26 research outputs found
Geographical patterns in blood lead in relation to industrial emissions and traffic in Swedish children, 1978â2007
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Blood lead concentrations (B-Pb) were measured in 3 879 Swedish school children during the period 1978â2007. The objective was to study the effect of the proximity to lead sources based on the children's home and school location.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The children's home address and school location were geocoded and their proximity to a lead smelter and major roads was calculated using geographical information system (GIS) software. All the statistical analyses were carried out using means of generalized log-linear modelling, with natural-logarithm-transformed B-Pb, adjusted for sex, school year, lead-exposing hobby, country of birth and, in the periods 1988â1994 and 1995â2007, parents' smoking habits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The GIS analysis revealed that although the emission from the smelter and children's B-Pb levels had decreased considerably since 1978, proximity to the lead smelter continued to affect levels of B-Pb, even in recent years (geometric mean: near smelter: 22.90 ÎŒg/l; far from smelter 19.75 ÎŒg/l; p = 0.001). The analysis also revealed that proximity to major roads noticeably affected the children's B-Pb levels during the period 1978â1987 (geometric mean near major roads: 44.26 ÎŒg/l; far from roads: 38.32 ÎŒg/l; p = 0.056), due to the considerable amount of lead in petrol. This effect was, however, not visible after 1987 due to prohibition of lead in petrol.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results show that proximity to the lead smelter still has an impact on the children's B-Pb levels. This is alarming since it could imply that living or working in the vicinity of a former lead source could pose a threat years after reduction of the emission. The analysis also revealed that urban children exposed to lead from traffic were only affected during the early period, when there were considerable amounts of lead in petrol, and that the prohibition of lead in petrol in later years led to reduced levels of lead in the blood of urban children.</p
4MOST: Project overview and information for the First Call for Proposals
We introduce the 4-metre Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope (4MOST), a new high-multiplex, wide-field spectroscopic survey facility under development for the four-metre-class Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) at Paranal. Its key specifications are: a large field of view (FoV) of 4.2 square degrees and a high multiplex capability, with 1624 fibres feeding two low-resolution spectrographs (), and 812 fibres transferring light to the high-resolution spectrograph (). After a description of the instrument and its expected performance, a short overview is given of its operational scheme and planned 4MOST Consortium science; these aspects are covered in more detail in other articles in this edition of The Messenger. Finally, the processes, schedules, and policies concerning the selection of ESO Community Surveys are presented, commencing with a singular opportunity to submit Letters of Intent for Public Surveys during the first five years of 4MOST operations
Should there be greater exposure to interventional radiology in the undergraduate curriculum? Medical students’ perspectives
Sahil Nichani,1 Vishnu Menon2 1Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK; 2Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK We read with great interest the article by Ojha et al1 highlighting the lack of exposure of medical students to interventional radiology (IR). As senior clinical medical students, we would like to offer our perspective on this issue and propose some additional strategies. View the original paper by Ojha and colleagues
Omega fatty acids and resolution of inflammation: A new twist in an old tale
Identification of the factors that regulate immune tolerance and control the appearance of exacerbated inflammatory conditions is crucial for the development of new therapies of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Resolution of inflammation and the return of tissues to homeostasis protect us against excessive tissue injury and promote the restoration of function and structure. Resolution of inflammation, which was considered a passive event, is actually an active process where new families of endogenous lipid mediators from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids play an important role in removing proinflammatory mediators generated from arachidonic acid. These chemical mediator families, termed <i>Resolvins</i> and <i>Protectins,</i> are potent stereoselective agonists that control the duration and magnitude of inflammation, along with the <i>Lipoxins</i> as signals in resolution. This review examines the mapping of these circuits and recent advances in our understanding of the biosynthesis and actions of these novel proresolving lipid mediators. A search in the electronical databases PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was carried out. The search strategy applied was: "Omega fatty acid" AND "resolution of inflammation," including articles from January 1,1985 to October 2009. This resulted in the identification of a total of 52 articles, which were analyzed in full text leading to consideration of only nine full texts
Critical analysis of biomarkers in the current periodontal practice
Periodontal disease is a chronic microbial infection that triggers inflammation-mediated loss of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone that supports the teeth. Because of the increasing prevalence and associated comorbidities, there is a need for the development of new diagnostic tests that can detect the presence of active disease, predict future disease progression, and evaluate the response to periodontal therapy, thereby improving the clinical management of periodontal patients. The diagnosis of active phases of periodontal disease and the identification of patients at risk for active disease represent challenges for clinical investigators and practitioners. Advances in diagnostic research are moving toward methods whereby the periodontal risk can be identified and quantified by objective measures using biomarkers. Patients with periodontitis may have elevated circulating levels of specific inflammatory markers that can be correlated to the severity of the disease. Advances in the use of oral fluids as possible biological samples for objective measures of the current disease state, treatment monitoring, and prognostic indicators have boosted saliva- and other oral-based fluids to the forefront of technology. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) is an inflammatory exudate that can be collected at the gingival margin or within the gingival crevice. This article highlights recent advances in the use of biomarker-based disease diagnostics that focus on the identification of active periodontal disease from plaque biofilms, GCF, and saliva
Standardisation and comparison of serial dilution and single dilution enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using different antigenic preparations of the Babesia (Theileria) equi parasite
Serial dilution and single dilution enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA)
were standardised and their sensitivity and specificity were compared for
serodiagnosis of Babesia equi infection. The antibody titres of 24 donkey sera
of known identity were determined separately by serial dilution ELISA using
three different B. equi antigens namely whole merozoite (WM), cell membrane
(CM) and high speed supernatant (HSS). The ratios of the optical density
(OD) of known positive and known negative sera at different serum dilutions
were calculated and termed as the positive/negative (P/N) ratio.
The coefficients of correlation (r) were calculated between the P/N ratios
at different dilutions of sera and the log antibody titres of the same
sera were ascertained by serial dilution ELISA. The highest value
of `r' was obtained at a serum dilution of 1:200. From log antibody
titre of sera (y) and their P/N ratio at a dilution of 1:200 (x), regression
equations (y = a + bx) were calculated separately for the three antigens.
Test sera were diluted to 1:200, their OD were read in duplicate wells
and were converted to the P/N ratio. Antibody titres were predicted from
the P/N ratio using a regression equation separately for the three antigens.
Titres obtained by both ELISAs were not significantly different from each
other, thus confirming that single dilution ELISA could be successfully
used to replace conventional serial dilution ELISA. The sensitivity,
specificity and predictive value of single dilution ELISA was validated
statistically using 42 B. equi disease-positive sera and 106
B. equi disease-negative sera. The WM antigen was found to be the most
sensitive with a higher predictive value for negative test sera as
compared to the CM or HSS antigens. Sera positive for other equine
infections including Babesia caballi showed no cross-reaction with the
three B. equi antigens in ELISA, thus the test was immunologically
specific. Antibody titres of 109 unknown field donkey/horse sera obtained
by serial and single dilution ELISA using the WM antigen did not show any
significant difference. Since the single dilution ELISA was found to be
more economical, convenient, sensitive, specific than the serial dilution
ELISA and has a high predictive value, it is suitable for use in
sero-epidemiological studies on B. equi infections in the field
Continuous versus intermittent furosemide infusion in critically ill infants after open heart operations
Use of intravenous furosemide is generally avoided in critically ill neonates and infants soon after open heart operations to prevent fluctuations in intravascular volume and resulting circulatory instability