Assessing the impact of specific PM2.5-Bound metallic elements on asthma emergency department visits: A case-crossover study in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the specific PM2.5-bound metallic elements that contribute to asthma emergency department visits by using a case-crossover study design. METHODS: This study analyzed data from 11,410 asthma emergency department visits as case group and 22,820 non-asthma onset dates occurring one week and two weeks preceding the case day as controls from 2017 to 2020. PM2.5 monitoring data and 35 PM.2.5-bound metallic elements from six different regions in Taiwan were collected. Conditional logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between asthma and PM2.5-bound metallic elements. RESULTS: Our investigation revealed a statistically significant risk of asthma emergency department visits associated with PM2.5 exposure at lag 0, 1, 2, and 3 during autumn. Additionally, PM2.5-bound hafnium (Hf), thallium (Tl), rubidium (Rb), and aluminum (Al) exhibited a consistently significant positive correlation with asthma emergency department visits at lags 1, 2, and 3. In stratified analyses by area, age, and sex, PM2.5-bound Hf showed a significant and consistent correlation. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of PM2.5-bound metallic elements effects in asthma exacerbations, particularly for Hf. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the origins of these metallic elements and pursuing emission reductions to mitigate regional health risks.

Assessing the effectiveness of mitigating pesticide-related disease risk among pesticide-spraying drone operators in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of pesticide poisoning, liver and renal failure, dermatitis, respiratory problems, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, keratitis, and epilepsy among pesticide-spraying personnel and to assess the effectiveness of a new method of aerial pesticide application in reducing this risk. METHODS: A total of 2268 pesticide spraying operators (1651 ground-based field crop operators and 617 aerial pesticide spraying drone operators) who passed the national certification examination between 2010 and 2020 in Taiwan were included. Ground-based operators served as the positive control group, while 2463 farmer controls were matched from the Farmers' Health Insurance database as the negative control group. Data from the National Health Insurance Research Database were used to track possible pesticide-related disease cases. Logistic regression was employed to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: Drone operators had significantly reduced risks of dermatitis, asthma and chronic bronchitis compared to ground-based operators. This was observed in allergic contact dermatitis (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.24-0.68), unspecified contact dermatitis (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.35-0.97), asthma (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.12-0.60), and chronic bronchitis (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.06-0.93), after adjusting for age, sex, working areas, and licensing years. However, no significant differences were found when comparing drone operators to matching farmers. CONCLUSIONS: Aerial pesticide spraying using drones may contribute to a decreased risk of dermatitis, asthma and chronic bronchitis, suggesting potential health benefits for operators. Further field pesticide exposure surveys are recommended to validate these findings and assess health risk indicators.

Study Protocol for Radiation Exposure and Cancer Risk Assessment: The Taiwan Nuclear Power Plants and Epidemiology Cohort Study (TNPECS).

BACKGROUND: This cohort was established to evaluate whether 38-year radiation exposure (since the start of nuclear reactor operations) is related to cancer risk in residents near three nuclear power plants (NPPs). METHODS: This cohort study enrolled all residents who lived within 8 km of any of the three NPPs in Taiwan from 1978 to 2016 (n = 214,502; person-years = 4,660,189). The control population (n = 257,475; person-years = 6,282,390) from three towns comprised all residents having lived more than 15 km from all three NPPs. Radiation exposure will be assessed via computer programs GASPAR-II and LADTAP-II by following methodologies provided in the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulatory guides. We calculated the cumulative individual tissue organ equivalent dose and cumulative effective dose for each resident. This study presents the number of new cancer cases and prevalence in the residence-nearest NPP group and control group in the 38-year research observation period. CONCLUSION: TNPECS provides a valuable platform for research and opens unique possibilities for testing whether radiation exposure since the start of operations of nuclear reactors will affect health across the life course. The release of radioactive nuclear species caused by the operation of NPPs caused residents to have an effective dose between 10-7 and 10-3 mSv/year. The mean cumulative medical radiation exposure dose between the residence-nearest NPP group and the control group was not different (7.69; standard deviation, 18.39 mSv and 7.61; standard deviation, 19.17 mSv; P = 0.114).

Occupational health surveillance and detection of emerging occupational diseases among Taiwan farmers, through analysis of national-based farmers' and medico-administrative databases.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify occupational injuries and diseases associated with agriculture in Asia, to provide a reference for prevention and hypotheses for future research. METHODS: We matched data on agricultural workers (n = 963,124) enrolled in Taiwan's national Farmers Health Insurance since its inception in 1989, to general population controls of the same age, gender, and township. The study population was linked to the National Health Insurance Research Database from 2001 to 2016 for inpatient cases. Logistic regression was used to assess odds ratios for outcomes. RESULTS: Farmers had 2.76 times the risk of mycotic corneal ulcer (95% CI: 1.96-3.87) and 1.65 times the risk of typhus fever infections (95% CI: 1.47-1.85) compared to the general population. The odds ratio for poisonous animal bites was 2.22 (95% CI: 2.07-2.38), for falling into a storm drain or manhole was 2.04 (95% CI: 1.30-3.20), and for toxic effects from pesticides was 2.01 (95% CI: 1.92-2.11). The toxic effects of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides were correlated with the cultivation of rice, fruit trees, and flowers. Q fever and motorcycle accidents were associated with fruit tree cultivation. CONCLUSIONS: The study identifies agricultural occupational injuries and diseases that may inform occupational health policy and the development of prevention priorities to prevent occupational hazards for farmers.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation-mediated vascular toxicity of ambient fine particulate matter: contribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and osteopontin as a biomarker.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with vascular diseases. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM2.5 are highly hazardous; however, the contribution of PM2.5-bound PAHs to PM2.5-associated vascular diseases remains unclear. The ToxCast high-throughput in vitro screening database indicates that some PM2.5-bound PAHs activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The present study investigated whether the AhR pathway is involved in the mechanism of PM2.5-induced vascular toxicity, identified the PAH in PM2.5 that was the major contributor of AhR activation, and identified a biomarker for vascular toxicity of PM2.5-bound PAHs. RESULTS: Treatment of vascular smooth muscle cells (VMSCs) with an AhR antagonist inhibited the PM2.5-induced increase in the cell migration ability; NF-κB activity; and expression of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), 1B1 (CYP1B1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and osteopontin (OPN). Most PM2.5-bound PAHs were extracted into the organic fraction, which drastically enhanced VSMC migration and increased mRNA levels of CYP1A1, CYP1B1, IL-6, and OPN. However, the inorganic fraction of PM2.5 moderately enhanced VSMC migration and only increased IL-6 mRNA levels. PM2.5 increased IL-6 secretion through NF-κB activation; however, PM2.5 and its organic extract increased OPN secretion in a CYP1B1-dependent manner. Inhibiting CYP1B1 activity and silencing OPN expression prevented the increase in VSMC migration ability caused by PM2.5 and its organic extract. The AhR activation potencies of seven PM2.5-bound PAHs, reported in the ToxCast database, were strongly correlated with their capabilities of enhancing the migration ability of VSMCs. Benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF) contributed the most to the AhR agonistic activity of ambient PM2.5-bound PAHs. The association between PM2.5-induced vascular toxicity, AhR activity, and OPN secretion was further verified in mice; PM2.5-induced intimal hyperplasia in pulmonary small arteries and OPN secretion were alleviated in mice with low AhR affinity. Finally, urinary concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene, a major PAH metabolite, were positively correlated with plasma OPN levels in healthy humans. CONCLUSIONS: The present study offers in vitro, animal, and human evidences supporting the importance of AhR activation for PM2.5-induced vascular toxicities and that BkF was the major contributor of AhR activation. OPN is an AhR-dependent biomarker of PM2.5-induced vascular toxicity. The AhR activation potency may be applied in the risk assessment of vascular toxicity in PAH mixtures.

Investigation on returning to work in liver cancer survivors in Taiwan: a 5-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Primary liver cancer is the fifth most common malignancy and limits patients' quality of life and working ability. Return to work after cancer treatment is an important step in social recovery. In addition, return to work represents the recovery of financial ability and improvements in self-confidence. The purpose of this article is to discuss the relationship between return to work and various covariables in workers with liver cancer. METHODS: The national registry cohort study collected adult workers newly diagnosed with liver cancer from 2004 to 2010 in Taiwan. There were 2451 workers included in our study. Primary liver cancer was diagnosed by using the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology code. Return to work after liver cancer survival was determined as returning to the same work or reemployment within five years after cancer diagnosis. The associations between independent variables and return to work were analyzed by Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Workers who underwent surgery were more likely to return to work not only in the 2nd year but also in the 5th year. A lower survival rate was noted in the non-return-to-work group (p < 0.001) among all patients with liver cancer. The completely adjusted model identified that the rate of return to work was related to all-cause mortality with a hazard ratio of 0.244 (95% Confidence Intervals: 0.235-0.253). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated the impacts of treatment on the return to work of liver cancer survivors. In addition, in patient with liver cancer, return to work had positive effect on the survival rate.

Trajectories of returning to work and its impact on survival in survivors with oral cancer: A 5-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: A return to work (RTW) is a challenge for survivors of oral cancer. Further light could be shed on the RTW of patients with oral cancer, which remains largely uninvestigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the trajectories of RTW and their impact on survival in workers with oral cancer. METHODS: In total, 12,222 workers who were newly diagnosed with oral cancer were identified during the period from 2004 to 2015 and were included in this cohort study. The associations between independent variables and RTW were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Overall, 8793 workers returned to work in the first years after a diagnosis of oral cancer. Chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78-0.99) and radiation therapy (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.92) were inversely associated with RTW. Patients who had received surgical treatment (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.01-1.53) were more likely to RTW. Employees with stage I (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.47-1.87), stage II (HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.35-1.72), and stage III (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.16-1.51) disease were associated with an increased likelihood of RTW in the fifth year after diagnosis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated better survival for the RTW group versus the non-RTW group in patients with stage III and IV oral cancer (P < .001). The fully adjusted HR indicated that the RTW group had significantly better outcomes than the non-RTW group in all-cause mortality (P < .001; HR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.33-0.39). CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic and medical factors affect the RTW of cancer survivors. RTW may have a beneficial effect on survival of patients with oral cancer.

Examining relationship between occupational acid exposure and oral health in workplace.

BACKGROUND: Acid mist can suspend in the air and enter the body via skin contact, the respiratory tract, or even oral intake, which pose various health hazards. Previous studies have shown that occupational exposure to acid mist or acidic solutions is a major risk factor for oral diseases. However, the findings are inconsistent and do not consider individual factors and lifestyles that may cause the same oral diseases. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive oral health survey and collected detail information to confirm the effect of acidic solution exposure on worker's oral health. METHODS: From 4 acidic solution factories, a total of 309 subjects (157 in control and 152 in exposed group) was enrolled. All participants competed oral examinations and self-report questionnaire, including the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index, community periodontal index (CPI), loss of attachment (LA) index, and tooth erosion. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between the acidic solution exposure and oral health. RESULTS: The results showed that acid exposure was correlated with soft oral tissue injury rather than hard oral tissue in our survey. In the multivariate model (adjusted for sex, age, worked years, education level, mouthwash use, dental floss use, tooth brushing, mask use, smoking, drinking, chewing areca and dietary habits with acidic foods), significant relationships of acid exposure with LA score were observed (OR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.03-5.26). However, the presence of acid exposure was not significantly associated with tooth erosion, DMFT, and CPITN. CONCLUSION: Our study highlighted that occupational acid exposure was an independent risk factor for periodontal health, especially LA. It is important to strengthen occupational hazard control, educate workers on oral disease and related factors, and raise the awareness of oral hygiene.

Verification and Evaluation of a Visual Reaction System for Badminton Training.

The two aims of this study were (1) designing and developing an affordable visual reaction system for badminton training that monitors and provides instant feedback on agility; and (2) to measure and improve the footwork and movement of badminton players and output useful reference data. Ten junior high school badminton players were invited to serve as the subjects of this study. They participated in a three-week (nine sessions) training program. Training was primarily in the form of fixed or random footwork drills. Timed tests were performed before and after each session to measure the players' agility in performing six-point and four-point footwork drills. The results were compared to the training effects calculated using dependent-sample t-tests. In addition, the long-term durability and functionality of the training system were tested. The training system was able to maintain stable and reliable training and evaluation operations for extended periods. Results showed significant improvements in the visual reaction time (p = 0.003) and agility (p = 0.001) of players. The proposed training system is an affordable option for training and monitoring, evaluating, and recording training performance. It can accurately record movement and response times and simulate competitive environments.

Professional Driver's Job Stress and 8-year Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: The Taiwan Bus Driver Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Two main job stress models-the Demand-Control-Support (DC) model and the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) model have been used to assess the impact of psychosocial work-related factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Limited evidence elaborates the independent and combined effects on CVD events, especially for professional drivers. This study assesses the independent and combined effects of DC and ERI models on an 8-year risk of CVD among professional drivers. METHODS: The Taiwan Bus Driver Cohort Study recruited 1650 professional drivers from a large bus company in 2005. The subjects were interviewed in person and completed the two job stress questionnaires. Researchers found 94 new cases of CVD (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM]: 390-459) from 2006 to 2012. A Cox proportional hazards model was performed to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for CVD events. RESULTS: Occupational drivers with high overcommitment scores (thresholds of 15) had an elevated risk for CVD (HR = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.04, 2.82). Regarding target disease, overcommitment had an increased risk for CVD (not including hypertensive disease) (HR = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.05, 1.54) and ischemic heart disease (HR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.05-1.65). CONCLUSION: Overcommitment, which is associated with job stress, appears to be associated with CVD risk in professional drivers.

Effects of nanoparticles exposure and PON1 genotype on heart rate variability.

OBJECTIVES: This study was to assess the association between different NPs exposure and PON1 genotype on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters among workers. METHODS: This study included 235 non-CVD subjects handled to nanomaterials (NM) and 185 non-exposed controls without CVD from 14 NM plants. All participants completed short-term HRV measurements, and were collected blood specimens to measure PON1 activities and the genotype of the PON1 Q192R polymorphism. RESULTS: In a multivariate regression model, this study observed a positive relationship between nano-Ag exposure and HRV time-domain (RMSSD) and frequency-domain (HF). After adjusting for confounders, the results showed positive associations between RR homozygosity, PON1 paraoxonase/arylesterase activities with HRV, and was particularly noteworthy in RMSSD and HF. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a significant increment of RMSSD and HF among workers who handled Nano-Ag materials. These results imply that Nano-Ag and PON1 Q192R genotype can trigger ANS reflexes and alter cardiac frequency and function.

Longitudinal follow-up of health effects among workers handling engineered nanomaterials: a panel study.

BACKGROUND: Although no human illness to date is confirmed to be attributed to engineered nanoparticles, occupational epidemiological studies are needed to verify the health effects of nanoparticles. This study used a repeated measures design to explore the potential adverse health effects of workers handling nanomaterials. METHODS: Study population was 206 nanomaterial-handling workers and 108 unexposed controls, who were recruited from 14 nanotechnology plants. They were followed up no less than two times in four years. A questionnaire was used to collect potential confounders and detailed work conditions. Control banding was adopted to categorize risk level for each participant as a surrogate marker of exposure. Health hazard markers include cardiopulmonary dysfunction markers, inflammation and oxidative damage markers, antioxidant enzymes activity, and genotoxicity markers. The Generalized Estimating Equation model was applied to analyze repeated measurements. RESULTS: In comparison to the controls, a significant dose-dependent increase on risk levels for the change of superoxide dismutase (p<0.01) and a significant increase of glutathione peroxidase change in risk level 1 was found for nanomaterial-handling workers. However, the change of cardiovascular dysfunction, lung damages, inflammation, oxidative damages, neurobehavioral and genotoxic markers were not found to be significantly associated with nanomaterials handling in this panel study. CONCLUSIONS: This repeated measurement study suggests that there was no evidence of potential adverse health effects under the existing workplace exposure levels among nanomaterials handling workers, except for the increase of antioxidant enzymes.

Effect of Surface Coverage of Gold Nanoparticles on the Refractive Index Sensitivity in Fiber-Optic Nanoplasmonic Sensing.

A simple theoretical model was developed to analyze the extinction spectrum of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the fiber core and glass surfaces in order to aid the determination of the surface coverage and surface distribution of the AuNPs on the fiber core surface for sensitivity optimization of the fiber optic particle plasmon resonance (FOPPR) sensor. The extinction spectrum of AuNPs comprises of the interband absorption of AuNPs, non-interacting plasmon resonance (PR) band due to isolated AuNPs, and coupled PR band of interacting AuNPs. When the surface coverage is smaller than 12.2%, the plasmon coupling effect can almost be ignored. This method is also applied to understand the refractive index sensitivity of the FOPPR sensor with respect to the non-interacting PR band and the coupled PR band. In terms of wavelength sensitivity at a surface coverage of 18.6%, the refractive index sensitivity of the coupled PR band (205.5 nm/RIU) is greater than that of the non-interacting PR band (349.1 nm/RIU). In terms of extinction sensitivity, refractive index sensitivity of the coupled PR band (-3.86/RIU) is similar to that of the non-interacting PR band (-3.93/RIU). Both maximum wavelength and extinction sensitivities were found at a surface coverage of 15.2%.

Numerical investigation into thermal effects of pre-cooling zone in vitrification-based cryopreservation process.

Most studies on ultra-fast cryopreservation assume an immediate placement of the cryopreservation tube in the liquid nitrogen tank. However, in practice, before the tube is placed into the liquid nitrogen, it passes through a space containing gaseous nitrogen (pre-cooling zone) formed via the evaporation of the bulk liquid nitrogen. Comparing with ultra-fast cryopreservation, the cooling rate is insufficiently high during the falling transition to vitrify the liquid. As the tube passes through this region, its temperature may fall to the temperature required for the formation of ice crystals, and thus cell damage may occur. Consequently, in optimizing the cryopreservation process, the effects of this transition region should be properly understood. Accordingly, the present study utilizes a thermal model to investigate the temperature variation in the tube as it falls through the pre-cooling region. The simulation results show that the cooling rate within the tube increases with an increasing tube velocity. Furthermore, the results reveal that the cooling rate at the front end of the tube is higher than that at any other position of the tube. Thus, to prevent the formation of ice crystals, the material used to seal the front end of the tube should have a low thermal conductivity. In addition, a streamlined design of the front end of the tube is advised. Finally, the cooling rate within the tube depends on the tube material as well as the falling speed. The height of the pre-cooling zone needs to be carefully designed based on the tube material and falling speed, thus the ice crystal formation can be prevented.

The impact of obstructive sleep apnea on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in subjects with or without metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with increased levels of the acute-phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between OSA and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels according to the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: This study recruited 245 male bus drivers from one transportation company in Taiwan. Each participant was evaluated by a polysomnography (PSG) test, blood lipids examination, and hs-CRP. Severity of OSA was categorized according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). RESULTS: Subjects were categorized into severe OSA group (n = 44; 17.9 %), moderate and mild OSA group (n = 117; 47.8 %), and non-OSA group (n = 84; 34.3 %). AHI had a significant association with hs-CRP (ß = 0.125, p = 0.009) adjusting for age, smoking, drinking, and MetS status. Hs-CRP was elevated with severe OSA (ß = 0.533, p = 0.005) even adjusting for BMI and MetS. Moreover, there was an independent effect for adjusted odds ratios (AORs) between the stratification of the severity for OSA and MetS. CONCLUSION: Elevated hs-CRP level is associated with severe OSA, independent of known confounders. The effect of OSA in CRP is independent of MetS was identified.

Cancer incidence of Taiwanese shipbreaking workers who have been potentially exposed to asbestos.

BACKGROUND: Shipbreaking remains one of the most dangerous jobs worldwide. Shipbreaking workers are exposed to many hazardous chemicals, especially asbestos. Unfortunately, long-term follow-up studies of cancer incidence patterns in shipbreaking workers are lacking. This study examines whether there is an increased risk of cancer among male shipbreaking workers over a 24-year follow-up period. METHODS: 4155 male shipbreaking worker's information was retrospectively collected from Kaohsiung's Shipbreaking Workers Union database from 1985. The study cohort was linked to the Taiwan Cancer Registry from 1985 to 2008 for new cancer cases. The expected number of cancers for shipbreaking workers was calculated by using the age (5-year intervals) and calendar time-specific annual rates of cancer incidence with reference to the general population of Taiwan from 1985 to 2008. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated as relative risk estimates. The hazard ratio (HR) for cancer was calculated for the shipbreaking workers with Total Exposure Potential Scores for asbestos. RESULTS: After consideration of a 5-year latency period, an elevated incidence of overall cancer (N=368; SIR=1.13 (1.01-1.25)), oral cavity cancer (N=83; SIR=1.99 (1.58-2.46)), and trachea, bronchus, and lung cancers (N=53; SIR=1.36 (1.02-1.78)) was found among male shipbreaking employees. Moreover, mesothelioma cases were found in those who had the occupation of flame cutter. The high asbestos exposure group was associated with an increased SIR of developing overall cancer and oral cancer, whether we considered a 5-year or 10-year latency period. CONCLUSION: Asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, were seen in excess in these shipbreaking workers and some cases appeared to have a dose-dependent relationship. Preventative measures among male shipbreaking workers should be researched further.

Effect of nanoparticles exposure on fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in workers exposed to nanomaterials.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) measurement is a useful diagnostic test of airway inflammation. However, there have been few studies of FENO in workers exposed to nanomaterials. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of nanoparticle (NP) exposure on FENO and to assess whether the FENO is increased in workers exposed to nanomaterials (NM). In this study, both exposed workers and non-exposed controls were recruited from NM handling plants in Taiwan. A total of 437 subjects (exposed group = 241, non-exposed group = 196) completed the FENO and spirometric measurements from 2009-2011. The authors used a control-banding (CB) matrix to categorize the risk level of each participant. In a multivariate linear regression analysis, this study found a significant association between risk level 2 of NP exposure and FENO. Furthermore, asthma, allergic rhinitis, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and NF-κB were also significantly associated with FENO. When the multivariate logistic regression model was adjusted for confounders, nano-TiO2 in all of the NM exposed categories had a significantly increased risk in FENO > 35 ppb. This study found associations between the risk level of NP exposure and FENO (particularly noteworthy for Nano-TiO2). Monitoring FENO in the lung could open up a window into the role nitric oxide (NO) may play in pathogenesis.

Longitudinal assessment of oxidative stress markers and their relationship with exposure to PM2.5 and its bound metals in healthy participants.

OBJECTIVE: Exposure to ambient PM2.5 and its bound metals poses a risk to health and disease, via, in part, oxidative stress response. A variety of oxidative stress markers have been used as markers of response, but their relevance to environmental exposure remains to be established. We evaluated, longitudinally, a battery of oxidative stress markers and their relationship with the exposure of PM2.5 and its bound metals in a panel of healthy participants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Levels of residence- and personal-based ambient air PM2.5 and its bound metals, as well as of lung function parameters, were assessed in a total of 58 questionnaire-administered healthy never smoker participants (male, 39.7%). Levels of urinary oxidative stress markers, including Nε-(hexanoyl)-lysine (HEL; an early lipid peroxidation product), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), N7-methylguanine (N7-meG), and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), plasma antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and urinary metals were measured by ELISA, LC-MS, and ICP-MS, respectively. The results of three repeated measurements at two-month intervals were analyzed using the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE). RESULTS: After adjusting for confounders, residence- and personal-based PM2.5 levels were positively associated with HEL (ß = 0.22 and 0.18) and N7-meG (ß = 0.39 and 0.13). Significant correlations were observed between personal air PM2.5-Pb and urinary Pb with HEL (ß = 0.08 and 0.26). While FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, MMF, and PEFR predicted% were normal, a negative interaction (pollutant*time, P < 0.05) was noted for PM2.5-V, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, As, and Pb. Additionally, a negative interaction was found for N7-meG (ß = -21.35, -18.77, -23.86) and SOD (ß = -26.56, -26.18, -16.48) with FEV1, FVC, and PEFR predicted%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings emphasize potential links between environmental exposure, internal dose, and health effects, thereby offering valuable markers for future research on metal exposure, oxidative stress, and health outcomes.

Stainless steel tube-based cell cryopreservation containers.

This study focused on increasing the freezing rate in cell vitrification cryopreservation by using a cryopreservation container possessing rigid mechanical properties and high heat-transfer efficiency. Applying a fast freezing rate in vitrification cryopreservation causes a rapid temperature change in the cryopreservation container and has a substantial impact on mechanical properties; therefore, a highly rigid cryopreservation container that possesses a fast freezing rate must be developed. To produce a highly rigid cryopreservation container possessing superior heat transfer efficiency, this study applies an electrochemical machining (ECM) method to an ANSI 316L stainless steel tube to treat the surface material by polishing and roughening, thereby increasing the freezing rate and reducing the probability of ice crystal formation. The results indicated that the ECM method provided high-quality surface treatment of the stainless steel tube. This method can reduce internal surface roughness in the stainless steel tube, thereby reducing the probability of ice crystal formation, and increase external surface roughness, consequently raising convection heat-transfer efficiency. In addition, by thinning the stainless steel tube, this method reduces heat capacity and thermal resistance, thereby increasing the freezing rate. The freezing rate (3399 ± 197 °C/min) of a stainless steel tube after interior and exterior polishing and exterior etching by applying ECM compared with the freezing rate (1818 ± 54 °C/min) of an original stainless steel tube was increased by 87%, which also exceeds the freezing rate (2015 ± 49 °C/min) of an original quartz tube that has a 20% lower heat capacity. However, the results indicated that increasing heat-transferring surface areas and reducing heat capacities cannot effectively increase the freezing rate of a stainless steel tube if only one method is applied; instead, both techniques must be implemented concurrently to improve the freezing rate.

Mortality among shipbreaking workers in Taiwan--a retrospective cohort study from 1985 to 2008.

BACKGROUND: Shipbreaking workers are typically exposed to a wide range of hazardous chemicals. However, long-term follow-up studies of their mortality patterns are lacking. This study examined mortality among shipbreaking workers over a 24-year follow-up period. METHODS: A total of 4,962 shipbreaking workers were recruited from the database of the Kaohsiung Shipbreaking Workers Union. The data were then linked to the Taiwan National Death Registry from 1985 to 2008. The mortality ratios-standardized for age and calendar years-(SMRs) for various causes of deaths were calculated with reference to the general population of Taiwan. RESULTS: Among men workers, a statistically significant increased SMR was observed for all causes (SMR = 1.28), all cancers (SMR = 1.26; particularly noteworthy for lesions of oral and nasopharyngeal: SMR 2.03, liver: SMR 4.63, and lung: SMR 1.36), cirrhosis of the liver (SMR = 1.32), and accidents (SMR = 1.91). A statistically significant increase in mortality was observed for respiratory system cancer (SMR = 1.87) and lung cancer (SMR = 1.91) among workers with a longer duration of employment (≥7 years). The result also showed that among shipbreaking workers who were still alive, two people had mesothelioma and 10 people have asbestosis. CONCLUSIONS: Those employed in shipbreaking industries experienced an increase in mortality from all causes. The increased SMR for lung cancer was probably related to asbestos, metals, and welding fume exposure.