Exposure to nanoparticles of magnetite Fe3O4 in three different doses and their influence on selected respiratory parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage after intravenous instillation.

OBJECTIVES: Due to nano-dimensions (less than 100 nm), can nanoparticles probably penetrate through various membranes and travel from the bloodstream to other organs in the body. The aim of our study was to find out whether NPs Fe3O4 (coated with sodium oleate) injected into the tail vein of laboratory Wistar rats pass through the bloodstream to the respiratory tract (in comparison with a control group); and if so whether increasing doses of NPs Fe3O4 have an escalating harmful effect on selected bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) parameters. METHODS: Wistar rats were intravenously given 3 doses of the suspension of NPs Fe3O4 (0.1% LD50 = 0.0364, 1.0% = 0.364 and 10.0% = 3.64 mg/kg animal body weight). Seven days later, we sacrificed the animals under anaesthesia, performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and isolated the collected cells. Many inflammatory and cytotoxic BAL parameters were examined. RESULTS: Both inflammatory and cytotoxic BAL parameters affected by Fe3O4 suspension were changed compared to control results, but not all were statistically significant. Thus, the NPs Fe3O4 passed through the bloodstream to the respiratory tract and affected it. The highest concentration of NPs Fe3O4 (10%) had the most influence on BAL parameters (7 of 12 parameters). Only 3 parameters showed a pure dose dependence. CONCLUSION: We assume that the adverse effect of Fe3O4 NPs in our study is probably not correlated with the dose, but rather with the size of the particles or with their surface area.

Comparison of respiratory toxicity of TiO2 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles after intravenous instillation: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: Nanomaterials consist of particles smaller than 100 nm - nanoparticles (NPs). Their nano dimensions allow them to penetrate through various membranes and enter into the bloodstream and disseminate into different body organs. Massive expansion of nanotechnologies together with production of new nanoparticles which have not yet been in contact with living organisms may pose a potential health problem. It is therefore necessary to investigate the health impact of NPs after experimental exposure. Comparison of the effect of TiO2 and NPs Fe3O4 in Wistar rats at time intervals 1, 7, 14 and 28 days was performed by studying the cytotoxic effect in the isolated inflammatory cells from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). METHODS: Wistar rats were intravenously (i.v.) given a suspension of NPs TiO2 or Fe3O4 (coated by sodium oleate) via the tail vein. After time intervals of 1, 7, 14 and 28 days, we sacrificed the animals under anaesthesia, performed BAL and isolated the cells. The number of animals in the individual groups was 7-8. We examined the differential count of BAL cells (alveolar macrophages - AM, polymorphonuclear leukocytes - PMN, lymphocytes - Ly); viability and phagocytic activity of AM; the proportion of immature and polynuclear cells and enzymes - cathepsin D - CAT D, lactate dehydrogenase - LDH and acid phosphatase - ACP. RESULTS: We found that TiO2 NPs are relatively inert - without induction of inflammatory and cytotoxic response. Exposure to nanoparticles Fe3O4 induced - under the same experimental conditions - in comparison with the control and TiO2 a more extensive inflammatory and cytotoxic response, albeit only at 1, 7 and 14 days after injection. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that TiO2 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles used in our study were transferred from the bloodstream to the respiratory tract, but this effect was not observed at 28 days after i.v. injection, probably due to their removal from the respiratory tract.

Respiratory toxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles after intravenous instillation: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: Nanomaterials are materials consisting of particles having one or more dimensions smaller than 100 nm. Nanoparticles (NP) have different properties and effects in comparison with the same particle materials of larger size. They can penetrate through various membranes and get from the bloodstream to other organs in the body. Therefore, in our experiment we have dealt with the impact of nanoparticles TiO2 instilled intravenously (i.v.) (to a tail vein of an animal) on the selected parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The aim of our study was to determine whether TiO2 nanoparticles do pass through the vascular system to the respiratory tract, and if so, how they affect the selected inflammatory and cytotoxic parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage. METHODS: Wistar rats were intravenously given a suspension of TiO2 nanoparticles in saline solution. This suspension contained 10% volume of rat serum in dose: 1.0% from LD50 = 0.592 mg/kg of animal body weight. After the time intervals 1, 7, 14 and 28 days, the animals were sacrificed under anaesthesia; bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and the BAL cells were isolated. We have examined these markers: differential count of BAL cells - alveolar macrophages (AM), polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), lymphocytes (Ly); viability and phagocytic activity of AM; proportion of immature cells and cathepsin D enzyme levels. RESULTS: Regarding the respiratory toxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles we have found that TiO2 nanoparticles are relatively inert. BAL examined parameters (except the immature form of AM) were not significantly changed after 28 days of instillation compared to the control group. We found that the TiO2 nanoparticles used in our study were transferred from the bloodstream to the respiratory tract, but in a 28-day phase after i.v. instillation have been largely eliminated by the defence mechanism from the respiratory tract. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest low biopersistence and relatively rapid elimination of TiO2 nanoparticles from the lung under used experimental conditions.

Respiratory toxicity of Fe3O4 nanoparticles: experimental study.

INTRODUCTION: In the medical field, nanoparticles (NP) Fe3O4 are currently considered to be a relatively inert carrier for therapeutic and diagnostic pharmaceuticals, and they are also presumed for intravenous (i.v.) administration. Because they have nano dimensions, they probably can penetrate through various membranes and pass from the bloodstream to other organs in the body (Borm P, Muller-Schulte D. Nanoparticles in medicine, 2007, Chapter 21, pp. 387-413, Particle Toxicology, ed. Donaldson K, Borm P, Taylor & Francis Group, USA, 434 p., ISBN 0-8493-5092-1). Therefore, in our experiment, we have examined the impact of a NP Fe3O4 instilled i.v. (to a tail vein of an animal) on the select parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The aim of our study was to determine whether the NP investigated by us, pass through the vascular system to the respiratory tract, and if so, how they affect the selected inflammatory and cytotoxic parameters of BAL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats were intravenously given a suspension of Fe3O4 and after time intervals of 1, 7, 14 and 28 days, the animals were sacrificed, BAL was performed and selected inflammatory and cytotoxic BAL parameters were examined. CONCLUSION: Based on the results obtained by us, Fe3O4 NP exposure, compared to the control, induced inflammatory response, the cytotoxic damage and respiratory toxicity. The results further show that Fe3O4 NP, 28 days after i.v. instillation, were eliminated from the respiratory tract by defense mechanisms.

Combined effect of selected mineral fibres and tobacco smoke on respiratory tract in rats.

The rats were inhaling amosite and wollastonite fibres at two concentrations (30 and 60 mg/m3) one hour every second day and cigarette smoke of 3 cigarettes per day (with the exception of Saturdays and Sundays). They were sacrificed after 6 month of exposure. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed and selected inflammatory and cytotoxic parameters were examined. Amosite: inflammatory parameters were the most changed after 60 mg/m3 in both groups with or without smoking; the cytotoxic parameters were strongly influenced by smoking. Wollastonite (asbestos substitute) inhalation confirmed lower inflammatory and cytotoxic effects on all examined animal groups in comparison with amosite.

Effect of TiO2 nanofibres on selected bronchoalveolar parameters in acute and subacute phase--experimental study.

Titanium dioxide nanofibres (TiO2) were intratracheally instilled in dose of 4 mg/0.2 mL saline solution per animal (Wistar rats). After 48 hours and 14 days the animals were exsanguinated (under i.p. thiopental narcosis), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was perfomed and cells from BAL fluid were isolated. Following inflammatory, cytotoxic and oxidative stress BAL parameters were examined: differential cell count (% of alveolar macrophages (AM), polymorphonuclears and lymphocytes); the viability and phagocytic activity of AM; the proportion of immature cells; the proportion of multinucleated cells; count of AM/mL lavage; count of BAL cells/mL lavage; the level of ascorbic acid and activity of superoxide dismutase, both in tissue homogenate and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The majority of examined BAL parameters in the acute and subacute phase in our study suggest serious inflammatory and cytotoxic processes in lung after exposure to TiO2.

The influence of cigarette smoke on the selected bronchoalveolar cells in experiment.

UNLABELLED: The occurence of lung diseases (obstructive, malignant) resulting from smoking has an increasing tendency. The lung is the primary organ at risk from the effects of inhaled cigarette smoke and smoking has been implicated as a contributing factor to the causation of various respiratory diseases. The aim of presented work was to find out the subchronic effect of the 6-month exposure to cigarette smoke on the selected inflammatory and cytotoxic parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage in W rats and thus to contribute to understanding of the mechanism of action of tobacco smoke and/or path mechanism of lung injury developed after cigarette smoking. In special chamber, the animals smoked 8 standard research 1R1 type of cigarettes per day, except Saturdays and Sundays, during 6 months. The daily concentration of total particulate matter (TPM)/m3 air for two hours per exposure requiring to burn eight cigarettes was 85 mg. Animals were sacrificed after the 6-month exposure and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed and selected inflammatory and cytotoxic BAL parameters were examined and compared with the control group. Following BAL parameters were investigated: the total cell and alveolar macrophages (AM) count in BAL, the differential cell count (% of AM, % of polymorphonuclears--PMN, % of lymphocytes--Ly), proportion of immature AM, proportion of bi-nucleated cells--BNC, viability, the phagocytic activity of AM, cytokines TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) and IL-1beta (interleukin-1beta). CONCLUSION: A) The 6-month smoking of eight cigarettes daily significantly changed prevailing number of examined BAL parameters; B) The presence of inflammatory and cytotoxic responses in lung tissue can probably signalize beginning or developing of disease process.

Long-term care in developed countries and recommendations for Slovak Republic.

The aging of our population represents a most significant demographic change. It represents important challenges and consequences for the nation's economic, social, and health institutions and for the health and well-being of older persons and their families. Old people over 60 are now the most rapidly growing segment of the population and represent 20% of all Slovak inhabitants. Because of the high prevalence of morbidity and disability among the elderly they are the most important consumers of health care and social care services, both extramural and intramural. Long-term care is a relatively closed system of health care and social care services. Initially, long-term care policies were formulated as a response to ageing of the population, which brought about growing needs of elderly people for social care and health care, and was associated with relatively rapid increases of necessary costs. All industrial countries are facing similar problems when it comes to the integration of long-term care. In developed countries, current long-term care focuses on all age groups in need of assistance and support from others due to the limitations caused by their state of health. Long-term care within the public services system does not exist in Slovakia.