In-kitchen aerosol exposure in twelve cities across the globe

Poor ventilation and polluting cooking fuels in low-income homes cause high exposure, yet relevant global studies are limited. We assessed exposure to in-kitchen particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) employing similar instrumentation in 60 low-income homes across 12 cities: Dhaka (Bangladesh); Chennai (India); Nanjing (China); Medellín (Colombia); São Paulo (Brazil); Cairo (Egypt); Sulaymaniyah (Iraq); Addis Ababa (Ethiopia); Akure (Nigeria); Blantyre (Malawi); Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) and Nairobi (Kenya). Exposure profiles of kitchen occupants showed that fuel, kitchen volume, cooking type and ventilation were the most prominent factors affecting in-kitchen exposure. Different cuisines resulted in varying cooking durations and disproportional exposures. Occupants in Dhaka, Nanjing, Dar-es-Salaam and Nairobi spent > 40% of their cooking time frying (the highest particle emitting cooking activity) compared with ∼ 68% of time spent boiling/stewing in Cairo, Sulaymaniyah and Akure. The highest average PM_2.5 (PM₁₀) concentrations were in Dhaka 185 ± 48 (220 ± 58) μg m^-3 owing to small kitchen volume, extensive frying and prolonged cooking compared with the lowest in Medellín 10 ± 3 (14 ± 2) μg m^-3. Dual ventilation (mechanical and natural) in Chennai, Cairo and Sulaymaniyah reduced average in-kitchen PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ by 2.3- and 1.8-times compared with natural ventilation (open doors) in Addis Ababa, Dar-es-Salam and Nairobi. Using charcoal during cooking (Addis Ababa, Blantyre and Nairobi) increased PM_2.5 levels by 1.3- and 3.1-times compared with using natural gas (Nanjing, Medellin and Cairo) and LPG (Chennai, Sao Paulo and Sulaymaniyah), respectively. Smaller-volume kitchens (<15 m³; Dhaka and Nanjing) increased cooking exposure compared with their larger-volume counterparts (Medellin, Cairo and Sulaymaniyah). Potential exposure doses were highest for Asian, followed by African, Middle-eastern and South American homes. We recommend increased cooking exhaust extraction, cleaner fuels, awareness on improved cooking practices and minimising passive occupancy in kitchens to mitigate harmful cooking emissions.

Abstract 5303: GSTP1 positive prostate cancer

Introduction: GSTP1 is a member of the Glutathione-S-transferase family, known to be silenced by CpG island DNA methylation in approximately 90% of prostatic adenocarcinomas. However, the cases that are not densely methylated have not been extensively characterized in terms GSTP1 expression or clinico-pathological features.

Description of experimental procedures: We analytically validated an automated IHC assay against human GSTP1 using well-known cell line controls and human prostate cancer tissues. We examined 33 TMAs from 1296 prostatectomy patients using the index tumor with 4-fold redundancy from patients from 1993 to 2015. TMA slides stained for GSTP1 were scanned and uploaded to a web based image scoring platform (TMAJ). The images were reviewed by two different pathologists with expertise in prostate cancer. The scoring system followed a two-tiered approach, noted as positive (carcinomas with any nuclear and/or cytoplasmic staining), and as negative (carcinoma cells with no nuclear or cytoplasmic stain) in the presence of benign stromal or inflammatory cells that served as internal controls. The GSTP1 positive staining was correlated with Gleason grade groups, pathological stage, and age.

Results: After exclusion for inadequate tissue staining, GSTP1 was evaluated in 4326 TMA cores with carcinoma. GSTP1 IHC staining was positive in 190 cores (4.3%), corresponding to 75 patients (5.9% of patients had GSTP1 positive cancer). Of these 190 positive cores, 109 showed homogeneous (100% positive) tumor cell staining while 81 showed heterogeneous staining, with mixed positive and negative regions. In 43 patients (3.3%), all TMA cores containing carcinoma stained positively. In a number of standard slides from prostatectomies, GSTP1 positive IHC staining cases were also found to be positive for GSTP1 mRNA by in situ hybridization. There was no correlation between GSTP1 positive staining, Gleason grade group, pathological stage, margin status or patient age. Preliminary analysis in a subset of cases showed no correlation with TMPRSS2-ERG status or PTEN loss.

Conclusion: GSTP1 protein is present in approximately 5.9% of clinically localized prostate cancers and in approximately 50% of these positive cases, all TMA cores with carcinoma stained positively.

Citation Format: Igor D. Vidal, Stephanie Glavaris, Tracy Jones, Jessica Hicks, Bruce J. Trock, Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian, William Nelson, Angelo M. De Marzo. GSTP1 positive prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5303.

Strain-difference in circadian murine chronotolerance to the antidepressant drug nomifensine

The anti-depressant drug nomifensine (8-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-methyl-4-phenylisoquinoline) was administered at several dose levels to mice of 2 inbred strains at one of 6 circadian times 4h apart under conditions standardized for light-dark synchronized rhythmometry. A circadian rhythm in tolerance to nomifensine reflected by differences in mortality was demonstrated for both C57 and DBA mice. An interstrain difference in tolerance was also observed.

Satisfaction and wait time of patients visiting a family practice clinic

Data relating to wait times and time spent with nurses and physicians were recorded for 656 patients visiting a large family-practice unit. Patients were asked to provide estimates of their wait times and ratings of the acceptability of these wait intervals. Actual wait times were usually longer than those estimated by the patient, and total wait times were considered reasonable. The results of the study show high levels of patient satisfaction and indicate that few patients are dissatisfied until total wait time exceeds forty-five minutes. Different age groups appear to have different expectations, however, and younger patients are more likely to be dissatisfied with their wait times.

FE vibration analyses of novel conforming meta-structures and standard lattices for simple bricks and a topology-optimized aerodynamic bracket

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables production of components that are not possible to make using traditional methods. In particular, lattice-type structures are of recent interest due to their potential for high strength-to-weight ratios and other desirable properties. However, standard periodic lattice structures have problems conforming to complex curved and multi-connected shapes (e.g. holes or sharp-to-smooth mating edges). In addition, standard lattices have well known shear and fatigue weaknesses due to their periodic basis/structure. To address these problems, we developed a new type of shape-conforming meta-structure (HGon) that extends lattices, enabling automated conforming to complex shapes and parametric meta-topology control. HGons also have unique vibration dampening and optimization capabilities. This study presents initial FE analyses of (Part 1) dynamic vibration responses of new HGon meta-structures compared with periodic lattices of equivalent density for a series of basic rectangular structures and (Part 2) a complex multi-connected aerodynamic bracket with field-based stress meta-topology optimization. Results show significantly enhanced vibration dampening behavior and superior strength-to-weight ratios for HGon meta-structures as compared to standard lattices.

Circadian murine ouabain chronotolerance revisited

Data published earlier on a possible circadian variation in murine susceptibility to intravenously-administered ouabain and analyzed by conventional biometric methods, were reanalyzed by cosinor procedures. A statistically significant circadian rhythm could thus be demonstrated, contradicting the earlier conclusion that there was no circadian rhythm in susceptibility to ouabain when injected intravenously. Results from this reanalysis agreed with those from previous investigations in which ouabain was injected intraperitoneally or subcutaneously. Thus, a circadian rhythm characterizes murine susceptibility to ouabain given via 3 different routes.

Attempts at use of strychnine sulfate in the treatment of nonketotic hyperglycinemia

In two cases of nonketotic hyperglycinemia treated from early ages with strychnine sulphate, the patients demonstrated persistent severe psychomotor retardation and seizures. Strychnine therapy improved tone and feeding, but did not seem to alter fundamentally the course of the disease in either patient.

Reciprocity breaking during nonlinear propagation of adapted beams through random media

Adaptive optics (AO) systems rely on the principle of reciprocity, or symmetry with respect to the interchange of point sources and receivers. These systems use the light received from a low power emitter on or near a target to compensate phase aberrations acquired by a laser beam during linear propagation through random media. If, however, the laser beam propagates nonlinearly, reciprocity is broken, potentially undermining AO correction. Here we examine the consequences of this breakdown, providing the first analysis of AO applied to high peak power laser beams. While discussed for general random and nonlinear media, we consider specific examples of Kerr-nonlinear, turbulent atmosphere.

Chronobiology: a frontier in biology and medicine

On the occasion of Franz Halberg's 70th birthday, some of his many achievements are reviewed. We provide a historical background to the development of chronobiology; offer insight into the current state of this new science; and sketch the promise of this discipline for health care and cure. As a tribute to Franz Halberg, in an era of fast-growing technology, an attempt is made to describe his perspective of tomorrow's medicine and biology. The many students he trained throughout his productive career face the challenge of deserving the trust he placed in them and of further implementing his vision. A leader in social pediatrics put it aptly: it will take several generations of researchers to study and master his life's work.

Role of the lymphatic circulatory system in shock

That the lymphatic vessel participates in the regulation of interstitial dynamics through its ability to contract and propel fluid and protein from the extravascular tissues back to the bloodstream has not been fully appreciated. The "lymph pump" appears to be regulated by local physiologic forces as well as neurogenic and humoral factors. We have assessed the effects of hemorrhage and endotoxin on the ability of the lymph vessel to propel fluid in sheep using a model system that permits the quantitation of lymphatic pumping in vivo without the complication of variable lymph inputs. A major blood loss was found to enhance lymphatic contractile activity and fluid pumping. Considering the large reservoir of fluid and protein in the interstitium and lymph, we speculate that stimulation of the "lymph pump" after hemorrhage might help to re-expand the vascular space. On the other hand, the intravenous administration of endotoxin inhibited lymphatic pumping, suggesting that impaired lymph propulsion in sepsis may contribute to edema by reducing the ability of the lymphatic vessel to remove extravasated protein from the tissues.

The Los Angeles TEAM Study: personal exposures, indoor-outdoor air concentrations, and breath concentrations of 25 volatile organic compounds

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board studied the exposures of 51 residents of Los Angeles, California, to 25 volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in air and drinking water in 1987. A major goal of the study was to measure personal, indoor, and outdoor air concentrations, and breath concentrations of VOCs in persons living in households that had previously been measured in 1984. Other goals were to confirm the marked day-night and seasonal differences observed in 1984; to determine room-to-room variability within homes; to determine source emission rates by measuring air exchange rates in each home; and to extend the coverage of chemicals by employing additional sampling and analysis methods. A total of 51 homes were visited in February of 1987, and 43 of these were revisited in July of 1987. The results confirmed previous TEAM Study findings of higher personal and indoor air concentrations than outdoor concentrations of all prevalent chemicals (except carbon tetrachloride); higher personal, indoor, and outdoor air concentrations in winter than in summer; and (in winter only) higher outdoor concentrations at night than in the daytime. New findings included the following: (1) room-to-room variability of 12-hour average concentrations was very small, indicating that a single monitor may be adequate for estimating indoor concentrations over this time span; (2) "whole-house" source emission rates were relatively constant during both seasons, with higher rates for odorous chemicals such as p-dichlorobenzene and limonene (often used in room air fresheners) than for other classes of chemicals; (3) breath concentrations measured during morning and evening were similar for most participants, suggesting the suitability of breath measurements for estimating exposure in the home; (4) limited data obtained on two additional chemicals-toluene and methylene chloride-indicated that both were prevalent at fairly high concentrations and that indoor air concentrations exceeded outdoor concentrations by a factor of about three.