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Background: Manifestation of certain health morbidity in copper dust–exposed subjects impels us to obtain a cogent view regarding the implicate relationship of immunoglobulin on health risk assessment in them. We present here immunological profile of copper pit worker and office employees residing in the vicinity. Rationale of this study is to delineate the risk factors involved for copper toxicity. Materials and Methods: Copper mine workers (n = 87) were selected from a copper mine at Malanjkhand. Blood metal concentration and immunological profile such as IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgE were analyzed from these subjects. Data analysis was carried out using proper statistical tools. Results: Chronically copper dust–exposed miners (N = 71) and office employees (N = 47) exhibited significantly higher contents of copper (P < 0.0001) when compared with normal control. Serum IgG and IgA were found to be elevated significantly (P < 0.0001) in them when compared with both office employees and normal control. Contrarily, significant decrease in serum IgM was observed in both the groups when compared with normal control (P < 0.0001). Serum IgE was found to be elevated more significantly only in miner when compared with normal control. Copper exhibited significant positive Pearson's correlation coefficient with IgE, IgG, and IgA (r = 0.39; r = 0.28; r = 0.21) but negative correlation (r = −0.39) with IgM. Odds ratio analysis validated that elevated levels of IgE in miner and decrease in levels of IgM in both groups were truly affected by increase in copper levels from normal to abnormal. Conclusion: Miners are prone to morbidity such as type 2 diabetes and respiratory discomfort (asthma and hypersensitivity) since imbalance in both IgM and IgE is known to be associated with such morbidity. Immunopathy observed in chronically exposed miners could be attributed to copper toxicity in them.

Introduction: Age related hearing impairment (ARHI) is the most common sensory deficit in the elderly population and has become a severe social health problem. Several mechanisms have been described for hearing impairment in elderly people. Probable cause of hearing impairment may result from damage in the inner and outer hair cell, loss of stria vascularis, thickening of basilar membrane, or loss of sensory elements in the basal end of the cochlea. The aim of present study is to identify the protein biomarkers associated with ARHI using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Materials and Methods: Total 96 study subjects (48 experimental and 48 controls) were selected for this study. Serum samples were used for biochemical analysis and one-dimensional electrophoresis. Statistical analysis was done by GraphPad software. Results: Glucose, serum creatinine, and urea levels were in normal range and mean urea and creatinine levels are insignificantly associated with ARHI while mean glucose level is significantly associated with ARHI. Smoking/alcohol consumption did not show any significant association with ARHI. The molecular weight of the differentially expressed protein was 16.2 kDa as calculated by gel image analyzer software. The differentially expressed protein may be cochlin tomoprotein (CTP) of 16 kDa which is an isomer of cochlin protein. CTP contains all the known mutation sites associated with deafness. Conclusion: The expression of differentially expressed protein was consistently observed among experimental subjects as compared to control. This protein may help in the prediagnosis of ARHI due to added advantage of enhanced expression in subjects of ARHI. Results revealed males were more prone to ARHI than female.

Introduction: Bauxite ore is a major source of aluminum (Al) which contains approximately 35–60% Al by weight. Occupational and environmental bauxite dust exposure may cause toxicity by interaction with human biological systems resulting in oxidative stress (OS) and cell death. A neopterin derivative as an antioxidant is able to modulate cytotoxicity by the induction of OS. Materials and Methods: A total of 273 subjects were selected for blood collection from three different major Al producing bauxite mines and were categorized into three groups as experimental (Exp) (n = 150), experimental controls (ExC) (n = 73) and control (Con) (n = 50). Whole blood and serum samples were used for measurement of Al, neopterin, urea and creatinine values. Statistical analysis was performed using R-2.15.1 programming language. Results and Discussion: The result showed that age, body mass index and the behavioral habits, that is, smoking, tobacco and alcohol consumption have possible effects on neopterin level. Serum neopterin levels were found to be significantly higher (P