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Biomedical subjects

G Chiappino

Publications and source records attributed to G Chiappino.

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

[Markers of fibrogenesis in bronchoalveolar lavage and in serum of workers exposed to asbestos].

The N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP) and fibronectin (FBN), two markers possibly implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and in serum of 27 subjects with a history of occupational exposure to asbestos, in 10 sarcoidosis patients and in 7 healthy controls. At the same time, the study of the cell populations and asbestos bodies count in BAL were also performed. In BAL of sarcoidosis patients the mean concentration of PI-IIIP was higher compared to that of the other two groups, and the difference was significant compared with the healthy controls. Among the group of asbestos workers, both PIIIP and FBN were significantly higher in subjects with radiological signs of pulmonary asbestosis compared with those with no signs of asbestosis. On the basis of BAL cytology, the asbestos-exposed were divided into two subgroups, with or without signs of alveolitis: the mean concentrations of BAL PIIIP was significantly higher in the subgroup with alveolitis. Moreover, in this subgroup there was a positive correlation between total number of cells and PIIIP, and between the number of asbestos bodies and PIIIP in BAL. Serum PIIIP values did not differ significantly among the various groups, with the exception of higher values in sarcoidosis patients. The results of this study seem to confirm the usefulness of PIIIP and FBN determinations in BAL, as indicators of the activity of the fibrotic process which, in particular cases, might also assume a prognostic significance.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[An unusual exposure to asbestosis risk in a bag manufacturing plant: observations on 22 cases].

Although the risks connected with occupational exposure to asbestos and its numerous industrial uses are widely known, it still happens that instances of exposure with high potential risk are discovered. A detailed study of a worker suffering from silicosis and asbestosis who had worked for many years in a firm dealing with the recovery and re-use of used jute sacks also containing asbestos, revealed the existence of a real asbestosis risk in the firm, with the result that other workers in the same firm were studied. A total of 22 subjects were studied, 17 of whom also underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and determination of the cellular composition of the recovery liquid in order to establish the presence of asbestous alveolitis. The age of the subjects ranged between 39 and 75 years (x = 56.36), length of service in the firm ranged between 2 and 18 years (x = 9.27), time between start of exposure and clinical examination varied between 29 and 50 years (x = 40.27). The 22 subjects were divided into 3 groups on the basis of the radiological examinations: 1) 8 cases were negative (36.36%); 2) 8 cases had pleural alterations only (36.36%); 3) 6 cases had interstitial lung disease (with and without pleural lesions) (27.27%). Of the 17 subjects who underwent BAL, 7 were in the first group, 7 in the second and 3 in the third. Among these 17 subjects BAL showed absence of alveolitis in all subjects of the first group, diagnosis of alveolitis in only some of the second group, and in all of the third group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Angiopathy caused by vibration and CREST syndrome: beware of hidden pathologies!].

The etiologic definition of an occupational disease should be achieved via an accurate differential diagnosis. A careful assessment of any clinical features that are atypical or unusual for the disease in question can sometimes lead to the identification of other morbid states that are either hidden or show few symptoms, and may or may not interfere with the occupational picture. The case described is of a man who, after working for 10 years with vibrating tools, developed a vibration disease with typical circulatory alterations in the hands and osteoarticular and neurological alterations. However, the appearance of a necrotic ischaemic lesion at the tip of the second finger of the right hand and signs of sclerodactylia in the second finger of both hands led us to suspect the presence of another concomitant disease. The finding of anticentromere antibodies suggested the presence of a CREST syndrome, which is a serologic variant of diffuse scleroderma. More in-depth investigations and examination of the state of other organs and apparatuses confirmed the diagnostic suspicion, with evidence of impairment also of the cardio-pulmonary system. The presence of the CREST syndrome was interpreted as a state of hypersusceptibility to the traumatic action of vibrating tools on the vascular system.

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