A review of relevant parameters for assessing indoor air quality in educational facilities.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in educational facilities is crucial due to the extended time students spend in those environments, affecting their health, academic performance, and attendance. This paper aimed to review relevant parameters (building characteristics and factors related with occupancy and activities) for assessing IAQ in educational facilities, and to identify the parameters to consider when performing an IAQ monitoring campaign in schools. It also intended to identify literature gaps and suggest future research directions. A narrative literature review was conducted, focusing on seven key parameters: building location, layout and construction materials, ventilation and air cleaning systems, finishing materials, occupant demographics, occupancy, and activities. The findings revealed that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels were predominantly influenced by classroom occupancy and ventilation rates, while particulate matter (PM) concentrations were significantly influenced by the building's location, design, and occupant activities. Furthermore, this review highlighted the presence of other pollutants, such as trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and radon, linking them to specific factors within the school environment. Different IAQ patterns, and consequently different parameters, were observed in various school areas, including classrooms, canteens, gymnasiums, computer rooms, and laboratories. While substantial literature exists on IAQ in schools, significant gaps still remain. This study highlighted the need for more studies in middle and high schools, as well as in other indoor microenvironments within educational settings beyond classrooms. Additionally, it underscored the need for comprehensive exposure assessments, long-term studies, and the impacts of new materials on IAQ including the effects of secondary reactions on surfaces. Seasonal variations and the implications of emerging technologies were also identified as requiring further investigation. Addressing those gaps through targeted research and considering the most updated standards and guidelines for IAQ, could lead to define more effective strategies for improving IAQ and safeguarding the students' health and performance.

A review of critical residential buildings parameters and activities when investigating indoor air quality and pollutants.

Indoor air in residential dwellings can contain a variety of chemicals, sometimes present at concentrations or in combinations which can have a negative impact on human health. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) surveys are often required to characterize human exposure or to investigate IAQ concerns and complaints. Such surveys should include sufficient contextual information to elucidate sources, pathways, and the magnitude of exposures. The aim of this review was to investigate and describe the parameters that affect IAQ in residential dwellings: building location, layout, and ventilation, finishing materials, occupant activities, and occupant demography. About 180 peer-reviewed articles, published from 01/2013 to 09/2021 (plus some important earlier publications), were reviewed. The importance of the building parameters largely depends on the study objectives and whether the focus is on a specific pollutant or to assess health risk. When considering classical pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the building parameters can have a significant impact on IAQ, and detailed information of these parameters needs to be reported in each study. Research gaps and suggestions for the future studies together with recommendation of where measurements should be done are also provided.

Risk mitigation for indoor air quality using the example of construction products - efforts towards a harmonization of the health-related evaluation in the EU.

In Europe, the Construction Products Regulation sets harmonized conditions for the marketing of construction products with the objective of protecting the building users' health. Until now only three European countries have implemented requirements for the assessment of VOC emissions from construction products. Therefore, the European Commission is planning the issue of a delegated act on the communication of VOC emissions from construction products in the form of VOC classes. A key prerequisite for defining the VOC classes is the completion of the EU-LCI list currently being carried out by a group of experts from ten European countries. This paper reports on the development of the VOC class concept, the progress of the EU-LCI harmonization framework and Germany's current efforts to ensure a high level of health protection for building users and avoid dangers from construction product emissions.

Bivalent bendamustine and melphalan derivatives as anticancer agents.

The alkylating agents bendamustine and melphalan are currently used in the treatment of various tumoral diseases. In order to increase their antitumor potency and tumor selectivity both compounds were integrated in structure-activity relationship studies including new drug carrier systems. Here we describe the synthesis and the cytotoxicity of new bivalent bendamustine and melphalan derivatives. Two molecules each esterified with N-(2-hydroxyethyl)maleimide were connected by diamines with various chain lengths (n=6, 7, 8, 12). It was supposed that these conjugates (5a-d, 10a-d, 11a-d) cause cytotoxic effects preferred as bivalent drug. Indeed the cytotoxicity of the new compounds increased compared to bendamustine and melphalan as determined in concentration-dependent in vitro assays using the human MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines.

Optimization of the N-lost drugs melphalan and bendamustine: synthesis and cytotoxicity of a new set of dendrimer-drug conjugates as tumor therapeutic agents.

Bendamustine and melphalan are very promising alkylating drugs with applicability in the treatment of various tumoral diseases, e.g., chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or breast cancer. However, numerous adverse effects limited their use. Therefore, 1,3,5-tris(3-aminopropyl)benzene (G0) and its G1 analogue 3,5-bis(3-aminopropyl)-N-(3-{3,5-bis[3-{3,5-bis(3-aminopropyl)benzoylamino}propyl]phenyl}propyl)benzamide were selected to design cytostatic drug-dendrimer conjugates to achieve tumor cell accumulation by endocytosis as already demonstrated for platinum complexes. The dendrimers act as carriers and an N-(2-hydroxyethyl)maleimide spacer between drug and carrier should guarantee a selective release of the cytostatics in the tumor cells. The resulting cytotoxicity was determined in vitro using the human MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. It was demonstrated that melphalan caused cytotoxic effects depending on its free amino group (Boc protection strongly decreased the activity) but independent of a derivation of the carboxylic group (dendrimers and spacer binding). Esterification of bendamustine with the N-(2-hydroxyethyl)maleimide spacer strongly increased the hydrolytic stability of the N-lost moiety, so antiproliferative effects were yet observed in vitro.

[Treatment of choroidal neovascular membranes]. / Tratamentul membranelor neovasculare coroidiene.

PURPOSE: The purpose is to present our experience in diagnosis and treatment of choroidal neovascular membranes of various etiology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study consisting of 165 patients that were diagnosed with choroidal neovascular membranes (CNM). From this patients, 62 were treated between 2001-2005 for CMN of different etiology: age-related macular degeneration (AMD), myopia, presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, angioid streaks, viteliform dystrophy. The diagnosis was based on the clinical examination (direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, direct and indirect biomicroscopy) and angiofluorography. The treatment was either PDT for sub-foveolar membranes, or laser coagulation with YAG532 laser for juxta and para-foveolar well defined membranes, or combined treatment for large minimal classic membranes with a well defined juxta para-foveolar component or a component on the feeder vessels. PDT was done with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis Pharma AG) activated with a diode laser of 689 nm (Activis, Quantel medical) and the laser coagulation was done with a Visulas YAG 532 Carl Zeiss laser. RESULTS: Results can be evaluated from two points of view: changes in the neovascular membrane (enlargement and activity signs) and the changes in VA. Last researches are based not only on AV but also on the quality life. The membranes are closed with PDT in 90% of the cases in the first week but there are rebounds in almost 100% of the cases at 3 months. This calls for multiple treatments. After two or three treatments the signs of activity (hemorrhage and exudation) drop and 60% of the membranes will close. After laser coagulation the CMN is closed completely in 70% of the patients and in 20% of the cases there is a rebound in the first month and in 30% of the cases the rebound appears in the next 2 years. The visual acuity has improved at 33% of cases, remained the same in 33% of cases and worsened in the rest of the treated eyes. The results are compatible with TAP and VIP results where after 24 months the average VA of those treated with verteporfirin was lower than at the beginning but twice as good compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: For four year we had at our disposal methods with which we can improve (33%) the VA in patients with CMN, at some of them we could maintain (33%) the visual acuity and at the rest of the patients, even though the visual acuity is lower, it will be still higher then the one during the natural course of the disease.