Seasonal variations in air pollution particle-induced inflammatory mediator release and oxidative stress.
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2005-08
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Abstract
Health effects associated with particulate matter (PM) show seasonal variations. We hypothesized that these heterogeneous effects may be attributed partly to the differences in the elemental composition of PM. Normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells and alveolar macrophages (AMs) were exposed to equal mass of coarse [PM with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5-10 microm (PM(2.5-10)], fine (PM(2.5)), and ultrafine (PM(<0.1)) ambient PM from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, during October 2001 (fall) and January (winter), April (spring), and July (summer) 2002. Production of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured. Coarse PM was more potent in inducing cytokines, but not ROSs, than was fine or ultrafine PM. In AMs, the October coarse PM was the most potent stimulator for IL-6 release, whereas the July PM consistently stimulated the highest ROS production measured by dichlorofluorescein acetate and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR). In NHBE cells, the January and the October PM were consistently the strongest stimulators for IL-8 and ROS, respectively. The July PM increased only ROS measured by DHR. PM had minimal effects on chemiluminescence. Principal-component analysis on elemental constituents of PM of all size fractions identified two factors, Cr/Al/Si/Ti/Fe/Cu and Zn/As/V/Ni/Pb/Se, with only the first factor correlating with IL-6/IL-8 release. Among the elements in the first factor, Fe and Si correlated with IL-6 release, whereas Cr correlated with IL-8 release. These positive correlations were confirmed in additional experiments with PM from all 12 months. These results indicate that elemental constituents of PM may in part account for the seasonal variations in PM-induced adverse health effects related to lung inflammation.
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Becker, Susanne, Lisa A Dailey, Joleen M Soukup, Steven C Grambow, Robert B Devlin and Yuh-Chin T Huang (2005). Seasonal variations in air pollution particle-induced inflammatory mediator release and oxidative stress. Environmental health perspectives, 113(8). pp. 1032–1038. 10.1289/ehp.7996 Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/22250.
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Steven C. Grambow
Transforming research education through innovation, mentorship, and collaboration.
Steven C. Grambow, PhD is Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Education in the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at Duke University School of Medicine. He serves as Director of the Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP), Duke’s flagship degree-granting program for clinical and translational research education, and as Co-Director of the Workforce Development Pillar of the Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Dr. Grambow provides strategic oversight for multiple educational and workforce development initiatives that span the full continuum of learners, from students to faculty.
With over two decades of experience in graduate and professional education, Dr. Grambow has taught statistical methods and research design to more than 1,000 physician-scientists, clinical fellows, and faculty at Duke and the NIH. He has led the CRTP’s core statistics course for over 21 years and has directed or co-directed national and international certificate programs across multiple institutions. His expertise spans classroom, hybrid, and online environments, and he has served as a leader in designing programs that respond to evolving workforce and research needs.
A central focus of Dr. Grambow’s work is building pathways into clinical and translational research careers. He has cultivated longstanding partnerships with academic and community institutions, including North Carolina Central University and Durham Technical Community College, to create educational models that prepare learners for impactful roles in research. His efforts emphasize strong mentorship, practical experience, and tailored program design to meet learners where they are and help them advance.
Dr. Grambow is also at the forefront of educational innovation, leading initiatives that explore the integration of artificial intelligence into biostatistical training and academic workflows. His current work includes faculty development in AI literacy, emerging pedagogical models that support active learning and reflective practice, and new frameworks for clinical research education that emphasize adaptability and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
As a collaborative statistical scientist, Dr. Grambow has contributed to a wide range of clinical research studies, including observational studies, randomized trials, and epidemiologic investigations. His research collaborations have addressed public health and clinical challenges such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), prostate cancer, cardiovascular risk reduction, and substance use recovery.
Dr. Grambow’s leadership has been recognized through institutional and national awards, including teaching honors from the American Statistical Association and Duke University. He brings a unique combination of academic rigor, educational strategy, and programmatic leadership to his roles, helping to shape the future of clinical research training through thoughtful innovation and sustained collaboration.

Yuh-Chin Tony Huang
Closed loop ventilation
Environmental medicine
Oxidative lung injury
COPD
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