High Exposure Research Articles

Intersecting structural and psychosocial conditions: investigating injection drug use and HIV among transgender women.

Transgender women continue to face a significant burden of health disparities with HIV infection as a critical public health concern. Substance use is higher among transgender women compared to cisgender women. However, little is known about transgender women who inject drugs and risk for HIV in the United States. The objectives were to explore HIV prevalence, injection-related behaviors, and HIV prevention and care outcomes among transgender women who inject drugs and to compare transgender women to a general sample of people who inject drugs (PWID). Participants from National HIV Behavioral Surveillance were recruited via respondent-driven sampling, interviewed, and tested for HIV infection in 2019-2020. Log-linked Poisson regression models were used to test for associations between injection drug use and selected characteristics. Among 1,561 transgender women, 7% injected drugs in the past 12 months. HIV prevalence was higher among transgender women who inject (aPR=1.5, 95%CI=1.2-1.8) than those who do not. Multiple psychosocial conditions were associated with injection drug use. Among transgender women with HIV, those who inject were less likely to take antiretroviral therapy (aPR=0.8, 95%CI=0.7-1.0) than those who do not. Methamphetamine was the most commonly injected drug (67%); most accessed a syringe services program (66%). Transgender women who inject have substantial challenges related to health outcomes including high HIV prevalence and exposure to psychosocial conditions, such as homelessness, incarceration, and exchange sex, that may exacerbate risks associated with injection drug use. This population may benefit from increased access to non-judgmental and culturally competent harm reduction services.

Cardiac Radiation Exposure and Incident Cancer: challenges and opportunities.

Use of radiological procedures has enormously advanced cardiology. People with heart disease are exposed to ionizing radiation. Exposure to ionizing radiation increases lifetime cancer risk with a dose-proportional hazard according to the linear no-threshold model adopted for radioprotection purposes. In the United States, the average citizen accumulates a median annual medical radiation exposure of 2.29 millisievert (mSv) per year per capita as of the radiologic year 2016, corresponding to the dose exposure of 115 chest X-rays. Cardiology studies often involve high exposures per procedure accounting for approximately 30% to 50% of cumulative medical radiation exposures. Malignancy is more incident in the most radiosensitive organs receiving the largest organ dose from cardiac interventions and cardiovascular imaging testing, such as the lung, bone marrow, and female breast. The latency period between radiation exposure and cancer is thought to be at least 2 years for leukemia and 5 years for all solid cancers, and differences are more likely to emerge in cardiology studies with longer follow-up and inclusion of non-cardiovascular endpoints such as cancer incidence. In cardiological studies, excess cancers are observed 3 to 12 years following exposure, with longer follow-up times showing greater differences in cancer incidence. The presumed associated excess cancer risk needs greater study. These exposures provide a unique opportunity to expand our knowledge of the relationship between exposure to ionizing radiation and cancer risk. Future trials comparing interventional fluoroscopy versus optimal medical therapy or open surgery should include a cancer incidence endpoint.

The development of rapid immunoassays for the urinary analysis of 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide facilitate both laboratory and on-site polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biomonitoring

Polycylic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are produced during the incomplete burning of organic materials. PAH sources include vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke and waste incineration. Environmental and occupational exposures to PAHs are known to occur. Cancer is a significant endpoint of PAH exposure and several occupations associated with high PAH exposure have been classified by IARC as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).Pyrene is a common component of PAH mixtures and metabolism of pyrene leads to the excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPyrG) in urine. Laboratory measurement of urinary 1-OHPyrG is employed in occupational and environmental biomonitoring programmes. The production of an anti-1-OHPyrG monoclonal antibody would allow the development of a PAH biomonitoring ELISA facilitating large scale laboratory screening and routine testing.The development of a lateral flow immunoassay and the production of a field test (point of use test) would greatly increase the value of biomonitoring. A novel Lateral Flow has been developed which employs an anti-1-OHPyrG sheep monoclonal antibody (Mab) to capture the PAH metabolite. The captured metabolite is visualised through a second Mab raised against the Mab-1-OHPyrG immune complex. This sandwich assay provides a positive correlation between the assay signal and biomarker concentration.A Smartphone camera allows signal measurement and a carefully considered ‘app’ provides result interpretation and data analysis. Results are provided in an exposed/not-exposed format. Performance of the lateral flow was confirmed through a comparative study and field trial. The development of a lateral flow test provides "real-time" analysis to occupational health professionals. On-site screening allows the immediate confirmation of safe working practice, provides immediate reassurance to those involved in potentially hazardous activities and greatly increases the efficacy of biomonitoring.

Caffeine intake from foods and beverages and trends among Chinese children and adolescents: 2004–2018

BackgroundThe popularity of caffeinated foods and beverages poses risks of high caffeine exposure among Chinese children and adolescents. Nevertheless, there is a lack of national assessments on their caffeine consumption. ObjectiveTo estimate daily caffeine intake and analyze time trends among Chinese children and adolescents. MethodsThe study subjects were participants of the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2011, and the National Food and Beverage Consumption Survey in 2014 and 2018. Caffeine content was determined using chromatographic instrument. The Monte Carlo simulation was utilized to estimate daily caffeine intake and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze differences between population characteristics. To examine yearly trends in caffeine intake from 2004 to 2018, the partial Mann-Kendall test was applied. ResultsThe median daily caffeine intake of Chinese children and adolescents was 0.17 (95%CI: 0.15–0.20) mg/kg BW/day. Main contributors were tea (55.52%), sodas (19.52%) and tea beverages (10.37%). Approximately 4.68% of individuals consumed caffeine exceeding 2.5 mg/kg BW/day. Higher caffeine intake was observed in adolescents aged 12–17 years, males, and consumers residing in northeastern China. While no significant overall yearly trends in caffeine intake were detected from 2004 to 2018, there was an increase in intake driven by beverage consumption between 2006 and 2014. ConclusionThis study provided a national assessment of caffeine consumption among Chinese children and adolescents. Caffeinated beverages like tea, soda, and tea beverages emerged as major contributors to caffeine intake. These findings could contribute to the regulation of caffeine consumption and the promotion of healthy habits among children and adolescents.

Evaluation of Molecular Assays for Diagnosis of Amoebic Liver Abscess in India with Bayesian Latent Class Analysis.

Amoebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common extra-intestinal complication of Entamoeba histolytica, accounting for 50,000 deaths annually, and is endemic in South Asia. Diagnosis based on microscopic examination is insensitive, and serological assays are not discerning of current infections in endemic settings with high exposure. For a rapid and confirmatory laboratory diagnosis of ALA, the performance of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative real time PCR (qPCR), digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), and a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay that detects E. histolytica DNA in liver abscess pus, and a lectin antigen detection ELISA were evaluated against clinical diagnosis (based on predefined criteria) as the gold standard. Owing to the lack of a laboratory gold standard, a Bayesian latent class analysis approach was also used to determine sensitivity and specificity of these assays. In the latent class analysis, qPCR and ddPCR showed the highest sensitivity (98% and 98.1%) and specificity (both 96.6%), and although clinical diagnosis had a comparable sensitivity to qPCR and ddPCR (95.2%), poorer specificity (64.3%) was seen. Kappa agreement analysis showed that qPCR and ddPCR had a perfect agreement of 1 followed by an agreement of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.64-0.88) with PCR. Considering the performance characteristics and relative ease of setting up qPCR as well as the wide availability of qPCR equipment needed, this would be the most optimal assay for rapid, confirmatory, molecular diagnosis of ALA in the tertiary care laboratory setting in India, whereas further optimization of LAMP or antibody-based detection is required for use at smaller or secondary hospitals.

Rapid and noninvasive estimation of human arsenic exposure based on 4-photo-set of the hand and foot photos through artificial intelligence

Chronic exposure to arsenic is linked to the development of cancers in the skin, lungs, and bladder. Arsenic exposure manifests as variegated pigmentation and characteristic pitted keratosis on the hands and feet, which often precede the onset of internal cancers. Traditionally, human arsenic exposure is estimated through arsenic levels in biological tissues; however, these methods are invasive and time-consuming. This study aims to develop a noninvasive approach to predict arsenic exposure using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze photographs of hands and feet. By incorporating well water consumption data and arsenic concentration levels, we developed an AI algorithm trained on 9988 hand and foot photographs from 2497 subjects. This algorithm correlates visual features of palmoplantar hyperkeratosis with arsenic exposure levels. Four pictures per patient, capturing both ventral and dorsal aspects of hands and feet, were analyzed. The AI model utilized existing arsenic exposure data, including arsenic concentration (AC) and cumulative arsenic exposure (CAE), to make binary predictions of high and low arsenic exposure. The AI model achieved an optimal area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.813 for AC and 0.779 for CAE. Recall and precision metrics were 0.729 and 0.705 for CAE, and 0.750 and 0.763 for AC, respectively. While biomarkers have traditionally been used to assess arsenic exposure, efficient noninvasive methods are lacking. To our knowledge, this is the first study to leverage deep learning for noninvasive arsenic exposure assessment. Despite challenges with binary classification due to imbalanced and sparse data, this approach demonstrates the potential for noninvasive estimation of arsenic concentration. Future studies should focus on increasing data volume and categorizing arsenic concentration statistics to enhance model accuracy. This rapid estimation method could significantly contribute to epidemiological studies and aid physicians in diagnosis.

Diethyl ethylphosphonate retardants disturbed the gut microbiome and metabolite SCFAs in vitro based on simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem

Diethyl ethylphosphonate (DEEP) as a novel organophosphorus flame retardant received increasing attention and its structure was discovered. But there are currently insufficient studies on how DEEP exposure affects the gut microbiome. In this study, the effects of DEEP on the structure and function of the human gut microbiota were examined using the SHIME system. Results from high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene show that the high dose DEEP exposure reduced the Shannon and Simpson index in the transverse and descending colon. The Bacillota had the highest proportion while the proportion of Proteobacteria gradually decreased at the phylum level. The abundance of Escherichia, Prevotella, and Bilophila at the genus level increased with increasing doses of DEEP exposure. On the contrary, the abundance of Megasphaera, Klebsiella, and Phascolarctobacterium decreased. The short-chain fatty acids had a significant shift. With increasing doses of DEEP exposure, the concentration of acetic acid and propionic acid increased, while the concentration of butyric acid reached the highest at the medium dose of exposure. In addition, Bilophila, Psychrobacter, Escherichia, and Nostoe showed strong beneficial associations with acetic and propionic acids under DEEP exposure. Phocaeicola, Agathobacter, Klebsiella, Megasphaera, Phascolarctobacterium, and Bacteroides were negatively association with acetic and propionic acids. In a word, the study verified that exposure to different doses of DEEP can cause changes in the composition of the gut microbiome and metabolite SCFAs, which provides ideas for the investigation of other potential hazards of DEEP on human beings.

Does long-term radiation exposure in Chornobyl impact the reproductive structures of Nuphar lutea (Linné) Smith?

The 1986 Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident caused radioactive contamination of water bodies within the Pripyat River floodplain, resulting in the accumulation of radionuclides by macrophytes, which are fundamental species in water ecosystems. Yellow water lily Nuphar lutea (L.) Smith., a macrophyte playing a significant role in the formation of vegetation cover in aquatic ecosystems, is commonly considered as a bioindicator of water pollution. In this study, we investigate the potential of N. lutea as an indicator of radionuclide contamination in water bodies, particularly through changes in its reproductive structures, such as pollen viability, morphology of pollen grains, seeds, and fruits. Our findings reveal that pollen viability remains stable at total absorbed dose rates below 14.4 μGy/h, with only 1–4% of sterile grains. However, beyond this threshold the percentage of sterile grains increases nearly fivefold, pointing to high internal plant exposure to 90Sr. A similar trend was observed in the allometry and size of pollen grains, where small and flattened grains are formed in the reservoir with the highest external radiation dose rate (≥14.4 μGy/h). On the other hand, while morphometric parameters of fruits are influenced by radiation, their variation appears to be the result of a combination of physicochemical factors and the trophic status of a water body. Our research highlights the adverse impact of long-term radiation exposure on the male reproductive system of N. lutea and shows the potential of using the pollen grains sterility as an indicators of heavily radionuclide-contaminated water bodies. Additionally, we observed gradual changes in a pollen allometric length-to-width coefficient as the radiation dose level increases.

Four New Sequence Types and Molecular Characteristics of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Strains from Foods in Thailand.

The presence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in food is a serious and persistent problem worldwide. In this study, 68 E. coli strains isolated from Thai food samples were characterized. Based on antibiotic susceptibility assays, 31 of these isolates (45.59%) showed multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index values > 0.2, indicating high exposure to antibiotics. Among these, strain CM24E showed the highest resistance (it was resistant to ten antibiotics, including colistin and imipenem). Based on genome sequencing, we identified four isolates (namely, CF25E, EF37E, NM10E1, and SF50E) with novel Achtman-scheme multi-locus sequence types (STs) (ST14859, ST14866, ST14753, and ST14869, respectively). Clermont phylogrouping was used to subtype the 68 researched isolates into five Clermont types, mainly A (51.47%) and B1 (41.18%). The blaEC gene was found only in Clermont type A, while the blaEC-13 gene was predominant in Clermont type B1. A correlation between genotypes and phenotypes was found only in Clermont type B1, which showed a strong positive correlation between the presence of an afa operon and yersiniabactin-producing gene clusters with the colistin resistance phenotype. Strain SM47E1, of Clermont type B2, carried the highest number of predicted virulence genes. In summary, this study demonstrates the pressing problems posed by the prevalence and potential transmission of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in the food matrix.

An update on soil gas harvesting technique as a non-depleting source of 222Rn for a large volume calibration chamber for long-term exposure experiments

ObjectiveTo demonstrate the versatility of the natural soil gas harvesting technique, coupled with a semi-dynamic injection algorithm, as an efficient and reliable source for continuous 222Rn delivery to a large-volume calibration chamber across different soil conditions and climatic conditions. MethodsLong-term experiments were performed during three seasons of a year in a tropical monsoonal climatic region with high rainfall on the Southwest Coast of India. Soil gas extraction was performed using soil-gas probes, inserted to ∼ 1 m deep into the ground. Soil gas was harvested at a flow rate of 60 lpm, passed through a moisture trap, a 222Rn progeny filter, and a delay volume and pumped into a 222Rn calibration chamber of volume 22.7 m3. Continuous monitoring of 222Rn concentration in the chamber was performed using ionization chamber-based reference monitors. To achieve and maintain the desired 222Rn concentration values in the calibration chamber, the semi-dynamic injection method was adopted, in which the 222Rn concentration in the soil gas was monitored periodically, and injection into the chamber was controlled using a well-defined pumping algorithm. Three ranges of 222Rn concentration values were chosen as the target values to be maintained in the calibration chamber for long-term experiments (15 d): (i) low concentration (500 - 1,000 Bq/m3), (ii) medium concentration (1,000 - 10,000 Bq/m3), and (iii) high concentration (10,000 – 25,000 Bq/m3). ResultsThe achieved 222Rn concentration values were in good agreement with the target values, with deviations of 12%, 8% and 5% for the low, medium and high concentration exposures, respectively, during the summer season. During the monsoon season, the deviations between the target and the achieved concentration values were 12%, 10% and 5% for low, medium and high concentration exposures, respectively, and the corresponding deviations were 12%, 4%, and 5% for the winter season. These deviations are well within the cumulative uncertainty associated with the measurements. ConclusionsThe results of this study conclusively demonstrate that the soil gas harvesting method, when coupled with the semi-dynamic injection approach, is a reliable method for generating and maintaining the desired 222Rn concentration in the large volume calibration chamber during different seasons and environmental conditions.

Exposure to agricultural pesticides and wheezing among 5-12-year-old children in the Imperial Valley, CA, USA.

Exposure to pesticides has been linked to adverse respiratory health outcomes in children. We leveraged the Children's Assessing Imperial Valley Respiratory Health and the Environment cohort located in the rural community of Imperial Valley near the US-Mexico border. We calculated the kilograms of total pesticides applied within 400 m of children's residential addresses for the years 2016-2020. Estimated pesticide usage near homes was categorized into three groups (none vs. low vs. high [split at the median]). All health variables (i.e., asthma status and wheezing) were derived from a parent-reported questionnaire on respiratory health. We used generalized linear models, controlling for child sex, the language of survey, health insurance, respondents' highest education, and exposure to environmental secondhand smoking, to calculate prevalence differences between none versus low and high exposure to agricultural pesticides. Approximately 62% of the 708 children (aged 5-12 years) lived within 400 m of at least one pesticide application within 12 months prior to survey administration. Exposure to pesticides within 400 m of children's residences was associated with 12-month prior wheeze. Those in the "high" exposure group had a prevalence of wheezing that was 10 (95% confidence interval: 2%, 17%) percentage points higher than among children not exposed to pesticide applications. Associations for high exposure to specific categories of pesticide applications, sulfur only, all pesticides except sulfur, chlorpyrifos, and glyphosate, also were observed with a higher prevalence of wheezing than among children not exposed to pesticide applications. We observed associations between living near pesticide applications and more wheeze symptoms among children.

Climate-induced coastal occupational vulnerability and livelihood insecurity: Insights from coastal Bangladesh

The livelihoods of the fishing communities residing in the geographically vulnerable coastal zone are constantly threatened by escalating coastal disasters. The communities face persistent challenges, including livelihood failure, poverty, high exposure and sensitivity, and lower adaptive capacity, yet little attention has been paid to comprehending their multifaceted livelihood vulnerabilities amid climate-induced disasters. This study bridges that gap by employing several techniques to address the challenge. It adopts a mixed-method analysis and investigates the Livelihood Assessment Index (LAI), Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), and Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) to assess the livelihood vulnerability of fishermen communities residing in the new and old fishery ghats (riverside locations where fishing-related activities take place) in Chattogram district in southern Bangladesh. Findings reveal that the fishing communities experience higher exposure levels and moderate vulnerability in the face of escalating climate-induced disasters. The overall LAI indicates a relatively low level of livelihood satisfaction, suggesting potential challenges or deficiencies in aspects contributing to well-being. Despite socioeconomic and demographic similarities, as LVI values present, the exposure varies between the two study locations. Both locations are characterized by moderate sensitivity, while the new fishery ghat showed slightly higher adaptive capacity, contributing to greater resilience. The CVI values indicated higher vulnerability for the new fishery ghat fishing community, suggesting increased challenges related to climate-induced threats, and the old ghat community exhibited lower vulnerability, showcasing better resilience to disasters. Factors influencing livelihood vulnerability include limited access to education and healthcare in the new fishery ghat, while the old fishery ghat benefits from better provisions, communication, social networks, and education facilities. The study advocates for context-specific decision-making and targeted interventions to support vulnerable fishing communities in coastal zones globally, emphasizing the need for improved social safety nets and alternative livelihood options. Addressing these occupational vulnerabilities is crucial for long-term development in climate-risk countries like Bangladesh.

Pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution study of pectolinarigenin in rats using UPLC-MS/MS

Pectolinarigenin (PEC), a natural flavonoid isolated from Cirsium japonicum, exhibits promising therapeutic potential for multiple cancers. In present study, a simple and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method was established for the quantification of PEC in rat plasma and tissues. The assay procedure involved a one-step protein precipitation with tadalafil as the internal standard, and separation on a Welch Xtimate UHPLC C18 column by gradient elution of acetonitrile/aqueous formic acid (0.1 %, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.2 m L·min−1. The detection was conducted using multiple-reaction monitoring via an electrospray ionization source in positive ionization mode. The established method was proved to be highly sensitive with a good linearity (R2 > 0.99) in respective concentration range (0.1–100 ng·mL−1 in plasma and 1–10000 ng·mL−1 in tissues) and acceptable extraction recovery (≥71.17 %), matrix effect and stability, which was applied to study the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of PEC after intravenous (100 μg·kg−1) and oral administration (10, 20 and 40 mg·kg−1). PEC was promptly absorbed (Tmax ≤ 0.222 h) and maintained at a low level with slow elimination (t1/2 z ≥ 14.47 h) in rats after oral administration, resulting in extremely low bioavailability (0.56–0.68 %). However, PEC is widely distributed in rat tissues with high exposure in GI tract, liver and kidney. The bioavailability and tissue affinity were firstly revealed, which will guide directions for further development of PEC as an anti-tumor drug candidate.

Longitudinal biomonitoring of mycotoxin exposure during pregnancy in the Yale pregnancy Outcome Prediction study

Mycotoxins are fungal toxins that may trigger adverse health effects in pregnant women and their unborn children. Yet, data is scarce on the dynamic exposure patterns of mycotoxins in pregnant women, especially in the United States. This study assessed mycotoxin exposure profiles (n = 50) from the Yale Pregnancy Outcome Prediction Study (YPOPS) cohort at four distinct time points. Multi-analyte human biomonitoring (HBM) assays based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), were developed for human serum and plasma matrices. The serum method was applied, together with an established urine method, to quantify mycotoxin levels in longitudinally collected matched serum (n = 200) and spot urine (n = 200) samples throughout pregnancy. The serum samples were mostly contaminated by the potential carcinogen ochratoxin A (detection rate: 49 %; median: 0.09 ng/mL), the hepato- and nephrotoxic citrinin (detection rate: 32 %; median: 0.02 ng/mL) and two enniatins (EnnB; detection rate: 97 %; median: 0.01 ng/mL and EnnB1; detection rate: 12 %; median: 0.003 ng/mL) which may act as immunotoxins. The most prevalent mycotoxins quantified in urine included deoxynivalenol (detection rate: 99 %; median: 23 ng/mL), alternariol monomethyl ether (detection rate: 69 %; median: 0.04 ng/mL), and zearalenone (detection rate: 63 %; median: 0.16 ng/mL). Seven other biomarkers of exposure including the highly estrogenic α-zearalenol and genotoxic Alternaria toxins, were also determined. Carcinogenic aflatoxins were not detected in any of the samples. Exposure assessment was based on the urinary data and performed by calculating the probable daily intakes (PDIs) and comparing the human biomonitoring guidance value (HBM-GV) for deoxynivalenol. The results showed that the individuals exceeded the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for deoxynivalenol and zearalenone on average at 28 % and 2 % over the different time points. Using the HBM-GV approach, the average exceedances for deoxynivalenol increased to 48 % indicating high exposure. For all the samples in which ochratoxin A was quantified, the estimated margin of exposure for neoplastic effects was below 10,000, indicating possible health concerns. Overall, this study showed that pregnant women were exposed to several regulated and emerging mycotoxins and that exposome-scale assessment should be a future priority in susceptible populations to better characterize xenobiotic exposure.

7-Hydroxycoumarin and its conjugated metabolites interact with organic anion transporters 1 and 3 in vitro and in vivo.

7-Hydroxycoumarin (7-HC) is a natural coumarin compound rich in Chinese herbal medicines and has various pharmacological activities. After oral administration of 7-HC in rodents, its conjugated metabolites 7-hydroxycoumarin-β-D-glucuronide (7-HCG) and 7-hydroxycoumarin sulfate (7-HCS), exhibit high systemic exposure and urinary excretion. Organic anion transporters 1 and 3 (OAT1 and OAT3), mainly expressed in the proximal renal tubules, play an important role in drug-drug interactions and drug-induced kidney injury. We aimed to explore the mechanisms of OAT-mediated drug interactions and renal protective mechanisms of 7-HC and its conjugates. OAT-overexpressing cell models revealed that 7-HC was not a substrate for OAT1 and OAT3, while 7-HCG was specifically transported by OAT3. In contrast, 7-HCS can be transported by both OATs. Besides, 7-HC significantly inhibited the activity of OAT1 and OAT3, while 7-HCS had a strong inhibitory effect on OAT1 (IC50<10 μM). After co-administration of 100 mg/kg of 7-HC to mice, systemic exposure and clearance of furosemide (a clinical substrate of OATs) were significantly increased and decreased, respectively. In addition, 7-HC decreased OAT-mediated cytotoxicity and reduced the renal distribution of adefovir in mice. Together, these findings will provide support for OAT-mediated drug interactions and the renal protection of 7-HC.

Interface-Confined nanocatalysts at hollow porous nanofibers for High-Performance cascaded remediation of radioactive wastewater

The evolution of efficient remediation technologies for radioactive wastewater is crucial for the sustainable development of nuclear energy. The cascade strategy that combines adsorption and photocatalysis has emerged as one of the most ground-breaking approaches. However, the current composite materials are undesirable in practical applications due to the low interface exposures of nanocatalysts with limited light utilization, undesirable mass transfer as well as long free radical diffusion distances from photocatalytic sites to adsorption sites. Herein, we present the fabrication of hollow porous composite nanofibers (HPN) with high interface exposures of nanocatalysts and reduced mass transfer resistances via the interface-confined engineering by integrating coaxial electrospinning with non-solvent-induced phase separation. The hollow porous architecture effectively diminishes mass transfer resistance, leading to rapid adsorption and providing sufficient uranyl ions for the subsequent cascade photoreduction. Meanwhile, the high interface exposure of the nanocatalysts enables efficient uranium reduction, which serves to regenerate the adsorption sites for higher adsorption capacity as well as durable stability. Such an elegant architecture allows the HPN to achieve an over 2-fold improvement in removal rates than that of conventional composite nanofibers and removal ratios as high as 98.86 % within 270 min. The design concept and outstanding performance make it a promising and practical technology for the remediation of radioactive wastewater.

Application of Handheld Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Setting of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma: A Technical Note

Computed tomography (CT) is the standard of care imaging in craniomaxillofacial (CMF) trauma. Despite the clear advantages of high-resolution multiplanar and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions, which facilitate accurate diagnosis and provide intraoperative (IO) real-time visual feedback, CT's main drawbacks remain availability, cost, and high radiation exposure. The decision to perform a CT scan is based on the integration of the patient's trauma mechanism, clinical examination, subjective judgment of the CMF surgeon, and the complexity of the surgery if used IO. Handheld point-of-care ultrasound (HPOCUS) is a small, portable device that can provide valuable additional data directing clinical decisions for CT referral in minor trauma cases and assist IO maneuvers. We describe a novel HPOCUS application concept as a clinical supplementary tool in CMF trauma diagnosis and surgery.

Associations of heat with diseases and specific symptoms in Flanders, Belgium: An 8-year retrospective study of general practitioner registration data

IntroductionGlobal temperature rise has become a major health concern. Most previous studies on the impact of heat on morbidity have used hospital data. ObjectiveThis study aimed to quantify the association between ambient temperature and a variety of potentially heat-related medical conditions and symptoms using general practitioner (GP) data, in Flanders, Belgium. MethodsWe used eight years (2012–2019) of aggregated data of daily GP visits during the Belgian summer period (May-September). A distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) with time-stratified conditional quasi-Poisson regression was used to account for the non-linear and delayed effect of temperature indicators (minimum, mean and maximum). We controlled for potential confounders such as particulate matter, humidity, and ozone. ResultsThe overall (lag0-14) association between heat and most of the outcomes was J-shaped, with an increased risk of disease observed at higher temperatures. The associations were more pronounced using the minimum temperatures indicator. Comparing the 99th (20 °C) to the minimum morbidity temperature (MMT) of the minimum temperature distribution during summer, the relative risk (RR) was significantly higher for heat-related general symptoms (RR = 1.30 [95 % CI: 1.07, 1.57]), otitis externa (RR = 4.87 [95 % CI:2.98, 7.98]), general heart problems (RR = 2.43 [95 % CI: 1.33, 4.42]), venous problems (RR = 2.48 [95 % CI:1.55, 3.96]), respiratory complaints (RR = 1.97 [95 % CI: 1.25, 3.09]), skin problems (RR = 3.26 [95 % CI: 2.51, 4.25]), and urinary infections (RR = 1.37 [95 % CI: 1.11, 1.69]). However, we did not find evidence for heat-related increases in gastrointestinal problems, cerebrovascular events, cardiovascular events, arrhythmia, mental health problems, upper respiratory problems and lower respiratory problems. An increased risk of allergy was observed when the minimum temperature reached 17.8 °C (RR = 1.50 [95 % CI: 1.23, 1.83]). Acute effects of heat were observed (largest effects at the first few lags). SummaryOur findings indicated that the occurrence of certain symptoms and illnesses during summer season is associated to high temperature or environmental exposures that are augmented by elevated temperatures. Overall, unlike hospitalization data, GP visits data provide broader population coverage, revealing a more accurate representation of heat-health association.

Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of SiCf/BN/SiBCN composite after high temperature thermal exposure

The present study investigates the microstructure evolution and subsequent mechanical properties of SiCfiber/BN/SiBCNmatrix composites after high temperature exposure. These composites display a non-brittle failure response under three-point bending retaining 80% of the as-processed strength, even after elevated temperature exposure up to 1350oC for 10h. This is due to crack deflection accompanied by extensive fiber pull-out. In addition, both thermodynamic modelling and phase analysis by XRD show higher matrix degradation in vacuum than in N2 atmosphere due to the lower N2 partial pressure. After thermally exposed at 1500°C, carbothermal reaction in the matrix leads to the formation of a porous composite, and the composites retains a non-brittle failure behaviour. Meanwhile, SiBCN matrix degradation and SiC fiber strength degradation occurs, which results in significant composite strength decrement. Modest increases in the fiber/matrix interfacial shear strength occur upon exposure at temperatures up to 1350°C, and then significantly reduced after expsoure at 1500oC in N2.

Risk assessment of dietary perchlorate exposure in typical areas of fireworks manufacturing in China using a perchlorate intake model

Perchlorate can disrupt the production of thyroid hormones, impact metabolism, and even affect the cognitive development of infants and toddlers. Typical areas of fireworks manufacturing might face severe perchlorate pollution due to perchlorate is an important raw material. But related study has not been reported. We assess the risk caused by perchlorate and identify the critical exposure pathways for different age/gender groups in typical area of fireworks manufacturing. Liuyang city, a major fireworks manufacturing center in China, was selected as study region. Perchlorate concentrations were measured in 230 local food samples from Liuyang using LC/MS/MS. Risks for different age/gender groups were estimated using a perchlorate intake model. The detection rate of perchlorate in samples from all eight food groups, including vegetables, fruits, meat, seafood, egg, cereal, beans, and drinking water was 100%, and the perchlorate concentrations were higher than those reported in the United States, Canada, South Korea, Kuwait, and other regions of China. Liuyang residents are currently facing an extremely high perchlorate dietary exposure risk, with the mean Estimated Daily Intakes (EDIs) approximately 6–49 times higher than US EPA's recommended reference dose (RfD, 0.7 μg/kg bw/day), and 14–115 times higher than the tolerable daily intake (TDI, 0.3 μg/kg bw/day) established by EFSA. Breast milk and drinking water are identified as the primary exposure pathways for infants and toddlers under the age of two, contributing 44–86% and 13–41% to their total exposure, respectively. For individuals > two years, vegetable consumption (constituting 54–66% of exposures) and ingestion of drinking water (constituting 23–32% of exposures) represent the chief exposure routes. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) values for Liuyang City residents all exceed 2, indicating an extremely high non-carcinogenic risk associated with perchlorate. Scientific and systematic perchlorate pollution control measures should be taken by local government.