Effect of prednisone on woodsmoke-induced sputum inflammation in healthy volunteers: A randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Background: Inhalation of biomass smoke is associated with adverse respiratory effects in those with chronic pulmonary conditions. There are few published data regarding the effects of anti-inflammatory interventions on these outcomes.

Objective: Our aim was to assess the effects of postexposure prednisone on woodsmoke (WS)-induced sputum neutrophilia.

Stuck in the mangrove mud: The risk of trace element exposure to shore crabs in restored urban mangroves.

The restoration of mangroves in urban environments can increase the risk of contaminant exposure and subsequent health effects to resident biota, yet this risk is rarely considered in mangrove restoration programs. Here we assessed the influence of sediment chemistry on contaminant bioaccumulation in shore crabs from restored and natural mangroves in urban environments compared to a reference site. The concentrations of some trace elements were several-fold higher in the sediment and crab tissues of the urban restored site compared to the natural reference site (Cd = 6×, Co = 7×, Cr = 4×, Mn = 30×, and Ni = 18× greater in sediments, while Cd = 4×, Co = 2×, Cr = 2×, Mn = 6×, and Ni = 3× greater in crab tissues).

Trace metal distribution in seagrass-vegetated sediments of an urbanized estuary in Queensland, Australia.

Seagrasses increase sediment complexity by trapping particulates and influencing biogeochemical cycles via root oxygen loss and organic matter exudation. However, their impact on trace metal sequestration is poorly studied. We found significantly higher trace metal concentrations in seagrass sediments compared to adjacent bare sediments, correlating with total organic carbon, iron, and fine sediments.

Sex-Specific Skeletal Muscle Gene Expression Responses to Exercise Reveal Novel Direct Mediators of Insulin Sensitivity Change.

Background: Understanding the causal pathways, systems, and mechanisms through which exercise impacts human health is complex. This study explores molecular signaling related to whole-body insulin sensitivity (Si) by examining changes in skeletal muscle gene expression. The analysis considers differences by biological sex, exercise amount, and exercise intensity to identify potential molecular targets for developing pharmacologic agents that replicate the health benefits of exercise.