Occupational exposure of deck crews to carcinogenic agents on crude oil tankers

Occupational exposure to carcinogenic agents on the decks on six Norwegian crude oil tankers was examined in five harbors. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the need for improving the working environment on deck on these tankers. Technical arrangments and the work itself on the deck were observed during loading or unloading. Occupational monitoring was performed by active sampling of benzene, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and some aldehydes. The crew answered a questionnaire concerning their work, use of protective equipment, and occurrence of acute symptoms. The levels of air-borne carcinogenic agents were low, probably due to closed loading systems on all tankers. However, the seamen reported discomfort during the work that may be related to other chemical agents in the cargo. The seamen were frequently painting with lead chromate paint without using personal protective equipment. This type of chemical exposure should be evaluated.     

Application of an immunosensor for the detection of the β-lactam antibiotic, cephalexin

Public concern surrounding antibiotic contamination in food and food products has made it imperative to develop analytical methods for their detection. Polyclonal antibodies were used in the development of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based inhibition immunoassay for cephalexin. A conjugate consisting of cephalexin-bovine serum albumin (BSA) was immobilized on the dextran gel surface of the sensor chip. Binding/regeneration studies of antibody to immobilized cephalexin were studied and dissociation of the antibody from the immobilized cephalexin was easily achieved with 10 mmol l^-1 NaOH. Forty surface regeneration cycles were carried out and found to be reproducible with only a 7.4% decrease in binding over this number of regenerations. Model inhibition immunoassays for cephalexin were developed in PBS and spiked milk samples with detection ranges of 4.88 to 2,500 ng ml^-1 and 244 to 3,906 pg ml^-1, respectively.     

Personal exposure to house dust mite allergen in bed: nasal air sampling and reservoir allergen levels

BACKGROUND: Assessment of personal exposure to dust mite allergen has relied on proxy measures. Only recently has a means to directly measure inhaled allergen particle number become available (the intra-nasal air sampler). OBJECTIVE: To quantify inspired dust mite group 1 and group 2 allergen-bearing particles in bed in undisturbed conditions prior to sleep by nasal air sampling and to investigate the relationship between inhaled particles and reservoir allergen levels. METHODS: Twelve volunteers wore nasal samplers in bed for 6 evenings, nose-breathing in undisturbed conditions. Allergen-bearing particles ('halos') were detected by immunostaining for Der p 1, Der p 2, or Der p 1 and Der p 2 together, and counted by light microscopy. Count data were square root transformed for analysis of variance. Mattress dust samples were assayed for Der p 1 and Der p 2 concentrations. RESULTS: Square root detransformed mean particle counts per 30-min sample were: Der p 1, 4.22; Der p 2, 5.9; Der p 1 + Der p 2, 4.87; and for all samples, 5.01, with no difference between the groups. With replicate samples, halo number correlated significantly with mattress allergen concentrations (Der p 1 r = 0.80, P < 0.01; Der p 2 r = 0.68, P < 0.02). CONCLUSION: Nasal air sampling can be used to quantify nocturnal Der p exposure in undisturbed conditions in an area with moderate exposure to mite allergen and can provide a direct measure of inhaled mite allergen. The choice of either Der p 1 or Der p 2 is appropriate for this purpose.     

The effect of corona discharge on Der p 1

BACKGROUND: Reduction of house dust mite allergens in the domestic environment can play an important part in reducing sensitization and in the amelioration of symptoms in atopic individuals. Chemical and physical methods have been tried with varied levels of success. The present paper presents a novel electrostatic way of destroying Der p 1, the major mite allergen. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of negative Trichel, negative continuous glow, positive pulse and positive continuous glow corona in destroying Der p 1. To determine whether ozone has any effect on the integrity of Der p 1 in the experimental conditions present. METHODS: A simple point-to-plane apparatus was used to irradiate samples of Der p 1 for periods of 1, 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 min. Controls were exposed to the atmosphere with no corona products present for the equivalent time. The effect of the corona by-product ozone was investigated alone by exposing samples of Der p 1 to molecular ozone for 60 min. Der p 1 concentration was quantified by two-site monoclonal antibody ELISA. RESULTS: High current negative glow resulted in a 67.37% reduction in Der p 1 concentration after 300 min compared with a 50.5% reduction from a low current Trichel regime. High current positive glow corona gave a reduction of 25.22% while a low current positive pulse corona caused a 13.72% reduction after 300 min. All these reductions were statistically significant (P < 0.05) compared with unexposed controls. Negative corona always gave greater percentage reductions in Der p 1 concentration for each time exposure investigated. The pattern of percentage reduction follows an exponential rise to maximum relationship in respect to time. Samples of Der p 1 were not affected by exposure to molecular ozone. CONCLUSION: These data indicate corona products to be a powerful new method of destroying Der p 1 allergen that is not dependent on the presence of the oxidizing corona product ozone.     

A method combining morphological, immunocytochemical and chromosomal examinations of the same cell in the study of lymphoproliferative diseases

6 cases of different lymphoproliferative diseases were studied with the new MAC (Morphology-Antibody-Chromosome) method in order to find out 1) if the abnormal karyotype is confined to the monoclonal cell population, 2) if there are, within this clone, also cells with a normal karyotype, and 3) if the method can help the pathologist to diagnose malignant lymphoproliferative diseases. The MAC method allows a simultaneous study in the same metaphase cell of the karyotype, surface markers, and some morphological features. In all cases in which a monoclonal cell proliferation was detected immunohistologically, the MAC examination showed a chromosomal abnormality for the same light chain as was detected in immunohistology, but not in other cells. In all but a single case, all mitotic cells belonging to the clonal cell proliferation had an abnormal karyotype. In this case with lambda clonality, 2/8 lambda-positive mitoses had a normal karyotype. However, all the normal mitoses occurred in small lymphocytes whereas the abnormal mitoses were seen in large blastic cells. In 1 case, the MAC method helped in confirming the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma (nodular small cleaved cell type). Especially in lymphomas composed of a mixed cell population, the MAC method makes it possible to find out which cell types have an abnormal karyotype and which have a normal karyotype.     

不同形状界面对界面射流的影响──彩色多普勒与激光荧光染料方法的研究

本文通过应用彩色多普勒及激光荧光染料显示射流方法研究了不同形状界面对射流的影响。结果表明对照组及平坦界面射流时，彩色多普勒与激光荧光染料两种方法无显著差异；在弯曲界面条件下，彩色多普勒射流小于激光荧光染料射流（Ｐ＜０．０１～０．０００１）。彩色多普勒研究表明不同形状界面射流大小分别与每搏容量相关好（ｒ＝０．８３～０．９９），但射流大小明显不同。凹形界面射流面积最小，平坦及凸形界面射流面积也小于对照组。研究提示不同形状界面可以导致界面射流不同程度地减小，并且彩色多普勒也不易对弯曲界面的射流完全成像。在临床上应用彩色多普勒对返流定量时，需考虑上述影响。     

Topical application of fluorides on teeth

Abstract Prevention of caries in exposed root surfaces constitutes an important clinical problem. It is thus important that clinicians involved with periodontology have an insight into fluoride prophylaxis. The understanding of the cariostatic mechanism of fluoride has improved during recent years. The aim of the present review is to give a short account of the present concept. Calcium fluoride appears to be the only product which is formed on enamel, dentin or cementum during brief topical treatments with fluoride or use of toothpaste containing fluoride. This calcium fluoride is stable in the oral environment: this is contrary to what was believed until recently. The calcium fluoride constitutes a pH-dependant reservoir of fluoride which releases fluoride when pH drops. The practical consequences of this concept is discussed.