Erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities in coal miners from three French regions.

This study investigated whether differences in the prevalence and severity of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) between three coal mines could be related to differences in oxidative stress exposure as evaluated in vivo through red-blood-cell antioxidant enzyme activities. Blood samples were obtained from 229 miners selected according to their occupation and their pneumoconiotic status. The following biomarkers were evaluated: erythrocyte catalase, Cu2+/Zn2+ superoxide dismutase (Cu2+/Zn2+ SOD), and glutathione peroxidase activities. Antioxidant enzyme activities did not differ significantly between the group of surface workers in Lorraine and the group of underground miners without CWP in Lorraine and in the other coal mines. Erythrocyte Cu2+/Zn2+ SOD activity was slightly decreased in the group of active underground miners with simple pneumoconiosis as compared with the group of miners without CWP in Nord/Pas-de-Calais. No effect was seen between retired miners at different stages of CWP. Our findings indicate that differences in the prevalence and severity of CWP do not seem to be related to various oxidative activities of coal dust particles, at least as reflected by measurements of antioxidant enzyme activities in circulating erythrocytes in this study.

[Cytochemical indices in initial manifestations of anthracosilicosis]. / Tsitokhimicheskie pokazateli pri nachal'nykh proiavleniiakh antrakosilikoza.

57 coal miners aged 40-58 years were examined in three groups. Group 1 included 12 practically healthy miners who no contact with industrial dusts. Group 2 consisted of 15 healthy miners (index O) and Group 3-30 miners affected with anthracosilicosis (index 0-1). The phagocytic activities of the alveolar neutrophils and macrophages were studied along with that of the peripheral blood neutrophils. Cytochemical techniques were applied to study the content of general protein, phospholipids, glycogen and the acid phosphatase activity. In Group 2, cellular reactions were marked by a relative content growth of neutrophils and macrophages, and viable cells, against a statistically reliable increase of acid phosphatase activity and phospholipids' content, with concomitant decrease in content of general protein and glycogen. The studies helped to reveal the latent forms of anthracosilicosis at early stages, when morphologic changes could not be traced with ordinary X-ray techniques.

[Liver and blood enzyme spectra of rats with model anthracosis based on feeding a diet with additional amounts of methionine and pyridoxine]. / Fermentnye spektry pecheni i krovi krys s model'iu antrakoza na fone vvedeniia v ikh ratsion dopolnitel'nykh kolichestv metionina i piridoksina.

The data obtained during studies of the enzymic spectrum of the liver and blood of rats with experimental anthracosis fed the diet containing additional quota of methionine and pyridoxine are presented. It was established that introduction of additional quota of methionine and pyridoxine in the animals' diet with an optimal fat content reduced the negative manifestations on the part of the enzymic systems of the liver and blood characteristic of experimental anthracosis and thus promoted retardation of fibrous process in the lungs. Additional introduction into the diet of rats with experimental anthracosis of methionine alone appeared ineffective.

[Significance of elevated serum ACE in pneumology]. / Signification d'une élévation de l'ACE sérique en pneumologie.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels were measured in the serum of patients with various pulmonary affections (sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, anthracosilicosis, cancer, etc.), with diabetes or renal insufficiency, and in 247 healthy subjects. Mean ACE levels (41.5 U/ml +/- 16) were significantly higher in sarcoidosis than in normal controls (22 U/ml +/- 6), high values (greater than or equal to 34 U/ml) being observed in 62 p. cent of cases. In these patients, the ACE tended to become normal in parallel with clinical and radiological improvement in the disease, and to increase again during relapses. In 75 p. cent of sarcoidosis patients there was concordance between the increase in alveolar lymphocytes and that of serum ACE. Elevated ACE levels were noted in only 3 p. cent of non-sarcoidosis pneumopathies, and in 24 and 18 p. cent of diabetes and renal insufficiency cases respectively. In the absence of these two latter affections, measuring ACE levels is of obvious value for the diagnosis and follow-up surveillance of sarcoidosis.