The British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification grading system as a predictor of return to play following hamstrings injury in professional football players.

Objectives: Investigate the British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification (BAMIC) grading system as a predictor of return to play (RTP) following primary hamstring strain injury (HSI) and its agreement with the Peetron's classification system in professional footballers.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 39 hamstrings strains in a professional English football club were identified. Two musculoskeletal radiologists reviewed historical MRI's and classified them against the BAMIC and Peetron's grading system.

Discrepancy of particle passage in 101 mask batches during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany.

During the first wave of Covid-19 infections in Germany in April 2020, clinics reported a shortage of filtering face masks with aerosol retention> 94% (FFP2 & 3, KN95, N95). Companies all over the world increased their production capacities, but quality control of once-certified materials and masks came up short. To help identify falsely labeled masks and ensure safe protection equipment, we tested 101 different batches of masks in 993 measurements with a self-made setup based on DIN standards.

Direct Exposure of Welders to Welding Fumes and Effect of Fume Extraction Systems Under Controlled Conditions.

Introduction: Welding fume exposure of welders occurs either directly from the welding process and sputters or from the fume background within the workshop. In this study the contribution of fume originating directly from the welding process was assessed.

Methods: Exposure was quantified by measuring the time integral of fume mass concentration using a tapered element oscillating micro balance connected to a welder dummy.

Factors Promoting Posttraumatic Growth in Sexual Minority Adults Following Adolescent Bullying Experiences.

The minority stress model posits that stigmatized identities expose sexual minority individuals to chronic stressors that contribute to health disparities, but that individual-level resources may mitigate psychological distress. Sexual minority adolescents experience one such stressor, bullying victimization, at higher rates than heterosexual peers. Whereas negative consequences of sexual identity-based bullying are well documented, potential positive outcomes are not well understood.

No Observed Effect Level (NOEL) for Systemic Inflammation by Copper and Zinc in Welding Fumes.

: Copper and zinc containing welding fumes are able to induce systemic inflammation in healthy subjects. In this study the no observed effect levels (NOEL) for welding fumes containing either copper or zinc were assessed.Fifteen healthy male volunteers participated in an exposure.

Increased Neutrophil Granulocyte and Myeloperoxidase Levels Indicate Acute Inflammation Due to the Exposure of Zinc- and Copper-Containing Welding Fumes.

Objective: Recent studies have shown an increase of C-reactive-protein (CRP) after exposure to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of exposure to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes on leukocytes, their subtypes, and myeloperoxidase (MPO).

Methods: Serum samples of male volunteers were examined after exposures to welding fumes in two settings: repeated exposure on 4 consecutive days for 6 hours and single exposures for different times (3, 4, 5 hours).

The Effects of Exposure Time on Systemic Inflammation in Subjects With Exposure to Zinc- and Copper-Containing Brazing Fumes.

Introduction: Inhalation of copper and zinc containing brazing fumes (2.5 mg/m for 6 hours) is able to induce asymptomatic systemic inflammation which is supposed to be connected with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. In this study it was investigated if inflammation can be prevented by reducing the exposure time.

The pro-inflammatory stimulus of zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes in whole blood assay via protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibition.

An asymptomatic systemic inflammation after exposure to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes has been described as mild form of metal fume fever in recent studies. Since chronic systemic inflammation leads to a higher cardiovascular risk, examining the inflammation with the underlying pathomechanism is necessary to estimate and hopefully prevent long-term effects of welding. We established a whole blood assay to investigate the effects of zinc- and copper-containing welding fume particles on the blood immune response.

The Effects of Repeated Exposure to Zinc- and Copper-Containing Welding Fumes on Healthy Volunteers.

Objective: Recently, the proinflammatory effects of welding fumes containing zinc and copper have been demonstrated. In the present study, it was investigated if the inflammation persists under repeated exposure.

Methods: Fifteen healthy male subjects were exposed to 6 hours of exposure with zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes on 4 consecutive days under controlled conditions.

[Particulate emissions from residential wood combustion : Evaluation under real-life operating conditions and toxicological relevance].

Due to their high emission of particulate matter, wood fired furnaces have become a focal point of public discussion in Germany. Log-fired single room heaters can be identified as a main contributor to this matter. The particulate matter emitted by outdated as well as modern furnaces directly affects the pollution inside residential areas.

The effects of zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes on murine, rat and human precision-cut lung slices.

Recently, the pro-inflammatory effects of metal inert gas brazing welding fumes containing zinc and copper have been demonstrated in humans. Here, murine, rat and human precision cut lung slices (PCLS) were incubated in welding fume containing media with 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg/ml for 24 or 48 h.

Single and Combined Exposure to Zinc- and Copper-Containing Welding Fumes Lead to Asymptomatic Systemic Inflammation.

Objective: Recently, it has been shown that exposure to welding fumes containing both zinc and copper leads to asymptomatic systemic inflammation in humans as shown by an increase of blood C-reactive protein. In the present study, it was investigated which metal is responsible for this effect.

Methods: Fifteen healthy male subjects were exposed under controlled conditions to welding fumes containing either zinc, or copper, or copper and zinc.

Assessment of the Biological Effects of Welding Fumes Emitted From Metal Active Gas and Manual Metal Arc Welding in Humans.

Objective: Emissions from a particular welding process, metal inert gas brazing of zinc-coated steel, induce an increase in C-reactive protein. In this study, it was investigated whether inflammatory effects could also be observed for other welding procedures.

Methods: Twelve male subjects were separately exposed to (1) manual metal arc welding fumes, (2) filtered air, and (3) metal active gas welding fumes for 6 hours.

Human biomonitoring of aluminium after a single, controlled manual metal arc inert gas welding process of an aluminium-containing worksheet in nonwelders.

Purpose: Several existing field studies evaluate aluminium welding works but no thoroughly controlled exposure scenario for welding fume has been described yet. This study provides information about the uptake and elimination of aluminium from welding fumes under controlled conditions.

Methods: In the Aachen Workplace Simulation Laboratory, we are able to generate welding fumes of a defined particle mass concentration.

Human biomonitoring of chromium and nickel from an experimental exposure to manual metal arc welding fumes of low and high alloyed steel.

Objectives: The uptake and elimination of metals from welding fumes is currently not fully understood. In the Aachen Workplace Simulation Laboratory (AWSL) it is possible to investigate the impact of welding fumes on human subjects under controlled exposure conditions. In this study, the uptake and elimination of chromium or chromium (VI) respectively as well as nickel was studied in subjects after exposure to the emissions of a manual metal arc welding process using low or high alloyed steel.

Histone deacetylase 2 controls p53 and is a critical factor in tumorigenesis.

Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) regulates biological processes by deacetylation of histones and non-histone proteins. HDAC2 is overexpressed in numerous cancer types, suggesting general cancer-relevant functions of HDAC2. In human tumors the TP53 gene encoding p53 is frequently mutated and wild-type p53 is often disarmed.

Biological effects of emissions from resistance spot welding of zinc-coated material after controlled exposure of healthy human subjects.

Objective: Do emissions from a resistance spot welding process of zinc-coated materials induce systemic inflammation in healthy subjects after exposure for 6 hours?

Methods: Twelve healthy male subjects were exposed once for 6 hours either to filtered ambient air or to welding fume from resistance spot welding of zinc-coated material (mass concentration approximately 100 μg m). Biological effects were measured before, after, and 24 hours after exposure.

Results: At the concentrations used in this study, however, the suspected properties of ultrafine particles did not lead to systemic inflammation as reflected by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein or other endpoint parameters under consideration.

Relationship between welding fume concentration and systemic inflammation after controlled exposure of human subjects with welding fumes from metal inert gas brazing of zinc-coated materials.

Objectives: It has been shown that exposure of subjects to emissions from a metal inert gas (MIG) brazing process of zinc-coated material led to an increase of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the blood. In this study, the no-observed-effect level (NOEL) for such emissions was assessed.

Methods: Twelve healthy subjects were exposed for 6 hours to different concentrations of MIG brazing fumes under controlled conditions.

Number size distribution of fine and ultrafine fume particles from various welding processes.

Studies in the field of environmental epidemiology indicate that for the adverse effect of inhaled particles not only particle mass is crucial but also particle size is. Ultrafine particles with diameters below 100 nm are of special interest since these particles have high surface area to mass ratio and have properties which differ from those of larger particles. In this paper, particle size distributions of various welding and joining techniques were measured close to the welding process using a fast mobility particle sizer (FMPS).

Acetylation modulates the STAT signaling code.

A fascinating question of modern biology is how a limited number of signaling pathways generate biological diversity and crosstalk phenomena in vivo. Well-defined posttranslational modification patterns dictate the functions and interactions of proteins. The signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) are physiologically important cytokine-induced transcription factors.

Experimental exposure of healthy subjects with emissions from a gas metal arc welding process--part II: biomonitoring of chromium and nickel.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between the external exposure dose of chromium and nickel caused by a metal active gas welding process with a solid high-alloyed steel welding wire and inner exposure of subjects. In order to perform welding fume exposure under controlled and standardized conditions, the investigations were conducted in the "Aachen Workplace Simulation Laboratory".

Methods: To perform biological monitoring of chromium and nickel, blood and urine samples of 12 healthy male non-smokers who never worked as welders were collected before and after a 6-h exposure to ambient air (0 mg/m(3)) and to welding fumes of a metal active gas welding process once with a concentration of the welding fume of 1 mg/m(3) and once with a concentration of 2.

Effects of formoterol and tiotropium bromide on mucus clearance in patients with COPD.

Background: Lung mucociliary clearance is impaired in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Treatment guidelines recommend that patients with COPD receive maintenance therapy with long-acting beta-agonists and anticholinergic agents.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with mild to moderate COPD received formoterol (12 μg, twice daily from Turbuhaler® dry powder inhaler (DPI)) or tiotropium (18 μg, once daily from Handihaler® DPI) for 14 days.

Internal exposure, effect monitoring, and lung function in welders after acute short-term exposure to welding fumes from different welding processes.

Objective: In this study, the effect of short-term exposure to welding fumes emitted by different welding techniques on workers was investigated.

Methods: In a 3-fold crossover study, six welders used three different welding techniques for 3 hours. Before and after welding, blood and urine samples were collected to perform biomonitoring of metals.

Assembly dynamics of PML nuclear bodies in living cells.

The mammalian cell nucleus contains a variety of organelles or nuclear bodies which contribute to key nuclear functions. Promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies (PML NBs) are involved in the regulation of apoptosis, antiviral responses, the DNA damage response and chromatin structure, but their precise biochemical function in these nuclear pathways is unknown. One strategy to tackle this problem is to assess the biophysical properties of the component parts of these macromolecular assemblies in living cells.

Biological effect markers in exhaled breath condensate and biomonitoring in welders: impact of smoking and protection equipment.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of welding as well as the impact of smoking and protection measures on biological effect markers in exhaled breath condensate. Additionally, biomonitoring of chromium, aluminium and nickel in urine was performed to quantify internal exposure.

Methods: Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and urine samples of 45 male welders and 24 male non-exposed control subjects were collected on Friday pre-shift and after 8 h of work post-shift.