Publications by authors named "I McGonnell"

World Health Organisation data suggest that up to 99% of the global population are exposed to air pollutants above recommended levels. Impacts to health range from increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease to chronic respiratory conditions, and air pollution may contribute to over 7 million premature deaths a year. Additionally, mounting evidence suggests that in utero or early life exposure to particulate matter (PM) in ambient air pollution increases the risk of neurodevelopmental impairment with obvious lifelong consequences.

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Human patients with mutations within or genes (encoding C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and guanylyl cyclase-B (GC-B), respectively) display clinical signs associated with skeletal abnormalities, such as overgrowth or short stature. Mice with induced models of or deletion display profound achondroplasia, dwarfism and early death. Recent pharmacological therapies to treat short stature are utilizing long-acting CNP analogues, but the effects of manipulating CNP expression during development remain unknown.

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Air pollution affects the majority of the world's population and has been linked to over 7 million premature deaths per year. Exposure to particulate matter (PM) contained within air pollution is associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological ill health. There is increasing evidence that exposure to air pollution in utero and in early childhood is associated with altered brain development.

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As a result of many factors, including climate change, unrestricted population growth, widespread deforestation and intensive agriculture, a new pattern of diseases in humans is emerging. With increasing encroachment by human societies into wild domains, the interfaces between human and animal ecosystems are gradually eroding. Such changes have led to zoonoses, vector-borne diseases, infectious diseases and, most importantly, the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant microbial strains as challenges for human health.

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Article Synopsis
  • The World Health Organisation identified air pollution as the biggest human health threat, which includes harmful substances like particulate matter (PM) and various gases.
  • Exposure to PM is linked to respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological issues, with research indicating that it can affect brain development even before birth.
  • Studies on rodents show that early exposure to PM can cause neuroinflammation and increase the risk of cognitive impairments later in life, highlighting the need for effective strategies to reduce PM exposure during critical developmental periods.*
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