Objective To observe effects of the folic acid deficient diet on plasma homocysteine(Hcy) level and lesions of aorta in rats. Methods Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups, folic acid deficent group (FD) and control group (Ctl).The rats were fed with folic acid deficient diet and normal diet for 3 months,respectively. The levels of serum folic acid and plasma Hcy as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in erythrocytes were measured.The histological changes of aorta were also examined by light microscope. Results After 3 months treated with folic acid deficient diet, serum folic acid level 〔(6 08?1 84)?g/L〕 decreased significantly in rats of FD group compared either with pre experimental level 〔(13 32?2 02)?g/L〕 or with control one 〔(12 17?1 67)?g/L〕. Meanwhile, plasma homocycteine level increased significantly in rats of FD group 〔(28 66?6 07)?mol/L〕 compared either with pre experimental level 〔(9 75?1 86)?mol/L〕 or with control one 〔(9 49?1 77)?mol/L〕. The activity of erythrocytic SOD increased but GPX decreased obviously. The morphology lesions were also observed in aortic tissue. Conclusions Folic acid deficient diet induced hyperhomocysteinemia and arterial lesions.The high oxidant stress induced by hyper homocysteinemia may be one of mechanisms of arterial lesion.

Objective To investigate the effects of immune system and immuno-related miRNAs expression in low-dose benzene and its homologue mixed-exposed workers in a short time. Methods A total of 40 workers were recruited from a petrochemical factory ,and their blood samples were collected before and after work to detect the levels of IgA,IgG,IgM,IFN-γ,IL-1β,IL-2,IL-8,TNF-αin serum and miRNA-146a,-155 expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell. In the meanwhile ,we measured the individual benzene and its homologue exposure level of recruited workers. Results According to the concentration of benzene ,the subjects were divided into benzene-exposed group(20 workers)and control group(20 workers). And toluene exposure level in benzene-exposed group was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.05). Significant decrease of IgG was found in benzene-exposed workers after one work shift,compared with control group(P<0.05). Moreover,the interaction between benzene and toluene was significant correlated with the decrease of IL-1β and TNF-α(P < 0.05). Additionally,the interaction between miRNA-155 and miRNA-146a was significant correlated with the decrease of TNF-α(P<0.05). Conclusions:Occupational exposure to low-dose benzene and toluene in a short time could decrease immune function. And there may be an effect of miRNAs in the regulation of cytokine.

Objective: To investigate the value of DNA content in comet tail (TailDNA) in predicting the changes in peripheral blood cell counts in workers exposed to benzene. Methods: In 2011, cluster sampling was used to select 150 male workers exposed to benzene in a petrochemical factory. Cubital venous blood and urine samples were collected for routine blood rest, comet assay, and measurement of s-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) and urine creatinine. The population was divided into groups according to urinary SPMA or TailDNA, and routine blood test results within 3 years were collected to analyze the changes in blood cell counts. Results: The low-SPMA group had significantly higher white blood cell and neutrophilcounts in all years than the high-SPMA group (P<0.05) . The low-Tail DNA group had a significant increase in platelet count from 2012 to 2014 (P<0.05) , while the high-Tail DNA group had no significant change (P>0.05) . During the 4-year period, the high-TailDNA group had a significantly lower red blood cell count than the low-TailDNA group (P<0.05) . The high-TailDNA group showed a gradual reduction in white blood cell count over time (β=-0.113, P<0.05) , and the low-TailDNA group showed no trend of the reduction in white blood cell count (P>0.05) . Conclusion TailDNA can be used to predict the changes in blood cell counts in workers exposed to benzene.