Articulating polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spacers may have an immunomodulating effect on synovial tissue.

Aims: Tissue responses to debris formed by abrasion of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spacers at two-stage revision arthroplasty for prosthetic joint infection are not well described. We hypothesised that PMMA debris induces immunomodulation in periprosthetic tissues.

Patients And Methods: Samples of tissue were taken during 35 two-stage revision arthroplasties (nine total hip and 26 total knee arthroplasties) in patients whose mean age was 67 years (44 to 85).

Epigenetic changes in lymphocytes of solvent-exposed individuals.

Aim: We investigated global DNA methylation alterations in lymphocytes of solvent workers and chronic toxic encephalopathy (CTE) patients and explored potential gene-environment interactions for GST. POPULATION & METHODS: A cross-sectional study was set up in 41 referents, 128 solvent workers and 23 CTE patients.

Results: We found a global DNA hypermethylation in the solvent-exposed population compared with the referents (p = 0.

Genetic susceptibility in solvent induced neurobehavioral effects.

The aim of this investigation was to study the influence of genetic polymorphisms of biotransformation enzymes and dopamine receptors on neurobehavioral effects in referents (n = 53), solvent-workers (n = 144), and chronic toxic encephalopathy (CTE) patients (n = 33). All participants were interviewed for exposure data and confounding factors and underwent a clinical examination. Neurobehavioral complaints (neurotoxicity symptom checklist-60) and effects [simple reaction time (SRT), symbol digit substitution (SDS), hand-eye coordination (HEC), and digit span backwards (DSB)] were evaluated with a computer assisted test battery.