Alveolar Research Articles

Histopathological assessment of the viability of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

Infections by the larval stage of the tape worms Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus s.l. are potentially fatal zoonoses affecting humans as dead-end hosts. Histopathological evaluation of hepatic echinococcosis is an integral part of patient management, including the distinction between alveolar (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE), which are associated with different disease courses and treatments. To improve histopathological assessment of Echinococcus lesions, we aimed to develop robust criteria to evaluate their viability and decay. Histomorphological criteria for determining parasitic viability based on the morphology of parasite structures and different stages of their decay were defined based on a clinically and molecularly defined cohort comprising 138 specimens from 112 patients (59 AE and 53 CE); 618 AE lesions were assessed for histopathological viability comparing haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining with mAbEm18 and mAbEm2G11 immunostaining. Moreover, parasite viability was systematically mapped in cross-sections of five additional AE lesions. Protoscoleces in CE and AE displayed variable states of degeneration. Albendazole had no significant effect on the morphology of parasite structures. Viability assessment revealed high agreement between H&E and mAbEm18, but not mAbEm2G11 staining, suggesting mAbEm18 staining as reliable for parasite viability assessment. H&E and mAbEm18 staining displayed a central-peripheral gradient of parasite viability and decay across parasitic lesions, with decayed cystic lesions located more towards the lesion centre while the most viable cystic lesions were located more peripherally. Histopathological criteria corroborated by mAbEm18 staining provide a simple and reliable tool to assess the viability of AE lesions, knowledge of which is a valuable decision-making tool for further treatment.

Inhalation exposure to nanosized aerosols of disinfectants for the application of continuous releasing sprayers and fogger

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the airborne exposure to aerosols according to the particle size distribution of three different spray types (nano-nozzled spray gun, low-temperature steam spray, and fogger) and compare the concentrations of inhaled aerosols between children and adults. Airborne aerosols released from three products were observed using size-segregated particle measurements, and particle concentrations deposited in the respiratory tracts of adults and children were estimated using multi-path particle dosimetry lung deposition models. All types of sprayers generated the most nanoparticles (~100 nm). Due to their higher respiratory rate than adults, a larger number of particles <1.0 μm deposited in the children’s respiratory tracts was higher. The sequences of the total number of particles in the respiratory regions after spraying nano-nozzled spray gun and fogger were alveolar (AL)>tracheobronchial (TB)>head airway (HA) in adults and AL>HA>TB in children. Meanwhile, the trend of low-temperature steam spray was AL>TB>HA in adults and AL>TB>HA in children.

To identify anatomic relationship between central incisor roots and alveolar bone thickness in individuals with variable sagittal malocclusions

The predisposition of central-incisors and its association with alveolar bone in surrounding area required assessment before any decision for treatment which involves anteroposterior (AP) movement of incisor inside the jaws. To identify anatomic relationship between central incisor roots and alveolar bone thickness in individuals with variable sagittal malocclusions and to also correlate if any sexual dimorphism among samples. The present study was conducted on 100 pre-treatment lateral cephalograms of young adult patients aged 15 to 30 years. They were divided into 2 groups on the basis of Angle’s system of classification as Class I and Class II with 50 subjects each group. patients were selected from the pool of patients who reported to All the lateral cephalograms were hand traced by same operator and tracings included mandibular symphysis, 1 molar central incisors, the OP, incisal edges, root apices, incisor long axes, upper incisor CEJ and upper incisor root midpoint. Various parameters were then measured for both the groups. All data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS version 24.0 Inc, Chicago, IL, USA. Independent sample t-test was used to determine possible statistically significant differences between the Class I and Class II for various parameters. U1-lab was statistically significant increased value in Class I sample, Where as L1-ling was statistically significant increased value in Class II sample. A very small but significant difference was found for the mandibular alveolar bone thickness in males and females in both Class I and Class II samples. A significant variance between alveolar (AV) process of class II and Class I occlusion. There was also a significant variation in males and females of the sample group.

Serological Comparison of Native Antigen ELISAs with Rapid ICT Test Kits for the Diagnosis of Human Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis in China.

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of native antigen ELISAs and ADAMU-AE/CE commercial ICT test kits in subjects either exposed to Echinococcus infection or with clinically diagnosed alveolar (AE) or cystic (CE) echinococcosis. A total of 370 subjects with a previous clinical confirmation of CE or AE from northwestern China were recruited. Serum samples were also obtained from 3923 children/teenagers during a community survey. All sera were tested using native antigen ELISAs. The ADAMU-AE/CE test kits were subsequently used for the serology of the 370 clinically confirmed individuals and of 251 children/teenagers that were ELISA antibody-positive for both Echinococcus species but ultrasound-negative during baseline survey. An analysis of the association between the serological tests and ultrasound classification was carried out amongst 89 AE and 164 CE cases. A Kappa consistency analysis was undertaken to compare the diagnostic performance of the native antigen ELISAs and the ADAMU kits and the ultrasound imaging results. The χ² test was also used for a comparison of the different seropositivity rates between the groups. There was poor consistency (Kappa = 0.26 and 0.28 for AE and CE respectively) between the native antigen ELISAs and the ADAMU kits for the diagnosis of AE and CE among the cases and the surveyed children/teenagers, but a relatively good consistency (Kappa = 0.63) between the ADAMU-AE kit and ultrasound observations for the AE cases. Additionally, of the 251 teenagers co-positive for both AE and CE antibodies by the native antigen ELISAs, only one was found positive by the ADAMU-AE kit, verified as a new AE case on subsequent ultrasound follow-up. The remainder (N = 250) were negative by serology using the ADAMU-AE/CE kits and by ultrasound examination. The two native antigen ELISAs did not discriminate well between cases of clinically diagnosed AE and CE. In contrast, ADAMU-AE and ADAMU-CE commercial ICT test kits readily differentiated cases of AE from CE with specificities of 99% for AE and 100% for CE. The ADAMU-AE/CE kits proved reliable, accurate, and amenable diagnostic tools in the clinical setting for confirmation of suspected AE/CE cases. The native antigen ELISAs tests can provide useful information on the level of human exposure to Echinococcus infection.

Echinococcoses - A Primer for Radiologists.

Cystic (CE) and alveolar (AE) echinococcoses are zoonotic parasitoses that may pose diagnostic problems due to their relative rarity in Middle Europe. Based on a recent literature search and the observation of casuistics from a national echinococcosis treatment center, epidemiological, radiological, and therapeutic fundamentals are presented and important differences between AE and CE are discussed. AE and CE must be regarded as completely different diseases, which differ from each other in every significant aspect. This applies not only to the epidemiological background of the patients but also to the biology of the diseases and their respective imaging features. · AE and CE are very distinct from one another and must be considered separately.. · AE is endemic in Middle Europe and is known as malignant parasitosis due to its destructive growth form.. · CE is primarily seen in Middle Europe in individuals with migration background and has a rather benign character.. · Weber TF, Mokry T, Stojkovic M. Die Echinokokkosen - Einblicke aus Sicht der Radiologie. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2023; 195: 1106 - 1121.

Ambient air particulate total lung deposited surface area (LDSA) levels in urban Europe

This study aims to picture the phenomenology of urban ambient total lung deposited surface area (LDSA) (including head/throat (HA), tracheobronchial (TB), and alveolar (ALV) regions) based on multiple path particle dosimetry (MPPD) model during 2017–2019 period collected from urban background (UB, n = 15), traffic (TR, n = 6), suburban background (SUB, n = 4), and regional background (RB, n = 1) monitoring sites in Europe (25) and USA (1). Briefly, the spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of the deposition of LDSA, including diel, weekly, and seasonal patterns, were analyzed. Then, the relationship between LDSA and other air quality metrics at each monitoring site was investigated. The result showed that the peak concentrations of LDSA at UB and TR sites are commonly observed in the morning (06:00–8:00 UTC) and late evening (19:00–22:00 UTC), coinciding with traffic rush hours, biomass burning, and atmospheric stagnation periods. The only LDSA night-time peaks are observed on weekends. Due to the variability of emission sources and meteorology, the seasonal variability of the LDSA concentration revealed significant differences (p = 0.01) between the four seasons at all monitoring sites. Meanwhile, the correlations of LDSA with other pollutant metrics suggested that Aitken and accumulation mode particles play a significant role in the total LDSA concentration. The results also indicated that the main proportion of total LDSA is attributed to the ALV fraction (50 %), followed by the TB (34 %) and HA (16 %). Overall, this study provides valuable information of LDSA as a predictor in epidemiological studies and for the first time presenting total LDSA in a variety of European urban environments.

Circulating Small RNA Profiling of Patients with Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis.

Alveolar (AE) and cystic (CE) echinococcosis are two parasitic diseases caused by the tapeworms Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus sensu lato (s. l.), respectively. Currently, AE and CE are mainly diagnosed by means of imaging techniques, serology, and clinical and epidemiological data. However, no viability markers that indicate parasite state during infection are available. Extracellular small RNAs (sRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that can be secreted by cells through association with extracellular vesicles, proteins, or lipoproteins. Circulating sRNAs can show altered expression in pathological states; hence, they are intensively studied as biomarkers for several diseases. Here, we profiled the sRNA transcriptomes of AE and CE patients to identify novel biomarkers to aid in medical decisions when current diagnostic procedures are inconclusive. For this, endogenous and parasitic sRNAs were analyzed by sRNA sequencing in serum from disease negative, positive, and treated patients and patients harboring a non-parasitic lesion. Consequently, 20 differentially expressed sRNAs associated with AE, CE, and/or non-parasitic lesion were identified. Our results represent an in-depth characterization of the effect E. multilocularis and E. granulosus s. l. exert on the extracellular sRNA landscape in human infections and provide a set of novel candidate biomarkers for both AE and CE detection.

Monoclonal antibody-based localization of major diagnostic antigens in metacestode tissue, excretory/secretory products, and extracellular vesicles of Echinococcus species.

Alveolar (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE) are severe parasitic zoonoses caused by the larval stages of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus sensu lato, respectively. A panel of 7 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was selected against major diagnostic epitopes of both species. The binding capacity of the mAbs to Echinococcus spp. excretory/secretory products (ESP) was analyzed by sandwich-ELISA, where mAb Em2G11 and mAb EmG3 detected in vitro extravesicular ESP of both E. multilocularis and E. granulosus s.s. These findings were subsequently confirmed by the detection of circulating ESP in a subset of serum samples from infected hosts including humans. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were purified, and the binding to mAbs was analyzed by sandwich-ELISA. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to confirm the binding of mAb EmG3 to EVs from intravesicular fluid of Echinococcus spp. vesicles. The specificity of the mAbs in ELISA corresponded to the immunohistochemical staining (IHC-S) patterns performed on human AE and CE liver sections. Antigenic small particles designated as ''spems'' for E. multilocularis and ''spegs'' for E. granulosus s.l. were stained by the mAb EmG3IgM, mAb EmG3IgG1, mAb AgB, and mAb 2B2, while mAb Em2G11 reacted with spems and mAb Eg2 with spegs only. The laminated layer (LL) of both species was strongly visualized by using mAb EmG3IgM, mAb EmG3IgG1, mAb AgB, and mAb 2B2. The LL was specifically stained by mAb Em2G11 in E. multilocularis and by mAb Eg2 in E. granulosus s.l. In the germinal layer (GL), including the protoscoleces, a wide staining pattern with all structures of both species was observed with mAb EmG3IgG1, mAb EmG3IgM, mAb AgB, mAb 2B2, and mAb Em18. In the GL and protoscoleces, the mAb Eg2 displayed a strong E. granulosus s.l. specific binding, while mAb Em2G11 exhibited a weak granular E. multilocularis specific reaction. The most notable staining pattern in IHC-S was found with mAb Em18, which solely bound to the GL and protoscoleces of Echinococcus species and potentially to primary cells. To conclude, mAbs represent valuable tools for the visualization of major antigens in the most important Echinococcus species, as well as providing insights into parasite-host interactions and pathogenesis.

Size fraction of hazardous particulate matter governing the respiratory deposition and inhalation risk in the highly polluted city Delhi.

Delhi has been identified as one of the highly polluted cities in the world and recently associated with the highest population weighted PM2.5 concentration. However, the unavailability of the health risk estimations using long-term data for Indian cities has been pointed out as a hurdle in performing the correct assessment. The present work estimated deposition of particles in different regions of respiratory systems (head airway = 67% deposition for 2.5µm particles; tracheo-bronchiolar (TB) = 73% deposition for 1.0µm particles; alveolar (AL) = 17% deposition for 0.5µm, 0.25µm, and < 0.25µm particles) using PM samples collected at a breathing height of 1.5m near the major ring road in New Delhi (India). The calculated risk index (RI) varied considerably between winter (1.21 ± 0.26 to 1.33 ± 0.50) and pre-monsoon-southwest monsoon months (0.34 ± 0.08 to 0.96 ± 0.27). Respiratory deposition dose of nanosized particles (≤ 500nm) in the alveoli region of the lung was found to be considerable (35%) indicating the need for understanding the role of these particles in posing health risk. Although the calculated values of risk metric for exposures of PM-associated metals indicated no risk to IIT Delhi population (hazard quotient < 1 and excess risk of getting cancer < 10-6-10-9), continuous monitoring for particles of different sizes at inhalation height are required for protecting human health.

Characteristics of inhalable bioaerosols on foggy and hazy days and their deposition in the human respiratory tract

Atmospheric bioaerosols contain live and dead biological components that can enter the human respiratory tract (HRT) and affect human health. Here, the total microorganisms in a coastal megacity, Qingdao, were characterized on the basis of long-term observations from October 2013 to January 2021. Particular attention was given to the size dependence of inhalable bioaerosols in concentration and respiratory deposition in different populations on foggy and hazy days. Bioaerosol samples stained with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) were selected to measure the total airborne microbe (TAM) concentrations with an epifluorescence microscope, while a multiple-path particle dosimetry model was employed to calculate respiratory deposition. The mean TAM concentrations in the particle size range of 0.65–1.1 μm (TAM0.65–1.1) were 1.23, 2.02, 1.60 and 2.33 times those on sunny reference days relative to the corresponding values on days with slight, mild, moderate and severe levels of haze, respectively. The mean concentration of TAMs in the particle size range of 0.65–2.1 μm (TAM0.65–2.1) on severely hazy days was (2.02 ± 3.28) × 105 cells/m3, with a reduction of 4.16% relative to that on the reference days. The mean TAM0.65–2.1 concentration changed from (1.50 ± 1.37) × 105 cells/m3 to (1.76 ± 1.36) × 105 cells/m3, with TAM0.65–1.1 increasing from (7.91 ± 7.97) × 104 cells/m3 to (1.76 ± 1.33) × 105 cells/m3 on days with light fog days and medium fog, respectively. The modeling results showed that the majority of TAM0.65–2.1 deposition occurred in the extrathoracic (ET) region, followed by the alveolar (AL) region. When different populations were examined separately, the deposition doses (DDs) in adult females and in children ranked at the minimum value (6.19 × 103 cells/h) and maximum value (1.08 × 104 cells/h), respectively. However, the inhalation risks on polluted days, such as hazy, foggy and mixed hazy–foggy (HF) days, were still below the threshold for adverse impacts on human health.

Serological Assays for Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis-A Comparative Multi-Test Study in Switzerland and Kyrgyzstan.

Both alveolar (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE) are lacking pathognomonic clinical signs; consequently imaging technologies and serology remain the main pillars for diagnosis. The present study included 100 confirmed treatment-naïve AE and 64 CE patients that were diagnosed in Switzerland or Kyrgyzstan. Overall, 10 native Echinococcus spp. antigens, 3 recombinant antigens, and 4 commercial assays were comparatively evaluated. All native E. multilocularis antigens were produced in duplicates with a European and a Kyrgyz isolate and showed identical test values for the diagnosis of AE and CE. Native antigens and three commercial tests showed high diagnostic sensitivities (Se: 86–96%) and specificities (Sp: 96–99%) for the diagnosis of AE and CE in Swiss patients. In Kyrgyz patients, values of sensitivities and specificities were 10–20% lower as compared to the Swiss patients’ findings. For the sero-diagnosis of AE in Kyrgyzstan, a test-combination of an E. multilocularis protoscolex antigen and the recombinant antigen Em95 appears to be the most suitable test strategy (Se: 98%, Sp: 87%). For the diagnosis of CE in both countries, test performances were hampered by major cross-reactions with AE patients and other parasitic diseases as well as by limited diagnostic sensitivities (93% in Switzerland and 76% in Kyrgyzstan, respectively).

Comparative Analysis of Incisor Positioning and Alveolar Bone Thickness using Lateral Cephalograms

Objective: To find the comparative analysis of incisor positioning and alveolar bone thickness using lateral cephalograms. Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Orthodontics, Bacha Khan College of Dentistry, Mardan from 4th August 2021 to 31st December 2021. Methodology: Fifty class II malocclusion participants were enrolled having deviation from 1mm of root positioning. Lateral-cephalometric images were taken and compared with standard 50 normal optimal occlusions. L1-lab to L1 ling distance was added for calculating the total mandibular alveolar process thickness and wits calculated. The inclination between maxilla and mandibular central incisor and was measured through formation of acute angle between teeth long axes and perpendicular line with occlusal plane. Results: In cases of class II malocclusions majority of the patient were within the age of 15-30 years with a mean age as 38.3±3.9 years. Wits was -0.72±2.5 in normal optimal occlusion verses 2.47±1.88 in class II malocclusion. Conclusion: A significant variance was observed between alveolar (AV) processes of class II malocclusion patients with their comparative lateral cephalogram imaging of normal optimal occlusion. Key words: Incisor positing, Alveolar bone thickness, Lateral cephalograms

Interrelationship of Indoor Particulate Matter and Respiratory Dust Depositions of Women in the Residence of Dhanbad City, India.

Women spend relatively more time in indoor environments in developing countries. Exposure to various indoor air pollutants leads them to higher health risks according to household air quality in which they reside. Particulate matter (PM) exposure with their exposure duration inside the household plays a significant role in women's respiratory problems. This studymeasured size-segregated particulate matter concentrations in 63 residences at different locations. Respiratory dust depositions (RDDs) for 118 women in their different respiratory regions like head airway (HD), tracheobronchial (TB), and alveolar (AL) regions for the three PM size fractions (PM10, PM2.5, and PM1) were investigated. For different positions like light exercise and the sitting condition, RDDs values found for AL region were 0.091 μgmin-1 (SD: 0.067, 0.012-0.408) and 0.028 μgmin-1 (SD: 0.021, 0.003-0.126) for PM10, 0.325 μgmin-1 (SD: 0.254, 0.053-1.521) and 0.183 μgmin-1 (SD: 0.143, 0.031-0.857) for PM2.5, 0.257 μgmin-1 (SD: 0.197, 0.043-1.04) and 0.057 μgmin-1 (SD: 0.044, 0.009-0.233) respectively for PM1 to females. RDDs values in the AL region significantly increase as PM10 (11%), PM2.5 (68%), and PM1 (21%), confirming that for women, the AL region is the most prominent affected zone by fine particles (PM2.5).

A case for adoption of continuous albendazole treatment regimen for human echinococcal infections.

Cystic (CE) and alveolar (AE) echinococcosis are chronic, neglected parasitic diseases burdened by high morbidity and, for AE, by high mortality, if left untreated. CE and AE have a widespread distribution, including Europe. Albendazole (ABZ), a broad-spectrum benzimidazole drug widely used to treat parasitic infections, is the drug of choice for the management of CE and AE, and is parasitostatic on echinococcal metacestodes. In Europe, ABZ is licensed for interrupted “cyclic” treatment, for a maximum of 3 cycles. However, better efficacy with no increased side effects has been shown when the drug is administered continuously and for longer periods. Current international recommendations, on the basis of clinical, pharmacological, and biological studies, recommend continuous administration of ABZ for months to years for the treatment of CE and AE, and this schedule has been widely in use for the past 20 years. However, in Europe this internationally recommended schedule, with the exception of France, is technically “off-label”, and, as such, requires an informed consent by the patient and, in some countries, even precludes the reimbursement of the drug cost. Adding to the very high cost of the drug, frequent “out-of-stock” situation, and packaging format impractical for long therapies, these conditions put patients with CE and AE regularly at risk of treatment discontinuation and disease progression. European regulations envisage variations to marketing authorization, but postauthorization studies should be carried out by the holder of the license of the drug, in the form of randomized controlled trials. While such studies do not seem feasible and would probably not be ethically justified for CE and AE, European regulations envisage other possibilities in particular situations, which apply to CE and AE, but there is limited interest to invest in this perspective. We urge a coordination between stakeholders to find effective and feasible ways to take action to revise the benzimidazole dosage regimens for CE and AE and to ensure a fair, regular, and easy access to the appropriate treatment to those suffering from these serious diseases.

Source attribution of human echinococcosis: Asystematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundA substantial proportion of echinococcosis transmission to humans via contamination of food has been assumed. However, the relative importance of food as a transmission vehicle has previously been estimated through expert opinion rather than empirical data.ObjectiveTo find and evaluate empirical data that could be used to estimate the source attribution of echinococcosis, in particular the proportion that is transmitted through contaminated food.MethodsA systematic review was undertaken to identify reports on the risk factors for human cystic (CE) and alveolar (AE) echinococcosis. Data bases searched included PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Cab Direct, Science Direct, Google Scholar, eLIBRARY.RU, CyberLeninka, CNKI and VIP. Search terms included Echinococc*, hydatid, epidemiology, logistic regression, risk factors, odds ratio, relative risk, risk factors. Reports, including grey literature where available, that had suitable data were selected and data were extracted. The main pathways of transmission were hypothesised to be contact with the definitive host, contaminated water, contaminated food and contaminated environment (other than food). For each study the attributable fraction for these potential sources of infection was calculated from the data presented. A meta-analysis was then undertaken to obtain pooled estimates for the relative contribution of these transmission pathways.ResultsData from 28 cross-sectional studies and 14 case-control studies were extracted. There was strong evidence for transmission by direct contact with dogs for both CE and AE. The estimated attributable fractions were 26.1% (CI 13.8%-39.6%) and 34.4% (CI 20.7% -48.2%) respectively. Transmission through contaminated water was estimated to be responsible for approximately 29.4% (CI 12.1%-51.7%) for CE and 24.8% (CI 10.6% to 42.6%) for AE. Contaminated food may be responsible for approximately 23.4% of CE cases (CI 2.1%-47.3%). Globally, there was insufficient evidence to conclude AE can be transmitted by food, although case control studies from low human incidence areas suggested that possibly 32.5% (CI 10.0%-53.2%) could be transmitted by food. There was also insufficient evidence that direct contact with foxes was a significant source of human disease. There were no suitable studies with a risk of environmental contact reported, but the residual attributable fraction thatwould likely include this pathway was approximately 21.1% for CE and 11.1% for AE.ConclusionsThe results support the hypothesis that dog contact and drinking contaminated water are major pathways of transmission of both CE and AE. For contaminated food, the results are less consistent, but suggest that it is an important transmission pathway and provide better evidence than expert elicitations as previously used.

Characterization of Mammary Cells Co‐expressing Separate Lineage Markers

Epithelial cell hierarchy is a highly disputed topic in mammary gland biology. Studying the differentiation potential among cell types within the mammary gland is crucial for understanding normal development and would inform studies in tumorigenesis on a molecular and cellular level. Our recent study uncovers alterations occurring in the aging mouse mammary gland by utilizing single‐cell RNA‐sequencing to study the transcriptomic changes that occur between young and aged mice. From this data, we identified a cluster of luminal cells that expressed canonical lineage markers for two cell types, hormone‐sensing (HS) and alveolar (AV) cells, and that these HS‐AV cells decrease in abundance with age. The co‐expression of these markers contests the presently accepted epithelial hierarchy, as the HS and AV cells are currently thought to be maintained by separate pools of unipotent progenitor cells. Here, we characterized these murine HS‐AV cells by their gene expression pattern consisting of canonical HS and AV markers and confirmed their presence using immunofluorescence staining. In these stainings, we used two sets of canonical HS and AV markers to show co‐localization of both types in single cells, thus uncovering their histological localization within the luminal layer. We further quantified the abundance of these cells and confirmed the population’s decrease with age. Additionally, we have examined human tissues for the presence of HS‐AV cells and have confirmed their existence in the human mammary gland. Future multi‐variate analysis on a larger set of human samples is needed to determine the correlation of HS‐AV cell abundance with age in human mammary glands, as confounding factors such as history of pregnancy, family history, or environmental factors makes it challenging to exclusively analyze the age‐dependent effect on the cell type’s population size. Finally, the lineage relationship of HS‐AV cells to HS and AV cells remains unclear. We are performing functional experiments on isolated HS‐AV cells in order to study their differentiation lineages in vitro as organoid cultures. Unmasking the function of these cells within the normal mammary gland could provide significant insight into the study of the mammary epithelial differentiation hierarchy. A better understanding of this previously less well understood cell type may improve our fundamental knowledge of mammary cell states during normal physiology. Given that the mammary gland is a major organ for cancer development, a more detailed understanding of its cell states may also inform mechanisms of disease development.Support or Funding InformationSusan G. Komen Postdoctoral Fellowship, Croucher Postdoctoral Fellowship (CML), NIH F31 Fellowship (GKG), Hope Funds Postdoctoral Fellowship, Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research (YO), Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Donor‐Advised Fund, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, NHGRI Career Development Award (LP), Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and Breast Cancer Research Foundation (JSB).

Echinococcosis: Advances in the 21st Century.

Echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by cestodes of the genus Echinococcus (family Taeniidae). This serious and near-cosmopolitan disease continues to be a significant public health issue, with western China being the area of highest endemicity for both the cystic (CE) and alveolar (AE) forms of echinococcosis. Considerable advances have been made in the 21st century on the genetics, genomics, and molecular epidemiology of the causative parasites, on diagnostic tools, and on treatment techniques and control strategies, including the development and deployment of vaccines. In terms of surgery, new procedures have superseded traditional techniques, and total cystectomy in CE, ex vivo resection with autotransplantation in AE, and percutaneous and perendoscopic procedures in both diseases have improved treatment efficacy and the quality of life of patients. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the biology, epidemiology, diagnosis, management, control, and prevention of CE and AE. Currently there is no alternative drug to albendazole to treat echinococcosis, and new compounds are required urgently. Recently acquired genomic and proteomic information can provide a platform for improving diagnosis and for finding new drug and vaccine targets, with direct impact in the future on the control of echinococcosis, which continues to be a global challenge.

Exposure to traffic-related particulate matter and deposition dose to auto rickshaw driver in Dhanbad, India

Driver's exposure in vehicular systems contributes an important fraction of the daily burden of air pollutants. In this study, we examined the PM concentrations in the various microenvironments (ME's) such as in-vehicle [auto-rickshaws], outdoor and indoor. The drivers were estimated to have respiratory deposition doses (RDDs) of PM fractions (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1) in the different part of the respiratory tract (head airways (HD), tracheobronchial (TB) and alveolar (AL)) in various ME's to auto-rickshaw drivers. The results showed that average PM concentrations were 3.3 times higher inside auto-rickshaws than ambient level. The highest PM fractions concentrations were observed during congestion period (844 μgm−3 for PM10, 458 μgm−3 for PM2.5 and 302 μgm−3 for PM1) of auto-rickshaw riding. The survey reports showed that eighty percent of drivers believed they were more exposed than a non-driver. More than half of auto-rickshaws drives believed, alternative fuel like CNG was a better way to reduce the air pollution. In the health screening, about 23% and 20% of auto-rickshaws drivers complained of the ‘body pain and eye irritation’ and ‘a headache’, respectively. Overall, the total RDDs values were estimated 4.8 (PM10-2.5), 8.8 (PM2.5-1) and 10.1 (PM1) times higher compared to ambient level to auto-rickshaw drivers in an average day. Based on this result, the fine particulate matter showed in a higher risk of auto-rickshaw drivers in Dhanbad city. This study indicated that driver awareness of traffic air pollution was limited. Future studies should focus on reducing exposures and increasing awareness among auto-rickshaw drivers.

Exposure to Atmospheric Particulates and Associated Respirable Deposition Dose to Street Vendors at the Residential and Commercial Sites in Dehradun City

BackgroundStreet vendors spend relatively more time near roadways and are vulnerable to air pollution related health disorders. However, there is limited information on the quality of the air they breathe. The objectives of this present study were to calculate the mass concentration of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in eight size fractions (PM0.4–0.7, PM0.7–1.1, PM1.1–2.1, PM2.1–3.3, PM3.3–4.7, PM4.7–5.8, PM5.8–9.0, and PM9.0-–0μm) at commercial (CML) and residential site (RSL) in Dehradun city from November 2015 to May 2016. To estimate the corresponding respiratory deposition dose (RDDs) in alveolar (AL), tracheobronchial (TB), and head airway (HD) region on street vendors working at CML and RSL. To find the association of atmospheric PM with RDDs and the incidence of respiratory related disorders among street vendors.MethodsAndersen cascade impactor was employed for calculating the PM mass concentration. Questionnaire based health survey among street vendors were carried out through personal interview.ResultsA significant difference (p < 0.05; t-test) between the mean PM0.4-10μm mass concentration at CML and RSL was observed with (mean ± SD) 84.05 ± 14.5 and 77.23 ± 11.7 μg m−3, respectively. RDDs in AL, TB and HD region at CML was observed to be 9.9, 7.8, and 7.3% higher than at RSL, respectively. Health survey revealed 1.62, 0.96, 0.04, and 0.57 times higher incidence of cold, cough, breathlessness, and chest pain, respectively with street vendors at CML compared to RSL.ConclusionThe site characteristics plays a major role in the respiratory health status of street vendors at Dehradun.

Airborne particles in the city center of Kuala Lumpur: Origin, potential driving factors, and deposition flux in human respiratory airways

Equatorial warming conditions in urban areas can influence the particle number concentrations (PNCs), but studies assessing such factors are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of size-resolved PNCs, their potential deposition rate in the human respiratory system, and probable local and transboundary inputs of PNCs in Kuala Lumpur. Particle size distributions of a 0.34 to 9.02 μm optical-equivalent size range were monitored at a frequency of 60 s between December 2016 and January 2017 using an optical-based compact scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). Diurnal and correlation analysis showed that traffic emissions and meteorological confounding factors were potential driving factors for changes in the PNCs (Dp ≤1 μm) at the modeling site. Trajectory modeling showed that a PNC <100/cm3 was influenced mainly by Indo-China region air masses. On the other hand, a PNC >100/cm3 was influenced by air masses originating from the Indian Ocean and Indochina regions. Receptor models extracted five potential sources of PNCs: industrial emissions, transportation, aged traffic emissions, miscellaneous sources, and a source of secondary origin coupled with meteorological factors. A respiratory deposition model for male and female receptors predicted that the deposition flux of PM1 (particle mass ≤1 μm) into the alveolar (AL) region was higher (0.30 and 0.25 μg/h, respectively) than the upper airway (UA) (0.29 and 0.24 μg/h, respectively) and tracheobronchial (TB) regions (0.02 μg/h for each). However, the PM2.5 deposition flux was higher in the UA (2.02 and 1.68 μg/h, respectively) than in the TB (0.18 and 0.15 μg/h, respectively) and the AL regions (1.09 and 0.91 μg/h, respectively); a similar pattern was also observed for PM10.