A field method for sampling toluene in end-exhaled air, as a biomarker of occupational exposure: correlation with other exposure indices

A sensitive and rapid method for the determination of toluene in exhaled air is described. We have developed a device for direct breath sampling consisting of a sampler inserted into an empty 58 mL glass vial closed by a Teflon rubber septum. The sorbent cartridge functions as a diffusive sampler and employs a Tenax resin (300 mg, 35/50 mesh) to trap volatile organic compounds from the exhaled air. End-exhaled air is collected "in field" by removing the septum from the vial, by forcibly exhaling into the device through a suitable Teflon tube, and then by sealing the bottle quickly. Environmental toluene levels ranged from 13 to 191 mg/m3, while the concentrations of the solvent in alveolar air, in blood and urine ranged from 159 to 3354 ng/L, from 3.6 to 53.5 microg/L, and from 8.7 to 142.4 microg/L respectively. The correlation coefficients (r) of biological measurements towards environmental toluene levels were 0.822, 0.850 and 0.846 for alveolar air, blood and urine samples, respectively. The breath sampler allowed the rapid and non-invasive collection of data on elimination of toluene.     

Genotype phenotype correlation in a pediatric population with antithrombin deficiency

Inherited antithrombin (AT) deficiency is a rare autosomal dominant disorder, caused by mutations in the AT gene (SERPINC1). Considering that the genotype phenotype relationship in AT deficiency patients remains unclear, especially in pediatric patients, the aim of our study was to evaluate genotype phenotype correlation in a Serbian pediatric population. A retrospective cohort study included 19 children younger than 18 years, from 15 Serbian families, with newly diagnosed AT deficiency. In 21% of the recruited families, mutations affecting exon 4, 5, and 6 of the SERPINC1 gene that causes type I AT deficiency were detected. In the remaining families, the mutation in exon 2 causing type II HBS (AT Budapest 3) was found. Thrombosis events were observed in 1 (33%) of those with type I, 11 (85%) of those with AT Budapest 3 in the homozygous respectively, and 1(33%) in the heterozygous form. Recurrent thrombosis was observed only in AT Budapest 3 in the homozygous form, in 27% during initial treatment of the first thrombotic event. Abdominal venous thrombosis and arterial ischemic stroke, observed in almost half of the children from the group with AT Budapest 3 in the homozygous form, were unprovoked in all cases.

Conclusion: Type II HBS (AT Budapest 3) in the homozygous form is a strong risk factor for arterial and venous thrombosis in pediatric patients.

Middle School Student Intentions to Play with Peers with Disabilities in Physical Education: Using the Theory of Planned Behavior

The purpose of the study was to develop a scale measuring intentions of children without disabilities to play with a hypothetical peer with a physical disability in general physical education using the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 50:179–211, 1991) and to provide evidence of reliability, content validity, and initial factor structure. A background questionnaire and a pilot version of the Children’s Intentions to Play with Peers with Disabilities in Middle-School Physical Education (CIPPD-MPE) were administered to a convenience sample of 250 middle school students. Content validity of CIPPD-MPE was established by seven content experts. Findings revealed four factors (behavioral beliefs, control beliefs, behavioral intention, and normative beliefs), which explained 58% of the variance. Internal consistency ranged between .65 and .92. All factors were significantly correlated with intention, indicating the potential of CIPPD-MPE to predict intention of children without disabilities to play with a hypothetical peer with a physical disability in GPE.     

Effect of flunarizine on pituitary secretion by healthy men and in woman with migraine

Summary Flunarizine is widely used in the prophylaxis of migraine. It is both a calcium blocker and a histamine antagonist at H₁-receptors and either of these effects could alter hormonal secretion. The effect of administration of flunarizine to 8 women with common migraine on pituitary secretion has been studied. The dopamine antagonist domperidone (10 mg) and gonadotropin releasing hormone (100 µg) were injected iv before and after one month of flunarizine therapy (10 mg orally at bed-time).The basal prolactin level was significantly increased by the drug, and the peak induced by domperidone stimulation was reduced. Basal TSH concentrations were not affected, but the increase after domperidone was blunted.After 90 days of therapy there were no significant differences from the baseline concentration. Neither basal nor gonadotropin releasing hormone — stimulated secretion of FSH and LH were affected by flunarizine. Twelve healthy men were given placebo and flunarizine (10 mg at bedtime) for 5 days in single-blind fashion. Flunarizine caused a significant increase in prolactin and TSH with no effect on basal gonadotropin and thyroid hormone levels.These results can be accounted for by the calcium blocking effect of the drug, although weak interference with dopaminergic transmission is a further possibility explanation.