Iranian Journal of War and Public Health

Aims: Aging is the result of accumulation of different detrimental changes in cells and tissues that increase the risk of disease and death with aging. Irreversible and progressive oxidative hindrance caused by “reactive oxygen species” is effective in aging. This study examined the association of age with oxidative stress indices in patients with severe pulmonary lesions by measuring the levels of these indices, 15-20 years after exposure.

Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 289 veterans with severe pulmonary lesions and 66 identical normal subjects in 2008. Blood samples were taken in the fasting state. ELISA method was used for measuring carbonyl protein and serum total antioxidant, Thiobarbituric Acid reaction for lipid peroxidation and FOX2 for total peroxide concentration of plasma samples. Differences between groups were measured by Student-T and test using SPSS 18 software.

Findings: No significant differences were observed in levels of Carbonyl protein and oxidative stress index (the ratio of total antioxidant to total peroxide) between two patient and control groups, while total peroxide level of patient group was significantly (p<0.001) less than control group. No significant correlation was seen between age and oxidative stress indices in both groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion: In order to eliminate and control the response to mustard gas in bodies of chemical injured people, total antioxidant increases and total peroxide decreases and oxidative stress index remains unchanged.

Aims: Pigmentation disorders are one of the main skin problems due to mustard gas exposure in chemically-injured veterans. The aim of this study as part of the Sardasht cohort study was to investigate the association between IL-6 and IL-4 and pigment disorders in chemically-injured veterans exposed to mustard gas.

Materials & Methods: In this study, 500 subjects including 372 people exposed to mustard gas and 128 people as control group were studied. Systematic random sampling was done. 2cc of peripheral blood of each subject was taken and the blood was allowed to be clotted at the room temperature (37°C). Tubes containing the clotted blood centrifuged for 5min and the serum was separated. Serum levels of IL-4 and IL-6 were measured using the ELISA sandwich and kit was determined using ELISA reading apparatus. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the serum levels of cytokines in the studied groups.

Findings: Serum levels of IL-6 in veterans with and without reduction or increase in pigmentation disorders showed no significant difference. But compared with control group, there was a significant reduction in veterans without hypopigmentation disorder, while there was no significant difference between control group veterans with hypopigmentation disorder. Serum levels of IL-4 significantly increased in veterans with hypopigmentation disorder compared with veterans without the disorder.

Conclusion: Changes in serum levels of Il-4 and Il-6 may be involved in hypopigmentation.