OBJECTIVETo analyze the differences in serum proteomic profiles between patients with silicosis and chronic bronchitis and to investigate the pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of these two disease.

METHODSSerum samples from patients with stage I silicosis and chronic bronchitis were collected. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was performed and protein plots with expression differences higher than 2-fold were identified and further analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

RESULTSCompared with the silicosis group, the chronic bronchitis group had 11 up-regulated proteins and 23 down-regulated proteins. The chronic bronchitis group had high expression of proteins such as interferon beta precursor, apolipoprotein precursor, and transforming growth factor beta1 precursor. The silicosis group had high expression of proteins such as interleukin-6, granzyme A, cathepsin G, and glycoprotein precursor.

CONCLUSIONThe differentially expressed proteins are mainly involved in the activity of serine enzymes, cytotoxicity, inflammation response, and apolipoprotein transfer and play different roles in silicosis and chronic bronchitis.

Bronchitis, Chronic ; pathology ; Cathepsin G ; Down-Regulation ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Glycoproteins ; Granzymes ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Mass Spectrometry ; Proteomics ; methods ; Serum ; chemistry ; Silicosis ; pathology ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo study the influences of carbon disulfide (CS2) exposure on fatty acid metabolism in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mice and C57BL/6J mice.

METHODSTwenty-four male ApoE knockout mice were randomly and equally divided into four groups: a CS2-exposed normal diet group, a CS2-unexposed normal diet group, a CS2-exposed high-fat diet group, and a CS2-unexposed high-fat diet group. Twenty-four C57BL/6J male mice were divided into four groups in the same way. The CS2-exposed groups were exposed to CS2 (1 g/m(3)) by static inhalation for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. After two weeks, the whole blood of mice was collected. Methyl ester derivatization of fatty acids was performed using an acid-catalyzed method. Fatty acid contents before and after exposure were compared by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in fatty acid contents of mice between the four groups. For the C57BL/6J mice, the arachidic acid contents in the CS2-exposed high-fat diet group were significantly lower than those in the CS2-unexposed high-fat diet group (P = 0.045 0). For the ApoE knockout mice, the arachidonic acid contents in the CS2-exposed normal diet group were significantly lower than those in the CS2-unexposed control diet group (P = 0.045 2). For the ApoE knockout mice, the γ-linolenic acid contents in the CS2-exposed high-fat diet group were significantly higher than those in the unexposed high-fat diet group (P = 0.044 7).

CONCLUSIONExposure to CS2 can induce fatty acid metabolism disorder in mice, indicating that CS2 may increase the risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.

Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Atherosclerosis ; Carbon Disulfide ; toxicity ; Diet, High-Fat ; Fatty Acids ; chemistry ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout

OBJECTIVETo establish a method to determine total bromine in urine.

METHODDiluted urine samples were directly introduced into ICP-MS then quantized by standard curve.

RESULTTotal bromine in urine was linear within 1.0~50 mg/L with r > 0.999, When spiked at a concentration of 0.020 mg/L, 0.050 mg/L, 0.150 mg/L, the recovery was 95%~98%, intra-assay precision was 1.4% 3.2%, inter-assay precision was 3.4% to 5.0%. Urine could store in -20 °C refrigerator 3 months without any bromine loss.

CONCLUSIONUsing ICP-MS to determine the urinary total bromine, the method is fast, accurate, wide linear range of features, could meet with the requirement of Part 5 of occupational health standards guide: Method determination of chemical substances in biological materials (GBZ/T 210.5-2008), a strong competitive advantage in a wide range of survey, suitable for promotion.

Bromine ; urine ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry

Acetylcysteine ; urine ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Brominated ; metabolism ; urine

Chromatography, Gas ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Brominated ; urine

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of 1-bromopropane (1-BP) on liver and kidney functions of exposed workers.

METHODSOccupational health situation in three 1-BP plants was investigated. Fifty-four workers from the 1-BP manufacturing line were chose to be contact group, while 42 workers from non-1-BP manufacturing line as control group. All workers underwent questionnaire survey, liver function test as well as kidney function test.

RESULTWorking years has no impact on liver and kidney functions of workers from contact group. Compared with the control, liver and kidney functions test of the two groups showed no statistical difference either.

CONCLUSIONThe present investigation doesn't prove any impact of occupational 1-BP exposure on worker's liver and kidney functions.

Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Brominated ; toxicity ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects

Electrophysiological Phenomena ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Brominated ; toxicity ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects

Blood Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Brominated ; toxicity ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects

Cardiovascular System ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Brominated ; toxicity ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects

Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Brominated ; toxicity ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects