Protocol for assessing single-cell persister recovery kinetics and physiology in Escherichia coli using spectrophotometry.

Bacterial persisters constitute a small fraction of cells that transiently display multidrug tolerance, allowing them to survive antibiotic treatment and to establish a new population upon recovery from the persistent state. Here, we present a protocol to quantify post-antibiotic persister recovery kinetics and physiological states at the single-cell level. We describe steps for sample preparation, technical setup, and data acquisition using spectrophotometry. Our assay allows for the elucidation of genes and mechanisms involved in persister survival. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Wilmaerts et al.1.

[Mid-term analysis of prospective cohort study of rivaroxaban in preventing CRT in breast cancer].

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of Rivaroxaban in preventing catheter related thrombosis (CRT) in patients with breast cancer who are undergoing central venous catheter chemotherapy, and provide basis for making standardized prevention and treatment strategies. Methods: In this research, a prospective cohort study was adopted, and breast cancer patients who received central venous catheter chemotherapy in Sanhuan Cancer Hospital during September 2020 to March 2022 were selected as a treatment group to take the rivaroxaban anticoagulation therapy with 10 mg.po.qd for one month. The control group got no preventive anticoagulation therapy. Vascular ultrasound examination was taken to confirm the occurrence of CRT, and a chi-square test was done for comparison the disparity between the groups. Logistic regression was applied to analyze the univariate and multivariate factors for the formation of CRT. Results: In the research, a total of 235 patients were selected, and there were a total of 19 035 days of catheterization with 81 days of catheterization on average. While in the control group, the incidence of CRT was 28.0% (33/118), the incidence of CRT in the treatment group was 20.5% (24/117), the difference was no significant (P=0.183). Subgroup analysis results showed that the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was performed in 165 cases with the CRT incidence of 18.2% (30/165) and thrombosis was mostly seen around axillary vein, accounting for 63.3%. Subclavian vein catheterization was performed in 63 cases with the CRT incidence of 39.7% (25/63), and thrombosis was mostly seen around subclavian vein, accounting for 88.0% (22/25). Implantable venous access port was implanted in 7 cases around subclavian vein and internal jugular vein with the CRT incidence of 28.6% (2/7). The patients who developed CRT within 30 days after catheterization accounted for 54.4% (31/57), 22.8% (13/57) in a period during 30 days and 60 days) and 22.8% (13/57) in a period during 60 days and 180 days). The diagnosed CRT patients had been treated with rivaroxaban 15 mg.bid.po for 3 months. During the 3 months, 100.0% of the thrombosis waned, 71.9% (41/57) of the thrombosis waned within 30 days, 19.3% (11/57) in a period during 30 and 60days and 8.8% (5/57) in a period during 60 days and 90 days. Univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that the risk of CRT in subclavian vein catheterization was higher than that in PICC, respectively (OR=2.898, 95% CI:1.386-6.056 P=0.005), and the type of catheterization was an independent factor for the formation of thrombosis. Safety analysis result showed that in the prevention of CRT, rivaroxaban treatment did not induce drug-related bleeding, liver function damage, bone marrow suppression or any other side effects. While CRT diagnosed patients were treated with anticoagulation, they kept the central venous catheter, and the infusion was smooth. These patients all finished the anti-tumor treatment as planned, and no abnormalities like new thrombosis or pulmonary embolism were observed. Conclusions: In the mid-term analysis, the proportion of Rivaroxaban in preventing anticoagulant CRT decreases, but it don't reach statistical significance. The sample size should be further increased for observation. Rivaroxaban is proved effective and very safe in the treatment of CRT, and does not affect the concurrent chemotherapy. Medical personnel should carry out the policy of "early prevention, early detection and early treatment" for CRT so as to improve the patients' quality of life.

Single-Level Anterolateral and Posterior Interbody Fusion Techniques are Associated with Equivalent Long-Term Lumbar Reoperations.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Cohort Study. OBJECTIVE: This study compares reoperation rates and complications following single-level ALIF/LLIF and TLIF/PLIF. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF), transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) are widely used for degenerative disc disease. Lumbar interbody fusions have high rates of reoperation primarily related to adjacent segment pathology and pseudarthrosis. METHODS: The PearlDiver database was queried for patients (2010-2021) who had single-level ALIF/LLIF or TLIF/PLIF with same-day, single-level posterior instrumentation. ALIF/LLIF were combined and similarly, TLIF/PLIF were combined, given how these operations are indistinguishable with Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding. All patients were followed for ≥2 years and excluded if they had spinal traumas, fractures, infections, or neoplasms prior to surgery. The two cohorts, ALIF/LLIF and TLIF/PLIF, were matched 1:1 based on age, sex, Elixhauser-Comorbidity Index (ECI), smoking status, and diabetes. The primary outcome was the incidence of all-cause subsequent lumbar operations. Secondary outcomes included 90-day surgical complications. RESULTS: After 1:1 matching, each cohort contained 14,070 patients. All-cause subsequent lumbar operations were nearly identical at 5-year follow-up (9.4% ALIF/LLIF vs. 9.5% TLIF/PLIF, P=0.91) (Table 2). Survival analysis using all-cause subsequent lumbar operations as the endpoint showed an equivalent 10-year survival rate of 86.0% (95%CI: 85.2-86.8) (Figure 1). Within 90 days, TLIF/PLIF had more infections (1.3% vs. 1.7%, P=0.007) and dural injuries (0.2% vs. 0.4%, P=0.001). There was no difference in wound dehiscence, hardware complications, or medical complications (Table 3). CONCLUSION: As utilized in real-world clinical practice, single-level anterolateral versus posterior approaches for interbody fusion have no effect on long term reoperation rates.

Modelling for design and evaluation of industrial exoskeletons: A systematic review.

Industrial exoskeletons are developed to relieve workers' physical demands in the workplace and to alleviate ergonomic issues associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. As a safe and economical alternative to empirical/experimental methods, modelling is considered as a powerful tool for design and evaluation of industrial exoskeletons. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current literature on the design and evaluation of industrial exoskeletons through modelling. A systematic study was conducted by general keyword searches of five electronic databases over the last two decades (2003-2022). Out of the 701 records initially retrieved, 33 eligible articles were included and analyzed in the final review, presenting a variety of model inputs, model development, and model outputs used in the modelling. This systematic review study revealed that existing modelling methods can evaluate the biomechanical and physiological effects of industrial exoskeletons and provide some design parameters. However, the modelling method is currently unable to cover some of the main evaluation metrics supported by experimental assessments, such as task performance, user experience/discomfort, change in metabolic costs etc. Standard guidelines for model construction and implementation, as well as validation of human-exoskeleton interactions, remain to be established.

Occupational Traffic Accidents among Teachers in Spain.

Occupational traffic accidents are a leading cause of injuries or deaths among workers. Teachers in Spain are especially concerned about the problem of commuting due to their particular labor conditions. Multiple work-related factors are associated with the risk and severity of occupational traffic-related motor vehicle crashes. The objective of this research is to analyze the influence of the variables associated with the severity of occupational traffic accidents among teachers in Spain. A logistic regression model was used for the current study. The odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) were calculated for the injured worker on a sample of 20,190 occupational traffic accidents suffered by teachers. The results showed that women, Spanish nationality, younger than 55 years, and those driving a car were more likely to suffer a light crash. In contrast, men, foreign nationalities, older than 55 years, and those riding a motorbike were more likely to suffer a serious crash. Based on these findings, motor vehicle safety training could be designed and adapted to the riskiest profiles. Additionally, effective mobility plans for commuting could help reduce work-related traffic accidents.

[Multicenter real world study on the efficacy and safety of eribulin for the treatment of advanced breast cancer].

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of real-world eribulin in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Methods: From December 2019 to December 2020, patients with advanced breast cancer were selected from Beijing Chaoyang District Sanhuan Cancer Hospital, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Baotou Cancer Hospital, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, and Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test were used for survival analysis, and Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) of 77 patients was 5 months, the objective response rate (ORR) was 33.8%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 71.4%. The ORR of patients with triple-negative breast cancer was 23.1%, and the DCR was 57.7%; the ORR of patients with Luminal breast cancer was 40.0%, and the DCR was 77.8%; the ORR of patients with HER-2 overexpression breast cancer was 33.3%, and the DCR was 83.3%. ORR of 50.0% and DCR of 66.7% for patients treated with eribulin as first to second line treatment, ORR of 29.4% and DCR of 76.5% for patients treated with third to fourth line and ORR of 28.6% and DCR of 71.4% for patients treated with five to eleven line. The ORR of patients in the eribulin monotherapy group was 40.0% and the DCR was 66.0%; the ORR of patients in the combination chemotherapy or targeted therapy group was 22.2% and the DCR was 81.5%. Patients with a history of treatment with paclitaxel, docetaxel, or albumin paclitaxel during the adjuvant phase or after recurrent metastasis had an ORR of 32.9% and a DCR of 69.9% when treated with eribulin. The treatment efficacy is an independent prognostic factor affecting patient survival (P<0.001). The main adverse reactions in the whole group of patients were Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ neutrophil decline [29.9% (23/77)], and other adverse reactions were Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ fatigue [5.2% (4/77)], Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ peripheral nerve abnormality [2.6% (2/77)] and Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ alopecia [2.6% (2/77)]. Conclusions: Eribulin still has good antitumor activity against various molecular subtypes of breast cancer and advanced breast cancer that has failed multiple lines of chemotherapy, and the adverse effects can be controlled, so it has a good clinical application value.

Analysis of Falls from Height Variables in Occupational Accidents.

Fall-from-height accidents are linked to severe and fatal consequences for impacted workers. A better understanding of the related variables is necessary to improve worker safety. This study analyzed all fall-from-height occupational accidents recorded in Spain from 2009 to 2019, selected significant variables, and evaluated the influence concerning the seriousness of the falls from height. Based on a total of 290,583 fall-from-height accidents, the study shows that a male inexperienced worker in a small company working in a non-habitual workplace is more likely to suffer fatal consequences once the accident happens. An improved knowledge of fall-from-height accidents will improve safety conditions. The workers should be trained and informed about their specific risk depending on the variables analyzed. Safety training should consider more risky profiles. Results from the current study can help identify suitable fall prevention and risk mitigation actions in safety programs for companies.

[Multi-center real world study of the efficacy and safety of albumin-bound paclitaxel in the treatment of advanced breast cancer].

Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of albumin-bound paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Methods: Multi-center data of patients who accepted single-drug albumin-bound paclitaxel or combination regimens from 2013 to 2019 were collected and the efficacy and safety were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, while Log-rank test was used to compare the survival rates. Results: A total of 203 advanced breast cancer cases were enrolled. The median progression-free survival time (PFS) lasted for 4 months, the median overall survival(OS)was 14 months, objective response rate (ORR) was 36.0% while the disease control rate (DCR) was 81.3%. The ORRs of Luminal, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression and triple-negative breast cancer patients underwent albumin-bound paclitaxel treatment were 37.3%, 45.5% and 31.0%, respectively, the DCRs were 85.5%, 68.2% and 78.9%, respectively. The OS of patients with relapse or metastasis who accepted less than two and more than two chemotherapy regimens were 22 months and 11 months (P<0.000 1), the ORRs were 44.9% vs 30.4%, DCRs were 87.2% vs 77.6% (P=0.018). The ORR and DCR of patients who accepted traditional paclitaxel treatment before the albumin-bound paclitaxel treatment were 35.8% and 82.1%, respectively. The common adverse reaction of these patients was numbness of limbs, which incidence rate was 64.5% (131/203), and 61.1% (124/203) were degree 1 to 2. Other adverse reactions including decreased white blood cells, which incidence rate was 56.1% (114/203); nausea and vomit, which incidence rate was 36.9% (75/203); anemia, which incidence rate was 21.2% (43/203); decreased platelet, which incidence rate was 18.7% (38/203); hepatic dysfunction, which incidence rate was 18.2% (37/203). Conclusions: Albumin-bound paclitaxel single or combination regimen is still significant efficient for various molecular subtypes of breast cancer patients or patients with traditional paclitaxel resistance or multi-line chemotherapy failure. Early usage has better prognosis, controllable adverse reaction and prominent clinical application value.

Health Care Worker Preferences and Perspectives on Doses per Container for 2 Lyophilized Vaccines in Senegal, Vietnam, and Zambia.

INTRODUCTION: Limited information exists on health care workers' (HCWs) perceptions about use of multidose vaccine vials and their preferences about doses per container (DPC). We present findings from qualitative studies conducted in Senegal, Vietnam, and Zambia to explore HCWs' behavior regarding opening vials and their perceptions and preferences for the number of doses in vials of BCG and measles-containing vaccine (MCV). Zambia and Senegal currently offer MCV in 10-dose vials and BCG in 20-dose vials; 10-dose vials are used for both vaccines in Vietnam. Unused doses in vials of these reconstituted vaccines must be discarded within 6 hours. METHODS: Key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted with frontline HCWs in Senegal, Vietnam, and Zambia. In Senegal and Vietnam, the KIIs were conducted as part of broader formative research; in Zambia, KIIs were conducted in control districts using 10-dose MCV vials only and in intervention districts that switched from 10- to 5-dose vials during the study. During analysis, themes common to all 3 countries were synthesized. Critical themes relevant to country contexts were also examined. RESULTS: HCWs in all 3 countries preferred containers with fewer doses for BCG and MCV to reduce wastage and increase the likelihood of vaccinating every eligible child. HCWs in Senegal and HCWs using 10-dose vials in Zambia reported sending unvaccinated children away because not enough children were present to warrant opening a new vial. In Vietnam, where sessions are typically held monthly, and in Zambia when the 5-dose vials were used, almost all HCWs reported opening a vial of MCV for even 1 child. DISCUSSION: HCWs prefer vials with fewer DPC. Their concerns about balancing coverage and wastage influence their decisions to vaccinate every eligible child; and their perspectives are crucial to ensuring that all target populations are reached with vaccines in a timely manner.

Epidemiology of fall and its socioeconomic risk factors in community-dwelling Korean elderly.

Although falls in older people are a major public health problem globally, to date there are scarce reports on socioeconomic risk factors for falls. The aim of the present study was to investigate the epidemiology of fall, its associated socioeconomic risk factors and relative importance among community-dwelling Korean elderly. Secondary analysis of national survey data with 31,684 community-dwelling Korean elderly was performed. Eleven socioeconomic factors (age, gender, household type, marital status, education level, current occupation, past occupation, income, wealth, number of children, and relationship satisfaction) were selected for analysing their associations with the epidemiology of fall through complex sample analysis and logistic regressions. Results showed that 15.9%~25.1% of community-dwelling Korean elderly experienced fall yearly. The groups with significantly higher fall risks were identified as older aged, being female, not married or widowed, less educated, unemployed, and having lower relationship satisfaction. Gender (adjusted odds ratio-AOR = 1.548) and relationship satisfaction (AOR = 1.276) were the utmost important fall risk factors, indicating being older female with lower relationship satisfaction were the foremost socioeconomic characteristics for risk of falling. These findings could contribute to better understanding of the socioeconomic fall risk profiles among Korean elderly and effective strategies for fall prevention.

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment of heavy metals using the sensitivity of resident organisms in four Korean rivers.

The environment has been continuously exposed to heavy metals by various routes, from both natural and artificial sources. In particular, heavy metals in water can affect aquatic organisms adversely, even at very low concentrations, and can lead to the disturbance of the ecosystem balance and biodiversity. Ecological risk assessments are conducted to protect the environment from such situations, primarily by deriving the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) from the species sensitivity distribution (SSD). This study developed the SSDs based on the species living in Korean freshwater for four heavy metals including cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). The species compositions of the SSDs were examined, and three types of PNECs were derived by applying different assessment factors (AF). In addition, the occurrence and concentrations of heavy metals in Korean rivers were investigated, and the ecological risk assessment was carried out to compare the SSDs with the environmental concentrations. The SSDs were developed using a sufficient number of species, but the missing data of plants and insects provided an incomplete species composition. The results show that Cd and Pb in the environmental concentrations of rivers would not cause any risk to aquatic organisms from the derived PNEC. However, some organisms might be adversely affected by the concentrations of Zn, and a small amount of risk was expected under the conservative PNEC. The distribution of Cu in the rivers was not considered to be safe for aquatic organisms because the average environmental concentrations potentially affected the proportion of the SSD, and the environmental concentrations exceeded the PNECs. The concentrations of Cu and Zn in industrial waters indicated a considerable risk to aquatic organisms, and the probability of exceeding the PNECs appeared to be quite high. Therefore, this study indicates that additional actions and parallel field studies are required based on the risk posed to aquatic organisms by Cu and Zn in four Korean rivers.

Emergency Evacuation Plan for Hazardous Chemicals Leakage Accidents Using GIS-based Risk Analysis Techniques in South Korea.

Despite improvements in chemical safety management systems, incidents involving the release of hazardous chemicals continue to happen. In some cases, they result in the evacuation of residents. For hazardous chemical release accidents, an evacuation plan needs to be selective enough to consider both the indoor and outdoor concentrations of nearby buildings and the time in which the maximum allowable concentration may occur. In this study, a real-time risk analysis tool was developed based on the geographic information system (GIS) in order to establish the emergency response and risk communication plan for effectively assisting decision-making personnel. A selective evacuation plan was also established by a proposed assessment module considering the indoor/outdoor pollution concentration of buildings and the release duration time of chlorine gas leakage. The GIS-based simulated modules were performed based on eleven buildings of Ulsan city, located near an industrial cluster and home to a high population density. As a result of the simulated real-time risk assessment, only four buildings were affected by chlorine gas concentration according to wind direction and diffusion time. In addition, it was considered effective to establish an indoor/outdoor evacuation plan as opposed to an outdoor evacuation plan which is outside the range of the damage. Subsequently, an emergency evacuation plan was established with the concentration of a hazardous chemical according to the decision-making matrix. This study can enlighten the real-time emergency risk assessment based on GIS while effectively supporting the emergency action plans in response to the release of hazardous chemicals in clustered plants and the community.

Awareness and perceptions of ergonomic programs between workers and managers surveyed in the construction industry.

BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal injuries and disorders (WMSDs) are among the most frequently reported causes of lost or restricted work time in the construction industry. Ergonomics is still a relatively new theme for the construction industry. Understanding of the workers' and managers' knowledge and perception of ergonomic issues in construction can play a critical role to develop and implement effective ergonomic programs and policies. OBJECTIVE: To study the similarities and differences of the workers' and managers' knowledge and perceptions of ergonomics matters in the construction industry. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was developed and distributed to both workers and management personnel employed by sixteen different construction contractors performing various types of construction work. The final questionnaire comprised of a total of forty questions and consisted of four major sections: background, safety and ergonomic programs, injuries and illnesses, and work conditions. RESULTS: Eighty-eight workers and managers completed the survey questionnaire. Nearly all of their employer had a written safety program, while only one third had an ergonomics program. Ergonomics was perceived as relatively less important compared to the safety issues. Managers were more likely to think that management encourages feedback from site employees than were workers. Managers appeared to be more likely to know that their companies have an ergonomic training program or policy than were workers. Workers were more likely to consider to purchase or select the ergonomic hand tools than were managers. Workers and managers alike reported having slight regard for the potential occurrence of a work-related musculoskeletal disorder. CONCLUSIONS: While the construction industry has done an admirable job developing safety programs, it has done far less to develop comprehensive ergonomic programs and policies that would help provide education and guidance to its workers and managers in the industry.

The involvement of AQP1 in myocardial edema induced by pressure overload in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of aquaporin-1 (AQP1) on heart edema induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice, and to explore whether inhibiting the expression of AQP1 could attenuate myocardial edema and improve cardiac function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: (1) the sham group; 2) the sham + acetazolamide group: mice were orally gavaged with acetazolamide (20 mg/kg/day) after sham operation; (3) the TAC group: a mouse model of pressure overload induced by TAC for two weeks; (4) the TAC + acetazolamide group: mice were orally gavaged with acetazolamide (20 mg/kg/day) after TAC. Cardiac function was detected by echocardiography after 2 weeks' TAC. The ratio of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW) and myocardial water content were calculated. The mRNA and protein expressions of AQP1 were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Significant myocardial hypertrophy and dysfunction were found in TAC mice. The ratio of HW/BW, myocardial water content, and the mRNA and protein expression of AQP1 of the TAC group were markedly higher than those of the sham group. By contrast, acetazolamide administration reduced the ratio of HW/BW and myocardial water content, whereas improved cardiac dysfunction induced by TAC. Moreover, acetazolamide reduced the mRNA and protein expression of AQP1 in TAC mice. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of AQP1 was closely related to myocardial edema induced by TAC. The inhibition of AQP1 could reduce myocardial edema and improve cardiac dysfunction.

mTORC1 Controls Phase Separation and the Biophysical Properties of the Cytoplasm by Tuning Crowding.

Macromolecular crowding has a profound impact on reaction rates and the physical properties of the cell interior, but the mechanisms that regulate crowding are poorly understood. We developed genetically encoded multimeric nanoparticles (GEMs) to dissect these mechanisms. GEMs are homomultimeric scaffolds fused to a fluorescent protein that self-assemble into bright, stable particles of defined size and shape. By combining tracking of GEMs with genetic and pharmacological approaches, we discovered that the mTORC1 pathway can modulate the effective diffusion coefficient of particles ≥20 nm in diameter more than 2-fold by tuning ribosome concentration, without any discernable effect on the motion of molecules ≤5 nm. This change in ribosome concentration affected phase separation both in vitro and in vivo. Together, these results establish a role for mTORC1 in controlling both the mesoscale biophysical properties of the cytoplasm and biomolecular condensation.

The effects of mitochondrial inhibitors on Ca2+ signalling and electrical conductances required for pacemaking in interstitial cells of Cajal in the mouse small intestine.

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC-MY) are pacemakers that generate and propagate electrical slow waves in gastrointestinal (GI) muscles. Slow waves appear to be generated by the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and activation of Ca2+-activated Cl- channels (Ano1). Conduction of slow waves to smooth muscle cells coordinates rhythmic contractions. Mitochondrial Ca2+ handling is currently thought to be critical for ICC pacemaking. Protonophores, inhibitors of the electron transport chain (FCCP, CCCP or antimycin) or mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchange blockers inhibited slow waves in several GI muscles. Here we utilized Ca2+ imaging of ICC in small intestinal muscles in situ to determine the effects of mitochondrial drugs on Ca2+ transients in ICC. Muscles were obtained from mice expressing a genetically encoded Ca2+ indicator (GCaMP3) in ICC. FCCP, CCCP, antimycin, a uniporter blocker, Ru360, and a mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitor, CGP-37157 inhibited Ca2+ transients in ICC-MY. Effects were not due to depletion of ATP, as oligomycin did not affect Ca2+ transients. Patch-clamp experiments were performed to test the effects of the mitochondrial drugs on key pacemaker conductances, Ano1 and T-type Ca2+ (CaV3.2), in HEK293 cells. Antimycin blocked Ano1 and reduced CaV3.2 currents. CCCP blocked CaV3.2 current but did not affect Ano1 current. Ano1 and Cav3.2 currents were inhibited by CGP-37157. Inhibitory effects of mitochondrial drugs on slow waves and Ca2+ signalling in ICC can be explained by direct antagonism of key pacemaker conductances in ICC that generate and propagate slow waves. A direct obligatory role for mitochondria in pacemaker activity is therefore questionable.

Combined toxic effect of airborne heavy metals on human lung cell line A549.

Many studies have demonstrated that heavy metals existing as a mixture in the atmospheric environment cause adverse effects on human health and are important key factors of cytotoxicity; however, little investigation has been conducted on a toxicological study of a metal mixture from atmospheric fine particulate matter. The objective of this study was to predict the combined effects of heavy metals in aerosol by using in vitro human cells and obtain a suitable mixture toxicity model. Arsenic, nickel, and lead were selected for mixtures exposed to A549 human lung cancer cells. Cell proliferation (WST-1), glutathione (GSH), and interleukin (IL)-8 inhibition were observed and applied to the prediction models of mixture toxicity, concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA). The total mixture concentrations were set by an IC10-fixed ratio of individual toxicity to be more realistic for mortality and enzyme inhibition tests. The results showed that the IA model was statistically closer to the observed results than the CA model in mortality, indicating dissimilar modes of action. For the GSH inhibition, the results predicted by the IA and CA models were highly overestimated relative to mortality. Meanwhile, the IL-8 results were stable with no significant change in immune reaction related to inflammation. In conclusion, the IA model is a rapid prediction model in heavy metals mixtures; mortality, as a total outcome of cell response, is a good tool for demonstrating the combined toxicity rather than other biochemical responses.

Current progress in black phosphorus materials and their applications in electrochemical energy storage.

Recently, a new two-dimensional material, single- or few-layered black phosphorus (BP), has attracted considerable attention for applications in electronics, optoelectronics, and batteries due to its unique properties, including large specific surface area, anisotropy, and tunable and direct band gaps. In particular, contributions to electrochemical energy storage devices, such as lithium and sodium ion batteries and supercapacitors, have emerged. However, critical issues remain to be explored before scaled-up commercial production of BP, such as preparation, stability, and performance. Herein, we present the first review of recent progress in BP-based electrochemical energy storage device. The preparation and electrochemical properties of black phosphorus, recent advances, potential challenges, and relevant perspectives in electrochemical energy storage, and the potential of BP are discussed in this work.

Fatal falls and PFAS use in the construction industry: Findings from the NIOSH FACE reports.

This study analyzed the Construction FACE Database (CFD), a quantitative database developed from reports of the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The CFD contains detailed data on 768 fatalities in the construction industry reported by NIOSH and individual states from 1982 through June 30, 2015. The results show that falls accounted for 42% (325) of the 768 fatalities included in the CFD. Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) were not available to more than half of the fall decedents (54%); nearly one in four fall decedents (23%) had access to PFAS, but were not using it at the time of the fall. Lack of access to PFAS was particularly high among residential building contractors as well as roofing, siding, and sheet metal industry sectors (∼70%). Although the findings may not represent the entire construction industry today, they do provide strong evidence in favor of fall protection requirements by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In addition to stronger enforcement, educating employers and workers about the importance and effectiveness of fall protection is crucial for compliance and fall prevention.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers in the United States from 1992 to 2014.

OBJECTIVES: Examine trends and patterns of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among construction workers in the USA, with an emphasis on older workers. METHODS: WMSDs were identified from the 1992-2014 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), and employment was estimated from the Current Population Survey (CPS). Risk of WMSDs was measured by number of WMSDs per 10 000 full-time equivalent workers and stratified by major demographic and employment subgroups. Time series analysis was performed to examine the trend of WMSDs in construction. RESULTS: The number of WMSDs significantly dropped in the US construction industry, following the overall injury trends. However, the rate of WMSDs in construction remained higher than in all industries combined; the median days away from work increased from 8 days in 1992 to 13 days in 2014, and the proportion of WMSDs for construction workers aged 55 to 64 years almost doubled. By occupation, construction labourers had the largest number of WMSD cases, while helpers, heating and air-conditioning mechanics, cement masons and sheet metal workers had the highest rates of WMSDs. The major cause of WMSDs in construction was overexertion, and back injuries accounted for more than 40% of WMSDs among construction workers. The estimated wage loss for private wage-and-salary construction workers was $46 million in 2014. CONCLUSIONS: Construction workers continue to face a higher risk of WMSDs. Ergonomic solutions that reduce overexertion-the primary exposure for WMSDs-should be adopted extensively at construction sites, particularly for workers with a higher risk of WMSDs.