Objective: To investigate the relationship of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from 900 MHz cellphone frequency with testicular oxidative damage and its influence on the Prdx2 protein expression in the rat testis, and to explore the mechanism of Guilingji Capsules (GC) alleviating oxidative damage to the testis tissue. METHODS: Fifty healthy SD male rats were randomly divided into five groups of equal number, sham-EMR, 4-h EMR, 8-h EMR, 4-h EMR+GC and 8-h EMR+GC and exposed to 900 MHz EMR (370 μW/cm2) for 0, 4 or 8 hours daily for 15 successive days. The rats of the latter two groups were treated intragastrically with GC suspension and those of the first three groups with pure water after exposure to EMR each day. After 15 days of exposure and treatment, all the rats were sacrificed and their testis tissue collected for observation of the histomorphological and ultrastructural changes by HE staining and transmission electron microscopy, measurement of the levels of serum glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) with thiobarbiuric acid and determination of the Prdx2 protein expression by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the rats in the sham-EMR group, those in the 4-h and 8-h EMR groups showed different degrees of histomorphological and ultrastructural changes in the testis tissue, significantly decreased levels of GSH (［80.62 ± 10.99］ vs ［69.58 ± 4.18］ and ［66.17 ± 8.45］ mg/L, P < 0.05) and SOD (［172.29 ± 10.98］ vs ［158.92 ± 6.46］ and ［148.91 ± 8.60］ U/ml, P < 0.05) and increased level of MDA (［7.51 ± 1.73］ vs ［9.84 ± 1.03］ and ［11.22 ± 2.13］ umol/ml, P < 0.05), even more significantly in the 8-h than in the 4-h EMR group (P < 0.05). In comparison with the sham-EMR group, the expression of the Prdx2 protein was markedly downregulated in the 4-h and 8-h EMR groups (0.56 ± 0.03 vs 0.49 ± 0.03, 0.21 ± 0.01, P < 0.05), but again upregulated in the 4-h and 8-h EMR+GC groups (0.55±0.03 and 0.37±0.04) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Electromagnetic radiation from cellphones can cause ultrastructural damage to the testis tissue of male rats, while Guilingji Capsules can alleviate it, presumably by upregulating the Prdx2 protein expression in the testis tissue and reducing testicular oxidative damage.
Animals ; Capsules ; Cell Phone ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Glutathione/blood* ; Male ; Malondialdehyde/blood* ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Oxidative Stress ; Peroxiredoxins/metabolism* ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase/blood* ; Testis/pathology* ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/analysis*

OBJECTIVE: : To investigate the effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on non-enzymatic glycation and oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL). METHODS: : The non-enzymatic glycation incubation system of LDL-glucose was established. The contents of early glycation products (Amodori product) and intermediate products (dicarbonyl compound) were determined by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, and the content of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) was determined by fluorescence spectrophotometry. The LDL oxidation incubation system was established. The contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) and conjugated diene were determined by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. The tryptophan fluorescence quenching, and the content of lipofuscin, total fluorescence products, active aldehydes and malondialdehyde were determined by fluorescence spectrophotometry, and further verified by three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. RESULTS: : In the LDL glycation experiment, 150 μg/mL and 300 μg/mL CGA inhibited the formation of Amadori product, dicarbonyl compounds and AGEs. In the LDL oxidation experiment, 15 μg/mL and 25 μg/mL CGA inhibited the formation of TBARS effectively; 5 μg/mL and 10 μg/mL CGA inhibited tryptophan fluorescence quenching, and the formation of active aldehydes, malondialdehyde, total fluorescence products, lipofuscin and conjugated diolefine. And the three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy showed the same results. CONCLUSIONS : CGA can inhibit non-enzymatic glycation and oxidation of LDL.
Chlorogenic Acid ; pharmacology ; Glycosylation ; drug effects ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; drug effects ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; analysis

OBJECTIVES: To explore the ability of inhibition resistibility of multiple displacement amplification （MDA） in samples with inhibitors. To explain the application and value of MDA in forensic medicine by comparing with using magnetic beads methods （MBM） to purify sample. METHODS: Different concentrations of hemoglobin and humid acid （HA） mixed with DNA samples and then divided the samples into MDA group, MBM group and control group. D3S1358 locus was amplified and detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis detection system and AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler™ Plus Kit-capillary electrophoresis detection system. RESULTS: When hemoglobin concentrations exceed 1 ng/μL or HA concentrations exceed 0.1 ng/μL, amplification products could not be obtained by single-locus system in control group. When hemoglobin concentration exceeds 100 ng/μL or HA concentrations exceed 1 ng/μL, the samples could not be amplified by MBM. Inhibitors in different concentrations were amplified successfully in MDA group without any influence from inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS MDA has the capability to remove the inhibition of hemoglobin and HA, which is better than MBM and has a certain value in forensic practices.
DNA/analysis* ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Humic Substances ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques

OBJECTIVETo systematically compare occupational exposure limits (OELs) in GBZ 2.1 with the ones in TLV-CS of ACGIH on quantity, level, procedures of management etc.; to propose priority chemicals for establishing OELs and suggestions on the revisions of occupational health standards; to provide basic scientific evidence for the planning and development of occupational health standards.

METHODCompilation of a database on OELs in GBZ 2.1 and in TLV-CS of ACGIH according to types of exposure limits, and comparison of the data in the two systems on the values of exposure limits, quantitative descriptions of specific occupational hazards, legal status, TLV-CS setting up principles, basis, condition and procedures, key adverse effect, application of carcinogenicity/sensitization/skin notations, adjustment of OELs for unusual work schedules, the concept and application of combined effects, the concept and application of Excursion Limits, the identity of particles, and analysis of the comparison result.

RESULTS(1) There are 339 chemical substances included in GBZ 2.1 and 656 in TLV-CS in ACGIH. (2) The number of the chemical substances in GBZ 2.1 with specified OELs but not included in TLV-CS of ACGIH is 52; the chemical substances with OELs in TLV-CS of ACGIH but not in GBZ 2.1 are 371. (3) There are 260 chemical substances which have OELs in both GBZ 2.1 and ACGIH and with a total of 302 OELs, among them, 47 OELs are higher and 96 are lower in the GBZ 2.1 than the ones in TLV-CS of ACGIH, 81 of them are similar, and 77 are the same in the two. (4) Guidelines on notations of carcinogenicity, sensitization and skin in China need to be developed. (5) Guidelines for adjustment of OELs for unusual work schedules need to be adopted in China. (6) There is still a wide gap between OELs in GBZ 2.1 and in TLV-CS of ACGIH in many aspects. The management and approval procedures of China in setting up OELs are more bureaucratic, and the biological plausibility and feasibility aspects should be strengthened.

CONCLUSIONS(1) Evaluation guidelines on risk assessment on notations of carcinogenicity, sensitization and skin need to be formulated in China. (2) A priority list in setting up OELs in China needs to be determined. Priority needs to be given to review and revision of the OELs which are significantly different from the ones in TLV?CS of ACGIH but without support of adequate scientific evidence. Priority should also be given to chemical substances which have no OELs in GBZ 2.1 but have specific OELs in TLV-CS of ACGIH. (3) Periodic and systematic review and revision of the existing OELs should be conduced based on the state-of-the-art scientific data, peer-critical-review and public opinion. (4) Important technical issues in GBZ 2.1 need to be elaborated and examined, including the concept of excursion limits, adjustment of OELs for unusual work schedules, the concept and application of synergetic effect, description of the forms and physical characteristics of chemical substances.

China ; Databases, Factual ; Hazardous Substances ; analysis ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Risk Assessment ; Threshold Limit Values ; United States ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety of artificial musk by determining its content of five hazard heavy metals.

METHODThe contents of Pb, Cd,As,Hg,and Cu in artificial musk were detected using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

RESULTThe contents of Pb,Cd,As,Hg,and Cu was less than 0.35,0.05,0.30,0.20,and 4.50 mg/kg in artificial musk.

CONCLUSIONArtificial musk has low contents of heavy metals and therefore meets the safety and quality requirments.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; chemistry ; Hazardous Substances ; analysis ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Quality Control

This study aimed to identify biochemical predictors of adverse perinatal outcomes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). A total of 106 ICP cases were analyzed retrospectively by the combination of receiver operating characteristic curve and binary logistic regression analysis. "Adverse perinatal outcomes" included spontaneous preterm labor, meconium-staining of amniotic fluid, stillbirth and Apgar score ≤7 at 1 or 5 min. Total bile acid (TBA) [AUC=0.658, 95%CI (0.536, 0.781), P=0.031] was a valuable predictor for adverse perinatal outcomes. The critical value of TBA above which adverse perinatal outcomes were observed was 40.15 μmol/L (Youden's index=0.3). Binary multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes increased when TBA ≥40.15 μmol/L [OR=3.792, 95%CI (1.226, 11.727), P=0.021]. It is concluded that the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in ICP increases when maternal TBA ≥40.15 μmol/L.
Abortion, Induced ; Adult ; Bile Acids and Salts ; analysis ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; China ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Risk Assessment ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stillbirth ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; analysis ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Adult ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Hazardous Substances ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; prevention & control ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze systematically the characteristics of occupational hazards in the foundry, and provide precise data for epidemiology studies and control of occupational hazards in the foundry.

METHODSData of airborne dust, chemical occupational hazards and physical occupational agents in environment in the foundry from 1978 to 2008 were dynamically collected. Mean concentration and intensity (geometric mean) of occupational hazards were calculated by job in different years.

RESULTSMain occupational hazards in the foundry were silica, metal fume, noise and heat stress. Silica existed in all of main jobs. The mean concentration of silica before 1986 was an extremely high level of 8.6 mg/m(3), and then remarkably dropped after 1986, with the level of 2.4 mg/m(3) from 1986 to 1989, 2.7 mg/m(3) from 1990 to 2002 and 2.7 mg/m(3) from 2003 to 2008. The trend of silica concentrations by job was consistent with that in general. Silica concentrations among jobs were significantly different, with highest level in melting (4.4 mg/m(3)), followed by cast shakeout and finishing (3.4 mg/m(3)), pouring (3.4 mg/m(3)), sand preparation (2.4 mg/m(3)), moulding (2.1 mg/m(3)) and core-making (1.7 mg/m(3)). Concentration of respirable dust in pouring was highest (2.76 mg/m(3)), followed by cast shakeout and finishing (1.14 mg/m(3)). Mean concentration of asbestos dust in melting was a relative high level of 2.0 mg/m(3). In core-making and sand preparation, there existed emission production of adhesive, with mean concentrations as followed, ammonia (5.84 mg/m(3)), formaldehyde (0.60 mg/m(3)), phenol (1.73 mg/m(3)) and phenol formaldehyde resin (1.3 mg/m(3)) also existed. Benzene and its homologues existed in cast shakeout and finishing, and the level of benzene, toluene, xylene was 0.2 mg/m(3), 0.1 mg/m(3) and 1.3 mg/m(3), respectively. In pouring and melting, there existed chemical occupational hazards, including benzo(a) pyrene, metal fume (lead, cadmium, manganese, nickel, chromium) and gas(hydrogen sulfide, phosphine, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide). Mean concentration of benzo(a) pyrene was a low level of 1.80 x 10(-4) microg/m(3). Physical occupational agents in the foundry were noise, heat stress and vibration. Intensity of heat stress was high in melting, pouring and cast shakeout and finishing, with the level of 30 degrees C, 29 degrees C and 26 degrees C, respectively. Noise was high in cast shakeout and finishing and core-making, with the level of 93.1 dB(A) and 89.5 dB(A), respectively. Vibration existed in core-making and cast shakeout and finishing. Compulsory postures included long standing, seating and bowing.

CONCLUSIONOccupational hazards in environment of the foundry are diversified and their concentrations exceed permissible exposure limits stipulated by the national occupational hygienic standards. High-concentrations of dust, metal fume, low-concentrations of variety of chemicals, high-intensity of noise and vibration, heat stress, and harmful compulsory posture, and so on all co-exist in the foundry. Control and protective measures should be strengthened.

Dust ; analysis ; Hazardous Substances ; analysis ; Metallurgy ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVE: The objetive of this study is to assess the level of oxidative stress by the exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in volunteers who cleaned up the crude oil spilled from the Hebei Spirit on the Coast of Taean County, Korea. METHODS: The study subjects were 46 volunteers and 37 controls from the National Institute of Environmental Research. A self-administered questionnaire was used for volunteers to examine their working environment and health effects. Urinary concentrations of hippuric acid, 1-hydroxypyrene, and 2-naphthol were measured as exposure markers for VOCs and PAHs, and urinary thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were measured as oxidative stress markers. RESULTS: Sixty-four percent of the respondents presented a variety of symptoms, including sore eyes and throat, nausea, dizziness, headache, low back pain, and leg pain after participating in the cleanup operation. Urinary 2-naphthol and TBARS concentrations appeared higher in the volunteers. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that urinary TBARS and 8-OHdG levels were positively correlated with urinary 2-naphthol and 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations respectively, especially among the volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: The result implies that participating in cleanup work of oil spills may have a possibility to induce oxidative damage by exposure to PAHs in crude oil.
Data Collection ; Deoxyguanosine ; Dizziness ; Eye ; Headache ; Hippurates ; Korea ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Multivariate Analysis ; Naphthols ; Nausea ; Oxidative Stress ; Petroleum ; Petroleum Pollution ; Pharynx ; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Pyrenes ; Questionnaires ; Thiobarbiturates ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Volatile Organic Compounds

With the increasing use of synthetic chemical based products in building construction in recent decades, there has been growing concern over the health hazards to firefighters and fire exposers from the inhalation of the toxic components of smoke. Toxic combustion products can have profound effects on the respiratory system, causing symptoms, physiologic changes, and chronic diseases. Prompt evaluation is important and should include chest films, pulmonary function testing, arterial blood gas analysis, and bronchoscopy. Positive findings require aggressive management with adequate oxygenation, ventilation, pulmonary toilet, and fluid resuscitation. Clinicians caring for individuals who have sustained inhalation damage to their respiratory tract need to comprehensively understand the mechanisms, natural history, management, and prevention of acute inhalation injury, so that they can help individual patients recover without serious complications.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Bronchoscopy ; Chronic Disease ; Firefighters ; Fires ; Hazardous Substances ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Lung Injury ; Natural History ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory System ; Resuscitation ; Smoke ; Thorax