Effect of Ozone on Allergic Airway Inflammation

Background: Exposure to O3 has been associated with increased risk of exacerbations of asthma, but the underlying mechanisms are not well studied. We hypothesized that O3 exposure would enhance airway inflammatory responses to allergen and the GSTM1 null genotype would modulate this enhancement. Procedures: In a cross-over design, 10 asthmatic subjects (50% with GSTM1 null genotype) who had specific sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) were exposed to 160 ppb O3 or filtered air (FA) control for 4 h with intermittent exercise on two separate days at least three weeks apart. 20 h post-exposure, endobronchial challenge with DP allergen, and sham normal saline (NS) instillation, were performed in two separate lung lobes. Six h later, a second bronchoscopy was performed to collect bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from the DP- and NS-challenged lobes for analyses of cellular and biochemical markers of inflammation. Multiple variable regression was used to compare cell and cytokine responses across the four exposure groups (FA-NS, O3-NS, FA-DP, O3-DP). Effect modification by GSTM1 genotype was assessed in stratified regressions. Main Findings: BAL eosinophil and lymphocyte counts were increased in segments challenged with DP compared to segments that received sham challenges (p<0.01). DP challenge compared to sham challenge also caused a significant increase in BAL concentrations of the Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 (p<0.03 for all comparisons). O3 exposure did not significantly affect BAL cells or cytokine levels although BAL neutrophil count with DP challenge was non-significantly higher after O3 compared to after FA exposure (p<0.11). Compared to GSTM1-present subjects, GSTM1-null subjects had significantly reduced inflammatory responses including lower eosinophil (p<0.041) and IL-4 (p<0.014) responses to DP challenge after O3 exposure. Conclusions: O3 appears to have mixed effects on allergen-induced airway inflammation. While O3 did not cause a clear differential effect on airway cellular or cytokine responses to allergen challenge, those responses did appear to be modulated by the antioxidant enzyme, GSTM1, as evident by the attenuation of airway inflammatory responses to allergen after O3 exposure in the absence of the gene.

The Relationship Of Exposure To Cigarette Smoke In Pregnant Mothers To The Weight Of Newborn In Bhayangkara Palembang Hospital In 2021

Abstrak Background:. Exposure to cigarette smoke can affect low birth weight in mothers who are exposed to cigarette smoke. Low birth weight (LBW) babies are babies with a birth weight of less than 2500 grams. Objectives: To analyze the relationship between age, parity, gestational distance, education, occupation, exposure to cigarette smoke on the weight of newborns in mothers who gave birth. Methods: This research is analytic with a cross-sectional approach. The population and sample are 50 using total sampling technique. Results: The results of the statistical test showed that the variables that were statistically significantly related to the birth weight of newborns were age, parity, education, and exposure to cigarette smoke with ap value <0.05, while the variable distance between pregnancy and occupation did not have a significant relationship. with p value> 0.05. Conclusion: there is a significant relationship between exposure to cigarette smoke and the weight of newborns at Bhayangkara Hospital Palembang in 2021. Keywords: low birth weight, pregnant, passive smoking

Estimating Cardiovascular Health Gains From Eradicating Indoor Cold in Australia

Background Exposure to cold indoor temperature (<18 degrees Celsius) increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and has been identified by the WHO as a source of unhealthy housing. While warming homes has the potential to reduce CVD risk, the reduction in disease burden is not known. We simulated the population health gains from reduced CVD burden if all homes in Australia were adequately warm. Methods The health effect of eradicating cold housing through reductions in CVD was simulated using proportional multistate lifetable model. The model sourced CVD burden and epidemiological data from Australian and Global Burden of Disease studies. The prevalence of cold housing in Australia was estimated from the Australian Housing Conditions Survey. The effect of cold indoor temperature on blood pressure (and in turn stroke and coronary heart disease) was estimated from published research. Results Eradication of exposure to indoor cold could achieve a gain of undiscounted one and a half weeks of additional health life per person alive in 2016 (baseyear) in cold housing through CVD alone. This equates to 0.447 (uncertainty interval: 0.064, 1.34; 3% discount rate) HALYs per 1,000 persons over remainder of their lives through CVD reduction. One-fifth of the total health gains are achievable between 2016 and 2035. Although seemingly modest, the gains outperform currently recommended CVD interventions including dietary advice for adults (0.017 per 1000 people, UI: 0.01, 0.027), lifestyle program for adults (0.024, UI: 0.01, 0.027) and Community Heart Health Program (0.141, UI: 0.071, 0.221). Conclusion Cardiovascular health gains achievable through eradication of cold housing are comparable with lifestyle and dietary interventions. The benefits of housing improvement are also substantial in other social domains (comfort, heating bills and energy efficiency).

HIF-1α Negatively Regulates Irisin Expression Which Involves in Muscle Atrophy Induced by Hypoxia

Background: Exposure to high altitude environment leads to skeletal muscle atrophy. As a hormone secreted by skeletal muscles after exercise, irisin contributes to promoting muscle regeneration and ameliorating skeletal muscle atrophy, but its role in hypoxia-induced skeletal muscle atrophy is still unclear. Methods & Results: Our results showed that 4 w of hypoxia exposure significantly reduced body weight and gastrocnemius muscle mass of mice, as well as grip strength and the duration time of treadmill exercise. Hypoxia treatment increased HIF-1α expression and decreased both the circulation level of irisin and its precursor protein FNDC5 expression in skeletal muscle. In vitro, CoCl2-induced chemical hypoxia and 1% O2 ambient hypoxia both reduced FNDC5, along with the increase of HIF-1α. Moreover, the decline of area and diameter of myotubes caused by hypoxia were rescued by inhibiting HIF-1α via YC-1. and Conclusions: Collectively, our research indicated that FNDC5/irisin was negatively regulated by HIF-1α and could participate in the regulation of muscle atrophy caused by hypoxia.

The Effect of Corncob (Zea mays) Extract Cream on the Number of Melanin Pigments of Guinea Pig Exposed to Ultraviolet

Background: Exposure to Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays on the skin causesmany problems, including pigmentation and aging effect. Hence, protection against it is needed. Purpose: The study aimedto determine the effect of corncob extract cream on the number of melanin pigments in guinea pig skins exposed to UVB rays. Methods: Anexperimental post-test-only control group study was conducted on the 25 guinea pigs. The guinea pigs were divided randomly into five groups: group I without cream, group II cream base, group III hydroquinone cream, group IV 30% corncob extract cream, and group V 40% corncob extract cream. The cream was given daily for 20 minutes before UVB exposure and 4 hours after UVB exposure. The total dose of UVB exposure was 780 mJ / cm2 for 28 days. The amount of melanin pigment was calculated using the CX21 image J. Result: The number of melanin pigment in groups I, II, III, IV, and V were 22.8±0.4 cells, 18±0.3 cells, 6.3±3.1 cells, 13.8±0.2 cells, and 9.4±0.5 cells, respectively. Asignificantlydifferent value of One way ANOVA test was <0.05. Thus, there was a difference in the number of melanin pigments between the five groups. LSD post-hoc test showed differences in each group (p <0.05). Conclusion: 40% corn cobs extract cream effectively decreased the number of melanin pigment in guinea pigs exposed to UVB rays.

Assessment of Outdoor Gamma Exposure Level of Some Swampy Agricultural Soils of Nasarawa West, Nigeria

In this study, assessment of outdoor background exposure levels in some selected swampy agricultural soil in Nasarawa West, Nigeria has been conducted. An in-situ measurement of outdoor background exposure rate (in mRhr-1) for a total of fifty farms (ten each from Keffi (KF), Kokona (KK), Karu (KR), Toto (TT), and Nasarawa (NS)) were done using a well calibrated portable halogen-quenched Geiger Muller (GM) detector (Inspector alert Nuclear radiation monitor SN:3544). A geographical positioning system (GPS) was used at an elevation of 1.0 m above ground level to obtain the geographical location. The radiological hazard parameters were evaluated using the measured outdoor background exposure rates. The values obtained were compared with recommended permissible limits to ascertain the radiological hazard status of the swampy agricultural farms. The mean values of the outdoor background exposure levels (0.23, 0.038, 0.028, 0.022, and 0.039 mRh-1), absorbed dose rates (458.49, 334.95, 188.79, 194.01, and 343.65 nGyh-1) and excess lifetime cancer risk (1.968, 1438, 0.810, 0.832, and 1.475) each for KF, KK, KR, TT, and NS respectively, are higher than the recommended safe limits of 0.013 mRh-1, 84.0 nGyh-1, 0.00029 respectively as recommended by UNSCEAR and ICRP. On the other hand, the mean annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) values (0.563, 0.410, 0.232, 0.238, and 0.421 mSvy-1 for KF, KK, KR, TT, and NS respectively) are below the recommended permissible limits of 1.00 mSvy-1 for general public exposure. Generally, the study revealed that swampy agricultural soils in Nasarawa west are radiologically safe with little contamination which could be attributed to the geological formation and partly due to human activity in the area.

“Everything the hujur tells is very educative but if I can’t not apply those in my own life then there is no meaning”: A mixed-methods process evaluation of a smoke-free homes intervention in Bangladesh.

Background Exposure to second-hand smoke from tobacco is a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality. A cluster RCT in Bangladesh concluded a community-based smoke-free home (SFH) intervention delivered in mosques, with or without indoor air quality (IAQ) feedback to households was neither effective nor cost-effective compared to no intervention. This paper presents the process evaluation embedded within the trial. Methods A mixed method process evaluation comprising interviews with 30 household leads and six imams, brief questionnaire administered to 848 household leads, fidelity assessment of intervention delivery in six mosques and research team records. Data sets were triangulated using meta-themes informed by three process evaluation functions: implementation, mechanisms of impact and context. Results IMPLEMENTATION: The frequency of SFH intervention delivery was judged moderate to good. However there were mixed levels of intervention fidelity and poor reach. Ayahs-messages targeting SHS attitudes were most often fully implemented and had greatest reach (with social norms). Frequency and reach of IAQ feedback intervention were good. MECHANISMS OF IMPACT: Both interventions had good acceptability. However, views on usefulness of the interventions were mixed. Only half of households reported achieving a SFH home at 3-months follow-up. Individual drivers to behaviour change were new SFH knowledge with corresponding positive attitudes, social norms and intentions. Individual barriers were a lack of self-efficacy and plans. CONTEXT: Social context drivers to SFH intervention implementation in mosques were in place and important. No context barriers to implementation were reported. Social context drivers to SHS behaviour change were children’s requests. Barriers were a reluctance to request visitors to smoke outside. (Not) having somewhere to smoke outside was a physical context (barrier) and driver. Conclusions Despite detailed development and adaption work with relevant stakeholders, the SFH and IAQ interventions became educational interventions that were motivational but insufficient to overcome significant context barriers to SHS behaviour change. Embedding these interventions into community wide strategies that include practical cessation support and enforcement of SFH legislation is needed.

NeuroSmog: Determining the impact of air pollution on the developing brain: project protocol

Background Exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) may affect neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. The mechanisms underlying these relationships are not currently known. We aim to assess whether PM affects the developing brains of schoolchildren in Poland, a European country characterized by very high levels of particulate air pollution. Methods Between 2020 and 2022, 800 children aged 10 to 13 years are being recruited as participants in a case-control study. Cases (children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)) are being recruited from psychology clinics. Population-based controls are being sampled from schools. The study area comprises 18 towns in southern Poland characterized by wide-ranging levels of PM. Comprehensive psychological assessments are being conducted to assess cognitive and social functioning. Cases and controls undergo MRI including T1, T2 and MP2RAGE structural imaging, task (Go/NoGo) and resting-state MRI, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Concentrations of PM are being assessed using land use regression models, which incorporate data from air monitoring networks, dispersion models, and characteristics of roads and other land cover types. The estimated concentrations will be assigned to prenatal and postnatal residential and preschool/school addresses of all study subjects. We will assess whether long-term exposure to outdoor PM affects brain function, structure, and connectivity in healthy children and those diagnosed with ADHD. Results and Discussion This comprehensive study will provide novel, in-depth understanding of the neurodevelopmental effects of air pollution.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Equine Reproduction

Bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics following low-level “background” exposure to antimicrobial agents as well as from exposure at therapeutic levels during treatment for bacterial infections. In this review, we look specifically at antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the equine reproductive tract and its possible origin, focusing particularly on antibiotics in semen extenders used in preparing semen doses for artificial insemination. Our review of the literature indicated that AMR in the equine uterus and vagina were reported worldwide in the last 20 years, in locations as diverse as Europe, India, and the United States. Bacteria colonizing the mucosa of the reproductive tract are transferred to semen during collection; further contamination of the semen may occur during processing, despite strict attention to hygiene at critical control points. These bacteria compete with spermatozoa for nutrients in the semen extender, producing metabolic byproducts and toxins that have a detrimental effect on sperm quality. Potential pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa may occasionally cause fertility issues in inseminated mares. Antibiotics are added during semen processing, according to legislation, to impede the growth of these microorganisms but may have a detrimental effect on sperm quality, depending on the antimicrobial agent and concentration used. However, this addition of antibiotics is counter to current recommendations on the prudent use of antibiotics, which recommend that antibiotics should be used only for therapeutic purposes and after establishing bacterial sensitivity. There is some evidence of resistance among bacteria found in semen samples. Potential alternatives to the addition of antibiotics are considered, especially physical removal separation of spermatozoa from bacteria. Suggestions for further research with colloid centrifugation are provided.

Artificial stone silicosis: Accumulation of errors in the resurgence of an occupational disease: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Exposure to artificial stone machining, under the conditions in which marble workers work with this new product, can cause silicosis. OBJECTIVE: To examine the experiences of marble workers affected, both in workshop and during home installation of countertops, before diagnosis of silicosis. METHODS: Qualitative study in which 10 open-ended semistructured interviews were conducted with marble workers diagnosed with silicosis after machining artificial stone countertops in Cádiz, Spain. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using a directed content analysis. Codes were organized into themes. RESULTS: Interviews up to 120 minutes and transcript analysis revealed three themes: 1) Heavy exposure for piecework: construction boom in an environment of labor deregulation and high demand for the novel product; 2) Poor working conditions: dry machining of artificial stone without proper protection in the workshop and greater exposure during home installation of countertops; 3) Concatenated legal transgressions: deficiencies in prevention and health surveillance without safety conditions for the correct handling of artificial stone. CONCLUSIONS: The fight against an emerging occupational disease—artificial stone silicosis—should focus on detecting affected workers and avoiding new cases, forcing joint efforts to achieve rigorous compliance with health surveillance and protecting marble workers to achieve healthy and safeworkplaces.