Pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) may cause occupational asthma

Introduction

Anhydrides are widely used as cross-linking agents in epoxy resins and alkyd production, for example, as coatings and adhesives in plastic products. Sensitisation to several anhydrides is known to cause occupational asthma. There are indications that the lesser known pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) can cause irritative respiratory symptoms and possibly asthma. We report three cases of workers from a plastic foil manufacturing plant, who developed asthma when exposed to PMDA during specific inhalation challenge (SIC).

Methods

SIC was performed over 2 days according to recommendations of European Respiratory Society. Lactose powder was used in control challenges and a mixture of 10% PMDA and 90% lactose powder in active challenges.

Results

All cases experienced a delayed decrease in forced expiratory flow in 1 s (FEV₁) 4–12 hours after active challenge. FEV₁ decreased by 19%, 15% and 16%, respectively. After 21 hours, FEV₁ decreased by 24% in one worker.

Discussion

Respiratory symptoms after working hours may represent delayed work-related asthma. During SIC, the three patients developed lower respiratory symptoms and a delayed decrease in FEV₁ which suggest sensitisation. The mechanism of anhydride-related asthma is not well understood. Anhydrides are known irritants and hence an irritative response cannot be excluded. The company improved ventilation and enforced the use of respiratory protection equipment, and finally phased out PMDA. Occupational workplace risk identification may help to identify exposures. SIC can contribute to improving working conditions, by identifying and confirming asthmogens in the environment.

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Early detection of lung cancer in a population at high risk due to occupation and smoking

Objective

The US National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends two pathways for eligibility for Early Lung Cancer Detection (ELCD) programmes. Option 2 includes individuals with occupational exposures to lung carcinogens, in combination with a lesser requirement on smoking. Our objective was to determine if this algorithm resulted in a similar prevalence of lung cancer as has been found using smoking risk alone, and if so to present an approach for lung cancer screening in high-risk worker populations.

Methods

We enrolled 1260 former workers meeting NCCN criteria, with modifications to account for occupational exposures in an ELCD programme.

Results

At baseline, 1.6% had a lung cancer diagnosed, a rate similar to the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST). Among NLST participants, 59% were current smokers at the time of baseline scan or had quit smoking fewer than 15 years prior to baseline; all had a minimum of 30 pack-years of smoking. Among our population, only 24.5% were current smokers and 40.1% of our participants had smoked fewer than 30 pack-years; only 43.5% would meet entry criteria for the NLST. The most likely explanation for the high prevalence of screen-detected lung cancers in the face of a reduced risk from smoking is the addition of occupational risk factors for lung cancer.

Conclusion

Occupational exposures to lung carcinogens should be incorporated into criteria used for ELCD programmes, using the algorithm developed by NCCN or with an individualised risk assessment; current risk assessment tools can be modified to incorporate occupational risk.

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Work-unit organisational changes and subsequent prescriptions for psychotropic medication: a longitudinal study among public healthcare employees

Objectives

We examined exposure to different types of organisational changes at work as risk factors for subsequent prescription for psychotropic medication among employees.

Methods

The study population included 15 038 public healthcare employees nested within 1284 work units in the Capital Region of Denmark. Multilevel mixed-effects parametric survival models were developed to examine time to prescription for psychotropic medications (anxiolytics/hypnotics/sedatives/antidepressants) during the 12-month interval following exposure to organisational changes relative to no change from January to December 2013. Data on work-unit level organisational changes (including mergers, split-ups, relocation, change in management, employee lay-offs and budget cuts) were collected from work-unit managers (59% response).

Results

Any organisational change versus no change was associated with a higher risk of psychotropic prescription (HR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.26), especially change in management (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.41). Splitting the 12-month follow-up period into two halves yielded particularly high rates of psychotropic prescription in the latter half of the follow-up, for example, any change (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.41), change in management (HR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.22 to 1.65), mergers (HR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.50), employee lay-off (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.46) and budget cuts (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.41). The associations did not vary by sex.

Conclusions

Organisational changes in the workplace, especially change in management, may be associated with increased risk of psychotropic prescription among employees regardless of sex.

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Urinary 2,5-dicholorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol concentrations and prevalent disease among adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

Objective

To test cross-sectional associations between urinary concentrations of 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, lung disease, thyroid problems and liver conditions.

Methods

Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations of urinary concentrations of 2,5-DCP and 2,4-DCP with prevalence of various medical conditions among 3617 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants from 2007–2008 and 2009–2010. ORs and 95% CIs for each disease were estimated. All regression models were adjusted for urinary creatinine.

Results

We observed a monotonically increasing association between quartiles of 2,5-DCP and prevalence of CVD. After adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, participants with the highest versus lowest quartile of urinary 2,5-DCP had an OR=1.84 (95% CI 1.26 to 2.70) (p linear trend=0.006). The association was similar with further adjustment for established clinical CVD risk factors. Higher 2,5-DCP was also associated with prevalence of all cancers combined (OR_{Q4 vs Q1}=1.50 (95% CI 1.00 to 2.26); p trend=0.05) and, in exploratory analyses, with gynaecological cancers (OR_{Q4 vs Q1}=4.15 (95% CI 1.51 to 11.40; p trend=0.01)). No associations were detected between 2,5-DCP and lung diseases, thyroid problems or liver conditions, nor between 2,4-DCP and prevalent disease.

Conclusion

In this nationally representative study, higher urinary 2,5-DCP concentrations were associated with greater prevalence of CVD and all cancers combined. Further examination may be warranted to assess whether chronic exposure to 2,5-DCP is associated with incidence of adverse health outcomes.

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ECG conduction disturbances and ryanodine receptor expression levels in occupational lead exposure workers

Objectives

A significant number of researches have evidenced that occupational lead (Pb) exposure increased risks of cardiovascular disease. However, evidences about the potential effects of Pb on the cardiac conduction system are sparse and inconclusive. Besides, ryanodine receptors (RyRs) induced dysfunction of cardiac excitation contraction coupling which is considered to be one of the mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, we examined the association between occupational Pb exposure and ECG conduction abnormalities, as well as RyRs in Pb-induced ECG abnormalities.

Methods

We investigated 529 Pb smelter workers, and measured blood lead (BPb), zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP), ECG outcomes and RyR expression levels. Based on BPb levels, the workers were divided into three groups: the BPb not elevated group, the BPb elevated group and the Pb poisoning group. Descriptive and multivariable analyses were performed.

Results

Compared with the BPb not elevated group, the Pb poisoning group had a higher incidence of high QRS voltage, and a lower level of RyR1 gene expression (p<0.05). Further unconditional multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that high QRS voltage was positively related to BPb (OR=1.045, 95% CI 1.014 to 1.078) and inversely associated with RyR1 expression (OR=0.042, 95% CI 0.002 to 0.980) after adjusting for potential confounders. In addition, multiple linear regression analyses showed that the QTc interval was positively associated with ZPP (β=0.299, 95% CI 0.130 to 0.468) after adjusting for potential confounders.

Conclusions

Our study provided evidences that occupational exposure to Pb may be associated with worse ECG outcomes (high QRS voltage), which might be related to decreased levels of RyR1.

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Functional variant of the carboxypeptidase M (CPM) gene may affect silica-related pneumoconiosis susceptibility by its expression: a multistage case-control study

Objectives

In a genome-wide association study, we discovered chromosome 12q15 (defined as rs73329476) as a silica-related pneumoconiosis susceptibility region. However, the causal variants in this region have not yet been reported.

Methods

We systematically screened eight potentially functional single-neucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in the genes near rs73329476 (carboxypeptidase M (CPM) and cleavage and polyadenylation specific factor 6 (CPSF6)) in a case–control study including 177 cases with silicosis and 204 healthy controls, matched to cases with years of silica dust exposure. We evaluated the associations between these eight SNPs and the development of silicosis. Luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to test the effects of selected SNP on the activity of CPM in the promoter. In addition, a two-stage case–control study was performed to investigate the expression differences of the two genes in peripheral blood leucocytes from a total of 64 cases with silicosis and 64 healthy controls with similar years of silica dust exposure as the cases.

Results

We found a strong association between the mutant rs12812500 G allele and the susceptibility of silicosis (OR=1.45, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.04, p=0.034), while luciferase reporter gene assays indicated that the mutant G allele of rs12812500 is strongly associated with increased luciferase levels compared with the wild-type C allele (p<0.01). Moreover, the mRNA (peripheral blood leucocytes) expression of the CPM gene was significantly higher in subjects with silicosis compared with healthy controls.

Conclusions

The rs12812500 variant of the CPM gene may increase silicosis susceptibility by affecting the expression of CPM, which may contribute to silicosis susceptibility with biological plausibility.

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Cancer mortality in an international cohort of reinforced plastics workers exposed to styrene: a reanalysis

Objective

To investigate the carcinogenicity of styrene by reanalysing data from a previous international cohort study of workers in the reinforced plastics industry.

Methods

Mortality from cancers of prior interest was analysed with more detailed consideration of exposure–response relations and an updated classification of leukaemias and lymphomas in data from a previous international cohort study of 37 021 reinforced plastics workers exposed to airborne styrene.

Results

Increased mortality from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was associated with the mean level of exposure to styrene in air (relative risk (RR) 2.31, 95% CI 1.29 to 4.12 per 100 ppm), but not with cumulative styrene exposure. Similar associations with mean exposure were observed for the oesophagus (RR 2.44, 95% CI 1.11 to 5.36 per 100 ppm) and pancreas (RR 1.89, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.09). Oesophageal cancer mortality was also associated with cumulative styrene exposure lagged 20 years (RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.31). No other cancer, including lung cancer, was associated with any indicator of styrene exposure.

Conclusion

This reanalysis does not substantially change the conclusions of the original study with respect to NHL or lung cancer but new evidence concerning cancers of the oesophagus and pancreas merits further investigation.

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Multiorgan accelerated silicosis misdiagnosed as sarcoidosis in two workers exposed to quartz conglomerate dust

Introduction

Clusters of silicosis cases have been reported in the fabrication of quartz conglomerate, a new high-silica-content artificial stone for kitchen and bathroom benchtops (countertops).

Aim

We describe two cases of accelerated-type silicosis with hepatic granulomas arising in workers exposed to artificial quartz conglomerates.

Methods

A confident diagnosis of multiorgan silicosis was based on high level of respirable silica in the workplace, typical radiological alterations in chest high-resolution CT, histological findings in the lung and liver, and detection of silica crystals in both tissues by phase-contrast polarising light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy.

Results

The development of the disease <10 years after the first exposure is consistent with an accelerated-type of silicosis. Compared with other studies related to quartz conglomerate exposure, we determined that the levels of airborne crystalline silica during activity in the finishing area were between 0.260 and 0.744 mg/m³, that is, much higher than the threshold limit value according to American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (0.025 mg/m³). Moreover, liver granulomas were associated with accumulation of crystalline silica particles in the hepatic tissue.

Conclusions

Quartz conglomerate fabrication is a potentially dangerous occupation. General practitioners and physicians should have awareness of this newly described occupational hazard. Accurate occupational history is critical in avoiding misdiagnosis, as silicosis caused by inhalation of dust from artificial quartz conglomerates may exhibit atypical presentation. These features seem to be related to the extremely high level of silica exposure and, possibly, to an increased toxicity of the dust generated in this process.

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Night work and sick leave during pregnancy: a national register-based within-worker cohort study

Objective

The aim of our study was to investigate the acute effect of night work during pregnancy on the risk of calling in sick the following day using register-based information and the workers as their own controls.

Methods

Using the payroll-based national Danish Working Hour Database, including all public hospital employees in Denmark, we identified 9799 pregnant women with ≥1 day shift and ≥1 night shift and ≥1 day of sick leave during the first 32 pregnancy weeks from January 2007 to December 2013. We performed fixed effects logistic regression, that is, within-worker comparisons, of the risk of sick leave of any duration starting within 24 hours after night shifts of different length versus day shifts.

Results

Most of the participants were nurses (64%) or physicians (16%). We found an increased relative risk of sick leave following night shifts compared with day shifts during all pregnancy trimesters. The risk was highest for night shifts lasting >12 hours (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.63 for nurses; OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.69 to 2.08 for physicians) and among women aged >35 years (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.63).

Conclusion

Among Danish public hospital employees night shifts during pregnancy, especially shifts longer than 12 hours, increased the risk of calling in sick the following day independent of personal factors and time-invariant confounders in all pregnancy trimesters.

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Cemented versus uncemented femoral component total hip arthroplasty in elderly patients with primary osteoporosis: retrospective analysis with 5-year follow-up

Journal of International Medical Research, Ahead of Print.


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Idiopathic cervical spinal subdural haematoma: a case report and literature review

Journal of International Medical Research, Ahead of Print.


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Erratic movement disorders disclosing Graves’ disease and paralleling thyroid function but not autoantibody levels

Journal of International Medical Research, Ahead of Print.


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Bilateral cerebral infarction associated with severe arteriosclerosis in the A1 segment: a case report

Journal of International Medical Research, Ahead of Print.


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Delivering mobile eye care to underserved communities while providing training in ophthalmology to medical students: experience of the Guerrilla Eye Service

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A phase 2 randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study of novel nonsystemic kinase inhibitor TOP1630 for the treatment of dry eye disease

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Zika Virus-Associated Aseptic Meningitis and Guillain–Barre Syndrome in a Traveler Returning from Latin America: a Case Report and Mini-Review

Abstract

ZIKV-associated Guillain–Barré syndrome presents with an accelerated clinical course compared to classic post-infectious Guillain–Barré syndrome. Clinicians should anticipate and screen patients with ZIKV infection for neurologic complications bearing in mind that these may manifest during the acute viremic phase or during early convalescence.

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Recent Innovations in Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Tuberculosis

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Tuberculosis is leading cause of global morbidity and mortality and a significant proportion of the burden of disease occurs in children. In the past 5 years, a number of innovations have improved the diagnosis and treatment for children with both latent tuberculosis infection and active disease.

Recent Findings

This review discusses three key areas of innovation. First, we assess utilization and performance of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) in different clinical and epidemiologic scenarios. Recent literature has demonstrated good performance of IGRAs for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection, particularly in low-incidence settings such as TB control programs in North America. For high-incidence populations, or when testing is done for possible active TB disease, IGRA performance has some important limitations, but IGRA sensitivity when measured against culture proven disease may be better than earlier studies suggested. The second area of innovation is in increased uptake of nucleic acid amplification (NAA) tests and broader application in non-sputum samples for both pediatric pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Finally, recent studies have provided solid evidence in support of shorter treatment courses for pediatric latent tuberculosis infection, such as 12 weeks of weekly isoniazid and rifapentine or 4 months daily rifampin, that improve compliance and may reduce resources required for TB control.

Summary

Many recent innovations in pediatric tuberculosis relate to an improved understanding of how to optimally use existing tests and treatments. Until diagnostic tests and interventions such as vaccination are developed that can dramatically alter the paradigm of pediatric TB management and control, it is important for stakeholders to have a nuanced understanding of tools currently available.

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Gravitational-wave observatory LIGO set to double its detecting power

Gravitational-wave observatory LIGO set to double its detecting power

Gravitational-wave observatory LIGO set to double its detecting power, Published online: 15 February 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00573-4

A planned $35-million upgrade could enable LIGO to spot one black-hole merger per day by the mid-2020s.

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[ASAP] Direct Quantification of Rapid and Efficient Single-Stroke Actuation by a Martensitic Transition in a Thermosalient Crystal

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12752

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Gravitational-wave observatory LIGO set to double its detecting power

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Microarray and Bioinformatics

The data generated through the microarray technology are gathered and saved in a computer with the help of an image scanner. As these data are found in large amounts, it is difficult even for statistical experts to perform the analysis using traditional methods. The problem has turned to be a highly important one to get addressed, especially challenges arising due to the quality and standardization of the data produced by this technology. Thus, bioinformatics tools are invented. Bioinforma...

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First Fabric to Automatically Regulate Temperature

The material created regulates the amount of heat automatically as it passes through. "This is the first technology that allows us to dynamically gate infrared radiation," explains YuHuang Wang, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry and the study's corresponding author. If conditions are warm and moist, the fabric allows infrared radiation (heat) to pass through. If conditions become cooler and drier, fabric reduces escaping heat. "The human body is a perfect radiator. It gives off hea...

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Heartburn (Acid Reflux) Triggers

In general, heartburn may be caused by food, exercise, medications, position, and some anatomical variations. Thus, each individual must find out what triggers the sensation in his or her own case. Food Eating large meals is a sure trigger for heartburn in many patients. This is especially so if the meal is fatty and is taken very shortly before going to bed. After a large meal, the stomach is filled with food and acidic gastric juice, which may overflow through the lower esophageal sp...

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Exercising with Sciatica

How does pain occur in sciatica? The sciatic nerves are the largest nerves in the body, passing down from their origin in the lumbar spine to the buttocks, down each leg at the back, to the end of the big toes. The pain in sciatica occurs, when the sciatic nerves or any of their several roots are pinched or irritated. The pain may therefore occur anywhere along its path, in the lower part of the back, the buttocks, the leg, calf or foot. The type of pain may also vary from dull aching pai...

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A New Way to Detect Any Human Virus

Now, scientists in the lab of Pardis Sabeti at there Broad Institute have created a way to design molecular baits that can grab viral particles. The new tool, called CATCH, will enable researchers to study viruses that are only present at low levels in clinical samples. The work has been reported in Nature Biotechnology. Sabeti discussess how we monitor and respond to infectious disease outbreaks in the video."As genomic sequencing becomes a critical part of disease surveillance, tools like C...

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OMI Portable Medallion from NewMed

Can This Replace an OMI Full Body PEMF Mat? No, the OMI medallion has a much smaller treatment area than the full body body mat, it is designed to be used alongside other PEMF devices to "top up" the therapy rather than be used as your only PEMF device. Magnetize Water The OMI Medallion can be used to magnetize your water. The therapy is activated by holding the sides and device is a handy coaster shape making it the ideal device to add magnetic therapy to your water! The OMI Medallio...

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DeepLabel™ Antibody Staining Kit for Cleared Tissues

Antibody Labeling for Cleared Tissues Clearing methods allow light to penetrate samples for imaging, although the method used can affect tissue permeability to molecular probes. Conventional labeling protocols involve the slow diffusion of probes into thin sample sections, which translates to a time-consuming impracticality when applied to thicker samples. The slow progression of diffusion can also lead to uneven staining, with higher, nonspecific binding on the outside of a thicker sampl...

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NewMed's OMI Mini Mat

Why Buy the OMI Mini Mat? The OMI mat has been specifically designed for both humans and pets. The 60 cm x 40 cm (23" by 15") size makes it an ideal size to be used as a full body mat for pets or as a localized therapy for humans. How It Works The gentle magnetic field produced by the OMI mini mat will induce electrical current inside the body that helps restore the blocked ion flow and stimulates regeneration processes. Same PEMF Therapy for Pets & Humans! The only difference with t...

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Preparing Samples of Cannabis Plant for THC/CBD Analysis

With increasing legalization of cannabis for medicinal and research purposes, demand for accurate and high throughtput analysis of its active ingredients has dramatically risen. Cannabis plant material contains several cannabinoids for which the human brain has evolved receptors. The two most important are the psychoactive THC and the analgesic CBD which has therapeutic uses. The ratio of THC and CBD is crucial for differentiating medicinal versus recreational cannabis. This ratio is importan...

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OMI Pulsepad from NewMed

Why OMI? Easy to use! no training required The product comes with a 3-year warranty and lifetime product support. On the market for over 10 years Includes Pad & Controller For over 15 years OMI have been working to provide drug-free and all natural products that can promote healing and healthy living. The OMI PEMF range is the result of this dedication to providing the highest quality products that accelerate self healing. PEMF therapy has never been so affordable and easy to use. Ove...

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ntered Porous Materials for High Performance Chromatography

This unique material, produced from high-density polyethylene resin using a proprietary process that can be modified, is activated and then formed into filtration media of different void volumes according to the target application. Of special note is the application of BioVyon in chromatography. Used in filter and pipette tips, solid-phase extraction microplates (such as the Porvair Sciences MicroLute™) and cartridges, BioVyon has found a niche with many blue-chip Chromatography supplies ...

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Rapidly Standardise & Scale Your ChIP Workflows

Preparing samples for Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) has traditionally been a multi-step, time-consuming, and error-prone workflow. Pairing the bead-free Chromatrap immunoprecipitation system with the Covaris truChIP® and AFA® sample preparation technologies enables investigators to rapidly profile protein-DNA interactions of interest. By combining the two technologies, researchers now have access to a compatible and optimised workflow that increases productivity and allows the user to...

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What is Microbial Forensics?

What are bioweapons? Bioweapons encompass the use of any biological entity for the purpose of damaging the health of other living creatures. Most bioweapons concern the use of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Specially designed bioweapons may be engineered to function only in specific environments or to only affect animals or plants with particular features. These specifications are made to ensure that the weapon does not also affect the user. They may be intended to di...

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Purifying Antibodies Using Ion Exchange Chromatography

The stationary phase is made of immobilized ion exchange groups that have the opposite charge as the target component that is to be carried in the mobile phase. Generally, ion exchange experiments are performed in five stages. What is IEC and how is it performed? The first stage of IEC is called equilibration. During this process, the ion exchange stationary phase is equilibrated to ensure that it is operating at the optimized pH and ionic strength conditions to maximize adsorption of the...

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Foods that Reduce Heartburn (Acid Reflux)

It is caused by the upward movement of the acidic gastric contents into the gullet or esophagus, causing irritation of the mucous lining. In addition to the discomfort, the acid may cause a bitter taste in the mouth if it reaches as far as the pharynx. Some foods that intensify or trigger heartburn may not be the same for all individuals. These foods include spices like garlic or raw onions, black pepper, tomatoes, citrus fruit and vinegar. Fatty foods may also trigger heartburn, because ...

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NewMed's OMI PEMF Therapy Ring

Why OMI? Easy to use! no training required The product comes with a 3-year warranty and lifetime product support. On the market for over 10 years Includes Ring & Controller For over 15 years OMI have been working to provide drug-free and all natural products that can promote healing and healthy living. The OMI PEMF range is the result of this dedication to providing the highest quality products that accelerate self healing. PEMF therapy has never been so affordable and easy to use.. 3...

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OMI PEMF Mat from NewMed

Discover the OMI PEMF Range Low intensity, low frequency PEMF therapy has many applications and is now available with the OMI full body mat. Ease of use, affordability and comfort have all been combined to create a full body PEMF mat for home use.. 3 Easy to Use Programs Each program is able to cover a wide variety of applications What's Included? Everything you need for Full Body PEMF therapy is included with the OMI PEMF mat: What's Included? 1 x Full Body Mat 65"x25" (165 c...

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Gentle Efficient Buffer Reagents for Lysing Cells

There are many benefits to using Chromatrap® buffer reagents for lysing cells. These buffers have been formulated to act rapidly, gently and efficiently, ensuring reproducible results with high quality chromatin yields from various sample types. With chromatin being at the heart of Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP), the extraction and purification of chromatin is a vital starting point for epigenetics research. Chromatrap® Hypotonic Buffer has been widely proven to provide effective d...

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Organo-modification of montmorillonite for enhancing the adsorption efficiency of cobalt radionuclides from aqueous solutions

Abstract

Montmorillonite clay was organically modified with thoron (TH) and was employed as an adsorbent for removal of cobalt(II) radionuclides from aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption experiments, under several operational parameters such as pH, contact time, initial adsorbate concentration, adsorbent dosage, ionic strength, and temperature, were conducted to determine the optimum conditions for efficient removal of cobalt(II) radionuclides. The obtained data showed that almost complete removals were achieved for cobalt(II) at pH values ≥ 3.5 using TH-modified montmorillonite (TMM), while only 63% were obtained by unmodified clay at pH ≥ 5.4. Adsorption kinetic data of cobalt(II) were better fitted by the pseudo-second order kinetic model and its adsorption rate was controlled by film diffusion. Both Langmuir and Freundlich models had the ability to well describe the equilibrium data of cobalt(II) radionuclides at the studied temperatures. The adsorption capacity of TMM (0.85 mmol/g) was found to be not only nine times that of unmodified montmorillonite (0.097 mmol/g), but also higher than those reported in literature using various unmodified and modified clays. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔG°) were calculated. Among the examined desorbing agents, both Al³⁺ and EDTA were succeeded to desorb most of cobalt(II) radionuclides (desorption % ~ 90%) loaded onto TMM. The results of this study clarified that TMM can be considered as an effective adsorbent for removal of cobalt(II) radionuclides from aqueous solutions.

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[ASAP] KLi(HC3N3O3)·2H2O: Solvent-drop Grinding Method toward the Hydro-isocyanurate Nonlinear Optical Crystal

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b13280

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[ASAP] Zeolitic Intermetallics: LnNiSi (Ln = La–Nd)

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12784

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[ASAP] Protein Flexibility and Stiffness Enable Efficient Enzymatic Catalysis

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b10836

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[ASAP] Room-Temperature and Selective Triggering of Supramolecular DNA Assembly/Disassembly by Nonionizing Radiation

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b10355

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[ASAP] The Alkyne Moiety as a Latent Electrophile in Irreversible Covalent Small Molecule Inhibitors of Cathepsin K

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b11027

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[ASAP] Probing the Dynamics of the Imine-Based Pentafoil Knot and Pentameric Circular Helicate Assembly

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12800

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[ASAP] Electrochemical Fragmentation of Cu2O Nanoparticles Enhancing Selective C–C Coupling from CO2 Reduction Reaction

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b11237

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[ASAP] Anomalous Halogen–Halogen Interaction Assists Radial Chromophoric Assembly

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b13754

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Ammonia exposure induced abnormal expression of cytokines and heat shock proteins via glucose metabolism disorders in chicken neutrophils

Abstract

Ammonia (NH₃) is a highly irritant, alkaline gas. Atmospheric emission of NH₃ was recognized as an environmental challenge. As a global issue, the NH₃ emission survey with spatially detailed information demonstrated that the sources of atmospheric NH₃ include agriculture (livestock wastes, fertilizers) and some industrial activities. As an environmental pollution, excessive NH₃ exposure can induce many bird dysfunction. Neutrophils respond to multiple invading pathogens through different mechanisms. In order to investigate the effect of NH₃ exposure on broilers' neutrophil, 1-day-old broilers were treated with/without NH₃ for 28 days. We extracted neutrophils from peripheral blood of chicken with/without NH₃ exposure and subsequently stimulated with PMA. Changes of cytokines and inflammatory bodies, heat shock proteins (HSPs), and glucose metabolism of neutrophil were examined in both cases. We not only explored that the index associated with inflammation changed due to NH₃ exposure but also observed the status of neutrophils which was treated with PMA stimulation. After NH₃ exposure, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased on broilers neutrophil. Inflammatory-related factors (NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1) were significantly elevated. The mRNA expression of HSP70 and HSP90 was increased significantly. All glucose metabolism indicators were reduced. In summary, we concluded that NH₃ enhanced inflammation and disrupted glucose metabolism, and increased the expression of HSPs and inflammatory factors. In addition, the sensitivity of neutrophils to exogenous stimuli was diminished. This information can not only be used to evaluate the damage of NH₃-spiked neutrophils to chickens, but also provide clues for human health pathophysiology caused by excess NH₃, providing valuable information for NH₃ risk management.

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US science agencies set for budget boost in deal to avert government shutdown

US science agencies set for budget boost in deal to avert government shutdown

US science agencies set for budget boost in deal to avert government shutdown, Published online: 14 February 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00590-3

NASA, the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency are among the agencies whose funding would increase.

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Author Correction: Predictable and precise template-free CRISPR editing of pathogenic variants

Author Correction: Predictable and precise template-free CRISPR editing of pathogenic variants

Author Correction: Predictable and precise template-free CRISPR editing of pathogenic variants, Published online: 14 February 2019; doi:10.1038/s41586-019-0938-4

Author Correction: Predictable and precise template-free CRISPR editing of pathogenic variants

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Daily briefing: Nature editors review Ladybird books

Daily briefing: Nature editors review Ladybird books

Daily briefing: <i>Nature </i>editors review Ladybird books, Published online: 14 February 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00592-1

Britain's top boffins write pocket-sized guides, final farewell to Opportunity and one scientist's quest to learn why he didn't get tenure.

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Structural insight into substrate and inhibitor discrimination by human P-glycoprotein

ABCB1, also known as P-glycoprotein, actively extrudes xenobiotic compounds across the plasma membrane of diverse cells, which contributes to cellular drug resistance and interferes with therapeutic drug delivery. We determined the 3.5-angstrom cryo–electron microscopy structure of substrate-bound human ABCB1 reconstituted in lipidic nanodiscs, revealing a single molecule of the chemotherapeutic compound paclitaxel (Taxol) bound in a central, occluded pocket. A second structure of inhibited, human-mouse chimeric ABCB1 revealed two molecules of zosuquidar occupying the same drug-binding pocket. Minor structural differences between substrate- and inhibitor-bound ABCB1 sites are amplified toward the nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs), revealing how the plasticity of the drug-binding site controls the dynamics of the adenosine triphosphate–hydrolyzing NBDs. Ordered cholesterol and phospholipid molecules suggest how the membrane modulates the conformational changes associated with drug binding and transport.

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News at a glance

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Tunneling nanotubes under the microscope

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DOE to limit foreign research collaborations

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A human P spliceosome structure

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Controversial flu studies can resume, U.S. panel says

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Printed subthreshold organic transistors operating at high gain and ultralow power

Overcoming the trade-offs among power consumption, fabrication cost, and signal amplification has been a long-standing issue for wearable electronics. We report a high-gain, fully inkjet-printed Schottky barrier organic thin-film transistor amplifier circuit. The transistor signal amplification efficiency is 38.2 siemens per ampere, which is near the theoretical thermionic limit, with an ultralow power consumption of <1 nanowatt. The use of a Schottky barrier for the source gave the transistor geometry-independent electrical characteristics and accommodated the large dimensional variation in inkjet-printed features. These transistors exhibited good reliability with negligible threshold-voltage shift. We demonstrated this capability with an ultralow-power high-gain amplifier for the detection of electrophysiological signals and showed a signal-to-noise ratio of >60 decibels and noise voltage of <0.3 microvolt per hertz^1/2 at 100 hertz.

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Measles epidemic in Ukraine drove troubling European year

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Keep science on the horizon

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How rabbits escaped a deadly virus--at least for now

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Smoothing out muscle in asthma

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In India, Hindu pride boosts pseudoscience

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Molecules in interstellar space

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Cluster isomerization

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AIDS push gets mixed reviews

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Inferring Earths discontinuous chemical layering from the 660-kilometer boundary topography

Topography, or depth variation, of certain interfaces in the solid Earth can provide important insights into the dynamics of our planet interior. Although the intermediate- and long-range topographic variation of the 660-kilometer boundary between Earth's upper and lower mantle is well studied, small-scale measurements are far more challenging. We found a surprising amount of topography at short length scale along the 660-kilometer boundary in certain regions using scattered P'P' seismic waves. Our observations required chemical layering in regions with high short-scale roughness. By contrast, we did not see such small-scale topography along the 410-kilometer boundary in the upper mantle. Our findings support the concept of partially blocked or imperfect circulation between the upper and lower mantle.

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Metric prefixes sought for extreme numbers

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Recognition of the amyloid precursor protein by human {gamma}-secretase

Cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the intramembrane protease -secretase is linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). We report an atomic structure of human -secretase in complex with a transmembrane (TM) APP fragment at 2.6-angstrom resolution. The TM helix of APP closely interacts with five surrounding TMs of PS1 (the catalytic subunit of -secretase). A hybrid β sheet, which is formed by a β strand from APP and two β strands from PS1, guides -secretase to the scissile peptide bond of APP between its TM and β strand. Residues at the interface between PS1 and APP are heavily targeted by recurring mutations from AD patients. This structure, together with that of -secretase bound to Notch, reveal contrasting features of substrate binding, which may be applied toward the design of substrate-specific inhibitors.

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The twitter warrior

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Long delays in banning trade in threatened species

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[ASAP] Learning-in-Templates Enables Accelerated Discovery and Synthesis of New Stable Double Perovskites

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b13420

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[ASAP] A Chemically Disrupted Proximity System for Controlling Dynamic Cellular Processes

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12382

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[ASAP] Two-Dimensional Anti-Van’t Hoff/Le Bel Array AlB6 with High Stability, Unique Motif, Triple Dirac Cones, and Superconductivity

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b13075

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[ASAP] Heterobimetallic Control of Regioselectivity in Alkyne Hydrostannylation: Divergent Syntheses of a- and ()ßVinylstannanes via Cooperative Sn–H Bond Activation

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b00068

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Morphological predictors for lymph node metastases on computed tomography in colon cancer

Abstract

Introduction/Background

The aim of the study was to assess morphological predictors for lymph node metastases (Stage III disease) in colon cancer on computed tomography.

Methods and materials

Ninety-four patients with histology-proven colon cancer (adenocarcinoma) who underwent elective primary curative resection between the years 2012 and 2014 were included. Contrast-enhanced CT examinations were independently reviewed by two blinded observers regarding tumor location, depth of tumor invasion, and presence of lymph node metastases. Ocular presence of internal heterogeneity and presence of irregular outer border were used as morphological criteria for lymph node involvement. Protocol-based histopathology after curative surgery served as reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values, and accuracy for each morphological criterion for prediction of stage III disease were calculated. Inter-observer agreement was compared using Kappa statistics.

Results

According to histopathology, 59 patients were staged as I–II disease and 35 patients were staged as stage III disease. The presence of internal heterogeneity in a lymph node on CT resulted in moderate sensitivity (66–77%) but high specificity (95–95%) for prediction of Stage III disease by both observers. The presence of irregular outer border also resulted in poor sensitivity (49–54%) but high specificity (97–97%). The combination of either internal heterogeneity and/or irregular outer border per patient resulted in a moderate sensitivity (67–77%) and high specificity (95–95%), PPV (89–96%), and NPV (84–88%). Inter-observer agreement (Cohens Kappa) was 0.72. Consensus reading for the combined criteria resulted in sensitivity and specificity of 69% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusion

Using morphological criteria for lymph node metastases on CT examination in patients with colon cancer results in high specificity but moderate sensitivity in predicting stage III disease.

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Daily briefing: Nature editors review Ladybird books

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Induction of autophagy in Cx3cr1+ mononuclear cells limits IL-23/IL-22 axis-mediated intestinal fibrosis

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US science agencies set for budget boost in deal to avert government shutdown

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Author Correction: Predictable and precise template-free CRISPR editing of pathogenic variants

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Andrew S. Reynolds, The Third Lens: Metaphor and the Creation of Modern Cell Biology (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018), 272 pp., $30.00 Paper, ISBN: 9780226563121

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Decreased ciliary beat responsiveness to acetylcholine in the nasal polyp epithelium

Abstract

Objective

We investigated the difference in ciliary beat responsiveness to acetylcholine in ex vivo and the difference in the expressions of associated molecules (M1/M3 muscarinic receptors, pannexin‐1 and P2X7 purinergic receptor) between the nasal polyp and turbinate mucosa.

Study Design

Laboratorial study.

Participants

Nasal polyp and inferior turbinate were collected from patients with hypertrophic rhinitis and/or nasal polyp during endoscopic sinonasal surgery.

Main outcome measures

The mucosa was cut into thin strips, and ciliary movement was observed under a phase‐contrast light microscope equipped with a high‐speed digital video camera. The samples were also examined by scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence immunohistochemistry, and quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Cilia were well preserved in both tissues at the ultrastructural level. The baseline ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was not different between the two tissues. The CBF of the turbinate was significantly increased by stimulation with acetylcholine (P<0.001), but that of the polyp was not. The ratio of the acetylcholine‐stimulated CBF to the baseline CBF was significantly lower in the polyp than in the turbinate (P<0.001). Immunohistochemical study revealed that immunoreactivities for M3, pannexin‐1 and P2X7 were weaker in the polyp than in the turbinate. The mRNA expressions of M1, M3 and P2X7 were significantly lower and that of pannexin‐1 tended to be lower in the polyp than in the turbinate.

Conclusions

These results indicate that ciliary beat responsiveness to acetylcholine is decreased in the nasal polyp. This may be explained by the decreased expressions of M3, P2X7 and probably pannexin‐1 in this tissue.

Keywords

Nasal polyp, ciliary beat frequency, acetylcholine, muscarinic receptor, pannexin‐1 channel, P2X7 purinergic receptor

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Retrospective analysis of aeroallergen’s sensitization patterns in Edmonton, Canada

Sensitization to common environmental aeroallergens plays a significant role in the pathogenesis and severity of respiratory allergic disorders, specifically asthma and allergic rhinitis. Understanding sensiti...

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Effects of chloride content of intravenous crystalloid solutions in critically ill adult patients: a meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis of randomized trials

Intravenous crystalloid solutions are administered commonly for critically ill patients. We performed this meta-analysis of randomized trials with trial sequential analysis (TSA) to evaluate effects of chlorid...

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X-ray nanotomography of coccolithophores reveals that coccolith mass and segment number correlate with grid size

X-ray nanotomography of coccolithophores reveals that coccolith mass and segment number correlate with grid size

X-ray nanotomography of coccolithophores reveals that coccolith mass and segment number correlate with grid size, Published online: 14 February 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-08635-x

Coccolithophores are one of the most abundant phytoplankton and calcifying organisms, well-known to produce intricate calcareous exoskeletons made of coccoliths. Here the authors show, by using X-ray nanotomography, the dependence of the grid size on the calcite nucleation site number and on the mass of coccoliths.

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PLCβ2 negatively regulates the inflammatory response to virus infection by inhibiting phosphoinositide-mediated activation of TAK1

PLCβ2 negatively regulates the inflammatory response to virus infection by inhibiting phosphoinositide-mediated activation of TAK1

PLCβ2 negatively regulates the inflammatory response to virus infection by inhibiting phosphoinositide-mediated activation of TAK1, Published online: 14 February 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-08524-3

Phospholipase C β (PLCβ) exhibits immuno-modulatory functions but its role in antiviral innate responses is unclear. Here, the authors provide evidence that PLCβ2 down regulates enterovirus-induced pro-inflammatory responses via inhibition of TAK1 activation, and suggest PLC as a potential therapeutic target.

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Numerous cultivated and uncultivated viruses encode ribosomal proteins

Numerous cultivated and uncultivated viruses encode ribosomal proteins

Numerous cultivated and uncultivated viruses encode ribosomal proteins, Published online: 14 February 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-08672-6

Viruses can encode genes that regulate the host's translational machinery to their advantage. Here, the authors show that viruses encode ribosomal proteins that can be incorporated into the host's ribosome and may affect translation.

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Electron-nuclear correlated multiphoton-route to Rydberg fragments of molecules

Electron-nuclear correlated multiphoton-route to Rydberg fragments of molecules

Electron-nuclear correlated multiphoton-route to Rydberg fragments of molecules, Published online: 14 February 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-08700-5

Rydberg atoms can be created from photoexcitation of molecules using intense ultrafast laser pulses. Here the authors use a coincidence detection of electrons, ion and excited Rydberg atoms and their energy sharing to reveal the general mechanism of Rydberg state excitation in a dissociating H2 molecule.

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