Air pollution: A culprit of lung cancer.

Air pollution is a global health problem, especially in the context of rapid economic development and the expansion of urbanization. Herein, we discuss the harmful effects of outdoor and indoor pollution on the lungs. Ambient particulate matters (PMs) from industrial and vehicle exhausts is associated with lung cancer. Workers exposed to asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and toxic metals are also likely to develop lung cancer. Indoors, cooking fumes, second-hand smoke, and radioactive products from house decoration materials play roles in the development of lung cancer. Bacteria and viruses can also be detrimental to health and are important risk factors in lung inflammation and cancer. Specific effects of lung cancer caused by air pollution are discussed in detail, including inflammation, DNA damage, and epigenetic regulation. In addition, advanced materials for personal protection, as well as the current government policies to prevent air pollution, are summarized. This review provides a basis for future research on the relationship between lung cancer and air pollution.

Assessment of extravascular lung water by measuring the number of pulmonary ultrasound B-lines before and after CBP in patients with MODS.

ABSTRACT: To determine whether the change in the number of pulmonary ultrasound B-line can accurately assess the extravascular lung water (EVLW) before and after continuous bedside blood purification (CBP) in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).Seventy-six patients with MODS who underwent CBP were examined within 24 hours before and after CBP using pulmonary ultrasound to detect the number of ultrasound B-line or using pulse indicator continuous cardiac output method to examine extravascular lung water, blood oxygenation index, and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) content. The correlation of the change in the number of B lines before and after CBP treatment with the negative balance of 24 hours liquid, the change of oxygenation index, and BNP content were analyzed.In the 76 patients, CBP treatment significantly decreased EVLW, the number of B-line, and BNP (P < .05 for all), while it significantly increased the oxygenation index (P < .05). Correlation analysis showed that the decrease in B-line number after CBP treatment was positively correlated with the 24 hours negative lung fluid balance, decrease of EVLW, oxygenation index improvement, and decreased BNP content. The change in the numbers of pulmonary ultrasound B-line can accurately assess the change of EVLW before and after CBP treatment and reflect the efficiency of ventilation in the lungs and the risk of heart failure.Thus, it can replace pulse indicator continuous cardiac output as an indicator for evaluating EVLW in patients with MODS treated with CBP.

Safety Assessment of Nanomaterials to Eyes: An Important but Neglected Issue.

The production and application of nanomaterials have grown tremendously during last few decades. The widespread exposure of nanoparticles to the public is provoking great concerns regarding their toxicity to the human body. However, in comparison with the extensive studies carried out to examine nanoparticle toxicity to the human body/organs, one especially vulnerable organ, the eye, is always neglected. Although it is a small part of the body, 90% of outside information is obtained via the ocular system. In addition, eyes usually directly interact with the surrounding environment, which may get severer damage from toxic nanoparticles compared to inner organs. Therefore, the study of assessing the potential nanoparticle toxicity to the eyes is of great importance. Here, the recent advance of some representative manufactured nanomaterials on ocular toxicity is summarized. First, a brief introduction of ocular anatomy and disorders related to particulate matter exposure is presented. Following, the factors that may influence toxicity of nanoparticles to the eye are emphasized. Next, the studies of representative manufactured nanoparticles on eye toxicity are summarized and classified. Finally, the limitations that are associated with current nanoparticle-eye toxicity research are proposed.

Translocation, biotransformation-related degradation, and toxicity assessment of polyvinylpyrrolidone-modified 2H-phase nano-MoS2.

Nano-MoS2 has been extensively investigated in materials science and biomedicine. However, the effects of different methods of exposure on their translocation, biosafety, and biotransformation-related degradability remain unclear. In this study, we combined the advantages of synchrotron radiation (SR) X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and high-resolution single-cell SR transmission X-ray microscopy (SR-TXM) with traditional analytical techniques to investigate translocation, precise degraded species/ratio, and correlation between the degradation and toxicity levels of polyvinylpyrrolidone-modified 2H-phase MoS2 nanosheets (MoS2-PVP NSs). These NSs demonstrated different biodegradability levels in biomicroenvironments with H2O2, catalase, and human myeloperoxidase (hMPO) (H2O2 < catalase < hMPO). The effects of NSs and their biodegraded byproducts on cell viability and 3D translocation at the single-cell level were also assessed. Toxicity and translocation in mice via intravenous (i.v.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), and intragastric (i.g.) administration routes guided by fluorescence (FL) imaging were investigated within the tested dosage. After i.g. administration, NSs accumulated in the gastrointestinal organs and were excreted from feces within 48 h. After i.v. injection, NSs showed noticeable clearance due to their decreased accumulation in the liver and spleen within 30 days when compared with that in the i.p. group, which exhibited slight accumulation in the spleen. This work paves the way for understanding the biological behaviors of nano-MoS2 using SR techniques that provide more opportunities for future applications.

Intelligent testing strategy and analytical techniques for the safety assessment of nanomaterials.

Nanomaterials (NMs) are widely used in various areas because of their unique and useful physicochemical properties. However, they may pose toxicity risks to human health after exposure. Applicable and reliable approaches are needed for risk assessment of NMs. Herein, an intelligent analytical strategy for safety assessment of NMs is proposed that focuses on toxicity assessment using an in vitro cell model. The toxicity assessment by testing on the adverse outcome pathway in a cell culture system was defined by application of a tiered testing approach. To provide an overview of the applicable approach for risk assessment of NMs, we discuss the most commonly used techniques and analytical methods, including computational toxicology methods in dosimetry assessment, high-throughput screening for toxicity testing with high efficiency, and omics-based toxicology assessment methods. The final section focuses on the route map for an integrated approach to a testing and assessment strategy on how to extrapolate the in vitro NM toxicity testing data to in vivo risk assessment of NMs. The intelligent analytical strategy, having evolved step-by-step, could contribute to better applications for safety evaluation and risk assessment of NMs in reality.

Gold Nanomaterials in Consumer Cosmetics Nanoproducts: Analyses, Characterization, and Dermal Safety Assessment.

Establishment of analytical methods of engineered nanomaterials in consumer products for their human and environmental risk assessment becomes urgent for both academic and industrial needs. Owing to the difficulties and challenges around nanomaterials in complex media, proper chemical separation and biological assays of nanomaterials from nanoproducts needs to be firstly developed. Herein, a facile and rapid method to separate and analyze gold nanomaterials in cosmetics is reported. Gold nanomaterials are successfully separated from different facial or eye creams and their physiochemical properties are analyzed by quantitative and qualitative state-of-the art techniques with high sensitivity or high spatial resolution. In turn, a protocol including quantification of gold by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and thorough characterization of morphology, size distribution, and surface property by electron microscopes, atomic force microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope is developed. Subsequently, the preliminary toxicity assessment indicates that gold nanomaterials in cosmetic creams have no observable toxicity to human keratinocytes even after 24 h exposure up to a concentration of 200 µg mL-1 . The environmental scanning electron microscope reveals that gold nanomaterials are mostly attached on the cell membrane. Thus, the present study provides a full analysis protocol for toxicity assessment of gold nanomaterials in consumer products (cosmetic creams).

A randomized open-labeled study to demonstrate the non-inferiority of purified chick-embryo cell rabies vaccine administered in the Zagreb regimen (2-1-1) compared with the Essen regimen in Chinese adults.

The Zagreb regimen has been used for 20 years in various countries. In China, until 2010, the Zagreb schedule was only approved for purified chick embryo cell vaccine (PCECV) and purified Vero cell rabies vaccines (PVRV). In this phase III clinical trial, we aimed to demonstrate the safety and immunogenic non-inferiority of the Zagreb regimen compared with the Essen regimen in healthy adult Chinese immunized with PCECV (Rabipur®). The study enrolled 825 subjects aged 18 to 50 years; serum samples were collected on Days 0, 7, 14, 42, and at 13 months to assess rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) concentrations. Solicited and unsolicited local and systemic reactions were recorded for 6 days following the day of vaccination, and collected throughout the entire study period (Day 1 until Month 13). The Zagreb regimen was non-inferior to the Essen regimen with regard to RVNA concentrations after 7, 14, and 42 days, and 13 months of immunization. The non-inferiority of seroconversion was established at Days 14 and 42. The incidence of local and systemic reactions was similar between groups, and mostly of mild or moderate severity. Vaccine-related adverse events occurred more frequently in the Essen group than in the Zagreb group. Vaccination with PCECV under a 2-1-1 regimen is as safe and immunogenic as under the traditional 5-dose Essen regimen for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, and is a more cost-effective option, has a more practical vaccination schedule, and can potentially increase compliance.

Rapid determination of cell mass and density using digitally controlled electric field in a microfluidic chip.

The density of a single cell is a fundamental property of cells. Cells in the same cycle phase have similar volume, but the differences in their mass and density could elucidate each cell's physiological state. Here we report a novel technique to rapidly measure the density and mass of a single cell using an optically induced electrokinetics (OEK) microfluidic platform. Presently, single cellular mass and density measurement devices require a complicated fabrication process and their output is not scalable, i.e., it is extremely difficult to measure the mass and density of a large quantity of cells rapidly. The technique reported here operates on a principle combining sedimentation theory, computer vision, and microparticle manipulation techniques in an OEK microfluidic platform. We will show in this paper that this technique enables the measurement of single-cell volume, density, and mass rapidly and accurately in a repeatable manner. The technique is also scalable - it allows simultaneous measurement of volume, density, and mass of multiple cells. Essentially, a simple time-controlled projected light pattern is used to illuminate the selected area on the OEK microfluidic chip that contains cells to lift the cells to a particular height above the chip's surface. Then, the cells are allowed to "free fall" to the chip's surface, with competing buoyancy, gravitational, and fluidic drag forces acting on the cells. By using a computer vision algorithm to accurately track the motion of the cells and then relate the cells' motion trajectory to sedimentation theory, the volume, mass, and density of each cell can be rapidly determined. A theoretical model of micro-sized spheres settling towards an infinite plane in a microfluidic environment is first derived and validated experimentally using standard micropolystyrene beads to demonstrate the viability and accuracy of this new technique. Next, we show that the yeast cell volume, mass, and density could be rapidly determined using this technology, with results comparable to those using the existing method suspended microchannel resonator.

Single layer of polymeric cobalt phthalocyanine: promising low-cost and high-activity nanocatalysts for CO oxidation.

The catalytic behavior of transition metals (Sc to Zn) combined in polymeric phthalocyanine (Pc) is investigated systematically by using first-principles calculations. The results indicate that CoPc exhibits the highest catalytic activity for CO oxidation at room temperature with low energy barriers. By exploring the two well-established mechanisms for CO oxidation with O2 , namely, the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) and the Eley-Rideal (ER) mechanisms, it is found that the first step of CO oxidation catalyzed by CoPc is the LH mechanism (CO + O2 → CO2 + O) with energy barrier as low as 0.65 eV. The second step proceeds via both ER and LH mechanisms (CO + O → CO2 ) with small energy barriers of 0.10 and 0.12 eV, respectively. The electronic resonance among Co-3d, CO-2π*, and O2 -2π* orbitals is responsible for the high activity of CoPc. These results have significant implications for a novel avenue to fabricate organometallic sheet nanocatalysts for CO oxidation with low cost and high activity.

Full assessment of fate and physiological behavior of quantum dots utilizing Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism.

We evaluated the in vivo fate and physiological behavior of quantum dots (QDs) in Caenorhabditis elegans by GFP transfection, fluorescent imaging, synchrotron radiation based elemental imaging, and speciation techniques. The in situ metabolism and degradation of QDs in the alimentary system and long-term toxicity on reproduction are fully assessed. This work highlights the utility of the C. elegans model as a multiflexible platform to allow noninvasively imaging and monitoring in vivo consequences of engineered nanomaterials.

Biosafety assessment of Gd@C82(OH)22 nanoparticles on Caenorhabditis elegans.

Gd@C(82)(OH)(22), a water-soluble endohedral metallofullerene derivative, has been proven to possess significant antineoplastic activity in mice. Toxicity studies of the nanoparticle have shown some evidence of low or non toxicity in mice and cell models. Here we employed Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism to further evaluate the short- and long-term toxicity of Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) and possible behavior changes under normal and stress culture conditions. With treatment of Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) at 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 10 µg ml(-1) within one generation (short-term), C. elegans showed no significant decrease in longevity or thermotolerance compared to the controls. Furthermore, when Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) treatment was extended up to six generations (long-term), non-toxic effects to the nematodes were found. In addition, data from body length measurement, feeding rate and egg-laying assays with short-term treatment demonstrated that the nanoparticles have no significant impact on the individual growth, feeding behavior and reproductive ability, respectively. In summary, this work has shown that Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) is tolerated well by worms and it has no apparent toxic effects on longevity, stress resistance, growth and behaviors that were observed in both adult and young worms. Our work lays the foundations for further developments of this anti-neoplastic agent for clinical applications.

Ecotoxicological assessment of lanthanum with Caenorhabditis elegans in liquid medium.

With their widespread applications in industry, agriculture and many other fields, more and more rare earth elements (REEs) are getting into the environment, especially the aquatic systems. Therefore, understanding the aquatic ecotoxicity of REEs has become more and more important. In the present work, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was used as a test organism and life-cycle endpoints were chosen along with elemental assay to evaluate the aquatic toxicity of lanthanum (La), a representative of REEs. The results show La³+ had significant adverse effects on the growth and reproduction of worms above a concentration of 10 µmol L⁻¹. The elemental mapping by microbeam synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (µ-SRXRF) illustrated how La treatment disturbed the metals distribution in the whole body of a single tiny nematode at lower levels. Our results suggested that the high-level REEs in some polluted water bodies would lead to an aquatic ecological crisis. The assessment we performed in the present work could be developed as a standardized test design for aquatic toxicological research.

Particokinetics and extrapulmonary translocation of intratracheally instilled ferric oxide nanoparticles in rats and the potential health risk assessment.

Exposure to nanoparticles has presented potential risks to human cardiorespiratory systems. Pulmonary retention and extrapulmonary redistribution of inhaled nanoparticles have been considered to be important contributing factors of cardiorespiratory diseases. In the present work, 22-nm (59)Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles (radioactive isotope (59)Fe-labeled ferric oxide nanoparticles) were intratracheally instilled into the male Sprague-Dawley rats at a dose of 4 mg/rat. Extrapulmonary distribution of (59)Fe(2)O(3) in organs and its metabolism in lung, blood, urine, and feces were measured for 50 days of exposure. Phagocytosis and clearance of agglomerated nano-Fe(2)O(3) by monocytes/macrophages were observed by histopathology and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry examination. Our results showed intratracheal-instilled nano-(59)Fe(2)O(3) could pass through the alveolar-capillary barrier into systemic circulation within 10 min that consisted with one-compartment kinetic model. The nano-(59)Fe(2)O(3) in the lung was distributed to organs rich in mononuclear phagocytes, including liver, spleen, kidney and testicle. The plasma elimination half-life of nano-(59)Fe(2)O(3) was 22.8 days and the lung clearance rate was 3.06 microg/day, indicating the systemic accumulation and lung retention had occurred. The deposited nano-Fe(2)O(3) in interstitial lung was probably contributed by the particles escaping from alveolar macrophages phagocytosis and macrophages clearance function overloading. Our results suggest that the effect of Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles exposure, even at low concentration, should be assessed because of the potential lung and systemic cumulative toxicity of the nanoparticles.

Trend and disease burden of bacillary dysentery in China (1991-2000).

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the burden of bacillary dysentery in China, its cross-regional variations, trends in morbidity and mortality, the causative bacterial species and antimicrobial resistance patterns. METHODS: We extracted and integrated governmental statistics and relevant medical literature published from 1991 to 2000. Data were also collected from one general hospital each for the six provinces and Jin-an district, Shanghai, representative of six geographical regions and a modern city. FINDINGS: In 2000, 0.8-1.7 million episodes of bacillary dysentery occurred of which 0.5 to 0.7 million were treated at health-care facilities and 0.15-0.20 million patients were hospitalized. The highest morbidity and mortality rates were among the youngest and oldest age groups. Bacillary dysentery peaked during the summer months. The major causative species was Shigella flexneri (86%) and the predominant S. flexneri serotype was 2a (80%). About 74-80% of Shigella isolates remained susceptible to fluorinated quinolones. CONCLUSION: We conclude that while morbidity and mortality due to bacillary dysentery has decreased considerably in China in the past decade due to increasing access to affordable health care and antibiotics, a considerable burden exists among the youngest and oldest age groups and in regions with low economic development. We suggest that while a vaccine would be effective for short- and medium-term control of bacillary dysentery, improved water supply, sanitation, and hygiene are likely to be required for long-term control.