Analysis of nondegradable cyclins reveals distinct roles of the mitotic cyclins in Drosophila meiosis.

Meiosis is a complex variant of the mitotic cell cycle, and as such relies on many of the same proteins involved in mitosis, but utilizes these in novel ways. As in mitosis, Cdk1 and its cyclin partners, Cyclin A, B, and B3 are required at multiple steps in meiosis. Here, we study the effect of stabilized forms of the three mitotic cyclins to study the consequences of failure to degrade the cyclins in meiosis. We find that stabilized Cyclin B3 promotes ectopic microtubule polymerization throughout the egg, dependent on APC/C activity and apparently due to the consequent destruction of Cyclin A and Cyclin B. We present data that suggests CycB, and possibly CycA, can also promote APC/C activity at specific stages of meiosis. We also present evidence that in meiosis APC/CCort and APC/CFzy are able to target Cyclin B via a novel degron. Overall, our findings highlight the distinct functions of the three mitotic Cdk-cyclin complexes in meiosis.

Community engagement approaches for malaria prevention, control and elimination: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Globally malaria programmes have adopted approaches to community engagement (ACE) to design and deliver malaria interventions. This scoping review aimed to understand, map, and synthesise intervention activities guided by ACE and implemented by countries worldwide for the prevention, control and elimination of malaria. METHODS: Three databases (Web of Science, Proquest, and Medline) were searched for peer-reviewed, primary studies, published in English between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2022. Advanced Google was used to search for grey literature. The five levels of the International Association for Public Participation were used to categorise ACE - (1) Inform, (2) Consult, (3) involve, (4) Collaborate, and (5) Co-lead. Intervention activities were categorised as health education (HE), and/or health services (HS), and/or environmental management (EM). Outcomes were collected as knowledge, attitude, behaviour, help-seeking, health and HS and environment. Enablers and barriers were identified. Malaria intervention phases were categorised as (1) prevention (P), or (2) control (C), or (3) prevention and control (PC) or prevention, control and elimination (PCE). RESULTS: Seventy-five studies were included in the review. Based on ACE levels, most studies were at the inform (n=37) and involve (n=26) level. HE (n=66) and HS (n=43) were the common intervention activities. HE informed communities about malaria, its prevention and vector control. EM activities were effective when complemented by HE. Community-based HS using locally recruited health workers was well-accepted by the community. Involvement of local leaders and collaboration with local stakeholders can be enablers for malaria intervention activities. CONCLUSION: Involving local leaders and community groups in all stages of malaria prevention programmes is vital for successful interventions. Key elements of successful ACE, that is, consult, collaborate, and co-lead were under-represented in the literature and require attention. National programes must consult and collaborate with community stakeholders to develop ownership of the interventions and eventually co-lead them.

Testing campaign slogans designed to motivate older people to be more physically active.

Objectives and importance of study: Being physically active is critical for healthy ageing, yet many older people do not meet physical activity guidelines. The aim of this study was to test the relative effectiveness of five previously identified campaign slogans designed to encourage older people to be more physically active: 'Be active 30-60 minutes a day to stay fit and well'; 'Move more, live longer'; 'Stay fit to stay functional'; 'This is your time - enjoy being strong and active'; and 'Use it or lose it'. STUDY TYPE: Online experiment Methods: A total of 1200 Australians aged 50 years and older (50% female, mean age 65 years) were recruited to complete an online survey, with respondents randomised to answer a series of questions on a video featuring one of the five slogan conditions. One-way ANOVAs with Tukey's post-hoc tests were used to identify differences in outcomes between slogans. RESULTS: Overall, the slogans were assessed favourably, suggesting older adults may be receptive to messages about increasing their physical activity. 'Use it or lose it 'performed best across the outcome measures of internal and external motivation, perceived effectiveness, liking, believability, and personal relevance. CONCLUSION: Efforts to encourage physical activity among older Australians could use the slogan 'Use it or lose it' as an evidence-based tagline.

Comparison of agreement in asthmagen exposure assessments between rule-based automatic algorithms and a job exposure matrix in healthcare workers in Australia and Bhutan.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of occupational exposures is an integral component of population-based studies investigating the epidemiology of occupational diseases. However, all the available methods for exposure assessment have been developed, tested and used in high-income countries. Except for a few studies examining pesticide exposures, there is limited research on whether these methods are appropriate for assessing exposure in LMICs. The aim of this study is to compare a task-specific algorithm-based method (OccIDEAS) to a job-specific matrix method (OAsJEM) in the assessment of asthmagen exposures among healthcare workers in a high-income country and a low- and middle- income country (LMIC) to determine an appropriate assessment method for use in LMICs for future research. METHODS: Data were obtained from a national cross-sectional survey of occupational asthmagens exposure in Australia and a cross-sectional survey of occupational chemical exposure among Bhutanese healthcare workers. Exposure was assessed using OccIDEAS and the OAsJEM. Prevalence of exposure to asthmagens and inter-rater agreement were calculated. RESULTS: In Australia, the prevalence was higher for a majority of agents when assessed by OccIDEAS than by the OAsJEM (13 versus 3). OccIDEAS identified exposures to a greater number of agents (16 versus 7). The agreement as indicated by κ (Cohen's Kappa coefficient) for six of the seven agents assessed was poor to fair (0.02 to 0.37). In Bhutan, the prevalence of exposure assessed by OccIDEAS was higher for four of the seven agents and κ was poor for all the four agents assessed (-0.06 to 0.13). The OAsJEM overestimated exposures to high-level disinfectants by assigning exposures to all participants from 10 (Bhutan) and 12 (Australia) ISCO-88 codes; whereas OccIDEAS assigned exposures to varying proportions of participants from these ISCO-codes. CONCLUSION: There was poor to fair agreement in the assessment of asthmagen exposure in healthcare workers between the two methods. The OAsJEM overestimated the prevalence of certain exposures. As compared to the OAsJEM, OccIDEAS appeared to be more appropriate for evaluating cross-country exposures to asthmagens in healthcare workers due to its inherent quality of assessing task-based determinants and its versatility in being adaptable for use in different countries with different exposure circumstances.

Communicating with older people about physical activity.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about how to effectively encourage higher levels of activity among older people. This study tested the effectiveness of a public service advertisement designed according to recommendations for communicating with older audiences and featuring five types of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: tennis, line dancing, cycling, swimming and jogging. METHODS: A survey administered to 1,200 Australians aged 50+ years assessed effects of the public service advertisement on: motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic); perceived believability, relevance, and effectiveness; and feelings elicited (e.g. interest, hope, guilt). Open-ended questions enabled respondents to describe aspects of the ad they considered to be most and least effective. RESULTS: Moderate to high scores were obtained on the motivation measures and the ad evaluation criteria of perceived effectiveness, likeability, believability and personal relevance. Mean scores for the feelings measures were generally low, with the exception of the positive feelings of being interested, inspired, hopeful and determined. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest physical activity promotion ads can be motivating across age and socioeconomic subgroups of older people. Implications for public health: Ads aiming to encourage older people to be more physically active may be accepted and effective if they depict everyday older people enjoying a range of relevant activities.

Exposure to Occupational Hazards among Health Care Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review.

Health care workers are exposed to numerous workplace hazards. The implementation of safety measures in high-income countries has largely mitigated these risks. However, in many low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), resources to institute safety measures are lacking, increasing the risk of occupational exposures to these hazards. The aim of this scoping review is to map and synthesize the available research on occupational hazards among health care workers in LMICs, identify research gaps and inform policy. Searches for relevant articles were conducted in five electronic databases using a broad range of search terms. The inclusion criteria were: quantitative observational or experimental studies which examined exposure to one or more occupational hazards among health care workers in a LMCI; and the article was published in English in a peer-reviewed journal. A total of 99 studies met the inclusion criteria, and data were extracted from these studies. Large proportions of health care workers in LMICs were exposed to biological hazards (bloodborne pathogens, tuberculosis), psychosocial hazards (workplace violence, burnout, job dissatisfaction), ergonomic hazards (musculoskeletal complaints), and chemical hazards (exposure to latex and antineoplastic drugs). The implementation of risk reduction strategies was suboptimal. The majority of the literature was on biological hazards (48%), and research on other hazards was limited in comparison. Occupational safety needs to become a priority public health issue to protect health care workers in LMICs. More research is needed to understand the magnitude of the problem in these countries.

Occupational exposures to hazardous chemicals and agents among healthcare workers in Bhutan.

BACKGROUND: Occupational exposures to hazardous chemicals among healthcare workers can result in long-term adverse health outcomes. Research on such exposures from low- and middle-income countries is limited. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of exposures to a range of chemicals used in healthcare settings among Bhutanese healthcare workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare workers (n = 370) working in three hospitals in the western region of Bhutan. Demographic and occupational information was collected, and exposures to asthmagens, carcinogens, ototoxic and other agents were assessed using a web-based tool. The prevalence of exposure to these chemicals was calculated and the circumstances resulting in such exposures were examined. RESULTS: The prevalence of exposure to one or more asthmagen, carcinogen, and ototoxic agent was 98.7%, 28.1%, and 7.6%, respectively; and was 6.2% for anesthetic gases and 2.2% for antineoplastic drugs. The most common exposures were to latex, and cleaning and disinfecting agents in the asthmagens group; formaldehyde in the carcinogens group; and p-xylene among ototoxic agents. The circumstances resulting in exposures were using latex gloves, using bleach and chlorhexidine for cleaning, using formaldehyde as a disinfectant and in the laboratory, and using p-xylene in the laboratory. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that a large proportion of Bhutanese healthcare workers are occupationally exposed to chemicals linked to chronic diseases, with exposure prevalence higher than in high-income countries. The study provides information that can be used to formulate policies and to implement control measures to protect healthcare workers.

Reliability and Validity of an Adapted Questionnaire Assessing Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals among Health Care Workers in Bhutan.

BACKGROUND: Collection of reliable and valid occupational history data is of utmost importance to assess work-related exposures and their health effects. Few standardized questionnaires are available for the collection of occupational history data in low-and-middle income countries. OBJECTIVE: To adapt and test a validated questionnaire developed in the United States by the National Institute of Safety and Health, in order to assess occupational chemical exposures among health care workers in Bhutan. METHODS: The questionnaire was first adapted to suit the Bhutanese context with the advice of an expert review committee. 30 health care workers then completed the questionnaire at baseline and 10-14 days later. Test-retest reliability was assessed by calculating Cohen's κ and percentage agreement. RESULTS: The questionnaire had high test-retest reliability. Cohen's κ ranged from 0.61 to 1.00, and percentage agreement ranged from 86.7% to 100%. Further adaptations included omitting questions on chemicals not available in Bhutan. CONCLUSION: The adapted questionnaire is appropriate for assessing occupational chemical exposures among health care workers in Bhutan.

The estimated prevalence of exposure to carcinogens, asthmagens, and ototoxic agents among healthcare workers in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers are occupationally exposed to various hazardous chemicals and agents that can potentially result in long-term adverse health effects. These exposures have not been comprehensively examined at a population level. The aim of this study was to examine occupational exposures to a wide range of asthmagens, carcinogens, and ototoxic agents among healthcare workers in Australia. METHODS: Data were collected as part of the Australian Work Exposures Studies, which were computer-assisted telephone surveys conducted in 2011, 2014, and 2016 to assess the prevalence of occupational exposures to carcinogens, asthmagens, and ototoxic agents, respectively, among Australian workers. Using data on healthcare workers, the prevalence of exposures to these agents was calculated and associations of demographic variables and occupation groups with exposure status were examined. RESULTS: The prevalence of exposure to at least one asthmagen, carcinogen, and ototoxic agent was 92.3%, 50.7%, and 44.6%, respectively. The most common exposures were to (a) cleaning and sterilizing agents in the asthmagen group; (b) shift work in the carcinogen group; and (c) toluene and p-xylene among ototoxic agents. Exposure varied by occupation, with exposure to carcinogens and ototoxic agents highest among personal carers and exposure to carcinogens most likely among nursing professionals and health and welfare support workers. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that a substantial proportion of Australian healthcare workers are occupationally exposed to asthmagens, carcinogens, and ototoxic agents. These exposures are more common among certain occupational groups. The information provided by this study will be useful in prioritizing and implementing control strategies.

The Potential Importance of Housing Type for Older People's Physical Activity Levels.

Limited research has investigated the effect of housing type on older people's physical activity, and the small amount of work to date has relied on self-reported activity levels. The aim of this study was to assess whether housing type is associated with objectively measured physical activity among community-dwelling older people. In total, 430 Australians aged 60 years and older completed a survey and wore an accelerometer for a week. Controlling for a range of confounding variables (age, gender, physical health, neighborhood walkability, and the density of open spaces in the local area), participants living in separate houses were found to engage in higher levels of activity compared with those living in retirement villages. In addition, those living in separate houses and apartments were significantly more likely to meet the physical activity guideline of 150+ min/week compared with those living in retirement villages.

Retirement and Physical Activity: The Opportunity of a Lifetime or the Beginning of the End?

Retirement has been identified as a life transition that is important in determining older adults' physical activity levels. The present study examined the factors associated with retirement that affect physical activity participation among older adults. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 425 retired Australians aged 60 years and older. Physical activity was assessed objectively, using accelerometers. Two categories of factors affecting physical activity participation following retirement were identified: the various physical and psychological changes in later life that can encourage or discourage physical activity and the adaptation processes undertaken by older people in response to these changes. The adoption of either a gain or loss approach to retirement and aging appeared to be the most influential adaptation factor affecting physical activity participation. The results suggest that intervention approaches should aim to foster more positive attitudes to aging and retirement and promote physical activity at all stages in life.

Identifying modifiable factors associated with health optimism in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the documented importance of health optimism for enhancing health outcomes, very little work has been done to examine who experiences health optimism and under what conditions. The present study sought to identify modifiable factors associated with health optimism that could constitute the focus of future intervention efforts designed to promote health optimism among older people. DESIGN: Participants were 453 (44% males) community-based Western Australians aged 60+ years (M = 70.39 years, SD = 6.06). Participants completed questionnaires to assess sociodemographic characteristics and provided information relating to physical and psychological health status. RESULTS: Almost a quarter of participants (24%; n = 108) were classified as health optimists. Results from a multivariate regression analysis found quality of life, psychological well-being, and age to be directly and positively associated with health optimism. A subsequent path analytic model found depression (negatively) and self-efficacy (positively) to be indirectly associated with health optimism via both psychological well-being and quality of life. CONCLUSION: These findings extend the limited evidence on health optimism in older adults by identifying various modifiable factors that may constitute potential areas of focus for future interventions designed to enhance health outcomes via the fostering of health optimism.

Exploring Factors Associated With Physical Activity in Older Adults: An Ecological Approach.

According to ecological models of behavior, the physical environment can influence physical activity engagement by a series of mediating and moderating processes. This study tested such a model to identify factors relevant to older adults' engagement in moderate-vigorous physical activity. Sociodemographic, psychological, physical, and environmental factors were assessed in 432 Western Australians aged 60 and older. Moderate-vigorous physical activity was measured objectively using accelerometers. No environmental variables were related to engagement in moderate-vigorous physical activity either directly or indirectly. However, various individual-level factors were significant, indicating that these may be more important than environmental factors in locations such as Australia that have generally conducive environments and ambient conditions.

Ghost probiotics with a combined regimen: a novel therapeutic approach against the Zika virus, an emerging world threat.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) used to be an obscure flavivirus closely related to dengue virus (DENV). Transmission of this epidemic pathogen occurs mainly via mosquitoes, but it is also capable of placental and sexual transmission. Although the characteristics of these viruses are well defined, infections are unpredictable in terms of disease severity, unusual clinical manifestations, unexpected methods of transmission, long-term persistence, and the development of new strains. Recently, ZIKV has gained huge medical attention following the large-scale epidemics around the world, and reported cases of congenital abnormalities associated with Zika virus infections which have created a public health emergency of international concern. Despite continuous research on ZIKV, no specific treatment or vaccine has been developed, excepting a preventive strategy for congenital ZIKV infection. Probiotics, known as GRAS, are bacteria that confer various health beneficial effects, and have been shown to be effective at curing a number of viral diseases by modulating the immune system. Furthermore, probiotic preparations consisting of dead cells and cellular metabolites, so-called "Ghost probiotics", can also act as biological response modifiers. Here, we review available information on the epidemiology, transmission, and clinical features of ZIKV, and on treatment and prevention strategies. In addition, we emphasize the use of probiotics and plant-based natural remedies and describe their action mechanisms, and the green technologies for microbial conversion, which could contribute to the development of novel therapies that may reduce the pathogenicity of ZIKV. Accordingly, we draw attention to new findings, unanswered questions, unresolved issues, and controversies regarding ZIKV.

Occupational exposures to engine exhausts and other PAHs and breast cancer risk: A population-based case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Some previous studies have suggested that exposure to engine exhausts may increase risk of breast cancer. METHODS: In a population-based case-control study of breast cancer in Western Australia we assessed occupational exposure to engine exhausts using questionnaires and telephone interviews. Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression. RESULTS: We found no association between risk of breast cancer and occupational exposure to diesel exhaust (OR 1.07, 95%CI: 0.81-1.41), gasoline exhaust (OR 0.98, 95%CI: 0.74-1.28), or other exhausts (OR 1.08, 95%CI: 0.29-4.08). There were also no significant dose- or duration-response relationships. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not find evidence supporting the association between occupational exposures to engine exhausts and breast cancer risk. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:437-444, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.