Organophosphate insecticide exposure: A clinical consideration of chlorpyrifos regulation

Combating small molecule environmental contaminants: detection and sequestration using functional nucleic acids

Small molecule contaminants pose a significant threat to the environment and human health. While regulations are in place for allowed limits in many countries, detection and remediation of contaminants in more resource-limited settings and everyday environmental sources remains a challenge. Functional nucleic acids, including aptamers and DNA enzymes, have emerged as powerful options for addressing this challenge due to their ability to non-covalently interact with small molecule targets. The goal of this perspective is to outline recent efforts toward the selection of aptamers for small molecules and describe their subsequent implementation for environmental applications. Finally, we provide an outlook that addresses barriers that hinder these technologies from being widely adopted in field friendly settings and propose a path forward toward addressing these challenges.

Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers: Cancer Risks, Barriers to Care, and Ways to Overcome Them

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) encounter numerous and overlapping barriers to healthcare access, including economic, cultural, linguistic, and logistic factors, all of which may contribute to disparities in cancer outcomes. For many MSFWs and their families, healthcare access and continuity are further eroded by their mobility. In addition, MSFWs experience occupational exposures that increase their risk of cancer.

The expression change of glial fibrillary acidic protein and tyrosine hydroxylase in substantia nigra of the Wistar rats exposed to chlorpyrifos: a novel environmental risk factor for Parkinson's disease

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most abundant and widely used pesticides in the world. CPF has detrimental effects on brain tissue, so it is possible to generate some neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CPF on inducing the Parkinson's disease affecting on central nervous system. 6 to 8-week-old animals were categorized into three groups. The first group was normal control which the animals did not received any treatment, while in the second group, CPF were injected (CPF; 5 mg/kg BW for 30 days intraperitoneally) and the sham group as the third group received DMSO. At the end of the CPF treatment, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were measured in the brain tissues of rats. Proportion of neurons was analyzed by crystal violet assays and tunnel assay to detect apoptotic cells. Finally, the expression of GFAP and TH was investigated in the brain of animals. The results witnessed an increase in MDA and a decrease in SOD (P < 0.05) after the CPF treating. Moreover, results indicated that the proportion of neurons decreased in the second group vs. normal and sham groups significantly (P < 0.001). Additionally, in substantia nigra, the expression of GFAP had a significant increase and the TH had a remarkable decrease in CPF injected group in comparison to two other groups (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the numbers of apoptosis cells reduced in substantia nigra (P < 0.001) after the 30-day period of CPF injections. These results demonstrated that repeated exposure to CPF can induce PD via apoptotic cell death, histopathological disruption. It also altered the expression of dopaminergic neuron and changes the levels of oxidant and antioxidant enzymes in substantia nigra region which triggers PD. Hence, the CPF can be introduced as a risk factor for PD.

Farmworkers: Environmental Health and Social Determinants

The health implications of food and agriculture production are not generally part of the nursing curriculum and yet nurses understand that vulnerable populations, such as farmworkers, may need special attention in terms of health education, disease prevention, and access to mental health and healthcare services. Nurses also learn about the social determinants of health and increasingly are applying this knowledge to health and wellness in their communities. This article will consider the health impacts of the social determinants and both environmental and occupational exposures experienced by farmworkers and the associated implications for the nursing profession. As health professionals one can help to give voice to this often-voiceless population. Working with farmworkers in partnership is key and working with the Migrant Clinicians Network and other advocacy organizations on state and federal policies that will improve working and living conditions for farmworkers and their families is crucial.