A third of the world's population uses solid fuel derived from plant material (biomass) or coal
for cooking, heating, or lighting. These fuels are smoky, often used in an open fire or simple …

Chronic exposure to indoor biomass smoke from the combustion of solid organic fuels is a
major cause of disease burden worldwide. Almost 3 billion people use solid fuels such as …

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in the regulation of the tissue
microenvironment and in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Several proteins with a …

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that degrade proteins of the
extracellular matrix and the basement membrane. Thus, these enzymes regulate airway …

Several studies have implicated a causative role for specific matrix metalloproteinases
(MMPs) in the development and progression of cigarette smoke-induced chronic obstructive …

Approximately 3 billion people around the world cook and heat their homes using solid fuels
in open fires and rudimentary stoves, resulting in household air pollution. Household air …

Background Exposure to noxious gases and particles contained in both tobacco smoking
(TS) and biomass smoke (BS) are well recognized environmental risk factors for chronic …

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation play key roles in the pathogenesis of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Astaxanthin (AXT) is a keto-carotenoid with a variety …

Background Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is associated with various health effects.
Physico-chemical properties influence the toxicological impact of PM, nonetheless the …

This study assesses the effects of long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants on
inflammatory response and lung function. We selected 390 male coke oven workers with …