Prenatal Exposure to Dibutyl Phthalate and Its Negative Health Effects on Offspring: In Vivo and Epidemiological Studies.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a low-molecular-weight phthalate commonly found in personal care products, such as perfumes, aftershaves, and nail care items, as well as in children's toys, pharmaceuticals, and food products. It is used to improve flexibility, make polymer products soft and malleable, and as solvents and stabilizers in personal care products. Pregnancy represents a critical period during which both the mother and the developing embryo can be significantly impacted by exposure to endocrine disruptors.

Association between the Exposure to Phthalates and the Risk of Endometriosis: An Updated Review.

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease, primarily associated with pelvic pain and infertility, that affects approximately 10% of the women of reproductive age. Estrogen plays a central role in endometriosis, and there is growing evidence that endocrine disruptors, such as phthalates, may contribute to its development. This review aimed to determine whether there is a causal relationship between phthalate exposure and the development of endometriosis, as well as the possible effects of phthalates on fertility, by analyzing epidemiological data.

Exposure to DEP Modifies the Human Umbilical Artery Vascular Resistance Contributing to Hypertension in Pregnancy.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) are the most prevalent diseases during pregnancy. In addition to the already identified risk factors, exposure to environmental contaminants has been also considered a new one. Phthalates, which are classified as priority environmental pollutants due to their ubiquitousness and endocrine disrupting properties, have been implicated in HDP in some epidemiological studies.

Adverse cardiovascular effects of long-term exposure to diethyl phthalate in the rat aorta.

Phthalates are classified as priority environmental pollutants, since they are ubiquitous in the environment, have endocrine disrupting properties and can contribute to impaired health. Used primarily in personal care products and excipients for pharmaceuticals, diethyl phthalate (DEP) is a short-chain alkyl phthalate that has been linked to decreased blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and increased gestational weight gain in humans, while in animals it has been associated with atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. Although all these findings are related to risk factors or cardiovascular diseases, DEP's vascular impacts still need to be clarified.

The Effects of Bisphenol A on Human Male Infertility: A Review of Current Epidemiological Studies.

Endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) can have a harmful effect on the human body's endocrine system and thus adversely affect the development, reproduction, neurological, cardiovascular, and immune systems and metabolism in humans and wildlife. According to the World Health Organization, EDCs are mostly man-made and found ubiquitously in our daily lives, notably in pesticides, metals, and additives or contaminants in food and personal care products. Human exposure occurs through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact.

The Relationship between Phthalates and Diabetes: A Review.

Since the beginning of their production, in the 1930s, phthalates have been widely used in the plastics industry to provide durability and elasticity to polymers that would otherwise be rigid, or as solvents in hygiene and cosmetic products. Taking into account their wide range of applications, it is easy to understand why their use has been increasing over the years, making them ubiquitous in the environment. This way, all living organisms are easily exposed to these compounds, which have already been classified as endocrine disruptor compounds (EDC), affecting hormone homeostasis.

Phthalates' exposure leads to an increasing concern on cardiovascular health.

Being an essential component in the plastics industry, phthalates are ubiquitous in the environment and in everyday life. They are considered environmental contaminants that have been classified as endocrine-disrupting compounds. Despite di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) being the most common plasticizer and the most studied to date, there are many others that, in addition to being widely used in the plastic, are also applied in the medical and pharmaceutical industries and cosmetics.

Triclosan and Its Consequences on the Reproductive, Cardiovascular and Thyroid Levels.

Hygiene is essential to avoid diseases, and this is thanks to daily cleaning and disinfection habits. Currently, there are numerous commercial products containing antimicrobial agents, and although they are efficient in disinfecting, it is still not known the effect of the constant use of these products on human health. In fact, a massive use of disinfectants has been observed due to COVID-19, but the possible adverse effects are not yet known.

Vascular Response of Tetrabromobisphenol a in Rat Aorta: Calcium Channels Inhibition and Potassium Channels Activation.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a flame retardant widely used to reduce flammability. It is an endocrine disruptor, and due to constant human exposure, some concerns have been raised regarding its impact on human health. Studies showed that TBBPA affects oxidative stress, cell proliferation and intracellular calcium levels.

Pathways involved in the human vascular Tetrabromobisphenol A response: Calcium and potassium channels and nitric oxide donors.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a flame retardant that can contaminate the environment and human being, acting as an endocrine disruptor. Several studies propose a correlation between TBBPA exposure and adverse health outcomes, however, at vascular level TBBPA effects are still poorly understood. Thus, considering that the vascular tonus is regulated by vasoactive substances (serotonin and histamine) which are involved in some pathological processes, this work aimed to analyse the direct effects and the 24 h exposure of TBBPA on the human umbilical artery (HUA) and to investigate its signalling pathway.

Health toxicity effects of brominated flame retardants: From environmental to human exposure.

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBP-A) are brominated flame retardants widely used in variety of industrial and consumer products (e.g., automobiles, electronics, furniture, textiles and plastics) to reduce flammability.

In Vitro Model for Ischemic Stroke: Functional Analysis of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

The Neurovascular Unit (NVU) is formed by vascular and neural cells controlling the cerebral hyperaemia. All the components are anatomically and functionally linked to each other, resulting in a highly efficient regulation of the cerebral blood flow, which, when interrupted, can lead to stroke. An ischemic stroke (IS) is the most common type of stroke with high rates of morbidity, mortality and disability.

Phthalates Implications in the Cardiovascular System.

Today's sedentary lifestyle and eating habits have been implicated as some of the causes of the increased incidence of several diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. However, environmental pollutants have also been identified as another possible cause for this increase in recent decades. The constant human exposure to plastics has been raising attention regarding human health, particularly when it comes to phthalates.

Vascular Pathways of Testosterone: Clinical Implications.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Testosterone (T) is an important sex hormone that triggers several genomic and non-genomic pathways, leading to improvements of several cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life in men. At the vascular level, the key effect of T is the vasorelaxation.

Vascular mechanisms of testosterone: The non-genomic point of view.

Testosterone (T) is the predominant endogenous androgen in the bloodstream. At the vascular level, T presents genomic and non-genomic effects, and both effects may overlap. The genomic actions assume that androgens can freely cross the plasma membrane of target cells and bind to nuclear androgen receptors, inducing gene transcription and protein synthesis.

Inhibition of L-type calcium channels by Bisphenol A in rat aorta smooth muscle.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting chemical used on a wide range in industry. This compound has been used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. For this reason and their global use, BPA is one of the most common environmental chemicals to which humans are exposed.

How is the human umbilical artery regulated?

The purpose of this review is to present an update of the main mechanisms involved in the physiological regulation of contraction and relaxation of the human umbilical artery (HUA) smooth muscle cells. A literature review was performed based on the analysis of papers available on PubMed. The most important and relevant studies regarding the regulation of the HUA are presented in this article.

Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia: An Update on the Pharmacological Treatment Applied in Portugal.

Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are two hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, considered major causes of maternal and perinatal death worldwide. Pre-eclampsia is a multisystemic disease characterized by the development of hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation, with the presence of proteinuria or, in its absence, of signs or symptoms indicative of target organ injury. Eclampsia represents the consequence of brain injuries caused by pre-eclampsia.

Photoprotection of ultraviolet-B filters: Updated review of endocrine disrupting properties.

The Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is emitted by the sun and is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. There are three types of UV rays (UV-A, UV-B and UV-C), however only UV-A and UV-B have biologic effects in humans, with UV-B radiation being primarily responsible for these effects. Among the measures of photoprotection advised by the health authorities, the topical application of sunscreens (containing UV-B filters) is the preferred worldwide.

Cardiovascular Response of Rat Aorta to Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) Exposure.

Phthalates are one of the main constituents of plastic, reaching up to 40% of the total plastic weight, and their main function is to impart flexibility/elasticity to polymers that would otherwise be rigid. Phthalates are known as endocrine disruptors, since they can interfere with hormone homeostasis. Regarding the cardiovascular system, it was already shown the effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure with significant changes in several calcium-handling proteins and an increase in the blood pressure of mice offspring, suggesting that DEHP leads to vasocontraction.

Genomic and Nongenomic Effects of Mifepristone at the Cardiovascular Level: A Review.

Mifepristone (RU 486) is a compound that is structurally related to steroid hormones, which is derived from the estrane progestins. This compound strongly binds the progesterone and glucocorticoid receptor and, to a lesser extent, the androgen receptor. This compound has its effects through different signaling pathways, related to genomic and nongenomic effects.

The effects of phthalates in the cardiovascular and reproductive systems: A review.

Every year millions of tons of plastic are produced around the world and humans are increasingly exposed to them. This constant exposure to plastics has raised some concerns against human health, particularly when it comes to phthalates. These compounds have endocrine-disrupting properties, as they have the ability to bind molecular targets in the body and interfere with hormonal function and quantity.

Mifepristone is a Vasodilator Due to the Inhibition of Smooth Muscle Cells L-Type Ca2+ Channels.

Derived from the estrane progestins, mifepristone was the first synthetic steroid of this class employed as abortifacient in the first months of pregnancy. Mifepristone reduces high potassium-induced contraction and prevents calcium-induced contraction. At the vascular level, mifepristone induces direct relaxation in rat and human arteries, and this effect seems to be endothelium- and NO independent, suggesting that the vascular smooth muscle is its target.