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Biomedical subjects

G Catenacci

Publications and source records attributed to G Catenacci.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Environmental and biological reference values of plant pesticides].

A wide range of studies concerned with the definition of environmental and biological reference values for plant pesticides is reviewed. All phases of data production are critically assessed, including sampling, sample preparation and analysis, choice of population, statistical analysis and expression of results. The importance of the studies for the definition of reference values useful in the sectors of environmental hygiene and occupational toxicology is also examined. Most of the studies were based on American populations, though work on reference values has also recently been done by Italian authors, particularly the SIVR, which has published data on 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol and ethylenethiourea in urine. Because the number of the studies is small and more detail about variables is needed, the lists of reference values, given separately for American and Italian populations, also include proposals and attempts at definition of reference values. When available, biological reference values (BRV) are given separately for adults and children, emphasising the greater intake of the infant population due to higher food intake per unit body weight and greater exposure to contaminants present in the domestic environment. BRVs for plant pesticides generally depend on factors such as smoking, wine consumption and diet, major sources of residue intake for the human population.

Biomarkers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Reflex sympathetic dystrophy following electric shock: description of a clinical case].

The acute effects of electrical injuries are well known. However, the occurrence and the mechanisms of the delayed sequelae are still unclear. The effects on peripheral nerves and the sympathetic system in particular are poorly documented. A 47-year old man was injured on the left arm by contact with a 380 V tension switch in January 1990. A few hours after the accident he complained of burning pain, dysesthesia, weakness and motor impairment of the arm. Allodynia and anhidrosis without cutaneous trophic lesions were observed. During the subsequent months the symptoms did not change except for the appearance of signs of autonomous nervous system hyperactivity (hyperhidrosis, edema, atrophy of the skin and nails, excessive sweating). One year later thermographic evidence and the effect of anesthetic blockade of the sympathetic chain on the burning pain, stiffness of joints and weakness of the arm confirmed the clinical diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Analgesia and motility improvement were achieved by means of sympathetic blockades although the patient's hand grip force and thumb-little finger grip were still weakened. Any known etiology besides electric shock could be associated with these clinical signs. The cause of the reflex sympathetic dystrophy may be multifactorial. In this patient the electric shock might have damaged peripheral sympathetic fibres or cervical ganglia. Lesions of the peripheral nerves and sympathetic hyperactivity can contribute to the development of such syndrome.

Electric Injuries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The biological monitoring of those exposed to 1,1,1-trichloroethane: a longitudinal study].

Data on long-term biological monitoring in two groups of workers engaged in cleaning operations in a wool factory and exposed to methylchloroform are presented. The longitudinal survey lasted one year and brought about 19 random systematic sampling (once or twice a month for everyone of the 13 subjects monitored). The biological marker adopted was the urinary concentration of the solvent as such, according to a previously studied method. The collected data allowed to measure: the annual average level of exposure (estimated by the long term geometric mean); the day to day variation of the true daily exposure averages (estimated by the geometric standard deviation); the probability of overexposure (daily exposures exceeding the biological exposure limit) and the yearly number of work shifts of overexposure. The usefulness of performing long-term surveys of occupational exposure to the chemical substances by mean of longitudinal biological monitoring is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Microclimate and the respiratory system].

The thermal exchanges between lung and working or living environment constitute a very small amount of the total thermal exchange of the human body. They mainly depend on temperature and humidity gradients between inspired and expired air and on ventilatory levels as well. In spite of the smallness of such exchanges regarding the thermal steady state of the body, the variations of the climate physical parameters can greatly affect the lung either from the subjective or the objective point of view. Air humidity, temperature and ventilation are here considered as causes of respiratory discomfort and as risk factors of respiratory disease. It has been pointed out that the same parameter levels can exert a favourable or unfavourable influence on respiratory tract. For instance low humidity values can support the respiratory infections but usually prevent asthma crisis caused by indoor mite sensitization. Sometimes among the causes of respiratory risk can be involved the artificial systems of ventilation and humidification (air conditioning, humidifiers). It is not possible to set proper limit values for the physical parameters but only ranges where to determine the best combination for each single situation. The width of such ranges as well as the dysfunctioning of the artificial conditioning systems can in particular cases support some conditions of respiratory risk.

Air Conditioning↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A follow-up study of 304 cases of suspected pathology caused by benzene seen in 1950-71].

A group of 304 subjects admitted to the Institutes of Occupational Health of Milan and Pavia (Italy) between 1951 and 1970 for suspected benzene intoxication were retrieved from hospital records and their mortality experience was examined up to 31 December, 1986. The aims of the study were: 1) to estimate, in quantitative terms, the risk associated with benzene exposure in that area in the time period considered (these risks had already been reported, but merely as case reports); 2) to investigate the possibility of an increased frequency of neoplasms other than leukaemia; and 3) to further investigate the exposure history of these subjects. In the absence of data on the population at risk, mortality was analysed via the mortality odds ratio (MOR) method. A local population mortality experience was used as reference. Twenty-eight malignant neoplasms were observed (MOR = 2.2; 95% confidence interval = 1.3-3.7), 15 of which were haematologic neoplasms (MOR = 13.3; 95% confidence interval = 8.0-22.2). No odds ratio increases were observed for any of the other tumour sites or types. Eleven observed blood diseases represented a large numerical increase in the odds ratio. For all the haematologic neoplasms there had been an estimated exposure to airborne benzene concentrations above 20 ppm. However, no conclusions on dose-response relationships can be drawn from these data because of the approximate evaluation of individual exposure and, especially, because the study group most probably consisted of a highly selected sample of the exposed population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Benzene↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of thermal comfort in a student population: predictive value of an integrated index (Fanger's predicted mean value].

Practical applications and predictive values of a thermal comfort index (Fanger's PRV) were verified on a sample school population (1236 subjects) by studying the relationships between thermal sensations (subjective analysis), determined by means of an individual questionnaire, and the values of thermal comfort index (objective analysis) obtained by calculating the PMV index individually in the subjects under study. In homogeneous conditions of metabolic expenditure rate and thermal impedence from clothing, significant differences were found between the two kinds of analyses. At 22 degrees C mean radiant and operative temperature, the PMV values averaged 0 and the percentage of subjects who experienced thermal comfort did not exceed 60%. The high level of subjects who were dissatisfied with their environmental thermal conditions confirms the doubts regarding the use of the PMV index as a predictive indicator of thermal comfort, especially considering that the negative answers were not homogeneous nor attributable to the small thermal fluctuations (less than 0.5 degree C) measured in the classrooms.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of individual thermal load in working environments with non-homogeneous microclimatic conditions].

It is often very difficult to quantify the potential thermal stress of jobs requiring high worker mobility in unevenly hot environments. The determination of integrated indexes such as HSI can be a cause of error in risk evaluation. However, monitoring of physiological parameters of exposed workers, such as internal body temperature, provides a direct expression of man-environment interaction. On the basis of measurement of micro-climatic parameters and internal body temperature of subjects employed in a glass production plant, an attempt was made to calculate an integrated index of thermal stress risk which reflected the job requirements. The mathematical model used was the one proposed by Givoni and Goldman for prediction of rectal temperature and heart rate response to work in hot environments.

Body Temperature↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Importance of the relative humidity values in determining thermohygrometric comfort].

A condition of discomfort with specific symptoms, such as throat dryness, eye irritation, in a group of workers of a small, air conditioned, working department, is described. Neither the measurements of the possible environmental pollutants concentrations, nor the assessment of the usually adopted comfort indexes (PMV-PPD) justified the worker's symptoms. They completely disappeared by means of appropriate environmental improvements aiming to increase the relative humidity values from 29% to 50-55% (drop of the amount of the hygroscopic material stored, setting up of an humidifier). The effects of the low humidity values on the hygrometric and thermal comfort are finally discussed.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Environmental and biological monitoring of subjects occupationally exposed to precious metals (gold lost-wax casting)].

Environmental monitoring during lost wax casting in jewelry handicrafts was performed for gold, silver, zinc and copper by means of personal samplers and ICP-AAS techniques were used for determining airborne metals. Personal sampling was prolonged for a working week by continuous monitoring during 8 hours shifts, replacing the membrane filter every 2 hours, in 6 workers; in the same workers urine samples were collected during the week and levels of Au, Ag, Zn and Cu were measured by ETA-AAS. During casting process Ag air concentrations ranged 0.27-0.6 mg/m3 while mean levels of Au, Cu, and Zn were 0.028 0.030 and 0.056 mg/m3 respectively. Urinary excretion of Ag (I) determined by solvent extraction and separation by liquid anion exchanger proved very high, after 24-36 h from the casting processes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Monitoring of occupational activities under the risk of heat stress: use of mathematical models in the prediction of physiological parameters].

Some authors proposed mathematical models that, starting from standardized conditions of environmental microclimate parameters, thermal impedance of the clothing, and energetic expenditure allowed the forecast of the body temperature and heart rate variations in respect to the basal values in subjects standing in the same environment. In the present work we verify the usefulness of these models applied to the working tasks characterized by standardized job made under unfavourable thermal conditions. In subject working in an electric power station the values of the body temperature and heart rate are registered and compared with the values obtained by the application of the studied models. The results are discussed in view of the practical use.

Body Temperature↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Simplification of periodic audiometric tests in persons exposed to industrial noise. An operative proposal].

Today the pure tonal audiometric test is the most used in periodical screening of the "hypoacusis" hazard in exposed patients because of its easy performance. The high number of patients to be tested and the screening frequency suggested to simplify the annual checks by testing only some of the frequency to be tested is made on the basis of the first complete audiogram performed according to a scheduled scheme. Available screening data and testing on the field show that a consistent reduction in testing time is possible and that the complete exam is reliable.

Audiometry↗