Application and interpretation of immunophenotyping data in safety and risk assessment.

The use of immunophenotyping during immunotoxicity investigations was first popularized in the 1980 s and has since become more integrated into diagnostic and non-clinical assessments. The data provided from immunophenotyping can serve as an initial source of information to guide decisions for additional, more advanced, immunotoxicity testing as well as for human health safety and risk assessment of drugs and chemicals. However, comprehensive guidance describing applications of immunophenotyping data in immunotoxicity investigations is lacking, particularly among regulatory bodies.

Carcinogenicity of Poorly Soluble Low Toxicity Particles: Commentary on Epidemiology as a Risk Assessment "Reality Check".

Inhaled particles that are poorly soluble or insoluble and of low toxicity ("poorly soluble low toxicity" or "PSLT" particles), can accumulate in the lung and at lung overload levels induce lung cancers in rats. The question of whether PSLT particles increase lung cancer risk in humans is complicated by large differences between rats and humans and the relatively large particle doses administered in animal studies even when compared with heavy human occupational exposures. We review the findings of epidemiological studies on occupational exposure to each of three different PSLT particles (carbon black, talc and taconite).

Multi-route exposure sampling of quaternary ammonium compounds and ethanol surface disinfectants in a K-8 school.

The frequency of surface disinfectant use has increased over the last several years in public settings such as schools, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although these products are important for infection control and prevention, their increased use may intensify the exposure to both persons applying the disinfection product as well as bystanders. Safety assessments have demonstrated that these products, when used as intended, are considered safe for use and effective; however, point-of-contact effects (such as respiratory or dermal irritation) may still occur.

Determination of murine norovirus aerosol concentration during toilet flushing.

Murine norovirus (MNV) was used as a surrogate for human viral pathogens (e.g., norovirus) to determine if toilet flushing resulted in the aerosolization of virus.

Derivation of an occupational exposure limit for β-glucans.

β-Glucans are abundant bacterial, yeast, and fungal cell wall polysaccharides that have been shown to activate the immune system. Establishment of an occupational exposure limit (OEL) for β-glucan exposure is critical to the protection of worker health, as these exposures have been linked to immunosuppressive and inflammatory reactions and possibly the development of respiratory diseases. Detectable concentrations of β-glucans have been identified in common occupational inhalation exposure scenarios, such as in the agricultural and waste management sectors.

Evaluating management options to reduce Lake Erie algal blooms using an ensemble of watershed models.

Reducing harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie, situated between the United States and Canada, requires implementing best management practices to decrease nutrient loading from upstream sources. Bi-national water quality targets have been set for total and dissolved phosphorus loads, with the ultimate goal of reaching these targets in 9-out-of-10 years. Row crop agriculture dominates the land use in the Western Lake Erie Basin thus requiring efforts to mitigate nutrient loads from agricultural systems.

Lessons learned for COVID-19 in the cruise ship industry.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created widespread disruption in individuals' personal and occupational lives all around the world. Vacationers and tourism, recreation, and leisure employees were among those who experienced substantial disruption. Cruise ships, especially, faced turmoil on a global scale for both their customers and workers.

Uncertainty in critical source area predictions from watershed-scale hydrologic models.

Watershed-scale hydrologic models are frequently used to inform conservation and restoration efforts by identifying critical source areas (CSAs; alternatively 'hotspots'), defined as areas that export relatively greater quantities of nutrients and sediment. The CSAs can then be prioritized or 'targeted' for conservation and restoration to ensure efficient use of limited resources. However, CSA simulations from watershed-scale hydrologic models may be uncertain and it is critical that the extent and implications of this uncertainty be conveyed to stakeholders and decision makers.

Return to normal operations: COVID-19 mitigation strategies for workplaces.

As spikes and resurgences of COVID-19 cases continue to increase in different geographical regions across the United States, more and more companies are left with numerous questions about reopening or restarting their operations. The current pandemic in the United States poses unique challenges unlike any other for businesses and employers as they begin to reopen. Businesses and employers are forced to ensure that they are not only in compliance with federal guidances but also with state and local guidances.

Current understanding and future directions for an occupational infectious disease standard.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has demonstrated a need for an infectious disease standard that will promote a safe and healthy work environment and assure business continuity. The current pandemic has revealed gaps in workplace preparedness and employee protections to microbial exposures. Federal and state government agencies have responded by providing interim guidelines and stop-gap measures that continue to evolve and vary in approach and required controls.

Advancing toward normal operations for arenas and stadiums.

The reopening of arenas and stadiums following closures due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic presents unique challenges related to large crowds and close contact between players, vendors, and spectators. While each venue should be assessed individually for development and implementation of reopening plans, the general guidance presented in this document can serve as a minimum baseline for considerations to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in these venues. The intention of these guidelines is to provide a layered approach to risk mitigation for various aspects of particular concern in arenas and stadiums, including crowd management, tailgating and parking, restrooms, high-contact surfaces, face masks, food and merchandising, communications, athletes and support staff, press and third parties, intermissions/breaks, and downtime.

The Optimization of Methods for the Collection of Aerosolized Murine Norovirus.

Globally, norovirus is the most common gastroenteritis causing pathogen. Annually, norovirus causes 685 million cases of acute gastroenteritis and 200,000 deaths, worldwide. Recent evidence has suggested that norovirus can also be spread via aerosolization; however, an indoor generation source has yet to be determined.

The hydrologic model as a source of nutrient loading uncertainty in a future climate.

Hydrologic models are applied increasingly with climate projections to provide insights into future hydrologic conditions. However, both hydrologic models and climate models can produce a wide range of predictions based on model inputs, assumptions, and structure. To characterize a range of future predictions, it is common to use multiple climate models to drive hydrologic models, yet it is less common to also use a suite of hydrologic models.

Using models of farmer behavior to inform eutrophication policy in the Great Lakes.

To address the management of eutrophication in aquatic systems, the behavioral mechanisms that drive change at the individual level must be considered when designing policy interventions. This analysis identifies the beliefs that are critical to behavioral change, and explores the likelihood that farmers will adopt two management practices believed to be critical to reducing nutrient loading to recommended levels in Lake Erie. We find that there is potential for farmers to adopt key infield practices needed to reduce nutrient inputs.

Bioaerosol concentrations generated from toilet flushing in a hospital-based patient care setting.

Background: In the United States, 1.7 million immunocompromised patients contract a healthcare-associated infection, annually. These infections increase morbidity, mortality and costs of care.

Readability Levels of Dental Patient Education Brochures.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate dental patient education brochures produced since 2000 to determine if there is any change in the Flesch-Kincaid grade level readability.

Methods: A convenience sample of 36 brochures was obtained for analysis of the readability of the patient education material on multiple dental topics. Readability was measured using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level through Microsoft Word.

Raccoonpoxvirus safety in immunocompromised and pregnant mouse models.

Numerous poxviruses infect humans and animal hosts, and a poxvirus vaccine with an improved safety profile is needed as the current vaccinia virus vaccine is contraindicated in individuals that have a history of eczema or heart disease, or are immunocompromised or pregnant. In addition, poxviruses make excellent vaccine vectors for other infectious diseases and cancer. Raccoonpoxvirus is a naturally occurring attenuated North American poxvirus, and thus it is of interest as a vaccine vector platform.

The Smart Choices front-of-package nutrition label. Influence on perceptions and intake of cereal.

Numerous front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling systems exist, but it is unclear if such labels influence behavior. A single-summary label called Smart Choices (SC) appeared briefly on products in the United States in 2009. The current study aimed to evaluate (1) the influence the SC symbol has on the serving and consumption of cereal; and (2) the impact of providing calorie and serving size information on a FOP label.

The female athlete.

Over time, women have become more extensively involved in athletic programs. The female athlete presents a unique challenge to sports medicine in general. Although specific types of injuries are the same as in the male athlete, the female athlete is at higher risk for some of these injuries.

Aboriginal maternal and infant care workers: partners in caring for Aboriginal mothers and babies.

Introduction: Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care (AMIC) workers and midwives work in intellectual and inter-cultural partnerships in a new perinatal care model the Anangu Bibi Family Birthing Program that aims to provide culturally focussed perinatal care for Aboriginal mothers and families at two sites in regional South Australia. This study investigated the views of the AMIC workers and midwives about their roles, their partnership and the program, following the first 45 births.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with all five AMIC workers and four of the five midwives working in the program were conducted.

HLA sensitization and allograft bone graft incorporation.

Unlabelled: Achieving union between host bone and massive structural allografts can be difficult. Donor and recipient human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches and recipient antibody response to donor HLA antigens might affect union. In a prospective multiinstitutional study, we enrolled a consecutive series of patients receiving cortex-replacing, massive structural bone allografts to determine the rate of donor-specific HLA antibody sensitization and to investigate the potential effect of such HLA alloantibody sensitization on allograft incorporation.

Diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis: preliminary results with intralesional resection and p32 synoviorthesis.

Because of the high local recurrence rate associated with surgical resection alone, patients with diffuse intraarticular pigmented villonodular synovitis were treated with surgical resection followed by colloidal chromic P32 synoviorthesis. The medical records of nine consecutive patients treated in this manner were reviewed retrospectively to determine the recurrence rate of pigmented villonodular synovitis. All patients had either one or two surgical resections (arthroscopy in one patient, open resection in seven, arthroscopy and open resection in one).

Are plain radiographs of the spine necessary during evaluation after blunt trauma? Accuracy of screening torso computed tomography in thoracic/lumbar spine fracture diagnosis.

Background: Fracture of the thoracolumbar (TL) spine is reported in 8 to 15% of victims of blunt trauma. Current screening of these patients is done with conventional radiography. This may require repeated sets of films and take hours to days.

Biceps Brachii Compartment Contrast Media Extravasation with Surgical Correlation.

We describe a case in which 120 ml of contrast media was extravasated into the biceps brachii compartment with a power injector during the course of an attempted CT angiogram. The patient underwent surgical fasciotomy and drainage. The radiographic appearance and clinical implications of this event are discussed.