A novel mouse model of mitochondrial disease exhibits juvenile-onset severe neurological impairment due to parvalbumin cell mitochondrial dysfunction.

Mitochondrial diseases comprise a common group of neurometabolic disorders resulting from OXPHOS defects, that may manifest with neurological impairments, for which there are currently no disease-modifying therapies. Previous studies suggest inhibitory interneuron susceptibility to mitochondrial impairment, especially of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (PV+). We have developed a mouse model of mitochondrial dysfunction specifically in PV+ cells via conditional Tfam knockout, that exhibited a juvenile-onset progressive phenotype characterised by cognitive deficits, anxiety-like behaviour, head-nodding, stargazing, ataxia, and reduced lifespan. A brain region-dependent decrease of OXPHOS complexes I and IV in PV+ neurons was detected, with Purkinje neurons being most affected. We validated these findings in a neuropathological study of patients with pathogenic mtDNA and POLG variants showing PV+ interneuron loss and deficiencies in complexes I and IV. This mouse model offers a drug screening platform to propel the discovery of therapeutics to treat severe neurological impairment due to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Estimation of aerosol optical depth in relation to meteorological parameters over eastern and western routes of China Pakistan economic corridor.

This study finds out seasonal and monthly variations in Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) over eastern and western routes of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the relationship between AOD and meteorological parameters (i.e., temperature, rainfall and wind speed). The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) data was used from the terra satellite for the period of 2000-2016. This study aims to overtake the conventional view of the purpose of using the satellite datasets. This study takes on to the concept that validated satellite data sets rather should be used for the analysis instead of just validation specifically for our study region. Hence, after comparing MODIS AOD with MISR AOD, only MISR AOD dataset is used for further analysis. The results show a decreasing trend of AOD in summer season, a positive relationship between temperature and AOD during winter and spring seasons whereas a positive relationship between wind speed and AOD in winter and spring seasons over eastern and western routes. Periodic analysis of MODIS AOD and MISR AOD depicts May-Aug as the peak period of aerosol concentration over central Pakistan. The inter-annual analysis shows the aerosol trend remained higher during summer season however rainfall shows the washout effect. Eastern route has higher standard deviation and larger values for aerosol prevalence as compared to western route. The trajectory analysis using the HYSPLIT model suggests the bias of air mass trajectory caused deviation in the aerosol trend in the year 2014.

Análise de pacientes internados por queimadura elétrica / Analysis of patients admitted for electrical burns

Introdução: Quando se comparam os dados referentes à gravidade, como uso de parâmetros como grau de incapacidade permanente das vítimas sobreviventes, enfatiza-se ainda mais a gravidade dos acidentes por energia elétrica. As vítimas costumam ser adultos jovens, do sexo masculino, em ambiente de trabalho. Do ponto de vista econômico, os acidentes causados por energia elétrica são de alto custo, pois costumam incidir sobre adultos jovens e tecnicamente diferenciados. O objetivo desse estudo é analisar os casos de acidentes ocupacionais decorrentes de queimadura elétrica em nosso serviço, com o intuito de conscientização, e alertar instituições governamentais e não-governamentais quanto à importância de sua prevenção. Método: Estudo retrospectivo transversal das internações dos anos de 2009 e 2010, a partir da coleta de dados em banco de dados do Centro de Tratamento de Queimados do Hospital Municipal Souza Aguiar, sendo analisados os seguintes dados: sexo, idade, local de ocorrência, porcentagem da superfície corporal queimada (SCQ), época do ano e taxa de mortalidade. Resultados: Foram acometidos 26 pacientes por queimadura elétrica, sendo todos do sexo masculino, com idade média de 29,5 anos. O acidente de trabalho foi o mais importante representando 38,46%, seguido de via pública (23,07%) e domiciliar (15,38%). A porcentagem do SCQ média: 0-9% (11,53%), 10-19% (34,61%), 20-29% (30,76%), 30-39% (30,76%) e 40-49% (3,84%). A taxa de óbito foi de 7,69%. Conclusão: Aconselha-se não fazer economia quanto aos gastos com prevenção e investir na pesquisa de novos métodos de tratamento capazes de diminuir o período de inatividade e o grau de incapacidade do trabalhador.

Introduction: When comparing the data on gravity, through parameters such as the degree of permanent disability of the surviving victims, it is emphasized further by the severity of electrical accidents. The victims are usually young adult males in the workplace. From an economic standpoint, accidents caused by electricity are expensive, because young adults tend to focus on differentiated and technically. The purpose of this study is to analyze the cases of occupational accidents due to electrical burn in our service, in order to raise awareness and alert governmental and non-governmental organizations on the importance of prevention. Methods: Cross-sectional retrospective study of admissions for the years 2009 and 2010, from the collection of data in the database of the Burn Treatment Center of the Hospital Municipal Souza Aguiar, and analyzed the following data: sex, age, place of occurrence, percentage of burned surface área (BSA), time of year and the mortality rate. Results: Twenty-six patients were affected by electrical burn, being all male, mean age 29.5 years. The accident was the most important work representing 38.46%, followed by road (23.07%) and home (15.38%). The average percentage of the BSA: 0-9% (11.53%), 10-19% (34.61%), 20-29% (30.76%), 30-39% (30.76%) and 40-49% (3.84%). The death rate was 7.69%. Conclusion: It is advisable not to make the economy and spending on prevention and investing in research of new treatment methods can reduce the period of inactivity and the degree of disability of the worker.

Estudos dos compostos orgânicos voláteis precursores de ozônio na cidade de São Paulo / Studies of the volatile organic compounds precursors of ozone in São Paulo city

O ozônio é o principal problema de poluição do ar na cidade de São Paulo. Este estudo, que foi realizado em uma estação de monitoramento da qualidade do ar da Companhia de Tecnologia de Saneamento Ambiental (CETESB), enfoca a elucidação dos principais compostos orgânicos voláteis precursores de ozônio na atmosfera paulistana. Foram coletadas 36 amostras nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2006, nos quais o consumo de etanol era de aproximadamente 50 por cento nesta época. Foram quantificadas 69 espécies de compostos orgânicos voláteis, nos quais os dez compostos mais importantes na formação de O3 foram: 1-buteno (6,8 por cento), eteno (6,5 por cento), formaldeído (6,1 por cento), acetaldeído (5,5 por cento), tolueno (4,8 por cento), 1-etil-4-metilbenzeno (3,7 por cento), trans-2-penteno (3,7 por cento), propeno (3,7 por cento), trans-2-buteno (3,5 por cento) e 1-metilciclopenteno (3,5 por cento). As classes mais abundantes em concentração no ar foram: alcanos (45 por cento), alcenos (26 por cento), aromáticos (14 por cento), aldeídos (13 por cento) e alcadienos (2 por cento).

Ozone is the main problem of air pollution in the city of São Paulo. This study, which was carried out in the Brazilian Basic Sanitation Engineering Company (CETESB, acronym in Portuguese) monitoring station of air quality, focused on the elucidation of the main volatile organic compounds ozone precursors in São Paulo atmosphere. Thirty-six samples were collected in August and September 2006, when the consumption of ethanol was about 50 percent, 69 species of volatile organic compounds were quantified, the ten major urban pollutants compounds in the formation of O3 were: 1-butene (6.8 percent), ethylene (6.5 percent), formaldehyde (6.1 percent), acetaldehyde (5.5 percent), toluene (4.8 percent), 1-ethyl-4-methylbenzene (3.7 percent), trans-2-pentene (3.7 percent), propylene (3.7 percent), trans-2-butene (3.5 percent), and 1-methylcyclopentene (3.5 percent). The most abundant classes of air concentration were: alkanes (45 percent), alkenes (26 percent), aromatics (14 percent), aldehydes (13 percent), and alkadyenes (2 percent).

Acute cardiovascular and inflammatory toxicity induced by inhalation of diesel and biodiesel exhaust particles.

Analysis of fuel emissions is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of mortality because of air pollution. The objective of this study is to assess cardiovascular and inflammatory toxicity of diesel and biodiesel particles. Mice were exposed to fuels for 1 h. Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability, and blood pressure were obtained before exposure, as well as 30 and 60 min after exposure. After 24 h, bronchoalveolar lavage, blood, and bone marrow were collected to evaluate inflammation. B100 decreased the following emission parameters: mass, black carbon, metals, CO, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds compared with B50 and diesel; root mean square of successive differences in the heart beat interval increased with diesel (p < 0.05) compared with control; low frequency increased with diesel (p < 0.01) and B100 (p < 0.05) compared with control; HR increased with B100 (p < 0.05) compared with control; mean corpuscular volume increased with B100 compared with diesel (p < 0.01), B50, and control (p < 0.001); mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration decreased with B100 compared with B50 (p < 0.001) and control (p < 0.05); leucocytes increased with B50 compared with diesel (p < 0.05); platelets increased with B100 compared with diesel and control (p < 0.05); reticulocytes increased with B50 compared with diesel, control (p < 0.01), and B100 (p < 0.05); metamyelocytes increased with B50 and B100 compared with diesel (p < 0.05); neutrophils increased with diesel and B50 compared with control (p < 0.05); and macrophages increased with diesel (p < 0.01), B50, and B100 (p < 0.05) compared with control. Biodiesel was more toxic than diesel because it promoted cardiovascular alterations as well as pulmonary and systemic inflammation.

Ozone precursors for the São Paulo Metropolitan Area.

Ozone represents the main atmospheric pollutant in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area (SPMA). In this region, its concentration exceeds the national air quality standards for several days out of the year. Ozone is a secondary pollutant and is a product of VOCs, NO(x), and sunlight. Thus, it is very difficult to elaborate efficient strategies for its reduction. Computational simulations may provide an interesting alternative to evaluate the many factors that affect ozone formation. In this study, the trajectory model OZIPR was used together with the SAPRC chemical mechanism to determine the incremental reactivity scale for VOCs in the SPMA. VOC input data were obtained from two campaigns that were performed in the studied area in 2006. Values for CO, NO(x), and meteorological parameters were obtained by automatic monitors. Five base-cases were created to verify the variation in maximum ozone concentration and thus determine the ozone formation potential of each VOC. NO(x) and VOC emissions were independently and simultaneously reduced by 5, 10, 20, and 30% to verify variations in ozone formation. With the simulator output data, ozone isopleths charts were generated for the city of São Paulo. Analysis of the obtained results shows that the most frequent compounds found among the ten main ozone precursors in São Paulo, using the reactivity scales created from the five base-cases, were: formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propene, isoprene, cis-2-butene, and trans-2-butene, with formaldehyde being always the main ozone precursor compound. The simulations also show that an efficient strategy to decrease ozone concentrations in the SPMA would be to reduce total VOC emissions. The same strategy is not possible for NO(x), as the reduction of these pollutants would increase ozone concentrations.