Inhalation of urban particles results in higher circulating levels of the vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1 (ET-1), which may account for the adverse cardiovascular impacts associated with air pollution. The objective of this study was to examine the direct effects of urban particles on the production of ET-1 by human epithelial cells (A549). A549 cells were exposed to TiO(2), SiO(2), Ottawa urban particulate matter EHC-93, and fractions of the urban particles. The levels of ET-1, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the culture medium were detected by ELISA. The mRNA levels of preproET-1, endothelin converting enzyme (ECE-1), ETa receptor and ETb receptor, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP-2), and heat shock protein (HSP-70) were determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Cluster analysis of the variables identified similarities in the patterns of effects. Cluster I comprised variables that were primarily inhibited by particles: ET-1 and MMP-2 mRNAs, ET-1 and bigET-1 peptides, and cell viability. Clusters II and III comprised variables that were either inhibited or induced, depending on the test material: HSP-70, ETaR and ECE mRNAs, and IL-8 and VEGF proteins. Cluster IV comprised variables that were mainly induced by particle preparations: ETbR and TIMP-2 mRNAs. The decreased expression of preproET-1 in A549 cells suggests that epithelial cells may not be the source of higher pulmonary ET-1 spillover in the circulation measured in vivo in response to inhaled urban particles. However, higher ECE-1 in A549 cells after exposure to particles suggests an increased ability to process bigET-1 into the mature ET-1 peptide, while increased receptor expression implies higher responsiveness. The increased release of IL-8 and VEGF by epithelial cells in response to particles could possibly upregulate ET-1 production in the adjacent pulmonary capillary endothelial cells, with concomitant increased ET-1 spillover in the systemic circulation.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Simple renal cysts in hypertensive patients: relation between cyst growing and anti-hypertensive therapy.

The study investigates relationship between simple renal cyst enlargement studied by ultrasonography and anti-hypertensive treatment. To this purpose we enrolled 42 patients with newly diagnosed hypertension affected by simple renal cysts. Fourteen were randomly assigned to treatment with ACE-Inhibitors (group 1), twelve to diuretics (group 2) and sixteen to Ca-Antagonists (group 3). Patient performed a basal ultrasonography to evaluate basal cyst dimension before starting anti-hypertensive treatment. Following 12 months of the anti-hypertensive regimen, a new echograph was performed to evaluate changes in cyst size. A control group consisting of 15 patients with normal blood pressure and simple renal cysts was enrolled (group 0). An enlargement of cysts was detected in all patients. However, the enlargement observed in patients treated by Ca-Antagonists was significantly greater than that observed in the other groups (p<0.05). Our study supports the hypothesis that Ca-Antagonists may favor cyst enlargement by enhancing cyclic AMP production. In fact, cAMP and cAMP agonists stimulate fluid secretion by lining cells of the cyst wall, inducing cyst enlargement.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Genethics. Interview by Ian McMillan.

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Ethics, Medical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Union status, marital history and female contraceptive sterilization in the United States.

CONTEXT: Much of what is known about the choice of sterilization as a contraceptive method is based on data from married women or couples. Because of increasing rates of cohabitation, divorce and repartnering, however, the relationship context in which sterilization decisions are made has changed. METHODS: The 1995 National Survey of Family Growth includes the complete birth and union histories of 10,277 white, black and Hispanic women. The distribution of union status and marital history at the time of tubal sterilization was estimated for these three racial and ethnic groups among the 799 women who had had a tubal ligation in 1990-1995 before age 40. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the effects of union status and marital history on the risk of tubal sterilization. The analysis controlled for the woman's age, parity, race and ethnicity education, region, experience of an unwanted birth and calendar period. RESULTS: Among women who obtained a tubal sterilization, most whites (79%) and Hispanics (66%) were married when they had the operation, compared with only 36% of black women. At the time of their sterilization, 46% of black women had never been married. Among all women, regardless of race and ethnicity and net of all controls, the probability of tubal sterilization is about 25% lower for single, never-married women than for cohabiting or married women. Cohabitation does not reduce the likelihood in comparison to marriage, however. Higher rates of tubal sterilization among Hispanic women are accounted for by their higher parity at each age; differences in parity or marriage by race only partially account for the relatively higher rates of tubal sterilization among black women. CONCLUSIONS: Because women currently spend greater proportions of their lives outside of marriage or in less-stable cohabiting partnerships than they did in the past, they are increasingly likely to make the decision to seek sterilization on their own. As a result, the gender gap in contraceptive sterilization will likely increase. The possibility of partnership change is an important consideration in choosing sterilization as a contraceptive method.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

New conceptions on issues of fertility.

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Alcohol Drinking↗