Short-term (15 min) samples to study peak exposure

were also included in the monitoring program. Diffusive samplers Selleckchem PLX3397 were used for monitoring, and analyzed by thermal desorption and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effect on exposure of different types of scavenging systems was studied by mixed model analysis.\n\nResults The 8-h TWA (n = 36) nitrous oxide concentrations varied between 2.5 and 260 mg/m(3), and the geometric means for all the 8-h TWAs was 17 mg/m(3) for the midwives and 42 mg/m(3) for the assistant midwives. Around 25% of all the 8-h TWAs exceeded the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists’ (ACGIH) threshold limit value (TLV-TWA) of 90 mg/m(3) (50 ppm). For the short-term samples (n = 29) the nitrous oxide levels varied between 19 and 4,200 mg/m(3), and 14% exceeded the Swedish occupational exposure ceiling limit value of 900 mg/m(3). The 8-h TWAs were four times higher when the non-ventilated and ventilated simple masks were compared to the double mask (P = 0.02). This trend, although not statistically significant, was also seen for the short-term TH-302 samples.\n\nConclusion A diffusive sampling method and a GC-MS analytical technique was used for long- and short-term sampling of nitrous oxide. A large number of TWAs exceeded the ACGIH-TLV. Mask connected to scavenging

systems significantly reduced the exposures. Furthermore, using a forced general air ventilation system in addition to improved work and delivery routines for the staff and the mother-to-be substantially improved the air quality in the delivery Staurosporine inhibitor suites.”
“The transcription factor Snail is an important repressor of E-cadherin gene expression. It plays a key role in the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, an essential process important not only in embryonic development and tumor progression but also in organ fibrogenesis. We studied the expression of Snail by immunohistochemistry, along with several epithelial phenotypic changes suggestive of epithelial-mesenchymal

transition, in 14 patients with multiple myeloma cast nephropathy. This nephropathy is characterized by a rapid progression toward fibrosis. As controls, we used normal kidneys and kidneys from patients displaying an idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, a syndrome unassociated with renal fibrosis. We discovered that, in all patients with multiple myeloma nephropathy, a drastic accumulation of Snail is seen in the nuclei from tubular epithelial cells showing epithelial phenotypic changes. In contrast, normal and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome kidneys did not exhibit either of these markers. Snail, a major player in the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, is highly expressed by tubular epithelial cells during multiple myeloma nephropathy.