Cadmium-induced renal tubular dysfunction in a group of welders

BACKGROUND

Occupational exposure to welding fumes has been associated with several diseases including metal fume fever, lung cancer, welder's pneumoconiosis and manganism. However, there are few reports on cadmium-induced renal tubular dysfunction in welders.

AIMS

To evaluate the body burden of cadmium and cadmium-induced proteinuria in a group of Chinese welders.

METHODS

Cadmium concentrations in the breathing zone and in urine were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. β(2)-microglobulin (β(2)-MG) in urine as a marker of renal tubular function was measured using an ELISA kit. All urinary parameters were adjusted by urinary creatinine (Cr).

RESULTS

A total of 103 welders participated. The concentration of airborne cadmium in the welders' breathing zones ranged from 5 to 86 μg/m(3), and 17% of samples exceeded the threshold limit value. Six welders' urinary cadmium levels exceeded the Chinese recommended reference value. Urinary β(2)-MG levels increased significantly with increasing urinary cadmium levels and in two welders, the values were close to the level for chronic cadmium poisoning in China.

CONCLUSIONS

Environmental and urinary cadmium levels were raised in this group of welders and were associated with raised markers of renal tubular dysfunction. The exact source of the cadmium warrants further assessment.

Refined mapping of the Escherichia coli F4ab/F4ac receptor gene(s) on pig chromosome 13

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli expressing F4 fimbriae is the major cause of diarrhoea in neonatal and post-weaning piglets. Previous studies have revealed that the loci controlling the F4ab/F4ac receptors are located on SSC13q41, between markers SW207 and S0283. In this study, we refined their positions in a two generation population containing 366 piglets of three breeds (Large White, Landrace, and Songliao Black). Nine microsatellite markers within this region were selected from the MARC (U.S. Meat Animal Research Center) porcine linkage map, and the pedigree disequilibrium test was employed for fine-mapping. The F4abR gene was located in the interval between S0283 and SW1833, a 4.8-cM region, and the F4acR gene was located in the interval between S0283 and SW1876, a 1.6-cM region. Our results also suggest that the F4ab/F4ac receptors might be controlled by two different but closely linked loci. The results of microsatellite-based haplotype analysis in the corresponding region show that some specific haplotypes were overwhelmingly present in the adhesive or non-adhesive animals, indicating that there are mutations within the identified regions that are strongly associated with the F4ab/ac phenotypes.

Differences in mitochondrial proteins in the eutopic endometrium of patients with adenomyosis and endometriosis identified using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Adenomyosis and endometriosis have a similar pathogenesis; indeed, adenomyosis has been considered by some as a variant of endometriosis ('internal endometriosis'). This study aimed to detect differences in mitochondrial proteins in eutopic endometrial samples from women with adenomyosis (n = 13) and endometriosis (n = 24), and from control patients (n = 29) using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) protein chip technology. A total of 82 and 78 mitochondrial protein peaks were found in adenomyosis and endometriosis individuals, respectively. Of these, 14 were common to women with adenomyosis and women with endometriosis, although only one of these (mass-to-charge [m/z] ratio 3499) was significantly different between the adenomyosis and endometriosis groups. It is concluded that, compared with control patients, there are differences in the mitochondrial proteins isolated from the eutopic endometrium of patients with adenomyosis and those with endometriosis. Although the changes in mitochondrial proteins in eutopic endometrium from patients with adenomyosis and endometriosis were largely similar, significant differences were also detected. Further identification of these proteins and elucidation of the differences will help towards the differential diagnosis of adenomyosis and endometriosis and new therapeutic approaches.

Identification of target cells for Goose parvovirus infection in the immune system organs

Target cells for Goose parvovirus (GPV) in natural infection are still unknown. In this study, immune system organs namely the spleen, bone marrow, thymus, bursa of Fabricius, and blood of experimentally GPV-infected goslings were examined by an immunoassay and flow cytometry for the presence of viral antigen and by a PCR for viral genome. The results indicated that the virus replicated in some cells of the spleen and bone marrow, but not in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). These data suggested that some cell populations in the spleen and bone marrow were targets for GPV infection. In addition, the immunoassay used for the detection of GPV was found comparable with a PCR in reliability and sensitivity.

Relevance of lower airway bacterial colonization, airway inflammation, and pulmonary function in the stable stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The objective of this investigation was to verify the hypothesis that the presence of lower airway bacterial colonization (LABC) can be a stimulating factor of airway inflammation, more frequent exacerbation, and impact on pulmonary function, independent of current tobacco smoking in the stable phase of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of 46 ex-smokers with moderate to severe COPD, 19 healthy non-smokers, and 17 ex-smokers without COPD were included in this study. Their sputum specimens were collected at the first baseline visit and at the second visit after a follow-up of one year. The samples were analyzed for bacterial growth by culture, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The frequencies of exacerbations and pulmonary function were compared at visit 2. At visit 1, 37.0% (17/46) were found to have LABC with bacterial loads ≥10⁶ CFU/ml in their sputum specimens. Haemophilus influenzae was the predominant pathogenic organism isolated. IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-α in these patients' sputum were significantly higher than those without LABC (p < 0.05). It was the presence of LABC that contributed to the significantly elevated IL-8 and IL-6 at the 1-year period (p < 0.05). LABC was also associated with significantly increased frequencies of exacerbations and declined forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) (p < 0.05). LABC was documented in a subpopulation of stable COPD patients; it may be responsible for the deterioration of pulmonary function of COPD patients by promoting airway inflammation and/or increased frequency of exacerbations independently of tobacco smoking.

Sensitive and rapid detection of Vibrio corallilyticus by loop-mediated isothermal amplification targeted to the alpha subunit gene of RNA polymerase

AIMS

A diagnostic protocol was developed for rapid detection of Vibrio corallilyticus by method of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP).

METHODS AND RESULTS

For cloning and sequencing of rpo A gene of V. corallilyticus, a set of four LAMP primers were designed by targeting the rpoA gene. With Bst DNA polymerase, the reaction time and temperature were optimized for 70 min at 65 degrees C, respectively. The amplification products were detected by electrophoresis. The detection limit of V. corallilyticus by LAMP was 3.6 x 10(3) CFU ml(-1) (8 CFU per reaction), but PCR could detect up to 3.6 x 10(4) CFU ml(-1) (72 CFU per reaction). The LAMP method was ninefold more sensitive than conventional PCR. The results also indicated that the LAMP reaction was highly specific to V. corallilyticus.

CONCLUSIONS

The LAMP assay was a sensitive, specific and cost-effective method for the rapid detection of V. corallilyticus.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This LAMP method provides an important diagnostic tool for the detection of V. corallilyticus infection. It can replace laborious biochemical tests for the identification of V. corallilyticus.