Relationship of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases to Meteorological Conditions and Forecast Method in Nanjing City

[Objective] The study aimed to discuss the relationship of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases to meteorological conditions and forecast method in Nanjing City. [Method] Based on daily cases of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases from a hospital in Nanjing City as well as daily meteorological data from Nanjing Meteorological Station from January 2003 to July 2008, the monthly and seasonal variations in quantity of patients suffedng from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Nanjing City were analyzed firstly, and then the relationship between mete- orological elements and incidence of the diseases was discussed, finally the forecast model for the incidence of the diseases was established using the stepwise regression method. [Result] Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Nanjing City happened all the year round, and the inci- dance was high in the seasonal transition phase from autumn to winter. Daily incidence of the diseases in Nanjing City correlated negatively with dai- ly maximum, minimum and average vapor pressure, daily minimum relative humidity and so forth, but their incidence had positive correlations with diumal range of daily temperature, daily maximum, minimum and average pressure. Daily average number of patients suffering from the diseases obviously correlated with daily average temperature, daily maximum vapor pressure and daily average relative humidity. [ Conclusion] The research could provide scientific references for the prevention and forecast of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in future.

Enhanced hepatic metabolic perturbation of polystyrene nanoplastics by UV irradiation-induced hydroxyl radical generation

The environmental behavior of and risks associated with nanoplastics(NPs)have attracted considerable attention.However,compared to pristine NPs,environmental factors such as ultraviolet(UV)irradiation that lead to changes in the toxicity of NPs have rarely been studied.We evaluated the changes in morphology and physicochemical properties of polystyrene(PS)NPs before and after UV irradiation,and compared their hepatotoxicity in mice.The results showed that UV irradiation caused particle size reduction and increased the carbonyl index(CI)and negative charge on the particle surface.UV-aged PS NPs(aPS NPs)could induce the generation of hydroxyl radicals(·OH),but also further promoted the generation of·OH in the Fenton reaction system.Hepatic pathological damage was more severe in mice exposed to aPS NPs,accompanied by a large number of vacuoles and hepatocyte balloon-like changes and more marked perturbations in blood glucose and serum lipoprotein,alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels.In addition,exposure to PS NPs and aPS NPs,especially aPS NPs,triggered oxidative stress and significantly damaged the antioxidant capacity of mice liver.Compared with PS NPs,exposure to aPS NPs increased the number of altered metabolites in hepatic and corresponding metabolic pathways,especially glutathione metabolism.Our research suggests that UV irradiation can disrupt the redox balance in organisms by promoting the production of·OH,enhancing PS NPs-induced liver damage and metabolic disorders.This study will help us understand the health risks of NPs and to avoid underestimation of the risks of NPs in nature.