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The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Although studies have assessed the association of metals and bisphenols with lipid metabolism, the observed results have been controversial, and limited knowledge exists...
BACKGROUND
Although studies have assessed the association of metals and bisphenols with lipid metabolism, the observed results have been controversial, and limited knowledge exists about the combined and interactive effects of metals and bisphenols exposure on lipid metabolism.
METHODS
Plasma metals and serum bisphenols concentrations were evaluated in 888 participants. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression models were conducted to assess individual associations of 18 metals and 3 bisphenols with 5 lipid profiles and dyslipidemia risk, respectively. The dose-response relationships of targeted contaminants with lipid profiles and dyslipidemia risk were captured by applying a restriction cubic spline (RCS) function. The bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model was used to assess the overall effects of metals and bisphenols mixture on lipid profiles and dyslipidemia risk. The interactive effects of targeted contaminants on interested outcomes were explored by constructing an interaction model.
RESULTS
Single-contaminant analyses revealed that exposure to iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), strontium (Sr), and tin (Sn) was associated with elevated lipid levels. Cobalt (Co) showed a negative association with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC). Bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) were associated with decreased HDL-C levels, with nonlinear associations observed. Vanadium (V), lead (Pb), and silver (Ag) displayed U-shaped dose-response relationships with most lipid profiles. Multi-contaminant analyses indicated positive trends between contaminants mixture and total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C). The interaction analyses showed that SeFe exhibited synergistic effects on LDL-C and non-HDL-C, and SeSn showed a synergistic effect on HDLC.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggested that exposure to metals and bisphenols was associated with changes in lipid levels, and demonstrated their combined and interactive effects.
PubMed: 38942316
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174315 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jun 2024Cyanobacterial blooms have emerged as a significant environmental issue worldwide in recent decades. However, the toxic effects of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on aquatic...
Cyanobacterial blooms have emerged as a significant environmental issue worldwide in recent decades. However, the toxic effects of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on aquatic organisms, such as frogs, have remained poorly understood. In this study, frogs (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of MC-LR (0, 1, and 10 μg/L) for 21 days. Subsequently, we assessed the impact of MC-LR on the histomorphology of the frogs' livers and conducted a global MS-based nontarget metabolomics analysis, followed by the determination of substances involved in lipid metabolism. Results showed that MC-LR significantly induced histological alterations in the frogs' hepatopancreas. Over 200 differentially expressed metabolites were identified, primarily enriched in lipid metabolism. Biochemical analysis further confirmed that MC-LR exposure led to a disorder in lipid metabolism in the frogs. This study laid the groundwork for a mechanistic understanding of MC-LR toxicity in frogs and potentially other aquatic organisms.
PubMed: 38942276
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124458 -
Environment International Jun 2024As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, increasing evidences suggest that the gut microbiota may play a crucial role in the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Thus,...
As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, increasing evidences suggest that the gut microbiota may play a crucial role in the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Thus, this study was aimed at investigating the influence of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine on the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) of organisms exposed to environmental contaminants, i.e., plasticizers: phthalate esters. We found that in mice, exposure to dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) and bis -2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) decreased the blood glucose level and white fat weight, induced inflammatory responses, caused damage to liver and intestinal tissues, and disrupted the gut microbiota composition and SCFAs metabolism. Specifically, the Bacteroidetes phylum was positively correlated with BBIBP-CorV vaccine, while acetic acid was negatively associated with the vaccine. Interestingly, the BBIBP-CorV vaccine somewhat alleviated tissue inflammation and reduced the contents of acetic acid and propionic acid in mice exposed to DEHP and DOTP. These findings were confirmed by a fecal microbiota transplantation assay. Overall, this study revealed that exposure to DEHP and DOTP adversely affects the gut microbiota and SCFAs, while the BBIBP-CorV vaccine can protect mice against these effects. This work highlighted the relationship between BBIBP-CorV vaccination, gut microbiome composition, and responses to plasticizers, which may facilitate the development and risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and environmental contaminants on microbiota health.
PubMed: 38941942
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108851 -
Biochemical and Biophysical Research... Jun 2024Neonates undergo numerous painful procedures throughout their hospitalization. Repeated procedural pain may cause adverse long-term effects. Glucose as a...
BACKGROUND
Neonates undergo numerous painful procedures throughout their hospitalization. Repeated procedural pain may cause adverse long-term effects. Glucose as a non-pharmacological analgesia, is used for neonate pain management. In this study, potential mechanism of attenuate pain induced by glucose in neurodevelopment effect of neonate pain stimulus was investigated.
METHODS
Neonatal rats to perform a repetitive injury model and glucose intervention model in the postnatal day 0-7(P0-7). Pain thresholds were measured by von Frey test weekly. The puberty behavioral outcome, tissue loss and protein expression in hippocampus were analyzed.
RESULTS
Oral administration of glucose after repeated pain stimulation can maintain the hippocampal structure in, and reduce the expressions of corticotropin releasing factor (CFR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), therefore, resulted in long-term threshold of pain and cognitive improvement.
CONCLUSION
Exposure to neonatal repeated procedural pain causes persistent mechanical hypersensitivity and the dysfunction of spatial memory retention at puberty. In addition, glucose can relieve these adverse effects, possibly via decreasing CRF/GR levels to change the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
PubMed: 38941883
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150219 -
Investigational New Drugs Jun 2024The present study aimed to clarify the hypothesis that auger emitter I particles in combination with PARP inhibitor Olaparib could inhibit pancreatic cancer progression...
The present study aimed to clarify the hypothesis that auger emitter I particles in combination with PARP inhibitor Olaparib could inhibit pancreatic cancer progression by promoting antitumor immune response. Pancreatic cancer cell line (Panc02) and mice subcutaneously inoculated with Panc02 cells were employed for the in vitro and in vivo experiments, respectively, followed by I and Olaparib administrations. The apoptosis and CRT exposure of Panc02 cells were detected using flow cytometry assay. QRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical analysis, and western blot were employed to examine mRNA and protein expression. Experimental results showed that I combined with Olaparib induced immunogenic cell death and affected antigen presentation in pancreatic cancer. I in combination with Olaparib influenced T cells and dendritic cells by up-regulating CD4, CD8, CD69, Caspase3, CD86, granzyme B, CD80, and type I interferon (IFN)-γ and down-regulating Ki67 in vivo. The combination also activated the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase stimulator of IFN genes (Sting) pathway in Panc02 cells. Moreover, Sting knockdown alleviated the effect of the combination of I and Olaparib on pancreatic cancer progression. In summary, I in combination with Olaparib inhibited pancreatic cancer progression through promoting antitumor immune responses, which may provide a potential treatment for pancreatic cancer.
PubMed: 38941055
DOI: 10.1007/s10637-024-01454-y -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jun 2024In pursuit of sustainable agricultural production, the development of environmentally friendly and effective biopesticides is essential to improve food security and...
In pursuit of sustainable agricultural production, the development of environmentally friendly and effective biopesticides is essential to improve food security and environmental sustainability. Bacteriophages, as emerging biocontrol agents, offer an alternative to conventional antibiotics and synthetic chemical pesticides. The primary challenges in applying phage-based biopesticides in agricultural settings are their inherent fragility and low biocidal efficacy, particularly the susceptibility to sunlight exposure. This study addresses the aforementioned challenges by innovatively encapsulating phages in sporopollenin exine capsules (SECs), which are derived from plant pollen grains. The size of the apertures on SECs could be controlled through a non-thermal and rapid process, combining reinflation and vacuum infusion techniques. This unique feature facilitates the high-efficiency encapsulation and controlled release of phages under various conditions. The proposed SECs could encapsulate over 9 log PFU g of phages and significantly enhance the ultraviolet (UV) resistance of phages, thereby ensuring their enhanced survivability and antimicrobial efficacy. The effectiveness of SECs encapsulated phages (T7@SECs) in preventing and treating bacterial contamination on lettuce leaves is further demonstrated, highlighting the practical applicability of this novel biopesticide in field applications. Overall, this study exploits the potential of SECs in the development of phage-based biopesticides, presenting a promising strategy to enhancing agricultural sustainability.
PubMed: 38940376
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202403465 -
Annals of Agricultural and... Jun 2024Ultraviolet light in the UV-C band is known as germicidal radiation and was widely used for both sterilization of the equipment and creation of a sterile environment....
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE
Ultraviolet light in the UV-C band is known as germicidal radiation and was widely used for both sterilization of the equipment and creation of a sterile environment. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of inactivation of microorganisms deposited on surfaces with various textures by UV-C radiation disinfection devices.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Five microorganisms (3 bacteria, virus, and fungus) deposited on metal, plastic, and glass surfaces with smooth and rough textures were irradiated with UV-C light emitted by low-pressure mercury lamp and ultraviolet emitting diodes (LEDs), from a distance of 0.5 m, 1 m, and 1.5 m to check their survivability after 20-minute exposure.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Both tested UV-C sources were effective in inactivation of microorganisms; however, LED emitter was more efficient in this respect than the mercury lamp. The survival rate of microorganisms depended on the UV-C dose, conditioned by the distance from UV-C source being the highest at 0.5 m and the lowest at 1.5 m. For the tested microorganisms, the highest survival rate after UV-C irradiation was usually visible on glass and plastic surfaces. This observation should be considered in all environments where the type of material (from which the elements of technical equipment are manufactured and may be contaminated by specific activities) is important for maintaining the proper level of hygiene and avoiding the unwanted and uncontrolled spread of microbiological pollution.
Topics: Ultraviolet Rays; Disinfection; Fungi; Bacteria; Viruses; Surface Properties; Microbial Viability; Plastics; Glass
PubMed: 38940114
DOI: 10.26444/aaem/189695 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024Ozone pollution is associated with cardiovascular disease mortality, and there is a high correlation between different pollutants. This study aimed to assess the...
BACKGROUND
Ozone pollution is associated with cardiovascular disease mortality, and there is a high correlation between different pollutants. This study aimed to assess the association between ozone and cardiovascular disease deaths and the resulting disease burden in Nanjing, China.
METHODS
A total of 151,609 deaths from cardiovascular disease were included in Nanjing, China from 2013 to 2021. Daily data on meteorological and air pollution were collected to apply a generalized additional model with multiple pollutants to perform exposure-response analyses, stratification analysis, and evaluation of excess deaths using various standards.
RESULTS
In the multi-pollutant model, an increase of 10 μg/m in O was significantly associated with a 0.81% (95%CI: 0.49, 1.12%) increase in cardiovascular disease deaths in lag05. The correlation weakened in both the single-pollutant model and two-pollutant models, but remained more pronounced in females, the older group, and during warm seasons. From 2013 to 2021, the number of excess deaths attributed to ozone exposure in cardiovascular disease continued to rise with an increase in ozone concentration in Nanjing. If the ozone concentration were to be reduced to the WHO standard and the minimum level, the number of deaths would decrease by 1,736 and 10,882, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The risk of death and excess deaths from cardiovascular disease due to ozone exposure increases with higher ozone concentration. Reducing ozone concentration to meet WHO standards or lower can provide greater cardiovascular disease health benefits.
Topics: Ozone; Humans; Cardiovascular Diseases; China; Female; Male; Air Pollutants; Environmental Exposure; Air Pollution; Middle Aged; Aged; Seasons; Adult; Rivers
PubMed: 38939565
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1353384 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024Pesticides are widely used in agricultural activities. Although pesticide use is known to cause damage to the human body, its relationship with thyroid function remains...
BACKGROUND
Pesticides are widely used in agricultural activities. Although pesticide use is known to cause damage to the human body, its relationship with thyroid function remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between pesticide exposure and thyroid function.
METHODS
The Chinese database used included 60 patients with pyrethroid poisoning and 60 participants who underwent health checkups between June 2022 and June 2023. The NHANES database included 1,315 adults enrolled from 2007 to 2012. The assessed pesticide and their metabolites included 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid (4F3PB), para-nitrophenol (PN), 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3P), and trans-dichlorovinyl-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (TDDC). The evaluated indicators of thyroid function were measured by the blood from the included population. The relationship between pesticide exposure and thyroid function indexes was investigated using linear regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), restricted cubic spline (RCS), and weighted quantile sum (WQS) models.
RESULTS
The Chinese data showed that pesticide exposure was negatively correlated with the thyroid function indicators FT4, TT4, TgAb, and TPOAb (all < 0.05). The BKMR model analysis of the NHANES data showed that the metabolic mixture of multiple pesticides was negatively associated with FT4, TSH, and Tg, similar to the Chinese database findings. Additionally, linear regression analysis demonstrated positive correlations between 2,4-D and FT3 ( = 0.041) and 4F3PB and FT4 ( = 0.003), whereas negative associations were observed between 4F3PB and Tg ( = 0.001), 4F3PB and TgAb ( = 0.006), 3P and TgAB ( = 0.006), 3P and TPOAb ( = 0.03), PN and TSH ( = 0.003), PN and TT4 ( = 0.031), and TDDC and TPOAb ( < 0.001). RCS curves highlighted that most pesticide metabolites were negatively correlated with thyroid function indicators. Finally, WQS model analysis revealed significant differences in the weights of different pesticide metabolites on the thyroid function indexes.
CONCLUSION
There is a significant negative correlation between pesticide metabolites and thyroid function indicators, and the influence weights of different pesticide metabolites on thyroid function indicators are significantly different. More research is needed to further validate the association between different pesticide metabolites and thyroid disease.
Topics: Humans; Pesticides; Male; Female; Middle Aged; China; Adult; Thyroid Gland; Nutrition Surveys; Thyroid Function Tests; Environmental Exposure; Databases, Factual; Aged; 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; East Asian People
PubMed: 38939562
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1378027 -
Cureus May 2024Background and objective Exposure to sunlight's ultraviolet (UV) radiation poses various health risks, including sunburn, skin damage, and heightened skin cancer risk....
Background and objective Exposure to sunlight's ultraviolet (UV) radiation poses various health risks, including sunburn, skin damage, and heightened skin cancer risk. Sunblock usage has surged due to widespread advertising campaigns. Individuals spending time outdoors should employ protective measures like wearing hats, applying sunblock with a high sun protection factor (SPF), covering exposed skin, and seeking shade to mitigate UV exposure's harmful effects. This study's objective is to assess participants' experiences and satisfaction with SPF 100 sunscreen in actual use conditions. Methodology This study employed a prospective, single-center design involving 100 participants aged 18 to 70 years. Eligible individuals had Fitzpatrick skin types I-III and were engaged in outdoor activities, excluding those with certain medical conditions or medication use. Each participant received sunscreen tubes (Solero SPF 100, Helix Pharma Pvt. Ltd., Karachi, Pakistan), and clinical evaluations were conducted on the day before and after and day 22 visits, with sunblock application and UV-induced erythema assessments performed. Results Our study enrolled participants with a mean age of 25.6 ± 7.1 years, ranging from 15 to 55 years, with females comprising 84% (84) of the sample. Results revealed widespread satisfaction and acceptance of SPF 100 sunscreen, without any reported adverse reactions. A significant majority expressed their willingness to purchase and recommend the sunscreen to others. Furthermore, the majority of healthcare providers expressed satisfaction with prescribing this sunscreen. Conclusions In conclusion, SPF 100 sunscreen demonstrated excellent tolerability and acceptability among participants, suggesting its potential utility in both personal sun protection routines and clinical settings.
PubMed: 38939303
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61212