Joint effects of meteorological factors and PM2.5 on age-related macular degeneration: a national cross-sectional study in China

BACKGROUND@#Weather conditions are a possible contributing factor to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of irreversible loss of vision. The present study evaluated the joint effects of meteorological factors and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on AMD.@*METHODS@#Data was extracted from a national cross-sectional survey conducted across 10 provinces in rural China. A total of 36,081 participants aged 40 and older were recruited. AMD was diagnosed clinically by slit-lamp ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Meteorological data were calculated by European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis and were matched to participants' home addresses by latitude and longitude. Participants' individual PM2.5 exposure concentrations were calculated by a satellite-based model at a 1-km resolution level. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models paired with interaction analysis were performed to investigate the joint effects of meteorological factors and PM2.5 on AMD.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of AMD in the study population was 2.6% (95% CI 2.42-2.76%). The average annual PM2.5 level during the study period was 63.1 ± 15.3 µg/m3. A significant positive association was detected between AMD and PM2.5 level, temperature (T), and relative humidity (RH), in both the independent and the combined effect models. For PM2.5, compared with the lowest quartile, the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across increasing quartiles were 0.828 (0.674,1.018), 1.105 (0.799,1.528), and 2.602 (1.516,4.468). Positive associations were observed between AMD and temperature, with ORs (95% CI) of 1.625 (1.059,2.494), 1.619 (1.026,2.553), and 3.276 (1.841,5.830), across increasing quartiles. In the interaction analysis, the estimated relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) and the attributable proportion (AP) for combined atmospheric pressure and PM2.5 was 0.864 (0.586,1.141) and 1.180 (0.768,1.592), respectively, indicating a synergistic effect between PM2.5 and atmospheric pressure.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study is among the first to characterize the coordinated effects of meteorological factors and PM2.5 on AMD. The findings warrant further investigation to elucidate the relationship between ambient environment and AMD.

A HPLC-Q-TOF-MS-based urinary metabolomic approach to identification of potential biomarkers of metabolic syndrome / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a serious threat to public health worldwide with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and all-cause morbidity and mortality. In this study, a urinary metabolomic approach was performed on high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to discriminate 36 male MetS patients and 36 sex and age matched healthy controls. Pattern recognition analyses (principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminate analysis) commonly demonstrated the difference between MetS patients and no-MetS subjects. This study found 8 metabolites that showed significant changes in patients with MetS, including branch-chain and aromatic amino acids (leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan), short-chain acylcanitine (tiglylcarnitine), tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediate (cis-aconitic acid) and glucuronidated products (cortolone-3-glucuronide and tetrahydroaldosterone-3-glucuronide). The candidate biomarkers revealed in this study could be useful in providing clues for further research focusing on the in-depth investigation of the cause of and cure for MetS.

A HPLC-Q-TOF-MS-based urinary metabolomic approach to identification of potential biomarkers of metabolic syndrome / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a serious threat to public health worldwide with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and all-cause morbidity and mortality. In this study, a urinary metabolomic approach was performed on high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to discriminate 36 male MetS patients and 36 sex and age matched healthy controls. Pattern recognition analyses (principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminate analysis) commonly demonstrated the difference between MetS patients and no-MetS subjects. This study found 8 metabolites that showed significant changes in patients with MetS, including branch-chain and aromatic amino acids (leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan), short-chain acylcanitine (tiglylcarnitine), tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediate (cis-aconitic acid) and glucuronidated products (cortolone-3-glucuronide and tetrahydroaldosterone-3-glucuronide). The candidate biomarkers revealed in this study could be useful in providing clues for further research focusing on the in-depth investigation of the cause of and cure for MetS.

Effects of low concentrations of di-(2-ethylhexyl) and mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on steroidogenesis pathways and apoptosis in the murine leydig tumor cell line MLTC-1 / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of low concentrations of DEHP and MEHP on steroidogenesis in a murine Leydig tumor cell line (MLTC-1) in vitro. The result of flow cytometry analysis revealed that the proportion of apoptotic cells was significantly increased after the exposure to DEHP. All three genes (P450scc, P450c17, and 3βHSD) under study showed an increased expression following exposure to DEHP or MEHP, although some insignificant inhibitory effects appeared in the 10 μmol/L treatment group as compared with the controls. It was also found that compared with the controls. It was also found that DEHP or MEHP stimulated INSL3 mRNA and protein especially in the 0.001 μmol/L treatment group. Testosterone secretions were stimulated after the exposure to DEHP or MEHP. Alternations of steroidogenic enzymes and INSL3 in MLTC-1 cells might be involved in the biphasic effects of DEHP/MEHP on androgen production.

Effects of dibutyl phthalate and monobutyl phthalate on testosterone secretion and insulin-like factor 3 expression of Leydig tumor cells in mice / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and monobutyl phthalate (MBP) on the mRNA and protein expression of insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) in the Leydig tumor cells (MA-10) of mice and the level of testosterone secreted from MA-10 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The MA-10 cells of mice, used as a cellular model, were exposed to DBP and MBP. The content of testosterone in the supernatant medium was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the mRNA and protein expression levels of INSL3 in MA-10 cells were measured by quantitative PCR and Western Blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, MA-10 cells showed increased synthesis of testosterone when exposed to low concentrations of DBP and MBP (10(-9) ∼ 10(-6) mol/L) and inhibited synthesis of testosterone when exposed to high concentrations of DBP and MBP (10(-3) mol/L), and the typical two-way effects became more significant as the time went one and the concentrations increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, MA-10 cells showed significantly lower mRNA and protein expression levels of INSL3 when exposed to 10(-6) and 10(-4) mol/L DBP (P < 0.05); MA-10 cells showed increased protein expression of INSL3 when exposed to 10(-7) mol/L MBP, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of INSL3 decreased as the concentration of MBP increased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DBP and MBP can inhibit the secretion of testosterone from MA-10 cells at high concentrations, but stimulate the secretion of testosterone at low concentrations. Both DBP and MBP have inhibitory effects on the mRNA and protein expression of INSL3 in MA-10 cells.</p>

A matched nested case-control study on the risk factors of metabolic syndrome among male criminal policemen / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the risk factors and their differences of metabolic syndrome (MS) on male criminal police, thereby provide the scientific basis to make prevention and control strategies about the metabolic syndrome for the criminal police career.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on physical examination data of criminal police in 2010, 439 patients with MS (CDS) were randomly selected as cases. And as the 1:2 matched nested case-control study, 878 health controls were employed, which were matched with on the basis of sex and age (±1 year). An face-to-face epidemiological investigations on the past exposure status of several possible risk factors was conducted, such as the family history of hypertension and other social economic status, as well as body height and weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, serum lipid and plasma sugar. and the data were analyzed with logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1317 cases were surveyed, through single factor logistic regression analysis found that 12 factors are related to exposure. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that six factors, such as stress events (OR = 1.989, 95%CI: 1.467∼2.696), snoring (OR = 1.672, 95%CI: 1.218∼2.294), sweets (OR = 0.562, 95%CI: 0.412∼0.766), meat and products (OR = 1.494, 95%CI: 1.065∼2.094), siting after dinner for more than 3 h (OR = 1.399, 95%CI: 1.023∼1.915).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MS has become a important public health problems among criminal police. For their professional special, a series of bad habits , unhealthy life style and psychological problems became important risk factors of MS on criminal police. Targeted prevention and control measures should be taken to reduce the incidence of MS.</p>

Correlation between atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and urinary hydroxyl metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in elderly population in Tianjin, China / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify suitable hydroxyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) for co-evaluation of internal exposure level of PAHs by simultaneous determination of a variety of OH-PAHs in urine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The 24-h individual particulate matter and morning urine samples of 112 subjects were collected during June 2011. PAHs carried by individual particulate matter samples and OH-PAHs in urine samples were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seven OH-PAHs were detected in urine samples, among which 1-hydroxy-naphthalene (1-OHNap) concentration was the highest [(20.54 ± 28.94) µmol/mol Cr], while 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP) concentration was the lowest [(0.73 ± 0.63) µmol/mol Cr]. The concentrations of these seven OH-PAHs decreased in the following order: 1-hydroxy-naphthalene (1-OHNap) > 9-hydroxy-fluorene (9-OHFlu) > 2-hydroxy-naphthalene (2-OHNap) > 3-hydroxy-fluorene (3-OHFlu) > 2-hydroxy-fluorene (2-OHFlu) > 6-hydroxy-chrysene (6-OHChr) > 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP). The effects of gender and smoking upon the contents of OH-PAHs in urine samples were not significant. There was a good correlation between total hydroxy-naphthalene (ΣOHNap) and 1-OHNap (r = 0.948), and a good correlation was also showed between total hydroxy-fluorene (ΣOHFlu) and 9-OHFlu (r = 0.975). Naphthalene carried by atmospheric particulate matters demonstrated better correlation with 1-OHNap than 2-OHNap, while fluorene carried by atmospheric particulate matters showed better correlation with 9-OHFlu than 3-OHFlu and 2-OHFlu. The correlation coefficients of ΣOHNap, ΣOHFlu and 6-OHChr with 1-OHP were 0.427, 0.543 and 0.655, respectively, and the correlations were not strong.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It cannot reflect internal exposure level of PAHs to use 1-OHP as the only biomarker, while 1-OHNap and 9-OHFlu can be well predictive of the exposure levels of corresponding total OH-PAHs, suggesting that simultaneous determination of 1-OHNap, 9-OHFlu and 1-OHP can be more accurate and comprehensive in evaluating the internal exposure level of PAHs.</p>

The relationship between occupational stress and metabolic syndrome among policemen / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the occupational stress factors associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among male policemen.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using cluster sampling method, we selected four Public Security Bureau within the jurisdiction of the station now in some city. All the male police were included as research objects, and finally 1490 persons were selected, health and occupational stress inventory-revised (OSI-R) questionnaire were used for epidemiological surveys, and anthropometric examination and chemical indicators were also measured at the same time. The analysis methods were chi-square test and unconditional logistical regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 1490 of research objects, 1483 completed the questionnaire, and 1480 of the eligible questionnaires were available.237 cases were MS, and the prevalence rate was 16.0%(237/1480). The number of cases who were high, moderate and lack of occupational stress in MS group were 8, 39 and 23, that in non-MS were 14, 114 and 131, respectively. The odds of occupational stress with the highest and medium among policemen than who were lack were 4.82 (95%CI: 1.50 - 15.41) and 3.33 (95%CI: 1.62 - 6.79); the average score of role ambiguity, role insufficiency and responsibility in the group of MS were (38.76 ± 6.83), (25.74 ± 7.22), (25.76 ± 6.27); and that in non-MS were (37.55 ± 6.85), (24.50 ± 6.58), (25.05 ± 5.95). The logistical regression analysis showed that: the likely three occupational risk stress factors which influencing the prevalence of MS were role ambiguity, role insufficiency and responsibility, and the OR (95%CI) were 1.06 (1.02 - 1.10), 1.04 (1.02 - 1.07) and 1.03 (1.01 - 1.06), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Role ambiguity, role insufficiency and responsibility were the occupational risk stress factors associated with the prevalence of MS among male policemen.</p>

A matched case-control study on the risk factors of metabolic syndrome among policemen / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the life style, genetic and occupational risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MS) among policemen.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>1:4 matched case-control study was used, based on physical examination data of Tianjin Policemen in 2010, 708 patients with MS were randomly selected as cases, which were matched with 2832 healthy controls on the basis of sex and age (+/- 1 year). An epidemiological investigations on the past exposure status of several possible risk factors was conducted, and the data were analyzed with conditional logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fifteen factors related to exposure were identified for MS through univariate conditional logistic regression analysis. Multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis suggested that, seven factors, such as family history of hypertension (OR = 2.406, 95% CI: 1.946-2.975), family history of diabetes (OR = 1.301, 95% CI: 1.043-1.623), smoking (OR = 1.357, 95%CI: 1.010-1.823), snoring (OR = 1.268, 95% CI: 1.043-1.543), work intensity (OR = 4.603, 95% CI: 3.767-5.623), occupational stressful events (OR = 1.524, 95% CI: 1.209-1.922), security policemen (OR = 1.453, 95% CI: 1.127-1.872) and criminal investigation policemen (OR = 2.792, 95% CI: 2.168-3.596), could significantly increase the risk of disease development, but dairy products (OR = 0.782, 95% CI: 0.619-0.989) was a protect factor for MS. The results from population attributable risk factors analysis showed that the control of smoking, snoring, work intensity, occupational stressful events can decreased the risk of MS to 16.26%, 11.71%, 56.87% and 8.97%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Metabolic syndrome has became a significant public health problem among policemen, it's necessary to take measures on life style, occupational risk factors for reducing the incidence of MS, and improving the health level among policemen.</p>

Construction of the dioxin bioassay method based on the clonal expressed aryl hydrocarbon receptor system / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the specific binding of the artificial clonal aryl hydrocarbon receptor translocator (ARNT) with the natural aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and the recolonization by polyclonal antibody. The dose-response relationship with tetrachlo-rodibenzo-dioxin (TCDD) was also studied to develop TCDD detection method and the binding degree related to dose response.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>(1) The target genes including AhR-PAS, AhR-C and ARNT-PAS were amplified by RT-PCR by using the total RNA purified from the liver cells of C57BL/6J mice as templates to construct pGEX-5X1 recombinants. The recombinant plasmids were expressed in E. coli. (2) The rabbits were immuned by the clonal fusion proteins: AhR-PAS, AhR-C to prepare the polyclonal antibody. (3) The natural AhR from the hepatic cytosol of C57BL/6J mice was extracted. The artificial cloning expressed fusion protein:GST-ARNT-PAS and the natural AhR were incubated in different dose of TCDD. The quantity of the heterodimer through affinity adsorption and Western blots were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The target proteins including AhR-PAS, AhR-C and ARNT-PAS were successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli. (2) The detection limit of polyclonal antibody AhR-PAS and AhR-C were 5 ng and 1 ng, respectively. (3) The total protein concentration prepared from the liver cells was 60.5 mg/ml. The artificial clonal protein ARNT-PAS could specifically bind to the natural AhR complex with the existence of TCDD. The detection limit of TCDD was 0.25 pmol which was 80 pg approximately.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A TCDD detection method based on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor system was established and the detection limit might reach pg grade.</p>

Role of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in chloracne / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway in chloracne.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor (p-EGFR) and p-MAPK proteins in the epithelium of chloracne group and control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>p-EGFR and p-MAPK was found in all chloracne tissues, whereas no expression of p-EGFR and p-MAPK protein was found in control group. In the skin of chloracne patients, p-EGFR was mainly distributed in the membrane and the cytoplasm, especially in the vicinity of membrane; major positive signal of p-MAPK was in core and serosity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EGFR and MAPK phosphorylation is found in chloracne tissues. MAPK signal transduction pathway is one important molecular mechanism of chloracne.</p>

Effect of 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on the expression of AhR and TGF-alpha / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study HaCaT-keratinocyte cell lines, a chosen model of human epidermis in an attempt to analyze the mRNA expression of AhR and TGF-alpha induced by TCDD METHODS: Semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR-technique was used for assaying the relative levels of AhR and TGF-alpha mRNA of HaCaT-cells during the proliferation period when the cells were cultured for 24 hours.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Relative level of the AhR-transcripts (corrected with beta-actin) decreased with the elevated concentration of TCDD and the relevant coefficient between the proliferation rate and concentration was -0.548, and the differences among all groups were significant (F =4.124, P =0.021). The vehicle control was respectively compared with 7 x 10(-10) mol/L (0.0620 +/- 0.0085) and 7 x 10(-9) mol/L (0.0518 +/- 0.0194) group, significantly different from the control group (0.1138 +/- 0.0227) (t = -3.48, P <0.05; t = -4.17, P <0.01), the expression amount being 55% and 45% of the control. Relative levels of TGF-alpha mRNA tended to increase with the elevated concentration with the significant coefficient of 0.695 (P < 0.01), and the differences among all groups were significant (F = 15.789, P =0.000). In two higher concentration group 7 x 10(-10) mol/L (0.1474 +/- 0.0390) and 7 x 10 (-9) mol/L (0.2133 +/- 0.0364), their relative expression amount of TGF-alpha mRNA was 2.6-fold, 3.8-fold of the control group (0.0561 +/- 0.0100) respectively. Further analysis for the relevant relationship between the amounts of the AhR mRNA and TGF- alpha mRNA showed a highly negative correlation, the coefficient being - 0.561 (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TCDD down-regulate the expression of AhR and up-regulate the expression of TGF-alpha. A strong negative correlation between AhR and TGF-alpha expression is found.</p>

Induction of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and CYP1A1 mRNA by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in rat liver / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the toxic mechanism of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) by studying the induction of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mRNA in liver of TCDD-treated SD rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty female SD rats were randomly divided into control group and 5 exposure groups, every group had 5 rats. The animals were treated i.p. with 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 50 microg TCDD/kg BW. AHR and CYP1A1 mRNA expression were analyzed by RT-PCR after 24 h.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The contents of AHR and CYP1A1 mRNA were increased in all exposure groups except the 0.01 microg TCDD/kg BW group. AHR mRNA content was significantly increased in 50 microg TCDD/kg BW group (P<0.05); CYP1A1 mRNA contents were significantly increased in all exposure groups (P<0.05) but not 0.01 microg TCDD/kg BW group. There were dose-response relationship between TCDD doses and AHR, CYP1A1 gene expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both AHR and CYP1A1 gene in liver of TCDD-treated SD rats can be induced 24 h after exposure and CYP1A1 gene is more inducible than AHR gene.</p>

Survey on prevalence of atopic dermatitis in 0 - 6 year-old children in Tianjin / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence of and predisposing factors of atopic dermatitis (AD ) in 0 - 6 year-old children in rural and urban area of Tianjin. Methods The subjects were chosen by cluster sampling from kindergartens in Tianjin's urban and rural districts. Questionnaires were designed based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC ) and distributed to the children's parents via the teachers. Results In this survey, 3 749 questionaires were returned, of which 3 708 were valid. The response rate was 82.7% in total, 79.3% in the rural area, and 84.9% in the urban area. The age and gender distributions were similar in the urban and rural area. The prevalence rate of AD in these children was 2.9% in total, and it was higher in the urban area than in the rural area (3.5% vs 2.4%, x2 = 3.98, P