Respiratory symptoms, lung function, and changes in the nasal septum were noted for 100 subjects exposed to chrome plating. The findings were compared with those of 119 nonexposed controls, studied with identical techniques, as well as with data in the literature. Complaints of nasal irritation were common among subjects exposed to a daily average that exceeded 1 microgram/m3 of chromic acid, while the frequency of chronic bronchitis was similar to that in different control series. Nasal septal ulceration and perforation were seen in two-thirds of the subjects exposed to peak levels of 20 micrograms/m3 or more. Both forced vital capacity and forced expired volume in 1 sec were reduced by 0.2 L. The forced midexpiratory flow diminished by 0.4 L/sec from Monday morning to Thursday afternoon in subjects exposed to a daily average of 2 micrograms/m3 or more chromic acid, but there was no clear correlation with short-term high exposure. Subjects exposed to lower levels showed no significant changes. Data collected on Monday morning (i.e., after 2 days without exposure) did not differ significantly from reference values. It is concluded that an 8-hr mean exposure exceeding 2 micrograms/m3 may cause a transient decrease in lung function, and that short-term exposure to at least 20 micrograms/m3 may cause septal ulceration and perforation.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Can nutritional factors modify chronic polyarthritis?].

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Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Psychotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis--a parallel-process study of psychic state and course of rheumatic disease.

In this study, well-known psychosomatic (psychoneuroimmunological) connections have been used for therapeutic purposes. Fifteen patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were treated with analytical insight therapy for 60-90 min weekly during 10 months to 4.5 years (median 3.3 years). Six patients showed great and largely continuous improvement, both psychic and physical, throughout the period of psychotherapy and often for a long time thereafter. In another five cases, improvements in psychic state and the joint disease took place over a period of 1-2 years. Later, when the emotional channels to childhood traumata were opened, these five patients relapsed and the course of their disease became more variable. In four cases, the connections between psychic state and the course of the joint disease were more varied throughout the period of psychotherapy. In the studied group the correlation between psychic state and course of rheumatic disease was highly significant. The probability of the outcome of the study being due to chance alone is considered very small, especially taking into account the fact that RA is a chronic progressive disease.

Adaptation, Psychological↗