Complex Factors in the Etiology of Gulf War Illness: Wartime Exposures and Risk Factors in Veteran Subgroups

Background: At least one-fourth of U.S. veterans who served in the 1990–1991 Gulf War are affected by the chronic symptomatic illness known as Gulf War illness (GWI). Clear determination of the causes of GWI has been hindered by many factors, including limitations in how epidemiologic studies have assessed the impact of the complex deployment environment on veterans’ health

Butyrylcholinesterase genotype and enzyme activity in relation to Gulf War illness: preliminary evidence of gene-exposure interaction from a case¿control study of 1991 Gulf War veterans

Abstract Background Epidemiologic studies have implicated wartime exposures to acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-inhibiting chemicals as etiologic factors in Gulf War illness (GWI), the multisymptom condition linked to military service in the 1991 Gulf War. It is unclear, however, why some veterans developed GWI while others with similar exposures did not. Genetic variants of the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) differ in their capacity for metabolizing AChE-inhibiting chemicals, and may confer differences in biological responses to these compounds. The current study assessed BChE enzyme activity and BChE genotype in 1991 Gulf War veterans to evaluate possible association of this enzyme with GWI. Methods This case–control study evaluated a population-based sample of 304 Gulf War veterans (144 GWI cases, meeting Kansas GWI criteria, and 160 controls). BChE enzyme activity levels and genotype were compared, overall, in GWI cases and controls. Potential differences in risk associated with cholinergic-related exposures in theater were explored using stratified analyses to compare associations between GWI and exposures in BChE genetic and enzyme activity subgroups. Results Overall, GWI cases and controls did not differ by mean BChE enzyme activity level or by BChE genotype. However, for the subgroup of Gulf War veterans with less common, generally less active, BChE genotypes (K/K, U/AK, U/A, A/F, AK/F), the association of wartime use of pyridostigmine bromide (PB) with GWI (OR = 40.00, p = 0.0005) was significantly greater than for veterans with the more common U/U and U/K genotypes (OR = 2.68, p = 0.0001). Conclusions Study results provide preliminary evidence that military personnel with certain BChE genotypes who used PB during the 1991 Gulf War may have been at particularly high risk for developing GWI. Genetic differences in response to wartime exposures are potentially important factors in GWI etiology and should be further evaluated in conjunction with exposure effects.Peer Reviewe

Psychosocial Characteristics and Sexual Behaviors of People in Care for HIV Infection: An Examination of Men Who Have Sex with Men, Heterosexual Men and Women

Few studies have examined the psychosocial factors associated with sexual transmission behaviors among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), heterosexual men (MSW) and women. We enrolled 1,050 sexually active HIV-positive patients at seven HIV clinics in six US cities as part of a clinic-based behavioral intervention. We describe the sexual transmission behaviors and examine demographic, clinical, psychosocial, and clinic prevention variables associated with unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse (UAVI). Twenty-three percent of MSM, 12.3% of MSW and 27.8% of women engaged in UAVI with partners perceived to be HIV-negative or of unknown serostatus. Among MSM and MSW, having multiple partners and lower self-efficacy were associated with increased odds of UAVI. Self-rating one’s health status as excellent/very good was a risk factor for UAVI among MSM. Among women, binge drinking and stressful life events were associated with UAVI. These findings identify variables that warrant attention in targeted interventions

Biological Activity of an Intravenous Preparation of Human Vaccinia Immune Globulin in Mouse Models of Vaccinia Virus Infection

The biological activity of a new intravenous (i.v.) preparation of human vaccinia immune globulin (VIGIV) was evaluated in two mouse models of vaccinia virus (VV) infection. In a mouse tail lesion model, female CD-1 mice were inoculated i.v. with 7 × 10(4) PFU of VV to produce >10 lesions per tail 8 days later. In a mouse lethality model, female severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice were inoculated i.v. with 3 × 10(4) PFU of VV to produce 100% mortality within 45 days. The ability of VIGIV to reduce tail lesion formation in CD-1 mice and mortality in SCID mice was determined by (i) pretreatment of a lethal VV dose with VIGIV prior to i.v. inoculation into SCID mice and (ii) i.v. administration of VIGIV to CD-1 and SCID mice the day before and up to 8 days after VV infection. VIGIV reduced the proportion of CD-1 mice with >10 tail lesions in a dose-related manner when VIGIV was given 1 day before and up to 1 day after VV inoculation. The pretreatment of VV with VIGIV prolonged survival and decreased mortality. VIGIV (100 and 400 mg/kg) prolonged survival when given up to 4 days after VV inoculation, and the 400-mg/kg dose reduced the mortality rate by 80% when given the day before or immediately after VV inoculation. The biological activity of VIGIV was demonstrated in both the immunocompetent and immunocompromised murine models. The timing of treatment relative to VV inoculation appeared to be important for the demonstration of VIGIV's biological activity

Toxicology studies of H. procumbens aqueous-alcohol extracts in female and male rats : dataset

Raw hematology and pathology data for male and female rats fed H. procumbens Aqueous-Alcohol Extracts from 1-month and 3-month experiments