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Biomedical subjects

E Zuskin

Publications and source records attributed to E Zuskin.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Respiratory function in coffee workers.

Respiratory function was studied in three groups of workers employed in processing coffee. The prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in coffee processors than in control workers. In each group during the Monday work shift there was a significant mean acute decrease in the maximum expiratory flow rate at 50% vital capacity (VC), ranging from 4.0% to 8.7%, and at 25% VC, ranging from 6.0% to 18.5%. Acute reductions in FEV1.0 were considerably lower, ranging from 1.3% to 2.8%. On Thursdays the acute ventilatory function changes were somewhat lower than on Mondays. Acute decreases in flow rates at low lung volumes suggest that the bronchoconstrictor effect of the dust acts mostly on smaller airways. Administration of Intal (disodium cromoglycate) before the shift considerably diminished acute reductions in flow rates. A comparison of Monday pre-shift values of ventilatory capacity in coffee workers with those in controls indicates that exposure to dust in green or roasted coffee processing may lead to persistent loss of pulmonary function.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Bronchoconstriction in potroom workers.

The effect on airway responsiveness of an oral dose of a beta-adrenergic blocker (80 mg propranolol) given before work, was studied in 15 potroom workers who complained of dyspnoea, chest tightness and wheezing after they had started to work in potrooms. The same study was performed in a group of 10 potroom workers, selected at random, who had not complained of such symptoms. In addition, another group of 12 potroom workers with respiratory symptoms were given 1 mg atropine subcutaneously. Ventilatory function was assessed from forced expiratory curves (by means of a waterless spirometer) and from maximum expiratory flow-volume curves (by means of a digital pneumotachograph). Bronchoconstriction during the first few hours' work was significantly potentiated by propranolol in the group of potroom workers with respiratory complaints. Propranolol did not produce this effect in workers who had not complained of respiratory symptoms. Atropine sulphate abolished the fall in ventilatory volumes which occurred during the first few hours of work. These findings suggest that acute bronchoconstriction, particularly in small airways, and respiratory symptoms occurring in certain potroom workers may be based on an alteration in autonomic balance with vagal preponderance.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Anthropometric and physiological properties in the determination of biological distances.

The investigation of anthropometric dimensions of the body and head, lung function tests and blood pressure was carried out in 3 separate groups. The analysis of 'distances' between particular pairs of the analyzed groups was performed by Penrose's CH2 and its components CQ2 and (v-l/v)CZ2. It is pointed to various ways of diversification of particular characteristics, which is likely to depend on different selective inertia of particular traits, that is, on different intensity of the effect of genetic and/or ecological factors on their formation. It is shown that as many different biological characteristics of human groups as possible should be taken into consideration for the calculation of 'distances'.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Airway responsiveness in workers processing polyester resins.

In 22 employees of a button-manufacturing plant, exposure to polyester resins over an eight-hour work shift resulted in an acute reduction of flow rates on maximum expiratory flow volume (MEFV) curves at MEF50% and MEF25%. In the workers studied, preshift administration of 80 mg of propranolol potentiated, while 1 mg of subcutaneously injected atropine significantly inhibited, the bronchoconstricting effect of the resins, indicating that the autonomic nervous system plays an important role in determining airway smooth muscle response to polyester resins. Although a high prevalence of acute symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, throat and eye irritation) over the work shift was recorded in exposed workers, no high prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was found. No definite evidence of chronic airway obstruction was recorded in exposed workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Protective effect of disodium cromoglycate against airway constriction induced by hemp dust extract.

The effect of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) was studied in 14 healthy subjects following hemp dust extract (HDE) inhalation (10-min exposure). Ten subjects were given 20 mg of DSCG or a placebo and then challenged with dust aerosol at 30 min post-DSCG inhalation. Partial expiratory flow-volume (PEFV) curves were recorded at least 30 min after exposure, and maximum expiratory flow rates at 40% of the control vital capacity [MEF40%(P)] were read from these curves. Significant acute reduction in MEF40%(P) were recorded after HDE alone and after pretreatment with placebo (p less than 0.01). There was considerable protection from a single dose of 20 mg of DSCG against hemp-induced bronchoconstriction although the acute reductions in MEF40%(P) were still statistically significant at 20 and 30 men postexposure. A group of 7 subjects was given 40 mg of DSCG or placebo 30 min prior to HDE inhalation. In another experiment this group was given 20 mg of DSCG four times daily for 2 days, and on the third day challenged with HDE. The protective effect of DSCG is a short-term one: somewhat less protection was seen after 2 days of four times 20 mg of DSCG/day than 30 min after a single dose of 40 mg. Measurement of airway conductance (Gaw) in 6 subjects demonstrated prevention of acute reductions in Gaw at low lung volumes (25% VC) in 4 out of 6 subjects. We suggest that inhalation of 40 mg of DSCG prior to a work shift might be considered as a temporary means of protecting textile workers against the constrictor effects of dust in their work.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Effect of wool dust on respiratory function.

A group of 252 workers (176 women and 76 men) employed in two wool mills was studied. The mean age of 36 years; mean exposure, 11 years. All women were nonsmokers, and 47 per cent of the men were regular smokers. Ventilatory function was measured by recording maximal expiratory flow-volume curves and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec on the first working day of the week (Monday) before and after the work shift. On maximal expiratory flow-volume curves the flow rates at 50 per cent of the control vital capacity were read. Workers exposed to wool dust for more than 10 years had a higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms than did those with less than 10 years' exposure, but the difference was not significant. Significant reductions during the work shift were found in maximal expiratory flow rates at 50 per cent of the control vital capapity and 1-sec forced expiratory volume, the first test being considerably more sensitive. Workers exposed to wool dust for more than 10 years had signficantly lower than predicted pre-shift values for maximal expiratory flow rates at 50 per cent of the control vital capapcity. Inhalation of wool dust extract caused a significant decrease of maximal expiratory flow rates at 40 per cent of the control vital capacity on partial expiratory flow-volume curves during the 100 min after exposure. Comparison with the same concentration of cotton dust extract revealed a similar effect during the first 40 min after exposure but a significantly larger effect of the cotton dust extract after 40 min. The data suggest that preventive measures, especially medical supervision, are necessary in wool-processing mills to protect workers sensitive to dust.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Byssinosis: airway responses in textile dust exposure.

The inhalation of textile dusts causes bronchoconstriction in textile workers and in healthy experimental subjects. The airway responses to these dusts are potentiated by propranolol and inhibited by an antihistamine drug and by ascorbic acid. Administration of 20 mg disodium cromoglycate by spinhaler 30 minutes prior to challenge with hemp dust or hemp dust extract protected a small number of subjects against the airway constrictor effect, mostly those with a large acute reduction in flow rates. Textile dust extracts contain a histamine-releasing agent, which explains their airway constrictor effect. This agent is a highly water-soluble, heat-stable, low-molecular-weight compound which has not yet been chemically identified. In the prevention and control of byssinosis, the administration of drugs such as ascorbic acid or disodium cromoglycate should be considered in addition to engineering methods.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Respiratory-function changes in textile workers exposed to synthetic fibers.

The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and acute and chronic changes in ventilatory function were studied in three groups of textile workers: 68 workers with exposure to synthetic fibers only, 30 with previous exposure to cotton, and 77 with previous exposure to hemp. The prevalence of dyspnea, grade 3 to 4, was significantly lower (P less than .01) in workers with a history of exposure to synthetic fibers only than in those previously exposed to hemp or cotton. No case of byssinosis was found in any of the workers studied. Values in ventilatory-function tests (FEV 1.0, FVC and MEF 50%) were significantly reduced during the work shift on Monday and Thursday. The Monday MEF 50% preshift values were significantly lower than expected in all three groups of workers. A comparison of the 1963-1973 data on the 77 workers previously exposed to hemp showed a lower prevalence of most chronic respiratory symptoms and smaller acute FEV1.0 and FVC reductions when they worked with synthetic fibers (1973) than when they were exposed to hemp (1963).

Acrylic Resins↗