Proinflammatory Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms in Bullous Pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare autoimmune skin blistering disease, characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against hemidesmosomal autoantigens. Cytokine expression is altered in BP patients, and several of these differently expressed cytokines, including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α, contribute to disease pathogenesis. Since genetic polymorphisms in the genes of these cytokines might be implicated in susceptibility to BP disease, we aimed at testing this implication in susceptibility to BP in an Iranian cohort. Blood samples were collected from the subjects and genomic DNA was extracted. To detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), IL-1α (rs1800587), IL-1β (rs1143627, rs16944, rs1143634), IL-8 (rs4073), and TNF-α (rs1799964, rs1800630, rs1799724, and rs361525) genes were genotyped in BP patients and healthy controls as well as IL-8 (rs4073) in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) patients. Quantitative gene expression was evaluated by RT-PCR analysis. A significant difference was observed in the distribution of genotypes or alleles of IL-8 SNP between the BP patients and controls. The A-allele of IL-8 SNP is significantly more prevalent in the control individuals compared to the BP patient. To further validate this observation, we included PV patients as an additional control. Again, the A-allele of IL-8 SNP is significantly more prevalent in the PV compared to the BP patients. While we observed a trend toward significant differences regarding alleles of TNF-α rs1799724 as well as alleles of TNF-α rs1799964, this difference was, however, not evident after correction for multiple analysis. There was no significant difference in all other studied SNPs. In contrast to IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α, IL-8 gene expression levels were significantly higher in the patients than that of controls. The minor allele in IL-8 SNP might play a protective role in susceptibility to BP in Iranian patients. Although higher expression levels of IL-8 gene was found in the patients compared with healthy controls, these levels, however, suggest no association with the examined polymorphism. Moreover, further investigation revealed an elevation in gene expression between wild and polymorphic genotypes of IL-1α rs1800587 and TNF-α rs361525 in the patient group and these SNPs are therefore associated with altering the levels of gene expression

Aircraft Noise Effects on Sleep-Results of a Pilot Study Near Philadelphia International Airport

Current objective data on aircraft noise effects on sleep are needed in the US to inform policy. In this pilot field study, heart rate and body movements were continuously measured during sleep of residents living in the vicinity of Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and in a control region without aircraft noise with sociodemographic characteristics similar to the exposed region (= 40 subjects each). The primary objective was to establish the feasibility of unattended field measurements. A secondary objective was to compare objective and subjective measures of sleep and health between control and aircraft noise exposed groups. For all measurements, there was less than 10% of data loss, demonstrating the feasibility of unattended home measurements. Based on 2375 recorded aircraft noise events, we found a significant (unadjusted= 0.0136) exposure-response function between the maximum sound pressure level of aircraft noise events and awakening probability inferred from heart rate increases and body movements, which was similar to previous studies. Those living near the airport reported poorer sleep quality and poorer health than the control group in general, but when asked in the morning about their last night's sleep, no significant difference was found between groups. Neither systolic nor diastolic morning blood pressures differed between study regions. While this study demonstrates the feasibility of unattended field study measurements, for a national study around multiple US airports refinements of the study design are necessary to further lower methodological expense and increase participation rates

Aircraft Noise Effects on Sleep—Results of a Pilot Study Near Philadelphia International Airport

Current objective data on aircraft noise effects on sleep are needed in the US to inform policy. In this pilot field study, heart rate and body movements were continuously measured during sleep of residents living in the vicinity of Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and in a control region without aircraft noise with sociodemographic characteristics similar to the exposed region (N = 40 subjects each). The primary objective was to establish the feasibility of unattended field measurements. A secondary objective was to compare objective and subjective measures of sleep and health between control and aircraft noise exposed groups. For all measurements, there was less than 10% of data loss, demonstrating the feasibility of unattended home measurements. Based on 2375 recorded aircraft noise events, we found a significant (unadjusted p = 0.0136) exposure-response function between the maximum sound pressure level of aircraft noise events and awakening probability inferred from heart rate increases and body movements, which was similar to previous studies. Those living near the airport reported poorer sleep quality and poorer health than the control group in general, but when asked in the morning about their last night’s sleep, no significant difference was found between groups. Neither systolic nor diastolic morning blood pressures differed between study regions. While this study demonstrates the feasibility of unattended field study measurements, for a national study around multiple US airports refinements of the study design are necessary to further lower methodological expense and increase participation rates

Pilot Field Study on the Effects of Aircraft Noise on Sleep Around Atlanta International Airport

Aircraft noise can disrupt sleep and impair recuperation. The most recent US investigation on the effects of aircraft noise on sleep was conducted more than 20 years ago. Since then, traffic patterns and noise levels produced by single aircraft have changed substantially. It is therefore important that field studies be conducted in the U.S. to acquire current data on sleep disturbance relative to varying degrees of noise exposure. To inform the design of a larger national study, a pilot field study was conducted around Atlanta Airport. The primary goal was to assess feasibility of acquiring acoustical and physiological data with no investigator on site and equipment mailed to participants who then applied electrodes and started and stopped measurements each night on their own. We mailed 4080 recruitment questionnaires to randomly selected households exposed to aircraft noise (≥35 dB LAEq,23-07,outdoor). Among the 407 respondents, 34 participated in the unattended five night in-home study. Indoor sound levels were determined via measurement. Arousal from sleep was recorded via a device measuring body movement and electrophysiological heart rate. Self-reported sleep was assessed with morning questionnaires. Several ways to improve data quantity and quality were identified. Overall, the approach was found to be feasible

Effectiveness of incentives and follow-up on increasing survey response rates and participation in field studies

Background: Questionnaires are valuable data collection instruments in public health research, and can serve to pre-screen respondents for suitability in future studies. Survey non-response leads to reduced effective sample sizes and can decrease representativeness of the study population, so high response rates are needed to minimize the risk of bias. Here we present results on the success of different postal questionnaire strategies at effecting response, and the effectiveness of these strategies at recruiting participants for a field study on the effects of aircraft noise on sleep.Methods: In total, we mailed 17 rounds of 240 questionnaires (total n = 4080) to randomly selected households around Atlanta International Airport. Different mailing rounds were varied in the length of the questionnaire (11, 26 or 55 questions), survey incentive (gift card or $2 cash), number of follow-up waves (0, 2 or 3), incentive for participating in a 5-night in-home sleep study ($100, $150 or$200), and address personalization.Results: We received completed questionnaires from 407 respondents (response rate 11.4%). Personalizing the address, enclosing a $2 cash incentive with the initial questionnaire mailing and repeated follow-up mailings were effective at increasing response rate. Despite the increased expense of these approaches in terms of each household mailed, the higher response rates meant that they were more cost-effective overall for obtaining an equivalent number of responses. Interest in participating in the field study decreased with age,but was unaffected by the mailing strategies or cash incentives for field study participation. The likelihood that a respondent would participate in the field study was unaffected by survey incentive, survey length, number of follow-up waves, field study incentive, age or sex.Conclusions: Pre-issued cash incentives and sending follow-up waves could maximize the representativeness and numbers of people from which to recruit, and may be an effective strategy for improving recruitment into field studies

Survey Results of a Pilot Sleep Study Near Atlanta International Airport

Aircraft noise can disturb the sleep of residents living near airports. To investigate potential effects of aircraft noise on sleep, recruitment surveys for a pilot field study were mailed to households around Atlanta International Airport. Survey items included questions about sleep quality, sleep disturbance by noise, noise annoyance, coping behaviors, and health. Of 3159 deliverable surveys, 319 were returned (10.1%). Calculated outdoor nighttime aircraft noise () was significantly associated with lower sleep quality (poor or fair; odds ratio (OR) = 1.04/decibel (dB);< 0.05), trouble falling asleep within 30 min ≥1/week (OR = 1.06/dB;< 0.01), and trouble sleeping due to awakenings ≥1/week (OR = 1.04/dB;< 0.05).was also associated with increased prevalence of being highly sleep disturbed (OR = 1.15/dB;< 0.0001) and highly annoyed (OR = 1.17/dB;< 0.0001) by aircraft noise. Furthermorewas associated with several coping behaviors. Residents were more likely to report often or always closing their windows (OR = 1.05/dB;< 0.01), consuming alcohol (OR = 1.10/dB;< 0.05), using television (OR = 1.05/dB;< 0.05) and using music (OR = 1.07/dB;< 0.05) as sleep aids. There was no significant relationship betweenand self-reported general health or likelihood of self-reported diagnosis of sleep disorders, heart disease, hypertension or diabetes. Evidence of self-reported adverse effects of aircraft noise on sleep found in this pilot study warrant further investigation in larger, more representative subject cohorts

Pilot study examining the effects of aircraft noise on sleep in communities near Philadelphia International Airport

Aircraft noise can disturb sleep and impair recuperation. Representative field studies are needed for health impact assessments and to inform noise policy. To evaluate feasibility of a new unobtrusive methodology that objectively monitors sleep and identifies awakenings based on heart rate and actigraphy, an unattended pilot field study was conducted in the vicinity of Philadelphia International Airport. Seventy-nine participants (39 exposed to aircraft noise, 40 controls) were monitored for 3 consecutive nights with concurrent sound recordings in the bedroom. Blood pressure measurements and brief questionnaires were completed each morning. Based on linear mixed models controlling for age, gender, and BMI, individuals living near the airport reported poorer sleep quality on the PSQI (p=0.0180) and worse health on the SF-36 (p=0.0074) surveys. No statistically significant differences were found for morning sleep assessments, diastolic (p=0.7108) and systolic (p=0.3255) blood pressure, or the sleep fragmentation index (p=0.6986) (calculated based on the ECG and actigraphy data). This study demonstrates feasibility of unattended physiological and noise measurements

Synthesis of Methylene Tetrahydrofurane-Fused Carbohydrates

A reliable method is disclosed to introduce a fused methylene tetrahydrofuran ring into carbohydrates. The resulting bicyclic saccharides can be used as scaffolds in medicinal chemistry and drug design. In addition, the enol ether functionality serves as a handle that enables modification in biological systems via photoclick chemistry. The approach is based on the regioselective oxidation of the C-3 hydroxy group in gluco-configured pyranosides, followed by stereoselective indium-mediated allylation. The ring formation is induced by an iodocyclization reaction with a neighboring hydroxy group. Subsequent dehydrohalogenation affords the desired methylene-tetrahydrofuran-containing carbohydrates