Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Catenacci

Publications and source records attributed to G Catenacci.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Non-occupational lead poisoning in home environment].

A case of non professional lead poisoning is described in a baker complaining of abdominal pain and anaemia. No organic alterations in the gastrointestinal and haemopoietic systems were observed. The diagnosis was confirmed by alterations in porphyrin metabolism and by increased blood and urine lead levels, especially after EDTA. The cause of intoxication was attributed to an abnormal lead intake during spray painting in a closed environment a few days before the onset of symptoms.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1990

[Extrinsic allergic alveolitis of occupational origin: apropos of 2 cases].

Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis (E.A.A.) is an immunological disorder caused by inhalation of various etiological agents (vegetable and animal dusts, fungi, organic simple chemicals) mostly present in work environment. Intensive and prolonged occupational exposure to antigens dimensionally able to reach peripheral airways, where they bring about their immunological effects, allows to consider hypersensitivity pneumonitis as a typical work-related disease. The wide range of pathological findings and evolution of E.A.A. often imply difficulty in diagnosis inspite of availability of diagnostic consolidated criteria. The integrated assessment of history and physical findings, radiological features, pulmonary functions tests, and specific and aspecific immunological data, often allows to make diagnostical conclusion without use of invasive methods (BAL and lung biopsy). In this note we refer two cases of E.A.A. occurred respectively in agricultural and industrial environment, whom etiological and evolutive features suggest an occupational pathogenesis. The first one is a typical "farmer's lung", the second one a hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a cheese washer. The diagnosis was performed by means of historical, clinical, radiological and pulmonary functional outcomes. In the first case specific serum precipitins against M. Faeni were present, in the second one the immunological pathogenesis of the pneumonitis was demonstrated by means of bronchial lavage cytological data and serum IgG dosage. In both cases the removal from specific antigen exposure and the prolonged steroid treatment induced symptomatological regression and complete recovery of functional tests.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Acute accidental poisoning by mercury vapors in the home environment].

The authors report 2 cases of acute mercury intoxication due to accidental breakage of barometer on to a lit gas ring. Within 24-48 hours the subjects developed neurological, gastrointestinal and dermatological symptoms. A 24-hour urine sample contained 600 and 400 micrograms of mercury per liter respectively (reference value 0.1-6.9 micrograms/L); blood concentration of mercury was 130 and 100 micrograms per liter (reference value 1.7-9.9 micrograms/L). The patients were treated with penicillamine and daily excretion of mercury was monitored. The residual sources of pollution in the kitchen were identified and bonificated.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1989

[An annual decrement in the spirometric parameters of those employed in producing refractory materials. A longitudinal study].

Results of a longitudinal study on the yearly decline of two pulmonary parameters are reported. All subjects were workers in a refractory material factory and exposed to dust with low silica content. The study brought about an annual measurement of two spirometric parameters (VC and FEV1) during a 13 year period of follow up on 113 subjects. 56% and 57.5% of them showed annual decreases of VC and FEV1 statistically significant. The trend of the two functional parameters over time was studied both in the whole group of workers and in subgroups obtained from occupational exposure levels, smoking habit, age. The most affected volumetric index was the VC. The 3 risk indicators considered (occupational exposure, smoking habit and age) all negatively influence the VC decrease; however, the effect is statistically significant only for smoking habit. The FEV1 changes with reference to the above mentioned risk indicators are less clear. From the whole group a number of 15 losers were selected.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Asthenopia and objective ophthalmological findings in a population of 2058 VDT operators in Lombardy].

A large population of 2058 VDT operators from all compartments in Lombardia of a large national company was studied. An "ergophthalmological" questionnaire was administered to all subjects, followed by an ophthalmological-orthoptic examination. Ametropias showed a prevalence of 51.9%; the most common refractive defect was myopia followed by astigmatism and hyperopia. Heterophorias with bad or mediocre compensation had a prevalence of 4.1 and 11% respectively. The study of symptoms showed a frequency of 23.5% of intense asthenopic complaints and 21.1% of less severe and less frequent symptomatology. Asthenopia was significantly correlated (chi square) with sex, VDT exposure, refraction, presbyopia, and decompensated heterophorias.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[The evaluation of the individual thermal load in work activity with uneven energy expenditure].

It is often very difficult to quantify the potential thermal stress in jobs characterized by sudden variations of energy expenditure and thermal overload for time periods of short duration. Heart rate varies rapidly with the changes of energy expenditure and thermal load and the application of the mathematical model, proposed by Givoni and Goldmann for prediction of heart rate response to work in hot environments, to values of the physiological parameter, continuously measured during the periods of work and rest, allows the calculation of the two components of the HSI stress index (Er, Emax) from which to derive safe times of exposure. In this study practical applications of the theoretical method are verified in the control of the potential thermal stress of workers engaged in the carbon coke production. In that job the variability of thermal conditions make unfeasible a complete and whole evaluation of thermal overload only based on the measure of the microclimatic environmental parameters.

Coke↗
PubMed1988

[Decrement of respiratory function indices in a case series of workers exposed to cement dust: a longitudinal study].

Longitudinal changes in some respiratory parameters (FEV1 and VC) have been examined in a sample of cement workers (163 male subjects differently exposed to cement dusts); the subjects have been surveyed over a period of 10 years performing yearly spirometric tests (Vital capacity--VC and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second--FEV1 measurements). Three possible risk indicators have been considered: occupational exposure, smoking habit and age. 65.6% and 60.7% of the cases showed significant individual annual decreases of VC and FEV1 throughout the time of follow up. According to our results the occupational risk indicator has not significantly influenced the normal trend of decreases of the respiratory parameters; instead age brings about an increase of longitudinal changes of VC and smoke habit an increase of longitudinal changes of FEV1, (but only in the younger group, people less than forty years old). 16 subjects characterized by abnormal losses (more than 100 ml/year) have been selected as "VC-FEV1, losers".

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Assessment of risk in occupational tasks with exposure to environmental noise of variable duration and intensity].

The discontinuous exposure to environmental working noise often brings about risk situations hardly assessable by means of phonometric measurements and studying the exposure time, even if accurate. The use of the personal dosimetry can simplify the measurements and give a time-weighted value (Leq) comparable to a fixed limit value. Such a measurement is effective only for the considered time (usually a work shift); nevertheless it is assumed to be representative of the usual exposure to the job even though the variability of the working conditions constitute a limiting factor. In this work we tried to verify the possible use of the measurements of environmental sound pressure levels given by the dosimeter every 0.25 sec. The first aim being the study of the type of distribution of these values (during 5 consecutive shifts) and the estimate of mean and standard deviation values. The mean and the standard deviation values were used to get a OTL (one sided tolerance limits) usually employed for assessing the working chemical pollution. The second aim being the compliance control and the possible need of more measurements.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed1987

[Toxicological and analytical lists: chromium and its compounds].

The main aspects of occupational exposure to chromium and chromium compounds are surveyed. Special attention is paid to the toxic action of this metal at the different target organs. The nutritional aspect of CrIII is examined preliminarily, and data detailing the metal contents in water and food are provided. As far the different working processes that entail occupational exposure to chromium are concerned, hygienic and environmental problems are discussed while identifying the average environment exposure to the different chemical forms of chromium (CrIII, CrIV, soluble and not soluble), as a function of the worker's tasks, and the relevant human response (total human Cr). Different hygienic and environmental standards in force in various countries and applicable to chromium compounds are compared. Additional information is given on the main aspects of chromium metabolism (absorption, distribution, excretion), and on the prevailing toxic actions, with specific reference to cancerogenesis. As far as biologic monitoring of the exposed people is concerned, the significance of Cr-U as dose-exposure indicator is discussed, also in the light of a critical review of the reference values. The report describes a series of analytical methods for the identification of chromium in aqueous and biologic matrices. The problems connected with health monitoring and fitness for work are eventually covered.

Chromium↗
PubMed1984

[Prospects for environment intervention following biological monitoring of exposure to chromium].

The authors study the statistical distribution and the graphical representation of the urinary chromium values investigated during three consecutive years in three work environments of a same plant: polishing 1 degree, electrotyping, polishing 2 degrees, to evaluate the environmental situations of exposure and their variations. The adopted method, based on the graphical representation of the values in logarithmic coordinate paper, allows to quickly and carefully calculate the percent of the workers having urinary chromium values above the prefixed limits.

Chromium↗
PubMed1984

[Validity of a biophysical model for predicting heart rate values during activities operating under a risk of thermal stress].

After measuring the heart rate values of workers unfolding a standardized job made under unfavourable microclimatic conditions, the Authors calculate them by application of a proposed biophysical model starting from ambient climatic conditions, energetic expenditure and thermal resistance of the clothing. The results, compared by means of statistical methods, do not show any significant difference between the two methods. Therefore is also possible the proposal of the use of the biophysical model for the prevision of heart rate under standardized working conditions.

Heart Rate↗
PubMed1984

[Use of a biophysical model to verify various methods for limiting the time of work activity at risk in thermal stress].

The Authors measure the environmental microclimatic parameters (dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, globe temperature, natural wet bulb, air speed, vapor pressure) in twenty working sites. Starting from the values obtained, they calculate the safe exposure times for works under unfavourable thermal conditions by means of three different methods (time weighted average WBGT, allowable exposure time-AET, required sweat rate index). Finally they verify the results obtained by application of a biophisical model proper to calculate the response of rectal temperature to changes in metabolic rate and environmental conditions.

Body Temperature↗
PubMed1984

[Control of duration limits of work activity at risk in thermal stress by prediction of values for internal body temperature].

A biophysical model for studying the response of the rectal temperature to changes in metabolic rate and environmental conditions has been utilized to establish the safe exposure times for works at risk of thermal stress. The prediction of the rectal temperature allows to evaluate for how long the heat load due to metabolic rate is lasting after the work stopping in the period of recovery.

Body Temperature↗