Reporting standard for describing first responder systems, smartphone alerting systems, and AED networks

Standardized reporting of data is crucial for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) research. While the implementation of first responder systems dispatching volunteers to OHCA is encouraged, there is currently no uniform reporting standard for describing these systems. A steering committee established a literature search to identify experts in smartphone alerting systems. These international experts were invited to a conference held in Hinterzarten, Germany, with 40 researchers from 13 countries in attendance. Prior to the conference, participants submitted proposals for parameters to be included in the reporting standard. The conference comprised five workshops covering different aspects of smartphone alerting systems. Proposed parameters were discussed, clarified, and consensus was achieved using the Nominal Group Technique. Participants voted in a modified Delphi approach on including each category as a core or supplementary element in the reporting standard. Results were presented, and a writing group developed definitions for all categories and items, which were sent to participants for revision and final voting using LimeSurvey web-based software. The resulting reporting standard consists of 68 core items and 21 supplementary items grouped into five topics (first responder system, first responder network, technology/algorithm/strategies, reporting data, and automated external defibrillators (AED)). This proposed reporting standard generated by an expert opinion group fills the gap in describing first responder systems. Its adoption in future research will facilitate comparison of systems and research outcomes, enhancing the transfer of scientific findings to clinical practice.

The effect of particle size on oral bioavailability and bioaccessibility of soil Ni from different sources

The goal of the work was to contribute to a unified approach to assessing the risk to human health of soil ingestion, for contaminated sites with elevated [Ni]. Robust relationships between in vitro bioaccessibility and in vivo bioavailability of Ni in various soils, with mechanistic understanding, would enable site-specific assessments of human exposure through soil ingestion. Four soils (three ultramafic Brunisols with geogenic Ni and one Organic soil with anthropogenic Ni) were sieved into PS < 10 μm, 10-41 μm, 41-70 μm, 70-105 μm, 105-150 μm, and 150-250 μm, the [Ni]T for which ranged from 560 to 103000 mg/kg. Mass fraction-adjusted [Ni]IVBA (SBRC gastric) for each soil fraction was similar whether calculated for all particles <250 μm or <150 μm %NiIVBA ranged from 3% to 16% of [Ni]T and %NiABA (accumulated Ni in urine, kidneys, and small intestine of Sprague Dawley rats gavaged with a soil) ranged from 0% to 0.49%. The correlation between these two measurements was weak (R2 = 0.06). Multiple linear dose response relationships attributing variation in %NiABA to %NiIVBA plus soil physicochemical parameters known to influence trace element availability in soils were developed. As many soil properties measured in this study were highly correlated, ridge regression enabled a predictive relationship where the effect of each parameter was its true contribution to variation in %NiABA. Using a ridge constant (k) of 0.012, %NiABA could be predicted from %NiIVBA adjusted for soil absorptive entities (OrgC, and Fe oxides (negative coefficients)) and soil pH (positive coefficient). %NiABA predicted from this relationship was very close to 1:1 with the observed %NiABA except at the lowest observed values which were lower than predicted. This study shows that as the conditions increasingly favour soil Ni solubility, more of the Ni was bioavailable; this generalization was true regardless of particle size or soil origin.

Mitochondrial GTP Metabolism Regulates Reproductive Aging

Healthy mitochondria are critical for reproduction. During aging, both reproductive fitness and mitochondrial homeostasis decline. Mitochondrial metabolism and dynamics are key factors in supporting mitochondrial homeostasis. However, how they are coupled to control reproductive health remains unclear. We report that mitochondrial GTP metabolism acts through mitochondrial dynamics factors to regulate reproductive aging. We discovered that germline-only inactivation of GTP- but not ATP-specific succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS), promotes reproductive longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. We further revealed an age-associated increase in mitochondrial clustering surrounding oocyte nuclei, which is attenuated by the GTP-specific SCS inactivation. Germline-only induction of mitochondrial fission factors sufficiently promotes mitochondrial dispersion and reproductive longevity. Moreover, we discovered that bacterial inputs affect mitochondrial GTP and dynamics factors to modulate reproductive aging. These results demonstrate the significance of mitochondrial GTP metabolism in regulating oocyte mitochondrial homeostasis and reproductive longevity and reveal mitochondrial fission induction as an effective strategy to improve reproductive health.

DCAF-13 is required for C. elegans growth, development, and fertility

DCAF13 (DDB1 and CUL4 associated factor 13) is a potential oncogene but little is understood about the developmental roles of this highly conserved gene. We characterized the RNAi phenotypes of dcaf-13 , the C. elegans homolog of DCAF13, and show that compared to age-matched control worms, body length is decreased in dcaf-13 (RNAi) C. elegans larvae, suggesting a role of dcaf-13 in larval development. In addition, dcaf-13 (RNAi) worms display either a failure or delay in reaching the L4 and adult stages. Our data also indicates that dcaf-13 (RNAi) treatment beginning at L4 stage does not increase embryonic lethality in progeny; however, progeny production was significantly decreased in dcaf-13 (RNAi) worms, suggesting a general role in fertility and perhaps oocyte development.

Bioaccessibility estimates by gastric SBRC method to determine relationships to bioavailability of nickel in ultramafic soils

Frameworks for human health risk assessment often include the opportunity to correct the estimate of exposure for bioavailability, which could be predicted from bioaccessibility. Lead and As are the only metallic elements for which bioavailability and bioaccessibility have been correlated across a spectrum of mineralogy and particle types. The objective of the present study is to correlate in vivo bioavailability with ex vivo bioaccessibility for elevated Ni in soils of ultramafic origin and explore attribution of any variation in this correlation to mineralogical characterization of the Ni. Ultramafic soils were field collected in British Columbia, CA. Rietveld quantitative X-ray diffraction was used for the characterization and quantification of crystalline materials containing Ni. Bioaccessible Ni was determined using the in vitro method developed by the Solubility/Bioaccessibility Research Consortium. Bioavailable Ni was determined by gavage dose of the soils to Sprague-Dawley rats. Urine and feces were collected every 24 h. At the end of 72 h, the animals were humanely sacrificed using carbon dioxide as per the approved animal care protocol. All organs were harvested, washed and preserved. Fecal elimination of gavaged Ni ranged from 35 to 95% including positive control. Relative bioavailability (RBA) ranged from 5 to 18%. In vitro bioaccessibility (IVBA) of soil Ni ranged from 0 to 17%; IVBA explained 86% of the variation in RBA. Normalizing both axes to soil olivine accounted for an additional 10% of the variation in RBA. For risk assessment of Ni contaminated soils, IVBA would be a useful and cost effective tool in estimating exposure of mammals through ingestion of soil particles, with some additional benefit of considering Ni mineralogy.

Impaired effect of activation of rat hippocampal 5-HT7 receptors, induced by treatment with the 5-HT7 receptor antagonist SB 269970

Effects of the 5-HT(7) receptor antagonist SB 269970, administered for 14 days (1.25 mg/kg), were studied in ex vivo slices of rat hippocampus. To activate the 5-HT(7) receptor, 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT, 200 nM) was applied in the presence of WAY 100635 (2 μM), a 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist. In contrast to control preparations, no 5-HT(7) receptor-mediated increase in excitability nor depolarization and an increase in the input resistance of CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons were present in slices prepared from rats treated with SB 269970. The treatment also abolished the stimulatory effect of 5-HT(7) receptor activation on spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents recorded from CA1 stratum radiatum/lacunosum-moleculare interneurons. These data demonstrate that repeated administration of SB 269970 impairs the reactivity of the CA1 hippocampal neuronal network to 5-HT(7) receptor activation.

Resistance to genotoxic stresses in Arctica islandica, the longest living noncolonial animal: is extreme longevity associated with a multistress resistance phenotype?

Bivalve molluscs are newly discovered models of successful aging. Here, we test the hypothesis that extremely long-lived bivalves are not uniquely resistant to oxidative stressors (eg, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, as demonstrated in previous studies) but exhibit a multistress resistance phenotype. We contrasted resistance (in terms of organismal mortality) to genotoxic stresses (including topoisomerase inhibitors, agents that cross-link DNA or impair genomic integrity through DNA alkylation or methylation) and to mitochondrial oxidative stressors in three bivalve mollusc species with dramatically differing life spans: Arctica islandica (ocean quahog), Mercenaria mercenaria (northern quahog), and the Atlantic bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians (maximum species life spans: >500, >100, and ~2 years, respectively). With all stressors, the short-lived A i irradians were significantly less resistant than the two longer lived species. Arctica islandica were consistently more resistant than M mercenaria to mortality induced by oxidative stressors as well as DNA methylating agent nitrogen mustard and the DNA alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate. The same trend was not observed for genotoxic agents that act through cross-linking DNA. In contrast, M mercenaria tended to be more resistant to epirubicin and genotoxic stressors, which cause DNA damage by inhibiting topoisomerases. To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing resistance to genotoxic stressors in bivalve mollusc species with disparate longevities. In line with previous studies of comparative stress resistance and longevity, our data extends, at least in part, the evidence for the hypothesis that an association exists between longevity and a general resistance to multiplex stressors, not solely oxidative stress. This work also provides justification for further investigation into the interspecies differences in stress response signatures induced by a diverse array of stressors in short-lived and long-lived bivalves, including pharmacological agents that elicit endoplasmic reticulum stress and cellular stress caused by activation of innate immunity.

Remarkable conservation of distinct nonclassical MHC class I lineages in divergent amphibian species

Nonclassical MHC class Ib (class Ib) genes are heterogeneous genes encoding molecules that are structurally similar to classical MHC class Ia molecules but with limited tissue distribution and polymorphism. Mammalian class Ib genes have diverse and often uncharacterized functions, and because of their rapid rate of evolution, class Ib phylogeny is difficult to establish. We have conducted an extensive genomic, molecular, and phylogenetic characterization of class Ib genes in two Xenopodinae amphibian species of different genera that diverged from a common ancestor as long ago as primates and rodents (∼65 million years). In contrast with the unsteadiness of mammalian class Ib genes, our results reveal an unusual degree of conservation of most Xenopodinae class Ib gene lineages, including a novel monogenic lineage represented by the divergent Xenopus laevis XNC10 gene and its unequivocal Silurana (Xenopus) tropicalis orthologue, SNC10. The preferential expression of this gene lineage by thymocytes themselves from the onset of thymic organogenesis is consistent with a specialized role of class Ib in early T cell development and suggests such a function is conserved in all tetrapods.

[The incidence of laryngeal cancer among males in the upper Silesia]

In the years 1986-1990 within Upper Silesia Region (Katowice Voivodeship) 1240 larynx cancer cases were diagnosed. Larynx cancer standardized incidence rates there are: 12,5 cases per 100 thousand on the whole area, maximal--28.6 and minimal--2.2 per 100 thousand, taking into consideration 93 administrative units (45 towns and 48 community councils). Larynx cancer incidence rates were dynamically increasing every year by 3%. There has not been attained geographic correlation between highest larynx cancer incidence level and highest ambient air pollution.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the scrotum

A patient with psoriasis was found to have a large skin tumor on his scrotum. He had received psoralen and ultraviolet A radiation therapy to control psoriasis. Histopathologic study revealed that the tumor was a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. We present this rare case and suggest that the genitalia be shielded during ultraviolet therapy.

Long-term treatment of onchocerciasis in children with low doses of diethylcarbamazine

Two groups of children were treated daily with 12.5 or 25 mg diethylcarbamazine for five months and a further group with 12.5 mg daily for seven weeks; 88 children completed the course. The trial was under constant supervision and ophthalmic and parasitological examinations were carried out at approximately one-month intervals. The acceptability of the drug was poor owing to adverse reactions, but the clinical response to treatment good.

Serotypes of trachoma agent isolated in the Gambia: with an observation on the relation between serotype and morphology

Of 60 TRIC agents isolated from Gambian children with trachoma, 25 were serotype 1 and the remainder type 2. There was a pronounced difference in the proportions of these types in the two villages studied. In the village with a predominance of type 2 strains, TRIC agents remained confined to 2 adjacent compounds over a 14 month observation period. All 19 type 1 strains examined were characterized by the appearance in yolk sac smears of compact aggregates of elementary bodies; such aggregates were seen in only 2 of 35 type 2 strains, and may reflect a chemical difference in the surface of the elementary bodies or in a substance elaborated during their replication.

The serum and conjunctival antibody response to trachoma in Gambian children

Ninety-nine young Gambian children were studied for 61 weeks. About half of them had trachoma at the outset, and 80% of the remainder acquired the disease while under observation. IgG trachoma antibody in the serum and IgG and IgA antibodies in the conjunctival secretions (CS) were titrated by an indirect immunofluorescence method. In serum samples obtained in capillary tubes the mean titre was slightly higher than in samples collected on filter paper. Serum antibody at titres >/= 1/10 was invariably associated with a clinical diagnosis of trachoma; it increased both in frequency and titre as the disease progressed, and was present in about half of those with Tr II. In CS, IgG antibody was present less often and at lower titres than in serum, and IgA antibody was detected even less frequently. There was some evidence of correlation between the titres of IgG and IgA antibodies in CS, but none for a relationship between the titres of the antibodies in serum and those in CS. Antibodies were almost never present in the absence of conjunctival follicles, but their titres were unrelated to the degree of follicular hyperplasia; there was no obvious relationship between the serological findings and corneal lesions. In children diagnosed clinically as trachoma, serum antibody was present in almost all those with conjunctival inclusions, and in a proportion of inclusion-negative subjects; the mean titre was much higher in the inclusion-positive group.These findings do not settle whether CS antibodies are made locally, or are derived partly or wholly from the blood. They suggest that the indirect immunofluorescence test may be a useful diagnostic aid in trachoma, particularly in view of the rarity of false positive reactions; but there is at present little to choose between it and complement-fixation tests in terms of sensitivity.

A comparison of the iodine and fluorescent antibody methods for staining trachoma inclusions in the conjunctiva

In terms of the rate of positive diagnoses the indirect fluorescent antibody (FA) test was rather more effective than iodine for demonstrating trachoma (TRIC) inclusions in conjunctival scrapings, but the degree of advantage was not statistically significant. In duplicate scrapings stained at random by one or the other method, FA staining yielded the higher inclusion count significantly more often than did iodine. Some inclusions that failed to stain with FA were found on subsequent staining with Giemsa. A method is described for improving the post-FA Giemsa staining of conjunctival smears stored at subzero temperatures. Given adequate facilities, the FA stain is preferable to iodine for demonstrating TRIC inclusions in the conjunctiva; but the iodine method, properly used, holds advantages for field use.

Sensitivity of trachoma agent to streptomycin and related antibiotics

For isolating trachoma (TRIC) agent from conjunctival scrapings, both streptomycin and neomycin were effective in preventing bacterial contamination, but at high concentrations neomycin was rather more inhibitory to TRIC agent. Prolonging storage of scrapings with neomycin at 4 degrees from 30 min. to 24 hr. reduced the bacterial contamination rate, but also diminished the chance of isolating TRIC agent at the 1st passage. Two freshly isolated TRIC agents differed in their susceptibility to neomycin and streptomycin. Kanamycin and framycetin appeared to be less suitable than streptomycin for use in isolation of TRIC agent. In isolation studies, the possibility of inhibiting TRIC agent by high concentrations of antibotics, including streptomycin, should be borne in mind.