Behavioral toxicology of solvents

Volatile organic solvents exhibit a range of behavioral effects from the insidiously toxic to the beneficial. Solvents impair performance in a concentration-dependent manner that depends on the unique physicochemical properties of each solvent. The toxic effects of solvents range greatly but, at sufficient concentrations, or after prolonged exposure, neurotoxic effects are often seen. Many solvents are both self-administered and exhibit noxious properties. Solvents may produce some of their primary behavioral effects by altering γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA) function. Further studies related to mechanism may lead to a better understanding of means to protect individuals from the effects of solvent exposure, as well as further our knowledge of solvent abuse. Solvents activate the stress axis and, as such, their neuroendocrine effects deserve further characterization, because chronic exposure may result in altered neuronal activity similar to that associated with chronic stress. Methods have been developed to assess for risk of the effects of exposure to solvents, detailing the lowest levels of solvent expected to produce behavioral impairment. Results from these procedures should be applied to the different end points described.     

Latex allergy risk assessment in children and adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus

An increased frequency of allergic reactions to latex has been reported in specific populations with chronic latex exposure. However, relevance of latex allergy to children and adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus (DM1) has not been studied yet. The aim of the studty is to assess latex allergy risk in children and adolescents with DM1. Thirty-nine children with DM1 and 35 controls were enrolled. In a case-control study, we applied to all subjects a standard questionnaire, and specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentrations for latex, common aeroallergens, and food-allergens were measured in serum samples. Latex exposure rates by means of medical procedures, operations, and latex glove usage were not different between DM1 and controls. Symptoms due to latex exposure were not determined in both groups. Three (7.7%) subjects in DM1 tested positive for latex-specific antibodies (LSIE), whereas no subject in controls. Diabetics that tested positive for latex-specific antibodies had the disease for three, 5 and 8 years. Nine (23.1%) of diabetics, and two (5.7%) of controls were atopic (p = 0.04). In our investigation, we found that children and adolescents with DM1 are not a risk group for latex allergy, and LSIE in children with DM1 was not accompanied by symptoms of latex allergy, or, presumably, increased risk of latex anaphylaxis.     

Using online databases to find peer-reviewed journal articles on injury prevention and safety promotion research: a study of textword queries by SafetyLit users.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the capacity of textword queries to provide a comprehensive listing of articles on injury prevention and safety promotion (IPSP) concepts in a literature database. METHODS: All terms used to search SafetyLit (a database of scholarly literature selected for its relevance to the IPSP field) during the years 2000-2005 were listed and then examined to identify terms that are synonyms for the same concept. Terms were grouped by concept, the number of queries that used terms within each concept category were summed, and the concepts were then ordered by the total number of searches for each concept category. For each textword, the proportion of all articles for that concept that could be found by using it alone was calculated. RESULTS: Each of the 25 most searched-for concepts has 4 to 40 synonyms. Sixteen of the concepts required queries using two or more terms to find 75% of the available articles. Few searchers used a sufficient number of textword synonyms in their queries to return a complete listing of the available material. CONCLUSION: On the basis of this study, queries using only one or two textword terms are insufficiently sensitive to find all relevant journal articles about an IPSP concept.     

Differential effects of IL-1ra on sickness behavior and weight loss induced by IL-1 in rats

Peripheral and central injections of recombinant human interleukin-1β (IL-1β) have been shown to decrease social exploration and to induce body weight loss in rats. To characterize the receptor mechanisms of these effects, we used as a tool a specific antagonist of the receptors of IL-1, IL-1ra. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of IL-1ra (8 mg/kg) blocked the effect of i.p. injection of IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. Central administration of IL-1ra (60 μg/rat, i.c.v.) abrogated the effects of centrally administered IL-1β (30 ngn/rat, i.c.v.) on both social behaviour and body weight. Central injection of IL-1ra (4 μg/rat, i.c.v.) also attenuated the effects of i.p. administered IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. These results suggest that the effects of IL-1β on social behavior are mediated centrally and that its effect on the loss of body weight involves different receptor mechanisms.     

Asbestos disease risk communication conducted by the New Jersey department of health

Since October 1985, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has required hospitals to report all patients with a discharge diagnosis of asbestosis. As follow-up to a needs assessment survey of these patients, the NJDOH developed an educational packet including an information bulletin titled “Asbestos Disease: Medical and Legal Facts for Employees” and a pre-stamped postcard evaluation survey. The packet was sent to 1,418 patients reported by hospitals; 433 patients returned the evaluation questionnaire. The survey assessed attitudinal responses (were the materials helpful and easy to understand?) and behavioral responses (did the respondent plan on discussing the materials with a doctor or lawyer?) to the information in the packet. Of the postcard respondents, 85% found the materials helpful, and approximately half indicated that they would discuss the materials with a doctor or lawyer. Of the 33% who were proxy respondents, half appeared not to have understood that the materials had relevance to them as family members. Modifications to the protocol for the asbestos disease educational packet were made based on the evaluation data. Limitations of the evaluation survey and the value of process evaluations in risk communication projects are discussed. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Expression of c-fos, fos B, and egr-1 in the medial preoptic area and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis during maternal behavior in rats

The spatial and temporal pattern of expression of the protein products of immediate early genes (IEGs) c-fos, fos B, and egr-1 were mapped in medial preoptic area (MPOA) and ventral bed nucleus of stria terminalis (VBST) during maternal behavior in rats. Immunocytochemical analysis indicated significant increases in the number of cells expressing c-Fos after 2 h of pup exposure, while Fos B levels showed a delayed response, reaching maximal levels after 6 h.     

Ethical and metaethical criteria for an emerging technology: risk assessment

This paper examines ethical criteria for the shaping of an emergingtechnology applied internationally in environmental regulation:quantitative risk assessment-risk management. The role of thephysician in its application, especially in the genetic testingthat will be employed, underlines the importance of understandingthe nature and prospects for reshaping of this technology toenable ethical practice. The Cartesian or mechanistic model(which currently dominates the technology) excludes factorsof emotion, making the connection between assessment and managementunfruitful functionally and ethically, and makes the model unresponsiveto human needs. The emotional factors, nested and mediated inthe organic hierarchy of the ecologically-defined community,constitute key psychological, social, cultural and politicalelements of the total burden of risk. Ethical criteria consistentwith an open society are suggested for reshaping the model toenable effective management.     

Functional restoration in chronic low back pain

Conventional treatments have not slowed down the ever expanding low back pain (LBP) problem. Traditional treatment has most probably contributed to the growth of the problem. Therefore, in a search for new solutions, 'functional restoration' has been devised. In connection with chronic LBP the term has been associated with a full-day program lasting from 3 to 5 weeks. it includes multidisciplinary treatment of patients in groups with intensive physical and ergonomic training, psychological pain management, back school, as well as teaching in social/work related issues. The key concepts are 'acceptance of the pain', 'activity', 'self-responsibility', 'multidisciplinary' and 'quantitative functional evaluation (QFE)'. The latter is aimed so that the participants can feel the physical improvement, encouraging them to be able to go back to work, or at least to lead a more active life style. Several controlled studies suggest a lasting effect in terms of regaining their ability to work and improving pain behavior for a good part of disabled chronic LBP patients. However, it is noteworthy that randomized studies seemingly show poorer results than studies not employing randomized controls.     

"Necklace olfactory glomeruli" form unique components of the rat primary olfactory system

A distinct subset of rat primary olfactory neurons was identified immunohistochemically by means of a polyclonal antibody against human placental antigen X-P2 (hPAX-P2), an incompletely characterized substance found in all estrogen-biosynthetic organs. The subset of olfactory receptor cells was distributed widely over the olfactory epithelium with some degree of concentration on the dorsocaudal walls of nasal subcavities. The subset formed unique "necklace olfactory glomeruli," which were composed of seven to nine solitary glomeruli located in the caudal end of the olfactory bulb. One of them was located in the "modified glomerular complex" reported to be involved in rat suckling behavior. The projectional patterns of the necklace olfactory system, albeit diffuse, indicated some degree of spatial correspondence between zones of olfactory epithelium and specific glomeruli. Axons emanating from neighboring cells can project to several glomerular loci. From the necklace olfactory system, an average of 150-200 receptor cells were estimated to converge onto a single necklace glomerulus.