Stromal cell-derived factor-1α as a novel biomarker for hyperlipidemia.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is expressed in a wide variety of organs, such as heart, and plays a pivotal role in the mobilization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in bone marrow. SDF-1α, a common subtype of SDF-1, may control hematopoiesis and angiogenesis, but its role in the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of SDF-1α in the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia. First, log-transformed SDF-1α serum levels (logSDF-1α) were significantly higher in male patients with borderline high lipid profile (BHLP; n=28; 2.15±0.08 ng/ml) compared to control subjects (n=37; 1.94±0.06 ng/ml; P<0.01). The logSDF-1α in male patients with high lipid profile (HLP; n=33; 1.95±0.08 ng/ml) were lower than BHLP patients (P<0.01). The logSDF-1α was positively associated with HDL-C only in female patients (n=125; r=0.379, P=0.016). These results suggest the different pathophysiology in male and female patients with hyperlipidemia. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis showed that expression of the SDF-1α receptor, CXC-chemokine receptor 4, was lower in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with BHLP (n=10) and HLP (n=10), compared to control subjects (n=10; P<0.001). Lastly, peripheral blood leukocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were higher in BHLP patients (n=62; P<0.05). Taken together, we suggest SDF-1α as a biomarker of hyperlipidemia that may be helpful to uncover the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia.

The health effects of odor emission from domestic renovation on household residents in Tianjin, China.

The health effects of odors emitted from the human environment have received some discussion in the literature. Little has been written, however, about the health effects of odor emissions from renovation. The authors therefore conducted a cross-sectional study with a simple randomized sampling design. The sample was selected from a building-and-construction registry that registered all building and domestic renovation applications in Tianjin, China. Information on demographics, physical symptoms, and health status was collected via personal interviews. Air samples were also collected from each household for chemical analysis. Data were analyzed with weighted logistic-regression models. A significant association was found between exposure to odor emission and unspecific physical symptoms. After potential confounders were adjusted for, it was found that people who had been exposed to moderate-to-strong odor emissions from renovations were about four times more likely to report experiencing unspecific discomfort than were people who had been exposed to weak odor emissions (odds ratio = 4.05; 95 percent confidence interval = 1.49-11.03). The results indicate that odor emissions from domestic renovation have a detrimental effect on human physical health. This effect seemed to be independent from that generated by chemicals. Implications and prevention strategies are discussed.