A table of color distance scores for quantitative scoring of the Lanthony Desaturate color vision test.

The Lanthony Desaturate Panel D-15 (D-15d) color vision test is used in neurotoxicological testing to assess acquired color vision deficits. The original test design included a qualitative scoring method. Quantitative scoring requires mapping the colored objects used in the test into a color space describing perceptual distances. A table of these distances has previously been published for the saturated version of this color vision test, but not the desaturate test. This communication includes a table of color distances for the calculation of Bowman's Total Color Distance Score (TCDS) for the D-15d. This table should be useful for non-computerized scoring under field test conditions or for devising one's own computerized scoring methods using the tabulated color distances for a look-up table. Data analysis programs using SAS or Matlab are available from the author.     

Associations between platelet monoamine oxidase-B activity and acquired colour vision loss in a fish-eating population

Platelet monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) has been considered a surrogate biochemical marker of neurotoxicity, as it may reflect changes in the monoaminergic system in the brain. Colour vision discrimination, in part a dopamine dependent process, has been used to identify early neurological effects of some environmental and industrial neurotoxicants. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between platelet MAO-B activity and acquired colour discrimination capacity in fish-consumers from the St. Lawrence River region of Canada. Assessment of acquired dyschromatopsia was determined using the Lanthony D-15 desaturated panel test. Participants classified with dyschromatopsia (n=81) had significantly lower MAO-B activity when compared to those with normal colour vision (n=32) (26.5+/-9.6 versus 31.0+/-9.9 nmol/min/20 microg, P=0.030)). Similarly, Bowman's Colour Confusion Index (CCI) was inversely correlated with MAO-B activity when the vision test was performed with the worst eye only (r=-0.245, P=0.009), the best eye only (r=-0.188, P=0.048) and with both eyes together (r=-0.309, P=0.001). Associations remained significant after adjustment for age and gender when both eyes (P=0.003) and the worst eye (P=0.045) were tested. Adjustment for heavy smoking weakened the association between MAO-B and CCI in the worst eye (P=0.140), but did not alter this association for both eyes (P=0.006). Adjustment for blood-mercury concentrations did not change the association. This study suggests a relationship between reduced MAO-B activity and acquired colour vision loss and both are associated with tobacco smoking. Therefore, results show that platelet MAO-B may be used as a surrogate biochemical marker of acquired colour vision loss.     

Effects of high doses of toluene on color vision

High exposure to toluene may cause optic neuropathy and retinopathy, both associated with dyschromatopsia. Another solvent, ethanol, is known to induce acute blue-yellow dyschromatopsia. This study investigated the acute effects of high doses of toluene on color vision. Eight male printshop workers were examined before and after cleaning printing containers with pure toluene. After cleaning, concentrations of toluene in blood were between 3.61 and 7.37 mg/l. Color vision was tested with the Farnsworth panel D-15 test, the Lanthony desaturated panel D-15 test, and the Standard Pseudoisochromatic Plates part 2. For control of possible acute effects, eight workers of a metal-working factory without any neurotoxic exposure were tested according to the same procedure. Acute exposure to toluene did not cause impairment of color vision. However, statistical power is limited due to the small number of exposed subjects. Color vision of the printshop workers tested before cleaning was slightly impaired (statistically not significant) when compared with unexposed subjects.     

Color vision and occupational toluene exposure.

We examined the relationship between acquired color vision loss and exposure to toluene and total hydrocarbons among 125 male workers. Seventy-two toluene-exposed printers were compared with 34 workers from the same photogravure plant with ambient background exposure, and with 19 workers from a bookbinding plant located in the same town (nonexposed). Environmental mean toluene exposure level at workstation was estimated from individual 8-h sampling. Historic exposure data from the last 30 years were used to construct two cumulative exposure indices, one for toluene and one for total hydrocarbons. Airborne toluene levels were overall lower than the current Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 50 ppm. Color vision was assessed by the Lanthony D-15 desaturated panel. Color vision loss was quantitatively established by the Color Confusion Index (CCI) and classified by type of acquired dyschromatopsia according to Verriest's classification. CCI was positively related to current airborne toluene levels, and cumulative exposure indices for toluene and total hydrocarbons (.18< or =r< or =.35). Odds ratios of acquired dyschromatopsia were significant for current airborne toluene, toluene, and total hydrocarbon past exposure (1.27 [1.02-1.58], 1.21 [1.04-1.39], 1.15 [1.02-1.31], respectively). In conclusion, this study suggests that the Lanthony D-15 desaturated panel detects early neurotoxic effects among workers exposed to toluene.     

Occupational exposure to different levels of mixed organic solvents and colour vision impairment

Mixed organic solvents have a broad range of applications in industry. Occupational exposure to organic solvents has been shown to be associated with colour vision impairment. The study was designed to determine the impact of chronic occupational exposure to organic solvent mixtures on colour vision of car industry painters. 408 workers of assembly location and 2 different paint locations of a car manufacturing company were included in the study. The workers were studied in three groups. The first group consisted of those working in the assembly location with no exposure to organic solvents. The second and third groups included those working in the new and old paint locations, exposed to organic solvents at lower and higher levels than the permissible level, respectively. The Lanthony D-15 desaturated (LD-15) test was used for screening acquired colour vision impairment. The frequency of acquired colour vision impairment was 44.28% for workers of the old paint location, 29.31% for workers of the new paint location, and 3.90% for workers of the assembly location, indicating a significant difference (p < 0.001). The results of logistic regression indicated there was a significant relationship between colour confusion index (CCI) and exposure to organic solvents (p < 0.001) for the old and new paint locations. We suggest that chronic occupational exposure to organic solvents at higher and even lower levels than the permitted levels may lead to acquired colour vision impairment. It is recommended that LD-15 test would be implicated in the early diagnosis of nervous system disorders in workers exposed chronically to organic solvents.     

Colour vision loss among disabled workers with neuropsychological impairment

Test performance on a neurobehavioural battery was examined with respect to acquired colour vision loss among patients with a history of neurotoxin exposure. The study group included 14 men and 7 women with clinically diagnosed neuropsychological impairment (mean age: 41.3 ± 8.1 years; mean educational level: 13.4 ± 1.4 years). Verbal and visual ability, memory and psychomotor function were assessed with the California Neuropsychological Screening Battery. Colour vision was assessed with the Lanthony D-15 desaturated colour arrangement panel. Acquired dyschromatopsia was present in 17 patients (80.9%), 11 of whom manifested patterns of Type II colour vision loss. Simple regression analysis of neuropsychological test performance with respect to colour vision loss, using age-adjusted Z-scores, revealed significant relationships (p≤0.05) solely for tests which rely heavily on the visual system. Significant differences in visual task test scores were also observed with the type of dyschromatopsia (Kruskal-Wallis, p≤0.05). These findings suggest that poor performance on visual tasks and colour vision loss may both result from damage to neuro-ophthalmic pathways or that loss of integrity of the peripheral visual pathways may affect visual task performance. The authors propose that visual testing should be incorporated into neurobehavioural test batteries.     

Chromal focus of acquired chromatic discrimination loss and solvent exposure among printshop workers

Acquired dyschromatopsia has been associated with exposure to organic solvents. However, the chromal focus of the loss may be indicative of its gravity. According to Kollner's rule, blue-yellow loss reflects changes in external retinal layers, while red-green loss appears to be indicative of internal retinal or optic nerve damage. The objective of the present study was to examine chromatic discrimination capacity of 30 printshop workers exposed to organic solvent mixtures, and of a non-exposed reference group. Colour vision was assessed with a colour arrangement test designed to detect acquired dyschromatopsia, the Lanthony D-15 desaturated panel. Quantitative analysis, using Bowman's colour confusion index, revealed significantly higher scores indicative of colour vision loss among the exposed workers as compared to the non-exposed. Analysis of covariance, with age as co-variate, showed colour confusion index to be significantly associated with job category. Similarly, qualitative analysis showed that the exposed workers presented a significantly higher prevalence of acquired dyschromatopsia as compared to the non-exposed group. However, analysis of the type of chromatic discrimination loss showed that among the nonexposed persons, dyschromatopsia was localized only in the blue-yellow range, while for 35% of the dyschromatopic-exposed persons, red-green loss as well as blue-yellow loss were present. Three-dimensional chi 2-analysis showed that the complex pattern of dyschromatopsia was not related to age, but to job category. These findings suggest that the type of dyschromatopsia, reflecting the gravity of neural alterations, may be a function of exposure level and/or the ophthalmotoxic properties of the particular solvents used.     

Colour vision and occupational toluene exposure: results of repeated examinations

Potential effects of human occupational exposures to toluene on colour vision were investigated in a follow-up study over 4 years with three repeated examinations. Colour vision was measured with the Lanthony desaturated colour vision test D-15d, and the colour confusion index (CCI) was calculated. The mean current exposures were 26+/-21 ppm for printers (high toluene level) and 3+/-4 ppm for end-processors (low toluene level). The mean exposure durations were 23+/-6 years for "long-time exposed" and 7+/-2 years for "short-time exposed" subjects. Repeated analyses (n=162) and multiple regressions (maximum available n=267) did not reveal significant effects of toluene with respect to intensity or duration of current or long-term exposure. Age and occupational qualification were significantly associated with CCI in both kinds of analysis, whereas alcohol consumption (carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, CDT) and smoking habits (cigarettes per day) were not. It is concluded that current industrial exposure limits of toluene provide sufficient protection against possible disturbance of colour vision.     

Colour vision impairment and alcohol consumption

The relationship between alcohol intake and colour discrimination capacity was examined among 136 persons of whom 16 were undergoing treatment in a detoxification centre. Current weekly alcohol consumption (or prior to treatment for those in the centre) was obtained with a detailed questionnaire, which divided week and weekend drinking into types of alcohol (beer, wine, spirits). Alcohol consumption varied from 0-5824 g/week; median: 266 g/week. Qualitative and quantitative assessment of acquired dyschromatopsia was obtained with a colour arrangement test, the Lanthony D-15 desaturated panel. In all age categories, the prevalence of dyschromatopsia increased with alcohol intake. Moreover, all the heavy drinkers (greater than 751 g/week) presented a certain degree of dyschromatopsia, whether or not they were undergoing treatment for alcoholism in a detoxification centre. Colour loss was primarily in the blue-yellow range; however, 4 of the 16 persons from the detoxification centre presented complex dyschromatopsia patterns including red-green loss. This raises the question of possible progressive deterioration. Multiple regression analysis showed that colour vision loss was significantly related to both age (p less than 0.001) and alcohol intake (p less than 0.01). These results underline the importance of taking into account the contribution of alcohol consumption in studies on acquired dyschromatopsia.     

Panel D-15和俞自萍色盲检查图对视网膜脱离术前术后色觉检查

对视网膜脱离术前、术后进行色觉检测，比较术前、术后色觉变化。用ＰａｎｅｌＤ－１５和俞自萍色盲检查图对１７例１７眼视网膜脱离行术前、术后色觉检查。ＰａｎｅｌＤ－１５检查术前１７眼，１４只眼不能通过，为全色盲，３眼色觉正常；术后１７眼检查，１眼为全色盲，１６眼正常。用俞自萍色盲检查图检查术前１７眼，１３眼异常（１２眼全色盲，１眼红绿色盲），４眼色觉正常；术后１７眼检查，２眼异常，为红绿色弱，１５眼正常。两种方法对视网膜脱离术前、术后色觉检查分别做统计学处理，有高度显著差异Ｐ＜０．０１。两种方法经统计学处理无显著性差异。视网膜脱离越靠边对色觉的影响越小；反之，越近中心凹，对色觉影响越大。此外，视网膜脱离靠周边时，主要影响蓝、黄色觉；当波及黄斑区，红绿色觉也会出现障碍，严重者出现全色盲。这种后天性色觉障碍的预后随疾病的转归而不同。ＰａｎｅｌＤ－１５简单易行，可作为视网膜脱离术前、术后常规检查。     

The effect of cardiac glycosides on the visual system of man measured with cortical evoked potentials

The effect of beta-acetyldigoxin (Novodigal) on color vision in normal, healthy subjects was studied using cortical evoked potentials. Initial results indicate a significant latency increase of one component of the visual evoked potential (VEP) and a dose dependency following a change of color from blue to red. The Farnsworth-Munsell-100-Hue test, however, showed no significant changes in color vision. It is postulated that the VEP is an even more sensitive measurement of color vision than subjective tests are.     

The occurrence of ocular diseases in patients with Turner syndrome

Turner syndrome is among the most common chromosomal aberrations. It is caused by a missing or anomaly of one X chromosome, alternatively a chromosomal mosaicism. It is often connected with a more frequent occurrence of some ocular diseases. In our study 81 girls and women with Turner syndrome from the age of 5 to 23 years old were examined. The occurrence of ocular diseases and their possible connection with karyotype was the main focus of our attention. Myopia had the highest incidence in these girls, further there were hyperopia, epicanthus, colour vision deficiency, amblyopia, strabismus and ptosis. The occurrence of colour vision deficiency was higher than in the general population where it differs in sexes. The occurrence of strabismus and ptosis was higher than in the general population. The total range of refractive errors was slightly higher than in the general population, with a different distribution according to karyotype. Hyperopia was recorded more often at the 45,X karyotype, namely 28 %, while for chromosomal mosaicism it was only in 18%. For myopia the ratio was reversed — chromosomal mosaicism in 31% and in 45,X karyotype in 26 %.In total, while comparing individual eye defects incidence in 45,X karyotype and chromosomal mosaicism, similar findings were recorded. These results were also assessed with the help of statistics.     

Comparison of the density and distribution of brain D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors in Buffalo vs. Fischer 344 rats

In vitro autoradiography was used to compare the D-1 and D-2 receptor densities in brains from Buffalo (BUFF) and Fischer 344 (F344) rats. The latter strain has been proposed as a model for human attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH). The radioligands [3H]-SCH 23390 and [3H]-sulpiride were used to selectively identify dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors, respectively. Certain forebrain structures from F344 rats have a higher density of D-2 receptors, but similar numbers of D-1 receptors compared to BUFF rats. Scatchard analysis of D-2 binding (in caudate-putamen) revealed a Bmax of 10.52 +/- 1.62 fmol/mg tissue and Kd of 12.72 +/- 0.93 nM in F344 rats and 3.00 +/- 0.57 and 3.87 +/- 0.58, respectively in BUFF rats (n = 3). These results support the hypothesis that high D-2 levels are correlated with certain behavioral traits, e.g., high levels of spontaneous activity. A similar increase in D-2 receptors may be responsible for some of the behavioral manifestations of ADDH in children.     

Effects of the dopamine D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 on water intake, water-rewarded operant responding and apomorphine-induced decrease of water intake in rats

The specific dopamine (DA) D-1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 was found to attenuate operant lever-pressing with water as reward in a dose-dependent manner and more potently than drinking itself. This effect occurred in the same fashion as previously reported for DA D-2 antagonists. In contrast to the DA D-2 antagonist haloperidol, the attenuated operant lever-pressing induced by the DA D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 was not counteracted by the anticholinergic drug scopolamine. The decreased water intake in thirsty animals caused by a low dose of apomorphine was not antagonised by SCH 23390. This has previously been found with DA D-2 antagonists, such as haloperidol and sulpiride. The results show that in spite of some similarities in the behavioural effects of DA D-1 and D-2 antagonists, a closer pharmacological analysis is able to reveal pronounced differences.     

On the relative importance of D-1 vs. D-2 dopaminergic receptors in the control of audiogenic seizures in ethanol withdrawn rats

Bromocriptine, a mixed D-1/D-2 dopaminergic receptor agonist and SKF 38393, a D-1 specific agonist were found to alleviate the incidence and intensity of audiogenic convulsions in ethanol withdrawn rats. (+) and (-)3-PPP, putative D-2 autoreceptor agonists, were without effect in the test. SCH 23390, a D-1 specific antagonist did not influence seizure intensity in ethanol withdrawn or ethanol naive animals. It is suggested that D-1 receptors may play a role in convulsive response during ethanol withdrawal.     

Antipsychotic-induced catalepsy is attenuated in mice lacking the M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor

Major depression disorder is a significant health problem with 10-20% of all adults suffering from this disease. The underlying causes of depression are still unclear and 15% of depressed patients are resistant to all known therapies. Monoamine therapies have so far been the most successful approach for treating depression. Triple monoamine reuptake inhibitors have recently been implicated in generation of potent antidepressant activity while possibly exhibiting a low side-effect profile in addition to treating anhedonia. The additional, previously under-appreciated involvement of dopaminergic systems in depression prompted our efforts to develop novel asymmetric trisubstituted and disubstituted pyran derivatives as triple reuptake inhibitors. One of the lead compounds, D-142, exhibited uptake inhibition (K(i)) values of 29.3 nM, 14.7 nM and 59.3 ± 13.7 nM for norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine transporters, respectively. Its affinity for serotonin transporter was comparable to fluoxetine, a well known SSRI. In the rat forced swimming test, compound D-142 exhibited potent antidepressant activity in the dose range tested (2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg) and was far more efficacious than the reference compound imipramine. In the mouse tail suspension test, compound D-142 reduced immobility in a dose (2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg) dependent manner, indicating a potent antidepressant effect. In locomotor activity tests, compound D-142 did not exhibit any stimulation in the same dose ranges. In the extended CNS receptors screening assay this molecule exhibited little or no non-specific interaction in the CNS, indicating high specificity for monoamine transporters. These results advance D-142 as a potential potent antidepressant.     

大气污染暴露与某市6家哨点医院围生儿出生缺陷的流行病学研究

目的：探讨和分析某市大气污染对新生儿出生缺陷的影响。方法收集某市6家哨点医院2012—2013年期间分娩的孕满18周到出生后7 d 内的所有围产儿资料,包括分娩日期、孕产妇孕周以及孕天数和围生儿的性别等资料。同时收集该市2011—2013年的大气污染物日监测资料,包括二氧化硫、二氧化氮、可吸入污染和污染指数等。采用 SPSS16．0软件进行一般性描述、卡方检验、方差分析、Spearman 秩相关等统计分析。结果2年出生缺陷总发生率为11．63‰;2012年的出生缺陷发生率为10．49‰,2013年为12．76‰,但2年之间差异无统计学意义（P ＞0．05）;不同性别出生缺陷患儿的发生率差异有统计学意义（P ＜0．05）,男婴出生缺陷发生率高于女婴。出生缺陷发生率与大气污染物的 Spearman 秩相关分析结果显示：在孕前1月组和孕前2月组,出生缺陷发生率与可吸入颗粒物（PM10）和污染指数呈正相关。结论该次调查的该市妊娠期妇女在妊娠前期2个月内,大气 PM10暴露浓度和污染指数暴露水平与出生缺陷的发生存在统计学关联。     

Colour vision defects in occupational chronic solvent encephalopathy

Occupational chronic solvent encephalopathy (CSE) is associated with a number of neurobehavioural disorders including defects of visual perception. The purpose of this study was to characterize colour vision defects in CSE patients. Colour vision was tested in bright illumination with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test in workers who had CSE due to occupational exposure to common industrial solvents. Before assessing colour vision, the subjects' ocular health and visual functions were evaluated. On the basis of this evaluation, 36 subjects with healthy eyes were selected and their colour vision was tested monocularly. The colour vision performance of the patient group was, statistically, significantly inferior to that of a control group matched by age at a group level. A mixed form of reduced colour sensitivity was found in 42% (n=15/36) of the cases, affecting the entire range of Munsell hues. No association was found between the length and intensity of exposure and colour vision performance. Our results show that CSE patients can have significantly impaired colour discrimination ability, although their eyes are healthy and their other visual functions are normal. This may indicate toxic damage to higher level visual processing, possibly the colour selective regions of the cerebral cortex.