Smoking and older age associated with mumps in an outbreak in a group of highly-vaccinated individuals attending a youth club party, the Netherlands, 2012.

We describe a mumps outbreak in a highly-vaccinated population attending a party at a youth club. In a retrospective cohort study with 60 of approximately 100 participants responding, vaccination status was verified for 58/59 respondents, of whom 54 were vaccinated twice and four once. The attack rate was 22% (13 cases, all vaccinated), with smoking at the party (risk ratio (RR) 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6­6.0, p=0.001) and age ≥21 years (RR 4.7; 95% CI: 2.1­10.2, p<0.0001) as risk factors for disease in the binominal regression analysis. Mild upper respiratory illness was also highly prevalent in those who did not meet the mumps case definition (n=46) after the party, suggesting that mumps virus infection may cause mild disease in vaccinated individuals. Our investigation adds toevidence that crowded social events and smoking may facilitate spread of mumps virus among vaccinated populations, with waning immunity playing a role. The suggestion that mumps virus infection in vaccinated individuals may manifest as mild upper respiratory illness could have implications for transmission and warrants further investigation.

Hepatitis B prevalence in the Turkish population of Arnhem: implications for national screening policy?

Despite the increased prevalence of hepatitis B and C in most migrant groups in The Netherlands, a national screening policy for these infections is not available. In order to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C in the largest group of first-generation migrants (FGM) in The Netherlands, we conducted a screening project in the Turkish community of Arnhem. In a separate project we identified patients from the target population with chronic hepatitis B and C from hospital records (1990-2008). Educational meetings concerning hepatitis were organized, with all participants being offered a blood screening test. Participants were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). In total 709 persons were tested, a complete dataset was available for 647 patients. We found that 3·0% and 0·4% of Turkish FGM aged >24 years in Arnhem had active hepatitis B, defined as HBsAg positive, and tested positive for anti-HCV, respectively. The hospital records revealed another 32 patients, 28 with hepatitis B and four with hepatitis C representing 0·7% for hepatitis B and 0·1% for hepatitis C in relation to the total number of Turkish FGM in Arnhem. We believe that active hepatitis screening of FGM from Turkey should be part of the national health policy as it will benefit the individual and public health.

Non-mutagenicity of 27 aliphatic acrylate esters in the Salmonella-microsome test.

The mutagenicity of 27 acrylate esters was assessed in the Salmonella-microsome assay. Methyl, ethyl, butyl, t-butyl, pentyl, neopentyl, hexyl acrylate and methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate were tested; furthermore ethanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, neopentanediol, hexanediol and diethyleneglycol diacrylate and dimethacrylate. None of these 27 acrylate esters appeared to be mutagenic in the standard Ames assay with TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, TA98 and TA100, both with and without Aroclor 1254 or phenobarbital-induced S9 mix. A liquid incubation assay of methyl methacrylate, methyl, butyl and hexyl acrylate with TA100 neither gave any indication of a mutagenic activity of these compounds.

The sensitizing potential of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate in the guinea pig.

The sensitizing potential of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate in the guinea pig could be demonstrated by Freund's Complete Adjuvant Test. This acrylate ester is a common constituent of adhesive tape. Allergic reactions to several brands of adhesive tape were not observed in 2-ethylhexyl acrylate sensitized animals. Cross reactions with other acrylic monomers were observed.

alpha, beta-Diacryloxypropionic acid, a sensitizing impurity in commercial acrylic acid.

In samples of commercial acrylic acid a strongly contact sensitizing constituent was discovered by application of Freund's Complete Adjuvant Test in guinea pigs. The skin reactions were due to the presence of varying quantities of alpha,beta- diacryloxypropionic acid (DAPA), which was identified after methylation. The commercial product is an example of a composition that defies gas-chromatographic quality-control: Under the circumstances of this analysis the secondary product that is formed during the synthesis of acrylic acid is so unstable that it does not pass polar liquid phases. Distilled acrylic acid does not contain the sensitizing acid.

Permeability of surgeons' gloves to methyl methacrylate.

The quick passage of methyl methacrylate at 21 degrees C and 35 degrees C through seven surgeon's glove materials in a diffusion chamber was quantified by gas-chromatographic analysis. Polystyrene-butadiene dissolved in methyl methacrylate, latex and polychlorobutadiene showed reversible expansion, during which material from the samples dissolved. In order to prevent these phenomena from interfering with the analyses, experiments were performed with 4.7 M methyl methacrylate in ethanol. Even then, the time in which methyl methacrylate permeated the membrane was too short for sufficient protection. When using these gloves, the orthopaedic surgeon who is fixing endoprostheses is no doubt occlusively exposed to methyl and other methacrylates, benzoyl peroxide, rubber additives, etc. Of glove materials which are not surgically used, vinyl was inferior to latex, whereas a very thin polyethylene copolymer did not change in methyl methacrylate, showed better resistance to diffusion, but was insufficiently elastic and easily perforated. A better protective material is urgently needed.

2-Chlorobenzylmercapturic acid, a metabolite of the riot control agent 2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) in the rat.

Adult male Wistar rats administered i.p. with 2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) excreted one mercapturic acid in urine. The amount of mercapturic acid determined gaschromatographically was about 4% of the dose (0.07 mmol/kg, n = 12). The structure of the mercapturic acid methylester was identified by t.l.c. and confirmed by synthesis and mass-spectrography. The acid appeared to be 2-chlorobenzylmercapturic acid [N-acetyl-S-(2-chlorobenzyl)-L-cysteine]. CS and some of its metabolites were also tested in the Ames Salmonella/microsome assay. Both mutagenic and toxic effects were measured with strain TA 100 as the indicator organism. No mutagenic effects were found with any of the tested substances. At dosages of CS, higher than 1,000 micrograms/plate a bacteriotoxicity was revealed.