Short-term respiratory effects of cleaning exposures in female domestic cleaners.

Symptoms of obstructive lung disease in domestic cleaners have been related to the use of bleach and other irritant cleaning products. The short-term effects of cleaning exposures on respiratory symptoms and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were investigated in domestic cleaners with respiratory disorders. In a panel study, 43 female domestic cleaners with a recent history of asthma and/or chronic bronchitis completed a 2-week diary, collecting information on respiratory symptoms, PEF and cleaning exposures. Mixed regression models were used to assess daily changes in symptoms and PEF associated with specific cleaning exposures. The probability of having work-related asthma was individually assessed by a computerised diagnostic system and an occupational asthma expert. Lower respiratory tract symptoms were more common on working days and were predominantly associated with exposure to diluted bleach, degreasing sprays/atomisers and air fresheners. Associations with upper respiratory tract symptoms and PEF were less apparent. Eleven (30%) subjects scored positively for work-related asthma. It is concluded that exposure to certain irritant cleaning products aggravates lower respiratory tract symptoms in female domestic cleaners with asthma or chronic bronchitis.     

An account of the ticks of the northeastern of Spain (Acarina: Ixodidae).

The tick species commonly collected at the Northeast of Spain are reported in this paper. Data on hosts, temperature and humidity requirements, vegetation relationships, altitudinal distribution, and seasonal activity are included. R. sanguineus is commonly collected in areas with Mediterranean vegetation, esteppe, and semi-desertic esteppe, ranging from 190 to 1,000 meters above the sea level. R. sanguineus is related with sparse vegetal areas, and it is absent from areas with dense shrub or forests of every kind; sometimes, small populations may be collected in ecotones between Pinus spp. and esteppe formations. R. pusillus is closely related to areas of Mesomediterranean vegetation, sometimes subordinate to Pinus spp. and Quercus spp. The climate to which the species ally is always of continental type, with a hot and dry summer, and cold winter; although the species is commonly restricted to its main host, Oryctolagus cuniculus, several specimens have been collected from V. vulpes. Our data display the clear affinity of I. ricinus to the Supramediterranean vegetation (Aceri-Quercion faginae), places of Quercetum-Buxetum, as well as the Iberian Oromediterranean vegetation (Pinus sylvestris-Buxus sempervirens). Captures are scarce in forest of Fagus sylvatica, but data suggest that the species may be locally common on such places. Climate for the zones of collection of I. ricinus is Atlantic attenuated, with mild summers and humid winters. D. marginatus is strongly related to the xerophilic vegetation, widely spread through the Mediterranean, Supramediterranean, and hill levels, but does not colonize the true Oromediterranean vegetation. In our captures, the species is commonly collected in pubescent oak formations, but it does not penetrate in true forest associations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Electrocardiographic findings in pulmonary arterial hypertension in children

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) induces high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, mainly in the primary or essential type. Invasive studies are needed to confirm the diagnosis; among the non- invasive approach, the electrocardiogram has been used to suspect such entity with poor results due to inadequate diagnostic criteria. Twelve children with pulmonary hypertension of the essential type (PPH) and ten children with PH due to interventricular septal defect (VSD) were studied haemodynamically and electrocardiographically and compared to electrocardiographic data of 53 normal children. PPH showed higher resistances than VSD (17.2 +/- 1.9 vs 6 +/- 0.6 u/m2 p less than 0.01) with the same pressure level (99.5 +/- 10.3 vs 101.5 +/- 4.8 mmHg). Right axis deviation, peaked P wave, increased ventricular activation time and prominent ST-T changes were seen in PPH patients whereas in VSD the electrical axis was within normal limits, without P wave changes and in some cases, less conspicuous ST-T abnormalities were observed (p less than 0.01). Such changes showed good sensitivity (80%) and specificity (81%) to suspect PH with resistances higher than 10 u/m2 with a predictive value of 75% (p less than 0.02). P wave and ST-T changes could be of use to suspect PPH with elevated resistances instead of right ventricular hypertrophy voltage criteria.     

Ki-1 Large Cell Lymphoma with Regressing Lesions in a Child

An 8-year-old boy was seen with a cutaneous Ki-1 anaplastic, large cell lymphoma with multiple lesions. Some of the lesions showed spontaneous regression. During more than seven years of disease no systemic involvement was observed, but recurrent, self-healing lesions did appear. Histopathologic examination of five lesions revealed a variety of findings, from an inflammatory infiltrate to a highly anaplastic pattern. The neoplastic cells expressed Ki-1 and leukocyte common antigens. Ultrastructurally, those cells showed ruffled indentations. The differential diagnosis includes microvillous malignant lymphoma. The patient has had a four-year follow-up without relapses.     

Minocycline Hydrochloride Hyperpigmentation Complicating Treatment of Pyoderma Gangrenosum

Minocycline-associated hyperpigmentation is an uncommon side effect We report the case of a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum successfully treated with oral minocycline but complicated by marked hyperpigmentation in his pyoderma gangrenosum and acne scars. One of the clinical forms of minocycline hyperpigmentation includes dark-blue or black macules in depressed acne scars or other sites of skin inflammation; this pattern seems to be independent of the total cumulative dose and the skin process.     

Effect of anti-human sperm monoclonal antibodies on mouse in vitro fertilization

We employed anti-human sperm monoclonal antibodies to investigate how sperm membrane antigens are involved in gamete interactions. We have produced seven monoclonal antibodies specific for human sperm antigens, that showed reaction with mouse sperm by ELISA and by immunofluorescence. These antibodies did not react with zona pellucida or any other somatic human tissue. Some degree of toxicity was detected for oocytes at high antibody concentration and this was correlated with their inhibitory effect on fertilization. Unrelated to the degree of antigen expression or localization on sperm membrane, the antibodies showed several degrees of inhibition. The participation in sperm-zona pellucida interaction for every antigen could be evidenced by the impaired penetration of sperm caused by the presence of several concentrations of antibody. Thus, DAN-2, MOU-8 and VAC-4 inhibit mouse in vitro fertilization.     

Epirubicin: clinical toxicity during the phase II program in endometrial and cervical cancer.

We have evaluated the clinical toxicity of Epirubicin 80 mg/m2 i.v., every 3 weeks in 58 patients with FIGO III-IV endometrial adenocarcinoma or squamous uterine cervix carcinoma. The median age of the whole group was 59 years (37-77); 37 patients were previously treated with radiotherapy and two with cisplatin based chemotherapy. The median KI at entry was 80. A total of 308 courses of chemotherapy were administered with a median of 5 per patient. Overall toxicity data shows that this dose level is associated with mild haematological toxicity with only two cases having grade 3 (WHO) leukopenia. Nine patients suffered emesis in spite of prophylactic therapy and were classified as grade 3. One case presented grade four diarrhoea but the relation with the antineoplastic treatment was uncertain. One woman with hepatic dysfunction at entry had grade 3 leukopenia, developed pneumonia and died. The median total cumulative dose of EPI was 360 mg/m2 (160-880) with 19 cases exposed to cumulative doses higher than 550 mg/m2. Congestive heart failure was not observed. Our data confirm the safety of EPI at these dose levels and suggest the possibility of developing new trials with higher doses of this anthracycline analog.