Air Pollution and Lymphocyte Phenotype Proportions in Cord Blood

Effects of air pollution on morbidity and mortality may be mediated by alterations in immune competence. In this study we examined short-term associations of air pollution exposures with lymphocyte immunophenotypes in cord blood among 1,397 deliveries in two districts of the Czech Republic. We measured fine particulate matter < 2.5 μm in diameter (PM(2.5)) and 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 24-hr samples collected by versatile air pollution samplers. Cord blood samples were analyzed using a FACSort flow cytometer to determine phenotypes of CD3(+) T-lymphocytes and their subsets CD4(+) and CD8(+), CD19(+) B-lymphocytes, and natural killer cells. The mothers were interviewed regarding sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, and medical records were abstracted for obstetric, labor and delivery characteristics. During the period 1994 to 1998, the mean daily ambient concentration of PM(2.5) was 24.8 μg/m(3) and that of PAHs was 63.5 ng/m(3). In multiple linear regression models adjusted for temperature, season, and other covariates, average PAH or PM(2.5) levels during the 14 days before birth were associated with decreases in T-lymphocyte phenotype fractions (i.e., CD3(+) CD4(+), and CD8(+)), and a clear increase in the B-lymphocyte (CD19(+)) fraction. For a 100-ng/m(3) increase in PAHs, which represented approximately two standard deviations, the percentage decrease was −3.3% [95% confidence interval (CI), −5.6 to −1.0%] for CD3(+), −3.1% (95% CI, −4.9 to −1.3%) for CD4(+), and −1.0% (95% CI, −1.8 to −0.2%) for CD8(+) cells. The corresponding increase in the CD19(+) cell proportion was 1.7% (95% CI, 0.4 to 3.0%). Associations were similar but slightly weaker for PM(2.5). Ambient air pollution may influence the relative distribution of lymphocyte immunophenotypes of the fetus

The Limits of Liability: Anglo-American Organisations and Vicarious Liability from the 19th Century to the Present

This paper, ‘Limits of Liability’, shall focus on the recent history of the concept of vicarious liability in Anglo-American common law from the 19th century to the present

Books in the News in Cromwellian England

This article offers detailed analysis of the patterns of book advertising in Marchamont Nedham’s government-sponsored newsbook, Mercurius Politicus. It contends that, for a brief period, Politicus was the nearest thing that the mid-seventeenth century had to a literary periodical and contests standard accounts that Politicus was only successful because government monopoly made it so. Instead I show that Politicus was instrumental in creating an image of the Commonwealth and Protectorate as a Republic of Letters; the cheap print of its small advertisements insisted that the publication of a book was an event, that London was a city of the book, and that its inhabitants might respond to the uncertainty of political revolution by eagerly imagining a future comprised of new books as yet unread

European communication networks in the Early Modern Age

Recent contributions to knowledge about early journalism developed in different parts of Europe*Italy, France, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain . . . *have made it possible to trace a fairly precise map for the historical origin of this phenomenon. However, the scope of work carried out with a view to developing frameworks of interpretation to explain the reasons for this appearance is not as far-reaching. This paper reviews the recurring theoretical models found to date in the specific bibliography and proposes a new framework of interpretation, capable of encompassing the complexity and pan-European nature of early journalism in history

The mammalian respiratory system and critical windows of exposure for children's health.

The respiratory system is a complex organ system composed of multiple cell types involved in a variety of functions. The development of the respiratory system occurs from embryogenesis to adult life, passing through several distinct stages of maturation and growth. We review embryonic, fetal, and postnatal phases of lung development. We also discuss branching morphogenesis and cellular differentiation of the respiratory system, as well as the postnatal development of xenobiotic metabolizing systems within the lungs. Exposure of the respiratory system to a wide range of chemicals and environmental toxicants during perinatal life has the potential to significantly affect the maturation, growth, and function of this organ system. Although the potential targets for exposure to toxic factors are currently not known, they are likely to affect critical molecular signals expressed during distinct stages of lung development. The effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke during critical windows of perinatal growth are provided as an example leading to altered cellular and physiological function of the lungs. An understanding of critical windows of exposure of the respiratory system on children's health requires consideration that lung development is a multistep process and cannot be based on studies in adults

Lung C-fiber CNS reflex: role in the respiratory consequences of extended environmental tobacco smoke exposure in young guinea pigs.

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure harms the respiratory health of children and is associated with an increased risk of asthma and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The mechanisms by which ETS causes these effects are not understood. We hypothesized that one mechanism is an upregulation of the lung C-fiber central nervous system (CNS) reflex responses, which would result in exaggerated reflex responses of apnea, bronchoconstriction, and mucous hypersecretion. The purpose of this work is to highlight evidence obtained in an animal model of postnatal ETS exposure supporting the hypothesis and present data suggesting that actions of the neuropeptide substance P in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) may contribute. Exposing young guinea pigs to sidestream smoke, the surrogate for ETS, for 5 weeks during the equivalent of human childhood, increased the excitability of afferent lung C fibers and NTS neurons in the CNS reflex pathway and prolonged the expiratory apnea. The findings suggest that an increased excitability of NTS neurons that can augment reflex output may contribute to respiratory symptoms in children exposed to ETS. Besides ETS exposure, substance P can also excite NTS neurons and augment lung C-fiber CNS reflex responses. Others have shown that substance P synthesis in lung C fibers is upregulated by another environmental stimulant, allergen. Thus, an upregulation of the substance P system at NTS synapses could contribute to the increased NTS excitability and enhanced reflex responses to lung C-fiber stimulation, providing a potential mechanism to help explain the association of ETS exposure with respiratory symptoms and SIDS

Motivación escolar y autoestima en estudiantes de secundaria de una Institución Educativa particular de Chorrillos

El presente trabajo aborda la relación entre la motivación escolar y la autoestima en estudiantes de secundaria de una institución educativa particular del distrito de Chorrillos. El interés al realizar la presente investigación nace de la perdida de interés que se ha detectado ante la observación por los docentes y personal a cargo de la comunidad educativa, tomando gran interés últimamente a lo largo de la pandemia sanitaria, que por la desconexión física, la cierta despersonalización por las clases virtuales, etc. Ha hecho que la motivación escolar se denote más y a esto sumándose la poca autoestima que presentan los estudiantes, siendo variables no trabajadas en su complejidad y que deberían tomar importancia para así obtener adecuados resultados en el área escolar. Ello fue observado en una institución educativa particular del distrito de Chorrillos, en tal sentido, debido a esto surge el objetivo de investigar la relación entre las variables mencionadas en beneficios de los estudiantes, docentes y padres de familia. El presente trabajo está estructurado en cinco capítulos. En el primer capítulo se trabaja el planteamiento del estudio que está conformado por la formulación del problema, justificación del estudio, Además, se presentan los objetivos tanto generales como específicos y las limitaciones del estudio. En el segundo capítulo se presenta el marco teórico, comprendido por marco histórico, antecedentes y las bases teóricas. En el tercer capítulo se aborda lo relacionado a los supuestos científicos básicos, además de plantear la hipótesis general y las hipótesis específicas y también las variables de estudio. En el cuarto capítulo se explica la metodología del estudio, especificando el tipo de investigación realizada, los participantes que fueron parte del estudio, el tipo de instrumento para la recolección de datos y la técnica de procesamiento utilizado. En el quinto capítulo se presentan los resultados descriptivos, los resultados inferenciales, además de la discusión de los resultados. El sexto capítulo comprende las conclusiones, tanto como general y especificas Recomendaciones, el Resumen/Abstract, finalmente se toman en cuenta las referencias de los estudios que se han utilizado y luego los anexo