Assessment of cytogenetic damage in lymphocytes and in exfoliated nasal cells of dental laboratory technicians exposed to chromium, cobalt, and nickel

Dental laboratory technicians may be exposed to metal alloys that are used in the production of crowns, bridges and removable partial dentures. These alloys consist of 35–65% cobalt, 20–30% chromium, 0–30% nickel, and small amounts of molybdenum, silica, beryllium, boron and carbon. The aim of this study was to assess whether dental technicians are occupationally exposed to chromium, cobalt and nickel, by analyzing urinary excretion levels of these metals and to investigate the genotoxic effects of occupational exposure associated with dental prostheses production operations by analyzing cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CB-MN) frequencies in peripheral lymphocytes and micronucleus (MN) frequencies in exfoliated nasal cells from 27 dental laboratory technicians and 15 control subjects. The differences in the urinary excretion of metals between technicians and controls were statistically significant. The mean (±S.D.) CB-MN frequencies (‰) in peripheral lymphocytes were 4.00 (±2.98) among the dental technicians and 1.40 (±1.30) among the controls, a statistically significant difference (P<0.005). The mean (±S.D.) MN frequencies (‰) in nasal cells were 3.50 (±1.80) among the dental technicians and 1.19 (±0.53) among the controls, which was also a statistically significant difference (P<0.005). There was a significant correlation between duration of exposure and MN frequencies in lymphocytes (r=0.642, P<0.01), but not in nasal cells of technicians. Our data reveal that in vivo exposure to chromium, nickel and cobalt metals is evident and that this occupational exposure may contribute to the observed genotoxic damage in two types of cells, e.g. lymphocytes and exfoliated nasal cells. However, it cannot be determined which compound(s) are responsible for the genotoxic damage observed in this study.     

Intra-articular CD1c-expressing myeloid dendritic cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients express a unique set of T cell-attracting chemokines and spontaneously induce Th1, Th17 and Th2 cell activity

Introduction

Myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) are potent T cell-activating antigen-presenting cells that have been suggested to play a crucial role in the regulation of immune responses in many disease states, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Despite this, studies that have reported on the capacity of naturally occurring circulating mDCs to regulate T cell activation in RA are still lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic and functional properties of naturally occurring CD1c (BDCA-1)⁺ mDCs from synovial fluid (SF) compared to those from peripheral blood (PB) of RA patients.

Methods

CD1c⁺ mDC numbers and expression of costimulatory molecules were assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis in SF and PB from RA patients. Ex vivo secretion of 45 inflammatory mediators by mDCs from SF and PB of RA patients was determined by multiplex immunoassay. The capacity of mDCs from SF to activate autologous CD4⁺ T cells was measured.

Results

CD1c⁺ mDC numbers were significantly increased in SF versus PB of RA patients (mean 4.7% vs. 0.6%). mDCs from SF showed increased expression of antigen-presenting (human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II, CD1c) and costimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86 and CD40). Numerous cytokines were equally abundantly produced by mDCs from both PB and SF (including IL-12, IL-23, IL-13, IL-21). SF mDCs secreted higher levels of interferon γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), monokine induced by interferon γ (MIG) and, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), but lower macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) levels compared to mDCs from PB. mDCs from SF displayed a strongly increased capacity to induce proliferation of CD4⁺ T cells associated with a strongly augmented IFNγ, IL-17, and IL-4 production.

Conclusions

This study suggests that increased numbers of CD1c⁺ mDCs in SF are involved in the inflammatory cascade intra-articularly by the secretion of specific T cell-attracting chemokines and the activation of self-reactive T cells.     

Evaluation of deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 (DMBT1) gene expression in bladder carcinoma cases: preliminary study

This study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of DMBT1 in bladder cancer and its correlation with clinico-pathological parameters analyzed in bladder carcinoma patients. We investigated DMBT1 in 56 paraffin embedded specimens of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. We assessed DMBT1 gene expression at mRNA level by RT-PCR. Our results show 100% expression of DMBT1 in bladder carcinoma samples. Due to this preliminary results; gene expression was compared to tumor grade, and a significant difference was detected between grade 1 and 3 (p?=?0.028). The down-regulation of DMBT1 gene expression in carcinomas suggests the possible role in bladder cancer.     

Activity of homobimetallic ruthenium alkylidene complexes on intermolecular [2+2+2] cyclotrimerisation reactions of terminal alkynes

The activity of homobimetallic ruthenium alkylidene complexes, [(p-cymene)Ru(Cl)(μ-Cl)₂Ru(Cl)(CHPh)(PCy₃)] [Ru-I] and [(p-cymene)Ru(Cl)(μ-Cl)₂Ru(Cl)(CHPh)(IPr)] [Ru-II], on intermolecular [2+2+2] cyclotrimerisation reactions of monoynes has been investigated for the first time. It was found that these complexes can catalyse the chemo and regioselective cyclotrimerisation reactions of alkynes at both 25 and 50 °C in polar, aprotic solvents. The catalytic activity of [Ru-I] and [Ru-II] was compared to other well-known ruthenium catalysts such as Grubbs first generation catalyst [RuCl₂(CHPh)(PCy₃)₂] [Ru-III], [RuCl(μ-Cl)(p-cymene)]₂ [Ru-IV] and [RuCl₂(p-cymene)PCy₃] [Ru-V] complexes. To examine the effect of the steric hinderance of substrates on the regioselectivity of the reaction, a series of sterically hindered silicon containing alkynes (1a, 1b, 1c) were used. It was shown that the isomeric product distribution of the reaction shifts from 1,2,4-trisubstituted arenes to 1,3,5-trisubstituted arenes as the steric hinderance on the substrates increases. These homobimetallic ruthenium alkylidene complexes also catalysed regio- and chemo-selective cross-cyclotrimerisation reactions between silicon-containing alkynes (1a, 1b, 1c) and aliphatic alkynes (1d-g).     

Pollen counts and their relationship to meteorological factors in Ankara,Turkey during 2005–2008

Pollen plays an important role in the development and exacerbation of allergic diseases. We aimed to investigate the days with highest counts of the most allergenic pollens and to identify the meteorological factors affecting pollen counts in the atmosphere of Ankara, Turkey. Airborne pollen measurements were carried out from 2005 to 2008 with a Burkard volumetric 7-day spore trap. Microscope counts were converted into atmospheric concentrations and expressed as pollen grains/m³. Meteorological parameters were obtained from the State Meteorological Service. All statistical analyses were done with pollen counts obtained from March to October for each year. The percentages of tree, grass and weed pollens were 72.1% (n = 24,923), 12.8% (n = 4,433) and 15.1% (n = 5,219), respectively. The Pinaceae family from tree taxa (39% to 57%) and the Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae family from weed taxa, contributed the highest percentage of pollen (25% to 43%), while from the grass taxa, only the Poaceae family was detected from 2005 to 2008. Poaceae and Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae families, which are the most allergenic pollens, were found in high numbers from May to August in Ankara. In multiple logistic regression analysis, wind speed (OR = 1.18, CI95% = 1.02–1.36, P = 0.023) for tree pollen, daily mean temperature (OR = 1.10, CI95% = 1.04–1.17, P = 0.001) and sunshine hours (OR = 1.15, CI95% = 1.01–1.30, P = 0.033) for grass pollen, and sunshine hours (OR = 3.79, CI95% = 1.03–13.92, P = 0.044) for weed pollen were found as significant risk factors for high pollen count. The pollen calendar and its association with meteorological factors depend mainly on daily temperature, sunshine hours and wind speed, which may help draw the attention of physicians and allergic patients to days with high pollen counts.     

Plantar shear stress distributions: comparing actual and predicted frictional forces at the foot-ground interface

Plantar shear stresses are believed to play a major role in diabetic ulceration. Due to the lack of commercial devices that can measure plantar shear distribution, a number of mathematical models have been developed to predict plantar frictional forces. This study assessed the accuracy of these models using a custom-built platform capable of measuring plantar stresses simultaneously. A total of 48 (38 healthy and 10 diabetic) human subjects (75+/-20 kg, 41+/-20 years, 32 males, 16 females) were recruited in the study. Plantar force data were collected for 2s at 50 Hz. Two models (M1 and M2) reported in the literature by different groups were used to predict local shear stresses. Root mean squared errors (RMSE) were calculated to compare model data with the actual data, focusing on three parameters: location, magnitude and timing of peak shear components. RMSE values of estimated peak AP and ML shear locations were 3.1 and 2.2 cm for M1 and 3.1 and 2.1cm for M2, respectively. Magnitude RMS error values for M1 were found to be 86.6 kPa in AP shear and 38.5 kPa in ML shear, whereas these values were determined to be 97.8 and 63.5 kPa, respectively by M2. Time to peak shear RMSE values averaged 17.2% in terms of the gait duration. In conclusion, distribution of plantar shear should be measured rather than predicted, particularly if one is interested in the magnitudes of shear components.     

Effect of alcohol and tobacco smoke on mtDNA damage and atherogenesis

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and alcohol (EtOH) consumption often occur together, yet their combined effects on cardiovascular disease development are currently unclear. A shared feature between ETS and EtOH exposure is that both increase oxidative stress and dysfunction within mitochondria. The hypothesis of this study was that simultaneous EtOH and ETS exposure will significantly increase atherogenesis and mitochondrial damage compared to the individual effects of either factor (ETS or EtOH). To test this hypothesis, apoE(-/-) mice were exposed to EtOH and/or ETS singly or in combination for 4 weeks and compared to filtered air, nonalcohol controls. Atherosclerotic lesion formation (oil red O staining of whole aortas), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage, and oxidant stress were assessed in vascular tissues. Combined exposure to ETS and EtOH had the greatest impact on atherogenesis, mtDNA damage, and oxidant stress compared to filtered air controls, alcohol, or ETS-exposed animals alone. Because moderate EtOH consumption is commonly thought to be cardioprotective, these studies suggest that the potential influence of common cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as tobacco smoke exposure or hypercholesterolemia, on the cardiovascular effects of alcohol should be considered.