OBJECTIVE: To examine the mechanistic of organochlorine-associated changes in lung function. METHODS: This study investigated 76 healthy older adults in Jinan, Shandong Province, over a five-month period. Personal exposure to organochlorines was quantified using wearable passive samplers, while inflammatory factors and thyroid hormones were analyzed from blood samples. Participants' lung function was evaluated. After stratifying participants according to their thyroid hormone levels, we analyzed the differential effects of organochlorine exposure on lung function and inflammatory factors across the low and high thyroid hormone groups. Mediation analysis was further conducted to elucidate the relationships among organochlorine exposures, inflammatory factors, and lung function. RESULTS: Bis (2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether (BCIE), was negatively associated with forced vital capacity (FVC, -2.05%, 95% CI: -3.11% to -0.97%), and associated with changes in inflammatory factors such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, IL-8, and IL-13 in the low thyroid hormone group. The mediation analysis indicated a mediating effect of IL-2 (15.63%, 95% CI: 0.91% to 44.64%) and IL-13 (13.94%, 95% CI: 0.52% to 41.07%) in the association between BCIE exposure and FVC. CONCLUSION Lung function and inflammatory factors exhibited an increased sensitivity to organochlorine exposure at lower thyroid hormone levels, with inflammatory factors potentially mediating the adverse effects of organochlorines on lung function.
Environmental Exposure ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/metabolism* ; China ; Ethyl Ethers/metabolism* ; Environmental Monitoring ; Thyroid Hormones/blood* ; Lung/physiology* ; Inhalation Exposure/statistics & numerical data* ; Air Pollution/statistics & numerical data* ; Air Pollutants/metabolism* ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged

Chlorinated hydrocarbons (CAHs) threaten human health and the ecological environment due to their strong carcinogenic, teratogenic, mutagenic and heritable properties. Heterotrophic assimilation degradation can completely and effectively degrade CAHs, without secondary pollution. However, it is crucial to comprehensively understand the heterotrophic assimilation process of CAHs for its application. Therefore, we review here the characteristics and advantages of heterotrophic assimilation degradation of CAHs. Moreover, we systematically summarize current research status of heterotrophic assimilation of CAHs. Furthermore, we analyze bacterial genera and metabolism, key enzymes and characteristic genes involved in the metabolic process. Finally, we indicate existing problems of heterotrophic assimilation research and future research needs.
Bacteria ; metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; metabolism ; Industrial Microbiology ; trends

Bioremediation is one of the most effective ways to treat and dispose of chlorinated hydrocarbons, and methanotrophs are potentially useful to do so. Recent studies found that facultative methanotrophs can use compounds containing C-C bond as sources of carbon and energy, thus overcoming the limitation that obligate methanotrophsone uses only C1 compounds for this process. This is a unique metabolic approach that is becoming increasingly attractive in the field of contaminant biodegradation. Here, we summarized the bioremediation of chlorinated hydrocarbons by obligate and facultative methanotrophs. This process involves the degradation of various chlorinated hydrocarbons by diverse strains, including pure cultures and mixed cultures. We also compare the activity expression and catalytic properties of different types of methane monooxygenases in various substrates. We furthermore summarize the kinetic characteristics of the degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons using the model strain Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, and outline the degradation and potential of chlorinated hydrocarbons by facultative methanotrophs. Lastly, we discuss current problems and future research directions for degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons by methanotrophs.
Biodegradation, Environmental ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; metabolism ; Methylosinus trichosporium ; metabolism ; Oxygenases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between pro coagulation factors and anti-coagulation factors synthesized by the liver, and the correlation between fibrin degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer (D-D) concentration and coagulation proteins synthesized by extra-hepatic tissues, in different liver diseases; to explore the relationship between coagulation and bleeding in hepatic diseases.

METHODSChronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, CHB-related liver cirrhosis patients, CHB-related liver failure patients and healthy (normal) controls were selected for study and provided blood samples for analysis. The activity of coagulation factors (F) II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII was detected using the one-stage clotting method. Coagulogram analysis, including activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), and prothrombin time (PT), was conducted by the solidification method. Antithrombin III (AT-III) and protein C (PC) activities were measured by chromogenic substrate assay. FDP concentration was detected using immunoturbidimetry. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), thrombomodulin (TM), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and tissue factor (TF) concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSWith the exception of FVIII, coagulation factors and anticoagulant proteins synthesized by the liver were decreased and the coagulogram was extended for all patients. Likewise, the FDP and D-D concentrations were increased in blood. CHB patients, however, presented with increased levels of FVIII, TFPI, TM, vWF, and TF. Pairwise comparison indicated statistical differences existed among CHB, CHB-related liver cirrhosis, and liver failure patients: TFPI: 239.3+/-206.4, 315.0+/-258.6, and 319.5+/-298.1 -- higher than normal control: 104.0+/-87.1, F = 5.453, P less than 0.05; vWF: 70.3+/-29.5, 105.5+/-58.0, and 179.3+/-61.7 -- higher than normal control: 21.9+/-7.2, F = 20.104, P less than 0.05; TF: 85.9+/-85.7, 234.2+/-202.9, and 344.7+/-214.6 -- higher than normal control: 12.8+/-8.1, F = 8.619, P less than 0.05; FVIII: 157.2+/-53.4, 206.9+/-86.9, and 335.7+/-117.7 -- higher than normal control: 105.5+/-46.2, F = 13.418, P less than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONIn parallel to the progression of liver diseases, pro coagulation and anti-coagulation elements synthesized by the liver were reduced. In contrast, fibrinolysis activity was enhanced, which is expected to lead to an imbalance between blood clotting and anti-clotting factors. This may be an important cause for the bleeding that occurs in end-stage liver disease. Expressions of TFPI, TM, vWF, and TF significantly change in the early stage of liver diseases, as compared to normal (healthy) levels, and may represent a sensitive indicator of vascular injury.

Adult ; Aged ; Antithrombin III ; metabolism ; Blood Coagulation Factors ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; metabolism ; Hepatic Insufficiency ; blood ; physiopathology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

Measurements were made of the residual level of chlorinated hydrocarbon compound and mercury compound in the tissues of wild birds and herbs in Korea from November 1974 to August 1975. Aldrin was detected in all of the wild birds analyzed. The residue levels of aldrin varied from 0.353ppm to 16.115ppm. Among the tissues analyzed, the feathers contained the highest concentration of aldrin, but chloridane could not be detected in wild birds. The pesticides detected in wild birds were (alpha+beta)-BHC gamma-BHC, delta-BHC, heptachlor, aldrin, TDE and DDT. Dieldrin was detected only in the stomach of eastern dunlin caught at the Nakdong River basin. Residue levels of mercury were measured in all wild birds analyzed. Among tissues analyzed for mercury compound concentration, here also the feathers showed the highest level. The feathers of the eastern dunlin showed a high content of mercury compound which was 76.665 ppm at the highest level. Herbs used as material for oriental remedies were contaminated by chlorinated hydrocarbons which were (alpha+beta)-BHC, gamma-BHC, dieldrin, DDT, heptachlor, TDE, aldrin and epoxide. The insect materials from Cicadae testa, Bombycis corpus, and Scolopendia were much more contaminated by pesticides than plant materials. Herbs cultivated in arable areas were also found to be more contaminated by pesticides than wild ones. Herbs, on the whole, contained lower levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons than wild birds. The incidence of pesticide residues in natural products and in wild birds, however, should be considered as a global environmental pollution problem. The present investigation could contribute as a baseline study for the monitoring of pesticide pollution, its application and dispersal, and the hazard limit for food and human health.
Animal ; Birds/metabolism* ; Human ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/analysis ; Korea ; Mercury/analysis ; Pesticide Residues/analysis* ; Plants/analysis*