Work-related allergy in medical doctors: atopy, exposure to domestic animals, eczema induced by common chemicals and membership of the surgical profession as potential risk factors

Purpose To investigate the risk factors associated with work-related allergy-like symptoms in medical doctors. Methods Self-administered questionnaire survey and CAP test were conducted among medical school students in the 4th grade of their 6-year medical course in 1993–1996 and 1999–2001. Follow-up questionnaires were sent in 2004 to the graduates. These questionnaires enquired into personal and family history of allergic diseases, lifestyle, history of allergy-like symptoms including work-relatedness and occupational history as medical doctors. Relationships between allergy-like symptoms and relevant factors were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Of 261 respondents at the follow-up survey, 139 (53.3%) and 54 (20.7%) had a history of any allergy-like symptoms and any work-related allergy-like symptoms, respectively. Female gender and family history of allergic diseases were signiWcantly associated with any allergy-like symptoms. Personal history of allergic disease, exposure to domestic animals, eczema caused by rubber gloves, metallic accessories, or cosmetics during schooling days, and membership of the surgical profession were signiW- cant risk factors for work-related allergy-like symptoms. On the contrary, to work-related allergy-like symptoms, gender, age, and smoking status were not signiWcantly related, and consumption of prepared foods was inversely related. Conclusions Personal history of atopy and eczema induced by common goods and the history of keeping domestic animals may be predictors of work-related allergy-like symptoms in doctors. After graduation from medical school, physicians start with exposure to various allergens and irritants at work, which relate to work-related allergy-like symptoms, especially for surgeons

Intravenous organophosphate injection: An unusual way of intoxication

Organophosphate insecticides strongly inhibit both true cholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase activities. In this report, we have reported a patient who injected himself a strong organophosphate compound, methamidophos, and showed the typical clinical picture of organophosphate intoxication. As far as we know, this is the first case of intoxication by intravenous (i.v.) injection. With the appropriate therapy, his symptoms disappeared in a few days

Key role of proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 in interleukin-8 (CXCL8/IL-8)-mediated human neutrophil chemotaxis

The signalling pathways leading to CXCL8/IL-8-induced human neutrophil migration have not been fully characterized. The present study demonstrates that CXCL8 induces tyrosine phosphorylation as well as enzymatic activity of proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2), a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase (PTK), in human neutrophils. Induction of Pyk2 tyrosine phosphorylation by CXCL8 is regulated by Src PTK activation, whereas it is unaffected by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation. Inhibition of Pyk2 activation by PP1, a Src PTK inhibitor, is paralleled by the inhibition of CXCL8-mediated neutrophil chemotaxis. Among CXCL8 receptors, Src protein tyrosine kinase activation selectively regulates CXCR1-mediated polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxis. Overexpression of PykM, the kinase-dead mutant of Pyk2, blocks CXCL8-induced chemotaxis of HL-60-derived PMN-like cells, thus pinpointing the key role of Pyk2 in CXCL8-induced chemotaxis