Carcinogens, Environmental ; Ecotoxicology ; Neoplasms ; etiology

Carcinogens ; Carcinogens, Environmental ; Retrospective Studies ; Threshold Limit Values

This study described methods to predict human health risk associated with exposure to environmental carciongens using animal bioassay data. Also, biological assumption for various dose-response models were reviewed. To illustrate the process of risk estimate using relevant dose-response models such as Log-normal, Mantel-Bryan, Weibull and Multistage model, we used four animal carcinogenesis bioassy data of chloroform and chloroform concentrations of tap water measured in large cities of korea from 1987 to 1995. As a result, in the case of using average concentration in exposure data and 95 % upper boud unit risk of Multistage model, excess cancer risk(RISK I) was about 1.9 x 10-6, in the case of using probability distribution of cumulative exposure data and unit risks, those risks(RISK II) which were simulated by Monte-Carlo analysis were about 2.4 x 10(-6) and 7.9 x 10(-5) at 50 and 95 percentile, respectively. Therefore risk estimated by Monte-Carlo analysis using probability distribution of input variables may be more conservative.
Animals ; Biological Assay ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinogens, Environmental* ; Chloroform ; Humans ; Korea ; Water

Acrylonitrile ; toxicity ; Carcinogens ; toxicity ; Humans ; Mutagens ; toxicity ; Occupational Exposure

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Carcinogens, Environmental ; analysis ; Chromium ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Workplace

Treating patients undergoing chemotherapy who display findings of liver toxicity, requires a solid understanding of these medications. It is important for any clinician to have an index of suspicion for liver toxicity and be able to recognize it, even on imaging. Cancer chemotherapy has evolved, and newer medications that target cell biology have a different pattern of liver toxicity and may differ from the more traditional cytotoxic agents. There are several hepatic conditions that can result and keen clinical as well as radiographic recognition are paramount. Conditions such as sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, steatosis, and pseudocirrhosis are more commonly associated with chemotherapy. These conditions can display clinical signs of acute hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and even liver failure. It is important to anticipate and recognize these adverse reactions and thus appropriate clinical action can be taken. Often times, patients with these liver manifestations can be managed with supportive therapies, and liver toxicity may resolve after discontinuation of chemotherapy.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/etiology/radiography ; Enzyme Inhibitors/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver/etiology/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology/radiography ; Liver Diseases/etiology/*radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo examine maternal and fetal exposure levels to four carcinogenic metals, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and beryllium (Be), and to investigate their environmental influences.

METHODSMetal concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord blood were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Environmental factors that might play a role in exposure were analyzed using Mann-Whitney nonparametric U-tests and multiple linear regression.

RESULTSThe concentrations of As, Cd, and Ni in umbilical cord blood (5.41, 0.87, and 139.54 μg/L) were significantly lower than those in maternal blood (6.91, 1.93, and 165.93 μg/L). There were significant positive correlations between the maternal and cord concentrations of each carcinogen. Our results showed that: (i) exposures to potentially harmful occupational factors during pregnancy were associated with high levels of maternal As, Cd, and Ni; (ii) living close to major transportation routes (<500 m) or exposure to second-hand smoke during pregnancy increased the maternal Cd levels and (iii) living close to industrial chimneys induced high maternal Ni levels. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that these environmental factors remained significant in models of the influences of these four carcinogens.

CONCLUSIONBoth mothers and fetuses had been exposed to As, Cd, Ni, and Be. The increased levels of these carcinogens in pregnant women were associated with some detrimental environmental factors, such as occupational exposure, contact with second-hand smoke and living close to major transportation routes or industrial chimneys.

Carcinogens, Environmental ; toxicity ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants ; toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; Metals ; toxicity ; Pregnancy ; Time Factors

Once considered a taboo topic or stigma, cancer is the number one public health enemy in the world. Once a product of an almost untouchable industry, tobacco is indisputably recognized as a major cause of cancer and a target for anticancer efforts. With the emergence of new economic powers in the world, especially in highly populated countries such as China, air pollution has rapidly emerged as a smoking gun for cancer and has become a hot topic for public health debate because of the complex political, economic, scientific, and technologic issues surrounding the air pollution problem. This editorial and the referred articles published in this special issue of the Chinese Journal of Cancer discuss these fundamental questions. Does air pollution cause a wide spectrum of cancers? Should air pollution be considered a necessary evil accompanying economic transformation in developing countries? Is an explosion of cancer incidence coming to China and how soon will it arrive? What must be done to prevent this possible human catastrophe? Finally, the approaches for air pollution control are also discussed.
Air Pollution ; adverse effects ; Carcinogens, Environmental ; toxicity ; China ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects

In 2020, the mass concentration of PM_2.5 in Shijiazhuang urban area was(80.30±71.43)μg/m³. The Spearman correlation analysis between metals and metalloids showed that Sb with Cd, Pb, Ni, Se, Cd with Pb, Ni, Se, Pb with Ni, Se, Ni with Se, and Se with Tl were positively correlated, with a coefficient greater than 0.5. The main sources of metals and metalloids of PM_2.5 were traffic emissions, fuel combustion, metal smelting and dust. The HQ values of Pb, Hg and Mn for each population were less than 1, with lower non-carcinogenic risk. The R values of carcinogenic risk of Ni and Cd in each population were less than 1×10^-6, which could be acceptable risk level for the population. The R values of carcinogenic risk of As and Cr in different populations were between 1×10^-6 and 1×10^-4, with potential carcinogenic risk, particularly higher in adult males.
Adult ; Cadmium ; Carcinogens/analysis* ; Dust/analysis* ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Lead ; Male ; Metalloids/analysis* ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of transfecting survivin antisense mRNA on growth and chemotherapy sensitivity of lymphoma cells.

METHODSEukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3. 1-antisense (As) survivin was constructed and transfected into Jurkat T lymphoblastic lymphoma cell lines with high expression survivin mRNA by use of lipofectmine gene transfer technique. Expression of survivin mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemical and Western blot. The effect of transfecting survivin antisense mRNA on the growth of Jurkat cell lines was monitored by population doubling time (PDT) and Apoptotic indexes (AI). The morphologic features were observed in transfected cells by light and electric microscopes. MTT assay was used to analyze the response of transfected cells to CTX and MTX.

RESULTSCompared with the control cells, the expression of survivin mRNA and protein were reduced after transfected pcDNA3. 1-Assurvivin 48 h, 5 w and 6 w, PDT (52 h) was prolonged. Apoptotic indexes were higher in transfected antisense survivin mRNA cells [20.2% (48 h)], 6.2% (5 w) and 6.8% (6 w) than control ones [2.1%, 1.3% (48 h)] and [1.3% (5 w) and 1.0% (6 w)]. The cells grow slowly and the dead cells increase and some swelling and apoptotic cells were observed in transfected pcDNA3. 1-Assurvivin groups by invert, light and electric microscopes. The Jurkat cell line of transfected pcDNA3. 1-Assurvivin had higher sensitivity to CTX and MTX. The rate of inhibition was higher in transfected group. There is a significant difference between the transfected group and untransfected one, P < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONSThe result indicated that survivin gene was very important for growth of Jurkat cells. To inhibit the expression of survivin will be significant in therapy of T lymphoblastic lymphoma. Survivin gene might be a target of therapy.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclophosphamide ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Jurkat Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; K562 Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Lymphoma ; pathology ; Methotrexate ; pharmacology ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Plasmids ; RNA, Antisense ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection