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Cureus Apr 2024Pneumoconiosis is a form of interstitial lung disease (ILD) that commonly occurs secondary to occupational or environmental exposures. This is an emerging disease as...
Pneumoconiosis is a form of interstitial lung disease (ILD) that commonly occurs secondary to occupational or environmental exposures. This is an emerging disease as there are many potential forms of pathologic insults. Further adding to the complication is that clinical symptomatology secondary to pneumoconiosis can have long latent periods, as repetitive exposure over years leads to long-standing inflammation and subsequent irreversible damage. Exposure to asbestos, coal, silica, aluminum, talc, hay, and many more agents has the potential to cause pneumoconiosis. This case highlights a veteran, who made his career working with heavy metals such as chromium, beryllium, and titanium in the aerospace defense industry. This case discusses high-risk occupations, a workup for suspected pneumoconiosis, management, and the mechanism of lung injury underlying the three aforementioned pathologic agents. In each case of pneumoconiosis, a thorough history is essential, and diagnoses are made via the incorporation of the patient's historical risk factors, pulmonary function test (PFT) findings, and high-resolution chest computed tomography (HRCT).
PubMed: 38756299
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58392 -
BMJ Open Respiratory Research May 2024Many interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) have clear causal relationships with environmental and occupational exposures. Exposure identification can assist with diagnosis,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Many interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) have clear causal relationships with environmental and occupational exposures. Exposure identification can assist with diagnosis, understanding disease pathogenesis, prognostication and prevention of disease progression and occurrence in others at risk. Despite the importance of exposure identification in ILD, there is no standardised assessment approach. Many questionnaires are in clinical and research use, yet their utility, applicability, relevance and performance characteristics are unknown.
OBJECTIVES
This scoping review aimed to summarise the available evidence relating to ILD exposure assessment questionnaires, identify research gaps and inform the content for a future single evidence-based ILD questionnaire.
METHODS
A scoping review based on Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework was conducted.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Any questionnaire that elicited exposures specific to ILD was included. A modified COSMIN Risk of Bias Framework was used to assess quality.
SOURCES OF EVIDENCE
Relevant articles were identified from MEDLINE and EMBASE up to 23 July 2023.
RESULTS
22 exposure questionnaires were identified, including 15 generally pertaining to ILD, along with several disease-specific questionnaires for hypersensitivity pneumonitis (n=4), chronic beryllium disease, sarcoidosis and silicosis (1 questionnaire each). For most questionnaires, quality was low, whereby the methods used to determine exposure inclusion and questionnaire validation were not reported or not performed. Collectively the questionnaires covered 158 unique exposures and at-risk occupations, most commonly birds, mould/water damage, wood dust, asbestos, farming, automotive mechanic and miners. Only five questionnaires also provided free-text fields, and 13 queried qualifiers such as temporality or respiratory protection.
CONCLUSIONS
Designing a robust ILD-specific questionnaire should include an evidence-based and relevance-based approach to exposure derivation, with clinicians and patients involved in its development and tested to ensure relevance and feasibility.
Topics: Humans; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Surveys and Questionnaires; Occupational Exposure; Environmental Exposure
PubMed: 38754906
DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2023-002155 -
Heliyon Apr 2024The human body is affected by ultraviolet radiation because it can penetrate and harm bodily cells. Although skin cancer and early aging are consequences of prolonged...
The human body is affected by ultraviolet radiation because it can penetrate and harm bodily cells. Although skin cancer and early aging are consequences of prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, sun rays signify immediate excessive exposure. In this context, some structural, optical, electrical, and mechanical properties of the beryllium-based cubic fluoro-perovskite RBeF (R[bond, double bond]K and Li) compounds are examined through the use of density functional theory (DFT) within generalized gradient approximation (GGA) using the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) approximations (GGA-PBE). The compounds KBeF and LiBeF have space group 221-pm3m, and their lattice constants and volumes are (3.765, 3.566) Å and (53.380, 45.379) Å, respectively, based on their structural properties. Computed results indicate that the compounds' bandgaps are 7.35 eV and 7.12 eV, respectively, with an indirect nature for KBeF and LiBeF. The properties of the band structure indicate that both compounds are insulators. The bonding properties of these compounds, RBeF, are a combination of covalent and ionic. Optical properties of the compounds are examined which reflect the light-matter interaction like reflectivity, conductivity, and absorption. These materials were likely very hard but brittle, based on a higher bulk modulus B from elastic features, the B/G ratio, Pugh's ratio, and Vickers hardness. The compound RBeF, as determined by the findings, is used as a UV protection and reflection layer for car and room windows.
PubMed: 38623241
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29143 -
Environmental Research Apr 2024The purpose of the Esteban study was to describe levels of various biomarkers of exposure to several environmental pollutants, including metals and metalloids, among the...
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the Esteban study was to describe levels of various biomarkers of exposure to several environmental pollutants, including metals and metalloids, among the French population. This paper describes the distribution of concentrations of 28 metals and metalloids in two different populations, and estimates the main determinants of exposure to total arsenic, the sum of inorganic arsenic (iAs) and its two metabolites monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury and nickel.
METHODS
Esteban is a cross-sectional study conducted between 2014 and 2016 on a random sample of 2503 adults (18-74 years old) and 1104 children (6-17 years old) from the general population. The data collected included biological samples (blood, hair, and urines), socio-demographic characteristics, environmental and occupational exposure, and information on dietary factors and lifestyle. The geometric mean and percentiles of the distribution were estimated for each metal. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify the determinants of exposure using a generalized linear model.
RESULTS
Only four metals had a quantification rate below 90% in adults (beryllium, iridium, palladium, and platinum), and three metals in children (beryllium, iridium, and platinum). The concentrations of total arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury were higher than those found in most international studies. The determinants significantly associated with exposure were mainly diet and smoking.
CONCLUSIONS
Esteban provided a nationwide description of 28 metal and metalloid exposure levels for adults (some never measured before) and for the first time in children. The study results highlighted widespread exposure to several metals and metalloids. These results could be used to advocate public health decisions for continued efforts to reduce harmful exposure to toxic metals. The Reference values (RV) built from Esteban could also be used to support future government strategies.
PubMed: 38579993
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118744 -
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry May 2024Detecting, separating, and characterizing airborne microplastics from other airborne particulates is currently challenging due to the various instrumental constraints...
Detecting, separating, and characterizing airborne microplastics from other airborne particulates is currently challenging due to the various instrumental constraints and related sample preparation hurdles that must be overcome. The ability to measure these real-world environments is needed to better assess the risks associated with microplastics. To that end, the current study focused on developing a methodology for sampling and characterizing airborne microplastics. Particulate sampling was carried out at a municipal materials recovery facility near a conveyer belt containing sorted plastic materials to collect airborne environmental particles on filters. Nucleopore filters were mounted on Teflon support rings, coated with 100 nm aluminum to reduce the background signal for micro-Raman spectroscopy, and marked with a fiducial pattern using a laser engraver. The fiducial pattern was crucial in identifying samples, relocating particles, and efficiently enabling orthogonal measurements on the same samples. Optimum sampling conditions of 2 h at 25 L/min were determined using light microscopy to evaluate the particle loadings. The filters were then cut into slices which were attached to sections of thin beryllium-copper sheeting for easy transfer of the filter between microscopy platforms. Scanning electron microscopy was used to identify carbon-rich particles. Light microscopy was used to identify colored particles which were also carbon-rich which were then analyzed using micro-Raman spectroscopy to identify specific polymers.
PubMed: 38558307
DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05231-x -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024PmrAB is a crucial two-component regulatory system (TCS) that plays a vital role in conferring resistance to polymyxin. PmrA, a response regulator belonging to the...
INTRODUCTION
PmrAB is a crucial two-component regulatory system (TCS) that plays a vital role in conferring resistance to polymyxin. PmrA, a response regulator belonging to the OmpR/PhoB family, is composed of a C-terminal DNA-binding effector domain and an N-terminal receiver domain. The receiver domain can be phosphorylated by PmrB, a transmembrane sensor histidine kinase that interacts with PmrA. Once phosphorylated, PmrA undergoes a conformational change, resulting in the formation of a symmetric dimer in the receiver domain. This conformational change facilitates the recognition of promoter DNA by the DNA-binding domain of PmrA, leading to the activation of adaptive responses.
METHODS
X-ray crystallography was carried out to solve the structure of PmrA receiver domain. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and Isothermal titration calorimetry were recruited to validate the interaction between the recombinant PmrA protein and target DNA. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was employed to characterize the surface morphology of in both the PmrA knockout and mutation strains.
RESULTS
The receiver domain of PmrA follows the canonical α5β5 response regulator assembly, which undergoes dimerization upon phosphorylation and activation. Beryllium trifluoride is utilized as an aspartate phosphorylation mimic in this process. Mutations involved in phosphorylation and dimerization significantly affected the expression of downstream and genes. This impact resulted in an enhanced cell surface smoothness with fewer modifications, ultimately contributing to a decrease in colistin (polymyxin E) and polymyxin B resistance. Additionally, a conservative direct-repeat DNA PmrA binding sequence TTTAAGNNNNNTTTAAG was identified at the promoter region of the and gene. These findings provide structural insights into the PmrA receiver domain and reveal the mechanism of polymyxin resistance, suggesting that PmrA could be a potential drug target to reverse polymyxin resistance in .
PubMed: 38476937
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1293990 -
Physical Review Letters Feb 2024The structure and decay of the most neutron-rich beryllium isotope, ^{16}Be, has been investigated following proton knockout from a high-energy ^{17}B beam. Two...
The structure and decay of the most neutron-rich beryllium isotope, ^{16}Be, has been investigated following proton knockout from a high-energy ^{17}B beam. Two relatively narrow resonances were observed for the first time, with energies of 0.84(3) and 2.15(5) MeV above the two-neutron decay threshold and widths of 0.32(8) and 0.95(15) MeV, respectively. These were assigned to be the ground (J^{π}=0^{+}) and first excited (2^{+}) state, with E_{x}=1.31(6) MeV. The mass excess of ^{16}Be was thus deduced to be 56.93(13) MeV, some 0.5 MeV more bound than the only previous measurement. Both states were observed to decay by direct two-neutron emission. Calculations incorporating the evolution of the wave function during the decay as a genuine three-body process reproduced the principal characteristics of the neutron-neutron energy spectra for both levels, indicating that the ground state exhibits a strong spatially compact dineutron component, while the 2^{+} level presents a far more diffuse neutron-neutron distribution.
PubMed: 38457706
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.082501 -
Optics Express Feb 2024We report photonic band gaps based on a modified superradiance lattice having reflectivity close to 100% for both the low and high-frequency ranges. We observe that...
We report photonic band gaps based on a modified superradiance lattice having reflectivity close to 100% for both the low and high-frequency ranges. We observe that tuning the relative phase between the coupling fields provides additional control over photonic band gaps. We notice that the relative phase can control three input channels of the probe field simultaneously and efficiently. This feature of relative phase over photonic band gaps provides potential in the field of quantum optics. Further, this scheme is experimentally more viable. Rubidium atoms Rb can obtain low-frequency (infrared) photonic band gaps. On the other hand, rubidium atoms Rb and beryllium ions Be can form high-frequency ultraviolet and soft X-ray photonic band gaps, achieving reflectivities of 80% and 96%, respectively. This scheme holds promise for constructing highly efficient optical switches and beam splitters.
PubMed: 38439480
DOI: 10.1364/OE.506407 -
Organometallics Feb 2024Room temperature reaction of elemental cesium with the dimeric lithium chloroberyllate [{SiN}BeClLi] [{SiN} = {CHSiMeN(Dipp)}, where Dipp = 2,6-di-isopropylphenyl, in CD...
Room temperature reaction of elemental cesium with the dimeric lithium chloroberyllate [{SiN}BeClLi] [{SiN} = {CHSiMeN(Dipp)}, where Dipp = 2,6-di-isopropylphenyl, in CD results in activation of the arene solvent. Although, in contrast to earlier observations of lithium and sodium metal reduction, the generation of a mooted cesium phenylberyllate could not be confirmed, this process corroborates a previous hypothesis that such beryllium-centered solvent activation also necessitates the formation of hydridoberyllium species. These observations are further borne out by the study of an analogous reaction performed in toluene, in which case the proposed generation of formally low oxidation state beryllium radical anion intermediates induces activation of a toluene C-H bond and the isolation of the polymeric cesium benzylberyllate, [Cs({SiN}BeCHCH)].
PubMed: 38362487
DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.3c00519 -
The Science of the Total Environment Apr 2024Fundamental approaches to the study of groundwater rely on investigating the spatial and temporal distribution of stable and radioactive isotopes and other anthropogenic... (Review)
Review
Fundamental approaches to the study of groundwater rely on investigating the spatial and temporal distribution of stable and radioactive isotopes and other anthropogenic compounds in natural waterbodies. The most often used tracers for estimating groundwater flow paths and residence times, groundwater/surface water interaction as well as tracing chemical (contamination) sources include stable isotopes of water (δ O and δ H), radiocarbon (C; t = 5730 a), tritium (H; t = 12.43 a) as well as unreactive fluorine-containing gases (e.g., chlorofluorocarbons CClF or CFC-11; CClF or CFC-12; CClF or CFC-113; and SF). While gas tracers are usually referred to as transient tracers and are appropriate for investigating modern flow systems, the isotopic tracers are often used to investigated paleo or regional flow systems. Stable isotopes of water can also be used to investigate groundwater/surface water interactions. Another, thus far been less frequently used group of groundwater tracers, are cosmo- and geo- genic short-lived radioisotopes. These isotopes are uniquely suited for studying a wide range of groundwater problems that have short time scales including high aquifer vulnerability to quantitative and qualitative impacts and groundwater discharge to surface waters. Here, we discuss and compare the applications of radio‑sulphur (S; half-life t = 87 d), radio‑beryllium (Be; t = 53 d), radio‑phosphorus (P; combined t = 33 d), natural tritium (H; t = 12.43 a), radon (Rn; t = 3.8 d) and short-lived radium (Ra; combined t = 5.2 d). The paper discusses the principles of the individual tracer methods, focusing on the isotopes' input functions or values, on sampling techniques, and on methods of analyses. Case studies that applied a combined use of the tracers are referred to for readers who wish to learn more about the application of the so far underused cosmo- and geo- genic radioisotopes as aquatic tracers.
PubMed: 38342445
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170800