RESUMO
Objective: To assess the effects of occupational dust exposure on the antioxidant defense system of Portland cement workers in Egypt
Patients and Methods: Eighty six workers individually males [mean age 41.5 years], were chosen from different three areas of Beni-Sweif cement factory i.e. oven, packing and administration office divisions. All of subjects were nonsmokers and had occupational exposure to cement dust ranged 7-18 years. Control subjects, 23 males [mean age 42.5 years] were chosen among population who lived in the countryside areas of Beni-Sweif governorate, working in the agricultural activities and nonsmokers. Plasma levels of GSH Px, GSH-Rd. SOD, catalase enzymes, plasma selenium as well as plasma vitamins A. C and E were determined in all cases
Results: A significant drecreases [p<0.05] in antioxidant enzymes activities, GSH-Px, GSH-Rd, SOD and CAT were observed in human erythrocytes after long occupational cement exposure. As compared with the control group, the rate of reducing of these enzymes activities were ranged from 6.12- 28.88, 2.01-14.32, 9.86-26.63, 7.84-18.88 %, respectively and directly proportional with the cement dust exposure level. Plasma GSH/GSSG ratio, which provide a sensitive index of whole body oxidative stress, was significantly decreased in cement factory workers in oven, packing, administration departments [9.63+/-2.01. 9.7+/-1.07, 11.57+/-1.18] respectively compared with that of control subjects [13.17+/-7.35]. The reduction in antioxidant enzymes defense potential of erythrocytes was concomitant with significant decrease [p<0.05] of antioxidant vitamin plasma levels A, C and E. plasma vitamin A showed the highest decrease, [22.12%] followed by plasma vitamins C and E [14.86 and 8.45%], respectively
Conclusion: Both enzymatic antioxidant defense system of erythrocytes and plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins were decreased due to occupational exposure to cement dust indicating oxidative stress
RESUMO
Egypt has a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection, resulting in a high morbidity and mortality from chronic hepatitis, cirrhosia, and hepathocellular carcinoma. It is unclear why some patients with HCV infection do better than others with the same physical and epidemiological characteristics, Recently, environmental pollution was accused in many chronic diseases including liver disease. We designed this study to clarify the impact of heavy metals and oxidative stress in cigarette smoke on liver disease in HCV patients. Fifty male Egyptian patients with positive HCV-RNA were studied. Twenty-five of them were smokers with an average smoking index of 183.16 and the other 53 were non-smokers. Both groups were matched as regards age and have no home or occupational exposure to heavy metals. The antioxidant defense system of erythrocytes, liver function tests, serum trace elements, and serum heavy metals were measured for all patients. A significant increase in serum cadmium and lead was found in smoker patients. Also, the liver enzymes [alanine aminotranserferase; ALT, aspartate aminotranseferase; AST, and alkaline phosphatase; ALP], were significantly elevated in the serum of smoker patients. The histologic activity index [HAI] was higher in smokers than non-smoker patients, but the difference was statistically non-significant. On the other hand, a significant decrease in serum albumin and serum selenium was found in smoker patients. Also, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes in the erythrocytes [glutathione reductase; GR, superoxide dismutase; SOD, catalase; CAT, and reduced glutathione; GSH] were significantly lower in smoker than non-smoker patients. The results of this study concluded that patients with hepatitis C should be informed about the possible hepatotoxsicity of heavy metals and oxidants in cigarette smoke and advised to quit smoking as a part of their life style modification. Further studies are encouraged to discover other aspects of tobacco toxicities on the human liver and the pathogenesis of this potential harmful effect