Disseminated candidiasis: evidence of a distinctive syndrome in heroin abusers.

Seven young men developed similar manifestations of disseminated candidiasis after a single episode of intravenous heroin abuse. Sequential development of lesions of the eye, skin, and bone or costal cartilage was noted within 10 days after injection. Skin lesions were confined to the scalp and other hair bearing areas. Candida albicans was cultured readily from affected skin and costal cartilage. Histological examination of scalp biopsy specimens showed infiltration of hair follicles with chronic inflammatory cells and C albicans. Pseudohyphas of C albicans were also identified in and around hair shafts. The skin, skeletal, and small eye lesions resolved on systemic treatment with 1 g amphotericin B plus flucytosine. Pars plana vitrectomy plus local instillation of amphotericin B cured progressive chorioretinitis. These features may represent a distinctive syndrome of disseminated candidiasis in heroin abusers. Systemic antifungal treatment is curative in most cases.     

Spectroscopic evidence for charge-transfer complexation in monoclonal antibodies that bind opiates

Molecular complexes of four monoclonal anti-morphine antibodies (mAb) with the opiate ligands morphine, oxymorphone, and naloxone were studied using UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy. Although strong overlaps in the absorption spectra of the antibodies, ligands, and complexes were observed, a curve-fitting method was developed to correlate the absorbance with the concentration of the ligand-antibody complex. Using this technique, we determined the intrinsic association constants for the mAb with morphine to be in the nanomolar range, while association constants for oxymorphone and naloxone were in the micromolar range. These values were found to be in agreement with previous radioimmunoassay determinations. We also observed different changes in the absorbancy of the mAb upon complexation with different ligands and such changes were found to be different for all four mAb examined. Upon complexation with the ligand morphine, two of the mAb (clone numbers MOR368-21 and MOR10.5) displayed distinct charge-transfer spectral bands in the 320-nm region. These observations suggest that mAb binding site tryptophans may participate in the formation of the antibody-ligand complex and such complexation involves a charge-transfer interaction.Abbreviations CAMM computer-aided molecular modeling - CDR complementarity-determining region - corr correlation coefficient - K _A assocation constant - mAb monoclonal antibody - PBS phosphate buffered saline,pH 7.0.     

Presence of antibodies to heat stress proteins in workers exposed to benzene and in patients with benzene poisoning

Heat shock or stress proteins (Hsps) are a group of proteins induced by a large number of xenobiotics, many of which are common in the working and living environment. The biological significance of the presence of antibodies against Hsps in humans is presently unknown. In the present study, 112 workers were selected and divided into four groups on the basis of their level of occupational exposure to benzene: a control group, two groups of workers exposed to either low (< 300 mg/m³) or high concentrations of benzene (> 300 mg/m³) and a group of workers who had experienced benzene poisoning. Blood samples from these workers were assayed for the number of peripheral white blood cells, concentration of hemoglobin, activities of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), lymphocyte DNA damage and finally for the presence of antibodies to different human heat-shock proteins (Hsp27, Hsp60, Hsp71 and Hsp90). Benzene-poisoned workers showed a high incidence of antibodies against Hsp71 (~ 40%) which was associated with a decrease in white blood cells (3.84 ± 1.13 × 10⁹ versus 7.68 ± 1.84 × 10⁹ in controls) and with an increase in activities of serum SOD (138.43 ± 23.15 μ/ml) and Iymphocyte DNA damage (18.7%). These data suggest that antibodies against Hsps can potentially be useful biomonitors to assess if workers are experiencing or have experienced abnormal xenobiotic-induced stress within their living and working environment.     

Adverse health effects in workers exposed to trace/toxic metals at workplace

Widespread use of metals in industrial activities has enhanced the occupational exposure to toxic metals as well as the health risks of metal hazards to humans. Elemental analysis in human tissues is the most common application of biological monitoring for screening, diagnosis and assessment of such exposures and risk. Among various biopsy materials, blood, hair, nail, teeth and body fluids may be used as bioindicators for this purpose. The present paper deals with the determination of Pb, Cr, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn elemental concentration in workers exposed to these metals at workplace by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, with adequate quality control measures using hair as biopsy material. The study group includes the male workers such as welders, foundry man, fitter, hammer man, machine man, cupola man etc., besides office workers of locomotive workshop in Ajmer and surrounding areas exposed to different metals. Age and sex matched controls of persons working in the same area of work in offices etc. and not exposed to metal pollution were selected for valid comparison. It is proposed to validate the use of hair as a biological marker for assessing metal body burden of workers. In our study significant correlations have been found between skin disease and Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu; chest pain and Pb; hypertension and Cu, Mn; mental stress and Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn; liver problem and Ni; indigestion and Cr; Ni, diabetes and Cr, Mn, Ni; tuberculosis and Zn; breathing trouble and Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn. The advantages of choosing hair as a biopsy material are also given.     

Capacity optimization and scheduling of a multiproduct manufacturing facility for biotech products

A general mathematical framework has been proposed in this work for scheduling of a multiproduct and multipurpose facility involving manufacturing of biotech products. The specific problem involves several batch operations occurring in multiple units involving fixed processing time, unlimited storage policy, transition times, shared units, and deterministic and fixed data in the given time horizon. The different batch operations are modeled using state‐task network representation. Two different mathematical formulations are proposed based on discrete‐ and continuous‐time representations leading to a mixed‐integer linear programming model which is solved using General Algebraic Modeling System software. A case study based on a real facility is presented to illustrate the potential and applicability of the proposed models. The continuous‐time model required less number of events and has a smaller problem size compared to the discrete‐time model. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:1221–1230, 2014     

No evidence for immune priming in ants exposed to a fungal pathogen

There is accumulating evidence that invertebrates can acquire long-term protection against pathogens through immune priming. However, the range of pathogens eliciting immune priming and the specificity of the response remain unclear. Here, we tested if the exposure to a natural fungal pathogen elicited immune priming in ants. We found no evidence for immune priming in Formica selysi workers exposed to Beauveria bassiana. The initial exposure of ants to the fungus did not alter their resistance in a subsequent challenge with the same fungus. There was no sign of priming when using homologous and heterologous combinations of fungal strains for exposure and subsequent challenges at two time intervals. Hence, within the range of conditions tested, the immune response of this social insect to the fungal pathogen appears to lack memory and strain-specificity. These results show that immune priming is not ubiquitous across pathogens, hosts and conditions, possibly because of immune evasion by the pathogen or efficient social defences by the host.     

Genotoxicity and radioresistance in electroplating workers exposed to chromium

A biomonitoring study was carried out to investigate the genetic risk associated to occupational exposure to chromium. The induction of genetic damage was measured by analysing the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes. In addition to the 40 electroplater exposed workers who participated in the study, a group constituted by 18 volunteer donors, without exposure to chromium, was analysed as a control group. Measures of chromium levels at working place and in erythrocytes and urine were obtained, as indicators of exposure. The results from this study indicate that the blood from exposed workers contained higher levels of chromium, when compared with those obtained in the control group, and that a significant increase in the frequency of both the total number of MN and the number of binucleated cells carrying MN (BNMN) was detected. Furthermore, a good direct relationship was obtained between the amount of chromium present in air, erythrocytes or urine and the frequency of MN. To determine the existence of radioresistance as consequence of chromium exposure, the response of lymphocytes to the in vitro gamma-radiation was studied. The results of this experiment show a lower induction in the increase of the frequency of MN after challenge irradiation in the lymphocytes of chromium exposed workers, which should be indicative of an adaptive response.     

Enhancement of tolerance development to morphine in rats prenatally exposed to morphine,methadone, and buprenorphine

Background  

Abuse of addictive substances is a serious problem that has a significant impact on areas such as health, the economy, and public safety. Heroin use among young women of reproductive age has drawn much attention around the world. However, there is a lack of information on effects of prenatal exposure to opioids on their offspring. In this study, an animal model was established to study effects of prenatal exposure to opioids on offspring.     

Antibodies to morphine and neuromediators in the blood serum of chronic alcoholics

The data on the presence of antibodies to morphine and neurotransmitters (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) in the blood serum of chronic alcoholics are presented. The antibodies were detected by the modification of complement-fixation test. 82% of chronic alcoholics showed significantly elevated levels (P less than 0.01) of antibodies to morphine (5.34 +/- 0.65% of complement fixed) when compared to the control group (2.41 +/- 0.52% of complement fixed), which was an indirect evidence of the presence of endogenous morphine-like compounds in men and their role in the pathogenesis of the disease. A general group of alcoholics could be divided into subgroups with significantly elevated and decreased levels of antibodies to the appropriate neurotransmitter, as compared to the control group, which significantly differed from each other. Similar results were obtained in chronically alcoholized rats.     

Monooxygenase activity in Cunninghamella bainieri: evidence for a fungal system similar to liver microsomes

The fungus Cunninghamella bainieri effects the oxidative N-demethylation of aminopyrine, O-demethylation of 4-nitroanisole and anisole, the aryl hydroxylation of anisole, aniline, and naphthalene, and the reduction of nitro and azo groups. The hydroxylation of 4-[²H]-anisole and 2-[²H]-anisole proceeds with migration and retention of isotopic hydrogen (NIH shift). The above reactions and the formation of the trans-dihydrodiol of naphthalene and the incorporation of oxygen-18 from ¹⁸O₂ into the trans-dihydrodiol and hydroxylated anisole are characteristic of reactions catalyzed by the cytochrome P₄₅₀ monooxygenases of hepatic microsomes. The product ratios in these hydroxylations are very similar to those obtained using liver microsomes providing further evidence that the C. bainieri monooxygenase enzymes are similar to the liver monooxygenases. Furthermore, an epoxide hydrase enzyme similar to that present in hepatic microsomes must also be present in C. bainieri.     

Development of surface swabbing procedures for a cleaning validation program in a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility

Validation of direct surface swabbing procedure in conjuction with total organic carbon (TOC) analysis is described for a biopharmaceutical product manufacturing operation. The swabbing technique was found to be very effective in reliably detecting very low levels of residuals for diverse process streams (limit of detection of approximately 0.5microg/cm(2)). However, contaminant recovery was significantly dependent on both the type of contaminant and the processing surface. This study serves as a guide for designing effective cleaning validation protocols based on direct surface swabbing techniques. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges in workers exposed to styrene

Few studies exist about chromosomal damage in workers occupationally exposed to styrene. In the present study, chromosomal aberrations and SCEs were analyzed from cultures of peripheral lymphocytes of workers employed in 6 different reinforced-plastics industries with styrene air exposure levels ranging from 30 to 400 mg/mc. A control group was selected on the base of sex, age and smoking habit. We examined 50-h cultures (for chromosomal-aberrations) and 72-h cultures (for SCEs) for each individual. All workers exposed to styrene, as compared with controls, showed significantly increased frequencies of chromosomal aberrations, while SCEs were significantly increased at 4 of the 6 plants. High SCE values appeared with styrene air concentrations higher than 200 mg/mc. Apart from the possible presence and role of other interfering chemicals in the various plants, chromosomal aberrations seem to be more sensitive than SCEs for the detection of chromosomal damage caused by exposure to low doses of styrene.     

Chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges in workers exposed to styrene

Few studies exist about chromosomal damage in workers occupationally exposed to styrene. In the present study, chromosomal aberrations and SCEs were analyzed from cultures of peripheral lymphocytes of workers employed in 6 different reinforced-plastics industries with styrene air exposure levels ranging from 30 to 400 mg/mc. A control group was selected on the base of sex, age and smoking habit. We examined 50-h cultures (for chromosomal-aberrations) and 72-h cultures (for SCEs) for each individual.All workers exposed to styrene, as compared with controls, showed significantly increased frequencies of chromosomal aberrations, while SCEs were significantly increased at 4 of the 6 plants. High SCE values appeared with styrene air concentrations higher than 200 mg/mc.Apart from the possible presence and role of other interfering chemicals in the various plants, chromosomal aberrations seem to be more sensitive than SCEs for the detection of chromosomal damage caused by exposure to low doses of styrene.     

N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in lymphocytes of workers exposed to benzene and its homologues

In 108 workers having occupational contact with benzene and its homologues by 1 to 122 months, the activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) within the peripheral blood lymphocytes was estimated by means of cytochemical method. The benzene, the toluene and the xylene concentration at work stands was equal to 0-370, 0-580 and 0-560 mg/cu . m, respectively. In 41 workers having the service time equal to 55-122 months the NAG deficiency within the lymphocyte lysosomes was stated. Above phenomenon is probably due to disintegration of lysosomes caused by lipophilic properties of benzene.