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. 2023 Jul;66(7):610-619.
doi: 10.1002/ajim.23477. Epub 2023 Apr 5.

Impacts of age, diabetes, and hypertension on serum endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide-II after prolonged work in the heat

W Shane Journeay  1   2   3 , James J McCormick  4 , Kelli E King  4 , Sean R Notley  4 , Nicholas Goulet  4   5 , Naoto Fujii  6 , Tatsuro Amano  7 , Glen P Kenny  4   8
Affiliations

Impacts of age, diabetes, and hypertension on serum endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide-II after prolonged work in the heat

W Shane Journeay et al. Am J Ind Med. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Background: With rising temperature extremes, older workers are becoming increasingly vulnerable to heat-related injuries because of age- and disease-associated decrements in thermoregulatory function. Endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide-II (EMAP-II) is a proinflammatory cytokine that has not yet been well-characterized during heat stress, and which may mediate the inflammatory response to high levels of physiological strain.

Methods: We evaluated serum EMAP-II concentrations before and after 180 min of moderate-intensity work (200 W/m2 ) in temperate (wet-bulb globe temperature [WBGT] 16°C) and hot (WBGT 32°C) environments in heat-unacclimatized, healthy young (n = 13; mean [SD]; 22 [3] years) and older men (n = 12; 59 [4] years), and unacclimatized older men with hypertension (HTN) (n = 10; 60 [4] years) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) (n = 9; 60 [5] years). Core temperature and heart rate were measured continuously.

Results: In the hot environment, work tolerance time was lower in older men with HTN and T2D compared to healthy older men (both p < 0.049). While core temperature and heart rate reserve increased significantly (p < 0.001), they did not differ across groups. End-exercise serum EMAP-II concentrations were higher in young men relative to their older counterparts due to higher baseline levels (both p ≤ 0.02). Elevations in serum EMAP-II concentrations were similar between healthy older men and older men with HTN, while serum EMAP-II concentrations did not change in older men with T2D following prolonged work in the heat.

Conclusion: Serum EMAP-II concentrations increased following prolonged moderate-intensity work in the heat and this response is influenced by age and the presence of HTN or T2D.

Keywords: EMAP-II; aging; chronic disease; cytokines; heat strain; occupational heat stress.

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References

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