Exposure Rate Research Articles

Clinical features of Tibetan adolescent tuberculosis at high altitudes: a retrospective study

BackgroundAdolescent pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is considered inadequately recognized and underreported at high altitudes. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of adolescent pulmonary TB patients at high altitudes in China.MethodA retrospective analysis was performed at Linzhi People’s Hospital. Patients recruited were newly diagnosed with pulmonary TB. Detailed information, including demographics, medical history, presenting symptoms, laboratory results and pulmonary images, was collected. Sputum samples were collected to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis via the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay.ResultA total of 63 adolescents and 192 adults were recruited. Compared with those in the adult group, typical TB-related manifestations were significantly less common in the adolescent group (all P < 0.05). The adolescent group had significantly more subclinical TB (23.8% vs. 8.3%, P = 0.001) and a higher previous tuberculosis exposure rate (38.8% vs. 8.3%, P < 0.001) than did the adult group. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was significantly higher in the adolescent group than in the adult group (P = 0.026). Compared with adult patients, adolescent patients presented a lower rate of pleural thickening (P < 0.01). Compared with active adolescent patients, there were more female than male in the adolescent subclinical TB group (12/15 vs 27/48) and the positive rate of the sputum GeneXpert test was higher in subclinical TB group (6/15 vs 8/48).ConclusionAdolescent patients with pulmonary TB at high altitudes were prone to subclinical TB and have a higher previous TB exposure rate. Sputum GeneXpert test and ESR were important for the diagnosis of subclinical pulmonary TB.

Cardiac Biomarkers in a Brazilian Indigenous Population Exposed to Arboviruses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Arthropod-borne viral diseases are acute febrile illnesses, sometimes with chronic effects, that can be debilitating and even fatal worldwide, affecting particularly vulnerable populations. Indigenous communities face not only the burden of these acute febrile illnesses, but also the cardiovascular complications that are worsened by urbanization. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an Indigenous population in the Northeast Region of Brazil to explore the association between arboviral infections (dengue, chikungunya, and Zika) and cardiac biomarkers, including cardiotrophin 1, growth differentiation factor 15, lactate dehydrogenase B, fatty-acid-binding protein 3, myoglobin, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, big endothelin 1, and creatine kinase-MB, along with clinical and anthropometric factors. The study included 174 individuals from the Fulni-ô community, with a median age of 47 years (interquartile range 39.0 to 56.0). High rates of previous exposure to dengue, chikungunya, and Zika were observed (92.5%, 78.2%, and 95.4% anti-IgG, respectively), while acute exposure (anti-IgM) remained low. The biomarkers were linked to age (especially in the elderly), obesity, chronic kidney disease, and previous or recent exposure to chikungunya. This study pioneers the use of Luminex xMAP technology to reveal the association between cardiac inflammatory biomarkers and exposure to classical arboviruses in an Indigenous population undergoing urbanization.

Determinants of non-testing for HIV among women during antenatal care follow up in sub-saharan Africa: a hierarchical analysis of recent Demographic and Health Survey datasets

IntroductionHIV/AIDS is a global public health concern that is closely related to other sociocultural problems. The prevention of mother to child transmission cascade often begins with and is integrated into antenatal care in order to ensure a high rate of case detection and optimal treatment coverage. Although guidelines suggest that all pregnant women should have HIV testing as part of their regular screening checks during antenatal care, a significant proportion of pregnant women were not tested for HIV during antenatal care follow-up in sub-Saharan Africa. Hence, this study was aimed at assessing the determinants of women not tested for HIV during antenatal care follow-up in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the determinants of non-testing for HIV among women as part of antenatal care in sub-Saharan Africa, utilizing secondary data from the 2015–2022 Demographic and Health Surveys. The study included a weighted sample of 788,421 women who had antenatal care follow-up during their most recent pregnancy within five years preceding the survey. A multilevel mixed effect logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the determinants of non-testing for HIV among these women. The adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine the associations between the outcome and explanatory variables. Statistical significance was determined using a p-value of less than 0.05.ResultThe hierarchical analysis of this study identified several significant factors associated with women not being tested for HIV during antenatal care in sub-Saharan Africa. These factors include young age, low or no education, not being in a union, unemployment, and low household wealth index. Additionally, limited media exposure, stigmatizing attitudes towards people living with HIV, male-headed households, and rural residence were significant at the individual and household levels. At the community level, low media exposure and high illiteracy rates were significant, while at the country level, high fertility rates and low literacy rates were also associated with lower rates of HIV testing during antenatal care.ConclusionThis study identified significant individual, community, and country-level factors associated with women not testing for HIV during antenatal care in sub-Saharan Africa. Key factors include young age, low education, unemployment, not being in a union, low household wealth, limited media exposure, stigmatizing attitudes towards people living with HIV, male household head, rural residence, low community media exposure, high community illiteracy, high fertility rates, and low literacy rates. These findings highlight the need for targeted, context-specific interventions to improve HIV testing rates and enhance maternal and child health outcomes in the region.

Phoneme identification in bilingual children in Singapore – a preregistered investigation using the CROWN game

ABSTRACT Phoneme identification is critically involved in alphabetic reading, and weak skills in phoneme perception are known to correspond to the development of reading skills in children around the age of reading instruction. However, current models of phoneme perception have been established in monolingual populations, and these relationships may not hold for bilingual children. We developed a phoneme identification task, the CROWN Game, as part of a comprehensive assessment package for identifying potential reading difficulties. In the task, children perform a phoneme identification task, using familiar words with onset consonants spanning a voice-onset time continuum from/b/to/p/(−60 ms to 90 ms). 138 English-Chinese bilinguals in Singapore kindergartens were tested on phoneme perception for English words “beach” and “peach.” We fitted individual responses to a psychometric function and measured individual VOT threshold and the slope of the transition between categories. The task showed a wide spread of scores and good split-half reliability, suggesting that the CROWN game is suitable for identifying stable individual differences between children. In a preregistered subgroup analysis, we examined whether a child’s language background (input ratios and age of acquisition) influenced phoneme perception. GLMMs showed no influence of language exposure on phoneme perception in this task. This suggests that the CROWN Game, as part of a broader assessment package, is valid for use with bilingual children with different rates of exposure to their languages in evaluating phoneme perception skills relevant to reading development.

An evolutionary game study of traffic safety risk regulation considering public participation behavior

With the development of transportation technology, the improvement of transportation efficiency also increases the complexity and diversity of traffic safety risks; the public’s concern for traffic safety risks is increasing, and the traditional regulatory model is difficult to meet the improvement of the effectiveness of the safety regulation of the huge transportation network and the public’s changing safety needs. In order to enhance the effectiveness of safety regulation, a game model of safety risk regulation among the public, transport enterprises, and regulators is constructed to simulate the effects of different traffic risks, penalty levels, and exposure rates on the behavior of transport enterprises and regulators. The results of the study show that: traffic risk has a positive facilitating effect on the participation of transport enterprises and the public in the regulation of safety risks, which will accelerate the process of stabilization of their strategies; transport enterprises have a high sensitivity to changes in the level of punishment, and only when the level of punishment exceeds a certain threshold will they be able to promote the choice of complying with the transport; and a higher exposure will lead to a greater tendency for transport enterprises to choose complying with the transport.

No difference in prolapse recurrence rates between laparoscopic and robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy: a long-term comparison.

To compare the long-term efficacy of conventional laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy with those of robot-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Retrospective cohort study. Tertiary referral center in China. A total of 139 patients -74 having laparoscopic and 65 robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy between January 2015 and December 2021 were included. Either laparoscopic or robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy. The median follow-up times of the laparoscopic group and robotic-assisted group were 60 (interquartile range 39-91) and 46 (interquartile range 38-73) months, respectively. Compared with laparoscopy, the robotic-assisted group had a shorter operative time (164±37 minutes vs. 186±36minutes; P = .001) with no clinically meaningful blood loss between the groups (76±32.1 ml vs. 87.6±33 ml). Mesh exposure occurred in 3 patients (4.1%) in the laparoscopic and 2 patients (3.1%) in the robotic-assisted group. The composite success rate did not significantly differ between laparoscopic and robotic-assisted groups (89.2% vs. 90.8%, P = .757). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis also revealed no significant differences in the overall rates of recurrent POP between the two groups (P = .915). There is no difference in the rates of prolapse recurrence or mesh exposure at nearly 4 years between laparoscopic or robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy. There was an average 20-minute time saving for robotic-assisted procedures, with no clinically important difference in blood loss between the surgical approaches.

Oxidative stress on the male reproductive organs of wild mice collected from an area contaminated by radioactive materials in Fukushima

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident caused the release of large amounts of radioactive material into the environment. Radiation from radionuclides cause DNA lesions, mainly via oxidation, which adversely affect wild organisms by damaging their germ cells. Here, we investigated the effects of radiation on the reproductive organs of Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus) by estimating the dose rate of radiation exposure, the accumulation of DNA lesions, and the expression of DNA repair enzymes. In highly contaminated areas, mouse testes received a radiation dose rate > 0.1 mGy/d. According to the International Commission on Radiological Protection, there is a very low probability of effects in the reference rat species at this exposure level. The results of the current study do not definitively conclude that the expression of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 and superoxide dismutase in mouse testes increase with dose rate and lifetime dose. However, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine accumulation increases in a dose rate- and lifetime dose-dependent manner in mouse testes, but is not observed in the sperm of the cauda epididymis. These results suggest that, although DNA lesions occurred in male germ cells of Fukushima mice, most were successfully repaired by DNA repair enzymes at the observed gene expression level.

Orthodontic rubber band traction improves trainees' learning curve of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection: a prospective randomized study.

Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a technically demanding operation with a long learning curve. This study aimed to determine whether orthodontic rubber band (ORB)-assisted colorectal ESD could improve the trainees' learning curve as it was shown to shorten colorectal ESD procedure time in trainees and experts. This prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study involved 178 patients who underwent colorectal ESD, randomly divided into trainee ORB-assisted ESD (Trainee ORB-ESD; n=60), trainee conventional ESD (Trainee C-ESD; n=57), and expert conventional ESD (Expert C-ESD; n=61) groups. The main outcome was procedure time. Per Protocol analysis showed a similar operative time in the Trainee ORB-ESD and Expert C-ESD groups, which was shorter than in the Trainee C-ESD group [28.0 (21.0-35.0) and 25.0 (15.0-35.0) vs. 41.0 (31.0-52.5) min; (P < 0.001)]. The Trainee ORB-ESD, Trainee C-ESD, and Expert C-ESD groups differed significantly in resection speed (11.35, 9.07, and 12.56 mm2/min, respectively), good visual field exposure rate (96.7, 80.7, and 93.4%), and muscle injury rate (5.0, 17.5, and 6.6%). However, the Trainee ORB-ESD and Expert C-ESD groups were similar in these measures, and all three groups were similar in adverse events, en-bloc resection, R0 resection, and pathology rates. The cumulative sum suggested that the learning inflection point of the Trainee ORB-ESD group was earlier than that of the Trainee C-ESD group. ORB-ESD shortened colorectal ESD procedure time and improved efficiency in trainees to an expert level. ORB-ESD could shorten the learning curve, justifying its widespread application.

Firearm possession among emergency department youth and young adults: A latent class analysis

IntroductionFirearm injuries are a leading cause of death for youth/young-adults. We utilized latent class analysis to identify distinct motivational/behavioral patterns of firearm possession in a youth/young-adult emergency department sample to inform prevention strategies. MethodsCross-sectional data were obtained from surveys conducted among youth/young-adults (age = 16–29; n = 1311) seeking emergency department treatment (7/10/2017–6/25/2018). Latent class analysis was performed for individuals reporting firearm possession (n = 223) using five variables: carriage frequency, social carriage, risky firearm behaviors, ownership/carriage for protection, and recreational ownership/carriage. Descriptive statistics were examined. ResultsIn this sample, 17.0 % reported having firearms (age-22.7; 48.0 %-male; 49.3 %-Black; 52.5 %-public assistance). Latent class analysis identified four classes: 1-recreational possession (n = 51); 2-possession for protection with low carriage (n = 60); 3-carriage for protection with low risky firearm behaviors (n = 76); and 4-carriage for protection with high risky firearm behaviors (n = 36). Class-1 (recreational possession) had low firearm victimization, violence exposure, and community violence. This class primarily kept long-guns with secure storage patterns. Class-2 (protection with low carriage) were mostly female youth/young-adults with children and reported moderately high rates of violence exposure. Nearly 20 % stored their firearm unlocked. Class-3 and -4 endorsed firearm carriage for protection, with Class-4 also engaging in risky firearm behaviors. Both classes had high violence exposure; however, Class-4 had higher risk profiles including higher marijuana misuse, mental health symptoms, and firearm victimization. ConclusionsAmong an emergency department sample, four distinct firearm possession classes emerged with different risk levels. Understanding firearm behaviors and risk/protective factors is critical to tailoring healthcare-focused interventions to address individual needs and reduce injury risk.

Impact of Cannabis Legalization on Umbilical Cord Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Levels.

Impact of Cannabis Legalization on Umbilical Cord Tissue Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels Objective: To assess the impact of cannabis legalization on both qualitative and quantitative umbilical cord tissue tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) rates and concentrations as a proxy for fetal exposure. This is a retrospective, observational study of umbilical cord tissue THC levels in a single center, comparing THC exposure rates and concentration levels before and after cannabis legalization in the state of Illinois, Epoch 1 (October 1,2018-June 30, 2019, pre-legalization) and Epoch 2 (July 1, 2019-August 31, 2021, post-legalization). 811 umbilical cords were analyzed during epoch 1 and 2170 during epoch 2. A higher percent of umbilical cord tissue tested positive for THC in Epoch 2 compared to Epoch 1 (46.2% vs. 40.6%; p<0.01). Mean THC levels were 51% higher in umbilical cord tissue in Epoch 2 vs. Epoch 1 (6.2ng/gm vs 4.1 ng/gm; p<0.001). Legalization of recreational cannabis was associated with more fetuses exposed to THC and in higher concentrations.

Attitudes toward and exposure to gender discrimination in work life by pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons: a questionnaire-based survey among Turkish thoracic society members.

This study aimed to evaluate attitudes toward and exposure to gender discrimination in work life by chest diseases specialists and thoracic surgeons. A total of 275 members of Turkish Thoracic Society (TTS) were included on a voluntary basis in this online cross-sectional questionnaire-survey using an internal member-only social media platform of TTS. The questionnaire form elicited items on sociodemographic characteristics, occupational characteristics and gender discrimination in work life (general opinions, attitudes and exposure). Female doctors (vs. males) were less likely to be a thoracic surgeon (13.8% vs. 34.5%, p < 0.05) and a professor of thoracic surgery (0.0% vs. 26.7% vs. p < 0.05), and more likely to consider housework as a considerable burden (89.8 vs. 73.6%, p = 0.02) and the significant role of discriminatory, negative and dissuasive attitudes of male physicians in their career choice (67.6 vs. 35.6%, p = 0.039). Male doctors were more likely to considered that men are more successful in specialties that require active physical strength (65.5 vs. 27.7%, p = 0.005) and those with very long working hours and heavy shifts (57.5 vs. 39.4%, p = 0.001). Female thoracic surgeons were more likely than males to consider that specialties with very long working hours and heavy shifts are more suitable for men (26.9 vs. 6.0%, p = 0.027) and men are given priority in academic career promotion (64.0 vs. 13.3%, p < 0.001). Younger (vs. older) females reported higher rate of exposure to gender discrimination (p = 0.041) and considerable impact of social roles on the specialty (p = 0.007), while female doctors working as a resident (33.8%) and a specialist (50.05%) indicated higher rate of exposure to gender discrimination during their career (p = 0.024). In conclusion, our findings revealed that exposure to gender discrimination in work life was more commonly expressed by female members of TTS, particularly in terms of burden of social roles, career advancement options and leadership positions, along with significant role of discriminatory, negative and dissuasive attitudes of male physicians in their career choice. Accordingly, women remain underrepresented in thoracic surgery, particularly in the academic rank of full professor and in leadership positions with inability to promote after a definite step in their careers.

Aflatoxin Exposure in Children Aged 4 Months to 5 Years from sub-Saharan Africa and its Effect on Stunted Child Growth – a Topical Review

The mould species fungi encompass among others the family of Aspergillus which produce and secrete a number of compounds toxic to human health, namely the aflatoxins. These mycotoxins are converted to secondary metabolites that exert the often detrimental biological effect, and they are commonly found in various foods such as fruits, nuts, seeds, and grains. Members of the Aspergillus family thrive in wet and humid conditions, so they are particularly prevalent in regions with a tropical climate, for example in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Aflatoxins are a type of mycotoxins considered to be among the most known potent mutagenic and carcinogenic substances. For example, it can cause liver cancer. Importantly, aflatoxins often contaminate weaning foods consumed by small children. This topical review outlines the evidence on the associations between aflatoxin exposure and impaired linear growth (stunting, that is low height/length for age) in small children (aged 4 months to 5 years) from sub-Saharan Africa. Ten studies were retrieved from the database PubMed after considering predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Six out of the ten studies found a significant inverse association between increased aflatoxin exposure and stunted child growth. Although aflatoxin exposure and stunting prevalence were high and widespread in most of the included studies, in general, studies conducted in Western Africa had the highest aflatoxin exposure and stunting prevalence. The only included randomized controlled trial found that a diet aimed at reducing aflatoxin exposure significantly improved linear growth in children at 13, but not at 22, months of age. The evidence suggests that aflatoxins have an impact on linear growth among children aged 4 months to five years. Possibly there is a threshold value for aflatoxin exposure before a significant impact on growth can be identified. Raised awareness and management strategies for the high aflatoxin exposure rates in sub-Saharan Africa and its negative health effects, in particular stunted child growth, are warranted. Key words: Aflatoxin, children, diet, linear growth, stunting, sub-Saharan Africa, topical review

Binary response of runoff generation and erosion processes to karst vegetation-soil-rock structure and its hydrodynamic mechanisms

Rocky desertification has formed a unique vegetation-soil-rock structure (VSRS) on the underlying surface of karst area, resulting in complex surface processes. Despite their significance, the response of runoff generation and erosion processes at binary interfaces to VSRS is still poorly understood. In this study, artificial simulated rainfall experiments were carried out on karst micro-plots with binary structure. Driven by rainfall intensity (R) and VSRS, the runoff and sediment output processes and its hydrodynamic mechanisms at the binary interface were studied. The results showed that the surface runoff rate (SRr) decreased with the increase of moss cover (MC) or rock exposure rate (RE), and increased with the increase of soil thickness (ST), with an amplitude more than or equal to 4.98%. With the increase of R, the surface runoff yield (SR) and runoff leakage (RL) showed an increasing trend, but the SR increased even more. This indicated that SR is more susceptible to R. Surface sediment yield (SS) showed complex changes with increasing test gradients, while sediment leakage (SL) showed a single increase (r ≥ 0.46, P < 0.05). Runoff and sediment leakage occurred at different VSRS, and the initial rate was greater than 0.09 L·min−1 or 0.02 g·min−1. This suggested that soil and water leakage in karst areas may be widespread. Proportion of SR and SS increased with increasing R, and became the main loss pathway (>54.77 %) during heavy rainfall (120 mm/h). Prediction performance of hydrodynamic parameters for SRr was 12.25 % higher than that for surface sediment rate (SSr), and V was the best factor for SRr (R2 > 0.84, P < 0.01). This study further enriches the theory of hydrological processes in karst rocky desertification areas, and provides important support for decision-making on soil and water conservation and ecological restoration.

Correlation between environmental DEET exposure and the mortality rate of cancer survivors: a large-sample cross-sectional investigation

BackgroundN, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) is the predominant active ingredient found in insect repellents utilized by consumers. Exposure to DEET has been associated with notable risks to human health. Nonetheless, there is a scarcity of extensive cohort studies investigating the precise correlation between DEET exposure and mortality rates among cancer survivors. The objective of this study is to thoroughly evaluate the connection between DEET exposure and mortality rates in cancer survivors.MethodsThis study employed individual samples obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Utilizing data from NHANES spanning 2007 to 2016, this study incorporated a cohort of 5,859 cancer survivors for subsequent analysis, following the exclusion of incomplete datasets. Through subgroup analysis, the research examined the impact of quartile levels of 3-diethyl-carbamoyl benzoic acid (DCBA), the primary metabolite of DEET, on cancer survivors across various subgroups within the broader population. Furthermore, the research utilized a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model and Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves to investigate the relationship between 3-diethyl-carbamoyl benzoic acid (DCBA), a principal metabolite of DEET, and mortality rates in individuals who have survived cancer.ResultsThe study identified an association between specific quartiles of DCBA concentration and a decreased risk of all-cause mortality among cancer survivors, specifically in the second (Q2: 0.665–1.95) and third quartiles (Q3: 1.95–6.845). Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between the third quartile and cancer-specific mortality (Q3: 1.95–6.845), as well as between the second quartile and non-cancer mortality (Q2: 0.665–1.95). The quartiles of DCBA concentration exhibit a statistically significant correlation with total deaths (P < 0.001), cancer-specific deaths (P = 0.009), and non-cancer deaths (P < 0.001) among cancer survivors. The correlation between DCBA and reduced mortality risk in cancer survivors is particularly notable among females and individuals of non-Hispanic Black descent.ConclusionThe detection of DCBA in the urine of adult cancer survivors is strongly associated with increased mortality risks, particularly among females and non-Hispanic Black individuals, warranting further investigation and targeted interventions.

Antibiotic exposure and risk of overweight/obesity in children: a biomonitoring-based study from eastern Jiangsu, China.

To describe antibiotic exposure in children and explore its association with overweight/obesity. In June 2022, 328 kindergarten and primary school children were selected from Nantong city in Jiangsu Province. Questionnaires were distributed, and morning urine samples were obtained. Total urinary concentrations of 41 antibiotics were measured using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The rates of antibiotic exposure were expressed as percentages (%), specific percentiles (P 95 and P 99), and the maximum values were used to describe the concentration of antibiotics. The association between urinary antibiotic creatinine-adjusted and overweight/obesity was analyzed using logistic regression. A total of 328 children were initially recruited, of which 295 aged 3-8 years met the inclusion criteria and were finally included in the study. The biomonitoring results revealed that 35 antibiotics were detected, with a total detection frequency of 98.31%. Among the included children, 24.75% were classified as overweight/obesity. Multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed significant associations between overweight/obese and exposure to veterinary antibiotics (VAs) and preferred veterinary antibiotics (PVAs). After adjusting for various overweight/obesity-relevant variables, higher exposure to sulfamethoxazole [OR = 2.35, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.17-4.70], norfloxacin (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.01-7.08), and fluoroquinolones (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.02-3.78) were significantly associated with overweight/obesity (p < 0.05). In addition, after stratification by sex and adjustment for confounding variables, sex-specific differences were observed in the association between antibiotic exposure and overweight/obesity. Notably, these associations were predominantly observed among boys. Children were extensively exposed to antibiotics. Exposure to certain types of veterinary antibiotics and preferred veterinary antibiotic exposure, mainly through food or drinking water, are associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity in children.

Three new spirocyclic terpenoids from Euphorbia amygdaloides exhibit cytotoxicity against cancerous cell lines through early and late apoptosis

Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of three new spirocyclic terpenoid compounds from Euphorbia amygdaloides L., named Zagrosin I–III. Their structures were identified by 1D and 2D NMR (1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT 135, HMBC, and HSQC-TOCSY) and LC-MS-MS spectrometry. The cytotoxicity of the isolated spirocyclic terpenoids (Zagrosin I-III) was assessed against human breast cancer (MCF-7), human fibrosarcoma (HT1080), and normal human foreskin fibroblast cells with MTT assays (24, 48, and 72 h treatments). The FITC-Annexin V apoptosis flow cytometry assays and cell cycle analysis were performed for Zagrosin I–III.These isolated compounds were identified as: (9)-8a-((benzoyloxy)methyl)-2-methoxy-4,9-dimethyltetrahydro-4H,5H-2,4a-methanobenzo[d] [1,3] dioxine-4-carboxylate (Zagrosin I), ((9)-4-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4,9-dimethyltetrahydro-4H,8aH-2,4a-methanobenzo[d] [1,3] dioxin-8a-yl) methyl benzoate (Zagrosin II), and (9)-2-methoxy-4,9-dimethyl-8a-(phenoxy methyl) tetrahydro-4H,5H-2,4a-methanobenzo[d][1,3]dioxin-4-yl 4-methylpentanoate (Zagrosin III).The IC50 of Zagrosin I on 48-h-treated MCF-7 was calculated as 1.5 μg/mL. Zagrosin II and III exhibited cytotoxicity on 48-h-treated MCF-7 with IC50s of 14.04 and 12.50 μg/mL, respectively. The IC50 of Zagrosin I on human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) was 115.5 μg/mL, Zagrosin III, 16.81 μg/mL (48 h treatment), and Zagrosin II, 142.7 μg/mL (72 h treatment). Zagrosin I-III exhibited significant cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 cell line and human fibrosarcoma (HT1080), with the mechanism of early and late apoptosis affecting cells mostly in G0/G1 fallowed by S and G2 phases. MCF-7 had a higher rate of phosphatidyl serine exposure on the cell membrane than two other studied cells. The cytotoxicity on normal human foreskin fibroblasts was low. Zagrosin I-III can be considered an effective chemical backbone for anticancer drug development.Abbreviations: 2D NMR: Two-Dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; API: Atmospheric Pressure Ionization; DEPT: Distortionless Enhancement by Polarization Transfer; ELISA: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent assay; ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; ESI: Electrospray ionization; FBS: Fetal Bovine Serum; FITC: Fluorescein isothiocyante; fr: fraction; HMBC: Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Correlation; HPLC: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography; HSQC: Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence; HT1080: Human fibrosarcoma cell line; IC50: Half-maximal inhibitory concentration; MCF-7: Human breast cancer cell line; MHz: Megahertz; MTT: 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide; NMR: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; PBS: Phosphate Buffered Saline; PI: Propidium Iodide; ppm: Part Per Million; Rf: Retention Factor; TLC: Thin-layer chromatography; TOCSY: Total Correlation Spectroscopy; VLC: Vacuum Liquid Chromatography.

BEST PRACTICE FOR OPTIMIZATION AND RADIATION SAFETY IN THE CARDIOVASCULAR CATHETERIZATION ROOM (CATHLAB) OF SENTRA MEDIKA CIBINONG HOSPITAL

Scattered radiation generated during fluoroscopy increases the potential for patients and staff to receive radiation doses, so it is necessary to take optimization steps for radiation safety to minimize the risk of exposure to scattered X-ray radiation. This study aims to implement radiation protection in cardiac and vascular catheterization laboratories and summarize best practices for implementing efforts to minimize radiation exposure. The method used was qualitative and quantitative from 2023 to 2024; with this qualitative approach, the supervision activities in TLD badges for radiation workers, the level of diagnostic guidance for patients, and the use of radiation protection equipment were observed. For the quantitative approach, measuring the dose rate was carried out, and optimizing the positioning of the distance between the patient's table and the radiation source was carried out by direct measurement. Based on research data, the observation results obtained that the apron is still by the minimum thickness, which is 0.35-0.5 mm Pb for intervention, the results of exposure tests around the cathlab room are around 0.08-0.12 μSv/hour still below the dose constraint value, Mapping the rate of exposure in the work area during the intervention procedure obtained an optimal safe distance of around 60-70 cm from the X-ray tube. The setup of the effective distance position for intervention patients is at a distance of 80 cm from the X-ray tube to the patient table, which can reduce the absorbed dose to the patient by around 30%, the use of low dose mode (7.5 fps) with pulsed fluoroscopy during the intervention obtained the absorbed dose received by the patient reduced by 70-72% for PCI procedures and 25-29% for the type of CAG procedure. It is hoped that the protocol that uses this best practice can minimize the risk of exposure to scattered radiation and optimize medical exposure. Keywords: cathlab, best practices radiation protection, dose rate, radiation exposure, patient radiation dose.

Quantitative analysis of impact of human activities on soil erosion using the RUSLE model in a typical karst area in Guizhou, China.

Human activities have significant influence on soil erosion in karst areas. The spatial and temporal evolution of soil erosion in Guizhou Province was evaluated using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), which revealed an increasing trend in the initial data analysis for the soil erosion modulus. To disclose the impact of human activities on regional soil erosion, the soil erosion in 2000, 2010, and 2020 was analyzed. The results show the following: (1) The average values of the soil erosion modulus in the study area for 2000, 2010, and 2020 were 4.479, 4.945, and 5.806 t·hm-2·a-1, respectively; when considering human activities without the influence of rainfall erosivity, these values were 4.679, 4.963, and 4.799 t·hm-2·a-1. The influence of human activities on soil erosion is gradually becoming a positive force. (2) According to the Spearman regression analysis, the top four factors related to soil erosion in 2000 and 2010 were soil loss risk (E, 0.721 and 0.737), anti-erosion factors (Pr, - 0.236 and - 0.221), rock exposure rate (0.222 and 0.279), and altitude (0.210 and 0.195). In 2020, the top four factors were Pr (0.725), land surface temperature (LST, 0.268), NDVI (- 0.232), and E (0.186). In the first two stages, soil erosion is closely related to natural factors, while in 2020, soil erosion is more closely related to human activities. (3) The geographically weighted regression (GWR) showed the highest range of regression coefficients for Pr (150), followed by E and NDVI (25), rock exposure rate (10), and land surface temperature (LST) (1.5). The rainfall erosivity is increasing annually as a consequence of global climate change. This rise in rainfall erosivity has resulted in a corresponding increase in soil erosion in the study area, which obscures the positive impact of human activities in the reduction of soil erosion.

Assessing The Relationship Between Screen Time andMyopia In Children Aged 5-12 Ibadan South-West Local Governmen

This study investigated the relationship between screen time and myopia in children aged 5-12 years in Ibadan South-west Local Government, Nigeria. Guided by three specific purposes and research questions, the study examined how screen exposure, parental behaviors, and socioeconomic status influenced the development of myopia in young children. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. A sample of 300 children aged 5-12 years was selected from primary schools using a multistage sampling method. Two main instruments were used for data collection: a structured questionnaire for parents and an eye examination for children. The questionnaire was reviewed by experts in child health, education, and visual health to ensure content validity. The test-retest method was employed to establish reliability, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.70. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations, to summarize demographic data, screen time duration, and the prevalence of myopia among participants. The findings revealed that prolonged screen time was significantly associated with higher rates of myopia among children. Children exposed to more than 2 hours of screen time daily had a higher prevalence of myopia. Passive screen activities, such as watching television, were found to have a stronger association with myopia than active screen use, like educational or interactive activities. Parental behaviors and lower socioeconomic status were also linked to increased screen exposure and higher rates of myopia. The study concluded that excessive screen time poses a significant risk for myopia in children and highlighted the need for public health interventions and parental education to manage screen time effectively and support healthier visual development.

Gabapentin and pregabalin exposures reported to United States poison centers, 2012–2022

BackgroundGabapentin and pregabalin were originally introduced as anticonvulsant medications but are now also prescribed on- and off-label for multiple medical disorders, especially for pain management. The national opioid crisis has led to increased use of non-opioid pain medications, including gabapentinoids, which has been associated with changing patterns of adverse events associated with these medications. This study investigated the characteristics and trends of gabapentin and pregabalin exposures reported to US poison centers from 2012 to 2022.MethodsNational Poison Data System data involving gabapentin and pregabalin exposures for 2012 to 2022 were analyzed.ResultsThere were 124,161 exposures involving gabapentin and pregabalin as the primary substance reported to US poison centers during the study period. Most exposures involved gabapentin (85.9%), females (59.4%), single-substance exposures (62.9%), or occurred at a residence (97.2%). Suspected suicides accounted for 45.2% of exposures. Most exposures were associated with a minor effect (27.4%) or no effect (34.0%), while 22.1% experienced a serious medical outcome, including 96 fatalities. The rate of gabapentin and pregabalin exposures per one million US population increased by 236.1% from 22.7 in 2012 to 76.5 in 2019 (P < 0.001), followed by a non-significant decrease to 68.5 in 2022 (P = 0.068).ConclusionsThe rate of gabapentin and pregabalin exposures reported to US poison centers increased by more than 230% from 2012 to 2019 before plateauing from 2019 to 2022. The observed rate trend was driven primarily by gabapentin exposures and by cases associated with suspected suicide. Although most exposures were associated with a minor or no effect, 22% of individuals experienced a serious medical outcome, including 96 fatalities. These findings contribute to the discussion of rescheduling gabapentin as a federally controlled substance, which is the current status of pregabalin. Prevention of suicide associated with gabapentin and pregabalin merits special attention.