Firefighters exposure to fire emissions: Impact on levels of biomarkers of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and genotoxic/oxidative-effects

Firefighters represent one of the riskiest occupations, yet due to the logistic reasons, the respective exposure assessment is one of the most challenging. Thus, this work assessed the impact of firefighting activities on levels of urinary monohydroxyl-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OHPAHs; 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 1-hydroxyacenaphthene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, 1-hydroxypyrene, 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene) and genotoxic/oxidative-effect biomarkers (basal DNA and oxidative DNA damage) of firefighters from eight firehouses. Cardiac frequency, blood pressure and arterial oxygen saturation were also monitored. OHPAHs were determined by liquid-chromatography with fluorescence detection, while genotoxic/oxidative-effect biomarkers were assessed by the comet assay. Concentrations of total OHPAHs were up to 340% higher (p≤0.05) in (nonsmoking and smoking) exposed workers than in control subjects (non-smoking and non-exposed to combat activities); the highest increments were observed for 1-hydroxynaphthalene and 1-hydroxyacenaphthene (82–88% of ΣOHPAHs), and for 2-hydroxyfluorene (5–15%). Levels of biomarker for oxidative stress were increased in non-smoking exposed workers than in control group (316%; p≤0.001); inconclusive results were found for DNA damage. Positive correlations were found between the cardiac frequency, ΣOHPAHs and the oxidative DNA damage of non-smoking (non-exposed and exposed) firefighters. Evidences were raised regarding the simultaneous use of these biomarkers for the surveillance of firefighters’ health and to better estimate the potential short-term health risks.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Different conformations and packing motifs in the crystal structures of four thiophene--carbohydrazide--pyridine derivatives

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Family Health Strategy and More Doctors Program in Rural Area of Porto Velho, Brazil: A Qualitative Analysis under the Nurse’s Perspective

The Family Health Strategy (FHS) together with the implementation of the More Doctors Program (MDP) has an effective contribution to the strengthening of Primary Health Care (PHC) and the consolidation of the Unified Health System (SUS), which has intended to meet the health needs of the population in need of care less complex. Thus, this study aims to analyze the Family Health Strategy and the Program More Doctors implanted in the Rural Municipality of Porto Velho, Rondônia, from the perspective of nurses. This is a qualitative research, descriptive exploratory performed in the field, based on the assessment the perspective of nurses working in the FHS, which are favored by the MDP. The data collection was carried out through a questionnaire,Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCA Tool), in its version validated in Brazil entitled PCA Tool- Brazil (BRAZIL, 2010). This instrument is widely used by national research that evaluates the quality of primary care. For the construction of the database was used Microsoft Word software. For qualitative data, the collection was carried out through interviews recorded by a script containing open questions. The response were discussed based on the content analysis technique proposed by Bardin (2011). The results achieved indicate that the MDM enabled the structuring of teams that were incomplete in the rural area of the town, however presents numerous challenges in the organization of the work process and the understanding of program objectives

Different packing motifs mediated by weak inter­actions and polymorphism in the crystal structures of five 2-(benzyl­­idene)benzosuberone derivatives

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The use of comet assay to assess global DNA methylation in human biomonitoring studies

The Comet assay is a valuable tool for the detection of DNA damage in genotoxicity and human biomonitoring studies. Throughout the years, this biomarker has undergone several adaptations in their protocol in order to increase its sensitivity and the possible outcomes. By including an additional step of DNA digestion with lesion-specific endonucleases, the comet assay can provide information regarding the type of DNA damage detected in cells. The use of these enzymes has also allowed the development of a methylation-sensitive modified version of the comet assay. This version enables the routine measurement of global methylation, as well as CpG island DNA methylation in a variety of cells while simultaneously determining the genetic integrity of examined cells (Wentzel, 2012). Briefly, it makes use of isochizomeric restriction enzymes HpaII and MspI (that display differential sensitivity to DNA methylation) to characterize methylation outside CpG islands and restriction enzyme NotI to determine DNA methylation in CpG islands. The technique has been recently adapted to a medium-throughput version (Lewies, 2014) that allows the simultaneous analysis of a larger number of samples and overcomes some technical problems. Nevertheless, this technique has not yet been carried out in human biomonitoring studies. In this context, the aim of this work was to make use of this version of the comet assay to characterize global DNA methylation in approximately 50 human samples. Samples were analysed by the methylation-sensitive modified version of the comet assay (medium-throughput) and by ELISA based assay. Data obtained with both methods were compared and reproducibility of the methylation-sensitive modified version of the comet assay determined. Results obtained contribute to knowledge on the feasibility of this version of the comet assay and its possible usage in human biomonitoring studies as an epigenetic biomarker.This work was supported by The Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) through CESAM (UID/AMB/50017/2013) and CNRS/INEE - National Center for Scientific Research/Institute of Ecology and Environment, via OHMI – International Observatory Hommes-Millieux. Carla Costa and Marta S. Monteiro are supported by the grants SFRH/BPD/96196/2013 and SFRH/BPD/45911/2008, respectively, funded by FCT (QREN – POPH – Type 4.1 – Advanced training, subsidized by the European Social Fund and national funds of MEC)

[1-(3-Chloro­phen­yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]methanol hemihydrate

The asymmetric unit of the title hydrate, C9H8ClN3O·0.5H2O, comprises two independent 1,2,3-triazole mol­ecules and a water mol­ecule of crystallization. The dihedral angles between the six- and five-membered rings in the 1,2,3-triazole mol­ecules are 12.71 (19) and 17.3 (2)°. The most significant different between them is found in the relative orientations of the terminal CH2OH groups with one being close to perpendicular to the five-membered ring [N—C—C—O torsion angle = 82.2 (5)°], while in the other mol­ecule, a notable deviation from a perpendicular disposition is found [torsion angle = −60.3 (5)°]. Supra­molecular chains feature in the crystal packing sustained by O—H⋯(O,N) inter­actions along the a-axis direction. The chains are connected via C—H⋯N inter­actions and the resultant layers stack along the b axis

Benzyl N-((S)-2-hydr­oxy-1-{N′-[(E)-2-methoxy­benzyl­idene]hydrazinecarbon­yl}eth­yl)carbamate from synchrotron data

A U-shaped conformation is found in the title compound, C19H21N3O5, with the benzene rings lying to the same side of the mol­ecule; the dihedral angle between them is 10.83 (16)°. The dihedral angle formed between the hydrazinecarbonyl and carbamate residues is 68.42 (13)°. The carbonyl groups lie approximately at right angles to each other [O—C⋯C—O pseudo torsion angle of 107.7 (3)°], and the conformation about the C12=N3 bond [1.279 (4) Å] is E. An intra­molecular Ncb—H⋯Ohy (cb = carbmate and hy = hydr­oxy) hydrogen bond occurs, generating an S(6) loop. In the crystal, inter­molecular Oh—H⋯Oca (ca = carbon­yl) and Nhz—H⋯Oca (hz = hydrazine) hydrogen bonds lead to the formation of a supra­molecular chain, two mol­ecules thick, which propagates along the a axis; these are connected by C—H⋯Oca contacts

Scientific production on workplace bullying/harassment in dissertations and theses in the Brazilian scenario

OBJECTIVE To analyze scientific production about workplace bullying and harassment in dissertations and theses in Brazil, with emphasis on the year of publication; educational institution; area of knowledge; professional and academic background of the authors; keywords used; and concept map organization. METHOD Bibliometric study with a quantitative approach with a sample consisting of 57 papers, 5 theses and 52 dissertations, published between 2002 and 2012. RESULTS It was found that 2012 was the year with the highest number of publications in this topic area. The region that stood out was the Southeast. The institution with the highest number of publications was the Federal University of Santa Catarina. There was a predominance of dissertations and most publications were produced by researchers focused on a multidisciplinary perspective. CONCLUSION Expanding the views regarding bullying in order to disseminate scientific production was proposed, promoting further advancement of debates and raising pertinent questions

Author Correction: DNA damage in circulating leukocytes measured with the comet assay may predict the risk of death (Scientific Reports, (2021), 11, 1, (16793), 10.1038/s41598-021-95976-7)

Link to the corrected article: [https://farfar.pharmacy.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3944