Trace exposures to the toxic metals mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) may threaten human reproductive health. The aim of this study is to generate biologically-plausible hypotheses concerning associations between Hg, Cd, and Pb and in vitro fertilization (IVF) endpoints. For 15 female IVF patients, a multivariable log-binomial model suggests a 75% reduction in the probability for a retrieved oocyte to be in metaphase-II arrest for each μg/dL increase in blood Pb concentration (relative risk (RR) = 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03–2.50, P = 0.240). For 15 male IVF partners, each μg/L increase in urine Cd concentration is associated with an 81% decrease in the probability for oocyte fertilization (RR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.03–1.35, P = 0.097). Because of the magnitude of the effects, these results warrant a comprehensive study with sufficient statistical power to further evaluate these hypotheses.

National Institutes of Health and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

We have isolated Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) from stool and CSF samples taken from patients with acute flaccid paralysis, herpangina, or hand, foot and mouth disease in 2000. Both the cell culture-neutralization test and RT-PCR were used to detect enteroviruses. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD), HEP2c, and BGM cells were used for the isolation of viruses, and serotypes were determined by the neutralization test using EV71-specific antiserum. For genomic analysis, we amplified a 437-bp fragment of the 5'-noncoding region of the enterovirus genome and a 484-bp fragment of the VP3/VP1 region of EV71 by RT-PCR, with positive results. Products amplified using an EV71-specific primer pair were sequenced and compared with other isolates of EV71. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the amplified fragments showed that the EV71 isolates from patients were over 98% homologous and belonged to the genotype C.