Occupational and Environmental Medicine by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis: Φεβρουαρίου 2019

Πέμπτη 28 Φεβρουαρίου 2019

Prediabetes and diabetes prevalence in the Workers’ Oral Health Study

Abstract

Objective

To examine the association between periodontitis, diabetes, and prediabetes, assessed by fasting plasma glucose (FPG).

Materials and methods

Workers' Oral Health Study is a cross-sectional survey conducted on a representative sample of the Spanish employed population including 5154 participants (59.5% men, aged 16–65). Examination of periodontal status assessed Community Periodontal Index (CPI) and clinical attachment levels (CAL). Biochemical determinations included fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglycerides, and total cholesterol. Logistic regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounders was used to evaluate the association between periodontitis and abnormal glucose regulation.

Results

Ninety-five participants (2.2%) of the study population had diabetes, while 373 (8.8%) presented prediabetes. Prediabetes was not associated with CPI or CAL in fully adjusted multivariate logistic regressions models. Diabetes was significantly associated with subjects having a CPI 4 after adjustment for potential confounders (odds ratio OR = 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–3.1). This association was stronger in subjects < 45 years (OR = 4.0, 95% CI 1.2–12.7).

Conclusion

Periodontitis was associated with diabetes mellitus, but not with prediabetes, in a representative sample of the Spanish employed population. The association was stronger for younger subjects, which emphasizes the need for early detection of diabetes in younger patients affected by periodontitis, particularly because periodontal therapy may help to improve glycemic control.

Clinical relevance

Periodontitis is associated with diabetes mellitus, having at the same time a negative effect on glycemic control. It is important to develop proper early diagnosis strategies for both conditions, particularly in young male adults.

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Transcatheter mitral valve therapies

Abstract

Dr.O.P. Yadava, Editor-in-Chief, IJTC and Dr. V Bapat, Assistant Professor at Columbia University, New York, discuss issues related to slow development and uptake of transcatheter mitral valve replacement. Dr. Bapat stresses on the basic difference between transcatheter aortic and mitral valve interventions. He laments that issues related to mitral valve repair versus replacement and role of percutaneous MitraClip are still being hotly debated. He, however, is hopeful that technology shall evolve to make percutaneous options for secondary mitral regurgitation a viable proposition.

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Opportunities and challenges for thoracic organ transplantation in government institutions

Abstract

The first successful heart transplant in India was performed by Panangipalli Venugopal on 3 August 1994 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Twenty-five years later, only seven government institutions are performing heart transplants and only one government hospital has an established heart transplant program in India. Only one lung transplant has been performed in a government institution all over the country. This article reviews the history and current status of thoracic organ transplant in India. The authors discuss the factors responsible for the dismal progress of thoracic organ transplant in government hospitals, opportunities available in government institutions for widening the scope of transplant program, and the steps taken by the Government of India to improve healthcare in the country.

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Effect of temperature on thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of polypropylene foams prepared by single step and two step batch foaming process

Abstract

This study reports the influence of foaming temperature on morphological and thermo-mechanical characteristics of polypropylene (PP) foams prepared using two different methods of batch foaming at low saturation pressures. In the first method, involving single-step pressure-induced-foaming (PIF), the solid specimen was heated to different temperatures in a high-pressure vessel, and then saturated CO₂ under pressure. Depressurization then led to foaming. In the second method, involving a two-step temperature-induced-foaming (TIF), the solid specimen was saturated with pressurized CO₂ at room temperature for a specific period of time and then the CO₂ laden specimen was immersed in hot glycerol bath at different temperatures for foaming. SEM micrographs of the fractured foamed specimens were employed for measurement of cell-size distribution. The average cell sizes ranged between 3 and 310 μm in specimens obtained using PIF, while in case of foams prepared by TIF, the cell sizes ranged between 30 and 70 μm. The cell sizes achieved in TIF are significantly smaller and more uniform as compared to those in PIF foams. The density (0.393–0.186 g cm⁻³) of PIF foams was seen to decrease with increasing foaming temperature; in contrast, in case of TIF the density remained more or less unchanged around 0.43–0.47 g cm⁻³ with changes in foaming temperature. The foamed specimens were characterized in uniaxial compression; the stiffness (elastic and collapse moduli) and compressive strengths of both the PIF and TIF foams were seen to decrease with increase in cell-size. The magnitude of plateau-regime stresses within the compressive stress-strain response showed strong correlation with the foam cell-wall thickness. The crystallinity of the foamed specimens was observed to decrease with increase in foaming temperatures. The thermal stability of both PIF and TIF foams in general showed improvement compared with the PP matrix.

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Natural woodlands hold more diverse, abundant, and unique biota than novel anthropogenic forests: a multi-group assessment

Abstract

Biodiversity sustained by natural ecosystems, particularly forests, provides ecosystem services essential to human well-being. However, many forests have been severely transformed, notably via monospecific plantations and the spread of invasive species. Given the extension of these novel anthropogenic forests (plantations and invasive copses), it is critical to know how they can support forest biodiversity, particularly in highly humanized biodiversity hotspots as the southwest Mediterranean Europe. Because the effects likely vary across taxonomic groups, such assessments require an integrative multi-group approach. Here, we evaluated the abundance, richness, and composition of shrubs, herbs, macrofungi, ground and flying arthropods, birds, small mammals, carnivores, and bats across the four most common forest types in Central Portugal, namely: natural oak woodlands (dominated by Quercus faginea Lam.) and anthropogenic forests, invasive Acacia dealbata Link copses, Pinus pinaster Aiton plantations (native), and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations (exotic). Oak woodlands sustained higher abundance, diversity, and a unique species composition compared to the other forests, especially those dominated by exotic species. The greatest changes in biodiversity occurred in herbs and birds. Contrary to our expectations, species richness and composition of macrofungi and carnivores in acacia copses were similar to those of oak woodlands, revealing that groups respond differently to forest changes. The large-scale replacement of natural forests by novel anthropogenic forests has significant negative impacts in most, but not all groups, which should be actively considered for integrative conservation strategies.

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Carnosic Acid Inhibits CXCR3 Ligands Production in IL-27-Stimulated Human Oral Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Carnosic acid, which is a bioactive compound isolated from rosemary, has various pharmacological effects. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of carnosic acid on periodontitis is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of carnosic acid on CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) ligands, which are involved in Th1 cells migration and accumulation, production in interleukin (IL)-27-stimulated human oral epithelial cells (TR146 cells). Carnosic acid decreased CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL)9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 production in IL-27-stimulated TR146 cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Moreover, we disclosed that carnosic acid could suppress signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1, STAT3, and protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation in IL-27-stimulated TR146 cells. Furthermore, STAT1, STAT3, and Akt inhibitors could suppress CXCR3 ligands production in IL-27-treated TR146 cells. In summary, carnosic acid could reduce CXCR3 ligands production in human oral epithelial cell by inhibiting STAT1, STAT3, and Akt activation.

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Regulatory T Cells Could Improve Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Heatstroke

Abstract

Intestinal barrier dysfunction plays a pivotal role in multiorgan dysfunction during heatstroke (HS). Neutrophils are involved in intestinal inflammation and thus dampen the mucosal integrity. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been shown to orchestrate neutrophils and thus sustain mucosal integrity in miscellaneous inflammation-related diseases. However, whether Tregs are involved in HS-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction remains unknown. Thus, we investigated whether Tregs could alleviate intestinal barrier dysfunction in mice. We found that HS could induce intestinal injury and mucosal barrier dysfunction 0, 24, and 72 h after heat stress. Flow cytometry revealed an increase of neutrophil infiltration and a decrease of Treg frequencies in the small intestinal epithelium 72 h after heat stress. Treg depletion starting 2 days before HS exacerbated intestinal damage and mucosal barrier dysfunction. Adoptive transfer of Tregs at 0 h improved intestinal injury and mucosal barrier dysfunction at 72 h. The manipulation of Tregs affected the neutrophil frequencies in the small intestinal epithelium 72 h after heat stress. Our study demonstrated that Tregs could improve HS-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction, probably via modulation of neutrophils in the intestine of mice during HS.

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Diagnosis and Treatment Patterns in Celiac Disease

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated gastrointestinal (GI) disorder driven by innate and adaptive immune responses to gluten. Presentation of CD has changed over time, with non-GI symptoms, such as anemia and osteoporosis, presenting more commonly. With improved screening and diagnostic methods, the reported prevalence of CD has increased globally, and there is considerable global variation in diagnostic and treatment practices. The objective of this study was to describe the current state of CD diagnosis and treatment patterns. A targeted review of literature from MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and screening of relevant conference abstracts was performed. The generally recommended diagnostic approach is GI endoscopy with small bowel biopsy; however, in selected patients, biopsy may be avoided and diagnosis based on positive serology and clinical symptoms. Diagnosis often is delayed; the average diagnostic delay after symptom onset is highly variable and can last up to 12 years. Barriers to accurate and timely diagnosis include atypical presentation, lack of physician awareness about current diagnostic criteria, misdiagnosis, and limited access to specialists. Currently, strict adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only recommended treatment, which is not successful in all patients. Only one-third of patients are monitored regularly following diagnosis. Unmet needs for CD include improvements in the accuracy and timeliness of diagnosis, and the development of treatments for both refractory CD and GFD nonresponsive CD. Further research should investigate the impact of education about gluten-free eating and the availability of gluten-free foods support adherence and improve outcomes in patients with CD.

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The effect of severe and moderate hypoxia on exercise at a fixed level of perceived exertion

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the primary cues regulating perceived effort and exercise performance using a fixed-RPE protocol in severe and moderate hypoxia.

Methods

Eight male participants (26 ± 6 years, 76.3 ± 8.6 kg, 178.5 ± 3.6 cm, 51.4 ± 8.0 mL kg^− 1 min^− 1 \(\dot {V}\) O_2max) completed three exercise trials in environmental conditions of severe hypoxia (F_IO₂ 0.114), moderate hypoxia (F_IO₂ 0.152), and normoxia (F_IO₂ 0.202). They were instructed to continually adjust their power output to maintain a perceived effort (RPE) of 16, exercising until power output declined to 80% of the peak 30-s power output achieved.

Results

Exercise time was reduced (severe hypoxia 428 ± 210 s; moderate hypoxia 1044 ± 384 s; normoxia 1550 ± 590 s) according to a reduction in F_IO₂ (P < 0.05). The rate of oxygen desaturation during the first 3 min of exercise was accelerated in severe hypoxia (− 5.3 ± 2.8% min^− 1) relative to moderate hypoxia (− 2.5 ± 1.0% min^− 1) and normoxia (− 0.7 ± 0.3% min^− 1). Muscle tissue oxygenation did not differ between conditions (P > 0.05). Minute ventilation increased at a faster rate according to a decrease in F_IO₂ (severe hypoxia 27.6 ± 6.6; moderate hypoxia 21.8 ± 3.9; normoxia 17.3 ± 3.9 L min^− 1). Moderate-to-strong correlations were identified between breathing frequency (r = − 0.718, P < 0.001), blood oxygen saturation (r = 0.611, P = 0.002), and exercise performance.

Conclusions

The primary cues for determining perceived effort relate to progressive arterial hypoxemia and increases in ventilation.

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Bioaugmentation and Biostimulation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Degradation in a Petroleum-contaminated Soil with Fungi Isolated from Olive Oil Effluent

Abstract

In degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon, 35 isolates belonging to 11 genera were sanitized and 3 isolates as well as their consortium were initiated to be able to raise in association with petroleum hydrocarbon as sole source of carbon under in vitro circumstances. The isolated strains were grounded on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence analysis. The fungal strains with the utmost potentiality to reduce petroleum hydrocarbon without emerging antagonistic activities were Aspergillus niger, Penicillium ochrochloron, and Trichodema viride. For fungal growth on petroleum hydrocarbon, P. ochrocholon gained weight of 44%, A. niger 49%, and T. viride 39% within the first 30–40 days. As compared to the controls, these fungi accumulated significantly higher biomass, produced extracellular enzymes, and degraded total petroleum hydrocarbon and A. niger strongly degraded total petroleum hydrocarbon with a degradation of about 71.19%. These observations with GC-MS data confirm that these isolates displayed rapid total petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation within a period of 60 days and the half-life showed that A. niger was the shortest with t1/2 = 21.280 day⁻¹ corresponding to the highest percent degradation of 71.19% and first-order kinetic fitted into the present study. By multivariate analysis, five main factors were identified by factor analysis (FA). The first factor (F1) of the fungi species accounts for 20.0% which signifies that fungi species controls the degradation of petroleum variability and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) as a dendrogram with five observations and three variables shows two predominant clusters order cluster 1 > 2.

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Comparative study on long-term stability in mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomy: hydroxyapatite/poly- l -lactide mesh versus titanium miniplate

Abstract

Background

Resorbable devices have recently been adopted in the field of orthognathic surgery with controversies about their postoperative skeletal stability. Hence, we determined the long-term skeletal stability of unsintered hydroxyapatite/poly-l-lactic acid (HA/PLLA) mesh for osteofixation of mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO), and compared it with that of titanium miniplate.

Methods

Patients were divided into resorbable mesh and titanium miniplate fixation groups. A comparative study of the change in the mandibular position was performed with preoperative, 1-day, 6-month, and 2-year postoperative lateral cephalograms.

Results

At postoperative 6 months—compared with postoperative 1 day, point B (supra-mentale) was significantly displaced anteriorly in the titanium-fixation group. Moreover, at postoperative 2 years—compared with postoperative 6 months, point B was significantly displaced inferiorly in the titanium-fixation. However, the HA/PLLA mesh-fixation group did not show any significant change with respect to point B postoperatively.

Conclusions

The HA/PLLA mesh-fixation group demonstrated superior long-term skeletal stability with respect to the position of mandible, when compared with the titanium-fixation group.

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The Use of OJIP Fluorescence Transients to Monitor the Effect of Elevated Ozone on Biomass of Canola Plants

Abstract

The effects of elevated ozone (O₃) levels (80 ppb and 120 ppb) on photosynthetic efficiency and growth of canola plants were studied in open-top chambers. The chlorophyll a polyphasic fluorescence rise kinetics OJIP, stomatal conductance and Chlorophyll Content Index (CCI) were measured after 15 and 30 days of O₃ fumigation, as well as in control plants; biomass measurements were done only after 30 days with and without fumigation. Analysis of the OJIP kinetics by the JIP-test led to the calculation of several photosynthetic parameters and the total Performance Index (PI_total). The decline of PI_total under the 80 ppb O₃ treatment was due to a lower density of reaction centres (RC/ABS), while the notable decline under the 120 ppb treatment was found to be due both to a further decline of RC/ABS and to a pronounced lowering of the efficiency with which an electron can move from the reduced intersystem electron acceptors to the PSI end acceptors (δ_Ro). Stomatal conductance was affected by both treatments. Biomass was found to be affected by O₃ fumigation (for 30 days), decreasing by 40% at 80 ppb and by more than 70% under 120 ppb. Our findings indicate that biomass decline is due both to the lowering of CCI and the lowering of photosynthetic efficiency parameters. They thus suggest that two simple, non-invasive and rapid methods, namely, the analysis of OJIP fluorescence transients and the measurement of CCI, can be used to screen the effect of elevated O₃ on biomass of canola plants.

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Assessment of Self-Reported Adverse Health Outcomes of Electronic Waste Workers Exposed to Xenobiotics in Ghana

Environmental Justice, Ahead of Print.

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Testing a priming account of the contingent-capture effect

Abstract

In the contingent-capture protocol, singleton cues that have a target's searched-for feature capture attention, but cues that do not have the target's searched-for feature do not, a result labeled the contingent-capture effect. The contingent-capture effect is usually regarded as evidence for the observers' ability to establish search settings for certain nonspatial features in a top-down manner. However, in recent years it has become increasingly clear that selection history is also a powerful mediator of attentional capture. In this vein, it has been suggested that contingent-capture effects could emerge as a result of (intertrial) priming: The idea is that features that have been encountered previously in the target are primed, so that cues that have these features automatically capture attention in a subsequent encounter. Here we tested a strong version of the priming account of the contingent-capture effect. We wanted to know whether cues that had target features would capture attention when the corresponding features were not part of the instructions (i.e., when the corresponding features were task-irrelevant). The results suggested that a strong version of the priming account of contingent capture is not supported. In five experiments, we found little evidence that the contingent-capture effect could be explained by (intertrial) priming of task-irrelevant features alone. These results show that processes beyond priming through task-irrelevant features are critical for contingent-capture effects.

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Dorsal Augmentation with Diced Conchal Cartilage Wrapped in Retroauricular Fascia

Abstract

Background

Dorsal augmentation is of primary importance to shape an ideal nose. Although costal cartilage is still used for this purpose, diced cartilage grafts wrapped in autogenous fascia became more and more popular in recent decades. In this paper, the authors report their experience with a new combination made by diced conchal cartilage wrapped in retroauricular fascia in primary and secondary cases.

Methods

The clinical records of the first 19 patients to undergo dorsal augmentation with this technique were reviewed. The entire concha has been harvested and, once diced, wrapped in a sleeve of retroauricular fascia obtained using the same incision. Quilting reabsorbable sutures closed the mastoid dead space and prevented the risk of hematoma. The graft has been used in all the cases through a closed approach.

Conclusion

The use of diced cartilage is nowadays considered one of the best options among the available procedures for dorsal augmentation. Diced conchal cartilage wrapped in posterior auricular fascial graft is a new, simple and safe procedure that eliminates the necessity of a secondary donor site (temple or thorax), speeds up the operation and leaves a well-concealed scar behind the ear. Its main disadvantages toward costal diced cartilage wrapped in rectus abdominis fascia are the minor quantity of cartilage that can be obtained, even in case of bilateral harvest, and compared to temporal fascia a longer postoperative swelling (6–8 weeks).

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

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Miktoarm star polymers nanocarrier: synthesis, characterisation, and in-vitro drug release study

Abstract

Conjugation of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) renders the latter with enhanced biocompatibility and broader overall capability in biomedical application. Novel miktoarm star polymers comprising PLGA and PEG segments are of interest for their potential as drug carriers. Thus, a series of miktoarm star copolymers, PLGA-(mPEG)₂, with different PLGA arm molecular weights and methoxy-PEG (mPEG) arm (2000 g/mol), were synthesised via a four-step reaction using carbodiimide chemistry with a low steric hindrance trifunctional linker aminoadipic acid (AAA) and characterised by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results show that the miktoarm star polymers PLGA_17.0-AAA(mPEG)₂ and PLGA_43.4-AAA(mPEG)₂ formed stable nanoparticles and PLGA_4.6-AAA(mPEG)₂ self-assembled into stable nanomicelles. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the critical micelle concentration of PLGA_4.6-AAA(mPEG)₂ was very low at 6.03 × 10⁻⁷ g/mL. Model drug ibuprofen encapsulated nanoparticles and nanomicelles had good drug loading, high encapsulation efficiency, narrow size distribution, and spherical morphology with negative surface charges. The mean particle size increased with increasing PLGA molecular weights, from 37.28 ± 1.03 to 151.5 ± 0.86 nm. In-vitro release of model drug ibuprofen over 7 days from PLGA_43.4-AAA(mPEG)₂ nanoparticles (61.65 ± 3.04%) was higher than those of PLGA_4.6-AAA(mPEG)₂ nanomicelles (26.93 ± 1.49%) and PLGA_17.0-AAA(mPEG)₂ nanoparticles (10.57 ± 0.29%), with all demonstrating controlled release characteristics. In conclusion, the novel miktoarm star polymers PLGA_43.4-AAA(mPEG)₂ and PLGA_17.0-AAA(mPEG)₂ and their nanoparticles, and PLGA_4.6-AAA(mPEG)₂ and its nanomicelles have a great potential as a nanocarrier for controlled delivery of hydrophobic drugs.

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Draft Genome of Burkholderia cenocepacia TAtl-371, a Strain from the Burkholderia cepacia Complex Retains Antagonism in Different Carbon and Nitrogen Sources

Abstract

Burkholderia cenocepacia TAtl-371 was isolated from the rhizosphere of a tomato plant growing in Atlatlahucan, Morelos, Mexico. This strain exhibited a broad antimicrobial spectrum against bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Here, we report and describe the improved, high-quality permanent draft genome of B. cenocepacia TAtl-371, which was sequenced using a combination of PacBio RS and PacBio RS II sequencing methods. The 7,496,106 bp genome of the TAtl-371 strain is arranged in three scaffolds, contains 6722 protein-coding genes, and 99 RNA only-encoding genes. Genome analysis revealed genes related to biosynthesis of antimicrobials such as non-ribosomal peptides, siderophores, chitinases, and bacteriocins. Moreover, analysis of bacterial growth on different carbon and nitrogen sources shows that the strain retains its antimicrobial ability.

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Proportion of mesothelioma attributable to living in industrially contaminated areas in Italy

Objectives The aim of this study was to estimate the attributable proportion (AP) of mesothelioma resulting from living in or close to major Italian industrially contaminated areas. Methods For populations living close to 39 sites of "national priority for remediation", incident mesothelioma cases were extracted from the Italian National Mesothelioma Registry (ReNaM) in the period 2000‒2011. Each site was classified in one of seven asbestos risk groups (RG) on the basis of the type of industrial plants. RG were ranked by the a priori evidence on asbestos risk. The AP for each RG was calculated as the meta-analytic estimate of AP of sites of the same group by gender and age class (0–64, 65–74, ≥75 years). The sex ratio (men/women) was computed for each RG. Results Among men, the AP by age class had the same gradient in each RG, with the highest values in the age class 0–64 years and the lowest in the ≥75 class; in the age class 0–64 years, the AP was positive in each RG, >90% in the presence of asbestos cement factories and harbors with shipyards. Among women, the overall AP decreased by RG, with negative values in the last two ranked RG; the AP by age class was variable without a definite gradient. The sex ratio was close to one only in the RG "only asbestos-cement factories"; the highest value (9.6) was observed in the age class 0–64 years in the RG "harbors with shipyard". Conclusions The integration of a geographic- and case-based approach provides valuable insights into occupational and environmental determinants of mesothelioma risk in industrially contaminated sites. by Pasetto R, Zona A, Fazzo L, Binazzi A, Bruno C, Pirastu R, Comba P, Marinaccio A. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3806

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Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Fat Graft Survival in an Experimental Rat Model

Abstract

Introduction

A fat graft is the closest thing to being the ideal soft tissue filler. Although it has many advantages, reliability of late-term survival is a never-ending debate. Although there are observational studies that research the effect of cigarette smoke on fat graft take in clinical setting, there has not been an objective experimental animal study on the affect of smoking on fat graft survival. The aim of our study is to search if smoking has an affect on fat grafts.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-two Sprague-Dawley type rats were used. Exposure was maintained via a passive smoke exposure system. Rats were divided into three groups regarding their exposure period. At the end of the study, transferred fat grafts were extracted and weighed with a precision scale, an arterial blood sample was taken for biochemical analysis, and grafts were sent to the pathology laboratory for immunohistochemical assessment.

Results

There were meaningful differences between the control group and the other two groups in graft weight loss, serum cotinine, tissue MDA, adipose tissue/fibrosis ratio, stem cell counts, perilipin positive cell density and inflammation density. Furthermore, we detected meaningful correlations between serum cotinine, tissue MDA and graft weight loss.

Conclusion

Fat graft takes with the same mechanisms as a wound heals. So like wound healing, cigarette smoke has a negative affect on fat graft survival. A fat graft is by its nature an elective procedure so to improve our late-term success, cigarette smoke exposure should be kept to a minimum for increased reliability.

No Level Assigned

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IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 735: Using Three Cross-Sectional Surveys to Compare Workplace Psychosocial Stressors and Associated Mental Health Status in Six Migrant Groups Working in Australia Compared with Australian-Born Workers

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 735: Using Three Cross-Sectional Surveys to Compare Workplace Psychosocial Stressors and Associated Mental Health Status in Six Migrant Groups Working in Australia Compared with Australian-Born Workers

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050735

Authors: Daly Carey Darcey Chih LaMontagne Milner Reid

Migrant workers may be more likely to be exposed to workplace psychosocial stressors (WPS) which have an affect on physical and mental health. Given the relative lack of research on this topic, the study objectives were to estimate and compare the prevalence of WPS in migrant and Australian workers and investigate associated mental health problems. Three cross-sectional surveys, two with migrant workers and one with Australian workers, were pooled to provide estimates of prevalence. Regressions were conducted to investigate associations between workers and WPS. All WPS, except unfair pay, were associated with higher probability of mental health problems. The association between WPS and mental health did differ between some migrant groups. Compared with Australian-born workers, all other migrant groups tended to have a lower risk of mental health outcomes. Interactions between WPS and migrants showed variable levels in the risk of having a mental health problem, some attenuated and some increased. The study showed that country of birth does play a part in how treatment in the workplace is perceived and responded to. Any interventions to improve workplace conditions for migrant workers need to be aware of the different experiences related to migrant ethnicity.

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IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 735: Using Three Cross-Sectional Surveys to Compare Workplace Psychosocial Stressors and Associated Mental Health Status in Six Migrant Groups Working in Australia Compared with Australian-Born Workers

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050735

Authors: Daly Carey Darcey Chih LaMontagne Milner Reid

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Sonocatalytic degradation of butylparaben in aqueous phase over Pd/C nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present work, the sonocatalytic degradation of butylparaben was investigated using Pd immobilized on carbon black as the sonocatalyst. The presence of 25 mg/L 10Pd/C significantly increased the removal rate of butylparaben and the observed kinetic constant increased from 0.0126 to 0.071 min⁻¹, while the synergy index between sonolysis and adsorption was 70.7%. The BP degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with the apparent kinetic constant decreased from 0.071 to 0.030 min⁻¹ when the initial concentration of butylparaben increased from 0.5 to 2 mg/L. The process was being favored slightly under alkaline conditions. The presence of organic matter (20 mg/L humic acid) reduced the apparent kinetic constant more than two times. The addition of chlorides up to 250 mg/L did not significantly reduce the rate of reaction, while the presence of 250 mg/L bicarbonates reduced the observed kinetic constant from 0.071 to 0.0472 min⁻¹. The prepared catalyst retains the efficiency after five subsequent experiments since the apparent kinetic constant was only slightly decreased from 0.071 to 0.059 min⁻¹.

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Distribution of LAT1-targeting PET tracer was independent of the tumor blood flow in rat xenograft models of C6 glioma and MIA PaCa-2

Abstract

Objective

L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) is strongly expressed on the cell membrane in various types of human cancer cells, while being minimally expressed in normal or inflammatory tissues. Therefore, LAT1-targeting PET tracers have been developed for cancer-specific imaging. The purpose of this study was to study the distribution of two LAT1-targeting PET tracers, L-4-borono-2-¹⁸F-fluoro-phenylalanine (¹⁸F-FBPA) and L-3-¹⁸F-alpha-methyl tyrosine (¹⁸F-FAMT), in relation to the tumor blood flow, using rat xenograft models.

Methods

Rat tumor xenograft models of C6 glioma (n = 4; tumors = 8) and MIA PaCa-2 (pancreatic cancer) (n = 4; tumors = 6) were used. The expressions of LAT1 and CD98hc were evaluated by both immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis. Dynamic PET was performed after injection of ¹⁸F-FAMT or ¹⁸F-FBPA (scan duration = 70 min) following ¹⁵O-water PET (scan duration = 10 min). The PET data were subjected to kinetic analyses, and the K₁, k₂, and total distribution volume (V_t) were calculated using the one-tissue compartment model. The accumulation of the LAT1 tracers was expressed in terms of their V_t. Tumor blood flow (TBF) was represented by the K₁ value in ¹⁵O-water PET.

Results

LAT1/CD98hc expression was confirmed in both xenografts by immunofluorescence staining. Western blot analysis showed higher functional expression of LAT1 in the C6 glioma cells as compared to the MIA PaCa-2 cells (C6 glioma/MIA PaCa-2 relative expression ratio = 1.70). The V_t values of both ¹⁸F-FBPA and ¹⁸F-FAMT were significantly higher in the C6 glioma xenografts than in the MIA PaCa-2 xenografts (C6 glioma: 2.27 ± 0.35 and 2.03 ± 0.23, respectively; MIA PaCa-2: 1.28 ± 0.26 and 1.35 ± 0.15, respectively). Meanwhile, there was no significant correlation of the V_t value of either ¹⁸F-FBPA or ¹⁸F-FAMT with the TBF, in either the C6 glioma or the MIA PaCa-2 xenografts.

Conclusions

This study revealed that total distribution volumes of the LAT1-targeting PET tracers ¹⁸F-FBPA and ¹⁸F-FAMT were independent of the tumor blood flow and might reflect the functional expression levels of LAT1 in the C6 glioma and MIA PaCa-2 xenograft models.

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Intracerebroventricular Delivery of Recombinant NAMPT Deters Inflammation and Protects Against Cerebral Ischemia

Abstract

Our previous study indicated that nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is released from cells and might be an important extracellular neuroprotective factor in brain ischemia. Here, we tested whether NAMPT protects against ischemic brain injury when administered directly into the intracerebroventricular (ICV) compartment of the cranium. Recombinant NAMPT protein (2 μg) was delivered ICV in mice subjected to 45-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and the effects on infarct volume, sensorimotor function, microglia/macrophage polarization, neutrophil infiltration, and BBB integrity were analyzed. The results indicate that ICV administration of NAMPT significantly reduced infarct volume, retained its beneficial properties even when ICV administration was delayed by 6 h after MCAO, and improved neurological outcomes. NAMPT treatment inhibited pro-inflammatory microglia/macrophages, promoted microglia/macrophage polarization toward the anti-inflammatory phenotype, and reduced the infiltration of neutrophils into the perilesional area after brain ischemia. In vitro studies indicated that multiple pro-inflammatory microglial markers/cytokines were downregulated while multiple anti-inflammatory microglial markers/cytokines were induced in primary microglial cultures treated with NAMPT protein. NAMPT treatment also fortified the blood–brain barrier (BBB), as shown by reduced extravascular leakage of the small-molecule tracer Alexa Fluor 555 Cadaverine and larger-sized endogenous IgGs into brain parenchyma. Thus, NAMPT may protect against ischemic brain injury partly through a novel anti-inflammatory mechanism, which in turn maintains BBB integrity and reduces the infiltration of peripheral inflammatory cells. Taken together, these results provide validation of recombinant NAMPT delivery into the extracellular space as a potential neuroprotective strategy for stroke.

https://ift.tt/2VxSAp5

Kinetics and thermodynamic studies for removal of methylene blue dye by biosynthesize copper oxide nanoparticles and its antibacterial activity

Abstract

The present study deals with the green approach for the biosynthesis of copper oxide-Aloe vera (CuO-A) based nanoparticles using leaf extract of Aloe barbadensis miller. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized through different techniques like TEM and FTIR. As the size decreases and surface area increases, these are prominently used as a very good adsorbent. The effects of different parameters like adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time, initial dye concentration and temperature are optimised to get the maximum removal of methylene blue dye from the solution. The maximum dye removal was found to be 98.89% with initial concentration of 100 mg/L at alkaline pH in 210 min., with shaking speed of 150 rpm. The Langmuir result reveals a better consistency than the Freundlich model with 95.5 mg/g. Lagergren's model was used to study the kinetics of the system. Mechanistic behaviour was study through intra-particle diffusion study and Boyd plot. Thermodynamic study showed spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption. Furthermore, synthesized CuO-A nanoparticles showed good antibacterial activity against different strains of bacteria. The zone of inhibition was found to be 11 mm, 12 mm, 8 mm and 9 mm in Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus and E.coli, respectively.

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Assessing the Metabolomic Profile of Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Interferon Beta 1a by 1 H-NMR Spectroscopy

Abstract

Metabolomic research has emerged as a promising approach to identify potential biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of interferon beta (IFN ß) on the metabolome of MS patients to explore possible biomarkers of disease activity and therapeutic response. Twenty-one MS patients starting IFN ß therapy (Rebif® 44 μg; s.c. 3 times per week) were enrolled. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and after 6, 12, and 24 months of IFN ß treatment and were analyzed by high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Changes in metabolites were analyzed. After IFN ß exposure, patients were divided into responders and nonresponders according to the "no evidence of disease activity" (NEDA-3) definition (absence of relapses, disability progression, and magnetic resonance imaging activity), and samples obtained at baseline were analyzed to evaluate the presence of metabolic differences predictive of IFN ß response. The results of the investigation demonstrated differential distribution of baseline samples compared to those obtained during IFN ß exposure, particularly after 24 months of treatment (R²X = 0.812, R²Y = 0.797, Q² = 0.613, p = 0.003). In addition, differences in the baseline metabolome between responder and nonresponder patients with respect to lactate, acetone, 3-OH-butyrate, tryptophan, citrate, lysine, and glucose levels were found (R²X = 0.442, R²Y = 0.768, Q² = 0.532, p = 0.01). In conclusion, a metabolomic approach appears to be a promising, noninvasive tool that could potentially contribute to predicting the efficacy of MS therapies.

https://ift.tt/2H9rgZZ

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 733: Combined Assessment of Preschool Childrens’ Exposure to Substances in Household Products

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 733: Combined Assessment of Preschool Childrens’ Exposure to Substances in Household Products

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050733

Authors: Kim Seok

Understanding how indoor-air contaminants affect human health is of critical importance in our developed society. We assessed the combined exposure by inhalation of preschool children and children to household products. A total of 1175 families with 72 infants, 158 toddlers, 230 children, and 239 youths were surveyed to determine the combined respiratory exposure concentrations and amounts associated with 21 substances in eight household product groups. We determined the mean concentrations of these substances in each product, and derived reference toxicity values based on the information gathered in order to identify respiratory health risks. On average, cleaners were used at a rate of 1.0 × 103 g/month, while coating agents and other substances were used at 43 g/month. The combined inhalation exposure concentrations of methanol to infants and toddlers were 5.1 and 4.2 mg/m3 per month, respectively, with values of 2.1 and 1.7 mg/m3 for isopropanol, respectively. Risks to preschool children and children should be assessed on the basis of the toxicity values of combined exposed hazardous substances, as well as their combined concentrations and amounts. This exposure assessment approach can be used to establish improved guidelines for products that may pose inhalation hazards to preschool children and children.

https://ift.tt/2GP1dIl

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 734: Sanitation in Rural India: Exploring the Associations between Dwelling Space and Household Latrine Ownership

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 734: Sanitation in Rural India: Exploring the Associations between Dwelling Space and Household Latrine Ownership

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050734

Authors: Anoop Jain Lia C.H. Fernald Kirk R. Smith S.V. Subramanian

In 2017, the Joint Monitoring Programme estimated that 520 million people in India were defecating in the open every day. This is despite efforts made by the government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and multilaterals to improve latrine coverage throughout India. We hypothesize that this might be because current interventions focus mostly on individual-level determinants, such as attitudes and beliefs, instead of considering all possible social determinants of latrine ownership. Given this, we ask two questions: what is the association between the amount of dwelling space owned by households in rural India and their likelihood of toilet ownership and what proportion of the variation in household latrine ownership is attributable to villages and states? We used multilevel modeling and found significant associations between the amount of household dwelling space and the likelihood of latrine ownership. Furthermore, considerable variation in latrine ownership is attributable to villages and states, suggesting that additional research is required to elucidate the contextual effects of villages and states on household latrine ownership. Thus, sanitation interventions should consider household dwelling space and village and state context as important social determinants of latrine ownership in rural India. Doing so could bolster progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.

https://ift.tt/2NxXWxy

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 733: Combined Assessment of Preschool Childrens’ Exposure to Substances in Household Products

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 733: Combined Assessment of Preschool Childrens' Exposure to Substances in Household Products

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050733

Authors: Kim Seok

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IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 734: Sanitation in Rural India: Exploring the Associations between Dwelling Space and Household Latrine Ownership

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 734: Sanitation in Rural India: Exploring the Associations between Dwelling Space and Household Latrine Ownership

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050734

Authors: Anoop Jain Lia C.H. Fernald Kirk R. Smith S.V. Subramanian

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Real-time iris segmentation and its implementation on FPGA

Abstract

This paper presents a real-time iris segmentation technique that is well suited to a fast implementation on an FPGA. One major hurdle associated with iris segmentation techniques is the use of iterative processes that lead to expensive hardware implementations. To circumvent this, the proposed algorithm uses the sign image obtained from subtracting the background, along with morphological operators to localise the pupil. The outer boundary is located by first normalising a selected image region that contains the iris, and then using a first-order gradient operator. The proposed non-iterative algorithm is implemented on an FPGA. Four near infrared (NIR) iris public databases, namely: CASIA-IrisV3-Lamp, MMU v1.0, ND-IRIS-0405 and NIST ICE 2005, are used to test the proposed algorithm. The proposed method for iris segmentation and normalization gives much better accuracy than the existing state-of-the-art methods implemented on hardware. The proposed realisation requires about 45% fewer logic registers and 52% fewer logic elements than the existing state-of-the-art implementations.

https://ift.tt/2IHBuTZ

Correction to: The usability of climate information in sub-national planning in India, Kenya and Uganda: the role of social learning and intermediary organisations

The article was published without the Reference section.

https://ift.tt/2Tagk5F

Univariate comparison of PRx, PAx, and RAC—much ado about what?

https://ift.tt/2XrMPLa

Prenatal arsenic exposure alters the placental expression of multiple epigenetic regulators in a sex-dependent manner

Abstract

Background

Prenatal exposure to arsenic has been linked to a range of adverse health conditions in later life. Such fetal origins of disease are frequently the result of environmental effects on the epigenome, leading to long-term alterations in gene expression. Several studies have demonstrated effects of prenatal arsenic exposure on DNA methylation; however the impact of arsenic on the generation and decoding of post-translational histone modifications (PTHMs) is less well characterized, and has not been studied in the context of prenatal human exposures.

Methods

In the current study, we examined the effect of exposure to low-to-moderate levels of arsenic in a US birth cohort, on the expression of 138 genes encoding key epigenetic regulators in the fetal portion of the placenta. Our candidate genes included readers, writers and erasers of PTHMs, and chromatin remodelers.

Results

Arsenic exposure was associated with the expression of 27 of the 138 epigenetic genes analyzed. When the cohort was stratified by fetal sex, arsenic exposure was associated with the expression of 40 genes in male fetal placenta, and only 3 non-overlapping genes in female fetal placenta. In particular, we identified an inverse relationship between arsenic exposure and expression of the gene encoding the histone methyltransferase, PRDM6 (p < 0.001). Mutation of PRDM6 has been linked to the congenital heart defect, patent ductus arteriosus.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that prenatal arsenic exposure may have sex-specific effects on the fetal epigenome, which could plausibly contribute to its subsequent health impacts.

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Polyunsaturated fatty acids and child neurodevelopment among a population exposed to DDT: a cohort study

Abstract

Background

Child neurodevelopment has been positively linked to maternal intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during pregnancy; however, it is unknown if that relationship persists among populations exposed to environmental neurotoxicants.

Objective

The aim of this work was to assess whether maternal dietary intake of PUFAs during pregnancy is positively associated with child neurodevelopment, whose mothers were environmentally exposed to 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT).

Methods

A prospective cohort study with 276 mother–child pairs was performed in Mexico. Neurodevelopment was assessed by Bayley Scales II from children age 1 to 30 months. Dietary PUFAs intake was estimated by Food Frequency Questionnaire at 1st and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene, the main metabolite of DDT) maternal serum levels were determined by electron capture gas chromatography. Longitudinal multivariate linear mixed-effects analysis, which combines mental (MDI) and motor (PDI) Bayley scales in a single model, were performed.

Results

Our results show that in a sample environmentally exposed to DDT, maternal ingestion of DPA during the first trimester of pregnancy was positively associated with MDI (β = 0.10, 95% CI 0.02, 0.18) in children from 1 to 30 months. Likewise, our results suggest that dietary ALA may be also related to MDI.

Conclusion

DPA may benefit neurodevelopment even in populations exposed to DDT. Our results strengthen the importance of PUFAs intake during the prenatal period.

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The CDC blood lead reference value for children: time for a change

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to consider alternate uses of the blood lead reference value for children. There are two possible approaches. Historically the reference value has been used to guide clinical and public interventions for individual children. As the distribution of blood lead levels in the population has been lowered over time, the blood lead level at which interventions are recommended has also been reduced. The use of a reference value of 3.5 μg/dL, based on the 98 percentile of blood lead levels for children in 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is under review. For several reasons, adopting the new reference value to guide clinical and public health management puts practitioners in an untenable position. First, the changes in the brain caused by lead are significant and persistent. However, these adverse impacts are subtle and although clearly identified at the population level, not predictive for individual children. In addition, the recommended interventions have not been shown to reduce blood lead levels once they are elevated. Finally, clinical laboratory and office-based blood lead testing devices are not required to quantify blood lead levels < 4 μg/dL and in many cases cannot reliably test for low blood lead levels. Revising the reference value also will undoubtedly result in diversion of resources away from those population-based interventions which have demonstrated success. We argue for second approach, in the management of lead poisoning in the US from one of evaluation and management at the individual level to one of population based primary prevention. This would require a strategy directed at controlling or eliminating lead in children's environment before they are exposed. The reference value, as a benchmark, is essential to ensure that primary prevention efforts are successful.

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IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 732: Parents’ Willingness and Perception of Children’s Autonomy as Predictors of Greater Independent Mobility to School

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 732: Parents' Willingness and Perception of Children's Autonomy as Predictors of Greater Independent Mobility to School

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050732

Authors: Ester Ayllón Nieves Moyano Azucena Lozano María-Jesús Cava

The present study aimed to examine the factors associated with different forms of independent mobility (IM) to school (IM one way and IM both ways) according to their parents’ opinions. To do so, several variables were evaluated: how parents assess their children’s autonomy, the difficulty they perceive for IM to school, reasons for IM/no IM to school, parents’ willingness for IM to school, frequency of children’s IM for leisure activities, children having house keys and dangers perceived in the neighborhood. Family-related socio-demographic variables were also assessed: number of children, position occupied by them in the family, family composition, living with both parents or just one, and each parent’s nationality, level of education and job status. This study examined the data collected from 1450 parents (mothers and fathers) with children studying Primary Education years 4, 5 and 6 (M age = 10.53, SD = 0.90). The results showed that 42.3% of the schoolchildren did not practice IM to school, 18.1% practiced IM one way (they went to or from school alone), and 39.5% practiced IM both way (they went to/from school alone). These findings underline the importance of parents’ willingness for IM to school, and how the balance between how they perceive their children’s autonomy and difficulty for IM is relevant for greater IM to school.

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IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 732: Parents’ Willingness and Perception of Children’s Autonomy as Predictors of Greater Independent Mobility to School

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 732: Parents’ Willingness and Perception of Children’s Autonomy as Predictors of Greater Independent Mobility to School

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050732

Authors: Ester Ayllón Nieves Moyano Azucena Lozano María-Jesús Cava

https://ift.tt/2TpNwFu

Removal of metronidazole and amoxicillin mixtures by UV/TiO 2 photocatalysis: an insight into degradation pathways and performance improvement

Abstract

The degradation efficiencies and pathways of metronidazole (MNZ) and amoxicillin (AMX) in binary mixtures by UV/TiO₂ photocatalysis were studied. The presence of AMX significantly decreased the degradation of MNZ, whereas the existence of MNZ slightly reduced the degradation of AMX. This is basically due to the difference in attack ability of oxidizing agents present during TiO₂ photocatalysis. All oxidizing agents (hydroxyl radicals, superoxide radicals, and holes) could attack AMX molecules, but hydroxyl radicals showed insignificant attack ability in MNZ degradation. In TiO₂ photocatalysis of binary mixture, six transformation products were recognized by a high-resolution LC-QTof/MS. Because of competitive effect, only one product was sourced from MNZ degradation and four others were formed due to AMX degradation. The remaining one was a new product of the side reaction. This work indicated that the molecular structure of AMX determined its preferred degradation in a mixture. It not only affected the removal of antibiotics but also figured out the appearance of transformation products. In contrast to single systems, the extent of degradation reduced for each antibiotic in the presence of the second antibiotic was related to the availability of degradation pathways of each antibiotic. Moreover, suitable pH programming was applied to enhance the mineralization of the mixtures.

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Preparation, characterization, and reaction kinetics of poly (lactic acid)/amidated graphene oxide nanocomposites based on reactive extrusion process

Abstract

The poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/amidated graphene oxide (AGO) nanocomposites were prepared by reactive extrusion process with L-lactide as raw material, zinc lactate as catalyst, hexamethylene diisocyanate as chain extender, and AGO as nano-nucleating agent prepared by amidation. The molecular weight of PLA and PLA/AGO were 29,424 g/mol and 32,516 g/mol, respectively, under the optimum conditions, which were obtained through orthogonal experiments. The structure and performance of PLA and PLA/AGO nanocomposites were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), mechanical properties, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and capillary rheology. The results showed that the AGO could uniformly dispersed in PLA matrix, which significantly improved the mechanical properties, crystallinity, and thermal stability of PLA. Kinetics studies showed that the polymerization reaction model presented the second-order reaction, and the apparent rate constant of PLA/AGO nanocomposites was 7.612 × 10³ g·mol ⁻¹ ·min ⁻¹.

https://ift.tt/2NxCrNh

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 730: Is a One Health Approach Utilized for Q Fever Control? A Comprehensive Literature Review

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 730: Is a One Health Approach Utilized for Q Fever Control? A Comprehensive Literature Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050730

Authors: Md Rezanur Rahaman Adriana Milazzo Helen Marshall Peng Bi

Q fever, a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans, is a significant public health problem with a potential for outbreaks to occur. Q fever prevention strategies should incorporate human, animal, and environmental domains. A One Health approach, which engages cross-sectoral collaboration among multiple stakeholders, may be an appropriate framework and has the underlying principles to control Q fever holistically. To assess whether components of One Health for Q fever prevention and control have been applied, a comprehensive literature review was undertaken. We found 16 studies that had practiced or recommended a One Health approach. Seven emerging themes were identified: Human risk assessment, human and animal serology, integrated human–animal surveillance, vaccination for at-risk groups, environmental management, multi-sectoral collaboration, and education and training. Within the multi-sectoral theme, we identified five subthemes: Policy and practice guidelines, information sharing and intelligence exchange, risk communication, joint intervention, and evaluation. One Health practices varied between studies possibly due to differences in intercountry policy, practice, and feasibility. However, the key issue of the need for multi-sectoral collaboration was highlighted across most of the studies. Further research is warranted to explore the barriers and opportunities of adopting a One Health approach in Q fever prevention and control.

https://ift.tt/2XvNACT

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 730: Is a One Health Approach Utilized for Q Fever Control? A Comprehensive Literature Review

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 730: Is a One Health Approach Utilized for Q Fever Control? A Comprehensive Literature Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050730

Authors: Md Rezanur Rahaman Adriana Milazzo Helen Marshall Peng Bi

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Statin use after diagnosis is associated with an increased survival in esophageal cancer patients: a Belgian population-based study

Abstract

Purpose

Preclinical studies have shown that statins reduce proliferation in esophageal cancer. Three recent observational studies have shown encouraging results but suffered from limitations. This work aimed to assess at the Belgian population level whether statin usage was associated with a decreased mortality in esophageal cancer patients.

Methods

We conducted an observational, population-based study by linking data of the Belgian Cancer Registry (BCR) with medical claims data coming from health insurance companies and mortality records collected by regional governments for patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer between 2004 and 2014. Using time-dependent Cox regression models, hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for overall and cancer-specific mortality were calculated.

Results

Of 6,238 patients with stage I-III esophageal cancer, post-diagnostic use of statins was found in 1,628 (26%) patients. Statins use after diagnosis was associated with a reduction in overall mortality (adjusted HR = 0.84, 95% CI [0.77; 0.92]) and cancer-specific mortality (adjusted HR = 0.87, 95% CI [0.78; 0.97]). Similar association were also seen for pre-diagnostic statin use in overall (adjusted HR = 0.83, 95% CI [0.76–0.91]) and cancer-specific analysis (adjusted HR = 0.86, 95% CI [0.77–0.96]).

Conclusions

In this large cohort of Belgian patients with esophageal cancer, statins use after diagnosis was associated with a decreased mortality.

https://ift.tt/2UdDiFp

Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Therapeutic Update and Emerging Therapies

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but highly aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer whose incidence has almost doubled in recent decades. Risk factors for MCC include age > 65 years, immunosuppression, sun exposure and infection by Merkel cell polyomavirus. MCC usually presents as rapidly growing, firm, red to violaceous nodule localized on the sun-exposed skin. Surgery followed by radiation therapy is considered to be the first-line treatment for primary or loco-regional MCC in order to prevent recurrences and lymph node metastasis, while chemotherapy has always been used to treat advanced forms. However, responses to chemotherapy are mostly of short duration, and the associated clinical benefit on overall survival is still unclear. The use of checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) has shown good results in the treatment of advanced MCC and, consequently, CPIs are considered emerging immunotherapeutic options for these patients, although there are still no standardized treatments for patients with metastatic disease. Here we present a complete overview of the different possibilities for the treatment of MCC according to the stage of the disease, focusing on the emerging immunotherapies used for treating advanced MCC.

https://ift.tt/2XuD6Uz

Celastrol suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis via MAPK/SGK1-regulated mediators of autoimmune pathology

Abstract

Objective and design

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating autoimmune disease involving immune dysregulation of the pathogenic T helper 17 (Th17) versus protective T regulatory (Treg) cell subsets, besides other cellular aberrations. Studies on the mechanisms underlying these changes have unraveled the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in the disease process. We describe here a gene expression- and bioinformatics-based study showing that celastrol, a natural triterpenoid, acting via MAPK pathway regulates the downstream genes encoding serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1), which plays a vital role in Th17/Treg differentiation, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is a neurotrophic factor, thereby offering protection against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice.

Methods

We first tested the gene expression profile of splenocytes of EAE mice in response to the disease-related antigen, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), and then examined the effect of celastrol on that profile.

Results

Interestingly, celastrol reversed the expression of many MOG-induced genes involved in inflammation and immune pathology. The MAPK pathway involving p38MAPK and ERK was identified as one of the mediators of celastrol action. It involved suppression of SGK1 but upregulation of BDNF, which then contributed to protection against EAE.

Conclusion

Our results not only provide novel insights into disease pathogenesis, but also offer promising therapeutic targets for MS.

https://ift.tt/2Hdqgo3

Increased risk of tuberculosis in oral cancer patients in an endemic area: a nationwide population-based study

Abstract

Objectives

We investigated the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in patients with newly diagnosed oral cancer and analyzed the risk factors for TB development and mortality in oral cancer patients.

Materials and methods

We used Taiwan's National Health Insurance Database to determine the incidence of TB and to analyze the risk factors for TB in patients newly diagnosed with oral cancer. From 2000 to 2011, we identified 40,327 oral cancer patients and the same number of subjects from the general population matched for sex, age, and comorbidities at a 1:1 ratio.

Results

Compared with the matched cohort, oral cancer patients exhibited a higher risk for TB (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.06–2.71). Age ≥ 50 (aHR 1.90, 95% CI 1.57–2.29), being male (aHR 1.98, 95% CI 1.36–2.89), having diabetes mellitus (aHR 1.31, 95% CI 1.05–1.64), alcohol use disorder (aHR 1.42, 95% CI 1.06–1.89), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (aHR 8.24, 95% CI 2.05–33.14), chemotherapy (aHR 1.41, 95% CI 1.15–1.72), and radiotherapy for oral cancer (aHR 1.92, 95% CI 1.57–2.36) were identified as independent risk factors for TB in oral cancer patients. Hyperlipidemia was an independent protective factor for TB in oral cancer patients.

Conclusion

Old age, male sex, diabetes mellitus, alcohol use disorder, and HIV were independent risk factors for TB in patients with oral cancer.

Clinical relevance

High-risk oral cancer patients should be regularly screened for TB, especially those in endemic areas.

https://ift.tt/2EnbHuX

A Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-Based Vaccine Carrying Zika Virus Capsid Protein Protects Mice from Viral Infection

https://ift.tt/2BRknt5

A novel BiVO 4 -GO-TiO 2 -PANI composite for upgraded photocatalytic performance under visible light and its non-toxicity

Abstract

A novel non-toxic hybrid BiVO₄-GO-TiO₂-polyaniline (PANI) (BVGT-PANI) composite with superior photocatalysis was successfully prepared via a one-pot hydrothermal reaction. The structural and morphological characterizations of the synthesized compounds were analyzed by a series of techniques. We found excellent photocatalytic efficiencies for methylene blue (MB) and phenol degradation under visible light irradiation after adhering the PANI to the photocatalyst. The degradation rates of MB and phenol reach up to approximately 85% and 80%, respectively, after 3 h of irradiation. For photodegradation MB, BVGTA exhibit the highest k_app rate constant of about 1.06 × 10⁻² min⁻¹, which is about 1.63-fold faster than BVG and 2.94-fold faster than BVGT. For photodegradation of phenol, BVGTA exhibits the highest k_app rate constant, of about 8.86 × 10⁻³min⁻¹, which is about 1.2-fold faster than BVG and 1.96-fold faster than BVGT. Furthermore, vitro toxicity test against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated that the nanophotocatalyst is non-toxic.

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Haptoglobin 2-2 Genotype is Associated with More Advanced Disease in Subjects with Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction

Haptoglobin (Hp) genotypes were reported as an independent risk factor for metabolic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between Hp gene polymorphism and the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods

A total of 441 subjects (NAFLD group, n = 272; healthy control, n = 169) were recruited, and their clinical biochemical parameters were measured in all subjects. Haptoglobin genotyping was performed using genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Among the NAFLD group, 107 patients underwent liver biopsy, and histology was evaluated by a pathologist on the basis of the CRN scoring system.

Results

NAFLD patients had much lower frequency of Hp 1-1 genotype and higher frequency of Hp 2-2 than healthy controls (0.4% vs 9.5%, 55.8% vs 47.9%, P < 0.001). NAFLD patients with Hp 2-2 genotype had much higher levels of body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC), liver enzymes, ferritin, and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) values than non-Hp 2-2 genotype (P < 0.05). In histology, patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) had higher frequency of Hp 2-2 genotype than non-NASH patients (71.3% vs 22.2%, P < 0.001); patients with significant fibrosis had higher frequency of Hp 2-2 genotype (78.3% vs 54.8%, P < 0.05) than no/mild fibrosis patients. NAFLD patients with Hp 2-2 genotype had higher proportion with higher steatosis scores, lobular inflammation scores, ballooning scores, NAFLD activity scores (NAS), and fibrosis stages (P < 0.05 for all) than Hp 2-2 groups. Furthermore, Hp 2-2 genotype was independently associated with NASH (OR = 5.985, P < 0.05) and significant fibrosis (OR = 6.584, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Hp 2-2 genotype is closely associated with the severity of NAFLD.

https://ift.tt/2TkO93b

Case Series of Combined iStent Implantation and Phacoemulsification in Eyes with Primary Angle Closure Disease: One-Year Outcomes

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined iStent® trabecular micro-bypass device (Glaukos, Laguna Hills, CA) and phacoemulsification in eyes with primary angle closure disease.

Methods

A two-center prospective interventional case series of consecutive patients with primary angle closure (PAC) or primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) on at least one glaucoma medication, who underwent iStent implantation with cataract surgery. Postoperatively, patients were assessed on days 1 and 7, and months 1, 3, 6, and 12. The intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medication use, visual acuity, and the presence of complications were assessed at each visit. Complete success was defined as IOP reduction of at least 20% without the use of glaucoma medications.

Results

Thirty-seven eyes with angle closure disease were included in this study. At 1-year, postoperative mean IOP (14.8 ± 3.94 mmHg) was significantly decreased compared with preoperative medicated (17.5 ± 3.82 mmHg, p = 0.008) and unmedicated (24.6 ± 3.41 mmHg, p < 0.001) IOP. Complete success was achieved in 89.2% of the eyes. The number of glaucoma medications decreased from 1.49 ± 0.77 to 0.14 ± 0.48 (p < 0.001). Preoperative medicated IOP was a risk factor for failure (hazard ratio 3.45, 95% confidence interval 1.52–7.85, p = 0.003), after adjustment for age, gender, and race. The most common postoperative complications were iStent occlusion with iris (27.0%) and hyphema (18.9%). There were no sight-threatening intraoperative or postoperative complications.

Conclusion

Combined iStent implantation with cataract surgery was effective in lowering the IOP and the number of glaucoma medications for at least 12 months, with a favorable safety profile.

Funding

Glaukos Corporation; NMRC Science Translational and Applied Research (STAR) award.

https://ift.tt/2IKp7qe

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 729: Frailty Level Monitoring and Analysis after a Pilot Six-Week Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Using the FRED Exergame Including Biofeedback Supervision in an Elderly Day Care Centre

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 729: Frailty Level Monitoring and Analysis after a Pilot Six-Week Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Using the FRED Exergame Including Biofeedback Supervision in an Elderly Day Care Centre

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050729

Authors: Iranzu Mugueta-Aguinaga Begonya Garcia-Zapirain

Background: Frailty is a status of extreme vulnerability to endogenous and exogenous stressors exposing the individual to a higher risk of negative health-related outcomes. Exercise using interactive videos, known as exergames, is being increasingly used to increase physical activity by improving health and the physical function in elderly adults. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the reduction in the degree of frailty, the degree of independence in activities of daily living, the perception of one’s state of health, safety and cardiac healthiness by the exercise done using FRED over a 6-week period in elderly day care centre. Material and Methods: Frail volunteers >65 years of age, with a score of <10 points (SPPB), took part in the study. A study group and a control group of 20 participants respectively were obtained. Following randomisation, the study group (20) took part in 18 sessions in total over 6 months, and biofeedback was recorded in each session. Results: After 6 weeks, 100% of patients from the control group continued evidencing frailty risk, whereas only 5% of patients from the study group did so, with p < 0.001 statistical significance. In the case of the EQ-VAS, the control group worsened (−12.63 points) whereas the study group improved (12.05 points). The Barthel Index showed an improvement in the study group after 6 weeks, with statistically significant evidence and a value of p < 0.003906. Safety compliance with the physical activity exceeded 87% and even improved as the days went by. Discussion: Our results stand out from those obtained by other authors in that FRED is an ad hoc-designed exergame, significantly reduced the presence and severity of frailty in a sample of sedentary elders, thus potentially modifying their risk profile. It in turn improves the degree of independence in activities of daily living and the perception of one’s state of health, proving to be a safe and cardiac healthy exercise. Conclusions: The study undertaken confirms the fact that the FRED game proves to be a valid technological solution for reducing frailty risk. Based on the study conducted, the exergame may be considered an effective, safe and entertaining alternative.

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IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 728: Evaluating the Integrated Methadone and Anti-Retroviral Therapy Strategy in Tanzania Using the RE-AIM Framework

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 728: Evaluating the Integrated Methadone and Anti-Retroviral Therapy Strategy in Tanzania Using the RE-AIM Framework

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050728

Authors: Saria Hassan Alexis Cooke Haneefa Saleem Dorothy Mushi Jessie Mbwambo Barrot H. Lambdin

There are an estimated 50,000 people who inject drugs in Tanzania, with an HIV prevalence in this population of 42%. The Integrated Methadone and Anti-Retroviral Therapy (IMAT) strategy was developed to integrate HIV services into an opioid treatment program (OTP) in sub-Saharan Africa and increase anti-retroviral therapy (ART) initiation rates. In this paper, we evaluate the IMAT strategy using an implementation science framework to inform future care integration efforts in the region. IMAT centralized HIV services into an OTP clinic in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania: HIV diagnosis, ART initiation, monitoring and follow up. A mixed-methods, concurrent design, was used for evaluation: quantitative programmatic data and semi-structured interviews with providers and clients addressed 4 out of 5 components of the RE-AIM framework: reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation. Results showed high reach: 98% of HIV-positive clients received HIV services; effectiveness: 90-day ART initiation rate doubled, from 41% pre-IMAT to 87% post-IMAT (p < 0.001); proportion of HIV-positive eligible clients on ART increased from 71% pre-IMAT to 98% post-IMAT (p < 0.001). There was high adoption and implementation protocol fidelity. Qualitative results informed barriers and facilitators of RE-AIM components. In conclusion, we successfully integrated HIV care into an OTP clinic in sub-Saharan Africa with increased rates of ART initiation. The IMAT strategy represents an effective care integration model to improve HIV care delivery for OTP clients.

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IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 731: Geospatial Distributions of Groundwater Quality in Gedaref State Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI)

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 731: Geospatial Distributions of Groundwater Quality in Gedaref State Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI)

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050731

Authors: Basheer A. Elubid Tao Huag Ekhlas H. Ahmed Jianfei Zhao Khalid. M. Elhag Waleed Abbass Mohammed M. Babiker

The observation of groundwater quality elements is essential for understanding the classification and distribution of drinking water. Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing (RS), are intensive tools for the performance and analysis of spatial datum associated with groundwater sources control. In this study, groundwater quality parameters were observed in three different aquifers including: sandstone, alluvium and basalt. These aquifers are the primary source of national drinking water and partly for agricultural activity in El Faw, El Raha (Fw-Rh), El Qalabat and El Quresha (Qa-Qu) localities in the southern part of Gedaref State in eastern Sudan. The aquifers have been overworked intensively as the main source of indigenous water supply in the study area. The interpolation methods were used to demonstrate the facies pattern and Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI) of the groundwater in the research area. The GIS interpolation tool was used to obtain the spatial distribution of groundwater quality parameters and DWQI in the area. Forty samples were assembled and investigated for the analysis of major cations and anions. The groundwater in this research is controlled by sodium and bicarbonate ions that defined the composition of the water type to be Na HCO3. However, from the plots of piper diagram; the samples result revealed (40%) Na-Mg-HCO3 and (35%) Na-HCO3 water types. The outcome of the analysis reveals that several groundwater samples have been found to be suitable for drinking purposes in Fa-Rh and Qa-Qu areas.

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IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 729: Frailty Level Monitoring and Analysis after a Pilot Six-Week Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Using the FRED Exergame Including Biofeedback Supervision in an Elderly Day Care Centre

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050729

Authors: Iranzu Mugueta-Aguinaga Begonya Garcia-Zapirain

https://ift.tt/2ECnBlY

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 728: Evaluating the Integrated Methadone and Anti-Retroviral Therapy Strategy in Tanzania Using the RE-AIM Framework

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 728: Evaluating the Integrated Methadone and Anti-Retroviral Therapy Strategy in Tanzania Using the RE-AIM Framework

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050728

Authors: Saria Hassan Alexis Cooke Haneefa Saleem Dorothy Mushi Jessie Mbwambo Barrot H. Lambdin

https://ift.tt/2VkAsyK

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 731: Geospatial Distributions of Groundwater Quality in Gedaref State Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI)

IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 731: Geospatial Distributions of Groundwater Quality in Gedaref State Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI)

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050731

Authors: Basheer A. Elubid Tao Huag Ekhlas H. Ahmed Jianfei Zhao Khalid. M. Elhag Waleed Abbass Mohammed M. Babiker

https://ift.tt/2EEaVv2

The role of endogenous nitric oxide in melatonin-improved tolerance to lead toxicity in maize plants

Abstract

Melatonin (MT) and nitric oxide (NO) are known as scavengers of free radicals and an antioxidant against biotic and abiotic stresses in plant defense systems. However, whether NO interplays role in MT-induced antioxidant defense remains to be determined in the plants exposed to lead (Pb) toxicity. So, two experiments were designed to evaluate the role of NO in MT-mediated tolerance of maize plants to Pb stress. In the initial experiment, prior to starting different treatments, a solution of 0.05- or 0.10-mM MT was sprayed every other day for a period of 10 days to the leaves of maize plants exposed to Pb stress (0.1-mM PbCl₂). Pb toxicity significantly caused reduction in plant biomass (both fresh and dry), PSII maximum efficiency (F_v/F_m), total chlorophyll, leaf potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and leaf water potential, but it resulted in increased levels of proline, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), electron leakage (EL), leaf Pb, and endogenous NO. An addition experiment was set up to further understand whether NO played role in mitigation of Pb toxicity in maize plants by MT using scavengers of NO and cPTIO combined with the MT treatments. MT-induced tolerance to Pb toxicity was totally eliminated by cPTIO by reversing endogenous NO. The present results clearly indicated that MT mediated the endogenous NO to improve tolerance of maize plants to Pb toxicity. This evidence was also supported by the increases of H₂O₂ and MDA and reduces some antioxidant enzyme activities tested as well as the plant growth inhibition and increased leaf Pb content by application of MT combined with cPTIO.

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Medical specialty visits and diagnoses received by Saudi patients prior to a diagnosis of narcolepsy

Abstract

Purpose

Narcolepsy is an uncommon neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and multiple other symptoms. Due to the under-recognition of narcolepsy symptoms, patients are often misdiagnosed. This study aimed to assess the types of specialties visited and the diagnoses received by Saudi patients prior to their narcolepsy diagnosis.

Methods

The study included 55 consecutive patients with type-1 and type-2 narcolepsy who attended the narcolepsy clinic between August 2017 and December 2017. Narcolepsy was diagnosed according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders–third edition criteria. We evaluated sociodemographic data, the specialties visited, and diagnoses and treatments received prior to visiting a sleep specialist.

Results

The mean diagnostic delay was 9.1 ± 8.4 years (1–43 years). Multiple linear regression analysis identified early onset as the only predictor of a delayed diagnosis (β coefficient = − 0.262, p = 0.03). EDS was the main symptom that prompted patients to seek medical consultation, and only one patient had been (1.8%) referred with the diagnosis of narcolepsy. In the study group, 82% of the patients were misdiagnosed with a mental or neurological disorder or were thought to be afflicted by "envy," "evil eye," or "black magic" before receiving a correct diagnosis. No significant differences were detected between patients with narcolepsy type-1 and narcolepsy type-2.

Conclusions

Delays in diagnosing narcolepsy remain a major problem for Saudi patients with this disorder. We found that Saudi patients with narcolepsy had visited several medical specialists and faith healers and were misdiagnosed prior to visiting a sleep specialist.

https://ift.tt/2EhLU7d

Factors Associated with Employer Support for Injured Workers During a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Abstract

Purpose The employer/worker relationship can be an important catalyst for—or obstacle to—successful return to work (RTW). An understanding of factors associated with an injured worker's relationship with their employer, and employer involvement in RTW planning, is warranted. Methods Analysis of n = 8808 cross-sectional survey responses from injured workers in nine Australian workers' compensation (WC) jurisdictions. Workers completed a telephone survey between 6 and 24 months post-WC claim acceptance. Factors associated with the worker's perception of employer support were examined using ordinal regression. Factors associated with employer provision of RTW plans were examined using logistic regression. Results Factors associated with employer support included being aged over 50 years, not having a mental health condition, better self-rated health and less time between injury and claim. Factors associated with having a RTW plan included being female, not having a mental health condition and working for a self-insurer. Factors associated with having a written RTW plan included being female and being under 50 years. There was wide variation in the provision of RTW plans between WC jurisdictions. Conclusions There are strong associations between worker, claim and injury-related factors and the injured worker's experience of employer support. Identification of workers at risk of receiving inadequate support during the RTW process may enable interventions to improve support and RTW outcomes.

https://ift.tt/2NAMu49

Risk of exposure of a selected rural population in South Poland to allergenic mites. Part I: indoor acarofauna of one-family houses

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of mites in dust samples from houses in agricultural areas of South Poland, with particular reference to allergenic and parasitic species as a potential risk factor of diseases among people. A total of 250 dust samples from 50 single-family houses situated in Stryszawa and vicinity (Małopolskie province) were examined for the presence of domestic mites. Dust was taken from beds, floors in bedrooms, upholstery furniture, floors in family rooms and from floors in kitchens. Mites were found in 74.8% of samples collected. A total of 5340 mite specimens were isolated, including 2771 members of the family Pyroglyphidae (51.9%). Dominants were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (36.4% of all mites) and Gohieria fusca (25.1%), followed by Chortoglyphus arcuatus (18.3%) and D. farinae (15.1%). Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was also the most frequent species (53.2% of the total count of samples examined), followed by G. fusca (42.4%), D. farinae (37.2%) and C. arcuatus (36.4%). Lepidoglyphus destructor was found more frequently than Glycyphagus domesticus in the examined samples. Density of D. pteronyssinus was associated with beds, presence of pets, coal stoves used for heating, lower number of rooms, higher cooking frequency, higher washing frequency, working housewife, open kitchen, wooden floors in kitchens, lower cleaning frequency, type of upholstery furniture in living rooms (arm chairs), lower humidity and higher temperature.

https://ift.tt/2H90twT

Deconstructing the policyscape for reducing deforestation in the Eastern Amazon: Practical insights for a landscape approach

Abstract

In international debates on climate change mitigation and forests, there is increased recognition of the importance of a landscape approach to effectively address tropical deforestation. Such an approach, although increasingly promoted, remains only loosely defined and requires further development in order to effectively integrate different interventions at landscape level. In particular, it is important to understand the possible interactions between different landscape interventions at local level—where they are intended to have effect—and the challenges associated with them. Inspired by the complexity of policy mix analysis, this article seeks to shed light on these interactions by analysing how different policies and measures for reducing deforestation and degradation have played out in a jurisdiction with wide‐ranging actors and interventions aimed at shaping their behaviour. Focusing on smallholders, we examine the Sustainable Landscapes Pilot Programme in São Félix do Xingu, looking at how different policies interact—categorising interactions as "complementary," "mutually reinforcing" (synergistic), "in conflict," "interdependent," and/or "redundant"—and explain how proponents of this pilot programme seek to integrate them. Most analysis is based on primary data collected through quantitative (i.e., random stratified sampling and surveys) and qualitative (i.e., observation and focus groups) methods. The São Félix do Xingu case shows that understanding effects of different policies and measures on people's behaviour requires a deeper look at local perceptions and reactions to such policies and measures, something most studies on the topic have overlooked. Ultimately, the heterogeneity and complexity of social practices that permeate landscapes must be recognised in order to integrate diverse measures to reduce deforestation.

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Πληροφορίες

Πέμπτη 28 Φεβρουαρίου 2019

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