scholarly journals Alterations by Air Pollution in Inflammation and Metals in Pleural Effusion of Pneumonia Patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 705
Author(s):  
Kuan-Jen Bai ◽  
Kai-Jen Chuang ◽  
Jen-Kun Chen ◽  
Cheng-Yu Tsai ◽  
You-Lan Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pleural Effusion ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Immune Biomarkers ◽  
Metal Levels ◽  
One Year ◽  
Cluster Of Differentiation ◽  
And Control ◽  
Pollution Exposure ◽  
Gaseous Pollution

Air pollution is known to increase the risk of pneumonia. However, the effects of air pollution on the pleural effusion of patients with pneumonia are unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate alterations in inflammatory–immune biomarkers by air pollution in patients with pneumonia by analyzing their pleural effusion. Patients who had undergone thoracentesis to drain their pleural effusion in a hospital were recruited for this study. Patients with pneumonia and those with congestive heart failure respectively served as the case and control groups. We observed that an increase of 1 ppb in one-year NO2 was associated with a decrease of 0.105 ng/mL in cluster of differentiation 62 (CD62) (95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.085, −0.004, p < 0.05) in the pleural effusion. Furthermore, we observed that an increase in one−year 1 ppb of NO2 was associated with a decrease of 0.026 ng/mL in molybdenum (Mo) (95% CI = −0.138, −0.020, p < 0.05). An increase in one-year 1 ppb of SO2 was associated with a decrease of 0.531 ng/mL in zinc (95% CI = −0.164, −0.006, p < 0.05). Also, an increase in one-year 1 ppb of O3 was associated with a decrease of 0.025 ng/mL in Mo (95% CI = −0.372, −0.053, p < 0.05). In conclusion, air pollution exposure, especially gaseous pollution, may be associated with the regulation of immune responses and changes in metal levels in the pleural effusion of pneumonia patients.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Impacts of a Phone Warning and Advising System for Individuals Vulnerable to Smog. Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial Study in Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaddour Mehiriz ◽  
Pierre Gosselin
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Warning Systems ◽  
Protective Behaviors ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Research Stream ◽  
And Control

Smog warning systems are components of adaptation strategies that are adopted by governments around the world to protect their citizens from extreme episodes of air pollution. As part of a growing research stream on the effectiveness of these systems, this article presents the results of a study on the impacts of an automated phone warning and advising system for individuals vulnerable to air pollution. A sample of 1328 individuals were recruited and randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. The treatment group received smog warning while the control group did not. Data were collected via three phone surveys, two before and one after issuing the smog warning. The comparison between treatment and control groups indicates that exposure to a smog warning improved information on the occurrence of smog episodes (n = 484, OR = 5.58, p = 0.00), and knowledge on protective behaviors. Furthermore, members of treatment group were more likely to avoid exposure to smog episodes by spending more time inside with the windows closed than usual (n = 474, OR = 2.03, p = 0.00). Members of treatment group who take medication in the form of aerosol pumps also kept these devices on themselves more frequently than those of control group (n= 109, OR = 2.15, p = 0.03). The system however had no discernible effects on the awareness of air pollution risks, reduction of health symptoms related to smog and the use of health system services. The absence of health benefits could be related to the lower actual exposure to air pollution of such vulnerable groups during winter.

scholarly journals Impact of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning Conducted in Living Kidney Donors on Renal Function in Donors and Recipients Following Living Donor Kidney Transplantation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Yeon Bang ◽  
Sae-Gyeol Kim ◽  
Jimi Oh ◽  
Seon-Ok Kim ◽  
Yon-Ji Go ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Function ◽  
Kidney Transplantation ◽  
Serum Creatinine ◽  
Ischemic Preconditioning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Kidney Donors ◽  
Living Kidney Donors ◽  
One Year ◽  
And Control

Although remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has been shown to have renoprotective effects, few studies have assessed the effects of RIPC on renal function in living kidney donors. This study investigated whether RIPC performed in living kidney donors could improve residual renal function in donors and outcomes in recipients following kidney transplantation. The donors were randomized into a control group (n = 85) and a RIPC group (n = 85). The recipients were included according to the matched donors. Serum creatinine (sCr) concentrations and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were compared between control and RIPC groups in donors and recipients. Delayed graft function, acute rejection, and graft failure within one year after transplantation were evaluated in recipients. sCr was significantly increased in the control group (mean, 1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07–1.18) than the RIPC group (1.01; 95% CI, 0.95–1.07) (p = 0.003) at discharge. Donors with serum creatinine >1.4 mg/dL at discharge had higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease (n = 6, 26.1%) than donors with a normal serum creatinine level (n = 8, 5.4%) (p = 0.003) after one year. sCr concentrations and eGFR were similar in the RIPC and control groups of recipients over the one-year follow-up period. Among recipients, no outcome variables differed significantly in the RIPC and control groups. RIPC was effective in improving early renal function in kidney donors but did not improve renal function in recipients.

Management after Myocardial Infarction: A Controlled Trial of the Effect of Group Psychotherapy

1974 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel A. Ibrahim ◽  
Joseph G. Feldman ◽  
Harry A. Sultz ◽  
Martin G. Staiman ◽  
Lewis J. Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Group Psychotherapy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Coronary Care ◽  
One Year ◽  
And Control

A controlled clinical trial was conducted to determine the feasibility of offering group psychotherapy to post-myocardial infarction patients for one year, and to test its effects upon prognosis. Shortly after discharge from a coronary care unit, 118 patients were approximately equally allocated to therapy and control groups. The acceptance, the average attendance at the weekly sessions, and the drop-out rates per cent were 84, 69 and 15.5 respectively. No statistically significant changes were shown in the physiological and psychological factors. Favorable effects were suggested by survival experience, changes in social alienation, length of hospital stay and the patients' reported attitudes toward this form of therapy.

scholarly journals Household air pollution, ultrasound measurement, fetal biometric parameters and intrauterine growth restriction

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anindita Dutta ◽  
Donee Alexander ◽  
Theodore Karrison ◽  
Oludare Morhasson-Bello ◽  
Nathaniel Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽  
Growth Restriction ◽  
Growth Trajectories ◽  
Second Trimester ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Intrauterine Growth ◽  
Biometric Parameters ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background Low birthweight, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and perinatal mortality have been associated with air pollution. However, intervention studies that use ultrasound measurements to assess the effects of household air pollution (HAP) on fetal biometric parameters (FBP) are rare. We investigated the effect of a cookstove intervention on FBP and IUGR in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) cohort of HAP-exposed pregnant Nigerian women. Methods We recruited 324 women early in the second trimester of pregnancy. Between 16 and 18 weeks, we randomized them to either continue cooking with firewood/kerosene (control group) or receive a CleanCook stove and ethanol fuel (intervention group). We measured fetal biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), femur length (FL), abdominal circumference (AC) and ultrasound-estimated fetal weight (U-EFW) in the second and third trimesters. The women were clinically followed up at six regular time points during their pregnancies. Once during the women’s second trimester and once during the third, we made 72-h continuous measurements of their personal exposures to particulate matter having aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5). We adopted a modified intent-to-treat approach for the analysis. Differences between the intervention and control groups on impact of HAP on fetal growth trajectories were analyzed using mixed effects regression models. Results There were no significant differences in fetal growth trajectories between the intervention and control groups. Conclusions Larger studies in a setting of low ambient air pollution are required to further investigate the effect of transitioning to a cleaner fuel such as ethanol on intrauterine growth. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02394574; September 2012

Placement in Regular Programs: Procedures and Results

1975 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 413-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norris G. Haring ◽  
David A. Krug
Keyword(s):  
Special Education Students ◽  
Social Adaptation ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Regular Class ◽  
Class Placement ◽  
One Year ◽  
And Control ◽  
Regular Classes ◽  
Experimental Group

Forty-eight elementary age students classified as mentally retarded and living in an economically depressed area were randomly selected, divided into matched experimental and control groups, and placed in 4 classrooms of 12 students each. The objective was to initiate an experimental, individualized, instruction program that would facilitate the return of special education students to regular classes. After a year's intervention, 13 students from the experimental group were placed in regular classes. A one year followup study was done to determine the academic and social adaptation of the 13 students. Results showed that a high percentage of the subjects could acquire basic skills at a rate to allow regular class placement. Once placed, these students maintained their academic and behavioral adjustments.

scholarly journals Immune biomarkers link air pollution exposure to blood pressure in adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Prunicki ◽  
Nicholas Cauwenberghs ◽  
Jennifer Arthur Ataam ◽  
Hesam Movassagh ◽  
Juyong Brian Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Acute Inflammation ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Immune Biomarkers ◽  
Air Pollution Exposure ◽  
Pollution Exposure

Abstract Background Childhood exposure to air pollution contributes to cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Immune and oxidative stress disturbances might mediate the effects of air pollution on the cardiovascular system, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood in adolescents. Therefore, we aimed to identify immune biomarkers linking air pollution exposure and blood pressure levels in adolescents. Methods We randomly recruited 100 adolescents (mean age, 16 years) from Fresno, California. Using central-site data, spatial-temporal modeling, and distance weighting exposures to the participant’s home, we estimated average pollutant levels [particulate matter (PM), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)]. We collected blood samples and vital signs on health visits. Using proteomic platforms, we quantitated markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, coagulation, and endothelial function. Immune cellular characterization was performed via mass cytometry (CyTOF). We investigated associations between pollutant levels, cytokines, immune cell types, and blood pressure (BP) using partial least squares (PLS) and linear regression, while adjusting for important confounders. Results Using PLS, biomarkers explaining most of the variance in air pollution exposure included markers of oxidative stress (GDF-15 and myeloperoxidase), acute inflammation (C-reactive protein), hemostasis (ADAMTS, D-dimer) and immune cell types such as monocytes. Most of these biomarkers were independently associated with the air pollution levels in fully adjusted regression models. In CyTOF analyses, monocytes were enriched in participants with the highest versus the lowest PM2.5 exposure. In both PLS and linear regression, diastolic BP was independently associated with PM2.5, NO, NO2, CO and PAH456 pollution levels (P ≤ 0.009). Moreover, monocyte levels were independently related to both air pollution and diastolic BP levels (P ≤ 0.010). In in vitro cell assays, plasma of participants with high PM2.5 exposure induced endothelial dysfunction as evaluated by eNOS and ICAM-1 expression and tube formation. Conclusions For the first time in adolescents, we found that ambient air pollution levels were associated with oxidative stress, acute inflammation, altered hemostasis, endothelial dysfunction, monocyte enrichment and diastolic blood pressure. Our findings provide new insights on pollution-related immunological and cardiovascular disturbances and advocate preventative measures of air pollution exposure.

scholarly journals Air Pollution and Breast Cancer in Iranian Women Living in Tehran Metropolis

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
Farima Minaee ◽  
Mohammad reza Sohrabi ◽  
Mohammad Ali Heidarnia ◽  
Alireza Mosavi Jarrahi
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Continuous Variable ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Model ◽  
P Value ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
A Value ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
And Control

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the possible association between air pollution and breast cancer in women living in polluted urban areaMethods: A frequency (five years age group) matching case-control study was conducted among women living Tehran Metropolis. Ambient carbon dioxide (CO2) as an indicator of exposure to air pollution and particulate matter 10 (PM10) as a carcinogen were used as exposure. Concentrations of the two indicators for the residential address of cases and control for the last five years were obtained from office of Tehran Air Quality Control Bureau (TAQB). All subjects were interviewed by phone and information about other risk factors (hormonal, behavioral anthropometric, and socio-economics) were obtained. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratios adjusted for confounding variables. CO2 entered into in the model as a continuous variable and PM10 was categorized as PM10 ≤ 1 VS 1 < PM10.Results: A total of 300 cases and 270 controls participated in the study. The mean age for cases and controls were 51.93 and 51.45 years, respectively. The distribution of air pollution throughout the study area indicated a large variation from a minimum of zero (no detectable) to a value of 16165.2612 µg/m3 for CO2. This figures were 0.03441 to 8.3242 µg/m3 for PM10. In average cases tend to live in areas with higher pollution indicators than controls PM10 was (PM10 < 1 µg/m3 = 107), (1 < PM10 <2 µg/m3 = 83) and (PM10 > 2 µg/m3 = 97) for cases and (PM10 < 1 µg/m3 = 108), (1 < PM10 < 2 µg/m3 = 87) and (PM10 > 2 µg/m3 = 105) for controls. Also CO2 index was a significant different with control groups as mean was (3943.87±3.50 µg/m3) for controls and (3199.84±2.72 µg/m3) for cases (P-value= 0.03). logCO2 as general indicator of exposure to air pollution was not observed association with breast cancer (OR = 1.218 and CI 95% 1.000 to 1.000). subjects in the case and control groups had no signific nt difference in terms of the level of PM10 index (OR = 1.047 and CI 95% 1.005 to 7.278). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, risk of breast cancer increases in women with exposure to air pollution, which denotes air pollution as a potential risk factor of breast cancer.

Can Informal e-learning and Peer Support Help Bridge the Digital Divide?

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Lindsay ◽  
Simon Smith ◽  
Paul Bellaby
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Heart Disease ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Home Computers ◽  
E Learning ◽  
One Year ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Facilitated Learning

The project that we report here provided free home computers and a one-year broadband subscription to a sample of 108 older people diagnosed with coronary heart disease. The sample was divided at random and the experimental group had ‘facilitated learning’, based on access to a dedicated website, while controls did not. The results suggest that many participants needed to overcome their fear of new technology before they could learn how to use it effectively. Significant differences in computer skills were found between the experimental and control groups after six months of being involved in the project.

Fake Math-Dislike Students in Japan and East Asian countries

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuo Mori ◽  
Akitoshi Uchida
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Math Achievement ◽  
Implicit Attitude ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
School Students ◽  
Japanese Students ◽  
One Year ◽  
And Control

International surveys repeatedly showed that Japanese children were good at mathematics but disliking it. We hypothesized there were a considerable number of “fake math-dislikes” among Japanese students who claimed they disliked mathematics explicitly while accepted it implicitly. To examine this hypothesis, we administered questionnaires and paper-based implicit association tests (IAT) to 204 Japanese junior high school students (13-14 years old) and found 38 fake math-dislikes (Study 1). We hypothesized further that those fake math-dislikes would become real math-dislikes eventually and that informing of their implicit attitude toward mathematics might work preventing this undesirable transition. Then, in Study 2, we randomly assigned them into experimental and control groups and informed only the experimental students of their positive implicit attitude toward mathematics we revealed with the IAT. One year later, we found 15 of the 16 experimental students improved their math achievement scores while only nine of the 17 control students did. The simple practice of informing of their implicit attitude worked effectively for improving their math achievement. As hypothesized, it prevented the fake math-dislike students from turning into real math-dislikes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document