Exome sequencing of 20,979 individuals with epilepsy reveals shared and distinct ultra-rare genetic risk across disorder subtypes.

Identifying genetic risk factors for highly heterogeneous disorders like epilepsy remains challenging. Here, we present the largest whole-exome sequencing study of epilepsy to date, with >54,000 human exomes, comprising 20,979 deeply phenotyped patients from multiple genetic ancestry groups with diverse epilepsy subtypes and 33,444 controls, to investigate rare variants that confer disease risk. These analyses implicate seven individual genes, three gene sets, and four copy number variants at exome-wide significance.

Incorporating Exposure Measurement Data from Similar Exposure Scenarios to Inform Exposure Modeling Estimates: A Demonstration Using Cluster Analysis and Bayesian Modeling.

Addressing occupational health and safety concerns early in the design stage anticipates hazards and enables health professionals to recommend control measures that can best protect workers' health. This method is a well-established tool in public health. Importantly, its success depends on a comprehensive exposure assessment that incorporates previous exposure data and outcomes.

Respiratory health effects of the fiberglass-reinforced plastic lamination process in the yacht-building industry.

Objectives Fiberglass-reinforced plastics (FRP) manufacturing has been related to cases of severe airway obstruction and elevated risk of respiratory mortality. But the specific job content risk is not clear. This study evaluated the respiratory health effects of the FRP lamination process.

Occupational exposures of flour dust and airborne chemicals at bakeries in Taiwan.

Walk-through surveys were carried out for bakeries in this study to determine the environmental characteristics of bakeries in Taiwan. Questionnaires were administrated to discover whether job-related asthma-like symptoms occurred among workers. Air sampling and analysis were also performed.

Field evaluation of personal sampling methods for multiple bioaerosols.

Ambient bioaerosols are ubiquitous in the daily environment and can affect health in various ways. However, few studies have been conducted to comprehensively evaluate personal bioaerosol exposure in occupational and indoor environments because of the complex composition of bioaerosols and the lack of standardized sampling/analysis methods. We conducted a study to determine the most efficient collection/analysis method for the personal exposure assessment of multiple bioaerosols.

Inactivation efficiency to Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli bacterial aerosols of spraying neutral electrolyzed water.

The main objective of this study is to apply neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) spraying to inactivate bioaerosols. We evaluated the inactivation efficiency of NEW applied to inactivate two airborne bacterial Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis aerosols inside an environmental-controlled chamber in the study. Generated with electrolyzing 6.

Biological monitoring of low-level 2-butoxyethanol exposure in decal transfer workers in bicycle manufacturing factories.

Objectives: In this study, exposures to ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (or 2-butoxyethanol, 2-BE) in decal transfer workers in the bicycle manufacturing industry were investigated. Personal air sampling and biological monitoring were used to assess total uptake through inhalation and dermal exposure. Haemoglobin was also analysed to evaluate the effects of exposure on the haematopoietic system.

Immunologic analysis and serum heavy metal levels in exacerbated Tourette syndrome.

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset and relapsing disorder characterized by involuntary simple or complex tics and high co-morbidity with behavioral anomalies. Its pathophysiologic mechanisms remain unclarified. We investigated immunologic alternations and serum heavy metal levels in patients with TS to elucidate the unclarified mechanisms.

Olfactory loss in poly (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) plastic injection-moulding workers.

Background: Plastics manufacturing factories are the fifth largest category of factories in industrial estates in Taiwan. It is known that complex airborne compounds and pungent odours are emitted during plastic injection-moulding processes. Workers exposed to acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) thermal decomposition products (TDP) may have olfactory loss.

Transcranial ultrasound diagnosis of intracranial lesions in children with headaches.

The diagnostic value of transcranial ultrasound for intracranial lesions in children with headaches was evaluated. From January 1995 to December 1998, 444 children with headaches for more than 2 weeks visited our Pediatric Neurologic and Neurosurgical Outpatient Clinics. A 2-MHz-sector sonographic transducer was used to perform transcranial ultrasound.