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Biomedical subjects

B Saia

Publications and source records attributed to B Saia.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Clinical and statistical study on the allergy of type 1 to mycetes (author's transl)].

From 1963 to 1977 the authors have examined 5700 patients; 11.5% of those positive to intradermal test were sensitive to Mold spores. 78 individuals showed allergic sensitivity exclusively to Mold spores; 89% were affected by bronchial asthma. Symptom onset was observed more frequently in subjects 30 to 50 years old. The authors intend to stress the important role played by the allergy to Mold spores in determining type 1 immunologic reactions.

Adult↗

[Carcinogenic risk of extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields: state of the art].

This paper summarizes the published literature and current problems relating to possible cancerogenic effects of occupational and residential exposure to ELF electromagnetic fields at levels slightly above ambient background. There are several suggestions that such an exposure may increase the risk of cancer, but these studies failed to provide conclusive indications. The present state of uncertainty led to a variety of recommendations and statements being made concerning restrictions to the exposure of people to ELF electromagnetic fields. Attempts to detect direct chromosomal damage from ELF electromagnetic fields have proven negative, while results on cancer promotion have been controversial. On the basis of several epidemiological studies on occupational exposure, an increased risk of leukemia, brain cancer and male breast cancer is apparent; the literature on residential exposure provides some evidence of an effect on childhood cancer, especially leukemia; however, when interpreting these results some major methodological concerns should be kept in mind. In conclusion, the public concern and potential public health impact of this environmental agent argue strongly for addressing further research in order to identify mechanisms of action on biological systems, to define the proper assessment of exposure and to obtain good epidemiological evidence.

Adolescent↗

[Biotransformation in occupational medicine: the role of hepatic cytochrome P-450 in the mechanism of action and the biological monitoring of occupational toxic compounds].

Biotransformation is an important step in the investigation of occupational toxic chemicals. This is because the knowledge of the metabolic pathways and the enzymes involved in the activation and/or detoxication of xenobiotics may help in understanding the mechanism of toxicity and to rationalize the biological monitoring of exposed subjects. The largest enzymatic system involved in the biotransformation of industrial chemicals is cytochrome P-450, a family of haemoproteins capable of metabolizing a vast number of lipophilic, structurally different compounds. The study of the various metabolic reactions of this peculiar group of enzymes has greatly contributed to a) the clarification of the mode of action of several classes of occupational toxic and/or carcinogenic compounds, such as aromatic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated alkanes, benzene compounds and others, and b) the improvement of risk assessment in the biological monitoring of the exposed subjects, by allowing the toxicological significance (activation/detoxication) of single metabolites to be better understood.

Animals↗

[Mortality by tumors and other causes in dairy cattle and other agricultural workers in Veneto].

The study was conducted to verify a reduction in mortality from tumors in dairy farm workers, exposed to endotoxins, which increase in the host a cytotoxic antitumoral. From the SCAU files of the Province of Padova, we selected 2.415 subjects with informations on: date of hire, date of work termination, number of dairy cattle, area of the farm. The vital status was ascertained through the Communes of residence, and for the 541 decedents the cause of death was established. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated on the basis of age-sex-cause-calendar period specific mortality rates in the Veneto. In the 1.641 dairy farm workers, SMRs were significantly low for total tumors (= 81) and lung tumors (= 66), and significantly high for brain tumors (= 283). In other 774 farmers, no significant SMRs were observed. The data will be further processed to verify a dose-response relationship with the occupational risk indicators. Smoking habits will be collected.

Aged↗

[Reduction of the lung cancer risk among dairy ranchers: dose response relationship with the traditional indicators of professional exposure].

An epidemiological study of mortality was carried out in the Province of Padua in a cohort of family farmers. The subjects, identified from the SCAU files, were enrolled in the cohort if informations were available on complete registry data, date of beginning and of termination of farm work, size of farm, and number of dairy cattle. The 2,415 farmers selected were followed-up for mortality through the registry offices of their Communes of residence. The cause of death was obtained for the 541 decedents. The standardised mortality ratio (SMR) was the ratio between observed and expected mortality, calculated on the basis of the mortality rates in the regional general population. The lung cancer SMR was 0.54 (0.36-0.79; observed = 27) among the 1641 dairy farmers, and 0.78 (0.46-1.25; observed = 17) among the 774 arable farmers. Among dairy farmers, moreover, lung cancer SMRs showed a significant trend across the quartiles of length of work, number of cattle, area of farm, age at beginning farm work, and age at work termination. Dairy farmers are known to be exposed to higher airborne endotoxin concentrations, and it is reasonable to assume that this cumulative exposure further increases with years of work, number of cattle, and area of farm. Microbial endotoxin might have protected dairy farmers against lung cancer through a host factor, the Tumor Necrosis Factor, produced by alveolar macrophages.

Adult↗