Neuroendocrine effects in printing workers exposed to toluene.

The effect of exposure to toluene on plasma concentrations of testosterone, prolactin, luteinising (LH) and follicle stimulating (FSH) hormones was investigated in 47 rotogravure printers (time weighted average air toluene below 80 ppm; blood toluene concentration post-shift 0.19-7.99 mumol/l) and compared with a reference group. Increasing exposure concentrations of toluene (concentrations less than 5 to greater than 45 ppm) were significantly associated with decreasing plasma concentrations of LH (tau = -0.21, p = 0.003) and testosterone (tau = -0.25, p = 0.02). No correlation was found between cumulative exposure (ppm x years) and plasma hormone concentrations. The associations with exposure were present even when nine printers with heavy alcohol consumption were excluded. The study indicates an effect of low toluene exposure on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, with a secondary decrease in testosterone secretion.     

Effect of the Immune Modulators BM 12.531 (Azimexone) and BM 41.332 on the Subsets of T-Lymphocytes in Mice

The immunomodulating 2-cyanaziridine derivatives BM 12.531 (azimexone) and BM 41.332 have no effects on the total amount of T-lymphocytes in the spleen of mice but ingrease dose-dependently the percentage of Ly1^--, 2⁺, 3⁺ T-lymphocytes (killer/suppressor) and decrease the percentage of Ly1⁺, 2^--, (helper) cells. These investigations were carried out by means of specific monoclonal antibodies and fluoreqcence-activated cell sorting. The increase in Ly2⁺-cells is mainly due to increased suppressor activity.     

PCB methyl sulphone: comparison of tissue levels in Baltic grey seals and a Yusho patient

Methyl sulphone metabolites of PCB and DDE were isolated from different tissues of a Baltic grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Main components in the seal blubber were identified as 3-MeSO2-2,2',4',5,5'-pentaCB, 4-MeSO2-2,2',4',5,5'-pentaCB, 3-MeSO2-p,p'-DDE, 4-MeSO2-2,2',3',4',5-pentaCB and 4-MeSO2-2,2',3,4',5',6-hexaCB. Liver and lung in the seal contained different MeSO2-PCB pattern compared to all other tissues. These levels in the both tissues were estimated to be 28 and 15 ppm (lipid basis) which corresponded to the same level as the PCB. Concentrations of MeSO2-PCB in any tissues of a Yusho patient were low compared to those in the seal.     

Plasma prolactin in relation to menstrual cycle phase, oral contraceptive use, arousal time and smoking habits

The study was designed to investigate if modern low dosage combined oral contraceptives were associated with changes in plasma prolactin levels in healthy nulliparous women aged 19–25. Plasma prolactin was not significantly correlated to oral contraceptive use, nor to smoking habits. Plasma prolactin was, however, significantly negatively correlated to time since awakening. A significant two-way interaction on prolactin was also seen between smoking and present oral contraceptive use. In our material the mean values of plasma prolactin were higher in the follicular phase than in the luteal phase, although not significantly.     

Binswanger's disease in the absence of chronic arterial hypertension

Summary The cerebral changes are described in a woman of 54 who suffered from Binswanger's encephalopathy: there were no signs or symptoms of chronic arterial hypertension. The disease presented as dementia of about 3 years duration. Computed tomography of the brain 2. 5 years before her death showed bilateral widespread hypodense lesions in the cerebral white matter. She died of an asthmatic attack. Autopsy disclosed extensive bilateral degeneration of the central white matter, lacunes and gliosis. Severe obliterative arteriolosclerosis occurred in the meningeal vessels and those supplying the affected parts of the brain. Light microscopy showed that the most severe lesions occurred in the arterioles. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated profound extravasation of plasma proteins chiefly albumin, indicating dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier. Thus, the lesions characteristic of Binswanger's encephalopathy may develop in the absence of chronic arterial hypertension. Additional pathogenic factors, possibly genetic predisposition to vascular injury may play a role in the development of this condition.Supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council, Project No 12X-03020 and 1987 Års Stiftelse för Strokeforskning     

Neuroendocrine differentiation in male breast carcinomas.

The presence of neuroendocrine differentiation, as expressed by cellular chromogranin immunoreactivity, was investigated in paraffin-embedded tissue material from 51 consecutive cases of male breast carcinoma. From six of these cases electron microscopic studies were included. Chromogranin-immunoreactive cells were present in solid cords and delineated tubular structures. Ultrastructurally, dense core secretory granules could be detected. The expression of neuroendocrine differentiation was 45%, which is between two and eight times higher than reported for female breast carcinomas by other investigators. The present findings suggest that male breast carcinoma is an exclusive tumour disease showing both similarities and discrepancies when compared to its female counterpart.     

Insulin-like growth-factor-binding protein 3 is decreased in early-stage operable pre-menopausal breast cancer

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a potent mitogen for human breast-cancer cells in vitro. In circulation, most of IGF-1 is bound to IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3). This high-affinity binding is thought to have an important limiting effect on the availability of IGF-1 for biological activity. To assess the availability of IGF-1 for receptor binding, we determined serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratios. In a case-control study, 150 women aged 38 to 75 years presenting with stage-l or-II breast cancer were investigated just prior to surgery (n = 76), or to irradiation one month after surgery (n = 74). The population-based control group consisted of 441 women of the same age having no breast cancer. Women reporting diabetes mellitus or other hormonal abnormalities were excluded. Premenopausal cases showed elevated IGF-1 serum concentrations, decreased IGFBP-3 levels and increased IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratios. The IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio was a significant breast-cancer risk factor, also after adjustment for age, family history, height, body-mass index, body-fat distribution, and serum levels of C-peptide. The relative risk was 7.34 for the highest compared with the lowest quintile of IGF-1/IGFBP-3. The presence or absence of tumor had no influence on these results. Increased levels of available IGF-1 in the circulation of pre-menopausal women may contribute to the development of breast cancer. © 1995 Wiley-Liss Inc.     

Flow cytometric analysis of localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate: the use of archival DNA analysis in conjunction with pathological grading to predict clinical outcome following radical retropubic prostatectomy

Fifty-four specimens from patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for clinically confined prostate cancer between 1983 and 1987 were reviewed to determine the potential for flow cytometric (FCM) analysis of DNA ploidy and replication rate to predict disease recurrence. Each specimen was deparaffinized for FCM analysis and the pathology slides were reviewed by a single pathologist. FCM characteristics were correlated with pathological grade and stage, and both were correlated with disease status. In this series of patients, routine FCM analysis of DNA ploidy and replication rate failed to significantly enhance the ability of standard histopathological grading to predict disease recurrence in patients having clinically localized prostate cancer. Aneuploid tumors pathologically confined to the prostate did not appear to negatively affect prognosis.