Characterizing visual field loss from past mercury exposure in an Indigenous riverine community (Grassy Narrows First Nation, Canada): a cluster-based approach.

Background: Between 1962 and 1975, a chlor-alkali plant in Canada discharged approximately 9 metric tons of mercury (Hg) into the Wabigoon River. Over the following decades, biomarkers of Hg exposure of persons from Grassy Narrows First Nation (Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek), located downriver from the discharge, reflected Hg concentrations in fish. Hg exposure is known to target the calcarine fissure, resulting in visual field (VF) loss.

The evolution of symptoms of nervous system dysfunction in a First Nation community with a history of mercury exposure: a longitudinal study.

Background: Since the 1960's, mercury (Hg) contamination of the aquatic environment of Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) territories has impacted the community members' traditions, culture, livelihood, diet and health. Despite decreasing Hg exposure over time, a recent study suggested that long-term exposure contributed to later-life symptom clusters of nervous system dysfunction. Here, the objective was to evaluate, 5 years later, the prevalence and progression of these symptoms and examine the contribution of long-term, past Hg exposure.

A two-step chemical vapor deposition process for the growth of continuous vertical heterostructure WSe/h-BN and its optical properties.

The expansion of two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals heterostructure materials growth and synthesis leads to impressive results in the development and improvement of electronic and optoelectronic applications. Herein, a vertical WSe/hBN heterostructure was obtained a dual CVD system, in which prior to the WSe growth a continuous monolayer hBN was obtained on a SiO/Si substrate. Comparing growth on SiO/Si and quartz substrates, we found that the underlayer of hBN leads to a desorption/diffusion process of tungsten (W) and selenium (Se) producing high-quality and large-area WSe growth.

Past mercury exposure and current symptoms of nervous system dysfunction in adults of a First Nation community (Canada).

Background: The watershed in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) territory has been contaminated by mercury (Hg) since 1962, resulting in very high Hg concentrations in fish, central to the community's culture, traditions, economy and diet. Biomarkers of Hg exposure (umbilical cord blood and hair/blood samples), monitored between 1970 and 1997, decreased over time. A recent Grassy Narrows Community Health Assessment (GN-CHA) survey included current symptoms of nervous system dysfunction.

Self-Healing Hydrogels of Low Molecular Weight Poly(vinyl alcohol) Assembled by Host-Guest Recognition.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a cytocompatible synthetic polymer and has been commonly used to prepare hydrogels. Bile acids and β-cyclodextrin are both natural compounds and they form stable host-guest inclusion complexes. They are attached covalently onto a low molecular weight PVA separately.

Pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy: involvement of multifaceted signalling mechanism.

Diabetic nephropathy is a major cause of end-stage renal failure and the mortality rate due to this disease is continuously progressing worldwide. The multifaceted signalling mechanisms have been identified to be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Despite the modern therapies like antidiabetics, antihypertensives, and antioxidants available to treat diabetic nephropathy; most of patients continue to show progressive renal damage.

Purification and identification of bovine cheese whey fatty acids exhibiting in vitro antifungal activity.

Milk lipids contain several bioactive factors exhibiting antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In the present study, we demonstrate that free fatty acids (FFA) derived from the saponification of bovine whey cream lipids are active in vitro at inhibiting the germination of Candida albicans, a morphological transition associated with pathogenicity. This activity was found to be significantly increased when bovine FFA were enriched in non-straight-chain FFA.

Gene-environment interaction between peer victimization and child aggression.

Although peer victimization places children at serious risk for aggressive behavior, not all victimized children are aggressive. The diathesis-stress hypothesis of disease proposes that an environmental stressor such as peer victimization should to lead to maladjustment mostly in those individuals with preexisting genetic vulnerabilities. Accordingly, this study examined whether the link between peer victimization and child aggression is moderated by children's genetic risk for such behavior.

Peroxynitrite inhibits the expression of G(i)alpha protein and adenylyl cyclase signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells.

We previously showed that S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, a nitric oxide donor, decreased the levels and functions of G(i)alpha proteins by formation of peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The present studies were undertaken to investigate whether ONOO(-) can modulate the expression of G(i)alpha protein and associated adenylyl cyclase signaling in VSMC. Treatment of A-10 and aortic VSMC with ONOO(-) for 24 h decreased the expression of G(i)alpha-2 and G(i)alpha-3, but not G(s)alpha, protein in a concentration-dependent manner; expression was restored toward control levels by (111)Mn-tetralis(benzoic acid porphyrin) and uric acid, but not by 1H[1,2,4]oxadiazole[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ) and KT-5823.

Mental health in Canada: are there any risky occupations and industries?

This study examined the role of occupations and industries in explaining differences among workers reporting poorer mental health in the Canadian workforce. It used data coming from a large representative sample of 77,377 workers engaged in 139 occupations and 95 industries. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify differences in the odds of reporting poorer mental health, adjusting for gender, age, education, marital status, and household income.

Adjustment among mothers reporting same-gender sexual partners: a study of a representative population sample from Quebec Province (Canada).

We examined the well-being of mothers and non-mothers reporting exclusive opposite-gender sexual partners (OG), same-gender sexual partners (SG), or both (BI) in a representative sample of 20,773 participants (11,034 women) 15-years-old or older from the population of Quebec province in Canada. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and SG and BI women (n = 179) were matched to a sample of OG women (n = 179) based on age, income, geographical area, and children (having at least one 18-year-old or younger biological or adopted child at home). We assessed social milieu variables, risk factors for health disorders, mental health, and quality of mothers' relationship with children.

Photophysical, crystallographic, and electrochemical characterization of symmetric and unsymmetric self-assembled conjugated thiopheno azomethines.

Novel conjugated azomethines consisting uniquely of thiophene units are presented. The highly conjugated compounds were synthesized by simple condensation of a stable diamino thiophene (2) with its complementary thiophene aldehydes. These interesting nitrogen-containing thiophene units exhibit variable reactivity leading to controlled aldehyde addition.

Role of calcium channels in cadmium-induced disruption of cortisol synthesis in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

The mechanisms of toxicity of cadmium (Cd(2+)) in adrenal steroidogenesis were investigated in vitro in adrenocortical cells of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Toxicity of Cd(2+) was increased in absence of extracellular Ca(2+), but was prevented in Ca(2+)-supplemented medium. Pretreatment of cells with BAY K8644 (BAY), an agonist of voltage-dependent calcium channels, increased the Cd(2+)-mediated inhibition of ACTH-stimulated secretion but not pregnenolone (PREG)-stimulated secretion.

Isotopic signature and impact of car catalysts on the anthropogenic osmium budget.

Higher osmium concentrations and lower 187Os/188Os ratios in sediments from urban areas have been linked to anthropogenic osmium sources. Automobile catalytic converters that use platinum group metals (PGM) are a potential source for this Os pollution. We present the first direct Os concentrations and isotopic measurements of catalytic converters for major automobile brands to test the assumption that car catalysts release Os with a distinct signature in the environment.

Judgment of emotional nonlinguistic vocalizations: age-related differences.

Humans make extensive use of vocal information to attribute emotional states to other individuals. To date, most studies exploring perception of vocal emotions have done so in the context of speech prosody, although nonlinguistic emotional vocalizations represent an important, perhaps more universal, means to express emotions. Here, we explored the perception of emotional nonlinguistic vocalizations in healthy individuals, with an emphasis on potential age- and sex-related differences.

Identification of a novel aminergic-like G protein-coupled receptor in the cnidarian Renilla koellikeri.

Biogenic amines exert various physiological effects in cnidarians, but the receptors involved in these responses are not known. We have cloned a novel G protein-coupled receptor cDNA from an anthozoan, the sea pansy Renilla koellikeri, that shows homology to mammalian catecholamine receptors and, to a lesser extent, to peptidergic receptors. This putative receptor, named Ren2, has a DRC pattern that replaces the well-conserved DRY motif on the cytoplasmic side of the transmembrane III and lacks the cysteine residues usually found in the second extracellular loop and C-terminus tail.

Review of neurobehavioral deficits and river fish consumption from the Tapajós (Brazil) and St. Lawrence (Canada).

Our research group is carrying out studies on neurobehavioral changes associated with eating fish from the Upper St. Lawrence River (Québec, Canada) and the Lower Tapajós River (Brazilian Amazon). Here, these studies are reviewed with respect to exposure, effects and intervention.