The potential risk of pesticide exposure in developing countries needs further study as data are limited and simple tools to assess the risks on human health and the environment caused by pesticides are lacking. This article introduces a potential pesticides exposure index (PPEI) as a modeling tool to assess the risk of human and environmental pesticide exposure in agricultural basins. The PPEI is based on a number of factors including human population centers and their proximity to agricultural crops, the toxicological properties of pesticides, and their application frequency. The index was applied to a region in southern Ecuador (approximately 7200 km2 ) where corn, rice, and sugarcane are the predominant crops, and where hot spots with the highest vulnerability to pesticide residues were identified. Of the total of 5326 neighborhoods for the entire study area, 1030 had high, 1124 had medium, and 1009 had low PPEI scores. Among the practical uses of PPEI are to help to assist regulatory agencies and academics evaluate the effects of land use policies on pesticide vulnerability. Also, it can be easily expanded to include other parameters, such as data from other agricultural crops, or frequency of pesticide application. The PPEI can be a valuable indicator of risk of pesticide exposure, as it is reliable and applicable to developing countries, where data and resources are limited. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;001-11. © 2021 SETAC.
Amyloidosis is a disease group caused by pathological aggregation and deposition of peptides in diverse tissue sites. Recently, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging coupled with ion mobility separation (MALDI-IMS MSI) was introduced as a novel tool to identify and classify amyloidosis using single sections from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded cardiac biopsies. Here, we tested the hypothesis that MALDI-IMS MSI can be applied to lung and gastrointestinal specimens.

Forty six lung and 65 gastrointestinal biopsy and resection specimens with different types of amyloid were subjected to MALDI-IMS MSI. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/catechin-hydrate.html Ninety three specimens included tissue areas without amyloid as internal negative controls. Nine cases without amyloid served as additional negative controls.

Utilizing a peptide filter method and 21 known amyloid specific tryptic peptides we confirmed the applicability of a universal peptide signature with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100% for the detection of amyloid deposits in the lung and gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, the frequencies of individual m/z-values of the 21 tryptic marker peptides showed organ- and tissue-type specific differences.

MALDI-IMS MSI adds a valuable analytical approach to diagnose and classify amyloid and the detection frequency of individual tryptic peptides is organ-/tissue-type specific.
MALDI-IMS MSI adds a valuable analytical approach to diagnose and classify amyloid and the detection frequency of individual tryptic peptides is organ-/tissue-type specific.
The experience of cancer is highly stressful and potentially traumatic. We assessed the presence of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) in long-term cancer survivors and their caregivers, while examining the association between PTSS and clinical, demographic and psychological variables in the long term.

In this cross-sectional study 212 survivor-family caregiver dyads completed measures of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) (Impact of Event Scale), depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale). Coping strategies, fatigue, cognitive decline, stressful life events and psychopathological history were also assessed among survivors. Data were analyzed using mixed models, accounting both for individual and dyadic effects.

Cancer survivors and their caregivers were assessed after a mean of 6years after treatment. Twenty per cent of survivors and 35.5% of caregivers had possible posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while 23 patients (11.0%) and 33 caregivers (15.6%) had probable PTSD. Among cancer patients, the severity of post-traumatic symptoms was associated with an anxious coping style, previous psychopathology and depression (p<0.001), whereas among caregivers it was associated with depression and having a closer relationship with patients (p<0.001). Patients' depression was associated with caregivers' intrusion symptoms.

High levels of cancer-related PTSS were still present several years after treatment in both survivors and caregivers. Psychopathology may derive from complex interactions among coping, previous disorders and between-person dynamics.
High levels of cancer-related PTSS were still present several years after treatment in both survivors and caregivers. Psychopathology may derive from complex interactions among coping, previous disorders and between-person dynamics.The treatment landscape for cancer therapy has changed drastically over the past decade. Tisagenlecleucel, the first genetically engineered adoptive cellular therapy approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, has revolutionized this field by demonstrating impressive clinical success in children and young adults with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL). Now 3 years since its approval, we have gained a deeper understanding on the basic immunobiology and clinical efficacy of this drug. This review will provide an updated summary of tisagenlecleucel in childhood and young adults with r/r B-ALL, common side effects and their associated management strategies, as well as barriers that remain to be addressed in order to realize the maximum potential of this drug.In celebration of the 100th birthday of Dr. Victor A. McKusick, we look back at the history of genetic counseling at Johns Hopkins Hospital and at some milestones for the profession. With the first students graduating from the Human Genetics program at Sarah Lawrence College in 1971, the genetic counseling profession is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The profession has seen growth in numbers and scope of practice, the evolution of a national society, the advent of certification and accreditation, the proliferation of graduate programs, the pursuit of state licensure, and collaboration with fellow genetics professionals. Many of the early jobs were at academic centers, such as Johns Hopkins Hospital, while today counselors are employed in a multitude of settings and engaged in a variety of roles.