Particle size emissions from PVC electrical cable fires

Electrical cables are in every building and form a significant part of fire loads and can through electrical faults be the first item burnt in some fires. PVC insulated cables are still quite common in buildings and this work investigates Prysmian PVC cables. Deaths and injuries in fires are dominated by the influence of toxic smoke emissions and most of the work on the hazards of smoke are concerned with the toxic gases such as CO. However, fires are large producers of particulate material at levels over 1000 times that in controlled combustion and there is little knowledge of the role of ultra-fine particles in fires and none at all for electrical cable fires. The cone calorimeter fire material testing equipment was used in the present work, which is an ideal test procedure for particle size measurement, as controlled dilution (100/1) of the fire products occurs which enabled diluted samples to be used for particulate number measurement. The Cambustion DMS500 transient particle size analyser was used to determine the particle size distribution. The cone calorimeter uses a 100mm square test specimen and this was filled with 10 100mm lengths of the PVC cable. The test specimen was on a load cell so that the mass burn rate was determined. The cone calorimeter ignites the specimen using a conical electrical heater that is calibrated to achieve a control radiant heat flux on the test specimen, which was 35 kW/m2 in the present work. The fire occurred in a restricted air supply with an insulated air box around the 100mm square test fire. A chimney on the conical heater exit was used to obtain a raw gas sample for toxic gas analysis using a heated Gasmet FTIR. For gases dilution is undesirable as oxidation of the toxic gases may occur. For particles the chimney temperature was too low for carbon oxidation to be significant. The dilution process also condenses unburned hydrocarbons and carbonyl species, which may form nano aerosols and these may be the source of the 10nm particles measured in the present work. HCl is a major product of PVC fires and hence hydrochloric acid aerosols are likely in the particulate measurements. In previous work of the authors, PVC cable fires were investigated with free ventilation and HCl yields of about 50% were measured with Acrolein at 5% yield and Formaldyhyde at 3%. Thus there are plenty of liquid aerosol possible in the diluted products of PVC fires. The results showed a large nuclei number peak at about 10nm. The coarse particle peak only started after flaming combustion occurred and this was initially at 200nm, which increased to 300nm after 1000s. The 10nm peak was high for the first 200s, then dropped dramatically and slowly reformed later in the fire and at the end of the fire was very high with a low coarse particle peak. The FTIR gas species will be used to speculate on the likely composition of the nanoaerosols as a function of time in the fire

Diet during pregnancy and infancy, and risk of allergic or autoimmune disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: There is uncertainty about the influence of diet during pregnancy and infancy on a child’s immune development. We assessed whether variations in maternal or infant diet can influence risk of allergic or autoimmune disease. Methods and findings: Two authors selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess certainty of findings. We searched Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), Web of Science, Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Literatura Latino Americana em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) between January 1946 and July 2013 for observational studies and until December 2017 for intervention studies that evaluated the relationship between diet during pregnancy, lactation, or the first year of life and future risk of allergic or autoimmune disease. We identified 260 original studies (964,143 participants) of milk feeding, including 1 intervention trial of breastfeeding promotion, and 173 original studies (542,672 participants) of other maternal or infant dietary exposures, including 80 trials of maternal (n = 26), infant (n = 32), or combined (n = 22) interventions. Risk of bias was high in 125 (48%) milk feeding studies and 44 (25%) studies of other dietary exposures. Evidence from 19 intervention trials suggests that oral supplementation with nonpathogenic micro-organisms (probiotics) during late pregnancy and lactation may reduce risk of eczema (Risk Ratio [RR] 0.78; 95% CI 0.68–0.90; I2 = 61%; Absolute Risk Reduction 44 cases per 1,000; 95% CI 20–64), and 6 trials suggest that fish oil supplementation during pregnancy and lactation may reduce risk of allergic sensitisation to egg (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.53–0.90; I2 = 15%; Absolute Risk Reduction 31 cases per 1,000; 95% CI 10–47). GRADE certainty of these findings was moderate. We found weaker support for the hypotheses that breastfeeding promotion reduces risk of eczema during infancy (1 intervention trial), that longer exclusive breastfeeding is associated with reduced type 1 diabetes mellitus (28 observational studies), and that probiotics reduce risk of allergic sensitisation to cow’s milk (9 intervention trials), where GRADE certainty of findings was low. We did not find that other dietary exposures—including prebiotic supplements, maternal allergenic food avoidance, and vitamin, mineral, fruit, and vegetable intake—influence risk of allergic or autoimmune disease. For many dietary exposures, data were inconclusive or inconsistent, such that we were unable to exclude the possibility of important beneficial or harmful effects. In this comprehensive systematic review, we were not able to include more recent observational studies or verify data via direct contact with authors, and we did not evaluate measures of food diversity during infancy. Conclusions: Our findings support a relationship between maternal diet and risk of immune-mediated diseases in the child. Maternal probiotic and fish oil supplementation may reduce risk of eczema and allergic sensitisation to food, respectively

Cholic acid resistance and the adherence ability of Bifidobacterium pseudocaenulatum G4

The adherence capacity of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4 on HT-29 human epithelium cell line with the presence of cholic acid were assessed. B. longum BB536 showed a higher adhesion level on HT-29 human epithelium cell line compared to B. psudocatenulatumG4. However, in the presence of physiological concentration (0.094 and 0.94 ìM) of cholic acid, the adhesion level of Bifidobacterium strains dropped between 5 and 55% respectively, depending on pH, time and strain. The adaptation of Bifidobacterium strains to cholic acid was shown to be increasedwith time. It was concluded that the acquisition of cholic acid resistance by those Bifidobacterium strains promoted changes in the adhesion ability on HT-29 human epithelium cell line

Emerging pharmacotherapy for cancer patients with cognitive dysfunction

Advances in the diagnosis and multi-modality treatment of cancer have increased survival rates for many cancer types leading to an increasing load of long-term sequelae of therapy, including that of cognitive dysfunction. The cytotoxic nature of chemotherapeutic agents may also reduce neurogenesis, a key component of the physiology of memory and cognition, with ramifications for the patient's mood and other cognition disorders. Similarly radiotherapy employed as a therapeutic or prophylactic tool in the treatment of primary or metastatic disease may significantly affect cognition. A number of emerging pharmacotherapies are under investigation for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction experienced by cancer patients. Recent data from clinical trials is reviewed involving the stimulants modafinil and methylphenidate, mood stabiliser lithium, anti-Alzheimer's drugs memantine and donepezil, as well as other agents which are currently being explored within dementia, animal, and cell culture models to evaluate their use in treating cognitive dysfunction

Primary Hepatocellular carcinoma: management and prognosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes high mortality worldwide with 50 per cent of them in China. HCC cases are as a result of a viral hepatitis (hepatitis B or hepatitis C), metabolic toxins such as alcohol or aflatoxin, conditions like hemochromatosis and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The high prevalence rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV occurs in African and Asian countries. The markers of hepatitis C infection (positive-anti HCV) are found in 80% - 90% patients in Japan, 70% in Egypt, 40- 50% in Pakistan and 35-40% in Saudi Arabia. China is classified as high endemic area with 8% - 20 % prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Other Asian countries are characterized as moderate to high prevalence rate of HBV in their population. The prevalence of HBV infection in children has declined in countries since the beginning of the vaccination. Chronic infections of hepatitis B and/or C can aid the development of HCC by repeatedly causing body’s immune system to attack the liver cells, some of which are infected by the virus. Aflatoxin is a carcinogen and aids carcinogenesis of HCC in the liver. Ultrasound and imaging modalities are used to aid in the diagnosis. Therapies include surgical resection, interventional radiology, and liver transplant. Prognosis for metastatic or unresectable HCC has improved due to sorafenib (Nexavar ®). Prevention of hepatitis B or C infection, childhood vaccination, reduce alcohol intake and avoiding the risk factors is the key to prevent HCC

Effectiveness of ranitidine bismuth citrate and proton pump inhibitor based triple therapies of Helicobacter pylori in Turkey

Background : Helicobacter pylori infection is the main cause of gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer disease, MALT lymphoma, and adenocarcinoma of the stomach. The reported prevalence of H. pylori in the adult population in Turkey is 67.6%–81.3%. A national meta-analysis showed that the average H. pylori eradication rate with proton pump inhibitor-based triple regimens in Turkey had decreased from 84% in 1997 to 55.3% in 2004, suggesting a need to evaluate alternative regimens. Materials and methods : The study was a prospective, single-center trial with a parallel group design. After the selection procedure, consecutive out-patients were assigned to one of six study groups using random sampling numbers. All patients received amoxicillin 1,000 mg b.i.d. and clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d. along with ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.i.d., or omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d., or lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d., or rabeprazole 20 mg b.i.d., or pantoprazole 40 mg b.i.d., or esomeprazole 40 mg b.i.d. for 14 days. Results : When we look at the eradication rates of the treatment groups, only two groups (ranitidine bismuth citrate and rabeprazole groups) had eradication rates greater than 80%, both at intention to treat and per protocol analyses. The other four groups (omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, and esomeprazole groups) showed statistically significant lower eradication rates both at intention to treat (between 57.6 and 66.7%) and per protocol (between 60.3 and 72.1%) analyses when compared with ranitidine bismuth citrate and rabeprazole groups (p<.05). Conclusion : Ranitidine bismuth citrate and/or rabeprazole based triple therapies must be preferred for the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection

Acute and chronic rhinosinusitis, pathophysiology and treatment

Acute sinusitis (ARS) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common condition worldwide.CRS is due to the infection and inflammation of paranasal sinuses. Frequent clinical manifestations of ARS include persistent symptoms with nasal discharge or cough or both, presentation with fever accompanies purulent nasal discharge, and worsening symptoms. Complications of CRS have five stages, preseptal cellulitis, orbital cellulitis, subperiosteal abscess, orbital abscess and cavernous sinus septic thrombosis. Most acute sinusitis generally of viral origin, e,g. rhinoviruses, corona viruses,and influenza viruses. Bacterial pathogen include Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenza and Moraxella catarrhalis. Bacteria found in biofilms have their antibiotic resistant increased up to 1000 times when compared to bacteria free living of same species. Sinusitis also results from fungal invasion in patients with diabetes, immune deficiencies, and AIDSor transplant patients. Bacterial and viral sinusitis are difficult to distinguish. The diagnosis of acute sinusitis should be on clinical presentation in most patients CT scan of sinuses is useful for patients with complications and in patients in whom sinus surgery is considered. MRI may have a role in the diagnosis of fungal rhinitis. The benefit of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is its ability for a more targeted approach. Recently developed treatment by balloon sinuplasty is promising. A short-course of antibiotics is helpful in clinically diagnosed bacterial sinusitis without complicating factors

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

Data management and protection in occupational and environmental exposome research - A case study from the EU-funded EXIMIOUS project

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 874707. The authors would also like to acknowledge the continued support from colleagues of the KU Leuven- European and International Projects LRD (Katrijn De Brucker, Myriam Witvrouw, Elke Lammertyn) , the KU Leuven- Legal Department LRD (Joke Willems) , KU Leuven IT Network Support (Gert Goos)