Quality of life among working and non-working adolescents.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the association between work, work intensity, and quality of life (QOL) among adolescents in Washington State. METHODS: Data from the 2010 Washington Healthy Youth Survey of public school students in 8, 10, and 12th grades were analyzed. Students were categorized as working or not working. Work intensity was classified by self-reported number of hours worked per week. Respondent QOL was measured using the Youth Quality of Life Instrument-Healthy Youth Survey Version (YQOL-HYS). Linear regression models evaluated the association between employment variables and scores on the YQOL-HYS. RESULTS: In total, 27, 26, and 47 % of students in grades 8, 10, and 12 reported currently working, respectively. For 8th and 10th graders, working was significantly associated with lower QOL scores compared to non-working students. Across all grades, increased work intensity was associated with significantly lower QOL. Participation in after-school activities demonstrated a protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: While work is often a positive experience for adolescents, among younger teens and those who work many hours, employment during the school year may have a deleterious impact on QOL. Further research is necessary to better understand whether employment, particularly in early adolescence, may have negative ramifications on QOL among young workers.

Work-related deaths among youth: Understanding the contribution of US child labor violations.

BACKGROUND: Evidence shows that violations of the United States (US) child labor regulations are common. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the magnitude and nature of work-related deaths among youth involving violations of US child labor regulations. METHODS: We analyzed Census of Fatal Occupational Injury data from 2001 to 2012 using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. RESULTS: Between 2001 and 2012, 406 workers under age 18 were recorded in the CFOI as having suffered a fatal work-related injury. Among these cases, 233 were covered by the US child labor regulations. Forty-three percent of these cases involved at least one violation. The majority of cases that were not covered by the regulations involved decedents working on their family's farms (N = 139). CONCLUSIONS: Violations of federal child labor regulations are a significant contributor to work-related deaths among youth in the United States. Increased investment in enforcement is needed to prevent further young worker deaths involving child labor violations. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:959-968, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Reduced sleep duration and history of work-related injuries among Washington State adolescents with a history of working.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between sleep and occupational injury risk has not been adequately explored for working adolescents. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the 2010 Washington State Healthy Youth Survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade public school students. Teens reported average school and weekend night sleep hours and history of work-related injury that received medical treatment. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated the association between sleep duration and occupational injury. RESULTS: Of 4,144 working teens, 6.4% reported ever having an occupational injury. Teens who sleep ≤5 hr/school night had greater odds of a history of occupational injury than those sleeping 8 hr (OR:2.91, 95% CI:1.85-4.57). No significant association was observed for weekend night sleep duration. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced school night sleep was associated with increased odds of work-related injury in adolescents. Long hours and late night schedules may contribute to decreased sleep time and potentially have other health and developmental impacts for youth.

The anticancer ruthenium complex KP1019 induces DNA damage, leading to cell cycle delay and cell death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The anticancer ruthenium complex trans-[tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)], otherwise known as KP1019, has previously been shown to inhibit proliferation of ovarian tumor cells, induce DNA damage and apoptosis in colon carcinoma cells, and reduce tumor size in animal models. Notably, no dose-limiting toxicity was observed in a Phase I clinical trial. Despite these successes, KP1019's precise mechanism of action remains poorly understood. To determine whether Saccharomyces cerevisiae might serve as an effective model for characterizing the cellular response to KP1019, we first confirmed that this drug is internalized by yeast and induces mutations, cell cycle delay, and cell death. We next examined KP1019 sensitivity of strains defective in DNA repair, ultimately showing that rad1Δ, rev3Δ, and rad52Δ yeast are hypersensitive to KP1019, suggesting that nucleotide excision repair (NER), translesion synthesis (TLS), and recombination each play a role in drug tolerance. These data are consistent with published work showing that KP1019 causes interstrand cross-links and bulky DNA adducts in mammalian cell lines. Published research also showed that mammalian cell lines resistant to other chemotherapeutic agents exhibit only modest resistance, and sometimes hypersensitivity, to KP1019. Here we report similar findings for S. cerevisiae. Whereas gain-of-function mutations in the transcription activator-encoding gene PDR1 are known to increase expression of drug pumps, causing resistance to structurally diverse toxins, we now demonstrate that KP1019 retains its potency against yeast carrying the hypermorphic alleles PDR1-11 or PDR1-3. Combined, these data suggest that S. cerevisiae could serve as an effective model system for identifying evolutionarily conserved modulators of KP1019 sensitivity.

Ebolavirus requires acid sphingomyelinase activity and plasma membrane sphingomyelin for infection.

Acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) converts the lipid sphingomyelin (SM) to phosphocholine and ceramide and has optimum activity at acidic pH. Normally, ASMase is located in lysosomes and endosomes, but membrane damage or the interaction with some bacterial and viral pathogens can trigger its recruitment to the plasma membrane. Rhinovirus and measles viruses each require ASMase activity during early stages of infection. Both sphingomyelin and ceramide are important components of lipid rafts and are potent signaling molecules. Each plays roles in mediating macropinocytosis, which has been shown to be important for ebolavirus (EBOV) infection. Here, we investigated the role of ASMase and its substrate, SM, in EBOV infection. The work was performed at biosafety level 4 with wild-type virus with specificity and mechanistic analysis performed using virus pseudotypes and virus-like particles. We found that virus particles strongly associate with the SM-rich regions of the cell membrane and depletion of SM reduces EBOV infection. ASM-specific drugs and multiple small interfering RNAs strongly inhibit the infection by EBOV and EBOV glycoprotein pseudotyped viruses but not by the pseudotypes bearing the glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus. Interestingly, the binding of virus-like particles to cells is strongly associated with surface-localized ASMase as well as SM-enriched sites. Our work suggests that ASMase activity and SM presence are necessary for efficient infection of cells by EBOV. The inhibition of this pathway may provide new avenues for drug treatment.

Assessing Psychosocial Health Impacts of Climate Adaptation: A Critical Review.

The urgency of dealing with risks associated with climate change and the need for effective response measures to their impacts are increasing daily the world over. Literature abounds regarding the impacts of climate change on physical, psychosocial, and other health outcomes. In contrast, little research exists on the health impacts of response measures to climate change. This critical review seeks to contribute towards closing this gap through a synthesis of current literature on the psychosocial health outcomes of climate adaptation actions. Our results found both positive and negative outcomes associated with psychosocial health that may result from climate adaptation actions. We propose the utilization of well-developed conceptual frameworks and evaluation tools in assessment and analysis of these outcomes. Ultimately, there is need to expand similar and related areas of research more broadly and on psychosocial effects, specifically.

Child labor and protecting young workers around the world. An introduction to this issue.

According to the International Labour Organization, more than 218 million children in the world today are involved in child labor, often doing work that is damaging to their mental, physical, and emotional development. At least 126 million children are performing hazardous work. For many decades, children have been recognized as a vulnerable population in need of and deserving special protections, as reflected in international conventions and national laws. This special issue of the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health presents research on child and adolescent labor around the world, focusing on studies that evaluate health effects from exposures at work; programmatic interventions to reduce work exposures or limit hazardous work activities; and policy mechanisms to reduce the negative health impacts from working too many hours, night hours, or in settings that are too dangerous and inappropriate for youth under age 18. The issue also includes a resource list and photographs of children at work.

An injury prevention strategy for teen restaurant workers. Washington State's ProSafety project.

High levels of youth employment, workplace hazards, and characteristics unique to adolescents contribute to a relatively high incidence of injuries among teens in the restaurant industry. This article discusses the ProSafety model of injury prevention among teen restaurant workers. Through integration with an existing career and technical education program, the ProSafety project seeks to prevent occupational injuries among the teen worker population through classroom safety education and internship skills reinforcement. ProSafety is the product of an innovative collaboration with occupational health nurses, business professionals, educators, and government. Its approach is derived from Social Cognitive Theory, is consistent with key values and strategies of occupational health nurses, and provides lessons for practitioners seeking to reduce occupational injuries in food service or among other populations of adolescent workers.

Employment and Marijuana Use Among Washington State Adolescents Before and After Legalization of Retail Marijuana.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to describe associations between employment and marijuana use among adolescents 2 years before passage of 2012 ballot initiative and 2 years after the implementation of retail recreational marijuana sales took place in Washington. METHODS: We used 2010 and 2016 data from Washington's statewide school-based Healthy Youth Survey, which is completed by more than 76,000 youth annually and representative of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in public schools. We used "difference-in-differences" regression to estimate the odds of current, past 30-day marijuana use by working status and hours worked per week compared with nonworking youth. RESULTS: Working adolescents in all grades had higher prevalence of recent marijuana use compared with nonworking adolescents. Youth working in formal settings, such as retail and service sectors, were more likely to use marijuana than nonworking and youth working in informal settings, such as babysitting. Between 2010 and 2016, marijuana use decreased significantly among working and nonworking 8th and 10th graders. Among working 12th graders, marijuana use increased significantly over time relative to nonworking youth (adjusted odds ratio: 1.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.22-1.48). Associations were stronger for youth who worked more hours per week. CONCLUSIONS: Working youth were more likely to use marijuana before and after Washington's legalization of retail marijuana. Legalization was associated with increases in marijuana use specifically among 12th-grade working youth. States legalizing marijuana may consider implementing interventions to support healthy behaviors among working youth.

Mutual interdependence of MSI1 (CAC3) and YAK1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The MSI1 (CAC3) gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been implicated in diverse cellular functions, including suppression of the RAS/cAMP/protein kinase A signaling pathway, chromatin assembly and transcriptional co-repression. Seeking to identify the molecular mechanisms by which Msi1p carries out these distinct activities, a novel genetic interaction was uncovered with YAK1, which encodes a kinase that antagonizes the RAS/cAMP pathway. MSI1 was capable of efficiently suppressing the heat shock sensitivity caused by deletion of yak1. Surprisingly, the YAK1 gene is required for Msi1p to associate with Cac1p in the yeast two-hybrid system. A new activity of Msi1p was identified: the ability to activate transcription of a reporter gene when tethered near the promoter, but only in the absence of fermentable carbon sources. This transcriptional activation function was diminished substantially by the loss of YAK1. Furthermore, MSI1 influences YAK1 function; over-expression of YAK1 decreased the growth rate, but only in the presence of a functional MSI1 gene. Finally, it is shown that YAK1 antagonizes nuclear accumulation of Msi1p in non-fermenting cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate a novel interaction between Msi1p and Yak1p in which each protein influences the activity of the other.

Occupational allergy and asthma among salt water fish processing workers.

BACKGROUND: Fish processing is a common economic activity in Southern Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and host determinants of allergic symptoms, allergic sensitization, bronchial hyper-responsiveness and asthma among workers processing saltwater fish. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 594 currently employed workers in two processing plants involved in pilchard canning and fishmeal processing. A modified European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire was used. Skin prick tests (SPT) used extracts of common airborne allergens, fresh fish (pilchard, anchovy, maasbanker, mackerel, red eye) and fishmeal. Spirometry and methacholine challenge tests (MCTs; tidal breathing method) used ATS guidelines. RESULTS: Work-related ocular-nasal symptoms (26%) were more common than asthma symptoms (16%). The prevalence of atopy was 36%, while 7% were sensitized to fish species and 26% had NSBH (PC(20) < or = 8 mg/ml or > or =12% increase in FEV(1) post-bronchodilator). The prevalence of probable occupational asthma was 1.8% and fish allergic rhino-conjunctivitis 2.6%. Women were more likely to report work-related asthma symptoms (OR = 1.94) and have NSBH (OR = 3.09), while men were more likely to be sensitized to fish (OR = 2.06) and have airway obstruction (OR = 4.17). Atopy (OR = 3.16) and current smoking (OR = 2.37), but not habitual seafood consumption were associated with sensitization to fish. CONCLUSIONS: Based on comparison with previous published studies, the prevalence of occupational asthma to salt water fish is lower than due to shellfish. The gendered distribution of work and exposures in fish processing operations together with atopy and cigarette smoking are important determinants of occupational allergy and asthma.

Segment fusion of ToF-SIMS images.

The imaging capabilities of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) have not been used to their full potential in the analysis of polymer and biological samples. Imaging has been limited by the size of the dataset and the chemical complexity of the sample being imaged. Pixel and segment based image fusion algorithms commonly used in remote sensing, ecology, geography, and geology provide a way to improve spatial resolution and classification of biological images. In this study, a sample of Arabidopsis thaliana was treated with silver nanoparticles and imaged with ToF-SIMS. These images provide insight into the uptake mechanism for the silver nanoparticles into the plant tissue, giving new understanding to the mechanism of uptake of heavy metals in the environment. The Munechika algorithm was programmed in-house and applied to achieve pixel based fusion, which improved the spatial resolution of the image obtained. Multispectral and quadtree segment or region based fusion algorithms were performed using ecognition software, a commercially available remote sensing software suite, and used to classify the images. The Munechika fusion improved the spatial resolution for the images containing silver nanoparticles, while the segment fusion allowed classification and fusion based on the tissue types in the sample, suggesting potential pathways for the uptake of the silver nanoparticles.

Agricultural occupational health and safety perspectives among Latino-American youth.

Agricultural work is one of the most dangerous jobs for adolescents. Through a university-community partnership, the authors surveyed young primarily acculturated Latino-American farmworkers 14 to 18 years of age regarding their agricultural work experience. Topics included occupational health and safety education, work history, and information sources. The authors also evaluated the Rapid Clinical Assessment Tool (RCAT), a pictorial tool for identifying agricultural tasks to enhance discussion with clinical providers. One hundred forty youth with farmwork experience completed the survey; 6% reported a previous work-related injury or illness and 53% reported receiving some workplace health and safety training. Correct identification of legally restricted duties for youth varied but were generally low: participants identified working alone past 8 pm (57%), driving a forklift (56%), doing roofing work (39%), working in freezers (34%), and driving a delivery vehicle (30%). The Internet was identified as the most likely and reliable place youth would go to find information on workplace health and safety. Few (15%) reported clinician-initiated conversations on occupational health; however, a high proportion responded positively to questions regarding the usefulness of the RCAT for this purpose. This study highlights the need for workplace health and safety guidance for youth employed in agriculture. The results support Internet-based outreach and use of the RCAT to help facilitate occupational health discussions in clinical settings.

DNA Damage Response Checkpoint Activation Drives KP1019 Dependent Pre-Anaphase Cell Cycle Delay in S. cerevisiae.

Careful regulation of the cell cycle is required for proper replication, cell division, and DNA repair. DNA damage--including that induced by many anticancer drugs--results in cell cycle delay or arrest, which can allow time for repair of DNA lesions. Although its molecular mechanism of action remains a matter of debate, the anticancer ruthenium complex KP1019 has been shown to bind DNA in biophysical assays and to damage DNA of colorectal and ovarian cancer cells in vitro. KP1019 has also been shown to induce mutations and induce cell cycle arrest in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, suggesting that budding yeast can serve as an appropriate model for characterizing the cellular response to the drug. Here we use a transcriptomic approach to verify that KP1019 induces the DNA damage response (DDR) and find that KP1019 dependent expression of HUG1 requires the Dun1 checkpoint; both consistent with KP1019 DDR in budding yeast. We observe a robust KP1019 dependent delay in cell cycle progression as measured by increase in large budded cells, 2C DNA content, and accumulation of Pds1 which functions to inhibit anaphase. Importantly, we also find that deletion of RAD9, a gene required for the DDR, blocks drug-dependent changes in cell cycle progression, thereby establishing a causal link between the DDR and phenotypes induced by KP1019. Interestingly, yeast treated with KP1019 not only delay in G2/M, but also exhibit abnormal nuclear position, wherein the nucleus spans the bud neck. This morphology correlates with short, misaligned spindles and is dependent on the dynein heavy chain gene DYN1. We find that KP1019 creates an environment where cells respond to DNA damage through nuclear (transcriptional changes) and cytoplasmic (motor protein activity) events.

Developing a model policy on youth employment in agriculture.

The goal of this project was to develop a model policy that agricultural employers could adopt specific to youth employment, including age-appropriate assignments, training needs for adolescent workers, ideal supervision, and mentoring by adult workers. Methods included discussions at a national conference of agricultural employers, a survey of employers' perspectives on young workers, forming a task force to draft a model policy, and finalizing the policy document. The process resulted in a template that can be used by agricultural employers for immediate adoption, or to be customized and adapted for their unique company. Given new trends in agriculture to use certification systems, safety audits, and voluntary safety standards in addition to the regulatory process, there is value in having a voluntary "best practice" model policy that can be adopted in settings where safeguarding young farm workers is a priority.

Budding yeast for budding geneticists: a primer on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae model system.

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a powerful model organism for studying fundamental aspects of eukaryotic cell biology. This Primer article presents a brief historical perspective on the emergence of this organism as a premier experimental system over the course of the past century. An overview of the central features of the S. cerevisiae genome, including the nature of its genetic elements and general organization, is also provided. Some of the most common experimental tools and resources available to yeast geneticists are presented in a way designed to engage and challenge undergraduate and graduate students eager to learn more about the experimental amenability of budding yeast. Finally, a discussion of several major discoveries derived from yeast studies highlights the far-reaching impact that the yeast system has had and will continue to have on our understanding of a variety of cellular processes relevant to all eukaryotes, including humans.

The management of pemphigus vulgaris in a burn intensive care unit: a case report and treatment review.

Pemphigus vulgaris is a rare, potentially fatal, autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Treatment of this disease is problematic because of a lack of high-grade, evidence-based recommendations, the side-effect profiles of the therapies available, and the extensive supportive care that afflicted patients require. The authors present the unfortunate course of a patient with severe pemphigus vulgaris who was admitted to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center, to demonstrate the potential complications of therapy. Given the patient's complex course, the authors reviewed the literature and share in this article the most up-to-date treatment recommendations for patients with pemphigus vulgaris. The authors' review of the literature supports using conventional therapy consisting of high-dose corticosteroids and an adjuvant immunosuppressant for mild to moderate cases of pemphigus vulgaris. The immunosuppresants recommended are mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, and cyclophosphamide, in order of preference, based on their side-effect profiles and steroid-sparing effects. For severe or recalcitrant cases of pemphigus vulgaris, the authors recommend adding rituximab as early as possible. If increased risk of infection is of particular concern, the use of intravenous immunoglobulin in place of rituximab is advised.

A computer-based feedback only intervention with and without a moderation skills component.

Research on the efficacy of computer-delivered feedback-only interventions (FOIs) for college alcohol misuse has been mixed. Limitations to these FOIs include participant engagement and variation in the use of a moderation skills component. The current investigation sought to address these limitations using a novel computer-delivered FOI, the Drinkers Assessment and Feedback Tool for College Students (DrAFT-CS). Heavy drinking college students (N=176) were randomly assigned to DrAFT-CS, DrAFT-CS plus moderation skills (DrAFT-CS+), moderation skills only (MSO), or assessment only (AO) group, and were assessed at 1-month follow-up (N=157). Participants in the DrAFT-CS and DrAFT-CS+groups reported significantly lower estimated blood alcohol concentrations (eBACs) on typical heaviest drinking day than participants in the AO group. The data also supported the incorporation of a moderation skills component within FOIs, such that participants in DrAFT-CS+group reported significantly fewer drinks per week and drinks per heaviest drinking occasion than participants in the AO group.

Historical background of the child labor regulations: strengths and limitations of the agricultural hazardous occupations orders.

The purpose of this paper is to review the background of key legislative and regulatory milestones of the initial laws and federal child labor provisions limiting hazardous work by children in agriculture up to the more recent developments contributing to the proposed updates to the agricultural hazardous occupations orders. A summary of the key changes are described and the significant differences between agricultural and nonagricultural regulations are highlighted. Recommendations for future policy are provided.

Developing the 2012 national action plan for protecting children in agriculture.

In 1996 the US launched a National Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention Initiative, guided by an action plan generated by a 42-member multidisciplinary committee. A major update to the plan was released following the 2001 Summit on Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention. From the year 2010 through 2011 a comprehensive assessment of progress to date was conducted followed by the drafting, review and finalizing of a new action plan-"The 2012 Blueprint for Protecting Children in Agriculture." This paper briefly describes the purpose and process for generating the new action plan then provides a listing of the 7 goals and 26 strategies within the plan. These goals and strategies account for trends in childhood agricultural injuries, changes in agricultural production and the demographics of its workforce, effectiveness of interventions, and the increasing use of social media, marketing and social networking. Primary funding for this project was provided by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which continues to serve as the lead federal agency for the national initiative.