Inhaled particle-bound sulfate: effects on pulmonary inflammatory responses and alveolar macrophage function.

Acid sulfate-coated solid particles are a significant environmental hazard produced primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels. We have previously described a system for the nascent generation of carbonaceous particles surface coated with approximately 140 microg/m(3) acid sulfate [cpSO(4)(2-); 10 mg/m(3) carbon black (CB) and 10 ppm sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) at 85% relative humidity (RH)]. The effects of inhaled cpSO(4)(2-) on pulmonary host defenses are assessed in the present work. Mice were acutely exposed (4 h) to either 10 mg/m(3) CB, 10 ppm SO(2), or their combination at 10% or 85% RH in a nose-only inhalation chamber. No evidence of an inflammatory response was found following any of the exposures as assessed by total cell counts and differential cell counts from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. However, alveolar macrophage Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis decreased only following exposure to 140 microg cpSO(4)(2-), significant suppression occurred after 24 h, maximal suppression occurred at 3 days postexposure, and recovery to preexposure levels required 7-14 days. Intrapulmonary bactericidal activity (IBA) was also suppressed only after exposure to 140 microg cpSO(4)(2-); suppression was maximal at 1 day postexposure and recovered by day 7. To assess the effects of lower cpSO(4)(2-) concentrations, mice were repeatedly exposed to 1 mg/m(3) CB and 1 ppm SO(2) at 85% RH ( approximately 20 microg/m(3) cpSO(4)(2-) for 4 h/day) for up to 6 days. A significant decrement in IBA was observed following 5 and 6 days of exposure. These studies indicated that acute or repeated exposure to cpSO(4)(2-) could alter pulmonary host defense mechanisms.

[Hematotoxic and immunotoxic effects of nitrogen dioxide]. / Hematotoksyczne i immunotoksyczne dzialanie dwutlenku azotu.

The aim of the paper is to review hematological and immunological effects of experimental and occupational exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The NO2 exposure diminishes erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration and produces increased nitrosyl hemoglobin (NOHb) and methemoglobin (MetHb) concentrations in peripheral blood. The gas affects the activity of the membrane and glycolytic enzymes in erythrocytes. Experimental inhalation of NO2 results in an increased susceptibility to viral or bacterial infections. Moreover, the gas impairs phagocytic and bacteriocidal functions of alveolar macrophages. NO2 also causes lymphoid tissue damage reducing the thymus and spleen weight; it also diminishes specific antibody production and lymphocyte transformation in in vitro cultures with plant mitogens.

[Clinico-morphological characteristics of the family of diseases: cytomegalic inclusion disease, iatrogenic thesaurismosis and septicemia]. / Kliniko-morfologicheskaia kharakteristika semeistva boleznei u detei: tsitomegalii, iatrogennogo tezaurismoza i sepsisa.

The clinicomorphological manifestations of iatrogenic thesaurismosis that developed because of infusion therapy of patients with plasma substitutes were studied using autopsy and operative material from 44 deceased and 2 operated children aged 1 month to 3 years. An experimental disease was obtained in 16 rabbits. Cytomegalia was discovered in 23 deceased children with iatrogenic thesaurismosis and sepsis in 18 children. In 12 cases, sepsis was of iatrogenic nature. An assumption is worded about the three-member family of those diseases undergoing substantial pathomorphism.

[Indicators of iron metabolism and cellular immunity in healthy children and in those with iron deficiency anemia in relation to ecological conditions]. / Pokazateli obmena zheleza i kletochnogo immuniteta u zdorovykh detei i detei s zhelezodefitsitnoi anemiei v zavisimosti ot ékologicheskikh uslovii.

The authors provide statistical data attesting to the fact that during the development of iron deficiency anemia in schoolchildren, the hematological, biochemical indicators characterizing iron metabolism in the body and phagocytic activity of peripheral blood leukocytes, one of the parameters of cellular immunity, undergo noticeable changes. It has been noted that in the regions where toxic chemicals are intensely used, both children with iron deficiency and normal ones demonstrate a significant decrease of phagocytic activity of leukocytes in spite of the fact that no quantitative alterations in iron metabolism are detectable in such a case.

[Health status of the workers of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) processing plant. III. State of the respiratory tract, immunoglobulins and NBT test]. / Ocena stanu zdrowia pracowników zatrudnionych w przetwórstwie polichlorku winylu (PCW). III. Stan ukladu oddechowego, immunoglobuliny, Test NBT.

255 workers processing polyvinyl chloride were examined. All of them underwent spirometric and polycardiographic tests and determination of phagocytic activity of granulocytes, the level of serum albumins and its fractions, and the level of immunoglobulins--IgA, IgG and IgM. The results were compared with the data from healthy non-exposed subjects. It was found that hazards resulting from polyvinyl chloride processing induce slight disturbances in lungs ventilating capacity and inhibit phagocytic activity of granulocytes.