Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are mainly composed of magnetizable particles and elastic polymer. The polymer matrix plays an important role in mechanical performances of MREs. In this study, the polyurethane (PU), which is synthesized by using toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and poly (propylene glycol) (PPG-220), is selected as a matrix because it has better degradation stability than natural...

T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes are key players in allergic asthma, with B-lymphocytes producing antigen-specific immunoglobulins E (IgE). We used a mouse model of chemical-induced asthma and transferred B-lymphocytes from sensitized animals into naïve wild type mice, B-lymphocyte knock-out (B-KO) mice or severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. On days 1 and 8, BALB/c mice were dermally s...

Aluminum aminoterephthalate MOF particulate materials (NH(2)-MIL-101(Al) and NH(2)-MIL-53(Al)), studied here as components of self-detoxifying surfaces, retained their reactivity following their covalent attachment to protective surfaces utilizing a newly developed strategy in which the MOF particles were deposited on a reactive adhesive composed of polyisobutylene/toluene diisocyanate (PIB/TDI...

An attempt was made to clarify the additive suppressive effects of pranlukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene-receptor (LTR) antagonist, in combination with chlorpheniramine, an antihistamine, on the up-regulation of histamine H1-receptor (H1R) mRNA in toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI)-sensitized rats. Although pre-treatment with pranlukast partially, but significantly, suppressed TDI-induced up-regulati...

THREE DIISOCYANATES CAN CAUSE OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA (OA): toluene diisocyanate (TDI), 4,4 diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). We analyzed potential biomarkers of isocyanate-induced OA, based on investigated immunologic, genetic, neurogenic, and protein markers, because there is no serological testing method. The prevalence of serum IgG to cytokeratin (CK)...

Diisocyanates (dNCOs) are low molecular weight chemical sensitizers that react with autologous proteins to produce neoantigens. dNCO-haptenated proteins have been used as immunogens for generation of dNCO-specific antibodies and as antigens to screen for dNCO-specific antibodies in exposed individuals. Detection of dNCO-specific antibodies in exposed individuals for diagnosis of dNCO asthma has...

Two cases of paraoccupational asthma caused by toluene diisocyanate (TDI) are reported. The first patient was a metal worker in a machine shop situated near a factory producing polyurethane foam. Symptoms at work were not explainable by any specific exposure to irritants or allergens in the work site. As the patient recalled previous occasional work in the adjacent polyurethane factory with acc...

Isocyanate exposure in the workplace has been linked to asthma and allergic rhinitis. Recently, investigators have proposed that Th2 cytokine responses in lymph nodes draining the site of dermal application of chemicals including isocyanates may be used to identify sensitizers that cause asthma-like responses. The purpose of this study was to determine if the cytokine profile induced after derm...