SPARTAN: a global network to evaluate and enhance satellite-based estimates of ground-level particulate matter for global health applications

Ground-based observations have insufficient spatial coverage to assess long-term human exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at the global scale. Satellite remote sensing offers a promising approach to provide information on both short-and long-term exposure to PM2.5 at local-to-global scales, but there are limitations and outstanding questions about the accuracy and precision with which ground-level aerosol mass concentrations can be inferred from satellite remote sensing alone. A key source of uncertainty is the global distribution of the relationship between annual average PM2.5 and discontinuous satellite observations of columnar aerosol optical depth (AOD). We have initiated a global network of ground-level monitoring stations designed to evaluate and enhance satellite remote sensing estimates for application in health-effects research and risk assessment. This Surface PARTiculate mAtter Network (SPARTAN) includes a global federation of ground-level monitors of hourly PM2.5 situated primarily in highly populated regions and collocated with existing ground-based sun photometers that measure AOD. The instruments, a three-wavelength nephelometer and impaction filter sampler for both PM2.5 and PM10, are highly autonomous. Hourly PM2.5 concentrations are inferred from the combination of weighed filters and nephelometer data. Data from existing networks were used to develop and evaluate network sampling characteristics. SPARTAN filters are analyzed for mass, black carbon, water-soluble ions, and metals. These measurements provide, in a variety of regions around the world, the key data required to evaluate and enhance satellite-based PM2.5 estimates used for assessing the health effects of aerosols. Mean PM2.5 concentrations across sites vary by more than 1 order of magnitude. Our initial measurements indicate that the ratio of AOD to ground-level PM2.5 is driven temporally and spatially by the vertical profile in aerosol scattering. Spatially this ratio is also strongly influenced by the mass scattering efficiency.Fil: Snider, G.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Weagle, C. L.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Martin, R. V.. Dalhousie University Halifax; Canadá. University of Cambridge; Reino UnidoFil: van Donkelaar, A.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Conrad, K.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Cunningham, D.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Gordon, C.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Zwicker, M.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Akoshile, C.. University of Ilorin; NigeriaFil: Artaxo, P.. Governo Do Estado de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Anh, N. X.. Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. Institute of Geophysics; VietnamFil: Brook, J.. University of Toronto; CanadáFil: Dong, J.. Tsinghua University; ChinaFil: Garland, R. M.. North-West University; SudáfricaFil: Greenwald, R.. Rollins School of Public Health; Estados UnidosFil: Griffith, D.. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research; SudáfricaFil: He, K.. Tsinghua University; ChinaFil: Holben, B. N.. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Estados UnidosFil: Kahn, R.. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Estados UnidosFil: Koren, I.. Weizmann Institute Of Science Israel; IsraelFil: Lagrosas, N.. Manila Observatory, Ateneo de Manila University campus; FilipinasFil: Lestari, P.. Institut Teknologi Bandung; IndonesiaFil: Ma, Z.. Rollins School of Public Health; Estados UnidosFil: Vanderlei Martins, J.. University of Maryland; Estados UnidosFil: Quel, Eduardo Jaime. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rudich, Y.. Weizmann Institute Of Science Israel; IsraelFil: Salam, A.. University Of Dhaka; BangladeshFil: Tripathi, S. N.. Indian Institute Of Technology, Kanpur; IndiaFil: Yu, C.. Rollins School of Public Health; Estados UnidosFil: Zhang, Q.. Tsinghua University; ChinaFil: Zhang, Y.. Tsinghua University; ChinaFil: Brauer, M.. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Cohen, A.. Health Effects Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Gibson, M. D.. Dalhousie University Halifax; CanadáFil: Liu, Y.. Rollins School of Public Health; Estados Unido

Sidestream cigarette smoke effects on cardiovascular responses in conscious rats: involvement of oxidative stress in the fourth cerebral ventricle

Background: Cigarette exposure increases brain oxidative stress. The literature showed that increased brain oxidative stress affects cardiovascular regulation. However, no previous study investigated the involvement of brain oxidative stress in animals exposed to cigarette and its relationship with cardiovascular regulation. We aimed to evaluate the effects of central catalase inhibition on baroreflex and cardiovascular responses in rats exposed to sidestream cigarette smoke (SSCS). Methods: We evaluated males Wistar rats (320-370 g), which were implanted with a stainless steel guide cannula into the fourth cerebral ventricle (4th V). Femoral artery and vein were cannulated for mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) measurement and drug infusion, respectively. Rats were exposed to SSCS during three weeks, 180 minutes, 5 days/week (CO: 100-300 ppm). Baroreflex was tested with a pressor dose of phenylephrine (PHE, 8 mu g/kg, bolus) to induce bradycardic reflex and a depressor dose of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 50 mu g/kg, bolus) to induce tachycardic reflex. Cardiovascular responses were evaluated before, 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes after 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (ATZ, catalase inhibitor, 0.001 g/100 mu L) injection into the 4th V. Results: Central catalase inhibition increased basal HR in the control group during the first 5 minutes. SSCS exposure increased basal HR and attenuated bradycardic peak during the first 15 minutes. Conclusion: We suggest that SSCS exposure affects cardiovascular regulation through its influence on catalase activity.Foundation of Support to Research of Sao Paulo State (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo-FAPESP [07/59127-9

In vitro schistosomicidal effects of the essential oil of Tagetes erecta

The in vitro schistosomicidal effects of the essential oil obtained from Tagetes erecta L. Asteraceae, leaves (TE-EO) collected in Brazil against Schistosoma mansoni worms are reported in this paper. The oil caused a significant decrease in the motor activity at 50 µg/mL as minimal concentration after 24 h. This oil also caused death of all the parasites and the separation of coupled pairs into individual male and female at 100 µg/mL after 24 h. The viability of adult worm groups treated with the TE-EO at 100 µg/mL was similar to that of groups treated with praziquantel (positive control). In addition, the oil promoted the inhibition of eggs development at all the tested concentrations. These data indicate that the TE-EO could be considered as a promising source for the development of new schistosomicidal agents

The future of medical diagnostics: Review paper

While histopathology of excised tissue remains the gold standard for diagnosis, several new, non-invasive diagnostic techniques are being developed. They rely on physical and biochemical changes that precede and mirror malignant change within tissue. The basic principle involves simple optical techniques of tissue interrogation. Their accuracy, expressed as sensitivity and specificity, are reported in a number of studies suggests that they have a potential for cost effective, real-time, in situ diagnosis. We review the Third Scientific Meeting of the Head and Neck Optical Diagnostics Society held in Congress Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria on the 11th May 2011. For the first time the HNODS Annual Scientific Meeting was held in association with the International Photodynamic Association (IPA) and the European Platform for Photodynamic Medicine (EPPM). The aim was to enhance the interdisciplinary aspects of optical diagnostics and other photodynamic applications. The meeting included 2 sections: oral communication sessions running in parallel to the IPA programme and poster presentation sessions combined with the IPA and EPPM posters sessions. © 2011 Jerjes et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd