Exposure assessment to support on-farm risk characterisation for pesticides

C. D. Brown, K. Lewis, and A. Hart, ‘Exposure assessment to support on-farm risk characterisation for pesticides’ paper presented at the European Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), 26 -29 August 20001, Copenhagen, Denmark.Peer reviewe

Developmental Exposure of Rats to Chlorpyrifos Elicits Sex-Selective Hyperlipidemia and Hyperinsulinemia in Adulthood

Developmental exposure to chlorpyrifos alters cell signaling both in the brain and in peripheral tissues, affecting the responses to a variety of neurotransmitters and hormones. We administered 1 mg/kg/day chlorpyrifos to rats on postnatal days 1–4, a regimen below the threshold for systemic toxicity. When tested in adulthood, chlorpyrifos-exposed animals displayed elevations in plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, without underlying alterations in nonesterified free fatty acids and glycerol. This effect was restricted to males. Similarly, in the postprandial state, male rats showed hyperinsulinemia in the face of normal circulating glucose levels but demonstrated appropriate reduction of circulating insulin concentrations after fasting. These outcomes and sex selectivity resemble earlier findings at the cellular level, which identified hepatic hyperresponsiveness to gluconeogenic inputs from β-adrenoceptors or glucagon receptors. Our results thus indicate that apparently subtoxic neonatal chlorpyrifos exposure, devoid of effects on viability or growth but within the parameters of human fetal or neonatal exposures, produce a metabolic pattern for plasma lipids and insulin that resembles the major adult risk factors for atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Protocol for the economic evaluation of a complex intervention to improve the mental health of maltreated infants and children in foster care in the UK (The BeST? services trial)

Introduction: Children who have experienced abuse and neglect are at increased risk of mental and physical health problems throughout life. This places an enormous burden on individuals, families and society in terms of health services, education, social care and judiciary sectors. Evidence suggests that early intervention can mitigate the negative consequences of child maltreatment, exerting long-term positive effects on the health of maltreated children entering foster care. However, evidence on cost-effectiveness of such complex interventions is limited. This protocol describes the first economic evaluation of its kind in the UK. Methods and analysis: An economic evaluation alongside the Best Services Trial (BeST?) has been prospectively designed to identify, measure and value key resource and outcome impacts arising from the New Orleans intervention model (NIM) (an infant mental health service) compared with case management (CM) (enhanced social work services as usual). A within-trial economic evaluation and long-term model from a National Health Service/Personal Social Service and a broader societal perspective will be undertaken alongside the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)–Public Health Research Unit (PHRU)-funded randomised multicentre BeST?. BeST? aims to evaluate NIM compared with CM for maltreated children entering foster care in a UK context. Collection of Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and the recent mapping of PedsQL to EuroQol-5-Dimensions (EQ-5D) will facilitate the estimation of quality-adjusted life years specific to the infant population for a cost–utility analysis. Other effectiveness outcomes will be incorporated into a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost-consequences analysis (CCA). A long-term economic model and multiple economic evaluation frameworks will provide decision-makers with a comprehensive, multiperspective guide regarding cost-effectiveness of NIM. The long-term population health economic model will be developed to synthesise trial data with routine linked data and key government sector parameters informed by literature. Methods guidance for population health economic evaluation will be adopted (lifetime horizon, 1.5% discount rate for costs and benefits, CCA framework, multisector perspective). Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval was obtained by the West of Scotland Ethics Committee. Results of the main trial and economic evaluation will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal as well as published in the peer-reviewed NIHR journals library (Public Health Research Programme). Trial registration number: NCT02653716; Pre-results

Feather Mites Are Positively Associated with Daily Survival in Cliff Swallows

Feather mites (Acari: Astigmata) have been reported to be parasitic, commensal, and even mutualis-tic on the birds that serve as their hosts. We investigated whether there was a relationship between number of feather mites (Pteronyssoides obscurus (Berlese, 1885)) on the wing and daily survival of cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Vieillot, 1817)) during the breeding season at 12 nesting colonies in Nebraska in 2005. Survival of birds with known mite loads was monitored by mark–recapture, and survival models with and without a linear effect of mites were compared with the program MARK. For adult swallows, mites were positively associated with daily survival at six colonies, negatively associated at two colonies, and there was no relationship at four colonies. For recently fledged juveniles studied at two colonies, survival varied positively with mite load at one, while the other showed no relationship. Feather mites may provide direct benefits to cliff swallows by consuming old oil, pollen, fungi, and harmful bacteria on the feathers or by preempting resources used by deleterious fungi or bacteria. The data do not support a truly parasitic relationship in which mites are costly to cliff swallows; these particular feather mites may be beneficial mutualists. Les acariens des plumes (Acari : Astigmata) sont connus pour être des parasites, des commensaux et même des symbiotes des oiseaux qui leur servent d’hôtes. Nous avons vérifié s’il existe une relation entre le nombre d’acariens des plumes (Pteronyssoides obscurus (Berlese, 1885)) sur les ailes et la survie journalière des hirondelles à front blanc (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Vieillot, 1817)) durant la saison de reproduction dans 12 colonies de nidification au Nebraska en 2005. Nous avons suivi la survie d’oiseaux avec une charge d’acariens connue par marquage et recapture; nous avons comparé au moyen du programme MARK les modèles de survie avec et sans effet linéaire des acariens. Chez les hirondelles adultes, il y a une association positive entre les acariens et la survie journalière à six des colonies, une association négative à deux colonies et aucune association aux quatre colonies. Chez les jeunes qui viennent de prendre leur envol étudiés à deux colonies, la survie varie positivement en fonction de la charge d’acariens dans une colonie, mais à l’autre il n’y a pas de relation. Les acari-ens des plumes fournissent peut-être des bénéfices directs aux hirondelles à front blanc en consom-mant le vieux mazout, le pollen, les champignons et les bactéries nuisibles sur les plumes ou alors en accaparant les ressources utilisées par les champignons et bactéries délétères. Nos données n’ap-puient pas l’existence d’une relation vraiment parasitaire qui pourrait être coûteuse aux hirondelles à front blanc; dans ce casci, les acariens des plumes sont vraisemblablement des symbiotes bénéfiques

Dissecting interferon-induced transcriptional programs in human peripheral blood cells

Interferons are key modulators of the immune system, and are central to the control of many diseases. The response of immune cells to stimuli in complex populations is the product of direct and indirect effects, and of homotypic and heterotypic cell interactions. Dissecting the global transcriptional profiles of immune cell populations may provide insights into this regulatory interplay. The host transcriptional response may also be useful in discriminating between disease states, and in understanding pathophysiology. The transcriptional programs of cell populations in health therefore provide a paradigm for deconvoluting disease-associated gene expression profiles.We used human cDNA microarrays to (1) compare the gene expression programs in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) elicited by 6 major mediators of the immune response: interferons alpha, beta, omega and gamma, IL12 and TNFalpha; and (2) characterize the transcriptional responses of purified immune cell populations (CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, B cells, NK cells and monocytes) to IFNgamma stimulation. We defined a highly stereotyped response to type I interferons, while responses to IFNgamma and IL12 were largely restricted to a subset of type I interferon-inducible genes. TNFalpha stimulation resulted in a distinct pattern of gene expression. Cell type-specific transcriptional programs were identified, highlighting the pronounced response of monocytes to IFNgamma, and emergent properties associated with IFN-mediated activation of mixed cell populations. This information provides a detailed view of cellular activation by immune mediators, and contributes an interpretive framework for the definition of host immune responses in a variety of disease settings

The effects of dyad reading and text difficulty on third-graders’ reading achievement

This study replicated, with modifications, previous research of dyad reading using texts at various levels of difficulty (Morgan, 1997). The current project measured the effects of using above–grade-level texts on reading achievement and sought to determine the influences of dyad reading on both lead and assisted readers. Results indicate that weaker readers, using texts at two, three, and four grade levels above their instructional levels with the assistance of lead readers, outscored both proficient and less proficient students in the control group across multiple measures of reading achievement. However, the gains made by assisted readers were not significantly different relative to the various text levels. When all assessments were considered, assisted readers reading texts two grade levels above their instructional levels showed the most robust gains in oral reading fluency and comprehension. Lead readers also benefited from dyad reading and continued their respective reading developmental trajectories across measures

Learning Our Way Through: Collaborative Self-study in an Evolving Professional Development School (PDS) Partnership

Purpose of study: Professional development schools (PDSs) are essentially learning communities in which all participants increase their knowledge about how teaching and learning works and how best to manage the collaborative enterprise (Goodman, 2002; Horn, 2007; Mantle- Bromley, 2002; Patrizio & Gadja, 2007; Sue, 2002). The National Council for the Accreditation of Teachers (NCATE, 2010), identified PDS as an avenue through which aspiring teachers can be provided the opportunity to integrate theory with practice. In addition, PDS partnerships serve as a vehicle for the professionalization of teachers and systematic examination and evaluation of practice. However, according to the National Association of Professional Development Schools (NAPDS, 2008), many colleges and universities who participate in PDS partnerships do not fully understand the true meaning of PDS. This creates a void between the concept of PDS as originally proposed (Holmes Group, 1990), and the reality of the PDS as it operates in many of the partnerships (Webb-Dempsey, Steel, Shambaugh and Dampsey, 2007). In addition, while interorganizational collaboration is a PDS imperative, it remains complex, multilayered and labor-intensive for both school and university faculty (Patrizio & Gadja, 2007; Rice & Afman, 2002; Su, 2002). This situation calls for a clear understanding of the concept of PDS as well as frequent and systematic review of the goals and objectives of PDS partnerships. The purpose of this study was to better understand one teaching college\u27s collaborative relationship with the partner schools. The study is guided by the following questions. What was the nature of the collaboration between a teaching college and five urban-based PDSs? What were the individual and collective experiences of the faculty as well as other stakeholders in the collaboration? What factors, if any, impacted the collaboration

Randomized controlled pilot study of mindfulness-based stress reduction for persistently fatigued cancer survivors

OBJECTIVE: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common, persistent, and disabling symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment. Evidence-based treatments that are acceptable to patients are critically needed. This study examined the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for CRF and related symptoms. METHOD: A sample of 35 cancer survivors with clinically significant CRF was randomly assigned to a 7-week MBSR-based intervention or wait-list control group. The intervention group received training in mindfulness meditation, yoga, and self-regulatory responses to stress. Fatigue interference (primary outcome) and a variety of secondary outcomes (e.g., fatigue severity, vitality, disability, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Bonferroni correction was employed to account for multiple comparisons. Controls received the intervention after the 1-month follow-up. Participants in both groups were followed for 6 months after completing their respective MBSR courses to assess maintenance of effects. RESULTS: Compared to controls, the MBSR group reported large post-intervention reductions as assessed by effect sizes (d) in the primary outcome, fatigue interference (d = -1.43, p < 0.001), along with fatigue severity (d = -1.55, p < 0.001), vitality (d = 1.29, p < 0.001), depression (d = -1.30, p < 0.001), and sleep disturbance (d = -0.74, p = 0.001). Results were maintained or strengthened at 1-month follow-up, the point at which significant improvements in disability (d = -1.22, p < 0.002) and anxiety (d = -0.98, p = 0.002) occurred. Improvements in all outcomes were maintained 6 months after completing the course. MBSR adherence was high, with 90% attendance across groups and high rates of participant-reported home practice of mindfulness. CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness-based stress reduction is a promising treatment for CRF and associated symptoms