Symptoms experienced by law enforcement personnel during methamphetamine lab investigations.

This study was conducted to determine if law enforcement personnel experience symptoms associated with methamphetamine lab investigation and to assess those factors that may result in more symptoms. A total of 258 standardized, self-administered surveys were distributed to law enforcement personnel attending national/regional training classes, between June 2004-February 2005. Ninety-three percent of the surveys were returned and used to determine symptoms experienced while investigating clandestine methamphetamine labs, as well as the job duties of the respondent and the personal protective equipment used.

Importance of angiotensin-converting enzyme in pulmonary hypertension.

Angiotensin II causes pulmonary vasoconstriction in man and in animals, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have prevented the development of chronic pulmonary hypertension in animals models. Angiotensin II may contribute to lung vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertensive disease, since cilazapril, an inhibitor of ACE, reduces pulmonary vascular medical thickening in chronically hypoxic rats with established pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, the ACE DD genotype, which has been associated with increased circulating and tissue ACE activity, has been associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in human hypertensive disorders.