OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the health and environmental risk factors of air contaminants that influence environmental and respiratory diseases in Gyeongju, Pohang and Ulsan in South Korea, with a focus on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). METHODS: Samples were collected by instantaneous negative pressure by opening the injection valve in the canister at a fixed height of 1 to 1.5 m. The sample that was condensed in -150degrees C was heated to 180degrees C in sample pre-concentration trap using a 6-port switching valve and it was injected to a gas chromatography column. The injection quantity of samples was precisely controlled using an electronic flow controller equipped in the gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. RESULTS: The quantity of the VOC emissions in the industrial area was 1.5 to 2 times higher than that in the non-industrial area. With regards to the aromatic hydrocarbons, toluene was detected at the highest level of 22.01 ppb in Ulsan, and chloroform was the halogenated hydrocarbons with the highest level of 10.19 ppb in Pohang. The emission of toluene was shown to be very important, as it accounted for more than 30% of the total aromatic hydrocarbon concentration. CONCLUSIONS: It was considered that benzene in terms of the cancer-causing grade standard, toluene in terms of the emission quantity, and chloroform and styrene in terms of their grades and emission quantities should be selected for priority measurement substances.
Benzene ; Chloroform ; Chromatography, Gas ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Hydrocarbons, Halogenated ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Styrene ; Toluene ; Volatile Organic Compounds

4 CasEs of Behcet's disease treated with oral chlorambucil were presented. Administration of chlorambucil was 6 mg daily during the period of 3 months. 9 months, 12 months, and 24 months respectively. All cases showed improved systemic and ocular symptoms, and gave an impression that the symptoms and signs were ceased and/or became milder.
Chlorambucil*

The results of the tests carried out in 1971 strongly suggested that a considerable portion of the flea population in MR 2 had developed resistance not only against DDT but also malathion and dieldrin. There is also the possibility of the fleas developing a resistance to diazinon and lindane. Thus careful consideration should be given to the continuous use of diazinon. In areas where fleas had developed a resistance to malathion, further tests should be conducted continuously to confirm the possible development of resistance. Other insecticides which have not been used in Vietnam for any purpose should be ready to be substituted, if the development of resistance is confirmed.
parasitology-arthropoda-flea-Xenopsylla cheopis ; resistance ; Vietnam ; DDT ; dieldrin ; diazinon ; lindane ; malathion

OBJECTIVETo study the potential effect of gene-environment interaction between CYP1A1 and serum dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDT) levels on the risk of breast cancer in women, in China.

METHODSA case-control study was conducted. From Dec. 2003 to Sep. 2004, 104 women with histologically confirmed breast cancers and 154 noncancerous controls from a community were enrolled in this study. Risk factors information of breast cancer was investigated by a questionnaire. Serum p, p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p, p'-DDT) and 1, 1-dichloro-2, 2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (p, p'-DDE) levels were tested by GC-ECD. CYP1A1 m2 gene type was tested by allele special-PCR method.

RESULTSSerum DDT levels of case and control were (36.90 +/- 79.41) ng/ml and (50.60 +/- 150.70) ng/ml respectively. Serum 1, 1-dichloro-2, 2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (p, p'-DDE) levels of case and control were (7.43 +/- 11.10) ng/ml and (8.96 +/- 11.30) ng/ml respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups with geometric mean t-test (P > 0.05). Compared with women who had homozygous wild-type CYP1A1 m2 genotype, significantly increased risks of breast cancer were found for women with the CYP1A1 m2 homozygous variant genotype [odds ratio (OR) = 2.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00 - 6.80]. Among premenopausal women, compared with women with homozygous wild-type of CYP1A1 genotype (Ile/Ile) and low serum DDT level (DDT serum level < or = 42.93 ng/ml), women with at least one variant allele of CYP1A1 m2 genotype and high serum DDT level (DDT serum level > or = 42.93 ng/ml) had higher risk of breast cancer (OR = 4.35, 95% CI: 1.140 - 16.950).

CONCLUSIONSCYP1A1 m2 genetic polymorphism was associated with increased risk of female breast cancer while DDT exposure might have increased the risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women with CYP1A1 m2 variant genotype.

Breast Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; genetics ; Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene ; blood ; Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane ; blood ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Female ; Genotype ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Insecticides ; blood ; Odds Ratio ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Premenopause ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Bendamustine Hydrochloride* ; Cytarabine* ; Drug Therapy* ; Lymphoma*

*Anopheles ; *DDT ; *Dieldrin ; *Malaysia

In 1910 Scholler introduced the use of low temperatures in the field of ophthalmology. The report of cryoextraction of cataract by Krwawicz in 1961 acted as a catalyst; ophthalmologist all over the world saw the value of the cryosurgery in reducing the number of unintentional capsular ruptures. There are several types of cryogenic instruments. The most commonly used cryogens in ocular surgery are solid carbon dioxide, halogenated hydrocarbons (Freons) and liquid nitrogen. The major advantage of cryoextraction over the forceps and erisophake technics is the reduction of unintentional breakage of the lens capsule with the resulting decrease in the formation of secondary membranous cataracts and in the onset of postoperative inflammations. The applications of cryoextraction on the intumescent cataract, lens witb torn capsule, luxated lens and planned extracapsular method are briefly described.
Carbon Dioxide ; Cataract* ; Cryosurgery ; Hydrocarbons, Halogenated ; Inflammation ; Nitrogen ; Ophthalmology ; Rupture ; Surgical Instruments

Hydrocarbons, Halogenated ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health Services ; methods ; Solvents

Organic solvents are hydrocarbon-based substances that dissolve another substance. Organic solvents are usually lipid soluble, volatile and commonly used for painting, printing, degreasing, cleaning, thinning and extraction. Due to their volatility and lipid solubility, organic solvents are easily absorbed across the alveolar-capillary membrane and through the skin. Because organic solvents are lipophilic, they tend to be distributed to lipid-rich tissue, such as adipose tissue, nervous system and liver. Almost all organic solvent can induce skin diseases such as acute irritant dermatitis and chronic eczema. Some organic solvents are associated with allergic contact dermatitis. General and nonspecific central nervous system depression is another common toxic effect induced by most organic solvents. It shows symptoms which are the same as those from alcohol drinking, and those symptoms are completely resolved by removal from exposure to solvents. Long term and repeated exposures to organic solvents can also lead to chronic adverse neurobehavioral effects. These effects are also called as chronic toxic encephalopathy, chronic solvent intoxication and psycho-organic syndrome, and commonly reported symptoms of them are headache, depression, anxiety, and impairment of recent memory. Organic brain lesions can be found in workers suffering from psycho-organic syndrome, and in this case, there is a possibility of persistent disabilities. Carbon disulfide, n-hexane, and methyl n-butyl ketone are specifically toxic to the peripheral nervous system, and cause a symmetric ascending sensory and motor polyneuropathy. Halogenated hydrocarbons including carbon tetrachloride show toxic effects on the heart, liver, kidney, and blood. Toluene can sensitize the heart to arrhythmogenic effects of epinephrine, so sudden death in young and healthy people can be ensued from glue sniffing. Benzene is able to induce any type of leukemia, especially in victims with benzene-associated aplastic anemia. Exposure to some solvents during pregnancy has potential to induce congenital malformation and spontaneous abortion. In the treatment of diseases by organic solvents, the first step should be removal from exposure to the causative solvent.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Adipose Tissue ; Alcohol Drinking ; Anemia, Aplastic ; Anxiety ; Benzene ; Brain ; Carbon Disulfide ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Central Nervous System ; Death, Sudden ; Depression ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Irritant ; Eczema ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Headache ; Heart ; Hexanes ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Halogenated ; Inhalant Abuse ; Kidney ; Leukemia ; Liver ; Membranes ; Memory ; Methyl n-Butyl Ketone ; Nervous System ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; Occupational Diseases ; Paint ; Paintings ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Polyneuropathies ; Pregnancy ; Resin Cements ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Solubility ; Solvents ; Stress, Psychological ; Toluene ; Volatilization

Using same TDE factors, the authors studied the effects of whole abdominal irradiation on body weight and peripheral blood picture in 30±3 day old mice. Fractions of 100 and 200 cGy were given five times a week to the final TDF factors 17, 33, and 49. Total 80 mice were irradiated with orthovoltage x-ray machine. Our results can be summarized as follows: There were no significant differences by sex. Body weight was progressively decreased by the duration for irradiation, but no remarkable difference by fractional dose. Hemoglobin level showed no remarkable change by fractional dose or TDF factors. Leukopenic changes showed that severity of decrease seems to be more related to TDF factors. There were no significant changes of differential count by TDF factors of total doses.
Animals ; Body Weight* ; Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane ; Mice*