OBJECTIVETo study the two metal catalysts Ag/Al2O3 and Cu/Al2O3 that interdict the transmission pathway for SARS and other respiratory infectious diseases.

METHODSTwo metal catalysts Ag/Al2O3 and Cu/Al2O3 were pressed into wafers. One hundred microL 10(6) TCID50/mL SARS-CoV, 100 microL 10(6) PFU/mL recombinant baculovirus expressing hamster's prion protein (haPrP) protein and roughly 10(6) E. coli were slowly dropped onto the surfaces of the catalyst wafers and exposed for 5 and 20 min, respectively. After eluted from the surfaces of wafers, the infectivity of viruses and propagation of bacteria were measured. The expression of PrP protein was determined by Western blot. The morphological changes of bacteria were observed by electronic microscopy.

RESULTSAfter exposure to the catalysts surfaces for 5 and 20 min, the infectivity of SARS-CoV in Vero cells and baculovirus in Sf9 cells dropped down to a very low and undetectable level, and no colony was detected using bacteria culture method. The expression of haPrP protein reduced to 21.8% in the preparation of Sf9 cells infected with recombinant baculovirus exposed for 5 min and was undetectable exposed for 20 min. Bacterial membranes seemed to be cracked and the cytoplasm seemed to be effluent from cell bodies.

CONCLUSIONExposures to the surfaces of Ag/Al2O3 and Cu/Al2O3 destroy the replication and propagation abilities of SARS-CoV, baculovirus and E. coli. Inactivation ability of metal catalysts needs to interact with air, utilizing oxygen molecules in air. Efficiently killing viruses and bacteria on the surfaces of the two metal catalysts has a promising potential for air-disinfection in hospitals, communities, and households.

Aluminum Oxide ; Animals ; Baculoviridae ; pathogenicity ; Catalysis ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Copper ; Cricetinae ; Disinfection ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; pathogenicity ; Prions ; metabolism ; SARS Virus ; pathogenicity ; Silver ; Vero Cells

OBJECTIVETo analyze protein changes in the lung of Wistar rats exposed to gaseous formaldehyde (FA) at 32-37 mg/m3 for 4 h/day for 15 days using proteomics technique.

METHODSLung samples were solubilized and separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), and gel patterns were scanned and analyzed for detection of differently expressed protein spots. These protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS and NCBInr protein database searching.

RESULTSFour proteins were altered significantly in 32-37 mg/m3 FA group, with 3 proteins up-regulated, 1 protein down-regulated. The 4 proteins were identified as aldose reductase, LIM protein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and chloride intracellular channel 3.

CONCLUSIONThe four proteins are related to cell proliferation induced by FA and defense reaction of anti-oxidation. Proteomics is a powerful tool in research of environmental health, and has prospects in search for protein markers for disease diagnosis and monitoring.

Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Databases, Protein ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Female ; Formaldehyde ; toxicity ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo obtain the exposure-response functions that could be used in health-based risk assessment of particulate air pollution in China.

METHODSMeta analysis was conducted on the literatures on air particulate matter and its adverse health outcomes in China and worldwide.

RESULTSFor each health outcome from morbidity to mortality changes, the relative risks were estimated when the concentration of air particulate matter increased to some certain units.

CONCLUSIONThe exposure-response functions recommended here can be further applied to health risk assessment of air particulate matter in China.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; toxicity ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Bronchitis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Bronchitis, Chronic ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; China ; Dust ; Environmental Exposure ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mortality ; Particle Size ; Risk ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVESTo assess the impacts of public health interventions on the outbreak of SARS in Beijing by analyzing the intervals between symptom onset, hospital admission and notification of its cases.

METHODSData of SARS cases reported from the Beijing Municipal Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (BCDC) were collected and analyzed by descriptive epidemiology.

RESULTSIn the early epidemic period, the intervals between the disease onset and the hospital admission seemed irregular, so was the intervals between the hospital admission and the notification. After the middle ten days of April, the intervals turned out to be more regular, and the disordered situation in terms of the hospital admission and the case notification was gradually brought under control.

CONCLUSIONSPublic health interventions against SARS has revealed positive impacts on SARS control program in Beijing. The timing and sensitivity of epidemic information reporting systems has been greatly improved in Beijing as a result of successful fight against this disease.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Notification ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Fever ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Public Health ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the possible intervention of isoflavones in cytotoxicity induced by cadmium in vascular endothelial cells.

METHODSAn ECV 304 cell line derived from human umbilical vein endothelial cells was adopted. Genistein/daidzein was added prior to or simultaneously with CdCl2, cell viability was determined by MTT assay, and metallothionein mRNA expression was monitored by RT-PCR method.

RESULTSCell viability was higher in isoflavone and CdCl2 co-treated groups than that in CdCl2 treated group, with CdCl2 concentration at 10, 20, 40, and 80 micromol/L, respectively. However this increase was not observed in the group treated with CdCl2 at a concentration of 60 micromol/L. Isoflavones (10(-10) mol/L to 10(-5) mol/L) were added 24 h before cells were challenged with 80 micromol/L CdCl2 for 24 h or simultaneously with 80 micromol/L CdCl2. Genistein increased cell viability only at 10(-5) mol/L, while daidzein caused a dose-dependent increase from 10(-10) mol/L to 10(-5) mol/L in co-treatment with CdCl2. In pre-treatment, genistein (10(-7) to 10(-5) mol/L) increased cell viability whereas only 10(-5) mol/L of daidzein exerted protection. Apparent protection could be found when the cells were pre-treated with 10(-5) mol/L isoflavones for over 12 h, whereas 24 h incubation was required in such a co-treatment, with the exception of daidzein that had a significant protection in only 3 h. Isoflavones (10(-6) mol/L) incubated for 3 h to 24 h, increased MT IIA and MT IF mRNA expression, but the induction could not last for more than 24 h. Co-treatment with isoflavones could induce an additional induction of MT IIA mRNA expression in cells exposed to cadmium. However, the additional induction of MT IIA and MT IF mRNA was not seen when pre-treatment was carried out with isoflavones, with the exception of an increase in MT IIA mRNA expression in the daidzein pre-treated group.

CONCLUSIONGenistein/daidzein could reverse the cytotoxicity of cadmium either in pre-treatment or in co-treatment. The protection is the strongest in 10(-5) mol/L of isoflavones with a dose-dependent pattern. There are differences between genistein and daidzein in their protective effects. Whether the protection of isoflavones is related to their capacity of inducing MT mRNA expression remains to be elucidated.

Cadmium ; toxicity ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Metallothionein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the removal of cadmium from aqueous solution by waste fungal biomass of Aspergillus niger, originated from citric acid fermentation industry.

METHODSBatch adsorption test was used to study the biosorption equilibrium and isotherm. The Cd2+ concentration was measured with atomic adsorption spectrophotometer (AAS) HITACHI 180-80.

RESULTSThe biosorption achieved equilibrium within 30 min. The adsorption isotherm could be described by Freundlich adsorption model, and the constants K(F) and 1/n were determined to be 2.07 and 0.18, respectively, and the correlation efficiency was 0.97. The optimal pH for Cd adsorption was 6.0. The cadmium-laden biomass could be effectively regenerated using 0.1 N HCl.

CONCLUSIONThe waste biomass of Aspergillus niger, a by-product of fermentation industry, is a potential biosorbent for the removal of cadmium from aqueous solution.

Adsorption ; Aspergillus niger ; Biomass ; Cadmium ; isolation & purification ; Citric Acid ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Industrial Waste ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; isolation & purification ; Water Purification ; methods

OBJECTIVETo define the influence of some parameters, including assimilable organic carbon (AOC), chloramine residual, etc. on the bacterial growth in drinking water distribution systems.

METHODSThree typical water treatment plants in a northern city (City T) of China and their corresponding distribution systems were investigated. Some parameters of the water samples, such as heterotrophic plate content (HPC), AOC, COD(Mn), TOC, and phosphate were measured.

RESULTSThe AOC in most water samples were more than 100 microg/L, or even more than 200 microg/L in some cases. The HPC in distribution systems increased significantly with the decrease of residual chlorine. When the residual chlorine was less than 0.1 mg/L, the magnitude order of HPC was 10(4) CFU/mL; when it was 0.5-0.7 mg/L, the HPC was about 500 CFU/mL.

CONCLUSIONFor controlling the biostability of drinking water, the controlling of AOC and residual chlorine should be considered simultaneously. The influence of phosphors on the AOC tests of water is not significant. Phosphors may not be the limiting nutrient in the water distribution systems.

Bacteria ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Carbon ; analysis ; metabolism ; China ; Chloramines ; pharmacology ; Chlorine ; pharmacology ; Disinfectants ; pharmacology ; Drug Stability ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; Phosphates ; analysis ; metabolism ; Phosphorus ; pharmacology ; Population Dynamics ; Water Microbiology ; Water Purification ; methods ; Water Supply

OBJECTIVEAlthough HIV-1 infection is prevalent in many regions in China, it remains largely unknown on the biological characteristics of dominant circulating isolates. This study was designed to isolate the circulating viral strains from different prevalent regions and to characterize their biological properties and neutralization sensitivity.

METHODSPrimary viruses were isolated from fresh PBMCs using the traditional co-culture method and their capacity of inducing syncytium was tested in MT-2 cells. Meanwhile, their coreceptor usage was determined with two cell lines: Magi and GHOST (3) stably expressing CD4 and the chemokine receptor CCR5 or CXCR4. Furthermore, the sensitivity of these viruses to neutralization by HIV-1-infected patients' plasma which were highly active to neutralize SF33 strain, was quantified in GHOST cell-based neutralization assay.

RESULTSSix primary viral strains were isolated from 4 separated regions. Isolates LTG0213, LTG0214 and XVS032691 induced syncytia in MT-2 cells, and used CXCR4 as coreceptor. Isolates XJN0021, XJN0091, or SHXDC0041 did not induce syncytia, and used CCR5 as coreceptor. Overall neutralization sensitivity differed among four representative strains: HIV-1 XVS032691 > LTG0214 >XJN0091 approximately SHXDC0041.

CONCLUSIONThe neutralization sensitivity of HIV isolates is linked with the phenotype of isolates, in which syncytium-inducing (SI) or CXCR4-tropic (X4) viruses are more easily neutralized than non-syncytium-inducing (NSI) or CCR5-tropic (R5) viruses. The genetic subtypes based on the phylogeny of env sequences are not classical neutralization serotypes.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokines ; genetics ; immunology ; China ; Coculture Techniques ; methods ; Giant Cells ; ultrastructure ; virology ; HIV Infections ; virology ; HIV Seropositivity ; genetics ; immunology ; HIV-1 ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Humans ; Neutralization Tests ; Receptors, CCR5 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo determine the susceptibilities of M. tuberculosis H37Ra and M. chelonei subsp. absecessus to several frequently-used disinfectants and to evaluate the practicability of surrogating M. tuberculosis by the latter.

METHODSA suspension quantitative bactericidal test was set up in accordance with Chinese Technique Standard for Disinfection to evaluate the susceptibility of each mycobacteria strain to each selected disinfectant. Killing log value was used as criterion in comparing the susceptibility to disinfectants between the two strains.

RESULTSM. chelonei subsp. abscessus was more resistant to chlorine disinfectant than M. tuberculosis while the two strains were similarly resistant to iodophor disinfectant, peracetic acid, alcohol and glutaraldehyde disinfectant.

CONCLUSIONM. chelonei subsp. abscessus has the potential to surrogate M. tuberculosis in evaluating mycobactericidal efficacies of disinfectants.

Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Bacteriological Techniques ; Chlorine Compounds ; pharmacology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Disinfectants ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Glutaral ; pharmacology ; Iodophors ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycobacterium Infections ; Mycobacterium chelonae ; drug effects ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; Peracetic Acid ; pharmacology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVEAlkaline comet assay was used to evaluate DNA repair (nucleotide excision repair, NER) capacity of human fresh lymphocytes from 12 young healthy non-smokers (6 males and 6 females).

METHODSLymphocytes were exposed to UV-C (254 nm) at the dose rate of 1.5 J/m2/sec. Novobiocin (NOV) and aphidicolin (APC), DNA repair inhibitors, were utilized to imitate the deficiency of DNA repair capacity at the incision and ligation steps of NER. Lymphocytes from each donor were divided into three grougs: UVC group, UVC plus NOV group, and UVC plus APC group. DNA single strand breaks were detected in UVC irradiated cells incubated for 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 min after UVC irradiation. DNA repair rate (DRR) served as an indicator of DNA repair capacity.

RESULTSThe results indicated that the maximum DNA damage (i.e. maximum tail length) in the UVC group mainly appeared at 90 min. The ranges of DRRs in the UVC group were 62.84%-98.71%. Average DRR value was 81.84%. The DRR difference between males and females was not significant (P < 0.05). However, the average DRR value in the UVC plus NOV group and the UVC plus APC group was 52.98% and 39.57% respectively, which were significantly lower than that in the UVC group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe comet assay is a rapid, simple and sensitive screening test to assess individual DNA repair (NER) capacity. It is suggested that the time to detect DNA single strand breaks in comet assay should include 0 (before UV irradiation), 90 and 240 min after exposure to 1.5 J x m(-2) UVC at least. The DRR, as an indicator, can represent the individual DNA repair capacity in comet assay.

Adult ; Aphidicolin ; pharmacology ; Comet Assay ; methods ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; DNA Repair ; drug effects ; genetics ; radiation effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Male ; Novobiocin ; pharmacology ; Risk Assessment ; Time Factors ; Ultraviolet Rays ; adverse effects