Comparison of Fixed and Rising Displacement Rates of CO₂ for Euthanasia of Aged Rats.

This study compared euthanasia induced by rising concentrations of CO₂ in aged rats (n = 59) using different gas displacement rates. Rats were preimplanted with cardiovascular telemetry devices and had been previously used for short term safety pharmacology studies. Once fully recovered from previous studies, rats were euthanized using rising concentrations of CO₂.

Need and Viability of Newborn Screening Programme in India: Report from a Pilot Study.

India, a country with the second largest population in the world, does not have a national newborn screening programme as part of its health policy. With funding support from the Grand Challenges Canada, a pilot newborn screening programme was implemented for the Udupi district of South India to study the need and viability of a national programme in India. Six disorders were selected for the study based on the availability of funding and recommendation from pediatricians in the district.

Postoccupancy Evaluation of a Neighborhood Concept Redesign of an Acute Care Nursing Unit in a Planetree Hospital.

Objective: A comparative study was undertaken to survey nurses working in an acute care nursing unit before and after moving to a new hospital to investigate the impact of a nursing unit designed utilizing Planetree build criteria.

Background: The physical and emotional demands of frontline practitioners is a serious concern for patient safety and staff retention as the environmental design of nursing units can influence human errors from fatigue and interruption.

Method: A pre-move survey was conducted with acute care nurses in a conventional design nursing unit who were moving to a new facility.

Ergonomic lighting considerations for the home office workplace.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a large increase in the use of the home office environment. Compared to traditional commercial offices, home offices typically have more variable lighting conditions that can affect the worker's performance and well-being.

Objective: To review and discuss various lighting sources and their ergonomic impacts on the population of office employees now working from home.

Pregnancy Outcomes Post-bariatric Surgery-a Single-Centre Retrospective Study from India.

Background: Bariatric surgery presently is the best possible intervention for treatment of severe obesity and its related conditions. This study presents retrospective data on the pregnancy outcomes of Indian patients who underwent bariatric surgery before conception.

Methodology: This is a single-centre retrospective, observational study.

Effect of workstation configuration on musculoskeletal discomfort, productivity, postural risks, and perceived fatigue in a sit-stand-walk intervention for computer-based work.

Objective: Compare musculoskeletal discomfort, productivity, postural risks, and perceived fatigue for a sit-stand-walk intervention between two workstation configurations - one, individually customized for office workers according to ergonomic guidelines (Ergo-Fit); another, self-adjusted by office workers according to their preference (Self-Adjusted).

Methods: 36 participants performed a 60-min computer typing task in both configurations using a within-participants, counterbalanced design. Musculoskeletal discomfort and perceived fatigue were reported through surveys; productivity was operationalized by typing speed and typing error; postural risks were assessed by RULA for seated work, and REBA for standing work.

Statistical analysis plan for "A randomised, controlled study to evaluate the effects of switching from cigarette smoking to using a tobacco heating product on health effect indicators in healthy subjects".

Tobacco harm reduction strategies aim to substitute smoking with potentially reduced risk products (PRRPs) such as e-cigarettes and tobacco-heating products (THPs). The health benefits of switching from smoking to PRRPs is unknown. A randomised controlled trial is being conducted to increase understanding of the health effects of switching from smoking to a THP in a 12-month long ambulatory study (ISRCTN81075760).

Association of Child Neurology-Indian Epilepsy Society Consensus Document on Parental Counseling of Children with Epilepsy.

When a child is diagnosed with epilepsy, counseling regarding the same is done by the treating doctor. Most parents are frightened and have poor knowledge about epilepsy. Therapeutic advice including drug dosage, administration and side effects takes up the major part of physician's time, thereby neglecting important issues like home seizure management, follow up and others.

Changes in Biomarkers of Exposure on Switching From a Conventional Cigarette to Tobacco Heating Products: A Randomized, Controlled Study in Healthy Japanese Subjects.

Background: Smoking is a leading cause of numerous human disorders including pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Disease development is primarily caused by exposure to cigarette smoke constituents, many of which are known toxicants. Switching smokers to modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs) has been suggested as a potential means to reduce the risks of tobacco use, by reducing such exposure.

A randomised, controlled, two-Centre open-label study in healthy Japanese subjects to evaluate the effect on biomarkers of exposure of switching from a conventional cigarette to a tobacco heating product.

Background: Smoking is a leading cause of numerous human disorders including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The development of modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs) has been suggested as a possible way to reduce the risks of tobacco smoking by reducing exposure to cigarette smoke toxicants. This study is designed to investigate whether biomarkers of such exposure are reduced when smokers switch from smoking commercial cigarettes to using either a novel or a commercially-available tobacco heating product (THP).

A Novel g.55040074delT in ALAS2 Gene Resulting in a Monomeric Protein and Severe Sideroblastic Anemia Phenotype.

Sideroblastic anemias are a rare group of disorders resulting from defective iron incorporation during heme synthesis and hence characterized by anemia and presence of ringed sideroblasts in bone marrow. The most common form is an X-linked disorder caused by mutations in ALAS2 gene. In the current paper, a case of X-linked sideroblastic anemia caused by a novel homozygous deletional mutation in exon 10 of ALAS2 gene is presented.

Re-evaluation of a LEED Platinum Building: Occupant experiences of health and comfort.

Background: There is a need to better understand the perceived experiences of workers in green buildings as the literature to this point has been mixed.

Objectives: To re-evaluate occupant experiences within a LEED platinum building and investigate current experiences in general.

Methods: An online post occupancy evaluation (POE) survey of 62 occupants of LEED Platinum building on a US college campus is reported.

Thermal sensation, rate of temperature change, and the heat dissipation design for tablet computers.

Past research has shown that the rate of change of skin surface temperature can affect thermal sensation. This study investigated users' thermal responses to a tablet heating surface with different heat pads and different temperature change rates. The test conditions included: A.

Differential patterns of laptop use and associated musculoskeletal discomfort in male and female college students.

Background: Laptop computers have surpassed desktop computers in popularity, especially among college student users. The portability of these devices raises concerns regarding healthy usage patterns in different settings and there is a need to investigate the postures with which these devices are being used and associated reports of musculoskeletal discomfort.

Objective: This study investigated the configurations in which laptops are used and the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort associated with laptop use in a survey of college students.

Strength and difficulties questionnaire: A tool as prerequisite to measure child's mental health problems attending dental clinics.

Introduction: Child's behavior on dental visit depends on variables such as age, parental behavior, parental anxiety, medical/dental history, and dental procedures. Behavioral-screening questionnaire, such as the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), can be used to preassess the child's mental health status which further predicts child behavioral pattern in dental clinics.

Aim: To measure emotional status among children of 3-14 years age group attending dental clinics.

Interior effects on comfort in healthcare waiting areas.

Background: This study compared the effects of pre-experience and expectations on participant comfort upon waking, arrival to, and after an appointment, as well as the assessment of properly placed Feng Shui elements in three healthcare waiting rooms.

Methods: Participants assessed comfort levels using self-report surveys. The researcher conducted 'intention interviews' with each doctor to assess the goals of each waiting area design, and conducted a Feng Shui assessment of each waiting area for properly placed Feng Shui elements.

[Schizoaffective Disorder: Evolution and Current Status of the Concept].

Schizoaffective disorder as a diagnostic entity is of particular present-day relevance; however, the concept of schizoaffective disorder, and its management and prognosis remain contentious. Descriptions of the disorder have varied over time. In this literature review, after tracking the evolution of the concept and nosology of schizoaffective disorder, research findings are summarized.

Age dependent regulation of bone-mass and renal function by the MEPE ASARM-motif.

Context: Mice with null mutations in matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (MEPE) have increased bone mass, increased trabecular density and abnormal cancellous bone (MN-mice). These defects worsen with age and MEPE overexpression induces opposite effects. Also, genome wide association studies show that MEPE plays a major role in bone mass.

The sedentary office: an expert statement on the growing case for change towards better health and productivity.

An international group of experts convened to provide guidance for employers to promote the avoidance of prolonged periods of sedentary work. The set of recommendations was developed from the totality of the current evidence, including long-term epidemiological studies and interventional studies of getting workers to stand and/or move more frequently. The evidence was ranked in quality using the four levels of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Optimizing the physical ergonomics indices for the use of partial pressure suits.

This study developed an ergonomic evaluation system for the design of high-altitude partial pressure suits (PPSs). A total of twenty-one Chinese males participated in the experiment which tested three types of ergonomics indices (manipulative mission, operational reach and operational strength) were studied using a three-dimensional video-based motion capture system, a target-pointing board, a hand dynamometer, and a step-tread apparatus. In total, 36 ergonomics indices were evaluated and optimized using regression and fitting analysis.

SPR4-peptide alters bone metabolism of normal and HYP mice.

Context: ASARM-peptides are substrates and ligands for PHEX, the gene responsible for X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (HYP). PHEX binds to the DMP1-ASARM-motif to form a trimeric-complex with α5β3-integrin on the osteocyte surface and this suppresses FGF23 expression. ASARM-peptide disruption of this complex increases FGF23 expression.

Occupant comfort and health in green and conventional university buildings.

Background: Green building standards are significantly impacting modern construction practices. The resulting structures are more energy efficient, but their impact on occupant health has not been widely studied.

Objective: To investigate a range of indoor environment and ergonomic issues in green buildings.

PHEX mimetic (SPR4-peptide) corrects and improves HYP and wild type mice energy-metabolism.

Context: PHEX or DMP1 mutations cause hypophosphatemic-rickets and altered energy metabolism. PHEX binds to DMP1-ASARM-motif to form a complex with α5β3 integrin that suppresses FGF23 expression. ASARM-peptides increase FGF23 by disrupting the PHEX-DMP1-Integrin complex.

Measures of fit and discomfort for elementary school children in Serbia.

Background: Assessing physical ergonomic factors within the classroom environment creates new opportunities to support designs that promote student well-being. Student-aged anthropometric data helps guide proper desk fit assessment, therefore facilitating scholastic performance through the reduction of distractions such as physical discomfort.

Objective: This study reports dimensions of fit between student anthropometry and the desk environment (classroom seating conditions), for grade-school aged children in Serbia.