Potential effects of COVID-19 on reproductive health: a mini review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now a major public health problem worldwide. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectivity is extremely strong. One major target of the virus is the lung, which can lead to death due to the development of respiratory distress syndrome and even multiple system organ failure. The possible pathophysiology by which SARS-CoV-2 affects the object is by way of the receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). From the study of the viral structure and infection mechanisms, researchers have discovered that the ACE2 acts as a receptor for SARS-CoV-2. According to previous studies, ACE2 is one of the key enzymes in the RAS system. Physiological functions can be found in angiosarcomas and in the kidney, liver, intestine and so on. Whether SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to male fertility impairment has recently received attention. Nevertheless, the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and reproductive health is currently poorly understood. Using key words including "SARS-CoV-2", "reproductive health", "ACE2" and "2019-nCoV", we retrieved original articles and reviews from the PubMed and WEB OF SCI databases published before December 16, 2020 and performed a thorough review of them. Compared with females, we discovered that infected person with SARS-CoV-2 was higher in males. Men who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 may be easy to suffer from impaired reproductive health. These investigations would help for a comprehensive grasp of the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and reproductive health.

Neuroprotective effects of bis(7)-tacrine against glutamate-induced retinal ganglion cells damage.

BACKGROUND: Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, primarily through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, may be an important cause of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) death in glaucoma and several other retinal diseases. Bis(7)-tacrine is a noncompetitive NMDA receptors antagonist that can prevent glutamate-induced hippocampal neurons damage. We tested the effects of bis(7)-tacrine against glutamate-induced rat RGCs damage in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: In cultured neonatal rats RGCs, the MTT assay showed that glutamate induced a concentration- and time-dependent toxicity. Bis(7)-tacrine and memantine prevented glutamate-induced cell death in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 0.028 microM and 0.834 microM, respectively. The anti-apoptosis effects of bis(7)-tacrine were confirmed by annexin V-FITC/PI staining. In vivo, TUNEL analysis and retrograde labeling analysis found that pretreatment with bis(7)-tacrine(0.2 mg/kg) induced a significant neuroprotective effect against glutamate-induced RGCs damage. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that bis(7)-tacrine had neuroprotective effects against glutamate-induced RGCs damage in vitro and in vivo, possibly through the drug's anti-NMDA receptor effects. These findings make bis(7)-tacrine potentially useful for treating a variety of ischemic or traumatic retinopathies inclusive of glaucoma.

[Pollution Characteristics and Emission Coefficients for Volatile Organic Compounds from the Synthetic Leather Industry in Zhejiang Province].

Based on the survey of 175 synthetic leather enterprises in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2014, this paper analyzes the control of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and, ultimately, screened 161 key enterprises for further research. The results showed that most enterprises take measures to control waste gas; however, there is a distinct problem with the efficiency of exhaust gas collection. The industry used Solvent-based materials. The main VOC pollutants were DMF, toluene, methyl acetate, acetone, ethylacetate, and butanone. The VOC emission coefficient of the synthetic leather industry in Zhejiang was 0.168 kg·m-2. The industry includes polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride processes, for which VOC emission coefficients were 0.170 kg·m-2 and 0.142 kg·m-2, respectively. In addition, the emission coefficient of polyurethane wet processes was 0.191 kg·m-2 and that of dry processes was 0.179 kg·m-2. The emission coefficient for VOCs in post-treatment processes was 0.120 kg·m-2.

[Pollution Characteristics and Emission Coefficient of Volatile Organic Compounds from Auto/motorcycle Parts & Accessories Manufacturing in Zhejiang Province].

The status of volatile organic compound (VOC) treatment in auto/motorcycle parts & accessories manufacturing in Zhejiang province was analyzed based on data from a survey investigating 70 concerned enterprises conducted in 2015. The pollution characteristics were further explored and the emission coefficient of VOCs released from this industry was preliminarily calculated by analyzing the survey data of 56 of the typical enterprises that had been screened further. The results showed that about two thirds of the enterprises had been equipped with collection and treatment facilities, but most of those facilities were running abnormally. Solvent-based materials were used commonly in this industry, and the main VOCs pollutants were xylene, butyl acetate, cyclohexanone, acetic ether, and toluene. The VOCs emission coefficient of auto/motorcycle parts & accessories manufacturing in Zhejiang was 414 g·(thousand yuan)-1, whereas the emission coefficient of the enterprises producing parts & accessories for only auto was 294 g·(thousand yuan)-1. As for the the enterprises producing parts & accessories for only motorcycle and for both auto and motorcycle, the emission coefficient reached 715 g·(thousand yuan)-1.

[Association among serous and cerebrospinal fluid TNF-alpha level, gene polymorphisms of TNF-alpha and multiple sclerosis in Han nationality of southern China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association among serous and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) TNF-alpha level, gene polymorphisms of TNF-alpha and multiple sclerosis (MS) in Han nationality of southern China. METHODS: MS diagnosis was base on Poser (1983) criteria. Fifty-five patients with nonimmulogical diseases and 68 patients with MS from southern China were enrolled in the study, and their TNF-alpha level of serum and CSF were measured by double antibody sandwich ABC-ELISA. TNF-alpha -308G/A in 106 normal healthy subjects and 68 MS patients was genotyped with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: There was significant difference in the serous TNF-alpha level between nonimmune patients and active MS patients (234+/- 76 pg/mL vs 276+/- 71 pg/mL, P< 0.05), but not in the CSF (245+/- 83 pg/mL vs 265+/- 78 pg/mL, P> 0.05). The gene frequency distribution of TNF-alpha -308G/A was corresponding with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The positive rate of genotype AA and the gene frequency of allele A of TNF-alpha were 4.4% and 14.0% in MS group, and 0 and 8.50% in healthy subjects, there was no statistical significance (P> 0.05). CONCLUSION: The TNF-alpha level in serum is associated with active MS, but not in the CSF. The gene polymorphisms of TNF-alpha -308G/A is not associated with MS in Han nationality of southern China.

[Pollution Characteristics and Emission Coefficient of Volatile Organic Compounds from Woodwork-making Industry in Zhejiang Province].

To explore the pollution characteristics and emission coefficient of volatile organic compound (VOCs) released from the woodwork-making industry in Zhejiang province, this paper used the survey data of 310 woodwork enterprises obtained in 2015 to analyze the current VOCs treatment status of woodwork-making industry, and further screened 213 key enterprises to study the emission coefficient of woodwork-making industry. The results showed that more than 94% of woodwork enterprises failed to effectively dispose VOCs since most woodwork enterprises did not have treatment facilities. Moreover, solvent-based materials such as adhesive and paint were still commonly used in woodwork-making industry. Meanwhile, the main pollutants of VOCs in woodwork-making industry were dimethyl benzene, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, toluene and formaldehyde. Furthermore, the VOCs emission coefficient of woodwork-making industry in Zhejiang was 93.4 g·(million Yuan)-1, while it was affected by the production processes, and the VOCs emission coefficient of enterprises using the coating techniques was higher than that using the adhesive techniques, being 93.6 g·(million Yuan)-1 and 9.5 g·(million Yuan)-1, respectively. Furthermore, the major polluting stage of woodwork-making industry was coating stage, and the VOCs emission coefficient was 31.0 g·(million Yuan)-1 when waterborne and UV coating was used. The highest VOCs emission coefficient was from wooden furniture manufacturers, which could reach 168.5 g·(million Yuan)-1 when solvent-based coatings were used.

[Pollution Characteristics and Emission Coefficient of Volatile Organic Compounds from Shoe-making Industry in Zhejiang Province].

To explore the pollution characteristics and emission coefficient of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from the shoe-making industry in Zhejiang province, this paper used the survey data of 490 shoe enterprises obtained in 2015 to analyze the current VOCs treatment status of shoe-making industry, and further screened 178 key enterprises to study the emission coefficient of shoe-making industry. The results showed that more than 95% of shoe enterprises failed to effectively dispose VOCs, because most shoe enterprises did not have treatment facilities. Moreover, solvent-based materials such as adhesive and primer were still commonly used in approximately 90% of shoe-making industry. Meanwhile, the main pollutants of VOCs in shoe-making industry were 2-butanone, toluene, acetone, cyclohexanone, ethyl acetate, xylene, dichloromethane and cyclohexane. Furthermore, the VOCs emission coefficient of shoe-making industry in Zhejiang was 29.5 g-1, while it was affected by the production processes, and the cemented construction techniques was higher than the injection techniques, which VOCs emission coefficients were 35.9 g-1 and 23.8 g-1, respectively. Furthermore, the major polluting stage of shoe-making industry was sole attaching, in which VOCs emission coefficient could reach 20.8 g-1.

[Study on the emission characteristics and potential environment hazards of the heat-setting machine of the typical dyeing and finishing enterprise].

To explore the emission characteristics and potential environment hazards of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from the heat-setting machine of the textile dyeing and finishing process, this paper selected five typical printing and dyeing enterprises in Zhejiang province as the monitoring subjects, and analyzed the actual emissions of 12 kinds of VOCs from the heat-setting machine (such as benzene methanol, formaldehyde, etc.), and then preliminarily estimated the emissions of VOCs from heat-setting machines of the whole province. Through analysis of the ozone generating potential, this paper preliminarily evaluated its harm to the environment. The results showed that although the concentration of VOCs was low, it contained benzene and formaldehyde, and the highest detection concentration could reach 1.53 mg x m(-3) and 15.4 mg x m(-3), which might cause serious environmental and human health hazards, Moreover, the VOCs emission from heat-setting machines in Zhejiang province was between 200. 9 t x a(-1) and 2 239.3 t x a(-1), which was dominated by formaldehyde, accounting for about 50%. The O3 yield generated from VOCs was between 860.4 t and 16 715. 5 t, with the average of 7 729.6 t. The main contribution of VOCs was xylene, toluene and formaldehyde, which could account for more than 90%. Furthermore, the VOCs emission from heat-setting machines in Shaoxing industry agglomeration area could have great influence on the ambient air quality, especially for the O3 concentration and the minimum contribution rate was 3.1%.

[Emission characteristics and hazard assessment analysis of volatile organic compounds from chemical synthesis pharmaceutical industry].

In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from chemical synthesis pharmaceutical industry in Taizhou, Zhejiang province were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) was in the range of 14.9-308.6 mg · m(-3). Evaluation models of ozone formation potentials (OFP) and health risk assessment were adopted to preliminarily assess the environmental impact and health risk of VOCs. The results showed that the values of OFP of VOCs were in the range of 3.1-315.1 mg · m(-3), based on the maximum incremental reactivity, the main principal contribution was toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), acetic ether etc. The non-carcinogenic risk and the carcinogen risk fell in the ranges of 9.48 x 10(-7)-4.98 x 10(-4) a(-1) and 3.17 x 10(-5)- 6.33 x 10(-3). The principal contribution of VOCs was benzene, formaldehyde and methylene chloride.

[Health risk assessment and ozone formation potentials of volatile organic compounds from pharmaceutical industry in Zhejiang Province].

In the present study, the main source and characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from pharmaceutical industry in Zhejiang Province were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Based on these results, the internationally recognized evaluation model for health risk assessment and ozone formation potentials (OFP) was adopted to preliminarily assess the environmental impact and health risk of those VOCs. The results showed that the OFP of VOCs was in the range of 16.1-79, 2 mL x m(-3), based on the maximum incremental reactivity. The principal contribution of VOCs was from nine kinds of substances including ethyl acetate, acetone, toluene and xylene, etc. Moreover, the health risk of VOCs was mainly generated from benzene, ethylene oxide, dichloromethane and formaldehyde owing to their carcinogenicity, which could account for more than 69% in the value of non-carcinogenic risk and 100% in the cancer risk. Additionally, according to the comparison of these assessments, the environmental hazards and health risk produced by VOCs could not be neglected during the development of VOCs emissions standards, especially in the screening of the control factors for the standards.

[Characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission from recycled waste polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) industry].

In the present study, the main source and characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from recycled waste polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in Zhejiang province was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Based on those results, the internationally recognized evaluation model of health risk assessment was adopted in the preliminary assessment of the health risk of those VOCs. The results showed that methanol (MeOH) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were the main pollutants. Emission from part of enterprises exceeded the national standards in MeOH and MMA, especially for fugitive emissions of odor concentration. Moreover, health risk value of fugitive emissions was very low and did not cause harm to human health. Additionally, to better accelerate industrial upgrading and environment pollution treatment, the emission limits of MeOH, MMA and odor concentration were suggested and the values of existing/new (fugitive emission) limitations were 45/30 (0.5) mg x m(-3), 30/25 (0.5) mg x m(-3), and 1000/800 (20), respectively.