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Environmental Health and Preventive... Jul 2012Many epidemiological studies have demonstrated that ambient particulate matter poses consistent risks for respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. The translocation of... (Review)
Review
Many epidemiological studies have demonstrated that ambient particulate matter poses consistent risks for respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. The translocation of inhaled particles is one hypothesis that could explain such systemic effects. The objectives of this study were to conduct a systematic review of previous reports on particle translocation from the respiratory system and to discuss factors important for translocation. A PubMed search was conducted in August 2011 for the period from 1967 with four main keyword domains (particle, translocation, detection site, and exposure route). The systematic review identified 61 original articles written in English that met the specified criteria (i.e., information on experiment and particle detection). Categorical regression analysis was performed with the site of particle detection as the objective variable, and particle size, particle material, animal species, and exposure route as the explanatory variables. All explanatory variables showed statistically significant effects. The effects for particle size and particle material were large, while the effects for animal species and exposure route were relatively small. There was a broad relationship between particle size and detection site: ≤50 nm for brain and remote organs; ≤1 μm for blood; and ≤10 μm for lung tissues. However, these results should be considered within the context of several limitations, such as deficiency of information.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Animals; Biological Transport; Humans; Inhalation Exposure; Lung; Particle Size; Particulate Matter; Regression Analysis; Respiratory System; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Tissue Distribution
PubMed: 22101916
DOI: 10.1007/s12199-011-0252-8 -
Frontiers in Chemistry 2023Carbon dots (CDs), which have particle size of less than 10 nm, are carbon-based nanomaterials that are used in a wide range of applications in the area of novel drug... (Review)
Review
Carbon dots (CDs), which have particle size of less than 10 nm, are carbon-based nanomaterials that are used in a wide range of applications in the area of novel drug delivery in cancer, ocular diseases, infectious diseases, and brain disorders. CDs are biocompatible, eco-friendly, easy to synthesize, and less toxic with excellent chemical inertness, which makes them very good nanocarrier system to deliver multi-functional drugs effectively. A huge number of researchers worldwide are working on CDs-based drug delivery systems to evaluate their versatility and efficacy in the field of pharmaceuticals. As a result, there is a tremendous increase in our understanding of the physicochemical properties, diagnostic and drug delivery aspects of CDs, which consequently has led us to design and develop CDs-based theranostic system for the treatment of multiple disorders. In this review, we aim to summarize the advances in application of CDs as nanocarrier including gene delivery, vaccine delivery and antiviral delivery, that has been carried out in the last 5 years.
PubMed: 37521012
DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1227843 -
Surgical Endoscopy Sep 2013Smoke is generated by energy-based surgical instruments. The airborne byproducts may have potential health implications. This study aimed to evaluate the properties of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Smoke is generated by energy-based surgical instruments. The airborne byproducts may have potential health implications. This study aimed to evaluate the properties of surgical smoke and the evidence for the harmful effects to the theater staff.
METHODS
Cochrane Database, MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase classic and Embase, and the metaRegister of Controlled Trials were searched for studies reporting the constituents found in the smoke plume created during surgical procedures, the methods used to analyze the smoke, the implications of exposure, and the type of surgical instrument that generated the smoke. Studies were excluded if they were animal based, preclinical experimental work, or opinion-based reports. The common end points were particle size and characteristics, infection risk, malignant spread, and mutagenesis.
RESULTS
The inclusion criteria were fulfilled by 20 studies. In terms of particle size, 5 (25%) of the 20 studies showed that diathermy and laser can produce ultrafine particles (UFP) that are respirable in size. With regard to particle characterization, 7 (35%) of the 20 studies demonstrated that a variety of volatile hydrocarbons are present in diathermy-, ultrasonic-, and laser-derived surgical smoke. These are potentially carcinogenic, but no evidence exists to support a cause-effect relationship for those exposed. In terms of infection risk, 6 (30%) of the 20 studies assessed surgical smoke for the presence of viruses, with only 1 study (5%) positively identifying viral DNA in laser-derived smoke. One study (5%) demonstrated bacterial cell culture (Staphylococcus aureus) from a laser plume after surgery. Regarding mutagenesis and malignant spread, one study (5%) reported the mutagenic effect of smoke, and one study (5%) showed the presence of malignant cells in the smoke of a patient undergoing procedures for carcinomatosis.
CONCLUSIONS
The potentially carcinogenic components of surgical smoke are sufficiently small to be respirable. Infective and malignant cells are found in the smoke plume, but the full risk of this to the theater staff is unproven. Future work could focus on the long-term consequences of smoke exposure.
Topics: Air Pollutants, Occupational; Electrical Equipment and Supplies; Gases; Humans; Occupational Exposure; Operating Rooms; Smoke; Surgical Instruments
PubMed: 23605191
DOI: 10.1007/s00464-013-2940-5 -
Operative Dentistry 2018Composites can be classified differently, according to manufacturer information, filler particle size, resin-monomer base, or viscosity, for example. Using clinical... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Composites can be classified differently, according to manufacturer information, filler particle size, resin-monomer base, or viscosity, for example. Using clinical trial data, network meta-analyses aim to rank different composite material classes. Dentists then use these ranks to decide whether to use specific materials. Alternatively, annual failure rates (AFRs) of materials can be assessed, not requiring any classification for synthesis. It is unclear whether different classification systems lead to different rankings of the same material (ie, erroneous conclusions). We aimed to evaluate the agreement of material rankings between different classification systems.
METHODS
A systematic review was performed via MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE. Randomized controlled trials published from 2005-2015 that investigated composite restorations placed in load-bearing cavitated lesions in permanent teeth were included. Network meta-analyses were performed to rank combinations of composite classes (according to manufacturer, filler particle size, resin-monomers, viscosity) and adhesives. Material combinations were additionally ranked using AFRs.
RESULTS
A total of 42 studies (6088 restorations, 2325 patients) were included. The ranking of most material class combinations showed significant agreement between classifications ( R ranged between 0.03 and 0.56). Comparing material combinations using AFRs had low precision and agreement with other systems. AFRs were significantly correlated with follow-up periods of trials.
CONCLUSION
There was high agreement between rankings of identical materials in different classification systems. Such rankings thus allow cautious deductions as to the performance of a specific material. Syntheses based on AFRs might lead to erroneous results because AFRs are determined by follow-up periods and have low precision.
Topics: Composite Resins; Dental Materials; Humans; Network Meta-Analysis
PubMed: 29504879
DOI: 10.2341/16-344-LIT -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2018A large body of evidence supports the cardioprotective effects of the long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and... (Review)
Review
A large body of evidence supports the cardioprotective effects of the long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). There is increasing interest in the independent effects of EPA and DHA in the modulation of cardiometabolic risk factors. This systematic review aims to appraise the latest available evidence of the differential effects of EPA and DHA on such risk factors. A systematic literature review was conducted up to May 2017. Randomised controlled trials were included if they met strict eligibility criteria, including EPA or DHA > 2 g/day and purity ≥ 90%. Eighteen identified articles were included, corresponding to six unique studies involving 527 participants. Both EPA and DHA lowered triglyceride concentration, with DHA having a greater triglyceride-lowering effect. Whilst total cholesterol levels were largely unchanged by EPA and DHA, DHA increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration, particularly HDL₂, and increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration and LDL particle size. Both EPA and DHA inhibited platelet activity, whilst DHA improved vascular function and lowered heart rate and blood pressure to a greater extent than EPA. The effects of EPA and DHA on inflammatory markers and glycaemic control were inconclusive; however both lowered oxidative stress. Thus, EPA and DHA appear to have differential effects on cardiometabolic risk factors, but these need to be confirmed by larger clinical studies.
Topics: Antioxidants; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Metabolic Syndrome; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 29425187
DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020532 -
Indoor Air Sep 2021Airborne microorganisms in hospitals have been associated with several hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), and various measures of indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Airborne microorganisms in hospitals have been associated with several hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), and various measures of indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO ), particle mass concentration, and particle size have been linked to pathogen survival or mitigation of pathogen spread. To investigate whether there are quantitative relationships between the concentration of airborne microorganisms and the IAQ in the hospital environment. Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed databases were searched for studies reporting airborne microbial levels and any IAQ parameter(s) in hospital environments, from database inception to October 2020. Pooled effect estimates were determined via random-effects models. Seventeen of 654 studies were eligible for the meta-analysis. The concentration of airborne microbial measured as aerobic colony count (ACC) was significantly correlated with temperature (r = 0.25 [95% CI = 0.06-0.42], p = 0.01), CO concentration (r = 0.53 [95% CI = 0.40-0.64], p ˂ 0.001), particle mass concentration (≤5 µg/m ; r = 0.40 [95% CI = 0.04-0.66], p = 0.03), and particle size (≤5 and ˃5 µm), (r = 0.51 [95% CI = 0.12-0.77], p = 0.01 and r = 0.55 [95% CI = 0.20-0.78], p = 0.003), respectively, while not being significantly correlated with relative humidity or particulate matter of size >5 µm. Conversely, airborne total fungi (TF) were not significantly correlated with temperature, relative humidity, or CO level. However, there was a significant weak correlation between ACC and TF (r = 0.31 [95% CI = 0.07-0.52], p = 0.013). Although significant correlations exist between ACC and IAQ parameters, the relationship is not definitive; the IAQ parameters may affect the microorganisms but are not responsible for the presence of airborne microorganisms. Environmental parameters could be related to the generating source, survival, dispersion, and deposition rate of microorganisms. Future studies should record IAQ parameters and factors such as healthcare worker presence and the activities carried out such as cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection protocols. Foot traffic would influence both the generation of microorganisms and their deposition rate onto surfaces in the hospital environment. These data would inform models to improve the understanding of the likely concentration of airborne microorganisms and provide an alternative approach for real-time monitoring of the healthcare environment.
Topics: Air Microbiology; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution, Indoor; Carbon Dioxide; Environmental Monitoring; Fungi; Hospitals; Humans; Particulate Matter; Temperature
PubMed: 33945176
DOI: 10.1111/ina.12846 -
Journal of Environmental Health Science... Jun 2022Today air pollution caused by particulate matter (PM) is a global issue, especially in densely populated and high-traffic cities. The formation of reactive oxygen... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Today air pollution caused by particulate matter (PM) is a global issue, especially in densely populated and high-traffic cities. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by various toxicological studies is considered as one of the important effects caused by airborne particles that can lead to adverse effects on human health. In this study, to answer the question of whether particle size affects oxidative potential (OP), we searched the main databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, and defined search strategy based on the MESH terms for the above-mentioned search engines. All articles published until 2021 were searched. An ANOVA was run using R software to show the correlation between the size distributions of particulate matter and oxidative potential (base on mass and volumetric units) in ambient air. As expected, the regression results showed that the relationship between particle size and OP values for the studies based on mass-logarithm has a significant difference in the different distribution size categories, which was related to the difference between the <2.5 and < 1 categories. However, ANOVA analysis did not show a significant difference in the volumetric OP logarithm in the different distribution size categories. In this study, it was found that sizes higher than 2.5 μm did not have much effect on human health, and it is recommended that future research focus on PM2.5.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-021-00768-w.
PubMed: 35669811
DOI: 10.1007/s40201-021-00768-w -
Heliyon Apr 2021Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a fascinating class of crystalline porous materials composed of metal ions and organic ligands. Due to their attractive properties,... (Review)
Review
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a fascinating class of crystalline porous materials composed of metal ions and organic ligands. Due to their attractive properties, MOFs can potentially offer biomedical field applications, such as drug delivery and imaging. This study aimed to systematically identify the affecting factors on the MOF characteristics and their effects on structural and biological characteristics. An electronic search was performed in four databases containing PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase, using the relevant keywords. After analyzing the studies, 20 eligible studies were included in this review. As a result, various factors such as additives and organic ligand can influence the size and structure of MOFs. Additives are materials that can compete with ligand and may affect the nucleation and growth processes and, consequently, particle size. The nature and structure of ligand are influential in determining the size and structure of MOF. Moreover, synthesis parameters like the reaction time and initial reagents ratio are critical factors that should be optimized to regulate the size and structure. Of note is that the nature of the ligand and using a suitable additive can control the porosity of MOF. The more extended ligands aid in forming large pores. The choice of metallic nodes and organic ligand, and the MOF concentration are important factors since they can determine toxicity and biocompatibility of the final structure. The physicochemical properties of MOFs, such as hydrophobicity, affect the toxicity of nanoparticles. An increase in hydrophobicity causes increased toxicity of MOF. The biodegradability of MOF, as another property, depends on the organic ligand and metal ion and environmental conditions like pH. Photocleavable ligands can be served for controlled degradation of MOFs. Generally, by optimizing these affecting factors, MOFs with desirable properties will be obtained for biomedical applications.
PubMed: 33997421
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06914 -
Radiotherapy and Oncology : Journal of... Oct 2022Recently, a number of clinical studies have explored links between possible Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) elevations and patient toxicities and/or image... (Review)
Review
Recently, a number of clinical studies have explored links between possible Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) elevations and patient toxicities and/or image changes following proton therapy. Our objective was to perform a systematic review of such studies. We applied a "Problem [RBE], Intervention [Protons], Population [Patients], Outcome [Side effect]" search strategy to the PubMed database. From our search, we retrieved studies which: (a) performed novel voxel-wise analyses of patient effects versus physical dose and LET (n = 13), and (b) compared image changes between proton and photon cohorts with regard to proton RBE (n = 9). For each retrieved study, we extracted data regarding: primary tumour type; size of patient cohort; type of image change studied; image-registration method (deformable or rigid); LET calculation method, and statistical methodology. We compared and contrasted their methods in order to discuss the weight of clinical evidence for variable proton RBE. We concluded that clinical evidence for variable proton RBE remains statistically weak at present. Our principal recommendation is that proton centres and clinical trial teams collaborate to standardize follow-up protocols and statistical analysis methods, so that larger patient cohorts can ultimately be considered for RBE analyses.
Topics: Humans; Relative Biological Effectiveness; Proton Therapy; Protons; Linear Energy Transfer; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
PubMed: 35988776
DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2022.08.014 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Apr 2024Anti-signal recognition particle myopathy (anti-SRP myopathy) is a rare subtype of immune-mediated inflammatory myopathy characterized by muscle weakness and anti-SRP... (Review)
Review
Anti-signal recognition particle myopathy (anti-SRP myopathy) is a rare subtype of immune-mediated inflammatory myopathy characterized by muscle weakness and anti-SRP autoantibodies. Although plasma exchange (PE) is used in severe cases, its role remains unclear. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, identifying 23 patients with anti-SRP myopathy treated with PE. Data on demographics, clinical features, laboratory findings, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed combining individual patient data if available. Sixteen (69.6%) patients were male, with muscle weakness as the predominant symptom in 100% of cases. After PE, most patients showed improvement in symptoms, and the proportion of patients with muscle weakness was reduced ( = 0.001). Relapse occurred in 17.4% of the cases. The incidence of adverse events was low (8.7%). Despite limitations, including a small sample size and heterogeneous data, our systematic review suggests that PE may be effective in inducing remission and controlling symptoms in anti-SRP myopathy, particularly in severe cases. Since evidence on PE in anti-SRP myopathy is limited, further research, including prospective multicenter studies, is warranted to understand better its efficacy and safety and establish its role in treatment algorithms.
PubMed: 38793043
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14050461