Relationship of airborne microorganisms with the lung function and leucocyte levels of workers with a history of humidifier fever

An influenza-like illness appeared recently among workers in a plant processing synthetic yarn. A humidifier, a cold-water spraying system, was the suspected cause. Lung function changes over the day and week and changes in blood leucocytes were studied among the workers from the suspected department and two reference populations. Exposure to colony-forming units of bacteria and fungi and to endotoxins was also monitored. The workers from the suspected department had statistically significantly lower lung functions on the first workday of the week than the referents. Their blood leucocytes were also raised statistically significantly. The exposure to fungi, bacteria, and endotoxins differed significantly between the various departments, but the measured levels were low. It was concluded that the observed effects were suggestive of a "Monday morning fever" type of reaction and that adverse effects occurred at exposure levels lower than those found to date in the literature.     

Cardioprotection by beta-blockers: molecular and structural aspects in experimental hypertension

This paper deals with some changes at the cardiac and aortic levels observed in normotensive rats and in hypertensive rats and turkeys by using two different beta-blockers, namely propranolol and oxprenolol. Chronic treatment with propranolol induced in the heart of normotensive rats a shift in the ventricular myosin pattern toward the "slow" V2 and V3 isoforms which are characterized by a reduced oxygen consumption. Oxprenolol treatment did not modify the blood pressure levels in the renal hypertensive rats nor in the spontaneously hypertensive turkeys. Nevertheless, in both experimental models a substantial modification of the media and intima, respectively, took place. In untreated hypertensive and normal rats the thickness of the aortic media was significantly higher than that of the treated ones, therefore suggesting a direct effect of oxprenolol on the smooth muscle cells of the aortic media. In the spontaneously hypertensive turkeys the atherosclerotic plaques appeared to be more frequent and thicker than those found in the oxprenolol-treated animals. These two experiments demonstrate that beta-blockers can prevent the development of hypertrophy of the media and decrease both the incidence and severity of intimal proliferations independently of blood pressure control. It therefore appears that the well-known myocardial protective effect played by beta-blockers, which mainly consists of a reduced myocardial oxygen consumption, is certainly obtained by reducing blood pressure and heart rate but also by changing the contractile protein pattern. In addition, an indirect myocardial protective effect could be exerted by beta-blockers at the vascular level by preventing medial hypertrophy and the development of atherosclerosis.     

University Students'' Knowledge and Awareness of HPV

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of university students regarding the human papillomavirus (HPV). METHODS: A random sample of 500 university students was mailed a self-administered questionnaire that elicited their knowledge and awareness about HPV and compared their knowledge and attitudes with those of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Among the 480 deliverable addresses, 289 students responded (response rate 60%). RESULTS: Only 37% of respondents had ever heard of HPV, and the median score on a 13-item knowledge scale was only 3. Of seven STDs assessed, respondents indicated they knew the least about HPV and perceived that this STD has received the least educational effort. In multivariate analyses, predictors of lower knowledge and awareness about HPV were male gender and sexual behavior (having multiple partners, not using condoms). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high prevalence of HPV among young adults, most students knew very little about this infection. Implementing HPV educational programs and measuring their effectiveness should be a priority.     

Comparison of qualitative and quantitative in vitro ginsenoside production in callus cultures of three Panax species

The qualitative and quantitative difference in the various ginsenoside constituents of the crude butanol-soluble saponin fractions of callus cultures of two Indian species of Panax namely P. sikkimensis and P. pseudoginseng have been compared with that of P. quinquefolium (American ginseng). The 45-50 days old calli of the two Indian species, though found to accumulate crude ginsenoside at levels (0.9% and 1.1%, respectively) comparable to that in P. quinquefolium (1.2%), P. pseudoginseng callus showed high productivity of ginsenosides Rf (40.57%) and Ro (19.60%). P. quinquefolium calli on the other hand accumulated more of Rb and Rg group of ginsenosides but while the former appeared to be a Rg (2) accumulator the callus of the later was rich in the Rg (1) fraction.     

Evaluation of oxygen saturation monitoring by pulse oximetry in neonates in the delivery system

The pulse oximeter was evaluated for use in neonates in the delivery room. One hundred neonates, delivered vaginally or by Caesarean section with general or epidural anaesthesia, were studied. After delivery, pulse oximetry probes were placed simultaneously on the ulnar side of the right hand and on the right Achilles tendon to determine whether there was a difference in arterial oxygenation (SpO2). Measurements of SpO2 were taken at 1, 5, 10 min, and 24 hr after delivery. At one and five minutes, SpO2 recorded from the right hand was higher than that recorded from the lower extremities (71.9% +/- 6.5% vs 63.4% +/- 4.3% and 83.3% +/- 4.2% vs 76% +/- 4.1%, mean +/- SD, respectively). At ten minutes these differences diminished, and had almost completely disappeared after 24 hr. These results can be explained by the presence of R-L shunting at the ductus arteriosus level, producing reduced SaO2 in the lower extremities. Oxygen saturation did not differ between neonates delivered vaginally or by Caesarean section, regardless of the presence or type of anaesthesia. We concluded that neonates remain relatively desaturated in the immediate postpartum period and that the SpO2 obtained from the right hand is a better index of neonatal oxygenation than that obtained from the heel.     

Quinol-based metabolic cycle for estrogens in rat liver microsomes.

According to a recently reported metabolic pathway, phenolic A-ring estrogens are metabolized in rat liver microsomes partially to the corresponding quinols by cytochrome P450 isoenzymes. We found that these quinols could, in turn, undergo reduction to regenerate the parent estrogens consumed during the metabolic process. Among the tested endogenous reducing agents, NADH and especially NADPH produced a significant extent of reductive conversion. Enzymes available in rat liver microsomes further catalyzed this reaction with 6.5 +/- 1.5 nmol. min(-1). (mg of protein)(-1) measured as the initial rate of estrone formation at 37 degrees C, whereas the initial rate of second-order reaction for the reduction of E1-quinol by a 10-fold excess of NADPH in a microsome-free buffer solution and under identical incubation conditions was 0.62 +/- 0.03 nmol. min(-1). The quinol route is, therefore, unique among estrogen-metabolizing pathways for its bioreversibility due to the facile regeneration of the phenolic A-ring estrogens consumed in the preceding oxidative process.     

Effects of long-term administration of androgens and estrogen on rhesus monkey prostate: possible induction of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Rhesus monkeys were used to investigate the role of androgenic steroids and estradiol in the induction of hyperplastic changes in stromal and glandular prostate tissues. Adult male rhesus monkeys were procured from the wild and, after routine quarantine procedures, were randomly divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each. Gluteus maximus muscles were injected with 2.5 mg of androstenedione (Group II), 2.5 mg of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or 0.25 mg of estradiol (Group II), 2.5 mg androstanediol (Diol; Group IV), or Diol in combination with 0.25 mg of estradiol (Group V). Group I consisted of untreated controls. Animals were injected with steroids 3 times a week for 2 years. Treatment with androstenedione (Group II) resulted in stromal hyperplasia in the caudal lobe and an increase in epithelial cell height in all zones except in the central zone of the caudal lobe. In monkeys treated with DHT and estradiol (Group III), stromal hyperplasia in both lobes, a decrease in tubular size, and degranulation and vacuolation of epithelial cells were noticed. Injection of Diol alone (Group IV) or in combination with estradiol (Group V) resulted in a widening of stroma in the central and peripheral zones of cranial and caudal lobes, whereas the tubular size decreased. Diol also induced epithelial cell hypercellularity in the central and peripheral zones of the caudal lobe and in the peripheral zone of the cranial lobe. Prostate-specific antigen levels in Group IV animals gradually increased from 6 months of treatment and were maximal after 18 months of injections. Serum estradiol levels increased to detectable levels in all groups except Group IV. Serum testosterone levels decreased to very low or undetectable levels in all groups, whereas prostate-specific acid phosphatase increased in all treated groups. Prolactin levels were elevated in all treated groups except in animals injected with androstenedione. These results indicate that repeated long-term injections of androstenedione or DHT and estradiol induced stromal hyperplasia, which may be an estrogen-related effect. Androstanediol-induced hypercellularity and stratification of glandular epithelium is comparable to human prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. These results also suggest that the rhesus monkey is a suitable animal model for experimental induction of prostate diseases.