In-Utero exposure to potential sources of indoor air pollution and umbilical cord blood leukocyte telomere length.

Indoor air pollution (IAP) has been associated with various adverse health effects. However, the evidence regarding such an association with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in cord blood samples is still scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the relationship between exposure to indicators of IAP and LTL in umbilical cord blood samples.

Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Bisphenol A in Polymeric Baby Bottles.

In recent decades, paying attention to bisphenol A (BPA), as one of the endocrine disruptor compounds, has increased due to its harmful effects. Although, scattered studies have been conducted in order to measure BPA concentration migrated into polymeric baby bottles in different countries of the world, there are no review studies and evaluation with a global perspective in the field of BPA risk. Some of these studies indicated the potential risks and estrogenic effects associated with BPA in babies' daily intake.

Biomonitoring of organochlorine pesticides and cancer survival: a population-based study.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that even at very low levels can cause cancer by increasing the activity of tumor cells and suppressing the immune system. There is also little information on OCPs and survival after diagnosis. The aim of this study was to monitor the concentration of OCPs in the blood serum of cancer patients and its relationship with their socio-demographic characteristics and ultimately that impact on survival time and hazard ratio (HR).

Spatiotemporal analysis of COVID-19, air pollution, climate, and meteorological conditions in a metropolitan region of Iran.

The COVID-19 pandemic has a close relationship with local environmental conditions. This study explores the effects of climate characteristics and air pollution on COVID-19 in Isfahan province, Iran. A number of COVID-19 positive cases, main air pollutants, air quality index (AQI), and climatic variables were received from March 1, 2020, to January 19, 2021.

Association of maternal exposure to bisphenol A with her β-hCG level and neonatal anthropometric measures.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the organic compounds that might interfere with estrogenic receptors, which would make difficulties in pregnancy hormones and fetal growth. Human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) is one of the important pregnancy hormones that might be affected by environmental pollutants. The aim of this study is to investigate the probable impacts of maternal exposure to BPA on anthropometric measures of newborns.

Atenolol adsorption onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified by NaOCl and ultrasonic treatment; kinetic, isotherm, thermodynamic, and artificial neural network modeling.

The removal of pharmaceutical pollutants from the aqueous environment is a great environmental concern, mainly due to their diversity, high consumption, and sustainability. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the ability of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified by sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and ultrasonic treatment in refining wastewaters contaminated with Atenolol β-blocker drug (ATN). The physical and structural characteristics of the raw MWCNTs and modified MWCNTs (M-MWCNTs) were analyzed using SEM, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, TGA, and FT-IR techniques.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the association between phthalates exposure and insulin resistance.

This study aims to provide an overview of human studies on the association of exposure to phthalates and insulin resistance. We systematically searched human studies available until 15 January 2018.We conducted a literature search in Scopus, ISI Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Collaboration.

Removal of atenolol from aqueous solutions by multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified with ozone: kinetic and equilibrium study.

The aim of study is removal of atenolol from aqueous solutions by multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified with ozone. The design of the experiment was adopted across four levels with the L16 matrix arrangement. The factors influencing atenolol adsorption include changes in the pH value, contact time, the dose of the modified multiwall carbon nanotube, and the initial concentration of atenolol in the solution; these factors were evaluated along with the extent of their influence on removal efficiency.

Spatial distribution variation and probabilistic risk assessment of exposure to chromium in ground water supplies; a case study in the east of Iran.

A high concentration of chromium (VI) in groundwater can threaten the health of consumers. In this study, the concentration of chromium (VI) in 18 drinking water wells in Birjand, Iran, s was investigated over a period of two yearsNon-carcinogenic risk assessment, sensitivity, and uncertainty analysis as well as the most important variables in determining the non-carcinogenic risk for three age groups including children, teens, and adults, were performed using the Monte Carlo simulations technique. The northern and southern regions of the study area had the highest and lowest chromium concentrations, respectively.

Kinetic parameters and nitrate, nitrite changes in bioremediation of Toxic Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) contaminated soil.

Background: Cleanup of areas contaminated by explosives is a public health concern. Some explosives can be carcinogenic in humans. Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN), a powerful explosive with very low water solubility, can be easily transported to ground waters.

Conformal piezoelectric energy harvesting and storage from motions of the heart, lung, and diaphragm.

Here, we report advanced materials and devices that enable high-efficiency mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion from the natural contractile and relaxation motions of the heart, lung, and diaphragm, demonstrated in several different animal models, each of which has organs with sizes that approach human scales. A cointegrated collection of such energy-harvesting elements with rectifiers and microbatteries provides an entire flexible system, capable of viable integration with the beating heart via medical sutures and operation with efficiencies of ∼2%. Additional experiments, computational models, and results in multilayer configurations capture the key behaviors, illuminate essential design aspects, and offer sufficient power outputs for operation of pacemakers, with or without battery assist.

Intensive laparoscopic training course for surgical residents: program description, initial results, and requirements.

Introduction: The Department of Surgery at the University of Arizona has created an intensive laparoscopic training course for surgical residents featuring a combined simulation laboratory and live swine model. We herein report the essential components to design and implement a rigorous training course for developing laparoscopic skills in surgical residents.

Materials And Methods: At our institution, we developed a week-long pilot intensive laparoscopic training course.

Beta3-integrins rather than beta1-integrins dominate integrin-matrix interactions involved in postinjury smooth muscle cell migration.

Background: Smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration is a vital component in the response of the arterial wall to revascularization injury. Cell surface integrin-extracellular matrix interactions are essential for cell migration. SMCs express both beta1- and beta3-integrins.

Performance of an aquatic multispecies system in evaluating the effects of a model microbial pest control agent on nontarget organisms.

A recirculating multispecies test system was developed in conjunction with a study of the fate and persistence of a model microbial pest control agent on non-target marine and freshwater organisms. The basic unit of the system was a 113-I glass aquarium with vertical biological filters in the center of the aquarium, such that two compartments were formed. This allowed the sequestration of predator and prey species within the same system.