Microplastics are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that are a growing concern to many ecosystems, as well as human health. Many of the effects of microplastics on mammalian cells and tissues remain unknown. To address this, we treated L929 murine fibroblasts and Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cell lines with 1 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL, or 20 μg/mL of polyethylene (PE) or polystyrene (PS) microspheres in vitro for 6 and 24 h and measured the resulting changes in cell viability, metabolism, and transcriptional expression of inflammatory cytokines and antioxidant enzymes. We observed dose-dependent decreases in cell viability corresponding to increases in doses of both PE and PS. We conducted cell metabolism assays and observed dose-dependent increases in metabolism per cell with increasing doses of both PE and PS. Similarly, we also observed increased expression of the superoxide dismutase-3 gene ( SOD3 ), indicating oxidative stress caused by the microplastics treatments. We also observed increased expression of TNFα , but decreased expression of IFNβ , suggesting different mechanisms by which the microplastics regulate inflammatory responses in mammalian cells. Our results contribute new data to the growing understanding of the effects of microplastics on mammalian cells and indicate complex cellular stress responses to microplastics in the environment.

The importance of understanding all gender facial differences is critical in providing a successful cosmetic outcome. Men are a growing segment of the cosmetic industry. Understanding of the male face and its appropriate treatment with minimally invasive cosmetic procedures are essential. The aim was to investigate various facial ratios in Indian American men and to compare them with the Indian and Caucasian norms. Additionally, we wanted to evaluate whether these values satisfy golden and silver ratios. Direct facial anthropometric measurements were made using a digital caliper in 100 Indian American men students (18–30 years) at the American University of Antigua (AUA), Antigua. A set of facial ratios were calculated and compared with coefficients of variation (CV). Most of the facial ratios had small CV thus making them highly reliable due to reduced intra-sample variability. The upper face to face height and mandibulo upper face height indices were close to golden ratios whereas mandibulo lower face height, upper face height biocular width, and nasal indices were close to silver ratios. There was significant difference in most of the values when compared with previous studies. The present facial ratios data can be used as a reference value for Indian American men.

Background: For the perception of facial attractiveness, the orbital region in the face acts as a key determinant factor. The Orbitofacial measurements vary with sex and race. Orbital region in the face is one of the most important regions in plastic, reconstructive and ophthalmic surgery and anthropometric evaluation. There are no reports available on the Orbitofacial anthropometry in Indian American population.

Introduction: All humans have same features in the face. But, their proportions and relationships vary one face from another even within the group or race. The balance and harmony of various facial features are essential to the surgeon who requires facial analysis in the diagnosis and treatment planning. Facial proportions are well discussed in western populations, but only a limited number of studies exist for Asian Americans.Objectives: To determine the normal average horizontal facial proportions, to determine the proportions of lowerface height and to determine any significant sex differences that exist in the Indian American students of American University of Antigua (AUA), Antigua. Methods:The direct anthropometric measurements (horizontal thirds of the face and proportions of lowerface height) were carried out using digital caliper in 100 men and 100 women Indian American students (18-30years) of AUA, Antigua and compared between sexes. Results:The Midface height and lowerface height were higher in men than women whereas the forehead height was higher in women compared to men. The Midface height was higher than the lowerface and forehead heights in both sexes. The forehead, Midface and lowerface heights showed statistically significant sexual difference. The upper one third and the lower two third of the lowerface height proportions were significant sexual difference. Conclusion:Facial proportions are considered as ideal silhouette to facilitate the surgeon with facial analysis and add a quantifiable dimension to perioperative assessment in surgical facial treatments. The facial proportions data obtained in the present study can be used as a reference value for Indian Americans which can be made use of if they need to undergo facial surgeries in the United States of America (USA).

El equililbrio y la armonía de los diferentes rasgos de la cara son esenciales para el cirujano quien debe analizar la cara para poder planificar su tratamiento. La evaluación de la cara femenina se puede hacer por medio de medidas lineales, angulares y proporciones. El propósito de esta investigación es examinar  varias proporciones faciales en las mujeres aborígenes americanas y compararlas con las normas de las personas indias (de India) y las personas caucásicas. Tambien queriamos saber si estas normas satisfacen las proporciones de oro y de plata. Las medidas faciales antropometricas se tomaron utillizando un calibre digital en cien estudiantes aborigenes americanas (18-30 años) en la Universidad Americana de Antigua (AUA). Un conjunto de proporciones faciales fue calculado y comparado con las normas de las mujeres de la India y de las mujeres caucásicas. Los coeficientes de variación de las proporciones también se calcularon. Todas las proporciones faciales fueron similares con los informes anteriores sobre las mujeres de la India. La mayoría de las proporciones tenian pequeñas coeficientes de variación haciéndolas así muy confiables, debido a la reducción en la variabilidad de las muestras. El indice de altura de la parte superior de la cara,  la altura facial mandíbulo-inferior y la altura biocular de la parte superior de la cara se acercaban todos a las proporciones de oro mientras el indice nasal era casi una proporción de plata. Habian diferencias significativas en la mayoría de los resultados cuando se comparaban las estadísticas de los indios y las personas caucásicas utilizando evaluaciones desapareadas. Las estadís-ticas actuales de las proporciones faciales pueden ser utilizadas como valores de referencia para las mujeres aborígenes de América. The balance and harmony of various facial features are essential to surgeon who requires facial analysis in the diagnosis and treatment planning. The evaluation of female face can be made by various linear measurements, angles and ratios. The aim of this study was to investigate various facial ratios in Indian American women and to compare them with the Indian and Caucasian norms. Additionally, we wanted to evaluate whether these values satisfy golden and silver ratios. Direct facial anthropometric measur-ements were made using a digital caliper in 100 Indian American women students (18 - 30 years) at the American University of Antigua (AUA), Antigua. A set of facial ratios were calculated and compared with Indian and Caucasian norms. Coefficients of variation of the ratios were also calculated. All the facial ratios were found to be similar with previous reports on Indian women. Most of the facial ratios had small coefficients of variation thus making them highly reliable due to reduced intra-sample variability. The upper face-face height index, mandibulo-lower facial height and upper face height-biocular width index were close to golden ratios whereas the nasal index was close to a silver proportion. There was significant difference in most of the values when compared to Indian and Caucasian data using unpaired t test. The present facial ratios data can be used as a reference value for Indian American women.