Human Health Risks from Low-Level Environmental Exposures: No Apparent Safety Thresholds

Wigle and Lanphear argue that for many toxins widely dispersed in the environment, even very low levels pose health risks

Kaposin-B Enhances the PROX1 mRNA Stability during Lymphatic Reprogramming of Vascular Endothelial Cells by Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpes Virus

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most common cancer among HIV-positive patients. Histogenetic origin of KS has long been elusive due to a mixed expression of both blood and lymphatic endothelial markers in KS tumor cells. However, we and others discovered that Kaposi's sarcoma herpes virus (KSHV) induces lymphatic reprogramming of blood vascular endothelial cells by upregulating PROX1, which functions as the master regulator for lymphatic endothelial differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that the KSHV latent gene kaposin-B enhances the PROX1 mRNA stability and plays an important role in KSHV-mediated PROX1 upregulation. We found that PROX1 mRNA contains a canonical AU-rich element (ARE) in its 3′-untranslated region that promotes PROX1 mRNA turnover and that kaposin-B stimulates cytoplasmic accumulation of the ARE-binding protein HuR through activation of the p38/MK2 pathway. Moreover, HuR binds to and stabilizes PROX1 mRNA through its ARE and is necessary for KSHV-mediated PROX1 mRNA stabilization. Together, our study demonstrates that kaposin-B plays a key role in PROX1 upregulation during lymphatic reprogramming of blood vascular endothelial cells by KSHV

Le suicide au Québec, 1951-1986 : comparaison avec le Canada

Ce texte porte sur l'évolution du suicide au Québec et dans l'ensemble du Canada de 1951 à 1986. Au cours des dernières années, les taux comparatifs de suicide du Québec ont surpassé ceux du Canada. L'augmentation la plus marquante a été observée chez les jeunes adultes. Certains indicateurs sociaux, notamment le pourcentage de chômeurs et les taux de divortialité, de fécondité et de mortalité due à la cirrhose du foie, sont mis en relation avec le taux comparatif de suicide.This paper analyses the evolution of suicide in Quebec and in Canada between 1951 and 1986. In recent years, the comparative rate of suicide of Quebec has exceeded the Canadian rate. Quebec's rate has particularly increased among young adults. A correlation analysis between suicide rate and some social indicators (unemployment, divorce rate, fertility rate, mortality due to cirrhosis) has also been performed.Este texto trota de la evcHuciôn del suicidio en Québec y en todo el Canada de 1951 a 1986. En el curso de los ûlttmos anos las tazas comparativas del suicidio en Québec han superado los de Canada. La aumentacion la màs notable ha sido observada entre los jovenes adultos. Algunos indicadores sociales, particularmente el porcentqje de los desocupados y las tazas de divorcio, de fecundidad y de mortalidad debido a la ctrrosis del higado, estàn relactonados con la taza comparativa del suicidio

Log-Linear Model for IQ Versus Concurrent Blood Lead Concentration, Adjusted for HOME Score, Maternal Education, Maternal IQ, and Birth Weight

<div><p>The mean IQ (95% confidence intervals) for the intervals <5 µ/dl, 5–10 µ/dl, 10–15 µ/dl, 15–20 µ/dl, and >20 µ/dl are shown.</p> <p>(Figure by authors, adapted from [<a href="http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0020350#pmed-0020350-b11" target="_blank">11</a>]).</p></div