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Biomedical subjects

C Nava

Publications and source records attributed to C Nava.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Pathology produced by isocyanates: methods of immunological investigation.

A group of 182 workers exposed to diisocyanates (varnishers, carpenters, producers of polyurethane resins and expanded plastic) were examined to study the immunogenic capacity of these substances. The skin tests, particularly the intradermal tests, revealed reactions of the immediate, accelerated and/or delayed types due to the presence of IgE and IgG, in addition to responses of the cellular type. This was confirmed by passive transfer in guinea-pigs and man and immunohaematological tests such as passive haemagglutination and lymphocyte transformation. In 4 cases it was possible to demonstrate thermoresistant, homocytotropic immunoglobulins, that were not dependent on complement and behaved like reagins (i.e. short-term anaphylactic IgG). Exposure tests were performed on 45 cases; the results are analyzed and compared with those of the skin tests. It is concluded that both these groups of tests are of value in investigating the aetiopathogenesis of the pathology of the isocyanates: the skin tests for initial screening, and then the exposure tests for resolving doubtful diagnoses. Cross-reactions were also demonstrated between toluene-diisocyanate and methylene-diisocyanate. Two phases could be considered in the pathogenesis; in the first phase, signs of inflammation appeared at the primary sites of contact with the irritant, then the ability of the diisocyanates to form a conjugate with organic proteins results in the production of a complete antigen and consequent sensitization of the exposed person. The appearance of symptoms naturally depends on subsequent exposure and the immunogenic capacity of the patient: the response is mainly of the reagin type in atopic patients and of type 3 in non-atopic patients.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Initial epidemiological data on the clinical effects in health workers employed in the manual lifting of patients in wards].

An investigation was carried out by teams from various centres coordinated by the EPM (Ergonomics of Posture and Movement) Research Unit on 54 different hospitals in various regions of northern and central Italy. The teams examined a total of 3341 health workers whose job involved manual handling of patients (553 male and 2788 females, 1568 working in hospitals and 1773 in geriatric residences). Numerous meetings were held to ensure that the methods of assessing the exposure indexes and spinal impairment were identical in the various teams. The final data were processed centrally at the EPM Research Unit. The sample analyzed may be considered as representative of the situation in hospitals in Italy, at least for northern and central Italy. The mean age was 36 years, mean length of service in the department 6 years and mean length of job duration not exceeding 10 years; staff turnover was high. Physical examination revealed that 8.4% of the workers had had at least one episode of acute low back pain in the previous 12 months: i.e., 4 times the values of the reference groups. Also in the case of clinical-functional spondyloarthropathies of the lumbosacral spine, in the females there was a significantly higher prevalence than in the reference groups. All disorders were more severe in sectors more at risk, i.e., old peoples homes, rehabilitation centres, orthopaedic and surgical departments, and in any case higher in old peoples homes and geriatric residences. The initial data concerning the ratio between presence of spinal disease and risk index were also positive.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The management of the risk due to the manual lifting of patients in a hospital risk-management program].

Application of Law 626/94 in the health care area is still only partial and in many respects practically in the initial stages. This is due to a number of causes, including the special features of this sector and the extreme variability and diffusion of the risk factors involved. Assessment of risk, especially the newest ones (from manual patient handling to biological agents) involves considerable difficulties, also because the usual methods cannot be applied. The process of assessment and especially the management of risks in this sector is an extremely complex problem, and to address it requires the creation of an organized structure within the hospital consisting of a general manager, or a person delegated by the same, the medical director, the administrative director, the certified occupational physician, the director of prevention and protection. This management team must be flexible in character, draw up strategic plans according to priority criteria, periodically assess the state of advancement of the plans that will be carried out in phases. It is also necessary to ensure the active cooperation of worker safety representatives and of other experts who may be involved in the various topics addressed from time to time. The authors propose a method used in a three-year project, still under way, for the assessment of risk due to manual patient handling in a major Italian hospital; the data obtained from an assessment made in 58 wards were the following: about 60% of the wards showed a medium-high exposure level, 24% negligible exposure levels and 13.8% zero exposure due to the absence of disabled patients. On the basis of the initial data obtained from health surveillance programmes on a group of 431 exposed subjects, about 10% were judged fit with limitations due to spinal disorders. The main problems that have arisen (management, organisation, training, transfer of workers with limited job fitness, accreditation) are discussed. The method proposed for management of risk due to manual handling of patients is considered suitable for other risk factors, within the framework of a more far reaching programme for application of Law 626/94, as a means of permanent management of risk in a particularly complex working environment such as that of a hospital.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Use of amniotic membranes as biological dressings. Preliminary report].

The authors compared the results obtained with the use of amniotic membranes as biological dressings in the treatment of 15 patients with skin loose of different etiology and that obtained with the conventional therapy. The associated benefits obtained with this treatment were lessen of the pain, low incidence of infections, early cicatrization of the wounds and shortening of the hospital time. The primary observations permit a wide investigation about the therapeutic usefulness of this kind of biological dressings.

Adult↗