A Transparent Additive-Free Fibrous Facial Mask for Skin Moisturizing.

Most sheet facial masks for skincare are made of nonwovens and loaded with liquid active ingredients, which are usually opaque and require additives for long-term preservation. Herein, a Transparent Additive-Free Fibrous (TAFF) facial mask is reported for skin moisturizing. The TAFF facial mask consists of a bilayer fibrous membrane. The inner layer is fabricated by electrospinning functional components of gelatin (GE) and hyaluronic acid (HA) into a solid fibrous membrane to get rid of additives, the outer layer is an ultrathin PA6 fibrous membrane that is highly transparent, especially after absorbing water. The results indicate that the GE-HA membrane can quickly absorb water and become a transparent hydrogel film. By employing the hydrophobic PA6 membrane as the outer layer, directional water transport is achieved, which enables TAFF facial mask with excellent skin moisturizing effect. The skin moisture content is up to 84% ± 7% after placing the TAFF facial mask on the skin for 10 min. In addition, the relative transparency of the TAFF facial mask on the skin reaches 97.0% ± 1.9% when ultrathin PA6 membrane is used as the outer layer. The design of the transparent additive-free facial mask may serve as a guideline for developing new functional facial masks.

Application of multiple occupational health risk assessment models in occupation health risk prediction of trichloroethylene in the electroplating and electronics industries.

Objectives. This study assessed the occupational health risks of work group exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) in the electroplating and electronics industries in China. Methods. The UK Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essential, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Singapore and the Chinese semiquantitative risk assessment models were used to assess the risks of TCE. Twenty degreasing groups and 14 cleaning groups were recruited in the companies selected. Results. The concentrations of TCE in 66.7% of the cleaning groups and 35.0% of the degreasing groups exceeded the permissible concentration time-weighted average (PC-TWA) in China, and the concentrations of TCE in 100.0% of the cleaning groups and 70.0% of the degreasing groups exceeded the permissible concentration short-term exposure limit (PC-STEL) in China. Over 60.0% of the work groups were evaluated at high risk and over half of the work groups were evaluated at high cancer risk by the risk assessment models. Conclusion. Most work groups exposed to TCE in the electroplating and electronics industries in China are at high risk. The cleaning groups may have a higher risk for TCE exposure. The Chinese exposure index method and the synthesis index method are more practical than the other methods.

Clinical efficacy of high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin in acute Guillain-Barre syndrome and effect on serum concentration of inflammatory factors.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin (IVIG) in acute Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and its effect on serum concentrations of inflammatory factors. METHODS: A total of 111 patients with acute GBS were enrolled in this retrospective study. They were admitted to Ji'nan City People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020. According to the treatment method, the patients were divided into a control group (n=53, received routine treatment) and an observation group (n=58, received high-dose IVIG in addition to routine treatment). The clinical efficacy, Barthel index for activities of daily living (ADL), serum concentrations of inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α, NO) in peripheral blood, potential of electromyography signals, abnormal rates of motor and sensory conduction velocity, and F wave abnormality rate were compared. Also, the risk factors affecting IVIG treatment efficacy were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall response rate, and Barthel index for ADL were higher, while serum concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, and NO were lower in the observation group than the control group (all P<0.05). There were differences in spontaneous potential and motor potential before and after treatment in both groups (both P<0.05). The observation group showed lower abnormal rates of motor and sensory conduction velocity, F wave abnormality rate, and prolonged latency rate than the control group (all P<0.05). Concomitant lung infection, respiratory muscle involvement, and treatment with high-dose IVIG >2 weeks from onset were independent risk factors for treatment efficacy. CONCLUSION: High-dose IVIG has good clinical efficacy in treating acute GBS by reducing the serum concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, and NO, improving patients' abnormal muscle electrical condition, and promoting recovery. It is recommended for use clinically at an early stage. At the same time, lung infection must be prevented.

The relationship between occupational stress and job burnout among female manufacturing workers in Guangdong, China: a cross-sectional study.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between occupational stress and job burnout in female manufacturing workers. A random sample of 1081 female workers in electronic manufacturing in Guangdong Province participated in the present study. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire that covered social-demographic characteristics, the Chinese version of the Job Content Questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Effort-reward Imbalance Questionnaire, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory for the General Survey, was used to assess occupational stress and job burnout. Independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis, hierarchical multiple regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were used in data analysis. Occupational stress was positively correlated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and negatively correlated with personal accomplishment. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, job strain was a risk factor for emotional exhaustion (OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.61-3.20) and depersonalization (OR = 1.96 95% CI: 1.45-2.64). Female workers with high effort-reward imbalance had an increased risk of depersonalization (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.33-2.90). Furthermore, female workers with high overcommitment had an increased risk of emotional exhaustion (OR = 3.07, 95% CI: 2.06-4.58) and depersonalization (OR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.92-4.17), while higher social support reduced the risk of emotional exhaustion (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.26-0.53). The job burnout of female manufacturing workers is significantly correlated with their occupational stress. Higher job strain and overcommitment might be important contributors to job burnout. Increased worker social support can reduce job burnout.

The prediction of occupational health risks of benzene in the printing industry through multiple occupational health risk assessment models.

Background: Benzene poisoning is a common occupational poisoning event in the printing industries. Up to now there is still a lack of research data on risk assessment of benzene operations in enclosed workshops. It is crucial to assess the risk level of these positions and put forward effective measures and suggestions. Methods: The information of selected companies and air samples were collected through on-site investigation, data collation and sample testing were carried out according to the requirements of Chinese standards. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essential, the EPA non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, the Singapore exposure index method and the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models were used to assess the risks of benzene. Results: The exposed groups all worked more than 8 h per day, and the cleaning, pasting, and packaging groups used general ventilation rather than local ventilation. 28.6% of the printing group and 16.7% of the pasting group had benzene concentrations that exceeded the permissible concentration-time weighted average (PC-TWA) in China. Over 60.0% of the work groups were evaluated at high risk and over 20% of the work groups were evaluated at high cancer risk by the risk assessment models. Conclusion: The Chinese exposure index method and the synthesis index method may have a stronger practicability. The printing and pasting groups may have a higher risk for benzene exposure. It is necessary to increase protective measures and strengthen occupational hygiene management to reduce risks.

Application of multiple occupational health risk assessment models in the prediction of occupational health risks of n-Hexane in the air-conditioned closed workshop.

Background: n-Hexane (NH) poisoning is a common occupational poisoning in the hardware and electronics industries. However, there is few research data on risk assessment of positions using NH in enclosed workshops. It is very important to assess the risk level of these positions and put forward effective measures and suggestions. Methods: The information of selected companies and air samples were collected through on-site investigation, and data collation and sample testing were carried out according to the requirements of Chinese standards. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essential, the EPA non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, the Singapore exposure index method and the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models were used to assess the risks of NH. Results: The working hours of the exposure groups, printing groups and packing groups all exceeded 9 h per day, less than 30% of each similar exposure groups (SEG) was equipped with the local exhaust ventilation, and 11.1% of the cleaning group and 8.3% of the printing group had NH concentrations in the air that exceeded the Chinese occupational exposure limit (OEL). In the EPA non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, each SEG was evaluated at high risk. In the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models, all of the work groups of exposure groups, 91.7% of the work groups of printing groups, 77.8% of the work groups of printing groups, and 57.1% of the work groups of printing groups were evaluated at unacceptable risk. More than 40.0% of the work groups of printing groups and cleaning groups and over 20.0% of the work groups of exposure groups and packing groups were evaluated at high risk in the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models. Conclusions: The Chinese exposure index method and the synthesis index method may have a stronger practicability. Some work groups that use NH in air-conditioned enclosed workshops in China, especially the cleaning groups, are still in a high-risk state. It is necessary to increase protective measures and strengthen occupational hygiene management to reduce risks.

High-quality Al@Fe-MOF prepared using Fe-MOF as a micro-reactor to improve adsorption performance for selenite.

High-quality Al@Fe-MOF was prepared by in situ modification of Fe-MOF with Al3+ to improve the adsorption performance for selenite (Se(Ⅳ)). The structures and properties of Al@Fe-MOF were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen isothermal adsorption-desorption measurement and zeta potential. The adsorption performance of Al@Fe-MOF for Se(Ⅳ) was studied by batch adsorption experiments. A large number of pores in Al@Fe-MOF were filled by AlOOH and some bayerite formed on the surfaces. Compared with those of Fe-MOF, the specific surface area (SSA) and microporosity of Al@Fe-MOF decreased to 1368 m2/g and 38.5%, respectively. Hydrolysis occurred at pH > 5.0 for Fe-MOF, but did not for Al@Fe-MOF at the pH range of 3.0-7.0. Compared with in Fe-MOF, the adsorption capacity and efficiency of SSA for Se(Ⅳ) were increased by 77% and 112%, and the average free energy of adsorption was increased to 11.62 kJ/mol in Al@Fe-MOF. Besides, the Se(Ⅳ) adsorption amount of Al@Fe-MOF was almost not influenced by the pH from 3.0 to 7.0. The high resolution XPS (HR-XPS) and pH analysis indicated that Al species in Al@Fe-MOF could significantly increase the density of adsorption sites to improve its adsorption capacity for Se(Ⅳ).

Genotoxicity of total and fractionated extractable organic matter in fine air particulate matter from urban Guangzhou: comparison between haze and nonhaze episodes.

To investigate the genotoxic potencies of extractable organic matter (EOM) in aerosols, fine air particulate matter (PM(2.5)) was collected simultaneously at a roadside (1.2 m above ground) and at a rooftop location (50 m above ground) in urban Guangzhou (China) during a nonhaze period in September 2006 and a haze period in October 2006. Particle-bound organics were extracted and separated into aliphatic, aromatic, and polar fractions. The genotoxicity of total and fractionated extracts were tested by single-cell electrophoresis (comet assay) with human blood lymphocytes. The PM(2.5) concentrations usually exceeded the U.S. National Ambient Air-Quality Standard level (65 microg/m(3)) at both the roadside and the rooftop. During nonhaze days, the roadside samples showed substantially higher PM(2.5) levels (108-130 microg/m(3)) and significantly higher genotoxic effects of total and fractionated EOM (p < 0.05 for >10 m(3) air equivalent/ml) than the rooftop samples. During haze days, however, PM(2.5) levels and genotoxic potencies of rooftop samples were drastically elevated and comparable to those of roadside samples, implying that during haze episodes, most people in the urban area are exposed to PM(2.5) pollution as serious as in the heavily polluted roadside microenvironment. All total EOM samples showed significant (p < 0.05) dose-response effects, and their effects as olive tail moment were less than the sums of the three fractions. Aromatic fractions of EOM exhibited the greatest genotoxic potencies, but polar fractions also contributed substantially to DNA-damaging effects. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrated derivatives likely are the most important species responsible for the genotoxicity of EOM in PM(2.5).

[Joint acute toxicity of fipronil and bata-cypermethrin to protozoa community].

Compared with the toxicity test on single organism, the effects of toxic pollutants on organisms at community level are more reliable. The acute single and joint toxic effects of Fipronil and Bata-cypermethrin on freshwater protozoa community are studied in this paper. The results show that the 48h-LC50 of Fipronil and Bata-cypermethrin to the microbial community was 35.83mg x L(- 1), 1.92mg x L(-1), the joint toxicity of Bata-cypermethrin and Fipronil was antagonism in 48h with toxicity 1: 1 to freshwater protozoa community, and Additive Index was -0.08. The structure of protozoa community would change in a low concentration of Bata-cypermethrin and Fipronil mixture; the species and population of Algivores(A) and Predators Raptors (P) would reduce but Bactivoresdetrivores(B) would become predominant relatively.