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Initially, products based on glyphosate (GLY) were considered non-toxic or slightly toxic to bees. Still, recent research has shown that these products can cause mortality or trigger sublethal effects in these insects. Roundup Transorb R® (RT) is one of the GLY-based formulations sold in Brazil. It is used in several crops, and studies are required on its toxicity to honey bees. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate, under laboratory conditions, the lethal and sublethal effects of RT for adult workers (foragers) of Africanized A. mellifera. For this, two bioassays were carried out with Africanized honey bees. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of five treatments (T0 - control, T25 – 25 % GLY, T50 – 50 % GLY, T75 – 75 % GLY, and T100 GLY – 100 % recommended dose). The bioassays were carried out as follows: (1) Acute oral and topical exposure, evaluating mortality, effects on flight capacity, vertical displacement, and locomotion (in the latter only for oral contamination), consisting of five repetitions and 10 honey bees per repetition; (2) Chronic exposure via the oral route and spraying, assessing mortality, for both contamination routes and damage to the midgut epithelium thickness when contaminated via the oral route, composed of five replicates and 20 honey bees per replicate. The results showed that chronic oral exposure to RT can increase honeybee mortality and damage the thickness of their midgut epithelium. In addition, when acutely exposed orally, the honey bees had reduced walking ability. RT did not affect the other evaluated parameters. Thus, it is concluded that the RT-formulated GLY can affect the survival, midgut morphology, and behavior of A. mellifera.

This systematic review aims to synthesise the cognitive effects of different sports. The major novelty is represented by a nuanced distinction of sport modalities beyond the open–closed skills dichotomy and a focus on interventional research to address causality linking sport practice to transient and longer-lasting cognitive outcomes in acute and chronic sport intervention designs, respectively. Four research databases (Web of Science, PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and SportDiscus) were searched for studies reporting on acute and chronic interventions focused on sports and performed with participants between 6 and 25 years old. A total of 30 studies met our inclusion criteria. Overall, single bouts of sport-based activities and extended sports training interventions generate benefits in various cognitive outcome domains. Such benefits vary among cognitive outcomes and between acute and chronic designs, depending on the specific sport modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed literature were to examine the chronic effects of resistance training with blood flow restriction (RT-BFR) on hemodynamics, and to compare these adaptations to those induced by traditional resistance training (TRT) programs in adults (PROSPERO: Registry: CRD42022339510). A literature search was conducted across PubMed, Sports Discus, Scielo, and Web of Science databases. Two independent reviewers extracted study characteristics and blood pressure measures. Risk of bias (The Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials [RoB-2]), and the certainty of the evidence (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation [GRADE]) were used. A total of eight studies met the inclusion criteria for systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Regarding the comparison of RT-BFR vs. non-exercise, no significant differences favoring the exercise group were observed (p ​> ​0.05). However, when compared to TRT, RT-BFR elicited additional improvements on DBP (−3.35; 95%CI -6.00 to −0.71; I2 ​= ​14%; z ​= ​−2.48, p ​= ​0.01), and on MAP (−3.96; 95%CI -7.94 to 0.02; I2 ​= ​43%; z ​= ​−1.95, p ​= ​0.05). Results indicate that RT-BFR may elicit a decrease in DBP in comparison with TRT, but the lack of data addressing this topic makes any conclusion speculative. Future research on this topic is warranted.

The purposes of this systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed literature were to examine the chronic effects of resistance training with blood flow restriction (RT-BFR) on hemodynamics, and to compare these adaptations to those induced by traditional resistance training (TRT) programs in adults (PROSPERO: Registry: CRD42022339510). A literature search was conducted across PubMed, Sports Discus, Scielo, and Web of Science databases. Two independent reviewers extracted study characteristics and blood pressure measures. Risk of bias (The Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials [RoB-2]), and the certainty of the evidence (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation [GRADE]) were used. A total of eight studies met the inclusion criteria for systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Regarding the comparison of RT-BFR vs. non-exercise, no significant differences favoring the exercise group were observed (p > 0.05). However, when compared to TRT, RT-BFR elicited additional improvements on DBP (-3.35; 95%CI -6.00 to -0.71; I² = 14%; z = -2.48, p = 0.01), and on MAP (-3.96; 95%CI -7.94 to 0.02; I² = 43%; z =-1.95, p = 0.05). Results indicate that RT-BFR may elicit a decrease in DBP in comparison with TRT, but the lack of data addressing this topic makes any conclusion speculative. Future research on this topic is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the effects of a 6-month whole-body vibration (WBV) training on lower-body strength (LBS), lower-body power (LBP), and swimming performance in adolescent trained swimmers. Methods: Thirty-seven swimmers (23 males and 14 females; 14.8 [1.3] y) were randomly assigned to the WBV (n = 20) or the control group (n = 17). Isometric LBS (knee extension and half squat) and LBP (vertical and horizontal jumps and 30-m sprint) tests were performed before and after the intervention period. Swimming performance times in 100 m were collected from official competitions. As time × sex interaction was not found for any variable (P >.05), males and females were analyzed as a whole. Results: Within-group analyses showed a most likely beneficial moderate effect of WBV on isometric knee extension (effect size [ES] = 0.63), 30-m sprint test (ES = 0.62), and 100-m performance (ES = 0.25), although these were corresponded with comparable small to moderate effects in the control group (ES = 0.73, 0.71, and 0.20, respectively). The control group obtained a small possibly beneficial effect of swimming-only training on vertical jump performance, whereas no effect was observed in the WBV group. Unclear effects were observed for the rest of the variables assessed. Between-group analyses revealed unclear effects of WBV training when compared with the control condition in all studied variables. Conclusions: There is no current evidence to support the use of WBV training, and therefore, coaches and sports specialists should select other methods of training when the aim is to increase LBS, LBP, or swimming performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dhaka is among the top five metropolises with the most particulate pollution and polluted air alone, responsible for 17.6% of the risk of mortality and disability. As a result of recent global episodes of urban air pollution, policymakers and administration agencies are endeavoring to regulate urban land use and land cover change (LULC) and sustainably enhance air quality. This study aims to establish a relationship between alterations in PM2.5 concentration and LULC features. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department provided PM2.5 and meteorological data for 2012 and 2018, and RapidEye image data was used to classify land-use for 2012 and 2018. Between 2012 and 2018, waterbodies and vegetation fell by 2% and 5.3%, and construction and bare land increased by 4% and 3.4%, respectively. Reduced vegetation and waterbodies might result in an increase in barren land and built-up areas. Numerous industrial sites and the unlawful acquisition of canals may also contribute to the growth of barren land. In 2018, homogeneity of the landscape pattern is higher than 2011. The aggregation and contagion indices, landscape metrices, have inverse correlation of −0.01 and −0.158 respectively with PM2.5 concentrations. However, the landscape index has positive correlation of 0.06 with PM2.5 concentrations. On the other hand, the variability in PM2.5 concentrations is correlated with the altered characteristics of LULCs and related landscape indicators. According to the spatial correlation, PM2.5 levels have decreased as vegetation and waterbodies have increased, as the PM2.5 concentration is negatively correlated with vegetation and waterbodies by −0.212 and −0.028, respectively. Furthermore, meteorological indices are significantly correlated with PM2.5 concentration, which was used as an independent variable to estimate the annual average PM2.5 concentration levels for 2024 using an Artificial Neural Network, which range from 312 to 188 μg/m3. The government should take appropriate measures to curb polluting air emissions, ensuring a livable city in the future.

Understanding the response of the microbial community to external disturbances such as micropollutants is vital for ecological risk evaluation. In this study, the effect of chronic antibiotic exposure on community compositions and functions was investigated by two batch experiments. The first experiment investigated the effect of chronic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) exposure, while the second investigated the combined effect of dissolved organic matter (DOM) sources and multi-antibiotic exposure. The results showed that the community responses to chronic antibiotic exposure depended on the dynamic balance among community resistance, adaptation, recovery, and selection, leading to nonlinear composition diversity variations. The disturbance strength of chronic SMX exposure increased with concentration (0.5–50 μg/L). However, complex sources and structures of coexisting organic matter might delay the disturbance by elevating metabolic activity and generating functional redundancy. Especially, when nutrient was a limiting factor, the disturbance strength by DOM source was greater than that by chronic antibiotic exposure. The resistance of abundant taxa to external distributions resulted in a low explanation of community diversity, while rare taxa played key roles in response to community variation and thereby affected community assembly. Long-term SMX exposure reduced the number of key species and favored the deterministic assembly process by 21%. However, elevated community adaptability might weaken the influence of antibiotic selection. Chronic SMX exposure elevated the relative abundance of sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1, sul2) by a factor of 1.2–4.3, while that of nitrogen-fixing genes (nifH, nifK) and the metabolic pathways related to the toluene, ethylbenzene, and dioxin degradation decreased. However, the combined influence of DOM sources and multi-antibiotic exposure barely caused the difference in the genes linking to element metabolism and drug resistance of microbial communities between blank and exposed groups. This study suggested that more concern should be given to the chronic environmental effect of organic micropollutants.

Stretch training increases the range of motion of a joint. However, to date, the mechanisms behind such a stretching effect are not well understood. An earlier meta‐analysis on several studies reported no changes in the passive properties of a muscle (i.e., muscle stiffness) following long‐term stretch training with various types of stretching (static, dynamic, and proprioceptive neuromuscular stretching). However, in recent years, an increasing number of papers have reported the effects of long‐term static stretching on muscle stiffness. The purpose of the present study was to examine the long‐term (≥2 weeks) effect of static stretching training on muscle stiffness. PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO published before December 28, 2022, were searched and 10 papers met the inclusion criteria for meta‐analysis. By applying a mixed‐effect model, subgroup analyses, which included comparisons of sex (male vs. mixed sex) and type of muscle stiffness assessment (calculated from the muscle‐tendon junction vs. shear modulus), were performed. Furthermore, a meta‐regression was conducted to examine the effect of total stretching duration on muscle stiffness. The result of the meta‐analysis showed a moderate decrease in muscle stiffness after 3–12 weeks of static stretch training compared to a control condition (effect size = −0.749, p < 0.001, I2 = 56.245). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant differences between sex (p = 0.131) and type of muscle stiffness assessment (p = 0.813). Moreover, there was no significant relationship between total stretching duration and muscle stiffness (p = 0.881). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many documented sex differences in the clinical course, symptom expression profile, and treatment response of Parkinson’s disease, creating additional challenges for patient management. Although subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation is an established therapy for Parkinson’s disease, the effects of sex on treatment outcome are still unclear. The aim of this retrospective observational study, was to examine sex differences in motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms, and quality of life after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation. Outcome measures were evaluated at 1 and 12 months post-operation in 90 patients with Parkinson’s disease undergoing subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation aged 63.00 ± 8.01 years (55 men and 35 women). Outcomes of clinical evaluations were compared between sexes via a Student’s t-test and within sex via a paired-sample t-test, and generalized linear models were established to identify factors associated with treatment efficacy and intensity for each sex. We found that subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation could improve motor symptoms in men but not women in the on-medication condition at 1 and 12 months post-operation. Restless legs syndrome was alleviated to a greater extent in men than in women. Women demonstrated poorer quality of life at baseline and achieved less improvement of quality of life than men after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation. Furthermore, Hoehn-Yahr stage was positively correlated with the treatment response in men, while levodopa equivalent dose at 12 months post-operation was negatively correlated with motor improvement in women. In conclusion, women received less benefit from subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation than men in terms of motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms, and quality of life. We found sex-specific factors, i.e., Hoehn-Yahr stage and levodopa equivalent dose, that were related to motor improvements. These findings may help to guide subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation patient selection, prognosis, and stimulation programming for optimal therapeutic efficacy in Parkinson’s disease.

Initially, products based on glyphosate (GLY) were considered non-toxic or slightly toxic to bees. Still, recent research has shown that these products can cause mortality or trigger sublethal effects in these insects. Roundup Transorb R® (RT) is one of the GLY-based formulations sold in Brazil. It is used in several crops, and studies are required on its toxicity to honey bees. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate, under laboratory conditions, the lethal and sublethal effects of RT for adult workers (foragers) of Africanized A. mellifera. For this, two bioassays were carried out with Africanized honey bees. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of five treatments (T0 - control, T25 - 25 % GLY, T50 - 50 % GLY, T75 - 75 % GLY, and T100 GLY - 100 % recommended dose). The bioassays were carried out as follows: (1) Acute oral and topical exposure, evaluating mortality, effects on flight capacity, vertical displacement, and locomotion (in the latter only for oral contamination), consisting of five repetitions and 10 honey bees per repetition; (2) Chronic exposure via the oral route and spraying, assessing mortality, for both contamination routes and damage to the midgut epithelium thickness when contaminated via the oral route, composed of five replicates and 20 honey bees per replicate. The results showed that chronic oral exposure to RT can increase honeybee mortality and damage the thickness of their midgut epithelium. In addition, when acutely exposed orally, the honey bees had reduced walking ability. RT did not affect the other evaluated parameters. Thus, it is concluded that the RT-formulated GLY can affect the survival, midgut morphology, and behavior of A. mellifera., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Michele Potrich reports article publishing charges, equipment, drugs, or supplies, and writing assistance were provided by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brazil (CAPES). If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper, (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Diphenhydramine (DPH) is an antihistamine drug. It has been frequently detected in the environment, because it is not completely degraded in wastewater treatment plants. Recent studies have shown the adverse effects of DPH exposure to various aquatic organisms; however, its chronic effects on fish have been poorly elucidated. In this study, several pairs of mature Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) were exposed to DPH for a long period to determine the effects of DPH exposure on the subsequent generations, number of spawned and fertilized eggs, expression of sex-related genes, feeding behavior, embryo development, hatching rate, malformations among the hatched larvae, and mortality rate. The number of spawned eggs significantly decreased, when the parent fish were continuously exposed to 31.6 μg/L DPH for over 46 days. DPH exposure also altered the feeding behavior of medaka individuals, and increased the larval mortality rate. The effects of DPH exposure to fish may occur to some extent in the actual aquatic environment, although the risk evaluations in the field are limited. [Display omitted] • Effects of DPH on the subsequent generations of Japanese medaka were explored. • Continuous exposure to 31.6 μg/L DPH over 46 days reduced the spawned eggs of medaka. • Exposure of parent medaka to 161 μg/L DPH for 6 weeks increased larval mortality. • Feeding behaviors of medaka were reduced by exposure to 1,629 μg/L DPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 96-h EC 50 of ERY to C. pyrenoidosa was 11.78 mg/L. • 6 PDPs of ERY were identified, 3 of them were predicted more toxic. • The toxicity of PDPs was performed by model prediction and biological experiment. • Inhibitory effect of PDPs on microalgae growth decreased with degradation time. • Acute effect of PDPs revealed as growth stimulation, but the chronic effect reversed. The photodegradation products (PDPs) of antibiotics in the aquatic environment received increasing concern, but their chronic effects on microalgae remain unclear. This study initially focused on examining the acute effects of erythromycin (ERY), then explored the chronic impacts of ERY PDPs on Chlorella pyrenoidosa. ERY of 4.0 − 32 mg/L ERY notably inhibited the cell growth and chlorophyll synthesis. The determined 96 h median effective concentration of ERY to C. pyrenoidosa was 11.78 mg/L. Higher concentrations of ERY induced more serious oxidative damage, antioxidant enzymes alleviated the oxidative stress. 6 PDPs (PDP749, PDP747, PDP719, PDP715, PDP701 and PDP557) were identified in the photodegradation process of ERY. The predicted combined toxicity of PDPs increased in the first 3 h, then decreased. Chronic exposure showed a gradual decreasing inhibition on microalgae growth and chlorophyll content. The acute effect of ERY PDPs manifested as growth stimulation, but the chronic effect manifested as growth inhibition. The malonaldehyde contents decreased with the degradation time of ERY at 7, 14 and 21 d. However, the malonaldehyde contents of ERY PDPs treatments were elevated compared to those in the control group after 21 d. Risk assessment still need to consider the potential toxicity of degradation products under long-term exposure. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We conducted inhalation and intratracheal instillation studies in order to examine the effects of tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanoparticles on the lung, and evaluated whether or not the nanoparticles would cause persistent lung inflammation. Methods: In the inhalation study, male 10‐week‐old Fischer 334 rats were classified into 3 groups. The control, low‐dose, and high‐dose groups inhaled clean air, 2, and 10 mg/m3 WO3 nanoparticles, respectively, for 6 h each day for 4 weeks. The rats were dissected at 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months after the inhalation, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were examined. In the intratracheal instillation study, male 12‐week‐old Fischer 334 rats were divided into 3 subgroups. The control, low‐dose, and high‐dose groups were intratracheally instilled 0.4 ml distilled water, 0.2, and 1.0 mg WO3 nanoparticles, respectively, dissolved in 0.4 ml distilled water. The rats were sacrificed at 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month after the intratracheal instillation, and the BALF and lung tissue were analyzed as in the inhalation study. Results: The inhalation and instillation of WO3 nanoparticles caused transient increases in the number and rate of neutrophils, cytokine‐induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)‐1, and CINC‐2 in BALF, but no histopathological changes or upregulation of heme oxygenase (HO)‐1 in the lung tissue. Conclusion: Our results suggest that WO3 nanoparticles have low toxicity to the lung. According to the results of the inhalation study, we also propose that the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of WO3 nanoparticles is 2 mg/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, soil contamination with microplastics has emerged as a serious global environmental concern that has necessitated more research on their potential impacts on soil biota. We investigated the acute and chronic toxicity of 2 different polystyrene microplastics, pure versus commercial (0–0.5% w/w in soil; sized 65–125 µm) on earthworm mortality, reproduction, and genotoxicity. Whereas the microplastics showed no acute toxicity in terms of mortality, reproduction was adversely affected in both parents (F0) and first filial generation (F1) of earthworms, with >50% reduction in juvenile production at 0.5% microplastics concentration in soil. Also, significant genotoxicity in terms of DNA damage was observed in the F0 and F1 earthworms. Chemical analysis of microplastic‐exposed soils showed the presence of several benzene derivatives that are associated with polystyrene particles. Our study, for the first time to our knowledge, demonstrated the long‐term adverse effects on earthworms of polystyrene microplastics even at environmentally relevant concentrations. The results have significant implications for risk assessment of polystyrene microplastics to soil biota. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2240–2246. © 2021 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of acute and chronic nicotine consumption on measures of intracortical inhibition and facilitation. This study involved 50 chronic heavy cigarette smokers and 40 healthy subjects matched for age, sex and educational level, with no history of chronic nicotine intake. Intracortical inhibition and facilitation were assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures of motor threshold (MT), short- and long-interval intra-cortical inhibition (SICI, LICI), cortical silent period (CSP) and intra-cortical facilitation (ICF). Basal serum levels of cotinine were measured in the healthy group and at ½ and 2 h after smoking a single cigarette in the chronic smokers. There was enhanced SICI and reduced ICF in smokers (independent of time after smoking) compared with non-smokers. The former suggests a chronic effect of increased nicotine levels on GABA-A neurotransmission whereas the latter suggests an additional effect on glutamatergic transmission. There were no significant differences between smokers and non-smokers in other TMS parameters. There was a significant negative correlation between cotinine levels at ½ h after smoking and SICI at 3 ms ISI (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in any of the neurophysiological measures between smokers at ½ h versus 2 h after smoking a single cigarette. Chronic nicotine consumption enhances SICI, and reduces ICF, supporting the hypothesis that nicotine acts as a neuromodulator of GABA-A and glutamate neurotransmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betel quid (BQ) is the fourth most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world. However, comprehensive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies exploring the neurophysiological mechanism of BQ addiction are lacking. Betel-quid-dependent (BQD) individuals (n = 24) and age-matched healthy controls (HC) (n = 26) underwent fMRI before and after chewing BQ. Multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) was used to explore the acute effects of BQ-chewing in both groups. A cross-sectional comparison was conducted to explore the chronic effects of BQ-chewing. Regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between altered circuits of BQD individuals and the severity of BQ addiction. MVPA achieved classification accuracies of up to 90% in both groups for acute BQ-chewing. Suppression of the default-mode network was the most prominent feature. BQD showed more extensive and intensive within- and between-network dysconnectivity of the default, frontal-parietal, and occipital regions associated with high-order brain functions such as self-awareness, inhibitory control, and decision-making. In contrast, the chronic effects of BQ on the brain function were mild, but impaired circuits were predominately located in the default and frontal-parietal networks which might be associated with compulsive drug use. Simultaneously quantifying the effects of both chronic and acute BQ exposure provides a possible neuroimaging-based BQ addiction foci. Results from this study may help us understand the neural mechanisms involved in BQ-chewing and BQ dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a cotton defoliator, tribufos (S , S , S -tributyl phosphorotrithioate) is widespread in the environment. It can cause neurotoxicity in chickens, reproductive toxicity in rats, and can also cause headaches and nausea in humans. However, little is known about its impact on the reproduction of birds. Here, by analyzing the differences in reproductive indexs and histopathological characteristics, we investigated the chronic effects of 32 mg a.i./kg, 160 mg a.i./kg and 800 mg a.i./kg tribufos treatment on the reproductive ability of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). The results indicated that 32 mg a.i./kg and 160 mg a.i./kg tribufos treatment significantly reduced the food intake of quails, significantly increased the broken egg rate, and had adverse effects on gonads and liver tissue. The 160 mg a.i./kg tribufos treatment also significantly reduced the average egg production. Moreover, 800 mg a.i./kg treatment had significant negative effects on feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), eggshell thickness, egg production (EP), fertilization rate, hatchability and progeny 14-d survival rate, and it also significantly increased the broken egg rate. In addition, tribufos exposure caused lesions in quail gonads and liver tissue. Overall, our results revealed that tribufos had adverse effects on the reproductive ability of Japanese quail, especially at high concentrations. [Display omitted] • Tribufos had significant negative effect on the reproductive ability of Japanese quails. • Tribufos causes lesions in quail gonads and liver tissue. • The effect of tribufos on reproductive ability of quail is dose-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Limited cohort studies have evaluated chronic effects of high fine particulate matter (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm [PM2.5]) exposure on lung cancer.Objectives: To investigate the response pattern of lung cancer associated with high PM2.5 exposure.Methods: A Chinese cohort of 118,551 participants was followed up from 1992 to 2015. By incorporating PM2.5 exposure at 1 km spatial resolution generated using the satellite-based model during 2000-2015, we estimated the association between lung cancer and time-weighted average PM2.5 concentration using Cox proportional hazard models.Measurements and Main Results: A total of 844 incident lung cancer cases were identified during 915,053 person-years of follow-up. Among them, 701 lung cancer deaths occurred later. The exposure-response curves for lung cancer associated with PM2.5 exposure were nonlinear, with steeper slopes at the higher concentrations. Adjusted for age, sex, geographical region, urbanization, education level, smoking status, alcohol consumption, work-related physical activity, and body mass index, participants exposed to the second-fifth quintiles of PM2.5 had higher risk for lung cancer incidence than those exposed to the first quintile, with hazard ratios of 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1.88), 1.49 (95% CI, 1.12-1.99), 2.08 (95% CI, 1.42-3.04), and 2.45 (95% CI, 1.83-3.29), respectively. The corresponding hazard ratios for lung cancer mortality were 1.83 (95% CI, 1.33-2.50), 1.80 (95% CI, 1.29-2.53), 2.50 (95% CI, 1.62-3.86), and 2.95 (95% CI, 2.09-4.17), respectively.Conclusions: We provide strong evidence that high PM2.5 exposure leads to an elevated risk of lung cancer incidence and mortality, highlighting that remarkable public health benefits could be obtained from the improvement of air quality in highly polluted regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Silver nanoparticles are now widely used in various industries and consumer products, especially because of their antimicrobial properties. The widespread use of these nanoparticles has increased the likelihood of their release to aquatic ecosystems and their effects on aquatic organisms. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the histopathological effects of waterborne silver nanoparticles on the gills of Caspian brown trout. METHODS: In this study, 84 fish (27.46±4.3 g) were tested in four concentrations of silver nanoparticles (0, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03 mg/L) for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, gill tissue was evaluated to determine the effects of tissue damage caused by silver nanoparticles. RESULTS: Observed tissue damage included hyperplasia, hypertrophy, curvature of secondary lamellae, shortening of second lamellae, separation of epithelium from lamellae and aneurism. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that colloid silver nanoparticles in water could lead to tissue damage in the gills of Caspian brown trout, and long-term exposure to the sublethal concentrations of these nanoparticles can cause fish death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological studies have revealed associations between the fine particle (PM2.5; aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm) exposure and cardiovascular disease. Researchers have also recently begun investigating the association between PM2.5 exposure and hemorrhagic stroke (HS) and identifying subpopulations vulnerable to PM2.5 exposure. Long-term cumulative average PM2.5 exposure may affect the risk of HS, and these effects may be modified by risk factors.Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the effects of PM2.5 on the time-to-first-diagnosis of HS among 62,676 Seoul metropolitan city residents with 670,431 total person-years of follow-up; this cohort is a subset from a nationally representative cohort of 1,025,340 individuals from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database (2002-2013). A time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model was used to adjust for age, sex, household income, insurance type, body mass index, smoking status, medical history, and family history. The annual mean PM2.5 concentrations for 25 districts were used as the time-dependent variable. Subgroup analyses of the traditional risk factors of HS were performed to evaluate potential effect modifications.Results: Each 10-μg/m increment in cumulative average PM2.5 exposure was noticeably associated with HS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.88). The adverse effects of PM2.5 exposure were modified by ≥65 years of age (HR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.32, 3.02) and obesity (body mass index ≥25 kg/m; HR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.28, 2.84).Conclusions: Cumulative average PM2.5 exposure might increase the risk of HS. Elderly (≥65 years) and obese individuals may be more vulnerable to the effects of PM2.5 exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the acute effects of thiacloprid and spiromesifen, and effects of its on some biological stages of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were investigated. For this aim, field application dose (T) of thiacloprid, field application dose (T) and half of field application dose (T/2) of spiromesifen were used in acute effect studies. When acute effects were investigated on A. swirskii larvae, two methods were used, direct application and dry residue. The direct application method was used when examining the effects on the biological stages and eggs, and the individuals who were treated (0-24 hours old) were checked daily to determine development periods, fecundity and longevity of predatory mite. In the acute effect studies, the mean effect was 38.47% and 57.82% for thiacloprid (T) dose in direct application and dry residue, respectively, and 86.42% and 94.44% for spiromesifen T dose, 10.23% and 70.48% for spiromesifen (T/2) dose. All of the A. swirskii eggs applied with thiacloprid (T), spiromesifen (T and (T/2) and pure water (control) were hatched after 72 hours. The mean life span of A. swirskii females that applied thiacloprid (T) was 26.22 days while that of male was 30.00 days. The mean adult lifespan was 25.90 days in female that applied spiromesifen (T/2) doses and 28.50 days in male. In A. swirskii individuals treated with pure water (control group), female life was estimated to be 26.59 days while male individuals life was determined as 30.00 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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[Display omitted] • Urbanization and deforestation influenced LULC change from 2012 to 2018. • The fragmentation of land use shows that the central section of the city has more homogeneity than the periphery areas. • Dhaka's airborne particle matter (PM) is 247 μg/m3, five times the NAAQS threshold of 50 μg/m3. • The northern side of the Dhaka city will be very sensitive to PM2.5 levels of 312 to 188 μg/m3 in 2024, according to CA-ANN algorithms. • Dhaka's air quality has been decreasing, peaking at 47.6 μg/m3 in 1998 and rising to 305 μg/m3 in 2018. Dhaka is among the top five metropolises with the most particulate pollution and polluted air alone, responsible for 17.6% of the risk of mortality and disability. As a result of recent global episodes of urban air pollution, policymakers and administration agencies are endeavoring to regulate urban land use and land cover change (LULC) and sustainably enhance air quality. This study aims to establish a relationship between alterations in PM2.5 concentration and LULC features. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department provided PM2.5 and meteorological data for 2012 and 2018, and RapidEye image data was used to classify land-use for 2012 and 2018. Between 2012 and 2018, waterbodies and vegetation fell by 2% and 5.3%, and construction and bare land increased by 4% and 3.4%, respectively. Reduced vegetation and waterbodies might result in an increase in barren land and built-up areas. Numerous industrial sites and the unlawful acquisition of canals may also contribute to the growth of barren land. In 2018, homogeneity of the landscape pattern is higher than 2011. The aggregation and contagion indices, landscape metrices, have inverse correlation of −0.01 and −0.158 respectively with PM2.5 concentrations. However, the landscape index has positive correlation of 0.06 with PM2.5 concentrations. On the other hand, the variability in PM2.5 concentrations is correlated with the altered characteristics of LULCs and related landscape indicators. According to the spatial correlation, PM2.5 levels have decreased as vegetation and waterbodies have increased, as the PM2.5 concentration is negatively correlated with vegetation and waterbodies by −0.212 and −0.028, respectively. Furthermore, meteorological indices are significantly correlated with PM2.5 concentration, which was used as an independent variable to estimate the annual average PM2.5 concentration levels for 2024 using an Artificial Neural Network, which range from 312 to 188 μg/m3. The government should take appropriate measures to curb polluting air emissions, ensuring a livable city in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chronic SMX exposure elevated the relative abundance of sul 1 and sul 2 genes. • Long-term SMX exposure favored the deterministic assembly process by 21%. • Chronic SMX exposure might inhibit microbial nitrogen-fixing function. • DOM obscured the influence of chronic antibiotic exposure on microbial community. Understanding the response of the microbial community to external disturbances such as micropollutants is vital for ecological risk evaluation. In this study, the effect of chronic antibiotic exposure on community compositions and functions was investigated by two batch experiments. The first experiment investigated the effect of chronic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) exposure, while the second investigated the combined effect of dissolved organic matter (DOM) sources and multi-antibiotic exposure. The results showed that the community responses to chronic antibiotic exposure depended on the dynamic balance among community resistance, adaptation, recovery, and selection, leading to nonlinear composition diversity variations. The disturbance strength of chronic SMX exposure increased with concentration (0.5–50 μg/L). However, complex sources and structures of coexisting organic matter might delay the disturbance by elevating metabolic activity and generating functional redundancy. Especially, when nutrient was a limiting factor, the disturbance strength by DOM source was greater than that by chronic antibiotic exposure. The resistance of abundant taxa to external distributions resulted in a low explanation of community diversity, while rare taxa played key roles in response to community variation and thereby affected community assembly. Long-term SMX exposure reduced the number of key species and favored the deterministic assembly process by 21%. However, elevated community adaptability might weaken the influence of antibiotic selection. Chronic SMX exposure elevated the relative abundance of sulfonamide resistance genes (sul 1, sul 2) by a factor of 1.2–4.3, while that of nitrogen-fixing genes (nif H, nif K) and the metabolic pathways related to the toluene, ethylbenzene, and dioxin degradation decreased. However, the combined influence of DOM sources and multi-antibiotic exposure barely caused the difference in the genes linking to element metabolism and drug resistance of microbial communities between blank and exposed groups. This study suggested that more concern should be given to the chronic environmental effect of organic micropollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately, 13.5% of the population suffers from chronic itch. Many cosmetic and pharmaceutical treatments for itch are available; however, cosmetic treatments are not reliably effective and most pharmaceutical formulations carry the risk of adverse events with chronic use. Aims: Previously, we have reported a novel extraction process of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, that is, Baker's yeast. The extract obtained from the novel process demonstrates superior anti‐itch properties compared to other yeast extracts. In our previous study, we demonstrated that, after 30 minutes, the extract significantly reduced itch when compared to a placebo lotion (P =.002). Methods: In the present study we conducted a head‐to‐head comparison with the leading cosmetic itch product: lotion containing colloidal oatmeal (CO). A randomized double‐blinded study of 60 patients was conducted. Results: In our study, the novel yeast extract was vastly superior to the CO containing lotion (Aveeno™ Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream). We saw statistically significant difference in the reduction of itch (P =.0001) using the novel yeast extract vs the CO lotion. Additionally, the yeast extract was shown to relieve itch in as little as one minute after application. Conclusion: The novel yeast extract rapidly relieves itch and is superior to the cosmetic market leader, CO lotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acute and chronic effects of static stretching (SS) on joint range of motion (ROM) and stiffness of muscle-tendon unit (MTU) and/or muscle was reviewed. Previous studies have provided evidence that SS is effective in increasing ROM, both immediately and chronically. Moreover, 75 seconds (75s) SS is sufficient for eliciting an immediate, acute effect. In contrast, the recent trend is to evaluate the effect of stretching not by measuring ROM, but by measuring stiffness in order to eliminate the effect of psychological factors. However, the findings of studies measuring stiffness are conflicting, with some results indicating a decrease in stiffness and others indicating no change in stiffness despite changes in joint ROM. Our study results support that stiffness decrease with SS, and that >2 min of SS is effective in eliciting the effect. The retention time taken to achieve the effect of SS is also under discussion, and the retention time may differ for ROM and muscle stiffness. Concerning the chronic effect of SS, many studies have indicated that a routine SS program decreases passive torque or MTU and muscle stiffness. However, the underlying mechanism for this decrease remains to be clarified.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnOs) released from popular sunscreens used during marine recreation apparently endanger corals; however, the known biological effects are very limited. Membrane lipids constitute the basic structural element to create cell a dynamic structure according to the circumstance. Nano-specific effects have been shown to mechanically perturb the physical state of the lipid membrane, and the cells accommodating the actions of nZnOs can be involved in the alteration of the membrane lipid composition. To gain insight into the effects of nanoparticles on coral, glycerophosphocholine (GPC) profiling of the coral Seriatopora caliendrum exposed to nZnOs was performed in this study. Increasing lyso-GPCs, docosapentaenoic acid-possessing GPCs and docosahexaenoic acid-possessing GPCs and decreasing arachidonic acid-possessing GPCs were the predominant changes responded to nZnO exposure in the coral. A backfilling of polyunsaturated plasmanylcholines was observed in the coral exposed to nZnO levels over a threshold. These changes can be logically interpreted as an accommodation to nZnOs-induced mechanical disturbances in the cellular membrane based on the biophysical properties of the lipids. Moreover, the coral demonstrated a difference in the changes in lipid profiles between intra-colonial functionally differentiated polyps, indicating an initial membrane composition-dependent response. Based on the physicochemical properties and physiological functions of these changed lipids, some chronic biological effects can be incubated once the coral receives long-term exposure to nZnOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals pose a potential danger to human health when present in textile materials. In the present study, inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) was used to determine the concentrations and the identity of extractable inorganic elements from different brands of women undergarments. A total of 120 samples consisting of 63 cottons, 44 nylons and 13 polyesters manufactured in 14 different countries having different colors were analyzed for their extractable metals contents. Elements analyzed were Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Ti, V and Zn. Cotton undergarments were rich in Al, Fe and Zn, nylon undergarments had high levels of Cr, Cu and Al, while polyester fabrics contained higher levels of Ni and Fe compared to cotton or nylon. With respect to manufacturing countries, China, Egypt and India showed the highest concentrations of metals in all fabrics. With respect to the color, black garments were characteristic by high concentration of Fe, blue colors with Cu, brown garments with Fe and Cu, green garments with Cu and Fe, pink garments with Al, purple garments with Al and Cu and red garments with Cr, Zn and Al. The consumer should be made aware of the potential dangers of these metals in their clothing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There are many documented sex differences in the clinical course, symptom expression profile, and treatment response of Parkinson's disease, creating additional challenges for patient management. Although subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation is an established therapy for Parkinson's disease, the effects of sex on treatment outcome are still unclear. The aim of this retrospective observational study, was to examine sex differences in motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms, and quality of life after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation. Outcome measures were evaluated at 1 and 12 months post-operation in 90 patients with Parkinson's disease undergoing subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation aged 63.00 ± 8.01 years (55 men and 35 women). Outcomes of clinical evaluations were compared between sexes via a Student's t-test and within sex via a paired-sample t-test, and generalized linear models were established to identify factors associated with treatment efficacy and intensity for each sex. We found that subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation could improve motor symptoms in men but not women in the on-medication condition at 1 and 12 months post-operation. Restless legs syndrome was alleviated to a greater extent in men than in women. Women demonstrated poorer quality of life at baseline and achieved less improvement of quality of life than men after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation. Furthermore, Hoehn-Yahr stage was positively correlated with the treatment response in men, while levodopa equivalent dose at 12 months post-operation was negatively correlated with motor improvement in women. In conclusion, women received less benefit from subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation than men in terms of motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms, and quality of life. We found sex-specific factors, i.e., Hoehn-Yahr stage and levodopa equivalent dose, that were related to motor improvements. These findings may help to guide subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation patient selection, prognosis, and stimulation programming for optimal therapeutic efficacy in Parkinson's disease., Competing Interests: None

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the long-term effect of 1976 Tangshan earthquake exposure in early life on performance of working memory in adulthood. Methods: A total of 907 study subjects born and raised in Tangshan were enrolled in this study. They were divided into three groups according to the dates of birth: infant exposure (3-12 months, n=274), prenatal exposure (n=269), and no exposure (born at least 1 year after the earthquake, n=364). The prenatal group was further divided into first, second, and third trimester subgroups based on the timing of exposure during pregnancy. Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) were used to measure the performance of working memory. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influential factors for impaired working memory. Results: The Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised scores did not show significant difference across the three groups. Compared with no exposure group, the BVMT-R scores were slightly lower in the prenatal exposure group and markedly decreased in the infant exposure group. When the BVMT-R scores were analyzed in three subgroups, the results showed that the subjects whose mothers were exposed to earthquake in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy had significantly lower BVMT-R scores compared with those in the first trimester. Education level and early-life earthquake exposure were identified as independent risk factors for reduced performance of visuospatial memory indicated by lower BVMT-R scores. Conclusion: Infant exposure to earthquake-related stress impairs visuospatial memory in adulthood. Fetuses in the middle and late stages of development are more vulnerable to stress-induced damage that consequently results in impaired visuospatial memory. Education and early-life trauma can also influence the performance of working memory in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic effects of the ionic liquid [C 4 mim][Cl] (mp 73 °C) towards the microalga, Scenedesmus quadricauda were studied by flow cytometry, monitoring multiple endpoints of cell density, esterase activity, membrane integrity, reactive oxygen species and chlorophyll fluorescence. Toxicity was clearly in evidence, and although increased esterase activity indicated hormesis during initial exposure to [C 4 mim][Cl], inhibition of both esterase activity and chlorophyll fluorescence became apparent after 3 days. Cell density was also decreased by culturing with [C 4 mim][Cl], but this effect was clearly concentration-dependent and only became significant during the second half of the experiment. In contrast, [C 4 mim][Cl] had only a modest effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caused little damage to cell membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining, as well as other anthropogenic changes can have big environmental impacts by changing the pristine characteristics of different biomes. Know and understand their potential effects assists in proposing actions to control and protection of environmental resources, especially of aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ecotoxicological effect caused by the environmental impacts of mining in the river watershed Monkeys, under water and sediment, added to the physical-chemical studies conventional and quantification of metals in different seasons evaluated in two collections. The basin had severe degradation of evidence. Conventional parameters are not substantially altered, and no acute ecotoxicity in water. However the pellet is already at a high concentration of various metals, as well as chronic ecotoxicological effects. The occurrence of these chronic events, even in the face of normal physical-chemical results, shows the importance of these studies both in the water and sediment. The differences in the results of the two campaigns showed that the seasonally influenced the availability of organic matter in the sediment and / or adduced by leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although pharmaceutical metabolites are found in the aquatic environment, their toxicity on living organisms is poorly studied in general. Endoxifen and 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (4OHTam) are two metabolites of the widely used anticancer drug tamoxifen for the prevention and treatment of breast cancers. Both metabolites have a high pharmacological potency in vertebrates, attributing prodrug characteristics to tamoxifen. Tamoxifen and its metabolites are body-excreted by patients, and the parent compound is found in sewage treatment plan effluents and natural waters. The toxicity of these potent metabolites on non-target aquatic species is unknown, which forces environmental risk assessors to predict their toxicity on aquatic species using knowledge on the parent compounds. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity of two generations of the freshwater microcrustacean Daphnia pulex towards 4OHTam and endoxifen. Two chronic tests of 4OHTam and endoxifen were run in parallel and several endpoints were assessed. The results show that the metabolites 4OHTam and endoxifen induced reproductive and survival effects. For both metabolites, the sensitivity of D. pulex increased in the second generation. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) decreased with increasing 4OHTam and endoxifen concentrations. The No-Observed Effect Concentrations (NOECs) calculated for the reproduction of the second generation exposed to 4OHTam and endoxifen were < 1.8 and 4.3 μg/L, respectively, whereas the NOECs that were calculated for the intrinsic rate of natural increase were < 1.8 and 0.4 μg/L, respectively. Our study raises questions about prodrug and active metabolites in environmental toxicology assessments of pharmaceuticals. Our findings also emphasize the importance of performing long-term experiments and considering multi-endpoints instead of the standard reproduction outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of ecotoxicological techniques for the evaluation of the quality of limnetic waters allows the early detection of toxic agents that pose risks to human health. In this study Moina micrura (two clones), Daphnia laevis (two clones) and Daphnia similis , a temperate species, were used to evaluate the toxicity of six Microcystis extracts from two Colombian reservoirs. Toxin was detected and quantified by HPLC. Microcystin-LR was found in all extracts with the highest concentrations in one sample from each reservoir (434 μg g −1 and 538 μg g −1 ). The extracts that had the highest toxin concentration also had the highest toxicities to cladocerans. Measurement of 48-h LC 50 showed consistent differences between cladoceran species but not clones, Also, reproduction data in two species were consistent with the MC-LR content of one sample tested, with decreased reproduction and disruption of egg production. However, only some growth results of neonates exposed to extracts were consistent with the acute response. In conclusion, Daphnia species are a good model for monitoring cyanotoxins as they respond in a sensitive way to natural phytoplankton samples containing microcystin-LR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexibility training is a fundamental biological process that improves the quality of life of the elderly by improving the ranges of motion of joints, postural balance and locomotion, and thus reducing the risk of falling. Two different training programs were assessed acutely and after 12 weeks by means of the sit-and-reach test. Thirty-one healthy older adults were randomly divided into three groups: the Experiment I group (Exp) performed strength and static stretching exercises; the Experiment II group performed dynamic and static stretching exercises; and participants assigned to the control group maintained a sedentary lifestyle for the entire period of the study. Flexibility acutely increased in Exp I by the first (ΔT0 = 7.63 ± 1.26%; ES = 0.36; p = 0.002) and second testing sessions (ΔT1 = 3.74 ± 0.91%; ES = 0.20; p = 0.002). Similarly, it increased in Exp II significantly by the first (ΔT0 = 14.21 ± 3.42%; ES = 0.20; p = 0.011) and second testing sessions (ΔT1 = 9.63 ± 4.29%; ES = 0.13; p = 0.005). Flexibility significantly increased over the 12 weeks of training in Exp I (ΔT0 - T1 = 9.03 ± 3.14%; ES = 0.41; p = 0.020) and Exp II (ΔT0 - T1 = 22.96 ± 9.87%; ES = 0.35; p = 0.005). The acute and chronic differences between the two groups were not significant ( p > 0.05). These results suggest the effectiveness of different exercise typologies in improving the flexibility of the posterior muscular chains in older adults. Therefore, the selection of a program to optimize training interventions could be based on the physical characteristics of the participants.

There are no national water-quality guidelines for strontium for the protection of freshwater aquatic life in North America or elsewhere. Available data on the acute and chronic toxicity of strontium to freshwater aquatic life were compiled and reviewed. Acute toxicity was reported to occur at concentrations ranging from 75 mg/L to 15 000 mg/L. The majority of chronic effects occurred at concentrations above 11 mg/L; however, calculation of a representative benchmark was confounded by results from 4 studies indicating that chronic effects occurred at lower concentrations than all other studies, in 2 cases below background concentrations reported for US and European streams. Two of these studies, including 1 reporting effects below background concentrations, were repeated and found not to be reproducible; chronic effects occurred at considerably higher strontium concentrations than in the original studies. Studies with narrow-mouthed toad and goldfish were not repeated; both studies reported chronic effects below background concentrations, and both studies had been conducted by the authors of 1 of the 2 studies that were repeated and shown to be nonreproducible. Studies by these authors (3 of the 4 confounding studies), conducted over 30 yr ago, lacked detail in reporting of methods and results. It is thus likely that repeating the toad and goldfish studies would also have resulted in a higher strontium effects concentration. A strontium chronic effects benchmark of 10.7 mg/L that incorporates the results of additional testing summarized in the present study is proposed for freshwater environments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2472-2478. © 2014 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this review was to identify the chronic effects of high-intensity intermittent exercises. There are three levels of adjustments due to training involving this type of exercise: functional, metabolic and morphological adjustments. Considering functional adjustments, it is possible to find a satisfactory amount of information, which may be applied to the practical field. On the other hand, there is a lack of information regarding the metabolic adjustments, particularly about the effects of exercise's duration, intensity, and rest interval. Only one study investigated the morphological adjustments caused by high-intensity intermittent exercises with most of them looking at changes in skeletal muscle phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of the study was: (1) to investigate changes in mood and chosen personality traits in women participating in a 12-week exercise program; (2) to establish relationships between mood and personality traits; (3) to find personality factors predicting mood changes. Basic procedures. Subjects included 39 healthy female volunteers, aged 18-43, participating in a 12-week aerobic exercise program. The aerobics classes lasted 50 min each, including warm-up and cool-down, three times a week. Assessments of mood (UMACL by Matthews, Chamberlain & Jones), trait anxiety (STAI by Spielberger et al.), self-efficacy (GSES by Schwarzer, Jerusalem & Juczyński) and dispositional optimism (LOT-R by Scheier, Carver & Bridges) were obtained in the first and last weeks of the program. Main findings. The obtained results showed that (1) subjects' mood improved following the 12-week aerobic exercise program - tense arousal decreased, whereas hedonic tone and energetic arousal increased; (2) personality traits changed toward better personal adjustment: trait anxiety decreased, self-efficacy and optimism increased; (3) there were no significant relationships between changes in positive mood dimensions (hedonic tone and energetic arousal) and the negative one (tense arousal); (4) there were no correlations between mood changes and personality changes, but mood correlated with trait anxiety, self-efficacy and optimism in both measurements. Conclusions. Mood of healthy adult women improves significantly following a three-month aerobic exercise program, irrespective of positive changes in personality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to determine whether the cellular components of Hairless-rat skin are affected by a chronic local exposure to non-ionizing radiations of Global Mobile Phone System: GSM-900 or -1800 radiations at specific absorption rate (SAR) 2.5 and 5 W/kg.Materials and methods: A selected part of the right back of five-week old female hairless rats was exposed or sham exposed (n = 8) for 2 h per day, 5 days a week, for 12 weeks to GSM-900 or -1800 signals using a loop-antenna. At the end of the experiment, skin biopsies were taken.Results: Analyses of skin sections using hematoxylin eosin saffron (HES) coloration showed no significant difference in skin thickness among the groups. Immunohistochemical analysis of basal lamella cells in radiofrequency radiation (RFR)-exposed epidermis showed that the ratio of the antigen Ki-67 (cellular proliferation marker) positive cells to total lamella cells remained within the range of the normal proliferation ratio. No significant differences in the level of filaggrin, collagen, and elastin were observed among the different groups.Conclusions: The results of this 12-week chronic study do not demonstrate major histological variations in the skin of hairless rats exposed to RFR used in mobile telephony (GSM-900 or -1800). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of normal human skin results in several clinical effects, including sunburn inflammation (erythema) and tanning, histological changes such as thickening of the epidermis, and local or systemic immunosuppression. Chronic UV irradiation leads to photoaging, sustained immunosuppression and photocarcinogenesis. Photocarcinogenesis involves the accumulation of genetic changes, as well as immune system modulation, and ultimately leads to the development of skin cancers. Recent advances in molecular and cellular biology have clarified the mechanisms of photocarcinogenesis, including the formation of DNA photoproducts, DNA repair, the mutation of proto-oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, and UV-induced immunosuppression. Further investigation and a better understanding of photocarcinogenesis are critical to the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies for human skin cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rationale: Limited cohort studies have evaluated chronic effects of high fine particulate matter (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm [PM 2.5 ]) exposure on lung cancer. Objectives: To investigate the response pattern of lung cancer associated with high PM 2.5 exposure. Methods: A Chinese cohort of 118,551 participants was followed up from 1992 to 2015. By incorporating PM 2.5 exposure at 1 km spatial resolution generated using the satellite-based model during 2000-2015, we estimated the association between lung cancer and time-weighted average PM 2.5 concentration using Cox proportional hazard models. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 844 incident lung cancer cases were identified during 915,053 person-years of follow-up. Among them, 701 lung cancer deaths occurred later. The exposure-response curves for lung cancer associated with PM 2.5 exposure were nonlinear, with steeper slopes at the higher concentrations. Adjusted for age, sex, geographical region, urbanization, education level, smoking status, alcohol consumption, work-related physical activity, and body mass index, participants exposed to the second-fifth quintiles of PM 2.5 had higher risk for lung cancer incidence than those exposed to the first quintile, with hazard ratios of 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1.88), 1.49 (95% CI, 1.12-1.99), 2.08 (95% CI, 1.42-3.04), and 2.45 (95% CI, 1.83-3.29), respectively. The corresponding hazard ratios for lung cancer mortality were 1.83 (95% CI, 1.33-2.50), 1.80 (95% CI, 1.29-2.53), 2.50 (95% CI, 1.62-3.86), and 2.95 (95% CI, 2.09-4.17), respectively. Conclusions: We provide strong evidence that high PM 2.5 exposure leads to an elevated risk of lung cancer incidence and mortality, highlighting that remarkable public health benefits could be obtained from the improvement of air quality in highly polluted regions.