The Toxicologist - Society of Toxicology
The Toxicologist - Society of Toxicology
The Toxicologist - Society of Toxicology
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the beginning <strong>of</strong> the academic career. <strong>The</strong> award is unique among NIH training<br />
and career development awards in that it is open to both U. S. Citizens and noncitizens<br />
who have postdoctoral appointments at U. S. Institutions. Individuals<br />
apply for the K99/R00 while still in the postdoctoral appointment and the award<br />
allows the candidate to receive both mentored and independent research support<br />
from the same award. Although the research program must have a unifying hypothesis,<br />
logical sequence <strong>of</strong> specific aims to test the hypothesis, and be continuous<br />
in time, the application is essentially a composite <strong>of</strong> two different types <strong>of</strong> programs,<br />
one which is a mentored program and the other which is an independent research<br />
effort. This session focuses on the K99/R00 grant program, its provisions<br />
and review, and presents tips to address the “hybrid” nature <strong>of</strong> the application.<br />
663 A POLYMORPHISM IN THE AH-RECEPTOR GENE IS<br />
RELATED TO HYPERTENSION AND ENDOTHELIUM-<br />
DEPENDENT VASODILATION.<br />
L. Lind 1 and M. P. Lind 2, 3 . 1 Acute and Internal Medicine, Department <strong>of</strong> Medical<br />
Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden,<br />
2<br />
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department <strong>of</strong> Medical Sciences,<br />
Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden and 3 Institute <strong>of</strong> Environmental Medicine,<br />
Karolinska institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.<br />
Objectives: Since we previously have shown that a dioxin-like agonist for the aryl<br />
hydrocarbon receptor (AHR, Ah- receptor, Dioxin receptor) increases blood pressure,<br />
we here examined the relations between single nucleotide polymorphisms<br />
(SNPs) in the AHR gene and prevalence <strong>of</strong> hypertension in a population-based<br />
sample. For SNPs related to hypertension, we also evaluated the relation to endothelium-dependent<br />
vasodilation (EDV) as a secondary aim. Material: Blood<br />
pressure was measured in 1016 men and women, aged 70 in the Prospective<br />
Investigation <strong>of</strong> the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study. Hypertension<br />
was defined to be prevalent in individuals on antihypertensive treatment or with<br />
blood pressure >140/90 mmHg. EDV was measured by acetylcholine infusion in<br />
the forearm and venous occlusion plethysmography. Twenty SNPs in the AhR gene<br />
were chosen according to data from the HapMap project and they were genotyped<br />
using the Illumina Golden Gate assay. Results: Of the 20 SNPs analysed, six<br />
showed an association with hypertension with a p-value < 0.05. <strong>The</strong> strongest association<br />
signal was found for the SNPs rs17137566 (p=0.0038 following gender-adjustment),<br />
where a dose-response for the number <strong>of</strong> A alleles and the prevalence <strong>of</strong><br />
hypertension was seen, with the rare allele being protective against hypertension.<br />
This genotype was also related to EDV in the expected way (p= 0.018 following<br />
gender-adjustment). Conclusion: <strong>The</strong> present study showed that genetic variation<br />
in the AHR gene is related to hypertension, as well as to endothelium-dependent<br />
vasodilatation in resistance vessels, suggesting that the AHR could be involved in<br />
blood pressure and resistance vessel regulation.<br />
664 BIOMARKERS AND ONSET OF NON-SPECIFIC<br />
BUILDING RELATED SYMPTOMS IN THE DWELLING.<br />
A COHORT STUDY FROM 1992 TO 2002.<br />
B. G. Sahlberg 1 , D. Norbäck 1 , G. Weslander 1 and C. Janson 2 . 1 Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala, Sweden and<br />
2<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Medical Sciences, Respiratory Medicine & Allergology, Uppsala,<br />
Sweden.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are many studies on non specific building related symptoms and indoor environment.<br />
Most <strong>of</strong> them are cross-sectional and several deals with occupational environments<br />
only a few <strong>of</strong> them comprise domestic exposures. Our study is based on<br />
data from one centre, Uppsala <strong>of</strong> the European Community Respiratory Health<br />
Survey (ECRHS). <strong>The</strong> ECRHS was a multi-centre population study carried out on<br />
subjects aged 20- 44 years in 1992. A smaller random and symptomatic sample <strong>of</strong><br />
subjects who had completed the screening questionnaire was invited to attend for a<br />
more detailed interview-led questionnaire, blood tests for the measurement <strong>of</strong> total<br />
and specific IgE, a skin-prick test, spirometry and methacholine challenge. A follow-up<br />
study ECRHS II was carried out in 2000 (N=627). <strong>The</strong> aim was to investigate<br />
changes <strong>of</strong> symptoms during the follow-up period, also to investigate changes<br />
<strong>of</strong> different types <strong>of</strong> indoor exposures at home (dampness/mould, painting, ETS<br />
and wall to wall carpet) and relate them to symptoms in a population sample <strong>of</strong><br />
adults from Uppsala, Sweden. We also wanted to investigate relations <strong>of</strong> biomarkers<br />
and indoor exposures at home and new onset <strong>of</strong> symptoms. Biomarkers study at<br />
base line was ECP(eosinophil cationic protein) with a median (M) value <strong>of</strong> 12.10<br />
μg/l and a inter quartile range(IQR) <strong>of</strong> 8.36 μg/l – 18.40 μg/l and EOS(eosinophil<br />
counts) 150 μg/l (90 - 231) and in the follow-up hsCRP(High-Sensitivity C-<br />
Reactive Protein) 1.04ml/l (0.47 - 2.42)and IL-6(Interleukin-6) 8.62 ng/l (5.58 -<br />
10.94). <strong>The</strong> total levels <strong>of</strong> serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) was measured at both<br />
occasion. <strong>The</strong> M and IQR was 28.45 IE/ml (11.70 - 80.90) and 35.80 IE/ml<br />
(17.40 - 98.60). Our finding provide evidence <strong>of</strong> an association between biomarkers,<br />
dampness in the dwelling and new onset <strong>of</strong> mucosal membrane symptoms.<br />
665 EPIDEMIOLOGIC EVIDENCE FOR FORMALDEHYDE-<br />
INDUCED LYMPHOHEMATOPOIETIC<br />
MALIGNANCIES.<br />
B. Sonawane, T. Bateson, J. Whalan and D. DeVoney. National Center for<br />
Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.<br />
Epidemiologic studies indicate an association between formaldehyde exposure and<br />
lymphohematopoietic (LHP) malignancies in a range <strong>of</strong> occupational cohorts as<br />
well as in case-control studies. Early studies reported the strongest associations for<br />
all leukemia and for myeloid leukemia as a specific subtype. <strong>The</strong>re has been considerable<br />
debate on the biological plausibility <strong>of</strong> formaldehyde-induced leukemia,<br />
specifically for myeloid leukemia. <strong>The</strong>refore, available data were analyzed by etiologically-related<br />
subtypes in an effort to better understand which disease, or disease<br />
groupings, are consistently associated with formaldehyde exposure, thereby providing<br />
a better basis for judging biological plausibility. Data from two published cohorts<br />
were available for subtype analysis; a study <strong>of</strong> garment workers (Hayes et al.,<br />
1990) and the NCI study <strong>of</strong> industrial workers (Beane-Freeman et al., 2009).<br />
Unadjusted odds ratios for two novel disease groupings are presented for each<br />
study: 1) all LHP, less myeloid leukemia (ICD 8 codes 200-204, 206-209), and 2)<br />
solid tumors <strong>of</strong> lymphoid origin (ICD 8 codes 200- 203). For both cohorts, associations<br />
between formaldehyde exposure and LHP malignancies (ORs 1.39(1.05-<br />
1.84) and 1.36(1.04-1.78) were retained without myeloid leukemia (ORs <strong>of</strong><br />
1.35(0.99-1.85) and 1.30(0.97-1.74) in garment workers and the peak exposure<br />
group in the NCI industrial cohort respectively. Similar associations were also<br />
found when considering only solid tumors (OR 1.24(0.84-1.84) and 1.32(0.92-<br />
1.89)). <strong>The</strong>se data suggest that observed associations <strong>of</strong> increased LHP are not due<br />
solely to increases in myeloid leukemia as was previously believed. <strong>The</strong> finding <strong>of</strong><br />
positive association for the lymphoid subtypes, especially Hodgkin’s Disease, multiple<br />
myeloma and other diseases which arise from mature lymphocytes, reframes the<br />
debate on the biological plausibility <strong>of</strong> formaldehyde-induced LHP malignancies.<br />
Disclaimer: This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.<br />
666 ASSOCIATION OF LOW-LEVEL BLOOD LEAD AND<br />
BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE NHANES 1999–2006.<br />
F. Scinicariello, H. Abadin and E. Murray. Division Tox and Env.Med.,<br />
ATSDR/CDC, Atlanta, GA. Sponsor: B. Fowler.<br />
Background: A relationship between blood pressure (BP) and high level blood lead<br />
concentrations has been reported and this relationship appeared to be influenced by<br />
the sex and/ or race <strong>of</strong> the participants. <strong>The</strong> objective <strong>of</strong> this study was to evaluate<br />
whether low blood-lead levels (BLLs ≤10 μg/dL) were associated with BP among<br />
adults aged 20 years and older in the U.S. population. Methods: We analyzed data<br />
from NHANES 1999–2006 participants aged 20 years or older who were white<br />
non-Hispanic or black non-Hispanic with BLLs ≤10 μg/dL. Outcome variables<br />
were systolic and diastolic BP measurements and hypertension status. Results: In<br />
multiple regression analyses, BLLs were significantly correlated with higher systolic<br />
BP among black men and women, but not white, participants. <strong>The</strong> change in systolic<br />
BP associated with a two-fold increase <strong>of</strong> blood lead concentration was 1.59<br />
mmHg in black men, and 1.66 mmHg in black women. BLLs were significantly associated<br />
with higher diastolic BPs among white men and women and black men,<br />
but not among black women. Black men with BLLs between 5.01 and 10 μg/dL<br />
had an adjusted prevalence odds ratio <strong>of</strong> 1.98 (95% CI: 1.11–3.50) to have hypertension<br />
compared with black men with BLL