Silver sulfide (Ag2S) quantum dots (QDs) are highly promising nanomaterials in bioimaging systems due to their high activities for both imaging and drug/gene delivery. There is insufficient research on the toxicity of Ag2S QDs coated with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). In this study, we aimed to determine the cytotoxicity of Ag2S QDs coated with DMSA in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79) cells over a wide range of concentrations (5-2000 μg/mL). Cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and neutral red uptake (NRU) assays. The genotoxic and apoptotic effects of DMSA/Ag2S QDs were also assessed by comet assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction technique, respectively. Cell viability was 54.0±4.8% and 65.7±4.1% at the highest dose (2000 μg/mL) of Ag2S QDs using the MTT and NRU assays, respectively. Although cell viability decreased above 400 μg/mL (MTT assay) and 800 μg/mL (NRU assay), DNA damage was not induced by DMSA/Ag2S QDs at the studied concentrations. The mRNA expression levels of p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax, Bcl-2, and survivin genes were altered in the cells exposed to 500 and 1000 μg/mL DMSA/Ag2S QDs. The cytotoxic effects of DMSA/Ag2S QDs may occur at high doses through the apoptotic pathways. However, DMSA/Ag2S QDs appear to be biocompatible at low doses, making them well suited for cell labeling applications.

This study compared surface roughness, monomer release, and, cytotoxicity of temporary fixed prosthetic materials manufactured using the conventional, CAD/CAM milling and 3D printing methods. Disc-shaped samples (2 mm height, 5 mm diameter) were prepared from four materials [polyethyl methacrylate/polymethyl methacrylate (Dentalon Plus-DP), bis-acrylic composite resin (Protemp 4-PT), polymethyl methacrylate CAD/CAM disc (On Dent), and methacrylate-based resin (QuraCROWN Temp)]. Surface roughness was measured with a profilometer; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for surface characterization. Following 24, 72, and 120 h of artificial saliva incubation for the samples, the obtained extracts were evaluated for cytotoxicity by performing 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test in the mouse fibroblast cell. Monomer release from the test samples was analyzed by High‑Performance Liquid Chromatography. Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was performed to evaluate the chemical composition of artificial saliva extracts. Cell viability was assessed by one-way ANOVA, and surface roughness by Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests. No monomer was detected in artificial saliva for any materials. The FTIR spectroscopy of the extracts did not show any peaks corresponding to these monomer or polymer structures, indicating that no residual monomer or polymer was released into the artificial saliva after exposure to artificial saliva. 3D-printed materials were significantly more cytotoxic than the other three test materials at all time points and dilutions (p < 0.05). The highest cell viability rates were detected in CAD/CAM milling (99.43 ± 3.79) at 24 h and PT materials (100.47 ± 5.31) at 72 h for 1:8 dilution. At 1:4 dilution, except for the DP-3D printing test groups, the other groups show similar cell viability rates with the control group (p > 0.05). Digitally manufactured materials had lower roughness than conventionally produced ones (p < 0.05). CAD/CAM milling and PT materials were the most biocompatible, while 3D-printed material was found to be cytotoxic. CAD/CAM milling and PT materials may offer safe and effective options for temporary prosthetic restorations. Although DP showed acceptable results, it was less effective than CAD/CAM milling and PT materials. Due to their cytotoxicity, 3D-printed materials require further investigation before clinical use.

Background: Manganese (Mn) exposure is common in welding and metal-processing occupations and has been implicated in both thyroid disruption and endothelial dysfunction through oxidative and nitric-oxide–related pathways. However, endocrine and vascular biomarkers have rarely been examined together in occupational settings. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 95 Mn-exposed workers and 95 non-exposed controls were evaluated. Whole-blood Mn, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), arginine and citrulline were measured using validated Inductively Coupled Plasma—Mass Spectrometer and chemiluminescent immunoassays. Group differences were assessed using independent samples t-tests, and exposure–biomarker associations were evaluated using Pearson correlations (p < 0.05). Results: Mn-exposed workers had significantly higher blood Mn levels than controls (19.82 ± 4.54 vs. 10.22 ± 3.07 µg/L; p < 0.001). Thyroid hormones (T3, T4, and TSH) were significantly lower among Mn workers, representing a non-classical hormonal pattern, including T3 (2.47 ± 0.31 vs. 3.14 ± 0.42 ng/L; p < 0.001), T4 (1.02 ± 0.13 vs. 1.21 ± 0.18 ng/L; p < 0.001), and TSH (1.75 ± 0.53 vs. 2.88 ± 0.37 mIU/L; p < 0.001). Endothelial biomarkers also differed: ADMA (0.26 ± 0.14 vs. 0.19 ± 0.08 µmol/L; p < 0.001) and SDMA (0.24 ± 0.06 vs. 0.20 ± 0.03 µmol/L; p < 0.001) were higher, while citrulline was lower (18.77 ± 10.23 vs. 22.82 ± 6.70 µmol/L; p = 0.002). In Mn workers, blood Mn showed negative correlations with T3 (r = –0.535, p < 0.01), T4 (r = –0.331, p < 0.01), and TSH (r = –0.652, p < 0.01), and positive correlations with ADMA (r = 0.205, p < 0.05) and SDMA (r = 0.193, p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings indicate measurable differences in thyroid hormones and dimethylarginine-related endothelial markers among Mn-exposed workers. While the cross-sectional design precludes causal inference, the combined pattern suggests a possible unusual biological response involving both endocrine regulation and nitric-oxide–related pathways. Further longitudinal studies incorporating oxidative stress markers, co-exposure assessment, and functional endothelial testing are needed to clarify the biological relevance of these associations.

Günümüzde bitkisel ürünlerin güvenli olduğu düşüncesiyle birçok hastalığın tedavisinde veya önlenmesinde kullanımlarının artığı gözlenmektedir. Özellikle bitkisel ürünlerin içeriğinde bulunan birçok fenolik bileşenin insanda birçok metabolik faaliyete neden olduğu düşünülmektedir. Ancak bitkisel ürünlerin toksisiteleri ile ilgili oldukça az çalışma bulunması bitkisel ilaçların güvenliklerini azaltmakta ve insanlar için tehlikeli bir durum oluşturmaktadır. Özellikle kontrollerinin yetersiz olması ve bu bitkisel ürünlere kolayca erişilebilme durumunun artması insan sağlığını oldukça etkilemektedir. Bu derleme kapsamında, günümüzde özellikle halk arasında yaygın olarak kullanılan fenolik bileşiklerden kurkumin ve timokinon kullanımları sonucu oluşabilecek etkileri incelenmiştir.

Son yıllarda mikroplastiklerin insan sağlığına ve kapsamlı doğal çevreye etkisi konusunda artan endişeler var. Bu parçacıklar sabunlar, kişisel bakım ürünleri ve daha büyük plastik eşyaların kalıntıları gibi çeşitli kaynaklardan gelir. Mikroplastiklerin çevresel etkilerinin yanı sıra ekonomik etkileri de önemlidir; balıkçılık ve turizm gibi endüstriler çevredeki mikroplastiklerin varlığından etkilenmektedir. Endişe verici bir sorun olan plastik kirliliğine çözüm bulmak kolay olmasa da, bu sorunla ilgili geniş kapsamlı farkındalığın teşvik edilmesinin bazı olumlu etkileri olabileceği düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışma ile sağlık hizmetleri meslek yüksekokulunda öğrenim gören öğrencilerin, mikroplastik kirliliği konusunda farkındalıklarının artırılması amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda, mikroplastik kirliliği konusunda öğrencilere eğitim verilmesi ve ön test-son test uygulaması yapılarak öğrencilerin farkındalıklarındaki değişimin ölçülmesi hedeflenmiştir. Mikroplastik Kirliliği Farkındalık Ölçeği, Lokman Hekim Üniversitesi Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksekokulu Tıbbi Laboratuvar Teknikleri ve Eczane Hizmetleri Programlarında öğrenim gören 106 öğrenciye, mikroplastik kirliliği eğitimi vermeden önce ve verdikten sonra uygulanmıştır. Sonuçlar istatistiksel analizlerle değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmanın sonucunda mikroplastik eğitimi verildikten sonra öğrencilerin mikrplastik kirliliği konusunda farkındalıklarının; yaş, cinsiyet, program ve sınıf gibi gruplar içerisinde önemli düzeyde arttığı görüldü (p