Concentration of airbone trace metals in a bus station with a high heavy-duty diesel fraction.

Total particulate matter (TSP) and PM10 samples were collected in a bus station, in the period of August 2006 to February 2007. Buses are the only significant emission sources in this area once light duty vehicles represent about 1-2% of total flux and no other activities are developed in the location. Concentrations of metals in the samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Ca, Mg, Fe and Al were the most abundant elements and accounted for about 50.1%, 24.2%, 6.5% and 18.7% of the total metal content. Co, Ni, Cd, Cr and Pb were under detection limits except for a few samples. Calculated enrichment factors show that Zn and Cu are probably due to fuel and oil composition. Ca, Mg and Al may be attributed to dust resuspension while Fe may be due to both dust resuspension and contribution of vehicles

Objectively measured time spent sedentary is associated with insulin resistance independent of overall and central body fat in 9- to 10-year-old Portuguese children

OBJECTIVE — We examined the independent relationships between objectively measured physical activity and insulin resistance in Portuguese children. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — This is a school-based, cross-sectional study in 147 randomly selected girls (aged 9.8 0.3 years; 27.8 9.3% body fat) and 161 boys (aged 9.8 0.3 years; 22.0 9.2% body fat). Physical activity was assessed by the Actigraph accel erometer for 4 days and summarized as time spent sedentary (accelerometer counts 500/min), in light-intensity (accelerometer counts 500–2,000/min), and in moderate- and vigorous intensity activity (accelerometer counts 2,001/min). We measured total and central fat mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Insulin resistance was expressed as the homeostasis model assessment score. RESULTS — Time (min/day) spent sedentary was significantly and positively associated with insulin resistance ( -coefficient 0.001 [95% CI 0.0002–0.002]; P 0.013). Time spent in moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity ( 0.002 [ 0.003 to 0.001]; P 0.0009) and overall physical activity ( 0.001 [ 0.008 to 0.003]; P 0.0001) were significantly and inversely associated with insulin resistance. All associations remained statistically significant, although they were attenuated after further adjustments for sex, birth weight, sexual maturity, and total or central fat mass (P 0.03). CONCLUSIONS — Physical activity is associated with insulin resistance independent of total and central fat mass in children. Our results emphasize the importance of decreasing sedentary behavior and increasing time spent in moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity in children, which may have beneficial effects on metabolic risk factors regardless of the degree of adiposity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Burnout and use of HIV services among health care workers in Lusaka District, Zambia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Well-documented shortages of health care workers in sub-Saharan Africa are exacerbated by the increased human resource demands of rapidly expanding HIV care and treatment programmes. The successful continuation of existing programmes is threatened by health care worker burnout and HIV-related illness. METHODS: From March to June 2007, we studied occupational burnout and utilization of HIV services among health providers in the Lusaka public health sector. Providers from 13 public clinics were given a 36-item, self-administered questionnaire and invited for focus group discussions and key-informant interviews. RESULTS: Some 483 active clinical staff completed the questionnaire (84% response rate), 50 staff participated in six focus groups, and four individuals gave interviews. Focus group participants described burnout as feeling overworked, stressed and tired. In the survey, 51% reported occupational burnout. Risk factors were having another job (RR 1.4 95% CI 1.2-1.6) and knowing a co-worker who left in the last year (RR 1.6 95% CI 1.3-2.2). Reasons for co-worker attrition included: better pay (40%), feeling overworked or stressed (21%), moving away (16%), death (8%) and illness (5%). When asked about HIV testing, 370 of 456 (81%) reported having tested; 240 (50%) tested in the last year. In contrast, discussion groups perceived low testing rates. Both discussion groups and survey respondents identified confidentiality as the prime reason for not undergoing HIV testing. CONCLUSION: In Lusaka primary care clinics, overwork, illness and death were common reasons for attrition. Programmes to improve access, acceptability and confidentiality of health care services for clinical providers and to reduce workplace stress could substantially affect workforce stability

Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Family Member RelB Inhibits Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Tat-Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Production

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is likely neuroinflammatory in origin, believed to be triggered by inflammatory and oxidative stress responses to cytokines and HIV protein gene products such as the HIV transactivator of transcription (Tat). Here we demonstrate increased messenger RNA for nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) family member, transcription factor RelB, in the brain of doxycycline-induced Tat transgenic mice, and increased RelB synthesis in Tat-exposed microglial cells. Since genetic ablation of RelB in mice leads to multi-organ inflammation, we hypothesized that Tat-induced, newly synthesized RelB inhibits cytokine production by microglial cells, possibly through the formation of transcriptionally inactive RelB/RelA complexes. Indeed, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) production in monocytes isolated from RelB deficient mice was significantly higher than in monocytes isolated from RelB expressing controls. Moreover, RelB overexpression in microglial cells inhibited Tat-induced TNFα synthesis in a manner that involved transcriptional repression of the TNFα promoter, and increased phosphorylation of RelA at serine 276, a prerequisite for increased RelB/RelA protein interactions. The Rel-homology-domain within RelB was necessary for this interaction. Overexpression of RelA itself, in turn, significantly increased TNFα promoter activity, an effect that was completely blocked by RelB overexpression. We conclude that RelB regulates TNFα cytokine synthesis by competitive interference binding with RelA, which leads to downregulation of TNFα production. Moreover, because Tat activates both RelB and TNFα in microglia, and because Tat induces inflammatory TNFα synthesis via NF-κB, we posit that RelB serves as a cryoprotective, anti-inflammatory, counter-regulatory mechanism for pathogenic NF-κB activation. These findings identify a novel regulatory pathway for controlling HIV-induced microglial activation and cytokine production that may have important therapeutic implications for the management of HAND

STRENGTH AND HANDEDNESS IN ADOLESCENTS: THE IMPACT OF SPORT PRACTICE ON LATERALITY CONSOLIDATION / FUERZA Y PREFERENCIA MANUAL EN ADOLESCENTES: EL IMPACTO DE LA PRÁCTICA DEPORTIVA EN LA CONSOLIDACIÓN DE LA LATERALIDAD

Handedness (upper limb laterality) should be a cornerstone of motor skill development and sport performance in youth. However, many environmental and social factors affect laterality consolidation (LC) during development. It was our aim to analyze the influence of out of school sport practice (OSSP) on LC. 249 adolescents from the same high school were selected for this study. Handedness was assessed by a laterality quotient (LQ) calculated from an adapted questionnaire. Handgrip isometric strength tests were carried out both left and right hand to confirm the dominance agreement with LQ. Right-handedness students showed higher right vs. left strength difference than left-handedness (2.25 and -0.91kg; P<0.05). There were a higher proportion of LC in the group of adolescents with OSSP than those without OSSP, both in left (LH) and right-handedness (RH) (OSSP: RH, 80% and LH, 77.4% vs. non-OSSP: RH, 66.7% and L,H 41.7%; P<0.05). Our main finding was that there was higher probability of LC among adolescents involved in OSSP. Also, a simple inventory and handgrip strength test may be useful tools in order to assess LC, which can help to reinforce laterality in adolescents. La preferencia manual (lateralidad del miembro superior) debería ser una parte fundamental del desarrollo de la competencia motora y el rendimiento deportivo durante la juventud. Sin embargo, existen numerosos factores sociales y medioambientales que afectan a la consolidación de la lateralidad (LC) durante el desarrollo. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la influencia de la práctica deportiva fuera de la escuela (OSSP) en la LC. Para ello 249 adolescentes del mismo Instituto de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria fueron seleccionados. La preferencia manual fue evaluada con el coeficiente de lateralidad (LQ) calculado utilizando un cuestionario especifico adaptado. Se realizó un test de fuerza isométrica de prensión manual derecha e izquierda para confirmar la concordancia con el LQ. Los estudiantes con preferencia manual derecha mostraron una diferencia de fuerza entre la mano derecha y la izquierda mayor que los del grupo de preferencia manual izquierda (2,25 and -0,91kg; P<0,05). Hubo una mayor proporción de LC en el grupo de adolescentes con OSSP que en el grupo sin OSSP, tanto para zurdos (LF) como para diestros (RH) (OSSP: RH, 80% and LH, 77,4% vs. non-OSSP: RH, 66,7% and LH 41,7%; P<0,05). Nuestro principal hallazgo fue, por tanto, el hecho de una mayor consolidación de la lateralidad entre los adolescentes del grupo que practicaba deporte. Además, un simple cuestionario y test de fuerza de prensión manual pueden ser buenas herramientas para evaluar la LC, lo cual puede ayudar a reforzar la lateralidad en adolescentes.   Article visualizations

Objectively measured time spent sedentary is associated with insulin resistance independent of overall and central body fat in 9-to 10-year-old portuguese children

OBJECTIVE — We examined the independent relationships between objectively measured physical activity and insulin resistance in Portuguese children. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — This is a school-based, cross-sectional study in 147 randomly selected girls (aged 9.8 0.3 years; 27.8 9.3% body fat) and 161 boys (aged 9.8 0.3 years; 22.0 9.2% body fat). Physical activity was assessed by the Actigraph accel erometer for 4 days and summarized as time spent sedentary (accelerometer counts 500/min), in light-intensity (accelerometer counts 500–2,000/min), and in moderate- and vigorous intensity activity (accelerometer counts 2,001/min). We measured total and central fat mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Insulin resistance was expressed as the homeostasis model assessment score. RESULTS — Time (min/day) spent sedentary was significantly and positively associated with insulin resistance ( -coefficient 0.001 [95% CI 0.0002–0.002]; P 0.013). Time spent in moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity ( 0.002 [ 0.003 to 0.001]; P 0.0009) and overall physical activity ( 0.001 [ 0.008 to 0.003]; P 0.0001) were significantly and inversely associated with insulin resistance. All associations remained statistically significant, although they were attenuated after further adjustments for sex, birth weight, sexual maturity, and total or central fat mass (P 0.03). CONCLUSIONS — Physical activity is associated with insulin resistance independent of total and central fat mass in children. Our results emphasize the importance of decreasing sedentary behavior and increasing time spent in moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity in children, which may have beneficial effects on metabolic risk factors regardless of the degree of adiposity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The impact of transactional sex with teachers on public school students in Monrovia, Liberia – a brief report

Access to education has been shown to strongly influence adolescent health across the world, and strong relationships with teachers has been found to lead to better academic and psychosocial outcomes for students. In many low-income countries where adolescents have less access to education and are more likely to experience poor health outcomes, risky sexual behaviors can exacerbate these challenges by increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. This study sought to examine risky behaviors, such as substance use and risky sexual practices, of in-school youth in Liberia, a country in West Africa. Nine focus groups were conducted with public school students in Monrovia, Liberia in April 2012 using a semi-structured guide. The sessions took place in three public schools with n = 72 participants aged 12–20 years old. Following thematic content analysis, a pattern emerged of transactional sex between female students and male teachers, which often led to contrived and coercive relationships for the students. Conversely, participants reported that educators were not disciplined for having sex with students. Interventions to reduce the prevalence of transactional sex within the academic environment would likely protect the well being of school-going youth, particularly female youth, and support students’ academic pursuits in Liberia

The impact of transactional sex with teachers on public school students in Monrovia, Liberia – a brief report

Access to education has been shown to strongly influence adolescent health across the world, and strong relationships with teachers has been found to lead to better academic and psychosocial outcomes for students. In many low-income countries where adolescents have less access to education and are more likely to experience poor health outcomes, risky sexual behaviors can exacerbate these challenges by increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. This study sought to examine risky behaviors, such as substance use and risky sexual practices, of in-school youth in Liberia, a country in West Africa. Nine focus groups were conducted with public school students in Monrovia, Liberia in April 2012 using a semi-structured guide. The sessions took place in three public schools with n = 72 participants aged 12–20 years old. Following thematic content analysis, a pattern emerged of transactional sex between female students and male teachers, which often led to contrived and coercive relationships for the students. Conversely, participants reported that educators were not disciplined for having sex with students. Interventions to reduce the prevalence of transactional sex within the academic environment would likely protect the well being of school-going youth, particularly female youth, and support students’ academic pursuits in Liberia