Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in smokehouses

The level of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from smoking kilns in Danish smokehouses was determined. Of 60 smokehouses curing fish with hot smoke from smoldering alder chips, 10 companies were selected for the analysis of workzone air. The amount of PAH, determined as the sum of 11 selected compounds, varied from 2.2 micrograms/m3 to 2,472 micrograms/m3 above the kiln doors. Samples taken approximately 2 m in front of the kiln doors contained 0-19.2 micrograms/m3.

Sensory irritation and pulmonary irritation of cumene and n-propanol: mechanisms of receptor activation and desensitization

Cumene and n-propanol, model substances for alcohols and alkylbenzenes, were investigated for sensory irritation in mice. The concentrations within the first 2 min. depressing the respiratory rate by 50% due to the effect in the upper respiratory tract were 2,058 p.p.m. and 22,080 p.p.m., respectively. Activation of the sensory irritant receptor followed the dynamics of reversible bimolecular reactions. The extrapolated maximum response and the apparent dissociation constant were 114.3% and 2,723 p.p.m. for cumene and 68.4% and 8,178 p.p.m. for propanol, respectively. Later on desensitization was observed. The effect was weak for cumene but conspicuous for propanol. For cumene desensitization had the origin in the rise of a threshold. No change in the dissociation constant or the maximum response was found. For propanol a decrease in the maximum response, which may be explained by an allosteric effect, was observed. The pulmonary irritation response was weak for cumene but was for propanol more important than sensory irritation at high concentrations. The following hypotheses are put forward: the effect of pulmonary irritation on the tidal volume is mediated via the stretch receptors while the effect on the respiratory frequency is mediated via the J-receptors.

Propyl ether. I. Interaction with the sensory irritant receptor

The sensory irritating response of propyl ether, measured as a decrease in respiratory rate in mice, faded within one minute. The threshold was 620 p.p.m., calculated from the concentration-response curve, which had a low slope. The sensory irritating level depressing the respiratory rate to 50 per cent (RD-50 = 89,000 p.p.m.) could not be reached with saturated vapour at 20 degrees. The thermodynamic activity corresponding to the RD-50 was about 0.6, a rather high value. The low slope and high thermodynamic activity may be explained by steric hindrance of the oxygen atom and thereby decreasing the receptor-activating capacity and/or the stability of the active receptor conformation. A specific effect beyond the receptor offers another explanation.

Propyl ether. II. Pulmonary irritation and anaesthesia

After cessation of the sensory irritation response, described in part one (Nielsen et al. 1985), a mixed response due to pulmonary irritation and anaesthesia appeared, resulting a decrease in respiratory rate and tidal volume. The corresponding thresholds were 1490 p.p.m. and 1280 p.p.m., respectively, obtained from the last half hour of a four hours exposure period. As the decrease in respiratory rate and tidal volume was found to be correlated, the per cent decrease in respiratory minute volume could be approximated from the square of the respiratory frequency. A threshold limit value (TLV) about 100 p.p.m. based on pulmonary irritation and anaesthesia was proposed. No impurities in the technical grade ether influenced the responses.

Standardized intraabdominal abscess formation with generalized sepsis: pathophysiology in the rat

Gelatine capsules containing Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis in a standardized mixture with rat colonic content and barium sulfate were implanted intraabdominally into rats. Capsules of 0.75 g gave approximately 50% mortality whereas 0.35 and 1.10 g caused no or 100% mortality, respectively. In subsequent experiments, using the 0.75 g capsule, all animals became ill with signs of tachypnea, piloerection, low physical activity and hypersecretion of saliva 6-8 h after the implantation. The animals reduced their water and food intake substantially and the body weight decreased. A significant reduction in blood pressure, glucose and leukocyte and platelet counts was found 12 h after challenge. Blood cultures obtained at 12, 24, 48 and 60 h all grew E. coli but none B. fragilis. Succumbed animals revealed diffuse peritonitis with growth of E. coli and B. fragilis at autopsy, whereas surviving animals showed abscess formation at investigation on day 8 after challenge. It was concluded that the model closely resembled intraabdominal abscess formation with sepsis in man.

Sensory irritation and pulmonary irritation by airborne allyl acetate, allyl alcohol, and allyl ether compared to acrolein

The propene derivatives, allyl acetate, allyl alcohol, allyl ether, and acrolein were investigated for their property as sensory irritant in Ssc:CF-1 mice. The concentration of the chemicals necessary to depress the respiratory rate by 50% ( RD50 ) due to sensory irritation of the upper respiratory tract were 2.9, 3.9, 5.0 and 2.9 p.p.m., respectively. The potency of these propene derivatives varied very little for their concentration in air, in p.p.m., to depress the respiratory rate by 50%. However, when the potency is expressed in terms of thermodynamic activity acrolein was found to be 10 times more potent than the other propene derivates. This may be explained either by a higher reactivity of the carbon-carbon double bond or the involvement of the aldehyde group in a secondary chemical binding. No secondary chemical binding can be invoked for allyl acetate, allyl alcohol or allyl ether. In general, the chemical structure CH2 = CH-CH-O may be suspected to allow a molecule to act as a strong sensory irritant. The TLV's were predicted from the relation: TLV approximately equal to 0.03 X RD50 and were found to be 0.1, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.1 for allyl acetate, allyl alcohol, allyl ether, and acrolein, respectively. No pulmonary irritation was found at the concentration causing a 50% decrease in respiratory rate.

Gas chromatographic analysis of cellular fatty acids in anaerobic curved bacteria isolated from the vagina

The fatty acid compositions of forty-five strains of anaerobic curved rods isolated from vaginal content were analysed by gas chromatography. Twenty-six of the strains were of a short Gram-variable type and 19 of a long Gram-negative type. The bacteria were subjected to alkaline saponification, after which the liberated fatty acids were methylated using boron trichloride-methanol. The samples were introduced onto a cross-linked (SE-54) fused silica capillary column. The major peaks in the chromatograms from all strains corresponded to C14:0, C16:0, C18:2, C18:1 and C18:0 fatty acids. Five additional components were seen, three of them identified by mass spectrometry as fatty aldehydes (saturated and unsaturated) of 16 to 18 carbon atoms, whereas the remaining two were not identified. The fatty aldehydes indicated the presence of plasmalogens in the bacterial strains studied. With two exceptions, all of the short rods were distinguishable from the long ones by the presence of one aldehyde and two unidentified compounds, all three eluting between C16:0 and C18:2.

Vaginal colonization with Gardnerella vaginalis and anaerobic curved rods

Ninety-four women colonized with anaerobic curved rods (CR) and/or Gardnerella vaginalis, were studied. Of these women, 34 were culture-positive for the long variant of CR. Eight of these latter women also harboured the short variant of these bacteria. In women colonized with CR, none had a predominance of lactobacilli in their vaginal flora, which was the case in 26 of the 60 women not harbouring CR. G. vaginalis was isolated from all 94 women. Mycoplasma hominis occurred significantly more often in women colonized with CR and G. vaginalis as compared with women not harbouring CR, but who were colonized with G. vaginalis (p less than 0.0005). The recovery rate of chlamydiae and gonococci was remarkably low, i.e. the organisms were isolated from one case each. Women colonized with CR complained of foul-smelling vaginal discharge significantly more often than women not found to harbour such organisms (p less than 0.001). In all women with CR, the number of leukocytes per high-power field of vaginal secretion exceeded that of 'clue cells'. Such cells were found in all patients with CR, but not in women with a lactobacilli-dominated flora, despite the fact that they all harboured G. vaginalis. Bacterial vaginosis might be due to a symbiotic infection with G. vaginalis and CR, possibly in conjunction with other anaerobes and/or M. hominis.

Self-care of common illnesses in Denmark

Survey data collected from a random sample of the Danish population in the first phase of a research investigation of self-care behavior are discussed. Self-administered postal questionnaires were used to obtain data on behavioral responses to common illness conditions. Information was obtained from 1,462 persons regarding care of 3,100 illness episodes. Log-linear analyses of multiway frequency tables were used to examine the effects of sociodemographic and attitudinal variables on the illness responses. Age, sex, perceived health status, and a reliant attitude toward physicians were the more important variables related to the illness behaviors. Interactions among these variables suggest directions for productive research into the factors shaping responses to illness. Income and social class, among respondents in relation to differences in activity levels maintained while ill suggest that some people may have limited options for caring for themselves during illness.

A study of operative treatment and bacteriological examination of persistent oro-antral fistulas

A retrospective study of 35 patients with oro-antral fistulas of more than 2 weeks duration is presented. Treatment results by using the Rehrmann plastic procedure, as well as complications and sequelae are described. The results of bacteriological examination in 15 patients with maxillary sinusitis in association with oro-antral fistulas are presented. The bacteriological findings suggest that broad spectrum antibiotics in certain conditions should be administered in cases of persisting oro-antral fistulas associated with maxillary sinusitis. The results of the present study show that the Rehrmann-operation proves satisfactory even in treatment-resistent cases.

Surgical management of 85 perforations to the maxillary sinus

A study is presented of 85 cases of perforation to the maxillary sinus closed within 48 h after appearance. All cases were treated with the Rehrmann buccal flap procedure or primary suture. 1 patient developed an oro-antral fistula and sinusitis and a further 3 patients developed sinusitis postoperatively. A detailed presentation of the cases with complications is made. The relationship between a non-infectious sinus and the treatment results is discussed and the importance of antibiotic treatment in addition to surgical intervention is stressed.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of comma-shaped bacteria isolated from the vagina

Comma-shaped bacteria isolated from the posterior vaginal fornix of women with foul-smelling discharge were tested for their antimicrobial susceptibility. The 20 strains studied were tested anaerobically, using agar dilution tests. They were highly susceptible to beta lactam antibiotics, clindamycin, doxycycline, erythromycin, gentamicin and thiamphenicol. On the other hand, the bacteria were relatively resistant to sulfamethoxazole, nalidixic acid and nitroimidazoles. A difference in susceptibility to nitroimidazoles between long and short variants of the comma-shaped bacteria was found; the former being more susceptible than the latter.