Munire Gokirmak

The role of oxidative stress in bronchoconstriction due to occupational sulfur dioxide exposure

BACKGROUND We previously showed that apricot sulfurization workers (ASW) are exposed to high concentrations of SO(2), resulting in an asthma-like syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of asthma-like syndrome due to the high concentrations of SO(2) exposure in agricultural environment. METHODS Serum antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, which are markers of lipid peroxidation, and pulmonary function tests (PFT) were measured in 40 volunteer ASW and compared to 20 healthy control subjects. RESULTS The superoxide dismutase (SOD, 2.2+/-0.6 vs. 3.2+/-0.7 U/ml), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, 0.6+/-0.3 vs. 1.1+/-0.3 U/ml) and catalase (107.6+/-27.4 vs. 152.6+/-14.3 k/l) activities in ASW were significantly (p<0.0001) lower than controls, whereas the malondialdehyde concentration (4.1+/-0.9 vs. 1.9+/-5.3 nmol/l) was higher in ASW (p<0.0001). ASW had significant decreases in pulmonary function parameters after exposure. CONCLUSION These results show that occupational exposure to high concentrations of SO(2) enhances oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation may be considered as a new mechanism of SO(2)-induced bronchoconstriction.

Environmental exposure to asbestos in eastern Turkey.

In this study, the authors investigated the prevalence of asbestos-related disorders among the inhabitants of Güzelyurt, a town in Malatya, located in eastern Turkey. The authors examined river bed, white soil, and stucco samples taken from various locales in Güzelyurt, and they confirmed the presence of tremolite and chrysotile asbestos fibers. Subjects (N = 920; 449 males and 471 females) were examined by photofluoroscopy. Eighty-five patients (9.2%) had asbestos-related radiological findings; risk increased with age. Calcified pleural plaques were seen more frequently in individuals ≥ 50 yr of age, compared with younger subjects (p < 0.01). Asbestos-related disorders were prevalent in the inhabitants of Güzelyurt, the population of which is exposed environmentally to asbestos—primarily the result of the stuccoing and whitewashing of houses with soil that contains asbestos.

The role of nitric oxide and cytokines in asthma-like syndrome induced by sulfur dioxide exposure in agricultural environment

BACKGROUND We previously demonstrated that apricot sulfurization workers are exposed to high concentrations of SO(2), subsequently causing asthma-like syndrome. This study investigated the effects of SO(2) exposure on serum TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, nitrite and nitrate levels to understand the mechanism of SO(2)-induced bronchoconstriction in asthma-like syndrome. METHODS We measured the serum levels of the cytokines, direct nitrite, total nitrite and nitrate obtained from 40 volunteer workers after an hour of exposure to SO(2) and 23 healthy controls. RESULTS The concentrations of the cytokines, direct nitrite, total nitrite and nitrate were significantly (p<0.0001) higher in the workers than in the controls. The mean serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, direct nitrite, total nitrite and nitrate were 430.60+/-397.03 pg/ml, 436.67+/-316.31 pg/ml, 752.11+/-394.95 pg/ml, 262.12+/-287.99 pg/ml, 7.75+/-3.34 micromol/l, 115.72+/-48.78 micromol/l and 107.97+/-46.19 micromol/l in the workers, while they were 9.83+/-3.12 pg/ml, <5 pg/ml, 7.49+/-1.27 pg/ml, 9.38+/-1.99 pg/ml, 2.17+/-0.77 micromol/l, 59.91+/-7.56 micromol/l and 57.74+/-7.20 micromol/l in the controls, respectively. CONCLUSION These results show that TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and nitric oxide may play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchoconstriction in asthma-like syndrome due to the SO(2) exposure.

Effects of ranitidine on pulmonary function tests of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Since the incidence of peptic ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is more common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than normal population, H(2) receptor blockers are given more extensively to COPD patients. This study evaluated the effects of Ranitidine on pulmonary function tests (PFT) of the patients having COPD and peptic ulcer or GER, and of healthy volunteers. Fifty milligrams of Ranitidine was given intravenously to 30 COPD patients and 25 healthy volunteers. PFT were done before and 15, 30, 60, 120min after Ranitidine injection. Although mean forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1)) and forced midexpiratory flow rate (FEF(25-75%)) of COPD patients were found to be decreased 60 and 120min after Ranitidine injection, the decrements were statistically insignificant. The decrements in PFT of healthy volunteers were also not statistically significant.H(2) receptor blockers can be used safely for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in COPD patients who have mild or moderate obstruction. Minimal decreases in FEV(1) and FVC due to treatment by H(2) receptor blockers may clinically worsen COPD patients who have severe obstruction.

A Rare Involvement of Sarcoidosis: Massive Splenomegaly

Sarkoidoz nedeni bilinmeyen multisistemik granülomatöz bir hastalıktır. Hastalıkta sıklıkla pulmoner infiltratlar, hiler lenfadenopati, cilt ve göz lezyonları saptanır. Dalak tutulumu sık görülmesine karşılık, masif splenomegali ve neden olduğu klinik bulgulara nadiren rastlanır. Burada kliniğimize hastalığın tipik klinik bulgularının yanı sıra masif splenomegaliye bağlı karın ağrısı ile başvuran bir olguyu, nadir bir durum olması nedeniyle sunuyoruz. (Tur Toraks Der 2011; 12: 84-7)

Endobronchial Inflammatory Pseudotumor: A Cause of Chronic Cough

Endobronchial location of an inflammatory pseudotumor is extremely rare. A 48-year-old female presented with chronic cough. An endobronchial polypoid inflammatory pseudotumor was diagnosed by bronchoscopic biopsy and treated by a middle lobectomy.