Genetic population structure of the Vietnamese ginseng (Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv.) detected by microsatellite analysis.

Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv. is a precious medicinal species native to the tropical forests of Vietnam. Due to habitat loss and over-harvesting, this species is endangered in Vietnam. To conserve the species, we investigated genetic variability and population structure using nine microsatellites for 148 individuals from seven populations across the current distribution range of P. vietnamensis in Vietnam. We determined a moderate genetic diversity within populations (HO = 0.367, HE = 0.437) and relatively low population differentiation (the Weir and Cockerham index of 0.172 and the Hedrick index of 0.254) and showed significant differentiation (P < 0.05), which suggested fragmented habitats, over-utilization and over-harvesting of P. vietnamensis. Different clustering methods revealed that individuals were grouped into two major clusters, which were associated with gene flow across the geographical range of P. vietnamensis. This study also detected that ginseng populations can have undergone a recent bottleneck. We recommend measures in future P. vietnamensis conservation and breeding programs.

The effectiveness of ICSI versus conventional IVF in couples with non-male factor infertility: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

STUDY QUESTIONS: Does ICSI result in a higher live birth rate as compared with conventional IVF in couples with non-male factor infertility? WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: ICSI is primarily indicated for severe male factor infertility. While the use of ICSI for couples with non-male factor infertility has been increasing worldwide, this is not supported by data from randomised controlled trials. Evidence from non-randomised studies suggest no benefit from ICSI compared with conventional IVF in non-male factor infertility, if not a harm. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: This randomised, open-label, multi-centre trial aims to compare the effectiveness of one ICSI cycle and one conventional IVF cycle in infertile couples with non-male factor infertility. A total of 1064 couples will be randomly allocated to an ICSI group and a conventional IVF group. The estimated duration of the study is 30 months. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: Eligible couples are those whose husbands' total sperm count and motility are normal, have undergone ≤2 previous IVF/ICSI attempts, use antagonist protocol for ovarian stimulation, agree to have ≤2 embryos transferred and are not participating in another IVF study at the same time. Women undergoing IVM cycles, using frozen semen or having a poor fertilisation (≤25%) in previous cycle will not be eligible. Couples will be randomised to undergo ICSI or conventional IVF (1:1) with ongoing pregnancy resulting in live birth after the first embryo transfer of the started treatment cycle as the primary endpoint. All analyses will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. Effect sizes will be summarised as relative risk (RR), with precision evaluated by 95% CIs. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: All authors declare having no conflict of interests with regards to this trial. This work was supported by a grant from MSD [MISP #57508]. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03428919. TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE: 8 February 2018. DATE OF FIRST PATIENT'S ENROLMENT: 16 March 2018.

Track structure modeling in liquid water: A review of the Geant4-DNA very low energy extension of the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation toolkit.

Understanding the fundamental mechanisms involved in the induction of biological damage by ionizing radiation remains a major challenge of today's radiobiology research. The Monte Carlo simulation of physical, physicochemical and chemical processes involved may provide a powerful tool for the simulation of early damage induction. The Geant4-DNA extension of the general purpose Monte Carlo Geant4 simulation toolkit aims to provide the scientific community with an open source access platform for the mechanistic simulation of such early damage. This paper presents the most recent review of the Geant4-DNA extension, as available to Geant4 users since June 2015 (release 10.2 Beta). In particular, the review includes the description of new physical models for the description of electron elastic and inelastic interactions in liquid water, as well as new examples dedicated to the simulation of physicochemical and chemical stages of water radiolysis. Several implementations of geometrical models of biological targets are presented as well, and the list of Geant4-DNA examples is described.

Antibody landscapes after influenza virus infection or vaccination.

We introduce the antibody landscape, a method for the quantitative analysis of antibody-mediated immunity to antigenically variable pathogens, achieved by accounting for antigenic variation among pathogen strains. We generated antibody landscapes to study immune profiles covering 43 years of influenza A/H3N2 virus evolution for 69 individuals monitored for infection over 6 years and for 225 individuals pre- and postvaccination. Upon infection and vaccination, titers increased broadly, including previously encountered viruses far beyond the extent of cross-reactivity observed after a primary infection. We explored implications for vaccination and found that the use of an antigenically advanced virus had the dual benefit of inducing antibodies against both advanced and previous antigenic clusters. These results indicate that preemptive vaccine updates may improve influenza vaccine efficacy in previously exposed individuals.

[Acceptability of vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) by pediatricians, mothers and young women in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam]. / Acceptabilité de la vaccination contre les papillomavirus humains (HPV) par les pédiatres, les mères et les jeunes femmes à Hô Chi Minh Ville, Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) is almost always induced by some oncogenic types of human papillomavirus (HPV). In Vietnam, it is the first leading cause of cancer in women, with highest prevalence in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Since 2006, prevention of the CC has been improved by licensure of recombinant vaccines directed against HPV 16 and 18, effective when administered before the age of first sexual intercourse. A national program for routine immunization of pre-adolescent girls in addition to cytological screening of adult women would greatly reduce the impact of CC in Vietnam but vaccines remain expensive and it is unclear how this strategy would be accepted by the target population. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability of HPV vaccination by pediatricians, mothers with a daughter aged 9-15 years and young women aged 16-26 years in HCMC. METHODS: Between March and June 2010, a cross-sectional survey of knowledge and attitudes was administered to 115 pediatricians in the pediatric hospital, 210 mothers and 400 young women attending the gynecology department of the University Hospital. RESULTS: Pediatricians generally had a good perception of the risk but they still lacked knowledge about HPV vaccination, given by 66% of them. Among mothers, 18% knew the relationship between HPV infection and CC, 43% had heard of HPV vaccination and 40% agreed to vaccinate their daughter. Among young women, 35% knew the risk, 49% knew the vaccine and 38% wanted to be vaccinated. Level of education, amount of income and celibacy were positively related to intention to be vaccinated. The lack of information on HPV vaccination and the high cost of vaccines were the main causes of refusal or indecision. CONCLUSION: Routine HPV vaccination of girls in HCMC will be well accepted by the population if a large campaign of health education is implemented by the government and if the affordability of vaccines is facilitated.

Generation of human TRIM5alpha mutants with high HIV-1 restriction activity.

Rhesus macaque tripartite motif (TRIM)5alpha potently inhibits early stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 replication, while the human orthologue has little effect on this virus. We used PCR-based random mutagenesis to construct a large library of human TRIM5alpha variants containing mutations in the PRYSPRY domain. We then applied a functional screen to isolate human cells made resistant to HIV-1 infection by the expression of a mutated TRIM5alpha. This protocol led to the characterization of a human TRIM5alpha variant containing a mutation at arginine 335 as conferring resistance to HIV-1 infection. The level of protection stemming from expression of this mutant was comparable to that of previously described mutations at position 332. R332/R335 double mutants decreased permissiveness to HIV-1 and to other lentiviruses by 20- to 50-fold in TE671 fibroblasts and in the T-cell line SUP-T1, and prevented HIV-1 spreading infection as efficiently as the rhesus macaque TRIM5alpha orthologue did. The finding that only two substitutions in human TRIM5alpha can confer resistance to HIV-1 at levels as high as one of the most potent natural orthologues of TRIM5alpha removes a roadblock toward the use of this restriction factor in human gene therapy applications.

Chest radiography in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

SETTING: Report of a workshop on Occupational Lung Diseases, IUATLD Respiratory Disease Section, Bangkok 1998. OBJECTIVE: To describe the role of chest radiography in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pneumoconiosis, defined as the accumulation of dust in the lung and tissue reaction to its presence, is diagnosed and monitored by X-ray techniques. The International Labour Organization (ILO) developed a descriptive system of the radiographic appearances of pneumoconiosis using standard chest radiographs to classify the type and category of profusion of small opacities seen in the lung fields, as well as the width and extent of pleural changes and other abnormalities of a more general nature. RESULTS: The pertinence of the ILO classification has been demonstrated by studying the correlation between anatomic lesions and chest X-ray features. Other imaging techniques have been proposed over the past few years, including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. However, until now they have remained essentially complementary to verify an unclear aspect of particular features of a given radiograph, rather than as the standard method of diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Chest radiography remains the principal tool in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, and has the advantages of the large number of units in service throughout the world, their relatively low cost, and the widely-accepted ILO classification.

Cross sectional and longitudinal study on selenium, glutathione peroxidase, smoking, and occupational exposure in coal miners.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the variations of selenium (Se) concentration relative to changes in occupational exposure to coal dust, taking into account age and changes in smoking habits in miners surveyed twice, in 1990 and 1994. To better understand the relation of Se concentration with glutathione peroxidase activities (GSH-Px) in these miners. METHODS: In 1994, blood samples were obtained from active (n=131) and retired (n=40) miners without coal worker's pneumoconiosis, in whom Se concentration was available at both surveys and in whom International Labour Organisation (ILO) profusion grade had not been changed. Active miners were exposed to high dust concentrations (n=48) or low dust concentrations (n=83). Miners were classified into three subgroups according to their estimated cumulative exposure to dust, and into three subgroups according to their smoking habits. RESULTS: Selenium concentration and GSH-Px activities were significantly lower in active than in retired miners (Se adjusted means: 62.6 v 72.2 ng/ml p=0.01). Moreover, Se concentration was lower in miners exposed to high compared with those exposed to low dust concentrations (adjusted means: 59.4 v 65.8). In miners exposed to high dust concentrations, Se concentration was significantly lower whereas erythrocyte GSH-Px activity was significantly higher in the subgroup with estimated cumulative exposure >68 mg/m(3).y. In all miners, plasma GSH-Px activity was correlated with Se concentration (r=0.22, p<0.005). The 4 year Se changes were negatively related to exposure to high dust concentrations and positively related to change in exposure from high to retirement and to change from smoker to ex-smoker (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: The variations of Se concentration in relation to changes in occupational exposure to coal dust and in smoking habits, and the close correlation found between plasma Se concentration and GSH-Px activity suggest that both are required in antioxidant defence. These results agree well with the hypothesis that the decrease in Se concentration reflects its use against reactive oxygen species generated by exposure to coal mine dust and by smoking.

Improved respiratory CO2-He analysis for peripheral airways impairment detection. Utilization possibilities of a new computerized system in preventive medicine studies.

The authors illustrate the application possibilities in occupational and preventive medicine of a recently computerized system for the evaluation of peripheral ventilatory non-homogeneities with or without alveolar air trapping. The method consists of an improved individual multiple breath by breath test utilizing the analysis of the respiratory gases CO2 and He. It is based on the results of previous experimental measurements performed simultaneously in different pulmonary sectors an depends on the technical possibility of signalizing out-of-phase expired CO2-He mixtures at the end of the inert gas clearance when in subjects with peripheral respiratory disorders the two gases CO2 and He arrive at the mouth at different times, during the same expiration and cause different, opposite signals. The applied physiological reliability of the measurements was experimentally verified, their technical specificity was recently established. The use of a new computerized system allows actually automatic, on-line measurements under the control of the operator, following a standardized method. The resolution power of the signals is very high. The calculation of the results is performed by the software. The system is easy to transport and can be used in the field for screening on large groups of persons in preventive medicine inquiries and during occupational medicine checks. Quite recently it has been usefully employed during an investigation on 200 subjects, occupationally exposed (policemen of the city traffic department of the town of Bologna).

Age and bronchial hyperresponsiveness are associated with failure to perform the single breath N2 test in a rural female population.

Because some authors have reported high rates of failure in performing the single breath N2 (SBN2) test in rural areas, the present study aimed at evaluating its acceptability in a female population, unfamiliar with lung function testing, in a rural area of northeastern France. Two hundred ninety-eight women from a rural area volunteered for a preventive medicine examination (91.6% of those invited); four of them were excluded for clinical reasons, and six (2%) were unable to perform spirometry. The protocol included completion of a questionnaire, spirometry with a bronchial reactivity test, skin prick test, and the SBN2 test utilizing a computerized assembly. Although failures caused by the apparatus were few (n = 7, 2.4%) 96 of 281 women (34.1%) were unable to produce two valid SBN2 tests in a series of six attempts. Compared with the group who succeeded in the test (n = 185), women who failed were older and had a higher prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Logistic regression confirmed the independent association of these two variables with an inability to perform. We conclude that in a female population completely unfamiliar with lung function testing the SBN2 test has a high rate of failure associated with higher age and the presence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness in farmers: relation to respiratory symptoms, lung function, and atopy.

There is only limited information on the factors associated with nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in farmers. Our purpose was to examine the relationship between BHR and respiratory symptoms, atopy, and abnormalities of lung function in a sample of French farmers. Farmers scheduled for a preventive medicine check-up in northeastern France were examined. Occupational exposure, respiratory symptoms, and work-related symptoms were assessed by questionnaire, sensitization to 34 common and agricultural allergens by skin prick tests, and BHR by the single-dose (1,200 microg) acetylcholine (ACh) challenge test. Data were obtained from 741 farmers (95% of those invited). Seventy-seven subjects (10.3%) had BHR defined as a fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) >/= 10% after the inhalation of ACh or, for those with a poor lung function, an increase in FEV1 > 10% and > 200 ml after the inhalation of 200 microg of salbutamol. The proportion of asthmalike symptoms, especially wheeze during work, positive skin tests to acarian (storage mites) and cereal dust allergens, and low levels of lung function was significantly greater among reactors than among nonreactors. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed a significant and independent association between BHR and wheezing during work (OR = 4.99; 95% CI = 2.29-10.89; p = 0.0001) and baseline FEV1 (OR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.05-2.20; p = 0.026). In conclusion, hyperreactive farmers had significantly more asthmalike symptoms, positive skin tests, and abnormal lung function than normoreactive farmers. Work-related wheeze and low baseline FEV1 were significantly and independently associated with BHR.

Dose-response slope of forced oscillation and forced expiratory parameters in bronchial challenge testing.

In population studies, the provocative dose (PD) of bronchoconstrictor causing a significant decrement in lung function cannot be calculated for most subjects. Dose-response curves for carbachol were examined to determine whether this relationship can be summarized by means of a continuous index likely to be calculable for all subjects, namely the two-point dose response slope (DRS) of mean resistance (Rm) and resistance at 10 Hz (R10) measured by the forced oscillation technique (FOT). Five doses of carbachol (320 microg each) were inhaled by 71 patients referred for investigation of asthma (n=16), chronic cough (n=15), nasal polyposis (n=8), chronic rhinitis (n=8), dyspnoea (n=8), urticaria (n=5), post-anaphylactic shock (n=4) and miscellaneous conditions (n=7). FOT resistance and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were measured in close succession. The PD of carbachol leading to a fall in FEV1 > or = 20% (PD20) or a rise in Rm or R10 > or = 47% (PD47,Rm and PD47,R10) were calculated by interpolation. DRS for FEV1 (DRSFEV1), Rm (DRSRm) and R10 (DRSR10) were obtained as the percentage change at last dose divided by the total dose of carbachol. The sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of DRSRm, DRS10 delta%Rm and delta%R10 in detecting spirometric bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR, fall in FEV1 > or = 20%) were assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. There were 23 (32%) "spirometric" reactors. PD20 correlated strongly with DRSFEV1 (r=-0.962; p=0.0001); PD47,Rm correlated significantly with DRSRm (r=-0.648; p=0.0001) and PD47,R10 with DRSR10 (r=-0.552; p=0.0001). DRSFEV1 correlated significantly with both DRSRm (r=0.700; p=0.0001) and DRSR10 (r=0.784; p=0.0001). The Se and Sp of the various FOT indices to correctly detect spirometric BHR were as follows: DRSRm: Se=91.3%, Sp=81.2%; DRSR10: Se=91.3%, Sp=95.8%; delta%Rm: Se=86.9%, Sp=52.1%; and delta%R10: Se=91.3%, Sp=58.3%. Dose-response slopes of indices of forced oscillation technique resistance, especially the dose-response slope of resistance at 10Hz are proposed as simple quantitative indices of bronchial responsiveness which can be calculated for all subjects and that may be useful in occupational epidemiology.

Relations between occupational exposure to coal mine dusts, erythrocyte catalase and Cu++/Zn++ superoxide dismutase activities, and the severity of coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

OBJECTIVES: To better understand the relations between occupational exposure, blood antioxidant enzyme activities, total plasma antioxidant concentration, and the severity of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from miners without CWP exposed to low dust concentrations for > or = 4 years at the time of the study (n = 105), or exposed to high dust concentrations for > or = 14 years at the time of the study (n = 58), and from retired miners with CWP (n = 19). Miners without CWP were classified into three subgroups according to their estimated cumulative exposure to dust. Chest x ray films were obtained for each miner. Miners were classified in five subgroups according to their International Labour Organisation (ILO) profusion grades. Univariate tests were completed by multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The estimated cumulative exposure to dust was strongly positively related to erythrocyte catalase activity and strongly negatively related to Cu++/Zn++ SOD activity only in miners exposed to high dust concentrations for > or = 14 years at the time of the study (F tests p = 0.006 and p = 0.004 respectively). Moreover, catalase activity was strongly related to the severity of CWP expressed as five subgroups of ILO profusion grades (F test p = 0.003); the greatest difference in the mean values was found between the group of 1/1 to 1/2 ILO profusion grades and the group of 2/1 to 3/3 ILO profusion grades. CONCLUSION: These results are in good agreement with the hypothesis that production of reactive oxygen species may be an important event in the exposure to coal mine dusts and the severity of CWP. Erythrocyte catalase and Cu++/Zn++ SOD activities are more closely related to recent exposure to high dust concentrations than to cumulative exposure, and could be considered as biological markers of exposure rather than as markers of early adverse biological effect.

Relationship of serum neutral endopeptidase E.C.3.4.24.11 activity to alcohol consumption.

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is an ubiquitous enzyme that inactivates numerous endogenous peptides in the brain, kidney, and lung in vivo. The origin of the circulating soluble form and its determinants are largely unknown. The relationships of smoking habits and alcohol consumption to serum NEP activity have been explored in a longitudinal epidemiological study conducted in 204 Lorraine coal miners. At both surveys, 4 years apart, NEP activity was significantly related to alcohol consumption (in grams/day) reported by questionnaire, with correlation coefficients of 0.26 (p = 0.001) in 1990 and 0.23 (p = 0.001) in 1994. The correlations of gamma-glutamyltransferase to NEP activity were even stronger with correlation coefficients of 0.71 (p = 0.0001) in 1990 and 0.79 (p = 0.0001) in 1994. Longitudinally, the change in NEP activity between the first and the second surveys was significantly correlated with change in alcohol consumption (r = to 0.18, p = 0.02) and with change in gamma-glutamyltransferase level (r = 0.60, p = 0.0001). Serum NEP activity was unrelated to smoking habits. Results support the hypothesis of a causal role of alcohol on serum NEP activity.

Can the evolution to pneumoconiosis be suspected in coal miners? A longitudinal study.

To assess whether the evolution to pneumoconiosis may be suspected in coal miners, we conducted a 4-yr longitudinal study of 80 dust-exposed miners with chest X-ray findings classified 0/1 or 1/0 according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) classification (exposed to coal mine dust, suspected of pneumoconiosis [ES group]) and two control groups having normal X-rays. The first of these latter two groups included 80 miners with similar exposure to that of the first group (exposure with normal X-rays [EN]), whereas the second group consisted of markedly less exposed miners (no exposure with normal X-rays [NN]). The protocol comprised a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and smoking, assessment of cumulative coal-mine-dust exposure, X-rays, computed tomographic (CT) scans, and lung-function tests. The study was conducted in 1990 and 1994 by the same medical team. At the end of the follow-up, 24 members of the ES group had worsened X-ray findings, and 10 of them had X-ray findings classified as 1/1 or greater. In the EN and NN groups, six and one subjects, respectively, had worsened X-ray findings. At the first examination, subjects who developed pneumoconiosis had significantly lower values for FEV1/FVC ratio, maximum midexpiratory flow (MMEF), and maximal forced expiratory flow at 25% of vital capacity (FEF25%), and higher CT-scan micronodule scores. This latter score and FEF25% were significantly associated with the evolution to pneumoconiosis in the ES group, and scanner micronodule score and MMEF were significantly associated with this in all three groups combined. Worsening findings on X-ray and change to pneumoconiosis must be controlled in coal miners. The findings in this study offer the possibility of identifying miners who especially need follow-up and monitoring.

The single-breath nitrogen test in coal miners: factors associated with failure to perform.

The single-breath nitrogen washout (SBN2) test was used, along with spirometry, in the baseline examination of a longitudinal study in a cohort of active coal miners from North-eastern France. The procedure was computerized, allowing the technician to coach and encourage the subject, and excluding computation errors. While all miners performed satisfactory spirometry, a significant number were unable to meet the National Heart and Lung Institute recommendation concerning a 10% agreement of vital capacities. When the limits were set at +/-12%, 57 miners (24.2%) were still classified as failing to perform. When compared to those who succeeded, those failing proved to be significantly older, had more cumulated dust exposure, a higher prevalence of chronic cough and sputum, and a trend for more micronodulation on the chest radiographs. The ventilatory function did not differ between the two groups. These results confirm previous data on spirometric test failure concerning older age and respiratory symptoms, extending them to the SBN2 test. The present study further indicates that dust exposure and roentgenologic pneumoconiosis nodulation are associated with failure to perform the SBN2 test.

Relationship of serum elastin peptide level to single breath transfer factor for carbon monoxide in French coal miners.

BACKGROUND: Clinical and epidemiological studies have given discordant results on the usefulness of the level of circulating elastin peptide (EP), a potential marker of both elastin destruction (a key phenomenon in pulmonary emphysema) and neosynthesis, for assessing structural changes in the lung extracellular matrix. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between levels of EP and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and single breath transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TLCO and KCO) in coal miners. METHODS: The study population comprised 227 working coal miners aged 34-50 years consisting of 75 miners heavily exposed to underground coal dust with pulmonary radiographs classified as 0/1 or 1/0 by the International Labour Office classification, 75 exposed miners with radiographs classified as normal (0/0), and 77 miners slightly exposed to coal dust with normal radiographs. The subjects answered a standardised questionnaire and performed spirometric tests and a carbon monoxide (CO) transfer test. RESULTS: No association was observed between EP levels and % predicted FEV1 (or FEV1/FVC). The level of EP increased significantly with decreased % predicted TLCO (r = -0.20). Miners in the lowest % predicted KCO quintile had higher EP levels than the rest (3.28 (1.37) vs 2.47 (1.16)). A significantly lower EP level was observed in miners with radiographs classified as 1/0 or 0/1, especially in those with round opacities, compared with miners with a normal radiograph, and in current smokers compared with the rest. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the level of EP may reflect some remodelling activity in emphysema and lung fibrosis.

Decrease in selenium status in relation to coal dust exposure.

Selenium (Se) plasma levels were studied in 222 coal miners to assess whether selenium is decreased in relation to coal dust exposure, taking age, alcohol, and tobacco consumption into account. Selenium levels decreased significantly with age and current tobacco consumption, among miners aged 34-50. Long-term and current exposure to coal dust were studied. The lowest Se values were observed for those with both long-term and current exposure (60.2 ng/ml), the highest for those never or slightly exposed (64.1 ng/ml); those with long-term exposure not currently exposed fell in an intermediate position (61.3 ng/ml). No relation was observed with alcohol consumption. The association of coal dust with low selenium remained significant after adjustment for age and smoking.

Lack of a relationship of elastin peptide level to emphysema assessed by CT scans.

Clinical reports suggest that peptide (EP) concentration may be used as a subclinical marker of pulmonary emphysema. This hypothesis was tested in a clinical study by comparing EP concentration in male emphysematous patients with the level in two control groups, and by exploring the relation of elastin peptide level to high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan emphysema score among emphysematous patients. Serum EP level was determined among male emphysematous patients with at least 20% of emphysema (n = 27) and in two populations of male workers, drawn from epidemiologic studies (227 coal miners and 310 policemen). No difference in elastin peptide concentration was observed between emphysematous patients and control subjects (mean +/- SD = 2.39 +/- 1.18 micrograms/ml in patients versus 2.55 +/- 1.34 micrograms/ml in policemen and 2.59 +/- 1.20 micrograms/ml in coal miners). The correlation of elastin peptide concentration with percentage of pulmonary emphysema was negative and of borderline significance (r = -0.36; p = 0.06). These results cast doubts on the usefulness of elastin peptide level as a predictive marker of pulmonary emphysema.

Associations of blood group-related antigens to FEV1, wheezing, and asthma.

Discordant results have been observed regarding the associations of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases with secretor, Lewis, and ABO histo-blood groups, which are defined by glycosyltransferases. These enzymes build up oligosaccharide structures that play a role in the adhesion of environmental factors to epithelial cells. The objectives of the present study were to assess the role of all three systems, Lewis (Le), salivary ABH secretor (Se), and red cell blood group ABO, on lung function, wheezing, and asthma in a cohort of 228 coal miners studied cross-sectionally, considering the potential modifying effect of environmental factors on these associations. Asthma was significantly related to nonsecretor phenotype. Significantly lower lung function and higher prevalences of wheezing and asthma were observed in Lewis-negative or nonsecretor subjects of blood group O. Very low lung function values were observed in the small group of Lewis-negative nonsecretors who lack both Le and Se controlled fucoses (1% of Caucasians). Lewis-positive, salivary ABH secretors who have these two fucoses represent 70% of Caucasians. Among these subjects, lower lung function was observed in blood group A, and in a lesser extent in blood group B, i.e., with terminal alpha GaINAc or alpha Gal respectively, than in blood group O subjects. ABO, Lewis, and secretor phenotypes did not account for the potential genetic heterogeneity of subjects toward smoking, but alcohol consumption appeared to exert a protective effect on lung function in Lewis-negative subjects (10% of Caucasians). If confirmed in other populations, the magnitude of the effects observed regarding low lung function in Lewis-negative ABH nonsecretors, and the protective effect of Lewis negative on the deleterious effect of alcohol, may be of clinical importance. Further studies of the combined effects of various histo-blood group genetic systems seem worthwhile, particularly for airflow limitation, wheezing, and asthma, possibly with reference to susceptibility to infectious agents.