Factors Affecting Occupational Exposure to Needlestick and Sharps Injuries among Dentists in Taiwan: A Nationwide Survey

BACKGROUND: Although the risks of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) for dentists are well recognized, most papers published only described the frequency of occupational exposure to NSIs. Less has been reported assessing factors contributing to exposure to NSIs. The purpose of this study was to update the epidemiology of NSIs among dentists in Taiwan and identify factors affecting NSIs in order to find preventive strategies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A nationwide survey was conducted in dentists at 60 hospitals and 340 clinics in Taiwan. The survey included questions about factors supposedly affecting exposure to NSIs, such as dentist and facility characteristics, knowledge and attitudes about infectious diseases, and practices related to infection control. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between risk factors and exposure to NSIs. In total, 434 (74.8%) of 580 dentists returned the survey questionnaires, and 100 (23.0%) reported that they had experienced more than one NSI per week. Our data showed that the risk of occupational NSIs is similarly heightened by an older age (odds ratio [OR], 3.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62-6.25), more years in practice (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.41-4.69), working in clinics (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.08-2.77), exhibiting less compliance with infection-control procedures (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.04-3.18), having insufficient knowledge of blood-borne pathogens (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.04-2.67), and being more worried about being infected by blood-borne pathogens (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.05-3.13). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: High rates of NSIs and low compliance with infection-control procedures highly contribute to the chance of acquiring a blood-borne pathogen infection and threaten occupational safety. This study reveals the possible affecting factors and helps in designing prevention strategies for occupational exposure to NSIs

Combining subspace approach and short time Fourier analysis for locating structural damage storeys

This study proposes a novel and efficient approach for locating the floors of a building whose stiffnesses change after being subject to a strong earthquake. The floors that may be damaged are determined by comparing the unitary stiffness matrix in different stages in the life cycle of a building. To evaluate the coefficient matrices of a state-space model, the proposed procedure applies a subspace approach in conjunction with the short time Fourier analysis. The dynamic characteristics of a structure are determined from the coefficient matrices. Next, the unitary stiffness matrix is constructed by identifying natural frequencies and mode shapes. The effectiveness of the proposed procedure is verified using the measured earthquake acceleration responses of a three-storey structure that sustains damage on one or two floors and an eight-storey steel frame under a 200 Gal and a 1200 Gal earthquake, such as the Chi-chi earthquake that shook Taiwan on September 1999. The proposed scheme is compared to mode shape based approaches in identifying damaged floors, and is demonstrated to be superior to both MAC (Modal Assurance Criterion) and COMAC (Coordinate Modal Assurance Criterion)

Global Metabolomic Profiling Reveals an Association of Metal Fume Exposure and Plasma Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Background: Welding-associated air pollutants negatively affect the health of exposed workers; however, their molecular mechanisms in causing disease remain largely unclear. Few studies have systematically investigated the systemic toxic effects of welding fumes on humans. Objectives: To explore the effects of welding fumes on the plasma metabolome, and to identify biomarkers for risk assessment of welding fume exposure. Methods: The two-stage, self-controlled exploratory study included 11 boilermakers from a 2011 discovery panel and 8 boilermakers from a 2012 validation panel. Plasma samples were collected pre- and post-welding fume exposure and analyzed by chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results: Eicosapentaenoic or docosapentaenoic acid metabolic changes post-welding were significantly associated with particulate (PM2.5) exposure (p<0.05). The combined analysis by linear mixed-effects model showed that exposure was associated with a statistically significant decline in metabolite change of eicosapentaenoic acid [(95% CI) = −0.013(−0.022∼−0.004); p = 0.005], docosapentaenoic acid n3 [(95% CI) = −0.010(−0.018∼−0.002); p = 0.017], and docosapentaenoic acid n6 [(95% CI) = −0.007(−0.013∼−0.001); p = 0.021]. Pathway analysis identified an association of the unsaturated fatty acid pathway with exposure (pStudy−2011 = 0.025; pStudy−2012 = 0.021; pCombined = 0.009). The functional network built by these fatty acids and their interactive genes contained significant enrichment of genes associated with various diseases, including neoplasms, cardiovascular diseases, and lipid metabolism disorders. Conclusions: High-dose exposure of metal welding fumes decreases unsaturated fatty acids with an exposure-response relationship. This alteration in fatty acids is a potential biological mediator and biomarker for exposure-related health disorders

Application of Scutellariae radix

Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis, a host-adapted pathogen of swine, usually causes septicemia. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains have been widely studied in recent years for their probiotic properties. In this study, a mouse infection model first screened for potential agents against infection, then a pig infection model evaluated effects of LAB strains and herbal plants against infection. Scutellariae radix (SR) and Gardeniae fructus (GF) showed abilities to reduce bacteria shedding and suppressing serum level of TNF-α induced by infection in swine. Bioactivities of SR and GF were enhanced by combining with LAB strains, which alone could speed up the bacteria elimination time in feces and boost immunity of infected pigs. Baicalein and genipin exhibited stronger cytotoxicity than baicalin and geniposide did, as well as prevent Salmonella from invading macrophages. Our study suggests LAB strains as exhibiting multiple functions: preventing infection, enhancing immunity to prepare host defenses against further infection, and adjusting intestinal microbes’ enzymatic activity in order to convert herbal compounds to active compounds. The SR/GF-LAB strain mixture holds potential infection-prevention agents supplied as feed additives

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 larger triplet expansion alters histone modification and induces RNA foci

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 (SCA8) involves the expression of an expanded CTG/CAG combined repeats (CR) from opposite strands producing CUG expansion transcripts (ataxin 8 opposite strand, ATXN8OS) and a polyglutamine expansion protein (ataxin 8, ATXN8). The pathogenesis of SCA8 is complex and the spectrum of clinical presentations is broad.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using stably induced cell models expressing 0, 23, 88 and 157 CR, we study the role of ATXN8OS transcripts in SCA8 pathogenesis. In the absence of doxycycline, the stable ATXN8OS CR cell lines exhibit low levels of ATXN8OS expression and a repeat length-related increase in staurosporine sensitivity and in the number of annexin positive cells. A repeat length-dependent repression of ATXN8OS expression was also notable. Addition of doxycycline leads to 25~50 times more ATXN8OS RNA expression with a repeat length-dependent increase in fold of ATXN8OS RNA induction. ChIP-PCR assay using anti-dimethyl-histone H3-K9 and anti-acetyl-histone H3-K14 antibodies revealed increased H3-K9 dimethylation and reduced H3-K14 acetylation around the ATXN8OS cDNA gene in 157 CR line. The repeat length-dependent increase in induction fold is probably due to the increased RNA stability as demonstrated by monitoring ATXN8OS RNA decay in cells treated with the transcriptional inhibitor, actinomycin D. In cells stably expressing ATXN8OS, RNA FISH experiments further revealed ribonuclear foci formation in cells carrying expanded 88 and 157 CR.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study demonstrates that the expanded CUG-repeat tracts are toxic to human cells and may affect ATXN8OS RNA expression and stability through epigenetic and post-transcriptional mechanisms.</p

巨額土砂匯入對和社溪河相演變之影響

Macro-sediment impulses induced by particular typhoons and rainstorms are the main reason for serious sediment disasters in the Heshe River. For example, the sediment input during Typhoon Morakot in 2009 which accounted for 95.8% of the annual sediment discharge is the most serious of these disasters. Since Typhoon Morakot, the sediment input has decreased, as there have been less serious typhoons and rainstorms, thus, transforming the river morphology from a braided river into meandering river. In addition, river bends and topographical notches restrain sediment from moving downstream and store it in these locations. These factors have indirectly increased the erosion density of the river banks by 2.5 to 10.5 times.特定之颱風及豪雨事件為和社溪集水區內巨額土砂進入河道造成相關土砂災害之主 要因素；尤以2009 年莫拉克颱風其間之輸砂量，佔該年總輸砂量之95.8％最為嚴重。然而，莫拉克颱風過後並無發生規模較大之颱風及豪雨事件，因此進入和社溪之土砂漸減，使得因土砂堆積造成之辮狀河川逐漸走向蜿蜒。此外，河川轉折點跟隘口處都會抑止土砂往下游運移並使土砂集中於此處，間接造成河岸淘刷密度增加2.5 至10.5 倍

Sarcocrassocolides M–O, Bioactive Cembranoids from the Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral Sarcophyton crassocaule

Three new cembranoids, sarcocrassocolides M–O (1–3), have been isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule. The structures of the metabolites were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1–3 were shown to exhibit moderate cytotoxicity toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines and display significant in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells by inhibiting the expression of the iNOS protein

Nardosinane-Type Sesquiterpenoids from the Formosan Soft Coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides

Five new nardosinane-type sesquiterpenoids, paralemnolins Q–U (1–5), along with three known compounds (6–8), were isolated from the Formosan soft coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides. The structures of new metabolites were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configuration of 1 was determined by the application of Mosher’s method on 1. Among these metabolites, 1 and 3 are rarely found nardosinane-type sesquiterpenoids, possessing novel polycyclic structures. Compounds 1, 3, 6 and 7 were found to possess neuroprotective activity