Information needs assessment for HIV/AIDS and STIs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

We assessed information needs about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region by surveying a sample of people considered knowledgeable about the subject. Respondents felt that information on certain areas of HIV/AIDS/STIs was much needed. Health care workers were perceived to see a high need for information and services generally. Religious and community leaders were perceived to see less need for some information and services (such as condom promotion, sex education for young people). All groups were perceived to see a need for education and services for people living with AIDS and drug users. Television and radio were considered the best channels for health education while training was seen as the most effective method for information exchange.

Information needs assessment for HIV/AIDS and STIs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

We assessed information needs about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections [STI] in the Eastern Mediterranean Region by surveying a sample of people considered knowledgeable about the subject. Respondents felt that information on certain areas of HIV/AIDS/STIs was much needed. Health care workers were perceived to see a high need for information and services generally. Religious and community leaders were perceived to see less need for some information and services [such as condom promotion, sex education for young people]. All groups were perceived to see a need for education and services for people living with AIDS and drug users. Television and radio were considered the best channels for health education while training was seen as the most effective method for information exchange

The role of enzyme induction and inhibition on cypermethrin hepatotoxicity.

Cypermethrin at different concentrations (100, 200, 400 and 800 ng ml(-1)) was incubated with a primary culture of rat hepatocytes. Cypermethrin was cytotoxic to rat hepatocytes at concentrations of 200 ng ml(-1)or greater. Toxicity was measured by a decrease in cell viability and leakage of ALT and AST enzymes into the culture medium. The role of cytochrome P450 in the hepatotoxicity of cypermethrin insecticide was investigated in fresh hepatocytes isolated either from phenobarbital pretreated rats or control rats and coincubated with SKF525A. Pretreatment with phenobarbital strongly protected the hepatocytes against the cypermethrin induced loss of cell viability percentage and increased enzyme leakage percentage. Coincubation of the hepatocytes with SKF525A, a well-known cytochrome P450 inhibitor, substantially potentiated the effect of cypermethrin on cell viability and enzyme leakage. These results suggest that the cytocidal hepatotoxicity of cypermethrin in primary hepatocyte culture depends on its parent compound and phenobarbital, as a cytochrome P450 inducer, could be of therapeutic value.

Immunotoxicity of cupravit and previcur fungicides in mice.

Female mice received either cupravit or previcur at dose levels of 300 ppm and 1000 ppm, respectively, for 8 weeks. Humoral immune response was evaluated by measuring the plaque-forming cell (PFC) response and hemolysing antibody titers against sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), a T lymphocyte-dependent antigen. In addition, the hemagglutinating antibody titers against Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a T cell-independent antigen, were determined. Both cupravit and previcur suppressed the PFC response by 74% and 78% of control values, respectively. The primary hemolysin antibody titers were reduced to 62% and 76% of control values, respectively. The hemagglutinating antibody titers were decreased to 66% and 77% of control values, respectively. Memory function was reduced as evidenced by inhibition of secondary hemolysin titers to SRBCs. Cell-mediated immunity was inhibited by both cupravit and previcur as evidenced by reduced delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to tuberculin to 77% and 76% of control values, respectively. Decreases in total leukocytic and lymphocytic counts were recorded together with histopathological changes in spleen and thymus gland of intoxicated animals.

The role of oestradiol on the dermal penetration of phenol, alone or in a mixture, in ovariectomized rats.

The human body, as well as that of animals, is almost entirely covered by skin. As a result, skin is considered the first line of defence against various types of chemicals. Many factors can affect the rate of dermal penetration of these agents either by enhancing or decreasing penetration. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of oestradiol on the dermal penetration of phenol, a major chemical found in industry and hazardous waste sites. The effect of oestradiol on the dermal penetration of phenol was assessed by applying (14)C-phenol alone or in combination with trichloroethylene (TCE) to dermatomed female and male rat back skin samples in flow-through diffusion cells for 16 hours. The penetration of phenol alone was significantly lower in the ovariectomized group compared with female controls. Oestradiol restoration increased the dermal penetration of phenol alone while TCE enhanced phenol penetration in the ovariectomized group to reach control values. When the ovariectomized group receiving testosterone was treated with phenol alone or with the phenol-TCE mixture, the dermal penetration of phenol resembled the control males. These findings revealed that oestradiol plays a major role in increasing the penetration of phenol either alone or in a mixture.

Effect of cypermethrin on isolated male and female rat hepatocytes.

Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid that belongs to a group of insecticides with low mammalian toxicity but high insecticidal activity. The present study was designed to investigate the toxicity of cypermethrin on freshly isolated hepatocytes from male and female rats. Hepatocytes were harvested by a collagenase perfusion technique and were exposed to different concentrations of cypermethrin (100, 200, 400, or 800 ng/2 x 10(6) cells) for up to 2 h. Cell viability and the leakage of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were determined throughout the incubation period. The cell viability of the hepatocytes from male and female rats exposed to 400 ng and 800 ng was significantly reduced after 60 and 30 min of incubation, respectively. With cells from female rats, viability was also reduced upon exposure to 200 ng cypermethrin for 2 h. The decrease in cell viability was dose and time dependent. The leakage of ALT and AST was significantly increased with 400 and 800 ng concentrations at 60 and 30 min, respectively. ALT leakage from female hepatocytes was significantly increased at 60 min of incubation with the 200-ng dose, whereas 2 h of incubation was required for the leakage of ALT from the cells of male rats. The present data indicate that cypermethrin has toxic effects on male and female rat hepatocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The data suggest that female rat hepatocytes may be more sensitive to the toxic effects of cypermethrin than male cells.