Evidence of Microplastics in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid among Never-Smokers: A Prospective Case Series.

Microplastics (MPs) are abundant in air, but evidence of their deposition in the respiratory tract is limited. We conducted a prospective case series to investigate the deposition of microplastics in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and determine the internal dose of MPs via inhalation. Eighteen never-smokers aged 32-74 years who underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy with BALF were recruited from Zhuhai, China. Control samples were obtained by performing the same procedure using isotonic saline instead of BALF. Laser direct infrared spectroscopy combined with scanning electron microscopy detected the presence and characteristics of MPs and quantitatively analyzed the microplastic in BALF and control samples. Concentrations of total and specific MPs in BALF and control samples were compared using the Wilcox test. Thirteen types of MPs were observed in 18 BALF samples. Polyethylene (PE, 86.1%) was the most abundant in BALF, followed by poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET, 7.5%) and polypropylene (PP, 1.9%). Compared with the control samples, BALF had significantly higher concentrations of PE (median [IQR] of BALF: 0.38 [8.05] N/g), PET (0.26 [0.54] N/g), polyurethane (0.16 [0.24] N/g), PP (0.16 [0.11] N/g), and total MPs (0.91 [6.58] N/g). The presence of MPs in BALF provides novel evidence that MPs penetrate deep into the respiratory tract.

Efficacy of Matrine, Rotenone, and Pyrethrin Against Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Their Impact on Aquatic Organisms.

Chemicals, including toxic bait and dusts, are the main means of controlling the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta (abbreviation 'RIFA'), which is a serious invasive pest. To identify environmentally friendly chemicals for controlling RIFA, we tested the toxicity and horizontal transfer of three botanical insecticides-matrine, rotenone, and pyrethrin-and their impact on aquatic organisms (i.e., three fish and one shrimp). The LD50 value of matrine, rotenone, and pyrethrin was 0.24, 50.929, and 13.590 ng/ant, respectively. Matrine, rotenone, and pyrethrin had effective horizontal transfer and caused significant secondary mortality. After exposure to donor workers, 90.75%, 90.75%, and 100% of recipient workers in the 0.025% matrine, 1.0% rotenone, and 0.3% pyrethrin dust treatments, respectively, died within 48 h. Furthermore, 0.025% matrine dust caused significant tertiary mortality (49.5%). Tertiary mortality caused by 1.0% rotenone and 0.3% pyrethrin dusts was very low, only 7.75% and 18.5%, respectively. In a field trial, the comprehensive mortality effect of 0.05% matrine, 1.50% rotenone, and 0.375% pyrethrin dust was 74.96%, 30.10%, and 29.27%, respectively, after 14 d of treatment. Matrine had low toxicity to the fish Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, and 37.5 mg/L pyrethrin had low toxicity to the fish Cirrhinus molitorella, H. molitrix, and Oreochromis niloticus. However, rotenone was highly toxic to all three fish. The shrimp Neocaridina denticulate was not sensitive to matrine, rotenone, or pyrethrin. Matrine dust has highly effective horizontal transfer, and 0.05% matrine dust has great potential for managing RIFA in organic farms, aquaculture farms of H. molitrix, and water resource regions.

A Biodegradable Stent with Surface Functionalization of Combined-Therapy Drugs for Colorectal Cancer.

In-stent restenosis caused by tumor ingrowth is a major problem for patients undergoing stent placement because conventional stents often lack sustainable antitumor capabilities. The aim of this work is to develop a silk fibroin (SF)-based nanofibrous membrane that is loaded with combined-therapy drugs by using electrospinning technologies, which is further coated on a polydioxanone (PDO) stent and used for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). In order to improve treatment effectiveness, a combination of therapeutic drugs, i.e., curcumin (CUR) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), is dissolved into SF solution and then eletrospun onto the surface of the PDO stent. The morphology, secondary structure, and in vitro drug release profiles of the membranes are characterized. The antitumor efficacy is assessed in vitro and in vivo using a human CRC cell line and normal cells, and tumor-bearing nude mice. In vitro and in vivo studies on the nanofibrous memembrane-coating demonstrate improved antitumor effects for the CUR/5-FU dual drug system which can be attributed to cell cycle arrest in the S phase in association with induced apoptosis in tumor cells by blocking signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (Stat3) and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB) signaling pathways, suggesting potential in the treatment of CRC in the future.