1/4. dna damage in human white blood cells after inhalative exposure to methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI)--case report.A workplace-related inhalative exposure test in a challenge chamber was performed on an industrial worker in a methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) atmosphere from 5 to 20 ppb and the isolated white blood cell DNA was analysed by electrophoresis, anion-exchange chromatography and melting behaviour. The results of electrophoresis indicate that inhaled MDI induces double-strand breaks of DNA. Some of the DNA fragments were estimated to be in the region of 100-500 bp. Anion-exchange chromatography confirmed this finding. Following denaturation and rapid renaturation the results demonstrated that some DNA fragments are cross-linked by MDI. Comparing the melting curves before and after inhalative exposure in the challenge test chamber, genomic DNA revealed differences in the shape of the melting curve (hyperchromic effect). The results suggest that occupational MDI exposure could be associated with white blood cell dna damage.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/4. Periventricular leukomalacia and retinopathy in a term infant born to a mother with asthma.A male child, born at 37 5 gestational weeks (GWs) (birthweight 2000g) after intrauterine growth retardation (IUG; -3 SD), to a mother treated during pregnancy for asthma, developed periventricular leukomalacia and retinopathy with total retinal detachment in the left eye and partial detachment in the right eye. Apart from basic asthma treatment with terbutalin, budesonid, and fenoterolhydrobromid throughout the pregnancy, she was treated with intravenous or oral cortisone for 6.5 weeks from 28 5 GWs. In addition she developed deep venous thrombosis at 29 GWs and was treated with heparin until delivery. Psychotic symptoms during the 31st GW were treated with diazepam, haloperidol, and levomepromazin. Functional sequelae for the child were visual impairment (visual acuity 5/60), uneven intellectual profile (Wechsler Pre-school and Primary Scale of intelligence, Verbal IQ 94 and Performance IQ 32 at 8y of age), and autistic-like behaviour. The possibility that pre- and perinatal risk factors (e.g. severe maternal illness, IUGR, and cortisone treatment) in a term infant may create conditions for developing eye and brain pathologies commonly closely related to preterm birth should be considered.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/4. Aerosol treatment abuse.A 4 year old boy with excellent inhaler technique was found to be abusing his salbutamol and beclomethasone dipropionate inhalers. This resulted in aggressive behaviour and probable hallucinations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/4. Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome induced by exposure to a mixture containing isocyanate: functional and histopathologic behaviour.A 31-year-old machinist experienced acute symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis, coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing after sudden exposure to fumes containing isocyanates and solvents. lung function tests carried out 11 days after the event showed reduced flow rates. Forty days after the acute inhalational injury, expiratory flows improved, and the PC20 was 0.8 mg/ml, showing moderate bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Six days later, the subject underwent bronchoscopy. Bronchial biopsies showed a marked loss of epithelial cells, severe subepithelial oedema, and inflammatory cells infiltrate (mainly lymphocytes). The subject was given inhaled steroids. The PC20 was back to normal 42 days later. Bronchial biopsies then showed incomplete regeneration of the epithelial layer with few ciliated cells and persistence of inflammation (lymphocyte infiltrate) in epithelia and connective tissue. We conclude that irritant exposure to a mixture of isocyanates and solvents can cause occupational asthma without a latency period, i.e., reactive airways dysfunction syndrome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = behaviour (Clic here for more details about this article) |