ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Platinum salt sensitivity (PSS) is well recognized following occupational exposure to platinum salts, though specific platinum compounds have been suggested to be non-allergenic. We report on a cohort of autocatalyst workers exposed to tetraamine platinum dichloride (TPC) and other platinum-group elements. METHODS: All subjects employed at an autocatalyst production plant undertook medical surveillance with symptoms, examination findings and results of skin prick testing and spirometry prospectively recorded. Environmental testing of the workplace was also performed to determine the level of exposure. RESULTS: Twenty-six subjects had a mean duration of employment of 46 (+/-30) months and undertook a mean 6.8 (+/-4.3) examinations. No subjects described the development of new respiratory or dermatological symptoms. No patients developed positive skin reactivity to platinum salts. FEV(1) remained unchanged for all subjects over the course of the study period. CONCLUSIONS: TPC and platinum-group elements are not associated with the development of PSS or occupational asthma. Identification of chemical compounds is important when advising on occupational health screening. TPC and/or platinum-group elements should be used in preference to chloroplatinic acid in catalyst production to minimize the impact of occupational illness due to PSS.
Subject(s)
Asthma/chemically induced , Metallurgy , Nitrogen Compounds/toxicity , Occupational Diseases/chemically induced , Platinum Compounds/toxicity , Australia , Humans , Occupational Exposure , Skin Tests , SpirometryABSTRACT
We report a case of lung infection, clinically resembling tuberculosis, caused by Rhodococcus rubropertinctus. The patient had no apparent immunosuppression which is unusual for disease caused by the 'rhodochrous' complex. The infection responded successfully to oral anti-tuberculous therapy, which included rifampicin, and to oral tetracycline.
Subject(s)
Actinomycetales Infections/drug therapy , Lung Diseases/etiology , Rhodococcus/drug effects , Rifampin/therapeutic use , Tetracycline/administration & dosage , Administration, Oral , Australia , Female , Humans , Lung Diseases/drug therapy , Vietnam/ethnologyABSTRACT
Two cases of histologically proven acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis presenting as congestive cardiac failure with normal blood pressure are reported. Proteinuria was not a finding. These features are discussed.
Subject(s)
Glomerulonephritis/etiology , Streptococcal Infections/complications , Acute Disease , Adult , Female , Heart Failure/etiology , Humans , Proteinuria/etiologyABSTRACT
The activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase, enzymes which play a critical role in protection of the vascular endothelium from oxygen free-radical injury, were determined in large vessel endothelial cells obtained under three different growth conditions: from freshly isolated from bovine pulmonary arteries, in the first (primary) subculture and after six serial subcultures (6.5 population doublings). The endothelium was obtained by mechanically scraping the vascular lumen. Endothelial cell monolayers were detached mechanically from the substratum prior to passage. No proteolytic enzymes were used in either procedure. The activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase determined in freshly isolated endothelial cells were, respectively, 39.9 +/- 10.3, 2.2 +/- 0.8 and 3.0 +/- 0.5 X 10(2) units per mg protein. After primary culture there was no change in superoxide dismutase activity, but a significant decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity to 1.4 +/- 0.4 X 10(2) was observed, and catalase activity dropped significantly to 18.6 +/- 5.0 units per mg protein. After 6.5 population doublings, the activity of all three enzymes returned to values similar to those of the freshly isolated cells. A fourfold increase in the protein to DNA ratio occurred in cells in primary culture and was maintained in sixth-passage cells. This increase in endothelial cell size upon culture was reflected in the electron microscopic evidence of cellular hypertrophy. Measurement of the rate of transport of 5-hydroxytryptamine by endothelial cell monolayers revealed a substantial loss upon multiple passage. Transport in the sixth-passage cells was decreased to one-half the rate of primary cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Subject(s)
Catalase/analysis , Glutathione Peroxidase/analysis , Pulmonary Artery/enzymology , Superoxide Dismutase/analysis , Animals , Cattle , Cells, Cultured , Endothelium/cytology , Endothelium/enzymology , Endothelium/ultrastructure , Microscopy, Electron , Pulmonary Artery/cytology , Pulmonary Artery/ultrastructure , Serotonin/metabolismABSTRACT
Human neutrophil elastase is thought to play an important role in connective tissue destruction in diseases such as emphysema and arthritis. In this article, it is demonstrated that the elastase activity of mature human peripheral blood neutrophils can be rapidly increased in vitro by treatment of the cells with lipopolysaccharide from E. coli and that this increase is inhibited by corticosteroid pretreatment of the cells and by inhibitors of protein synthesis. Alterations in intracellular enzyme content of the mature polymorph in response to bacterial products or other stimuli may be important for amplification of the inflammatory response.
Subject(s)
Glucocorticoids/pharmacology , Neutrophils/enzymology , Pancreatic Elastase/metabolism , Polysaccharides, Bacterial/pharmacology , Acetylglucosaminidase/metabolism , Adult , Cell Fractionation , Cycloheximide/pharmacology , Dactinomycin/pharmacology , Escherichia coli , Humans , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/metabolism , Neutrophils/drug effects , Puromycin/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Three cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy have occurred in one hospital in a 3-year period. The 3 patients had been receiving chemotherapy for chronic myeloid leukaemia, lymphocytic lymphoma and acute myeloid leukaemia respectively, and developed progressive neurological illnesses which resulted in their deaths. The routine neurological investigations were unhelpful and although the diagnosis was suspected in 2 cases, treatment was not given. It is felt that the disease is not as rare as originally believed and that brain biopsy should be more readily considered since progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is potentially treatable.
Subject(s)
Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal/pathology , Astrocytes/ultrastructure , Brain/pathology , Female , Humans , Inclusion Bodies, Viral/ultrastructure , Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal/diagnosis , Male , Middle Aged , Nerve Fibers, Myelinated/ultrastructure , Oligodendroglia/ultrastructure , PrognosisSubject(s)
Learning Disabilities/classification , Statistics as Topic , Child , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Learning Disabilities/diagnosis , Male , UtahABSTRACT
The intent of the study was to obtain data on the incidence of female sexual fantasy and on the relationship of background, personality, and attitudinal factors to the quantity of sexual fantasies. The participants were 102 university women students between the ages of 19 and 45 yr. An original Female Sexual Fantasy Questionnaire, a short form of the Attitude Toward Women Scale, the 16 PF, and the background variables of age, sexual experience, marital status, and religion provided data for the analysis. Conclusions were that 99% of the women engaged in sexual fantasy at least occasionally and that age, sexual experience, anxiety, independence, and liberal attitudes toward women are all related to frequency of sexual fantasy.
