Sample Of Persons Research Articles

Evaluation of occupational exposure to wood dust among sawmill workers within the Gert Sibande District Municipality, South Africa.

Wood dust is regarded as one of the human carcinogen based on an increased risk of nasal and sinonasal cancer. This study was conducted in two sawmills to measure and determine the time-weighted average (TWA) exposure level to wood dust, and compare the results with the South African occupational exposure limit (OEL). Personal and area respirable and total inhalable wood dust samples were collected using calibrated Giliair-3 personal air sampling pump (Sensidyne, USA). Data was analysed using Microsoft Office Excel 2019 Analysis Tool Pak for a summary of descriptive statistics. Both the geometric means and standard deviation as well as the minimum and maximum values were calculated. The geometric mean = GM (geometric standard deviation = GSD) for personal respirable wood dust exposure at sawmill A was 0.9(4.8) mg/m3 while at sawmill B - 0.57(0.75) mg/m3. The GM(GSD) for personal total inhalable wood dust exposure at sawmill A was 0.37(0.94) mg/m3 while at sawmill B - 1.19(16.91) mg/m3. Besides that, the GM(GSD) for area respirable wood dust at sawmill A was 0.13(0.09) mg/m 3 , while at sawmill B - 0.8(0.6) mg/m3. Likewise, the GM(GSD) for area total inhalable wood dust at sawmill A was 0.13(0.16) mg/m3 while at sawmill B - 0.54(0.55) mg/m3 . Results for the majority of samples were below the OEL. Workers smoking tobacco or cigarettes should be encouraged to stop smoking since smoking, especially when associated with exposure to wood dust, may increase the risk of respiratory health symptoms.

Long COVID symptoms in a population-based sample of persons discharged home from hospital.

ObjectivesThe impact of long COVID among persons hospitalized and discharged home is unknown. We aimed to (1) report the prevalence of long COVID in persons hospitalized for COVID-19 and discharged home; (2) estimate the prevalence of physical, sensory, and psychological/mental health impairments; and (3) explore associated factors.MethodsWe conducted a telephone survey of adult residents in Laval, Quebec, who were discharged home ≥ 2 months post-hospitalization for COVID-19. Participants responded to a standard questionnaire regarding persistent symptoms. We calculated the prevalence of long COVID and of persistent types of symptoms and evaluated associated factors using bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression.ResultsIn our sample (n = 398), 70% reported physical symptoms, 58% psychological problems, and 16% sensory impairments. 31.5% reported being troubled by persistent symptoms (long COVID). Factors associated with long COVID were a greater number of symptoms (odds ratio (OR) = 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.69–2.28) and increased hospital stay (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01–1.06). Other factors associated with physical and psychological symptoms were female sex (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.27–3.71 and OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.25–3.39; respectively), higher education level (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.20–3.68 and OR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.44–4.14; respectively), and obesity (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.15–3.34 and OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.05–2.77; respectively).ConclusionIn this population-based study of persons hospitalized for COVID-19 and discharged home, nearly one third were troubled by symptoms for 2 months or more post-discharge. There was a high proportion with persistent physical and psychological/mental health symptoms. Further research will assess the specific needs of these patients to inform health policy makers on service requirements for these persons.

Clinical trial and detection of SARS-CoV-2 by a commercial breath analysis test based on Terahertz technology.

Public health threats such as the current COVID-19 pandemics have required prompt action by the local, national, and international authorities. Rapid and noninvasive diagnostic methods may provide on-site detection and immediate social isolation, used as tools to rapidly control virus spreading. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to evaluate a commercial breath analysis test (TERA.Bio®) and deterministic algorithm for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 spectral signature of Volatile Organic Compounds present in exhaled air samples of suspicious persons from southern Brazil. A casuistic total of 70 infected and 500 non-infected patients were sampled, tested, and results later compared to RT-qPCR as gold standard. Overall, the test showed 92.6% sensitivity and 96.0% specificity. No statistical correlation was observed between SARS-CoV-2 positivity and infection by other respiratory diseases. Further studies should focus on infection monitoring among asymptomatic persons. In conclusion, the breath analysis test herein may be used as a fast, on-site, and easy-to-apply screening method for diagnosing COVID-19.

Hippocampal subfield volumes and olfactory performance: Emerging longitudinal associations over a 5-year interval

Olfaction, the sense of smell, provides important behavioral functions in many species. The hippocampus (HC) is critical for identifying odors, and hippocampal volume is associated with odor identification ability. Impaired odor identification is often reported in old age and might provide an early marker of cognitive decline and dementia. Here, we explored cross-sectional (n = 225) and longitudinal (n = 118) associations between odor identification ability and hippocampal subfield volumes in a sample of middle-aged and older persons (25–80 years). In older participants, longitudinally decreasing volumes of the hippocampal tail, subiculum, CA4 and the dentate gyrus correlated with changes in odor identification. None of these correlations were observed in younger participants, but there was a significant correlation between longitudinal volume reduction in the tail subfield of the hippocampus and odor identification change across all participants. There were no significant cross-sectional associations between hippocampal subfields and odor identification. These exploratory results provide new information regarding precisely where and when declining HC subfield volumes might be associated with odor identification.

A Comparison of Measured Airborne and Self-Reported Secondhand Smoke Exposure in the MADRES Pregnancy Cohort Study

Background: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure during pregnancy is associated with several adverse birth outcomes, including reduced birthweight and preterm birth. Questionnaires are commonly used to assess SHS exposure; however, the wording of questions and their ability to capture true exposure can vary, limiting researchers’ ability to harmonize SHS measures. Therefore, we compared the association of SHS self-reported exposure in the MADRES pregnancy cohort with measurements of SHS in particulate matter (PM₂.₅) personal samples collected in the 3rd trimester. Methods: We measured SHS on 48-hour integrated personal PM₂.₅ Teflon filters collected from 204 pregnant women using optical transmissometry. Self-reported SHS related to presence, intensity, and duration of exposure was ascertained via a 3rd trimester questionnaire and an exit survey at the time of personal monitoring. Descriptive statistics were calculated for SHS measures overall and by key demographics and environmental factors. Analysis of variance tests were conducted to test group differences in SHS concentrations by self-reported SHS exposure. Results: Participants were predominately Hispanic (81%), with a mean (SD) age of 28.2 (6.0) years. Geometric mean (SD) personal SHS concentrations were 0.14 (9.41) µg/m³. There was a significant difference in mean SHS by education (p = 0.015), with participants with lower education having higher measured SHS. Mean SHS concentrations differed by reported time with windows open (none/a little of the time: 0.10 µg/m³ vs. most/all of the time: 0.19 µg/m³; p = 0.047). There was no association between measured SHS and self-reported SHS exposure; however, asking about the number of smokers nearby in the 48-hour monitoring period was most correlated with measured SHS (Two+ smokers: 0.30 µg/m³ vs. One: 0.12 µg/m³ and Zero: 0.15 µg/m³; p = 0.230). Conclusion: Overall, self-reported SHS exposure was not associated with measured airborne SHS in personal PM₂.₅ samples.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Ventilation Controls in Managing Airborne and Surface Lead Levels at a Newly Commissioned Indoor Shooting Range.

Lead levels at a new indoor target shooting range were assessed using both personal and environmental air monitoring methods. Surface swabs were collected from representative locations throughout the range prior to, and at the conclusion of, shooting. Personal samples were compared against the current Australian Workplace Exposure Standards with all results exceeding statutory limits. Static environmental samples exceeded the Air National Environmental Protection Measures (NEPM) air quality standard. Surface swabs showed significant increases from pre- to post-shooting with levels exceeding recommended limits. The performance of the mechanical ventilation system was also assessed and airflow levels were below the required rate at all test locations when compared against the values recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Users of the indoor shooting range are at risk of potential exposure to hazardous levels of lead. It was recommended the ventilation system be reviewed by a suitably qualified ventilation engineer to ensure it is operating within the required parameters and able to transport generated lead contaminant away from the shooters breathing zone. A thorough cleaning regime should be implemented by the club to minimise surface lead loadings throughout the facility.

Evolution of antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms in patients with schizophrenia in the real-life: A 4-year follow-up naturalistic study

Previous studies have shown, although not consistently, that first generation antipsychotics (FGA) are associated with a prevalence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) higher than second generation antipsychotics (SGA).We assessed the prevalence and the incidence of antipsychotic-induced EPS in a large sample of community-dwelling Italian persons with schizophrenia before and after a 4-year naturalistic treatment, to shed light on their natural evolution and to identify possible predicting factors.EPS and psychopathology were assessed in 571 subjects with schizophrenia before (baseline) and after 4-year follow-up. Patients underwent treatment with SGA and/or FGA according to the referring clinicians' judgment. Relationships between EPS and psychopathology were assessed by network analysis, while a linear multiple regression investigated factors correlated to the presence of EPS at follow-up.EPS were significantly more frequent in the FGA- than in the SGA-treated group, and patients with EPS presented a more severe psychopathology. Parkinsonism was directly and positively connected with poor emotional expression at baseline and with poor emotional expression and disorganization at follow-up. Over the 4-year follow-up, emergent EPS were more frequent in FGA-treated patients, while relieved EPS occurred more frequently in SGA-treated persons. The presence of EPS at follow-up was significantly associated with EPS at baseline, illness duration, antipsychotic generation and the daily dose of antipsychotic medications.After a 4-year naturalistic treatment, EPS disappeared more frequently in SGA-treated patients, while they emerged more frequently in FGA-treated individuals. Therefore, although SGA did not eliminate the risk of EPS, these drugs seem to be associated to a more favorable EPS natural evolution.

Development and validation of a method for airborne monoclonal antibodies to quantify workplace exposure

Modern therapy strategies are based on patient-specific treatment where the drug and dose are optimally adapted to the patient's needs. In recent drugs, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are increasingly used as active ingredients. Their patient-specific formulations are not part of the pharmaceutical industry’s manufacturing process but are prepared from concentrates by pharmaceutical personnel. During the manufacturing process, however, active pharmaceutical ingredients are released in trace amounts or, in the case of accidents and spills, also in high concentrations. Regardless of the source of entry, mAbs can become airborne, be inhaled, and cause undesirable side-effects such as sensitization. To assess the risk for pharmaceutical personnel, a personal air sampling method was developed and validated for bevacizumab, cetuximab, daratumumab, omalizumab, rituximab and trastuzumab. The method is based on the combination of high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The analytical method achieves a limit of detection of 0.30–8.8 ng mL−1, recoveries of 83–96 % (intra-day assay) and 75–89 % (inter-day assay), with no detectable carry-over. A polycarbonate filter proved suitable for sampling airborne monoclonal antibodies, as it achieved 80–104 % recovery across all mAbs. It also showed concentration-independent desorption efficiency. The sampling duration can be up to 480 min without negatively affecting the recovery. MAbs are stable on the polycarbonate filter at 5 °C for 3 days (recovery: 94 % ± 5 %) and at − 20 °C for 14 days (recovery: 97 % ± 4 %). Our method demonstrated that there is a potential for release when handling monoclonal antibodies. However, this can be reduced below the limit of detection by using pressure equalization systems (spikes).

Opioid relapse and MOUD outcomes following civil commitment for opioid use

IntroductionOpioid use disorder (OUD) continues to present a major public health problem in the United States. Civil commitment for substance use is one mandatory form of treatment for severe opioid use that has become increasingly available in recent years, but empirical data on this approach are lacking. This study examines clinical outcomes of civil commitment in a sample of adults with severe opioid use. MethodsParticipants were 121 persons with opioid use who were interviewed at the point of entry into civil commitment, then followed for 12 weeks after their release. ResultsPrior to civil commitment, this sample exhibited serious substance use characteristics (including high rates of illicit opioid use, other substance use, and injection drug use), as well as mental health problems (diagnoses of depression and anxiety disorders). During follow-up, approximately 41 % of the sample reported at least one illicit opioid use day. More than 64 % of the sample reported at least one day of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) receipt, and participants were significantly less likely to use illicit opioids on days that they received MOUDs. No participants died during the follow-up period. ConclusionsIn this sample of persons with severe opioid use, clinical outcomes of civil commitment included illicit opioid relapse as well as varying levels of MOUD uptake. Civil commitment may be a viable method for short-term prevention of overdose for a subset of this vulnerable patient population.

A Partial Answer to the Question Posed by David A. Hughes, PhD, in the Article: “What is in the so-called COVID-19 ‘Vaccines’? Part 1: Evidence of a Global Crime Against Humanity”

In this comment, originally thought of as a “Letter to the Editor”, I want to address the opening question posed by David A. Hughes in the immediately preceding entry in this journal: “What is in the so-called COVID-19 ‘Vaccines’?” The views from under the microscope, ordinary light or electron scanning, all show undisclosed foreign objects that seem to activate themselves and aggregate into complexes that disrupt blood flow in all organ systems. With the spectral analysis using electron microscopy it is possible to determine the specific elements and relative quantities of the elements in those foreign entities. In this comment, I want to focus on the absence of certain elements that are universally present in the proteins of naturally occurring life forms from humans right down to bacteria and even the proteins formed from viruses. What is missing from the spectral analyses of the foreign elements in the main COVID-19 vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna for certain, and probably also missing from the other experimental products being widely distributed that are known to contain foreign aggregates of strange materials similar to those found in the Moderna and Pfizer injections, are the elements nitrogen and phosphorous. This is revealing because all natural DNA, RNA, and their protein products contain those missing elements. Nitrogen for protein synthesis and phosphorus for DNA, RNA, and energy transfer. Therefore, their absence from the foreign structures seen under many different microscopes in all of the COVID-19 so-called “vaccines” that have been examined, and also found in blood samples of persons injected with the Moderna and Pfizer concoctions, proves that these intentionally manufactured self-assembling components, built mainly from carbon-based materials used in computing and super-conductors, are connected with the avant-guard evolutionary theory and experimentation with what is known as XNA, Xeno (Greek for “foreign”), Nucleic Acid. Most of the relevant information is behind significant paywalls in esoteric journals specializing in this peculiar branch of highly theoretical and experimental chemistry. To leap to the bottom-line of my urgent comment on the Hughes’ paper, the edgy modified mRNA with N1-methylpseudouridine (Ψ) replacing the naturally occurring RNA nucleotide uridine (U) at least 728 times in each one of the 30 billion mRNA molecules in each of the Pfizer injections is an exmplary XNA. In this comment I want to explain why the inclusion of such an XNA may be the clue that leads to the unraveling of the already devastating and potentially exterminating impact of the ongoing COVID-19 experiment on the human race.

Insulin and serine metabolism as sex-specific hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease in the human hippocampus.

Healthy aging is an ambitious aspiration for humans, but neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), strongly affect quality of life. Using an integrated omics approach, we investigate alterations inthe molecular composition of postmortem hippocampus samples of healthy persons and individuals with AD. Profound differences are apparent between control and AD male and female cohorts in terms of up- and downregulated metabolic pathways. A decrease in the insulin response is evident in AD when comparing the female with the male group. The serine metabolism (linked to the glycolytic pathway and generating the N-methyl-D-aspartate [NMDA] receptor coagonist D-serine) is also significantly modulated: the D-Ser/total serine ratio represents a way to counteract age-related cognitive decline in healthy men and during AD onset in women. These results show how AD changes and, in certain respects, almost reverses sex-specific proteomic and metabolomic profiles, highlighting how different pathophysiological mechanisms are active in men and women.

Silicone wristbands as personal passive samplers of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in contaminated buildings.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used in a number of industrial products from 1950 to 80s, including building materials. As a result, some buildings exhibit high levels of PCBs in the indoor environment. The aim of this study was to test silicone wristbands as a method for estimating personal exposure to PCBs in buildings both in controlled experiments and field settings. In the controlled study, the sampling kinetics of silicone wristbands were investigated in a 31-day uptake study. The field study focused on the application of wristbands as a personal exposure measure. It included 71 persons in a contaminated housing estate and 23 persons in a reference group. The linear uptake of PCBs ranged from 2 to 24days for PCB-8, 18, 28, 31, 40, 44, 49, 52, 66, 99, and 101 under controlled conditions. A generic sampling rate (Rk) of 2.3m3 d-1 corresponding to a mass transfer coefficient of 17mh-1 was found in the controlled kinetic study. Partitioning coefficients were also determined for the nine congeners. In the field study, an apparent generic field sampling rate (Rf) of 2.6m3 d-1 was found; when adjusted to reported hours exposed, it increased to 3.5m3 d-1. The wristbands were shown to be a good tool for predicting airborne exposure, as there was a highly significant difference between the exposed and reference group as well as a clear trend when used for ranking of exposure. In correlation analyses, highly significant correlations were observed between air and wristband levels, though adjusting by self-reported exposure time only increased the correlation marginally in the field study. The obtained kinetic data can be used for estimating the magnitude of external exposure. The advantages provided by the wristbands in the form of easy use and handling are significant, though the limitations should also be acknowledged.

Muscle Strength And Loading Patterns During Sport-related Tasks In Persons With Acetabular Dysplasia

PURPOSE: Acetabular dysplasia (AD) is described as insufficient bony coverage of the femoral head by the acetabulum that leads to joint instability, pain, and decreased function. Little is known regarding the effects of AD on muscle strength and loading patterns during sport-related tasks. We compared muscle strength and loading patterns during squat and countermovement jump (CMJ) tasks between limbs and examined associations among these variables in persons with AD. METHOD: We enrolled 12 persons with AD (11 females) and evaluated isometric strength of the knee flexors and extensors and the hip flexors, extensors, and abductors using an electromechanical dynamometer (Biodex 3). We used peak torque values (Nm/kg) for the involved and uninvolved limbs to calculate limb symmetry indices (LSI) for each muscle group. Loading patterns during a squat and CMJ takeoff and landing were evaluated using two portable force plates (ForceDecks). Average peak ground-reaction force (GRF) for the involved and uninvolved limbs (N/N) and LSI for each task were calculated. We used Wilcoxon signed-rank test to evaluate differences in muscle strength and loading patterns between limbs. We examined associations between involved limb muscle strength and loading patterns using Spearman’s rho test. RESULT: The involved limb exhibited lower knee extensor strength compared to the uninvolved limb (involved = 1.75 Nm/Kg; uninvolved = 2.11 Nm/Kg; p = 0.005). There were no other differences between limbs for the remaining muscle strength variables or for squat and CMJ loading patterns variables (all p > 0.05). Per muscle group, the following proportions exhibited ≥90% LSI: 41.7% for knee extensors and flexors and hip flexors; 66.7% for hip extensors; 90% for hip abductors. Per movement task, the following proportions exhibited ≥90% LSI: 72.7% for the squat; 90% for CMJ takeoff; 54.5% for CMJ landing. Higher hip extensor strength was associated with higher GRF during CMJ landing for involved limb (r = 0.70; p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Persons with AD exhibited decreased involved limb knee extensor strength and asymmetric strength and loading patterns. Higher hip strength was associated with higher involved limb landing during CMJ. Further study of the associations among strength and joint loading patterns is needed in larger samples of persons with AD.

Estimation levels of cholecystokinin, gastrin and secretin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

A diabetic patient with diabetes mellitus experiences high blood sugar levels as a result of low insulin levels or resistance to the medication's effects. The tests were carried out at a medical laboratory using specialized kits, and the 45 patient samples and 45 healthy person samples from both sexes as a control group were dispersed based on the questionnaire form. In contrast to the non-significant rise in serum gastrin and secretin levels, the results demonstrated a substantial increase in cholecystokinin (CCK) levels between the patient and control groups and a significant increase in CCK levels according to gender, type of therapy, and disease history. In conclusion, individuals with diabetes mellitus type 2 may have aberrant blood CCK levels, which require concentration to assess the full scope of their impact on the individual.

Cognitive screening in persons with an amputation: A retrospective medical record audit.

To determine the rate of cognitive screening undertaken with patients undergoing amputation and to determine the demographics of the sample. Retrospective medical record audit. The medical records of a convenience sample of persons who had undergone amputation, upper and lower limb, from one local health district were reviewed. The sample date range was between January 1st, 2017, and December 31st, 2018. The incidence and type of cognitive screening were also recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the results. A total of 178 episodes of amputation care were identified during retrospective medical record auditing (mean age, 69.7 years). Thirty nine of the 178 (21.9%) episodes of care had a cognitive screening measure completed during that inpatient admission (24.2% vascular etiology and 12% nonvascular etiology). All cognitive screens were completed in persons with lower-limb amputations and were completed postoperatively. Cognitive screening is not a routine part of the health care journey for patients with an amputation in this health care district.

Occupational exposure to inhalable and respirable wood dust of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in a furniture factory

Given the well-known carcinogenicity of hardwood dust, occupational exposure to oak wood dust has been determined in a furniture factory on different wood processing machines during sanding, planing, and milling. Determination of the mass concentrations of respirable and inhalable oak wood dust from ambient air was performed using personal sampling pumps and two types of filter holders: the Higgins-Dewell respirable dust cyclone, manufactured by Casella (Bedford, UK), and the inhalable dust IOM sampler manufactured by SKC (Dorset, UK). Out of a total of 30 values of inhalable mass concentration, 7 (23%) exceeded the occupational exposure level (OEL). The highest exposure levels for inhalable and respirable wood dust from the belt sander were 1.569 to 3.710 mg/m3 and 0.243 to 1.342 mg/m3, respectively. Worker exposure may be below the level of increased risk of 2 mg/m3 if a machine such as a planer or router is connected to a suction system. The share of respirable particles in the inhalable fraction ranged between 12% and 31%, and for samples with an inhalable mass concentration exceeding 2 mg/m3, the share was lower than 16%, with a slightly decreasing tendency. Thus, the risk of lower respiratory tract diseases increases with higher exposure to inhalable particles, and the OEL is an indirect measure of protection against exposure to respirable particles.

Biomarker of Urinary Malondialdehyde and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha with Pain Progress in a Patient with Low Back Pain

Introduction: This study aims to determine the urine concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) biomarkers with pain intensity in a patient with low back pain (LBP) compared to healthy controls. Also, the correlation between these biomarkers and clinical findings of pain intensity was determined during 25 weeks to find a molecular diagnostic factor of disease progression. Case Presentation: Participants in this case study are students at Shahed University, Iran. A 22‑year‑old man patient with a three-month history of progressive LBH and gait instability and an age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) matched healthy man was enrolled for 25 weeks. Spinal MRI (Siemens 1.5 T) revealed disc degeneration and displacement. LBP symptoms were diagnosed by a neurologist using ICD-9 diagnostic codes. Other diseases that affect the urine levels of MDA and TNF-α in the patient, such as allergic or infectious diseases, have been ruled out. After collecting demographic information, the facial pain scale (FPS) and numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain and 24-hour urine samples of a healthy person and a patient were collected weekly for 25 weeks. Samples were analyzed for MDA and TNF-α. Conclusions: During the experiment, urinary MDA levels were significantly elevated while TNF-α levels were not changed in LBP patients compared to control individuals (P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, the assessment of LBP by the FPS and NRS pain scores was only correlated with urinary MDA levels, and urinary TNF-α levels did not change during the experiment. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between pain scores during 25 weeks and urine concentrations of MDA (r = 0.60, P-value < 0.001). According to the present study, chronic LBP patients had higher levels of MDA in their urine than those who did not have chronic LBP. There was a significant positive association between urine MDA level and pain intensity progression.

A-158 Levels of Systemic Inflammation is Associated with Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract Objective: To investigate the relationship between systematic inflammatory biomarkers and cognition in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Method: We recruited 36 patients diagnosed with MS (31 with relapsing-remitting and 5 with progressive) who presented for treatment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Patients underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, and serum blood samples were collected. Cognitive data was divided into an overall Cognitive Composite score and seven cognitive domains (i.e., Attention, Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, Visuospatial Ability, Language, Processing Speed, and Executive Function) using z-score averages. Pearson's product-moment correlations were conducted to determine the relationship between cognitive performance and 14 inflammatory biomarkers specifically chosen for their potential role in MS. Results: Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was significantly correlated with Visual Memory (r= -.424; p=.01), Language (r= -.425; p= .01), and Cognitive Composite (r= -.380; p= .022) scores. Additionally, Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) was significantly correlated with the overall Cognitive Composite (r= -.346; p= .039) score. Conclusions: Studies investigating associations between inflammation and cognition in MS are lacking. In our sample of persons with Multiple Sclerosis, serum IGF-1 and MMP-9 biomarkers were moderately negatively correlated with the overall Cognitive Composite scores. MMP-9 was negatively correlated with Visual Memory and Language cognitive domain scores. These findings in a representative sample of patients with MS highlight the need for further research exploring the relationship between systematic inflammatory biomarkers and cognition in MS.

Volatile organic compounds in carpet manufacturing plants: Exposure levels and probabilistic risk assessment using Monte-Carlo simulations

Air pollution due to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the workplace has been identified as a global problem. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the levels and the risk of occupational exposure of workers to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) in carpet manufacturing plants. BTEX sampling in the workers’ breathing zones was performed according to occupational safety and health standard methods using a personal sampling pump and analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The concentrations of all compounds were lower than the occupational exposure limits. However, the estimated lifetime cancer risks and the values of hazard quotient (95th percentile) for benzene and ethylbenzene suggest potential carcinogenic (2.97 additional cases per 10,000 employees exposed and 1.48 additional cases per 1,000 employees exposed) and non-carcinogenic (11.3–5.46 times greater than threshold risk level set by the US EPA) risks. Moreover, on the basis of the sensitivity analysis carried out using the Monte-Carlo simulation method, the concentration is the main parameter affecting significantly both cancer and non-cancer risks. This study is the first effort to provide information on health risk assessment of BTEX in the breathing zone of the employees in carpet manufacturing plants in the world and may be useful for potential plans of health risk management and reduction.

Analisis Strategi Bersaing Dalam Pengembangan Bisnis pada Home Industri Eceng Gondok Wiwit Collection @Witrove_ Kecamatan Karang Pilang Kota Surabaya

Competitive advantage becomes the endurance of a business in a competitive market to understand the value that can be created for the products offered in order to increase the attractiveness of the business. The purpose of the study was to determine the competitive strategy applied in business development at the home industry of water hyacinth Wiwit Collection @witrove_ Karang Pilang District, Surabaya City in an effort to face business competition. The research population is the resource person of the Wiwit Collection with a sample of resource persons on the criteria established by purposive sampling technique, which means that it is based on the research objectives. The data analysis technique used a SWOT analysis with the questionnaire method. The results showed that internal factors had a total weighted average of 1.31 with a strength factor of 4.24 and a weakness factor of 2.93, while the total external factor weighted average of 0.96 with an opportunity factor of 4.13 and a threat factor of 3.17. Wiwit Collection is in quadrant I implementing an aggressive strategy through the SO strategy which shows that the strengths and opportunities are relatively superior compared to the weaknesses and threats. While the WO and WT strategies can be used as an alternative, especially in the online marketing aspect.
 
 Keywords: Competitive Strategy, Business Development, SWOT Analysis