Dr. Nabil Al-humadi, Research Inhalation Toxicologist in IITRI's Inhalation Toxicology Division, recently published two articles in professional scientific journals:

• NH Al-Humadi, JKH Ma, DM Lewis, JYC Ma, MW Barger, and PD Siegel (2004). Dose Dependent Thiol and Immune Response to Ovalbumin Challenge in Brown Norway Rats. Journal of Toxicology and Industrial Health, 18: 343-352.

This paper examines the correlation between Ovalbumin (as an antigen) exposure and immune responses. In this study, the authors have shown that Ovalbumin exposure caused a dose-dependent alteration of inflammatory, thiol and immune parameters in OVA sensitized and challenged rats. They also have shown that changes in thiol did not correlate with antibody responses.

• Paul D. Siegel, Rajiv K. Saxena, Q.B. Saxena, Joseph K.H. Ma, Jane Y.C. Ma, Xue-Jun Yin, Vincent Castranova, Nabil Al-Humadi, and Daniel M. Lewis (2004). Effect of Diesel Exhaust particulate (DEP) on Immune Responses: Contributions of Particulate vs. Organic Soluble Components. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 67: 221-231.

This paper is a review showing the effect of particulate vs. organic soluble components (of the diesel exhaust particles) on the immune system. It is concluded that both the particulate and adsorbed organics may contribute to DEP-mediated immune alterations.

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IITRI scientists displayed their research findings in several platform and poster presentations at the 43rd annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology (SOT), March 21-25, 2004, in Baltimore, MD, and at the 95th annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), March 27-31, 2004, in Orlando, FL.

The platform presentation given at the SOT meeting was:

1. Subchronic Oral Toxicity/Enzyme Modulation Study of Farnesol in Rats. The presenter was Thomas L. Horn, IITRI. Authors are Thomas L. Horn, Lina Long, Michael Cwik, William D. Johnson, IITRI; Robert L. Morrissey, Pathology Associates, Chicago, IL; Izet Kapetanovic, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD; and David L. McCormick, IITRI.

Posters shown at the SOT meeting include:

1. Oncogenicity Evaluations of Soy Isoflavones and Bowman-Birk Inhibitor in P53^(+/-) Mice. Authors are David L. McCormick, William D. Johnson, Raymond L. Selby and Lawrence Dooley, IITRI; Robert L. Morrissey and Lawrence Arp, Pathology Associates, Chicago, IL; and James A. Crowell, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
   
   
2. 28-Day Oral (Gavage) Toxicity Study of Se-Methylselenocysteine in Dogs. Authors are William D. Johnson and Jason Lopez, IITRI; Robert L. Morrissey, Pathology Associates, Chicago, IL; Clement Ip, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY; Izet Kapetanovic, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD; and and David L. McCormick, IITRI.

Posters shown at the AACR meeting include:

1. Lack of Chemopreventive Activity of Lycopene in the Wistar-Unilever Rat Prostate Cancer Model. Authors are Maarten C. Bosland, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY; William D. Johnson and Michael J. Cwik, IITRI; Ronald A. Lubet and Vernon E. Steele, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD; and David L. McCormick, IITRI.
   
   
2. Chronic Oral Toxicity Studies of the Angiogenesis Inhibitor, Ammonium Tetrathiomolybdate. Authors are William D. Johnson and David L. McCormick, IITRI; Robert L. Morrissey, Pathology Associates, Chicago, IL; Elizabeth M. Glaze and Joseph E. Tomaszewski, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
   
   
3. Suppression of Oral Carcinogenesis in Rats by the Pparγ Agonist, Rosiglitazone. (See article in this issue.) Authors are David L. McCormick, Thomas L. Horn, William D. Johnson and Jonathan M. Phillips, IITRI; Ronald A. Lubet and Vernon E. Steele, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
   
   

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Dennis Sullivan, M.S., D.A.B.T., Research Toxicologist in the Inhalation Toxicology Division, recently celebrated 25 years of service with IITRI. Mr. Sullivan's primary expertise is in the conduct of acute and subchronic inhalation toxicology studies in rodent model systems. He has served as Study Director for inhalation toxicology evaluations of a wide range of test articles, including drugs, biological agents, chemicals, and consumer products. Mr. Sullivan is a member of the Society of Toxicology, Midwest Regional Chapter.

Scott Garthwaite, B.S., Research Inhalation Engineer and Analytical Chemist in the Inhalation Toxicology Division, recently celebrated 15 years of service with IITRI. Mr. Garthwaite specializes in inhalation exposure system design, analytical chemical method development and validation, and pulmonary toxicology. He has more than 10 years of experience in inhalation toxicology and has served as study supervisor for inhalation toxicity studies. He is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Lucy Touma-Youakim, M.S., Research Quality Assurance Auditor in the QA Unit, recently celebrated 10 years of service with IITRI. Ms. Touma-Youakim has seven years of experience in performing laboratory inspections, data, and report audits to ensure compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations such as FDA, EPA/FIFRA, EPA/TSCA, OECD, and Japanese GLPs and adherence to the protocol and written standard operating procedures.

She has inspected chronic, subchronic, and acute nonclinical laboratory studies, audited associated data and reports, and trained new QA auditors. She also has three years of experience in conducting and supervising teratology and reproductive studies. She is a member of the Society of Quality Assurance and the Society of Toxicology, Midwest Regional Chapter.

Michael Cwik, Ph.D., Senior Chemist in the Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Division, recently celebrated 5 years of service with IITRI. Dr. Cwik received his Ph.D. degree in medicinal chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has more than 23 years of experience in analytical and medicinal chemistry, and in the provision of analytical chemistry and pharmacokinetics support to in vivo bioassays and clinical trials.

Dr. Cwik is a member of the American Chemical Society, serves on the board of directors of the Chicago Chromatography Discussion Group and is a reviewer for the Journal of Chromatography B. He is the author or coauthor of 16 publications and 13 abstracts and presentations.

Mark Krebs, M.M., M.S., Director of Business Development, recently celebrated 5 years of service with IITRI. Mr. Krebs is responsible for all sales and marketing activities at IITRI. This includes identifying and securing commitment from new prospective, target, and forecasted accounts; identifying and penetrating business opportunities in new markets; and identifying, developing and implementing marketing tools.

Mr. Krebs has worked in the health care field for over 12 years in areas such as research and development, technical support and sales for diagnostic products and instrumentation, gene expression and imaging systems, preparative and analytical instrumentation, and contract testing services. He is a member of the Society of Toxicology, Midwest Regional Chapter.

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