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Results for “environmental sensitivity”

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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Serum paraoxonase (PON1) isozymes: the quantitative analysis of isozymes affecting individual sensitivity to environmental chemicals.

In a recent study on Gulf War veterans who developed delayed neurotoxicity symptoms, we found their levels of serum paraoxonase (PON1) isozyme type Q to be significantly lower than in the control, unaffected veteran group. These results were obtained in 25 ill veterans and 20 well control subjects, of which 10 were deployed and 10 were nondeployed battalion members who remained in the United States during the Gulf War. The blood samples were also assayed for serum butyrylcholinesterase in our laboratory, and more recently in Dr. C. Broomfield's laboratory for somanase and sarinase activities. The cholinesterase activities showed no significant correlation with the PON1 isozyme levels or the severity of the clinical symptoms, but the somanase and sarinase levels ran parallel to the PON1 type Q isozyme concentrations. Although there is no direct evidence that these Gulf War veterans were directly exposed to or encountered either of these nerve gases, they may have been exposed to some environmental or chemical toxin with a similar preference for hydrolysis by the PON1 type Q isozyme. The number of subjects is relatively small, but the results should encourage other investigators to examine both the individual phenotypes and the levels of PON1 isozymes in other groups exhibiting neurological symptoms.

Aryldialkylphosphatase↗
PubMed1987

House dust sensitivity and environmental control.

Allergy to foreign proteins in house dust is extremely common. Despite the fact that immunotherapy with house dust extract has been utilized for over sixty years, environmental control is still infrequently employed as a therapeutic measure. In this article the major allergen content of house dust is defined and strategies for decreasing the levels of these allergens in homes are described.

Allergens↗
PubMed1997

[Incidence of cutaneous sensitization to environmental allergens in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

A skin prick test was performed in 75 patients with an obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) to test allergic skin reactivity to 18 common inhalant allergens. Additionally, anterior rhinomanometry was performed. Results were compared with a group of 21 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and with 198 workers of the chemical industry. A positive (> or = 4 mm wheal diameter) skin test to at least one allergene was present in 49 per cent of the OSAS patients, compared to 14 per cent in COPD patients and 28 per cent in industrial workers (p < 0.05; chi 2-test)-33 per cent (n = 25) of the OSAS patients with a sleep apnea syndrome showed skin reactivity to house dust mite (D. ph., D. f.) compared to 9.5 per cent in COPD patients and 12.6 per cent in industrial workers (p < 0.05 chi 2-test). No difference was found between anthropometric, polysomnographic, or rhinomanometric data comparing OSAS patients with positive skin reactions against house dust mites (n = 25) and those without any allergic skin reactivity (n = 38).

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Environmental stimuli-sensitive biodegradable drug delivery systems].

Environmental stimuli-sensitive biodegradable drug delivery systems are drawing more and more attentions because of their advantages such as smart properties, high efficiency and easy-to-handle properties. On the basis of a large quantity of references on this topic, a review has been made on the developments of the thermosensitive and pH-sensitive intelligent polymeric systems for drug delivery.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed2002

Automatic decoding of sensor types within randomly ordered, high-density optical sensor arrays.

In this paper automatic sensor identification of sensor classes within a high-density randomized array, without a priori knowledge of sensor locations, is demonstrated. Two different fluorescence-based sensor types, with hundreds of replicates each, were randomly distributed into an optical imaging fiber array platform. The sensor element types were vapor-sensitive microspheres with the environmentally-sensitive fluorescent dye Nile Red adsorbed on their surface. Nile Red undergoes spectral changes when exposed to different microenvironmental polarity conditions, e.g. microsphere surface polarity or odor exposure. These reproducible sensor spectral changes, or sensor-response profiles, enable sensors within a randomized array to be grouped into categories by optical decoding methods. Two computational decoding methods (supervised and unsupervised) are introduced; equal classification rates were achieved for both. By comparing sensor responses from a randomized array with those obtained from known (control) arrays, 587 sensors were correctly classified with 99.32% accuracy. Although both methods were equally effective, the unsupervised method, which uses sensor response changes to odor exposure, is a better decoding model for the vapor-sensitive arrays studied, because it relies only on the odor-response profiles. Another decoding technique employed the emission spectra of the sensors and is more applicable to other types of multiplexed fluorescence-based arrays and assays. The sensor-decoding techniques are compared to demonstrate that sensors within high-density optical chemosensor arrays can be positionally-registered, or decoded, with no additional overhead in time or expense other than collecting the sensor-response profiles.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Desert locust control in ecologically sensitive areas: need for guidelines.

Chemical control of desert locust (DL) is carried out over large areas of land, covering a range of different landscapes and ecosystems. There are no real restrictions for spraying in or close to environmentally sensitive areas and awareness of sensitivity is not always obvious to the people involved in control. However, concern about environmental issues in connection with DL control is growing and clear guidelines are needed. The objectives were: to identify and delineate areas particularly sensitive to pesticide contamination in northeastern Africa, e.g. protected areas, wetlands, populated places, oases, and areas with concentrations of migratory birds. These areas were matched with actual DL control during 1986-1998. The conclusion is that chemical control occurred in environmentally sensitive areas especially wetlands, e.g. temporary waters and mangroves; close to human settlements; and, to some extent, in or near protected areas and areas with numerous migratory birds.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The nature of quantitative genetic variation for Drosophila longevity.

Longevity is a typical quantitative trait: the continuous variation in life span observed in natural populations is attributable to genetic variation at multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL), environmental sensitivity of QTL alleles, and truly continuous environmental variation. To begin to understand the genetic architecture of longevity at the level of individual QTL, we have mapped QTL for Drosophila life span that segregate between two inbred strains that were not selected for longevity. A mapping population of 98 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) was derived from these strains, and life span of virgin male and female flies measured under control culture conditions, chronic heat and cold stress, heat shock and starvation stress, and high and low density larval environments. The genotypes of the RIL were determined for polymorphic roo transposable element insertion sites, and life span QTL were mapped using composite interval mapping methods. A minimum of 19 life span QTL were detected by recombination mapping. The life span QTL exhibited strong genotype by sex, genotype by environment, and genotype by genotype (epistatic) interactions. These interactions complicate mapping efforts, but evolutionary theory predicts such properties of segregating QTL alleles. Quantitative deficiency mapping of four longevity QTL detected in the control environment by recombination mapping revealed a minimum of 11 QTL in these regions. Clearly, longevity is a complex quantitative trait. In the future, linkage disequilibrium mapping can be used to determine which candidate genes in a QTL region correspond to the genetic loci affecting variation in life span, and define the QTL alleles at the molecular level.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Multiparameter flow cytometric analysis of a pH sensitive formyl peptide with application to receptor structure and processing kinetics.

Environmentally sensitive molecules have many potential cellular applications. We have investigated the utility of a pH sensitive ligand for the formyl peptide receptor, CHO-Met-Leu-Phe-Phe-Lys (SNAFL)-OH (SNAFL-seminaphtho-fluorescein), because in previous studies (Fay et al.: Biochemistry 30:5066-5075, 1991) protonation has been used to explain the quenching when the fluoresceinated formyl pentapeptide ligand binds to this receptor. Moreover, acidification in intracellular compartments is a general mechanism occurring in cells during processing of ligand-receptor complexes. Because the protonated form of SNAFL is excited at 488 nm with emission at 530 nm and the unprotonated form is excited at 568 nm with emission at 650 nm, the ratio of protonated and unprotonated forms can be examined by multiparameter flow cytometry. We found that the receptor-bound ligand is sensitive to both the extracellular and intracellular pH. There is a small increase in the pKa of the ligand upon binding to the receptor consistent with protonation in the binding pocket. Once internalized, spectral changes in the probe consistent with acidification and ligand dissociation from the receptor are observed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

[Mercury sensitization induced by environmental exposure].

We investigated mercury sensitization in relation to urinary and hair mercury concentrations. Patch tests were performed on 215 medical students and these tests demonstrated that 28 students were mercury-sensitized (13.0%). Life-styles were studied by questionnaire in 26 of the mercury sensitized students and 46 of the non-sensitized subjects. Urinary mercury concentrations were measured in 25 sensitized and 46 non-sensitized and hair mercury concentrations were measured in 19 sensitized and 22 non-sensitized subjects. The eating of fish was not significantly associated with mercury sensitization (one-tailed t-test). The number of teeth treated with metals in the sensitized group was significantly higher than in the control group (6.8 +/- 4.3 in sensitized vs. 4.8 +/- 4.1 in non-sensitized, one-tailed t-test. p < 0.05). The usage of mercurochrome was not significantly associated with mercury sensitization (chi-squared test). Urinary mercury concentrations were not significantly higher in sensitized subjects. Hair mercury concentrations were significantly higher in sensitized subjects (1.98 +/- 0.91 micrograms/g in sensitized vs. 1.23 +/- 0.53 in non-sensitized, one-tailed t-test p < 0.05). These results suggest that mercury sensitization is associated with increased hair mercury concentrations but not with urinary mercury concentrations. In this study it is confirmed that dental amalgam for treating teeth may be an important factor relating to mercury sensitization.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Sustainable management for the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey.

The objective of this article is to propose a program for the integrated coastal zone management that is required to stimulate and guide sustainable development of the Mediterranean coastal zone of Turkey. Improved data collection, quality control, analysis, and data management will provide a firm basis for future scientific understanding of the East Mediterranean coast of Turkey and will support long-term management. Various innovative procedures were proposed for a promising ecosystem-based approach to manage coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean: remote data acquisition with new technologies; environmental quality monitoring program that will provide a baseline for monitoring; linking a Geographic Information System (GIS) with natural resource management decision routines in the context of operational wetlands, fisheries, tourism management system; environmental sensitivity analysis to ensure that permitted developments are environmentally sustainable; and use of natural species to restore the wetlands and coastal dunes and sustain the system processes. The proposed management scheme will benefit the scientific community in the Mediterranean and the management/planning community in Eastern Turkey.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed2005

Approaches to determine clinical significance of genetic variants.

The clinical significance of genetic variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) has implications for risk assessment and also for predicting the outcome of a disease process, especially in response to intervention. Approaches to determine the clinical significance of genetic polymorphisms are now beginning to be developed. The technology tools and procedures currently available have significant potential in identifying and validating polymorphisms associated with environmentally sensitive phenotypes. Numerous concepts can now provide the methodology to selectively identify SNPs with the potential for impacting gene function. These include computational algorithms, biochemical assays, yeast mutagenicity assays, and epidemiological studies, either as a stand-alone screen, or in various combinations depending on the gene of interest. Proof of principle will ultimately depend on large-scale epidemiological and clinical studies, but will require intensive resources. Therefore, the use of the mouse as a preclinical biological model is paramount in helping screen valid SNPs or combinations of SNPs for human studies. But more importantly, mouse modeling will help answer the question of what role gene variants play in sensitivity or resistance to a wide variety of environmental insults ranging from toxic chemicals and carcinogens to more mundane and routine exposure items, such as dietary factors, air quality, over the counter and prescription medications, and ultraviolet light. Our focus on SNPs that result in an amino acid change is a matter of expediency because these variants are more amenable to the prescreening approaches currently available that are expected to help identify SNPs that affect protein function. The mouse models generated to evaluate the environmental relevance of selected SNPs will be extremely valuable biological tools to validate gene variant and environment interaction in a variety of settings. Informative mouse models will also provide the basis of pursuing relevant SNPs in epidemiological and clinical investigations.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The complex genetic architecture of Drosophila life span.

Continuous phenotypic variation in life span results from segregating genetic variation at multiple loci, the environmental sensitivity of expression of these loci, and the history of environmental variation experienced by the organism throughout its life. We have mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) that produce variation in the life span of mated Drosophila melanogaster using a panel of recombinant inbred lines (RIL) that were backcrossed to the parental strains from which they were derived. Five QTL were identified that influence mated life span, three were male-specific, one was female-specific, and one affected life span in both sexes. The additive allelic effects and dominance of QTL were highly sex-specific. One pair of QTL also exhibited significant epistatic effects on life span. We summarize all of the QTL mapping data for Drosophila life span, and outline future prospects for disentangling the genetic and environmental influences on this trait.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Diagnostic clusters in infants as child health outcomes. Variation among socioeconomic areas in one community.

Objectives were to examine geographic variation in rates of infant hospitalization for diagnostic clusters in Monroe County (Rochester), New York and to assess these clusters as indexes of child health. ICD-9 codes were used to cluster all 7,883 hospitalizations of infants (< 24 months) between 1985 and 1991 on the basis of their avoidability. Environmentally sensitive clusters accounted for 63% of admissions. These clusters included environmental, environmental/constitutional, and other infectious disease. Disparities in morbidity between inner city and suburbs were greatest for the environmental cluster, followed by the environmental/constitutional, and other infectious disease clusters. For the constitutional and quality indicator clusters, differences between inner-city and suburban risk were minimal. Environmental interventions may be more important than improved health services to reducing racial and economic disparities in child health. Analysis of morbidity clusters, ascertained from available administrative data bases and aggregated for small geographic areas, may guide child health policy well.

Cluster Analysis↗
PubMed2002

Time courses of sensory irritations due to 2-butanone and ethyl benzene exposure: influences of self-reported multiple chemical sensitivity (sMCS).

The individually different effects of exposure to comparable levels of chemicals might be partly explained by dissimilar response sensitivity towards chemicals. Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) might be the clinical endpoint of this altered sensitivity. Concerning a subclinical range of chemical sensitivity, 'challenge studies' with people reporting chemical sensitivity are needed to improve the knowledge about such differences. The chemical and general environmental sensitivity questionnaire (CGES) is a standardized screening tool for the selection of this group. In the present study 24 healthy male volunteers, half of them classified as sMCS-subjects, were experimentally exposed to 2-butanone and ethyl benzene at different levels (TLV-level vs. odor threshold). The strength of self-reported sensory irritations (nasal and ocular) and symptoms of bad smell were assessed, prior, during, and after the 4 hours of exposure. The time courses of sensory irritations were affected by sMCS. Across all exposure periods sMCS-subjects showed increasing symptom scores while control-subjects did not. Symptoms of bad smell were affected by three exposure-related factors (substance, level, duration) without any additional influence from the sMCS factor. Starting from these results it could be concluded that the time-depending influence of reported chemical sensitivity is most prominent for subjective data of sensory irritations.

Adult↗