To investigate the neurobehavioral effects of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), an important endocrine disruptor known for reproductive toxicity, on rodent offspring following in utero and lactational exposure, pregnant Wistar rats were treated with DBP (0, 0.037, 0.111, 0.333 and 1% in the diet) from gestation day (GD) 6 to postnatal day (PND) 28, and selected developmental and neurobehavioral parameters of the offspring were measured. There were no significant effects of DBP on body weight gain of the dams during GD 6-20 or on the pups' ages of pinna detachment, incisor eruption or eye opening. Exposure to 1% DBP prolonged gestation period, decreased body weight in both male and female pups, depressed surface righting (PND 7) in male pups, shortened forepaw grip time (PND 10), enhanced spatial learning and reference memory (PND 35) in male pups. Exposure to 0.037% DBP also shortened forepaw grip time (PND 10), but inhibited spatial learning and reference memory in male pups. Sex x treatment effects were found in forepaw grip time (PND 10), spatial learning and reference memory, and the male pups appeared to be more susceptible than the females. However, all levels of DBP exposure did not significantly alter surface righting (PND 4), air righting (PND 16), negative geotaxis (PND 4 or 7), cliff avoidance (PND 7) or open field behavior (PND 28) in either sex. Overall, the dose level of DBP in the present study produced a few adverse effects on the neurobehavioral parameters, and it may alter cognitive abilities of the male rodent.

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BackgroundAt the end of 2009, a total of 501 AIDS patients were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Fujian Province in China, yet there were no assessments to determine treatment efficacy and HIV-1 preventive potency under the current health care delivery system.MethodsDuring the period of 2005–2009, we assessed the outcomes of initial ART by following up 381 patients for 12 months in Fujian Province. CD4+ T-lymphocyte (CD4) count, plasma viral load (VL), and patient characteristics were analysed. The results were compared between 4 groups divided by the baseline CD4 values at the 25, 50 (median), and 75 percentiles.FindingsOver three-quarters of the subjects reported heterosexual contact as the probable route of transmission. After 12 months of ART, CD4 recovery varied between the 4 groups (P < 0.001), but VL sharply declined regardless of the baseline CD4 count (P = 0.136). Although this VL decline indicates the potency of ART as an HIV-1 prevention tool, the time between positive diagnosis and ART initiation suggests serious delay in both diagnosis and treatment; the medians of periods for the lowest and highest baseline CD4 quartiles were 1.2 and 9.6 months, respectively.ConclusionCurrent limitations in VL determination make it difficult to assess the efficacy of initial ART, and delays in diagnosis and treatment suggest that subjects contributed to HIV-1 transmission while they were not receiving ART. The current National Free ART scheme does not provide free treatment for sexually transmitted infection (STI), and there is no link between ART and the STI care delivery system. This may interfere with the HIV-1 preventive potency of ART. We highly recommend establishing a collaborating mechanism with STI care, strengthening the VL determination system, and promoting HIV tests and early ART initiation.