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Thiol/disulfide homeostasis in asphalt workers

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate thiol/disulfide homeostasis in asphalt workers who are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons occupationally. The study was carried out in 34 nonsmoker asphalt workers. Additionally, 35 healthy nonsmoker volunteers were recruited as control group. Thiol and disulfide concentrations were determined using the novel automated measurement method. Levels of urinary 1-OH-pyrene were analyzed by liquid chromatography. Disulfide/thiol ratio was significantly higher in exposed group (p = .034). Also, a positive correlation was detected between disulfide/thiol ratio and 1-OH-pyrene values (r = .249, p = .036). Thiol/disulfide homeostasis was found to be disturbed in asphalt workers. The novel test used in this study may be useful for evaluating the oxidative status in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure.

Dynamic disulfide/thiol homeostasis in lead exposure denoted by a novel method

Lead is a toxic heavy metal, and prevention of human exposure to lead has not been accomplished yet. The toxicity of lead is continually being investigated, and the molecular mechanisms of its toxicity are still being revealed. In this study, we used a novel method to examine thiol (SH)/disulfide homeostasis in workers who were occupationally exposed to lead. A total of 80 such workers and 70 control subjects were evaluated, and their native and total SH values were measured in serum using a novel method; their blood lead levels were also assessed. The novel method used for SH measurements was based on the principle of measuring native SH, after which disulfide bonds were reduced and total SHs were measured. These measurements allowed us to calculate disulfide amounts, disulfide/total SH percent ratios, disulfide/native SH percent ratios, and native SH /total SH percent ratios. We found that disulfide levels were significantly higher in workers who were exposed to lead (21.08(11.1–53.6) vs. 17.9(1.7–25), p < 0.001). Additionally, the disulfide/native SH and disulfide/total SH percent ratios were higher in exposed workers, while the native SH/total SH percent ratios were higher in the control subjects. Furthermore, the lead and disulfide levels showed a positive correlation, with p < 0.001 and a correlation coefficient of 0.378. Finally, the novel method used in this study successfully showed a switch from SH to disulfide after lead exposure, and the method is fully automated, easy, cheap, reliable, and reproducible. Use of this method in future cases may provide valuable insights into the management of lead exposure.

Alterations of Thyroid Hormone Levels in Cadmium Exposure

1 Evren Akgöl1, Engin Tutkun2, Hinc Yilmaz3, Fatma Meric Yilmaz4, Meside Gunduzoz3, Ceylan Demir Bal4, Ali Unlu5, Sedat Abusoglu5 1Deparatment of Biochemistry, Birecik State Hospital, Birecik, Sanliurfa, 2Department of Public Health, Bozok University Faculty of Medicine, Yozgat, 3Department Occupational Diseases Service, Occupational Diseases Hospital, Ankara, 4Department of Biochemistry, Yildirim Beyazit University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, 5Department of Biochemistry, Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey Elevated Thyroid Hormones with Cadmium Toxicity Alterations of Thyroid Hormone Levels in Cadmium Exposure

Evaluation of Dynamic Disulphide/Thiol Homeostasis in Silica Exposed Workers

Background: Oxidative stress is implicated as one of the main molecular mechanism underlying silicosis. Aims: In this study, our aim was to asses the redox status in occupationally silica-exposed workers, by evaluating the dynamic thiol-disulphide homeostasis. Study Design: Case-control study. Methods: Thirty-six male workers occupationally exposed to silica particles and 30 healthy volunteers, working as office workers were included to the study. Posteroanterior chest radiographs and pulmonary function tests of both groups were evaluated. Also serum thiol disulphide levels were measured using the spectrophotometric method described by Erel and Neşelioğlu. Results: Among the 36 workers that underwent pulmonary function tests 6 (17%) had obstructive, 7 (19%) had restrictive, 6 (17%) had obstructive and restrictive signs whereas 17 (47%) had no signs. The mean PFTs results of silica-exposed workers were significantly lower than control subjects. The serum disulphide levels of silica-exposed workers were significantly higher than control subjects (23.84±5.89 μmol/L and 21.18±3.44 μmol/L, respectively p=0.02). Conclusion: The serum disulphide levels, a biomarker of oxidative stress, are found to be higher in silica-exposed workers.

Comprehensive Electrocardiographic Analysis of Lead Exposed Workers: An Arrhythmic Risk Assessment Study.

To evaluate electrocardiographic parameters which are related with atrial and ventricular arrhythmias measured from 12‐lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) in workers occupationally exposed to lead.

Assessment of the Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System in Mercury-Exposed Individuals via Post-Exercise Heart Rate Recovery

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess exercise heart rate recovery (HRR) indices in mercury-exposed individuals when evaluating their cardiac autonomic function. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-eight mercury-exposed individuals and 28 healthy controls were enrolled. All the subjects underwent exercise testing and transthoracic echocardiography. The HRR indices were calculated by subtracting the first- (HRR1), second- (HRR2) and third-minute (HRR3) heart rates from the maximal heart rate. The two groups were evaluated in terms of exercise test parameters, especially HRR, and a correlation analysis was performed between blood, 24-hour urine and hair mercury levels and the test parameters. Results: The mercury-exposed and control groups were similar in age (37.2 ± 6.6 vs. 36.9 ± 9.0 years), had an identical gender distribution (16 females and 12 males) and similar left ventricular ejection fractions (65.5 ± 3.1 vs. 65.4 ± 3.1%). The mean HRR1 [25.6 ± 6.5 vs. 30.3 ± 8.2 beats per min (bpm); p = 0.009], HRR2 (43.5 ± 5.3 vs. 47.8 ± 5.5 bpm; p = 0.010) and HRR3 (56.8 ± 5.1 vs. 59.4 ± 6.3 bpm; p = 0.016) values were significantly lower in the mercury-exposed group than in the healthy controls. However, there were no significant correlations between blood, urine and hair mercury levels and exercise test parameters. Conclusions: Mercury-exposed individuals had lower HRR indices than normal subjects. In these individuals, mercury exposure measurements did not show correlations with the exercise test parameters, but age did show a negative correlation with these parameters. Therefore, cardiac autonomic functions might be involved in cases of mercury exposure.

Effects of occupational lead exposure on testosterone secretion

This study aims the determination of the relationship between blood lead levels (BLL) and reproductive hormones in workers with occupational lead (Pb) exposure. 58 workers who visited Ankara Occupational and Environmental Diseases Hospital between 2013 and 2017 and had a BLL of > 5 μg/dL and no infertility problem, were included in the study as the case group. The workers who have a chronic disease and use prescribed or herbal medicine were excluded. 63 healthy office workers with no heavy metal exposure at the workplace were selected as the control group. BLL, total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), uric acid, creatinine, complete blood count (CBC), prolactin (PRL), follicle stimulant hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were examined and the occupational anamnesis of the workers were taken. As a percentage, 47.9 % (n=58) of 121 persons (all males) was the study group with Pb exposure and 52.1 % (n=63) were the control group. While the BLL was 34,20 μg/dL in the exposed group, it was 1,82 μg/dL in the control group (p

Occupational exposure to asphalt fume can cause oxidative DNA damage among road paving workers

OBJECTIVES We designed the present study to determine the effect of occupational exposure to asphalt fumes on oxidative status and DNA damage in road paving workers. METHODS Sixty road paving workers exposed to asphalt fumes and forty non-exposed control subjects were recruited. Occupational exposure to PAHs was assessed by urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) excretion. Serum thiol disulfide homeostasis (TDH), total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) and urinary 8-hydro-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) level were evaluated by automated colourimetric method. RESULTS The urinary concentrations of 1-OHP and 8-OH-dG were significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control group (P < 0.001). Disulfide/thiol ratio, TOS, and TAS were also significantly higher for the asphalt workers. A positive correlation existed between urinary 1-OHP and 8-OH-dG, TOS and TAS. CONCLUSION Study results indicate that exposure to PAHs induces oxidative stress and causes genotoxic effects in asphalt workers.

Fixed drug eruption due To 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) treatment for mercury poisoning: a rare adverse effect

Abstract Background: Fixed drug eruptions (FDE) are characterized by recurrent, usually solitary erythematous or dark red macular, plaque or bullous lesions, all at the same site. Among the first choices for antidotal treatment in mercury exposure, 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) is generally a drug with a low incidence of side effects. FDE due to DMPS was not detected in our literature research and so we aimed to present this rare case. Case Report: Forty-eight-year-old male patient, gunpowder and explosives factory worker, was admitted to our hospital because of mercury exposure and we started DMPS treatment. On the second day of chelation treatment, swelling and felting on lips and complaints of wound formation in genital areas started. Annular, purple color plaque on penis with no angioedema was observed. Case was regarded as FDE. Systemic and topical steroid therapy was started after termination of chelation therapy and lesions regressed with steroids. Discussion: Drug eruptions are substantially common dermatological problems and can be seen in about 2.2% of inpatients. The most common unexpected effects of DMPS are allergic skin reactions. The clinical state regress rapidly after the cessation of chelation therapy.

Assessment of heart rate response to exercise and recovery during treadmill testing in arsenic‐exposed workers

Arsenic exposure is associated with various cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess cardiac autonomic function via heart rate response to exercise and recovery period of treadmill testing in arsenic‐exposed workers.