Table 2.
GEE analysis for body weights and the immunological parameters in respect to control over the 14 days after the end of exposure to noise and/ or toluene in New Zealand rabbits [(values are modified based on pre-exposure and control values to remove the effects of confounding variables. Combined effects (synergism, antagonism) were calculated as described in a study by Piggott et al. (30)]
| Time point post exposure | Parameter | Noise group | Toluene group | Combined group | Interaction type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | TNF-α | 3.927±2.636 | 6.477±3.862 | 0.560±2.439 | +Antagonism |
| IL-β | -0.535±1.412 | 2.490b±0.689 | 0.900±1.462 | +Antagonism | |
| Body weight | 0.028±0.091 | -0.075±0.090 | -0.081a±0.036 | -Synergism | |
| Day 3 | TNF-α | 6.895±9.150 | 3.320±4.591 | -2.800±6.901 | -Synergism |
| IL-β | 0.600±1.215 | 0.350±0.930 | 2.140±1.242 | +Synergism | |
| Body weight | 0.018±0.076 | -0.097a±0.038 | 0.011±0.020 | -Antagonism | |
| Day 7 | TNF-α | 3.981±10.624 | 7.406±5.010 | -2.180±5.128 | -Synergism |
| IL-β | -0.703±0.687 | 0.447±2.221 | 1.540±0.917 | +Synergism | |
| Body weight | 0.038±0.059 | -0.06±0.036 | 0.031±0.020 | -Antagonism | |
| Day 14 | TNF-α | 1.525±7.446 | -0.975±7.747 | -1.420±2.416 | -Synergism |
| IL-β | 0.821±0.809 | -0.004±0.811 | 1.220±0.973 | +Synergism | |
| Body weight | 0.116±0.096 | -0.003±0.043 | 0.121b±0.027 | +Synergism |
a
P<0.05; b P<0.001. All values are the β value±SE (standard error)