Occupational exposure to urban pollutants and plasma insulin.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether traffic police of a big city who are exposed to urban pollutants are at risk to alterations in plasma insulin concentrations compared with controls. METHODS: The class of workers examined in this study were employees of the municipal police in Rome, Italy. The study was carried out during the period March-April 2001. Traffic police were matched with a control group, where gender, age, working life and drinking habit were noted. A total of 246 traffic police (128 men and 118 women) with outdoor activity and exposure to urban pollutants and 242 subjects (128 men and 114 women) with indoor activity were included in the study. RESULTS: The levels of plasma insulin were significantly lower in traffic police compared to the control group of both gender. CONCLUSION: Plasma insulin level was altered in traffic police who are exposed to chemical and physical stressors.

Exposure to urban pollutants and plasma vasopressin in traffic policemen.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to investigate whether traffic policemen of a big city exposed to urban pollutants may be at risk of alterations on plasma vasopressin (VP) concentrations compared with a control group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Out of a population of 395 Municipal Police employees, the subjects with the principal confounding factors were excluded from the study. Traffic policemen and control subjects were matched by sex, age and working life. Plasma VP levels were determined in 82 subjects: 41 traffic policemen (18 men, 23 women) and 41 control subjects (18 men, 23 women). RESULTS: Mean of VP values were found significantly lower in traffic policemen than in the control group both in men (P=0.010) and in women (P=0.015). We found high correlation between VP values and working life in traffic policemen of male and female sex (r=0.7; r=0.6). DISCUSSION: The authors hypothesise an effect on plasma VP levels in traffic policemen exposed to chemical and physical stressors, according to plasma VP levels modifications found by other authors in studies on animals and human subjects.

Depression induced by treatment with interferon-alpha in patients affected by hepatitis C virus.

BACKGROUND: Several studies found a high incidence rate of neuro-psychiatric complications during long-term therapy with interferon alpha (IFNalpha), e.g. slowness, severe fatigue, hypersomnia, lethargy, depressed mood, mnemonic troubles, irritability, short temper, emotional lability, social withdrawal, and lack of concentration. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of depressed mood and major depression in patients who were treated with IFNalpha. METHODS: 30 patients, affected by chronic active C-hepatitis, have been evaluated at baseline and 3 months after IFNalpha treatment. The evaluation consisted of psychometric assessments employing the DSM-IV criteria and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). RESULTS: At end-point, 40.7% of the patients suffered from a full blown major depression, according to the DSM-IV criteria for major depression. IFNalpha treatment induced a significant increase in the MADRS score from baseline to 3 months later. The MADRS items which were significantly increased at end-point were: expressed and unexpressed sadness; irritability; insomnia; loss of appetite; and asthenia. DISCUSSION: The results show that prolonged IFNalpha treatment may induce depressive symptoms and major depression in a considerable number of subjects.