Impact of wildfire emissions exposure on the associations between levels of lung injury, lipid peroxidation, DNA oxidation, and exposure biomarkers.

Firefighters face increased risks of developing cardio-respiratory diseases and cancer. This study aimed, for the first time, to simultaneously characterize several biomarkers of effect (lung injury by Clara cell 16 -CC16, lipid peroxidation by 8-isoprostane-8-iso, and DNA oxidation by 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine-8-OHdG) and exposure (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons metabolites - 6 OHPAHs and 17 metal(loid)s) in (pre- and post-exposure) paired urine samples of wildland firefighters, while exploring their inter-/intra-associations and accounting for tobacco consumption. Wildfire combat influenced the levels of CC16 (+39 %), 8-iso (+33 %), 8-OHdG (-13 to +19 %), individual and sum of OHPAHs (+75-211 %), and metal(loid)s (up to 43 %, p > 0.

Impact of occupational exposure to wildfire events on systemic inflammatory biomarkers in Portuguese wildland firefighters.

While occupational exposure as a firefighter is considered a dangerous occupation, research on the underlying mechanisms remains limited, particularly in wildland firefighters. Inflammation, a key effect of wildfire exposure, plays a significant role in the development of various diseases. The current study aims to investigate the impact of wildland firefighting exposure on the levels of pro-inflammatory systemic biomarkers.

Occupational exposure to wildland firefighting and its effects on systemic DNA damage.

Background: Portugal is among the European Union countries more devastated by forest fires. Wildland firefighters are at the forefront of this battle, facing exposure to a wide range of harmful pollutants. Epidemiological studies have highlighted a potential link between occupational firefighting exposure and several diseases, including cancer.

Association between cognitive reserve proxies and frailty phenotype: data from UK Biobank.

A potential protective role of cognitive reserve proxies against frailty has been suggested in older adults. We explored the cross-sectional association between cognitive reserve indicators and frailty phenotype. Data were obtained from the UK Biobank.

The Impact of Sleep on Haematological Parameters in Firefighters.

Sleep is a vital process that impacts biological functions such as cell renewal, bone regeneration, and immune system support. Disrupted sleep can interrupt erythropoiesis, leading to fewer red blood cells, reduced haemoglobin concentration, and decreased haematocrit levels, potentially contributing to haematological disorders. This is particularly concerning for shift workers for example firefighters.

End-of-life care and grief: study conducted with family members of COVID-19 victims.

This article aims to investigate the implications of grief among family members of COVID-19 victims; verify the prevalence of prolonged grief symptoms; and identify family members' expectations regarding end-of-life care for their loved ones affected by COVID-19. Descriptive, cross-sectional research, with a quantitative-qualitative approach. Data collection was performed using an online questionnaire, guided by the PG-13 instrument.

Firefighters' Occupational Exposure in Preparation for Wildfire Season: Addressing Biological Impact.

The characterization of wildland firefighters' occupational exposure must consider different exposures, including those at the fire station. The present study aimed to characterize the occupational exposure of 172 Northern Portuguese wildland firefighters in fire stations during the pre-wildfire season of 2021. The biological impact of estimated inhaled doses of PM and PM (indoor/outdoor) was accessed through a buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay in exfoliated buccal cells of a subgroup of 80 firefighters.

Baseline data and associations between urinary biomarkers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, blood pressure, hemogram, and lifestyle among wildland firefighters.

Introduction: Available literature has found an association between firefighting and pathologic pathways leading to cardiorespiratory diseases, which have been linked with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are highlighted as priority pollutants by the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative in occupational and non-occupational contexts.

Methods: This cross-sectional study is the first to simultaneously characterize six creatinine-adjusted PAHs metabolites (OHPAHs) in urine, blood pressure, cardiac frequency, and hemogram parameters among wildland firefighters without occupational exposure to fire emissions (> 7 days), while exploring several variables retrieved via questionnaires.

Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and short-time health effects in wildland firefighters during real-life fire events.

Human biomonitoring data retrieved from real-life wildland firefighting in Europe and, also, worldwide are scarce. Thus, in this study, 176 Portuguese firefighters were biomonitored pre- and post- unsimulated wildfire combating (average:12-13 h; maximum: 55 h) to evaluate the impact on the levels of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons hydroxylated metabolites (OHPAH; quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection) and the associated short-term health effects (symptoms, and total and differentiated white blood cells). Correlations between these variables and data retrieved from the self-reported questionnaires were also investigated.

Toxoplasma gondii IgG Serointensity Is Positively Associated With Frailty.

Background: Persistent inflammation related to aging ("inflammaging") is exacerbated by chronic infections and contributes to frailty in older adults. We hypothesized associations between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a common parasite causing an oligosymptomatic unremitting infection, and frailty, and secondarily between T.

Long-term cryopreservation of potassium bromate positive assay controls for measurement of oxidatively damaged DNA by the Fpg-modified comet assay: results from the hCOMET ring trial.

The formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg)-modified comet assay is widely used for the measurement of oxidatively generated damage to DNA. However, there has not been a recommended long-term positive control for this version of the comet assay. We have investigated potassium bromate as a positive control for the Fpg-modified comet assay because it generates many Fpg-sensitive sites with a little concurrent generation of DNA strand breaks.

DNA strand break levels in cryopreserved mononuclear blood cell lines measured by the alkaline comet assay: results from the hCOMET ring trial.

The comet assay is widely used in biomonitoring studies for the analysis of DNA damage in leukocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Rather than processing blood samples directly, it can be desirable to cryopreserve whole blood or isolated cells for later analysis by the comet assay. However, this creates concern about artificial accumulation of DNA damage during cryopreservation.

Visual comet scoring revisited: a guide to scoring comet assay slides and obtaining reliable results.

Measurement of DNA migration in the comet assay can be done by image analysis or visual scoring. The latter accounts for 20%-25% of the published comet assay results. Here we assess the intra- and inter-investigator variability in visual scoring of comets.

Inter-laboratory variation in measurement of DNA damage by the alkaline comet assay in the hCOMET ring trial.

The comet assay is a simple and versatile method for measurement of DNA damage in eukaryotic cells. More specifically, the assay detects DNA migration from agarose gel-embedded nucleoids, which depends on assay conditions and the level of DNA damage. Certain steps in the comet assay procedure have substantial impact on the magnitude of DNA migration (e.

Mitochondrial and Redox Changes in Periodontitis and Type 2 Diabetes Human Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Periodontitis (PDT) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) have demonstrated a bidirectional relationship and imbalanced oxidative stress linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, we investigated mitochondrial and redox (de)regulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in comorbid T2D-PDT, compared to PDT, T2D patients, and control individuals. PBMCs were analyzed for mitochondrial respiration, reactive oxygen species, antioxidant proteins, and expression of Nrf2-target genes.

Association of Torquetenovirus Viremia with Physical Frailty and Cognitive Impairment in Three Independent European Cohorts.

Introduction: Immunosenescence and inflammaging have been implicated in the pathophysiology of frailty. Torquetenovirus (TTV), a single-stranded DNA anellovirus, the major component of the human blood virome, shows an increased replication rate with advancing age. An elevated TTV viremia has been associated with an impaired immune function and an increased risk of mortality in the older population.

Relationship between DNA damage measured by the comet-assay and cognitive function.

Recent studies exploring the relationship between DNA damage measured by the comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis) and cognitive function in both animal models and humans are reviewed and summarized. This manuscript provides an overview of studies exploring cognitive dysfunction related to DNA damage due to biological ageing process, cancer treatment, adverse environmental or occupational exposures, and prenatal genotoxic exposure. The review confirms the potential of comet assay to further explore the link between DNA damage, as indicative of genomic instability, and cognitive impairment in different research and clinical areas.

Nurses' performance in palliative care: spiritual care in the light of Theory of Human Caring.

Objectives: to analyze nurses' role in assisting patients in palliative care, with emphasis on the spiritual dimension, in the light of Theory of Human Caring.

Methods: this is an exploratory, qualitative study, carried out in a hospital in João Pessoa, Paraíba, between August and December 2019, with 10 nurses. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were used.

Genomic instability as a main driving factor of unsuccessful ageing: Potential for translating the use of micronuclei into clinical practice.

Genome instability denotes an increased tendency to alterations in the genome during cell life cycle, driven by a large variety of endogenous and exogenous insults. Ageing is characterized by the presence of damage to various cellular constituents, but genome alterations, randomly accumulating with age in different tissues, constitute the key target in this process, and are believed to be the main factor of ageing. Age-related failure of DNA repair pathways allows DNA lesions to occur more frequently, and their accumulation over time contributes to the age-associated decrease in genome integrity in somatic cells.

The hCOMET project: International database comparison of results with the comet assay in human biomonitoring. Baseline frequency of DNA damage and effect of main confounders.

The alkaline comet assay, or single cell gel electrophoresis, is one of the most popular methods for assessing DNA damage in human population. One of the open issues concerning this assay is the identification of those factors that can explain the large inter-individual and inter-laboratory variation. International collaborative initiatives such as the hCOMET project - a COST Action launched in 2016 - represent a valuable tool to meet this challenge.