An evaluation of trends for mesothelioma mortality in American women: Addressing the content of a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Mesothelioma is a fatal disease that has historically been associated with exposure to airborne asbestos. Because occupational asbestos exposures dropped dramatically in the late 1960s and early 1970s, far fewer cases of mesothelioma today are due to these fibers but, instead, are usually a result of the aging process or genetic predisposition. In May of 2022, a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) was issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding malignant mesothelioma incidence in women from 1999 to 2020.

Occupational exposures to asbestos in the steel industry: An analysis of the AISI sampling campaign (1989-1997).

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) gathered data between 1989 and 1997 to build an "objective database" to further understand the occupational exposures generated by the few asbestos-containing materials remaining at various steelmaking companies at this time. This paper analyzed the 520 samples from this campaign which occurred at five different steel manufacturers: Georgetown Steel Company, Inland Steel Company, Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) Corporation, United States Steel Corporation, and Weirton Steel Corporation. This database is believed to have never previously been systematically organized.

The presence of erionite in North American geologies and the estimated mesothelioma potency by region.

Objective: Erionite is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral found in soils in some geographical regions. Known for its potency for causing mesothelioma in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, the erionite fiber has attracted interest in the United States due to its presence in a band of rock that extends from Mexico to Montana. There are few toxicology studies of erionite, but all show it to have unusually high chronic toxicity.

Corticosteroid-LABA inhalers increase phonation threshold pressure (PTP) and flow (PTF) in rabbits.

Objectives: This study examined the effects of a combination corticosteroid plus long-acting beta -adrenergic agonist inhaler (IC) on rabbit phonation.

Methods: White New Zealand male rabbits were assigned randomly to experimental and control groups (n = 11 per group). The experimental group received twice-daily doses of Advair HFA™ (fluticasone propionate 45 mcg and salmeterol 21 mcg) via a veterinary facemask with 1-way valve and spacer; the control group received aerosolized saline.

High intensity VNS disrupts VNS-mediated plasticity in motor cortex.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with motor rehabilitation enhances recovery of function after neurological injury in rats and humans. This effect is ascribed to VNS-dependent facilitation of plasticity in motor networks. Previous studies document an inverted-U relationship between VNS intensity and cortical plasticity, such that moderate intensities increase plasticity, while low or high intensity VNS does not.

The relationship between stigma and a rehabilitation framework [international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF)]: three case studies of women living with HIV in Lusaka, Zambia.

Purpose: To explore how the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, a rehabilitation framework, can provide a holistic understanding of stigma experiences of three women living with human immunodeficiency virus in Lusaka, Zambia.

Methods: A secondary analysis of three cases by drawing on interview transcripts collected as part of a larger longitudinal study with eighteen women living with the virus. The interview tool used the rehabilitation framework to ask questions about the impact of the virus on the body, daily activities, social participation and the future.

Living at Work: 24-hour Noise Exposure Aboard US Navy Aircraft Carriers.

Background: Personnel assigned to aircraft carriers are exposed to a variety of noise sources from equipment and flight deck operations for durations >12 h. Personnel work and live in environments where hazardous noise areas and hearing recovery spaces such as sleeping and relaxation areas are in proximity to one another which provides little recovery time from hazardous noise. This investigation describes noise levels measured over a 24-h period on a US Navy aircraft carrier during flight operations for different populations of aircraft carrier personnel.

Localized gene expression changes during adventitious root formation in black walnut (Juglans nigra L.).

Cutting propagation plays a large role in the forestry and horticulture industries where superior genotypes need to be clonally multiplied. Integral to this process is the ability of cuttings to form adventitious roots. Recalcitrance to adventitious root development is a serious hurdle for many woody plant propagation systems including black walnut (Juglans nigra L.

The conceptualization of stigma within a rehabilitation framework using HIV as an example.

Stigma theory is concerned with inclusion and opportunities that influence well-being. Rehabilitation is also concerned with social inclusion and well-being. This is a central concern in one of the leading rehabilitation theories, the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.

Determination of airborne concentrations of dichlorvos over a range of temperatures when using commercially available pesticide strips in a simulated military guard post.

Dichlorvos is a chemical compound which has been used for decades as a pesticide. Potential inhalational exposure to dichlorvos vapor associated with using commercially-based, dichlorvos-impregnated resin strips in a simulated military guard post was evaluated. A varying number of these pesticide strips, ranging from the manufacturer's guidelines ((3)-16 g strips) up to a full package of strips ((12)-16 g strips), were placed in a small, enclosed space (2.

Research on rehabilitation interventions for adults living with HIV: a scoping review.

The aim of this paper is to use a scoping review to investigate the extent, range, and nature of research on rehabilitation interventions for adults living with HIV. Electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, and PsychINFO) and reference lists of the included articles were searched. Authors were emailed when possible for unavailable articles.

Quality of life and self-reported lower extremity function in adults with HIV-related distal sensory polyneuropathy.

Background: Distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) is a common complication of HIV disease. Its effects on quality of life (QOL) and function have not been well described.

Objective: The study objectives were: (1) to compare QOL and lower extremity function in people with HIV-related DSP and people with HIV disease who do not have DSP, (2) to determine the extent to which function predicts QOL, (3) to evaluate the agreement of 2 function scales, and (4) to describe the use of pain management resources.

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation and plant regeneration of the hardwood tree species Fraxinus profunda.

This transformation and regeneration protocol provides an integral framework for the genetic improvement of Fraxinus profunda (pumpkin ash) for future development of plants resistant to the emerald ash borer. Using mature hypocotyls as the initial explants, an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation system was successfully developed for pumpkin ash (Fraxinus profunda). This transformation protocol is an invaluable tool to combat the highly aggressive, non-native emerald ash borer (EAB), which has the potential to eliminate native Fraxinus spp.

Short duration needle trap sampling with gas chromatography analysis to determine nearly instantaneous concentrations of selected organic vapor contaminants.

Needle trap device samplers were used for rapid (60 s) quantitative sampling of short-term exposure limit (STEL) and peak exposure standard concentrations using a manually operated pump to collect small volume (10 mL) gas phase samples containing methylene chloride, benzene, toluene, and tetrachloroethylene vapors. Solventless introduction of chemical samples for gas chromatography analysis with flame ionization detection yielded linear results (R(2) > 0.99) for vapor standard mixtures of the four target analytes ranging from 10% to 200% of their respective nominal STEL or peak exposure standard concentrations.

Application of a high surface area solid-phase microextraction air sampling device: collection and analysis of chemical warfare agent surrogate and degradation compounds.

This work examines a recently improved, dynamic air sampling technique, high surface area solid-phase microextraction (HSA-SPME), developed for time-critical, high-volume sampling and analysis scenarios. The previously reported HSA-SPME sampling device, which provides 10-fold greater surface area compared to commercially available SPME fibers, allowed for an increased analyte uptake per unit time relative to exhaustive sampling through a standard sorbent tube. This sampling device has been improved with the addition of a type-K thermocouple and a custom heater control circuit for direct heating, providing precise (relative standard deviation ∼1%) temperature control of the desorption process for trapped analytes.

Safety and feasibility of modified chair-yoga on functional outcome among elderly at risk for falls.

Falls are among the most common problems affecting older adults. At least 50% of those over the age of 80 fall annually. The goal of this pilot study was to assess the safety and feasibility of structured yoga in an elderly population with fall risk.

SpTie1/2 is expressed in coelomocytes, axial organ and embryos of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, and is an orthologue of vertebrate Tie1 and Tie2.

A full length cDNA sequence expressed in coelomocytes shows significant sequence match to vertebrate Tie1 and Tie2/TEK. Vertebrate Tie2/TEK is the receptor for the angiopoietins and plays an important role in angiogenesis and hematopoiesis, whereas Tie1 regulates the activity of Tie2. The deduced sequence of the SpTie1/2 protein has a similar order and organization of domains to the homologous vertebrate proteins including a highly conserved receptor tyrosine kinase domain in the cytoplasmic tail.

Developmental and adult phenotyping directly from mutant embryonic stem cells.

Tetraploid embryo complementation assay has shown that mouse ES cells alone are capable of supporting embryonic development and adult life of mice. Newly established F(1) hybrid ES cells allow the production of ES cell-derived animals at a high enough efficiency to directly make ES cell-based genetics feasible. Here we report the establishment and characterization of 12 new F(1) hybrid ES cell lines and the use of one of the best (G4) in a gain- and loss-of-function genetic study, where the in vivo phenotypes were assessed directly from ES cell-derived embryos.

PAR-2 deficient CD4+ T cells exhibit downregulation of IL-4 and upregulation of IFN-gamma after antigen challenge in mice.

Background: To investigate the functional role of protease activated receptor (PAR) -2 in T lymphocytes, we analyzed TCR-mediated inflammatory cytokine production using PAR-2 deficient (KO) and wild type (WT) mice.

Methods: Production of serum IgE and cytokines by spleen CD4+ T cells was determined in OVA-sensitized and OVA-challenged mice of PAR-2 KO in contrast to WT mice. Phosphorylation of JNK1 and 2 was determined by Western blotting.

A distal region of the human TGM1 promoter is required for expression in transgenic mice and cultured keratinocytes.

Background: TGM1(transglutaminase 1) is an enzyme that crosslinks the cornified envelope of mature keratinocytes. Appropriate expression of the TGM1 gene is crucial for proper keratinocyte function as inactivating mutations lead to the debilitating skin disease, lamellar ichthyosis. TGM1 is also expressed in squamous metaplasia, a consequence in some epithelia of vitamin A deficiency or toxic insult that can lead to neoplasia.

Protease-activated receptor 2 mediates eosinophil infiltration and hyperreactivity in allergic inflammation of the airway.

Trypsin and mast cell tryptase can signal to epithelial cells, myocytes, and nerve fibers of the respiratory tract by cleaving proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2). Since tryptase inhibitors are under development to treat asthma, a precise understanding of the contribution of PAR2 to airway inflammation is required. We examined the role of PAR2 in allergic inflammation of the airway by comparing OVA-sensitized and -challenged mice lacking or overexpressing PAR2.

Targeted alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor overexpression induces enhanced cardiac contractility but not hypertrophy.

Activation of the alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor (alpha(1A)-AR)/Gq pathway has been implicated as a critical trigger for the development of cardiac hypertrophy. However, direct evidence from in vivo studies is still lacking. To address this issue, transgenic mice with cardiac-targeted overexpression of the alpha(1A)-AR (4- to 170-fold) were generated, using the rodent alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter.

Epimorphin mediates mammary luminal morphogenesis through control of C/EBPbeta.

We have shown previously that epimorphin (EPM), a protein expressed on the surface of myoepithelial and fibroblast cells of the mammary gland, acts as a multifunctional morphogen of mammary epithelial cells. Here, we present the molecular mechanism by which EPM mediates luminal morphogenesis. Treatment of cells with EPM to induce lumen formation greatly increases the overall expression of transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)beta and alters the relative expression of its two principal isoforms, LIP and LAP.