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Lai, Peggy

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Lai

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Peggy

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Lai, Peggy
Author's Publications: search.filters.isAuthorOfPublication.125554c5-aac5-44b2-92e6-4b578e1351e7

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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Impact of environmental microbiota on human microbiota of workers in academic mouse research facilities: An observational study
    (Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2017) Lai, Peggy; Allen, Joseph; Hutchinson, Diane S.; Ajami, Nadim J.; Petrosino, Joseph F.; Winters, Thomas; Hug, Christopher; Wartenberg, Gary R.; Vallarino, Jose; Christiani, David
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    Imaging Phenotype of Occupational Endotoxin-Related Lung Function Decline
    (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 2016) Lai, Peggy; Hang, Jing-qing; Zhang, Feng-ying; Sun, J.; Zheng, Bu-Yong; Su, Li; Washko, George; Christiani, David
    Background: Although occupational exposures contribute to a significant proportion of obstructive lung disease, the phenotype of obstructive lung disease associated with work-related organic dust exposure independent of smoking remains poorly defined. Objective: We identified the relative contributions of smoking and occupational endotoxin exposure to parenchymal and airway remodeling as defined by quantitative computed tomography (CT). Methods: The Shanghai Textile Worker Study is a longitudinal study of endotoxin-exposed cotton workers and endotoxin-unexposed silk workers that was initiated in 1981. Spirometry, occupational endotoxin exposure, and smoking habits were assessed at 5-year intervals. High-resolution computed tomography (CT) was performed in 464 retired workers in 2011, along with quantitative lung densitometric and airway analysis. Results: Significant differences in all CT measures were noted across exposure groups. Occupational endotoxin exposure was associated with a decrease (–1.3%) in percent emphysema (LAAI-950), a 3.3-Hounsfield unit increase in 15th percentile density, an 18.1-g increase in lung mass, and a 2.3% increase in wall area percent. Current but not former smoking was associated with a similar CT phenotype. Changes in LAAI-950 were highly correlated with 15th percentile density (correlation –1.0). Lung mass was the only measure associated with forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) decline, with each 10-g increase in lung mass associated with an additional loss (–6.1 mL) of FEV1 (p = 0.001) between 1981 and 2011. Conclusions: There are many similarities between the effects of occupational endotoxin exposure and those of tobacco smoke exposure on lung parenchyma and airway remodeling. The effects of occupational endotoxin exposure appear to persist even after the cessation of exposure. LAAI-950 may not be a reliable indicator of emphysema in subjects without spirometric impairment. Lung mass is a CT-based biomarker of accelerated lung function decline. Citation: Lai PS, Hang J, Zhang F, Sun J, Zheng BY, Su L, Washko GR, Christiani DC. 2016. Imaging phenotype of occupational endotoxin-related lung function decline. Environ Health Perspect 124:1436–1442; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP195
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    Integrating Murine Gene Expression Studies to Understand Obstructive Lung Disease due to Chronic Inhaled Endotoxin
    (Public Library of Science, 2013) Lai, Peggy; Hofmann, Oliver; Baron, Rebecca; Cernadas, Manuela; Meng, Quanxin Ryan; Bresler, Herbert S.; Brass, David M.; Yang, Ivana V.; Schwartz, David A.; Christiani, David; Hide, Winston
    Rationale: Endotoxin is a near ubiquitous environmental exposure that that has been associated with both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These obstructive lung diseases have a complex pathophysiology, making them difficult to study comprehensively in the context of endotoxin. Genome-wide gene expression studies have been used to identify a molecular snapshot of the response to environmental exposures. Identification of differentially expressed genes shared across all published murine models of chronic inhaled endotoxin will provide insight into the biology underlying endotoxin-associated lung disease. Methods: We identified three published murine models with gene expression profiling after repeated low-dose inhaled endotoxin. All array data from these experiments were re-analyzed, annotated consistently, and tested for shared genes found to be differentially expressed. Additional functional comparison was conducted by testing for significant enrichment of differentially expressed genes in known pathways. The importance of this gene signature in smoking-related lung disease was assessed using hierarchical clustering in an independent experiment where mice were exposed to endotoxin, smoke, and endotoxin plus smoke. Results: A 101-gene signature was detected in three murine models, more than expected by chance. The three model systems exhibit additional similarity beyond shared genes when compared at the pathway level, with increasing enrichment of inflammatory pathways associated with longer duration of endotoxin exposure. Genes and pathways important in both asthma and COPD were shared across all endotoxin models. Mice exposed to endotoxin, smoke, and smoke plus endotoxin were accurately classified with the endotoxin gene signature. Conclusions: Despite the differences in laboratory, duration of exposure, and strain of mouse used in three experimental models of chronic inhaled endotoxin, surprising similarities in gene expression were observed. The endotoxin component of tobacco smoke may play an important role in disease development.
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    Epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant wound infections from six countries in Africa
    (BMJ Publishing Group, 2018) Lai, Peggy; Bebell, Lisa; Meney, Carron; Valeri, Linda; White, Michelle C
    Introduction: Little is known about the antimicrobial susceptibility of common bacteria responsible for wound infections from many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of microbial isolates collected based on clinical suspicion of wound infection between 2004 and 2016 from Mercy Ships, a non-governmental organisation operating a single mobile surgical unit in Benin, Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Sierra Leone and Togo. Antimicrobial resistant organisms of interest were defined as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Enterobacteriaceae resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. Generalised mixed-effects models accounting for repeated isolates in a patient, potential clustering by case mix for each field service, age, gender and country were used to test the hypothesis that rates of antimicrobial resistance differed between countries. Results: 3145 isolates from repeated field services in six countries were reviewed. In univariate analyses, the highest proportion of MRSA was found in Benin (34.6%) and Congo (31.9%), while the lowest proportion was found in Togo (14.3%) and Madagascar (14.5%); country remained a significant predictor in multivariate analyses (P=0.002). In univariate analyses, the highest proportion of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae was found in Benin (35.8%) and lowest in Togo (14.3%) and Madagascar (16.3%). Country remained a significant predictor for antimicrobial-resistant isolates in multivariate analyses (P=0.009). Conclusion: A significant proportion of isolates from wound cultures were resistant to first-line antimicrobials in each country. Though antimicrobial resistance isolates were not verified in a reference laboratory and these data may not be representative of all regions of the countries studied, differences in the proportion of antimicrobial-resistant isolates and resistance profiles between countries suggest site-specific surveillance should be a priority and local antimicrobial resistance profiles should be used to guide empiric antibiotic selection.