Assessment of Confounding Factors Affecting the Tumor Markers SMRP, CA125, and CYFRA21-1 in Serum

The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate if serum levels of potential tumor markers for the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer are affected by confounding factors in a surveillance cohort of workers formerly exposed to asbestos. SMRP, CA125, and CYFRA21-1 concentrations were determined in about 1,700 serum samples from 627 workers formerly exposed to asbestos. The impact of factors that could modify the concentrations of the tumor markers was examined with linear mixed models. SMRP values increased with age 1.02-fold (95% CI 1.01–1.03) and serum creatinine concentration 1.32-fold (95% CI 1.20–1.45). Levels differed by study centers and were higher after 40 years of asbestos exposure. CA125 levels increased with longer storage of the samples. CYFRA21-1 values correlated with age 1.02-fold (95% CI 1.01–1.02), serum creatinine 1.21-fold (95% CI 1.14–1.30) and varied by study centers due to differences in sample handling. Tumor marker concentrations are influenced by subject-related factors, sample handling, and storage. These factors need to be taken into account in screening routine

Assessment of mRNA and microRNA Stabilization in Peripheral Human Blood for Multicenter Studies and Biobanks

In this study we evaluate the suitability of two methods of RNA conservation in blood samples, PAXgene and RNAlater, in combination with variable shipping conditions for their application in multicenter studies and biobanking. RNA yield, integrity, and purity as well as levels of selected mRNA and microRNA species were analyzed in peripheral human blood samples stabilized by PAXgene or RNAlater and shipped on dry ice or at ambient temperatures from the study centers to the central analysis laboratory. Both examined systems were clearly appropriate for RNA stabilization in human blood independently of the shipping conditions. The isolated RNA is characterized by good quantity and quality and well suited for downstream applications like quantitative RT-PCR analysis of mRNA and microRNA. Superior yield and integrity values were received using RNAlater. It would be reasonable to consider the production and approval of blood collection tubes prefilled with RNAlater to facilitate the use of this excellent RNA stabilization system in large studies

Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in firefighters at fire training facilities and in employees at respiratory protection and hose workshops

IntroductionPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic to humans and are formed by incomplete combustion. PAHs are always present during firefighting operations, and fire department members can be exposed to them in the workplace.MethodsIn this study, we analyzed 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in 36 urine samples from nine firefighters, collected before and after fire training sessions, and 32 urine samples from eight employees at respiratory protection and hose workshops. To assess breakthrough PAH exposure through personal protective equipment and potential dermal uptake, some of the workshop employees wore cotton garments under their regular workwear. Cotton samples were then examined for the presence of 17 semi-volatile and low-volatility PAHs.ResultsAfter firefighting exercises, we observed approximately a fivefold increase in mean 1-OHP concentrations in samples from firefighters, from 0.24 μg/L to 1.17 μg/L (maximum: 5.31 μg/L). In contrast, 1-OHP levels in workshop employees were found to be low, with the majority of urine samples yielding concentrations below the limit of quantification (LOQ: 0.05 μg/L, maximum: 0.11 μg/L). Similarly, low PAH levels were found on the workshop employees' cotton undergarments, with maximum concentrations of 250 and 205 ng/g for pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene, respectively.DiscussionIn conclusion, significant increases in 1-OHP in urine were observed in firefighters after training sessions, whereas work-related exposure remained low among workshop employees

The benzene metabolite para-benzoquinone is genotoxic in human, phorbol-12-acetate-13-myristate induced, peripheral blood mononuclear cells at low concentrations

Benzene is one of the most prominent occupational and environmental pollutants. The substance is a proven human carcinogen that induces hematologic malignancies in humans, probably at even low doses. Yet knowledge of the mechanisms leading to benzene-induced carcinogenesis is still incomplete. Benzene itself is not genotoxic. The generation of carcinogenic metabolites involves the production of oxidized intermediates such as catechol, hydroquinone and para-benzoquinone (p-BQ) in the liver. Further activation to the ultimate carcinogenic intermediates is most probably catalyzed by myeloperoxidase (MPO). Yet the products of the MPO pathway have not been identified. If an oxidized benzene metabolite such as p-BQ was actually the precursor for the ultimate carcinogenic benzene metabolite and further activation proceeds via MPO mediated reactions, it should be possible to activate p-BQ to a genotoxic compound in vitro. We tested this hypothesis with phorbol-12-acetate-13-myristate (PMA) activated peripheral blood cells exposed to p-BQ, using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus test. Addition of 20–28 ng/ml PMA caused a significant increase of micronuclei at low and non-cytotoxic p-BQ concentrations between 0.04 and 0.2 μg/ml (0.37–1.85 μM). Thus with PMA or p-BQ alone no reproducible elevation of micronuclei was seen up to toxic concentrations. PMA and p-BQ induce micronuclei when administered jointly. Our results add further support to the hypothesis that MPO is a key enzyme in the activation of benzene

Performance of Survivin mRNA as a Biomarker for Bladder Cancer in the Prospective Study UroScreen

BACKGROUND: Urinary biomarkers have the potential to improve the early detection of bladder cancer. Most of the various known markers, however, have only been evaluated in studies with cross-sectional design. For proper validation a longitudinal design would be preferable. We used the prospective study UroScreen to evaluate survivin, a potential biomarker that has multiple functions in carcinogenesis. METHODS/RESULTS: Survivin was analyzed in 5,716 urine samples from 1,540 chemical workers previously exposed to aromatic amines. The workers participated in a surveillance program with yearly examinations between 2003 and 2010. RNA was extracted from urinary cells and survivin was determined by Real-Time PCR. During the study, 19 bladder tumors were detected. Multivariate generalized estimation equation (GEE) models showed that β-actin, representing RNA yield and quality, had the strongest influence on survivin positivity. Inflammation, hematuria and smoking did not confound the results. Survivin had a sensitivity of 21.1% for all and 36.4% for high-grade tumors. Specificity was 97.5%, the positive predictive value (PPV) 9.5%, and the negative predictive value (NPV) 99.0%. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective and so far largest study on survivin, the marker showed a good NPV and specificity but a low PPV and sensitivity. This was partly due to the low number of cases, which limits the validity of the results. Compliance, urine quality, problems with the assay, and mRNA stability influenced the performance of survivin. However, most issues could be addressed with a more reliable assay in the future. One important finding is that survivin was not influenced by confounders like inflammation and exhibited a relatively low number of false-positives. Therefore, despite the low sensitivity, survivin may still be considered as a component of a multimarker panel

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Beziehung zwischen Lungensilikose und Lymphknoten-Silikose bei deutschen Uranerzbergarbeitern mit Lungenkrebs

Seit vielen Jahrzehnten ist bekannt, dass sich Siliziumdioxid (Quarzfeinstaub) bei beruflich Exponierten zunächst in den Lymphknoten der Lungen ansammelt und erst danach zu einer echten Lungensilikose führt. Es fehlt bisher allerdings eine valide Abschätzung der Dosis-Wirkungsbeziehung zwischen Quarzfeinstaubexposition und der Entwicklung einer so genannten Lymphknoten-Silikose im Verhältnis zur eigentlichen Lungensilikose. Die Daten des Wismut-Sektionsarchivs in Verbindung mit den umfangreichen Expositionsdaten der Wismut Job-Expositions-Matrix werden verwendet, um entsprechende Dosis-Wirkungsbeziehungen aufzuzeigen. Dazu wurden 4.384 deutsche Uranbergarbeiter, die vor 1991 an Lungenkrebs verstorben waren, untersucht. Vorhandene Schnittpräparate der Lungen und Lymphknoten aus dem Sektionsarchiv wurden von drei Pathologen referenzpathologisch begutachtet. Danach erfolgte eine Einteilung in die Gruppen „Lungensilikose“, „nur Lymphknoten-Silikose“ und „keine Silikose“. Diese drei Gruppen wurden mittels multipler polytomer und binärer logistischer Regression verglichen. Dosis-Wirkungsbeziehungen für den kumulativen Quarzfeinstaub wurden mittels begrenzter kubischer Splines innerhalb dieser Regressionsmodelle berechnet. Es konnte eine Dosis-Wirkungsbeziehung für die Relationen im Auftreten von Lungensilikose und Lymphknoten-Silikose und dem Fehlen einer Silikose auf Basis von kumulativen Quarzexpositionsdaten dargestellt werden. Die Kenntnis dieser Dosis-Wirkungsbeziehungen könnte hinsichtlich der Prävention von Silikosen eine wichtige Rolle spielen, denn ein frühzeitiges Erkennen der Lymphknoten-Silikose durch röntgenologische Befunde würde, durch rechtzeitige Expositionskarenz, möglicherweise die Entwicklung einer Lungensilikose verhindern oder die Ausprägung mindern.Since decades it has been known that quartz fine dust is first concentrated in the lymph nodes of the lung and then leads to a lung silicosis under occupational exposures. A valid estimation of the dose-response curve between cumulative quartz dust and the development of lymph-node silicosis in relation to lung silicosis is lacking. Data of the Wismut pathology archive are used in connection with the detailed job-exposure matrix of the Wismut to derive appropriate dose-response curves. For this purpose data from 4,384 German uranium miners who died before 1991 on lung cancer are analysed. Available tissue slides of the lungs and lymph nodes out of the tissue repository were evaluated by three pathologists. Three independent groups are looked at: "lung silicotics", "only lymph-node silicotics", and "non silicotics". All three groups are compared using multinominal and ordinary logistic regression models. Dose-response curves for cumulative quartz dust were assed using restricted cubic splines in these regression models. Dose-response curves on the relationship between lung silicosis, lymph-node silicosis and no silicosis are derived. With respect to prevention this knowledge is very useful as by early detection of lymph-node silicosis by x-rays lung silicosis may be prevented or its development reduced if further quartz exposure is avoided