Toxicological and epidemiological approaches to carcinogenic potency modeling for mixed mineral fiber exposure: the case of fibrous balangeroite and chrysotile.

Context: Excess mesothelioma risk was observed among chrysotile miners and millers in Balangero, Italy. The mineral balangeroite has been identified in an asbestiform habit from the Balangero chrysotile mine (Italy). Previous studies did not contain a detailed description of the fiber dimensions, thus limiting possible approaches to estimating their carcinogenic potential.

Elongate mineral particles (EMP) characteristics and mesothelioma: Summary and resolution for session I of the Monticello II conference.

The summary contains a consensus opinion regarding the current state of the science about the dimensions of Elongate Mineral Particles (EMPs) as a factor impacting their carcinogenicity.

Dimensions of elongate mineral particles and cancer: A review.

Context: Based on a decade-long exploration, dimensions of elongate mineral particles are implicated as a pivotal component of their carcinogenic potency. This paper summarizes current understanding of the discovered relationships and their importance to the protection of public health.

Objectives: To demonstrate the relationships between cancer risk and dimensions (length, width, and other derivative characteristics) of mineral fibers by comparing the results and conclusions of previously published studies with newly published information.

Excitable systems: A new perspective on the cellular impact of elongate mineral particles.

We investigate how the geometry of elongate mineral particles (EMPs) in contact with cells influences esotaxis, a recently discovered mechanism of texture sensing. Esotaxis is based on cytoskeletal waves and oscillations that are nucleated, shaped, and steered by the texture of the surroundings. We find that all EMPs studied trigger an esotactic response in macrophages, and that this response dominates cytoskeletal activity in these immune cells.

Letter to the Editor: Epidemiology holds a key to the validation of toxicological models for elongate mineral particles.

The authors reply to the comments of Drs. Gualtieri and di Giuseppe on the short communication by Wylie and Korchevskiy - Carcinogenicity of fibrous glaucophane: how to fill data gaps? (2021 Current Research in Toxicology Volume 2, pp. 202-203).

Dimensional characteristics of the major types of amphibole mineral particles and the implications for carcinogenic risk assessment.

Though some significant advances have been made in recent decades to evaluate the importance of size and morphology (habit) of elongate mineral particles (EMPs), further research is needed to better understand the role of each dimensional metric in determining the levels of cancer potency. To determine dimensional parameters most relevant for predicting cancer potency of durable elongate particles, specifically amphibole and durable silicate minerals generally. A database on dimensional and other relevant characteristics of elongate amphibole mineral particles was created, containing particle-by-particle information for 128 099 particles.

Dimensional determinants for the carcinogenic potency of elongate amphibole particles.

Context: Carcinogenic properties of particulates depend, among other factors, on dimensional characteristics that affect their ability to reach sensitive tissue, to be removed or retained, and to interact with the cells.

Objective: To model mesothelioma and lung cancer potency of amphibole particles based on their dimensional characteristics and mineral habit (asbestiform vs. nonasbestiform) utilizing epidemiological data and detailed size information.

Carcinogenicity of fibrous glaucophane: How should we fill the data gaps?

•The modeled glaucophane mesothelioma potency is 0.0085 % vs. 0.

Modeling mesothelioma risk factors from amphibole fiber dimensionality: mineralogical and epidemiological perspective.

Amphiboles are common rock-forming minerals but when they form asbestos, they are known carcinogens. Mesothelioma mortality among miners and millers per the unit of asbestiform amphibole exposure varies significantly across cohorts when asbestos exposure measurements are based on the membrane filter method. Because the cohorts were exposed to different occurrences of asbestiform amphibole, variance in mesothelioma potency (R ) among cohorts is likely due to differences in exposure characteristics not reflected by the membrane filter method.

The impact and potential value for medical students of implementing social prescribing projects in primary care.

Social prescribing is a method of referring patients for non-clinical care through community and voluntary organisations. As part of a new primary care curriculum at King's College London, half of the cohort of second-year medical students (n = 200) took part in 'Active Practice,' where they designed and implemented exercise-related social prescribing projects on their longitudinal placement in general practice. This study aimed to examine the impact and potential value of 'Active Practice' for the students, using thematic analysis of two semi-structured focus groups (n = 7, n = 8) and free-text comments from student (n = 315) and GP tutor (n = 15) evaluation questionnaires.

Implementing undergraduate quality improvement.

Background: All clinicians need to have knowledge and expertise to undertake quality improvement (QI). In 2016, a London medical school initiated a core QI and evidence-based practice module for fourth-year students. We describe the structure and content of the module and analyse QI projects (QIPs) and student feedback.

Brief intervention for obesity in primary care: how does student learning translate to the clinical context?

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. There is an international call for more sustainable approaches to healthcare and for graduating doctors to develop the competencies to address the behavioural, psychological and social determinants of health.

Clinical Humanities in Primary Care for Year 2 Medical Students: A Student perspective.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. As part of a new MBBS Curriculum at GKT Medical School, King's College London, second year medical students undertook a clinical humanities assignment during their longitudinal GP placement.

Health promotion in medical education: lessons from a major undergraduate curriculum implementation.

Despite the economic, environmental and patient-related imperatives to prepare medical students to become health promoting doctors, health promotion remains relatively deprioritised in medical curricula. This paper uses an in-depth case study of a health promotion curriculum implementation at a large UK medical school to provide insights into the experiences of teachers and learners across a range of topics, pedagogies, and teaching & assessment modalities. Topics included smoking cessation, behavioural change approaches to obesity, exercise prescribing, social prescribing, maternal and child health, public and global health; with pedagogies ranging from e-learning to practice-based project work.

Enabling tomorrow's doctors to address obesity in a GP consultation: an action research project.

Obesity is a leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality, however, guidelines for prevention and management are relatively recently established. Little is known about what needs to be in place to put these into practice. This research provides an insight into how senior medical students consult with obese patients in general practice, the range of their learning needs, and the impact of various educational strategies that aim to bring their practice closer to current evidence-based guidelines.

Methodologies for determining the sources, characteristics, distribution, and abundance of asbestiform and nonasbestiform amphibole and serpentine in ambient air and water.

Anthropogenic and nonanthropogenic (erosion) processes contribute to the continuing presence of asbestos and nonasbestos elongated mineral particles (EMP) of amphibole and serpentine in air and water of urban, rural, and remote environments. The anthropogenic processes include disturbance and deterioration of asbestos-containing materials, mining of amphibole- and serpentine-bearing rock, and disturbance of soils containing amphibole and serpentine. Atmospheric dispersal processes can transport EMP on a global scale.

Realising the potential for an Olympic legacy; teaching medical students about sport and exercise medicine and exercise prescribing.

Background: Physicians are increasingly being called upon to promote physical activity (PA) among patients. However, a paucity of exercise medicine teaching in the UK undergraduate medical curricula prevents students from acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills to do so. To address this issue, King's College London School of Medicine introduced an exercise medicine strand of teaching.

Repetitive dissociation from crocidolite asbestos acts as persistent signal for epidermal growth factor receptor.

Mesothelioma is an incurable form of cancer located most commonly in the pleural lining of the lungs and is associated almost exclusively with the inhalation of asbestos. The binding of asbestos to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a transmembrane signal protein, has been proposed as a trigger for downstream signaling of kinases and expression of genes involved in cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis. Here, we investigate the molecular binding of EGFR to crocidolite (blue asbestos; Na2(Fe(2+),Mg)3Fe2(3+)Si8O22(OH)2) in buffer solution.

Practice nurses and obesity: professional and practice-based factors affecting role adequacy and role legitimacy.

Aim: This qualitative study explored the professional and practice-based factors affecting the role legitimacy and adequacy of practice nurses in managing obese patients.

Background: There are strong clinical, financial and practical reasons for tackling obesity in UK general practice. Although practice nurses may seem to be in an ideal position to manage obesity, there remain questions about their role adequacy (sense of self-efficacy in responding to patients' problems) and role legitimacy (their perceived boundaries of professional responsibility and right to intervene).