Amending soils with phosphate as means to mitigate soil lead hazard: a critical review of the state of the science.

Ingested soil and surface dust may be important contributors to elevated blood lead (Pb) levels in children exposed to Pb contaminated environments. Mitigation strategies have typically focused on excavation and removal of the contaminated soil. However, this is not always feasible for addressing widely disseminated contamination in populated areas often encountered in urban environments.

Erionite exposure in North Dakota and Turkish villages with mesothelioma.

Exposure to erionite, an asbestos-like mineral, causes unprecedented rates of malignant mesothelioma (MM) mortality in some Turkish villages. Erionite deposits are present in at least 12 US states. We investigated whether increased urban development has led to erionite exposure in the United States and after preliminary exploration, focused our studies on Dunn County, North Dakota (ND).

Erionite in road gravel associated with interstitial and pleural changes--an occupational hazard in western United States.

Objective: To determine the rate of chest radiographic abnormalities among residents of North Dakota potentially exposed to road gravel containing the fibrous mineral erionite.

Methods: Participants (n = 34) completed a questionnaire, chest radiograph, and high resolution computed tomography scan to assess the rate of interstitial and pleural changes consistent with fibrous mineral exposure.

Results: Interstitial, pleural, or both changes typically associated with asbestos exposure were observed by high resolution computed tomography in seven (21%) individuals.

Cardioprotective and antiapoptotic effects of heme oxygenase-1 in the failing heart.

Background: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an inducible stress-response protein that imparts antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects. However, its pathophysiological role in cardiac remodeling and chronic heart failure (HF) is unknown. We hypothesized that induction of HO-1 in HF alleviates pathological remodeling.

Challenges in supporting community implementation of science-based programs: a critical review of local partnerships for success plans.

This paper provides the opportunity to consider local challenges to implementing science-based programs. Wandersman et al. (American Journal of Community Psychology 2008) define three systems necessary to effectively implement science-based programming.

Genetic and molecular mechanisms of chemical atherogenesis.

Injury to the cellular components of the vascular wall and blood by endogenous and exogenous chemicals has been associated with atherosclerosis in humans and experimental systems. The genetic and molecular mechanisms responsible for initiation and promotion of atherosclerotic changes include modulation of extracellular matrix-integrin axis, genes involved in the regulation of growth and differentiation and possibly, genomic stability. This review summarizes seminal studies over the past 20 years that shed light on critical gene-gene and gene-environment interactions mediating the atherogenic response to chemical injury.

Atherosclerosis and cancer: flip sides of the neoplastic response in mammalian cells?

Scientific and medical evidence over the past 30 years has established striking parallels between atherosclerosis and cancer--pathogenetic relationships that cross the boundaries of fiction into the realm of reason. Both diseases in humans are characterized by uncontrolled regulation of cellular growth and differentiation and share many common genomic targets during the course of growth dysregulation. Such parallels can be reconciled if atherosclerotic plaques are viewed as neoplasms of smooth muscle origin.

In vitro models to evaluate acute and chronic injury to the heart and vascular systems.

Multiple in vitro model systems are currently available to evaluate structure and function relationships in the cardiovascular system as well as the system's response to injury. As the level of molecular sophistication continues to advance, so does the level of complexity of the analysis. One of the most daunting tasks faced by researchers interested in studying cardiovascular function and injury is the selection of the system or systems best suited to answer the particular question at hand.

Modulation of alpha4 integrin mRNA levels is coupled to deficits in vasomotor function in rat arterioles by allylamine.

Allylamine, a selective cardiovascular toxin that induces oxidative stress, is known to alter expression of extracellular matrix and cell adhesion proteins that are central to arterial remodeling. Our goals were to determine whether AAM treatment in rats modulates integrin/matrix-dependent arteriolar function, and to what extent integrin expression correlated to these alterations. Integrins are transmembrane proteins that facilitate mechanical and molecular signaling between the extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton, and so are suitable candidates for involvement in phenotypic and functional alterations of smooth muscle in response to oxidative stress.

Regulation of alpha7-integrin expression in vascular smooth muscle by injury-induced atherosclerosis.

Injury of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by allylamine (AAM) leads to phenotypic changes associated with atherogenic progression including increased proliferation, migration, and alterations in cell adhesion. In the present study, the relationship between AAM-induced vascular injury and expression of the alpha(7)-integrin subunit was investigated. The alpha(7)-mRNA and protein expression were examined using real-time RT-PCR, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis (FACS), immunohistochemistry, and immunoblotting.

Building bridges between the parole officer and the families of serious juvenile offenders: a preliminary report on a family-based parole program.

Responding to a model of juvenile offender case supervision that called for a new intervention paradigm to guide the work of probation and parole officers, the present article reports on the use of a family-based parole initiative known as the Growing Up FAST program. Developed in part as a tool for use within this new intervention paradigm, the Growing Up FAST parole program targets serious youthful offenders who have been released from juvenile correctional facilities and their families. Based on elements contained within the "what works" literature and the Balanced and Restorative Justice model, this program recognizes the central role that field staff can play in rehabilitation efforts.

Toward conceptual development and empirical measurement of global risk indicators in the lives of court-involved youth.

This paper reports work related to the conceptual development and empirical use of global risk indicators meant to measure rapidly and reliably potential threats to the overall development and well-being of adolescents in the juvenile justice system. The development of these indicators and initial data regarding their use with court involved samples are presented. Analysis of data gathered from a sample containing 248 families of adolescents who participated in a family-based diversion program identified a seven-factor structure that corresponded to theoretically derived dimensions of risk in domains associated with prior offenses, family/parenting, education/work, peers, substance use, personality/behavior problems, and attitudes/orientation.