Inhalation health risk assessment of ambient PM2.5 and associated trace elements in Cape Town, South Africa

This manuscript was part of the Ph.D. project of Anna Alfeus. Prof Janine Wichmann and Dr. Joyce Shirinde supervised the Ph.D. thesis.DATA AVAILABILITY : The authors are working on other manuscripts with the data, hence the data is not available to the public.Please read abstract in article.The University of Pretoria doctoral bursary, University of Namibia Staff Development office, the AGNES grant office and analysis funding with an NRF grant.https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/bher20hj2023School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH

Substantial Decrease in Comorbidity 5 Years After Gastric Bypass : A Population-based Study From the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry

OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate effect on comorbid disease and weight loss 5 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery for morbid obesity in a large nationwide cohort. BACKGROUND:: The number patients having surgical procedures to treat obesity and obesity-related disease are increasing. Yet, population-based, long-term outcome studies are few. METHODS:: Data on 26,119 individuals [75.8% women, 41.0 years, and body mass index (BMI) 42.8?kg/m] undergoing primary RYGB between May 1, 2007 and June 30, 2012, were collected from 2 Swedish quality registries: Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry and the Prescribed Drug Registry. Weight, remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, depression, and sleep apnea, and changes in corresponding laboratory data were studied. Five-year follow-up was 100% (9774 eligible individuals) for comorbid diseases. RESULTS:: BMI decreased from 42.8?±?5.5 to 31.2?±?5.5?kg/m at 5 years, corresponding to 27.7% reduction in total body weight. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (15.5%–5.9%), hypertension (29.7%–19.5%), dyslipidemia (14.0%–6.8%), and sleep apnea (9.6%–2.6%) was reduced. Greater weight loss was a positive prognostic factor, whereas increasing age or BMI at baseline was a negative prognostic factor for remission. The use of antidepressants increased (24.1%–27.5%). Laboratory status was improved, for example, fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin decreased from 6.1 to 5.4?mmol/mol and 41.8% to 37.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:: In this nationwide study, gastric bypass resulted in large improvements in obesity-related comorbid disease and sustained weight loss over a 5-year period. The increased use of antidepressants warrants further investigation

Wood smoke particles from different combustion phases induce similar pro-inflammatory effects in a co-culture of monocyte and pneumocyte cell lines

Background Exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been linked to several adverse cardiopulmonary effects, probably via biological mechanisms involving inflammation. The pro-inflammatory potential of PM depends on the particles’ physical and chemical characteristics, which again depend on the emitting source. Wood combustion is a major source of ambient air pollution in Northern countries during the winter season. The overall aim of this study was therefore to investigate cellular responses to wood smoke particles (WSPs) collected from different phases of the combustion cycle, and from combustion at different temperatures. Results WSPs from different phases of the combustion cycle induced very similar effects on pro-inflammatory mediator release, cytotoxicity and cell number, whereas WSPs from medium-temperature combustion were more cytotoxic than WSPs from high-temperature incomplete combustion. Furthermore, comparisons of effects induced by native WSPs with the corresponding organic extracts and washed particles revealed that the organic fraction was the most important determinant for the WSP-induced effects. However, the responses induced by the organic fraction could generally not be linked to the content of the measured polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), suggesting that also other organic compounds were involved. Conclusion The toxicity of WSPs seems to a large extent to be determined by stove type and combustion conditions, rather than the phase of the combustion cycle. Notably, this toxicity seems to strongly depend on the organic fraction, and it is probably associated with organic components other than the commonly measured unsubstituted PAHs

Source apportionment of fine atmospheric particles in Bloemfontein, South Africa, using positive matrix factorization

DATA AVAILABILITY : Data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information file. Additional data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.Please read abstract in the article.The South African National Research Foundation, the Central Research Fund of the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, and the University of Pretoria. Open access funding provided by University of Gothenburg.http://link.springer.com/journal/10661hj2024School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH)SDG-06:Clean water and sanitationSDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureSDG-11:Sustainable cities and communitie

Acute effects of breaking up prolonged sitting on fatigue and cognition: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the acute effects of uninterrupted sitting with sitting interrupted by brief bouts of light-intensity walking on self-reported fatigue, cognition, neuroendocrine biomarkers and cardiometabolic risk markers in overweight/obese adults. DESIGN: Randomised two-condition crossover trial. SETTING: Laboratory study conducted in Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 19 overweight/obese adults (45-75 years). INTERVENTIONS: After an initial 2 h period seated, participants consumed a meal-replacement beverage and completed (on 2 days separated by a 6-day washout period) each condition over the next 5 h: uninterrupted sitting (sedentary condition) or sitting with 3 min bouts of light-intensity walking every 30 min (active condition). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported fatigue, executive function and episodic memory at 0 h, 4 h and 7 h. SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Neuroendocrine biomarkers and cardiometabolic risk markers (blood collections at 0 h, 4 h and 7 h, blood pressure and heart rate measured hourly and interstitial glucose measured using a continuous glucose monitoring system). RESULTS: During the active condition, fatigue levels were lower at 4 h (-13.32 (95% CI -23.48 to -3.16)) and at 7 h (-10.73 (95% CI -20.89 to -0.58)) compared to the sedentary condition. Heart rate was higher at 4 h (4.47 (95% CI 8.37 to 0.58)) and at 7 h (4.32 (95% CI 8.21 to 0.42)) during the active condition compared to the sedentary condition. There were no significant differences between conditions by time for other variables. In the sedentary condition, changes in fatigue scores over time correlated with a decrease in heart rate and plasma dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and an increase in plasma dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG). CONCLUSIONS: Interrupting prolonged sitting with light-intensity walking breaks may be an effective fatigue countermeasure acutely. Fatigue levels corresponded with the heart rate and neuroendocrine biomarker changes in uninterrupted sitting in this pilot study. Further research is needed to identify potential implications, particularly for the occupational health context. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12613000137796; Results

Stem cell dynamics and pretumor progression in the intestinal tract

Colorectal carcinogenesis is a process that follows a stepwise cascade that goes from the normal to an invisible pretumor stage ultimately leading to grossly visible tumor progression. During pretumor progression, an increasing accumulation of genetic alterations occurs, by definition without visible manifestations. It is generally thought that stem cells in the crypt base are responsible for this initiation of colorectal cancer progression because they are the origin of the differentiated epithelial cells that occupy the crypt. Furthermore, they are characterized by a long life span that enables them to acquire these cumulative mutations. Recent studies visualized the dynamics of stem cells both in vitro and in vivo. Translating this work into clinical applications will contribute to the evaluation of patients’ predisposition for colorectal carcinogenesis and may help in the design of preventive measures for high-risk groups. In this review, we outline the progress made in the research into tracing stem cell dynamics. Further, we highlight the importance and potential clinical value of tracing stem cell dynamics in pretumor progression

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

Rekreationsvärden i Skånes och Blekinges skogar

• En mycket stor del av Sveriges ädellövskogar finns i Skåne och Blekinge. Dessa skogar hyser både stora naturvärden och stora virkesproduktionsvärden. Delar av denna region är glest beskogad och tätt befolkad i jämförelse med övriga Sverige. • Genom att analysera människors resekostnader kan rekreationsvärdet av ett genomsnittligt skogsbesök i Skåne och Blekinge kvantifieras. • Om arealen ädellövskog skulle fördubblas i Skåne och Blekinge så skulle skogens värde som rekreationsmiljö öka med cirka 18 %. En halvering av ädellövskogsarealen skulle resultera i en 20-procentig minskning av rekreationsvärdet. • Förvaltning av skog bör ske genom att analysera och beakta både virkesproduktionen och andra skogliga värden. I vissa fall kan rekreationsvärdet i en skog vara mångfalt större än virkesproduktionsvärde

District Heating Driven Absorption Cooling in Hedemora and Säter

Hedemora Energi produces and distributes district heating in Hedemora and Säter. It is during the summer in these cities, as in the rest of the country, a low heating demand. By offering its customers district heating driven absorption cooling, this could be a way to satisfy more requests while being able to sell more heat and better use the available capacity.  In this thesis the cooling potential in Hedemora and Säter is calculated. Furthermore, the impact of integrated absorption chillers on district heating production, as well as absorption cooling profitability for Hedemora Energi is investigated. Simulations and calculations show that the system need to be adjusted for absorption cooling by increasing the supply temperatures during the hours that they are below the requirements of the absorption chillers. In addition, the adjustments cause raised return temperatures and altered flows in the network. This results in increased fuel costs and heat losses, reduced flow revenues and reduced heat supplies from flue gas condensers. Despite this, the economic results are positive for all cases. For example, over 44 thousand SEK in annual profit after integration of absorption chillers, producing 422 MWh of cooling in Skönvik, Säter

A program evaluation report for the period 2006-2012

The report is an evaluation of five years of Linnaeus-Palme exchange programme between the chemistry departments at University of Gothenburg, Sweden and University of the West Indies, Jamaica. The exchange programme gives students and teachers at the two universities the possibility to study and teach at the partner university to better understand the international implications of studies and teaching but also from a more general standpoint. The outcomes were evaluated by participants’ reports, questionnaires and discussions with the participants and heads of department. The result of the evaluation is a positive response from all partners; students, teachers, coordinators, departmental heads. They report a high degree of satisfaction, a better understanding of cultural differences and the students rate a better self-confidence high