The buncefield oil depot fire of 2005: potential air-pollution health impacts under alternative meteorological scenarios.

Objective: To model the possible air pollution-related health impact of the 2005 oil depot fire at Buncefield, near London, UK, under alternative meteorological conditions to those experienced at the time.

Design: Atmospheric dispersion modelling of the smoke plume was conducted under the range of meteorological conditions occurring throughout 2005 assuming constant particle emission rates. Population exposure to particle concentrations (PM10) was calculated by linking the atmospheric dispersion modelling data (2 km resolution) and postcode population data.

The tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma (review).

The tumor microenvironment has been largely studied as a dynamic system orchestrated by inflammatory cells, including cancer cells, stroma as well as the extracellular matrix. It is useful to describe and predict the phenotypic characteristics of cancer. Furthermore, a better understanding of its interplay with the various aspects of the tumor cells may be utilized for the discovery of novel molecular targets.

Inorganic arsenic and basal cell carcinoma in areas of Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia: a case-control study.

Background: Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a potent carcinogen, but there is a lack of information about cancer risk for concentrations < 100 μg/L in drinking water.

Objectives: We aimed to quantify skin cancer relative risks in relation to iAs exposure < 100 μg/L and the modifying effects of iAs metabolism.

Methods: The Arsenic Health Risk Assessment and Molecular Epidemiology (ASHRAM) study, a case-control study, was conducted in areas of Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia with reported presence of iAs in groundwater.

Serum perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations and liver function biomarkers in a population with elevated PFOA exposure.

Background: Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) persist in the environment and are found in relatively high concentrations in animal livers. Studies in humans have reported inconsistent associations between PFOA and liver enzymes.

Objectives: We examined the cross-sectional association between serum PFOA and PFOS concentrations with markers of liver function in adults.

"PancPro" as a tool for selecting families eligible for pancreatic cancer screening: an Italian study of incident cases.

Background: PancPRO is a computer program that estimates the risk of pancreatic cancer for asymptomatic individuals based on a genetic model of susceptibility and the familial incidence of cancer.

Aim: To evaluate the distribution of the familial risk in a series of incident cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Materials And Methods: The lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer was calculated by PancPro for a hypothetical 40-year-old son of 570 consecutive probands with pancreatic cancer.

Ontology-based automatic generation of computerized cognitive exercises.

Computer-based approaches can add great value to the traditional paper-based approaches for cognitive rehabilitation. The management of a big amount of stimuli and the use of multimedia features permits to improve the patient's involvement and to reuse and recombine them to create new exercises, whose difficulty level should be adapted to the patient's performance. This work proposes an ontological organization of the stimuli, to support the automatic generation of new exercises, tailored on the patient's preferences and skills, and its integration into a commercial cognitive rehabilitation tool.

Relation between serum sodium levels and prognosis in outpatients with chronic heart failure: neutral effect of treatment with beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: data from the Italian Network on Congestive Heart Failure (IN-CHF database).

Introduction: The predictive role of hyponatremia has been tested in acute and chronic heart failure. Sodium level is inversely related with renin-angiotensin-aldersterone system (RAAS) and sympathetic nervous activity but important issues remain unresolved. Our aim was to define the level of hyponatremia able to predict 1-year outcomes and investigate the relation between sodium levels and mortality and the effect of beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on this relation.

Effect of ultrasound and dexpanthenol on collagen organization in tegumentary lesions.

Objective: To analyze the effect of ultrasound (US), dexpanthenol (d-P) and a combination of these treatments (US+d-P) on collagen fiber organization in tegumentary lesions in rats by birefringence analysis.

Methods: Wistar rats (50) were anesthetized (Thionembutal - Sodic = 50 mg/Kg), 1 cm² of dorsal region skin was removed, and the animals were divided into five groups: control (C), gel (G), US (3 MHz, 0.1 W/cm2, 1 minute, continuous), d-P (10%) and US+d-P.

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction in inactive systemic lupus erythematosus: An unusual finding.

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP) is an infrequent complication of an active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We illustrate a case of SLE inactive-related CIP. A 51-year old female with inactive SLE (ECLAM score 2) was hospitalized with postprandial fullness, vomiting, abdominal bloating and abdominal pain.

Association of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) with age of puberty among children living near a chemical plant.

Animal studies suggest that perfluorocarbons (PFCs) may alter sexual maturation. Relationships of human PFC exposure with puberty are not clear. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate whether perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were associated with indicators of sexual maturation in a 2005-2006 survey of residents with PFOA water contamination from the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Resilience thinking in health protection.

Background: In recent years, the term 'resilience' has gained increasing currency in discussions of emergency preparedness. This review identifies key concepts and explores the relevance of resilience for disaster planning and public health protection.

Methods: A systematic review of literature on concepts of resilience, with a narrative summary of key relevant concepts for public health.

Structural characterization and in vivo evaluation of retinyl palmitate in non-ionic lamellar liquid crystalline system.

Carrier systems for lipophilic drugs, such as the liquid crystalline systems (LCS) have been extensively studied to improve effect and selectivity. Retinyl palmitate (RP) is widely used in pharmaceutical and cosmetics products to improve the skin elasticity. The aim of this study was the development, characterization and the in vivo effectiveness of RP in non-ionic LCS structures.

Evaluation of preservative effectiveness of liquid crystalline systems with retynil palmitate by the challenge test and D-value.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the preservative effectiveness of liquid crystalline systems containing retynil palmitate (RP) by the challenge test (CT) and D-value. A system was developed containing water, silicon glycol copolymer, and polyether functional siloxane with 1% RP added. The analyses were carried out by methods in the U.

Randomised clinical trial: twice daily esomeprazole 40 mg vs. pantoprazole 40 mg in Barrett's oesophagus for 1 year.

Background: Barrett's oesophagus is regarded as the most important risk factor for development of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. According to current guidelines, treatment should be limited to symptomatic Barrett's oesophagus.

Aim: To evaluate the expression of Ki67, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and apoptosis in Barrett's oesophagus after 12 months of double-dose proton pump inhibitor therapy.

Developing best practice response to carbon monoxide incidents: a toolkit for health protection frontline staff.

Objectives: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning represents a significant public health burden. CO incidents require multiple responders, including the Health Protection Agency (HPA). However, best practice guidance does not yet exist in the UK for chemicals.

A hierarchical Bayesian approach for risk assessment of melamine in infant formula based on cases of related nephrolithiasis in children.

Although the 2008 outbreak of nephrolithiasis in children due to melamine-contaminated infant formula has subsided, it remains uncertain whether the present tolerable daily intake (TDI) of melamine provides sufficient protection for young children. To conduct a safety assessment for melamine in infant formula, we established a dose-response relationship based on 13 nephrolithiasis cases selected from 932 children, all of whom were under 5 years of age and had potentially been exposed to contaminated milk in China or Taiwan. According to the children's exposure history, distributions of individual daily melamine intake (mg/kg BW/day) were reconstructed using Monte Carlo simulations to account for uncertainties in exposure duration and melamine concentrations in the contaminated milk.

Long-term effects of flooding on mortality in England and Wales, 1994-2005: controlled interrupted time-series analysis.

Background: Limited evidence suggests that being flooded may increase mortality and morbidity among affected householders not just at the time of the flood but for months afterwards. The objective of this study is to explore the methods for quantifying such long-term health effects of flooding by analysis of routine mortality registrations in England and Wales.

Methods: Mortality data, geo-referenced by postcode of residence, were linked to a national database of flood events for 1994 to 2005.

Rapid identification of 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus using fluorescent antibody methods.

Identification of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus requires emergency use authorized (EUA) molecular reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Laboratories lacking molecular capabilities outsource testing, which is costly and may delay result reporting. A fluorescent antibody (FA; D(3) Ultra 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus ID Kit, Diagnostic Hybrids, Athens, OH) recently received Food and Drug Administration EUA status for 2009 H1N1 virus identification.

Bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide followed by maintenance with bortezomib-thalidomide compared with bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone for initial treatment of multiple myeloma: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The combination of bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) is a new standard of care for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. This phase III study examined the efficacy of the four-drug combination of bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide (VMPT) followed by maintenance with bortezomib-thalidomide (VMPT-VT) compared with VMP treatment alone in untreated multiple myeloma patients who are ineligible for autologous stem-cell transplantation.

Patients And Methods: A total of 511 patients were randomly assigned to receive nine cycles of VMPT followed by continuous VT as maintenance, or nine cycles of VMP at the same doses with no additional therapy.

A rapid microscopic method for the confirmation of rhinoviruses in cell culture.

Objective: Culture-confirmation of rhinovirus is done using acid lability testing, a laborious and time-consuming method which delays the reporting of patient results by 1-2 days. A fluorescent monoclonal antibody pool (Light Diagnostics Pan-Enterovirus Blend; Millipore Inc., Temecula, Calif.

Frequency and predictors of mass psychogenic illness.

Background: Mass psychogenic illness refers to outbreaks of illness attributed to a toxic agent but for which no plausible organic cause is found. We determined the frequency and predictors of mass psychogenic illness within a sample of chemical incidents.

Methods: Information was collected on a random sample of 280 chemical incidents.

Impacts of climate change on indirect human exposure to pathogens and chemicals from agriculture.

Climate change is likely to affect the nature of pathogens/ chemicals in the environment and their fate and transport. We assess the implications of climate change for changes in human exposures to pathogens/chemicals in agricultural systems in the UK and discuss the effects on health impacts, using expert input and literature on climate change; health effects from exposure to pathogens/chemicals arising from agriculture; inputs of chemicals/pathogens to agricultural systems; and human exposure pathways for pathogens/chemicals in agricultural systems. We established the evidence base for health effects of chemicals/pathogens in the agricultural environment; determined the potential implications of climate change on chemical/pathogen inputs in agricultural systems; and explored the effects of climate change on environmental transport and fate of various contaminants.