LaboRisCh: an algorithm for assessment of health risks due to chemicals in research laboratories and similar workplaces

BACKGROUND: Chemical risk assessment in research laboratories is complicated by factors such as the large number of agents to be considered, each present in small quantities, and the very short and erratic periods of exposure, all of which make reliable environmental and biological monitoring particularly difficult and at times impossible. In such environments, a preliminary evaluation procedure based on algorithms would be useful to establish the hazard potential of a given situation and to guide the appropriate intervention. OBJECTIVES: The LaboRisCh model was expressly designed to assess the health risk due to chemicals in research laboratories and similar workplaces. METHODS: The model is based on the calculation of the value of a synthetic single risk index for each substance and compound found in a laboratory and, subsequently, of a further synthetic single risk index for the whole laboratory or, where required, a section thereof. This makes LaboRisCh a compromise between need for information, ease of use, and resources required for the assessment. The risk index includes several items, chiefly the physical and chemical properties, intrinsic hazard potential, amount, dilution, and time of exposure to each agent; waste management; possible interactions; presence and efficiency of collective and individual protection devices, and staff training in good laboratory practices. The value of the synthetic single index corresponds to one of three areas: no risk (green), possible risk (yellow), and certain risk (red). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary data confirm the model. LaboRisCh appears to be a reliable method for chemical risk assessment in research laboratories and similar workplaces.     

The association of television viewing with snacking behavior and body weight of young adults

PURPOSE: Investigate whether TV viewing and recognition of snack food advertisements were associated with snack food consumption and the odds of being overweight or obese. DESIGN: Cross-sectional internet-based survey. SETTING: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. SUBJECTS: Undergraduate university students aged 18 to 25 years (N = 613). MEASURES: Self-reported TV viewing, energy-dense snack consumption, snacking while viewing TV, and body weight. ANALYSIS: Hypothesis testing was completed using multiple analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Students reporting medium or high TV viewership snacked more frequently while watching TV and recognized more advertising than students who were considered low viewers. High viewers also reported more consumption of energy-dense snacks than low viewers. Snacking frequency appeared to be related to TV viewing and place of residence, but the association between snacking frequency and TV viewing was not accounted for by advertising. Conversely, the association between TV viewing and consumption of energy-dense snacks was accounted for by advertising recognition. Finally, male students (odds ratio [OR], 2.78; 99% confidence interval [CI], 1.68-4.59) and medium (OR, 3.11; 99% CI, 1.37-7.08) and high (OR, 5.47; 99% CI, 1.97-15.16) TVviewers had higher odds of being overweight or obese. CONCLUSIONS: Associations were found among TV viewing, energy-dense snack consumption, and snacking behavior, and between TV viewing and body weight status.     

Paraplegia in a thalassaemic patient with short stature

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is a normal compensatory reaction that occurs in almost all chronic hemolytic anemia, especially in transfusion independent thalassemia intermedia, and can involve many organs or tissues, including the epidural space leading to spinal cord compression syndrome. We present a case of EMH in a 29 year old woman with thalassemia major, regularly transfused since the time of diagnosis (age 21 months), who presented with sudden muscle weakness, difficulty walking and maintaining the upright position. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the thoracic spine showed spinal cord compression secondary to extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spinal canal, leading to early therapy. The neurosurgical treatment (decompressive laminectomy D3-D6) in our patient brought a significant and rapid recovery. The next two MRI of the spine (after 6 and 18 months) were both negative for recurrence.     

Do they really care? How trauma patients perceive nurses' caring behaviors

Applying the theory of Nursing as Caring can help the nurse provide care that is perceived as caring by moderately to severely injured trauma patients. The Caring Behaviors Inventory was administered in a 1-to-1 interview format to hospitalized trauma patients in a level 2 trauma center. Nurses were positively perceived in their caring behaviors with some variation based on gender and ethnicity. The modified Caring Behaviors Inventory is quick to use and is reliable and valid.     

Stimulation of purinergic receptors modulates chemokine expression in human keratinocytes

ATP is abundantly released from stressed or damaged cells in response to mechanical stimulation, bacteria, or noxious agents. In this study, we have investigated the possible involvement of P2 receptors (receptor for extracellular nucleotides) in the expression and release of inflammatory mediators by human keratinocytes. Notably, extracellular ATP displayed a complex regulation of IFN-gamma-stimulated chemokine expression, with upregulation of CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), CCL5 and CXC chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), and suppression of the receptor CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3), CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11. The effect of ATP was mimicked by ADP and adenosine-5'-O-3-thiotriphosphate, whereas 2',3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl) ATP (BzATP) downmodulated all chemokines investigated. UTP had no effect on IFN-gamma-stimulated chemokine secretion. The broad-spectrum P2 receptor antagonist suramin and the selective P2Y1 inhibitor adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulfate counteracted the effect of ATP on secretion of all the chemokines examined, whereas pyridoxal phosphate 6-azophenyl 2',4'-disulfonic acid and KN62 (1-[N,O-bis(5-isoquinoline sulfonyl)-N-methyl-L-tyrosyl] 4 phenylpiperazine) partially prevented the inhibitory effect of ATP on CXCL10 secretion, but on the other hand potentiated the ATP-stimulatory effect on CCL5, CCL2, and CXCL8 release. In lesional skin of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients, intense P2X7 reactivity was confined to the cell membrane of the basal layer, whereas diffuse P2Y1 immunostaining was found throughout the epidermis. Collectively, our data suggest that the orchestrated activation of distinct P2Y and P2X receptors modulates skin inflammation.     

Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa fliO, a gene involved in flagellar biosynthesis and adherence.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa binds to eukaryotic cells via both pilus and nonpilus adhesins, while binding of P. aeruginosa to mucin is pilus independent. To characterize genes involved in non-pilus-mediated adherence, transposon mutants of the nonpiliated strain P. aeruginosa PAK-NP that are unable to bind to cells or mucins were isolated. Two such mutants, P. aeruginosa B164 and P. aeruginosa RR18, were identified previously as deficient in binding to eukaryotic cells or mucins as well as nonmotile. The transposon insertion in each of these strains was mapped to the same gene. Sequence analysis of both DNA flanking the transposons and plasmids that could complement the mutations indicated that this open reading frame encodes a putative protein homolog of both Escherichia coli FliO and Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica MopB. The transposons in both of these mutants are nonpolar, since the addition of the P. aeruginosa fliO gene in trans restored adherence to both cells and mucins to these mutants. The cloned fliO gene also complemented the motility defect of both B164 and RR18. A 1.6-kb KpnI fragment from the PAK chromosome that contained the fliO gene was sequenced. The fliO gene appears to be part of an operon with a complete open reading frame upstream of the FliO homolog encoding a putative protein homolog of FliN of both E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The partial open reading frame downstream of fliO encodes a putative homolog of both E. coli and S. typhimurium FliP. The fliN gene is flanked on its 5'-end by the 3'-end of a homolog of a fliM gene. The P. aeruginosa FliN protein was identified with a T7 expression system, while all attempts to identify the P. aeruginosa FliO protein were unsuccessful. Homologs of P. aeruginosa FliO are involved in the biosynthesis of flagella, but the function of FliO in this biosynthetic process remains unknown. Further study should reveal the precise role of P. aeruginosa FliO in non-pilus-mediated adherence, which could include regulation of expression or localization of a nonpilus adhesin.