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Almaty is the largest city of Kazakhstan with extreme air pollution, mostly in the cold season, but little is known whether staying indoors could lessen the exposure. The aim was to quantitatively characterize indoor fine PM levels and to verify the contribution of ambient pollution to it in a polluted city like Almaty. We collected forty-six 24-hour 15-min average samples of the ambient air and a similar number of paired indoor samples (total 92 samples). Predictors of both ambient and indoor PM2.5 mass concentrations in mg/m3, including ambient concentration, precipitation, minimal daily temperature and humidity, along with the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio were tested in the adjusted regression models at eight 15-min lags. Ambient air PM2.5 15-min average mass concentrations were highly variable and ranged from 0.001 to 0.694 mg/m3 (geometric mean (GM) 0.090, geometric standard deviation (GSD) 2.285). Snowing was the strongest predictor of lower ambient PM2.5 24-hour mass concentrations (median 0.053 vs 0.135 mg/m3 (p<0.001)). Indoor mean 15-min PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 0.002 to 0.228 mg/m3 (GM 0.034, GSD 2.254). In adjusted models, outdoor PM2.5 concentration explained 0.58 of all variability of the indoor concentration with a 75-min delay (R2 0.67 at lag8 on snowing days). Median I/O ranged from 0.386 (IQR 0.264 to 0.532) at lag0 to 0.442 (IQR 0.339 to 0.584) at lag8. During the cold season when fossil fuel is burnt for heating, the population in Almaty is exposed to very high fine PM levels even indoors. Urgent public health action is needed.

Background Recent epidemiological studies on workers describe that exposure to pesticides can induce oxidative stress by increased production of free radicals that can accumulate in the cell and damage biological macromolecules, for example, RNA, DNA, DNA repair proteins and other proteins and/or modify antioxidant defense mechanisms, as well as detoxification and scavenger enzymes. This study aimed to assess oxidative stress and DNA damage among workers exposed to pesticides. Methods For this purpose, 52 pesticide exposed workers and 52 organic farmers were enrolled. They were assessed: the pesticide exposure, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total glutathione (TG), oxidized glutathione levels (GSSG), and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), levels. Results Correlation between pesticide exposure was positively associated with high TBARS and 8-oxodG levels ( p  <  0.001). A negative association was founded with TG and GSSG and pesticide exposure. Conclusions The present investigation results seem to indicate a mild augment in oxidative stress associated with pesticide exposure, followed by an adaptive response to increase the antioxidant defenses to prevent sustained oxidative adverse effects stress.

Green jobs are to be understood as those jobs directly associated with specific sustainability issues and activities related to the efficiency, quality and innovation of goods and services offered, from an eco-sustainability perspective. The objective of the research was to fill knowledge gaps of new and emerging environmental and occupational risks related to sustainable activities and to understand the impact these might have on workers' psychological and physical well-being. A selection of several scientific articles and a critical analysis of the selected articles was carried out from the perspective of defining the concept of \"emerging occupational risks in green jobs,\" using different keywords in the title or abstract as search criteria. Emerging occupational risks, most prevalent in the green sector are those determined by the rapid introduction of new technologies, new materials, new processes and work organizations. In order to be able to improve prevention and protection at work, it is necessary to act on a more careful and adequate risk assessment, the definition of new professional figures expert in green issues, the expansion of research and development of scientific knowledge, and the improvement of ergonomic aspects. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(3):244-56.

The demand for noninvasive methods to assess postural defections is increasing because back alterations are more common among the healthy population. We propose a combined infrared method of rasterstereography and thermography to assess the back without harmful effects. This study aims to provide reference data on rasterstereography and thermography to evaluate the back of a healthy population and to further study the correlation between these two methods. This cross-sectional research involved 175 healthy individuals (85 males and 90 females) aged 22 to 35 years. There is a large Cohen’s d effect size in the cervical depth (males = 43.77 ± 10.96 mm vs. females = 34.29 ± 7.04 mm, d = 1.03), and in the lumbar lordosis angle (males = 37.69 ± 8.89° vs. females = 46.49 ± 8.25°, d = − 1.03). The back temperature was different for gender in the cervical area (males = 33.83 ± 0.63 °C vs. females = 34.26 ± 0.84 °C, d = − 0.58) and dorsal area (males = 33.13 ± 0.71 °C vs. females = 33.59 ± 0.97 °C, d = − 0.55). Furthermore, in the female group there was a moderate correlation of lumbar temperature with lumbar lordosis angle (r = − 0.50) and dorsal temperature with shoulders torsion (r = 0.43). Males showed a moderate correlation for vertebral surface rotation RMS with cervical (r = − 0.46), dorsal (r = − 0.60), and lumbar (r = − 0.50) areas and cervical temperature with shoulders obliquity (r = 0.58). These results highlight a possible correlation between rasterstereography and thermography, which may elucidate the underlying mechanics of spinal alterations and thermal muscle response. Our findings may represent reference data for other studies using noninvasive methods to assess postural alterations.

Background/Objectives: Gestational weight gain (GWG) is a crucial factor influencing mother and fetal health, as high GWG is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and an increased long-term risk of obesity and metabolic issues in the children. In addition to controlling weight, maternal physical activity (PA) during pregnancy may influence fetal development through potential epigenetic mechanisms, including histone modifications, DNA methylation, and the production of non-coding RNA. Methods: This narrative review synthesizes evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs; n = 11, 3654 participants) investigating the impact of aerobic PA on GWG, while also highlighting emerging, primarily indirect findings on maternal–fetal epigenetic programming. Results: The majority of RCTs found that supervised PA interventions, especially when paired with nutritional counseling, decreased both the incidence of excessive GWG and total GWG. Enhancements in lipid metabolism, adipokine profiles, and maternal insulin sensitivity point to likely biochemical mechanisms that connect PA to epigenetic modification of fetal metabolic genes (e.g., IGF2, PGC-1α, LEP). Animal and observational studies suggest that maternal activity may influence offspring epigenetic pathways related to obesity and cardiometabolic conditions, although direct human evidence is limited. Conclusions: In addition to potentially changing gene–environment interactions throughout generations, prenatal PA is a low-cost, safe method of improving maternal and newborn health. Future RCTs ought to incorporate molecular endpoints to elucidate the epigenetic processes by which maternal exercise may provide long-term health benefits.

There is an urgent need to search for new screening methods that allow early detection of esophageal cancer and thus achieve better clinical outcomes. Nowadays, it is known that the esophagus is not a sterile part of the gastrointestinal tract. It is colonized with various microorganisms therefore a “healthy” esophageal microbiome exists. The dysbiotic changes of esophageal microbiome can lead to the development of esophageal diseases including esophageal cancer. There is a strong consensus in the literature that the intestinal microbiome may be involved in esophageal carcinogenesis. Recently, emphasis has also been placed on the relationship between the oral microbiome and the occurrence of esophageal cancer. According to recent studies, some of the bacteria present in the oral cavity, such as Tannerella forsythia , Streptococcus anginosus , Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans , Porphyromonas gingivalis , and Fusobacterium nucleatum may contribute to the development of this cancer. Moreover, the oral microbiome of patients with esophageal cancer differs significantly from that of healthy individuals. This opens new insights into the search for a microbiome-associated marker for early identification of patients at high risk for developing this cancer.

As of the end of February 2021, more than 420,000,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide, with 5,856,224 deaths. Transmission of the different genetically engineered variants of SARS-CoV-2, which have been isolated since the beginning of the pandemic, occurs from one infected person to another by the same means: the airborne route, indirect contact, and occasionally the fecal–oral route. Infection is asymptomatic or may present with flulike symptoms such as fever, cough, and mild to moderate and severe respiratory distress, requiring hospitalization and assisted ventilation support. To control the spread of COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have indicated that the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as the adoption of effective hygiene systems, is one of the primary prevention measures for the entire population. Companies and institutions around the world are therefore trying to find the best ways to reorganize their operations, minimizing the risk of infection among their employees, in order to protect their health and prevent internal outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2, including through the development of new technologies that could also be an innovative and driving factor for the relaunch of companies in a more sustainable, ethically correct, and safe for the health of employees perspective. On the basis of the above premises, in view of the coexistence with SARS-CoV-2 that will most likely accompany us in the coming years, and in view of the vaccination campaign adopted worldwide, the purpose of our narrative review is to update the previous operational protocols with the latest scientific knowledge to be adopted in the workplace even when the emergency crisis is over.

Mt. Etna is the highest and most active stratovolcano in Europe, located in Catania (Sicily, Italy). Its persistent degassing, frequent explosions, and lava flows release large amounts of ash and gases into the atmosphere. This study aimed to assess whether chronic exposure to local volcanic emissions leads to an increased internal dose of trace elements (As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Tl, U, V, W, Zn) in Catania adult residents. To this end, urine samples were collected from 167 individuals residing in Catania and compared with 193 residents of other Sicilian areas located farther from the volcano. Results revealed significantly higher urinary concentrations of As, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Tl in the exposed group, suggesting volcanic activity as a relevant source of exposure. The levels of the other elements were instead affected by other factors such as lifestyle habits and the consumption of specific foods and beverages. The urinary concentrations of trace elements were consistent with reference values reported in other European studies, and the levels remained well within the health-based guidance values. There is evidence of an increased internal dose of a few elements in the Sicilian population exposed to volcano activity, but the observed increases are unlikely to pose a significant health risk.

Several cell-signaling mechanisms are activated by visible light radiation in human keratinocytes, but the key regulatory proteins involved in this specific cellular response have not yet been identified. Human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) were exposed to blue or red light at low or high irradiance for 3 days in cycles of 12 h of light and 12 h of dark. The cell viability, apoptotic rate and cell cycle progression were analyzed in all experimental conditions. The proteomic profile, oxidative stress and mitochondrial morphology were additionally evaluated in the HaCaT cells following exposure to high-irradiance blue or red light. Low-irradiance blue or red light exposure did not show an alteration in the cell viability, cell death or cell cycle progression. High-irradiance blue or red light reduced the cell viability, induced cell death and cell cycle G2/M arrest, increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and altered the mitochondrial density and morphology. The proteomic profile revealed a pivotal role of Cytoplasmic thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1) and Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) in the response of the HaCaT cells to high-irradiance blue or red light exposure. Blue or red light exposure affected the viability of keratinocytes, activating a specific oxidative stress response and inducing mitochondrial dysfunction. Our results can help to address the targets for the therapeutic use of light and to develop adequate preventive strategies for skin damage. This in vitro study supports further in vivo investigations of the biological effects of light on human keratinocytes.

Background: Homocysteine is a sulfur amino acid whose metabolism is activated in two pathways: remethylation to methionine, which requires folate and vitamin B12, and transsulfuration to cystathionine, which needs pyridoxal-5’-phosphate. High homocysteine level increases the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular diseases, and cognitive impairment. Some evidence showed that exposure to these metals increased plasma homocysteine levels. Methods: A systematic review was carried out to clarify the relationship between homocysteine blood levels and exposure to toxic heavy metals (Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, and Chromium). Results: The results of this systematic review indicate that exposure to Pb, Cr, Cd, and Hg is connected with nonphysiological homocysteine levels or vitamin B12 and folate serum concentrations. Conclusions: These findings reinforce the importance of involvement in exposure to heavy metals in homocysteine metabolism. This supports the role of blood metals as potential upstream modifiable risk factors to prevent the development of other established risk factors as hyperhomocysteinemia.