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The presence of polystyrene plastics in the human testis has raised concerns, yet their biological activity remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate the biological effects and potential regulatory genes of polystyrene nanoplastics on spermatocyte line, GC-2spd(ts). After a 24-h exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics, the results indicated cell membrane disruption, impairment of mitochondrial membrane potential, increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and induced DNA damage. Furthermore, a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis was conducted, revealing differential gene expression patterns in GC-2spd(ts) cells in response to polystyrene nanoplastics. A total of 134 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with 48 genes upregulated and 86 genes downregulated. The Gene Ontology analysis highlighted the involvement of these genes in various spermatogenesis-related biological processes, including acrosome reaction, sperm mitochondrial organization, sperm annulus, and outer acrosomal membrane. Subsequently, the quantification of gene expression through qRT-PCR identified five key genes (NSUN7, SEPTIN4, TRIM36, EQTN, and SYT8) screened from the DEGs. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the biological effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on mouse spermatocytes using comprehensive transcriptomic analysis, contributing to the establishment of a foundation for future investigations into these relevant pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The elimination of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of syphilis has been set as a public health priority. However, an instrument to predict the MTCT of syphilis is not available. We aimed to develop and validate an intuitive nomogram to predict the individualised risk of MTCT in pregnant women with syphilis in China., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Data was acquired from the National Information System of Prevention of MTCT of Syphilis in Guangdong province between 2011 and 2020., Participants: A total of 13 860 pregnant women with syphilis and their infants were included and randomised 7:3 into the derivation cohort (n=9702) and validation cohort (n=4158)., Primary Outcome Measures: Congenital syphilis., Results: Among 13 860 pregnant women with syphilis and their infants included, 1370 infants were diagnosed with congenital syphilis. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and multivariable logistic regression showed that age, ethnicity, registered residence, marital status, number of pregnancies, transmission route, the timing of syphilis diagnosis, stage of syphilis, time from first antenatal care to syphilis diagnosis and toluidine red unheated serum test titre were predictors of MTCT of syphilis. A nomogram was developed based on the predictors, which demonstrated good calibration and discrimination with an area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic of 0.741 (95% CI: 0.728 to 0.755) and 0.731 (95% CI: 0.710 to 0.752) for the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. The net benefit of the predictive models was positive, demonstrating a significant potential for clinical decision-making. We have also developed a web calculator based on this prediction model., Conclusions: Our nomogram exhibited good performance in predicting individualised risk for MTCT of syphilis, which may help guide early and personalised prevention for MTCT of syphilis., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)