[Cyto-genotoxicity induced by 2, 2', 4, 4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ethers combined with 2, 2', 4, 4', 5-hexachlorobiphenyl treatment in SH-SY5Y cells].

Objective: To investigate the cyto-genotoxicity of 2, 2', 4, 4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ethers (PBDE-47) combined with 2, 2', 4, 4', 5-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB153) treatment in SH-SY5Y cells.

Methods: Exponentially growing SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to different concentrations of PBDE-47 or/and PCB153 for 24 h in vitro. Cell viability, DNA damage, chromosome abnormalities, and DNA-protein crosslinks (DPC) were measured using MTT, comet assay, cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) test, and SDS-KCl assay respectively.

Elevated serum polybrominated diphenyl ethers and thyroid-stimulating hormone associated with lymphocytic micronuclei in Chinese workers from an E-waste dismantling site.

In this study, we recruited 49 subjects from one village close to an electronic waste (e-waste) site (exposed group) and another located 50 km away from the e-waste site (control group). We found that serum levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (median PBDEs, 382 ng/g lipid weight; range, 77-8452 ng/g lipid weight) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (median TSH, 1.79 microIU/mL; range, 0.

HLA-DM polymorphism and risk of trichloroethylene induced medicamentosa-like dermatitis.

Objective: To establish the association between genetic polymorphisms of HLA-DMA and HLA-DMB and risk of developing trichloroethylene-induced medicamentosa-like dermatitis (TIMLD).

Methods: Sixty-one cases were medically confirmed to have been affected with TIMLD and 60 controls were selected from exposed workers who were free from TIMLD. The TIMLD cases and controls were similar in terms of age, sex, and duration of exposure.

PBDE-47-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage and apoptosis in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

2,2',4,4'-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE-47) causes developmental neurotoxicity in animal studies, but the mechanism remains poorly understood. This paper investigates the mechanism by studying the effects of oxidative stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis induced by PBDE-47 in cultured primary rat hippocampal neurons at different PBDE-47-concentrations (0, 2.06, 20.

Inhibitory effects of selenium on telomerase activity and hTERT expression in cadmium-transformed 16HBE cells.

Objective: To investigate the effects of sodium selenite on telomerase activity and expression of hTERT mRNA in cadmium-transformed 16HBE cells.

Methods: Telomerase activity and expression of genes were measured after cultured cadmium-transformed 16HBE cells were exposed to sodium selenite at different doses (0.625, 1.

Advances in methods for the production, purification, and characterization of HIV-1 Gag-Env pseudovirion vaccines.

HIV pseudovirion or virus-like particle vaccines represent a promising approach for eliciting humoral and cellular immune responses. Pseudovirions present the envelope glycoprotein complex in its authentic trimeric form, and thus have the potential to generate neutralizing antibodies against relevant virion-associated epitopes that may be lacking in protein subunit vaccines. The development of pseudovirion particles as a viable vaccine approach for progression to clinical testing has been limited by a number of factors, including shedding of particle-associated gp120, practical limitations to large-scale production and purification, and the generation of antibodies against cellular proteins incorporated on the particle surface that confound the analysis of HIV-specific neutralizing antibody responses.

[Effects of earthworm (Eisennia foetida ) on As, P uptake by maize and As, P fractional transformation in the rhizosphere].

A pot experiment was conducted to examine the roles of earthworm in As uptake from original As-polluted soil by maize (Zea mays L.), and their effects on As, P fractions in the rhizosphere. The As-polluted soils with three As levels were collected from the arable soil near As mine.

Effects of PBDE-47 on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human neuroblastoma cells in vitro.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are an important class of flame retardants. Because of their detection in human breast milk and structural similarity to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), concern has been raised about their potential toxicity, particularly neurotoxic effects in newborns and children. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE-47) in human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells in vitro.

Effects of cadmium on hepatocellular DNA damage, proto-oncogene expression and apoptosis in rats.

Objective: To study the effects of cadmium on hepatocellular DNA damage, expression of proto-oncogenes c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun as well as apoptosis in rats.

Methods: Cadmium chloride at the doses of 5, 10, and 20 micromol/kg was given to rats by i.p.

Relationship between reactive oxygen species and sodium-selenite-induced DNA damage in HepG2 cells.

Selenium compounds, as an effective chemopreventive agent, can induce apoptosis in tumor cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important mediators in apoptosis induced by various stimuli, which include chemopreventive agents. In this study, we investigated the relationship between ROS and the levels of DNA damage induced by selenite in HepG2 cells.

Effects of fluoride on the expression of NCAM, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in primary cultured hippocampal neurons.

The mechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity of endemic fluorosis still remain unknown. To investigate the expression level of neural cell adhesion molecules (NCAM), oxidative stress, and apoptosis induced by fluoride, the primary rat hippocampal neurons were incubated with 20, 40, and 80 mg/l sodium fluoride for 24 h in vitro. The results showed that the cell survival rate in the 80 mg/l fluoride-treated group was significantly lower than that of the control group.

[Effects of PBDE-47 on oxidative stress and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cell].

Objective: To investigate the oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by 2, 2', 4, 4'-polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE-47) in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, and to explore the involved role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on apoptosis.

Methods: The rate of cellular survivors, intracellular ROS level, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and percentage of apoptosis were measured respectively after the SH-SY5Y cell were exposed to 2, 4, 8 microg/ml PBDE-47 for 24 h in vitro.

Results: The rate of cellular survivors in the low dose PBDE-47-treated group was higher than the control group (P < 0.

Direct comparison of antigen production and induction of apoptosis by canarypox virus- and modified vaccinia virus ankara-human immunodeficiency virus vaccine vectors.

Recombinant poxvirus vectors are undergoing intensive evaluation as vaccine candidates for a variety of infectious pathogens. Avipoxviruses, such as canarypox virus, are replication deficient in mammalian cells by virtue of a poorly understood species-specific restriction. Highly attenuated vaccinia virus strains such as modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) are similarly unable to complete replication in most mammalian cells but have an abortive-late phenotype, in that the block to replication occurs post-virus-specific DNA replication.

The health effects of odor emission from domestic renovation on household residents in Tianjin, China.

The health effects of odors emitted from the human environment have received some discussion in the literature. Little has been written, however, about the health effects of odor emissions from renovation. The authors therefore conducted a cross-sectional study with a simple randomized sampling design.

Effects of selenium and zinc on renal oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by fluoride in rats.

Objective: To study the effects of selenium and zinc on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cell cycle changes in rat renal cells induced by fluoride.

Methods: Wistar rats were given distilled water containing sodium fluoride (50 mg/L NaF) and were gavaged with different doses of selenium-zinc preparation for six months. Four groups were used and each group had eight animals (four males and four females).

[Study on E-cadherin, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E expression in anti-malignant transformation by chlorophyllin].

Objective: To investigate the effects of chlorophyllin on the regulations of proteins related to cell cycle in vitro in human bronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE transformed by trans-benzo(a) pyrene-trans-7, 8-dihydrodiol-9, 10-epoxide (trans-BPDE).

Methods: RT-PCR and fluoroimmunocytochemistry methods were used to detect the expression of E-cadherin, in mRNA and protein levels, among untreated control cells, malignant transformed cells induced by trans-BPDE and anti-transformed cells treated with chlorophyllin. The expression of cyclins such as Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E was also detected by fluoroimmunocytochemistry method.

[Effects of mixed cypermethrin and methylparathion on endocrine hormone levels and immune functions in rats: II. Interaction].

Objective: To study interaction of mixed pesticides cypermethrin and methyl parathion on reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones, and immune functions in rats.

Methods: Eighty 2-month old Wistar rats (40 male and 40 female) were divided randomly by body weight into 8 groups. The dose 1/30 LD50 were chosen for the single or combined exposure representing respective doses of 0, cypermethrin 8.

[One stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck dissection for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the indications, safety and difficulties of one stage thyroidectomy and bilateral neck lymph node dissection for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Methods: A retrospective review was carried out in 36 well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients so treated from 1990 to 2004. Various incisions including H, L and modified Kocher types were selected according to the location of primary tumor and status of cervical lymph node metastasis.

DNA damage, apoptosis and C-myc, C-fos, and C-jun overexpression induced by selenium in rat hepatocytes.

Objective: To study the effects of selenium on DNA damage, apoptosis and c-myc, c-fos, and c-jun expression in rat hepatocytes.

Methods: Sodium selenite at the doses of 5, 10, and 20 micromol/kg was given to rats by i.p.

Dose-effect relationship between drinking water fluoride levels and damage to liver and kidney functions in children.

Although a dose-effect relationship between water fluoride levels and damage to liver and kidney functions in animals has been reported, it was not demonstrated in humans. To evaluate the effects of drinking water fluoride levels on the liver and kidney functions in children with and without dental fluorosis, we identified 210 children who were divided into seven groups with 30 each based on different drinking water fluoride levels in the same residential area. We found that the fluoride levels in serum and urine of these children increased as the levels of drinking water fluoride increased.

[Relationship of trichloroethylene-induced medicamentosa like dermatitis to HLA-DMA and HLA-DMB].

Objective: To investigate the susceptibility of trichloroethylene-induced medicamentosa like dermatitis by comparing the frequency of HLA-DMA and HLA-DMB in patients with trichloroethylene-induced medicamentosa like dermatitis and in normal controls.

Methods: The DNA of lymphocytes in 61 patients with trichloroethylene-induced medicamentosa like dermatitis and in 60 people as the normal control were abstracted by using touchdown PCR amplification of HLA-DMA and HLA-DMB. Then through restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequence base typing, the alleles and genotypes were confirmed.

Abnormal expression of eukaryotic translation factors in malignant transformed human bronchial epithelial cells induced by crystalline nickel sulfide.

Objective: To study the oncogenic potential of mouse translation initiation factor 3 (TIF3) and elongation factor-1delta (TEF-1delta) in malignant transformed human bronchial epithelial cells induced by crystalline nickel sulfide (NiS).

Methods: Abnormal expressions of human TIF3 and TEF-1delta genes in two kinds of NiS-transformed cells and NiS-tumorigenic cell lines were investigated and analyzed by the reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR), respectively.

Results: RT-PCR analysis primarily showed that both human TIF3 and TEF-1delta mRNA expressions in two kinds of NiS-transformed cells and NiS-tumorigenic cell lines were increased as compared with controls.

[Effects of selenium on expression of TERT, c-Myc and p53 induced by cadmium in rat liver].

Objective: To study the effects of sodium selenite on expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA, c-Myc and p53 induced by cadmium chloride in rat liver.

Methods: Male SD rats were divided randomly into 6 groups, each group had 5 animals. The groups comprised the control group, Se group (5 micromol/kg sodium selenite), 5 micromol/kg cadmium chloride group, 10 micromol/kg cadmium chloride group, Se (5 micromol/kg sodium selenite) + 5 micromol/kg cadmium chloride group, Se (5 micromol/kg sodium selenite) + 10 micromol/kg cadmium chloride group.

A study of Legionella pneumophilia in Tianjin, China.

Legionella is a bacterium identified as the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease commonly found in water and soil in natural environments and human habitats. While most studies are focused on cooling tower water as the source of infection, few studies have compared Legionella from cooling-tower water and water in man-made environments. This cross-sectional study with a randomized cluster sampling design aims to provide information on Legionella found in cooling-tower water and water in man-made environments.

Effects of cypermethrin and methyl parathion mixtures on hormone levels and immune functions in Wistar rats.

To study interaction and dose-related effects of mixed cypermethrin and methyl parathion on endocrine and immune functions, 120 Wistar rats were divided randomly into six groups of ten male and ten female rats, respectively, at the age of 2 months. All groups were force-fed every 2 days for 30 days with cypermethrin 0.0, 8.