Occurrence, sources and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban (Pudong) and suburban soils from Shanghai in China.

A comprehensive investigation was conducted to the urban (Pudong) and suburban soils in Shanghai. A total of 154 soil samples were analyzed for 26 PAHs including highly carcinogenic dibenzopyrenes (DBPs). The total concentrations ranged from 25.8 to 7380 µg kg(-1) for Σ26PAHs and 18.8 to 6320 µg kg(-1) for 16 USEPA priority PAHs (Σ16PAHs), respectively. The BaP toxic equivalent (BaPeq) concentrations were between 6.41 and 2880 µg kg(-1) for Σ24PAHs, 1.11 and 620 µg kg(-1) for Σ16PAHs and 2.72 and 2250 µg kg(-1) for Σ4DBPs. The high PAH contamination in green land soils might originate mainly from local road traffic and industrial activities, and sewage sludge application or waste water irrigation for soil. Seven sources of soil PAHs in Shanghai were identified by positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. The mean risk quotient (m-RQ) values indicated that there were medium to high ecological risks in 9.10% of soil samples, pyrene (Pyr), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) and benz[a]anthracene (BaA) were the major ecological risk drivers under agricultural use. The cancer risk (CR) values were within the acceptable range at 35.7%, 35.1% and 31.2% of sampling sites for children, youths and adults, respectively. The total lifetime carcinogenic risk (TLCR) values at 57.8% of sampling sites were within the acceptable range. Overall, cancer risks of soil PAHs in all sampling sites in the studied area were below the highest acceptable risk, suggesting that soil PAHs are unlikely to pose a significant cancer risk for population based on ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation exposure pathways.

CCR7 expressing mesenchymal stem cells potently inhibit graft-versus-host disease by spoiling the fourth supplemental Billingham's tenet.

The clinical acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD)-therapy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is not as satisfactory as expected. Secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) are the major niches serve to initiate immune responses or induce tolerance. Our previous study showed that CCR7 guide murine MSC line C3H10T1/2 migrating to SLOs. In this study, CCR7 gene was engineered into murine MSCs by lentivirus transfection system (MSCs/CCR7). The immunomodulatory mechanism of MSCs/CCR7 was further investigated. Provoked by inflammatory cytokines, MSCs/CCR7 increased the secretion of nitric oxide and calmed down the T cell immune response in vitro. Immunofluorescent staining results showed that transfused MSCs/CCR7 can migrate to and relocate at the appropriate T cell-rich zones within SLOs in vivo. MSCs/CCR7 displayed enhanced effect in prolonging the survival and alleviating the clinical scores of the GvHD mice than normal MSCs. Owing to the critical relocation sites, MSCs/CCR7 co-infusion potently made the T cells in SLOs more naïve like, thus control T cells trafficking from SLOs to the target organs. Through spoiling the fourth supplemental Billingham's tenet, MSCs/CCR7 potently inhibited the development of GvHD. The study here provides a novel therapeutic strategy of MSCs/CCR7 infusion at a low dosage to give potent immunomodulatory effect for clinical immune disease therapy.

Plasma microRNA-320, microRNA-let-7e and microRNA-21 as novel potential biomarkers for the detection of retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood malignancy caused by inactivation of the RB gene, with neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels considered as its diagnostic marker. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been proven to play a significant role in multiple physiological and pathological processes and several miRNAs were identified as tumor biomarkers in recent studies. In the present study, 65 plasma samples were collected from RB patients and 65 samples from healthy individuals to serve as controls. The miRNA levels were measured via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and their association with RB was assessed by statistical data analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves. Plasma miRNA (miR)-320, miR-let-7e and miR-21 levels were downregulated in the patient samples, the areas under the curves (AUCs) were 0.548-0.660, whereas the AUCs of combined classifiers were ≥0.990. The plasma miRNA levels, particularly of miR-320, were found to be of value in RB diagnosis and may be considered as novel diagnostic biomarkers.

[Analysis on the safety of ophthalmic artery cannulation for intra-arterial chemotherapy in 42 patients with intraocular stage retinoblastoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety of treatment with ophthalmic artery cannulation for intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) for children with intraocular retinoblastoma (RB). METHOD: In the RB Treatment Center of General Hospital of Armed Police Forces between January 2009 and September 2011, 42 patients who were diagnosed intraocular RB and treated with ophthalmic artery cannulation for IAC, 8 patients were treated 1 circle, 31 patients were treated 2 circles and 3 patients were treated 3 circles (total, 96 times). Each month had IAC once. The ophthalmic and the whole body evaluations were performed during IAC and after IAC for each circle, the blood cell count, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum creatinine (Scr), CK-MB content before and after IAC for 1 circle, 2 circles and 3 circles were determined. RESULT: (1) In 52 eyes of 42 patients, 44 eyes (84.6%) were in remission. (2) Successful IAC was achieved in all cases, no severe side effects occurred during IAC. (3) The main ophthalmic complications were eyelid edema and blepharoptosis after IAC, the incidence for 1 circle was 18% (2/11) and 9% (1/11); for 2 circles was 29% (11/38) and 21% (8/38); for 3 circles was all 100% (3/3). The rare complications were vitreous hemorrhage and heterotropia, the incidence was all 2% (1/42). The incidence of eyelid edema and blepharoptosis had no significant differences for 1 circle IAC compared with 2 circles (P > 0.05); the incidence of eyelid edema and blepharoptosis had significant differences for 3 circles IAC compared with 2 circles and 1 circle (P < 0.01). (4) No fever, septicemia and other systemic toxic effects occurred. (5) ALT of 19% patients (8/42) elevated temporarily and CK-MB of 24% patients (10/42) increased. The blood cell counts, ALT, Scr, and CK-MB content before IAC had no significant differences compared with that at 24 h after IAC for 1 circle, 2 circles and 3 circles (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ophthalmic artery cannulation for IAC is a safe and effective method in treating intraocular stage retinoblastoma.