The IceCube Neutrino Observatory Part III: Cosmic Rays

Papers on cosmic rays submitted to the 33nd International Cosmic Ray Conference (Rio de Janeiro 2013) by the IceCube Collaboration

Asthma prevalence and risk factors among children and adolescents living around an industrial area: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The exposure to air pollution has negative effects on human health, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Few data are yet available on the epidemiology of childhood asthma in some areas of Italy. The aim of the study was to estimate asthma prevalence and related risk factors in children and adolescents residents around the industrial area of Termoli, Molise region, Central-South Italy. METHODS: Prevalence was assessed through the administration of modified ISAAC questionnaires filled out by parents of 89 children and adolescents for the identification of confirmed and probable cases, and by analyzing pediatricians' databases on drug prescriptions for symptoms control and treatment of assisted population in the study area (n = 1,004), compared to a control area (n = 920) with lower industrialization. The association of asthma with risk factors was evaluated by univariate (Chi-square or Fisher's Exact test) and regression logistic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 22 (24.7%) asthmatics were identified, including both confirmed (n = 7; 7.9%) and probable cases (n = 15; 16.8%), most of them (n = 17; 77.3%) resident of Termoli town. All asthma cases were georeferenced based on the residence, however clusters were not found. Using drug prescriptions analysis, a higher prevalence (n = 138; 13.7%) of diagnosed cases was found. Lifetime history of both atopic dermatitis and bronchitis were significantly relateds to asthma cases, as well as an elevated body mass index, whose association is consistent with prevalence data of overweight/obese children living in the study area. Moreover, being resident of the town of Termoli was associated to the occurrence of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Although our data indicated a prevalence concordance with previous national studies in pediatric population, a definitive correlation with environmental industrial factors present in the study area was not established. However, asthma outcome was significantly associated to individuals living in the town of Termoli that, despite the industrial/manufacturing activities, is also subjected to a higher environmental pressure due to the presence of toll road, state highway, railroad, and seaport which may cause air pollution from motor vehicle traffic and increase asthma induction. This study provides hitherto unavailable data on asthma in childhood population living in an industrialized area which was never investigated before, could be part of a systematic review or meta-analysis procedure, might suggest significant findings for larger observational studies, and contribute to complete the frame of disease epidemiology in Italy

Biological risk among agriculture and construction workers in Molise Region, Central Italy

Background: Biological risk is a significant issue in workplaces due to continuous modification of work organization and condition. Objectives: In this pilot study, perception and knowledge of biological risk, as well as adoption of prevention measures were evaluated among construction and agriculture workers. Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to workers to collect socio-demographic and employment information, in addition to data on risk perception and knowledge, and adoption of preventive measures, including those related to work activities. Results: Fifty-three workers aged 45.3 +/- 9.8 years participated in the study, 81% were male, and 70% were construction workers. Approximately 80% of participants declared that infectious diseases are neither frequent nor health-threatening in their occupational activity. The majority of workers considered some diseases, such as hepatitis A and B, leptospirosis and listeriosis, as posing a low risk to their health. Forty-seven % claimed to be unexposed to biohazards at their workplace, and 72% were not worried about them. Ninety-six % of the workers knew about vaccination for tetanus, but only 74% and 36% knew about the availability of vaccination for Hepatitis A and B, respectively. During lifetime, 94% of the workers received at least one vaccination. All workers had undergone tetanus vaccination, but only few received vaccine for influenza, hepatitis B and tuberculosis. Conclusions: This pilot study in occupational settings revealed a poor perception of biological risk and a limited awareness of the severity of infectious diseases. Major knowledge gaps existed about the available preventive measures. It is essential to promote safety culture at the workplace also with regard to biological hazards. This requires improving information and education, conducting appropriate studies, and prompting health and safety professional actors to focus on occupational infectious disease problems

Evaluation of pretransplant immunologic status in kidney-transplant recipients by panel reactive antibody and soluble CD30 determinations.

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively compare the accuracy of pretransplant panel of reactivity antibodies (PRA) and serum level of soluble CD30 (sCD30) in predicting early (<6 months) acute rejection (AR) in living-donor and deceased-donor kidney-transplant (KT) patients. METHODS: Pretransplant sera of 24 KT recipients were retrospectively tested for sCD30 and compared with PRA. Inclusion criteria were de novo graft patients on calcineurin-inhibitor-based immunosuppression, minimum follow-up of 1 year, alive with a functioning graft, and stable renal function over the last 12 months. Objective measures were incidence of biopsy-proven AR (BPAR) within 6 months of KT and sCD30 and PRA diagnostic indexes. The relative risk (RR) of BPAR for each test was also obtained. RESULTS: Fourteen (58.3%) patients presented at least one episode of BPAR within 6 months of KT. All rejection episodes were responsive to steroid treatment. PRA was positive in six (25%) patients, and four (66.7%) of them presented at least one episode of BPAR. sCD30 tested positive in nine (37.5%) patients, and all these later presented at least one episode of BPAR. sCD30 and PRA diagnostic indexes in predicting early (< 6months) BPAR were sensitivity 64.2% versus 28.5%; specificity 100% versus 80%; accuracy 79.1% versus 50%; positive predictive value 100% versus 66.6%; and negative predictive value 66.6% versus 44.4%. The RR of early AR was 1.4 in PRA-positive patients and extremely higher in the sCD30-positive group. CONCLUSIONS: Pretransplant sCD30 is a more accurate predictor of AR when compared with PRA. These results support its use in the pretransplant work-up of kidney-graft recipient

Evaluation of pretransplant immunologic status in kidney-transplant recipients by panel reactive antibody and soluble CD30 determinations. Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively compare the accuracy of pretransplant panel of reactivity antibodies (PRA) and serum level of soluble CD30 (sCD30) in predicting early (< 6 months) acute rejection (AR) in living-donor and deceased-donor kidney-transplant (KT) patients. METHODS: Pretransplant sera of 24 KT recipients were retrospectively tested for sCD30 and compared with PRA. Inclusion criteria were de novo graft patients on calcineurin-inhibitor-based immunosuppression, minimum follow-up of 1 year, alive with a functioning graft, and stable renal function over the last 12 months. Objective measures were incidence of biopsy-proven AR (BPAR) within 6 months of KT and sCD30 and PRA diagnostic indexes. The relative risk (RR) of BPAR for each test was also obtained. RESULTS: Fourteen (58.3%) patients presented at least one episode of BPAR within 6 months of KT. All rejection episodes were responsive to steroid treatment. PRA was positive in six (25%) patients, and four (66.7%) of them presented at least one episode of BPAR. sCD30 tested positive in nine (37.5%) patients, and all these later presented at least one episode of BPAR. sCD30 and PRA diagnostic indexes in predicting early (< 6 months) BPAR were sensitivity 64.2% versus 28.5%; specificity 100% versus 80%; accuracy 79.1% versus 50%; positive predictive value 100% versus 66.6%; and negative predictive value 66.6% versus 44.4%. The RR of early AR was 1.4 in PRA-positive patients and extremely higher in the sCD30-positive group. CONCLUSIONS: Pretransplant sCD30 is a more accurate predictor of AR when compared with PRA. These results support its use in the pretransplant work-up of kidney-graft recipient

Evaluation of pretransplant immunologic status in kidney-transplant recipients by panel reactive antibody and soluble CD30 determinations.

Objectives. To retrospectively compare the accuracy of pretransplant panel of reactivity antibodies (PRA) and serum level of soluble CD30 (sCD30) in predicting early (6 months) acute rejection (AR) in living-donor and deceased-donor kidney-transplant (KT) patients. Methods. Pretransplant sera of 24 KT recipients were retrospectively tested for sCD30 and compared with PRA. Inclusion criteria were de novo graft patients on calcineurin–inhibitor-based immunosuppression, minimum follow-up of 1 year, alive with a functioning graft, and stable renal function over the last 12 months. Objective measures were incidence of biopsy-proven AR (BPAR) within 6 months of KT and sCD30 and PRA diagnostic indexes. The relative risk (RR) of BPAR for each test was also obtained. Results. Fourteen (58.3%) patients presented at least one episode of BPAR within 6 months of KT. All rejection episodes were responsive to steroid treatment. PRA was positive in six (25%) patients, and four (66.7%) of them presented at least one episode of BPAR. sCD30 tested positive in nine (37.5%) patients, and all these later presented at least one episode of BPAR. sCD30 and PRA diagnostic indexes in predicting early ( 6months) BPAR were sensitivity 64.2% versus 28.5%; specificity 100% versus 80%; accuracy 79.1% versus 50%; positive predictive value 100% versus 66.6%; and negative predictive value 66.6% versus 44.4%. The RR of early AR was 1.4 in PRA-positive patients and extremely higher in the sCD30-positive group. Conclusions. Pretransplant sCD30 is a more accurate predictor of AR when compared with PRA. These results support its use in the pretransplant work-up of kidney-graft recipients