Low-level exposure to lead, blood pressure, and hypertension in a population-based cohort.

Abstract Background Environmental lead exposure is a possible causative factor for increased blood pressure and hypertension, but large studies at low-level exposure are scarce, and results inconsistent. Objective We aimed to examine the effects of environmental exposure to lead in a large population-based sample. Methods We assessed associations between blood lead and systolic/diastolic blood pressure and hypertension in 4452 individuals (46–67 years) living in Malmo, Sweden, in 1991–1994. Blood pressure was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer after 10 min supine rest. Hypertension was defined as high systolic (≥140 mmHg) or diastolic (≥90 mmHg) blood pressure and/or current use of antihypertensive medication. Blood lead was calculated from lead in erythrocytes and haematocrit. Multivariable associations between blood lead and blood pressure or hypertension were assessed by linear and logistic regression. Two-thirds of the cohort was re-examined 16 years later. Results At baseline, mean blood pressure was 141/87 mmHg, 16% used antihypertensive medication, 63% had hypertension, and mean blood lead was 28 µg/L. Blood lead in the fourth quartile was associated with significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (point estimates: 1–2 mmHg) and increased prevalence of hypertension (odds ratio: 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.1–1.5) versus the other quartiles after adjustment for sex, age, smoking, alcohol, waist circumference, and education. Associations were also significant with blood lead as a continuous variable. Blood lead at baseline, having a half-life of about one month, was not associated with antihypertensive treatment at the 16-year follow-up. Conclusions Low-level lead exposure increases blood pressure and may increase the risk of hypertension

Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and risk of lymphoma subtypes

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor implicated in several pathways known to be relevant in lymphomagenesis. Aim of our study was to explore the link between AhR activation and risk of lymphoma subtypes. We used a Dual-Luciferase Assay® and a luminometer to detect the activation of the luciferase gene, in HepG2 cells transfected with a specific reporter systems, by a 50 ml serum aliquot of cases of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (N = 108), follicular lymphoma (N = 85), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (N = 72), multiple myeloma (N = 80), and Hodgkin lymphoma (N = 94) and 357 controls who participated in the multicentre Italian study on gene-environment interactions in lymphoma etiology (ItGxE). Risk of each lymphoma subtype associated with AhR activation was calculated with polytomous logistic regression adjusting by age, gender, and study centre. The overall prevalence of AhR activation ranged 13.9-23.6% by subtype, and it varied by study area (8-39%). Risk associated with AhR activation was moderately elevated for follicular lymphoma (OR = 1.56, 95% CI 0.86, 2.80) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (OR = 1.56, 95% CI 0.83, 2.96). Despite our inconclusive findings about the association with risk of lymphoma subtypes, we showed that the Dual-Luciferase Assay can be reliably and easily applied in population-based studies to detect AhR activation

Nickel oxide nanoparticles exposure as a risk factor for male infertility: “In vitro” effects on porcine pre-pubertal Sertoli cells

Lately, nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) have been employed in different industrial and biomedical fields. Several studies have reported that NiO NPs may affect the development of reproductive organs inducing oxidative stress and, resulting in male infertility. We investigated the in vitro effects of NiO NPs on porcine pre-pubertal Sertoli cells (SCs) which undergone acute (24 h) and chronic (from 1 up to 3 weeks) exposure at two subtoxic doses of NiO NPs of 1 μg/ml and 5 μg/ml. After NiO NPs exposure we performed the following analysis: (a) SCs morphological analysis (Light Microscopy); (b) ROS production and oxidative DNA damage, gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (c) SCs functionality (AMH, inhibin B Real-time PCR analysis and ELISA test); (d) apoptosis (WB analysis); (e) pro-inflammatory cytokines (Real-time PCR analysis), and (f) MAPK kinase signaling pathway (WB analysis). We found that the SCs exposed to both subtoxic doses of NiO NPs didn’t sustain substantial morphological changes. NiO NPs exposure, at each concentration, reported a marked increase of intracellular ROS at the third week of treatment and DNA damage at all exposure times. We demonstrated, un up-regulation of SOD and HO-1 gene expression, at both concentrations tested. The both subtoxic doses of NiO NPs detected a down-regulation of AMH and inhibin B gene expression and secreted proteins. Only the 5 μg/ml dose induced the activation of caspase-3 at the third week. At the two subtoxic doses of NiO NPs a clear pro-inflammatory response was resulted in an up-regulation of TNF-α and IL-6 in terms of mRNA. Finally, an increased phosphorylation ratio of p-ERK1/2, p-38 and p-AKT was observed up to the third week, at both concentrations. Our results show the negative impact of subtoxic doses NiO NPs chronic exposure on porcine SCs functionality and viability

SARS-CoV-2 Breakthrough Infections: Incidence and Risk Factors in a Large European Multicentric Cohort of Health Workers

The research aimed to investigate the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections and their determinants in a large European cohort of more than 60,000 health workers

HBM4EU chromates study - Overall results and recommendations for the biomonitoring of occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium

Exposure to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] may occur in several occupational activities, e.g., welding, Cr(VI) electroplating and other surface treatment processes. The aim of this study was to provide EU relevant data on occupational Cr(VI) exposure to support the regulatory risk assessment and decision-making. In addition, the capability and validity of different biomarkers for the assessment of Cr(VI) exposure were evaluated. The study involved nine European countries and involved 399 workers in different industry sectors with exposures to Cr(VI) such as welding, bath plating, applying or removing paint and other tasks. We also studied 203 controls to establish a background in workers with no direct exposure to Cr(VI). We applied a cross-sectional study design and used chromium in urine as the primary biomonitoring method for Cr(VI) exposure. Additionally, we studied the use of red blood cells (RBC) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) for biomonitoring of exposure to Cr(VI). Personal measurements were used to study exposure to inhalable and respirable Cr(VI) by personal air sampling. Dermal exposure was studied by taking hand wipe samples. The highest internal exposures were observed in the use of Cr(VI) in electrolytic bath plating. In stainless steel welding the internal Cr exposure was clearly lower when compared to plating activities. We observed a high correlation between chromium urinary levels and air Cr(VI) or dermal total Cr exposure. Urinary chromium showed its value as a first approach for the assessment of total, internal exposure. Correlations between urinary chromium , Cr(VI) in EBC and Cr in RBC were low, probably due to differences in kinetics and indicating that these biomonitoring approaches may not be interchangeable but rather complementary. This study showed that occupational biomonitoring studies can be conducted successfully by multi-national collaboration and provide relevant information to support policy actions aiming to reduce occupational expo-sure to chemicals

Redox-Sensitive Glyoxalase 1 Up-Regulation Is Crucial for Protecting Human Lung Cells from Gold Nanoparticles Toxicity

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are considered nontoxic upon acute exposure, at least when they are equal or above 5 nm size. However, the safeguard mechanisms contributing to maintain cell viability are scarcely explored so far. Here, we investigated the cyto-protective role of Glyoxalase 1 (Glo1), a key enzyme involved in the control of deleterious dicarbonyl stress, in two human cell types of the respiratory tract, after an acute exposure to AuNPs with a main size of 5 nm. We found that the redox sensitive Nrf-2-mediated up-regulation of Glo1 was crucial to protect cells from AuNPs-induced toxicity. However, cells challenged with a pro-inflammatory/pro-oxidative insult become susceptible to the pro-apoptotic effect of AuNPs. Notably, the surviving cells undergo epigenetic changes associated with the onset of a partial epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) process (metastable phenotype), driven by the increase in dicarbonyl stress, consequent to Glo1 inactivation. As a physiological respiratory epithelium is required for the normal respiratory function, the knowledge of the protective mechanisms avoiding or (when challenged) promoting its modification/damage might provide insight into the genesis, and, most importantly, prevention of potential health effects that might occur in subjects exposed to AuNPs, through targeted surveillance programs, at least under specific influencing factors

Clinical and diagnostic features of upper extremity work-related musculoskeletal disorders

Upper extremity work-related musculoskeletal disorders, (UE-WMSDs) are one of the major causes of work-related disability in industrialized countries. Diagnostic criteria for many UE-WMSDs are still under debate, and several different national and international studies have attempted to reach a consensus agreement on the minimum criteria for case definition of UE-WMSDs. This paper describes clinical and diagnostic features of UE-WMSDs, focussing on carpal tunnel syndrome and rotary cuff tendinopathy

Chronic use of Datura stramonium cigarettes and late diagnosis of bullous emphysema in a smoker of marijuana and tobacco

Unconventional inhaled therapy as a treatment for respiratory diseases became very common during the 19th century. Here, we present the case of a 52-year-old patient who smoked Datura stramonium cigarettes, tobacco cigarettes, and cannabis, with only an early diagnosis of asthma. The patient was admitted to our hospital with acute respiratory syndrome, characterized by worsening dyspnea, cough, and an acute episode of dyspnea and chest tightness. The combined chronic use of both D. stramonium cigarettes and cannabis masks the progression of chronic obstructive lung damage due to tobacco cigarette smoking because of the lack of clinical signs and symptoms