Copper-zinc Superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase) activity was evaluated in lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells of insulin-dependent (n = 33) and non-insulin-dependent (n = 34) diabetic patients. A commercial method for the measurement of Superoxide dismutase activity was adapted for use on a discrete analyser and evaluated for interference by other antioxidants with Superoxide anion-scavenging properties. In comparison to healthy control subjects (n = 32), a significantly lower Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase activity was found in both lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells of insulin-dependent (2.08 ± 0.58 vs. 1.70 ± 0.46 U/mg protein, p < 0.05, and 1.06 ± 0.46 vs. 0.64 ± 0.40 U/mg protein, p < 0.001, respectively) and non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients (2.08 ± 0.58 vs. 1.61 ± 0.48 U/mg protein, p < 0.01, and 1.06 ± 0.46 vs. 0.53 ± 0.24 U/mg protein, p < 0.001, respectively). There was a weak, but significant negative correlation between age and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase activity in lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells (r = -0.22 and r = -0.28, p < 0.05, respectively), whereas no influence of gender, diabetes duration and glycaemic control was observed. The results indicate that diabetes mellitus could elicit a significant disturbance in Superoxide anion-scavenging potential of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells.

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were examined in 49 workers employed in a printing press, who were occupationally exposed to low concentrations of toluene for an average of 20.3 years, and in 59 subjects in a control group. In the group of exposed workers, a significant decrease was found in all wave amplitudes examined, a significant prolongation of PI wave latency, and an increased interval of interpeak latencies (P3–P5), indicating that the extramedullary and high medullary part of the auditory pathway are biologically most frequently affected by chronic exposure to low concentrations of toluene. The level of exposure to toluene in both groups was evaluated by defining the concentration of toluene in peripheral blood and the concentration of hippuric acid and ortho‐cresol in urine. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

No abstract

No abstract