Metastatic cystosarcoma phyllodes. A case report.

A case of malignant cystosarcoma phyllodes metastatic to the sacral bone and sacral area and diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology is presented. A review of the initial histologic sections was undertaken in an attempt to correlate our findings with the criteria suggested by other authors for predicting the clinical and metastatic behavior of this tumor.

Development of an HPLC-MS procedure for the quantification of N-acetyl-S-(n-propyl)-l-cysteine, the major urinary metabolite of 1-bromopropane in human urine.

An analytical procedure was developed for the detection and quantification of N-acetyl-S-(n-propyl)-l-cysteine (n-propylmercapturic acid, AcPrCys), a metabolite and biomarker for exposure to 1-bromopropane (1-BP). 1-BP is used as an industrial solvent and exposure is a health concern for industrial workers due to its toxicity. It has been associated with neurological disorders in both animals and humans. Urine sample preparation for the determination of AcPrCys consisted of solid phase extraction (SPE). Urine samples on preconditioned SPE (C18) columns were washed with 40% methanol/60% water solution prior to elution with acetone. Quantification was by means of a liquid chromatograph (LC) equipped with a mass spectrometer (MS) using an Aqua 3 microm C18 300A column and [d(7)]-AcPrCys was used as internal standard. Electrospray ionization (ESI) was used with the MS operated in the negative ion mode and selected ion monitoring (SIM) at m/z 204 for AcPrCys and m/z 211 for [d(7)]-AcPrCys. Demonstrated recovery of urine samples fortified at multiple levels (0.625-10 microg/ml) varied between 96 and 103% of theory with relative standard deviations (RSD) of 6.4% or less. The limit of detection (LOD) for the procedure was approximately 0.01 microg/ml AcPrCys in urine. These data will be discussed as well as other factors of the development of this test procedure.

Urinary bromide and breathing zone concentrations of 1-bromopropane from workers exposed to flexible foam spray adhesives.

1-Bromopropane (1-BP) has been marketed as an alternative for ozone depleting solvents and suspect carcinogens and is in aerosol products, adhesives and solvents used for metal, precision and electronics cleaning. Toxicity of 1-BP is poorly understood, but it may be a neurologic, reproductive and hematologic toxin. Sparse exposure information prompted this exposure assessment study using air sampling, and measurement of urinary metabolites. Mercapturic acid conjugates are excreted in urine from 1-BP metabolism involving removal of bromide (Br) from the propyl group. One research objective was to evaluate the utility of urinary Br analysis for assessing 1-BP exposure using a relatively inexpensive, commercially available method. Complete 48 h urine specimens were obtained from 30 workers on two consecutive days at two facilities using 1-BP adhesives to construct polyurethane foam seat cushions and from seven unexposed control subjects. All of the workers' urine was collected into composite samples representing three daily time intervals (at work; after work but before bedtime; and upon wake-up) and analyzed for Br ion by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Full-shift breathing zone samples were collected for 1-BP on Anasorb carbon molecular sieve sorbent tubes and analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection via NIOSH method 1025. Geometric mean (GM) breathing zone concentrations of 1-BP were 92 parts per million (p.p.m.) for adhesive sprayers and 11 p.p.m. for other jobs. For sprayers, urinary Br concentrations ranged from 77 to 542 milligrams per gram of creatinine [mg (g-cr)(-1)] at work; from 58 to 308 mg (g-cr)(-1) after work; and from 46 to 672 mg (g-cr)(-1) in wake-up samples. Pre-week urinary Br concentrations for sprayers were substantially higher than for the non-sprayers and controls, with GMs of 102, 31 and 3.8 mg (g-cr)(-1), respectively. An association of 48 h urinary Br concentration with 1-BP exposure was statistically significant (r(2) = 0.89) for all jobs combined. This study demonstrates that urinary elimination is an important excretion pathway for 1-BP metabolism, and Br may be a useful biomarker of exposure.

Manganese dioxide exposures and respirator performance at an alkaline battery plant.

Two industrial hygiene studies were conducted at an alkaline battery plant to evaluate worker exposures to manganese dioxide particulate and the effectiveness of filtering facepiece respirators. The work areas studied included the plant's powder-processing tower and press rooms where manganese was blended, compacted with graphite, and inserted into battery cans. Full-shift personal breathing zone monitoring was conducted to estimate manganese dust exposures of press operators, mechanics, and material handlers. In-facepiece and personal breathing zone air sampling pairs were also collected using a program protection factor protocol to estimate the protection provided by the respirators. Particle size evaluations were made using nylon cyclones and Marple personal multi-stage impactors. All samples were analyzed for manganese by inductively coupled argon plasma, atomic emission spectroscopy via NIOSH analytical method 7300 utilizing a modified acid digestion procedure. Fifty-four, full-shift, time-weighted average (TWA) exposures to total manganese ranged from 0.1 to 5.4 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3); worker exposures were substantially lower during a follow-up study due to engineering control improvements. Concurrent area sample comparisons of total and respirable manganese revealed that the respirable particulate mass fractions ranged from 6 to 32 percent, and mass median aerodynamic diameters determined from personal breathing zone air samples were mostly greater than 10 micrometers. Fifteen respirator performance evaluations were conducted using Moldex 2200 respirators fitted with 25 millimeter cassettes and light weight sampling probes. Protection factors ranged from 5 to 220, with a geometric mean and standard deviation of 31 and 2.97, respectively. The 5th percentile protection factor estimate was 5, as calculated from the protection factor distribution for this sample set. In 1995, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) lowered the elemental and inorganic manganese dust Threshold Limit Value (TLV) from 5 mg/m3 to 0.2 mg/m3 to address adverse pulmonary and central nervous system effects and male infertility. Although most personal breathing zone concentrations were above 0.2 mg/m3, none of the in-facepiece concentrations exceeded this concentration. Parkinson's-like symptoms have been reported in the literature for high manganese dust and fume exposures, but the importance of low dust exposures for producing neurological effects is uncertain.