Time- and tissue-dependent polychlorinated biphenyl residues in hairless mice after exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soil.

Four groups of 16 age-matched female Crl:SKH1-hrBR hairless mice were exposed to either control soil or polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated soil (retrieved from an electrical waste landfill in Southern Illinois) for 11 weeks. The mice were exposed in a study to determine interactions between environmental PCBs and ultraviolet radiation (UVR), but the UVR group did not differ and provided a replicate for the residue study. Ear biopsies were performed immediately after the termination of soil exposure. The mice were maintained in regular bedding for 37 weeks thereafter. The ear-skin, trunk-skin, fat-pad, and liver samples were collected and weighed at the end of the study (week 48) and analyzed for PCB residues. A total of 141 PCB congeners were target analytes. There were significant differences in body weights and food consumption from week 2 to 28. The liver weights of mice treated with PCB only were significantly greater than those of UVR-treated mice. The fat-pad weight did not differ among treated groups. PCB residues in the ear biopsies specimens of mice exposed to contaminated soil were 342.3 and 317.2 ppm in the PCB- and PCB + UVR-treated groups, respectively, and contained both persistent and episodic congeners. After 37 weeks of isolation from soil, the ear PCB residues decreased to 21.5 ppm (PCB group) and 14.5 ppm (PCB + UVR group), and only persistent congeners contributed to the total PCB residues. The accumulation of PCB residues was highest in the fat pad (fat pad > ear skin > trunk skin > liver) in both PCB +/- UVR groups at the end of the study. However, the percentage of individual congeners contributing to total PCBs in these different tissues did not differ.

Ultraviolet radiation enhances both the nodular and ulcerative forms of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in a Crl:IAF(HA)-hrBR hairless guinea pig model of Buruli ulcer disease.

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet radiation (UV) pre-exposure enhances intracellular mycobacterial infections, however, its effect upon the pathogenesis of the extracellular Mycobacterium ulcerans parasite had not been previously examined. The hypothesis tested was that UV pre-exposure enhances both the nodular and ulcerative forms of M. ulcerans infection in the Crl:IAF(HA)-hrBR hairless guinea pig. METHODS: Groups of five animals were exposed to total cumulative UV doses of 0 (control), 3 or 30 kJ/m2 followed 3 days later by subcutaneous infection with 3 x 10(4) CFU of M. ulcerans in order to induce the nodular form of the disease. The resultant nodules were then measured for the next 22 days. The experiment was then repeated using intradermal infection with 2 x 10(6) CFU in order to induce the ulcerative form of the disease. The resultant ulcers were measured for the next 30 days. In both experiments, the animals were tested for delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactivity to Burulin-S as a marker of the onset of the reactive phase of the disease. RESULTS: Following low inoculum subcutaneous infection, distinct, well-demarcated, subcutaneously situated skin nodules were present at infected skin sites between 7 and 22 days post-infection. Between days 14 and 21, the mean nodule diameters of the UV irradiated groups were significantly (P < 0.03) greater than that of the control group. UV pre-exposure resulted in significant (P < 0.035) suppression of DTH responses to Burulin-S challenge. High inoculum intradermal infection resulted in the development of ulcerative lesions. Between 10 and 30 days post-infection, the mean lesion diameters and mean ulcer development times of UV irradiated groups were significantly (P < 0.05) greater than those of the controls. However, UV irradiation did not affect DTH responses to Burulins in the high inoculum experiment. In both experiments, the lesions were histologically consistent with human Buruli ulcer disease. These results demonstrate that UV pre-exposure results in enhanced M. ulcerans infection in the hairless guinea pig model of Buruli ulcer disease and suggest that UV exposure may be a relevant factor in the pathogenesis of human forms of the disease.

Simulated solar UVB exposure inhibits transcutaneous immunization to cholera toxin via an irradiated skin site in cattle.

Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) is a new needle-free vaccination technology with the potential to reduce the risk of needle-borne disease transmission and carcass damage within the livestock industries. The principal antigen-presenting cell involved in TCI is thought to be the epidermal Langerhans cell. Langerhans cell function is inhibited by cutaneous ultraviolet-B radiation (UVB) exposure. Such exposure may inhibit TCI through sun exposed skin sites due to the phenomenon of local low dose photoimmunosuppression. TCI of cattle to cholera toxin (CT) resulted in the generation of a serum anti-CT-specific IgG(2) response. However, exposure of cattle to a sub-inflammatory dose of simulated solar UVB (2.43 x 10(3)J/m(2)) significantly (P<0.05) inhibited TCI to CT via irradiated skin sites.

Sex in the MD's office.

KIE: A case study explores the dilemma of a doctor confronted with a colleague's serious violation of professional norms. Dr. Jones, a psychiatrist, learns from a patient that she voluntarily is sexually involved with her internist, who has threatened to harm her if she takes action against him. Though distraught and suicidal, the woman insists on protecting the internist, and Jones must decide on his own what course to take. Shapiro, a psychiatrist, points out in her commentary that Jones's actions depend on those of his patient, to whom he has obligations of confidentiality. He also has moral and fraternal obligations toward his collegague that may involve contacting an impaired physicians committee. Morrow, a sociologist, aruges that Jones is morally and legally obligated to intervene to protect patients and the integrity of the medical profession. This intervention should probably take the form of notifying an agency that investigates problem doctors.^ieng