Rat models of cardiometabolic diseases: baseline clinical chemistries,and rationale for their use in examining air pollution health effects

Abstract

Individuals with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (CVD) are shown to be more susceptible to adverse health effects of pollutants. Rodent models of CVD are used for examining susceptibility variations. CVD models developed by selective inbreeding are shown to represent the etiology of human disease and metabolic dysfunction. The goal of this article was to review the origin and the pathobiological features of rat models of varying CVD with or without metabolic syndrome and healthy laboratory rat strains to allow better interpretation of the data regarding their susceptibility to air pollutant exposures. Age-matched healthy Sprague–Dawley (SD), Wistar (WIS) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY), and CVD-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SH), Fawn-Hooded hypertensive (FHH), SH stroke-prone (SHSP), SHHF/Mcc heart failure obese (SHHF) and insulin-resistant JCR:LA-cp obese (JCR) rat models were considered for this study. The genetics and the underlying pathologies differ between these models. Normalized heart weights correlated with underlying cardiac disease while wide differences exist in the number of white blood cells and platelets within healthy strains and those with CVD. High plasma fibrinogen and low angiotensin converting enzyme activity in FHH might relate to kidney disease and associated hypertension. However, other obese strains with known kidney lesions do not exhibit decreases in ACE activity. The increased activated partial thromboplastin time only in SHSP correlates with their hemorrhagic stroke susceptibility. Increases plasma lipid peroxidation in JCR might reflect their susceptibility to acquire atherosclerosis. These underlying pathologies involving CVD and metabolic dysfunction are critical in interpretation of findings related to susceptibility variations of air pollution health effects.     

空气污染与心率变异性关系的研究进展

心血管疾病是威胁中国居民健康的首要原因,空气污染是影响心血管疾病发生和发展的重要环境危险因素。心率变异性是评价自主神经功能的指标,并且与心血管疾病预后密切相关。研究表明,空气污染可能通过影响心脏自主神经功能而导致心血管疾病的发生,但目前研究结果并不一致。现对国内外空气污染与心率变异性关系的研究现状进行综述。     

兰州市城关区大气污染对儿童呼吸系统疾病和症状的影响

目的了解兰州市城关区大气污染对儿童呼吸系统疾病和症状的影响。方法于2013年9—11月,采用随机整群抽样的方法抽取兰州市城关区和榆中县的2 016名学龄期儿童(城关区1 087名,榆中县929名)为研究对象,采用美国流行病学标准问卷(ATS-DLD-78-C)进行呼吸系统疾病和症状发生情况调查。结果 2013年城关区大气SO2、NO2、PM2.5、PM10日均浓度均高于榆中县,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。城关区儿童感冒时咳嗽、不感冒时咳嗽、感冒时咯痰、不感冒时咯痰、鼻炎、支气管炎、肺炎、哮喘等8种呼吸系统疾病和症状的发病危险性分别是榆中县的1.563、1.606、2.055、1.849、2.786、2.514、1.976、2.599倍,均有统计学意义(P0.05)。采用多因素logistic回归分析调整年龄、厨房燃料、冬季采暖方式等混杂因素后,与榆中县比较,城关区儿童感冒时咳嗽、不感冒时咳嗽、感冒时咯痰、鼻炎、支气管炎、肺炎等疾病和症状发生的危险性均较高,OR值(95%CI)分别为1.571(1.273~1.938),1.568(1.028~2.391),2.026(1.580~2.597),2.136(1.430~3.192),2.142(1.463~3.136),1.741(1.190~2.548),均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论城关区儿童部分呼吸系统疾病和症状发生率高于榆中县,可能与城关区大气污染有关。     

基于空间分析预测钉螺分布的气温指标研究

目的探讨钉螺分布与气温的定量关系，为全球气候变暖与南水北调钉螺能否北移提供理论基础。方法收集多年来的年平均最低气温、1月平均最低气温、年平均气温、1月平均气温、年平均最高气温，按1km网格匹配气温数据，在GIS支持下，将空间分布的气温数据与中国血吸虫病流行县分布图进行空间统计分析，并比较不同气温与钉螺分布的吻合程度。结果钉螺分布区的累年平均最低气温的95％可信区间为（4．3～18．1℃）、累年1月平均最低气温的为（-4．6～9．2℃）、累年平均气温的为（9．4～21．1℃）、累年1月平均气温的为（0．9～12．4℃）、累年平均最高气温的为（16．2～25．6℃），其中累年1月平均气温与钉螺的分布拟合最好。结论1月平均气温是预测钉螺分布的较好指标。     

湖北钉螺分布与年极端低气温的关系分析

目的探讨钉螺分布与年极端低气温的关系,为进一步的研究提供理论依据。方法选取上海市、江苏、浙江、安徽、江西、湖北、湖南、河北、河南、山东、山西、陕西、四川省61个气象站的气温数据,以北纬34°为界,通过两者的统计分布来确定钉螺可疑分布区的温度范围,并研究有螺区与无螺区在该范围内持续时间的差异。结果钉螺可疑分布区的温度范围为-7.6～1.5℃,无螺区有75%的气象站其年极端低气温低于-7.6℃,有螺区有19%的气象站其年极端低气温高于1.5℃;有螺区与无螺区在该范围内时间的差异无显著性(P=0.53),但无螺区在相应区间内的时间均多于有螺区。结论钉螺在年极端低气温低于-7.6℃的地区不适宜生存,温度是阻止钉螺北移的重要条件。     

Short-term effects of ambient (outdoor) air pollution on cardiovascular death in Tehran,Iran – a time series study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of ambient air pollutants on cardiovascular deaths in Tehran, Iran. In this time series study, air pollutant data were acquired from the Environmental Protection Agency. Meteorological data were acquired from the meteorological organization, and death data were acquired from the Tehran’s cemetery registration. Generalized Additive Models (GAM) were used for estimating the Rate Ratio. NO₂, SO₂ and PM₁₀ were associated with total cardiovascular deaths. PM₁₀ and NO₂ showed stronger relations with deaths in the elder age group. The result of this study showed that NO_2, SO₂, PM₁₀ and O₃ are probably responsible for part of the cardiovascular deaths that happen daily in Tehran.     

HDR brachytherapy well chamber calibration and stability evaluated over twenty years of clinical use

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to establish, using a retrospective analysis of existing hospital records, the long-term stability and accuracy of a high-dose-rate brachytherapy well chamber. This should be assessed to determine reliability and appropriate calibration frequency. The accrual of long-term data that demonstrates the stability of our chamber may inform others of the performance they might expect from similar equipment.Methods and MaterialsWe evaluated air kerma strength measurements made with the PTW 32002 (Nucletron 077.091) high-dose-rate well chamber on 72 ¹⁹²Ir sources over an 18-year period and the seven calibrations of that chamber which span a 27-year period.ResultsConsecutive air kerma strength measurements agreed within 0.01% on average. The chamber measurement agreed with the source specification within 0.02% on average, but was up to 1.4% during some calibration periods. The chamber calibration coefficient varied by a maximum of 5% over seven chamber calibration measurements.ConclusionsThe constancy of the well chamber current compared with the source manufacturer suggests that our chamber has been stable to better than 2% over a period of 18 years. Although the chamber has received different calibration coefficients over time, these coefficients are within the combined uncertainties of any two calibrations and are consistent with the chamber being stable. The agreement we have observed between clinical measurements and the source manufacturer would justify an action level for further investigation of 1%, for this specific chamber.     

碘治疗工作场所空气中131I的监测结果与分析

目的 了解碘治疗工作场所空气中¹³¹I气溶胶的活度浓度,估算核医学科医务人员吸入¹³¹I所致内照射剂量。方法 使用CF-1001BRL型便携式大容量空气采样器,采用碘盒收集山东省6家医院核医学科碘治疗工作场所空气中的¹³¹I气溶胶,利用HPGe-γ能谱仪对样品进行测量,得到6家医院碘治疗工作场所中¹³¹I的活度浓度值,并估算医务人员的内照射剂量。结果 6家医院碘治疗工作场所空气中¹³¹I的活度浓度范围为3.64~2.94×10³Bq/m³,控制区（病房、患者通道、分装间、远程操作给药室）¹³¹I的浓度水平明显高于监督区,监督区¹³¹I的浓度最高的是医护通道,为2.62×10²Bq/m³。核医学科医务人员两种职业待积有效剂量估算值为0.07~5.68 mSv,均未超过国家规定限值。结论 医院核医学科碘治疗工作场所仍存在不可忽视的¹³¹I气溶胶污染现象,应面向全国各地区核医学科开展内照射监测,探索更加合理的防护标准和方法。     

Two important controversial risk factors in SARS-CoV-2 infection: Obesity and smoking

The effects of obesity and smoking in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remain controversial. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), is the human cell receptor of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19. ACE2 expression increases on lung alveolar epithelial cells and adipose tissue due to obesity, smoking and air pollution. A significant relationship exists between air pollution and SARS-CoV-2 infection, as more severe COVID-19 symptoms occur in smokers; comorbid conditions due to obesity or excess ectopic fat accumulation as underlying risk factors for severe COVID-19 strongly encourage the virus/ACE2 receptor-ligand interaction concept. Indeed, obesity, air pollution and smoking associated risk factors share underlying pathophysiologies that are related to the Renin-Angiotensin-System in SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this review is to emphasize the mechanism of receptor-ligand interaction and its impact on the enhanced risk of death due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.