Chemical characterization, source identification and potential health effects of PM2.5-bound non-polar organic compounds over a COALESCE network site - Bhopal, India.

Year-long (2019) measurements of carbonaceous aerosols were performed at Bhopal, a regionally representative site as a part of the COALESCE (Carbonaceous Aerosol Emissions, Source apportionment and Climate Impacts) campaign. Aerosol-associated non-polar organic compounds (NPOCs) were analysed using thermal desorption (TD) Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS). The annual average of the total organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and analysed PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons), and n-alkanes were, 9.74 ± 9.47 µg m-3, 2.13 ± 3.12 µg m-3, 10.43 ± 5.49 ng m-3, and 114.93 ± 49.24 ng m-3, respectively. PAHs diagnostic ratios suggested emissions from petroleum, grass, wood, and coal combustion. Combustion derived PAHs (CombPAHs) accounted for 72.5 % of the total measured PAHs. During wintertime, based on Pyr/BaP ratio (∼0.6), gasoline exhaust emissions were higher compared to diesel exhaust emissions. The weak correlations between PAHs and meteorological parameters suggested that variations in PAH levels are primarily driven by alterations in emission sources. Total PAHs were correlated moderately with BrC (r2 = 0.60). The estimated lifetime lung cancer risk (LLCR) values on exposure to 16 USEPA priority PAHs (5 × 10-5) demonstrated that PAH levels in this region pose moderate health risks. Given observations from only campaign mode short-term measurements of NPOCs over India, this work provides a more comprehensive understanding of the concentrations, seasonal variations, and sources of n-alkanes and health risk associated with particle bound PAHs over the data-poor central Indian region.

Role of Immunological Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Disease and Associated Pathways.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the predominant causes of cancer-related mortality across the globe. It is attributed to obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and infection by the hepatitis virus. Early diagnosis of HCC is essential, and local treatments such as surgical excision and percutaneous ablation are effective. Palliative systemic therapy, primarily with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Sorafenib, is used in advanced cases. However, the prognosis for advanced HCC remains poor. This Review additionally describes the pathophysiological mechanisms of HCC, which include aberrant molecular signaling, genomic instability, persistent inflammation, and the paradoxical position of the immune system in promoting and suppressing HCC. The paper concludes by discussing the growing body of research on the relationship between mitochondria and HCC, suggesting that mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to the progression of HCC. This Review focuses on immunological interactions between different mechanisms of HCC progression, including obesity, viral infection, and alcohol consumption.

PM2.5 carbonaceous components and mineral dust at a COALESCE network site - Bhopal, India: Assessing the impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on site-specific optical properties.

Thermal elemental carbon (EC), optical black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), mineral dust (MD), and 7-wavelength optical attenuation of 24-hour ambient PM2.5 samples were measured/estimated at a regionally representative site (Bhopal, central India) during a business-as-usual year (2019) and the COVID-19 lockdowns year (2020). This dataset was used to estimate the influence of emissions source reductions on the optical properties of light-absorbing aerosols. During the lockdown period, the concentration of EC, OC, BC880 nm, and PM2.5 increased by 70 % ± 25 %, 74 % ± 20 %, 91 % ± 6 %, and 34 % ± 24 %, respectively, while MD concentration decreased by 32 % ± 30 %, compared to the same time period in 2019. Also, during the lockdown period, the estimated absorption coefficient (babs) and mass absorption cross-section (MAC) values of Brown Carbon (BrC) at 405 nm were higher (42 % ± 20 % and 16 % ± 7 %, respectively), while these quantities for MD, i.e., babs-MD and MACMD values were lower (19 % ± 9 % and 16 % ± 10 %), compared to the corresponding period during 2019. Also, babs-BC-808 (115 % ± 6 %) and MACBC-808 (69 % ± 45 %) values increased during the lockdown period compared with the corresponding period during 2019. It is hypothesized that although anthropogenic emissions (chiefly industrial and vehicular) reduced drastically during the lockdown period compared to the business-as-usual period, an increase in the values of optical properties (babs and MAC) and concentrations of BC and BrC, were likely due to the increased local and regional biomass burning emissions during this period. This hypothesis is supported by the CBPF (Conditional Bivariate Probability Function) and PSCF (Potential Source Contribution Function) analyses for BC and BrC.

Size-segregated chemical source profiles and potential health impacts of multiple sources of fugitive dust in and around Bhopal, central India.

PM2.5 and PM10 fugitive dust samples from multiple sources (construction, demolition, industrial, agricultural fields, and bare ground) were collected in triplicate for each size bin, from 18 distinct locations in and around Bhopal, central India. The dust samples were dried, sieved, and re-suspended in a chamber fitted with a suitable sampling system, to collect PM2.5 and PM10 samples onto Teflon and Quartz filters. The filters were subjected to gravimetric and chemical analyses. Trace elements, water-soluble ions, and thermal-optical carbon fractions were quantified using a variety of analyses. These species were then used to develop PM10 and PM2.5 chemical source profiles of the fugitive dust sources. As expected, crustal species were abundant in all source categories. For industrial dust, Fe contribution to mass in both size fractions was about 11.4% and above the upper continental crustal abundance. Further, the source profiles generated for each source were different from their counterparts in the US EPA SPECIATE database and profiles reported in literature. Thus, it will be useful to utilize profiles generated in this study to enhance receptor model performance for the study region. However, collinearity analysis of the profiles revealed that PM10 agricultural and bare ground dust; and PM2.5 construction and demolition dust profile pairs may not be separated by receptor models. Finally, a human health risk assessment revealed that construction and industrial dust may pose significant risk to the population. The Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) metric revealed that adults (2 × 10-5) and children (1 × 10-5) were susceptible to cancer risk from exposure to metals in PM2.5 fugitive dust. Further, children were more vulnerable than adults. This finding merits further investigation of oxidation state and solubility/bioavailability of Cr and Ni in fugitive dusts.

Intricate Assessment and Evaluation of Effect of Bruxism on Long-term Survival and Failure of Dental Implants: A Comparative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Dental implants are one of the common lines of treatment used for the treatment of missing tooth. Various risk factors are responsible for the failure of the dental implants and occurrence of postoperative complications. Bruxism is one such factor responsible for the failure of the dental implants. The actual relation between bruxism and dental implants is a subject of long-term controversy. Hence, we carried out this retrospective analysis to assess the complications occurring in dental implants in patients with and without bruxism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study included 1100 patients which were treated for rehabilitation by dental implant procedure at 21 dental offices of Ghaziabad (India) from 2004 to 2014. Analyzing the clinical records of the patients along with assessing the photographs of the patients was done for confirming the diagnosis of bruxism. Clinical re-evaluation of the patients, who came back for follow-up, was done to confirm the diagnosis of bruxism. Systemic questionnaires as used by previous workers were used to evaluate the patients about the self-conscience of the condition. Estimation of the mechanical complications was done only in those cases which occurred on the surfaces of the restoration of the dental implants. All the results were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Student's t-test and Pearson's chi-square test were used to evaluate the level of significance. RESULTS: In both bruxer and non-bruxers, maximum number of dental implants was placed in anterior maxillary region. Significant difference was obtained while comparing the two groups for dimensions of the dental implants used. On comparing the total implant failed cases between bruxers and non-bruxers group, statistically significant result was obtained. Statistically significant difference was obtained while comparing the two study groups based on the health parameters, namely hypertension, diabetes, and smoking habit. CONCLUSION: Success of dental implant is significantly affected by bruxism. Special attention is required in such patients while doing treatment planning. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: For the long-term clinical success and survival of dental implants in patients, special emphasis should be given on the patient's deleterious oral habits, such as bruxism as in long run, they influence the stability of dental implants.