Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020.

This assessment by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides the latest scientific update since our most recent comprehensive assessment (Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences, 2019, 18, 595-828). The interactive effects between the stratospheric ozone layer, solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and climate change are presented within the framework of the Montreal Protocol and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We address how these global environmental changes affect the atmosphere and air quality; human health; terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; biogeochemical cycles; and materials used in outdoor construction, solar energy technologies, and fabrics. In many cases, there is a growing influence from changes in seasonality and extreme events due to climate change. Additionally, we assess the transmission and environmental effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, in the context of linkages with solar UV radiation and the Montreal Protocol.

Impacting on factors promoting intra-group aggression in secure psychiatric settings.

Three preliminary and linked studies investigate the impact of making alterations to factors considered relevant to engaging in and experiencing intra-group aggression (bullying) among adult male patients detained in a single secure forensic hospital. Study one (n = 44) outlines the institutional factors, attitudes towards bullying and environmental factors that increase the likelihood of engaging in bullying and/or being victimised. Study two (n = 53 patients and 167 staff) assesses the effect of three variations of intervention that aimed to reduce intra-group aggression through direct alteration of the physical and psychosocial environment, using data from both patients and staff. Study three (n = 414) looks at the effects of two variations of the intervention used in study two, which offered patients' participation in individual and communal activities. It was predicted that changes to the physical and social environment would produce a reduction in the factors shown to predict intra-group aggression. Attitudes supportive of bullying and the presence of social hierarchies each increased the likelihood of engaging in bullying. Indirect changes to the social environment on the wards had more positive effects than those incorporating direct alterations to the physical and social environment. The differences in effectiveness of the two approaches are discussed in relation to the established predictors of intra-group aggression. The research concludes by noting the preliminary nature of the research and outlining potential directions for future research and intervention.

Laboratory surge capacity and pandemic influenza.

In this issue, Crawford et al. describe their experiences running a clinical diagnostic laboratory during the first 3 weeks of the influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreak (1). During the early weeks of the outbreak, their laboratory, which serves 15 hospitals and affiliated physician practices in the greater New York City metropolitan area, experienced an approximately 8x increase in respiratory virus testing, reaching a maximum of about 900 samples processed in 1 day.

Detection of triazole deicing additives in soil samples from airports with low, mid, and large volume aircraft deicing activities.

Soil samples from three USA airports representing low, mid, and large volume users of aircraft deicing fluids (ADAFs) were analyzed by LC/MS/MS for the presence of triazoles, a class of corrosion inhibitors historically used in ADAFs. Triazoles, specifically the 4-methyl-1H-benzotriazole and the 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole, were detected in a majority of samples and ranged from 2.35 to 424.19 microg/kg. Previous studies have focused primarily on ground and surface water impacts of larger volume ADAF users. The detection of triazoles in soils at low volume ADAF use airports suggests that deicing activities may have a broader environmental impact than previously considered.

Effects of selective and non-selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibition on endothelial function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk that has been attributed to endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors have been shown in some studies to improve endothelial function in subjects without RA. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of COX inhibition on endothelial function in patients with RA. METHODS: Patients with RA (n = 37) were randomized to receive a 2-week course of either indomethacin (75 mg bd), rofecoxib (12.5 mg bd), or placebo in a double-blind study. Endothelial function was measured using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery in response to reactive hyperaemia. Arterial stiffness was also assessed using pulse wave analysis (PWA) through the measurement of the aortic augmentation index (AIx). Measurements of vascular function and inflammatory markers were taken before and at the end of the treatment period. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in changes in FMD, AIx, blood pressure (BP), serum creatinine, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) between groups. However, compared with the other treatment groups, there was a tendency for systolic BP to decrease in the placebo group (p = 0.063) and for creatinine to increase in the indomethacin and rofecoxib groups after treatment (p = 0.054). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that COX inhibition by indomethacin or rofecoxib do not improve endothelial function in patients with RA.

Clinical presentations for influenza and influenza-like illness in young, immunized soldiers.

Concern about respiratory diseases in soldiers increased in the late 1990s as production of the successful adenovirus vaccines stopped and the possibilities of an emergent pandemic influenza strain and use of bioweapons by terrorists were seriously considered. Current information on the causes and severity of influenza-like illness (ILI) was lacking. Viral agents and clinical presentations were described in a population of soldiers highly immunized for influenza. Using standard virus isolation techniques, 10 agents were identified in 164 (48.2%) of 340 soldiers hospitalized for ILI. Influenza isolates (29) and adenoviruses (98) occurred most frequently. Most influenza cases were caused by influenza A and probably resulted from a mismatch between circulating and vaccine viruses. Most (58.5%) patients with an adenovirus had a chest radiograph; 31.3% of these had an infiltrate. Clinical findings did not differentiate ILI caused by the various agents. Only 29 cases of influenza occurred in approximately 7,200 person-years of observation, supporting the use of influenza vaccine.

Divergent effects of vitamin C on relaxations of rabbit aortic rings to acetylcholine and NO-donors.

1. Vitamin C may influence NO-dependent relaxation independently of effects on oxidant stress. 2. We investigated effects of vitamin C (0.1 -- 10 mmol l(-1)) on relaxation of pre-constricted rabbit aortic rings to acetylcholine (ACh), authentic NO and the NO-donors glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), nitroprusside (NP) and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP). DETCA (2 -- 6 mmol l(-1)), a cell permeable inhibitor of endogenous Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) was used to increase intracellular superoxide anion (O(2)(-)). 3. Vitamin C reduced the response to ACh (71 +/- 7% inhibition of maximum relaxation at 10 mmol l(-1)) and inhibited relaxation to authentic NO. Vitamin C inhibited relaxation to GTN but potentiated relaxations to NP and SNAP, causing a parallel shift to a lower concentration range of the log dose-response curve by approximately one log unit at the highest dose. 4. Vitamin C increased the concentration of NO in bath solution (plus EDTA, 1.0 mmol l(-1)) following the addition of SNAP from 53 +/- 14 to 771 +/- 101 nmol l(-1) over the range 0.1-3.0 mmol l(-1). 5. DETCA inhibited relaxation to ACh (71 +/- 9% inhibition of maximum relaxation). This inhibition was abolished by a cell permeable SOD mimetic, but not by vitamin C. DETCA inhibited relaxation to SNAP but not that to NP nor to GTN. 6. Vitamin C inhibits endothelium-dependent relaxations of rabbit aortic rings to ACh and authentic NO and does not reverse impaired relaxation resulting from increased intracellular oxidant stress. Vitamin C potentiates relaxation to the NO-donors NP and SNAP by a mechanism that could involve release of NO from nitrosothiols.

Epidemic spread of adenovirus type 4-associated acute respiratory disease between U.S. Army installations.

A large outbreak of adenovirus type 4-associated acute respiratory disease (ARD) occurred at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in 1997. A laboratory-based ARD surveillance program was initiated at Fort Gordon, Georgia, where advanced individual training was heavily populated with Fort Jackson soldiers. Adenovirus type 4 was isolated from 50% of 147 trainees hospitalized with ARD. Most (88%) introduced cases were in trainees from Fort Jackson.

Inhibitory effects of low-density lipoproteins from men with type II diabetes on endothelium-dependent relaxation.

OBJECTIVES: The object of the present study is to determine whether native (n) low-density lipoprotein (LDL) isolated from men with type II diabetes and abnormal endothelial function inhibits endothelium-dependent relaxation more than n-LDL isolated from nondiabetic control subjects. BACKGROUND: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in men with type II diabetes and this may result from qualitative rather than quantitative abnormalities of LDL. METHODS: Forearm blood flow responses to brachial artery infusions of acetylcholine (endothelium-dependent vasodilator) and nitroprusside (endothelium-independent vasodilator) were measured in 10 men with uncomplicated type II diabetes and 10 nondiabetic men of similar age and with similar plasma concentrations of LDL cholesterol. Native LDL was isolated by discontinuous density gradient ultracentrifugation using EDTA to prevent oxidation. Preconstricted rabbit aortic ring bioassay was used to determine inhibitory properties of n-LDL on endothelium-dependent relaxation by measuring relaxation to acetylcholine (and nitroprusside) in the presence and absence of n-LDL. RESULTS: Forearm blood flow responses to acetylcholine but not nitroprusside were significantly impaired (p < 0.01) in diabetic men compared with control subjects. Native LDL (10 and 100 microg protein/ml) from diabetic men inhibited relaxation to acetylcholine by 13.9 +/- 4.8% and 61.9 +/- 7.8% (mean inhibition for all doses +/- SE), respectively, whereas n-LDL from control subjects inhibited relaxation by 7.3 +/- 3.0% and 23.9 +/- 5.7% (p < 0.01 for a difference between diabetic and control n-LDL). Relaxation to nitroprusside was not significantly inhibited by n-LDL. CONCLUSIONS: A qualitative abnormality of LDL may account for endothelial dysfunction in men with type II diabetes.