Evaluation of post-surgical cognitive function and protein fingerprints in the cerebro-spinal fluid utilizing surface-enhanced laser Desorption/Ionization time-of-flight mass-spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) after coronary artery bypass grafting: review of proteomic analytic tools and introducing a new syndrome.

Cognitive dysfunction following surgery is a common complication, which increases the incidence of other co-morbid conditions, hospital and health-care costs. The reported rate of the occurrence of post-operative cognitive decline varies with different studies, depending on population profile, type of surgery, definition of cognitive disorder and detection methods, design of study, etc. It remains unclear whether these psychiatric signs and symptoms are direct results of the effects of surgery or general anesthesia. Nonetheless they are more frequent after cardiac surgery and are likely to be multi-factorial, but the patho-mechanisms are not yet fully characterized. This communication provides a synopsis of proteomics tools and delineates novel SELDI-TOF results to evaluate biomarkers in this regard. Presented for the first time is a classification of the clinically relevant forms of post-operative cognitive decline with the advent of a novel subclass.

Unchanged rat brain amyloid precursor protein levels after exposure to benzodiazepines in vivo.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recent studies emphasize a positive correlation between (cardiac) surgical interventions and increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease in the late postoperative period. Since amyloid precursor protein and its neurotoxic derivatives play key roles in the development of Alzheimer's dementia, the impact of several agents used in the intra- and perioperative period is examined. METHOD: Amyloid precursor protein concentrations were assessed by semi-quantitative Western-immunoblot in brains of rats following intraperitoneal treatment with diazepam and midazolam. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in the amyloid precursor protein concentrations. CONCLUSION: Both diazepam and midazolam are considered to be relatively safe with respect to amyloid precursor protein metabolism.

Haloperidol attenuates beta-amyloid-induced calcium imbalance in human fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Antipsychotics are widely used in the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. A low frequency of Alzheimer's disease in patients with schizophrenia is reported, and it has been proposed that antipsychotic medications, such as haloperidol, may be responsible. Disruption of intracellular calcium levels is considered to play a key role in beta-amyloid-induced neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease. Haloperidol has also been reported to interact with calcium homeostasis through dopamine-2 and sigma-1 receptors, and other, yet unknown mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, we investigated whether differences in the basal intracellular free calcium levels of cultured cutaneous fibroblasts--cells that do not express dopamine-2 and sigma-1 receptors--derived from sporadic Alzheimer patients and from age-matched control individuals after haloperidol treatment might be present. METHODS: Intracellular calcium level was measured in Fura-2AM-loaded human fibroblasts by dual wavelength spectrofluorimetry. RESULTS: Alzheimer cells exhibited significantly lower calcium level as compared to the control cultures. Exposure of fibroblasts to beta-amyloid peptide resulted in increased calcium concentration of the control cells, but not of Alzheimer fibroblasts. Co-incubation of cultures with a therapeutic dose of haloperidol blocked the beta-amyloid-induced elevation of calcium. CONCLUSION: This finding indicates that haloperidol efficiently countervails ionic imbalance and suggests that it may serve as a potential agent in alleviating neurotoxic effects of beta-amyloid peptide.

Experience of health status surveillance of pesticide workers in Hungary.

The authors studied potential dermal exposure in 26 men and also conducted epidemiological studies in three southeastern agricultural counties in Hungary covering 189 men working with pesticides in plant protection indoors and in the fields, and in 16 women in contact with these compounds. There were no acute intoxications, nor were there any alterations in routine clinical and laboratory tests. For early detection of hidden damage the authors used examination of the chromosomes: the rate of numerical chromosome aberrations was increased due to increase of hypodiploid cells in the exposed. The probability of chromosome damage was also demonstrated by the tests conducted in the few women tested. In previous studies on the immune functions in some of the men tested the immunological tests proved to be positive. Though changes might be induced also by other factors, the authors believe it is important to frequently screen the exposed population in the manner described.

Cytogenetic examination of people working with agrochemicals in the southern region of Hungary.

The team performed medical examinations, including cytogenetic examinations, on 55 people working professionally with agrochemicals in eight farmers' cooperatives of County Csongrád in the southern region of Hungary. The people exposed to spraying in a closed space showed no increase in chromosome aberrations. There was an increase in chromosome aberrations in workers exposed to these agrochemicals in open fields. No conclusions regarding workers' health can be drawn from these data. Regulations designed to prevent accidents with agrochemicals are more effective for closed spaces than for the open fields.

Biological monitoring and health surveillance of a group of greenhouse pesticide sprayers.

Repeated extensive medical examinations were carried out in 11 workers spraying organophosphate (OP), carbamate and pyrethroid pesticides in greenhouses during the whole year and in 10 control persons. On a questionnaire their social, health and family status and their working conditions were recorded. Before and after a regular spraying period with pyrethroids for 3 months the following tests were carried out: urinalysis, haematology, immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA and IgM levels, whole blood cholinesterase (ChE) activity, serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity, chromosome analysis and electrocardiography (ECG). Atmospheric concentrations of pyrethroids as well as their concentration in the blood and urine of pesticide workers were determined by means of gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). No abnormalities related to the work were found in the tests.