Four patients with fulminant myocarditis (two males and two females, age 21-67 years old) were examined during 1995-2001. Fulminant myocarditis was diagnosed based on clinical features, abnormal electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings, and increased serum enzyme levels. In three of four cases, the diagnoses were confirmed histologically in autopsy. All four patients had flu-like symptoms and fever at the start. One patient died suddenly next day. Other three patients went into cardiogenic shock five and seven days after the onset of symptoms and hospitalized, and treated with temporary pacing, steroid pulse therapy, catecholamine (in all three patients) and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support : PCPS (in one patient), but they died within ten days. Electrocardigrams showed ventricular escape rhythm, ST elevation associated with Q wave, and low voltage of the QRS complex. Markedly increased serum enzyme levels, severe metabolic acidosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation were thought to be indicative of poor prognosis. Early recognition of cardiac involvement and using of PCPS without hesitation in an acute phase could improve the outcome of fulminant myocarditis.
Myocarditis ; Clinical ; Therapeutic brand of coal tar ; symptoms <1> ; Serum

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the exposure levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene(1-OHP) were surveyed among the workers using coal tar paint. METHOD: The study subjects for the exposed group were 107 male coal tar workers in 10 factories, and for the comparison group were 201 male clerk workers who had never been exposed to coal tar paint. Ambient PAHs, and pre-shift and end-shift urinary 1-OHP were sample and 16 PAHs were analysed. Smoking history was recorded during the survey day. RESULTS: The geometric mean of ambient concentration of total PAHs was 120.17 microgram/m3. Naphthalene had the highest level among the 16 PAHs. The pre-shift 1-OHP in the exposed group (8.89 micro mol/mol creatinine) was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.29 micro mol/mol creatinine). The end-shift 1-OHP in the exposed group (19.02 micro mol/mol creatinine) was significantly higher than that in the pre-shift (8.89 micro mol/mol creatinine) (Ed- confirm). 1-OHP of smokers was significantly higher than that of non-smokers in both groups. The difference between pre-shift and end-shift 1-OHP in smokers (12.40 micro mol/mol creatinine) was twice as high as that in non-smokers (6.06 micro mol/mol creatinine). The difference of 1-OHP between smokers and nonsmokers was 7.59 micro mol/mol creatinine in pre-shift and 13.96 micro mol/mol creatinine in end-shift. Thus, the effect of smoking and exposure to PAHs on 1-OHP may not be additive. In regression analysis for 1-OHP, the significant independent variables were pre-shift 1-OHP and PAHs. The direction of these variables was positive. When the analysis was performed in workers exposed to higher PAHs, smoking was significant independent variable. CONCLUSION: The above results suggest that not only ambient PAHs but also smoking, one of the most important non-occupational PAHs source, influenced the level of 1-OHP. Moreover, the effect of smoking to 1-OHP changed according to the exposure level of PAHs.
Coal Tar* ; Coal* ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Male ; Paint* ; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic* ; Smoke ; Smoking

Many workers who used coal tar containing paints in shipyard industry have dermatitis, but the etiology is not known well. Our research is to fond out the etiology of the dermatitis and to provide proper management. Methods of this research are comprised of 3 steps. First, we diagnosed dermatitis by questionnaire and dermatologic examination and evaluated air level of coal tar pitch volatiles in workplace. Second, we confirmed coal tar phototoxicity by in vitro cell experiments. Third, we evaluated the effects of intervention. The results were as follows ; Questionnaire survey showed that the lesions of dermatitis were mainly on the sun exposed area and the symptoms were strongly associated with season, weather, and time. Air levels of coal tar pitch volatiles in workplace were higher than NIOSH standard (0.1 mg/m(3), cyclohexane solubles). Inhibitory effects of cellular proliferation by coal tar containing paints and UVA (365nm) exposure showed coal tar phototoxicity. Intervention was done by UV barrier cream(BPF 30) and 72.7% workers who applied UV barrier cream improved after 2 months later. Conclusively, the etiology of dermatitis of shipyard workers who used coal tar containing paint was coal tar phototoxicity, and this dermatitis would be protected by UV barrier cream.
Cell Proliferation ; Coal Tar* ; Coal* ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Phototoxic* ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Paint* ; Questionnaires ; Seasons ; Solar System ; Weather

Lichen striatus (LS) is a self-resolving condition, which may occasionally need treatment for significant pruritus, a persistent course or cosmetic problems. The options for treatment have usually been topical or intralesional corticosteroids, salicylic acid, coal tar, or more recently, topical tacrolimus and pimecrolimus. We report a case of LS successfully treated with pimecrolimus in a 15-year-old girl.
Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Coal Tar ; Female* ; Humans ; Lichens* ; Pruritus ; Salicylic Acid ; Tacrolimus

Multiple basal cell carcinoma (mBCC) is a rare skin condition, and the propensity to develop mBCC may be associated with some genodermatoses, arsenic poisoning, and chronic exposure to radiation or coal tar. We experienced two rare and interesting cases of mBCC. One case was a 67-year-old woman, who presented with a twenty year history of numerous, black to brownish crusted patches over the whole body. Histopathologic features of the lesions indicated superficial basal cell carcinoma. The other case was a 70-year-old woman, who had multiple, black to brown colored papules on the face, neck and trunk. Biopsy specimens from lesions revealed histopathologic features of superficial, micronodular and morpheaform basal cell carcinoma.
Aged ; Arsenic Poisoning ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Coal Tar ; Female ; Humans ; Neck ; Skin

Animals ; Coal Tar ; toxicity ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Mice ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; drug effects

The author investigated the allergic contact dermatitis patients which visited our out-patient skin dispensary during 1969 and 1970. The patients were evaluated arcording to age, sex and cause of the disease. Furthermore, the patients were analysed as to the causative allergic contact factors by clinical inspection and history. The causes were confirmed by the patch test which was done on 88 of the allergic contact dermatitis patients. It is believed that patch test is clinically a most reliable procedure for the determination of responsible antigenic substance in allergic contact dermatitis and the positive reactions may be labelled as latent or potential hypersensitivity(Hjorth et al, 1968; Maibach, 1965). There is a group of chemicals used on the so-called routine screening patch test tray, which have proved to be frcquent causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Many diagnostic groups of chemicals and therapeutic trays, shoe trays, metal trays, etc., in addition to the standard routine screening patch test tray are used. Certain allergens seem to cause dermatitis in all countries hut many sensitizers vary from one country to anothcr (Calnan, 1955), The author has tried to establish a standard routine screening patch test tray fitted to our country according to the basic consideration used with standard routine patch test trays of the Skin and Cancer Unit, New York University Hospital. Paraphenylene diamine, ammoniated mercury, mercury bichloride, formalin, crude coal tar, potassium dichromate and mercaptobenzothiazole were the most potent sensitizers. These chemicals must be included in our standard screening routine patch test tray. However, the patch test results and the present clinical dermatitis (i.e. cosmetic dermatitis and rubber or leather dermatitis) did not coincide. Further investigation for the establishment of a proper stanard patch test tray for Korea should be carried out.
Allergens ; Coal Tar ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Mercuric Chloride ; Outpatients ; Patch Tests ; Potassium Dichromate ; Rubber ; Shoes ; Skin

OBJECTIVETo explore whether coal tar pitch smoke extract (CTP) induced pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B).

METHODSBEAS-2B cells were treated with different concentrations of CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) for 8h and 24 h, respectively. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels in the supernatants of cell culture media were measured with LDH activity or human IL-1β ELISA kit, respectively. The activity of Caspase-1 was measured with Caspase-1 colorimetric assay kit.

RESULTSThe activity of caspase-1 in 1 and 3 µg/ml CTP groups were (9.29 ± 0.30) and (8.67 ± 0.59) µmol/ml respectively which were both significantly increased compared to that (7.42 ± 0.59) µmol/ml in the control group (P < 0.05) after 8 h exposure, but there was no significant difference in the activity of LDH and levels of IL-1β in the cell culture media among the CTP and control groups. 24 h after exposure, the activity of LDH in the CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) groups were (1323.03 ± 28.53) and (1148.45 ± 16.42) U/dl respectively which were significantly higher than that (1091.93 ± 26.64) U/dl in the control group (P < 0.05), and the levels of IL-1β in the CTP (1 and 3 µg/ml) groups were (125.37 ± 25.00) pg/ml and (92.04 ± 19.09) pg/ml respectively which were significantly higher than that (46.20 ± 14.43) pg/ml in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the activity of Caspase-1 among CTP and control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTP treatment induced early increase in caspase-1 activity followed by the increase in LDH activity and IL-1 levels, indicative of pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Apoptosis ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Caspase 1 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Coal Tar ; adverse effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Smoke ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo analyze the centrosome abnormalities in the malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts and to investigate the role and action mechanism of centrosome in the lung cancer induced by coal tar pitch.

METHODSMedium-temperature coal tar pitch smoke extracts were used to treat immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and establish a malignant transformation model. The treated BEAS-2B cells were used as exposure group, and solvent control group and normal control group were also set for passage culture. The changes of centrosome in BEAS-2B cells seeded on coverslips were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The mRNA expression of p53, p21, and cyclin E in BEAS-2B cells was measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and their protein levels in BEAS-2B cells seeded on coverslips were measured by semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTSThe overall rate of centrosome abnormalities in BEAS-2B cells at passage 20 was 6.56±1.01% in the exposure group, significantly higher than those in the normal control group (3.40±0.86%) and solvent control group (3.14±0.59%) (P < 0.05). In addition, the exposure group had a significantly higher overall rate of centrosome abnormalities in BEAS-2B cells at passage 30 compared with the normal control group and solvent control group (22.39±9.5% vs 4.34±1.04%, P < 0.05; 22.39±9.5% vs 4.33±1.20%, P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group and solvent control group, the exposure group had significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of p53 and significantly increased mRNA and protein expression of cyclin E in BEAS-2B cells at passages 20 and 30 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCentrosome abnormalities occur before the malignant transformation in BEAS-2B cells treated with coal tar pitch smoke extracts, and they may be mediated by the p53/p21/cyclin E signaling pathway.

Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Centrosome ; metabolism ; pathology ; Coal Tar ; Cyclin E ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Signal Transduction ; Smoke ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEBy testing the changes of telomere binding protein in malignant transformation BEAS-2B cells induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts, to study the role of protection of telomeres 1 (POT1), telomeric repeat binding factor 1 (TRF1) and TRF2 in tumorgenesis that contact with coal tar pitch.

METHODSThe BEAS-2B cells were induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts to form malignant transformation cell model in vitro. The gene expression levels of mRNA were assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, the protein expression variations were determined by cell culture overslip of immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTSIn malignant transformation cells, the mRNA expression level (POT1: 0.63 ± 0.04, TRF1: 0.36 ± 0.01) and the protein expression level (POT1: 0.36 ± 0.05, TRF1: 0.09 ± 0.03) of POT1 and TRF1 was statistically significant decreased compared to that of BEAS-2B group (mRNA: POT1: 1.00 ± 0.04, TRF1: 1.01 ± 0.16; protein: POT1: 0.55 ± 0.07, TRF1: 0.27 ± 0.07) and DMSO group (mRNA: POT1: 0.89 ± 0.12, TRF1: 0.90 ± 0.08; protein: POT1: 0.55 ± 0.10, TRF1: 0.26 ± 0.04) (P < 0.05); mRNA expression level (1.45 ± 0.07) and the protein expression level (0.88 ± 0.06) of TRF2 was increased compared to that of BEAS-2B group (mRNA: 1.00 ± 0.07, protein: 0.48 ± 0.06) and DMSO group (mRNA: 1.00 ± 0.06, protein: 0.50 ± 0.06) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe change of gene and protein expression level in POT1, TRF1, and TRF2 involved in the process that evolved into malignant transformation in bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts.

Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; metabolism ; Coal Tar ; toxicity ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Telomere-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism