Chemical Composition of Aerosols from the E-Cigarette Vaping of Natural and Synthetic Cannabinoids.

Vaping cannabinoids in electronic (e)-cigarette devices is rapidly increasing in popularity, particularly among adolescents, although the chemistry affecting the composition of the vape aerosol is not well understood. This work investigates the formation of aerosol mass, bioactive hydroxyquinones, and harmful or potentially harmful carbonyls from the e-cigarette vaping of natural and synthetic cannabinoids e-liquids in propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin (PG/VG) solvent at a 50 mg/mL concentration in a commercial fourth-generation vaping device. The following cannabinoids were studied: cannabidiol (CBD), 8,9-dihydrocannabidiol (H2CBD), 1,2,8,9-tetrahydrocannabidiol (H4CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

Increasing coil temperature of a third-generation e-cigarette device modulates C57BL/6 mouse lung immune cell composition and cytokine milieu independently of aerosol dose.

Higher coil temperature in e-cigarette devices increases the formation of aerosols and toxicants, such as carbonyls. At present, the health implications of vaping at higher temperatures, including exacerbation of pulmonary inflammation, are largely unknown when aerosol dose is considered. To isolate the pulmonary effects of coil temperature, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to e-cigarette aerosols generated at lower (190°C) or higher (250°C) temperature for 3 days, while maintaining a similar chamber aerosol concentration.

Correction: Novel aerosol treatment of airway hyper-reactivity and inflammation in a murine model of asthma with a soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Quantification of Free Radicals from Vaping Electronic Cigarettes Containing Nicotine Salt Solutions with Different Organic Acid Types and Concentrations.

Electronic (e-) cigarette formulations containing nicotine salts from a range of organic acid conjugates and pH values have dominated the commercial market. The acids in the nicotine salt formulations may alter the redox environment in e-cigarettes, impacting free radical formation in e-cigarette aerosol. Here, the generation of aerosol mass and free radicals from a fourth-generation e-cigarette device was evaluated at 2 wt % nicotine salts (pH 7, 30:70 mixture propylene glycol to vegetable glycerin) across eight organic acids used in e-liquids: benzoic acid (BA), salicylic acid (SLA), lactic acid (LA), levulinic acid (LVA), succinic acid (SA), malic acid (MA), tartaric acid (TA), and citric acid (CA).

Characterizing the neuroimmune environment of offspring in a novel model of maternal allergic asthma and particulate matter exposure.

Inflammation during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Increased gestational inflammation can be a result of an immune condition/disease, exposure to infection, and/or environmental factors. Epidemiology studies suggest that cases of NDD are on the rise.

Carbonyls and Aerosol Mass Generation from Vaping Nicotine Salt Solutions Using Fourth- and Third-Generation E-Cigarette Devices: Effects of Coil Resistance, Coil Age, and Coil Metal Material.

Aerosol formation and production yields from 11 carbonyls (carbonyl concentration per aerosol mass unit) were investigated (1) from a fourth-generation (4th gen) e-cigarette device at different coil resistances and coil age (0-5000 puffs) using unflavored e-liquid with 2% benzoic acid nicotine salt, (2) between a sub-ohm third-generation (3rd gen) tank mod at 0.12 Ω and a 4th gen pod at 1.2 Ω using e-liquid with nicotine salt, together with nicotine yield, and (3) from 3rd gen coils of different metals (stainless steel, kanthal, nichrome) using e-liquid with freebase nicotine.

Short-term and repeated exposure to particulate matter sizes from Imperial Valley, California to induce inflammation and asthmatic-like symptoms in mice.

Imperial Valley, California has become increasingly hot, dry, and polluted over the past decade. Particulate matter (PM) levels are amongst the highest in this State, associated with significantly higher asthma prevalence among children in the region compared to national and state averages. The present study was performed to test the hypothesis that Imperial Valley PM by size and chemical composition might possess allergenic properties following introduction into murine lungs without prior sensitization to a known allergen with size fraction as a determining factor.

Effects of chronic secondhand smoke exposure on cardiovascular regulation and the role of soluble epoxide hydrolase in mice.

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality with an estimated 80% of SHS-related deaths attributed to cardiovascular causes. Public health measures and smoking bans have been successful both in reducing SHS exposure and improving cardiovascular outcomes in non-smokers. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors have been shown to attenuate tobacco exposure-induced lung inflammatory responses, making them a promising target for mitigating SHS exposure-induced cardiovascular outcomes.

COVID-19 Education and Resource Development for Punjabi-Speaking Sikh Farmworkers in California.

Objective: While the vast majority of farmworkers in California are Latinx, a small proportion of the farmworkers are Asian Indian who primarily speak Punjabi. To date, there are few COVID-19 resources developed that specifically target Punjabi-speaking farmworkers. This study examines the COVID-19 educational needs of Punjabi-speaking farmworkers in California and aims to inform future development of educational materials for Punjabi-speaking farmworkers.

Animal models and mechanisms of tobacco smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, and its global health burden is increasing. COPD is characterized by emphysema, mucus hypersecretion, and persistent lung inflammation, and clinically by chronic airflow obstruction and symptoms of dyspnea, cough, and fatigue in patients. A cluster of pathologies including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, and cardiovascular disease in the form of hypertension and atherosclerosis variably coexist in COPD patients.

The E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury Epidemic: Pathogenesis, Management, and Future Directions: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.

E-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) is a severe pulmonary illness associated with the use of e-cigarettes or vaping products that was officially identified and named in 2019. This American Thoracic Society workshop was convened in 2021 to identify and prioritize research and regulatory needs to adequately respond to the EVALI outbreak and to prevent similar instances of disease associated with e-cigarette or vaping product use. An interdisciplinary group of 26 experts in adult and pediatric clinical care, public health, regulatory oversight, and toxicology were convened for the workshop.

Inhalation of Silver Silicate Nanoparticles Leads to Transient and Differential Microglial Activation in the Rodent Olfactory Bulb.

Engineered silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), including silver silicate nanoparticles (Ag-SiO NPs), are used in a wide variety of medical and consumer applications. Inhaled AgNPs have been found to translocate to the olfactory bulb (OB) after inhalation and intranasal instillation. However, the biological effects of Ag-SiO NPs and their potential nose-to-brain transport have not been evaluated.

Examining associations in congenital syphilis infection and socioeconomic factors between California's small-to-medium and large metro counties.

Objective: To investigate differences in congenital syphilis (CS) infection between California's small-to-medium and large metropolitan counties and the socioeconomic mechanisms behind these differences.

Study Design: County-level data from 2019 and 2020 on CS infection and other socioeconomic covariates were obtained from the California Department of Public Health and the United States Census Bureau. Counties were stratified into small-to-medium or large metropolitan counties by the National Center for Health Statistics Urban-Rural Classification Scheme and analyzed using simple and multiple Poisson regression models.

Metallic Engineered Nanomaterials and Ocular Toxicity: A Current Perspective.

The ocular surface, comprised of the transparent cornea, conjunctiva, and protective tear film, forms a protective barrier defending deeper structures of the eye from particulate matter and mechanical trauma. This barrier is routinely exposed to a multitude of naturally occurring and engineered nanomaterials (ENM). Metallic ENMs are particularly ubiquitous in commercial products with a high risk of ocular exposure, such as cosmetics and sunscreens.

Cytotoxicity of 2D engineered nanomaterials in pulmonary and corneal epithelium.

Two-dimensional (2D) engineered nanomaterials are widely used in consumer and industrial goods due to their unique chemical and physical characteristics. Engineered nanomaterials are incredibly small and capable of being aerosolized during manufacturing, with the potential for biological interaction at first-contact sites such as the eye and lung. The unique properties of 2D nanomaterials that make them of interest to many industries may also cause toxicity towards epithelial cells.

Transcorneal delivery of topically applied silver nanoparticles does not delay epithelial wound healing.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are a common antimicrobial additive for a variety of applications, including wound care. However, AgNPs often undergo dissolution resulting in release of silver ions, with subsequent toxicity to mammalian cells. The cornea is a primary exposure site to topically administered AgNPs in and around the eye but their impact on corneal wound healing is understudied.

Vaping Aerosols from Vitamin E Acetate and Tetrahydrocannabinol Oil: Chemistry and Composition.

The popularity of vaping cannabis products has increased sharply in recent years. In 2019, a sudden onset of electronic cigarette/vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) was reported, leading to thousands of cases of lung illness and dozens of deaths due to the vaping of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing e-liquids that were obtained on the black market. A potential cause of EVALI has been hypothesized due to the illicit use of vitamin E acetate (VEA) in cannabis vape cartridges.

Novel aerosol treatment of airway hyper-reactivity and inflammation in a murine model of asthma with a soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor.

Asthma currently affects more than 339 million people worldwide. In the present preliminary study, we examined the efficacy of a new, inhalable soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor (sEHI), 1-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea (TPPU), to attenuate airway inflammation, mucin secretion, and hyper-responsiveness (AHR) in an ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized murine model. Male BALB/c mice were divided into phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), OVA, and OVA+TPPU (2- or 6-h) exposure groups.

Identifying a reference list of respiratory sensitizers for the evaluation of novel approaches to study respiratory sensitization.

The induction of immunological responses that trigger bio-physiological symptoms in the respiratory tract following repeated exposure to a substance, is known as respiratory sensitization. The inducing compound is known as a respiratory sensitizer. While respiratory sensitization by high molecular weight (HMW) materials is recognized and extensively studied, much less information is available regarding low molecular weight (LMW) materials as respiratory sensitizers.

Effects of life-stage and passive tobacco smoke exposure on pulmonary innate immunity and influenza infection in mice.

Limited data are available on the effects of perinatal environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure for early childhood influenza infection. The aim of the present study was to examine whether perinatal versus adult ETS exposure might provoke more severe systemic and pulmonary innate immune responses in mice inoculated with influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 virus (IAV) compared to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). BALB/c mice were exposed to filtered air (FA) or ETS for 6 weeks during the perinatal or adult period of life.