The multitude and diversity of environmental carcinogens

Inhibitory effects of black phosphorus nanosheets on tumor cell proliferation through downregulation of ADIPOQ and downstream signaling pathways

Exposure to environmental pollutants, including nanomaterials, has a significant impact on tumor progression. The increased demand for black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs), driven by their exceptional properties, raises concerns about potential environmental contamination. Assessing their toxicity on tumor growth is essential. Herein, we employed a range of biological techniques, including cytotoxicity measurement, bioinformatics tools, proteomics, target gene overexpression, Western blot analysis, and apoptosis detection, to investigate the toxicity of BPNSs across A549, HepG-2, MCF-7, and Caco-2 cell lines. Our results demonstrated that BPNSs downregulated the expression of ADIPOQ and its associated downstream pathways, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and other unidentified pathways. These downregulated pathways ultimately led to mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Notably, the specific downstream pathways involved varied depending on the type of tumors. These insightful findings not only confirm the consistent inhibitory effects of BPNSs across different tumor cells, but also elucidate the cytotoxicity mechanisms of BPNSs in different tumors, providing valuable information for their safe application and health risk assessment.

Deciphering the folate puzzle: Unraveling the impact of genetic variations and metabolites on cancer risk

The C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene and its role in folate metabolism, impacting serum folate metabolites like THF and 5-MTHF, is a critical but underexplored area in cancer research. This nested case-control study utilized data from CHHRS, involving 87,492 hypertensive adults without prior cancer. During a median of 2.02 years, we identified 1332 cancer cases and matched controls based on age, sex, and residency. Serum levels of folate, THF, and 5-MTHF were measured, and the MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism was considered. Statistical analyses included restricted cubic spline regression and conditional logistic regression models. Serum THF levels were inversely associated with overall cancer risk (ORper SD = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.82-0.99), while 5-MTHF levels showed a negative association in the general cohort (ORQ3 vs. Q1 = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.60-0.96; ORQ4 vs. Q1 = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.58-0.98) and in individuals with MTHFR C677T (CC + CT) polymorphism (ORper SD = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.77-0.99; ORQ4 VS. Q1 = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.61-0.98), but a positive association in the MTHFR C677T (TT) subgroup (ORper SD = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.02-3.72; ORQ4 VS. Q1 = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.06-8.21). The impact of folate, THF, and 5-MTHF on cancer risk varied significantly across different cancer types and MTHFR C677T genotypes. This study provides novel insights into the variable effects of folate and its metabolites on cancer risk, influenced by genetic factors like the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and cancer type.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima lowered serum carcinoembryonic antigen and antigen 125 in 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced Mammary Carcinogenesis in Female Albino Rats

Aim

This study is aimed at evaluating the anticancer effect of the aqueous extract of Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw in 7,12-Dimethlbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) - induced mammary cancer.

Methods

Tumors were induced via a single intraperitoneal injection of DMBA (dissolved in olive oil) at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight to the test rats and allowed to develop for about four months. They were treated with cyclophosphamide and an aqueous extract of Caesalpinia pulcherrima at doses of 10 and 250 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for 28 days. Serum levels of cancer antigen 125 (CA125), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) activity, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and cytochrome p450 oxidase (cytp450) activity, as well as other diagnostic enzymes, were estimated.

Results

The result revealed that DMBA is associated with a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the serum levels of CA125, CEA, COX-2, cytp450, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of the rats, thus suggesting tumor-promoting and hepatotoxic effects of DMBA. There was also a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of serum levels of these cancer and liver biomarker enzymes in the groups treated with cyclophosphamide and Caesalpinia pulcherrima compared to the untreated group, thus suggesting anticancer activity of Caesalpinia pulcherrima. The anticancer effect of Caesalpinia pulcherrima was further confirmed by the disappearance of infiltrative fibrous cells and the absence of inflammatory cells from the photomicrographs of the rats treated with Caesalpinia pulcherrima.

Conclusion

Our findings show that Caesalpinia pulcherrima possesses anticancer activity, and could protect against mammary cancer.

The permissive binding theory of cancer

The later stages of cancer, including the invasion and colonization of new tissues, are actively mysterious compared to earlier stages like primary tumor formation. While we lack many details about both, we do have an apparently successful explanatory framework for the earlier stages: one in which genetic mutations hold ultimate causal and explanatory power. By contrast, on both empirical and conceptual grounds, it is not currently clear that mutations alone can explain the later stages of cancer. Can a different type of molecular change do better? Here, I introduce the "permissive binding theory" of cancer, which proposes that novel protein binding interactions are the key causal and explanatory entity in invasion and metastasis. It posits that binding is more abundant at baseline than we observe because it is restricted in normal physiology; that any large perturbation to physiological state revives this baseline abundance, unleashing many new binding interactions; and that a subset of these cause the cellular functions at the heart of oncogenesis, especially invasion and metastasis. Significant physiological perturbations occur in cancer cells in very early stages, and generally become more extreme with progression, providing interactions that continually fuel invasion and metastasis. The theory is compatible with, but not limited to, causal roles for the diverse molecular changes observed in cancer (e.g. gene expression or epigenetic changes), as these generally act causally upstream of proteins, and so may exert their effects by changing the protein binding interactions that occur in the cell. This admits the possibility that molecular changes that appear quite different may actually converge in creating the same few protein complexes, simplifying our picture of invasion and metastasis. If correct, the theory offers a concrete therapeutic strategy: targeting the key novel complexes. The theory is straightforwardly testable by large-scale identification of protein interactions in different cancers.

Application of magnetic-nanoparticle functionalized whole-cell biosensor array for bioavailability and ecotoxicity estimation at urban contaminated sites

The bioavailability and ecotoxicity of pollutants are important for urban ecological systems and human health, particularly at contaminated urban sites. Therefore, whole-cell bioreporters are used in many studies to assess the risks of priority chemicals; however, their application is restricted by low throughput for specific compounds and complicated operations for field tests. In this study, an assembly technology for manufacturing Acinetobacter-based biosensor arrays using magnetic nanoparticle functionalization was developed to solve this problem. The bioreporter cells maintained high viability, sensitivity, and specificity in sensing 28 priority chemicals, seven heavy metals, and seven inorganic compounds in a high-throughput manner, and their performance remained acceptable for at least 20 d. We also tested the performance by assessing 22 real environmental soil samples from urban areas in China, and our results showed positive correlations between the biosensor estimation and chemical analysis. Our findings prove the feasibility of the magnetic nanoparticle-functionalized biosensor array to recognize the types and toxicities of multiple contaminants for online environmental monitoring at contaminated sites.

Coordinative Stabilization of Single Bismuth Sites in a Carbon-Nitrogen Matrix to Generate Atom-Efficient Catalysts for Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia

Electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia powered by renewable electricity is not only a promising alternative to the established energy-intense and non-ecofriendly Haber-Bosch reaction for ammonia generation but also a future contributor to the ever-more important denitrification schemes. Nevertheless, this reaction is still impeded by the lack of understanding for the underlying reaction mechanism on the molecular scale which is necessary for the rational design of active, selective, and stable electrocatalysts. Herein, a novel single-site bismuth catalyst (Bi-N-C) for nitrate electroreduction is reported to produce ammonia with maximum Faradaic efficiency of 88.7% and at a high rate of 1.38 mg h-1 mgcat -1 at -0.35 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). The active center (described as BiN2 C2 ) is uncovered by detailed structural analysis. Coupled density functional theory calculations are applied to analyze the reaction mechanism and potential rate-limiting steps for nitrate reduction based on the BiN2 C2 model. The findings highlight the importance of model catalysts to utilize the potential of nitrate reduction as a new-generation nitrogen-management technology based on the construction of efficient active sites.

Development of an in situ equilibrium polydimethylsiloxane passive sampler for measuring volatile organic compounds in soil vapor

An equilibrium passive sampler made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber was developed to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in soil vapor. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) was used to protect PDMS from pollution and direct contact with soil components. For all tested VOCs, equilibrium was reached after 7 days at 5 °C. The equilibrium partition coefficients of VOCs between PDMS, gas, and water were measured at three different temperatures. The analyte concentrations in PDMS exposed to gas and water separately were almost the same, which suggests that C_gas and C_water in soil pores can be accurately deduced from C_PDMS after equilibrium at various temperatures. To evaluate the passive sampler, active sampling measurements were performed simultaneously. Concentrations of VOCs deduced from the passive sampler were consistent with the concentrations measured by active sampling near the 1:1 line. Tests with artificial soils were conducted to observe the effects of soil components on passive sampling. The results suggest that the effect of water saturation can be ignored; in other words, the developed passive sampler can be applied in the vadose zone, which has fluctuating water saturation. With a holder for the sampler made of stainless steel, the developed in situ passive sampler can measure VOCs in contaminated soil vapor. The developed passive sampler was proven to be an alternative for measuring VOCs in soil vapor, which can be helpful for soil risk assessment and for observing the diffusion of VOCs in contaminated sites.

The structural basis of conserved residue variant effect on enzyme activity of UGT2B15

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B15 (UGT2B15) is a crucial phase II drug-metabolizing enzyme, which glucuronidates various compounds, including clinical drugs and hormones. Mutants might affect glucuronidation, leading to a disruption of drug metabolism in vivo and decrease of therapeutic effect. Here, we mainly analyzed two representative mutants, H401P and L446S, on UGT2B15 activity using glucuronidation assays, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation and X-ray diffraction methods. The enzyme activity of L446S obviously increased six-fold than the wild type, although the enzyme activities of P191L, T374A, and H401P were lost apparently. Furthermore, we used MD simulations to calculate the energy change in the catalytic process of H401P and L446S, and the results indicated the free binding energies of H401P mutant to oxazepam and UDPGA were -30.98 ± 1.00 kcal/mol and -36.42 ± 1.04 kcal/mol, respectively, increased obviously compared to wild type, suggesting the mutation on position 401 had a crucial effect on the catalysis. Moreover, the three-dimensional structure of UGT2B15 C-terminal domain L446S was determined through protein crystallography and X-ray diffraction technology and the results suggested that one more hydrogen bonding between S446 and K410 was formed in the S446 crystal structure, compared to the wild type. Isothermal titration calorimetry assay further revealed the K_d values of C-terminal domain of UGT2B15 harbored L446S towards the cofactor UDPGA was similar to the value of wild type. Above all, our results pointed out that H401P and L446S affected the enzyme activity by different mechanism. Our work provided a helpful mechanism for variance explained in the UGTs catalyzation process.

A functional gene module identification algorithm in gene expression data based on genetic algorithm and gene ontology

Since genes do not function individually, the gene module is considered an important tool for interpreting gene expression profiles. In order to consider both functional similarity and expression similarity in module identification, GMIGAGO, a functional Gene Module Identification algorithm based on Genetic Algorithm and Gene Ontology, was proposed in this work. GMIGAGO is an overlapping gene module identification algorithm, which mainly includes two stages: In the first stage (initial identification of gene modules), Improved Partitioning Around Medoids Based on Genetic Algorithm (PAM-GA) is used for the initial clustering on gene expression profiling, and traditional gene co-expression modules can be obtained. Only similarity of expression levels is considered at this stage. In the second stage (optimization of functional similarity within gene modules), Genetic Algorithm for Functional Similarity Optimization (FSO-GA) is used to optimize gene modules based on gene ontology, and functional similarity within gene modules can be improved. Without loss of generality, we compared GMIGAGO with state-of-the-art gene module identification methods on six gene expression datasets, and GMIGAGO identified the gene modules with the highest functional similarity (much higher than state-of-the-art algorithms). GMIGAGO was applied in BRCA, THCA, HNSC, COVID-19, Stem, and Radiation datasets, and it identified some interesting modules which performed important biological functions. The hub genes in these modules could be used as potential targets for diseases or radiation protection. In summary, GMIGAGO has excellent performance in mining molecular mechanisms, and it can also identify potential biomarkers for individual precision therapy.

Is Economic Growth Good for Population Health? A Critical Review

A large multidisciplinary literature discusses the relationship between economic growth and population health. The idea that economic growth is good for societies has inspired extensive academic debate, but conclusions have been mixed. To help shed light on the subject, this paper focuses on opportunities for consensus in this large literature. Much scholarship finds that the health-growth relationship varies according to (1) which aspect of "health" is under consideration, (2) shape (e.g., positive linear or logarithmic), (3) issues of timing (e.g., growth over the short or long term), (4) a focus on health inequalities as opposed to population averages, and (5) multivariable relationships with additional factors. After reflecting upon these findings, I propose that economic growth promotes health in some respects, for some countries, and in conjunction with other life-supporting priorities, but does not by itself improve population health generally speaking. I then argue there is already wide, interdisciplinary consensus to support this stance. Moreover, policies focusing exclusively on economic growth threaten harm to both population health and growth, which is to say that political dynamics are also implicated. Yet multivariable approaches can help clarify the bigger picture of how growth relates to health. For moving this literature forward, the best opportunities may involve the simultaneous analysis of multiple factors. The recognition of consensus around these issues would be welcome, and timely.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42650-023-00072-y.

A pharmacological perspectives of Musa sapientum peels against lung cancer: An in vitro and in silico study

CONTEXT

The essential role of medicinal plants is studied over 5000 years against the life-threatening diseases such as cancer in developing countries. The more cognizance on molecular mechanism will engender trend to use them efficaciously.

AIMS

To analyze the pharmacological activity of banana peel against lung cancer.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Banana fruit is a nutritious victuals with proven medicinal properties. The underlying molecular mechanism of phytochemicals present in the banana peel was studied using in vitro and in silico methods to explore an efficacious anticancer drug against lung cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The petroleum ether extract of Musa sapientum peel is analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, in vitro studies using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and lipid peroxidase assay, and the in silico studies by molecular docking.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Microsoft Excel 2010 is used to calculate the mean and standard deviation for the ABTS and lipid peroxidation assay.

RESULTS

The antioxidant activity was found to be 20 µg/ml concentration in ABTS assay and 10 µg/ml concentration in lipid peroxidation assay. The in vitro anticancer activity was inspected using A549 cell lines by MTT assay. Tri cyclo [5,1,0,0 (2, 4) oct 5-ene 5 proponoic acid] 3,3,8,8 tetramethyl was selected as best lead against epidermal growth factor receptor of human based on the energy score calculated using the Auto-dock software.

CONCLUSIONS

This study strongly supports that unexploited banana peels could be used to harvest promising lead molecules against non-small cell lung cancer.

New technological trajectories to reduce fossil-fuel pollution and support sustainable socioeconomic systems.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2323975/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

One of the fundamental problems in modern economies is high carbon emissions and diffusion of pollutants from industrial activities focused on fossil-based energy that generate detrimental effects on climate, environment and human population. The goal of this study is to analyze new trajectories of technologies that can reduce, whenever possible, environmental degradation and support a sustainable growth. A model of technological evolution is proposed to detect new technological trajectories directed to sustainability. Results reveal that technologies with a high sustainability perspective for reducing environmental pollution and climate change are: offshore wind turbines, carbon capture storage technology associated with renewable energy, cellular agriculture and blockchain technology directed positive environmental impact. Findings here can sustain decision making of policymakers towards investment in promising technological directions that reduce environmental pollution and sustain ecological transition and sustainable development in human society.

Prevalence of Subclinical Papillary Thyroid Cancer by Age: Meta-analysis of Autopsy Studies

CONTEXT

It is not known how underlying subclinical papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) differs by age. This meta-analysis of autopsy studies investigates how subclinical PTC prevalence changes over the lifetime.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to May 2021 for studies that reported the prevalence of PTC found at autopsy. Two investigators extracted the number of subclinical PTCs detected in selected age groups and extent of examination. A quality assessment tool was used to assess bias. Logistic regression models with random intercepts were used to pool the age-specific subclinical PTC prevalence estimates.

RESULTS

Of 1773 studies screened, 16 studies with age-specific data met the inclusion criteria (n = 6286 autopsies). The pooled subclinical PTC prevalence was 12.9% (95% CI 7.8-16.8) in whole gland and 4.6% (2.5- 6.6) in partial gland examination. Age-specific prevalence estimates were ≤40 years, 11.5% (6.8-16.1); 41-60 years, 12.1% (7.6-16.5); 61-80 years, 12.7% (8-17.5); and 81+ years, 13.4% (7.9-18.9). Sex did not affect age-specific prevalence and there was no difference in prevalence between men and women in any age group. In the regression model, the OR of prevalence increasing by age group was 1.06 (0.92-1.2, P = .37).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis shows the prevalence of subclinical PTC is stable across the lifespan. There is not a higher subclinical PTC prevalence in middle age, in contrast to higher observed incidence rates in this age group. These findings offer unique insights into the prevalence of subclinical PTC and its relationship to age.

Why electrohypersensitivity and related symptoms are caused by non-ionizing man-made electromagnetic fields: An overview and medical assessment

Much of the controversy over the cause of electrohypersensitivity (EHS) lies in the absence of recognized clinical and biological criteria for a widely accepted diagnosis. However, there are presently sufficient data for EHS to be acknowledged as a distinctly well-defined and objectively characterized neurologic pathological disorder. Because we have shown that 1) EHS is frequently associated with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) in EHS patients, and 2) that both individualized disorders share a common pathophysiological mechanism for symptom occurrence; it appears that EHS and MCS can be identified as a unique neurologic syndrome, regardless their causal origin. In this overview we distinguish the etiology of EHS itself from the environmental causes that trigger pathophysiological changes and clinical symptoms after EHS has occurred. Contrary to present scientifically unfounded claims, we indubitably refute the hypothesis of a nocebo effect to explain the genesis of EHS and its presentation. We as well refute the erroneous concept that EHS could be reduced to a vague and unproven "functional impairment". To the contrary, we show here there are objective pathophysiological changes and health effects induced by electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure in EHS patients and most of all in healthy subjects, meaning that excessive non-thermal anthropogenic EMFs are strongly noxious for health. In this overview and medical assessment we focus on the effects of extremely low frequencies, wireless communications radiofrequencies and microwaves EMF. We discuss how to better define and characterize EHS. Taken into consideration the WHO proposed causality criteria, we show that EHS is in fact causally associated with increased exposure to man-made EMF, and in some cases to marketed environmental chemicals. We therefore appeal to all governments and international health institutions, particularly the WHO, to urgently consider the growing EHS-associated pandemic plague, and to acknowledge EHS as a mainly new real EMF causally-related pathology.

Organochlorine pesticides induce epithelial as well as inflammatory mediators following exposure to human ovarian surface epithelial cells: An in vitro study

Although studies have suggested organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) exposure increased the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer, the mechanisms underlying its potential tumorigenic effects in the human ovary are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), endosulfan, and heptachlor exposure on epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) and proinflammatory mediators in human ovary surface epithelial (HOSE) cells. We found that DDE, endosulfan, and heptachlor exposure resulted in epithelial differentiation accompanied by upregulation of E-cadherin expression and overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6) in HOSE cells. The epithelial differentiation may accelerate HOSE cells to inclusion body formation, a common site for ovarian cancer initiation and persistent exposure to OCPs creates a chronic inflammatory microenvironment that may promote the neoplastic transformation of HOSE cells within the inclusion cyst.

Assessing the genotoxic potential of freshwater sediments after extensive rain events - Lessons learned from a case study in an effluent-dominated river in Germany

Wastewater treatment plant effluents and releases from rainwater overflow basins can contribute to the input of genotoxic micropollutants in aquatic ecosystems. Predominantly lipophilic genotoxic compounds tend to sorb to particulate matter, making sediment a source and a sink of pollution. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the genotoxic potential of freshwater sediments (i) during the dry period and (ii) after extensive rain events by collecting sediment samples in one small anthropogenically impacted river in Germany up- and downstream of the local wastewater treatment plant. The Micronucleus and Ames fluctuation assays with Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, YG1041, and YG1042 were used to assess the genotoxic potential of organic sediment extracts. For evaluation of possible genotoxicity drivers, target analysis for 168 chemical compounds was performed. No clastogenic effects were observed, while the genotoxic potential was observed at all sampling sites primarily driven by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitroarenes, aromatic amines, and polycyclic heteroarenes. Freshwater sediments' genotoxic potential increased after extensive rain events due to sediment perturbation and the rainwater overflow basin release. In the present study, the rainwater overflow basin was a significant source for particle-bound pollutants from untreated wastewater, suggesting its role as a possible source of genotoxic potential. The present study showed high sensitivity and applicability of the bacterial Salmonella typhimurium strains YG1041 and YG1042 to organic sediment extracts to assess the different classes of genotoxic compounds. A combination of effect-based methods and a chemical analysis was shown as a suitable tool for a genotoxic assessment of freshwater sediments.

High-Throughput Chemical Screening and Structure-Based Models to Predict hERG Inhibition

Simple Summary

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for people of most ethnicities in the United States. The human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channel plays a pivotal role in cardiac rhythm regulation, and cardiotoxicity associated with hERG inhibition by drug molecules and environmental chemicals is a major public health concern. An evaluation of the effect of environmental chemicals on hERG channel function can help inform the potential public health risks of these compounds. To assess the cardiotoxic effect of diverse drugs and environmental compounds, the Tox21 federal research program has screened a collection of 9667 chemicals for inhibitory activity against the hERG channel. A set of molecular descriptors covering physicochemical and structural properties of chemicals, self-organizing maps, and hierarchical clustering were applied to characterize the chemicals inhibiting hERG. Machine learning approaches were applied to build robust statistical models that can predict the probability of any new chemical to cause cardiotoxicity via this mechanism.

Abstract

Chemical inhibition of the human ether-a -go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channel leads to a prolonged QT interval that can contribute to severe cardiotoxicity. The adverse effects of hERG inhibition are one of the principal causes of drug attrition in clinical and pre-clinical development. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that a wide range of environmental chemicals and toxicants may also inhibit the hERG channel and contribute to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular (CV) diseases. As part of the US federal Tox21 program, the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) applied a quantitative high throughput screening (qHTS) approach to screen the Tox21 library of 10,000 compounds (~7871 unique chemicals) at 14 concentrations in triplicate to identify chemicals perturbing hERG activity in the U2OS cell line thallium flux assay platform. The qHTS cell-based thallium influx assay provided a robust and reliable dataset to evaluate the ability of thousands of drugs and environmental chemicals to inhibit hERG channel protein, and the use of chemical structure-based clustering and chemotype enrichment analysis facilitated the identification of molecular features that are likely responsible for the observed hERG activity. We employed several machine-learning approaches to develop QSAR prediction models for the assessment of hERG liabilities for drug-like and environmental chemicals. The training set was compiled by integrating hERG bioactivity data from the ChEMBL database with the Tox21 qHTS thallium flux assay data. The best results were obtained with the random forest method (~92.6% balanced accuracy). The data and scripts used to generate hERG prediction models are provided in an open-access format as key in vitro and in silico tools that can be applied in a translational toxicology pipeline for drug development and environmental chemical screening.

Human health risks estimations from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in serum and their hydroxylated metabolites in paired urine samples

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds with two or more benzene rings whose hydroxylated metabolites (OH-PAHs) are excreted in urine. Human PAH exposure is therefore commonly estimated based on urinary OH-PAH concentrations. However, no study has compared PAH exposure estimates based on urinary OH-PAHs to measurements of PAH levels in blood samples. Estimates of PAH exposure based solely on urinary OH-PAHs may thus be subject to substantial error. To test this hypothesis, paired measurements of parent PAHs in serum and OH-PAHs in urine samples from 480 participants in Guangzhou, a typical developed city in southern China, were used to investigate differences in the estimates of human PAH exposure obtained by sampling different biological matrices. The median PAH concentration in serum was 4.05 ng mL^-1, which was lower than that of OH-PAHs in urine (8.33 ng mL^-1). However, serum pyrene levels were significantly higher than urinary levels of its metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene. Concentrations of parent PAHs in serum were not significantly correlated with those of their metabolites in urine with the exception of phenanthrene, which exhibited a significant negative correlation. Over 28% of the participants had carcinogenic risk values above the acceptable cancer risk level of 10^-6. Overall, estimated human exposure and health risks based on urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels were only 13.6% of those based on serum pyrene measurements, indicating that estimates based solely on urine sampling may substantially understate health risks due to PAH exposure.

Development of an expanded polytetrafluorethylene dosimeter for the passive sampling of volatile organic compounds in air

A passive sampler composed of a porous, hydrophobic, and gas-permeable expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) tube was developed to effectively concentrate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air. The ePTFE dosimeter has larger sorbent mass normalized sampling rates (L h^-1) compared with literature. This result suggests that ePTFE dosimeter can effectively detect low level VOCs in less contaminated air, including indoors. The air boundary layer thickness can be neglected when the mass accumulated in sorbent is converted to gas phase VOCs concentrations. The vapor pressure dependent desorption of VOCs from the sorbent was observed and modeling results suggested that this could lead to the underestimation of VOCs concentrations in air. However, the determination of the appropriate sampling time and the consideration of desorption could overcome the underestimation. A proton transfer reaction quadrupole mass spectrometer and passive samplers were deployed simultaneously in a chamber under fluctuating VOCs concentrations in air. The time-weighted average concentrations of ethylbenzene were 0.016, 0.015, and 0.017 g m^-3 for 23, 46, and 69 min experimental period, respectively. The average concentration of the real-time analysis was 0.015 g m^-3 for 69 min. The results show the ePTFE dosimeter can be used to estimate time weighted VOCs concentrations in air.

Spatial analysis and geoclimatic factors associated with the incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Iran during 2006-2014: An environmental epidemiological study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The present study aims to determine the cumulative incidence rate of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the degree of spatial autocorrelation and clustering of ALL, the hotspot and coldspots of ALL and geoclimatic conditions affecting the incidence of ALL in Iran and to draw a comparison between global and local regression models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this ecological study, an exploratory-etiologic multiple-group method has been adopted to investigate all children under 15 years of age with ALL in Iran during 2006-2014. Data analysis was performed using Mann Whitney U, Pearson correlation coefficients (PCCs), Global Moran's I, Optimized hotspot analysis (OHSA), Global Poisson regression (GPR), Geographically Weighted Poisson Regression (GWPR) at a significant level of α = 0.05.

RESULTS

The cumulative incidence rate of ALL was estimated at 21,315 per 100,000 Iranian children under 15 years of age. The value of Global Moran's I index was estimated 0.338 and significant (<0.001 P-value). Coldspots were observed in north and northwest of Iran and hotspots were identified in south, southwest and mid-east of Iran. In the present study, Max Temperature of Warmest Month (MTWM) and Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI) were risk factors and Precipitation of the Coldest Quarter (PCQ) and Altitude (AL) were protective factors in the incidence of ALL, even though the non-stationarity of local coefficients and local t-values was clear. GWPR, by capturing and applying spatial heterogeneity and spatial autocorrelation, had a greater performance and goodness of fit than GPR.

DISCUSSION

ALL has created spatial clusters in Iran. The incidence of ALL is the result of synergistic interaction between environmental, infectious, geographical and genetic risk factors. It is recommended to use of local models in ecological studies.

Programmed Death Ligand 2 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated With Lung Adenocarcinoma Risk in Female Never-Smokers

Objectives

Lung cancer in never-smokers is a distinct disease associated with a different genomic landscape, pathogenesis, risk factors, and immune checkpoint inhibitor responses compared to those observed in smokers. This study aimed to identify novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of programmed death-1 (encoded by PDCD1) and its ligands, programmed death ligand 1 (CD274) and 2 (PDCD1LG2), associated with lung cancer risk in never-smoking women.

Materials and Methods

During September 2002 and July 2012, we enrolled never-smoking female patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) (n=1153) and healthy women (n=1022) from six tertiary hospitals in Taiwan. SNP data were obtained and analyzed from the genome-wide association study dataset and through an imputation method. The expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis was performed in both tumor and non-tumor tissues for the correlation between genetic expression and identified SNPs.

Results

A total of 12 PDCD1LG2 SNPs related to LUAD risk were identified in never-smoking women, including rs2381282, rs4742103, rs4237162, rs4742104, rs12237624, rs78096119, rs6476988, rs7857315, rs10975178, rs7854413, rs56001683, and rs7858319. Among them, six tagged PDCD1LG2 SNPs rs2381282, rs4742103, rs4237162, rs4742104, rs78096119, and rs56001683 were significantly associated with LUAD risk. Specifically, two PDCD1LG2 SNPs, rs12237624 and rs78096119, were associated with previous pulmonary tuberculosis infection in relation to LUAD susceptibility. Through an eQTL assay, we found that rs2381282 (p < 0.001), rs12237624 (p = 0.019), and rs78096119 (p = 0.019) were associated with the expression levels of programed death ligand 2.

Conclusions

Novel SNPs of programed death ligand 2 associated with lung adenocarcinoma risk were identified. Among them, two SNPs were associated with pulmonary tuberculosis infection in relation to lung adenocarcinoma susceptibility. These SNPs may help to stratify high-risk populations of never-smokers during lung cancer screening.

Effect of palladium on the black mass-based catalyst prepared from spent Zn/Mn alkaline batteries for catalytic combustion of volatile organic compounds

A large amount of spent batteries is produced annually. When spente batteries are buried, their harmful components may contaminate soil and water. Therefore, recycling of spent batteries is essential for environmental reasons. We evaluated the BM (black mass) of spent Zn/Mn alkaline batteries as a catalyst substance for the catalytic combustion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs: benzene, toluene, and o-xylene). The SBM catalyst (black mass-based catalyst) was prepared by treating BM with 0.1 N of sulfuric acid solution. Major elements of the SBM catalyst were manganese, zinc, iron, aluminum, potassium, and sodium except for carbon. In addition, to find out the additive effect of palladium on the SBM catalyst, we prepared the Pd/SBM catalysts using a conventional impregnation method. We investigated the physicochemical properties of the SBM and Pd/SBM catalysts by instrumental analysis. Benzene, toluene, and o-xylene (BTX) were oxidized completely over the SBM catalyst at reaction temperatures less than 410, 340, and 410 °C, respectively (gas hourly space velocity: 40,000 h^-1). As expected, for the Pd/SBM catalysts, increasing the palladium loading on the SBM from 0.1 wt% to 1.0 wt% increased the conversions of BTX. In the 1.0 wt% Pd/SBM catalyst, the reaction temperatures for catalytic combustion of BTX were greatly reduced to 310, 260, and 250 °C, respectively (gas hourly space velocity: 40,000 h^-1). Instrumental analysis indicated that the increase in activity by adding palladium resulted from the active ingredient (palladium oxide: PdO) and better redox properties.

Role of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Breast Cancer Progression and Identification of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Inhibitors Using In-Silico Mining and Drug-Drug Interaction Network Approaches

Simple Summary

The role of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in breast cancer progression and their bioaccumulation in adipose tissue has been reported. We used a computational approach to study molecular interactions of POPs with breast cancer proteins and identified natural and synthetic compounds to inhibit these interactions. Moreover, for comparative analysis, standard drugs and screened compounds were also docked against estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and identification of the finest inhibitor was performed using in-silico mining and drug-drug interaction (DDI) network approaches. Based on scoring values, short-chained chlorinated paraffins demonstrated strong interactions with ERα compared to organo-chlorines and PCBs. Synthetic and natural compounds demonstrating strong associations with the active site of the ERα protein could be potential candidates to treat breast cancer specifically caused by POPs and other organic toxins and can be used as an alternative to standard drugs.

Abstract

The strong association between POPs and breast cancer in humans has been suggested in various epidemiological studies. However, the interaction of POPs with the ERα protein of breast cancer, and identification of natural and synthetic compounds to inhibit this interaction, is mysterious yet. Consequently, the present study aimed to explore the interaction between POPs and ERα using the molecular operating environment (MOE) tool and to identify natural and synthetic compounds to inhibit this association through a cluster-based approach. To validate whether our approach could distinguish between active and inactive compounds, a virtual screen (VS) was performed using actives (627 compounds) as positive control and decoys (20,818 compounds) as a negative dataset obtained from DUD-E. Comparatively, short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) depicted strong interactions with the ERα protein based on the lowest-scoring values of −31.946, −18.916, −17.581 kcal/mol, respectively. Out of 7856 retrieved natural and synthetic compounds, sixty were selected on modularity bases and subsequently docked with ERα. Based on the lowest-scoring values, ZINC08441573, ZINC00664754, ZINC00702695, ZINC00627464, and ZINC08440501 (synthetic compounds), and capsaicin, flavopiridol tectorgenin, and ellagic acid (natural compounds) showed incredible interactions with the active sites of ERα, even more convening and resilient than standard breast cancer drugs Tamoxifen, Arimidex and Letrozole. Our findings confirm the role of POPs in breast cancer progression and suggest that natural and synthetic compounds with high binding affinity could be more efficient and appropriate candidates to treat breast cancer after validation through in vitro and in vivo studies.

The Critical Importance of Molecular Biomarkers and Imaging in the Study of Electrohypersensitivity. A Scientific Consensus International Report

Clinical research aiming at objectively identifying and characterizing diseases via clinical observations and biological and radiological findings is a critical initial research step when establishing objective diagnostic criteria and treatments. Failure to first define such diagnostic criteria may lead research on pathogenesis and etiology to serious confounding biases and erroneous medical interpretations. This is particularly the case for electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and more particularly for the so-called "provocation tests", which do not investigate the causal origin of EHS but rather the EHS-associated particular environmental intolerance state with hypersensitivity to man-made electromagnetic fields (EMF). However, because those tests depend on multiple EMF-associated physical and biological parameters and have been conducted in patients without having first defined EHS objectively and/or endpoints adequately, they cannot presently be considered to be valid pathogenesis research methodologies. Consequently, the negative results obtained by these tests do not preclude a role of EMF exposure as a symptomatic trigger in EHS patients. Moreover, there is no proof that EHS symptoms or EHS itself are caused by psychosomatic or nocebo effects. This international consensus report pleads for the acknowledgement of EHS as a distinct neuropathological disorder and for its inclusion in the WHO International Classification of Diseases.

Circulating microRNA profile in humans and mice with congenital GH deficiency

Reduced inflammation, increased insulin sensitivity, and protection against cancer are shared between humans and mice with GH/IGF1 deficiency. Beyond hormone levels, miRNAs are important regulators of metabolic changes associated with healthy aging. We hypothesized that GH deficiency in humans alters the abundance of circulating miRNAs and that a subset of those miRNAs may overlap with those found in GH-deficient mice. In this study, subjects with untreated congenital isolated GH deficiency (IGHD; n = 23) and control subjects matched by age and sex (n = 23) were recruited and serum was collected for miRNA sequencing. Serum miRNAs from young (6 month) and old (22 month) Ames dwarf (df/df) mice with GH deficiency and their WT littermates (n = 5/age/genotype group) were used for comparison. We observed 14 miRNAs regulated with a genotype by age effect and 19 miRNAs regulated with a genotype effect independent of age in serum of IGHD subjects. These regulated miRNAs are known for targeting pathways associated with longevity such as mTOR, insulin signaling, and FoxO. The aging function was overrepresented in IGHD individuals, mediated by hsa-miR-31, hsa-miR-146b, hsa-miR-30e, hsa-miR-100, hsa-miR-181b-2, hsa-miR-195, and hsa-miR-181b-1, which target the FoxO and mTOR pathways. Intriguingly, miR-181b-5p, miR-361-3p, miR-144-3p, and miR-155-5p were commonly regulated in the serum of humans and GH-deficient mice. In vitro assays confirmed target genes for the main up-regulated miRNAs, suggesting miRNAs regulated in IGHD individuals can regulate the expression of age-related genes. These findings indicate that systemic miRNAs regulated in IGHD individuals target pathways involved in aging in both humans and mice.

The Potential of Physical Exercise to Mitigate Radiation Damage-A Systematic Review

There is a need to investigate new countermeasures against the detrimental effects of ionizing radiation as deep space exploration missions are on the horizon. Objective: In this systematic review, the effects of physical exercise upon ionizing radiation-induced damage were evaluated. Methods: Systematic searches were performed in Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, and the databases from space agencies. Of 2,798 publications that were screened, 22 studies contained relevant data that were further extracted and analyzed. Risk of bias of included studies was assessed. Due to the high level of heterogeneity, meta-analysis was not performed. Five outcome groups were assessed by calculating Hedges' g effect sizes and visualized using effect size plots. Results: Exercise decreased radiation-induced DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation, while increasing antioxidant activity. Although the results were highly heterogeneous, there was evidence for a beneficial effect of exercise in cellular, clinical, and functional outcomes. Conclusions: Out of 72 outcomes, 68 showed a beneficial effect of physical training when exposed to ionizing radiation. As the first study to investigate a potential protective mechanism of physical exercise against radiation effects in a systematic review, the current findings may help inform medical capabilities of human spaceflight and may also be relevant for terrestrial clinical care such as radiation oncology.

Mitigation of indoor air pollution: A review of recent advances in adsorption materials and catalytic oxidation

Indoor air pollution with toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a threat to human health, causing cancer, leukemia, fetal malformation, and abortion. Therefore, the development of technologies to mitigate indoor air pollution is important to avoid adverse effects. Adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation are the current approaches for the removal of VOCs and PM2.5 with high efficiency. In this review we focus on the recent development of indoor air pollution mitigation materials based on adsorption and photocatalytic decomposition. First, we review on the primary indoor air pollutants including formaldehyde, benzene compounds, PM2.5, flame retardants, and plasticizer: Next, the recent advances in the use of adsorption materials including traditional biochar and MOF (metal-organic frameworks) as the new emerging porous materials for VOCs absorption is reviewed. We review the mechanism for mitigation of VOCs using biochar (noncarbonized organic matter partition and adsorption) and MOF together with parameters that affect indoor air pollution removal efficiency based on current mitigation approaches including the mitigation of VOCs using photocatalytic oxidation. Finally, we bring forward perspectives and directions for the development of indoor air mitigation technologies.

Mass dose rates of particle-bound organic pollutants in the human respiratory tract: Implications for inhalation exposure and risk estimations

To date, little is known about the effective doses of airborne particulate matter (PM) and PM-bound hazardous organic components to the human respiratory tract (HRT). In the light of this, here we provide particle mass dose rates (dose per hour of exposure) of PM and a suite of PM-bound hazardous organic compounds in the HRT for two population age groups (adults & children). More specifically, the mass dose rates of PM and PM-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrated-PAH (NPAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were estimated at two urban sites using a multiple path particle dosimetry model. We find that, in most cases, the total mass doses are following similar variations across sites and seasons as their ambient total concentrations, however their distribution in the HRT is a function of the particle size distributions and the physiological parameters of each age group. More specifically, the majority of the deposited mass of PM and all the chemical components investigated was accumulated in the upper airways instead of the lungs. We further show that children, due to their different physiology, are more susceptible and receive larger fraction of the total mass doses in the deepest parts of the lungs compared to the adults' group. Comparing the traditional method for estimating the inhalation risk, which is based on the ambient concentration of pollutants, and a modified version using the mass dose in the HRT, we find that the former may overestimate the reported risks. The results presented here provide a novel dataset composed by previously undetermined doses of hazardous airborne particulate organic components in the HRT and demonstrate that alternative health risk estimation approaches may capture some variabilities that are traditionally overlooked.

A review of lifestyle and environment risk factors for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PaCa) is one of the deadliest cancers known and its incidence is increasing in the developed countries. Because of the lack of biomarkers that allow early detection and the tendency of the disease to be asymptomatic, the diagnosis comes often too late for effective surgical or chemotherapy intervention. Lifestyle factors, that may cause common genetic modifications occurring in the disease, interfere with pancreatic physiology or function, and play a role in PaCa development, have been of concern recently, since a strategy to prevent this severe cancer is needed. This review identifies the latest evidences related to increased risk of developing PaCa due to dietary habits such as high alcohol, fructose and red or processed meat intake, and pathological conditions such as diabetes, obesity and infections in addition to stress and smoking behaviour. It aims to highlight the importance of intervening on modifiable risk factors: the action on these factors could prevent a considerable number of new cases of PaCa.

Serum RNA Profiling in the 10-Years Period Prior to Diagnosis of Testicular Germ Cell Tumor

Although testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) overall is highly curable, patients may experience late effects after treatment. An increased understanding of the mechanisms behind the development of TGCT may pave the way for better outcome for patients. To elucidate molecular changes prior to TGCT diagnosis we sequenced small RNAs in serum from 69 patients who were later diagnosed with TGCT and 111 matched controls. The deep RNA profiles, with on average 18 million sequences per sample, comprised of nine classes of RNA, including microRNA. We found that circulating RNA signals differed significantly between cases and controls regardless of time to diagnosis. Different levels of TSIX related to X-chromosome inactivation and TEX101 involved in spermatozoa production are among the interesting findings. The RNA signals differed between seminoma and non-seminoma TGCT subtypes, with seminoma cases showing lower levels of RNAs and non-seminoma cases showing higher levels of RNAs, compared with controls. The differentially expressed RNAs were typically associated with cancer related pathways. Our results indicate that circulating RNA profiles change during TGCT development according to histology and may be useful for early detection of this tumor type.

Blood RNA Integrity is a Direct and Simple Reporter of Radiation Exposure and Prognosis: A Pilot Study

In the event of a mass casualty radiation scenario, rapid assessment of patients' health and triage is required for optimal resource utilization. Identifying the level and extent of exposure as well as prioritization of care is extremely challenging under such disaster conditions. Blood-based biomarkers, such as RNA integrity numbers (RIN), could help healthcare personnel quickly and efficiently determine the extent and effect of multiple injuries on patients' health. Evaluation of the effect of different radiation doses, alone or in combination with burn injury, on total RNA integrity over multiple time points was performed. Total RNA integrity was tallied in blood samples for potential application as a marker of radiation exposure and survival. Groups of aged mice (3-6 mice/group, 13-18 months old) received 0.5, 1, 5, 10 or 20 Gy ionizing radiation. Two additional mouse groups received low-dose irradiation (0.5 or 1 Gy) with a 15% total body surface area (TBSA) burn injury. Animals were euthanized at 2 or 12 h and at day 1, 2, 3, 7 or 14 postirradiation, or when injury-mediated mortality occurred. Total RNA was isolated from blood. The quality of RNA was evaluated and RNA RIN were obtained. Analysis of RIN indicated that blood showed the clearest radiation effect. There was a time- and radiation-dose-dependent reduction in RIN that was first detectable at 12 h postirradiation for all doses in animals receiving irradiation alone. This effect was reversible in lower-dose groups (i.e., 0.5, 1 and 5 Gy) that survived to the end of the study (14 days). In contrast, the effect persisted for 10 and 20 Gy groups, which showed suppression of RIN values <4.5 with high mortalities. Radiation doses of 20 Gy were lethal and required euthanasia by day 6. A low RIN (<2.5) at any time point was associated with 100% mortality. Combined radiation-burn injury produced significantly increased mortality such that no dually-injured animals survived beyond day 3, and no radiation dose >1 Gy resulted in survival past day 1. More modest suppression of RIN was observed in the surviving dually challenged mice, and no statistically significant changes were identified in RIN values of burn-only mice at any time point. In this study of an animal model, a proof of concept is presented for a simple and accurate method of assessing radiation dose exposure in blood which potentially predicts lethality. RIN assessment of blood-derived RNA could form the basis for a clinical decision-support tool to guide healthcare providers under the strenuous conditions of a radiation-based mass casualty event.

Electrohypersensitivity as a Newly Identified and Characterized Neurologic Pathological Disorder: How to Diagnose, Treat, and Prevent It

Since 2009, we built up a database which presently includes more than 2000 electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and/or multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) self-reported cases. This database shows that EHS is associated in 30% of the cases with MCS, and that MCS precedes the occurrence of EHS in 37% of these EHS/MCS-associated cases. EHS and MCS can be characterized clinically by a similar symptomatic picture, and biologically by low-grade inflammation and an autoimmune response involving autoantibodies against O-myelin. Moreover, 80% of the patients with EHS present with one, two, or three detectable oxidative stress biomarkers in their peripheral blood, meaning that overall these patients present with a true objective somatic disorder. Moreover, by using ultrasonic cerebral tomosphygmography and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, we showed that cases have a defect in the middle cerebral artery hemodynamics, and we localized a tissue pulsometric index deficiency in the capsulo-thalamic area of the temporal lobes, suggesting the involvement of the limbic system and the thalamus. Altogether, these data strongly suggest that EHS is a neurologic pathological disorder which can be diagnosed, treated, and prevented. Because EHS is becoming a new insidious worldwide plague involving millions of people, we ask the World Health Organization (WHO) to include EHS as a neurologic disorder in the international classification of diseases.

Circulating free methylglyoxal as a metabolic tumor biomarker in a rat colon adenocarcinoma model

Since the 1956 hypothesis of Otto Warburg, aerobic glycolysis has been recognized as a metabolic hallmark of cancer. Because methylglyoxal (MG) is a naturally occurring waste metabolite of glycolysis, we measured blood levels of this molecule in colon cancer-bearing rats. To compare the blood levels of free MG in cancerous and healthy animals,the present study used a dedicated tumor graft model consisting of the subcutaneous administration in syngenic BD-IX rats of a tumorigenic cell clone (PROb) and another non-tumorigenic clone (REGb) derived from the same tumor. Rats grafted with the PROb growing tumor cell clone exhibited a statistically significant increase in free MG blood levels (P=0.003), whereas rats transplanted with the REGb non-growing tumor cell clone exhibited normal MG values. The present study (first of three parts) suggests that cancer cells can produce and release free MG at higher levels than normal cells, making MG a putative novel metabolic biomarker of cancer.

Cancer-Specific Loss of Urocortin 3 in Human Renal Cancer

INTRODUCTION

The corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) system, its receptors corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) and 2 (CRHR2), and its corresponding binding protein corticotropin-releasing hormone-binding protein (CRHBP) as well as the urocortin proteins-structural homologues to CRH, which are included in this peptide family-have become interesting oncological targets recently. Carcinogenesis of various human tumors has been reported with an altered presence of members of this system. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of urocortin 3 (UCN3) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

Therefore, tumoral tissues of 106 patients with RCC and available corresponding normal tissues were analyzed using qPCR for quantitative mRNA expression analysis. Tissue localization and protein signals of UCN3 in normal and tumoral renal specimens were evaluated using western blot and immunohistochemistry. In addition, correlation studies of UCN3 mRNA expression with clinicopathological parameters of patients with RCC and different histological subtypes were evaluated.

RESULTS

UCN3 mRNA was significantly downregulated in nearly all tumoral tissues (p = 7.92 × 10^-13). The same effect was observed at protein level using immunohistochemistry. Level of UCN3 mRNA expression was not directly correlated with clinicopathological parameters.

CONCLUSION

We report for the first time the significant downregulation of UCN3 in RCC. These results demonstrate a possible involvement of the CRH system and its significance in carcinogenesis of RCC.

Peat moss-derived biochars as effective sorbents for VOCs' removal in groundwater

Peat moss-derived biochars were produced at the pyrolytic temperatures of 300, 500, and 700 °C and were tested for evaluating the removal efficiency of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from waters. As the pyrolytic temperature increases, the carbon contents were increased from 66 to 84%, and the contents of hydrogen and oxygen were decreased from 4 to 1% and from 19 to 4%, respectively. The surface areas of the biochars were 2 m² g^-1 at the pyrolysis temperature of 300 °C and were increased to 200 and 300 m² g^-1 at 500 and 700 °C, respectively. Results of FTIR analysis showed that functional groups such as hydroxyl, nitro, and carboxyl groups were observed in the biochar produced at 300 °C; however, the functional groups were removed in the biochars produced at higher temperatures. Sorption kinetics and equilibrium experiments were conducted with selected six VOCs of benzene (BZN), toluene (TOL), ethylbenzene (EBZ), p-xylene (pXYL), trichloroethylene (TCE), and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), which are the most common VOCs found in contaminated groundwater of South Korea. Sorption equilibrium was attained in 6 h with the constants of first order kinetic rate of 0.5 h^-1 for the VOCs tested. Freundlich isotherm well described the adsorption of VOCs to the biochars. Biochar produced at 500 °C showed the highest sorption capacity for all VOCs with an average K_f of 7692 (±2265), although biochars produced at 300 °C (K_f = 3146 ± 629) and 700 °C (K_f = 2776 ± 2693) showed the similar sorption capacity. The biochars produced at 500 °C can be an excellent remover of VOCs in contaminated groundwater.

Carcinogenicity assessment: Addressing the challenges of cancer and chemicals in the environment

Cancer is a key public health concern, being the second leading cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality after cardiovascular diseases. At the global level, cancer prevalence, incidence and mortality rates are increasing. These trends are not fully explained by a growing and ageing population: with marked regional and socioeconomic disparities, lifestyle factors, the resources dedicated to preventive medicine, and the occupational and environmental control of hazardous chemicals all playing a role. While it is difficult to establish the contribution of chemical exposure to the societal burden of cancer, a number of measures can be taken to better assess the carcinogenic properties of chemicals and manage their risks. This paper discusses how these measures can be informed not only by the traditional data streams of regulatory toxicology, but also by using new toxicological assessment methods, along with indicators of public health status based on biomonitoring. These diverse evidence streams have the potential to form the basis of an integrated and more effective approach to cancer prevention.

Odor impact zones around landfills: Delineation based on atmospheric conditions and land use characteristics

Odors emitted from landfills can result in complaints by the residents living near the landfills. The aim of this study was to develop an assessment and delineation tool to identify the areas which can be impacted by the odors released from landfills based on land use characteristics and atmospheric conditions; and estimate the number of people who may be impacted. Odor emissions and dispersion analyses were conducted for three case study landfills under different atmospheric conditions in view of the land use characteristics around each landfill. Odor emissions and odor intensity levels were estimated based on the total gas production and the level of odorous compounds present in the landfill gas using the Landfill Gas Emissions Model (LandGEM) software. To delineate the odor impact zones, air dispersion characteristics of the odorous gases were analyzed using the dispersion modeling software, Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres (ALOHA), and mapped using ArcGIS. Impact zone analyses were conducted based on the odor perception thresholds. The methodology developed involved coupling landfill gas emissions model (LandGEM), dispersions model (ALOHA) and mapping software for land use and population density (ArcGIS) allows visualization of the potential impact zones for preliminary delineation of the buffer zones around landfills, developing appropriate mitigation measures in view of the changing land use characteristics and population density around the existing and planned landfills. The odor impact zone delineation methodology was named Land-OZ (short for Landfill Odor Impact Zone). Results of using the odor impact zone tool showed that atmospheric stability could increase the odor impact radius around the three landfills evaluated between 340 and 1100 percent depending on the land use characteristics of the surrounding areas.

Air pollution and body burden of persistent organic pollutants at an electronic waste recycling area of China

This paper reviews the concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in atmosphere of an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling town, Guiyu, in Southeast China, focusing on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We assess the evidence for the association between air pollution and human body burden, to provide an indication of the severity of respiratory exposure. Compared with standards and available existing data for other areas, it clearly shows that four typical POPs, derived from recycling processes, lead to serious atmospheric pollution and heavy body burden. From published data, the estimated respiratory exposure doses of Guiyu adults and children, varied between 2.48-10.37 and 3.25-13.6 ng kg^-1 body weight (bw) day^-1 for PBDEs, 2.31-7.6 and 4.09-13.58 pg World Health Organization-Toxic Equivalent Quantity (WHO-TEQ) kg^-1 bw day^-1 for PCDD/Fs, 5.57 and 20.52 ng kg^-1 bw day^-1 for PCBs, and 8.59-50.01 and 31.64-184.14 ng kg^-1 bw day^-1 for PAHs, respectively. These results show that air pollution is more harmful to children. Furthermore, except for PBDEs, the hazard quotient (HQ) of the other three pollutants was rated more than 1 by respiratory exposure only, and all of them are at risk of carcinogenesis. So we speculate these pollutants enter the body mainly through air inhalation, making respiratory exposure may be more important than dietary exposure in the Guiyu e-waste recycling area. Effective management policies and remediation techniques are urgently needed to prevent the deterioration of ambient air quality in the e-waste recycling area.

Hypermethylation of miR-205-5p by IR Governs Aggressiveness and Metastasis via Regulating Bcl-w and Src

Although radiotherapy has been successfully applied to treat many cancer types, surviving cancer cells often acquire therapeutic resistance, leading to increased risk of local recurrence and distant metastases via modification of the tumor microenvironment. Previously, we reported that high expression of Bcl-w in cancer patients is significantly correlated with poor survival as well as malignant activity. However, the relationship between ionizing radiation (IR)-induced resistance and Bcl-w expression in cancer cells is currently unclear. We showed that IR-induced Bcl-w contributes to EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition), migration, angiogenesis, stemness maintenance, and metastasis by promoting the expression of factors related to these phenotypes, both in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, IR enhanced hypermethylation of miR-205-5p CpG islands through Src activation, leading to decreased miR-205-5p expression and, in turn, potentially stimulating Bcl-w-mediated malignant activity and metastasis. The clinical applicability of Bcl-w and miR-205-5p from cells or animal models was confirmed using tissues and plasma of breast carcinoma patients. Based on the collective findings, we propose that miR-205-5ps as important negative mediators of resistance in radiotherapy could serve as useful potential targets of concurrently applied genetic therapy aimed to inhibit tumor aggressiveness and enhance the efficiency of radiotherapy in cancer patients.

Evaluating intrinsic and non-intrinsic cancer risk factors

Discriminating the contribution of unmodifiable random intrinsic DNA replication errors ('bad luck') to cancer development from those of other factors is critical for understanding cancer in humans and for directing public resources aimed at reducing the burden of cancer. Here, we review and highlight the evidence that demonstrates cancer causation is multifactorial, and provide several important examples where modification of risk factors has achieved cancer prevention. Furthermore, we stress the need and opportunities to advance understanding of cancer aetiology through integration of interaction effects between risk factors when estimating the contribution of individual and joint factors to cancer burden in a population. We posit that non-intrinsic factors drive most cancer risk, and stress the need for cancer prevention.

DMBA promotes ErbB2‑mediated carcinogenesis via ErbB2 and estrogen receptor pathway activation and genomic instability

Environmental factors, including 7,12‑dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) exposure, and genetic predisposition, including ErbB2 overexpression/amplification, have been demonstrated to increase breast cancer susceptibility. Although DMBA‑ and ErbB2‑mediated breast cancers are well‑studied in their respective models, key interactions between environmental and genetic factors on breast cancer risk remain unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of DMBA exposure on ErbB2‑mediated mammary tumorigenesis. MMTV‑ErbB2 transgenic mice exposed to DMBA (1 mg) via weekly oral gavage for 6 weeks exhibited significantly enhanced mammary tumor development, as indicated by reduced tumor latency and increased tumor multiplicity compared with control mice. Whole mount analysis of premalignant mammary tissues from 15‑week‑old mice revealed increased ductal elongation and proliferative index in DMBA‑exposed mice. Molecular analyses of premalignant mammary tissues further indicated that DMBA exposure enhanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/ErbB2 and estrogen receptor (ER) signaling, which was associated with increased mRNA levels of EGFR/ErbB2 family members and ER‑targeted genes. Furthermore, analysis of tumor karyotypes revealed that DMBA‑exposed tumors displayed more chromosomal alterations compared with control tumors, implicating DMBA‑induced chromosomal instability in tumor promotion in this model. Together, the data suggested that DMBA‑induced deregulation of EGFR/ErbB2‑ER pathways plays a critical role in the enhanced chromosomal instability and promotion of ErbB2‑mediated mammary tumorigenesis. The study highlighted gene‑environment interactions that may increase risk of breast cancer, which is a critical clinical issue.

From Infections to Anthropogenic Inflicted Pathologies: Involvement of Immune Balance

A temporal trend can be seen in recent human history where the dominant causes of death have shifted from infectious to chronic diseases in industrialized societies. Human influences in the current "Anthropocene" epoch are exponentially impacting the environment and consequentially health. Changing ecological niches are suggested to have created health transitions expressed as modifications of immune balance from infections inflicting pathologies in the Holocene epoch (12,000 years ago) to human behaviors inflicting pathologies beginning in the Anthropocene epoch (300 years ago). A review of human immune health and adaptations responding to environmental (biological, chemical, physical, and psychological) stresses, which are influenced by social conditions, emphasize the involvement of fluctuations in immune cell subsets affecting influential gene-environment interactions. The literature from a variety of fields (anthropological, immunological, and environmental) is incorporated to present an expanded perspective on shifts in diseases within the context of immune balance and function and environmental immunology. The influences between historical and contemporary human ecology are examined in relation to human immunity. Several examples of shifts in human physiology and immunity support the premise that increased incidences of chronic diseases are a consequence of human modification of environment and lifestyle. Although the development of better health care and a broader understanding of human health have helped with better life quality and expectancy, the transition of morbidity and mortality rates from infections to chronic diseases is a cause for concern. Combinations of environmental stressors/pollutants and human behaviors and conditions are modulating the immune-neuroendocrine network, which compromises health benefits.

Development of Solid Ceramic Dosimeters for the Time-Integrative Passive Sampling of Volatile Organic Compounds in Waters

Time-integrative passive sampling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water can now be accomplished using a solid ceramic dosimeter. A nonporous ceramic, which excludes the permeation of water, allowing only gas-phase diffusion of VOCs into the resin inside the dosimeter, effectively captured the VOCs. The mass accumulation of 11 VOCs linearly increased with time over a wide range of aqueous-phase concentrations (16.9 to 1100 μg L^-1), and the linearity was dependent upon the Henry's constant (H). The average diffusivity of the VOCs in the solid ceramic was 1.46 × 10^-10 m² s^-1 at 25 °C, which was 4 orders of magnitude lower than that in air (8.09 × 10^-6 m² s^-1). This value was 60% greater than that in the water-permeable porous ceramic (0.92 × 10^-10 m² s^-1), suggesting that its mass accumulation could be more effective than that of porous ceramic dosimeters. The mass accumulation of the VOCs in the solid ceramic dosimeter increased in the presence of salt (≥0.1 M) and with increasing temperature (4 to 40 °C) but varied only slightly with dissolved organic matter concentration. The solid ceramic dosimeter was suitable for the field testing and measurement of time-weighted average concentrations of VOC-contaminated waters.