Effects of airborne fine particulate matter on human respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>to explore effects of airborne fine particulate matter exposure on human respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>one hundred and seven field traffic policemen were recruited as airborne fine particulate matter high-exposure group and one hundred and one male residents as common exposure group. The individual sampler was used to measure fine particulate matter exposure levels of the two groups. To obtain personal information, especially respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, etc. a questionnaire survey was used. The pulmonary ventilation function was detected: forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC), the first 1 second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0), FVC/FEV1.0% and peak flow values (PEF), and the difference of fine particulate matter exposure level and respiratory function of the two groups was compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>24 h individual average fine particulate matter exposure concentration of traffic police and residents were respectively (115.4 ± 46.17) microg/m(3) and (74.94 ± 40.09) microg/m(3), the traffic police PM2.5 exposure levels were significantly higher than the residents. In the incidence of respiratory symptoms, compared with high-exposure group and common exposure group, coughing, expectoration, throat unwell, asthma, short of breath and nose discomfort, traffic police group was higher than residents group (P < 0.05). The abnormal rate of lung ventilation function indexes, such as FVC and FEV1.0 was 25.23% and 12.15% respectively in high-exposure group, 11.88% and 2.97% in common exposure group, there was no statistical difference between two groups. Besides, the abnormal rate of FVC and FEV1.0, showed rising trend in high-exposure group with seniority.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>long-term higher levels of airborne fine particulate matter exposure, may impact respiratory health and impair pulmonary function.</p>

Study of genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cell line induced by 14 nm and 280 nm carbon black particles in vitro / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cell line induced by 14 nm and 280 nm carbon black (CB) particles with micronucleus assay (CBMN), comet assay and hprt gene mutation test in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cells exposed to 14 nm and 280 nm CB particles at the doses of 0, 128, 256, 384 and 512 microg/ml for 24 h and 48 h was detected using above three genotoxic assays. Micronucleus (MN) assay, comet assay, hprt gene mutation test were used to detect the genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cells induced by CB. Micronucleus rate (MNR), micronucleated cell rate (MCR), nuclear buds (Buds), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs), nuclear division index (NDI) and numbers of apoptotic cells served as indexes of CBMN assay; the percentage of DNA in the tail (% tail DNA) and the olive tail moment (OTM) were used as DNA damage indicators of comet assay; the hprt gene mutation frequency (Mf-hprt) served as the index of hprt gene mutation test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The % tail DNA, OTM in 14 nm CB group at the doses of 384 and 512 microg/ml for 48 h were 8.23% +/- 0.19%, 11.23% +/- 0.42% and 3.72 +/- 0.08, 4.90 +/- 0.18, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in control (5.10% +/- 0.08% and 2.22 +/- 0.03) (P < 0.01). The apoptotic cell rates in 14 nm CB group at the doses of 384 and 512 microg/ml for 48 h were 4.67 +/- 0.33 and 5.33 +/- 0.33, respectively, which were significantly higher than in control (0.00 +/- 0.00) (P < 0.05). The results of Mf-hprt were negative.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The genetic damage of human B lymphocyte cells exposed to 14 nm CB particles for 48 h could be detected. But the similar effects didn't appear in 280 nm CB group.</p>

Levels of environmental endocrine disruptors in umbilical cord blood and maternal blood of low-birth-weight infants / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To monitor the biological levels of environmental endocrine disruptors (EDs, phthalates and surfactants) in the umbilical cord blood and maternal blood of low-birth-weight infants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All 30 umbilical cord blood samples and 21 maternal blood samples were collected from low-birth-weight infants. The concentration of four kinds of phthalates (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, DEHP; mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, MEHP; di-ethyl phthalate, DEP; di-n-butyl phthalate, DBP) and two kinds of surfactants (4-nonylphenol, 4-NP; octylphenol, OP) in these blood samples were measured by using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean birth weight and birth length of low-birth-weight infants were (2158.48 +/- 125.06) g and (45.36 +/- 2.52) cm, respectively. The concentrations of DEP, MEHP, DBP, DEHP, 4-NP and OP were 18.90, 11.87, 7.67, 8.84, 1.51 and 2. 86 mg/L in maternal blood, and the detective rates were 86.7%, 63.3%, 60.0%, 63.3%, 56.7% and 66.7%, respectively. In umbilical cord blood, the concentrations of those EDs were 11.92, 9.94, 5.71, 5.20, 1.12 and 1.19 mg/L; the detective rates were 86.7%, 63.3%, 60.0%, 63.3%, 56.7% and 66.7%. No matter in maternal blood or in umbilical cord blood, the contents and detective rates of phthalates were higher than the surfactants. The concentration of MEHP was higher than its primer, DEHP. The contents of the target EDs in umbilical cord blood were less than those in the matched maternal blood. The percentages were 47.82% -84.05%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>People could be exposed to EDs from embryo period. And this should be paid attention by the related departments.</p>

Clinical effect of treatment for clearing heat, detoxicating and nourishing Yin on patients with glucocorticosteroid induced facial dermatitis and its effect on skin barrier function / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical efficacy of treatment for clearing heat, detoxicating and nourishing Yin (abbr. as CHM) on glucocorticosteroid (GCS) induced facial dermatitis, and its effect in repairing skin barrier function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifteen patients were randomly assigned into two groups, 68 in the treated group treated with CHM and 47 in the control group treated by oral administration of loratadine 10 mg once a day and ketotifen 1 mg once every night. The volume of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of patients was measured before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective rate was 77.9% (53/68) and 14.9% (7/47) in the treated group and the control group respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups, and it was better in the treated group than that in the control group (P < 0.01). The decrease of TEWL in the treated group was also superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chinese herbal treatment for clearing heat, detoxicating and nourishing Yin has significant clinical efficiency on GCS induced facial dermatitis and in repairing the skin barrier function.</p>