Monitoring of cellular enzymes in the serum of electroplating workers at Coimbatore.

Chromium compounds are potent toxic and carcinogenic substances. With respect to toxicity, hepatic and renal toxicity have been reported both in workers and in animals exposed to chromium (VI). Chromium (VI) compounds induces DNA damage in vivo and in cultured cells as well as the cytotoxicity evaluated by the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase. The present study reports the cytotoxicity of chrome platers who are employed from 8 to 25 years in electroplating industries at Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. Blood samples were collected and estimated for glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and total protein in the serum. The study revealed that there is a significant elevation in the level of LDH, ALP, CPK and transaminases and a decrease in total protein in serum. The results of the study suggests that chromium (VI), a hepatotoxic chemical may perhaps damage the plasma membrane resulting in leakage of enzymes in to the serum of chromeplaters.

A comparative study on the immunological properties of breast milk and cow's milk - ii.

This comparative study depicts the levels of immunoglobulins such as IgA and IgG in human breast milk samples with those of cow's milk samples. Immunoglobulins A and G were estimated by the method of Radial Immunodiffusion (RID). Experimental analysis showed that the level of Immunoglobulin A in breast milk samples were found to contain no traces of this antibody. IgG content in cow's milk (16.6 mg/dl) was higher than that of human milk (6.0mg/dl). It is clear that human milk is rich source of IgA, Early exposure through breast feeding is therefore obviously desirable.