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Journal of Hazardous Materials Aug 2022A system-wide cardiovascular response to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) has been rarely described. To systemically understand the mechanisms underlying... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
A system-wide cardiovascular response to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) has been rarely described. To systemically understand the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular effects of TRAP, we conducted a randomized, crossover trial in 56 young adults, who engaged in two 4-hour exposure sessions on a main road and in a park, alternately. We measured personal exposures to traffic-related air pollutants (TRAPs), including fine and ultrafine particulate matter, black carbon, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. Lipidomics, targeted proteomics, urine metabolomics, targeted biomarkers, ambulatory blood pressure and electrocardiogram were measured. We used linear mixed-effects models to estimate the associations. The exposures to TRAPs except for fine particulate matter in the road session were 2-3 times higher. We observed elevated blood pressure and decreased heart rate variability (HRV) after TRAP exposure, accompanied by dozens of molecular alterations involving systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, coagulation, and lipid metabolism. Pathways like vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and biomarkers like trimethylamine N-Oxide might also be disturbed. Some of these TRAP-related molecular biomarkers were also associated with changes of blood pressure or HRV. Our results provided systematical mechanistic profiling for the cardiovascular effects of TRAP using multi omics, which may have implications in TRAP control.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Biomarkers; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; Cross-Over Studies; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Particulate Matter; Vehicle Emissions; Young Adult
PubMed: 35523096
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129031 -
Nature Immunology Nov 2019Low exposure to microbial products, respiratory viral infections and air pollution are major risk factors for allergic asthma, yet the mechanistic links between such...
Low exposure to microbial products, respiratory viral infections and air pollution are major risk factors for allergic asthma, yet the mechanistic links between such conditions and host susceptibility to type 2 allergic disorders remain unclear. Through the use of single-cell RNA sequencing, we characterized lung neutrophils in mice exposed to a pro-allergic low dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or a protective high dose of LPS before exposure to house dust mites. Unlike exposure to a high dose of LPS, exposure to a low dose of LPS instructed recruited neutrophils to upregulate their expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and to release neutrophil extracellular traps. Low-dose LPS-induced neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps potentiated the uptake of house dust mites by CD11bLy-6C dendritic cells and type 2 allergic airway inflammation in response to house dust mites. Neutrophil extracellular traps derived from CXCR4 neutrophils were also needed to mediate allergic asthma triggered by infection with influenza virus or exposure to ozone. Our study indicates that apparently unrelated environmental risk factors can shape recruited lung neutrophils to promote the initiation of allergic asthma.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Allergens; Animals; Asthma; Dendritic Cells; Disease Models, Animal; Environmental Exposure; Extracellular Traps; Female; Humans; Lipopolysaccharides; Lung; Mice; Neutrophils; Orthomyxoviridae; Ozone; Pyroglyphidae; Receptors, CXCR4; Up-Regulation
PubMed: 31591573
DOI: 10.1038/s41590-019-0496-9 -
Journal of Glaucoma Dec 2018Accurate gonioscopy is necessary for the diagnosis and the treatment of glaucoma. The "gold standard" for indirect gonioscopy has been the Goldmann 3-mirror lens,...
PURPOSE
Accurate gonioscopy is necessary for the diagnosis and the treatment of glaucoma. The "gold standard" for indirect gonioscopy has been the Goldmann 3-mirror lens, requires an optical coupling agent (methylcellulose) between the cornea and under the surface of the goniolens. The design of an ideal lens would not only eliminate the need for gel, but could at the same time solve the problems associated with the trapping of an air bubble under the lens.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This investigation involved a prototype 2-mirror goniolens with a radius of curvature of 8.4 mm and a 16 mm diameter area of corneal contact. A total of, 69 consecutive patients had bilateral keratometer measurements made. The prototype 2-mirror lens was applied to the anesthetized eye. The results of this examination were tabulated by one of the authors (F.M.K.); A=good fit without trapping of air, B=good fit but trapped bubble of air which could be expelled by the patient turning their eye towards the bubble, and C=total failure to expel the trapped bubble of air. Finally, if there were wrinkles in Descemet's membrane, this was recorded.
RESULTS
A total of 64 patients were evaluated with a prototype 2-mirror lens. In total, 54/64 (84.38%) of eyes were successfully evaluated without trapping of an air bubble.
CONCLUSION
Our stated goal of eliminating the need for gel as a coupling agent without trapping of an air bubble was successful in 54/64 eyes (84.38%). Our findings could spur development of newer bubble-free goniolenses for procedures such as laser trabeculoplasty.
Topics: Air; Descemet Membrane; Equipment Design; Female; Glaucoma, Open-Angle; Gonioscopy; Humans; Intraocular Pressure; Male; Microbubbles; Middle Aged; Ocular Hypertension
PubMed: 30161075
DOI: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000001067 -
Journal of the Belgian Society of... 2023Air trapping is a useful sign for early detection of worsening lobar collapse in the follow-up of obstructive atelectasis.
Air trapping is a useful sign for early detection of worsening lobar collapse in the follow-up of obstructive atelectasis.
PubMed: 36721643
DOI: 10.5334/jbsr.3022 -
Chest Sep 2023Pressure-dependent pneumothorax is a common clinical event, often occurring after pleural drainage in patients with visceral pleural restriction, partial lung resection,... (Review)
Review
Pressure-dependent pneumothorax is a common clinical event, often occurring after pleural drainage in patients with visceral pleural restriction, partial lung resection, or lobar atelectasis from bronchoscopic lung volume reduction or an endobronchial obstruction. This type of pneumothorax and air leak is clinically inconsequential. Failure to appreciate the benign nature of such air leaks may result in unnecessary pleural procedures or prolonged hospital stay. This review suggests that identification of pressure-dependent pneumothorax is clinically important because the air leak that results is not related to a lung injury that requires repair but rather to a physiological consequence of a pressure gradient. A pressure-dependent pneumothorax occurs during pleural drainage in patients with lung-thoracic cavity shape/size mismatch. It is caused by an air leak related to a pressure gradient between the subpleural lung parenchyma and the pleural space. Pressure-dependent pneumothorax and air leak do not need any further pleural interventions.
Topics: Humans; Pneumothorax; Pneumonectomy; Pleural Cavity; Thoracic Surgical Procedures; Pleura
PubMed: 37187435
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.04.049 -
Hemodialysis International.... Apr 2017During preparation of the hemodialysis (HD) extracorporeal circuit (ECC) a priming solution is used to remove air from the tubes and dialyzer. Ultra sound techniques... (Review)
Review
During preparation of the hemodialysis (HD) extracorporeal circuit (ECC) a priming solution is used to remove air from the tubes and dialyzer. Ultra sound techniques have verified micro embolic signals (MES) in the ECC that may derive from clots or gas embolies. In vitro studies could clarify that embolies of air develop within the ECC and also pass the safety systems such as air traps and enter the venous line that goes into the patient. Clinical studies have confirmed the presence of MES within the ECC that pass into the return-venous-line during conventional HD without inducing an alarm. In addition, studies confirmed that such MES were present within the AV fistula and subclavian vein, but also detected within the carotid artery. Autopsy studies revealed the presence of gas embolies surrounded by clots within the lung but also brain and myocardial tissue. This review will focus on how the MES develop and measures of how the exposure can be limited.
Topics: Embolism, Air; Humans; Renal Dialysis
PubMed: 27576675
DOI: 10.1111/hdi.12474 -
Biosensors & Bioelectronics Oct 2023Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in small fluidic systems not only improves speed and sensitivity of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) amplification but also achieves...
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in small fluidic systems not only improves speed and sensitivity of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) amplification but also achieves high-throughput quantitative analyses. However, air bubble trapping and growth during PCR has been considered as a critical problem since it causes the failure of DNA amplification. Here we report bubble-free diatom PCR by exploiting a hierarchically porous silica structure of single-celled algae. We show that femtoliters of PCR solution can be spontaneously loaded into the diatom interior without air bubble trapping due to the surface hydrophilicity and pore structure of the diatom. We discover that a large pressure gradient between air bubbles and nanopores rapidly removes residual air bubbles through the periodically arrayed nanopores during thermal cycling. We demonstrate the DNA amplification by diatom PCR without air bubble trapping and growth. Finally, we successfully detect DNA fragments of SARS-CoV-2 with as low as 10 copies/μl by devising a microfluidic device integrated with diatoms assembly. We believe that our work can be applied to many PCR applications for innovative molecular diagnostics and provides new opportunities for naturally abundant diatoms to create innovative biomaterials in real-world applications.
Topics: Humans; Diatoms; Biosensing Techniques; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Polymerase Chain Reaction; DNA; COVID-19 Testing
PubMed: 37402347
DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115489 -
Radiologic Clinics of North America Nov 2016Small airways disease, or bronchiolitis, encompasses many conditions that result in bronchiolar inflammation and/or fibrosis. Bronchioles are distal airways within... (Review)
Review
Small airways disease, or bronchiolitis, encompasses many conditions that result in bronchiolar inflammation and/or fibrosis. Bronchioles are distal airways within secondary pulmonary lobules that are only visible on imaging when abnormal. High-resolution computed tomography plays an important role in diagnosing small airways disease. The predominant direct high-resolution computed tomography sign of bronchiolitis includes centrilobular nodules, whereas air trapping is the main indirect finding. This article reviews bronchiolar anatomy, discusses the differential diagnosis for cellular and constrictive bronchiolitis with a focus on key imaging features, and discusses how to distinguish important mimics.
Topics: Bronchioles; Bronchiolitis; Diagnosis, Differential; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Radiographic Image Enhancement; Radiography, Thoracic; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 27719982
DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2016.05.009