Burnt sugarcane harvesting is associated with rhinitis symptoms and inflammatory markers

IntroductionBurnt sugarcane harvesting requires intense physical exertion in an environment of high temperature and exposure to particulate matter.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of burnt sugarcane harvesting on rhinitis symptoms and inflammatory markers in sugarcane workers.MethodsA total of 32 male sugarcane workers were evaluated with questionnaire for rhinitis symptoms, and for inflammatory markers on peripheral blood and nasal lavage, in the non-harvesting, and 3 and 6 months into the sugarcane harvesting period. Weather data and particulate matter fine concentrations were measured in the same day.ResultsThe particulate matter concentrations in sugarcane harvesting were 27 (23–33 μg/m³), 112 (96–122 μg/m³), and 63 (17–263 μg/m³); 24 h temperatures were 32.6 (25.4–37.4 °C), 32.3 (26.7–36.7 °C) and 29.7 (24.1–34.0 °C) and relative humidities were 45.4 (35.0–59.7%), 47.9 (39.1–63.0%), and 59.9 (34.7–63.2%) in the non-harvesting period, three and 6 months of the harvesting period. The age was 37.4 ± 10.9 years. The prevalence of rhinitis symptoms was significantly higher at 3 months of the harvesting period (53.4%), compared to non-harvesting period (26.7%; p = 0.039) and at 6 months into the harvesting period (20%; p = 0.006). Concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in nasal lavage increased after 3 months of the harvesting period compared to the non-harvesting period (p = 0.012). The presence of rhinitis symptoms, after 3 months of the harvesting period, was directly associated with blood eosinophils and inversely associated with neutrophils.ConclusionsAfter 3 months of work in burnt sugarcane harvesting the prevalence of rhinitis symptoms and IL-6 in nasal lavage increased. Furthermore, eosinophil counts were directly associated with the rhinitis symptoms in the period of higher concentration of particulate matter.     

Associations of Maternal Consumption of Dairy Products during Pregnancy with Perinatal Fatty Acids Profile in the EDEN Cohort Study

Maternal diet is the main source of fatty acids for developing offspring in-utero and in breastfed infants. Dairy products (DP) are important sources of fat in the European population diet. C15:0 and C17:0 fatty acids have been suggested as biomarkers of dairy fat consumption. This study’s aim is to describe the associations between maternal DP (milk included) consumption during pregnancy and C15:0, C17:0 and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels in perinatal biofluids. Study populations were composed of 1763, 1337 and 879 French mothers from the EDEN (“Étude des Déterminants pre- et post-natals de la santé de l’ENfant”) study, with data on maternal and cord red blood cells’ (RBC) membrane and colostrum, respectively. Associations were assessed using linear regression models adjusted for recruitment center, maternal age, healthy dietary pattern or fish consumption. Greater adherence to a ”cheese” consumption pattern was associated with lower linoleic acid level in colostrum and higher C15:0 and C17:0 levels but in a less consistent manner for C17:0 across biofluids. Greater adherence to “semi-skimmed milk, yogurt” and “reduced-fat DP” patterns was related to higher docosahexaenoic acid and total n-3 PUFA levels and lower n-6/n-3 long-chain PUFA ratio in maternal and cord RBC. Our results suggest that C15:0 could be a good biomarker of maternal dairy fat consumption in perinatal biofluids.     

Association between energy cost of walking,muscle activation,and biomechanical parameters in older female fallers and non-fallers

Objective

To determine the nervous activation, muscle strength, and biomechanical parameters that influence the cost of walking in older fallers and non-fallers.

Methods

Maximal voluntary isokinetic torque was measured for the hip, knee and ankle of older women. Oxygen consumption was measured at rest and during 8 min of walking at self-selected speed. An additional minute of walking was performed to collect kinematic variables and the electromyographic signal of trunk, hip, knee, and ankle muscles, which was analyzed by the linear envelope. Cost of walking was calculated by subtracting resting body mass-normalized oxygen consumption from walking body mass-normalized oxygen consumption. Stride time and length, and ankle and hip range of motion were calculated from kinematic data.

Findings

Older adult fallers had 28% lower knee extensor strength (p = 0.02), 47% lower internal oblique activation at heel contact (p = 0.03), and higher coactivation between tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius lateralis in each of the gait phases (p < 0.05). For fallers, a higher activation of gluteus maximus was associated with a higher cost of walking (r = 0.55, p < 0.05 and r = 0.71, p < 0.01, before and after heel contact, respectively). For non-fallers, an association between cost of walking and age (r = 0.60, p = 0.01) and cost of walking and thigh muscle coactivation (r = 0.53, p = 0.01) existed.

Interpretation

This study demonstrated that there may be links between lower-extremity muscle weakness, muscle activation patterns, altered gait, and increased cost of walking in older fallers.     

Structural characterization and cytotoxic properties of a 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan from castanea sativa. 2. Evidence of a structure-activity relationship

Xylans were purified from delignified holocellulose alkaline extracts of Castanea sativa (Spanish chestnut) and Argania spinosa (Argan tree) and their structures analyzed by means of GC of their per-trimethylsilylated methylglycoside derivatives and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The structures deduced were characteristic of a 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan (MGX) and a homoxylan (HX), respectively, with degrees of polymerization ranging from 182 to 360. In the case of MGX, the regular or random distribution of 4-O-methylglucuronic acid along the xylosyl backbone--determined by MALDI mass spectrometry after autohydrolysis of the polysaccharide--varied and depended both on the botanical source from which they were extracted and on the xylan extraction procedure. The MGX also inhibited in different ways the proliferation as well as the migration and invasion capability of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. These biological properties could be correlated with structural features including values of the degree of polymerization, 4-O-MeGlcA to xylose ratios, and distribution of 4-O-MeGlcA along the xylosyl backbone, giving evidence of a defined structure-activity relationship.     

HIF inhibitor 32-134D eradicates murine hepatocellular carcinoma in combination with anti-PD1 therapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide and available therapies, including immunotherapies, are ineffective for many patients. HCC is characterized by intratumoral hypoxia, and increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in diagnostic biopsies is associated with patient mortality. Here we report the development of 32-134D, a low-molecular-weight compound that effectively inhibits gene expression mediated by HIF-1 and HIF-2 in HCC cells, and blocks human and mouse HCC tumor growth. In immunocompetent mice bearing Hepa1-6 HCC tumors, addition of 32-134D to anti-PD1 therapy increased the rate of tumor eradication from 25% to 67%. Treated mice showed no changes in appearance, behavior, body weight, hemoglobin, or hematocrit. Compound 32-134D altered the expression of a large battery of genes encoding proteins that mediate angiogenesis, glycolytic metabolism, and responses to innate and adaptive immunity. This altered gene expression led to significant changes in the tumor immune microenvironment, including a decreased percentage of tumor-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, which mediate immune evasion, and an increased percentage of CD8⁺ T cells and natural killer cells, which mediate antitumor immunity. Taken together, these preclinical findings suggest that combining 32-134D with immune checkpoint blockade may represent a breakthrough therapy for HCC.     

Association Between Polymorphisms in GRIK2 Gene and Obsessive‐Compulsive Disorder: A Family‐Based Study

Several studies support a genetic influence on obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) etiology. The role of glutamate as an important neurotransmitter affecting OCD pathophysiology has been supported by neuroimaging, animal model, medication, and initial candidate gene studies. Genes involved in glutamatergic pathways, such as the glutamate receptor, ionotropic, kainate 2 (GRIK2), have been associated with OCD in previous studies. This study examines GRIK2 as a candidate gene for OCD susceptibility in a family‐based approach. Probands had full DSM‐IV diagnostic criteria for OCD. Forty‐seven OCD probands and their parents were recruited from tertiary care OCD specialty clinics from France and USA. Genotypes of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and related haplotypes were analyzed using Haploview and FBAT software. The polymorphism at rs1556995 (P= 0.0027; permuted P‐value = 0.03) was significantly associated with the presence of OCD. Also, the two marker haplotype rs1556995/rs1417182, was significantly associated with OCD (P= 0.0019, permuted P‐value = 0.01). This study supports previously reported findings of association between proximal GRIK2 SNPs and OCD in a comprehensive evaluation of the gene. Further study with independent samples and larger sample sizes is required.     

Chitosan microencapsulation of the dispersed phase of an O/W nanoemulsion to hydrochlorothiazide delivery

In view of biopharmaceutical limitations of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), Trojan-type mucoadhesive systems were proposed, aiming to improve HCTZ pharmacological properties by modulating its release. Nanoemulsions were formed spontaneously by combining medium-chain triglycerides (Lipoid^® S75 and Pluronic^® F68) and high encapsulation efficiency was obtained. The mucoadhesive properties were provided by chitosan and microencapsulation of nanoemulsions in spray-dryer was successfully achieved by using Aerosil^® as wall material. The rapid redispersion of nanoemulsion in simulated fluids led to a fast and complete release of HCTZ in gastric medium. The pharmacodynamics of HCTZ was improved, extending the diuretic activity. Once a simple and low-energy method contributed to obtain stable mucoadhesive nanoemulsions, advantages in terms of production could also be achieved, allowing easy scaling up. This novel mucoadhesive Trojan particulate system of HCTZ showed to be a promising approach to overcome limitations in terms of absorption and consequently improve the therapeutic efficacy.     

Evaluation of genotoxicity of general anesthesia maintained with desflurane in patients under minor surgery

There is controversy over the genotoxic effects of volatile anesthetics. The available literature on the genotoxicity of desflurane, one of the newest volatile halogenated agents used for general anesthesia maintenance, is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the genotoxic potential of desflurane in 15 patients without comorbidities, of both sexes, who underwent minor surgeries lasting at least 90 min. Patients enrolled in the study received desflurane anesthesia (6%); blood samples were collected before anesthesia induction (T0), 90 min after the beginning of anesthesia (T1), and on the day following surgery (T2). DNA damage was evaluated in lymphocytes using the alkaline comet assay. We found statistically significant increases in DNA damage in T2 samples compared to T0. The findings suggest that desflurane anesthesia induces DNA strand breaks/alkali‐labile sites on the day after minimally invasive surgery in healthy patients. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 57:312–316, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Evaluation of a protocol for rapid diagnosis of enterovirus associated with acute flaccid paralysis cases

BackgroundThe virological surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is a critical component of the initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to eradicate poliomyelitis worldwide. Furthermore rapid methods are needed either to detect or rule out the presence of polioviruses during the late stages of eradication, especially in polio-free areas.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate a fast protocol combining one passage (5 days) in cell culture followed by RT-PCR and molecular typing in order to detect and type poliovirus (PV) and other enteroviruses associated with AFP cases.Study designA total of 216 fecal suspensions from AFP suspected cases were tested by using this approach and compared with the WHO gold standard.ResultsUsing the WHO protocol enterovirus was detected in 12 out of the 216 AFP samples (5.55%) while with the proposed protocol enterovirus was detected in 15 out of the 216 AFP samples (6.94%). The additional positive samples detected by the proposed method were classified as non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV).ConclusionsThe proposed protocol showed higher sensitivity than the WHO gold standard, reducing the entire process of identification and typing of the isolates from the typically 14–21 days to only ～6–8 days.