Story of benzene and leukemia: Epidemiologic approach of Muzaffer Aksoy

In 1974, Professor Muzaffer Aksoy established a link to leukemia in humans as a result of occupational exposure to benzene. The aim of this study is to evaluate his epidemiological approach for his investigation on the effects of benzene and to bring attention to the benzene problem in Turkey. Dr. Aksoy observed that a large group of leukemic patients were shoemakers, or they worked in leather manufacturing. In the 1960s, benzene was a popular solvent in the leather industry. Dr. Aksoy conducted a field investigation in Gedikpasa-Istanbul, where the shoemakers worked so that he could draw his key observations from actual environmental conditions. With a gas detector, he found the concentration of benzene in these work places to be 150-210 ppm and up to 650 ppm on rare occasions. He performed an epidemiological study and health education among 28,500 shoe, slipper and handbag workers during the period from 1967 to 1974. He published these data, establishing an association between benzene and leukemia. The incidence of leukemia among the shoe workers was decreased by screening, health education, and legislative actions in Turkey, but it began to increase again because of lack of an occupational health policy and underestimation of the problem. These results suggest the importance of primary prevention of occupational cancers. Dr. Aksoy's epidemiologic approach may highlight the necessity for detailed investigations of the occupational status of patients who need medical aid in order to diagnose the real underlying factor

Cyclosporin effect on noradrenaline release from the sympathetic nervous endings of rat aorta

Arterial hypertension is one of the main side effects of cyclosporin treatment and seems to be due to activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Some authors hypothesized that cyclosporin may act on the sympathetic nervous endings increasing catecholamine release, in agreement with our previous works which demonstrated an increase in rat plasma catecholamine levels after 30 mg/kg per day cyclosporin treatment for 7 weeks. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the cyclosporin mechanism responsible for that increase in plasma catecholamines. Male Wistar rats were used. Noradrenaline release was performed in vitro experiments after loading rat aorta abdominal segments with 3H-noradrenaline (3H-NA). The release of 3H-NA was measured after electrical stimulation in the presence of 10-6 M cyclosporin. In another set of experiments electrical stimulation was replaced by a pulse addition of cyclosporin (10-6 M). Another group of rats was treated with 30 mg/kg per day cyclosporin for 7 weeks and catecholamine contents in aorta abdominal segments and adrenals were measured by high performance liquid chromatography system with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). An increase in the 3H-NA release was observed in both types of in vitro experiments. Since cocaine abolished these cyclosporin effects, the obtained results suggest that cyclosporin may act on the catecholamine transporter across the membrane. In addition, after the 7 weeks of cyclosporin treatment, a significant decrease in catecholamine aorta contents was verified but in adrenals there was no difference regarding to controls. However, the dopamine synthesis/degradation ratio measured by the DA/DOPAC ratio suggests an increase in dopamine synthesis. These facts are in agreement with the enhanced plasma catecholamine levels and with the hypothesis of tissue catecholamine depletion. However, they do not explain the increase in plasma adrenaline levels, since adrenaline is a reflex of adrenal activity. The synthesized dopamine in adrenals seems to be unable to reach vesicles and to be metabolized in adrenaline. The observed decrease in HVA adrenal levels may be a consequence of extraneuronal uptake inhibition or inhibition by cyclosporin of the direct o-methylation of DOPAC.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WP9-47MHSRX-5/1/4e65640d85fc1359be3fc9a5a53ef8d

Results of Neonatal Screening in a Fourth-Level Institution in Bogotá, Colombia

Introducción: La Ley 1980 de 2019 regula y amplía la práctica del tamizaje neonatal y lo constituye como derecho de todo recién nacido. El Hospital Universitario San Ignacio es pionero en Colombia en implementarla, como parte del programa de atención integral al recién nacido. Objetivo: Describir los primeros resultados de la implementación del tamizaje neonatal en una institución de cuarto nivel en Bogotá (Colombia). Método: Estudio observacional-descriptivo, de tipo transversal entre el 1.º de octubre de 2020 y el 1.º de enero de 2022. Muestra censal de los nacidos vivos con exclusión de los fallecidos en el primer mes de vida. Resultados: Se analizaron 1255 recién nacidos. El reflejo rojo fue anormal en 0,2% de los recién nacidos y en 4,5% no se realizó́. Del tamizaje neonatal básico (TNB), hubo autorización por la EPS en 63,2% de los pacientes, y en promedio el tiempo para la toma de la muestra fue de 5 días. La adherencia de los familiares para la toma de TNB de forma ambulatoria (después de las 72 horas desde del egreso) fue del 69,6%. El tamizaje de TSH neonatal se tomó́ al 100% de los recién nacidos y en 98,2% fue normal. El tamizaje para cardiopatías congénitas fue reportado como normal en el 94% de los pacientes. El resultado de audiología fue normal en el 99,6%. Conclusiones: El tamizaje neonatal es factible de implementar. Sus resultados benefician la atención de los pacientes, por lo que se deben continuar desarrollando estrategias para su ejecución.Q4Recién nacidosIntroduction: Law 1980, 2019, regulate the practice ofneonatal screening and constitutes it as the right of every newborn. Hospital Universitario San Ignacio is thepioneer hospital in Colombia to implement these activitiesaccording to law as part of the comprehensive newborncare program. Objective: To describe the first resultsof the implementation of basic neonatal screening as it was stated by law in a fourth-level institution in Bogota, Colombia. Materials: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study from October 1, 2020 to January 1, 2022. The sample included live births, excluding those who died in the first month of life. Results:1255 newborns were assessed. The red reflex was abnormal in 0.2%,4.5% were not performed, and the rest were normal. Basic metabolic screening (BMT) was authorized by the EPS in 63.2% of the patients, and the mean time for sampling was the first 5 days of life. Adherence of family members was 69.6%. The neonatal TSH screening was performed in 100% of the newborns, 98.2% were normal.In screening for congenital heart disease 94% of patientswere normal. The hearing screening result was normal in 99.6%. Conclusions: Neonatal screening as indicated in Colombian law is feasible for implementation, its resultsbenefit patient care so strategies for its implementationmust be developed. Continuity must be given to increase the opportunity in other hospitals.https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4293-6822https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9532-9604https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6336-5347https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9795-6866https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1919-8972https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7006-7660Revista Nacional - IndexadaS