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PubMed1997

Rat diaphragm oxidative capacity, antioxidant enzymes, and fatigue: newborn versus adult.

Little is known about the antioxidant capacity and oxidant-generating potential of newborn muscle, or how these properties compare with the adult and relate to fatigue resistance. We determined the 1) antioxidant enzyme activities [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase], 2) glutathione content, 3) oxidative capacity [indexed by succinic dehydrogenase activity], 4) extracellular cytochrome c reduction, and 5) efficacy of exogenously administered SOD in ameliorating fatigue in vitro of newborn and adult diaphragm (DIA). Newborn and adult DIA SOD activities were not different, whereas newborn catalase activity was greater, and newborn glutathione peroxidase activity and glutathione content less than adult DIA. Succinic dehydrogenase activity was approximately 2-fold greater in the adult compared with the neonate. Repetitive contractions led to a significant decline in newborn and adult DIA force; this decline was greater in the adult (78 +/- 4% decrement in force at 2 min) compared with newborn DIA (28 +/- 8% decrement in force at 2 min). Extracellular cytochrome c reduction was greater in adult as compared with newborn DIA during fatiguing contractions. Exogenous SOD attenuated fatigue in the adult, but had no effect on newborn DIA. We conclude that the oxidative capacity of the adult DIA is greater than that of the newborn and not matched by a concomitant increase in SOD activity. Our data suggest that the increased oxidative capacity relative to SOD activity in adult DIA may lead to oxidative stress and an enhanced susceptibility to fatigue.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Digital image analysis for the evaluation of the inflammatory infiltrate in psoriasis.

Traditionally the evaluation of the cellular infiltrate and protein expression in skin tissue sections is done by manual quantification. However, for reliable evaluation of histology in the development of new anti-psoriatic treatments there is a need for a more time-efficient and reproducible method. To test the use of digital image analysis (DIA) in this situation we compared the assessment of immunohistochemically stained skin sections with the more traditional manual quantification (MQ) and semi-quantitative analysis (SQA). The number of CD3+ T cells and the expression of E-selectin were evaluated in stained paired skin biopsies from 11 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis before and after initiation of anti-psoriasis therapy. We observed significant correlations between MQ and DIA for the number of T cells (epidermis: r=0.88, P< or =0.01, dermis r=0.87, P< or =0.01). Both DIA and MQ were equally effective in detecting reductions of T-cell numbers in active-treated patients. MQ took 20 h, compared to 6 h for DIA. We also observed significant correlations between SQA and DIA for the expression of E-selectin (r=0.88, P< or =0.01), although DIA was more sensitive than SQA to detect (early) changes. SQA took 10 h, compared to 4 h for DIA. In conclusion, the quantification of the inflammatory infiltrate in psoriatic lesional skin by DIA generated similar results as MQ and SQA in a reliable, reproducible and higher time efficient fashion.

CD3 Complex↗
PubMed1994

Limited capacity for glyconeogenesis from alanine by diaphragm muscle.

The mammalian diaphragm (Dia) is a unique skeletal muscle because of its chronic contractile activity. Chronically active muscles have higher capacities for glycogen synthesis from lactate and glucose. In this study, the contribution of alanine to glycogen synthesis in the predominantly fast-twitch mouse Dia was determined. Chronically active fast- and slow-twitch muscles from dy2J/dy2J pseudomyotonic mice were also analyzed. Alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) activity was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in Dia and chronically active gastrocnemius muscle (Gast) than control Gast. 14C-label incorporation into glycogen following in vivo injection of 14C-alanine, was significantly higher in Dia and chronically active Gast than control Gast. A direct incorporation of 14C from 14C-alanine into glycogen is also observed in vitro. The incorporation rate shows a linear concentration dependent relationship and a pH optimum of 6.3. Insulin had no effect on glycogen synthesis from alanine by Dia in vitro. The extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) and chronically active EDL and soleus muscle (Sol) had higher rates of glycogen synthesis from alanine than control Sol and Dia. The oxidation of alanine to CO2 was the primary route for alanine metabolism by the Dia. These results demonstrate that the Dia can synthesize glycogen from alanine, but only at low rates.

Alanine↗
PubMed1980

Control of genioglossus muscle inspiratory activity.

Tonic and phasic inspiratory genioglossus (GG) electromyographic activity (EMG) was recorded from 13 anesthetized rabbits during unstimulated breathing. Integrated GG EMG peaked earlier in inspiration and presented a more rounded contour than integrated diaphragmatic (DIA) EMG. Spontaneous augmented deep inspirations (sighs) showed a biphasic pattern in both GG and DIA EMGs. Hyperventilation abolished phasic inspiratory activity in the GG before the DIA, suggesting that the GG has a higher CO2 apneic point. Hypercapnia increased both EMGs; however, GG EMG increased more, as a percent of base line, than did DIA EMG. Oxygen breathing decreased GG more than DIA EMG; sodium cyanide injection and brief nitrogen breathing increased GG more than DIA EMG; carotid body denervation abolished these responses. Vagotomy abolished the Hering-Breuer inflation-inhibition reflex in both muscles, and tactile, visual, and auditory stimulation increased GG more than DIA EMG. Thus, the GG responses to chemoreceptor input and to nonspecific respiratory stimuli are qualitatively similar but quantitatively different from DIA responses. The relevance to mixed and obstructive apnea is discussed.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1990

Startle-evoked changes in diaphragmatic activity during wakefulness and sleep.

Tonic inhibition of some respiratory muscles occurs as part of the generalized muscle atonia of rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS). A second type of inhibition of the diaphragm during REMS, fractionations, consists of brief pauses in the diaphragmatic electromyogram (DIA EMG) in association with phasic events. Because motor inhibition can occur as part of the startle response, and the brain is highly activated during REMS, we hypothesized that the neural basis of the fractionations might be activation of a startle network. To test this hypothesis, tone bursts (100 dB, 20-ms duration at 15-s intervals) were applied to cats at a fixed inspiratory level in the DIA moving average during REMS, non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS), and wakefulness. Parallel sham studies (no tone applied) were obtained for each state. The response of the DIA EMG was averaged over 100 ms by using the tone pulse as a trigger, and the following parameters of the DIA EMG were measured: latency to peak and/or nadir, increment or decrement in activity, and duration of peak and/or nadir. After a tone, all five animals studied displayed a profound suppression of DIA activity during REMS (latency to nadir 42.4 +/- 10.0 ms, duration of suppression 35.9 +/- 17.6 ms). Similarly, DIA activity was suppressed in all cats during NREMS (latency to nadir 40.9 +/- 13.3 ms, duration 23.9 +/- 13.4 ms). An excitatory response was observed in only two cats during NREMS and wakefulness. The similarity of startle-induced DIA EMG pauses to spontaneous fractionations of DIA activity during REMS suggests that the latter result from activation of a central startle system.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1992

Developmental changes in sequential activation of laryngeal abductor muscle and diaphragm in infants.

In animals and human adults, upper airway muscle activity usually precedes inspiratory diaphragm activity. We examined the interaction of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA), which abducts the larynx, and the diaphragm (DIA) in the control of airflow in newborn infants to assess the effect of maturation on respiratory muscle sequence. We recorded tidal volume, airflow, and DIA and PCA electromyograms (EMG) in 12 full-term, 14 premature, and 10 premature infants with apnea treated with aminophylline. In most breaths, onset of PCA EMG activity preceded onset of DIA EMG activity (lead breaths). In all subjects, we also observed breaths (range 6-61%) in which PCA EMG onset followed DIA EMG onset (lag breaths). DIA neural inspiratory duration and the neuromechanical delay between DIA EMG onset and inspiratory flow were longer in lag than in lead breaths (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). The frequency of lag breaths was greater in the premature infants [33 +/- 4% (SE)] than in either the full-term infants (21 +/- 3%, P < 0.03) or the premature infants with apnea treated with aminophylline (16 +/- 2%, P < 0.01). We conclude that the expected sequence of onset of PCA and DIA EMG activity is frequently disrupted in newborn infants. Both maturation and respiratory stimulation with aminophylline improve the coordination of the PCA and DIA.

Apnea↗
PubMed1994

Age-related differences in diaphragm muscle injury after lengthening activations.

The susceptibility of postnatal day 15 and adult rat diaphragms (DIAs) to acute injury after repetitive isovelocity lengthening activations was examined in vitro. Forces were measured during two phases of each stimulation protocol: 1) isometric phase: during the first 300 ms of each 500-ms train, DIA length was not changed; and 2) isovelocity lengthening phase: during the remaining 200 ms of each stimulus train, DIA was lengthened at a constant velocity from 90 to 110% of optimal length. At maximal activation (75 Hz and a lengthening velocity of 1.0 optimal length per second), the maximum force measured during the isometric phase and that measured during the isovelocity lengthening phase were both greater in adult DIAs than in day 15 DIAs but both declined to a greater extent in adults with repetitive activation. Ultrastructural analysis showed that after lengthening activations muscle fiber injury was very evident in adult but much less prevalent in day 15 DIAs. This difference in susceptibility between the adult and day 15 DIAs did not depend on differences in peak force or absolute velocity of lengthening. We conclude that lengthening activations result in DIA injury and that the adult is more susceptible than its younger counterpart.

Aging↗
PubMed1997

Effect of insulin-like growth factor I and/or growth hormone on diaphragm of malnourished adolescent rats.

Young growing animals appear to have significantly reduced "nutritional to short periods of unstressed starvation compared with adults, with resultant growth arrest and/or atrophy of diaphragm (Dia) muscle fibers. The aim of this study was to assess in an adolescent rat model of acute nutritional deprivation (ND; 72 h) the impact of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), with or without added growth hormone (GH), on the cross-sectional areas (CSA) of individual Dia muscle fibers. Five groups were studied: 1) control (Ctr); 2) ND; 3) ND given IGF-I (ND/IGF-I); 4) ND given GH (ND/GH); and 5) ND given a combination of IGF-I and GH (ND/IGF-I/GH). IGF-I was given by a subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipump (200 microg/day), whereas GH was administered twice daily by a subcutaneous injection (250 microg every 12 h). Isometric contractile and fatigue properties of the Dia were determined in vitro. Forces were normalized for muscle CSA (i.e., specific force). Dia fiber type proportions were determined histochemically, and fiber CSA was quantified by using a computer-based image-processing system. Total serum IGF-I concentrations were significantly reduced in ND and ND/GH animals, compared with Ctr, and elevated in the groups receiving IGF-I. The provision of growth factors did not alter the contractile or fatigue properties of ND animals. Dia fiber type proportions were similar among the groups. In ND animals, there was a significant reduction in the CSA of types I, IIa, IIx, and IIc Dia fibers compared with Ctr. The administration of IGF-I alone or in combination with GH to ND animals significantly diminished the reduction in Dia fiber size. GH alone had no effect on Dia fiber size in ND animals. We conclude that with acute ND the peripheral resistance to the action of GH appears to be bypassed by the administration of IGF-I alone or in combination with GH.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Absence of myofibrillar creatine kinase and diaphragm isometric function during repetitive activation.

Creatine kinase (CK) provides ATP buffering in skeletal muscle and is expressed as 1) cytosolic myofibrillar CK (M-CK) and 2) sarcomeric mitochondrial CK (ScCKmit) isoforms that differ in their subcellular localization. We compared the isometric contractile and fatigue properties of 1) control CK-sufficient (Ctl), 2) M-CK-deficient (M-CK[-/-]), and 3) combined M-CK/ScCKmit-deficient null mutant (CK[-/-]) diaphragm (Dia) to determine the effect of the absence of M-CK activity on Dia performance in vitro. Baseline contractile properties were comparable across groups except for specific force, which was approximately 16% lower in CK[-/-] Dia compared with M-CK[-/-] and Ctl Dia. During repetitive activation (40 Hz, (1)/(3) duty cycle), force declined in all three groups. This decline was significantly greater in CK[-/-] Dia compared with Ctl and M-CK[-/-] Dia. The pattern of force decline did not differ between M-CK[-/-] and Ctl Dia. We conclude that Dia isometric muscle function is not absolutely dependent on the presence of M-CK, whereas the complete absence of CK acutely impairs isometric force generation during repetitive activation.

Adenylate Kinase↗
PubMed2005

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and malnutrition-induced inhibition of diaphragm fiber growth in young rats.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha has been implicated in several muscle-wasting disorders, with increased levels of the cytokine reported in malnourished children. The role of TNF-alpha in mediating malnutrition-induced inhibition of diaphragm (DIA) muscle growth in young growing rats was evaluated. Three groups of rats were studied: 1) control (CTL); 2) nutritional deprivation (ND; 50% of normal food intake for 7 days); and 3) ND + rat specific anti-TNF-alpha antibody. DIA fiber cross-sectional areas were determined. Serum and muscle TNF-alpha levels were measured by real-time PCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. Body weights decreased 20% in ND rats and increased 46% in CTL animals. Anti-TNF-alpha had no effect on body weight or on DIA mass in ND animals. ND significantly reduced cross-sectional areas of all fiber types (33-46%). Anti-TNF-alpha failed to attenuate ND-induced inhibition of DIA fiber growth. Serum TNF-alpha levels increased 2.6-fold in ND animals, with levels suppressed to below CTL values with anti-TNF-alpha. DIA TNF-alpha mRNA and protein levels increased two- to threefold in ND rats. Anti-TNF-alpha antibodies suppressed muscle levels of the cytokine in ND animals to near CTL values. TNF-alpha immunoreactivity in all DIA fibers revealed similar directions of change in both ND groups. Direction and magnitude of change in DIA phosphorylated p38 MAPK (a likely second messenger of TNF-alpha) tracked those of TNF-alpha. Muscle levels of IGF-I mRNA and phosphorylated Akt were markedly reduced in ND animals with no change following anti-TNF-alpha therapy. Thus rat anti-TNF-alpha at a dose known to neutralize the cytokine failed to attenuate or reverse ND-induced inhibition of DIA fiber growth in our model.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

DNA integrity assay: a plasma-based screening tool for the detection of prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of the DNA integrity assay (DIA) as a plasma-based screening tool for the detection of prostate cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Blood samples were collected from patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer prior to prostatectomy (n = 123) and processed as two-spin plasma preparations. The three control groups included: males <40 years old with no history of cancer (group 1, n = 20); cancer-free postprostatectomy patients (group 2, n = 25), and patients with a negative prostate biopsy (group 3, n = 22). DNA in plasma preparations were isolated, hybrid-captured, and DNA fragments (200 bp, 1.3, 1.8, and 2.4 kb) were multiplexed in real-time PCR. A baseline cutoff was determined for individual fragment lengths to establish a DIA score for each patient sample. RESULTS: Patients with prostate cancer (86 of 123; 69.9%) were determined to have a positive DIA score of >or=7. The DIA results from control groups 1, 2, and 3 showed specificities of 90%, 92%, and 68.2%, respectively. Of the patients with negative age-adjusted prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate cancer, 19 of 30 (63%) had a positive DIA score. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for DIA was 0.788. CONCLUSION: While detecting 69.9% of those with prostate cancer, DIA maintained an overall specificity of 68.2% to 92%, a range favorably comparable to that currently accepted for PSA (60-70%). The variability in specificity between control groups is likely explained by the established 19% to 30% detection of prostate cancer on subsequent biopsies associated with control group 3. DIA detected 63% of the prostate cancers undetected by currently accepted PSA ranges.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Atrazine biodegradation to deisopropylatrazine and deethylatrazine in coastal sediments of different land uses.

Atrazine, a triazine herbicide widely used in the United States, contributes to surface-water and groundwater contamination, as can deisopropylatrazine (DIA) and deethylatrazine (DEA), two of its microbial degradation products. Production of DIA and DEA by native bacteria in aquatic sediments has not been investigated thoroughly. We assessed atrazine and production of DIA and DEA over time in coastal aquatic sediments associated with different land uses including creeks from an undeveloped preserve and a suburban development, a golf course drainage ditch, and a contaminated commercial harbor. Sediments were incubated in microcosms, spiked with U-14C-atrazine, extracted, and analyzed for 14C in a liquid scintillation counter. Atrazine, DIA, and DEA also were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The amount of 14C recovered varied at each site as a function of the sediment organic carbon content and decreased significantly over time. Both DEA and DIA were measured primarily in the aqueous phase. Transformation was more extensive to DIA than to DEA. The ratio of DIA to atrazine recovered from the undeveloped preserve was as high as 0.13. In contrast, the golf course had limited biotransformation, and had the greatest atrazine recoveries so atrazine, not DEA and DIA, may have a greater impact at this site.

Atrazine↗
PubMed2001

The effects of orally administered diacerein on cartilage and subchondral bone in an ovine model of osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: An ovine model of osteoarthritis (OA) induced by bilateral lateral meniscectomy (BLM) was used to evaluate in vivo effects of the slow acting antiarthritic drug diacerein (DIA) on degenerative changes in cartilage and subchondral bone of the operated joints. METHODS: Twenty of 30 adult age matched Merino wethers were subjected to BLM in the knee joints and the remainder served as non-operated controls (NOC). Half of the BLM group (n = 10) were given DIA (25 mg/kg orally) daily for 3 mo, then 50 mg/kg daily for a further 6 mo. The remainder of the meniscectomized (MEN) group served as OA controls. Five DIA, 5 MEN, and 5 NOC animals were sacrificed at 3 mo and the remainder at 9 mo postsurgery. One knee joint of each animal was used for bone mineral density (BMD) studies. Osteochondral slabs from the lateral femoral condyle and lateral tibial plateau were cut from the contralateral joint and were processed for histological and histomorphometric examination to assess the cartilage and subchondral bone changes. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the modified Mankin scores for cartilage from the DIA and MEN groups at 3 or 9 mo. However, in animals treated with DIA, the thickness of cartilage (p = 0.05) and subchondral bone (p = 0.05) in the lesion (middle) zone of the lateral tibial plateau were decreased relative to the corresponding zone of the MEN group at 3 mo (p = 0.05). At 9 mo subchondral bone thickness in this zone remained the same as NOC but BMD, which included both subchondral and trabecular bone, was significantly increased relative to the NOC group (p = 0.01). In contrast, the subchondral bone thickness of the outer zone of lateral tibial plateau and lateral femoral condyle of both MEN and DIA groups increased after 9 mo, while BMD remained the same as in the NOC. CONCLUSION: DIA treatment of meniscectomized animals mediated selective responses of cartilage and subchondral bone to the altered mechanical stresses induced across the joints by this procedure. While subchondral bone thickness in tibial lesion sites was reduced, cartilage and bone proliferation at the outer joint margins, a region where osteophyte formation occurred, were enhanced, suggesting that DIA supported the processes of repair and endochondral ossification.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1989

Course of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats treated with dialysates of intact organs.

A number of growth phenomena observed in vitro have shown that cells, at high densities, produce and release substances which, when they have reached a given concentration, arrest further growth. In vivo, these possibilities can be studied on the model of rapid regeneration of the rat liver after 65-70% partial hepatectomy (PH). We evaluated the course of liver regeneration after PH in animals treated with dialysates (DIA) of intact rat tissues. In addition to kidney and lymph node DIA, we were particularly interested in the effect of liver and spleen DIA. The experiments were carried out on male rats weighing 210-240 g. The relevant DIA was administered 24 h prior to PH; the controls were given physiological saline. The animals were killed just before PH and 24, 48, 30 and 72 h and 14 days after. DIA obtained from intact liver tissue inhibited the regeneration process induced by PH and its effect persisted 48 h after PH. Compared with the controls and with the rats given kidney DIA, DNA synthesis in the liver 24 h after PH was reduced to 77%. After spleen DIA, several (still hypothetical) factors probably acted together synergically (factors belonging to the immune system--RES--and spleen-produced factors capable of promoting proliferation of the hepatocytes--the "portal blood factor"). We arrived at this conclusion from an evaluation of liver DNA synthesis 24 h after 24h after PH, when synthesis was altogether markedly raised, but attained far higher values after the administration of spleen DIA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Gated SPECT with technetium-99m-sestamibi for assessment of myocardial perfusion abnormalities.

High counting statistics with 99mTc-sestamibi make gated SPECT imaging realistic. Information obtained with gated and nongated SPECT were compared in 83 subjects (20 normals, 63 patients) using a 1-day protocol (250 MBq [6 mCi] rest, 900 MBq [24 mCi] peak stress). Studies were acquired for eight frames/RR interval and formatted to a standard nongated study, a study consisting of diastolic (DIA) frames and dynamic functional studies. The right ventricle appeared more distinct in DIA than in nongated studies (p < 0.01). The left ventricular cavity was larger in DIA studies (p < 0.001), leading to more coronal slices with cavity (p < 0.001). A strong inverse relation between left ventricular cavity size in nongated studies and increase in cavity size and in number of coronal slices with cavity in DIA studies was found (r = -0.74 and -0.67, both p < 0.001). Severity (extent and degree) of perfusion abnormalities in rest and stress studies, assessed quantitatively in 50 patients (20 normals as reference), correlated highly in nongated and DIA studies (r = 0.98, p < 0.001). Severity of small and moderate sized perfusion defects showed a high degree of agreement in nongated and DIA studies, while severity of large defects was less pronounced in DIA studies (p < 0.05). In patients with subtle perfusion abnormalities, the results from DIA imaging agreed best with clinical data.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1998

Construction injury rates may exceed national estimates: evidence from the construction of Denver International Airport.

BACKGROUND: Construction of Denver International Airport (DIA) provided a unique opportunity to describe the magnitude of injury on a major construction project for which complete data on injury and hours at risk were available for over 32,000 employees working 31 million hours. METHODS: Comprehensive payroll data for all workers, who were paid standard Davis-Bacon wages, allowed calculation of person-hours at risk by job classification. Complete reporting, facilitated by a single workers' compensation plan covering all contracts and by an on-site medical clinic and designated provider system, allowed us to determine both total and lost-work-time (LWT) injury rate per 200,000 hours at risk by industrial sector, company size, and year of construction. Workers' compensation payment rates were calculated and compared with expected loss rates, derived by the National Council on Compensation Insurance, by sector, company size, and year. RESULTS: DIA's overall total injury rates were over twice those published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the construction industry for each year of DIA construction. Differences in LWT injury rates were more modest. Total injury rates were also at least twice BLS's rates for all contractor sizes. The injury rate pattern by company size at DIA differed from BLS's in that small firms had injury rates that were lower than or comparable to most other size categories; BLS's rates for small firms were lower than those for all but the very largest (250 or more employees) contractors. DIA's total workers' compensation (WC) payment rate of $7.06 per $100 payroll was only 11% higher than Colorado-specific expected loss rates reported by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. DISCUSSION: Complete reporting, facilitated by the existence of a single WC plan, an on-sites medical clinic, and designated medical providers, yielded injury rates significantly higher than previously reported. The relatively small difference between DIA payment rates significantly higher than previously that the discrepancy between DIA's injury rates and national estimates is due to underreporting of non-LWT injuries of the BLS. The burden of on-site work-related construction injury may be higher and more costly than has been evident from national data.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1995

Endemic work-related febrile respiratory illness among construction workers.

Construction workers building Denver International Airport (DIA) reported work-related respiratory and flulike symptoms of several months duration. We performed a cross-sectional interview study of 495 randomly selected DIA workers from six contractors in comparison with preplacement workers. We defined cases as workers with two work-attributed lower respiratory symptoms and one work-attributed systemic symptom. Case rates were significantly higher among DIA workers (34%) compared with those who had never worked at DIA (2%). Risk factors for illness included exposure to fireproofing (OR, 4.21; 95% CI, 1.95-9.08), work in tunnels and adjoining areas (OR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.84-5.12), length of DIA employment (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.46-0.92), and preexisting bronchitis (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.17-5.05). Our industrial hygiene investigation revealed alkaline dust (pH 11) present at a worksite associated with elevated risk of illness, and we identified airborne Penicillium mold widely distributed indoors at DIA. Clinical evaluation of 26 self-identified symptomatic DIA employees, including bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsy in 10, revealed work-related asthma in three workers and histologic evidence of chronic bronchitis in four who had never smoked. We concluded that future investigations of endemic work-related febrile respiratory illness among construction workers should evaluate its association with indoor exposure to dusts from alkaline fireproofing, Penicillium mold, mycotoxins, and bacterial bioaerosols.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A dipstick immunobinding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of hepatitis B and delta virus infections.

A simple, specific and economical dipstick immunobinding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DIA) for detecting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to hepatitis delta virus (anti-HDV), utilizing cellulose nitrate membrane is described. Screening of 815 serum specimens for HBsAg by DIA and micro ELISA revealed a positivity of 22.69% and 22.94% respectively. In the detection of antibodies to delta antigen, DIA was compared with an indirect immunofluorescence technique using A3 cell line as antigen substrate and a commercial macro ELISA. Of the 143 HBsAg positive sera tested for anti-HDV, 59 (41.25%) were positive by both immunofluorescence and macro ELISA and 61 (42.65%) by DIA. While the positive and negative predictive values of DIA for HBsAg were 100% and 99.6%, for anti-HDV by DIA these were 96.7% and 100% respectively. Based on the simplicity of performance and the economical nature of the test system, DIA is recommended as a diagnostic tool for field surveys and small laboratories in developing countries.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗