Exhaust ventilation in attached garages improves residential indoor air quality.

Previous research has shown that indoor benzene levels in homes with attached garages are higher than homes without attached garages. Exhaust ventilation in attached garages is one possible intervention to reduce these concentrations. To evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention, a randomized crossover study was conducted in 33 Ottawa homes in winter 2014. VOCs including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and air exchange rates were measured over four 48-hour periods when a garage exhaust fan was turned on or off. A blower door test conducted in each garage was used to determine the required exhaust fan flow rate to provide a depressurization of 5 Pa in each garage relative to the home. When corrected for ambient concentrations, the fan decreased geometric mean indoor benzene concentrations from 1.04 to 0.40 µg/m3 , or by 62% (P<.05). The garage exhaust fan also significantly reduced outdoor-corrected geometric mean indoor concentrations of other pollutants, including toluene (53%), ethylbenzene (47%), m,p-xylene (45%), o-xylene (43%), and carbon monoxide (23%) (P<.05) while having no impact on the home air exchange rate. This study provides evidence that mechanical exhaust ventilation in attached garages can reduce indoor concentrations of pollutants originating from within attached garages.

Can changing the timing of outdoor air intake reduce indoor concentrations of traffic-related pollutants in schools?

Traffic emissions have been associated with a wide range of adverse health effects. Many schools are situated close to major roads, and as children spend much of their day in school, methods to reduce traffic-related air pollutant concentrations in the school environment are warranted. One promising method to reduce pollutant concentrations in schools is to alter the timing of the ventilation so that high ventilation time periods do not correspond to rush hour traffic. Health Canada, in collaboration with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, tested the effect of this action by collecting traffic-related air pollution data from four schools in Ottawa, Canada, during October and November 2013. A baseline and intervention period was assessed in each school. There were statistically significant (P < 0.05) reductions in concentrations of most of the pollutants measured at the two late-start (9 AM start) schools, after adjusting for outdoor concentrations and the absolute indoor-outdoor temperature difference. The intervention at the early-start (8 AM start) schools did not have significant reductions in pollutant concentrations. Based on these findings, changing the timing of the ventilation may be a cost-effective mechanism of reducing traffic-related pollutants in late-start schools located near major roads.

Colonization and infection due to multi-resistant bacteria in neonates: a single center analysis.

BACKGROUND: In the last years the prevalence of multi-resistant pathogens (MRPs) has increased. Systemic infections remain important for neonatal morbidity and mortality. PATIENTS: Neonates born between January 2011 and December 2012 and admitted to the neonatology before their tenth day of life were included into this retrospective analysis. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative bacilli with Extend Spectrum Beta Lactamase or AMP-C resistance were defined as multi-resistant pathogens (MRPs). MRP positive and negative patients were analyzed regarding clinical risk factors and the incidence of systemic infections. RESULTS: 635 neonates were admitted during the analysis period. In 31 patients MRPs were detected. 2 patients developed MRP-associated infections. Both were discharged without long term health risks. Low gestational age and need for mechanical ventilation were risk factors for colonization with MRPs in the univariat analysis. The incidence density (per 1 000 patient days) for all MRE increased from 0.76 in 2011 to 3.51 in 2012. In contrast the sepsis rate remained stable (14.9% and 14.2%). 2 MRP colonization clusters were detected by routine microbiology swabs. Both could be controlled by appropriate hygienic measures. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Gram-negative MRPs increased in neonates. Microbiological screening seems to be helpful for early detection of colonization and thus prevention of nosocomial infections with MRPs. Despite the increased attention towards the problems associated with multiresistant bacteria, there are still major efforts needed for prevention and early treatment of sepsis with non-resistant bacteria.

A randomized double-blind crossover study of indoor air filtration and acute changes in cardiorespiratory health in a First Nations community.

UNLABELLED: Few studies have examined indoor air quality in First Nations communities and its impact on cardiorespiratory health. To address this need, we conducted a crossover study on a First Nations reserve in Manitoba, Canada, including 37 residents in 20 homes. Each home received an electrostatic air filter and a placebo filter for 1 week in random order, and lung function, blood pressure, and endothelial function measures were collected at the beginning and end of each week. Indoor air pollutants were monitored throughout the study period. Indoor PM2.5 decreased substantially during air filter weeks relative to placebo (mean difference: 37 µg/m(3) , 95% CI: 10, 64) but remained approximately five times greater than outdoor concentrations owing to a high prevalence of indoor smoking. On average, air filter use was associated with a 217-ml (95% CI: 23, 410) increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 s, a 7.9-mm Hg (95% CI: -17, 0.82) decrease in systolic blood pressure, and a 4.5-mm Hg (95% CI: -11, 2.4) decrease in diastolic blood pressure. Consistent inverse associations were also observed between indoor PM2.5 and lung function. In general, our findings suggest that reducing indoor PM2.5 may contribute to improved lung function in First Nations communities. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Indoor air quality is known to contribute to adverse cardiorespiratory health, but few studies have examined indoor air quality in First Nations communities. Our findings suggest that indoor PM2.5 may contribute to reduced lung function and that portable air filters may help to alleviate these effects by effectively reducing indoor levels of particulate matter.

Secretion of alpha-amylase by the embryonic chick pancreas in vitro.

Pancreases taken from chick embryos secrete amylase in vitro when stimulated by cholinergic drugs. Rates of secretion increase with developmental age. The pancreas isolated together with the duodenal loop from the 8 day embryo is already capable of secretion in vitro. It is therefore concluded that the pancreas acquires the ability to secrete digestive enzymes more than 10 days before the beginning of the prominent biochemical and morphological changes associated with the maturation of the gland.

"Ultramicroinjection" of macromolecules or small particles into animal cells. A new technique based on virus-induced cell fusion.

A new method is described for the introduction of macromolecules and small particles into animal cells. The first step in this procedure is the trapping of particles in ghosts of human erythrocytes. This is achieved by the gradual hemolysis of erythrocytes in the presence of the particles to be trapped. The second step is the Sendai virus-induced fusion of the ghosts containing the particles with cells. By this method, ferritin and latex spheres (diameter 0.1 mum) have been "injected" into cells.

Degradation signals recognized by the Ubc6p-Ubc7p ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme pair.

Proteolysis by the ubiquitin-proteasome system is highly selective. Specificity is achieved by the cooperation of diverse ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (Ubcs or E2s) with a variety of ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and other ancillary factors. These recognize degradation signals characteristic of their target proteins. In a previous investigation, we identified signals directing the degradation of beta-galactosidase and Ura3p fusion proteins via a subsidiary pathway of the ubiquitin-proteasome system involving Ubc6p and Ubc7p. This pathway has recently been shown to be essential for the degradation of misfolded and regulated proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen and membrane, which are transported to the cytoplasm via the Sec61p translocon. Mutant backgrounds which prevent retrograde transport of ER proteins (hrd1/der3Delta and sec61-2) did not inhibit the degradation of the beta-galactosidase and Ura3p fusions carrying Ubc6p/Ubc7p pathway signals. We therefore conclude that the ubiquitination of these fusion proteins takes place on the cytosolic face of the ER without prior transfer to the ER lumen. The contributions of different sequence elements to a 16-amino-acid-residue Ubc6p-Ubc7p-specific signal were analyzed by mutation. A patch of bulky hydrophobic residues was an essential element. In addition, positively charged residues were found to be essential. Unexpectedly, certain substitutions of bulky hydrophobic or positively charged residues with alanine created novel degradation signals, channeling the degradation of fusion proteins to an unidentified proteasomal pathway not involving Ubc6p and Ubc7p.

Effects of glutamine, methionine sulfone and dexamethasone on rates of synthesis of glutamine synthetase in cultured hepatoma cells.

Glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) activity of hepatoma tissue culture cells is elevated by corticosteroids and depressed by glutamine (Kulka, R.G., Tomkins, G.M. and Crook, R.B. (1972) J. Cell Biol., 54, 175--179). The transfer of cells from high (1--5 mM) to low (0.2--0.4 mM) concentrations of glutamine causes a marked increase in glutamine synthetase activity. The addition of a glutamine antagonist, methionine sulfone (1 mM) to cells suspended in high (1 mM) concentrations of glutamine also causes an increase of glutamine synthetase activity which is greater than that elicited by the transfer of cells to low concentrations of glutamine. Rates of synthesis of glutamine synthetase have been measured by radioimmunoprecipitation in hepatoma tissue culture cells incubated under various conditions. Incubation of cells with the synthetic corticosteroid hormone, dexamethasone, markedly stimulates the relative rate of glutamine synthetase biosynthesis. Glutamine, or its analogue, methionine sulfone, have no effect on the relative rate of synthesis of the enzyme. However, total protein and RNA synthesis increase markedly with increasing external glutamine concentration in the range 0--1 mM. Methionine sulfone (1 mM) inhibits the degradation of glutamine synthetase in the presence of 1 mM glutamine. The data are consistent with the conclusion that the corticosteroid, dexamethasone, elevates glutamine synthetase activity by stimulating its rate of synthesis, whereas methionine sulfone elevates glutamine synthetase activity by inhibiting the glutamine-stimulated degradation of preformed enzyme.

Lifetime and current prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders among Vietnam veterans and controls.

To determine if Vietnam theater veterans were more likely than controls to have a specific psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, the rates of specific psychiatric disorders were estimated using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for national samples of veterans who served in Vietnam, other veterans of the Vietnam era, and matched civilian controls. Overall, there were few differences in rates of disorder between theater and other veterans; there were somewhat more differences between theater veterans and civilians. There were striking differences, however, in rates for most disorders, both lifetime and current, between male theater veterans with high levels of exposure to war zone stress and other male veterans or civilians. Female veterans exposed to high levels of war zone stress also had higher rates than other female respondents for several disorders.

Relationship of steroid structure to induction of chymotrypsinogen in embryonic chick pancreas in vitro.

The effect of steroid structure on induction of chymotrypsinogen in embryonic chick pancreas was examined in vitro. In order of decreasing potency cortisol, corticosterone, and 21-deoxycortisol are classified as optimal inducers, whereas 11beta-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycortisol, cortisone, 11-deoxycorticosterone and 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone are classified as suboptimal inducers. Progesterone was inactive. It is concluded that the relative importance of the steroid hydroxyl groups for activity is 11beta greater than 21 greater than 17 alpha, and that their effect is cumulative.

Peritraumatic dissociation and posttraumatic stress in male Vietnam theater veterans.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of a proposed measure of peritraumatic dissociation and, as part of that effort, to determine the relationship between dissociative experiences during disturbing combat trauma and the subsequent development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHOD: A total of 251 male Vietnam theater veterans from the Clinical Examination Component of the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study were examined to determine the relationship of war zone stress exposure, retrospective reports of dissociation during the most disturbing combat trauma events, and general dissociative tendencies with PTSD case determination. RESULTS: The total score on the Peritraumatic Dissociation Experiences Questionnaire--Rater Version was strongly associated with level of posttraumatic stress symptoms, level of stress exposure, and general dissociative tendencies and weakly associated with general psychopathology scales from the MMPI-2. Logistic regression analyses supported the incremental value of dissociation during trauma, over and above the contributions of level of war zone stress exposure and general dissociative tendencies, in accounting for PTSD case determination. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide support for the reliability and validity of the Peritraumatic Dissociation Experiences Questionnaire--Rater Version and for a trauma-dissociation linkage hypothesis: the greater the dissociation during traumatic stress exposure, the greater the likelihood of meeting criteria for current PTSD.

Selective ubiquitination of calmodulin by UBC4 and a putative ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A putative ubiquitin protein ligase (E3-CaM) which cooperates with UBC4 in selectively ubiquitinating calmodulin has been partially purified from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ca2+ was required for this activity and monoubiquitinated calmodulin was the main product of the reaction. The apparent Km of E3-CaM for calmodulin was approximately 1 microM which is of the same order of magnitude as the concentration of calmodulin in yeast cells. Proteins which are good substrates for other E3s (E3 alpha or E3-R) were not ubiquitinated by E3-CaM. Lower but significant activities of E3-CaM were observed when UBC1 replaced UBC4.

The National WIC Evaluation: evaluation of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children. I. Background and introduction.

The Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) aims to improve the nutrition and health of low-income, nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and preschool children with supplemental food, nutrition education, and coordination of health care. Started in 1972, it recently served greater than 3.4 million persons monthly and at a cost of $1.66 billion annually. The National WIC Evaluation (NWE) consisted of four studies: The historical study estimated changes in birth outcome attributable to WIC from 1972 to 1980 in 19 states and the District of Columbia from WIC program data and vital statistics. The longitudinal study of pregnant women compared dietary intake, weight gain, anthropometry, duration of gestation, birth weight, and infant length and head circumference between a representative national sample of WIC participants and economically comparable women. The cross-sectional study of preschool children related WIC to dietary intake, anthropometry, and psychological development. The food expenditures study estimated the impact of WIC on family grocery and other food expenditures.

The National WIC Evaluation: evaluation of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children. IV. Study methodology and sample characteristics in the longitudinal study of pregnant women, the study of children, and the food expenditures study.

The longitudinal study of pregnant women enrolled a national probability sample of 5,205 women first certified for WIC and 1,358 comparable low-income pregnant women in 174 WIC clinics located in 58 areas in the contiguous 48 states and in 55 prenatal clinics without WIC programs in counties with low program coverage. The women completed 24-h dietary recalls, histories of food expenditures, health care utilization, health and sociodemographic status, and anthropometric assessment. At late-pregnancy follow-up 3,967 WIC and 1043 control women were interviewed and 853 WIC and 762 control women completed 1-wk food expenditure diaries. Birth outcome was abstracted (from hospital records) for 3,863 WIC and 1058 control women. Anthropometry, dietary intake, health, and use of health services were related to WIC among 2,619 random low-income preschoolers. Psychological development was assessed in 526 children aged 4 and 5 y. Control women had higher income, education, and employment status; therefore, WIC program benefits probably were underestimated.

The National WIC Evaluation: evaluation of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children. V. Longitudinal study of pregnant women.

The major associations with the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in pregnancy were increased intake of protein, iron, calcium, and vitamin C (four of five targeted nutrients) and of energy, magnesium, phosphorus, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12; reversal of low weight gain in early pregnancy; smaller fat stores in late pregnancy; reduced frequency of premature rupture of the uterine membranes; larger infant head circumference with no effect on birth weight and length; increased birth weight and head circumference with better program quality; and lower fetal mortality of appreciable but not significant magnitude. Incremental energy intake was comparable to that in most small-scale supplementation trials. There was no evidence of effects on frequency of prenatal care, use of alcohol or tobacco, the intention to breast-feed, or the rate of breast-feeding. Maternal alcohol intake was associated with depressed infant head circumference, over and above effects on birth weight and length.

The National WIC Evaluation: evaluation of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children. VI. Study of infants and children.

The major associations with the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in preschool children were better dietary intake associated with current WIC participation, especially for Fe, vitamin A, and vitamin C, but there were no increases in energy intake and, after infancy, no residual benefits from past WIC participation; strongest dietary effects among children who were poor, black, or in single-parent or large families (children lost to WIC were as needy as those currently enrolled); shorter stature, suggesting effective targeting (with enrollment in utero there was no parallel deficit in head circumference, which is consistent with results for newborns); better immunization and more frequent regular source of health care but no more frequent use of preventive health services; and better vocabulary with WIC participation begun in utero; better digit memory with entry into the program after the first birthday (differences that emerged only after statistical adjustment for sociodemographic factors); and more advantageous child behavior (NS).

Problems in families of male Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,200 male Vietnam veterans and the spouses or co-resident partners of 376 of these veterans. The veteran interview contained questions to determine the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and items tapping family and marital adjustment, parenting problems, and violence. The spouse or partner (S/P) interview assessed the S/P's view of these items, as well as her view of her own mental health, drug, and alcohol problems and behavioral problems of school-aged children living at home. Compared with families of male veterans without current PTSD, families of male veterans with current PTSD showed markedly elevated levels of severe and diffuse problems in marital and family adjustment, in parenting skills, and in violent behavior. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Low adolescent self-esteem leads to multiple interpersonal problems: a test a social-adaptation theory.

This article reports the results of a study that annually monitored the self-esteem and interpersonal problems of over 100 boys during their sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school. Cross-lagged panel correlation differences show that low self-esteem leads to interpersonal problems in all three time lags when multiple interpersonal problems constitute the dependent variable but not when single interpersonal problem criteria constitute the dependent variable. These results are interpreted as supporting social-adaptation theory rather than self-perception theory. Implications for the conceptual status of personality variables as causal antecedents and for the assessment of individual differences are discussed.