This study evaluated a new decontamination and concentration (DC) method for sputum microscopy and culture. Sputum samples from patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) (n5106) were tested using the proposed hypertonic saline-sodium hydroxide (HS-SH) DC method, the recommended N-acetyl-L-cysteine-sodium citrate-sodium hydroxide (NALC-NaOH) DC method and unconcentrated direct smear (Ziehl-Neelsen) techniques for the presence of mycobacteria using Lö wenstein-Jensen culture and light microscopy. Of 94 valid specimens, 21 (22.3 %) were positive in culture and were further characterized as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The sensitivity for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smears was increased from 28.6 % using the direct method to 71.4 % (HS-SH) and 66.7 % (NALC-NaOH) using DC methods. Both concentration techniques were highly comparable for culture (kappa50.794) and smear (kappa50.631) for AFB. Thus the proposed HS-SH DC method improved the sensitivity of AFB microscopy compared with a routine unconcentrated direct smear; its performance was comparable to that of the NALC-NaOH DC method for AFB smears and culture, but it was methodologically simpler and less expensive, making it a promising candidate for evaluation by national TB control programmes in developing countries.

This work analyses the measured indoor environmental data collected during long-term monitoring of a social housing project built to the Passive House (PH) standard. The indoor temperature, CO 2 concentration and relative humidity levels were continuously logged in 18 of the 354 apartments. The volatile organic compound concentrations were also measured before the tenants moved in. Furthermore, a survey using questionnaires and interviews was performed to evaluate the occupants' satisfaction levels. For comparison, the indoor environment of six dwellings of a similarly constructed low-energy building, but without mechanical ventilation was also measured within this project. Within the Passive Housing, the average indoor temperature distribution during winter showed a surprisingly large difference compared to the low-energy housing and to other documented PH projects in Germany. Overheating during summer seemed to be an issue especially in the top-floor apartments. This re-emphasizes the need for proper shading solutions. The evaluation of the indoor air quality shows the need for controlled domestic ventilation for non-owneroccupied buildings. The combined assessment of measured data and survey results shows the importance of factoring in air humidity when defining ventilation rates. If no humidityraising measures are applied, air exchange rates well below 0.5 h −1 can be recommended for locations with cold and dry climates. In general, the satisfaction level within the presented social housing complex built to the PH standard was very high.

The particulate matter present in air pollution is a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles that vary in size, origin, and composition, among which are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Although exposure to PAHs has become an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the mechanisms by which these compounds contribute to increased cardiovascular risk have not been fully explored. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PAH exposure on systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of endothelial dysfunction. An intervention was designed using a murine model composed of twenty BALB/c male mice separated into controls and three groups exposed to a mixture of phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene using three different concentrations. The serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines and gene expression of adhesion molecules located on endothelial cells along with inflammatory markers related to PAH exposure in aortic tissue were determined. Furthermore, the expression of the ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 proteins was evaluated. The data showed significant differences in IL-6 and IFN-γ in the serum. In the gene expression, significant differences for ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-Selectin were observed. The results suggest that phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene, present in air pollution, stimulate the increase in serum inflammatory cytokines and the expression of markers of endothelial dysfunction in the murine model studied, both relevant characteristics associated with the onset of disease atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

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