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We found that U. urealyticum and M. genitalium may increase the risk of high-risk HPV infection, while U. urealyticum, U. parvum, and M. hominis may increase the risk of abnormal cervical cytopathology.

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Organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) have been increasingly used in various building and decoration materials to fulfill fire safety standards since the phasing out of polybrominated diphenyl ethers. We determined OPFR concentrations in the most commonly used building and decoration materials available in local markets and online in China. The OPFR concentrations varied significantly, from 14.78 ng/g (putty powder) to 9649000 ng/g (expanded polystyrene panel (EPS)). Relatively high concentrations of OPFRs were found in foam samples, followed by nonwoven and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wallpaper, PVC pipes, sealing materials, boards, and paints. Low concentrations were found mostly in wall decoration powders, suggesting that no OPFRs had been added to these powders. Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate were the most detected halogenated OPFRs, while tri-n-butyl phosphate and tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate were the dominant nonhalogenated OPFRs, implying that they are commonly used in building and decoration materials. The estimated OPFR burden in interior decoration using nonwoven wallpaper was 330- and 2110-fold higher than that using latex paint and diatomite, respectively. The emission periods of OPFRs from nonwoven and PVC wallpaper may be greater than 13 years. We estimated that the total burden of OPFRs for decoration using wallpaper in newly decorated houses in China is ∼63 t/y. Significantly higher concentrations of OPFRs in interior decoration materials, especially nonwoven wallpaper, pose potential health risks to the people using the buildings.

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Background: In a number of disease processes, the body is unable to repair injured tissue, promoting the need to develop strategies for tissue repair and regeneration, including the use of cellular therapeutics. Trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) are considered putative stem cells as they differentiate into other subtypes of trophoblast cells. To identify cells for future therapeutic strategies, we investigated whether TSCs have properties of stem/progenitor cells including selfrenewal and the capacity to differentiate into parenchymal cells of fetal organs, in vitro and in vivo. Methods: TSCs were isolated using anti-CD117 micro-beads, from embryonic day 18.5 placentas. In vitro, CD117 + TSCs were cultured, at a limiting dilution in growth medium for the development of multicellular clones and in specialized medium for differentiation into lung epithelial cells, cardiomyocytes, and retinal photoreceptor cells. CD117 + TSCs were also injected in utero into lung, heart, and the sub-retinal space of embryonic day 13.5 fetuses, and the organs were harvested for histological assessment after a natural delivery. Results: We first identified CD117 + cells within the labyrinth zone and chorionic basal plate of murine placentas in late pregnancy, embryonic day 18.5. CD117 + TSCs formed multicellular clones that remained positive for CD117 in vitro, consistent with self-renewal properties. The clonal cells demonstrated multipotency, capable of differentiating into lung epithelial cells (endoderm), cardiomyocytes (mesoderm), and retinal photoreceptor cells (ectoderm). Finally, injection of CD117 + TSCs in utero into lungs, hearts, and the sub-retinal spaces of fetuses resulted in their engraftment on day 1 after birth, and the CD117 + TSCs differentiated into lung alveolar epithelial cells, heart cardiomyocytes, and retina photoreceptor cells, corresponding with the organs in which they were injected. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that CD117 + TSCs have the properties of stem cells including clonogenicity, self-renewal, and multipotency. In utero administration of CD117 + TSCs engraft and differentiate into resident cells of the lung, heart, and retina during mouse development.