Function Testing for Chemical Brain Damage: A Review

Kilburn, Kaye H.

doi:10.1080/00039890109604064

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Cognitive measures included the Dementia Rating Scale-2 (Jurica et al 2001), a measure of global cognitive functioning; the Wide Range Achievement Test-3 (Wilkinson 1993), a measure of premorbid intelligence; the logical memory subtest of the WMS-3 (Wechsler 1997a); and a measure of moment-to-moment cognitive processing sensitive to mild brain dysfunction, the Digit Symbol coding test (Wechsler 1997b; Anger et al 2000; Kilburn 2001; Lopez et al 2003). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling the impact of COPD on the brain

Borson

Scanlan

Friedman

et al. 2008

COPD

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Previous studies have shown that COPD adversely affects distant organs and body systems, including the brain. This pilot study aims to model the relationships between respiratory insufficiency and domains related to brain function, including low mood, subtly impaired cognition, systemic inflammation, and brain structural and neurochemical abnormalities. Nine healthy controls were compared with 18 age- and education-matched medically stable COPD patients, half of whom were oxygen-dependent. Measures included depression, anxiety, cognition, health status, spirometry, oximetry at rest and during 6-minute walk, and resting plasma cytokines and soluble receptors, brain MRI, and MR spectroscopy in regions relevant to mood and cognition. ANOVA was used to compare controls with patients and with COPD subgroups (oxygen users [n = 9] and nonusers [n = 9]), and only variables showing group differences at p ≤ 0.05 were included in multiple regressions controlling for age, gender, and education to develop the final model. Controls and COPD patients differed significantly in global cognition and memory, mood, and soluble TNFR1 levels but not brain structural or neurochemical measures. Multiple regressions identified pathways linking disease severity with impaired performance on sensitive cognitive processing measures, mediated through oxygen dependence, and with systemic inflammation (TNFR1), related through poor 6-minute walk performance. Oxygen desaturation with activity was related to indicators of brain tissue damage (increased frontal choline, which in turn was associated with subcortical white matter attenuation). This empirically derived model provides a conceptual framework for future studies of clinical interventions to protect the brain in patients with COPD, such as earlier oxygen supplementation for patients with desaturation during everyday activities.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling the impact of COPD on the brain

Borson

Scanlan

Friedman

et al. 2008

COPD

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“…Several authors of experimental studies in animals [17][18][19] and/or case reports or community surveys in humans 20 21 61 have interpreted their findings to be consistent with a neurological effect from low level H 2 S exposure. There have also been reports that repeated or prolonged ''knockdowns'' (that is, loss of consciousness) from high level H 2 S exposure result in prolonged adverse neurological effects, [62][63][64] although evidence in this area remains highly controversial.…”

Section: Transportation Accidentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, we assessed risk of death for neurological disorders, accidental falls, transportation accidents (with passengers removed from the analysis to the extent possible based on ICD codes), and suicide based on suggestions from several authors that low level, chronic exposure to H 2 S may impair neuropsychological function. [17][18][19][20][21] The results shown in table 10 indicate that deaths due to respiratory disease were non-significantly increased in the two exposure groups where the RR could be calculated, but these findings were based on small numbers. Suicide showed no relation to cumulative H 2 S exposure.…”

Section: Hydrogen Sulphidementioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality and cancer morbidity in a cohort of Canadian petroleum workers

Lewis

Schnatter²,

Drummond³

et al. 2003

Occup Environ Med

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Aims:To assess mortality and cancer morbidity in Canadian petroleum workers and explore exposure-response relations for specific petroleum agents.Methods:A total of 25 292 employees hired between 1964 and 1994 were linked to the Canadian tumour registry and national mortality database. Exposure-response trends were assessed for hydrocarbon solvents/fuels, hydrocarbon lubricants, petroleum coke/spent catalyst, and hydrogen sulphide (H2S).Results:External comparison analyses (mortality and incidence) showed deficits for all causes and all malignant neoplasms combined and were consistent with expectation for most malignant and non-malignant sites analysed. Gall bladder cancer mortality was increased among males based on four deaths, but cases had no common job assignments and the increase was focused in workers employed <10 years. Mesothelioma incidence was increased. Most exposure-specific analyses were compromised by small numbers. Statistically significant increases were observed for H2S exposure and a subgroup of accidental deaths as well as for petroleum coke/spent catalyst exposure and lung cancer. While both findings have a degree of biologic plausibility, the H2S association, which exhibited a clearer exposure-response pattern, could be subject to unmeasured confounders. Additionally, interpretation was complicated by the high correlation between hydrocarbon and H2S exposures. With regard to lung cancer, the analysis could not adequately control for smoking, was based on small numbers, and exhibited a tenuous exposure-response pattern.Conclusion:The findings for mesothelioma suggest the need for continued attention to asbestos in the petroleum industry. The relation between accidental deaths and H2S exposure deserves closer scrutiny in similarly exposed populations. Further analyses of lung cancer are underway and will be reported separately.

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“…Contrarily, long-term effects of occupational exposure to low levels of the gas have not been studied enough. However, (Kilburn, 2001) reported that longterm exposure to low concentrations of H 2 S is associated with neuropsychiatric and cognitive dysfunction manifestations, including: fatigue, loss of appetite, irritability, impaired memory, altered mood states, headache, and dizziness. However, it is not known if these effects are the result of chronic exposure or due to reoccurring acute exposures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive functions changes among Egyptian sewage network workers

Farahat

Kishk

2010

Toxicol Ind Health

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The current work aimed at investigating the cognitive functions impairment among workers of sewer networks due to exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) and the relation of this impairment, if any, to the level of H(2)S exposure biomarker 'urinary thiosulfate.' Besides, the validity of using Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) as screening test for cognitive impairment among the exposed workers was tested. The work was conducted among 33 sewage network maintenance male workers and a matched unexposed control group (n = 30). The participants were subjected to clinical neurological history, estimation of urinary thiosulfate, and assessment of cognitive dysfunction by using neurophysiological (simple reaction time, P300 test) and neuropsychological tests (Wechsler Memory Scale) and frontal executive functions tests. Clinical neurological history revealed significantly higher neurological symptoms (headache, memory defects, lack of concentration) among exposed workers compared to their controls (p < 0.05). Exposed workers had significantly prolonged simple reaction time and delayed P300 latency and showed poor performance of most of neuropsychological tests. Marked elevation of urinary thiosulfate was observed among the exposed workers (p < 0.001) but this elevation was not correlated with the duration of exposure or any of the other measured parameters. Exposed workers had significantly lower mean value of MMSE scoring than that of the controls (p < 0.001). In conclusion, exposure to H( 2)S among sewer network workers is associated with cognitive impairment, which can be screened by applying MMSE as a simple rapid test for H( 2)S occupationally exposed workers.

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Function Testing for Chemical Brain Damage: A Review

Cited by 14 publications

References 21 publications

Modeling the impact of COPD on the brain

Modeling the impact of COPD on the brain

Mortality and cancer morbidity in a cohort of Canadian petroleum workers

Cognitive functions changes among Egyptian sewage network workers

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