Use of whole blood to measure DNA damage in a group of wildland firefighter

Genotoxicity evaluation is a valuable tool for studying the most important occupational hazards allowing a reasonable epidemiological evaluation of potential health effects. Comet assay has proven to be a very sensitive Corrigendum Abstracts of the 12th International Comet Assay Workshop held at the University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, 29–31 August 2017 (https://icaw. vito.be/) Mutagenesis, Volume 32, Issue 6, 31 December 2017, Pages e1–e28, https://doi.org/10.1093/mutage/gex037 tool for the detection of different levels of DNA damage in human bio monitoring. Although lymphocytes are the preferred cells whole blood has been presented as a viable and easier alternative to lymphocytes in the comet assay. Its use avoids additional DNA damage from lymphocyte isolation steps and loss of cells. Portugal is among the European countries more devastated by forest fires in the summer each year. Firefighters are exposed to many toxic combustion products, including many known, probable or possible carcinogens. There are a limited number of studies evaluating genotoxic effects in firefighters results reported are inconsist ent and inconclusive. In this context, the aim of the present study was to assess DNA damage and oxidative stress in whole blood of Portuguese wildland firefighters. Study population consisted of a total of 61 non smoking male subjects, 30 firefighters and 31 control subjects.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Wood smoke exposure of Portuguese wildland firefighters: DNA and oxidative damage evaluation

Portugal is among the European Union countries most devastated by forest fires each year. In the last three decades, more than 3.8 million hectares of forest were burned. Wildland firefighters are exposed to a variety of hazards, including many toxic combustion products that may lead to deleterious health effects. Epidemiological studies showed a positive association between firefighting and several chronic diseases, including cancer. Results from biomonitoring studies in firefighters, particularly concerning genotoxicity evaluation, constitute a valuable tool for investigating important occupational hazards. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess genotoxicity in a group of wildland firefighters using the comet assay for DNA damage and oxidative stress. Both parameters were increased in firefighters compared to controls, but significance was only found for basal DNA damage. No significant influence was found regarding major confounding variables on the genotoxic endpoints studied, with the exception of age. Data obtained provide preliminary information on human health effects of wildland firefighting exposure at genetic and molecular levels. These findings may also provide new important data to serve as public awareness to the potential adverse health risks involving wildland firefighting. Implementation of security and hygiene measures in this sector as well as good practices campaigns may be crucial to decrease risk.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

IL-31 and IL-8 in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma: Looking for Their Role in Itch

The itch associated with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), including Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS), is often severe and poorly responsive to treatment with antihistamines. Recent studies have highlighted the possible role of interleukins in nonhistaminergic itch. We investigated the role of IL-31 and IL-8 in CTCL, concerning disease severity and associated itch. Serum samples of 27 patients with CTCL (17 MF and 10 SS) and 29 controls (blood donors) were analyzed for interleukin- (IL-) 31 and IL-8; correlations with disease and itch severity were evaluated. IL-31 serum levels were higher in CTCL patients than in controls and higher in SS than in MF. Also, serum IL-31 levels were higher in patients with advanced disease compared to those with early disease, and they correlated positively with lactate dehydrogenase and beta 2-microglobulin levels, as well as with the Sézary cell count. Itch affected 67% of CTCL patients (MF: 47%; SS: 100%). Serum IL-31 levels were higher in itching patients than in controls and in patients without itching. There was no association between serum IL-8 and disease severity, nor with itching. Serum IL-8 levels correlated positively with peripheral blood leukocyte and neutrophil counts in CTCL patients. Our study suggests a role for IL-31 in CTCL-associated itch, especially in advanced disease and SS, offering a rational target for new therapeutic approaches. Increased serum IL-8 observed in some patients may be related to concomitant infections, and its role in exacerbating itch by recruiting neutrophils and promoting the release of neutrophil proteases deserves further investigationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Laser selective patterning of ITO on flexible PET for organic photovoltaics

El plan de empresa, nombrado Huevos del Rancho (HDR) es un proyecto que nació a partir del emprendimiento de dos estudiantes de administración, con ganas de implementar la teoría estudiada en un proyecto real. Esta iniciativa que al principio fue una idea simple, terminó convirtiéndose en un proyecto de vida. Huevos del Rancho se dedica a la producción, distribución y comercialización de huevos orgánicos. Sus productos y procesos cuentan con valores agregados y diferenciados que han permitido generar un modelo único de producción y de distribución del producto en los mercados objetivos. A pesar de que HDR ya inició operaciones en esta actividad de manera empírica en el 2010, sus resultados brindaron a los socios una visión del verdadero potencial que recaía en este negocio. El principal fundamento que se inculcó en los socios fue empezar a pensar en grande, no en negocio, sino en empresa.The business plan, named Huevos Del Rancho (HDR) is a project born from the entrepreneurial management of two students, wanting to implement the theory studied in a real project. This initiative was at first a simple idea that becomes a life project. Huevos Del Rancho is dedicated to the production, distribution and marketing of organic eggs. Its products and processes have differentiated thanks to the added value and have generated a unique model of production and distribution of the product in target markets. HDR has started operations in this activity empirically since 2010, the results have been very positive to the members, showing the positive behavior of the sector. That"s why the main principle of the partners is to think in big, to think on the creation of an enterprise instead on a simple business.Centro de Estudios Empresariales para la Perdurabilida

Feira multidisciplinar como ferramenta de prevenção à Leptospirose, Esporotricose, Leishmanioses e doença de Chagas: Zoonoses de impacto para o Vale Do Rio Doce (Minas Gerais – Brasil) / Multidisciplinary fair as a tool for the prevention of Leptospirosis, Sporotricrosis, Leishmaniosis and Chagas Disease: impact Zoonoses for Vale Do Rio Doce (Minas Gerais – Brazil)

 As zoonoses são doenças infecciosas transmitidas entre animais e seres humanos. A educação em saúde é uma estratégia importante para a prevenção da leptospirose, esporotricose, leishmanioses e doença de Chagas, as quais são moléstias de impacto para a região do Vale do Rio Doce (Minas Gerais). O objetivo do presente trabalho consiste em narrar a vivência de estudantes das ciências da saúde durante a participação em atividades voltadas para informar acerca das zoonoses em feira multidisciplinar. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo do tipo relato de experiência. Os discentes foram inseridos em colégio público do distrito rural de Xonin de Cima (Governador Valadares) para compor a programação de evento realizado junto à comunidade. Contou-se com a participação de 120 discentes e docentes, além de 500 habitantes do distrito, incluindo: as crianças matriculadas na escola e seus familiares; professores e diretores; e profissionais da saúde e gestores. Alguns dos assuntos trabalhados foram: leptospirose, esporotricose, leishmanioses e doença de Chagas. Nesse eixo temático, 16 acadêmicos de medicina e farmácia foram distribuídos em três estandes e uma sala. Utilizaram-se como recursos educacionais: cinema, exposição de banners ilustrativos, conversas informais, encenações, maquetes, atividades de colorir, jogo da memória, dinâmica de perguntas e respostas, exposição de mostruário com insetos vetores e a distribuição de panfletos e premiações. Os beneficiários das ações participaram ativamente, manifestando dúvidas e opiniões. Percebeu-se a inserção de novos conceitos entre os participantes, principalmente no que se refere a sintomas, etiologia, diagnóstico, tratamento, epidemiologia e prevenção das moléstias abordadas. Houve possibilidade de exercício do empoderamento popular, a partir do fornecimento de subsídios para adoção de medidas profiláticas. O convite direcionado aos profissionais de saúde mostrou-se uma estratégia interessante para a melhoria do cuidado e garantir a continuidade das ações, haja vista que esses trabalhadores podem reforçar os conceitos aprendidos durante seus atendimentos. A adesão expressiva e os vários elogios ao projeto por parte da coletividade foram notórios. Devido aos múltiplos pontos positivos observados, recomenda-se a reprodução dessa experiência em outras localidades

Emergent and re-emergent parasites in HIV-infected children: immunological and socio-environmental conditions that are involved in the transmission of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp.

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Emergent and re-emergent waterborne protozoans have become a worldwide public health problem, especially among vulnerable groups. METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated 17 HIV-infected children and their families. RESULTS: A high (76.5%) percentage of parasite-infected children was observed, even among children with CD4+ T-cell counts of >200 cells/mm3. Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Cyclospora spp. were observed in 41.2% of these children Low income, poor hygiene practices, and co-infection in domestic, peridomestic and scholastic environments were significant sources of these intestinal infections. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis, timely treatment, and socio-educational interventions may improve the health conditions of this vulnerable population