Health profiles of methyl bromide applicators in greenhouses in Turkey

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Methyl bromide is a toxic substance that has hazardous effects on human health with acute and chronic exposure. Our previous study showed that methyl bromide applicators frequently use large amounts of methyl bromide haphazardly in greenhouses in the prefectures of Narlidere and Balcova in the Aegean city of Izmir. This study aims to evaluate the health conditions of these workers.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>Our previous study showed that there are 38 methyl bromide applicators in our study area. After the informed consent of methyl bromide applicators was obtained, a questionnaire was used for a survey of demography and symptoms. Each subject was examined before and after application of the compound. Blood and urine samples were collected and stored. Blood samples were analysed for methyl bromide and bromide ion, kidney and liver function tests and lipid profile.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The age range of subjects was 19 to 53 years (mean age: 41 +/- 8.57). This study showed that methyl bromide applicators use large amounts of methyl bromide disregarding legal regulations and that some of them had nonspecific complaints. Subjects had been working as methyl bromide applicators for approximately 9.7 +/- 4.15 years. A total of 69.7% of methyl bromide applicators reported that they did not use protective equipment while 33.3% of them had a history of acute methyl bromide intoxication. A statistically significant relationship was found between the usage of protective equipment and the level of blood bromide ion in the blood (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Usage of methyl bromide, training, screening and follow-up of applicators must be rigorously controlled in accordance with national legal arrangements and international protocols. Greater efforts are required in the implementation of controls to achieve the targets set by the legal regulations and to ensure continual improvement in the limitation of the risks of this environmental hazard.</p>

The role of adenosine triphosphate-regulated potassium channels in propofol-induced beneficial effect on contractile function of hypercholesterolemic isolated rabbit hearts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of adenosine triphosphate-regulated potassium (KATP) channels in the propofol-induced changes in the contractile function of hypercholesterolemic rabbit hearts. METHODS: This study was carried out in the Department of Pharmacology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey during the period January to December 2003. Twenty-two isolated rabbit hearts were grouped into 4. Group I (n=6) were infused with 50 microM propofol during a 60 minutes perfusion. Group II (n=6) were also infused with 100 microM propofol over the same period. Group III (n=5) was perfused with solutions containing 10 microM glybenclamide and group IV (n=5) 100 microM diazoxide for 5 minutes before and during a 60 minutes infusion with 100 microM propofol. RESULTS: The 50 microM propofol infusion decreased left ventricular pressure (LVP) significantly (p<0.05) but it did not change dP/dt max and dP/dt min. The 100 microM propofol infusion caused a significant increase in LVP at 20 minutes. Furthermore, a 100 microM propofol infusion resulted in a significant increase in maximal positive left ventricular pressure (dP/dt max) and maximal negative left ventricular pressure (dP/dt min) compared to baseline (p<0.05). The increase in dP/dtmax and dP/dt min induced by 100 microM propofol was inhibited by glybenclamide (p<0.05), a KATP channel blocker, but was not affected by diazoxide (p>0.05), a KATP channel opener. CONCLUSION: The activation of KATP channels seems to be one of the mechanisms by which propofol induced beneficial effect on contractility of myocardium in hypercholesterolemic rabbit hearts.

Effect of subacute methyl parathion administration on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nifedipine in rats.

Families living in agricultural areas may submitted to repeated exposure of methyl parathion (MP) that has been widely used as an agricultural insecticide. MP inhibits cytochrome P450 enzymes and has the potential to alter pharmacokinetic profiles of therapeutic agents that are metabolized in the liver. The aim of the present study is to investigate the possibility that the increased pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of nifedipine is due to the inhibition of the metabolism after repeated administration of low doses of MP in rats. Male rats received commercial formulation of diluted MP (1/100 LD(50) or 1/25 LD(50), n=6) or tap water (control, n=5) via gastric gavage (0.5ml) for 14 days. On the 15th day, the carotid artery and jugular vein were cannulated for measurement of cardiovascular parameters and blood sampling, respectively. Nifedipine was administered 3mg/kg via the cannula inserted in the duodenum of the rat. Subacute MP administration did not change pharmacokinetic AUC((0-240)), C(max), t(max), t(1/2)) and pharmacodynamic (mean arterial pressures and heart rates) parameters of nifedipine. These findings provide evidence that repeated exposure of low doses of commercial MP did not affect the elimination of nifedipine which might be due to the lack of inhibition of CYP3A in rats.

[The effects of water-pipe, cigarette and passive smoking on mucociliary clearance]. / Nargile, sigara ve pasif içiciligin mukosiliyer klerens üzerindeki etkileri.

We aimed to determine the effects of water-pipe smoking on lung mucociliary clearance system using radioaerosol ventilation scintigraphy and compare with cigarette and passive smoking and determine the level of exposure to tobacco smoke by measuring urinary cotinine in each group. Volunteer water-pipe only and cigarette only smokers from various cafés in Izmir city and passive smokers as control group were included in the study after exclusion and inclusion criteria. The ages, type of smoking, duration and daily amount of tobacco smoked and the medical histories of the volunteers were noted down. The pulmonary function tests (PFT), technetium-99m inhalation scintigraphy and urinary cotinine measurement with enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and were performed for each participant. Twenty water-pipe smokers, 23 cigarette smokers and 15 passive smokers were included into the study. There were no statistically significant differences among the mean ages, BMI and PFT parameters of all participants in study and control groups. Mucociliary clearance rates in terms of retention ratio after 1 hour and radioactivity half-life for each lung was lowest in the water-pipe smokers compared to others. Mucociliary clearance rate also decreased in the cigarette smokers compared to passive smokers. The differences in the mucociliary clearance rates among groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Urinary cotinine levels were highest in the cigarette smokers and higher in water-pipe smokers compared to passive smokers as statistically significant. As a conclusion mucociliary clearance rates decrease with tobacco smoking, being more prominent in water-pipe smokers in our study.

Turkish coffeehouse kahvehane is an important tobacco smoke exposure area in Turkey.

This study was undertaken to investigate the extent of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in coffeehouses, as these are commonly frequented public places in Turkey. From 86 coffeehouses in the 3 districts, 59 coffeehouse workers and 35 hospital staff members (as a control group) were evaluated. Participants answered a questionnaire about demographics, working characteristics, smoking behavior, and ETS exposure during their daily life lives. The amount of nicotine in hair was determined by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The mean hair nicotine level of the nonsmoker and smoker coffeehouse workers were 23.2 +/- 12.3 microg/g and 62.5 +/- 49.8 microg/g, respectively. Among the hospital staff, mean hair nicotine levels were 4.5 +/- 6 microg/g in nonsmokers and 30.6 +/- 14 microg/g in smokers. Working in coffeehouses has a marked effect on hair nicotine levels and potential adverse health effects.

Life threatening tongue angioedema associated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

We present a case with angioedema of the tongue, following 1 dose of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ingestion. A gradual progression of angioedema required tracheotomy despite aggressive medical treatment and illustrates the severity of this adverse reaction. Although ACE inhibitors are considered safe, emergency physicians should be alert for minor angioedema at presentation that may progress to life threatening airway compromise.