Endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol protects inflammatory insults from sulfur dioxide inhalation via cannabinoid receptors in the brain.

Sulfur dioxide (SO) pollution in the atmospheric environment causes brain inflammatory insult and inflammatory-related microvasculature dysfunction. However, there are currently no effective medications targeting the harmful outcomes from chemical inhalation. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are involved in neuronal protection against inflammation-induced neuronal injury.

Population levels and geographical distribution of HIV RNA in rural Ugandan and Kenyan communities, including serodiscordant couples: a cross-sectional analysis.

Background: As sub-Saharan Africa transitions to a new era of universal antiretroviral therapy (ART), up-to-date assessments of population-level HIV RNA suppression are needed to inform interventions to optimise ART delivery. We sought to measure population viral load metrics to assess viral suppression and characterise demographic groups and geographical locations with high-level detectable viraemia in east Africa.

Methods: The Sustainable East Africa Research in Community Health (SEARCH) study is a cluster-randomised controlled trial of an HIV test-and-treat strategy in 32 rural communities in Uganda and Kenya, selected on the basis of rural setting, having an approximate population of 10 000 people, and being within the catchment area of a President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief-supported HIV clinic.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-containing soils from coal gangue stacking areas contribute to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) modulation on cancer cell metastasis.

The total accumulative stockpiles of gangue in China comprise 4.5billion metric tons, and approximately 659million tons of additional gangue are generated per year. Considering the stacking characteristics are highly heterogeneous, the potential cancer risks from the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) remain elusive.

Synergistic effects of particulate matter (PM) and sulfur dioxide (SO) on neurodegeneration the microRNA-mediated regulation of tau phosphorylation.

Because air pollution is a complex mixture of pollutants consisting of both particulate and gaseous components, understanding the health risks from these pollutants requires an evaluation of their combined effects rather than predictions based on the toxicities of single chemicals alone. Particulate matter (PM) and sulfur dioxide (SO) commonly co-exist in the atmospheric environment, and epidemiological studies have linked air pollution to the development of neurodegenerative disorders, in addition to increased morbidity from cardiopulmonary diseases. However, few studies have examined the potential effects from combinations of these pollutants on neurodegeneration, especially at NOEC doses.

Sulfur dioxide inhibits expression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation genes encoded by both nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA in rat lungs.

Epidemiological studies show that sulfur dioxide (SO), a major air pollutant, is associated with the morbidity and mortality of respiratory tract diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of SO on mitochondria and the corresponding molecular characterization in the lung. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 0, 3.

Human sensory cortex structure and top-down controlling brain network determine individual differences in perceptual alternations.

Bistable perception is a type of subjective perception that spontaneously alternates between two perceptual interpretations of an ambiguous sensory input. Past functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have examined the activation patterns underlying bistable perception, yet the variability between individuals in the alternations is not well understood. Therefore, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was introduced in this study to correlate the GM of the sensory cortex with the alternations of Rubin face-vase illusion in a large group of young adults.

Implementation and Operational Research: Cost and Efficiency of a Hybrid Mobile Multidisease Testing Approach With High HIV Testing Coverage in East Africa.

Background: In 2013-2014, we achieved 89% adult HIV testing coverage using a hybrid testing approach in 32 communities in Uganda and Kenya (SEARCH: NCT01864603). To inform scalability, we sought to determine: (1) overall cost and efficiency of this approach; and (2) costs associated with point-of-care (POC) CD4 testing, multidisease services, and community mobilization.

Methods: We applied microcosting methods to estimate costs of population-wide HIV testing in 12 SEARCH trial communities.

NO inhalation causes tauopathy by disturbing the insulin signaling pathway.

Air pollution has been evidenced as a risk factor for neurodegenerative tauopathies. NO, a primary component of air pollution, is negatively linked to neurodegenerative disorders, but its independent and direct association with tau lesion remains to be elucidated. Considering the fact that the insulin signaling pathway can be targeted by air pollutants and regulate tau function, this study focused on the role of insulin signaling in this NO-induced tauopathy.

MicroRNA-338-5p modulates pulmonary hypertension-like injuries caused by SO, NO and PM co-exposure through targeting the HIF-1α/Fhl-1 pathway.

The role of ambient air pollution is considered to be important in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common clinical manifestation of COPD. However, many studies have mainly focused on the adverse health effects of a single air pollutant, ignoring the combined toxicity of multiple pollutants. In the present study, we co-exposed mice to coal-burning air pollutants (SO, NO and PM), and confirmed PH-like injury occurrence by airflow limitation, marked abnormal endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, and histopathological and ultrastructural alteration.

Potential hepatic toxicity of buprofezin at sublethal concentrations: ROS-mediated conversion of energy metabolism.

Buprofezin is known for its broad-spectrum action and environmental safety. The popularity of buprofezin has raised concerns about its potentially adverse effects on human health and risk to the environment. In this study, we first identified the liver as one of the major organs in which buprofezin accumulated, and we detected a severe oxidative stress response.

PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 co-exposure impairs neurobehavior and induces mitochondrial injuries in the mouse brain.

Air pollution is a serious environmental health problem that has been previously associated with neuropathological disorders. However, current experimental evidence mainly focuses on the adverse effects of a single air pollutant, ignoring the biological responses to the co-existence of these pollutants. In the present study, we co-exposed C57BL/6 J mice to PM2.

In situ determination of multiple polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons uptake by crop leaf surfaces using multi-way models.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmosphere can partition into agricultural crops, which poses a potential risk to human health through the food chain. In this study, controlled chamber experiments were conducted to investigate the kinetic uptake of anthracene (Ant), phenanthrene (Phe), fluoranthene (Fla) and pyrene (Pyr), individually or as a mixture, by the leaf surfaces of living soybean and corn seedlings using the excitation-emission matrix (EEM) coupled with three-way parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and n-way partial least squares (n-PLS). The four selected PAHs achieved equilibrium between the air and the two living crop leaf surfaces over the 15-day monitoring period.

Men "missing" from population-based HIV testing: insights from qualitative research.

Men's uptake of HIV testing is critical to the success of "test and treat" strategies in generalized epidemics. This study sought to identify cultural factors and community processes that influence men's HIV testing uptake in the baseline year of an ongoing test-and-treat trial among 334,479 persons in eastern Africa (SEARCH, NCT#01864603). Data were collected using participant observation at mobile community health campaigns (CHCs) (n = 28); focus group discussions (n = 8 groups) with CHC participants; and in-depth interviews with care providers (n = 50), leaders (n = 32), and members (n = 112) of eight communities in Kenya and Uganda.

"How can I tell?" Consequences of HIV status disclosure among couples in eastern African communities in the context of an ongoing HIV "test-and-treat" trial.

People living with HIV/AIDS anticipate HIV-related stigma and fear disclosure to intimate partners. Yet, disclosure is critical to reducing HIV transmission and improving care engagement. This qualitative study characterized HIV disclosure experiences and normative beliefs among couples in communities participating in an HIV test-and-treat trial in Kenya and Uganda (Sustainable East Africa Research in Community Health, NCT#01864603).

Exogenous pyruvate facilitates cancer cell adaptation to hypoxia by serving as an oxygen surrogate.

Molecular oxygen is the final electron acceptor in cellular metabolism but cancer cells often become adaptive to hypoxia, which promotes resistance to chemotherapy and radiation. The reduction of endogenous glycolytic pyruvate to lactate is known as an adaptive strategy for hypoxic cells. Whether exogenous pyruvate is required for hypoxic cell proliferation by either serving as an electron acceptor or a biosynthetic substrate remains unclear.

Heavy metals bound to fine particulate matter from northern China induce season-dependent health risks: A study based on myocardial toxicity.

Substantial epidemiological evidence has consistently reported that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes. PM2.

Increased adolescent HIV testing with a hybrid mobile strategy in Uganda and Kenya.

Objective: We sought to increase adolescent HIV testing across rural communities in east Africa and identify predictors of undiagnosed HIV.

Design: Hybrid mobile testing.

Methods: We enumerated 116 326 adolescents (10-24 years) in 32 communities of Uganda and Kenya (

Search: NCT01864603): 98 694 (85%) reported stable (≥6 months of prior year) residence.

Reduced frontal cortex thickness and cortical volume associated with pathological narcissism.

Pathological narcissism is often characterized by arrogant behavior, a lack of empathy, and willingness to exploit other individuals. Generally, individuals with high levels of narcissism are more likely to suffer mental disorders. However, the brain structural basis of individual pathological narcissism trait among healthy people has not yet been investigated with surface-based morphometry.

Sulfur Dioxide Contributes to the Cardiac and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Rats.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between sulfur dioxide (SO2) and an increase of morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia. Mitochondrion is the most sensitive organelle in myocardium of animals exposed to SO2 Here we study the molecular characterization of mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiac muscles of rat after SO2 exposure. We found that the cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), ATP contents, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) contents, and mRNA expression of complexes IV and V subunits encoded by mtDNA were decreased after NaHSO3 treatment in vitro or SO2 inhalation in vivo The mitochondrial dysfunctions were accompanied by depressions of co-activator of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1, and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) mRNA and protein.

A hybrid mobile approach for population-wide HIV testing in rural east Africa: an observational study.

Background: Despite large investments in HIV testing, only an estimated 45% of HIV-infected people in sub-Saharan Africa know their HIV status. Optimum methods for maximising population-level testing remain unknown. We sought to show the effectiveness of a hybrid mobile HIV testing approach at achieving population-wide testing coverage.

NO2 inhalation promotes Alzheimer's disease-like progression: cyclooxygenase-2-derived prostaglandin E2 modulation and monoacylglycerol lipase inhibition-targeted medication.

Air pollution has been reported to be associated with increased risks of cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases. Because NO2 is a typical primary air pollutant and an important contributor to secondary aerosols, NO2-induced neuronal functional abnormalities have attracted greater attention, but the available experimental evidence, modulating mechanisms, and targeting medications remain ambiguous. In this study, we exposed C57BL/6J and APP/PS1 mice to dynamic NO2 inhalation and found for the first time that NO2 inhalation caused deterioration of spatial learning and memory, aggravated amyloid β42 (Aβ42) accumulation, and promoted pathological abnormalities and cognitive defects related to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Inflammatory response and endothelial dysfunction in the hearts of mice co-exposed to SO , NO , and PM.

SO , NO , and PM are typical air pollutants produced during the combustion of coal. Increasing evidence indicates that air pollution has contributed to the development and progression of heart-related diseases over the past decades. However, little experimental data and few studies of SO , NO , and PM co-exposure in animals exist; therefore, the relevant mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are unclear.