Inhibition of gap junction intercellular communication is involved in silica nanoparticles-induced H9c2 cardiomyocytes apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway.

Gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) between cardiomyocytes is essential for synchronous heart contraction and relies on connexin-containing channels. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a major component involved in GJIC in heart tissue, and its abnormal expression is closely associated with various cardiac diseases. Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) are known to induce cardiovascular toxicity.

Analysis of Blood Concentrations of Zinc, Germanium, and Lead and Relevant Environmental Factors in a Population Sample from Shandong Province, China.

Trace elements, including zinc (Zn) and germanium (Ge), are essential for health; deficiency or excess levels of trace elements results is harmful. As a result of industrial and agricultural production, Pb widely exists in people's living environment. It is absorbed mainly through the respiratory and digestive tracts, producing systemic harm.

[Influence of genetic polymorphisms of epoxide hydrolase 1 on metabolism of styrene in body].

Objective: To investigate the role of genetic polymorphisms of epoxide hydrolase 1 (EPHX1) in the metabolism of styrene in vivo.

Methods: Fifty-six styrene-exposed workers, who worked in the painting workshop of an enterprise for manufacturing glass fiber-reinforced plastic yachts in Shandong Province, China for over one year and were protected in approximately the same way, were selected as study subjects. The 8-hour time-weighted average concentration (8 h-TWA) of styrene and the concentrations of mandelic acid (MA) and phenyl glyoxylic acid (PGA) as urinary metabolites were measured.

[Meta-analysis of association of tumor necrosis factor alpha and transforming growth factor beta gene polymorphisms with pneumoconiosis].

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-alpha-238, transforming growth factor beta (509 and 869) gene polymorphisms and pneumoconiosis susceptibility.

Methods: We searched published full-text from foreign language databases including Elsevier, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, EMCC, Web of Science, chinese databases containing CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, CBM and Cochrane library to collect case-control or cohort study on gene gene polymorphisms said above with pneumoconiosis susceptibility from the year January1988 to August 2011. 28 relevant articles were selected and 20 of them met the criteria.

[The increase of micronuclei frequencies of peripheral blood lymphocyte in plywood workers exposed accumulatively to formaldehyde].

Objective: To investigate the effects of occupational exposure to formaldehyde on the micronuclei frequencies in peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers.

Methods: Two hundred thirty six plywood workers were divided into 3 exposure groups (low, middle and high) according to internal exposure biomarker (formaldehyde human serum albumin conjugate, FA-HSA), which was detected by ELISA. The concentrations of formaldehyde (FA) in air of two workshops were measure using the high performance liquid chromatography.