Füsun Ülger

Serum Oxidant and Antioxidant Levels in Diesel Exposed Toll Collectors

Serum Oxidant and Antioxidant Levels in Diesel Exposed Toll Collectors: Peri Arbak, et al. Department of Chest Diseases, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Duzce School of Medicine, Turkey—It has been suggested that exposure to diesel exhaust may lead to adverse effects due to the generation of oxidants. To evaluate the end products of oxidative stress in DE exposure, toll collectors who are considered a high risk group in regard to occupational toxins were compared to controls who had office‐based occupations in the same company in this cross sectional study. A total of 38 toll collectors constituted the study group. All subjects were male. The toll collectors and 29 controls were similar regarding age, smoking status and duration of work. All subjects underwent a clinical examination and an interviewer‐administrated questionnaire regarding respiratory symptoms, past medical and occupational history, and pulmonary function tests were performed in all subjects. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite+nitrate and vitamin E levels were measured. Toll collectors showed higher serum MDA (5.76 ± 2.15 µmol/L vs. 3.07 ± 0.76 µmol/L, p=0.0001) and nitrite+nitrate levels (96.50 ± 45.54 µmol/L vs. 19.32 ± 11.77 µmol/L, p=0.0001) than controls. Vitamin E levels were similar in toll collectors and controls (10.57 ± 3.44 mg/L and 9.72 ± 2.44 mg/L, respectively, p=0.267). There was no difference between groups in terms of the findings of clinical examinations and respiratory symptoms. In pulmonary function parameters, only peak expiratory flow (PEF) in toll collectors was significantly lower than that of controls (88.9% predicted and 104.2% predicted, respectively, p=0.012). In conclusion, we suggest that serum MDA and nitrite+nitrate levels may be used as biological markers of oxidative stress related to DE exposure, but prospective controlled clinical studies are necessary to clarify the possible association between concentrations of MDA and nitrite+nitrate and pulmonary diseases related to DE exposure.

High CD95 expression of BAL lymphocytes predicts chronic course in patients with sarcoidosis.

Background and objectives:  The prognosis of sarcoidosis is highly variable, with spontaneous remission in some patients. Apoptosis may be associated with spontaneous resolution of the granulomata. CD95 (Fas), an apoptotic molecule, and CD29 and CD45RO (T‐cell memory markers) are expressed at higher levels on T lymphocytes from sarcoid patients compared with normal subjects. However, the prognostic significance of CD95, CD29 and CD45RO expression in sarcoidosis is not clear. It was hypothesized that expression of CD95 would correlate with spontaneous remission.

Exercise capacity in sarcoidosis. Study of 29 patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Aims of this prospective study are to evaluate degree of impairment in pulmonary function tests (PFT), arterial blood gas analysis (ABG), respiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity and correlation of these parameters with radiological stages; to further evaluate the use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in assessment of extent of pulmonary disease; and to discuss the pathophysiologic mechanisms of limitation in exercise capacity in patients with sarcoidosis. PATIENTS AND METHOD 29 patients with sarcoidosis were grouped according to their radiological stages (stage I: group 1; stage II, group 2; stage III, group 3). Groups 1, 2 and 3 included 11, 13 and 5 patients, respectively. PFT, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and ABG were performed for each patient. RESULTS Evaluation of all patients showed a significant decrement in exercise capacity. Patients in stage III had decreased diffusing capacity and exercise capacity. There was limitation in exercise capacity in stage I patients who had completely normal spirometry and diffusing capacity. We also found a correlation between radiological stages of the disease and exercise capacity, diffusing capacity and ABG. CONCLUSIONS Exercise capacity is impaired also in early stages of sarcoidosis and it was found to be the earliest impaired physiological parameter in sarcoid patients. Exercise intolerance, having mutifactorial basis, is correlated with radiological stages. Circulatory impairment and impaired heart rate response to exercise have effects on limitation in exercise capacity. Especially in advanced radiological stages of disease, ventilatory and gas exchange impairment also seems to be effective on limiting exercise in patients with sarcoidosis.

Long Term Effects of Tear Gases on Respiratory System: Analysis of 93 Cases

Aim. This study aimed to assess the long-term respiratory effects of tear gases among the subjects with history of frequent exposure. Materials and Methods. A questionnaire by NIOSH and pulmonary function tests was performed in 93 males exposed to the tear gases frequently and 55 nonexposed subjects. Results. The mean numbers of total exposure and last 2 years exposure were 8.4 ± 6.4 times, 5.6 ± 5.8 times, respectively. Tear gas exposed subjects were presented with a higher rate for cough and phlegm more than 3 months (24.7% versus 11.3%, P > 0.05). Mean FEV1/FVC and % predicted MMFR in smoker exposed subjects are significantly lower than those in smoker controls (81.7% versus 84.1%, P = 0.046 and 89.9% versus 109.6%, P = 0.0004, resp.). % predicted MMFR in nonsmoker exposed subjects is significantly lower than that in nonsmoker controls (99.4% versus 113.1%, P = 0.05). Odds ratios for chest tightness, exercise dyspnea, dyspnea on level ground, winter morning cough, phlegm, and daily phlegm were increased almost 2 to 2.5 folds among tear gas exposed subjects. Conclusion. The rates for respiratory complaints were high in the case of the exposure to the tear gases previously. Tears gas exposed subjects were found to be under the risk for chronic bronchitis.

Serum Endothelial Monocyte-Activating Polypeptide–II: A Novel Biomarker in Patients with Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND Endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide-II (EMAP-II) is a proinflammatory cytokine with antiangiogenic properties. Serum EMAP-II levels have not been investigated previously in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between serum EMAP-II levels and clinicopathologic features, including prognosis, in patients with NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS We measured serum EMAP-II levels in 30 healthy control subjects and 48 patients with untreated NSCLC by enzyme linkedimmunosorbent assay. RESULTS Patients with NSCLC had significantly higher serum EMAP-II levels than did the control group (492 pg/mL +/- 1126 pg/mL vs. 266 pg/mL +/- 1013 pg/mL; P = .015). No significant association was found between serum EMAP-II levels and various clinicopathologic features (age, smoking history, performance status, histopathology, tumor stage, lymph node stage, or distant metastasis). Median survival time was 10.13 months (range, 2-53.8 months). The high-EMAP-II (>or= 100 pg/mL) group had a shorter survival compared with the low-EMAP-II (< 100 pg/mL) group (P = .023), and the serum EMAP-II level was still an important predictor of survival in a multivariate analysis, along with disease stage. CONCLUSION Our results showed that serum EMAP-II levels are significantly higher in patients with NSCLC than in healthy subjects and suggest it is of potential prognostic value.