The 1960 Presidential Election in Florida: Did the Space Race and the National Prestige Issue Play an Important Role?

The landmark launch of Sputnik on October 4, 1957, and the subsequent perception that the United States trailed the Soviet Union, not only in space but also in missiles, plagued the Eisenhower Administration for the rest of the decade. The Democratic Party strategy for the 1960 presidential election included using the space race, the alleged missile gap, and declining American prestige abroad to illustrate the need for new leadership in the White House. Senator John F. Kennedy, the Democratic nominee, effectively raised these issues throughout the general election to support his New Frontier program and won by the narrowest popular vote margin in history. Yet, using the same themes during his tour of Florida, Kennedy failed to carry the state. An influx of Republican voters from other states, the absence of crucial Democratic voting blocs, and a considerable defection of registered Democrats contributed to Vice President Richard M. Nixon\u27s Florida victory. Analysis of major Florida newspapers revealed that Kennedy\u27s religion, the liberal Democratic platform, referenda on proposed amendments to the state constitution, and state office races generated more interest than the space race, despite the presence of Cape Canaveral as the primary launch facility for the U.S. space program. Kennedy\u27s religion, civil rights, and states rights emerged as the key issues for Florida voters and compelled many Democrats to vote for Nixon as the only alternative or in protest. PALMM

The U.S. Travel Health Pharmacists’ Role in a Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Era

Background: Many countries have enforced strict regulations on travel since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic in December 2019. However, with the development of several vaccines and tests to help identify it, international travel has mostly resumed in the United States (US). Community pharmacists have long been highly accessible to the public and are capable of providing travel health services and are in an optimal position to provide COVID-19 patient care services to those who are now starting to travel again. Objectives: (1) To discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the practice of travel health and pharmacist provided travel health services in the US and (2) to discuss the incorporation COVID-19 prevention measures, as well as telehealth and other technologies, into travel health care services. Methods: A literature review was undertaken utilizing the following search engines and internet websites: PubMed, Google Scholar, Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC),World Health Organization (WHO), and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to identify published articles on pharmacist and pharmacy-based travel health services and patient care in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many country’s entry requirements which may now include COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and/or masking requirements in country. Telehealth and other technological advancements may further aid the practice of travel health by increasing patient access to care. Conclusions: Community pharmacists should consider incorporating COVID-19 vaccination and testing services in their travel health practices in order to meet country-specific COVID-19 entry requirements. Further, pharmacists should consider utilizing telehealth and other technologies to increase access to care while further limiting the potential spread and impact of COVID-19

Hop and Acacia Phytochemicals Decreased Lipotoxicity in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes, db/db Mice, and Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome

The plant-based compounds rho-iso-alpha acids (RIAA) from Humulus lupulus (hops) and proanthocyanidins (PAC) from Acacia nilotica have been shown to modulate insulin signaling in vitro. We investigated their effects on triglyceride (TG) deposition in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, glucose and insulin in obese mouse models, and metabolic syndrome markers in adults with metabolic syndrome. The combination of RIAA and PAC synergistically increased TG content and adiponectin secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes under hyperinsulinemic conditions and reduced glucose or insulin in obese mice. In a clinical trial, tablets containing 100 mg RIAA and 500 mg PAC or placebo were administered to metabolic syndrome subjects (3 tablets/day, n = 35; 6 tablets/day, n = 34; or placebo, n = 35) for 12 weeks. Compared to placebo, subjects taking 3 tablets daily showed greater reductions in TG, TG : HDL, fasting insulin, and HOMA scores. The combination of RIAA : PAC at 1 : 5 (wt : wt) favorably modulates dysregulated lipids in insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome

Saliva cortisol and exposure to aircraft noise in six European countries

BACKGROUND: Several studies show an association between exposure to aircraft or road traffic noise and cardiovascular effects, which may be mediated by a noise-induced release of stress hormones. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess saliva cortisol concentration in relation to exposure to aircraft noise. METHOD: A multicenter cross-sectional study, HYENA (Hypertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports), comprising 4,861 persons was carried out in six European countries. In a subgroup of 439 study participants, selected to enhance the contrast in exposure to aircraft noise, saliva cortisol was assessed three times (morning, lunch, and evening) during 1 day. RESULTS: We observed an elevation of 6.07 nmol/L [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.32-9.81 nmol/L] in morning saliva cortisol level in women exposed to aircraft noise at an average 24-hr sound level (L(Aeq,24h)) > 60 dB, compared with women exposed to L(Aeq,24h) < or = 50 dB, corresponding to an increase of 34%. Employment status appeared to modify the response. We found no association between noise exposure and saliva cortisol levels in men. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that exposure to aircraft noise increases morning saliva cortisol levels in women, which could be of relevance for noise-related cardiovascular effects

Utjecaj buke u okolišu na uzrujanost odraslih stanovnika Skopja: presječno istraživanje

The aim of this study was to identify noise exposure indicators during day and night in the city of Skopje and to see if there is an association between these noise exposure indicators and annoyance. We have performed noise measurements and interviewed 510 adult subjects, using a questionnaire, prepared according to the ISO/TS-15666 standard. Average noise level over the day (Lday) was (62±6.45) dB(A) and over night (Lnight) (56±6.52) dB(A). Thirteen percent of subjects reported a high level, and 33.5 % moderate level of annoyance. The most annoying noise sources were construction activities (34 % of the subjects), road traffic (24 %), and leisure/entertainment activities (18 %). We found a significant association between exposure to Lday in the range 61 dB(A) to 65 dB(A) and annoyance in the exposed population (chi-square=86.14; p<0.001; Spearman’s R=0.45; p<0.05). During the night time annoyance was reported with exposure to Lnight above 46 dB(A). Levels of annoyance in Macedonia are similar to levels in developed European countries. Differences are in the source of noise. This study has shown that environmental noise is a significant hazard in urban environments, and assessment of annoyance may prove a useful tool for town planners and public health policy makers.Cilj ovog ispitivanja bio je utvrditi dnevne i noćne razine buke u Skopju te njihovu povezanost s osjećajem uzrujanosti u izloženoj populaciji. Provedena su mjerenja buke te razgovori s 510 odraslih ispitanika s pomoću upitnika sastavljenog prema normi ISO/TS-15666. Prosječna dnevna razina buke iznosila je (62±6,45) dB(A), a noćna (56±6,52) dB(A). Trinaest posto ispitanika iskazalo je izrazitu, a 33,5 % umjerenu uzrujanost. Ispitanicima je najviše smetala buka s gradilišta (34 %), prometna buka (24 %) te buka proizišla iz aktivnosti u slobodnome vremenu (18 %). Utvrdili smo statistički značajnu povezanost između dnevne izloženosti buci u rasponu od 61 dB(A) do 65 dB(A) i uzrujanosti (hi-kvadrat=86,14; p<0,001) te statistički značajnu korelaciju (R=0,45; p<0,05). Povezanost između izloženosti noćnoj buci i uzrujanosti utvrđena je već pri 46 dB(A), a napose pri >56 dB(A), uz značajnu korelaciju (R=0,04; p<0,05). Razine uzrujanosti stanovnika Skopja zbog buke slične su onima u razvijenim europskim zemljama. Postoje međutim razlike u izvorima buke, koji su u našem ispitivanju ponajviše građevinske djelatnosti, cestovni promet te buka proizišla iz aktivnosti u slobodno vrijeme. Istraživanje je pokazalo da je procjena uzrujanosti stanovništva vrijedan podatak koji može poslužiti kod izrade urbanističkih planova i javnozdravstvene politike

Indoor Air in Beauty Salons and Occupational Health Exposure of Cosmetologists to Chemical Substances

The indoor environment in four beauty salons located in Athens (Greece) was examined in order to investigate the occupational health exposure of cosmetologists to various chemical products typically used in their work. Chemical substances chosen for investigation were volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, ozone and carbon dioxide. Total VOCs levels measured showed significant variation (100–1,450 μg m−3) depending on the products used and the number of treatments carried out, as well as ventilation. The main VOCs found in the salons were aromatics (toluene, xylene), esters and ketones (ethyl acetate, acetone, etc.) which are used as solvents in various beauty products; terpenes (pinene, limonene, camphor, menthenol) which have a particular odor and others like camphor which have specific properties. Ozone concentrations measured in all salons were quite low (0.1 and 13.3 μg m−3) and formaldehyde concentrations detected were lower than the detection limit of the method in all salons (<0.05 ppm). Carbon dioxide levels ranged between 402 and 1,268 ppm, depending on the number of people present in the salons during measurements and ventilation. Cosmetologists may be exposed to high concentrations of a mixture of volatile organic compounds although these levels could be decreased significantly by following certain practices such as good ventilation of the areas, closing the packages of the beauty products when not in use and finally selecting safer beauty products without strong odor