Epigenetic Regulation of Macrophage Polarization in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of hospitalization and death worldwide, especially in developing countries. The increased prevalence rate and mortality due to CVDs, despite the development of several approaches for prevention and treatment, are alarming trends in global health. Chronic inflammation and macrophage infiltration are key regulators of the initiation and progression of CVDs. Recent data suggest that epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, posttranslational histone modifications, and RNA modifications, regulate cell development, DNA damage repair, apoptosis, immunity, calcium signaling, and aging in cardiomyocytes; and are involved in macrophage polarization and contribute significantly to cardiac disease development. Cardiac macrophages not only trigger damaging inflammatory responses during atherosclerotic plaque formation, myocardial injury, and heart failure but are also involved in tissue repair, remodeling, and regeneration. In this review, we summarize the key epigenetic modifications that influence macrophage polarization and contribute to the pathophysiology of CVDs, and highlight their potential for the development of advanced epigenetic therapies.

Cadmium exposure and its health effects: a 19-year follow-up study of a polluted area in China.

BACKGROUND: Dayu County, which is located in southwestern Jiangxi Province in China, has been a cadmium (Cd)-contaminated area since the 1960s. A series of studies about Cd pollution were carried out in the 1980s. However, no further studies of the area were conducted during the following 19 years. AIM: To observe cadmium (Cd) exposure levels and its health risks among residents living in contaminated areas that have been exposed to environmental cadmium pollution for 45 years. METHODS: Subjects involved in the survey in 1987 were interviewed again in 2006. Rice and urine samples from surviving subjects were collected to assess the level of cadmium exposure. Urinary Cd (U-Cd), urinary ß2-microglobulin (U-ß2-M) and urinary N-acetyl-ß-d-glucosaminidase (U-NAG) were used as biomarkers to evaluate renal function. A medical examination was also performed on all subjects to diagnose clinical symptoms of Cd-exposure. RESULT: Of the 96 subjects of the 1987 study who were alive in 2006, a total of 76 subjects were successfully recruited to this study. The average cadmium concentration in rice from the exposed areas was 0.59 ± 0.41 mg/kg in 2006, the average concentration of U-Cd, U-ß2-M and U-NAG from cadmium-exposed areas was 25.82 ± 0.20 µg/g Cr, 6525.71 ± 0.93 µg/g Cr and 13.65 ± 0.24 µmol/g Cr, respectively, in 2006. Compared with the 1987 results, the 2006 results showed that the U-ß2-M level in the exposed areas increased significantly after 19 years (p<0.05). The levels of U-Cd and U-NAG did not significantly change over time. CONCLUSION: The concentration of Cd in polluted areas in 2006 is higher than it was in 1987. Renal dysfunction has worsened after 45 years of continuous exposure. Thus, environmental protection and special procedures to remove cadmium in these areas require urgent consideration.

[The quantitative classification and survey of sanitation of urban secondary water supply in Haidian district of Beijing].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sanitary status of urban secondary water supply facilities in Haidian district of Beijing. METHODS: Adopting the quantitative classification table drafted by the Bureau for Sanitation Inspection and Supervision of Haidian district, we carried quantitative classification (A, B, C grade) on all 1725 secondary water supply facilities in Haidian district for two times. At the same time, we collected 20 residential areas with stratified random sampling method. As the public points in the first quantitative classification, the effect of level publicity on changing the sanitary grade of the secondary water supply facilities were observed. RESULTS: In the first two times of quantitative classification, A-level and B-level secondary water supply facilities took up 81.04% (1398/1725) and 89.04% (1536/1725) of all secondary water supply facilities respectively; the ratio of effective sanitary permits achieved 86.14% (1486/1725) and 92.35% (1593/1725) respectively; and the ratio of effective water quality test reports achieved 86.60% (1494/1725) and 97.10% (1675/1725) respectively. There were 52 secondary water supply facilities in 20 collected areas, including 8 A-level, 27 B-level and 17 C-level secondary water supply facilities before level publicity, and 19, 29 and 4 after level publicity. The impact of level publicity on changing the sanitary grade of the secondary water supply facilities was statistically significant (χ(2) = 12.60, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The city secondary water supply facilities in Haidian district are overall in good sanitary conditions. Quantitative classification and level publicity can effectively improve the sanitary status of secondary water supply facilities.