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Introduction Stress is an integral part of the profession of health care personnel (HCP) and manifests in higher rates of depressive and anxiety disorders (ADD). Objectives Screening of anxiety and depressive disorders factors among HCPs Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study in two university hospitals in Ariana was carried out ont september 2022. It included HCP who were examined for medical periodic visit. Data was collect from medical records, anxiety and depression Scale (HAD) and somnolence questionnaire (Epworth). Results One hundred and nine HCP were included in the study. Women represented 87.2% of cases. The average age was 38 ±10.7 years. The average occupational seniority varied between one to 38 years. Nurses represented 38.5%, technicians 24% and doctors 7%. They had night work in 12% of cases. Depression and anxiety were found for 20% and 31% of cases respectively. Successive daytime sleepiness was found in 7% of cases. A statistically significant relationship was found between excessive daytime sleepiness and anxiety (p=0.005) and between depression (p=0.002). Conclusions Anxiety and depressive disorders in HCP were considerable. they were assiciated with sleepiness disorder. Night or day time shift wasn’t statistically correlated with ADD. Referral to psychiatric consultations after psychological opinion was done in order garantee therapeutic support and decide fitness to work. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was described among patients with COVID-19, health professionals (HP), and the population at large. HP were in the front-line managing this pandemic which put them at a higher risk to develop such trouble. Objectives The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of work circumstances on the mental health of HP. Methods Cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out. It included HP at Abdurrahman Mami Hospital who had a positive RT-PCR test of SARS-CoV-2 on a nasopharyngeal swab over the 10-month period from January to October 2021. Data collection was performed three months after the resumption using the PCL-5 questionnaire . Results Seventy six HP was included in our study. PTSD incidence was 30%. Age average was 41 ± 9 years. Women represented 84%. Seventy eight percent of the HP were married and 71% were living with their children. The average number of persons in the family was 4 ± 1. Intensive care unit was the department of origin for 17% of the HP, the laboratory in 8% of the cases, the emergency room in 3% and the Covid-19 hospitalization services in 24%. The most affected occupational category was nurses (39%), laboratory technicians (14%), and physicians (8%). General difficulties with tasks usually performed was found in 35% of HP suffering from PTSD (p=0.012). It appears that limiting the time spent at work had a protective role for PTSD with an OR of 0.25 (p=0.002). Conclusions Handling COVID-19 health issues was the concern of all medical departments. This study highlights the impact of work circumstances on the mental health of workers. PTSD was prevalent among HP according to our study. PTSD may have an impact on work ability, which should be further explored by other studies. Other psychiatric disorders should also be investigated. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction The COVID 19 pandemic had a significant psychological impact worldwide. Health care workers (HCWs) were the most affected because of the pandemic burden and occupational exigencies. Objectives To describe epidemiological characteristics of HCWs with post COVID19 anxiodepressive disorders. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. It included HCWs of a university hospital who consulted the Occupational Medicine Clinics for the three-month post-COVID‘s medical visit. The study was carried out during the period March 2020 to January 2022. The data was collected using a questionnaire including socio-occupational and medical characteristics. Psychometric evaluation was carried out using « the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale » Results We have collected 164 HCWs. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.29. The average age was 41±9.8 years. They belonged to the pneumology (27%), intensive care (11%) and biology laboratory (11%). The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 34% and 30% respectively. We found an association between sleep disorders and anxiety (p=0.000), OR=5 IC95%[2.4-10.3] and depression (p=0.000), OR= 4 IC 95%[2.0-9.3]. We found an association between anxiety and persistent fatigue (p=0,000), OR=4[2,0-8,6], anxiety and concentration and memory difficulties (p=0,000), OR=3 IC 95%[1,7-6,9]. Referral to psychiatric consultations were done in 16% of the cases. Conclusions Post-COVID anxiety disorders were frequent among HCWs and associated with neurocognitive disorders. Psychiatric support and early treatment are necessary to prevent mental deterioration. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction Telework is a work organization in which a task that could have been performed on the employer’s worksite is performed by an employee outside of these offices, using information and communication technologies. COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened digitalization as the result of social distancing and lockdown. However, teleworking can lead to different risks for employees mental health. Objectives Evaluation of the psychosocial impact of telework during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia Methods Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out from17 to 22 May 2021. It included workers who teleworked during the first lockdown. The data collection was performed with a self-administered online questionnaire specifying the socio-medical, occupational and psychosocial characteristics. Results A total of 612 teleworkers were included. The mean age was 33±6.9 years. Sex ratio (M/F) was 0.32. The main sectors of activity were telecommunications and information technology (31.6%), legal and financial services (19%) and administration and organizations (16.5%). The teleworkers were operating in the private sector in 91.6% of the cases. Teleworking had been practiced before the health confinement by 55.6% of the cases and 86.3% had never received teleworking training. Psychosocial repercussions were noticed among 92.2%. During confinement, teleworkers reported a mood sadness in 36.4%, persistent anxiety in 27.8% and constant exhaustion in 43.3%. Sleep disorders were reported by 65.5%. They were difficulty in getting to sleep in 42.5% and a difficult morning awakening in 51.8%. The absence of work organization was significantly correlated with mood sadness (p

Introduction Work addiction is currently an increasingly frequent phenomenon in several sectors of activity, particullarly the engineering sector, given the importance of technological advances and the development of organizational climates favoring competition. Objectives To describe work addiction impact among tunisian computer engineers. Methods A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out from September first, 2020 to December 31st, 2020 including computer engineers working in several private engineering companies located at Grand Tunis area. Data collection was done through an online self-administered questionnaire. The level of work addiction was assessed by the Work Addiction Risk Test (WRAT) in its French version validated with 25 items evaluating five dimensions namely : Compulsive tendencies, control, lack of communication, inability to delegate and self-esteem. Burnout was identified by The Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results A total of 92 computer engineers were included. The average age was 27 ± 4.7 years with extremes ranging from 23 to 55 years. The sex ratio (M / F) was equal to 1.48. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of engineers considered that their work takes so much energy and time that it had a negative impact on their private lives (less time spent with family, more marital conflicts, etc…). Fifty-four percent (54%) of engineers suffered from sleep disorders (difficulty falling asleep, repetitive nocturnal awakenings, etc). The results of the WART questionnaire showed that 58% of engineers were at risk of work addiction, of which 27% had a high risk. This group of engineers with a medium to high risk of work addiction had an average age of 26 ± 3.6 years with extremes ranging from 23 to 42 years. The sex ratio was equal to 1.52. They reported more negative impact of their work on their personal lives (p=0.010) and more reproaches from family members (p= 0.038). They were at risk of burnout syndrome (p=0.038). No statistically significant relationship between the risk of work addiction and the occupational characteristics (occupational category, seniority in the engineering position, number of hours spent at work / week, etc.) was found. Conclusions The occupational physician has a crucial role in screening work addiction and its consequences among engineers. Early detection among at-risk populations must be carried out by a multidisciplinary team for appropriate management of workaholic employees. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive psychosis is a severe recurrent psychiatric disorder that, if left untreated, can lead to severe social harm, disability and neurotrophic changes in the brain. However, social and psychological factors play a key role in the onset and progression of the disorder. Therefore, a bio-psycho-social therapeutic approach in the form of an integrated model of “Collaborative Care” is recommended. Objectives Determining the main factors interfering with the decision of fitness to work in bipolar disorders according to work requirements. Methods Clinical cases including health professionals (HP) was carried out. Cases were examinated at a specialized occupational health Clinics including HP between 2018 and 2022. Data was collected from medical records and by questioning patients directly in case of missing data. Results Four HP were included in the study. All suffering from bipolar disorder. The average age was 37 years [28,49]. All were women. Two were divorced and one single. Two anesthesia technicians, a nurse and a cleaner. Two were smokers. Two were transferred to another department because non psycho-education of colleagues at work, dealing with patients, verbal and physical agressivness and cognitive disorders. The two anesthesia technicians were judged unfit for work because of their work responsability and the need for the integrity of all cognitive faculties in the workplace. Conclusions In order to decide the fitness to work, occupational physician must consider both bipolar disorder impact and workplace exigency. The adequacy between disease stability and others security is iteratively revised. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

It is known that electromagnetic radiation affects the functional systems of living beings, in particular, the endocrine and cardiovascular systems and directly the heart cells and their functioning. In this case, the influence of electromagnetic radiation significantly affects the properties of the cardiovascular system and changes physiological processes in it. Moreover, sensitivity to signals is higher for biosystems with a higher level of organization. The method of simulating hypothyroidism for rats makes it possible to develop an experimental model for analyzing morphogenetic changes in the rat heart. Under conditions of hypothyroidism modeling, destructive changes in muscle fibers are observed in the myocardium after thyroidectomy, but after microwave irradiation with an exposure of 45 minutes, a regenerative-compensatory reconstruction of the structural components of the myocardium of the heart wall occurs. After thyroidectomy and microwave irradiation with an exposure of 120 minutes, an increase in degenerative and destructive processes in the heart myocardium was observed. For the first time, a comparative ultramicroscopic study using electron microscopy was carried out. It showed that after electromagnetic irradiation with an exposure of 45 minutes, the general structure of the mitochondrial apparatus does not change. Irradiation with an exposure of 120 minutes causes the destruction of subsarcolemal and paranuclear organelles, edema and degradation of intermyofibrillar mitochondria. After exposure to electromagnetic radiation with the exposure of 45 minutes in a hypothyroid state, a compensatory restructuring of the energy apparatus of the contractile cardiomyocytes of the left ventricle occurs due to the formation of mitochondria and an increase in their contact interaction. After exposure to radiation for 120 minutes, the development of destructive-degenerative processes in the mitochondrial apparatus of left ventricular cardiomyocytes, deepening of damage to intermitochondrial contacts was observed. The most significant increase in the relative volume of the endothelium in the areas of the rat heart myocardium was observed for the case of microwave irradiation only (without experimental hypothyroidism) with exposure duration of 45 minutes. Immunohistochemical study both for the case of microwave irradiation only and for the case of microwave irradiation under conditions of experimental hypothyroidism allows us to conclude that morphogenetic transformations are highly active in the myocardium of the heart when the duration of exposure is 45 minutes. This study will make it possible to develop recommendations for persons with thyroid diseases on the duration of daily exposure of staying in electromagnetic field emitted by devices with characteristics similar to the case under study.

Objective: To investigate the utility and effectiveness of a noise-attenuating, tablet-based mobile health system combined with asynchronous telehealth evaluations for screening rural Nicaraguan schoolchildren for hearing loss., Study Design: Prospective population-based survey., Setting: Rural Nicaraguan communities., Patients: There were 3,398 school children 7 to 9 years of age., Interventions: Diagnostic automated and manual audiometry, detailed asynchronous telehealth evaluations., Main Outcome Measures: Referral rates, ambient noise levels, and audiometric results as well as hearing loss prevalence, types, and risk factors., Results: Despite high ambient noise levels during screening (46.7 dBA), no effect of noise on referral rates on automated audiometry or confirmatory manual audiometry in those who failed automated testing was seen. The overall audiometric referral rate was 2.6%. Idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and cerumen impaction were the most common types of hearing loss in this population with an estimated prevalence of hearing loss (all types) of 18.3 per 1,000 children. SNHL was associated with both drug exposure during pregnancy (p = 0.04) and pesticide exposure in the home (p = 0.03)., Conclusion: Hearing screening using a tablet-based, noise-attenuating wireless headset audiometer is feasible and effective in rural low-resource environments with moderately elevated ambient noise levels. The referral rate with noise-attenuating headsets was much lower than that previous reports on this population. In addition, manual audiometry resulted in much lower referral rates than automated audiometry. The confirmed hearing loss rate in this study is comparable to reports from other low-income countries that use some form of noise attenuation during screening. Pesticide exposure and drug exposure during pregnancy are potential causes of SNHL in this population., Competing Interests: The authors disclose no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022, Otology & Neurotology, Inc.)

Importance: Minimally invasive methods for skin rejuvenation are in high demand. A diverse array of minimally invasive devices has been developed for aesthetical purposes and should be considered to help patients achieve their goals. Observations: Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling is a safe and effective intervention for treatment of various aesthetical and dermatological conditions in all skin types. This review highlights Morpheus8 (InMode, Inc., Irvine, CA) and what differentiates it from other similar devices. Conclusions and Relevance: RF microneedling addresses aesthetical and dermatological concerns for a diverse variety of patients in whom surgical intervention may not be desired. Morpheus8 has unique technological properties and advances that make it the preferred device for many practices.

Importance: Percutaneous radiofrequency-based skin tightening procedures can offer patients an option to undergo a potential treatment for skin laxity and excess adipose of the face and neck with less downtime, lower cost, and decreased risk of complications compared with more aggressive open procedures such as neck lift, face and neck lift, and platysmaplasty. Observations: FaceTite and AccuTite can safely yet effectively deliver energy into the subdermal space, targeting the dermal collagen network and deeper fascial layer. Ideal candidates have early jowl formation, mild to moderate skin laxity, and submental adiposity. Relevance & Conclusions: From the perspective of facial plastic surgeons, these procedures can enhance the volume of an aesthetic practice by welcoming patients who may not otherwise present for face and neck rejuvenation out of fear from surgery. Furthermore, many of these minimally invasive patients will ultimately return for surgical rejuvenation later in life.

Background: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using minimally trained community health workers (CHW) to screen schoolchildren in rural Nicaragua for hearing loss using a tablet-based audiometric system integrated with asynchronous telehealth evaluations and mobile health (mHealth) appointment reminders., Methods: A population-based survey was conducted using community health workers (CHWs) to perform tablet-based audiometry, asynchronous telehealth evaluations, and mHealth reminders to screen 3398 school children (7-9 years of age) in 92 rural Nicaraguan communities. The accuracy of screening, test duration, testing efficiency, telehealth data validity, and compliance with recommended clinic visits were analyzed., Results: Minimally trained CHWs successfully screened children within remote rural schools with automated audiometry (test duration = 5.8 minutes) followed by manual audiometry if needed (test duration = 4.3 minutes) with an estimated manual audiometry validity of 98.5% based on a review of convergence patterns. For children who were referred based on audiometry, the otoscopy and tympanometry obtained during telehealth evaluations were high quality (as reviewed by 3 experts) in 44.6% and 80.1% of ears, respectively. A combination of automated short message service (SMS) text messages and voice reminders resulted in a follow-up compliance of 75.2%. No families responded to SMS messages alone., Conclusions: Tablet-based hearing screening administered by minimally trained CHWs is feasible and effective in low- and middle-income countries. Manual audiometry was as efficient as automated audiometry in this setting. The physical exam tasks of otoscopy and tympanometry require additional training. Mobile phone messages improve compliance for confirmatory audiometry, but the utility of SMS messaging alone is unclear in this population., Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest: The authors completed the ICMJE Disclosure of Interest Form (available upon request from the corresponding author) and disclose no relevant interest., (Copyright © 2022 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.)

Headache is a common symptom in pregnancy. The differential diagnosis for headache in pregnancy is broad and includes conditions that range in acuity and severity. Most headaches in pregnancy are migraine or tension-type headaches. However, pregnant women are at an increased risk of vascular causes of headache due to hormone changes and increased hypercoagulability in pregnancy. A careful history, physical examination, and possible diagnostic workup should be performed. Treatment of headache in pregnancy varies according to the etiology, but care should be taken when performing diagnostic studies and considering pharmacologic treatments, given the possible risk to the mother and fetus., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To describe the developmental anatomy of the eustachian tube (ET) and its relationship to surrounding structures on computed tomography., Study Design: Case series with chart review., Setting: A tertiary care hospital., Methods: ET anatomy was assessed with reformatted high-resolution computed tomography scans from 2010 to 2018. Scans (n = 78) were randomly selected from the following age groups: <4, 5 to 7, 8 to 18, and >18 years. The following were measured and compared between groups: ET length, angles, and relationship between its bony cartilaginous junction and the internal carotid artery and between its nasopharyngeal opening and the nasal floor., Results: The distance between the bony cartilaginous junction and internal carotid artery decreased with age between the <4-year-olds (2.4 ± 0.6 mm) and the 5- to 7-year-olds (2.0 ± 0.3 mm, P = .001). The ET length increased among the <4-year-olds (32 mm), 5- to 7-year-olds (36 mm), and 8- to 18-year-olds (41 mm, P < .0001). The cartilaginous ET increased among the <4-year-olds (20 mm), 5- to 7-year-olds (25 mm), and 8- to 18-year-olds (28 mm, P < .0001). The ET horizontal angle increased among the <4-year-olds (17°), 5- to 7-year-olds (21°), and 8- to 18-year-olds (23°, P ≤ .003), but the ET sagittal angle did not statistically change after 5 years of age. The height difference between the nasopharyngeal opening of the ET and the nasal floor increased among the <4-year-olds (4 mm), 5- to 7-year-olds (7 mm), and 8- to 18-year-olds (11 mm, P < .0001)., Conclusion: The ET elongates with age, and its angles and relationship to the nasal floor increase. Although some parameters mature faster, more than half of the ET growth occurs by 8 years of age, and adult morphology is achieved by early adolescence.

The prevalence of metabolic disorders characterized by chronic inflammation has been on a sharp rise for decades. As such, tools that address metabolic and inflammatory dysregulation are of great importance. Plant stanols are well-known for reducing intestinal cholesterol absorption and may also have direct anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, our aim was to investigate to what extent the benefits of dietary plant stanol supplementation depend on dietary cholesterol intake in an experimental mouse model for cholesterol-induced metabolic inflammation. Here, we used Ldlr -/- mice transplanted with Npc1 nih -derived bone marrow, featuring feature bone marrow-derived immune cells characterized by chronic inflammation induced by lysosomal lipid accumulation. Npc1 nih - and Npc1 wt -transplanted mice were placed on either a high fat, high cholesterol (HFC) or on a chow diet low in cholesterol, with or without 2% plant stanols supplementation. At the end of the study, the metabolic and inflammatory status of the mice was analyzed. Plant stanol supplementation to the HFC diet reduced liver cholesterol levels and improved lipid metabolism and liver inflammation, particularly in Npc1 nih -tp mice. In contrast, plant stanol supplementation to the chow diet did not significantly improve the aforementioned parameters, though similar reductive trends to those in the HFC diet setting were observed regarding liver cholesterol accumulation and liver inflammatory markers. The effects of dietary plant stanol supplementation on dietary cholesterol-induced inflammation are largely dependent on dietary cholesterol intake. Future research should verify whether other models of metabolic inflammation exhibit similar stanol-related effects on inflammation.

Niemann-Pick type C (NPC)1 disease is a rare genetic condition in which the function of the lysosomal cholesterol transporter NPC1 protein is impaired. Consequently, sphingolipids and cholesterol accumulate in lysosomes of all tissues, triggering a cascade of pathological events that culminate in severe systemic and neurological symptoms. Lysosomal cholesterol accumulation is also a key factor in the development of atherosclerosis and NASH. In these two metabolic diseases, the administration of plant stanol esters has been shown to ameliorate cellular cholesterol accumulation and inflammation. Given the overlap of pathological mechanisms among atherosclerosis, NASH, and NPC1 disease, we sought to investigate whether dietary supplementation with plant stanol esters improves the peripheral features of NPC1 disease. To this end, we used an NPC1 murine model featuring a Npc1 -null allele ( Npc1 nih ), creating a dysfunctional NPC1 protein. Npc1 nih mice were fed a 2% or 6% plant stanol ester-enriched diet over the course of 5 weeks. During this period, hepatic and blood lipid and inflammatory profiles were assessed. Npc1 nih mice fed the plant stanol-enriched diet exhibited lower hepatic cholesterol accumulation, damage, and inflammation than regular chow-fed Npc1 nih mice. Moreover, plant stanol consumption shifted circulating T-cells and monocytes in particular toward an anti-inflammatory profile. Overall, these effects were stronger following dietary supplementation with 6% stanols, suggesting a dose-dependent effect. The findings of our study highlight the potential use of plant stanols as an affordable complementary means to ameliorate disorders in hepatic and blood lipid metabolism and reduce inflammation in NPC1 disease., (Copyright © 2020 Magro dos Reis et al.)

Objective: Determine whether an electronic tablet-based Wireless Automated Hearing-Test System can perform high-quality audiometry to assess schoolchildren for hearing loss in the field in Nicaragua., Study Design: Cross-sectional., Setting: A school and hospital-based audiology clinic in Jinotega, Nicaragua., Subjects and Methods: Second and third graders (n = 120) were randomly selected for hearing testing in a school. Air conduction hearing thresholds were obtained bilaterally using a Wireless Automated Hearing-Test System at 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. Referral criteria were set at more than 25 dBHL at one or more frequencies. A cohort of children was retested with conventional audiometry in a hospital-based sound booth. Factors influencing false-positive examinations, including ambient noise and behavior, were examined., Results: All children with hearing loss were detected using an automated, manual, or two-step (those referred from automated testing were tested manually) protocol in the school (sensitivity = 100%). Specificity was 76% for automated testing, 97% for manual testing, and 99% for the two-step protocol. The variability between thresholds obtained with automated testing was greater than manual testing when compared with conventional audiometry. The percentage of participant responses when no stimulus tone was presented during automated testing was higher in children with false-positive examinations., Conclusion: A Wireless Automated Hearing-Test System identified all children with hearing loss in a challenging field setting. A two-step protocol (those referred from automated testing are tested manually) reduced false-positive examinations and unnecessary referrals. Children who respond frequently when no tone is presented are more likely to have false-positive automated examinations and should be tested manually.

Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) disease is caused by a deleterious mutation in the Npc1 gene, causing lysosomal accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and sphingolipids. Consequently, NPC1 disease patients suffer from severe neurovisceral symptoms which, in the absence of effective treatments, result in premature death. NPC1 disease patients display increased plasma levels of cholesterol oxidation products such as those enriched in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), a pro-inflammatory mediator. While it has been shown that inflammation precedes and exacerbates symptom severity in NPC1 disease, it is unclear whether oxLDL contributes to NPC1 disease progression. In this study, we investigated the effects of increasing anti-oxLDL IgM autoantibodies on systemic and neurological symptoms in an NPC1 disease mouse model. For this purpose, Npc1 nih mice were immunized with heat-inactivated S. pneumoniae , an immunogen which elicits an IgM autoantibody-mediated immune response against oxLDL. Npc1 nih mice injected with heat-inactivated pneumococci displayed an improved hepatic phenotype, including liver lipid accumulation and inflammation. In addition, regression of motor skills was delayed in immunized Npc1 nih . In line with these results, brain analyses showed an improved cerebellar phenotype and neuroinflammation in comparison with control-treated subjects. This study highlights the potential of the pneumococcal immunization as a novel therapeutical approach in NPC1 disease. Future research should investigate whether implementation of this therapy can improve life span and quality of life of NPC1 disease patients.

Purpose of Review: Cost-effectiveness of cochlear implants is a major concern for expanding these services to low-income and middle-income developing countries., Recent Findings: Recent studies have applied appropriate methodology to make determination of cost-effectiveness for cochlear implants in developing countries. In addition, important parameters that effect cost-effectiveness have been reviewed in a systematic way. The combination of these new studies along with existing reports of cochlear implant programmes in developing countries allows for a discussion of cost and outcomes determinants that drive cost-effectiveness in these environments., Summary: Cochlear implants are a very cost-effective treatment for profound hearing loss in all high-resource countries and in many low-income and middle-income developing countries. A number of cost considerations affect cost-effectiveness of cochlear implants in developing countries including device cost and device-related expenses such as power consumption and reliability, but also including rehabilitation and access-related expenses. Large-scale programmes confer an advantage for cost-effectiveness, primarily through device-related savings.

Background: The nervous system may include more than 100 residue-specific posttranslational modifications of histones forming the nucleosome core that are often regulated in cell-type-specific manner. On a genome-wide scale, some of the histone posttranslational modification landscapes show significant overlap with the genetic risk architecture for several psychiatric disorders, fueling PsychENCODE and other large-scale efforts to comprehensively map neuronal and nonneuronal epigenomes in hundreds of specimens. However, practical guidelines for efficient generation of histone chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) datasets from postmortem brains are needed., Methods: Protocols and quality controls are given for the following: 1) extraction, purification, and NeuN neuronal marker immunotagging of nuclei from adult human cerebral cortex; 2) fluorescence-activated nuclei sorting; 3) preparation of chromatin by micrococcal nuclease digest; 4) ChIP for open chromatin-associated histone methylation and acetylation; and 5) generation and sequencing of ChIP-seq libraries., Results: We present a ChIP-seq pipeline for epigenome mapping in the neuronal and nonneuronal nuclei from the postmortem brain. This includes a stepwise system of quality controls and user-friendly data presentation platforms., Conclusions: Our practical guidelines will be useful for projects aimed at histone posttranslational modification mapping in chromatin extracted from hundreds of postmortem brain samples in cell-type-specific manner., Competing Interests: The authors report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2016 Society of Biological Psychiatry. All rights reserved.)

Acrylamide (AA) is a well-known industrial chemical classified as a probable human carcinogen. Benign and malignant tumours at different sites, including the mammary gland, have been reported in rodents exposed to AA. This xenobiotic is also formed in many carbohydrate-rich foods prepared at high temperatures. For this reason, AA is an issue of concern in terms of human cancer risk. The epoxide glycidamide (GA) is thought to be the ultimate genotoxic AA metabolite. Despite extensive experimental and epidemiological data focused on AA-induced breast cancer, there is still lack of information on the deleterious effects induced by GA in mammary cells. The work reported here addresses the characterisation and modulation of cytotoxicity, generation of reactive oxygen species, formation of micronuclei (MN) and quantification of specific GA-DNA adducts in human MCF10A epithelial cells exposed to GA. The results show that GA significantly induces MN, impairs cell proliferation kinetics and decreases cell viability at high concentrations by mechanisms not involving oxidative stress. KU55933, an inhibitor of ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase, enhanced the cytotoxicity of GA (P < 0.05), supporting a role of this enzyme in regulating the repair of GA-induced DNA lesions. Moreover, even at low GA levels, N7-GA-Gua adducts were generated in a linear dose-response manner in MCF10A cells. These results confirm that human mammary cells are susceptible to GA toxicity and reinforce the need for additional studies to clarify the potential correlation between dietary AA exposure and breast cancer risk in human populations.