Hair Samples Research Articles

Alcohol Consumption Assessed by a Biomarker and Self-Reported Drinking in a Sample of Pregnant Women in the South of Europe: A Comparative Study.

(1) Background: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a major concern, particularly in Europe and North America. Its prevalence has so far been under-researched. In most studies, the determination of this consumption may be underestimated, as it is based on the information obtained from questionnaires rather than from biomarkers, which will provide a much more reliable approach. The main objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of consumption during pregnancy as assessed by a questionnaire and a hair biomarker. (2) Method: A cross-sectional study with a random sample of 425 pregnant women treated in public hospital consultations in Seville (Spain) and in the 20th week of their pregnancy, orally interviewed using an elaborated ad hoc questionnaire that evaluated variables of sociodemographic, obstetric, and alcohol consumption. Furthermore, the ethyl glucuronide metabolite (EtG) was tested on a hair sample in 252 pregnant women who agreed to facilitate it. Once the data obtained through the questionnaire and hair test were analyzed, the level of metabolites and self-reported alcohol consumption were compared. (3) Results: The prevalence of self-reported alcohol consumption (questionnaire) was 20.7%, and the real consumption (metabolite analysis) was 20.2%. In 16.8% of pregnant women who declared not consuming alcohol during their pregnancy, noticeable consumption was detected according to the metabolite test. No relevant level of variability in estimated alcohol consumption was detected in the biomarker with respect to the sociodemographic and obstetric variables studied. (4) Conclusions: The prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy obtained through both questionnaires and metabolite analyses was similar and high. There is no association between consumption and sociodemographic factors in this sample. The determination of consumption through biomarkers allows for a more accurate approximation of the prevalence of consumption than estimated through questionnaires. Larger sample-sized studies are needed to determine consumption patterns and thus guide the adoption of more precise policies fostering abstinence from alcohol consumption since the preconception period.

Is Lead Exposure Still The Best Explanation For Beethoven’s Deafness?

Objectives: An article in Current Biology in March 2023 suggested that lead poisoning does not apply to Beethoven because the Hiller lock was found to be inauthentic. In addition, bone samples that contained high levels of lead have also been discovered to be inauthentic. This communication is a response to this as well as other challenges to the article in The Laryngoscope in 2013 about lead and the hearing loss of Ludwig van Beethoven. Methods: An in-depth review of these articles was accomplished to assess whether lead poisoning is still a viable theory for Beethoven’s hearing loss. Results: A substantial review of over 2000 cases in 2016 showed uniformly abnormal auditory brainstem responses with chronic lead poisoning that correlate well with the shrunken cochlear nerves found at Beethoven’s autopsy. An article published in 2017 postulated a new reason for Paget’s Disease, but has serious deficiencies. The current case of lead poisoning in The Laryngoscope in 2020 supports lead as a cause significant hearing loss. In 2022 a suggestion of congenital syphilis was found to lack substantial evidence. Although the article in Current Biology in March 2023 suggested that lead poisoning does not apply to Beethoven because the Hiller lock was found to be inauthentic, no authentic samples have ever been tested for lead. Therefore, this is a premature opinion. Conclusion: Future directions listed in the Current Biology article include testing for exposure to environmental causes of disease. We will therefore wait with great anticipation to the analyses of authentic hair samples. It may not be surprising that these will also show high levels of lead. If they do not, all of the suggested reasons for Beethoven’s hearing loss will have major problems, and we may never fulfill his wish to discover the etiology of his loss.

Biomonitoring of arsenic, lead, manganese and mercury in hair from a presumably exposed Uruguayan child population.

Aim: To perform an exposure assessment of arsenic, manganese, mercuryand lead levels in hair samples from children from poor neighborhoods. Materials & methods: A total of38Caucasian children were recruited with the consent of their parents or tutors. Determinations were performed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results & conclusion: Results were 0.045-0.12μg/g-1 (arsenic), 0.56-2.05μg/g-1 (manganese)and 0.34-27.8μg/g-1 (lead). Lead results did not correlate with those previously reported in blood from the same individuals, suggesting that hair isnotuseful for exposure assessment of this contaminant. Mercury was determined for the first time in Uruguayan children showing levels <0.083μg/g-1. Results revealed low-to-moderate metal exposure, except for some high lead findings.

Co-occurrence of tetrabromobisphenol a and debromination products in human hair across China: Implications for exposure sources and health effects on metabolic syndrome

The large usage of Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in consumer products leads to ubiquitous distribution globally, however, studies on the occurrence of their debromination compounds were rather scarce. Also, though many studies illustrate the effectiveness of hair analysis to assess human exposure to organic pollutants, evidence on the associations with health implications is still fairly limited. Herein, 598 participants from across China were employed to investigate chronic, low-level exposure to TBBPA and debromination products by hair analysis. The geomean concentrations of TBBPA, 2,2′,6-tribromobisphenol A (Tri-BBPA), 2,2′- and 2,6-dibromobisphenol A (Di-BBPA), and 2-monobromobisphenol A (Mo-BBPA) were 1.07, 0.145, 0.135, and 0.894 ng/g, respectively, indicating nonnegligible health risks of debromination products. Hair analyte levels correlated with population age and population density among sampling regions. Sexual- and spatial-variations were observed with higher concentrations in females and in E-waste recycling sites. Logistic regression models showed that TBBPA exposure (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.02, 95 % confidential interval (CI): 1.01–1.05) was positively associated with risk of metabolic syndrome by adjusting for various covariates. These findings imply usefulness of hair as an alternative biomonitoring tool to assess human exposure to TBBPA and relative health effects, which highlights public concerns on co-exposure to these chemicals.

Metal levels in waste pickers in Brasilia, Brazil: hair and nail as exposure matrices

ABSTRACT The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare workplace conditions and metal exposures in 431 waste pickers who worked nearby at the Estrutural Dump in Brasilia utilizing hair (n = 310) and nail (n = 355) as matrices of exposure. Waste pickers were grouped according to their workplace (open waste dump: G1 and sorting plants: G2). Hair and nail samples were collected and analyzed using ICP-MS. The work duration in the facilities was significantly different between the groups with averages of 16.46 (8.48) yrs and 9.26 (6.28) yrs for hair donors in G1 and G2, and 15.92 (7.72) yrs and 8.55 (5.77) yrs for toenail donors in G1 and G2, respectively. The arithmetic means (μg/g) of cadmium, copper, lead, and manganese in hair were significantly higher in G2 (0.076 ± 0.133; 19.61 ± 18.16; 2.27 ± .56 and 3.87 ± 5.59, respectively) compared to G1 (0.069 ± 0.235; 15.72 ± 15.18; 1.72 ± 4.04 and 3.65 ± 5.5, respectively). Concentrations of arsenic, barium, cadmium, copper, cobalt, lead, manganese, and molybdenum in nail were significantly higher in G2 (0.57 ± 0.39; 22.74 ± 42.06; 0.1 ± 0.08; 22.7 ± 51.60; 0.48 ± 0.45; 4.69 ± 9.43; 19.07 ± 20.75; 1.80 ± 1.76, respectively) compared to G1 (0.40 ± 0.28; 15.32 ± 22.31; 0.08 ± 0.11; 11.91 ± 16.25; 0.37 ± 0.37; 3.94 ± 15.04; 13.01 ± 19.08; 1.16 ± 1.80, respective. Our findings suggest that the studied population was exposed to toxic metals and indicates the need for chemical exposure prevention policies to monitor chemical risk exposures in waste pickers.

Five cases ofunintentional exposure to BZO-4en-POXIZID among nightclub attendees inNew York City.

A new class of synthetic cannabinoids called OXIZIDs has emerged in recent years. This class consists of compounds with oxindole cores and hydrazide/hydrazone linker moieties and has often been described as being designed to circumvent a Chinese class-wide ban that was effective as of 1 July 2021. However, through hair testing of nightclub attendees in New York City-a high-risk population for recreational drug use-we have evidence suggesting exposures to an OXIZID called BZO-4en-POXIZID (4en-pentyl MDA-19) prior to the effective ban. Through analysis of 6 cm segmented hair samples from attendees collected in 2021, we detected five cases of exposure. Specifically, we detected a cluster of three cases based on hair samples collected on 20 June 2021, and then two additional cases from samples collected on 16 July 2021. Four of these hair samples were long enough to analyze two 6 cm hair segments (representing approximately two 6-month timeframes) and three of four of these cases tested positive for repeated exposure (for an estimated exposure over 6 months prior to hair collection). All cases included young adult females reporting past-year cannabis use but all tested negative for tetrahydrocannabinol exposure. Three cases also reported past-year use of cocaine, ecstasy, and/or ketamine, and four cases tested positive for exposure to cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methamphetamine and/or eutylone. These subjects were exposed to BZO-4en-POXIZID-likely as an adulterant in other drugs, and these cases are among the first documented cases which occurred approximately half a year before the Chinese legislative ban.

Postpartum hair cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and their ratio in beef cows: Exploring association with parity and conception outcome

Hair steroid measurement has received increasing attention for monitoring hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, as it offers the advantages of being noninvasive, fast, and able to indicate steroid concentrations over long periods. The objects of the study were to evaluate cortisol (C) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) hair concentrations and their ratio (C/DHEA-S) in beef cows from calving to 100 days (d) postpartum (pp) and to assess possible differences related to parity (primiparous vs multiparous) and conception outcome (pregnant vs not pregnant). Hair samples were collected from 6 primiparous and 5 multiparous pregnant beef cows by clipping the coat at calving (T0) and every 20 d for 5 times (T1-T5), collecting only the regrown hair. Starting from the 6th-week pp, cows were submitted to artificial insemination at spontaneous estrus; by 100 d pp, 7 cows were pregnant and 4 were not pregnant. Statistical analysis showed higher hair C concentrations in the 11 cows at calving (T0) compared to all the subsequent samplings except for T1, and higher C concentrations at T1 compared to T3, T4, and T5. These results indicate that hair C concentrations in beef cows are affected by sampling time, with a decrease from calving, as reported in other matrices. When exploring changes within parity groups, no differences were found in the multiparous among sampling times, while hair C concentrations at T0 and T1 tended to be higher than at T2 (0.01 ≤ p < 0.05) and were higher (p < 0.01) than in all the subsequent samplings (T3, T4 and T5) within the primiparous group. Higher hair C concentrations were found at T0 and T1 in the primiparous compared to multiparous (p < 0.01), suggesting that primiparous cows undergo a greater stress level before and around parturition compared to multiparous, probably due to the novelty of the calving experience. No differences were detected in C hair concentrations according to conception outcome (pregnant versus not pregnant) in each sampling time. Hair DHEA-S concentrations were neither affected by time nor by parity or conception outcome. Differences in the C/DHEA-S ratio were found at T1, with higher C/DHEA-S in the multiparous compared to primiparous cows (p < 0.001), and a tendency for higher ratio in the not pregnant compared to the pregnant (0.01 ≤ p < 0.05). These results support the choice of hair as a valuable biological matrix when investigating long-time periods such as postpartum in cows and suggest an enhanced immunoprotective effect of DHEA-S in the postpartum of primiparous cows, and in cows that get pregnant within 100 d postpartum.

Environmental selenium and human longevity: An ecogeochemical perspective

Selenium (Se) has been called the “longevity element” by the scientific community because it has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activity in humans. The geochemical properties and biological functions of Se have been widely studied in various fields, including geology, agriculture, and medicine. Bama Yao Autonomous County (Bama), a typical township in China with high longevity among the population, was selected as the research area. The present study organically combines the geological background, dietary structure, absorption and metabolism, and other biogeochemical aspects to comprehensively analyze the anti-aging properties of Se under high-Se conditions and a fiber-rich polysaccharide diet. Biogeochemical samples of surface soil, food, human hair, and urine were systematically collected from the environment and the residents, and the content and speciation of Se were analyzed. Concentrations of Se in the soil were moderate to high for Bama, with high-Se soil in 77.21% of the samples. Water-soluble Se concentrations were also high, 90% of the samples with moderate to high Se, and had a significant positive correlation with Se concentrations in crops. With both high total and high available Se, dietary samples from the study area showed Se-enriched characteristics. Accordingly, Se intake was also high (82.54 μg/d) in the population, strongly maintaining the normal bodily functions of the elderly. Accumulation and metabolism of Se in the population were assessed based on concentrations of Se in the hair and urine of residents over 60 years old. Continuous accumulation of Se was found to occur from 71 to 80 years of age. Concentrations of Se in residents under 71 years old and over 80 years old were in a state of loss. Overall, Se absorption and metabolism are maintained at the optimal physiological state, which is one of the primary factors maintaining the health and longevity of the elderly people in the study area.

Association between genomic daughter pregnancy rate and expected milk production on the resumption of estrus behavior in Holstein cattle

The objective of this observational study was to evaluate estrous expression at the first estrus occurring between 7 to 30 d in milk (DIM), as detected by an automated activity monitor (AAM), and its association with genomic daughter pregnancy rate (GDPR) and genomic expected milk production (GEM) in lactating dairy cows. A total of 4,119 lactations from 2,602 Holstein cows were included. Cows were enrolled as first lactation (n = 1,168), second lactation (n = 1,525) and third and greater lactation (n = 1,426). Hair samples were collected from the tail switch, and cows were genotyped using an SNP platform (Clarifide, Zoetis, São Paulo, SP, Brazil). Postpartum cows were examined daily by the farm personnel from calving until 10 DIM. Calving was classified as assisted (forced calf extraction) and unassisted (normal calving). Retained fetal membranes (RFM), hyperketonemia (KET), and left displaced abomasum (LDA) were also recorded. Mean GDPR (± SD) was -0.29 ± 1.4, and the intensity and duration of the first estrus event was 15.9 ± 13.1 x-factor (intensity unit measurement) and 11.1 ± 3.8 h, respectively. Cows that had greater GDPR had greater intensity and longer duration of estrus at the alert, independent of parity. Overall resumption of estrous expression, between 7 to 30 DIM, was 41.2% (1,695/4,119), where 58.8% (2,424/4,119) did not have an estrus event, 31.0% (1,274/4,119) of cows had one event of estrus, and 10.2% (421/4,119) of cows had 2 or more events of estrus early postpartum. Mean DIM (± SD) at first estrus event, detected by the AAM, was 19.4 ± 4.4 d. Days in milk at first event for cows with one event was 20.7 ± 1.6 d and 15.9 ± 3.1 d for cows with 2 or more events of estrus. First lactation cows were more likely to have an estrus event early postpartum when compared with second and third and greater lactation cows (45.2 ± 1.4% [530/1168] vs. 41.6 ± 1.3% [636/1525] vs. 37.2 ± 1.3% [529/1426], respectively). There was an interaction of parity and GDPR on the proportion of cows demonstrating an early postpartum estrus. There was no difference in the proportion of cows with an early postpartum estrus between those with assisted or unassisted calving, RFM, or LDA. However, cows that had KET were less likely to have an alert early postpartum when compared with cows that did not have KET. Mean genomic expected milk production (± SD) was 256.8 ± 600.1 kg. There was no interaction between GEM and parity on estrous expression (i.e., intensity and duration). There was no interaction between GEM and GDPR on the proportion of estrus early postpartum.

Relationship between Copper, Zinc, and Copper-to-Zinc Ratio in Hair and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease according to the SYNTAX Score.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) continues to be a foremost contributor to global mortality, and the quest for modifiable risk factors could improve prophylactic strategies. Recent studies suggest a significant role of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) deficiency in atheromatous plaque formation. Furthermore, hair was previously described as a valuable source of information on elemental burden during the 6-8 week period before sampling. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of correlation between the extent of CAD evaluated with the SYNergy Between PCI With TAXUS and the Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score with Cu and Zn content in hair samples, as well as with the Cu/Zn ratio in a cohort of 130 patients. Our findings describe a statistically significant inverse correlation between Cu content and the Cu/Zn ratio in hair samples and the extent of CAD. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between Zn content and the extent of CAD. Considering the scarcity of existing data on the subject, the analysis of hair samples could yield a novel insight into elemental deficiencies and their potential influence on CAD extent.

Elemental status and psychological predisposition of the Russian population to deviant behavior

BACKGROUND: One of the most crucial environmental factors is the geochemical structure and chemical composition of the soils and waters in a given area, as they directly influence the elemental status of the population residing there. However, there is currently a lack of data regarding the associations between the elemental status of Russian residents and the severity of indicators related to deviant behavior.&#x0D; AIM: To study the potential influence of chemical environmental factors on the development of deviant behavior in men and women residing in the Russian Federation.&#x0D; MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 1815 students who were permanent residents of the 14 regions of Russia. The elemental status was determined by concentrations of 25 chemical elements in hair samples. A set of standard indicators of psychological status was employed to assess the risk of developing deviant behavior in the study participants. Associations between hair concentrations of the elements and psychological status were studied by correlation analysis.&#x0D; RESULTS: Reactive aggressiveness was negatively associated with the concentration of potassium (p=0.016), sodium (p=0.05) and beryllium (p=0.044) in men, while it was positively associated with the concentration of zinc (p=0.005) in women. Depression and the level of suicidal ideation were associated with lithium deficiency (p=0.018 and p=0.022) in men and with selenium deficiency in women (p=0.004 and p=0.001). The risk of alcoholism was inversely associated with the content of zinc (p=0.001), lithium (p=0.026), selenium (p=0.027) and calcium (p=0.049) in men while in women the significant associations were found for boron (p=0.02) and phosphorus (p=0.044). Drug consumption was positively associated with hair concentrations of silicon (p 0.001), nickel (p=0.002), magnesium (p=0.005), lead (p=0.007), selenium (p=0.011) and tin (p=0.012) in men and with aluminum (p=0.005), selenium (p=0.021) and iron (p=0.05) in women.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: Our study provide the evidence on the associations between chemical elements some prerequisites for the development of deviant behavior in Russia.

Urine andhair drug test results associated with daily consumption ofcodeine-predominant poppy seed food products.

This study examined the urine and hair opiate profiles associated with the daily consumption of presumptive codeine-predominant poppy seed food products. Ten participants consumed one of five food products at breakfast for 10 consecutive days. Baseline urine and hair samples were collected on Day 1. The urine samples were collected 4, 8 and 12 h following poppy seed consumption on Days 1 and 10, and the first morning void urine samples were collected on Days 2-10. A second hair specimen was collected on Day 20 ± 2. Urine drug test results: Three of the food products were associated with opiate-negative urine drug test results at all time points at a 300 ng/mL cut-off. Two of the food products were associated with opiate-positive drug test results at all non-baseline time points at a 300 ng/mL cut-off. Of these, all samples (n = 60) were codeine-positive, and 27 (45%) were morphine-positive. Codeine concentrations exceeded morphine concentrations in every sample and always by multiples. Thirty-nine of the 60 samples (65%) were codeine-positive at a 2,000 ng/mL cut-off, while none of these samples were morphine-positive at this cut-off. None of the 60 samples reached an opiate threshold of 15,000 ng/mL, although one participant produced a maximum codeine concentration of 13,161 ng/mL (13,854 ng/mg creatinine). There was no clear trend toward increasing urinary opiate concentrations over the course of the study. Hair drug test results: The hair samples of two participants produced quantifiable codeine (41 pg/mg and 51 pg/mg), but no sample reached a common reporting threshold of 200 pg/mg for codeine or morphine.

134 Estimating the Heritability of Nitrogen and Carbon Isotopes in the Tail Hair of Beef Cattle

Abstract The natural abundance of nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) in animal tissues is related to the ability of cattle to lose less nitrogen in the urine and has been used to estimate nitrogen use efficiency and feed efficiency. Carbon isotope enrichment (δ13C) has also been used to estimate feed conversion ratio and grazing behavior in beef cattle. There are significant variations between the individual beef cattle in the same environment for δ15N and δ13C of the tail hair. Thus, the objective was to determine the heritability of δ15N and δ13C in the tail hair of tropically adapted beef cattle to further validate their use in genetic breeding programs. A total of 497 Bos indicus steers (269 Brahman and 228 Droughtmaster) were used, and the steers had reliable pedigree information for three generations as they were part of the beef cattle genetic evaluation system in Australia. Two single, mixed breed, contemporary groups of steers are used including the steers weaned in 2019 (n = 254) and steers weaned in 2020 (n = 243). Samples of tail switch hair representing hair segments growing during the dry season were collected and analyzed for δ15N and δ13C. Fixed effects fitted in the linear regression model were age, breed, year (as contemporary groups), and average daily gain during the different seasons. The heritabilities of δ15N and δ13C in the tail hair were estimated at 0.43 ± 0.14, and 0.41 ± 0.15, respectively, which indicates both are moderately heritable traits. The genetic correlation between δ15N and δ13C was negative at -0.78 ± 0.16, and the phenotypic one was -0.40 ± 0.04. The negative correlation can be explained by the contrasting isotope fractionation in the urine of cattle, as urine has less δ15N and more δ13C than the diet. The findings of this study have shown for the first time that both δ15N and δ13C in the tail hair of cattle are heritable traits. These results support the feasibility of utilizing tail hair isotopes as a promising approach for identifying cattle with greater nitrogen use efficiency, which is a key trait in low-protein diets. Moreover, genetic selection for nitrogen-efficient cattle can reduce the environmental impact of beef production.

A study into the nature and extent of polydrug use in driving recidivism behavior

Objective Polydrug use has become a frequent pattern of drug consumption in Europe, and this is considered a particularly dangerous risk factor for impaired driving. In Italy, persons whose license has been revoked or suspended due to the use of psychoactive drugs can reapply for a new driving license, depending on the judgment of the relevant local medical committee (CML). To regain a revoked license, offenders must remain drug free throughout an observation period. An important problem with enforcement of impaired driving is recidivism. The aim of the present study is to analyze the influence of polydrug use on driving recidivism. Method We report the findings of several years’ experience at the forensic toxicology laboratory of the University of Macerata. Hair samples collected over a 7-year period by the CML from drug users were analyzed for cocaine, opiates, and cannabis using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results Three hundred thirty-five of the tested subjects were recidivists. Recidivism was more frequent among monodrug users (81%) compared with polydrug users (19%), but logistic regression showed that polydrug use is certainly a risk factor for recidivism compared to monodrug use (odds ratio [OR] = 1.99). The sex and age distribution of recidivist subjects showed a strong predominance of males in both groups, but there were no sex differences. There were more recidivist polydrug users than recidivist monodrug users in the younger age groups (OR = 2.012). Cocaine use was most prevalent in the recidivist monodrug group. All drugs analyzed were demonstrated to be a risk factor for recidivism among monodrug users, whereas only the cocaine and cannabis combination was shown to be a risk factor for recidivism among polydrug users (OR = 1.65 versus cocaine; OR = 1.30 versus Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Almost all polydrug users became monodrug users, and cocaine was the most frequently detected drug in the subsequent test during the monitoring phase. Conclusions Our results show that polydrug use increases the risk of impaired driving recidivism and represents a considerable threat to road safety.

Longitudinal Associations between Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates and Steroid Hormones in Maternal Hair Samples from the SEPAGES Cohort.

We assessed phthalate-hormone associations in 382 pregnant women of the new-generation SEPAGES cohort (2014-2017, France) using improved exposure and outcome assessments. Metabolites from seven phthalate compounds and the replacement di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) were measured in within-subject pools of repeated urine samples collected at the second and third pregnancy trimesters (≈21 samples/trimester). Metabolites from five steroid hormones were measured in maternal hair samples collected at delivery, reflecting cumulative levels over the previous weeks to months. Adjusted linear regression and Bayesian weighted quantile sum (BWQS) mixture models were performed. Each doubling in third-trimester urinary mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) concentrations was associated with an average increase of 13.3% (95% CI: 2.65, 24.9) for ∑cortisol, 10.0% (95% CI: 0.26, 20.7) for ∑cortisone, 17.3% (95% CI: 1.67, 35.4) for 11-dehydrocorticosterone, and 16.2% (95% CI: 2.20, 32.1) for testosterone, together with a suggestive 10.5% (95% CI: -1.57, 24.1) increase in progesterone levels. Each doubling in second-trimester urinary di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) concentrations was inversely associated with testosterone levels (-11.6%; 95% CI: -21.6, -0.31). For most hormones, a nonsignificant trend toward a positive phthalate mixture effect was observed in the third but not in the second trimester. Our study showed that exposure to some phthalate metabolites, especially MBzP, may affect adrenal and reproductive hormone levels during pregnancy.

A consumer cross-over trial suggests that there are significant seasonal changes of the tensile properties (wet) of human hair.

Through the cooperation with an industrial partner, we gained a set of data for the tensile properties (wet) of human hair. The hair samples originated from a cross-over study with two groups of individuals, using for a topical application sequentially two products (A and B). Each phase of the study lasted 6 months. The phases of the study by chance covered first largely the winter and then the summer period. Initially, tensile variables were chosen, which not only reflect the mechanical properties of hair (modulus, break strain, and break stress) but which are also considered to have a good connection to practice-relevant hair properties. The initial analysis of the data showed that changes were observed for the variables due to the treatment phases. However, these were either small or difficult to interpret. Against this background and using two-factor analysis of variance, we investigated the hypothesis that the tensile properties of hair (wet) may show significant seasonal changes. For this, we chose those two independent variables, which reflect the properties of the intermediate filaments (modulus) and the matrix (break strain) in the composite structure of the hair cortex. The results support the 'seasonal' hypothesis and clearly show that the variables show significant changes from Winter to Summer (modulus: 10% increase; break strain: 3% decrease). The seasonal effect was thus a major reason, why the first stage of the analysis of the data was inconclusive. The tensile properties of the main morphological components of the cortex show distinct seasonal changes. Towards the summer, the hair becomes stiffer and more brittle. Furthermore, the results suggest that seasonal effects may need to be taken into account when conducting studies on lengths of hair grown during different seasons.

Human hair from the wreck of HMS Erebus of the Franklin Expedition, 1845: Elemental chemistry revealed by double-ablation LA-ICP-MS

This report describes the analysis of 20 human scalp hairs, and one facial hair, found attached to bristles of a hairbrush recovered during underwater archaeological investigation of the wreck of HMS Erebus of the British Royal Navy’s “Franklin Expedition” which sank in the Arctic after its desertion in April 1848. Hair colour and diameter range were typical of Western Europeans, consistent with the Caucasian origins of the crew. Microscopic examination showed often severe degradation caused by biological agents and mechanical damage, and penetrative contamination by iron oxide encrustation from the wreck environment during some 170 years of marine immersion. No viable DNA was recovered to allow identification from a database of crew descendants. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) determined heavy and trace metals within the hair that might reflect uptake or depletion of those metals during life to allow insight to conditions on board, or contamination during immersion. Further analysis of hair from a present-day male group and from two Franklin Expedition crewmen whose permafrost-preserved remains were autopsied in the 1980s, and hog-hair bristles of the hairbrush, allowed some account of differential effects of time upon the hair structure while immersed or non-immersed. Analysis confirmed considerable contamination of the hair from metals likely to derive from the wreck and marine environment (e.g., As, Hg, Na, Pb, etc.). The large range of concentrations found in the hair from Erebus precluded any insight to the health status or otherwise of the donor(s) of the hairs. Conclusions were further limited by uncertainty over whether the hairs were from only one individual and the time at which the hairs were deposited on the brush, for example before and/or during the mission, and at what stage in the known chronology of events the last hairs were deposited. Nonetheless, the present retrieval and analysis of human hair from this iconic wreck may provide a further advance in the archaeological investigation of the Franklin Expedition.

Trends in reported and biologically confirmed drug use among people who use ecstasy in the nightclub/festival-attending population, 2016–2022

BackgroundNightclub/festival attendees are a population with high rates of party drug use, but research is needed to determine whether there have been shifts in unintended drug exposure in this population (e.g., via adulterants) to inform prevention and harm reduction efforts. MethodsAdults entering nightclubs and festivals in New York City were asked about past-year drug use in 2016 through 2022, with a subset providing a hair sample for testing. We focused on the 1943 who reported ecstasy use (of which 247 had a hair sample analyzed) and compared trends in self-reported drug use, drug positivity, and adjusted prevalence (adjusting for unreported use). ResultsMDMA positivity decreased from 74.4 % to 42.3 %, and decreases occurred regarding detection of synthetic cathinones ("bath salts"; a 100.0 % decrease), MDA (a 76.9 % decrease), amphetamine (an 81.3 % decrease), methamphetamine (a 64.2 % decrease), and ketamine (a 33.4 % decrease) (ps < .05). Although prevalence of MDA and synthetic cathinone use was comparable between self-report and adjusted report in 2022, gaps in prevalence were wider in 2016 (ps < .01). Adjusted prevalence of synthetic cathinone use decreased more across time than prevalence based on self-report (a 79.4 % vs. 69.1 % decrease) and adjusted report for MDA use decreased more than prevalence based on self-report (a 50.6 % vs. 38.9 % decrease). ConclusionsCombining self-report and toxicology tests helped us determine that decreases in drug use/exposure were steeper regarding adjusted prevalence. Underreported drug exposure—possibly due to exposure to adulterants—appears to have had less of an effect on prevalence in 2022 than it did in 2016.

Nasal airway inflammatory responses and pathogen detection in infants with cystic fibrosis

BackgroundDetecting airway inflammation non-invasively in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) is difficult. We hypothesized that markers of inflammation in CF [IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, neutrophil elastase (NE) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)] could be measured in infants with CF from nasal fluid and would be elevated during viral infections or clinician-defined pulmonary exacerbations (PEx). MethodsWe collected nasal fluid, nasal swabs, and hair samples from 34 infants with CF during monthly clinic visits, sick visits, and hospitalizations. Nasal fluid was isolated and analyzed for cytokines. Respiratory viral detection on nasal swabs was performed using the Luminex NxTAG® Respiratory Pathogen Panel. Hair samples were analyzed for nicotine concentration by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. We compared nasal cytokine concentrations between the presence and absence of detected respiratory viruses, PEx, and smoke exposure. ResultsA total of 246 samples were analyzed. Compared to measurements in the absence of respiratory viruses, mean concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and NE were significantly increased while IL-17A was significantly decreased in infants positive for respiratory viruses. IL-17A was significantly decreased and NE increased in those with a PEx. IL-8 and NE were significantly increased in infants with enteric pathogen positivity on airway cultures, but not P. aeruginosa or S. aureus. Compared to those with no smoke exposure, there were significantly higher levels of IL-6, IL-10, and NE in infants with detectable levels of nicotine. ConclusionsNoninvasive collection of nasal fluid may identify inflammation in infants with CF during changing clinical or environmental exposures.

3 Relation of Stress and Cortisol to Primacy and Recency Performance Patterns in Older Adult Caregivers of People with Dementia

Objective:The serial position effect is the tendency to recall items at the beginning (primacy) and end (recency) of a word list best and middle items the worst, demonstrated by a 'U-shaped’ profile. Individuals with memory impairment often demonstrate a 'J-shaped’ profile, with a diminished primacy effect. An attenuated primacy effect could be one of the earliest indicators of cognitive decline in older adults. Chronic elevations in cortisol are related to hippocampal atrophy and decreased learning and recall. Given the rehearsal and encoding required to recall words at the beginning of a list, we hypothesized that reduced primacy would be related to higher cortisol levels, measured via hair cortisol concentration, in older adults, particularly caregivers of people with dementia (PWD), who are under increased stress.Participants and Methods:Data were taken from a deidentified dataset of 60 community-dwelling older adults (&gt; 50) with no evidence of dementia who participated in a larger study on memory and caregiving stress; 26 identified themselves as caregivers of PWD. The sample was 83% women and 98% White, with a mean age of 67.58 (SD=8.85) and 80% holding at least a college degree. Stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale. The List Learning and List Recall subtests from the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status were used to assess the serial position effect. Primacy and recency were determined by the first three and last three words on the list, respectively, and were measured for trials 1-4. Relative strength of primacy versus recency at delayed recall was also calculated such that positive scores indicate better primacy than recency and negative scores indicate worse primacy than recency (J-shaped profile). Hair samples were collected, and the first one cm of hair was used to assay hair cortisol concentration, reflecting the past month of cortisol.Results:Caregivers were younger than non-caregivers (p&lt;.001), but groups did not differ in gender (p=.412). Age was controlled for in all subsequent analyses. Caregivers reported more stress (p&lt;.001), but groups were not different in hair cortisol (p=.093). On memory tasks, caregivers showed lower list learning raw scores (p=.002) and lower list recall raw score (p=.046); groups were not different in primacy learning (p=.114), but caregivers showed worse recency over learning trials (p&lt;.001). Caregivers were not more likely to show the J-shaped serial position profile at recall (p=.285). Collapsed across groups, perceived stress was not related to cortisol (p=.124) but was related to recency (p=.001) and list learning raw (p=.004), but not list recall raw (p=.485) or primacy (p=.109). Cortisol was not related to primacy (p=.277) or recency (p=.538).Conclusions:Contrary to predictions, caregivers were not worse on primacy but were worse on recency. Caregivers also reported more stress; collapsed across groups, stress was associated with recency performance. This may suggest that stress is related more to poor attention and short-term memory (recency) than encoding and recall related memory problems (primacy).