No abstract

Because both bradykinin and tachykinins have a potent inflammatory action, these molecules may be involved in the late allergic response. The role of these molecules in airway microvascular permeability during the late allergic response in sensitized guinea-pigs was investigated.Three weeks after ovalbumin sensitization, the animals were pretreated with bradykinin B 2 receptor antagonist HOE 140, neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist CP 96,345 or vehicle, 30 min before the ovalbumin inhalation challenge. The occurrence of the late allergic response was determined by a two-fold increase in the transpulmonary pressure from the baseline values. The microvascular permeability in the trachea was assessed by an index defined as the ratio of the area of vasculature labelled by Monastral blue dye (area density %).Significant microvascular permeability and eosinophil accumulation were observed during the late allergic response. Both the bradykinin and substance P concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were increased during the late allergic response. Pretreatment with HOE 140 suppressed the substance P elevation. Both HOE 140 and CP 96,345 also inhibited the airway microvascular permeability during the late allergic response without affecting the eosinophil accumulation in the airways.These findings suggest that bradykinin-mediated sensory nerve activation may play a role in microvascular permeability during the late allergic response in guinea-pigs.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess chromosomal damage in Tunisian hospital workers occupationally exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation (IR). Materials and Methods: The cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in the peripheral lymphocytes of 67 exposed workers compared to 43 controls matched for gender, age and smoking habits was used. The clastogenic/aneugenic effect of IR was evaluated using the CBMN assay in combination with fluorescence in situ hybridization with human pan-centromeric DNA in all the exposed subjects and controls. Results: The study showed a significant increase of the micronucleus (MN) frequency in the lymphocytes of the exposed workers compared to the control group (13.63±4.9‰ vs. 6.52±4.21‰, p < 0.05). The centromere analysis performed in our study showed that MNs in hospital staff were predominantly centromere negative (72%) and the mean negative labeled micronucleus (C-MN) frequency was significantly higher in the exposed subjects than in the controls (9.04±4.57‰ vs. 1.17±0.77‰). The multivariate regression analysis, taking into account all confounding factors, showed that only the time of exposure to IR had a significant effect on the level of MNs and C-MN. Conclusion: The present study shows that chromosomal damage leading to the formation of micronucleated lymphocytes is more frequent in the hospital workers exposed to IR than in the controls, despite the low levels of exposure. The results of the study confirm the well-known clastogenic properties of ionizing radiation. In regards to health monitoring, detection of early genotoxic effects may allow for the adoption of preventive biological control measures, such as hygienic improvements in the workplace or reduction of hours of occupational exposure.

The bronchial response was greater with rye than with wheat flour. The response was related to the dose of allergen inhaled and to the dose rate.

Introduction: The association of the professional exposure to the decline of the male reproductive function had been the subject of several studies but without arriving to one envisagement undeniable of its existence. The ICSI, technique of reference in severe male infertilities, is visa -vis unexplained failures whose environmental and professional exposure could be about its cause partly. In this work, we tried to highlight an association between certain factors of professional exposure and the deterioration of the spermatic parameters, then to evaluate the effect of such factors on the result of the ICSI. Materials and Methods: It is about a study of the exposed type-no exposed, realized through collaboration between the Unit of Medicine of the Reproduction and the Service of Medicine of Work of the CHU Farhat Hached of Sousse. This study was based on a questionnaire of which part of the items was collected medical files of the patients raising the general characteristics, the profile of exposure as well as the spermatic parameters and the biological assessment of ICSI. Results: Significant associations between the deterioration of sperm and the professional risk factors such as the exposure to the formaldehydes (p = 0.01) and heat (p = 0.001) were noted. The exposure to formaldehydes was associated at the higher risk of oli-gozoospermy, of asthenozoospermy with a significant reduction in mobility (p = 0.05), whereas the talks with cement had a risk higher of teratozoospermy. In addition an exposure to heat was associated at the high risk of oligoteratozoospermy. The total rate of pregnancies after ICSI among 220 patients of our series was of 14.47%. The ICSI balance showed a reduction in total fertility rate (76.6% exposed vs 75.3% no exposed). Conclusion: In spite of the limited number of the patients, this study had shown a correlation between certain professional exposures of origin and the deterioration of sperm. They are preliminary results which encourage continuing collaboration between the specialists in the reproduction and the doctors of work in order to preserve the fertility of the workers exposed to factors gonadotoxic.