Incidence of cardiovascular disease in a cohort of mine workers exposed to ultrafine aluminum powder in Ontario, Canada.

Background: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to estimate associations between an ultrafine aluminum powder, McIntyre Powder (MP), and cardiovascular disease incidence in a cohort of mine workers from Ontario, Canada. Disease outcomes included ischemic heart disease (IHD), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and strokes and transient ischemic attacks (STIA).

Methods: Using work history records from the Ontario Mining Master File (MMF) mine workers were followed for disease incidence in administrative health records.

Participatory Development Process of Two Human Dimension Intervention Programs to Foster Physical Fitness and Psychological Health and Well-Being in Wildland Firefighting.

Intervention programs designed, delivered, and evaluated by and within organizations are a critical component in the promotion of employee health and well-being and in the prevention of occupational injury. Critical for transference of findings across complex occupational settings is a clearly articulated development process, a reliance on and evaluation of underlying theoretical foundations, and the inclusion of relevant outcomes emerging out of participatory action processes. To date, there have been no documented efforts outlining the development, implementation, or evaluation of human dimension intervention programs targeting wildland firefighters.

Safety Culture: A Retrospective Analysis of Occupational Health and Safety Mining Reports.

Background: In the mining industry, various methods of accident analysis have utilized official accident investigations to try and establish broader causation mechanisms. An emerging area of interest is identifying the extent to which cultural influences, such as safety culture, are acting as drivers in the reoccurrence of accidents. Thus, the overall objective of this study was to analyze occupational health and safety (OHS) reports in mining to investigate if/how safety culture has historically been framed in the mining industry, as it relates to accident causation.

High-intensity interval exercise in the cold regulates acute and postprandial metabolism.

High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) has been shown to be more effective than moderate-intensity exercise for increasing acute lipid oxidation and lowering blood lipids during exercise and postprandially. Exercise in cold environments is also known to enhance lipid oxidation; however, the immediate and long-term effects of HIIE exercise in cold are unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects cold stress during HIIE on acute exercise metabolism and postprandial metabolism.

Ambient temperature influences metabolic substrate oxidation curves during running and cycling in healthy men.

Fat oxidation in cold environments and carbohydrate (CHO) use in hot environments are increased during exercise at steady-state submaximal workloads. However, the influence of cold and heat on fat and CHO oxidation curves remain unknown. We therefore examined the influence of a cold and warm ambient temperature on fat and CHO oxidation across a wide range of exercise intensities during treadmill and cycle ergometer exercise.

An Assessment of the Validity of an Audio-Video Method of Food Journaling for Dietary Quantity and Quality.

Objective: To validate an audio-video (AV) method of food journaling, in a free-living scenario, compared to direct, weighed food assessment.

Design And Setting: Data were collected in a cafeteria. Meals, selected by participants (=30), were documented using the AV method: participants video-recorded their tray while audio-recording a description of their selected meal, after which the research team digitally weighed each food item and created an itemized diary record of the food.

Effect of a Simulated Mine Rescue on Physiological Variables and Heat Strain of Mine Rescue Workers.

Objective: To describe physiological responses of mine rescuers during a simulated mine emergency.

Methods: Body-worn monitors (n = 74) and core temperature (Tc) capsules (n = 54) assessed heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), energy expenditure (EE), oxygen consumption ((Equation is included in full-text article.)), Tc and skin temperature (Tskin), by team position and task.

Sleep Quantity and Quality of Ontario Wildland Firefighters Across a Low-Hazard Fire Season.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the sleep quality, quantity, and fatigue levels of Canadian wildland firefighters while on deployment.

Methods: Objective and subjective sleep and fatigue measures were collected using actigraphy and questionnaires during non-fire (Base) and fire (Initial Attack and Project) deployments.

Results: Suboptimal sleep quality and quantity were more frequently observed during high-intensity, Initial Attack fire deployments.

Evaluating the reliability of assessing home-packed food items using digital photographs and dietary log sheets.

Objective: To assess the reliability of manual data entry for home-packed food items by using digital photographs and dietary log sheets.

Methods: Data from 60 lunches were entered by researcher A and B independently. Researcher B re-entered researcher A's items within 1 week.

Recommendations for Tobacco Control on Post-Secondary Campuses that are Geographically Isolated.

Background: Many Ontarians continue to report exposure to second-hand smoke in public spaces. Completely smoke-free environments are the preferred and socially responsible option for non-smoking policies; however, when considering the variety of landscapes in which post-secondary institutions are located, 'a one size fits all' smoking policy is unrealistic to implement and enforce. The purpose of the study was to: 1) gain a better sense of the prevalence of smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke in a post-secondary context that is geographically isolated; 2) assess the awareness of existing non-smoking initiatives; and 3) identify preferred approaches for tobacco control.

Examining school-based pedometer step counts among children in grades 3 to 6 using different timetables.

Background: Advocates for the implementation of the Balanced School Day (BSD) schedule argue that this schedule will increase opportunities for physical activity. However, the relationship between this scheduling change and its impact on physical activity has not been examined. Thus, this study assessed levels of physical activity in students attending 2 different schools: 1 using the BSD and the other using the Traditional School Day (TSD) schedule.

Alcohol fixation of induced sputum samples for applications in rural communities.

Background: Sputum induction is a tool recommended for the assessment of airway inflammation and disease management. Currently, its use is limited because samples need to be processed within 3 h of induction (ie, while cells are viable); therefore, this procedure is unavailable to most clinicians.

Objective: To develop a fixation method for induced sputum samples that allows for a delay in processing while maintaining sample integrity and not altering the standard processing method.

In vitro effects of budesonide on eosinophil-basophil lineage commitment.

Unlabelled: IL-5 is the primary cytokine that stimulates the production and survival of eosinophils and basophils from progenitor cells. The inhaled glucocorticoid, budesonide, has been shown to exert a therapeutic effect via suppression of eosinophil/basophil progenitors in vivo. Since various steroids have exhibited the ability to enhance eosinophil/basophil progenitor differentiation, we examined the effects of budesonide in vitro.

Protection by budesonide and fluticasone on allergen-induced airway responses after discontinuation of therapy.

Background: Treatment with inhaled steroids is an effective method of reducing bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation after allergen challenge. However, the duration of the protective effects of inhaled steroids after discontinuation of therapy has not been established.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the protective effect of 1 week of inhaled steroid therapy against inhaled allergen challenge 12 hours after discontinuation of therapy.

Progenitor egress from the bone marrow after allergen challenge: role of stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha and eotaxin.

Background: CCR3 expression on CD34+ cells mediates migration to eotaxin in vitro. CXCR4 and stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1alpha are important for stem cell homing to hemopoietic compartments.

Objective: To study chemokine-mediated progenitor cell traffic in allergic inflammation.

Kinetics of bone marrow eosinophilopoiesis and associated cytokines after allergen inhalation.

Allergen inhalation is associated with increased eosinophil/basophil progenitors in bone marrow 24 hours after allergen inhalation. This study examined the kinetics of eosinophilopoiesis in dual (n = 14), compared with isolated early, responders (n = 12). Dual responders, in contrast to isolated early responders, develop significant sputum and blood eosinophilia and prolonged airway hyperresponsiveness.

Sputum CD34+IL-5Ralpha+ cells increase after allergen: evidence for in situ eosinophilopoiesis.

Eosinophil lineage-committed progenitors increase in the bone marrow of subjects with asthma developing allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilia. Also, higher numbers of circulating eosinophil/basophil cfu have been demonstrated 24 hours after allergen inhalation and in bronchial and nasal biopsies of allergic individuals. These cells may undergo in situ eosinophilopoiesis, suggesting that after allergen inhalation, progenitor cells traffic from the bone marrow to the airways, providing an ongoing source of effector cells.

Anti-allergic therapies: effects on eosinophil progenitors.

Marked eosinophilic infiltration is the typical inflammatory response associated with allergic inflammation. Previous research involving animal and human models has established a role for the eosinophil/basophil hematopoietic progenitor in a systemic process of allergic inflammation. In this article, we will review the evidence implicating eosinophil/basophil progenitors in this systemic response and will discuss the rationale for targeting this cell in the treatment of allergic disease.

The effect of cysteinyl leukotrienes on growth of eosinophil progenitors from peripheral blood and bone marrow of atopic subjects.

Background: The accumulation of eosinophils into the peripheral blood and airways of asthmatic subjects is, in part, dependent on cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs). However, the effect of cysLTs on peripheral blood and bone marrow eosinophil pro-genitor cells in allergic subjects is not known.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of leukotriene (LT) D(4) and LTE(4) and the cysLT(1) receptor antagonist montelukast on peripheral blood and bone marrow eosinophil-basophil progenitor growth and development in atopic subjects.

Increased levels of airway neutrophils reduce the inhibitory effects of inhaled glucocorticosteroids on allergen-induced airway eosinophils.

Background: Treatment with inhaled glucocorticosteroids attenuates allergen-induced airway inflammation but is less effective in people with asthma who have noneosinophilic airway inflammation.

Objective: Studies in which glucocorticosteroid treatment was used before allergen challenges were re-examined to determine whether the efficacy of steroid treatment could be predicted by baseline levels of sputum inflammatory cells.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-eight nonsmoking subjects with atopic asthma controlled by beta2-agonists participated in only one of three studies, each carried out with a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized, crossover design.