Health impacts of exposure to second hand smoke (SHS) amongst a highly exposed workforce: survey of London casino workers

BACKGROUND: Casino workers are exposed to high levels of secondhand smoke (SHS) at work, yet remain at risk of being excluded from smoke-free legislation around the world. If the prime motivation for smoke-free legislation is the protection of workers, then a workforce experiencing ill-health associated with SHS exposure should not be excluded from legislation. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of respiratory and sensory irritation symptoms among a sample of casino workers, to identify any association between the reporting of symptoms and exposure to SHS at work, and to compare the prevalence of symptoms with that in other workers exposed to SHS. METHODS: A postal questionnaire survey of 1568 casino workers in London. Using multivariate analysis we identified predictors of respiratory and sensory irritation symptoms. RESULTS: 559 workers responded to the questionnaire (response of 36%). 91% of casino workers reported the presence of one or more sensory irritation symptoms in the previous four weeks, while the figure was 84% for respiratory symptoms. The presence of one or more sensory irritation symptoms was most strongly associated with reporting the highest exposure to SHS at work (OR 3.26; 1.72, 6.16). This was also true for reporting the presence of one or more respiratory irritation symptoms (OR 2.24; 1.34, 3.74). Prevalence of irritation symptoms in the casino workers was in general appreciably higher than that reported in studies of bar workers. CONCLUSION: Our research supports the need for comprehensive smoke-free legislation around the world, covering all indoor workplaces including casinos

Multiple Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Strains Are Associated with Disease Outbreaks in Sudan, 2008–2009

The tick-borne virus which causes the disease Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is known to be widely distributed throughout much of Africa, Southern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Southern Russia. Humans contract the virus from contact with infected people, infected animals (which do not show symptoms), and from the bite of infected ticks. CCHF was recently recognized in the Sudan when several hospital staff and patients died from the disease in a rural hospital. The genetic analysis of viruses associated with the 2008 and 2009 outbreaks shows that several CCHF viral strains currently circulate and cause human outbreaks in the Sudan, highlighting CCHF virus as an emerging pathogen. The Sudanese strains are similar to others circulating in Africa, indicating movement of virus over large distances with introduction and disease outbreaks in rural areas possible. Understanding the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases such as CCHF is especially important in the Sudan given the large numbers of livestock in the country, and their importance to the economy and rural communities. It is imperative that hospital staff consider CCHF as a possible disease agent, since they are at a high risk of contracting the disease, especially in hospitals with limited medical supplies

Genomic organisation of the Mal d 1 gene cluster on linkage group 16 in apple

European populations exhibit progressive sensitisation to food allergens, and apples are one of the foods for which sensitisation is observed most frequently. Apple cultivars vary greatly in their allergenic characteristics, and a better understanding of the genetic basis of low allergenicity may therefore allow allergic individuals to increase their fruit intake. Mal d 1 is considered to be a major apple allergen, and this protein is encoded by the most complex allergen gene family. Not all Mal d 1 members are likely to be involved in allergenicity. Therefore, additional knowledge about the existence and characteristics of the different Mal d 1 genes is required. In the present study, we investigated the genomic organisation of the Mal d 1 gene cluster in linkage group 16 of apple through the sequencing of two bacterial artificial chromosome clones. The results provided new information on the composition of this family with respect to the number and orientation of functional and pseudogenes and their physical distances. The results were compared with the apple and peach genome sequences that have recently been made available. A broad analysis of the whole apple genome revealed the presence of new genes in this family, and a complete list of the observed Mal d 1 genes is supplied. Thus, this study provides an important contribution towards a better understanding of the genetics of the Mal d 1 family and establishes the basis for further research on allelic diversity among cultivars in relation to variation in allergenicity

Estrogen- and Progesterone (P4)-Mediated Epigenetic Modifications of Endometrial Stromal Cells (EnSCs) and/or Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells (MSCs) in the Etiopathogenesis of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common chronic inflammatory condition in which endometrial tissue appears outside the uterine cavity. Because ectopic endometriosis cells express both estrogen and progesterone (P4) receptors, they grow and undergo cyclic proliferation and breakdown similar to the endometrium. This debilitating gynecological disease affects up to 15% of reproductive aged women. Despite many years of research, the etiopathogenesis of endometrial lesions remains unclear. Retrograde transport of the viable menstrual endometrial cells with retained ability for attachment within the pelvic cavity, proliferation, differentiation and subsequent invasion into the surrounding tissue constitutes the rationale for widely accepted implantation theory. Accordingly, the most abundant cells in the endometrium are endometrial stromal cells (EnSCs). These cells constitute a particular population with clonogenic activity that resembles properties of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs). Thus, a significant role of stem cell-based dysfunction in formation of the initial endometrial lesions is suspected. There is increasing evidence that the role of epigenetic mechanisms and processes in endometriosis have been underestimated. The importance of excess estrogen exposure and P4 resistance in epigenetic homeostasis failure in the endometrial/endometriotic tissue are crucial. Epigenetic alterations regarding transcription factors of estrogen and P4 signaling pathways in MSCs are robust in endometriotic tissue. Thus, perspectives for the future may include MSCs and EnSCs as the targets of epigenetic therapies in the prevention and treatment of endometriosis. Here, we reviewed the current known changes in the epigenetic background of EnSCs and MSCs due to estrogen/P4 imbalances in the context of etiopathogenesis of endometriosis

Protection from ultraviolet damage and photocarcinogenesis by vitamin d compounds

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. Exposure of skin cells to UV radiation results in DNA damage, which if inadequately repaired, may cause mutations. UV-induced DNA damage and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species also cause local and systemic suppression of the adaptive immune system. Together, these changes underpin the development of skin tumours. The hormone derived from vitamin D, calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) and other related compounds, working via the vitamin D receptor and at least in part through endoplasmic reticulum protein 57 (ERp57), reduce cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and oxidative DNA damage in keratinocytes and other skin cell types after UV. Calcitriol and related compounds enhance DNA repair in keratinocytes, in part through decreased reactive oxygen species, increased p53 expression and/or activation, increased repair proteins and increased energy availability in the cell when calcitriol is present after UV exposure. There is mitochondrial damage in keratinocytes after UV. In the presence of calcitriol, but not vehicle, glycolysis is increased after UV, along with increased energy-conserving autophagy and changes consistent with enhanced mitophagy. Reduced DNA damage and reduced ROS/RNS should help reduce UV-induced immune suppression. Reduced UV immune suppression is observed after topical treatment with calcitriol and related compounds in hairless mice. These protective effects of calcitriol and related compounds presumably contribute to the observed reduction in skin tumour formation in mice after chronic exposure to UV followed by topical post-irradiation treatment with calcitriol and some, though not all, related compounds

Diffusing capacity limitations of the extent of lung volume reduction surgery in an animal model of emphysema.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate in an elastase-induced emphysema rabbit model the effects of increasing resection volumes during lung volume reduction surgery on pulmonary compliance, forced expiratory air flow, and diffusing capacity to assess factors limiting optimal resection.MethodsEmphysema was induced in 68 New Zealand White rabbits with 15,000 units of aerosolized elastase. Static respiratory system compliance, forced expiratory flow, and single-breath diffusing capacity were measured before the induction of emphysema, after the induction of emphysema, and 1 week after a bilateral upper and middle lobe lung volume reduction operation.ResultsStatic respiratory system compliance with 60 mL insufflation above functional residual capacity increased with emphysema induction and then decreased progressively with resection of larger volumes of lung tissue (P =.001 by analysis of variance). Expiratory flow improved after lung resection in the rabbits with large resection volumes. In contrast, diffusing capacity tended to deteriorate with larger resection volumes (P =. 18).ConclusionImprovements in respiratory system compliance and forced expiratory flow after lung volume reduction operations may account for the improvements seen clinically. Declines in diffusing capacity with extensive lung reduction may limit the clinical benefits associated with greater tissue resection volumes. Future investigations with animal models may reveal other physiologic parameters that may further guide optimal lung volume reduction procedures

Diffusing capacity limitations of the extent of lung volume reduction surgery in an animal model of emphysema.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate in an elastase-induced emphysema rabbit model the effects of increasing resection volumes during lung volume reduction surgery on pulmonary compliance, forced expiratory air flow, and diffusing capacity to assess factors limiting optimal resection.MethodsEmphysema was induced in 68 New Zealand White rabbits with 15,000 units of aerosolized elastase. Static respiratory system compliance, forced expiratory flow, and single-breath diffusing capacity were measured before the induction of emphysema, after the induction of emphysema, and 1 week after a bilateral upper and middle lobe lung volume reduction operation.ResultsStatic respiratory system compliance with 60 mL insufflation above functional residual capacity increased with emphysema induction and then decreased progressively with resection of larger volumes of lung tissue (P =.001 by analysis of variance). Expiratory flow improved after lung resection in the rabbits with large resection volumes. In contrast, diffusing capacity tended to deteriorate with larger resection volumes (P =. 18).ConclusionImprovements in respiratory system compliance and forced expiratory flow after lung volume reduction operations may account for the improvements seen clinically. Declines in diffusing capacity with extensive lung reduction may limit the clinical benefits associated with greater tissue resection volumes. Future investigations with animal models may reveal other physiologic parameters that may further guide optimal lung volume reduction procedures