Promoting Smoke-Free Homes: A Novel Behavioral Intervention Using Real-Time Audio-Visual Feedback on Airborne Particle Levels

Interventions are needed to protect the health of children who live with smokers. We pilot-tested a real-time intervention for promoting behavior change in homes that reduces second hand tobacco smoke (SHS) levels. The intervention uses a monitor and feedback system to provide immediate auditory and visual signals triggered at defined thresholds of fine particle concentration. Dynamic graphs of real-time particle levels are also shown on a computer screen. We experimentally evaluated the system, field-tested it in homes with smokers, and conducted focus groups to obtain general opinions. Laboratory tests of the monitor demonstrated SHS sensitivity, stability, precision equivalent to at least 1 µg/m³, and low noise. A linear relationship (R² = 0.98) was observed between the monitor and average SHS mass concentrations up to 150 µg/m³. Focus groups and interviews with intervention participants showed in-home use to be acceptable and feasible. The intervention was evaluated in 3 homes with combined baseline and intervention periods lasting 9 to 15 full days. Two families modified their behavior by opening windows or doors, smoking outdoors, or smoking less. We observed evidence of lower SHS levels in these homes. The remaining household voiced reluctance to changing their smoking activity and did not exhibit lower SHS levels in main smoking areas or clear behavior change; however, family members expressed receptivity to smoking outdoors. This study established the feasibility of the real-time intervention, laying the groundwork for controlled trials with larger sample sizes. Visual and auditory cues may prompt family members to take immediate action to reduce SHS levels. Dynamic graphs of SHS levels may help families make decisions about specific mitigation approaches.     

Monogene Ionenkanalerkrankungen der Skelettmuskulatur

Muscular channelopathies such as myotonias, dyskalemic periodic paralyses (PP), malignant hyperthermia (MH), and core myopathies are caused by mutations of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca^2+, and Cl^? channels. Mild depolarization leads to myotonic activity. Augmented membrane depolarization can convert hyperexcitability into hypoexcitability and cause transient muscle weakness. Sustained depolarization of the plasmalemma and the t-tubular membrane is the common basis of the muscle weakness in the dominant dyskalemic PP. Serum potassium levels modulate the resting membrane potential, whereby deviations from the physiological range, e.g., by thyroid dysfunction, exacerbate membrane depolarization, and weakness. Susceptibility to MH, a potentially life-threatening hypermetabolic event, is mediated by dominant mutations which are situated in the cytoplasmic part of the Ca²⁺ release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and increase the sensitivity to volatile anesthetics. Dominant or recessive mutations located in the sarcoplasmic part of the channel deplete the Ca²⁺ stores and lead to weakness and finally to a core myopathy.     

The physicochemical and biochemical characteristics of the cell walls in M+ and M- variants of Streptococcus group A type 29

The amino acid composition of cell walls and surface proteins, isolated from virulent (M+) and avirulent (M-) streptococcal strains (group A, type 29) has been determined by the method of E. H. Beachey et al. The kinetics of the lysis and proteolysis of streptococcal cell walls with muramidase and protease obtained from Actinomyces levoris and streptolysin has been studied. The constants describing the progress rates of these processes has been determined; their values in case of both lysis and proteolysis are higher in virulent strains than in avirulent ones.     

Construction of isogenic gonococci with variable porin structure: effects on susceptibility to human serum and antibiotics

Protein I (PI) is the most abundant protein on the gonococcal cell surface and besides its porin function it may have important properties contributing to pathogenicity. By allelic exchange using cloned PI genes from FA19 (PIA) and MS11 (PIB) and a selectable marker introduced closely downstream of these genes, we constructed sets of isogenic gonococcal strains that differ only in their PI gene. Analysis revealed that PI has a major effect on stable resistance to normal human serum, and a slight effect on low-level resistance to antibiotics. All PIA/B hybrids were hypersusceptible to serum, suggesting a possible explanation for why such hybrids do not occur in nature.     

Continuous-flow solid-phase synthesis of potential antigenic peptides of hepatitis B virus

The synthesis of three hepatitis B surface antigens derived from S and pre-S proteins (adw S(140-147), [Tyr148] adw S(139-148), and adw pre-S(120-145)) has been accomplished by the continuous flow Fmoc-polyamide solid phase method. The use of different scavengers and trimethylsilyl bromide (TMSBr) in trifluoroacetic acid as deprotecting procedures is discussed.