Particulate matter (PM) can damage respiratory system, cardiovascular system, nervous system and immune system, but there are few researches on reproductive damage of particulate matter. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of short-term particulate matter 2.5 (PM

Objective This study investigated the impact of occupational mercury(Hg)exposure on human gene transcription and expression,and its potential biological mechanisms. Methods Differentially expressed genes related to Hg exposure were identified and validated using gene expression microarray analysis and extended validation.Hg-exposed cell models and PTEN low-expression models were established in vitro using 293T cells.PTEN gene expression was assessed using qRT-PCR,and Western blotting was used to measure PTEN,AKT,and PI3K protein levels.IL-6 expression was determined by ELISA. Results Combined findings from gene expression microarray analysis,bioinformatics,and population expansion validation indicated significant downregulation of the PTEN gene in the high-concentration Hg exposure group.In the Hg-exposed cell model(25 and 10 μmol/L),a significant decrease in PTEN expression was observed,accompanied by a significant increase in PI3K,AKT,and IL-6 expression.Similarly,a low-expression cell model demonstrated that PTEN gene knockdown led to a significant decrease in PTEN protein expression and a substantial increase in PI3K,AKT,and IL-6 levels. Conclusion This is the first study to report that Hg exposure downregulates the PTEN gene,activates the PI3K/AKT regulatory pathway,and increases the expression of inflammatory factors,ultimately resulting in kidney inflammation.

Objective The aim of this work was to study whether PM2. 5 induces oxidative stress and histopatholog-ical changes in uterine tissue of rats. Methods Thirty 4-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group (normal saline), the low dose of PM2.5 group (1. 5 mg/kg) and the high dose of PM2.5 group (37. 5 mg/kg) . After exposed to PM2. 5 for 10 days, the rats were sacrificed to examine the histopathological changes in uterine tissues using H&E staining. The contents of SOD, GSH, MDA and LDH were also determined in the uterine tissues. Results Compared with the control group, PM2. 5 caused changes in the uterine structure, showing a thinner endometrial epithelium and reduction of stromal cells and blood vessels. The assessment of oxidative stress parameters showed that the levels of MDA and LDH in the high dose group were (6. 53 ± 1. 24) nmol/mg prot and (265. 62 ± 24. 65) U/g prot, significantly higher than those in the control group ( P<0. 05 ) . Compared with the control group, the levels of SOD and GSH in the high dose and low dose groups were significantly decreased (P<0. 05). Conclusions PM2.5 exposure can cause damages in the rat uterus by inducing oxidative stress.

Fine particulate matter (PM2 5) with diameters of less than 2.5 |xm can lead to many diseases in human.According to the results of epidemiological studies, PM25 can injury human reproductive system, hut the mechanism of reproductive injury is rarely reported.This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of curcumin (CRC) on short-term exposure to PM2 5-induced rat uterine injury.Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, P.\l2 5 exposure group, PM15 +CRC-L group, PM2 5+CRC-H group and PM2 5 + VE group, which all were administered for 30 days.After a short-term exposure, PM2 s induced atrophy of endometrial epithelial cells and structural damage of endometrial glands and stromal cells.At the same time, these conditions were improved after administered with curcumin and VE.The results of TUNEL detection showed that the cell apoptosis rate (48.81 ±8.27)% in PM2 s exposure group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05).Compared to PM25 exposure group, the uterine cell apoptosis rates in two curcumin groups were attenuated, and the cell apoptosis rate was significantly decreased in PM>5+CRC-H group (P<0.05).Compared to control group, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were significantly higher (P< 0.05) and the level of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was significantly lower (P<0.05) in PM15 exposure group.However, curcumin and VE could attenuate PM2 5- induced oxidative stress in rat uterus.CRC and VE inhibited proteins phosphorylation of ASK 1, JNK, p38 and activation of caspase-3 induced by PM25(P<0.05).Moreover, curcumin significantly inhibited the protein expression levels of p-ASKl, p-JNK, p-p38 and cleaved caspase-3 induced by PM25.In conclusion, curcumin attenuates short-term exposure to PIV12 5-induced uterine injury by inhibiting the signal pathway of JNK-p38-caspase-3 mediated by ASK 1.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Environmental Pollutants ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; RNA, Long Noncoding ; genetics ; metabolism ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

This study explored the association between the lncRNA HOTAIR polymorphism and susceptibility to lead poisoning in a Chinese population. We speculated that lead poisoning caused elevated levels of oxidative stress, which, in turn, activate the HOTAIR gene to cause apoptosis. Three lncRNA HOTAIR tagSNPs (rs7958904, rs4759314, and rs874945) were genotyped by TaqMan genotyping technology in 113 lead-sensitive and 113 lead-resistant Chinese workers exposed to lead. Rs7958904 was significantly associated with susceptibility to lead poisoning (P = 0.047). The rs7958904 G allele had a protective effect compared with the C allele and reduced the risk of lead poisoning (P = 0.016). Rs7958904 may act as a potential biomarker for predicting the risk of lead poisoning and distinguishing lead-sensitive individuals from lead-resistant individuals.
Adult ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Lead Poisoning ; genetics ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA, Long Noncoding ; genetics

On December 14, 2017, a faculty member of a university in Hunan Province reported that an anthrax vaccine strain might have recovered virulence during an undergraduate experiment and potential exposure could not be ruled out for the students involved. Upon receiving the case report, the CDC, health bureaus, and local governments at the county, prefectural, and provincial levels promptly organized experts in different fields (including epidemiologists, biosafety experts, and laboratory testing experts) for case investigation, evaluation, and response. As the investigation results showed, no virulence recovery was identified in the involved anthrax vaccine strain; and no contamination of Bacillus anthracis was detected at the involved areas. Thus, the university returned to normal functioning.
Anthrax Vaccines ; analysis ; Bacillus anthracis ; pathogenicity ; China ; Containment of Biohazards ; Humans ; Laboratories ; statistics & numerical data ; Virulence