Biomedical subjects

Francesco Saverio Violante

Publications and source records attributed to Francesco Saverio Violante.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Development and validation of a sensitive HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the direct determination of glucosamine in human plasma.

A sensitive and specific HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the direct determination of glucosamine in human plasma has been developed and validated. Plasma samples were analyzed after a simple, one-step protein precipitation clean-up with trichloroacetic acid using a polymer-based amino high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column and a water/acetonitrile mobile phase elution gradient, with d-[1-(13)C]glucosamine as the internal standard. Detection was performed by mass spectrometry, using an electrospray source and employing multiple reaction monitoring to separately monitor glucosamine and the internal standard. The limit of quantification of the method was 10ng/ml of glucosamine and the calibration curve showed a good linearity up to 1000ng/ml. The precision (R.S.D.) and the accuracy (bias) of the method at the limit of quantification were 13.8 and 4.0%, respectively, and the mean recovery of glucosamine at three concentration levels was 101.6+/-5.7%. The method was applied for the determination of glucosamine concentrations in human plasma samples collected from untreated healthy volunteers and, in a separate bioavailability study, to evaluate plasma glucosamine pharmacokinetics profiles after oral administration of crystalline glucosamine sulfate.

Biological Availability↗

PubMed2005

Course of symptoms and median nerve conduction values in workers performing repetitive jobs at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common occupational disorder associated with repetitive manual work. Little information exists about the possible relation between the variation of biomechanical hand/wrist exposure and the development of symptoms and median nerve conduction values. AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of CTS in a group of workers exposed to intensive use of the hands and the course of symptoms and median nerve conduction values after a period of reduced exposure to biomechanical risk factors. METHODS: CTS was assessed in assembly and non-assembly line workers by means of clinical examinations and nerve conduction studies (NCS). Ergonomic analysis was conducted for each assembly line workstation. RESULTS: Prevalence of CTS was significantly higher in assembly line workers compared to non-assembly line workers but there was a high prevalence of median nerve conduction abnormalities in both groups (60/102 hands and 40/110 hands, respectively). In a sizable proportion of both groups there was no relationship between symptoms and electrodiagnostic findings (45 hands and 48 hands in assembly and non-assembly line workers, respectively). When assembly line workers were re-examined after 2 years following a period of reduced work schedule, a significant proportion reported resolution of symptoms or had reverted to having normal NCS. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, repetitive work was associated with a higher level of CTS and abnormal NCS. These findings appeared to be reversible following a period of less repetitive work. Overall, there was generally poor correlation between symptoms and electrodiagnostic findings.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Urinary sevoflurane and hexafluoro-isopropanol as biomarkers of low-level occupational exposure to sevoflurane.

OBJECTIVES: Sevoflurane is an inhalation halogenated anaesthetic widely used in day and paediatric surgery. We were interested in evaluating biological markers of exposure to sevoflurane, which should improve the health surveillance of occupationally exposed personnel. METHODS: A group of 36 subjects (13 male, 23 female) occupationally exposed to volatile anaesthetics in paediatric operating rooms was studied in a 2-week survey. Post-shift urine samples and specimens from passive samplers (for personal monitoring) were collected after 1.75-6 h morning exposure and analysed by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Multiple determinations were assumed as independent values (in total, n = 78: 24 from men, 54 from women; 25 from smokers, 53 from non-smokers). RESULTS: Median sevoflurane external values were 0.13 parts per million (ppm) (range 0.03-18.82) (n = 78), urinary sevoflurane 0.6 microg/l urine (ND-18.5)(n = 76) and total urinary hexafluoro-isopropanol (HFIP) 0.49 mg/l urine (ND-6833.4) (n = 75). A lower limit of detection (LOD) was achieved for urinary sevoflurane (0.03 microg/l urine), allowing quantitation of all but one of the samples; >25% of urine samples were unquantifiable by HFIP and were assigned a value equal to half the LOD of 0.10 mg/l(urine). Urinary sevoflurane correlated well with breathing-zone data (r2 = 0.697 at log-log linear regression), whereas total urinary HFIP (r2 = 0.562 at log-log linear regression) seemed to be better described by a three-parameter logistic function and appeared to be influenced by smoking habits. Biological indices corresponding to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) exposure limits, calculated as means of linear regression slope and y intercept, were 3.9 mug/l(urine) and 1.4 microg/l urine for sevoflurane (corresponding to 2 ppm and 0.5 ppm, respectively), and 2.66 mg/l urine and 0.82 mg/l urine for HFIP. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our data, urinary unmodified, sevoflurane seems to be a more sensitive and reliable biomarker of short-term exposure to sevoflurane with respect to total urinary metabolite HFIP, which appears to be influenced by physiological and/or genetic individual traits, and seems to provide an estimate of integrated exposure.

2-Propanol↗

PubMed2005

Simultaneous determination of unmodified sevoflurane and of its metabolite hexafluoroisopropanol in urine by headspace sorptive extraction-thermal desorption-capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Unmodified sevoflurane and its metabolite, hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), have both been proposed as biomarkers of exposure in post-shift urine for operating room personnel exposed to inhalation anaesthetic sevoflurane. We used headspace sorptive extraction (HSSE) and thermal desorption-capillary GC-MS to assess sensitively both compounds in the urine matrix (after a HFIP deconjugation step). In GC-MS splitless mode, calibration plots (approximately 15-650 microg/L) were linear (r2 > 0.9910) and the limits of detection (1 microg/L for both biomarkers) showed increased sensitivity for HFIP with respect to the previously described headspace GC-MS method. The method was suitable for biological monitoring of both biomarkers of exposure to sevoflurane.

Calibration↗

PubMed2005

High-speed capillary gas chromatography for determination of inhalation anesthetics.

To increase sample throughput for GC analysis of inhalation anaesthetics without affecting the separation of nitrous oxide (N2O) and halogenated anaesthetics (sevoflurane, isoflurane and halothane), we explored the effectiveness of a tailor-shortened (12 m) PlotQ capillary column and developed a high-speed version of a previously reported GC technique (involving chromatographic separation of analytes using a GC-MS system, coupled with a selected ion monitoring (SIM) method to increase sensitivity). Efficient separation and repeatable results were achieved at a reduced runtime of approximately 7 min (versus 18 min with the original method) at a carrier gas flow of 1.5 ml/min. This approach should more than double the previous throughput.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗

PubMed2005

Effects of environmental benzene: micronucleus frequencies and haematological values in traffic police working in an urban area.

Among the toxic chemicals present in the ambient air of urban centres, benzene raises particular concern due to its haematoxicity and leukaemogenic hazards, probably related to clastogenic factors. However, little is known about the health risks associated with environmental--rather than industrial--exposure to benzene. We analysed micronucleus (MN) frequencies in peripheral lymphocytes by use of the cytokinesis-block technique, and haematological parameters among 49 traffic police and 36 indoor workers (controls) in the city of Bologna. The analysis of urban air provided by a municipal air-quality monitoring station indicated that the levels of environmental benzene were often above the recommended threshold level (10 microg/m3) whereas other pollutants--nitrogen oxides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, total suspended particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide--did not exceed the maximum atmospheric concentration established for air-quality standards. Mean levels of individual airborne benzene exposure--as measured by personal devices worn during 4-h morning work-shifts--were six-fold higher in the traffic police than in controls (P=0.001). While no significant difference in haematological parameters was found between the two groups, MN frequency was significantly higher among the traffic police than in indoor workers (P=0.001). Among the study population, MN frequency was found to increase with age, but no influence was observed for gender or smoking. Although it cannot be excluded that the increase of MN frequency observed in traffic police could also depend, apart from benzene, on the complex mixture of pollutants encountered in urban air, our data indicate that elevated personal benzene exposure could represent a genetic risk. The analysis of biomarkers of genetic damage in subjects particularly exposed to environmental benzene deserves careful study.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Micronuclei in humans induced by exposure to low level of ionizing radiation: influence of polymorphisms in DNA repair genes.

Understanding the risks deriving from protracted exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation has remarkable societal importance in view of the large number of work settings in which sources of IR are encountered. To address this question, we studied the frequency of micronuclei (MN), which is an indicator of DNA damage, in a population exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation and in matched controls. In both exposed population and controls, the possible influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in XRCC1, XRCC3 and XPD genes on the frequency of micronuclei was also evaluated. We also considered the effects of confounding factors, like smoking status, age and gender. The results indicated that MN frequency was significantly higher in the exposed workers than in the controls [8.62+/-2.80 versus 6.86+/-2.65; P=0.019]. Radiological workers with variant alleles for XRCC1 or XRCC3 polymorphisms or wild-type alleles for XPD exon 23 or 10 polymorphisms showed a significantly higher MN frequency than controls with the same genotypes. Smoking status did not affect micronuclei frequency either in exposed workers or controls, while age was associated with increased MN frequency in the exposed only. In the combined population, gender but not age exerted an influence on the yield of MN, being higher in females than in males. Even though there is a limitation in this study due to the small number of subjects, these results suggest that even exposures to low level of ionizing radiation could have genotoxic effects and that XRCC3, XRCC1 and XPD polymorphisms might contribute to the increased genetic damage in susceptible individuals occupationally exposed to chronic low levels of ionizing radiation. For a clear conclusion on the induction of DNA damage caused by protracted exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation and the possible influence of genetic polymorphism in DNA repair genes larger studies are needed.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed2005

A new high-performance liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous determination of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil as markers of surface contamination for occupational exposure monitoring.

A new high-performance liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of 5-fluorouracil (5FU), methotrexate (MTX) and cyclophosphamide (CP) in environmental samples. These compounds, commonly used in the treatment of cancer, are recognized as genotoxic. In order to estimate the occupational exposure of hospital personnel handling these drugs, wipe samples were taken from the working surfaces and directly analyzed (with trophosphamide as internal standard) using a reversed-phase capillary column and MS/MS detection. This is the first HPLC/MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of 5FU, MTX and CP. The present method offers high sensitivity, with detection limits of 1.1 microg l(-1) for MTX and CP and 33.3 microg l(-1) for 5FU, avoiding any sample preconcentration procedure. Rapidity, specificity, high accuracy (mean values between 92.4 and 99.9%) and precision (mean RSD values between 3.4 and 12.1%) make the method suitable for the routine determination of these three antineoplastic drugs.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed2005

A method for routine quantitation of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine based on solid-phase extraction and micro-high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG), one of the major oxidative DNA lesions induced by radical agents, is commonly used as a biomarker for oxidative stress, nowadays preferably in urine. In the absence of a commercially available internal standard a micro-high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (micro-HPLC/ESI-MS/MS) method, suitable for routine analysis of 8OHdG in human urine using external calibration, was developed. Evaluation of the matrix effect showed that the method allows highly sensitive and accurate quantitation despite the absence of an internal standard. HPLC analysis was performed using gradient elution at a flow rate of 10 microL min(-1) using a capillary reversed-phase column and an injection volume of 0.5 microL, with detection of 8OHdG in positive multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The absolute limit of detection was 0.35 fmol using m/z 168 as a quantifier (fragment) ion. A linear (R2> 0.999) calibration curve in urine was obtained over a range 0.2-10 ng mL(-1). This method is about 20 times more sensitive than previously described procedures, and is characterized by high accuracy (mean 90%) and good reproducibility (RSD <10%). The optimized method was applied to determination of 8OHdG in 18 urinary samples derived from three healthy volunteers. 8OHdG urinary excretion ranged from 3.0-7.9 microg/day, and a large intra-individual variation was found. This method, which effectively circumvents the need for isotopically labeled 8OHdG (internal standard), is suitable for routine monitoring of exposure to DNA-damaging factors in a large number of subjects.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

PubMed2005

Development and validation of a capillary high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometric method for the quantification of bisphenol A in air samples.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a toxic industrial chemical that affects the endocrine system even at low concentrations. A new method, based on capillary high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS) analysis, has been developed to determine BPA in atmospheric samples. The method involves collection of air samples (typically 2 m(3)) on glass fiber filters, with ultrasonic extraction and sample concentration under vacuum before analysis. HPLC analysis was performed isocratically at a flow rate of 10 microL min(-1) using a capillary reversed-phase column and MS/MS analysis in negative ion multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, using BPA-d(16) as internal standard. The present method provides linear response in the range 0.007-3.5 microg/filter (R(2) > 0.999) and is characterized by high accuracy (mean bias 2%) and good reproducibility (mean RSD 5%). High sensitivity (LOD = 2 ng/m(3) based on 2 m(3) of air collected), specificity, and speed of the analysis make the present method suitable for routine determination of BPA in the atmosphere, both for ambient and personnel monitoring.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed2005

Efficacy of three face masks in preventing inhalation of airborne contaminants in dental practice.

BACKGROUND: Up-to-date studies are needed on the protection provided by face masks used by dentists. We assessed the relative filtering efficacy of two currently used surgical face masks (one a molded mask, the other a tie-on mask) and a certified personal particulate respirator, all made by a single manufacturer. METHODS: The authors sprayed bicarbonate particulate against a porcelain surface (representing the patient's mouth) and collected it via a mannequin head (representing the dentist's head) placed 40 centimeters away and a tube with two airflow rates (0.5 cubic meters per hour and 9 m3/hour). They calculated the dry residue weight. They performed three separate runs for each mask and three runs with no mask at the two airflow rates with and without aerosol. RESULTS: With no mask (control), the authors recorded significant weight gains at both airflow rates with and without vaporization. With vaporization, the three masks were associated with different dry residue weights (P < .03 with the Kruskal-Wallis test at both flow rates), the respirator propviding the lowest amount. The respirator provided an efficiency of 94 to 96 percent, compared with 90 to 92 percent and 85 to 86 percent for the molded and tie-on surgical masks, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide independent evidencependent evidence that a certified personalthat a certified personal respirator can be more effective than high quality surgical masks in dental settings. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dentists should be aware that a certified particulate respirator can provide them with superior filtering protection.

Aerosols↗

PubMed2004

Simultaneous determination of t,t-muconic, S-phenylmercapturic and S-benzylmercapturic acids in urine by a rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry method.

We describe a rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS) method for simultaneous determination of the most relevant metabolites of benzene and toluene, t,t-muconic acid (t,t-MA), S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA), and S-benzylmercapturic acid (S-BMA). Urine samples were purified before analysis by solid-phase microextraction (SPE) on SAX cartridges with 50 mg sorbent mass. The developed method fulfils all the standard requirements of precision and accuracy. Calibration curves were linear within the concentration range of the standards (0-80 microg/L(urine) for t,t-MA, and 0-25 microg/L(urine) for S-PMA and S-BMA), and had correlation coefficients > or =0.997. Limits of detection were 6.0 microg/L for t,t-MA, 0.3 microg/L for S-PMA, and 0.4 microg/L for S-BMA. The method was used to determine t,t-MA, S-PMA and S-BMA levels in urine of 31 gasoline-station workers, with personal monitoring data obtained from radial symmetry passive diffusive samplers. In the context of mean work-shift exposures of 75.9 microg/m(3) (range 9.4-220.2) for benzene and 331.9 microg/m(3) (78.2-932.1) for toluene, metabolite concentrations in end-of-shift urine samples ranged from 23.5-275.3 microg/g(creatinine) for t,t-MA, non-detectable to 0.9 microg/g(creatinine) for S-PMA, and 3.8-74.8 microg/g(creatinine) for S-BMA. No significant correlation was found between the environmental concentrations and urinary metabolites (p > 0.05 for all cases); the ratios of benzene metabolites could be influenced by exposure levels and co-exposure to xylenes and toluene. The high throughput of this procedure should facilitate exploration of the metabolic effects of benzene-related co-exposure to toluene and alkylbenzenes in large populations of subjects exposed to gasoline.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed2003

Enflurane as an internal standard in monitoring halogenated volatile anaesthetics by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Recently. we proposed the use of a run-only headspace-GC-MS method for the biological monitoring of ppb concentrations of unmodified volatile anaesthetics (isoflurane, sevoflurane and halothane, plus nitrous oxide) in post-shift urine of operating theatre personnel. The adoption of enflurane (a volatile anaesthetic no longer used in clinical practice) as a poper and viable internal standard improves intra-day and inter-day accuracy in halide quantitation, providing a GC-MS reference method useful in the practice of biomonitoring of exposure of operating theatre personnel to modern volatile anaesthetics (isoflurane. sevoflurane, halothane).

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗

PubMed2002

Proposal for single and mixture biological exposure limits for sevoflurane and nitrous oxide at low occupational exposure levels.

OBJECTIVES: Assessment of individual exposures to sevoflurane plus nitrous oxide (N(2)O) by biological monitoring of unmodified analytes in post-shift urine of exposed personnel. METHODS: Anaesthetics in urine and breathing area were monitored in 124 subjects in 11 operating theatres. Passive samplers were collected after 2.5-7 h of exposure, at the same time as post-shift urinary samples, to evaluate the individual time-weighted average (TWA) exposures to sevoflurane and N(2)O. A static headspace sampler coupled with a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer was used for analytical determinations (sensitivity sufficient to reveal biological/environmental exposures of 0.1 microg/l(urine) and 50 ppb for sevoflurane, and 1 microg/l(urine) and 80 ppb for N(2)O). RESULTS: Median (range) post-shift urinary and environmental values were 1.2 microg/l(urine) (0.1-5.0) and 0.4 ppm (0.05-3.0) for sevoflurane ( n=107) and 10.9 microg/l(urine) (0.5-74.9) and 8.6 ppm (0.2-123.4) for N(2)O ( n=121) (all low-exposure range). At log-log regression, urinary levels closely correlated with environmental data (sevoflurane, r(2)=0.7538; N(2)O, r(2)=0.8749). Biological equivalent limits (BELs) based on National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) TWA exposure limits, calculated as means of regression slope and y-intercept, were 3.6 microg/l(urine) for sevoflurane (corresponding to 2 ppm) and 22.3 microg/l(urine) for N(2)O (corresponding to 25 ppm). Individual "mixture BELs", which we calculated by applying the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit value (TLV) mix formula to biomarker values and using the obtained NIOSH-based BELs as a reference, closely correlated with mixture TLVs (rho=0.816, Lin's concordance test). CONCLUSIONS. We propose urinary sevoflurane as a new, specific, internal dose biomarker for routine biological monitoring of personal exposures among operating-theatre personnel, and use of reliable "mixture BELs" to provide safer levels of internal exposure for workers exposed to mixtures of sevoflurane and N(2)O, and conceivably also to other mixtures of toxicants with possible additive effects.

Environmental Monitoring↗

PubMed2002

Micronuclei frequencies in hospital workers occupationally exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation: influence of smoking status and other factors.

In the context of a medical surveillance program aimed at preventing cancer risk from exposure to ionizing radiation, we investigated chromosomal damage in peripheral lymphocytes from 37 hospital workers exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation and 37 controls. The micronuleus (MN) assay was used as a biomarker of genetic damage. The influence of confounding factors like smoking status, age and gender was investigated by multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that, overall, MN frequency was higher in exposed workers than in controls, although the difference was not statistically significant. Interestingly, smoking status significantly raised MN frequency among the exposed workers but not among controls. This suggests that smoking can influence chromosomal damage induced in humans by ionizing radiation. Among both exposed workers and controls, MN frequency was found to increase with age. Female gender influenced the increase in MN frequency in the exposed group. Our results suggest that the effect of cigarette smoking should be carefully factored into genetic monitoring studies assessing the risks associated with low level radiation exposure.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lack of sensitivity of urinary trans,trans-muconic acid in determining low-level (ppb) benzene exposure in children.

Benzene is a widespread pollutant of which the main source in the outside environment is automotive traffic. Benzene is also present in cigarette smoke, and small quantities exist in drinking water and food; all of these sources contribute to pollution of indoor environments. Benzene exposure may be studied with biologic indicators. In the present study, the authors evaluated whether differences in urinary concentrations of trans,transmuconic acid (t,t-MA) were detectable in a sample of 150 children and if the chemical was correlated with environmental exposures to low levels of benzene. The children attended primary schools that had significantly different-but low-environmental benzene levels. Analysis of urinary t,t-MA was achieved with high-performance liquid chromatography (photodiode array detector), and analysis of passive air samplers for benzene was performed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis (Kruskal-Wallis test) indicated that differences in urinary levels of t,t-MA in children from urban and rural areas were not statistically significant (p = .07), nor were there significant differences between children with and without relatives who smoked (p = .69). As has been shown in other studies of children and adults, results of our study evidenced (1) the difficulty of correlating concentrations of urinary biomarkers with environmental exposure to benzene at a parts-per-billion level (i.e., traffic and environmental tobacco smoke) and, consequently, (2) the lack of specificity of t,t-MA as a biological indicator for the study of a population's exposure.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs in a hospital setting: biological and environmental monitoring].

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the occupational exposure of hospital personnel handling antineoplastics drugs using a highly sensitive and specific analitycal method in biological and environmental samples. DESIGN: To develop analitycal methods for the biological and environmental monitoring of more than one substance. SETTING: Five departments of the Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi (Bologna, Italy) involved in the preparation and administration of antineoplastic drugs. PARTICIPANTS: 50 nurses handling antineoplastics drugs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evaluation of the occupational exposure of hospital personnel handling and administering anticancer drug cocktails. RESULTS: 19 of 50 subjects were positive to biological monitoring. Three were positive for MTX only, 11 for CP only and 5 subjects were positive for both. Urinary MTX levels ranged from 0.3 to 2.0 ppb, CP ranged fom 0.06 to 10.0 ppb. Wipe tests showed a higher contamination on the hoods working tray (where drugs are prepared), suggesting that the organization layout can affect the surface contamination level. Samples from each department resulted positive for at least one of three drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The analytical methods developed allow sensitive and specific determination of indicators of internal and external dose. Biological monitoring is of primary importance for assessing the real espoxure of hospital personnel during the preparation and administration of the drugs. Environmental monitoring stresses the importance to observe the Guidelines for standard operating procedures and the importance of protective disposables to reduce exposure and the associated health risk.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Biomonitoring of nurses occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs: the IMEPA Project].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a multiple-endpoint monitoring system in order to assess and minimize long term risks in hospital nurses exposed to antiblastic drugs. DESIGN: Molecular epidemiology study. SETTING: S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital in Bologna, Italy: nurses exposed to antiblastic drugs. PARTICIPANTS: 50 exposed subjects (8 males and 42 females) and 50 unexposed individuals (8 males and 42 females) matched for age and smoking habits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Urinary markers of exposure, Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) 27, 70, 90, 110, immunologic biomarkers in peripheral blood lymphocytes: apoptosis, cell-cycle analysis G1-S-G, typization of Natural Killer cells (NK) and receptors micronuclei; frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes and in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells; activation ofspecific oncogenes (bax, bcl2). RESULTS: 19/50 subjects showed urinary antiblastic drug levels (3 subjects MTX, 11 subjects CP, 5 subjects MTX and CP). No statistically significant differences were observed in all the considered biomarkers between the exposed and control groups. CONCLUSION: This biomonitoring study doesn't evidence any early significant effect associated to the exposure to antiblastic drugs.

Adult↗