Effects of TCPP and TCEP exposure on human corneal epithelial cells: Oxidative damage, cell cycle arrest, and pyroptosis.

Tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP) and Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) are the widely used organophosphorus flame retardants indoors and easily accessible to the eyes as the common adhesive components of dust and particle matter, however, hardly any evidence has demonstrated their corneal toxicity. In this study, the adverse effects of TCPP, TCEP, and TCPP + TCEP exposure on human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) were investigated. The cell viability and morphology, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell cycle, and the expressions of cell cycle and pyroptosis-related genes were assessed to explain the underlying mechanisms.

Organophosphorus Flame Retardant TCPP Induces Cellular Senescence in Normal Human Skin Keratinocytes: Implication for Skin Aging.

Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) is one of the most frequently detected organophosphorus flames in the environment. Continuous daily exposure to TCPP may harm human skin. However, little is known about the adverse effects of TCPP on human skin.

Indoor air pollution and human ocular diseases: Associated contaminants and underlying pathological mechanisms.

People spend a long time indoors, especially young children. The risk of indoor pollution on human health is one of the current hotspots in environmental and public health. The human ocular surface is highly susceptible to indoor environment quality.

Mechanical behavior and reinforcement mechanism of nanoparticle cluster fillers in dental resin composites: Simulation and experimental study.

Objectives: In dental resin composites (DRCs), the structure of fillers has a great impact on the mechanical behavior. The purpose of this study is to gain an in-depth understanding of the reinforcement mechanism and mechanical behavior of DRCs with nanoparticle clusters (NCs) fillers, thereby providing a guidance for the optimal design of filler structures for DRCs.

Methods: This work pioneers the use of discrete element method (DEM) simulations combined with experiments to study the mechanical behavior and reinforcement mechanism of DRCs with NCs fillers.

Effects of Nickel at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations on Human Corneal Epithelial Cells: Oxidative Damage and Cellular Apoptosis.

Nickel (Ni) is ubiquitous in the environment and evidence has suggested that Ni can cause ocular surface inflammation, especially in fine particulate matter and personal products. Continuous daily exposure to Ni-containing dust may adversely impact the human cornea, whereas the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remains not fully understood. Here, human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) were employed to analyze the toxicity of Ni via detections of cell morphology, cell viability, reactive oxygen species production, cell apoptosis rate, and apoptotic gene expression levels after exposure for 24 h to uncover the damage of Ni to the cornea.

Dermal bioaccessibility and cytotoxicity of heavy metals in urban soils from a typical plateau city: Implication for human health.

The dermal exposure of heavy metals in contaminated urban soils poses huge environmental health risks globally. However, their dermal bioaccessibility and adverse effects on human skin cells were not fully understood. In this study, we measured the total and dermal bioaccessibility of Cr, As, Cd, Pb, and Cu in four selected urban soil samples from Kunming, Yunnan, China, and evaluated the cellular responses of these bioaccessible extracts on human keratinocytes (HaCaT).

Spray-drying-assisted fabrication of CaF/SiO nanoclusters for dental restorative composites.

Objective: The objective of this study is to develop novel CaF/SiO nanoclusters (NCs) fillers, which can endow the dental resin composites (DRCs) with excellent mechanical properties, stable and sustained fluoride ion release, and good antibacterial activity.

Methods: The CaF/SiO NCs were efficiently fabricated by assembling CaF/SiO nanoparticles (NPs) as building blocks with a spray-drying technology. CaF/SiO NCs with different SiO coating amounts (20 wt%, 50 wt% and 80 wt%) were incorporated into the DRCs at the filler content of 55 wt% for the measurement of mechanical properties including flexural strength, flexural modulus, compressive strength, and hardness.

Efficient prediction of the packing density of inorganic fillers in dental resin composites for excellent properties.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to develop a mathematical model for efficient prediction of the packing density of different filler formulations in dental resin composites (DRCs), and to study properties of DRCs at the maximum filler loading (MFL), thereby providing an effective guidance for the design of filler formulations in DRCs to obtain excellent properties.

Methods: The packing density data generated by discrete element model (DEM) simulation were used to re-derive the parameters of 3-parameter model. The modifier effect was also induced to modify the 3-parameter model.

A new method for predicting the maximum filler loading of dental resin composites based on DEM simulations and experiments.

Objective: The inorganic fillers in dental resin composites can enhance their mechanical properties and reduce polymerization shrinkage. When the usage amount of inorganic fillers is closed to maximum filler loading (MFL), the composites will usually achieve optimal performances. This study aims to develop a method that can predict the MFL of dental resin composites for the optimization of filler formulations.

[Effect of phosphodiesterase inhibitor on expression of IL-8 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from COPD patients].

Aim: To explore the inhibitory mechanism of phosphodiesterase(PDE) inhibitor on expression of IL-8 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) patients.

Methods: PBMCs isolated from 20 COPD patients and 15 healthy subjects were co-cultured with non-selective inhibitor theophylline or PDE type IV inhibitor Rolipram. The expression of IL-8 mRNA was assayed by RT-PCR.

[The isolation and expansion of gamma delta T cells in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid].

Aim: To explore the method of selective culture of gamma delta T cells in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) for obtaining pure gamma delta T cell subset.

Methods: A novel attack-panning method for selectively culturing gamma delta T cells was set up. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and BALF were isolated by Ficoll-hypaque density gradient centrifugation (n=10).

[A study of helper T cell (Th)1/Th2 immune response pattern of gammadeltaT cells in asthma].

Objective: To explore the mode of immune responses of gammadeltaT cells in asthma and the role of gammadeltaT cell subsets in the pathogenesis of asthma.

Methods: Wistar rats were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin to establish an asthmatic model (n = 10, for each group). "Attack-panning" method was used to culture selective gammadeltaT cells.

[Effect of nitric oxide on NF-kappaB activation induced by cigarette smoke extract in rat alveolar macrophage].

Aim: To explore the effect of nitric oxide on NF-kappaB activation in rat alveolar macrophage(AM) induced by cigarette smoke extract(CSE) and the involved mechanism.

Methods: AMs were co-cultured with NO precursor L-arginine (L-Arg) or inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase L-N(6)(1-iminoethyl)lysine (L-NIL) and CSE. The expression of NF-kappaB was determined by immunocytochemistrical staining, the content of I-kappaB protein was detected by Western blot, the level of NO in supernatant was assayed by Griess reaction.

[The role of delayed rectifier potassium channels in the regulation of bronchial smooth muscle tension in asthmatic rats].

Objective: To investigate the role of delayed rectifier potassium channels (K(V)) in the regulation of bronchial smooth muscle tension in asthmatic rats and their effects on bronchial reactivity in vitro.

Methods: By using a specific potassium channel blocker, the bronchial contraction induced by spasmogens was observed in normal and asthmatic rats with the isometric tension recording technique.

Results: (1) K(V) blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) caused concentration-dependent bronchial contraction in vitro.

Isoprenaline and aminophylline relax bronchial smooth muscle by cAMP-induced stimulation of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels.

Aim: To investigate whether the relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle induced by isoprenaline and aminophylline is mediated by large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BK(Ca)) via cAMP-dependent mechanism.

Methods: With isometric tension recording, the role of BK(Ca) in relaxations of rat bronchial strips induced by isoprenaline and aminophylline was determined. With perforated patch-clamp technique, BK(Ca) currents were observed in freshly isolated rat bronchial myocytes.

[Investigation of regulating effects of potassium channels on the tone of rat bronchial smooth muscle].

Aim: To investigate the role of three K+ channels-delayed rectifier K+ channel (Kv), large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel (BK(Ca)) and ATP-sensitive K+ channel (K(ATP)) in the regulation of the resting and contracting tone of rat bronchial smooth muscle (BSM).

Methods: By measuring the isometric tone of bronchial strips in vitro, the regulating effects of the three K+ channels on the tone of rat BSM were observed.

Results: (1) Kv blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) caused concentration dependent contraction in resting bronchial strips, but BK(Ca) blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA) and K(ATP) blocker glibenclamide (Glib) had no such effects.