Chronic exposure to fine particulate matter emitted by traffic affects reproductive and fetal outcomes in mice

Air pollution is an important environmental health risk factor that can result in many different gestational and reproductive negative outcomes. In this study, we have investigated the effects of two different times of exposure (before conception and during pregnancy) to urban ambient particulate matter on reproductive and pregnancy outcomes in mice. Using exposure chambers receiving filtered (F) and non-filtered (NF) air, we observed that exposed females exhibited changes in the length of estrus cycle and extended estrus and, therefore, a reduction in the number of cycles during the studied period (F 2.6±0.22 and NF 1.2±0.29, p=0.03). The mean number of antral follicles declined by 36% (p=0.04) in NF mice (75±35.2) compared to F mice (118.6±18.4). Our results further indicate a significant increase in time necessary for mating and decreased fertility and pregnancy indices (p=0.003) in NF couples. Mean post-implantation loss rates were increased by 70% (p?0.005) in the NF2 group (exposed before and during pregnancy to NF air) compared to the F1 group (exposed before and during pregnancy to F air) and were influenced by both pre-gestational (p<0.004) and gestational (p<0.01) period exposure. Fetal weight was significantly higher in the F1 group when compared with the other groups (p<0.001), at a 20% higher weight in the F1 group (0.86±0.18 g) than in the NF2 group (0.68±0.10 g). Furthermore, fetal weight was influenced by both pre-gestational and gestational period exposure, and a significant interaction between these two factors was found (p<0.001). This study demonstrated that exposure to ambient levels of urban traffic-generated particulate matter negatively affects different functions and stages of the reproductive process. Our results also reinforce the idea that maternal exposure to air pollution is linked to negative pregnancy outcomes, even if the exposure occurs only before conception.     

Evaluation of native and exotic Brazilian plants for anticancer activity

Native and exotic Brazilian plants collected in the State of Minas Gerais were evaluated for their anticancer potential. Methanol extracts from leaves of 51 plant species were tested for cytotoxicity against four tumor cell lines: B16 (murine skin), HL-60 (human leukemia), MCF-7 (human breast), and HCT-8 (human colon). Plant extracts that exhibited IC₅₀ values less than 30 μg/ml against any tumor cell line were tested on sea urchin egg development and mouse erythrocytes. In addition, all extracts were evaluated for their general toxicity using the brine shrimp lethality assay. The most active extracts against the tumor cells were those obtained from Lantana fucata, Copaifera langsdorffii, and Momordica charantia. These three extracts inhibited sea urchin development from the first cleavage, but those from C. langsdorffii and M. charantia were very active against mouse erythrocytes. Only the L. fucata extract presented no hemolytic activity. Consequently, although the extracts of L. fucata, M. charantia, and C. langsdorffii could be useful in the development of new anticancer products, the first of these extracts is the most promising since it did not present unspecific toxicity, as suggested by negative results obtained with brine shrimp lethality and mouse erythrocytes assays.     

Dimensional Changes in Gypsum Fragments Bonded with Cyanoacrylate

Purpose: Accidental fractures may occur during manipulation and transportation of plaster casts. In clinical practice, plaster fragments may be bonded without harming the accuracy of the final denture, provided that the bonding agent does not cause dimensional alterations. Cyanoacrylate could be a good material because of its ease of use, quick set, wide availability, and low cost. The aim of this study was to assess the dimensional alteration of Type IV plaster fragments bonded with a cyanoacrylate‐based adhesive. Materials and Methods: Ten hexagonal regular prisms were made of Type IV plaster, with two reference marks on one of the faces. The distance between the marks was measured under a comparison microscope. After this, the prisms were fractured so that the fracture line would be between the two reference marks, bonded with a cyanoacrylate‐based universal adhesive and measured again. Results: The mean difference between the measurements performed before and after fracture and bonding of the fragments was 0.0194 mm. At a level of significance of 0.05, there was no statistically significant difference between the measurements before and after fracture and bonding of the dies (p = 0.1582). Conclusion: It may be concluded that bonding of Type IV plaster fragments with a cyanoacrylate‐based adhesive did not cause significant dimensional alterations.     

How frequently do young people with potential cancer symptoms present in primary care?

Background

Although uncommon in teenagers and young adults, cancer is the leading cause of non-accidental death in those aged 15–24 years. A prolonged period to cancer diagnosis in this cohort is reported and thought to be a consequence of the rarity of cancer in this age group, together with the complexity of presenting symptoms. Although diagnostic delay is perceived to be a problem for teenagers and young adults with cancer, little research has focused on their use of primary care services.

Aim

To determine how often teenagers and young adults consult, their reasons for doing so, and how often potential oncological symptoms (‘alert’ symptoms) appear.

Design and setting

Retrospective audit of consultations over 1 year. Three general medical practices in Scotland.

Method

Medical records were examined for 2326 teenagers and young adults. Date of birth, sex, and free-text relating to the consultation were recorded and coded according to an agreed coding system; symptoms of potential oncological significance were coded as alert symptoms.

Results

A total of 1659 teenagers and young adults (71.3% of registered patients) attended their GP at least once. Females attended more frequently than males (P<0.001), and older females more frequently than younger females (P<0.001). Males exhibited no association between consultation frequency and age. The main reasons for consultation were pregnancy/contraception (15.8%) and infection (15.7%). Alert symptoms were uncommon, (reported in 4.0% of all consultations; 276 alert symptoms in 179 patients), and were not associated with age or sex. The most common alert symptoms were unexplained pain (34.8%), unexplained fatigue (14.5%), and lumps (13.4%). Two benign tumours were detected.

Conclusion

A high proportion of teenagers and young adults consult their GP. Alert symptoms are uncommon and generally occur in isolation. More research is required to confirm these findings in a larger cohort and to examine how GPs respond to such alert symptoms.     

Antiproliferative effects of abietane diterpenes from Aegiphila lhotzkyana

Five abietane diterpenes were isolated from a hexane extract obtained from the roots of Aegiphila lhotzkyana and identified as uncinatone, cyrtophyllone B, teunvicenone E, sugiol and 12,16-epoxy-11,14-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-17(15 - 16)- abeo-abieta-5,8, 11,13,15-pentaene-3,7-dione. The last compound has only been described for this species. These compounds were tested for their antiproliferative effects on tumor cell lines using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl- 2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and on sea urchin egg development, as well as for their lytic properties on mouse erythrocytes. All diterpenes reduced the viability of tumor cells and inhibited sea urchin egg cleavage. None of the tested compounds presented hemolytic activity.