title: [Effects of n-hexane exposure on human serum myelin basic proteins].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of n-hexane on expression of serum myelin proteins (MBP) in workers occupationally exposed to n-hexane.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 269 workers exposed to n-hexane for more than one year and 104 subjects not exposed to n-hexane served as the exposure group and the control group, respectively. The urinary 2,5-hexanedione levels in all subjects were detected. On the basis of urinary 2,5-hexanedione levels, the exposure group was divided into the high exposure sub-group and low exposure sub-group. The serum myelin basic protein (MBP) levels were measured by ELISA kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean concentration of urinary 2,5-hexanedione in the exposed group was (3.10 +/- 1.35) mg/L. The concentration of urinary 2,5-hexanedione in the control group was undetectable. The levels of serum MBP in the high exposure sub-group and low exposure sub-group were (2.43 +/- 0.24) and (1.62 +/- 0.23) microg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than that (0.78 +/- 0.12) microg/L in the controls (P < 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed the positive correlation between serum MBP levels and urinary 2,5-hexanedione levels (r = 0.781, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of present study showed that the serum MBP levels of workers occupationally exposed to n-hexane significantly elevated, and the serum MBP can serve as the effective biomarker of n-hexane exposure.
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Institute of Occupational Disease Treatment and Prevention, Shenzhen 518001, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Hui-Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ying-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Jia-Xi
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Qing-Jun
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xian-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006586:Hexanes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000097:blood*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006586:Hexanes; C499048:MBP protein, human; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; C026385:n-hexane