TNFR/TNF-α signaling pathway regulates apoptosis of alveolar macrophages in coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

We explored the role of TNFR/TNF-α signalingin apoptosis among alveolar macrophages (AM) and its relevance to the development of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). Purified alveolar macrophages (AMs) were prepared from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid harvested from 366 CWP patients and 120 healthy subjects enrolled inthe study. The purified AMs were then divided into control, SOD, anti-TNFR, TNFR and NFkB inhibitor groups and analyzed for apoptosis usingflow cytometry (sub-diploid peak) and western blotting (Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 expression). We found thatAM apoptosis washigher amongCWP patients than thehealthycontrols. Expression ofBcl-2, Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 was higher inAMs from CWP patientsthan in those from the controlsand correlated with increased AM apoptosis. Univariate and multivariate analyses suggested that CWP grade, initial exposure time, exposure time inyears, and CWP onset agewereall associated with altered levels of Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Caspase-8. Inhibition of TNFR/TNF-α signaling usinganti-TNFR antibody, SOD or NFkB inhibitionreduced AM apoptosisand decreased Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 expression. These data suggestinhibition of a TNFR/TNF-α signaling pathway is a potentiallyeffective means ofalleviating CWP by inhibiting AM apoptosis.

Correlations of smoking with cumulative total dust exposure and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal-mine workers.

The present study aimed to investigate the correlation of smoking with cumulative total dust exposure (CTE) and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal-mine workers. A total of 376 coal-mine workers were recruited as the observational group, while 179 healthy workers in other industries were selected as the control group. All the workers underwent pulmonary function testing to determine their forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC, in order to compare the abnormal pulmonary function between the two groups. A markedly higher number of smokers was observed in the observational group (200/376, 53.19%) when compared with the control group (72/179, 40.22%). In smokers, the abnormal rate of pulmonary function in the observational group (102/200, 51.00%) was evidently higher compared with that in the control group (19/72, 26.39%), whereas no significant difference was detected between the two groups of non-smokers (P=0.077). In addition, FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC of the observational group were found to be lower compared with those in the control group, in both the smoking and non-smoking subgroups. In the smoking subgroup, FVC and FEV1 in subjects working at the coal mine for different number of years showed significant differences (all P<0.05), whereas comparison of FEV1/FVC in workers with different working durations showed no significant difference (P=0.169). However, in the non-smoking subgroup, the comparison of FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC in different working duration groups also showed no significant difference (all P>0.05). Furthermore, FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC in smoking coal-mine workers were negatively correlated with the dust-exposure working duration (P<0.05). CTE was also positively correlated with cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in the smoking and non-smoking subgroups, while FEV1 was negatively correlated with CTE in the smoking subgroup (P=0.009). In conclusion, smoking is an important risk factor for the damage of pulmonary function in coal-mine workers, and it is positively correlated with dust-exposure time and CTE in these individuals.

Analysis of Hemogram of Radiation Workers in Tangshan, China.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate changes in peripheral blood cells of radiation workers and explore the impact of long-term ionizing radiation (IR) on human peripheral hemogram. METHODS: With a cohort method, we selected 1,392 radiation workers (case group) and 1,430 non-health-ray-exposure history persons (control group) to detect and analyze their peripheral hemogram. FAITH3000 automatic biochemical analyzer was used for blood testing. Examination of peripheral hemogram includes the examination of white blood cells (WBCs), platelet (PLTs), red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), lymphocytes (LYMs), and mononuclear cells (MOs). The data analysis was conducted with software SPSS19.0. RESULTS: All the peripheral hemogram indicators (WBCs, RBCs, Hb, PLTs, LYMs, and MOs) in the case group, in accordance with the order of radiology diagnostic medical group, industrial inspection group, petroleum logging group, and radiotherapy medical group, showed a significant decreasing trend and were lower than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). Besides, with the increase of radiation seniority and accumulative radiation dose, all the peripheral hemogram indicators (WBCs, RBCs, Hb, PLTs, LYMs, and MOs) in the case group dramatically decreased and were lower than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). Seniority was in negative association with the expressions of WBCs, PLTs, RBCs, Hb, LYMs, and MOs and radiation dose with Hb, LYMs, and MOs (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Long-term IR has some effects on the health of radiation workers, thus protective measures should be further strengthened.

Relationship of cumulative dust exposure dose and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal mixture workers.

To investigate the dose-response relationship between cumulative dust exposure (CDE) and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal mixture workers. Three hundred and twenty eight coal mixture workers (exposed group) and 169 nondust-exposed workers (control group) were recruited. Basic information data were collected and pulmonary function tests were performed. Pulmonary function was compared between the two groups after comparing smoking behaviors. Pulmonary function indices [forced vital capacity in 1 second after full inspiration (FVC)%, forced expiratory volume (FEV)1%, and FEV1/FVC%] were compared among groups stratified by service length (exposure duration). The relationship between CDE dose and cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function in coal mixture workers was analyzed. Abnormal rate of pulmonary function in the exposed group (35.1%) was significantly higher than the control group (10.1%; p < 0.001); FVC%, FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC% in the exposed group decreased significantly compared with the control group (all p < 0.05). Differences in FVC%, FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC% among coal mixture workers stratified by exposure duration in the exposed group were statistically significant (all p < 0.05). The discernible increase in the cumulative abnormal rate was observed, from ≥ 1000 mg/m(3)·years group to ≥ 1700 mg/m(3)·years group. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between the CDE dose and the cumulative abnormal rate of pulmonary function. Higher abnormal pulmonary function rate was found among coal mixture workers, characterized by decreased pulmonary function indices. Our results suggested a positive relationship between CDE dose and cumulative abnormal pulmonary function rate, and a rapid increase in cumulative abnormal rate within a certain range of CDE dose. A lower limit value of 1000 mg/m(3)·years has reference significance.

Effects of ionising radiation on micronucleus formation and chromosomal aberrations in Chinese radiation workers.

This study is aimed to investigate the effects of ionising radiation (IR) on micronuclei (MN) formation and chromosome aberrations (CAs) in Chinese radiation workers. The study was conducted using peripheral blood lymphocytes from 1392 radiation workers from Public Hospitals of the city of Tangshan (the exposed group), and 143 healthy individuals as the control group. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) was used to detect the unstable and stable nuclear CAs on metaphase. The MN assay was performed using the cytochalasin B method for cytokinesis-block. The MN and CA frequencies were significantly higher in the exposed group than in healthy controls (both p < 0.001). Examination of the incidence rates of MN and CA showed an increasing trend among workers in some occupations compared with the others (all p < 0.05). There were also significant differences in MN and CA rates among workers with different exposure times (all p < 0.05). Stable CA rates demonstrated an increased trend among workers with different exposure times (all p < 0.05), while no significance of unstable CA rates was found among workers with different exposure times (all p < 0.05). Importantly, the frequencies of CA and MN increased among different cumulative radiation dose groups (all p < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the frequencies of MN and CA were positively associated with the cumulative radiation dose. Long-term exposure to IR may have harmful effects on the health of radiation workers. The data obtained here show an increased risk of genetic instability that correlated with occupation, exposure time and equivalent dose among Chinese radiation workers.