bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epidemiologic evidence of cancer risk in textile industry workers: a review and update
Authors: Mastrangelo Giuseppe , Fedeli Ugo , Fadda Emanuela , Milan Giovanni , Lange John H
Published: November 2003

A meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies for textile industry workers was undertaken in an attempt to evaluate whether the cancer risk varies within the textile industry in relation to the job held or the textile fiber used. We combined studies published up until 1990, when an ad hoc IARC Monograph was issued, and those published after 1990 with the aim of appreciating evidence of reversing trends in cancer risk.

Observed and expected cases reported in the original studies were summed up and the totals were divided to obtain a pooled relative risk (PRR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) estimated with a fixed-effect model. We calculated a chi-square test (x2) of heterogeneity among studies. When PRR and x2 were both significant, PRR and CI were calculated with a random-effect model and the source of heterogeneity was investigated.

Lung cancer risk was around 0.4 in the first study on cotton workers published in 1936, around 0.7 in subsequent studies, mostly published in the 1970s and 1980s, and around 1.0 in the last studies published in the 1990s. Papers published in the 1970s and 1980s produced consistent risk estimates for lung cancer risk, which was significantly lower than 1.0 in workers exposed to cotton (PRR 3/4-0.77; CI3/4-0.69-0.86) and wool dust (0.71; 0.50-0.92), as well as in carders and fiber preparers (0.73; 0.54-0.91), weavers (0.71; 0.56-0.85), and spinners and weavers (0.78; 0.66-0.91). Lung cancer PRRs did not significantly deviate from 1.0 in textile workers using synthetic fibers or silk, and in dyers. Increased PRRs were found for sinonasal cancer in workers exposed to cotton dust, and in workers involved in spinning or weaving (4.14; 1.80-6.49). PRR was 1.46 (1.10-1.82) for cancer of the digestive system in textile workers using synthetic fibers or silk, and 1.34 (1.10-1.59) for colorectal cancer in spinners and weavers. The increased bladder cancer PRR in dyers (1.39; 1.07-1.71) is generally attributed to textile dye exposure. In studies published after 1990, there is a general tendency to move toward unity for all the cancer risk estimates, leading to an increasing heterogeneity among studies.

Since adjustment for smoking made little difference to the findings, the latter could be attributed to the exposure to textile dusts. The recent findings could be due to a lowering of dust concentration in the workplaces. The reduction of cases of upper respiratory tract cancer parallels with a corresponding increase of lung cancer cases. So, preventive measures have paradoxically increased the lung cancer burden to the textile workers.
Effects of common-use pesticides on developmental and reproductive processes in Daphnia
Authors: Kashian Donna R , Dodson Stanley I
Published: November 2003

Daphnia magna were evaluated for use as a screen for pesticides that have been demonstrated to have estrogenic (o?p?-DDT, di-n-butyl phthalate, toxaphene), anti-androgenic (p?p-DDE, linuron), thyroid (acetochlor, alachlor, metribuzin), insulin (amitraz) or lutenizing hormone (2,4-D) activity in vertebrates, and to establish daphnid sensitivity to these compounds. Pesticides with unknown effects on vertebrate endocrine systems (chlorosulfuran, cyanazine, diflubenzuron, metolachlor, and diquat) were also evaluated. Compounds were assayed for six days at environmentally relevant concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 100 mg/L, using female Daphnia and their offspring. Sublethal endpoints included offspring sex (sex determination), clutch size (fecundity), and adult size (growth rate). Toxaphene was the only compound that affected sexual differentiation, increasing male production. Daphnia fecundity declined with exposure to toxaphene, and daphnid growth rates were reduced by acetochlor exposure. Diflubenzuron, o?p?-DDT, and p?p-DDE significantly reduced Daphnia survival. No correlation existed between affected reproductive or developmental processes and specific endocrine systems or subsystems. Results from this study indicate that Daphnia make a good screen for assessing potential environmental impacts but are not a useful indicator of pesticide hormonal activity in vertebrates. This assay consistently detected sublethal but ecologically relevant effects of these pesticides on Daphnia at environmentally relevant concentrations typically below their listed EC50 value.
Crystalline silica incubated in ascorbic acid acquires a higher cytotoxic potential
Authors: Giovine Marco , Pozzolini Marina , Fenoglio Ivana , Scarfi Sonia , Ghiazza Mara , Benatti Umberto , Fubini Bice
Published: November 2003

Quartz incubated in an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid is partially dissolved and the potential to generate hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide is enhanced. In order to investigate whether the surface activation triggered by the treatment with ascorbic acid would also involve an enhancement in cell toxicity, a murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) was exposed to untreated and ascorbic acid-treated quartz. Ascorbic acid pretreated quartz was more toxic than untreated quartz and all cells died within 24 hours after exposure. Tetrandrine (a Chinese drug employed to retard or reverse fibrotic lesions of silicosis in humans) partially reduced cell toxicity generated by ascorbic acid pretreated quartz.
A high-resolution Holocene sediment record from Húnaflóaáll, N Iceland margin: centuryto millennial-scale varability since the Vedde tephra
Authors: Andrews John T. , Hardardóttir Jórunn , Kristjansdóttir Gréta B. , Grönvold Karl , Stoner J. S.
Published: November 2003

MD99-2269 is a 25 m long core from Hunaflóadll, a deep trough which runs northward towards the shelf break from the narrow neck of land which joins the Northwest Peninsula of Iceland with the ‘mainland’. The core was recovered from the thickest part of an elongate shelf sediment body, underlain by glacial diamictons with ages 26 ka BP. 3.5 kHz profiles indicate the presence of a reflector, RI, which can be traced over long distances. Twelve AMS radiocarbon dates and the presence of the Saksunarvatn tephra (which is the origin for the RI reflector at 21 m core depth) define a linear depth/age relation with an accumulation rate of 200 cm/ky. The date on the core top is ‘modem’. X-radiographs indicate that the sediments are principally massive. bioturbated muds. The data were measured at resolutions of between 5 and 40 yr/sample. Our primary data represent aspects of (a) multisensor track measurements, (b) colour, (c) grain size, (d) sediment properties and (e) sediment magnetic properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to simplify the analysis of these five data sets, and resulted in nine significant axes compared to over 70 original variables. The explained variance on the first axes varied between 47 and 96%. These time series were reduced to a common 50-yr sample interval which were then also subject to PCA. Using the resulting PC scores we present three primary axes of environmental variability in Hunaflóaall that have century-scale quasi-periodicities, and demonstrate that these are highly correlated with specific ‘raw’ variables. We focus on variables linked to changes in grain size and productivity and show regional coherence (cores B997-321 and 330) in the coercivity/grain size measure ARMJ(20)/ARMJ(0), which have a close similarity to the detrended A14C series. This provides a potential link to the vigour of the thermohaline circulation to the north of the Iceland shelf in the Iceland and Greenland Seas. Our data indicate increased variability in our proxies during the Neoglacial period.
Chydoid ephippia as indicators of environmental change biostratigraphical evidence from two lakes in southern Finland
Authors: Sarmaja-Korjonen Kaarina
Published: November 2003

This study presents a new proxy method for studying past environmental change. The method is based on the relative abundance of ephippia of chydorid Cladocera (Chydoridae). Ephippia are a modification of the carapace that protects the resting eggs against, for example, freezing and desiccation. Holocene records of chydorid ephippia and other gamogenetic remains (male headshields and postabdomens, and headshields of ephippial females) from two lakes in southern Finland (Rutikka and Kaksoislammi) are presented. Results of pollen, diatom and cladoceran analyses from Rutikka Lake are also described. Results from this study suggest that chydorid ephippia are valuable indicators of the environmental stresses occurring in lakes. In particular, ephippia were abundant at both sites during the late Pleistocene/early Holocene transition when the climate was still severe and the open-water season was short. In the later-Holocene record, the relative abundance of the ephippia also reflected the environmental stress during profound changes in predator-prey relationships in Kaksoislammi Lake. In contrast, a change in the relative abundance of ephippia of only one species (Alona affinis) occurred in the late Holocene in Rutikka Lake when prehistoric cultivation took place and affected the water chemistry.
Four new pollen sections tracing the Holocene vegetational development of the southern part of the West Siberan Lowland
Authors: Blyakharchuk Tatyana A.
Published: November 2003

In the southeast of Western Siberia within the zone of birch and pine forests in the Ob'-Tom' interfluve area, four new pollen diagrams from sites in different landforms (interfluve, terraces, floodplain, and ancient drainageways) with sandy and clay soils were correlated with two published pollen diagrams. Two main types of pollen stratigraphy are characteristic for areas with clay and sandy soils, reflecting different vegetational developments during the Holocene that were controlled by changes in climate and soil properties. Open birch forest-steppe with Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae was widespread in the Ob'-Tom' interfluve during the early Holocene, whereas the young floodplains had flooded meadows and willow scrub. The principal vegetation change from open steppe and forest-steppe to dense forest took place about 7000 yr BP, after which forest vegetation has prevailed. On sandy soils the dominant tree species was Pinus sylvestris throughout, but on clay Pinus sibirica and Abies sibirica together with Betula pendula had more important roles, alternating periodically with Pinus sylvestris. Expansion of Pinus sibirica and Abies sibirica in this area started about 4500-4000 yr BP, but in some places they declined markedly during recent centuries due to human influence. Based on the vegetational development, the climate in the southeast of Western Siberia changed from colddry to warm-dry (9500 yr BP) then to warm-wet (7000 yr BP), and finally to cool-wet (4000 yr BP).
Environmental change in Crete: a 9000-year record of Holocene vegetation history and the effect of the Santorini eruption
Authors: Bottema Sytze , Sarpaki Anaya
Published: November 2003

Palynological investigations were carried out in the coastal lowland of northwestern Crete, in the area of Lake Kournas. Results comprise the longest continuous vegetation record (9000 radiocarbon years) for Crete. From about 8500 to 7500 BP, open deciduous-oak forest occurred and appears to reflect the driest conditions of the Holocene. After 7500 BP, tree-pollen numbers increase. Some of these tree species are thought to be autochthonous, but for at least six species this is doubted and the presence of their pollen is ascribed to long-distance transport. Up to 6000 BP, the local vegetation included deciduous and evergreen oaks, Pistacia, Phillyrea and a variety of herbs. Only after 7000 BP, some species, e.g., Mercurialis annua, Cynocrambe and spores of Pteridium, might indicate the effects of Neolithic habitation. Towards 6000 BP, plane tree and Styrax (storax) appear; from about 6000 BP, olive is present and human activity becomes more evident. Slowly, pollen types indicative of the exploitation of present-day Mediterranean vegetation, e.g., Poterium and Ericaceae, appear and the presence of the alga Gloeotrichia indicates a rise in phosphate. A striking aspect of the sediment core nearest to the sea is a pumice layer originating from the Theran (Santorini) eruption. From the manner of its deposition it is concluded that no tsunami met the Cretan beach. Influence of the eruption from Thera on the vegetation is hardly visible. Decrease of economically important cultivated plants, e.g., olive, already took place decades, up to about a century, before the volcanic eruption. Around the time of the eruption, the values of some pollen types hardly changed, others increased and another group decreased. This pollen behaviour appears to be explained rather by socio-economic changes, such as withdrawing of the inhabitants to the interior for reasons other than volcanic effects. It is concluded from the pollen cores that no major climatic changes affected northwestern Crete during the Holocene but the first two millennia of the Holocene tended to be drier than the following period when there was an increase in moisture-demanding trees. It is difficult to assign changes in the Cretan vegetation to climatic effects in a period when human impact was gathering strength.
A 1000-year record of forest fire, drought and lake-level change in southeastern British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Hallett Douglas J. , Mathewes Rolf W. , Walker Robert C.
Published: November 2003

High-resolution charcoal analysis of lake sediments and stand-age information were used to reconstruct a 1000-year fire history around Dog Lake, which is located in the montane spruce zone of southeastern British Columbia. Macroscopic charcoal (>125,um) accumulation rates (CHAR) from lake sediment were compared with a modern stand-origin map and fire-scar dates in the Kootenay Valley to determine the relative area and proximity of fires recorded as CHAR peaks. Small fires close to the lake and larger more distant fires appear as similar-sized peaks in the record. This information reinforces previous findings where CHAR peaks represent a complex spatial aggregation of local to extra-local fires around a lake site. CHAR peaks indicate frequent stand-destroying fires during the 'Mediaeval Warm Period' (-AD 1000-1300), and other significant fires at c. 1360, 1500, 1610 and 1800. We also present a proxy measure of lake-level changes based on a comparison of accumulation rates of Chara globulanis-type oospores over the last millennium and the present distribution of charophytes in the lake basin. Lower water levels, represented by few or no Chara oospores, correspond to times of regional drought and large forest fires around the lake. Higher lake levels, represented by increased Chara oospore accumulation rates, correspond to wetter climate periods during the Oort, Wolf, Sporer and Maunder solar sunspot minima, when little or no fire activity occurs around the lake.
Holocene vegetation dynamics, fire and grazing in the Sierra de Gádor, southern Spain
Authors: Carrión José S. , Sánchez-Gómez Pedro , Mota Juan F. , Yll Riker , Chaín Celia
Published: November 2003

This paper examines the mid to late-Holocene ( c. 6850–1160 cal. yr BP) environmental history of Sierra de Gádor in southern Spain. The local vegetation dynamics are reconstructed through the palaeoecological record obtained from a lacustrine deposit situated at 1530 m. Various hypotheses are considered to explain the vegetation dynamics apparent in the palaeoecological evidence, including climatic change, fire occurrence and human activity. Although the vegetation in this region is sensitive to climatic change, threshold events driven by ecological factors are also apparent. Climatic events include a thermo-mesophytic optimum with abundance of deciduous trees and maximum lake water level found from c. 6850 to 5500 cal. yr BP. In contrast, changes in the frequency of major fire episodes appear to have shaped interspecific relationships and vegetation change, especially from c. 4200 cal. yr BP onwards. Biotic properties of the ecosystem such as the inertia of established tree populations, interconnected with competition adjustments, appear also to have played a role. Over the last two millennia, overgrazing, combined with natural and/or human-set fires, appears to have pushed mountain forests over a threshold leading to the spread of grassland, thorny scrub, junipers and nitrophilous communities.
The vegetation and monsoon variations at the desert-boess transition belt at Midiwan in northern China for the last 13 ka
Authors: Xiaoqiang Li , Weijian Zhou , Zhisheng An , Dodson John
Published: November 2003

Fine-resolution palaeovegetation and palaeomonsoon proxies for the last 13 ka have been established at the desert-loess transition belt in northern China. These are based on pollen, organic carbon and δ13C analysis of samples from a peat section at Midiwan. Results show that the palaeovegetation underwent nine major changes: desert-grassland, grassland, semi-desert, humid grassland, desert, sparse-wood-grassland, steppe, humid grassland and desert-grassland. An interval with semi-desert, humid grassland and desert is associated with rapid oscillation events of cold-dry conditions (11200-10600 14C yr BP) to cool-humid conditions (10600-10200 14C yr BP), followed by a change to a cold-dry climate (10200-10000 14C yr BP). The Holocene optimum (10000-7500 14C yr BP) and another humid interval (4500-3500 14C yr BP) have also been detected in the area. During the last 3000 years, dry conditions have prevailed and human impact may have affected the location of desert-loess transition zone. The record therefore shows a sensitive response to climate on sub-Milankovitch timescales, and this suggests that possible forcing factors linked to processes in the north Atlantic and their influence on the Northern Hemisphere Westerlies, and the South China Sea and its influence on Summer Monsoon precipitation, have been important controls on climates and human activity in eastern Asia.
A late-Holocene charcoal record from Lake Masoko, SW Tanzania: climatic and anthropologic implications
Authors: Thevenon Florian , Williamson David , Vincens Annie , Taieb Maurice , Merdaci Ouassila , Decobert Michel , Buchet Guillaume
Published: November 2003

Charcoal analysis from a short core in a small tropical crater lake (Lake Masoko, SW Tanzania) reveals changes in charred-particle deposition and properties, consistent with high climatic variability for the last 4200 years. This is evidenced by automated image analysis of charcoal size distributions, thermal resistant carbon (soot) and black carbon elemental analysis. Charcoal-particle transport in the lake decreases during dry spells, and increases with stronger runoff regime in the catchment area under humid periods and/or during abrupt low-stands of the lake. However, between 1830 and 1560 cal. yr BP, charcoal-distribution variability and an abrupt increase in particulate carbonaceous particles testify to regional emissions from forest fires and atmospheric transport. This event was followed by a prolonged period of material accumulation but regional climatic drying. After 1560 cal. yr BP, large charcoal fragment accumulation and a rise in the length:width ratio of microcharcoal indicate fires closer to the lake and the opening of the local woodland. These new data give evidence of large-scale fire development just prior to a pollen-inferred vegetation change and late Iron Age activity in the area, which probably coincide with an altered fire regime. In fact, charcoal-size distribution and particulate carbon elemental analysis constrain the sources of fossil carbonaceous particles, and provide an accurate proxy of fire and climatic change in southern tropical Africa.
Carbon sequestration in western Canadian peat highly sensitive to Holocene wet-dry climate cycles at millennial timescales
Authors: Yu Zicheng , Campbell Ian D. , Campbell Celina , Vitt Dale H. , Bond Gerard C. , Apps Michael J.
Published: November 2003

A high-resolution fen peat record and 79 basal peat dates from paludified peatlands in continental western Canada provide evidence for cyclic change in moisture conditions and in peat carbon accumulation. The ash-free bulk density, a proxy for degree of peat decomposition and thus moisture conditions, shows periodicities at both millennial (from 1500 to 2190 yr, with a mean of 1785 yr) and century scales (386 yr and 667 yr). Wet periods of 200–600 yr in duration, especially at ~6900, 5500 and 4000 cal. BP, correlate with rapid peat accumulation, new peatland initiation and declines in the rate of increase of atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The wet periods in western North America are coeval with warm periods in the North Atlantic, a phasing relationship that has been documented in other published palaeorecords for the glacial period and late Holocene, probably in response to variations in solar activity. These results indicate a strong connection between climate and the global carbon cycle at the millennial scale, mediated in part by peatland dynamics. This is the first demonstration that peatland carbon sequestration rates are highly sensitive even to minor climatic fluctuations, which are too small to produce detectable changes in major species in the peatland. That global atmospheric CO2 concentrations have in the past responded to these changes in peatland dynamics implies a strong potential for peatlands to be a major player in affecting future global change.
A modern analogue for plant colonization of palaeotsunami sands in Cascadia, British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Hughes Jonathan F. , Mathewes Rolf W.
Published: November 2003

The sediment stratigraphy of a modern analogue for pioneer-plant colonization of palaeotsunami sands near Tofino, British Columbia, Canada, shows that a sand outcrop is continuous with a buried sand stratum deposited by tsunamis of the ad 1700 Cascadia earthquake. Plants growing on the sand outcrop form a low-marsh community that includes Triglochin maritimum, Salicornia virginica, Spergularia canadensis, Puccinellia pumila and Plantago maritima. In contrast, low marshes on muddy substrates include only Carex lyngbyei. Although Carex lyngbyei colonizes low marsh on mud, it is restricted to middle marsh or higher elevation communities on sand. With two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and detrended corre spondence analysis (DCA), plant cover-abundance clearly distinguishes sandy from muddy low marsh, a finding that suggests that particle size influences plant colonization. TWINSPAN and DCA show that pollen spectra of the sandy marsh surface resemble fossil pollen of sediments that immediately overlie buried sand deposits. Grain size of intertidal deposits influences primary plant succession, and species on sand respond to relative sea-level change just as those on mud. Pollen assemblages in surface sediments reflect plants growing nearby, and taphonomic distortion of the pollen spectrum is minimal at this locality. These observations suggest that past co-seismic subsidence can be estimated by use of pollen assemblages as proxy indicators of elevation relative to sea level.
Holocene debris flows recognized in a lacustrine sedimentary succession: sedimentology, chronostratigraphy and cause of triggering
Authors: Sletten K. , Blikra L. H. , Ballantyne C. K. , Nesje A. , Dahl S. O.
Published: November 2003

This study focuses on the sedimentary characteristics and the chronostratigraphy of Holocene massflow deposits recognized in a lake-fill sedimentary succession. These deposits in lake Ulvådalsvatnet, western Norway, are discrete, sharp-bounded units of sand-sized sediment, running from gravelly and graded to silt-rich, and characterized by low total carbon and water contents. They are rich in terrestrial macrogflora detritus, dark brown in colour, and interpreted as high-density turbidity current deposits attributed to subaerial debris flows that plunged into the lake. Thirty-three 14C AMS dates were derived from three cores, and though the ages are somewhat inconsistent (macroflora invariably younger than bulk sediment samples), they indicate a marked increase in debris-flow processes after c. 2200 cal. yr BP, considered to reflect increased occurrence of heavy rainstorms.
Response of an ombrotrophic bog to a regional climate event revealed by macrofossil, molecular and carbon isotopic data
Authors: Pancost Richard D. , Baas Marianne , van Geel Bas , Sinninghe Damsté Jaap S.
Published: November 2003

We examined the variations in vegetation, organic carbon isotopic compositions and biomarker distributions spanning a well-constrained climatic shift in a Sub-Boreal Dutch raised bog. The macrofossils record a vegetation shift from a predominance of degraded Ericaceae rootlets to a predominance of well-preserved Sphagnum species, first S. cuspidatum, followed by S. imbricatum. This shift, as well as evidence from other macrofossils and fungal spores, indicates that the local climatic conditions changed from relatively dry to relatively wet, with the wettest local conditions occurring at the base of the transition. At this boundary, a positive shift occurs in the δ13C values of bulk peat (c. 4‰) and compounds derived from specific peat-forming plants (1 to 2‰). This is attributed to a combination of factors, including selective preservation of certain compound classes, changes in precipitation and its effect on the water table, and plant growth rates. The changes in peat preservation also indicate that redox changes occurred across the climatic change event. Indeed, biomarker transformations thought to reflect past redox conditions or bog water acidity – the 1,2,9-trimethyl 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropicene to ursolic acid ratio, diacid to hydroxy acid ratio, and 17β,21β(H)-homohopane to total homohopane ratio – all exhibited shifts spanning the climatic change transition. Although some of these trends indicate the need for more fundamental research on biomarker transformations in peat, some, such as the 17b,21b(H)-homohopane to total homohopane ratio, show promise as indicators of past bog water conditions that could complement macrofossil analyses.
A comparison of the decontamination efficacy of foam-making blends based on cationic and nonionic tensides against organophosphorus compounds determinedin vitro and in vivo
Authors: Cabal J , Kassa J , Severa J
Published: November 2003

The ability of foam-making blends to decontaminate the skin exposed to organophosphorus compounds was tested. The appropriate composition and rheological features (stability, grade of foaming) of tested blends were evaluated by in vitro methods and their ability to remove the contaminants from hard surface and to transform the contaminants into nontoxic compounds was evaluated byin vivo methods.

The blends containing cationic and nonionic tensides as well as alkalized hydrogen peroxide seem to be the most efficacious to decontaminate the skin exposed to organophosphorus compounds according to the literature data.

The composition of tested blends was optimized because particular components often have antagonistic effects. Cationic tensides support the reactivity of the blend and control the grade of foaming. Nonionic tensides control the stability of the foams but also react as retardants of the reactivity of the foams. Hydrogen peroxide is a real reacting component when it is transformed into hydrogen peroxide anion. It also acts as buffer if pH is higher than 11.

Our in vivo results confirm that Desam OX (34 and 68%) and the foam-making blend containing benzalkonium chloride / Althosan MB (8%), Slovasol 2510 (2%) and hydrogen peroxide (3%) alkalized at pH 12 seem to be the most efficacious to remove contaminants (soman, VX) from the skin and transform them into nontoxic compounds. Therefore they could be used for primary decontamination of chemical casualties contaminated with nerve agents in the field condition.
Effects of IconÒ, a pyrethroid insecticide on early pregnancy of rats
Authors: Ratnasooriya W D , Ratnayake S SK , Jayatunga Y NA
Published: November 2003

IconÒ is a water miscible type II synthetic pyrethroid insecticide based on active ingredient lambda cyhalothrin (10% w/w). It is used in Sri Lanka as an adulticidal indoor spray against malaria vector mosquitoes. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of IconÒ on pregnancy outcome of rats when exposed during early pregnancy (days 1 / 7). IconÒ was gavaged daily for 7 consecutive days in three different doses; 63, 83, or 125 mg/kg/day (active ingredient; lambda cyhalothrin; 6.3, 8.3, 12.5 mg/kg/day), respectively. Several parameters of reproduction and preand post-natal development were monitored. The results show that IconÒ is detrimental to pregnancy outcome (in terms of quantal pregnancy, number of uterine implants, implantation index and foetal deaths) but induced no detectable developmental defects. The anti-reproductive effects of IconÒ were mainly due to increased pre-implantation losses. Enhancement of post-implantation losses played a subsidiary role. These effects resulted from multiple mechanisms: maternal toxicity, stress, uterotropic activity and embryo-foetotoxicity. Further progesterone had a protective effect against IconÒ induced anti-reproductive actions. Overall, the results suggest that exposure to IconÒ during early gestation may result in a threat to pregnancy.
HPLC/MS findings in a fatality involving sustained-release verapamil
Authors: Tracqui A , Tournoud C , Kintz P , Villain M , Kummerlen C , Sauder P , Ludes B
Published: November 2003

A fatality involving verapamil, a calcium channel blocker agent, is presented. A 51-year old male ingested 7200 mg of sustained-release (SR) verapamil at T0 and died 40 hours later of refractory, mixed shock and multiorgan failure. The symptoms displayed during hospitalization were quite typical and involved altered consciousness, hypotension, bradycardia, atrioventricular block, metabolic acidosis and renal failure. Verapamil and its primary metabolite, norverapamil, were assayed on eight plasma and two urine samples, successively taken between the admission to the ICU (T0-4 hours) and time of death, using an original high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) procedure with verapamil-d3 as internal standard. Plasma verapamil and norverapamil levels on admission were 0.94 and 1.36 mg/mL, respectively, then verapamil remained practically unchanged throughout the hospitalization (0.85 mg/mL at T0-40 hours). The discussion focuses on the detrimental role of SR formulations in overdose, with special emphasis on the risk of pharmacobezoar development already reported with SR-verapamil. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a verapamil fatality documented by repeated plasma measurements of the drug during the antemortem period.
Environmental lead exposure and its relationship to traffic density among Senegalese children: a pilot study
Authors: Diouf A , Garc'on G , Thiaw C , Diop Y , Fall M , Ndiaye B , Siby T , Hannothiaux M H , Zerimech F , Ba D , Haguenoer J M
Published: November 2003

In Senegal, as in many developing countries, traffic density is increasing in urban areas; in Dakar more than 50% of vehicles use gasoline. Yet the extent and real magnitude of the problem has neither been recognized nor assessed in these countries. Systemic data assessment of lead pollution and people's exposure are not well known in Senegal. This study was also designed to determine the impregnation levels of the lead released by the exhaust of cars and the changes of some early biological markers in Senegalese children. Blood lead (BPb) levels showed that all the children enrolled were exposed. However, lead exposure levels (from 34.7 to 145.8 mg/L) were less important for children living in rural areas (60.99-18.3 mg/L) than for those living in urban areas (106.79-16.9 mg/L). These changes could be correlated to the difference in the automobile traffic between both these regions (P B-0.001). BPb mean levels found in boys were higher than those in girls (P B-0.05). Despite elevated BPb levels, all values for blood zinc protoporphyrin and urine delta-aminolevulinic acid were within physiological ranges. In addition, variations in some biological markers of oxidative stress and renal disorders were seen; however, they must be confirmed by a future epidemiological study.
Renal epithelial gene expression profile and bismuth-induced resistance against cisplatin nephrotoxicity
Authors: Leussink Berend T , Baelde Hans J , den Berg Thirza M Broekhuizen-van , de Heer Emile , van der Voet Gijsbert B , Slikkerveer Anja , Bruijn Jan A , de Wolff Frederik A
Published: November 2003

Nephrotoxicity is the most important dose-limiting factor in cisplatin based anti-neoplastic treatment. Pretreatment with bismuth salts, used as pharmaceuticals to treat gastric disorders, has been demonstrated to reduce cisplatin-induced renal cell death in clinical settings and during in vivo and in vitro animal experiments. To investigate the genomic basis of this renoprotective effect, we exposed NRK-52E cells, a cell line of rat proximal tubular epithelial origin, to 33 mM Bi3 for 12 hours, which made them resistant to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Differentially expressed genes in treated and untreated NRK-52E cells were detected by subtraction PCR and microarray techniques. Genes found to be down regulated (0.17 / 0.31-times) were cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, BAR (an apoptosis regulator), heat-shock protein 70-like protein, and three proteins belonging to the translation machinery (ribosomal proteins S7 and L17, and S1, a member of the elongation factor 1-alpha family). The only up-regulated gene was glutathione Stransferase subunit 3A (1.89-times). Guided by the expression levels of these genes, it may be possible to improve renoprotective treatments during anti-neoplastic therapies.
Evaluation of historical control data in carcinogenicity studies
Authors: Greim H , Gelbke H-P , Reuter U , Thielmann H W , Edler L
Published: November 2003

Results obtained in long-term carcinogenicity studies with animals should be evaluated, first and foremost, by statistical comparisons of the data obtained from the treated group with that from the concurrent control group. Often the results are compared with data from so-called historical control groups in order to take variations in the incidences of spontaneous tumours into account. Because historical control data change in the course of time and for a variety of reasons, certain requirements must be met before they may be used in the evaluation of the results of long-term studies.

The present paper discusses potential sources of variability of tumour incidences in untreated animals, presents databanks for historical control data, mentions the factors that affect tumour incidences in untreated animals and describes biostatistical data evaluation. Finally, details are given of the criteria used by the DFG Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area to decide whether historical control data may be applied. These include the requirement that the historical control data were obtained with animals of the same species and strain and from the same breeder. The data were obtained in the same laboratory, the study design, experimental methods and assessment criteria were the same, and the studies used for the comparison were carried out within a limited time window. Historical control data that have not been published may be used provided they fulfil the above criteria and have been made available in sufficient detail to be comprehensible.
Toxic effects of selenium inhalation: acute damage of the respiratory system of mice
Authors: Cherdwongchareonsuk Duangrudee , Águas Artur P , Henrique Rui , Upatham Suchart , Pereira Antonio Sousa
Published: November 2003

Accidental inhalation of selenium by humans has been associated with damage of respiratory tissues that is lacking a detailed histological definition. We have investigated the natural history of injury to the tracheal epithelium and lungs induced by a single intratracheal instillation of CD-1 mice with two different doses of dimethyl selenide (0.05 and 0.1 mg Se/kg of body weight). The animals were sacrificed 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after the single selenium treatment. Samples of the trachea and lungs were studied by light microscopy. The tracheal epithelium showed loss of cilia and acute necrosis that was followed by metaplastic transformation. Edema and diffuse alveolar damage was observed in the lungs. Our data suggest that: i) severity of respiratory lesions caused by selenium is dose dependent; ii) selenium causes transient metaplastic transformation of the tracheal epithelium; iii) chronic inflammation and increased thickness of alveolar septa occur in the lungs; iv) 4 weeks after selenium treatment, mice recover from the tracheal injury, whereas no amelioration of pulmonary lesions was observed.
Immunization with a bacterial ATP-binding cassette transporter fragment suppresses autoimmunity and prolongs survival in MRL/lpr lupus-prone mice
Authors: Chang M , Walker S E , Hoffman R W
Published: November 2003

The present study was undertaken to better define the role of the U1 70 kDa antigen in a spontaneous murine model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by testing whether immunization with the U1 70 kDa polypeptide could alter the production of antibodies against U1 70 kDa or against other small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNP), modify disease expression or alter survival. We found that, while immunization with a U1 70 kDa derived fusion protein (70 KFP) tended to delay the development of anti-snRNP antibodies in the sera of MRL/lpr mice, it had no effect on autoimmune-mediated renal disease or survival. Unexpectedly, it was found that MRL/lpr mice immunized with a 367 amino acid fragment of a bacterial ATP-binding cassette transporter, MFP, had prolonged survival compared to saline injection or U1 70 kDa immunization and that this was associated with a delay in the onset of SLE-like proliferative glomerulonephritis. This is the first study, to our knowledge, in which a bacterial ATP-binding cassette transporter was shown to be beneficial in treating a murine model of SLE. We report that MFP significantly prolonged longevity in the MRL/lpr murine model of SLE compared to saline injection or 70 KFP immunization and that improved survival was associated with a delay in the onset of SLE-like glomerulonephritis.
ASE-1: an autoantigen in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Edworthy S , Fritzler M , Whitehead C , Martin L , Rattner J B
Published: November 2003

ASE-1 is a 55 kDa nucleolar autoantigen. We show that autoantibodies to this antigen occur at a higher frequency in the sera of patients with SLE than in other systemic rheumatic diseases and that the specificity of ASE-1 as a serum marker of SLE increases as the number of epitopes recognized by the sera increases. Autoantibodies to ASE-1 were temporally associated with autoantibodies to HsEg5 but were not found in conjunction with other known serum markers of SLE. The frequency of antibodies to ASE-1 epitopes in a SLE cohort was approximately the same as anti-dsDNA. However, anti-dsDNA is associated with renal involvement, whereas ASE-1 reactivity shows an association with a history of serositis. We conclude that ASE-1 is correlated with serositis and that ASE-1 should be added to a list of autoantigens that are considered important serological features of SLE.
Validation of the Chinese SF-36 for quality of life assessment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Thumboo J , Feng P-H , Boey M-L , Soh C-H , Thio S-t , Fong K-Y
Published: November 2003

We studied the reliability and validity of the Chinese Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) in a cross sectional study of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Sixty-nine consecutive subjects completed a questionnaire containing the Chinese SF-36 twice within 14 d. Disease activity and damage were assessed using the British Isles Lupus Activity Group (BILAG) and SLICC/ACR Damage Index (DI) scales, respectively. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, reliability using Spearman's correlation and repeatability coefficients, and relationships between SF-36, BILAG and DI scores using Spearman's correlation.

The Chinese SF-36 showed high internal consistency (ά =0.72– 0.91) and good reliability, with correlations exceeding 0.70 for 7 scales and mean scale score differences of < 2 points for 6 scales. SF-36 scores correlated weakly with BILAG scores (–0.27 to –0.41) and DI scores (–0.24 to –0.35), and subjects' mean SF-36 scores were 6 – 24 points lower than the general population, supporting construct validity of the SP-36.

These data suggest that the Chinese SF-36 is a reliable and valid measure of quality of life in patients with SLE.
Activation of type I interferon system in systemic lupus erythematosus correlates with disease activity but not with antiretroviral antibodies
Authors: Bengtsson A A , Sturfelt G , Truedsson L , Blomberg J , Alm G , Vallin H , Rönnblom L
Published: November 2003

The objective was to investigate the relation between serum levels of interferon-α (IFN-α), the activity of an endogenous IFN-a inducing factor (SLE-IIF), clinical and immunological disease activity as well as serum levels of antiretroviral antibodies in SLE. Serum levels of IFN-α were measured in serial sera from 30 patients sampled at different stages of disease activity (SLEDAI score). The SLE-IIF activity was measured by its ability to induce IFN-α production in cultures of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Both serum IFN-α and SLE-IIF increased markedly at flare in serially followed patients. The SLEDAI score, levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and IL-10 correlated positively, and complement components Clq, C3 and leukocytes correlated inversely with serum concentrations of IFN-α. The extent of multiple organ involvement correlated with serum IFN-α. No relation between concentrations of retroviral peptide binding antibodies and IFN-α or SLE-IIF activity was found. The close relationship between disease activity in SLE patients and IFN-α serum levels suggests that activation of the type I IFN system might be of importance in the disease process.
Wegener‘s granulomatosis associated with antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Castellino G , La Corte R , Santilli D , Trotta F
Published: November 2003

We report a case of Wegener‘s granulomatosis (WG) with pulmonary hemorrhage also satisfying the criteria for antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS).

This association has, to the best of our knowledge, never been described before. Pulmonary hemorrhage may be an early manifestation of several immune and idiopathic disorders such as ANCA-associated vasculitis. Several case-reports of APS patients with capillaritis have been described. A possible explanation is that microvascular thrombosis with subsequent increase in vascular permeability facilitates perivascular IgG and complement deposition leading to development of capillaritis. Whether the vascular disease is secondary to thrombosis or vasculitis or both is important in choosing the proper management strategy. We suggest that anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) should be detected in ANCA-associated vascularitis because they may contribute to life-threatening events superimposed on vascular damage.
Antioxidant susceptibility of pathogenic pathways in subjects with antiphospholipid antibodies: a pilot study
Authors: Ames P R J , Tommasino C , Alves J , Morrow J D , Iannaccone L , Fossati G , Caruso S , Caccavo F , Brancaccio V
Published: November 2003

The pathogenesis of antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) related thrombosis is multifactorial and includes, amongst others, enhanced coagulation activation measured as prothrombin fragment 1 / 2 (F1 / 2), elevated plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) and endothelin-l (ET-1) as well as heightened thromboxane generation and lipid peroxidation. To evaluate the antioxidant susceptibility of some of the above pathways, probucol (500 mg/d orally, a cholesterol lowering agent bearing antioxidant properties) was administered for a three week period to 14 subjects with aPL and to seven healthy controls. At baseline aPL participants showed higher plasma levels of vWF (P ‘ 0.006), ET-1 (P ‘ 0.0002) and enhanced urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-thromboxane-B2 (TXB2)(P ‘ 0.0004), F2-isoprostanes (marker of lipid peroxidation) (P ‘ 0.02) and albumin (P ‘ 0.04) than controls. In the aPL group baseline IgG anticardiolipin (aCL) titre positively related with urinary TXB2 (r2 ‘ 0.43, P ‘ 0.01) and inversely with urinary NOx (r2 ‘ÿ0.6, P ‘ 0.005) whereas urinary NOx and TXB2 were negatively correlated (r2 ‘ÿ0.42, P ‘ 0.01). After the treatment period significant decreases from baseline values were noted for PAI (P ‘ 0.01), ET-1 (P ‘ 0.006), TXB2 (P ‘ 0.02), F2-isoprostanes (P ‘ 0.01) and albuminuria (P ‘ 0.01) in aPL participants but not in controls. These pilot data support oxidative sensitive mechanisms and a potential role for antioxidant treatment in the pathogenesis of aPL induced vasculopathy.
Systemic lupus erythematosus in three ethnic groups. VI: Factors associated with fatigue within 5 years of criteria diagnosis
Authors: Zonana-Nacach Abraham , Roseman Jeffrey M , McGwin Gerald , Friedman Alan W , Baethge Bruce A , Reveille John D
Published: November 2003

Objective: To determine the frequency, degree and associated features of fatigue among Hispanic (H), African American (AA) and Caucasian (C) patients with recent onset (5 yr) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at their baseline evaluation.

Methods: H(n = 69), AA (n = 83) and C (n = 71) patients from the LUMINA (LUpus in MInority populations: NAture vs Nurture) cohort were studied. Fatigue [Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)] was defined as present if FSS score 3.0. Variables from functional, clinical, sociodemographic, health behaviors, behavioral and psychological and immunogenetics domains were ascertained at study entry. Associations were examined using regression models.

Results: Eighty-six percent (85.7%) of patients reported having fatigue (82.6% H; 85.5% AA; 88.7% C); median FSS score, 5.3. Factors from the psychological and clinical domains were primarily associated with FSS; immunogenetic (HLA Class II phenotypes) features were not. Increased fatigue was strongly associated with decreasing function, both physical and mental. Variables associated with significantly greater degree of fatigue at baseline in the multivariable stepwise model in order of decreasing additional partial R2 explained included: abnormal illnessrelated behaviors, older age, higher self-reported pain, greater degree of helplessness, greater disease activity, Caucasian race, and lacking health insurance (model R2 = 37%).

Conclusions: Fatigue is one of the most prevalent clinical manifestations of SLE across all ethnic groups. The perception of fatigue severity in SLE may be multifactorial in origin, including psychosocial factors and disease activity. If these prove causal, knowledge of their contribution may suggest therapeutic and/or behavioral interventions, which could ameliorate this pervasive and often incapacitating symptom of SLE.