Risk Of Exposure Research Articles

Traditional healers’ knowledge and infection control practices related to HIV in Bukavu City, Democratic Republic of the Congo

BackgroundPatients with HIV consult traditional healers (THs). These THs can both delay care for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and transmit HIV through poor infection control practices. The main objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge and practices of THs regarding HIV in Bukavu.MethodsA cross-sectional study using quantitative approach was carried out among 71 THs in Bukavu City. The collected data included the following topics: personal and socio-demographic characteristics, HIV knowledge, and infection control practices. Descriptive statistics, independent-samples T-test or F-test, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data with a p-value < 0.05.ResultsThe THs’ mean age was 49.2 ± 11.2 years, and the majority were aged 40 to < 60 years. Males constituted 88.7% of THs with a male-to-female ratio of 7.9. In general, 47.9% of study participants had poor knowledge about HIV/AIDS infection, 45.1% of them had fair knowledge, and only 7.0% had good knowledge. Overall, 43.7% of THs had poor infection control practices, 52.1% of THs had fair practices, and only 4.2% of participants had good practices. Results of multiple linear regression analysis revealed that none of the personal and demographic variables studied were significant predictors of their knowledge about HIV/AIDS (p > 0.05). In terms of practices, two variables were significant predictors of infection control practices: living in Ibanda and receiving training in taking care of HIV/AIDS.Conclusion and recommendations: The study revealed that THs’ knowledge about HIV infection was insufficient and that they had poor infection control practices. Formal standardized training on HIV infection should be organized for all THs so that they can always refer their patients to modern, reliable antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics and reduce the risk of occupational exposure in their practices. Although PPE’s assistance for THs is required in terms of protective measures, the province health authority must also oversee infection control procedures at THs’ offices.

Dosimetric comparison of HyperArc and InCise MLC-based CyberKnife plans in treating single and multiple brain metastases.

This study aimed to compare the dosimetric attributes of two multi-leaf collimator based techniques, HyperArc and Incise CyberKnife, in the treatment of brain metastases. 17 cases of brain metastases were selected including 6 patients of single lesion and 11 patients of multiple lesions. Treatment plans of HyperArc and CyberKnife were designed in Eclipse 15.5 and Precision 1.0, respectively, and transferred to Velocity 3.2 for comparison. HyperArc plans provided superior Conformity Index (0.91±0.06vs. 0.77±0.07, p<0.01) with reduced dose distribution in organs at risk (Dmax, p<0.05) and lower normal tissue exposure (V4Gy-V20Gy, p<0.05) in contrast to CyberKnife plans, although the Gradient Indexes were similar. CyberKnife plans showed higher Homogeneity Index (1.54±0.17vs. 1.39±0.09, p<0.05) and increased D2% and D50% in the target (p<0.05). Additionally, HyperArc plans had significantly fewer Monitor Units (MUs) and beam-on time (p<0.01). HyperArc plans demonstrated superior performance compared with MLC-based CyberKnife plans in terms of conformity and the sparing of critical organs and normal tissues, although no significant difference in GI outcomes was noted. Conversely, CyberKnife plans achieved a higher target dose and HI. The study suggests that HyperArc is more efficient and particularly suitable for treating larger lesions in brain metastases.

The Impact of Political Risks on Financial Markets: Evidence from a Stock Price Crash Perspective

Political risk, one of the most significant uncertainty shocks, affects firms’ future attitudes toward risks and plays a crucial role in their decision making. A stock price crash risk is a classical topic in financial markets; therefore, this paper probes the relationship between firm-level political risk and stock price crash risk based on a sample of Chinese listed firms from 2011 to 2020. This paper collects the MD&amp;A textual material of Chinese listed firms and calculates the firm-level political risk of Chinese listed firms. Our results show that a firm’s stock price crash risk is positively associated with its firm-level political risk exposure. Our findings hold after conducting various robustness tests, including instrument variable regression and altering the measurement of stock price crash risk. Further discussion reveals that political involvement mitigates the positive effect of firm-level political risk on the risk of a stock price jump.

Adsorption of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) on layered pipe scales and the effects of disinfectants in drinking water distribution systems

Pipe scales in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) potentially adsorb chromium (Cr). Meanwhile, the fate of Cr in pipe scales and water could be influenced by the disinfectants used in DWDS since they might influence the valence state of Cr. Therefore, the adsorption of Cr (Cr(VI) and Cr(III)) on pipe scales, the transformation between different valence states, and the effects of disinfectants present in DWDS are important research topics for improving tap water quality but have not yet been sufficiently investigated. This study investigated the properties of layered pipe scales and conducted adsorption kinetic experiments in single and binary Cr(VI) and Cr(III) systems, as well as experiments related to the oxidation and adsorption of Cr(III) under the influence of decaying disinfectants. According to the results, pipe scales exhibited distinct layered structures with varying mechanisms for the adsorption of Cr(VI) and Cr(III). Cr(VI) was adsorbed through surface complexation on the surface and porous core layers, while redox reactions predominantly occurred on the shell-like layer. Furthermore, Cr(III) was adsorbed via surface precipitation on the three-layer pipe scales. Importantly, disinfectants promoted the transformation of Cr(III) to the less readily released Cr(VI) in pipe scales, reducing the Cr exposure risk from the pipe scale phase. Pipe scales also decreased the Cr(VI) concentration in water (almost 0 mg/L), enhancing the safety of DWDS. This study provides theoretical guidance on the safe operation of DWDS.

Evaluating air pollution exposure among cyclists: Real-time levels of PM2.5 and NO2 and POI impact

Although cycling has numerous health benefits, the increased breathing volume and lack of protection from exposure to the environment while cycling poses health risks that cannot be disregarded. Previous studies evaluating the exposure of cyclists to air pollution have typically focused on assessing exposure to a single pollutant or exposure concentrations on specific urban routes, and have not performed a comprehensive assessment considering the distribution of cyclists. The present study used bicycle-sharing big data to conduct a more comprehensive and refined real-time population weighted exposure risk assessment of pileless bike sharing riders in Beijing. We quantified the spatial distribution of high exposure areas at different times and found that the exposure risk during the evening peak period was significantly higher than that during the morning peak and early morning periods, particularly in the city center and its environs. By establishing stepwise regression models, we identified the significant impact of various urban points of interest (POIs) on exposure risk, with sports venues, public toilets, educational institutions, scenic spots, and financial entities particularly influential at different time periods. Medical institutions and shopping venues have a significant negative impact on the exposure levels of PM2.5 and NO2 among cyclists in most cases. These findings emphasize the need for targeted pollution control strategies. The aim of this study is to mitigate the impact of air pollution on cyclists and create a healthier cycling environment. The research results can provide new ideas for urban health planning and support scientific decision-making for sustainable urban development.

COVID‐19 and credit risk variation across banks: International insights

AbstractThis paper focuses on utilizing non‐performing loans (NPLs) as the primary indicator of credit risk to analyze how various bank and country‐level characteristics influence changes in credit risk within and between banks across China, Europe, and the U.S. during the COVID‐19 period. Over 4,959 bank‐quarter observations (from Q4 2019 to Q4 2021), it becomes evident that COVID‐19 significantly contributes to the variation in NPLs, underscoring its adverse impact on credit risk. This pattern is consistent across all countries; however, Chinese banks exhibit more robust capabilities in managing credit risk exposure compared to their European and U.S. counterparts. These findings offer significant implications for policymakers, investors, and regulators who are concerned about the repercussions of global pandemics on financial institutions.

Occupational exposure, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment of formaldehyde in the pathology labs of hospitals in Iran

Formaldehyde, a known carcinogenic compound, is commonly used in various medical settings. The objective of this study was to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks associated with occupational exposure to formaldehyde. This study was conducted in the pathology labs of four hospitals in Tehran. Cancer and non-cancer risks were evaluated using the quantitative risk assessment method proposed by the United States environmental protection agency (USEPA), along with its provided database known as the integrated risk information system (IRIS). Respiratory symptoms were assessed using the American thoracic society (ATS) questionnaire. The results indicated that 91.23% of exposure levels in occupational groups exceed the NIOSH standard of 0.016 ppm. Regarding carcinogenic risk, 41.03% of all the studied subjects were in the definite carcinogenic risk range (LCR > 10−4), 23.08% were in the possible carcinogenic risk range (10−5 < LCR < 10−4), and 35.90% were in the negligible risk range (LCR < 10−6). The highest index of occupational carcinogenesis was observed in the group of lab technicians with a risk number of 3.7 × 10−4, followed by pathologists with a risk number of 1.7 × 10−4. Furthermore, 23.08% of the studied subjects were within the permitted health risk range (HQ < 1.0), while 76.92% were within the unhealthy risk range (HQ > 1.0). Overall, the findings revealed significantly higher carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks among lab technicians and pathologists. Therefore, it is imperative to implement control measures across various hospital departments to mitigate occupational formaldehyde exposure levels proactively. These findings can be valuable for policymakers in the health sector, aiding in the elimination or reduction of airborne formaldehyde exposure in work environments.

Abundance of microplastics in the agro-industrial product beet sugar; food or plastifood

Recently, microplastic contamination in various foodstuffs ranging from natural aquatic products to industrial products has begun to be revealed. While actual exposure data are needed in food safety and health to demonstrate the potential risks and effects of microplastics (MPs), this information is still limited for most foods. Foods such as table sugar, which are produced by processing in many industrial processes as well as being an agricultural product, are susceptible to MP contamination during the processing and packaging stages. This study aims to draw attention to the sources of MP contamination in agro-industrial products and reveal the risks of exposure through sugar consumption, with specific investigations into table sugar. For this purpose, 19 store-bought sugars (beet) of different types (crystal, cube and powdered) were analyzed. Optical microscope, Nil red staining-fluorescence microscope, SEM (Scanning Electron microscope) and ATR-FT-IR (Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR)-Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR)) analyzes were performed on the samples taken on the filter after peroxide treatment and filtration processes. Average 29110 MPs/100 g was detected in sugars and the most common MP type was in fragment form. Various polymer structures such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester (PES), polyamide (PA), polystyrene (PS), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylic derivatives, additives, pigments, and paints were detected. The most detected MP color in sugars containing a colorful MP cocktail is black (29.2%). This is followed by blue shades, white-transparent, red, yellow-orange and others. Microplastic intake rates from crystal sugars are 857 particles/capita/day and 196 particles/capita/day for children and adults, respectively. Microplastic contamination factor (MPCF) values demonstrate a very high level of contamination of sugars with MPs. The prioritization assessment for sources of MPs in sugars indicates that production processes can be a significant source of pollution.

Too-systemic-to-fail: Empirical comparison of systemic risk measures in the Eurozone financial system

This paper quantifies the Too-Systemic-To-Fail (TSTF) paradigm in the Eurozone since the introduction of the Euro through three primary dimensions: Too-Big-To-Fail (TBTF), Too-Interconnected-To-Fail (TITF), and Too-Many-To-Fail (TMTF). We apply prominent systemic risk measures based on public data, including the Granger-causality network (GCN), Delta Conditional Value-at-Risk (ΔCoVaR), Marginal Expected Shortfall (MES), and Systemic Risk Index (SRISK). Financial interconnectedness and systemic risk exposure within the 17-member states of the Eurozone are measured on two levels: (i) identifying which financial sectors (banking, diversified financials, insurance, and real estate) are most exposed to systemic risk in the Eurozone at the union level; and (ii) identifying which member state is most exposed to systemic risk within each financial sector at the country level. We extend the original ΔCoVaR, MES and SRISK models by incorporating the bootstrap Kolmogorov-Smirnov stochastic dominance test to rank institutions based on their exposure to systemic risk formally.

Non-targeted identification and risk assessment of unknown substances in disposable plastic tableware by GC-Orbitrap HRMS

Disposable plastic tableware was widely used and it was particularly important to identify potential hazardous substances in it and evaluate the risk to humans health. In this study, 85 substances were identified in 60 samples (22 bowls, 20 sporks, and 18 straws) by methanol extraction and non-targeted analysis using GC-Orbitrap HRMS. Subsequently, 14 high-risk substances were further screened and their migration in the samples was measured in three food simulants. Finally, based on the proposed safety limit assessment scheme for EU- authorized and unauthorized substances, the risk assessment of exposure to high-risk substances in disposable plastic tableware was performed for three age groups. The results showed that the dibutyl phthalate and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in some samples exceeded the safety limit value. Overall, the risk of bowls was lower than spock and straws, and the potential exposure risk for young children was higher than that of adults and older children.

Moderate chronic sleep perturbation impairs glucose and lipid homeostasis in rats.

Sleep deprivation is a potential risk factor for metabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. We evaluated the impacts of moderate chronic sleep deprivation on glucose and lipid homeostasis in adult rats. Wistar rats (both sexes) were sleep-perturbed daily for two hours at the early (06:00-08:00) and the late light cycle (16:00-18:00) five days a week (except weekends) for four weeks. Sleep perturbation (SP) resulted in reduced body weight gain in both sexes, associated with altered food intake and reduced adiposity. SP did not alter the short- or long-term memories or cause anxiogenic behavior. No major changes were observed in the plasma insulin, leptin, triacylglycerol, non-esterified fatty acids and blood glucose upon SP. After SP, females exhibited a transitory glucose intolerance, while males became glucose intolerant at the end of the experimental period. Male rats also developed higher insulin sensitivity at the end of the SP protocol. Morphometric analyses revealed no changes in hepatic glycogen deposition, pancreatic islet mass, islet-cell distribution, or adrenal cortex thickness in SP rats from both sexes, except for lower adipocyte size compared with controls. We did not find homogeneous changes in the relative expression of circadian and metabolic genes in muscle or hepatic tissues from the SP rats. Moderate chronic SP reduces visceral adiposity and causes glucose intolerance with a more pronounced impact on male rats, reinforcing the metabolic risks of exposure to sleep disturbances.

Access to jeopardy: The legal hybridity of criminal-civil debt in the United States

Research on the shadow carceral state identifies new species of criminal-civil and civil-criminal legal hybrids embedded in state law. We bring into conversation disparate literatures on growing family complexity, monetary sanctions, justiciable problems, and child support enforcement to examine how contemporary American families experience a system of double and triple jeopardy—the compounding risks of exposure to both criminal and civil debts at the nexus of a legal hybrid, wherein monetary sanctions (criminal) and child support orders (civil) become co-constitutive (double jeopardy), thereby amplifying the risk that a parent will also experience (civil) child support arrearage (triple jeopardy). Using data from seven sources to construct a unique dataset, we evaluate the spatial and racial risk of double and triple jeopardy, as well as the state-level factors that explain them. Our analysis provides a valid description of, and critically establishes the sociolegal precarity wherein, currently incarcerated parents observe and experience their risks of double and triple jeopardy in the child support system via its orders, collections, and enforcement powers. We find that there are, indeed, racial and spatial disparities in the risk of double and triple jeopardy, and that specific state-level factors increment and decrement those risks.

Non-communicable diseases and its risk factors among the transgender population in Kerala: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are high on the priority list of the Kerala government, and exploring the extent to which transgender and gender diverse (TGD) community members benefit from the services of national programmes for NCDs can provide valuable insights on improving the inclusivity of the health system as it moves towards Universal Health Coverage. This study was conducted to explore the prevalence of NCD risk factors as well as facilitators and barriers to NCD management among the TGD population in Kerala.MethodsA multiple methods study, including a cross-sectional survey of 120 self-identifying TGD people that included an adaptation of the WHO STEPS questionnaire, as well as in-depth interviews with thirteen individuals, was conducted in three districts of Kerala to explore the barriers and facilitators to NCD prevention and management.ResultsThe results are presented using the key dimensions emerging out of the Diederichsen framework. A range of discrimination faced by TGD people in Kerala traps them in situations of low educational outcomes with consequent disadvantages in the job market when they search for livelihoods. This results in a large proportion of our sample living away from families (69 percent), and finding themselves in precarious jobs including sex work (only 33 percent had a regular job), with all these aforementioned factors converging to marginalise their social position. This social position leads to differential risk exposures such as increased exposure to modifiable risk factors like alcohol (40 percent were current alcohol users) and tobacco use (40.8 percent currently used tobacco) and ultimately metabolic risk factors too (30 and 18 percent were hypertensive and diabetic respectively). Due to their differential vulnerabilities such as the discrimination that TGD people are subjected to (41.7 percent had faced discrimination at a healthcare centre in the past one year), those with higher exposure to risk factors often find it hard to bring about behavioural modifications and are often not able to access the services they require.ConclusionsThe disadvantaged social position of TGD people and associated structural issues result in exacerbated biological risks, including those for NCDs. Ignoring these social determinants while designing health programmes is likely to lead to sub-optimal outcomes.

Evaluation of Mpox Exposures and Outcomes in Workplaces, 6 Jurisdictions, June 1-August 31, 2022.

The risk for mpox virus (MPXV) transmission in most workplaces has not been thoroughly assessed in the context of the 2022 global mpox outbreak. Our objectives were to describe mpox case patients who worked while infectious and the subsequent workplace contact tracing efforts, risk assessments, and outcomes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requested information from health departments in the United States in September 2022 to identify people with confirmed or probable mpox who worked outside the home while infectious, either before or after diagnosis, from June 1 through August 31, 2022. We collected and summarized data on demographic, clinical, and workplace characteristics of case patients and workplace contact investigations. We stratified data by industry and occupation categories. In total, 102 case patients were reported by 6 jurisdictions. The most common industries were accommodation and food services (19.8%) and professional business, management, and technical services (17.0%). Contact investigations identified 178 total contacts; 54 cases (52.9%) had no contacts identified. Of 178 contacts, 54 (30.3%) were recommended to receive postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) and 18 (10.1%) received PEP. None of the contacts developed a rash or were tested for orthopox or mpox, and none were reported to have confirmed or probable mpox. Data from 6 jurisdictions suggest that the risk of MPXV transmission from workers to others in workplace settings in many industries is low. These findings might support future updates to exposure risk classifications and work activity recommendations for patients. These findings also demonstrate the importance of collecting and analyzing occupation and industry data in case reports to better understand risks in workplaces.

Exposure characteristics and cumulative risk assessment of bisphenol A and its substitutes: the Taiwan environmental survey for toxicants 2013

IntroductionEver since the use of bisphenol A (BPA) has been restricted, concerns have been raised regarding the use of its substitutes, such as bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF). Meanwhile, the EU European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued the new tolerable daily intake (TDI) after the latest re-risk assessment for BPA, which enforced the need for cumulative risk assessment in the population. This study was conducted to identify BPA and its substitute’s exposure characteristics of the general Taiwanese population and estimate the cumulative risk of bisphenol exposure.MethodsUrine samples (N = 366 [adult, 271; minor, 95]) were collected from individuals who participated in the Taiwan Environmental Survey for Toxicants 2013. The samples were analyzed for BPA, BPS, and BPF through ultraperformance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Daily intake (DI) levels were calculated for each bisphenol. Hazard quotients (HQs) were calculated with the consideration of tolerable DI and a reference dose. Additionally, hazard index (HI; sum of HQs for each bisphenol) values were calculated.ResultsOur study found that the median level of BPA was significantly higher in adults (9.63 μg/g creatinine) than in minors (6.63 μg/g creatinine) (p &amp;lt; 0.001). The DI of BPS was higher in female (0.69 ng/kg/day) than in male (0.49 ng/kg/day); however, the DIs of BPF and BPS were higher in boys (1.15 and 0.26 ng/kg/day, respectively) than in girls (0.57 and 0.20 ng/kg/day, respectively). Most HI values exceeded 1 (99% of the participants) after EFSA re-establish the TDI of BPA.DiscussionOur study revealed that the exposure profiles and risk of BPA and its substitute in Taiwanese varied by age and sex. Additionally, the exposure risk of BPA was deemed unacceptable in Taiwan according to new EFSA regulations, and food contamination could be the possible source of exposure. We suggest that the risk of exposure to BPA and its substitutes in most human biomonitoring studies should be reassessed based on new scientific evidence.

Bisphenol Chemicals in Surface Soil from E-Waste Dismantling Facilities and the Surrounding Areas: Spatial Distribution and Health Risk.

Electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling facilities are well-known bisphenol chemical (BP) sources. In this study, non-targeted screening combined with targeted analysis of BPs in surface soil from e-waste dismantling facilities and their surroundings revealed their presence, distribution, and exposure risk. A total of 14 BPs were identified including bisphenol A (BPA) and its novel structural analogs and halogenated BPs. The total concentrations of BPs ranged from 963 to 47,160 ng/g (median: 6970 ng/g) in e-waste soil, higher than those measured in surface soil from surrounding areas, i.e., 10-7750 ng/g (median 197 ng/g). BPA, tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and bisphenol F (BPF) were the dominant ones from the two areas. Concentrations of TBBPA and its debromination product from the surrounding area significantly decreased with increasing distances from the e-waste dismantling facilities. Estimation of daily intake via oral ingestion of soil suggests that current contamination scenarios are unlikely to pose health risks for e-waste dismantling workers and adults and toddlers living in the surrounding areas, with their intakes generally well below the tolerable daily intakes proposed for several BPs. However, the BPA intakes of workers exceeded the more strict tolerable daily intake for BPA established recently, which merits continuous environmental surveillance.

Nutritional qualities partially predict diet of amphipod grazers: implications for modern coastal biofilms in microbialite pools

Mobile metazoans in the Phanerozoic transformed shallow coastal habitats covered in biofilms into bioturbated mixed grounds. Benthic biofilms during this time rarely preserved into the fossil record as microbialites, and more specifically their layered form, stromatolites. Living microbialites are rare for this reason, in addition to other factors such as unfavourable modern geochemical conditions. Counterintuitively, macroinvertebrate grazers and laminated stromatolites coexist along the Nelson Mandela Bay coastline, South Africa. Here we aimed to determine if nutritional qualities of algae in these microbialite pools are linked to the diet of a dominant amphipod grazer, Melita zeylanica Stebbing, 1904. We assessed this in 3 microbialite pools using stable isotopes coupled to seasonal shifts in abundant food resources of microbialite biofilms and exposed (bleached and rimstone) or submerged (pool) macroalgae, Ulva spp. Amphipod diet was proportional to the quantity available (biomass) and nutritional properties of available algal food (energy, protein, total phosphorus and C:N ratios). Macroalgae in all states were the most nutritious, and the diet of M. zeylanica was dominated by submerged macroalgae. Although microbialite material had the worst nutritional profile, it was consumed in larger quantities compared to exposed bleached and rimstone macroalgae. Therefore, factors unrelated to nutritional profiles, such as predation, allelopathy or exposure risks, likely drive food choices. High levels of grazing on nutritious pool macroalgae likely releases most of the grazing pressure on the microbialite biofilm, therefore partially explaining why the microbialites can persist in this environment instead of being bioturbated through foraging.

Unpacking the Links Between Community Violence, Delinquency, and Illicit Substance Use Among College Students: The Role of PTSS and Code of the Streets

ABSTRACT Community violence (CV) is a serious public health concern. To date, most of the existing research has focused on youth of color living in high-risk environments. The prior literature has shown that CV-exposed youth are at risk for post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), delinquency, and substance use. CV has also been tied to beliefs about violence being an acceptable way of resolving conflict, referred to as the Code of the Streets (COS). It is unclear how the trajectories of other CV-exposed populations may differ from vulnerable youth, including college students who are in a developmental period associated with high-risk for violence exposure. The study objectives were therefore to: 1) examine the relations between CV and delinquency (i.e. gang involvement, arrest, weapon ownership) and illicit substance use, as well as 2) investigate whether there are indirect effects between CV and both delinquency and illicit substance use through PTSS and COS beliefs among college students. The sample included 547 students from two universities (M age = 20.31, SD = 2.08, Range = 18–28; 80.8% female; 57.8% White). CV was associated with delinquency and illicit substance use. COS beliefs had an indirect effect on the relation between CV and delinquency, but PTSS did not. Conversely, PTSS had an indirect effect on the link between CV and illicit substance use, but COS did not. College students are at risk for CV exposure and adverse outcomes. Interventions addressing PTSS and COS beliefs may be central to mitigating delinquent behaviors and illicit substance use in this population.

Effect of fine particulate matter exposure on gestational diabetes mellitus risk: a retrospective cohort study.

The literature on the association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk has focused mainly on exposure during the first and second trimesters, and the research results are inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the associations between PM2.5 exposure during preconception, the first trimester and second trimester and GDM risk in pregnant women in Guangzhou. A retrospective cohort study of 26 354 pregnant women was conducted, estimating PM2.5, particulate matter with a diameter >10 µm (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) exposure during preconception and the first and second trimesters. Analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards models and nonlinear distributed lag models. The study found that exposure to PM2.5 or a combination of two pollutants (PM2.5+PM10, PM2.5+SO2, PM2.5+CO and PM2.5+O3) was found to be significantly associated with GDM risk (P < 0.05). In the second trimester, with significant interactions found for occupation and anaemia between PM2.5 and GDM. When the PM2.5 concentrations were ≥19.56, ≥25.69 and ≥23.87 μg/m3 during preconception and the first and second trimesters, respectively, the hazard ratio for GDM started to increase. The critical window for PM2.5 exposure was identified to be from 9 to 11 weeks before conception. Our study results suggest that PM2.5 exposure during preconception and the first and second trimesters increases the risk of GDM, with the preconception period appearing to be the critical window for PM2.5 exposure.

Agent orange exposure and prostate cancer risk in the million veteran program.

The US government considers veterans to have been exposed to Agent Orange if they served in Vietnam while the carcinogen was in use, and these veterans are often deemed at high risk of prostate cancer (PCa). Here, we assess whether presumed Agent Orange exposure is independently associated with increased risk of any metastatic or fatal PCa in a diverse Veteran cohort still alive in the modern era (at least 2011), when accounting for race/ethnicity, family history, and genetic risk. Participants in the Million Veteran Program (MVP; enrollment began in 2011) who were on active duty during the Vietnam War era (August 1964-April 1975) were included (n = 301,470). Agent Orange exposure was determined using the US government definition. Genetic risk was assessed via a validated polygenic hazard score. Associations with age at diagnosis of any PCa, metastatic PCa, and death from PCa were assessed via Cox proportional hazards models. On univariable analysis, exposure to Agent Orange was not associated with increased PCa (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.04, p = 0.06), metastatic PCa (HR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.91-1.05, p = 0.55), or fatal PCa (HR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.79-1.09, p = 0.41). When accounting for race/ethnicity and family history, Agent Orange exposure was independently associated with slightly increased risk of PCa (HR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04-1.09, <10-6) but not with metastatic PCa (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.98-1.15, p = 0.10) or PCa death (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.83-1.23, p = 0.09). Similar results were found when accounting for genetic risk. Agent Orange exposure history may not improve modern PCa risk stratification.