OBJECTIVETo investigate the basic contents of organochlorine pesticides (DDT, BHC and HCB) in human milk of normal residents in Beijing urban areas.

METHODSThrough continuous survey on the trend of organochlorine contents in human milk since DDT and BHC pesticides were forbidden in use in 1983, and to evaluate the effects of this program, the required lying-in women residents in urban districts for at least 5 years were enrolled in this study. All these lying-in women and also their family members were not exposed to or engaged in producing or selling organochlorine pesticides. In this study, the women chosen were giving birth to a child just after one week to 4 months. The detection method used is the national standard biological detection method.

RESULTSIn 1982, the total amount of DDT and BHC contents in human milk were 6.45 mg/kg and 6.97 mg/kg, respectively, which were found the highest level in the word. The contents of organochlorine were descending apparently since the DDT and BHC pesticides were forbidden by Chinese government in 1983. According to the standards of FAO/WHO, the average intake of total DDT and beta-BHC in the infants born in 1998 was 11 and 6 microg/kg, respectively. Both of them were less than the allowable daily intake amount regulated by WHO and the Ministry of Health of Japan.

CONCLUSIONThe study might make clear that the basic levels of organochlorine pesticides (DDT, BHC and HCB) in human milk of normal residents and the attenuation trend of 2 pesticides cumulative levels in human body, through estimating the intake quantity of organochlorine by infants, showing that the DDT and BHC daily intake from human milk absorbed by infants, who were born after 1998, were at a safe level. It was indicated that the measure for forbidding use of DDT and BHC pesticides is contributory.

Adult ; China ; DDT ; analysis ; Female ; Hexachlorobenzene ; analysis ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; analysis ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Pesticide Residues ; analysis ; Urban Health

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the specificity of the ‘hot cross bun’ sign (HCBS) for multiple system atrophy (MSA) in adult cerebellar ataxia or parkinsonism. METHODS: The radiologic information systems at an academic center and affiliated veterans' hospital were queried using the keywords ‘hot cross bun,’ ‘pontocerebellar,’ ‘cruciate,’ ‘cruciform,’ ‘MSA,’ ‘multiple system atrophy,’ and ‘multisystem atrophy.’ Scans were reviewed by a neurologist and neuroradiologist to identify the HCBS. Subjects with the HCBS were reviewed by 2 neurologists to identify the most likely etiology of the patient's neurologic symptoms. RESULTS: Eleven cases were identified. Etiologies included MSA (4 probable, 2 possible), hereditary cerebellar ataxia (3/11), probable dementia with Lewy bodies (1/11), and uncertain despite autopsy (1/11). CONCLUSION: MSA was the most common etiology. However, 5 of the 11 patients did not have MSA. The most common alternate etiology was an undefined hereditary cerebellar ataxia (3/11).
Adult ; Autopsy ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Dementia ; Hexachlorobenzene ; Humans ; Lewy Bodies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Multiple System Atrophy ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Radiology Information Systems ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To study the significance of intracranial artery calcification as a prognostic marker for acute ischemic stroke patients undergoing revascularization treatment after middle cerebral artery (MCA) trunk occlusion. METHODS: Patients with acute MCA trunk occlusion, who underwent intravenous and/or intra-arterial revascularization treatment, were enrolled. Intracranial artery calcification scores were calculated by counting calcified intracranial arteries among major seven arteries on computed tomographic angiography. Patients were divided into high (HCB; score > or =3) or low calcification burden (LCB; score <3) groups. Demographic, imaging, and outcome data were compared, and whether HCB is a prognostic factor was evaluated. Grave prognosis was defined as modified Rankin Scale 5-6 for this study. RESULTS: Of 80 enrolled patients, the HCB group comprised 15 patients, who were older, and more commonly had diabetes than patients in the LCB group. Initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores did not differ (HCB 13.3+/-2.7 vs. LCB 14.6+/-3.8) between groups. The final good reperfusion after revascularization treatment (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score 2b-3, HCB 66.7% vs. LCB 69.2%) was similarly achieved in both groups. However, the HCB group had significantly higher NIHSS scores at discharge (16.0+/-12.3 vs. 7.9+/-8.3), and more frequent grave outcome at 3 months (57.1% vs. 22.0%) than the LCB group. HCB was proven as an independent predictor for grave outcome at 3 months when several confounding factors were adjusted (odds ratio 4.135, 95% confidence interval, 1.045-16.359, P=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial HCB was associated with grave prognosis in patients who have undergone revascularization for acute MCA trunk occlusion.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Hexachlorobenzene ; Humans ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Intracranial Embolism ; Intracranial Thrombosis ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Prognosis ; Reperfusion ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Vascular Calcification

OBJECTIVETo study the toxicity on rats by hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and to explore the role of oxidative stress in the mechanism of HCB intoxication.

METHODSSD female rats were fed on a powdered diet containing 0.25 per thousand or 2.00 per thousand HCB for 14 days. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of total-superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, liver tissue and serum were determined. Eleven biochemical indicators including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were surveyed.

RESULTS(1) MDA levels in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, liver and serum of the high dosage group rats and that in hippocampus and serum of the low dosage group were significantly higher than that of the control group. (2) The activity of T-SOD was increased in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the rats in both groups (P < 0.01), but decreased in the serum of the high dosage group (P < 0.01). (3) The activity of CAT was also increased in the hippocampus of rats in the high dosage group. (4) In cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the rats in the high dosage group and in the hippocampus of the rats in the low dosage group, the activity of GSH-PX was significantly higher compared with the control group. However, in liver of both dosage groups, the activity of GSH-PX was decreased (P < 0.01). (5) The activity of serum alkaline phosphatase of both dosage groups was also decreased, but the contents of both serum albumin and total cholesterol were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHCB can induce enhanced lipid peroxidation on SD rats, and the oxidative stress plays an important role in the mechanism of neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hexachlorobenzene ; toxicity ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism