Hemoglobin adducts of benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide in newspaper vendors: association with traffic exhaust

Benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide adducts with hemoglobin (Hb) weremeasured to detect human exposure to environmental benzo[a]pyrenefrom traffic exhaust. Benzo[a]pyrene tetrahydrotetrols (BPTs)released from Hb after acid hydrolysis were quantitated by gaschromatography-mass spectrometry after immunoaffinity chromatography.Fifty three newspaper vendors were enrolled. The median adductconcentration was 0.3 fmol BPTs/mg Hb in high density traffic-exposedvendors and     

Changes in Neutrophil Oxidative Potential in Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass with Polypropylene Hollow Fiber Oxygenators

Neutrophil oxidative metabolism, C3d and beta 2 microglobulin levels, were assessed in nine consecutive patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery with polypropylene hollow fiber oxygenators for open cardiac operations. Generation of oxygen free radicals by neutrophils was measured as luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence after stimulation with opsonized Zymosan and phorbol myristate acetate. A significant increase in light emission was detected by using both of the chemiluminescence stimulators. Moreover, a remarkable and significant increase in C3d levels was found already at 10 min. Conversely minimal changes in levels of beta 2 microglobulin were detected during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. These data suggest that the impact of the patient blood with the foreign surface of cardiopulmonary bypass results in activation of phagocyte cells with increased potential in oxygen consumption. These effects could be partially complement-mediated.     

Self-expanding mesh stent for endoscopic palliation of rectal obstructing tumors: a preliminary report

Summary The endoscopic insertion of self-expanding mesh stents in four patients affected by obstructing rectal malignant tumors is reported. The preliminary experience shows that, in the short term, normal defecation was achieved, with no complications. Longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate the duration and the quality of the palliative effect.     

Current controversies in oral lichen planus: report of an international consensus meeting. Part 1. Viral infections and etiopathogenesis.

Despite recent advances in understanding the immunopathogenesis of oral lichen planus (LP), the initial triggers of lesion formation and the essential pathogenic pathways are unknown. It is therefore not surprising that the clinical management of oral LP poses considerable difficulties to the dermatologist and the oral physician. A consensus meeting was held in France in March 2003 to discuss the most controversial aspects of oral LP. Part 1 of the meeting report focuses on (1) the relationship between oral LP and viral infection with special emphasis on hepatitis C virus (HCV), and (2) oral LP pathogenesis, in particular the immune mechanisms resulting in lymphocyte infiltration and keratinocyte apoptosis. Part 2 focuses on patient management and therapeutic approaches and includes discussion on malignant transformation of oral LP.     

The scientific roots of José A. Campos-Ortega, a German neurobiologist born in Spain.

In this review article, we shall focus our attention on the initial steps in the research career of José A. Campos-Ortega and the studies he undertook. Particular emphasis will be placed on how these early experiences shaped his personality and his future scientific contributions.     

Studies in vitro on the effects of rhein on the chemotaxis of human leukocytes

Rhein (R: 1,8-dihydroxy-3-carboxyanthraquinone) is the active metabolite of the drug diacetylrhein (DAR), an anthraquinone molecule which has recently been proposed for the long-term treatment of osteoarthrosis. Its action mechanism in rheumatic pathology has not been fully explained. It is known that DAR, while not inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins, inhibits certain proteolytic enzymes, and acts on phlogistic cells by lysosomal enzymic and superoxide-anion modifications. Moreover DAR modifies phagocytic functions and the motility of cells. This paper is a contribution to the clarification of the last point, namely the effect of rhein on cell motility. It reports that in vitro no effect of R on random migration was found, but instead a double inhibiting effect on chemotaxis (i.e. a low-dosage and a high-dosage effect). Furthermore, R did not modify the inhibition or induce modification of chemotaxis by vinblastine. Finally R cancelled the stimulating effect of ionic potassium. The results thus indicate that R acts on the chemotaxis of the leukocytes with a complex action at different doses. The action mechanism is probably due to a membrane effect, since rhein (R) did not modify the chemotaxis-inhibiting activity of vinblastine but did interfere with the stimulating effect of K+.