Adherence of peripheral blood neutrophils in X-ray operators

The studies were conducted among 39 people (29 women and 10 men) operating X-ray equipment in radiology institutes and comparisons were made in the following schemes: A/ Group of persons operating the X-ray equipment (39 persons) and control group (18 persons). B/ A subgroup of persons that had been operating radiology equipment for > 5 years (29 workers was separated) and the results were compared with those for the subgroup of persons working < 5 years (10 workers). C/ Among the workers a subgroup of women (29) was separated and the results were compared with those for the subgroup of men (10 men). The following investigations were carried out: 1./ The absolute number of neutrophils in peripheral blood. 2./ Neutrophil adherence to fibres. 3./ Evaluation of CD 11b/CD 18 adhesion molecules expression on the surface of neutrophils. 4./ Evaluation of fibronectin concentration in serum. In the group A of the employees examined who operated X-ray units compared with the control group, the statistically significant decrease in the percentage of peripheral blood neutrophils showing adherence was observed and statistically significant decrease in median value and decrease of "Peak" value from the curve of the CD 18 adhesion molecule expression was detected and amounted to respectively: 91.0 +/- 4.26% adhering neutrophils in workers operating X-ray units and 94.8 +/- 2.98% in control group; values of median 120 +/- 4 in workers and 123 +/- 3 in control group in logarithmic scale; values of "Peak" 120 +/- 4 in workers and 123 +/- 3 in control group in logarithmic scale. Our own testing results show that the adherence properties of the peripheral blood neutrophils taken from X-ray operators are independent of the length of employment period and of the sex of the persons tested.