Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Burn Care Res 2019 Apr 6. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

DC Firefighters Burn Fund Washington, DC.

Approximately 60,000 to 70,000 firefighters suffer work-related injuries per year in the United States. Approximately 10% of these injuries occur from burns or smoke inhalation. Previous analyses of the National Burn Repository (NBR) suggest that not all records of firefighter injuries are being captured. Read More

Arch Toxicol 2019 Apr 20. Epub 2019 Apr 20.

Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.

The characteristics of wildland fire smoke exposures which initiate or exacerbate cardiopulmonary conditions are unclear. We previously reported that, on a mass basis, lung toxicity associated with particulate matter (PM) from flaming smoke aspirated into mouse lungs is greater than smoldering PM. In this study, we developed a computer-controlled inhalation system which can precisely control complex biomass smoke emissions from different combustion conditions. Read More

Phytomedicine 2018 Dec 1;59:152777. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

College of Veterinary Medicine (BK21 Plus Project Team), Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Background: Cigarette smoke (CS) is a major contributor to the high incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) featured as chronic inflammation and airway obstruction. Mahuang-Tang is a traditional polyherbal mixture composed of four different herbs. It is widely used in Asia as a remedy for allergic reaction and inflammation. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Apr 15;20(8). Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Diagnosis and Surgery, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Sciences and Technology, São José dos Campos 12245-000, Brazil.

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of cigarette smoke inhalation on an autogenous onlay bone graft area, either covered with a collagen membrane or not, in healthy and estrogen-deficient rats through histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry.

Materials And Methods: Sixty female rats (Wistar), weighing 250-300 g, were randomly divided and allocated into groups (either exposed to cigarette smoke inhalation or not, ovariectomized and SHAM). After 15 days, the test group underwent cigarette smoke inhalation. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 Apr 8;16(7). Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Institute of Chronic Noncommunicable Disease and Control, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 511430, China.

Few studies have focused on the potential relationship between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and depressive symptoms. This study aimed to explore the potential association between SHS exposure and depressive symptoms and differentiate this association in setting-specific exposure and symptom-specific outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangdong province of China from September to December 2010 using a multistage sampling method to randomly sample adults aged 18 years and older. Read More

Mil Med Res 2019 03 31;6(1):10. Epub 2019 Mar 31.

Bundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology, Munich, Germany.

Inhalation injury is often associated with burns and significantly increases morbidity and mortality. The main toxic components of fire smoke are carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and irritants. In the case of an incident at a nuclear power plant or recycling facility associated with fire, smoke may also contain radioactive material. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2019 Apr 2;71:392-403. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital & Postgraduate Medical School, 100039 Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Excessive inflammation induced by cytokine storm and coagulation disorders is considered the primary characteristic of smoke inhalation-induced acute lung injury (SI-ALI). Glucocorticoids such as methylprednisolone (MP) are commonly used to treat patients with inflammatory diseases; however, the management of ALI or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains controversial. We explored the effects of different MP doses and durations in a rat SI-ALI model. Read More

Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2019 Apr 26;32(2):121-140. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada (Environmental and Occupational Health).

The aim of the paper is to summarize the evidence of health impacts of occupational exposure to wildland fires. The authors searched 3 databases for relevant articles and screened the results. After full-text review, articles were included based on pre-determined criteria. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(12):e14863

Department of Plastic Surgery & Burn Unit, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva.

Failure in evaluation of smoke inhalation injury (SII) is related to increased morbidity and mortality. Prognostic biomarkers that reflect the injury are undoubtedly needed. Cell-free DNA (CFD) concentrations are associated to the extent of tissue damage and inflammation in various pathologies. Read More

J Burn Care Res 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Respiratory Therapy, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Smoke inhalation injury is a major morbidity and cause of mortality in patients with burns. Damage caused by inhalation of thermal or chemical irritants, including toxic fumes and chemicals, leads to respiratory cilia and epithelial cell injuries, which turn to severe bronchospasm and alveolar damage and results in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Respiratory management plays a vital role in the treatment of smoke inhalation injury. Read More

Rev Prat 2018 Dec;68(10):1087-1091

Centre de traitement des brûlés, hôpital d'instruction des armées Percy, Clamart, France.

Acute inpatient treatment of severe burns. Acute in-hospital care of severely burned patients intricately combines surgery and intensive care. Systemic and supportive care is centered on hemodynamic management of the initial plasmorrhagic shock, airway control, enteral nutrition in order to compensate for hypercatabolism, analgesia and adjuncts. Read More

Inhal Toxicol 2018 Nov - Dec;30(13-14):553-567. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

a Altria Client Services LLC , Richmond , VA , USA.

We compared early biological changes in mice after inhalation exposures to cigarette smoke or e-vapor aerosols (MarkTen cartridge with Carrier, Test-1, or Test-2 formulations; 4% nicotine). Female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 3R4F cigarette smoke or e-vapor aerosols by nose-only inhalation for up to 4 hours/day, 5 days/week, for 3 weeks. The 3R4F and e-vapor exposures were set to match the target nose port aerosol nicotine concentration (∼41 µg/L). Read More

J Biosci 2019 Mar;44(1)

Department of Respiration, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, China.

To examine the protective effect of transplanting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in treating lung injuryinduced by smoke exposure and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this protection. SD rats were randomlydivided into four groups: normal group, normal +BMSC group, smoke group, and smoke +BMSC group. Todetect lung injury, we measured arterial blood gas, the wet-to-dry weight ratio, and levels of interleukin-1b, tumor necrosisfactor-a, interleukin-10, and interleukin-13 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissues. Read More

Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2019 Jun 26;104:29-38. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

British American Tobacco, Research & Development, Regents Park Road, Southampton, SO158TL, United Kingdom.

This publication is part of a series of 3 publications and describes the clinical assessment performed to fulfill the regulatory requirement per Art. 6 (2) of the EU Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU under which Member States require manufacturers and importers of cigarettes and Roll Your Own tobacco containing an additive that is included in the priority list established by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/787 to carry out comprehensive studies (European Union, 2016). In our clinical study, two distinct end points were investigated, namely measuring plasma nicotine pharmacokinetics as a measure of nicotine uptake, and analyses of changes in smoker puffing behavior as a measure of cigarette smoke inhalation. Read More

Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi 2018 Dec;36(12):921-922

Rev Invest Clin 2019 ;71(1):70-78

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fundación Médica Sur, Mexico City, Mexico.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex and heterogeneous entity that may result from different causative agents and risk factors and may follow diverse clinical courses, including COPD secondary to biomass smoke exposure. At present, this phenotype is becoming more important for two reasons: first, because at least almost half of the world's population is exposed to biomass smoke, and second, because the possibility of it being diagnosed is increasing. Biomass smoke exposure COPD affects primarily women and is related with insults to the airways occurred during early life. Read More

AAPS PharmSciTech 2019 Feb 25;20(3):124. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA.

The interest of quinoline as a contaminant agent and as scaffold for the development of new therapeutic agent warrants to revisit the pH-solubility behavior of quinoline (Q) and quinoline derivatives (Q-derivatives) with possible salting-out effect. Q is a weak base with potential hazard upon exposure that may be occupational by inhalation or ingestion of or dermal exposure to particulates in certain industries; or simply by inhalation of cigarette smoke. In contrast, quinoline and its derivatives are useful in diverse therapeutic applications such as anticancer, antiseptic, antipyretic, antiviral, and antimalarial. Read More

Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2019 Jun 21;104:84-97. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Philip Morris International, Philip Morris International Management SA, Avenue de Rhodanie 50, 1001, Lausanne, Switzerland.

This paper is part of a series of 3 publications and describes the non-clinical and clinical assessment performed to fulfill the regulatory requirement per Art. 6 (2) of the EU Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU; under which Member States shall require manufacturers and importers of cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco containing an additive that is included in the priority list established by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/787 to carry out comprehensive studies. The Directive requires manufacturers and importers of cigarettes and Roll Your Own tobacco to examine for each additive whether it; contributes to and increases the toxicity or addictiveness of tobacco products to a significant or measurable degree; if it leads to a characterizing flavor of the product; if it facilitates inhalation or nicotine uptake, and if it results in the formation of CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic) constituents and if these substances increase the CMR properties of the respective tobacco product to a significant or measurable degree. Read More

Iran J Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Jan;31(102):55-59

Department of Humanities, Language and Information, Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea.

Introduction: Laryngeal burns cause long-term voice disorders due to mucosal changes of the vocal folds. Inhalation injuries affect voice production and result in changes in the mucosal thickness and voice quality.

Case Report: A 47-year-old woman was transferred to our department with laryngeal burns sustained during a house fire. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019 Apr 18;26(11):10835-10845. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Cigarette sidestream smoke particulate matter (CSSP) is a major source of airborne metals in the indoor environment. However, the health impacts of inhalation of CSSP-bound metals are rarely studied. In this study, we quantify the amount of 37 metals discharged through CSSP from a leading Taiwan brand of cigarette, Long Life. Read More

Respir Res 2019 Feb 15;20(1):36. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Respiratory, The Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.

Background: Lung injury due to zinc chloride smoke inhalation is very common in military personnel and leads to a high incidence of pulmonary complications and mortality. The aim of this study was to uncover the underlying mechanisms of lung injury due to zinc chloride smoke inhalation using a rat model.

Methods: Histopathology analysis of rat lungs after zinc chloride smoke inhalation was performed by using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Mallory staining. Read More

J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Unites States Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA Ft. Sam Houston, TX.

Food Chem Toxicol 2019 Apr 12;126:113-141. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

PMI R&D, Philip Morris Products S.A., Quai Jeanrenaud 5, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Smoking is one of the major modifiable risk factors in the development and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Modified-risk tobacco products (MRTP) are being developed to provide substitute products for smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit, to lessen the smoking-related health risks. In this study, the ApoE mouse model was used to investigate the impact of cigarette smoke (CS) from the reference cigarette 3R4F, or aerosol from two potential MRTPs based on the heat-not-burn principle, carbon heated tobacco product 1. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 13;9(1):1996. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA.

The objective of the current study was to determine if age, diet, and genetic disposition (animal strain) in an animal model had early effects on specific molecular markers in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Three strains [Sprague-Dawley (SD), Fischer 344 (F344), and Brown-Norway (BN)] of male rats were maintained on a high-fat (HF) or regular diet. Blood was collected at 4, 12, and 24 wk to assess chemistry and to recover PBMCs. Read More

Pharmacol Ther 2019 Feb 10. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Rochester, NY 14642, United States; Lung Biology and Disease Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, United States; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, United States. Electronic address:

Exposure to air pollution and other environmental inhalation hazards, such as occupational exposures to dusts and fumes, aeroallergens, and tobacco smoke, is a significant cause of chronic lung inflammation leading to respiratory disease. It is now recognized that resolution of inflammation is an active process controlled by a novel family of small lipid mediators termed "specialized pro-resolving mediators" or SPMs, derived mainly from dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Chronic inflammation results from an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and pro-resolution pathways. Read More

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2019 10;2019:9236742. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.

Objective: Moxibustion is a complementary therapy that has been used for thousands of years. Burning moxa produces smoke and inhalable particulates. Recent research has indicated that smoke inhalation is associated with negative lung effects. Read More

Environ Toxicol 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.

Previous studies have reported that cigarette smoke and cigarette smoke extract (CSE) have negative effects on embryonic development. However, no studies have investigated the mechanism through which CSE affects the cellular signaling pathway leading to apoptosis and oxidative stress in embryonic cells, or how the two pathways are cross-linked. Thus, we studied the effects of CSE on apoptosis and oxidative stress in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Read More

Behav Pharmacol 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Few studies have explored the effects of the combined use of alcohol and cigarette in humans, despite its prevalence. Here we evaluated the effect of isolated and combined use on behaviors and neuronal parameters in rats. Male adult rats were divided into alcohol (AL, 2 g/kg, by oral gavage), cigarette smoke (TB, six cigarettes, by inhalation), combined use (ALTB), or control (CT, water by oral gavage and environmental air) groups, treated twice a day (09. Read More

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2019 6;2019:1216305. Epub 2019 Jan 6.

Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Respiratory Disease, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China.

Background: Cell apoptosis is an important mechanism underlying skeletal muscle dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, and mitochondrial dysfunction is recognized as a central aspect contributing to skeletal muscle deterioration. Bufei Jianpi granules have been confirmed effective for improving motor function in COPD patients, but the specific mechanism for this improved function remains unknown. This study explored the mechanisms by which Bufei Jianpi granules improve cell apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in COPD. Read More

Pain Ther 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Valley Anesthesiology and Pain Consultants, Phoenix, AZ, USA.

Cannabis users have long reported therapeutic properties of the plant for a variety of conditions, some of which include nausea, emesis, seizures, cancer, neurogenic diseases and pain control. Research has elucidated many cannabinoid pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, expanding the potential use of cannabinoids as a medical therapy. Due to the inconsistent delivery and control of the active components involved with smoking, pharmaceutical companies are investigating and prioritizing routes other than smoke inhalation for therapeutic use of cannabinoids. Read More

Cells 2019 Feb 3;8(2). Epub 2019 Feb 3.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA.

Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process involving autolysosomal degradation of cellular components, including protein aggregates, damaged organelles (such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and others), as well as various pathogens. Thus, the autophagy pathway represents a major adaptive response for the maintenance of cellular and tissue homeostasis in response to numerous cellular stressors. A growing body of evidence suggests that autophagy is closely associated with diverse human diseases. Read More

Proteomics Clin Appl 2019 03 11;13(2):e1800093. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, 3015 GE, Netherlands.

The goal of this manuscript is to explore the role of clinical proteomics for detecting mutations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer by mass spectrometry-based technology. COPD and lung cancer caused by smoke inhalation are most likely linked by challenging the immune system via partly shared pathways. Genome-wide association studies have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms which predispose an increased susceptibility to COPD and lung cancer. Read More

Environ Sci Technol 2019 Mar 25;53(5):2788-2798. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States.

The chemical constituents of fine particulate matter (PM) vary by source and capacity to participate in redox reactions in the body, which produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Knowledge of the sources and components of PM may provide insight into the adverse health effects associated with the inhalation of PM mass. We collected 48 h household and personal PM exposure measurements in the summer months among 50 women/household pairs in a rural area of southwestern China where daily household biomass burning is common. Read More

Anal Bioanal Chem 2019 Mar 25;411(7):1397-1407. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M1, Canada.

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (OH-Pyr) is widely used for biomonitoring human exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from air pollution and tobacco smoke. However, there have been few rigorous validation studies reported to ensure reliable OH-Pyr determination for occupational health and risk assessment. Herein, we report an inter-laboratory method comparison for urinary OH-Pyr when using gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on urine specimens collected from firefighters (n = 42) deployed at the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Mar 10;657:1409-1418. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK. Electronic address:

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that has been increasingly regulated over the past few decades. The main exposure routes for the general public are the consumption of certain foods and the inhalation of cigarette smoke. However, additional exposure may occur through the current and historical use of the metal in consumer products. Read More

Phytomedicine 2019 Mar 8;55:70-79. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address:

Background: Eucalyptol is a monoterpenoid oil present in many plants, principally the Eucalyptus species, and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects.

Hypothesis/purpose: Since the potential effect of eucalyptol on mouse lung repair has not yet been studied, and considering that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, the aim of this study was to investigate eucalyptol treatment in emphysematous mice.

Study Design: Male mice (C57BL/6) were divided into the following groups: control (sham-exposed), cigarette smoke (CS) (mice exposed to 12 cigarettes a day for 60 days), CS + 1 mg/ml (CS mice treated with 1 mg/ml eucalyptol for 60 days), and CS + 10 mg/ml (CS mice treated with 10 mg/ml eucalyptol for 60 days). Read More

J Occup Environ Hyg 2019 Jan 22:1-13. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

b School of Engineering - Mechanical and Automotive , RMIT University , Bundoora , Victoria , Australia.

Understanding the inhalation, transport and deposition of smoke particles during fire missions are important to evaluating the health risks for firefighters. In this study, measurements from Underwriters Laboratories' large-scale fire experiments on smoke particle size distribution and concentration in three residential fire scenes were incorporated into models to investigate the fate of inhaled toxic ultrafine particulates in a realistic firefighter nasal cavity model. Deposition equations were developed, and the actual particle dosimetry (in mass, number and surface area) was evaluated. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 01 17;16(2). Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

The inhalation of particulate matter (PM) in second-hand smoke (SHS) is hazardous to health of smokers and non-smokers. Tobacco strength (amount of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide) and different additives might have an effect on the amount of PM. This study aimed to investigate the influence of tobacco strength or additives on PM. Read More

Microvasc Res 2019 05 15;123:92-98. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address:

Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by systemic maternal endothelial dysfunction. Changes in endothelial reactivity have been reported before the onset of clinical signs of PE, and continuing into the post-partum period. Women who smoke during pregnancy have a 33% reduced risk of developing PE. Read More

Forensic Sci Int 2019 Feb 6;295:207-212. Epub 2019 Jan 6.

Landeskriminalamt Nordrhein-Westfalen, KTI - Teildezernat 51.2 Betäubungsmittel, Völklinger Strasse 49, 40221, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Highly potent cannabis concentrates obtained by butane or by supercritical carbon dioxide-extraction are gaining popularity. These extracts called butane hash oil (BHO) with Δ-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA) contents above 60% are consumed by flash vaporization on a glowing titanium nail, followed by inhalation of the resulting vapor through a water pipe in a single puff - a technique referred to as "dabbing". We herein investigated the decarboxylation rate of THCA during artificial smoking of cannabis plant material and simulated dabbing, and the lung availability of Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which we define as the recovery of THC in the smoke and vapor condensates. Read More

Food Chem Toxicol 2019 Mar 3;125:182-189. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

The present study aimed to determine the effects of cigarette smoke on the regulation of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes in male BALB/c mice exposed to nose-only cigarette smoke for 4 days. There were no significant increases in serum liver injury markers (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) or oxidative stress (total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and glutathione disulfide/reduced glutathione) following cigarette smoke exposure, but malondialdehyde was elevated in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of smoke-exposed mice. Additionally, the hepatic microsomal protein levels of Cyp1a and Cyp2b, and the activities of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, pentoxyresorufin O-depenylase, and chlorzoxazone 6-hydrxylase, were elevated in smoke-exposed mice. Read More

Chem Res Toxicol 2019 Jan 4;32(1):139-145. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Division of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine , Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital , Bucheon , Gyeonggi-do Republic of Korea 14584.

Acrolein, an α/β-unsaturated aldehyde, is volatile at room temperature. It is a respiratory irritant found in environmental tobacco smoke, which can be generated during cooking or endogenously at sites of injury. An acute high concentration of uncontrolled irritant exposure can lead to an asthma-like syndrome known as reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS). Read More

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019 Mar 3;316(3):L470-L486. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Aldehydes in cigarette smoke (CS) impair mitochondrial function and reduce ciliary beat frequency (CBF), leading to diminished mucociliary clearance (MCC). However, the effects of aldehyde e-cigarette flavorings on CBF are unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether cinnamaldehyde, a flavoring agent commonly used in e-cigarettes, disrupts mitochondrial function and impairs CBF on well-differentiated human bronchial epithelial (hBE) cells. Read More

Mol Ther 2019 Feb 6;27(2):442-455. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Immunology and Nanomedicine, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA. Electronic address:

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), signaling induced by cigarette smoke (CS), plays an important role in the progression of airway diseases, like chronic bronchitis associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and in smokers. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by reduced mucociliary clearance (MCC). Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) plays an important role in normal MCC. Read More

Mutat Res 2019 Jan 29;837:65-72. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, USA. Electronic address:

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a genotoxic carcinogen found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Several in vitro and in vivo assays have been used for evaluating the genotoxicity of tobacco smoke and tobacco smoke constituents like NNK, yet it is not clear which in vitro assays are most appropriate for extrapolating the in vitro responses of these test agents to animal models and humans. The Pig-a gene mutation assay can be performed in vitro, in laboratory animals, and in humans, a potential benefit in estimating in vivo responses from in vitro data. Read More

Med Hypotheses 2019 Jan 22;122:48-55. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Department of Rheumatology, Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Truro, UK. Electronic address:

Nodular rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have raised rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) levels, and are more likely to smoke than RA patients without nodules. Subcutaneous and pulmonary rheumatoid nodules (granulomas) frequently co-exist. Pulmonary rheumatoid nodules develop prior to RA development and have the immunological machinery to generate RF and ACPAs. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2019 Mar 21;303:55-66. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Cigarette smoke is responsible for many fatal pulmonary diseases, however, the toxic mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we first confirmed that whole cigarette smoke condensates (WCSC) contain hydrophilic elements, lipophilic and gaseous components. Then, we treated BEAS-2B cells, a normal human bronchial epithelial cell line, at dosages of 0. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2019 Feb 13;110:727-732. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Immunology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China. Electronic address:

Cigarette smoke (CS) is a very important cause of pulmonary inflammatory diseases. Interleukin (IL)-35 is a novel anti-inflammatory cytokine but its role in CS-mediated lung inflammation remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the effect of IL-35 expression on CS-induced lung inflammation in mice. Read More

Eur Respir J 2018 Dec 6;52(6). Epub 2018 Dec 6.

1st Respiratory Medicine Dept, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.

Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2018;13:3707-3717. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Department of Pneumology and Allergy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland,

Background: COPD represents a major global health issue, which is often accompanied by cardiovascular diseases. A considerable body of evidence suggests that cardiovascular risk is elevated by the activation of blood platelets, which in turn is exacerbated by inflammation. As reactive oxygen species are believed to be an important factor in platelet metabolism and functioning, the aim of our study was to perform a complex assessment of mitochondrial function in platelets in chronic smoke exposed animals with COPD-like lung lesions. Read More