding energies were again calculated using the MM-PBSA method. We observed that the binding affinity of BPA and its analogs was much higher than that of estradiol, and apart from being toxic, they can be easily absorbed in our body as their physicochemical properties are similar to those of oral medicines. Therefore, this study facilitates the understanding of the structure-activity relationship of ERRγ and BPA compounds and provides information about the key amino acid residues of ERRγ that interact with BPA compounds, which can be helpful to design competitive inhibitors so that we can interrupt the interaction of BPA with ERRγ. In addition, it provides information on BPA and its analogs and will also be helpful in developing new therapeutics.

Adverse effects of bisphenol A and its analogues on male fertility: An epigenetic perspective

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the adverse effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on male fertility. Epigenetic modification is critical for male germline development, and has been suggested as a potential mechanism for impaired fertility induced by EDCs. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been recognized as a typical EDC. BPA and its analogues, which are still widely used in various consumer products, have garnered increasing attention due to their reproductive toxicity and the potential to induce epigenetic alteration. This literature review provides an overview of studies investigating the adverse effects of bisphenol exposures on epigenetic modifications and male fertility. Existing studies provide evidence that exposure to bisphenols can lead to adverse effects on male fertility, including declined semen quality, altered reproductive hormone levels, and adverse reproductive outcomes. Epigenetic patterns, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA expression, can be altered by bisphenol exposures. Transgenerational effects, which influence the fertility and epigenetic patterns of unexposed generations, have also been identified. However, the magnitude and direction of certain outcomes varied across different studies. Investigations into the dynamics of histopathological and epigenetic alterations associated with bisphenol exposures during developmental stages can enhance the understanding of the epigenetic effects of bisphenols, the implication of epigenetic alteration on male fertility, and the health of successive generation.

Hydrogel immobilized bacteria@MOFs composite towards Bisphenol A degradation and the interconnection mechanism elucidation

Bisphenol A (BPA) degradation efficiency by bacteria or by metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) catalyzed persulfate (PMS) oxidation have been studied intensively. However, their synergistic effect on BPA degradation was less reported. In this study, we combined previously synthesized CNT-hemin/Mn-MOF with an BPA degrading bacteria SQ-2 to form a composite (SQ-2@MOFs). CNT-hemin/Mn-MOF in the composite catalyzed little PMS to promote the degradation efficiency of SQ-2 on BPA. Results indicated SQ-2@MOFs significantly accelerated BPA degradation rate than SQ-2 alone. Furthermore, SQ-2@MOFs composite was successfully immobilized in hydrogel to achieve better degradation performance. Immobilized SQ-2@MOFs could almost completely degrade 1-20 mg/L BPA within 24 h and completely degrade 5 mg/L BPA at pH 4-8. Besides, degradation byproducts also reduced by immobilized SQ-2@MOFs, which promoted the cleaner biodegradation of BPA. Metabolomics and multiple chemical characterization results revealed the interconnection mechanism between CNT-hemin/Mn-MOFs, SQ-2 and hydrogel. CNT-hemin/Mn-MOF helped SQ-2 degrade BPA into more biodegradable products, promoted electron transfer, and augmented BPA degradation ability of SQ-2 itself. SQ-2 enabled the surface electronegativity of SQ-2@MOFs more suitable for BPA contact. Meanwhile, SQ-2 avoided the loss of Fe and Mn of CNT-hemin/Mn-MOF. Hydrogel augmented the above synergistic effect. This study provided new perspective for the development of biodegradation materials through interdisciplinary integration.

Bisphenol A and selenium deficiency exposure induces pyroptosis and myogenic differentiation disorder in chicken muscle stomach

Bisphenol A (BPA), which is commonly found in the environment due to its release from the use of plastics and food overpacks, has become a major stressor for environmental sustainability and livestock and poultry farming health. Selenium (Se) deficiency causes structural damage and inflammatory responses to the digestive system and muscle tissue, and there is a potential for concurrent space-time exposure to nutritional deficiency diseases and environmental toxicants in livestock and poultry. The mechanisms of damage to chicken muscular stomach from BPA or/and Se deficiency treatment are still not known. Here, we established a chicken model of BPA (20 mg/kg) or/and Se deficiency (0.039 mg/kg) exposure, and detected histopathological changes in the muscular stomach tissue, the levels of iNOS/NO pathway, IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway, pyroptosis, and myogenic differentiation by H&E staining, immunofluorescence staining, real-time quantitative PCR, and western blot methods. The data revealed that BPA or Se deficiency exposure caused gaps between muscle fibers with inflammatory cell infiltration; up-regulation of the iNOS/NO pathway and IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway; up-regulation of NLRP3/Caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis related genes; down-regulation of muscle-forming differentiation (MyoD, MyoG, and MyHC) genes. The combination of BPA and Se deficiency was associated with higher toxic impairment than alone exposure. In conclusion, we discovered that BPA and Se deficiency caused myogastric pyroptosis and myogenic differentiation disorder. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the co-occurrence of animal nutritional deficiency diseases and environmental toxicant exposures in livestock and poultry farming, and may provide important insights into limiting the production of harmful substances.

The diverse roles of halide ions in the degradation of bisphenol A via UV/peracetic acid process at different pH values: Radical chemistry, and transformation pathways

UV/Peracetic Acid (UV/PAA), as an innovative advanced oxidation process (AOP), is employed to treat bisphenol A (BPA) in water through the generation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and carbon-centered radicals (R-C•). The impact of halide ions (Cl-; Br-; I-) on the efficiency of UV/PAA was investigated for the first time under varying pH levels. The presence of halide ions exerted an influence on the reactivity of •OH and R-C•, exhibiting varying degrees of impact across different pH conditions. It was discovered that pH exerts a significant influence on its efficiency, with optimal removal performance observed at a pH 9. The degradation of BPA was inhibited by Cl- through the generation of reactive chlorine species (RCS), which triggers the interconversion between •OH and R-C•. Reactive bromine species (RBS) were produced in the presence of Br-, facilitating BPA degradation and generating HOBr as a supplementary source of •OH radicals. I- primarily generate reactive iodine species (RIS) through photolysis, which facilitates the degradation of BPA. The transformation of BPA involves hydroxylation, demethylation, halogenation, and cleavage reactions to form various products and pathways. The toxicity test demonstrates that the UV/PAA treatment of BPA exhibits lower toxicity, thereby indicating its environmentally friendly.

The association between prenatal exposure to bisphenol A and offspring obesity: A systematic review

In recent years, the global prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has surged. Bisphenol A (BPA), prevalent in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, is associated with this escalating obesity pattern. Both early life stages and pregnancy emerge as pivotal windows of vulnerability. This review systematically evaluates human studies to clarify the nexus between prenatal BPA exposure and offspring obesity. Our extensive literature search covered databases like PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Scopus, encompassing articles from their inception until July 2023. We utilized the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to evaluate the methodological rigor of the included studies, the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence Working Group (OCEBM) table to determine the level of the evidence, and the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines to evaluate the certainty of the evidence with statistical significance. We centered on primary studies investigating the link between urinary BPA levels during pregnancy and offspring obesity. Our analysis included thirteen studies, with participant counts ranging from 173 to 1124 mother-child dyads. Among them, eight studies conclusively linked prenatal BPA exposure to increased obesity in offspring. Evaluation metrics for the effect of prenatal BPA on offspring obesity comprised BMI z-score, waist circumference, overweight/obesity classification, aggregate skinfold thickness, body fat percentage, and more. Present findings indicate that prenatal BPA exposure amplifies offspring obesity risk, with potential effect variations by age and gender. Therefore, further research is needed to explore the causal link between prenatal BPA exposure and obesity at different developmental stages and genders, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Discovering New Substrates of a UDP-Glycosyltransferase with a High-Throughput Method

UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) form a large enzyme family that is found in a wide range of organisms. These enzymes are known for accepting a wide variety of substrates, and they derivatize xenobiotics and metabolites for detoxification. However, most UGT homologs have not been well characterized, and their potential for biomedical and environmental applications is underexplored. In this work, we have used a fluorescent assay for screening substrates of a plant UGT homolog by monitoring the formation of UDP. We optimized the assay such that it could be used for high-throughput screening of substrates of the Medicago truncatula UGT enzyme, UGT71G1, and our results show that 34 of the 159 screened compound samples are potential substrates. With an LC-MS/MS method, we confirmed that three of these candidates indeed were glycosylated by UGT71G1, which includes bisphenol A (BPA) and 7-Ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38); derivatization of these toxic compounds can lead to new environmental and medical applications. This work suggests that UGT homologs may recognize a substrate profile that is much broader than previously anticipated. Additionally, it demonstrates that this screening method provides a new means to study UDP-glycosyltransferases, facilitating the use of these enzymes to tackle a wide range of problems.

The effect of bisphenol A on antioxidant defense and the structure and function of the liver of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

The present study was conducted to investigate the biochemical and histological changes of liver tissue in Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) exposed to different doses of bisphenol A (BPA). One hundred and eighty pieces of 1-year-old A. baerii with an average weight of 200-250 g bought and randomly distributed in 18 tanks (n = 10). After 2 weeks of adaptation, the fish received intraperitoneal injections of 1, 10, and 100 μg/g/week BPA and μg/g/week of 17β-estradiol intraperitoneally. The solvent control group received only peanut oil, while the control group did not receive any injections. In order to investigate histological changes of the liver, after 2 weeks the liver samples were taken, fixed in 10% formalin solution and slides prepared by routine histological methods. For assaying antioxidant defense status, the liver tissue from three fish of each replicates was captured and after homogenization, activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde measured. The most important histological changes observed in the liver tissue were: vacuolation of hepatocytes, nuclear hypertrophy, necrosis of liver cells, expansion of sinusoids, and accumulation of fat cells. In the highest dose, the intensity of tissue changes increased. Activity of antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde content increased in fish exposed to 100 μg/g/week BPA in compare with other groups (p < .05). According to our findings, it could be concluded that liver histology was affected by BPA and tissue damage had occurred, which had led to changes in blood parameters. Also, the obtained results showed that the high concentrations of BPA used in this study stimulate the antioxidant defense. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: BPA evoke oxidative stress in Siberian sturgeons in high dose of exposure. Severity of liver histologic lesions was dose dependent.

Corrigendum: Effect of balloon pulmonary angioplasty on cardio-ankle vascular index and biventricular remodeling in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1325846.].

Green synthesis of magnetic azo-linked porous organic polymers with recyclable properties for enhanced Bisphenol-A adsorption from aqueous solutions

Porous organic polymers (POPs) present superior adsorption performance to steroid endocrine disruptors. However, the effective recovery and high cost have been a big limitation for their large-scale applications. Herein, magnetic azo-linked porous polymers (Fe3O4@SiO2/ALP-p) were designed and prepared in a green synthesis approach using low-price materials from phloroglucinol and pararosaniline via a diazo-coupling reaction under standard temperature and pressure conditions, which embedded with Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles to form three-dimensional interlayer network structure with flexible-rigid interweaving. The saturated adsorption capacity to bisphenol-A (BPA) was 485.09 mg/g at 298 K, which increased by 1.4 times compared with ALP-p of relatively smaller mass density. This enhanced adsorption was ascribed to increment from surface adsorption and pore filling with 2.3 times of specific surface area and 2.6 times of pore volume, although the total organic functional groups decreased with Fe3O4@SiO2 amendment. Also, the adsorption rate increased by about 1.1 and 1.5-fold due to enhancement in the initial stage of surface adsorption and subsequent stage pore diffusion, respectively. Moreover, this adsorbent could be used in broad pH (3.0-7.0) and salinity adaptability (<0.5 mol/L). The loss of adsorption capacity and magnetic recovery were lower than 1.1% and 0.8% in each operation cycle because of the flexible-rigid interweave. This excellent performance was contributed by synergistic effects from physisorption and chemisorption, such as pore filling, electrostatic attraction, π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interaction. This study offered a cost-effective, high-performing, and ecologically friendly material along with a green preparation method.

Perinatal exposure to bisphenol A or S: Effects on anxiety-related behaviors and serotonergic system

Bisphenols, synthetic organic compounds used in the production of plastics, are an extremely abundant class of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, i.e., exogenous chemicals or mixtures of chemicals that can interfere with any aspect of hormone action. Exposure to BPs can lead to a wide range of effects, and it is especially dangerous if it occurs during specific critical periods of life. Focusing on the perinatal exposure to BPA or its largely used substitute BPS, we investigated the effects on anxiety-related behaviors and the serotonergic system, which is highly involved in controlling these behaviors, in adult mice. We treated C57BL/6J dams orally with a dose of 4 μg/kg body weight/day (i.e., EFSA TDI) of BPA or BPS dissolved in corn oil or with vehicle alone, at the onset of mating and continued treatment until the offspring were weaned. Adult offspring of both sexes performed the elevated plus maze and the open field tests. Then, we analyzed the serotonergic system in dorsal (DR) and median (MnR) raphe nuclei by immunohistochemical techniques. Behavioral tests highlighted alterations in BPA- and BPS-treated mice, suggesting different effects of the bisphenols exposure on anxiety-related behavior in males (anxiolytic) and females (anxiogenic). The analysis of the serotonergic system highlighted a sex dimorphism in the DR only, with control females showing higher values of serotonin immunoreactivity (5-HT-ir) than control males. BPA-treated males displayed a significant increase of 5-HT-ir in all analyzed nuclei, whereas BPS-treated males showed an increase in ventral DR only. In females, both bisphenols-treated groups showed a significant increase of 5-HT-ir in dorsal DR compared to the controls, and BPA-treated females also showed a significant increase in MnR.These results provide evidence that exposure during the early phases of life to BPA or BPS alters anxiety and the raphe serotonergic neurons in a sex-dependent manner.

Bombesin-like receptor 3 expression induced by bisphenol A is likely associated with reduced cell proliferation by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing inflammation in liver cells

BACKGROUND

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an exogenous endocrine disruptor mimicking hormones closely associated with health complications, such as cancer progression. BPA is also related to an increase in the prevalence of obesity-related diseases due to its obesogenic action. Bombesin-like receptor 3 (BRS3) is an important factor that should be considered in the adipogenic gene network, as depletion of this gene alters adiposity.

METHODS

Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of BRS3 in human liver THLE-2 cells post-BPA treatment by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The effects of BPA on the levels of pro-inflammatory proteins, interleukin 6 (IL6) and CC motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), in conditioned media of BPA-treated THLE-2 cells and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in replicating BPA-treated THLE-2 cells during the cell cycle were also examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTS

The study found that the mRNA expression of BRS3 was increased in THLE-2 cells treated with BPA. The study also showed that the expression levels of IL6 and CCL2 reached an optimum level in the conditioned media of BPA-treated THLE-2 cells after 48 h of treatment. Subsequently, the DNA synthesis analysis showed that bromodeoxyuridine/propidium iodide (BrdU/PI) stained positive cells were decreased in BPA-treated THLE-2 cells at 72 h of treatment.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates that BRS3 expression induced by BPA is likely associated with reduced cell proliferation by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing cellular inflammation in liver cells.

Multi-Parameter Characterization of HEMA/BPA-free 1- and 2-step Universal Adhesives Bonded to Dentin

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the bonding effectiveness of two HEMA/BPA-free universal adhesives (UAs) to flat dentin, to characterize their adhesive-dentin interfacial ultrastructure, and to measure their water sorption (Wsp), water solubility (Wsl), and hydrophobicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The immediate and aged (50,000 thermocycles) microtensile bond strength (μTBS) to flat dentin of the HEMA/BPA-free UAs Healbond Max (HbMax; Elsodent) and Healbond MP (HbMP; Elsodent) as well as the reference adhesives OptiBond FL (Opti-FL; Kerr), Clearfil SE Bond 2 (C-SE2; Kuraray Noritake), and Scotchbond Universal (SBU; 3M Oral Care) was measured. The adhesive-dentin interfaces of HbMax and HbMP were characterized by TEM. Wsp and Wsl of all adhesive resins and of the primer/adhesive resin mixtures of HbMax, Opti-FL, and C-SE2 were measured. Hydrophobicity was determined by measuring the contact angle of water dropped on adhesive-treated dentin.

RESULTS

In terms of µTBS, HbMax and HbMP performed statistically similarly to Opti-FL and C-SE2, but outperformed SBU. Aging only significantly reduced the μTBS of SBU when applied in E&R bonding mode. TEM revealed typical E&R and SE hybrid-layer ultrastructures at dentin, while electron-lucent globules of unknown origin, differing in size and shape, were observed within the adhesive resin of HbMP and even more frequently in that of HbMax. Higher Wsp was measured for the primer/adhesive resin mixtures than for the adhesive resins. Opti-FL was more hydrophobic than all other adhesives tested.

CONCLUSION

The HEMA/BPA-free UAs bonded durably to flat dentin with bond strengths comparable to those of the gold-standard E&R/SE adhesives and superior to that of the HEMA/BPA-containing 1-step UA.

Widely targeted quantitative lipidomics reveal lipid remodeling in adipose tissue after long term of the combined exposure to bisphenol A and fructose

Adipose tissue is the main organ that stores lipids and it plays important roles in metabolic balance in the body. We recently reported in Human and Experimental Toxicology that the combined exposure to BPA and fructose may interfere with energy metabolism of adipose tissue. However, it is still unclear whether the combined exposure to BPA and fructose has the possibility to induce lipid remodeling in adipose tissue. In the present study, we performed a widely targeted quantitative lipidomic analysis of the adipose tissue of rats after 6 months of BPA and fructose combined exposure. We totally determined 734 lipid molecules in the adipose tissue of rats. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed the group of the combined exposure to higher-dose (25 μg/kg every other day) BPA and fructose can be distinguished from the groups of control, higher-dose BPA exposure and fructose exposure clearly. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and univariate statistical analysis displayed lipids of PC(18:0_ 20:3), TG(8:0_14:0_16:0), TG(12:0_14:0_16:1), TG(10:0_16:0_16:1), TG(12:0_ 14:0_18:1), TG(14:0_ 16:0_16:1), TG(14:0_14:1_16:1), TG(8:0_ 16:1_16:2), TG(14:1_16:1_ 16:1), TG(16:1_18:1_18:1), TG(16:0_16:1_20:4) and TG(15:0_18:1_ 24:1) may contributed the most to the discrimination. These findings indicated that combined exposure to BPA and fructose has the potential to cause lipid remodeling in adipose tissue.

Effect of bisphenol A on the neurological system: a review update

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) and one of the most produced synthetic compounds worldwide. BPA can be found in epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics, which are frequently used in food storage and baby bottles. However, BPA can bind mainly to estrogen receptors, interfering with various neurologic functions, its use is a topic of significant concern. Nonetheless, the neurotoxicity of BPA has not been fully understood despite numerous investigations on its disruptive effects. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the most recent studies on the implications of BPA on the neurologic system. Our findings suggest that BPA exposure impairs various structural and molecular brain changes, promoting oxidative stress, changing expression levels of several crucial genes and proteins, destructive effects on neurotransmitters, excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation, damaged blood-brain barrier function, neuronal damage, apoptosis effects, disruption of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, increase in reactive oxygen species, promoted apoptosis and intracellular lactate dehydrogenase release, a decrease of axon length, microglial DNA damage, astrogliosis, and significantly reduced myelination. Moreover, BPA exposure increases the risk of developing neurologic diseases, including neurovascular (e.g. stroke) and neurodegenerative (e.g. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's) diseases. Furthermore, epidemiological studies showed that the adverse effects of BPA on neurodevelopment in children contributed to the emergence of serious neurological diseases like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depression, emotional problems, anxiety, and cognitive disorders. In summary, BPA exposure compromises human health, promoting the development and progression of neurologic disorders. More research is required to fully understand how BPA-induced neurotoxicity affects human health.

UV/persulfate processes for the removal of total organic carbon from coagulation-treated industrial wastewaters

Sulfate radical-based oxidation processes were investigated to understand the relationship between persulfate (PS) consumption and total organic carbon (TOC) removal from industrial wastewater under various PS concentrations. First, the degradation and mineralization of Bisphenol A (BPA) (initial concentration: 11 mg/L) were investigated in ultraviolet (UV)/PS systems. Complete degradation was achieved within 30 min of UV irradiation, and 41%-72% TOC removal was achieved at PS concentrations of 200 and 400 mg/L. The consumed concentration of S2O82- and generated concentration of SO42- increased gradually to similar levels. The ratio of the PS consumption to TOC removal based on the mass concentration (mg/L) was 14.5 and 23.2 at 180 min for 200 and 400 mg/L of S2O82-, respectively. Three types of coagulation-treated industrial wastewater from metal-processing, food-processing, and adhesive-producing plants were obtained, and TOC removal was analyzed using the same UV/PS systems (initial TOC concentration: 100 mg/L). The TOC removal rates ranged from 16.9% to 94.4% after 180 min of UV irradiation at PS concentrations of 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 mg S2O82-/L. Despite the higher TOC removal at higher PS concentrations, the PS activation efficiency decreased significantly as the PS concentration increased. Only approximately 30%-40% activation efficiency was achieved at a PS concentration of 8,000 mg/L. In this study, the ratio of PS consumption to TOC removal ranged from 20.6 to 43.9.

Plasma bisphenol a and phthalate levels in children with cerebral palsy: a case-control study

The case-control study aimed to evaluate potential sources of exposure and the plasma concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates in prepubertal children having cerebral palsy (CP) and healthy control. Blood samples of 68 CP and 70 controls were analyzed for BPA, di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (MEHP), and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). BPA and DBP levels were similar in groups. The median DEHP and MEHP levels of the children with CP were significantly lower than those of the controls (p = 0.035, p < 0.001, respectively). Exposure to plastic food containers/bags, personal care hygiene products, household cleaners, wood/coal stove heating, and city water supplies were associated with increased odds of higher BPA and phthalate levels in children with CP. In conclusion, potential exposure sources for BPA and phthalates differ in children with CP and healthy controls, and children with CP are not exposed to higher levels of BPA and phthalates.

Estimating the temporal and spatial distribution and threats of bisphenol A in temperate lakes using machine learning models

Bisphenol A (BPA) is easily enriched in many human-disturbed watersheds, particularly lakes with poor water mobility, which is posing a threat to aquatic biota. While previous studies have focused on the concentration of BPA in water and its toxicity to aquatic organisms, a small amount of measured data is not enough to reveal the temporal and spatial distribution and threats of BPA, and estimate the ecological risk in watersheds. Therefore, we collected 164 measured BPA data points from Taihu Lake to develop machine learning models using random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM) and least square regression (LSR) and created month-by-month watershed prediction maps in temperate lakes to estimate the spatiotemporal distribution and threats of BPA. Due to RF's superior robustness to noisy data, the RF model exhibits the best performance among the three algorithms. The RF model showed acceptable predictive performance on the modeling dataset (coefficients of determination and root-mean-square error for the training set were 0.927 and 17.499, respectively, and 0.607, 39.645 for the validation set, respectively). The maps indicated that areas susceptible to anthropogenic activities were more severely polluted by BPA, and rainy climate may favor the migration of BPA to aquatic ecosystems. The model was also applied to predict 42 data points of BPA collected from Dianchi Lake, and the results showed that most predicted data were within a factor of 10 of the measured data, but the prediction accuracy of the model has declined. The ecological risks in the two lakes were evaluated and attention should be paid to the regions with higher risks. Our study provided a novel idea for comprehensive monitoring of an unconventional trace pollutant with endocrine disrupting effects in aquatic ecosystems and analyzing their spatiotemporal distribution, which will contribute to the scientific assessment of the ecological risk of BPA.

Icariin rescues developmental BPA exposure induced spatial memory deficits in rats

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been implicated in cognitive impairment. Icariin is the main active ingredient extracted from Epimedium Herb with protective function of nervous system. However, the potential therapeutic effects of Icariin on spatial memory deficits induced by developmental BPA exposure in Sprague-Dawley rats have not been investigated. This study investigated the therapeutic effect of Icariin (10 mg/kg/day, from postnatal day (PND) 21 to PND 60 by gavage) on spatial memory deficits in rat induced by developmental BPA exposure (1 mg/kg/day, from embryonic to PND 60), demonstrating that Icariin can markedly improve spatial memory in BPA-exposed rat. Furthermore, intra-gastric administration of Icariin could attenuate abnormal hippocampal cell dispersion and loss, improved the dendritic spine density and Nissl bodies. Moreover, Icariin reversed BPA induced reduction of frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents(mEPSC) and decrease of Vesicular glutamate transporter 1(VGlut1). Collectively, Icariin could effectively rescue BPA-induced spatial memory impairment in male rats by preventing cell loss and reduction of dendritic spines in the hippocampus. In addition, we also found that VGlut1 is a critical target in the repair of BPA-induced spatial memory by Icariin. Thus, Icariin may be a promising therapeutic agent to attenuate BPA-induced spatial memory deficits.

Comparison of the Effect of BPA and Related Bisphenols on Membrane Integrity, Mitochondrial Activity, and Steroidogenesis of H295R Cells In Vitro

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disruptive chemical that is widely utilized in the production of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resin, which are used to make a wide range of consumer products, food and drink containers, and medical equipment. When the potential risk of BPA emerged, it was substituted by allegedly less harmful substitutes such as bisphenols S, F, B, and AF. However, evidence suggests that all bisphenols can have endocrine-disruptive effects, while the extent of these effects is unknown. This study aimed to determine effect of BPA, BPAF, BPB, BPF, and BPS on viability and steroidogenesis in human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line in vitro. The cytotoxicity of bisphenols was shown to be considerable at higher doses. However, at low concentrations, it improved viability as well as steroid hormone secretion, indicating that bisphenols have a biphasic, hormetic effect in biological systems. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that bisphenols selectively inhibit some steroidogenic enzymes. These findings suggest that bisphenols have the potential to disrupt cellular steroidogenesis in humans, but substantially more detailed and systematic research is needed to gain a better understanding of the risks associated with bisphenols and their endocrine-disrupting effect on humans and wildlife.

Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A and/or diethylhexyl phthalate alters stress responses in rat offspring in a sex- and dose-dependent manner

Background: Prenatal exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are correlated with adverse behavioral outcomes, but the effects of combinations of these chemicals are unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the dose-dependent effects of prenatal exposure to EDCs on male and female behavior. Methods: Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were orally dosed with vehicle, bisphenol A (BPA) (5 μg/kg body weight (BW)/day), low-dose (LD) diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) (5 μg/kg BW/day), high-dose (HD) DEHP (7.5 mg/kg BW/day), a combination of BPA and LD-DEHP (B + D (LD)), or a combination of BPA and HD-DEHP (B + D (HD)) on gestational days 6-21. Adult offspring were subjected to the Open Field Test (OFT), Elevated Plus Maze (EPM), and Shock Probe Defensive Burying test (SPDB) in adulthood. Body, adrenal gland, and pituitary gland weights were collected at sacrifice. Corticosterone (CORT) was measured in the serum. Results: Female EDC-exposed offspring showed anxiolytic effects in the OFT, while male offspring were unaffected. DEHP (HD) male offspring demonstrated a feminization of behavior in the EPM. Most EDC-exposed male offspring buried less in the SPDB, while their female counterparts showed reduced shock reactivity, indicating sex-specific maladaptive alterations in defensive behaviors. Additionally, DEHP (LD) males and females and B + D (LD) females displayed increased immobility in this test. DEHP (LD) alone and in combination with BPA led to lower adrenal gland weights, but only in male offspring. Finally, females treated with a mixture of B + D (HD) had elevated CORT levels. Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to BPA, DEHP, or a mixture of the two, affects behavior, CORT levels, and adrenal gland weights in a sex- and dose-dependent manner.

SMAD signaling pathway is disrupted by BPA via the AMH receptor in bovine granulosa cells†

Significant events that determine oocyte competence occur during follicular growth and oocyte maturation. The anti-Mullerian hormone, a positive predictor of fertility, has been shown to be affected by exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds, such as bisphenol A and S. However, the interaction between bisphenols and SMAD proteins, mediators of the anti-Mullerian hormone pathway, has not yet been elucidated. AMH receptor (AMHRII) and downstream SMAD expression was investigated in bovine granulosa cells treated with bisphenol A, bisphenol S, and then competitively with the anti-Mullerian hormone. Here, we show that 24-h bisphenol A exposure in granulosa cells significantly increased SMAD1, SMAD4, and SMAD5 mRNA expression. No significant changes were observed in AMHRII or SMADs protein expression after 24-h treatment. Following 12-h treatments with bisphenol A (alone or with the anti-Mullerian hormone), a significant increase in SMAD1 and SMAD4 mRNA expression was observed, while a significant decrease in SMAD1 and phosphorylated SMAD1 was detected at the protein level. To establish a functional link between bisphenols and the anti-Mullerian hormone signaling pathway, antisense oligonucleotides were utilized to suppress AMHRII expression with or without bisphenol exposure. Initially, transfection conditions were optimized and validated with a 70% knockdown achieved. Our findings show that bisphenol S exerts its effects independently of the anti-Mullerian hormone receptor, while bisphenol A may act directly through the anti-Mullerian hormone signaling pathway providing a potential mechanism by which bisphenols may exert their actions to disrupt follicular development and decrease oocyte competence.

Effect of balloon pulmonary angioplasty on cardio-ankle vascular index and biventricular remodeling in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Background

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is caused by organized pulmonary thrombi, and pulmonary endarterectomy is the only curative treatment. Since balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has become an established therapeutic option for inoperable CTEPH, prognosis has improved. Recent reports suggest that arterial stiffness evaluated using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) may play an important role in the cardio-vascular interaction in CTEPH; however, the details remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the role of CAVI in CTEPH through hemodynamic changes and ventricular remodeling after BPA.

Methods and results

A total of 23 patients with CTEPH who had undergone BPA were enrolled in this study. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and CAVI significantly decreased after BPA [mPAP, 34 (26-45) mmHg to 20 (19-24) mmHg, p < 0.0001; CAVI, 9.4 (8.0-10.3) to 8.3 (7.5-9.6), p = 0.004]. The echocardiographic right ventricle was significantly decreased, and the left ventricular volume was significantly increased after BPA, indicating significant biventricular remodeling after BPA. Changes in CAVI (ΔCAVI) significantly correlated with changes in mPAP (r = 0.45, p = 0.03). Additionally, ΔCAVI was significantly correlated with changes in both right ventricular area and left ventricular volume.

Conclusions

Arterial stiffness, evaluated using the CAVI, improved after BPA. Changes in CAVI were significantly correlated with changes in pulmonary arterial pressure and biventricular remodeling. CAVI may play an important role in cardiovascular interactions in patients with CTEPH.

Modeling early human cortical development and evaluating neurotoxicity with a forebrain organoid system

The complexity and subtlety of brain development renders it challenging to examine effects of environmental toxicants on human fetal brain development. Advances in pluripotent cell-derived organoid systems open up novel avenues for human development, disease and toxicity modeling. Here, we have established a forebrain organoid system and recapitulated early human cortical development spatiotemporally including neuroepithelium induction, apical-basal axis formation, neural progenitor proliferation and maintenance, neuronal differentiation and layer/region patterning. To explore whether this forebrain organoid system is suitable for neurotoxicity modeling, we subjected the organoids to bisphenol A (BPA), a common environmental toxicant of global presence and high epidemic significance. BPA exposure caused substantial abnormalities in key cortical developmental events, inhibited progenitor cell proliferation and promoted precocious neuronal differentiation, leading premature progenitor cell depletion and aberrant cortical layer patterning and structural organization. Consistent with an antagonistic mechanism between thyroid hormone and BPA, T3 supplementation attenuated BPA-mediated cortical developmental abnormalities. Altogether, our in vitro recapitulation of cortical development with forebrain organoids provides a paradigm for efficient neural development and toxicity modeling and related remedy testing/screening.

Associations of exposure to bisphenol A and its substitutes with neurodevelopmental outcomes among infants at 12 months of age: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has been linked to adverse childhood neurodevelopment, but little is known about whether BPA substitutes exposures are also related to childhood neurodevelopment.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the associations of exposure to BPA and its substitutes with infant neurodevelopment at 12 months.

METHODS

A total of 420 infants at 12 months were included from the Laizhou Wan (Bay) Birth Cohort in Shandong, China. Urinary concentrations of BPA and its substitutes including bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol AP (BPAP), bisphenol P (BPP) and bisphenol Z (BPZ) were measured. Developmental quotient (DQ) scores based on the Gesell Development Schedules (GDS) were used to evaluate infant neurodevelopment. The multivariable linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were applied to estimate the associations of exposure to individual bisphenols and their mixtures with DQ scores, respectively. Sex-stratified analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

BPA was detected in most infants (89.05%) and had the highest median concentration (0.709 ng/mL) among all bisphenols. BPA substitutes except BPZ were ubiquitous in infants' urine samples (>70%), and BPS showed the highest median concentration (0.064 ng/mL) followed by BPAP (0.036 ng/mL), BPAF (0.028 ng/mL), BPP (0.015 ng/mL) and BPB (0.013 ng/mL). In multivariable linear regression, only BPAF exposure was inversely associated with social DQ scores among all infants (β = -0.334; 95% CI: -0.650, -0.019). After sex stratification, this inverse association was significant in girls (β = -0.605; 95% CI: -1.030, -0.180). Besides, BPA exposure was negatively related to gross motor DQ scores in boys (β = -1.061; 95% CI: -2.078, -0.045). WQS analyses confirmed these results.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that bisphenol exposure during infancy may be associated with poor infant neurodevelopment, and BPAF as a commonly used BPA substitute contributing the most to this adverse association deserves more attention.

Microbiota analysis for risk assessment of xenobiotic exposure and the impact on dysbiosis: identifying potential next-generation probiotics

On-going projects of the team are currently dealing with microbiota, xenobiotics, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), obesity, inflammation and probiotics. The combination of diet, lifestyle and the exposure to dietary xenobiotics categorised into microbiota-disrupting chemicals (MDCs) could determine obesogenic-related dysbiosis. This modification of the microbiota diversity impacts on individual health-disease balance, inducing altered phenotypes. Specific, complementary, and combined prevention and treatments are needed to face these altered microbial patterns and the specific misbalances triggered. In this sense, searching for next-generation probiotics (NGP) by microbiota culturing, and focusing on their demonstrated, extensive scope and well-defined functions could contribute to counteracting and repairing the effects of obesogens. Therefore, EU-FORA project contributes to present a perspective through compiling information and key strategies for directed taxa searching and culturing of NGP that could be administered for preventing obesity and endocrine-related dysbiosis by (i) observing the differential abundance of specific microbiota taxa in obesity-related patients and analysing their functional roles, (ii) developing microbiota-directed strategies for culturing these taxa groups, and (iii) design and applying the successful compiled criteria from recent NGP clinical studies. New isolated or cultivable microorganisms from healthy gut microbiota specifically related to xenobiotic obesogens' neutralisation effects might be used as an NGP single strain or in consortia, both presenting functions and the ability to palliate metabolic-related disorders. Identification of holistic approaches for searching and using potential NGP, key aspects, the bias, gaps and proposals of solutions were also considered in this workplan.

Transport of bisphenol A, bisphenol S, and three bisphenol F isomers in saturated soils

With the limitation of the use of bisphenol A (BPA), the production of its substitutes, bisphenol S (BPS), and bisphenol F (4,4'-BPF) is increasing. Understanding the fate and transport of BPA and its substitutes in porous media can help reduce their risk of contaminating soil and groundwater systems. In this study, column and batch adsorption experiments were performed with 14C-labeled bisphenol analogs and combined with mathematical models to investigate the interaction of BPA, BPS, 4,4'-BPF, 2,2'-BPF, and 2,4'-BPF with four standard soils with different soil organic matter (SOM) contents. The results show that the transport capacity of BPS and 4,4'-BPF in the saturated soils is significantly stronger than that of BPA. Meanwhile, the mobility of the three isomers of bisphenol F exhibits variability in saturated soils with high SOM content. The two-site nonequilibrium sorption model was applied to simulate and interpret column experimental data, and model simulations described the interactions between the bisphenol analogs and soil very well. The fitting results underscore SOM's role in providing dynamic adsorption sites for bisphenol analogs. Hydrophobicity primarily accounts for the disparity in adsorption affinity between BPA, BPS, 4,4'-BPF, and soil, whereas hydrogen bonding forces may predominantly influence the differential adsorption affinity between 4,4'-BPF and its isomers and soil. The results of this study indicate that BPS and three isomers of BPF, as alternatives to BPA, have higher mobility in saturated soils and may pose a substantial risk to groundwater quality. This study enhances our understanding of bisphenol analogs' behavior in natural soils, facilitating an assessment of their environmental implications, particularly regarding groundwater contamination.

Decreased expression of Chrna4 by METTL3-mediated m6A modification participates in BPA-induced spatial memory deficit

Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used endocrine disruptor, has been implicated in cognitive impairment via epigenetic machinery. N6-methyl adenosine (m6A) has recently emerged as a new epigenetic factor that influences cognition, but the role of m6A in BPA induced cognitive deficits has not been explored yet. In this study, we found increased global m6A abundance accompanied with elevated expression of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in hippocampal neurons following BPA exposure. Inhibition of METTL3 activity by selective METTL3 inhibitor 2457 (STM) in cultured neurons abolished BPA induced m6A upregulation and abnormal synaptic transmission. Additionally, knockdown of METTL3 in hippocampus abrogated BPA induced learning and memory deficit in rats. Further study showed that m6A modification was enriched in mRNA of cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 4 subunit (Chrna4). Inhibition of METTL3 either by STM or shRNA restored BPA induced downregulation of Chrna4, suggesting that Chrna4 may be a potential target involved in BPA induced neurotoxicity that modified by m6A. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that METTL3 mediated m6A modification was involved in BPA induced cognitive deficit with Chrna4 as a potential target, which enriched our understanding of the role of epigenetics (RNA modifications) in BPA induced neurotoxicity and provided new insights into BPA or its substitutes induced damages in other organs.

Assessment of five typical environmental endocrine disruptors and thyroid cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Introduction

There are conflicting reports on the association between environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs) and thyroid cancer. This meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the relationship between EEDs and thyroid cancer.

Methods

We searched for epidemiological studies on EEDs and thyroid cancer published in PubMed and Web of Science up to December 2022. We then screened the articles that could extract data on EEDs concentration levels in both thyroid cancer patients and healthy controls. We excluded articles that could not calculate effect sizes, focused on other thyroid diseases, or lacked controls. Standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated to analyze the association between EEDs and thyroid cancer. We measured the heterogeneity among the included studies using I2, assessed publication bias by Egger's and Begg's test, and evaluated article quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Score (NOS). In the end, fifteen eligible case-control studies were included.

Results

Our comprehensive analysis revealed that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were negatively associated with thyroid cancer{ SMD = -0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (-0.05, -0.00), P = 0.03}, while polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), phthalates (PAEs), and heavy metals were positively associated with thyroid cancer{PBDEs: SMD = 0.14, 95%CI = (0.04, 0.23), P = 0.007; PAEs: SMD = 0.30, 95%CI = (0.02, 0.58), P = 0.04; heavy metals: SMD = 0.21, 95%CI = (0.11, 0.32), P < 0.001}. We did not find a statistically significant relationship between bisphenol A (BPA) and thyroid cancer. Most of the included studies did not show publication bias, except for those on PCBs.

Discussion

Our results indicate that exposure to certain EEDs, such as PBDEs, PAEs, and heavy metals, increases the risk of thyroid cancer. However, further large-scale epidemiological studies and mechanism studies are needed to verify these potential relationships and understand the underlying biological mechanisms.

Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A and neonatal health outcomes: A systematic review

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical substance responsible for the composition of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Early life and pregnancy are important windows of susceptibility. This review aimed to conduct a systematic assessment of human studies to comprehensively describe the association between prenatal BPA exposure and neonatal health outcomes. Literature was searched in Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science published before November 2022, and were selected according to clear inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) and Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation guidelines (GRADE) were followed to grade the methodological quality of studies and the certainty of the evidence respectively. As a result, a total of 22259 participants from 45 trials were included. And the potential associations of prenatal exposure to BPA and neonatal health outcomes were mainly shown in four aspects: gestational age/preterm birth, physical health at birth, the incidence of systemic abnormalities or diseases, and other health outcomes. Although the certainty of the evidence was low to very low, the methodological quality of the included studies was high. Prenatal BPA exposure tended to have negative effects on most of the health outcomes in neonates but showed inconsistent results on physical health at birth. This systematic review is the first to comprehensively synthesize the existing evidence on the association between prenatal BPA exposure and neonatal health outcomes. In the future, further studies are still needed to verify these effects and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Fate of bisphenol A (BPA) in a flooded soil-rice system

In this study, 14C-tracers were used to investigate the fate of BPA in flooded soil with or without rice plants during a complete growing period. In flooded soil, the dissipation of BPA (half-life 14.8 d) was accompanied by its mineralization (8.4% of the initially applied radioactivity) and the formation of non-extractable residues (NERs) in amounts (79.5%) similar to that formed under oxic conditions. The growth of rice significantly accelerated the dissipation of BPA in flooded soil, resulting in a reduction in both the half-life (5.6 d) and the amount of NERs (35.8%). Two non-polar metabolites were detected both in unplanted and in rice-planted soil. At rice harvest, 57.1% of the radioactivity had accumulated in rice plants, mainly as NERs (54.2%) rather than as extractable radioactivity (2.7%), and mainly in roots (34.5 ± 1.4%), stems (9.4 ± 1.1%), and leaves (8.8 ± 0.6%), with trace amounts in seeds (3.6 ± 0.3%) and seed shells (0.7 ± 0.05%). Our study thus demonstrates that the oxic-anoxic interface stimulates the dissipation of BPA in flooded soil. The link between the releasing of NERs in flooded soil and the uptake of BPA metabolites by rice should be considered in environmental risk assessments of agroecosystems.

Chronic exposure to bisphenol A induces behavioural, neurochemical, histological, and ultrastructural alterations in the ganglia tissue of the date mussels Lithophaga lithophaga

Bisphenol A (BPA), a common plastic additive, has been demonstrated mechanistically to be a potential endocrine disruptor and to affect a variety of body functions in organisms. Although previous research has shown that BPA is toxic to aquatic organisms, the mechanism of neurotoxic effects in marine bivalves remains unknown. The current study aimed to elucidate the neurotoxic effects of BPA when administered at different concentrations (0.25, 1, 2, and 5 µg/L) for twenty-eight days in the ganglia of a bivalve model, the Mediterranean mussel (Lithophaga lithophaga), which is an ecologically and economically important human food source of bivalve species in the Mediterranean Sea. Our findings revealed an increase in behavioural disturbances and malondialdehyde levels in treated mussel ganglia compared to the control group. Furthermore, superoxide dismutase activity increased in the ganglia of L. lithophaga treated with 0.25 and 2 µg/L. However, at BPA concentrations of 1 and 5 µg/L, SOD activity was significantly reduced, as was total glutathione concentration. BPA causes neurotoxicity, as evidenced by concentration-dependent inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, dopamine, and serotonin. After chronic exposure to BPA, neurons showed distortion of the neuronal cell body and varying degrees of pyknosis. The ultrastructure changes in BPA-treated groups revealed the lightening of the nucleoplasm and a shrunken nuclear envelope. Overall, our findings suggest that BPA exposure altered antioxidation, neurochemical biomarkers, histopathological, and ultrastructural properties, resulting in behavioural changes. As a result, our findings provide a basis for further study into the toxicity of BPA in marine bivalves.

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty in the current era of CTEPH treatment: How did we get here?

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is caused by persistent organized thromboembolic obstruction of the pulmonary arteries from incompletely resolved pulmonary embolism. The treatment of choice is pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) surgery and all patients should be evaluated for operability candidacy. Despite advancements in PTE technique allowing more segmental-subsegmental surgeries, up to a third of patients with CTEPH may still be considered inoperable. Over the past decade, there have been increasing treatment options for these inoperable CTEPH patients. Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a percutaneous-based interventional treatment option for select CTEPH cases. Early BPA experiences were plagued by high complication rates, but further refinements in technique and equipment pioneered by Japan led to the worldwide spread and adoption of BPA. Multiple centers have shown that patients experience significant improvements in hemodynamics, quality of life, exercise capacity, and survival with BPA treatment. There remain many questions on best practices, but BPA has evolved into a pivotal cornerstone of CTEPH treatment.

The effects of BPA-BNCT on normal bone: determination of the CBE value in mice‡

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) with p-boronophenylalanine (BPA) is expected to have less effect on the decrease in normal bone strength than X-ray therapy. However, the compound biological effectiveness (CBE) value necessary to convert the boron neutron capture reaction (BNCR) dose into a bioequivalent X-ray dose has not been determined yet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of BNCT on normal bone in mice and to elucidate the CBE factor. We first searched the distribution of BPA in the normal bone of C3H/He mice and then measured the changes in bone strength after irradiation. The CBE value was determined when the decrease in bone strength was set as an index of the BNCT effect. The 10B concentrations in the tibia after subcutaneous injection of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg BPA were measured by prompt gamma-ray spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-atomic emission spectrometry. The 10B mapping in the tibia was examined by alpha-track autoradiography and laser ablation-ICP-mass spectrometry. The 10B concentration increased dose-dependently; moreover, the concentrations were maintained until 120 min after BPA administration. The administered 10B in the tibia was abundantly accumulated in the growth cartilage, trabecular bone and bone marrow. The bone strength was analyzed by a three-point bending test 12 weeks after irradiation. The bending strength of the tibia decreased dose-dependently after the irradiation of X-ray, neutron and BNCR. The CBE factor was obtained as 2.27 by comparing these dose-effect curves; the value determined in this study will enable an accurate dosimetry of normal bone.

Integrative analysis of DNA methylome and transcriptome reveals epigenetic regulation of bisphenols-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy, a kind of cardiomyopathic abnormality, might trigger heart contractile and diastolic dysfunction, and even heart failure. Currently, bisphenols (BPs) including bisphenol A (BPA), and its alternatives bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) are ubiquitously applied in various products and potentially possess high cardiovascular risks for humans. However, the substantial experimental evidences of BPs on heart function, and their structure-related effects on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy are still urgently needed. DNA methylation, a typical epigenetics, play key roles in BPs-induced transcription dysregulation, thereby affecting human health including cardiovascular system. Thus, in this study, we performed RNA-seq and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) to profile the landscapes of BPs-induced cardiotoxicity and to determine the key roles of DNA methylation in the transcription. Further, the capabilities of three BPA analogues, together with BPA, in impacting heart function and changing DNA methylation and transcription were compared. We concluded that similar to BPA, BPAF, BPF and BPS exposure deteriorated heart function in a mouse model, and induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in a H9c2 cell line. BPAF, BPF and BPS all played BPA-like roles in both transcriptive and methylated hierarchies. Moreover, we validated the expression levels of four cardiomyocyte hypertrophy related candidate genes, Psmc1, Piptnm2, Maz and Dusp18, which were all upregulated and with DNA hypomethylation. The findings on the induction of BPA analogues on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and DNA methylation revealed their potential detrimental risks in heart function of humans.

Effects of BPA Exposure and Recovery on the Expression of Genes Involved in the Hepatic Lipid Metabolism in Male Mice

Exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) has led to an increased risk of obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLDs). However, it is as yet unclear if the damage caused by BPA is able to be repaired sufficiently after exposure has ceased. Therefore, this project aims to investigate the effects of BPA on the hepatic lipid metabolism function and its potential mechanisms in mice by comparing the BPA exposure model and the BPA exposure + cessation of drug treatment model. Herein, the male C57BL/6 mice were exposed in the dose of 50 μg/kg/day and 500 μg/kg/day BPA for 8 weeks, and then transferred to a standard chow diet for another 8 weeks to recover. Based on our previous RNA-seq study, we examined the expression patterns of some key genes. The results showed that the mice exposed to BPA manifested NAFLD features. Importantly, we also found that there was a significant expression reversion for SCD1, APOD, ANGPT4, PPARβ, LPL and G0S2 between the exposure and recovery groups, especially for SCD1 and APOD (p < 0.01). Notably, BPA could significantly decrease the level of APOD protein (p < 0.01) whereas there was an extremely significant increase after the exposure ceased. Meanwhile, APOD over-expression suppressed TG accumulation in the AML12 cells. In conclusion, the damage caused by BPA is able to be repaired by the upregulation of APOD and exposure to BPA should be carefully examined in chronic liver metabolic disorders or diseases.

Can BPA Analogs Affect Cellular and Biochemical Responses in the Microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin?

Bisphenol A analogs (BPA analogs) are emerging contaminants with a rising production caused by the replacement of BPA with these compounds. The increased production of BPA analogs is leading to their increased release into various ecosystems, including marine ones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological effects of BPA analogs on a primary producer, the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin. Three different BPA analogs (BPAF, BPF, and BPS) and their mixture were tested at the environmental relevant concentration of 300 ng/L. Growth, cell size and several biomarkers of oxidative stress and oxidative damage were measured. Our results indicated that the tested compounds caused a reduced growth rate and induced oxidative stress, altering many antioxidant enzymes in P. tricornutum. However, no oxidative damages were observed.

Bisphenol-A release from thermoplastic clear aligner materials: A systematic review

AIM

The aim of the present study was to undertake a systematic review of the available evidence on the release of bisphenol-A (BPA) from thermoplastic materials used in the fabrication of clear aligners (CA).

METHODS

Electronic databases, such as MEDLINE (via PubMed), Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, OpenGrey, and the U.S. National Institute of Heath-Clinical Trials, were searched up to 27 October 2022. In vivo/in vitro studies that assessed the release of BPA from different thermoplastic CA materials, with or without a control group, were selected. The risk of bias (RoB) in the randomised controlled trials (RCT) and in vitro studies was assessed using the Cochrane RoB tool and the guidelines for the reporting of pre-clinical studies, respectively. The quality of evidence was determined using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) Pro tool.

RESULTS

Six studies were considered for review from a total of 1926 records. This included one RCT and five in vitro studies. Only two studies found leaching of BPA, while four did not report any traces. The RoB was found to be moderate to high. The GRADE evidence level ranged from low to very low. Five of the included studies were conducted in vitro. Significant heterogeneity among the included studies prevented a quantitative synthesis.

CONCLUSION

In light of the available conflicting evidence, BPA release from CAs can neither be confirmed nor denied. Safety remains questionable until high-quality in vivo trials prove otherwise.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42022310434.