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PubMedDate not supplied

Mercury exposure and early effects: an overview.

OBJECTIVES: This paper was given as a keynote address at the conference on The Assessment of the Effects Due to Low Doses of Inorganic Mercury following Environmental and Occupational Exposures: Human and in vitro Studies on the Specific Mechanisms of Toxicity in Gargnano, Italy, in September 2001. METHODS: The most relevant literature over the past 40 years has been reviewed, and in particular, the proceedings of the World Health Organisation conferences on the health effects of inorganic and organic mercury exposure have been considered. RESULTS: In an uncontaminated environment the general population is exposed to mercury vapour from the atmosphere and from dental amalgam, while the diet, mainly from fish, is the principal source for methyl mercury absorption. Mercury vapour release from amalgam fillings increases with chewing, with absorption and uptake by the brain and kidneys. Infants exposed to phenyl mercury from treated diapers and young children ingesting mercurous chloride in teething powders have developed acrodynia (pink disease), and Kawasaki disease and the use of mercurial skin lightening creams has been followed by the development of the nephrotic syndrome. Both mercury compounds and mercury vapour have given rise to contact dermatitis in the general population. Epidemics of mercury poisoning have followed release of mercury into the environment from industrial activity, with uptake of methyl mercury from fish eating in Minamata Bay and uptake of both inorganic and methyl mercury following release of mercury vapour and deposition into waterways from gold recovery procedures in the Amazon basin. The ingestion of wheat and barley seed treated with an alkyl mercury fungicide for sowing, by a largely illiterate population in Iraq, led to a major outbreak of poisoning with a high fatality rate. Following exposure to mercury vapour, the earliest clinically observed adverse effects at urine mercury levels of the order of 30-100 mg/g creatinine, are objectively detectable tremor, psychological disorder and impaired nerve conduction velocity in sensitive subjects, with subjective symptoms of irritability, fatigue and anorexia. At these and at lower levels, proteinuria has also been observed. Both glomerular and tubular damage may occur at exposure levels lower than those giving rise to central nervous system effects. An immunological effect has also been observed in studies on clinically asymptomatic workers with low level exposure. CONCLUSIONS: As mercury can give rise to allergic and immunotoxic reactions which may be genetically regulated, in the absence of adequate dose-response studies for immunologically sensitive individuals, it has not been possible to set a level for mercury in blood or urine below which mercury related symptoms will not occur.

Acrodynia↗
PubMed2001

[Observation on the changes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients' olfactory before and after radiotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: Detecting nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients' olfactory before and after radiotherapy for investigating the infection of radiotherapy on these patients' olfactory. METHOD: 100 NPC patients' olfactory were detected before the start of radiotherapy and after the termination of therapy in 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. RESULT: Patients' smell acuity decreased sharply 3 months after therapy, but varying degrees of recovery were noted in 6 and 12 months. However their smell acuity became worse in the following time. CONCLUSION: NPC patients' smell acuity can be profoundly affected by radiotherapy. And after radiotherapy, their smell acuity will decrease wave-likely and cannot fully recover.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Effects of growth factors and estrogen on the proliferation and prolactin gene expression in anterior pituitary cells of rats].

OBJECTIVE: Detect the effects of exogenous 17 beta-estradiol (E2), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) on the proliferation and prolactin (PRL) gene expression in primary serum-free cultured anterior pituitary cells in vitro. METHODS: Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and in situ hybridization in primary serum-free cultures of rat anterior pituitary cells were employed. RESULTS: After 36 hours incubation of the monolayer with E2(10(-8) mol/L) and EGF(10(-8) mol/L), DNA and PRL mRNA contents in the cells were increased significantly (P < 0.001); and when cells were co-incubated with E2 and EGF at the same time, the levels of DNA and PRL mRNA were higher than those treated with E2 or EGF alone (P < 0.01), respectively. TGF beta 1(2 ng/ml) treatment decreased the DNA and PRL mRNA contents significantly (P < 0.001). Its inhibitory effect was reduced at the presence of E2, the DNA and PRL mRNA levels in the cells were higher than those treated with TGF beta 1 alone (P < 0.001), but still lower than E2 alone treatment (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that EGF and TGF beta 1 exerte stimulatory inhibitory effects, on cell proliferation and PRL gene expression in anterior pituitary cells of rats in both basal and E2-induced conditions. EGF and TGF beta 1 may be involoved in the regulation of proliferation and PRL gene expression in anterior pituitary cells in vivo; and also may be correlated with prolactin-secreting tumors formation induced by E2.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Significance of low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography for the prediction of the long-term prognosis for patients with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: Detection of stunned myocardium using low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography is a good predictor of improvement of cardiac function in patients with acute myocardial infarction during short hospital stays. The present study evaluated the detection of stunned myocardium as a predictor of the long-term prognosis for patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: One hundred and two patients (83 males, 19 females, mean age 61.5 years) with initial myocardial infarction underwent successful reperfusion therapy (direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or stent) in the acute stage. Within 7 days, low-dose dobutamine was administered by intravenous drip and improvement of wall motion of the infarct area was evaluated by echocardiography. The patients were divided into two groups, the viable group that showed one grade or more improvement (61 patients), and the non-viable group that showed no improvement (41 patients). These groups were compared to determine the differences in clinical findings such as remodeling of the left ventricle measured by two-dimensional echocardiography, physical work capacity during serial multi-step exercise testing, and the prognosis. RESULTS: The viable group showed greater improvement in hemodynamics and wall motion of the infarct areas than the non-viable group. After discharge, the physical work capacity was significantly increased and there was no recognizable enlargement of the left ventricle in the viable group. No sudden cardiac death or heart failure occurred in the viable group, in contrast to incidences of 6% and 9%, respectively, in the non-viable group. Unstable angina and nonfatal re-infarction occurred more frequently in the viable group. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of stunned myocardium is a predictor of the prognosis for patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Dobutamine↗
PubMed2003

Measuring colonic transit time in chronic idiophatic constipation.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Colonic transit time can define three types of delay: right colon (colonic inertial), left colon and recto sigmoid. The aim of this study is to compare clinic characteristics and manometric results among the different groups with segmental colonic transit disorder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 61 subjects were included in our study (5 men and 56 women) with and average age of 47.5 years (range: 17-84 years). We carried our a study of segmental and total colonic transit time, with the use of radio-opaque markers and sequential abdominal X-rays. We considered that transit time was prolonged when it was longer than 72 hours, and segmental transit time, when right colon was longer than 22 hours, left colon 37.2 hours and recto-sigmoid 37.2 hours. We included different clinic data: age, sex, place of residence stool frequency, abdominal pain, painful evacuation, incomplete evacuation, evacuation desire, dietary fibre intake, use of laxatives. We practised anorectal manometry in 20 patients. RESULTS: The average total colonic transit time was 38.2 hours in normal transit and 103 hours with disorder. The frequency in the three colonic segments, when there was a long total colonic transit time, was: 40% in the left colon, 33% in the recto-sigmoid and 27% in the right colon. We analysed the clinical characteristics of these three groups, finding more frequency of painful evacuation and defecation desire and lower dietary fibre intake in recto sigmoid. The most important abnormality in anorectal manometry was the hiposensitivity in the anorectal area, that only appeared in subjects with long segmental transit time in the right colon (colonic inertia), statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of colonic transit time with radio-opaque markers is a simple technique that allows for the objective detection of the different groups of patients with chronic idiopathic constipation. The exact typification of the abnormality is important for the individualization of each treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Screening chest X-ray examination with kinetic analysis using flat-panel detector].

We are developing dynamic screening radiography to provide kinetic information for lung respiratory examination using a flat-panel-detector (FPD) system. We modified the FPD system (CANON CXDI-22) to take sequential images for a short period of time (10 seconds, 3 frames/sec). Sequential chest radiographs from full inspiration to expiration were taken and analyzed for diaphragm movement and density changes in local lung areas to objectively detect respiratory anomalies. Our methods derived some respiratory functions such as regional air passage and lung structure movement, and suggested that the degree of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial pneumonia could be evaluated quantitatively.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Tracking the elusive antiestrogenic effect of melatonin: a new methodological approach.

OBJECTIVES: Detection of the antiestrogenic effect of melatonin on various breast cancer cell lines and its dependence of the differential expression of estrogen receptors (ERalpha and ERbeta) and melatonin receptors (mt1 and RZRalpha). SETTING AND DESIGN: Dose-response curves of estradiol were determined in 6 different breast cancer cell lines using a colorimetric proliferation assay in the absence or presence of various melatonin concentrations. METHODS: In order to detect the minor growth inhibitory effect of melatonin, a simple yet novel approach was employed: instead of incubating cells at single estradiol-concentrations at increasing melatonin levels, breast cancer cells were grown in microwell-plates for 4 days at increasing concentrations of estradiol (10(-12)M - 10(-10)M) in the absence or presence of melatonin (10(-9)M - 10(-8)M). Cell number was determined using Alamar blue and colorimetry. RT-PCR was performed for the expression of ERalpha, ERbeta, RZRalpha and mt1. RESULTS: Melatonin at concentrations of 10(-9)M and 5 x 10(-9)M shifted the dose-response curves of estradiol to higher concentrations. Responsiveness to melatonin depended on expression of ERalpha but not on ERbeta. mRNA of ERbeta was not detectable in the breast cancer cell lines used. Only small amounts of mt1 transcripts were detectable in MCF-7 cells of one source. In MCF-7 cells transfected with the mt1 gene and in an ovarian cancer cell line mt1 was expressed at significant levels. RZRalpha was expressed in all tested cell lines at different amounts. CONCLUSION: The growth of all ERalpha-positive breast cancer cell lines can be inhibited by melatonin. The effect in most cell lines is weak yet clearly reproducible. RZRalpha clearly contributes to the growth inhibitory effect of melatonin.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2003

[Parkinson disease: description of an interdisciplinary program of functional group rehabilitation].

Neurorehabilitation for Parkinson's disease, in the form of physical and occupational therapy, has long been advocated but also seriously questioned with respect to its specific content, its mechanisms, its efficacy and its costs. Many factors may be put forward to explain the lack of consensus surrounding these interventions, including the multiplicity of different programs proposed, the scarcity of controlled studies available and the inadequacy of some assessment methods used. In this article, we describe a new neurorehabilitation program for Parkinson's disease which is characterized by some original features. In particular, the specific functional patients' needs were taken into account instead of the symptoms related to the condition, therapeutic interventions favoured a multidisciplinary approach, patients trained in groups rather than individually, the program combined different methods and was continuously evolving over time, and finally we used simple but goal-oriented measurement methods to assess efficacy. The study included 22 patients. Statistically significant positive results were obtained by the end of the program, suggesting that the program in its current form was indeed capable to generate a functional benefit of sufficient magnitude to be objectively detected by the assessment methods used. In our opinion, our data emphasizes the usefulness of specific neurorehabilitation programs in the global management of Parkinson's disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

[Antizonal antibodies in ovulatory cervical mucus and in serum of patients with fertility disorders].

OBJECTIVE: Detection of antizonal antibodies (aZPs) in cervical ovulatory mucus and in serum in patients with fertility failure. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty of Charles University, and Faculty Hospital, Plzen. METHODS: Detection of aZPs (passive hemagglutination test) in cervical ovulatory mucus (OM) and in serum from 105 patients with reproductive failure and in 25 fertile healthy women (control group). RESULTS: Positive levels of aZP in OM were found in 79 (75.2%) patients, in 56 of them aZP were observed in OM and in serum together, only ovulatory aZPs in 23 (21.9%), and only serum aZPs in 18 (17.1%) were found. aZPs predominate in 47 patients (of 48 women) with more than two in vitro fertilization processes, in thirty of them aZPs in serum and in OM together were observed. On the other hand, repeated spontaneous miscarriage and obesity have no connection with detection of aZPs in our patients. CONCLUSION. The increased levels of serum and OM aZPs are very often seen in patients after repeated unsuccessful IVF. This very important result in reproductive immunology means to go on the micromanipulation technics combined with immunosuppression in the next planned IVF procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[CK20 mRNA expression in peripheral blood of patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma and its clinical significance].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Detecting expression levels of cytokeratin 19 (CK19), CK20, MUC1, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in peripheral blood,lymph node,and bone marrow is a major method for diagnosing micro-metastasis in patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma of early stages. This study was to examine the expression, before and after operation, of CK20 mRNA in peripheral blood of patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma, to further explore hematogenous-spread micro-metastasis status of these patients, and significance of CK20 mRNA detection in treatment during perioperation period. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected before, and 2 weeks after operation from 62 patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma,and 22 controls (12 patients with benign gastrointestinal disease, and 10 healthy volunteers). CK20 mRNA expression in the blood samples was specifically detected by nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Pathologic examination of all cases was done by conventional methods. RESULTS: Of 62 patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma, 34 (54.3%) have positive CK20 mRNA expression before operation,and so did 31 (50.0%) postoperatively, but no CK20 mRNA expressed in 22 controls. In patients of stageI-IV, CK20 mRNA positive rates were 37.5% (3/8), 36.3% (8/22), 66.7% (18/27), and 100% (5/5), respectively, difference between stage I+II (36.9%) and stage III+IV (83.3%) was significant (P< 0.05). Among 35 patients with local lymph node metastasis, 27 (77.1%) were positive for CK20 mRNA; among 27 patients without lymph node metastasis, 7 (25.9%) have positive CK20 mRNA expression (P< 0.01). CK20 mRNA expression was not correlated with tumor cell differentiation,and cancer embolus existance. There was no significant difference in CK20 mRNA expression before and after operation (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CK20 mRNA may be a sensitive marker for detecting micro-metastasis,and recurrence of patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma. It may be helpful for the correct clinical staging,and reasonable treatment for patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Photopic and scotopic VEPs in patients with congenital stationary night-blindness.

Extended set of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) using pattern-reversal (PREPs), linear motion-onset and radial (expansion) motion-onset stimuli (M-VEPs) (detailed specification at http://www.lfhk.cuni.cz/elf) was used to verify congenital stationary night-blindness (CSNB) characteristics in 7 patients (compared to 7 age matched controls) in photopic conditions (luminance of 17 cd/m2). No differences were found in any of the M-VEPs, whilst PREPs displayed prolonged latencies in 3 of 7 CSNB patients. Additionally, the PREPs and M-VEPs were tested in 3 normal and 3 CSNB subjects (the only available ones from the original group) over large range of scotopic, mesopic and photopic luminances (from 0.0001 to 65.4 cd/m2). Both types of low luminance VEPs had distinctly increased luminance threshold needed for reliable VEPs eliciting in CSNB patients (0.06 cd/m2) when compared with controls (0.003 cd/m2); the VEP appearance threshold was almost identical with the perceptual threshold in both groups. Thus, our pilot study proved that CSNB can be objectively detected also via scotopic VEP examination. Since the prolonged PREP latencies at 17 cd/m2 normalised with luminance increase, it indicates that the lower luminance stimuli (compared to the standard recommended by ISCEV) can be more sensitive for some visual disorders detection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Pathogenicity of fungi isolated from American ginseng seeds and bioassay of fungicides against the pathogenic fungi].

OBJECTIVE: Detect the pathogenicity of fungi isolated from American ginseng seeds and select new fungicides against the pathogenic seed-born fungi. METHOD: inoculate the isolates to American ginseng seedlings to detect the pathogenicity, and seeded the hyphae disk at the center of agar plate containing chemicals to do fungicide bioassay. RESULT: Fusarium sp. isolate 5 and Alternara sp. isolate 13 had pathogenicity to American ginseng seedling. Sportak had the strongest inhibition to the two isolates, Carbendazim had better inhibition and Celest had weak inhibition. CONCLUSION: Sportak and Celest could be used as efficacious candidate chemicals to treat or coat the American ginseng seeds, and substitute Carbendazim, which has been used for many years, to control the diseases occurring in seedling stage of American ginseng.

Alternaria↗
PubMed2005

Biomimetic machine vision system.

Real-time application of digital imaging for use in machine vision systems has proven to be prohibitive when used within control systems that employ low-power single processors without compromising the scope of vision or resolution of captured images. Development of a real-time machine analog vision system is the focus of research taking place at the University of Wyoming. This new vision system is based upon the biological vision system of the common house fly. Development of a single sensor is accomplished, representing a single facet of the fly's eye. This new sensor is then incorporated into an array of sensors capable of detecting objects and tracking motion in 2-D space. This system "preprocesses" incoming image data resulting in minimal data processing to determine the location of a target object. Due to the nature of the sensors in the array, hyperacuity is achieved thereby eliminating resolutions issues found in digital vision systems. In this paper, we will discuss the biological traits of the fly eye and the specific traits that led to the development of this machine vision system. We will also discuss the process of developing an analog based sensor that mimics the characteristics of interest in the biological vision system. This paper will conclude with a discussion of how an array of these sensors can be applied toward solving real-world machine vision issues.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1992

Coupling of fetal movement and fetal heart rate accelerations as an indicator of fetal health.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical value of identified coupling of fetal heart rate (FHR) accelerations (more than five beats per minute for any duration) with objectively detected fetal movements. METHODS: One hundred sixty-six patients underwent routine fetal testing using a Doppler device that recognized both FHR and fetal movements. The coupling index was determined to be the percentage of fetal movements associated with FHR accelerations, and various coupling indices were compared with nonstress test (NST) results. RESULTS: A coupling index above 25% and below 75% compared well with the traditional NST by standard epidemiologic criteria and by the kappa statistic. CONCLUSION: Coupling of even small FHR accelerations and fetal movements could substitute for or replace the NST in antenatal screening.

Female↗
PubMed2005

[Alterations within white blood cell subsets in children with chronic viral hepatitis C before treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin].

OBJECTIVE: Detection of differences in white blood cell subsets I children with chronic viral hepatitis type C before antiviral treatment. METHODS: A cohort of children (n = 52) with proven HCV infection were subjected to flow cytometric analysis of their white blood cells and compared to non-infected control group. MAIN OBSERVATIONS: It has been found that the hepatitis group has higher number of cells with cytotoxic potential, decreased CD4/CD8 ratio than the other one. RESULTS: Significant rise of CD8+, CD28- cells, NK cells and NKT lymphocytes was demonstrated in hepatitis group. Several correlations were noticed between various cell subsets studied in virus C infected children. CONCLUSIONS: This data show that HCV infection affects child immunity at systemic level. Cellular alterations are detectable by means of flow cytometry. Evaluation of its parameters might have predictive value in antiviral treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Expression of Kir2.1 channel during differentiation of human macrophages into foam cells.

OBJECTIVE: Detected in non-transformed bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and identified as one of the key channels in modulating macrophage proliferation, activation and apoptosis, Kir2.1 channel is also characterized to play a crucial role in cell differentiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of Kir2.1 channel mRNA and protein during human monocyte-derived macrophage differentiation into foam cells. METHODS: Human peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from healthy male volunteers by density gradient centrifugation and then by adherence method. The macrophages identified as a homogeneous population of adherent cells were obtained after 5 days of culture. Expression of Kir2.1 channel during human macrophage differentiation into foam cells was investigated by RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: After incubation of the macrophages with 30 mg/L OxLDL at 37 degrees C for 60 h, the cells were obviously enlarged in size and numerous red lipid granules observed under optical microscope. The cellular contents of the total cholesterol (TC), free cholesterol (FC) and cholesterol ester (CE) were markedly increased from 54.79+/-28.304 mg/g, 47.968+/-26.787 mg/g and 6.822+/-3.437 mg/g to 229.775+/-57.453 mg/g, 96.241+/-24.003 mg/g and 133.535+/-36.292 mg/g, respectively; the CE/TC ratio rose from (14.437+/-6.781)% to (57.946+/-3.507)% (n=7, P<0.05), suggesting the phenotype of foam cells. However, there was no significant difference in the relative expression of Kir2.1 channel mRNA between the macrophages and foam cells [(59.074+/-10.566)% vs (46.98+/-12.527)%, n=5, P>0.05], nor was there significant difference in the relative expression of Kir2.1 channel protein between them [(60.527+/-18.621)% vs (50.243+/-11.583)%, n=6, P>0.05]. CONCLUSION: Incubation of human monocyte-derived macrophages with 30 mg/L OxLDL for 60 h induces the differentiation of the cells into foam cells, but the expression of Kir2.1 channel does not change obviously.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Cervical rotation lateral flexion test in brachialgia.

The cervical rotation lateral flexion test (CRLF test), developed earlier, was used to examine patients with brachialgia and thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) symptoms to detect possible restriction of the movement of the first rib. The test was performed for 23 patients, five of them both before and after treatment. The patients were assessed independently by two clinicians to analyze the interobserver reliability. A cineradiographic examination was performed so that any restriction of the movement of the first rib during expiration and inspiration could be detected objectively. The interobserver repeatability of the test was excellent, thus making the cineradiographic examination unnecessary. It is recommended that this test be included in the clinical investigation of all patients with brachialgia with or without radicular pain.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Clinical value of the ankle-brachial index in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease but without known atherothrombotic disease: VITAMIN study].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Detecting peripheral arterial disease by measuring the ankle-brachial index can help identify asymptomatic patients with established disease. We investigated the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (i.e., an ankle-brachial index <0.9) and its potential clinical and therapeutic impact in patients with no known arterial disease who were seen at internal medicine departments. METHODS: This multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study included patients at risk of cardiovascular disease who were selected on the basis of age, gender and the presence of conventional risk factors. No patient was known to have arterial disease. RESULTS: The study included 493 patients, 174 (35%) of whom had diabetes, while 321 (65%) did not. Only 16% were in a low-risk category according to their Framingham score. An ankle-brachial index <0.9 was observed in 27.4%, comprising 37.9% of those with diabetes and 21.3% of those without. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors associated with an ankle-brachial index <0.9 were age, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. There was a significant relationship between the ankle-brachial index and Framingham risk categories. Therapeutically, only 21% of patients with an ankle brachial index <0.9 were taking antiplatelet drugs. Overall, 20% had a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration <100 mg/dl and 52% had a concentration <130 mg/dl. Some 42% had arterial blood pressures below 140/90 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease was detected in a high proportion of patients with an intermediate or high cardiovascular disease risk. The ankle-brachial index should be measured routinely in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease who are seen at internal medicine departments.

Aged↗