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Non-exposed Controls (non-exposed + control)
Selected AbstractsRelationship between induced sputum cytology and inflammatory status with lung structural and functional abnormalities in asbestosisAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2008José Henrique Setta MD Abstract Background Asbestosis is associated with lung cellular and immunological abnormalities. Induced sputum cytology and local and systemic markers of inflammation may be helpful to characterize disease status and progression in these patients. Methods Thirty-nine ex-workers with asbestosis on high-resolution CT (HRCT) and 21 non-exposed controls were evaluated. Sputum cytology and IL-8 in serum and sputum were related to lung function impairment. Results Subjects with asbestosis had reduced sputum cellularity but higher macrophage/neutrophil ratio and % macrophage as compared with controls. Sputum and serum IL-8 were also higher in patients with asbestosis (P,<,0.05). In addition, evidence of lung architectural distorption on HRCT was associated with increased levels of serum IL-8. Interestingly, absolute macrophage number was negatively correlated with total lung capacity (r,=,,0.40; P,=,0.04) and serum IL-8 to lung diffusing capacity (r,=,,0.45; P,=,0.01). Conclusions Occupationally exposed subjects with asbestosis on HRCT have cytologic abnormalities in induced sputum and increased local and systemic pro-inflammatory status which are correlated to functional impairment. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:186,194, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Skin symptoms and work-related skin symptoms among grape farmers in Crete, GreeceAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2006Leda Chatzi MD Abstract Background Grape farmers are exposed to a variety of agents capable of inducing occupational skin disease. We conducted a study to measure the prevalence of skin symptoms and work-related skin symptoms among grape farmers in the Malevisi region of Crete and to provide data on associated risk factors. Methods One hundred twenty grape farmers and 100 controls participated in the study. The protocol consisted of a questionnaire, skin prick tests for 16 common allergens, and measurement of specific IgE antibodies against 8 allergens. Results Self-reported itchy rash (OR, 2.31; 95%CI, 1.10,4.84, P,<,0.05) within the last 12 months, and work-related itchy rash (OR, 4.08; 95%CI, 1.01,20.33, P,<,0.05) were significantly higher in grape farmers than in controls, after adjusting for age and sex. Sensitization to pollens (OR, 4.20; 95% CI, 1.41,12.82, P,<,0.01) and allergic rhinitis (OR, 3.06; 95% CI, 1.21,8.28, P,<,0.05) were found to be significantly associated with self-reported itchy rash in the grape farmers group. Conclusions Grape farmers reported skin symptoms more frequently than non-exposed controls, and IgE-mediated sensitization to pollens was found to be significantly associated with the reported symptoms. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of specific occupational agents on skin diseases among grape farmers. Am. J. Ind. Med., 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Antithetical effect of tumor necrosis factor-,gene polymorphism on coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP),AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2005Xin-Tao Wang MD Abstract Background Inter-individual variation in the severity of pneumoconiosis has been described, even with the same environmental exposure. We hypothesized that TNF-, promoter polymorphisms associate with lung responses to environmental exposure in coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP) patients. Methods We examined polymorphisms at ,238, ,308, and ,376 in 124 patients with CWP who had similar dust exposure history and in 122 non-exposed controls. CWP patients were divided into two groups: (1) nodular CWP (n,=,84); (2) progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) (n,=,44). Results The ,308 A allele frequency was higher in patients with CWP compared to controls (6.35% and 2.05%, P,<,0.01). It was also higher in patients with nodular CWP compared to PMF (P,<,0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with the ,308 A allele were 3.8 times (P,=,0.036) and those with smoking habit were 2.3 times (P,<,0.002) more likely to have nodular CWP than PMF. Conclusion TNF-,-308 A allele might interact with smoking to enhance susceptibility to nodular CWP. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:24,29, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Increased formation of sister chromatid exchanges, but not of micronuclei, in anaesthetists exposed to low levels of sevofluraneANAESTHESIA, Issue 8 2008G. Wiesner Summary We have assessed, for the first time, genotoxicity (i.e. sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei) in anaesthetists exposed to a single volatile anaesthetic (sevoflurane) without nitrous oxide. The anaesthetists were exposed to an 8-h time-weighted average of 0.2 parts per million sevoflurane. Internists served as non-exposed controls. Mean (SD) sister chromatid exchanges per cell were significantly higher in anaesthetists compared to internists (6.6 (0.9) vs 5.1 (0.8); p < 0.001) whereas median (IQR [range]) micronuclei per 1000 binucleated cells did not differ (9.5 (6.3,10.8 [2.0,15.5]) vs 8.5 (6.0,10.5 [3.0,25.5]), respectively). Although the anaesthetists were exposed to rather low concentrations of sevoflurane, this 30% increase of sister chromatid exchanges is in agreement with a recently reported 300% increase with a high level exposure to sevoflurane and nitrous oxide. Omitting nitrous oxide does not normalise increased rates of sister chromatid exchanges. 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