Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Marcer

Publications and source records attributed to G Marcer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Study of immunological parameters in farmer's lung.

A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out on 2932 farmers (response rate 92%) living in Northern Italy. A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was supplied, chest X-ray taken and simple spirometry tests made. Thirty-nine subjects reported attacks of breathlessness associated with fever after exposure to mouldy hay; thirty-six had a clinical history of farmer's lung and X-ray and/or respiratory function changes indicative of chronic farmer's lung; 113 were classified as having bronchial asthma. These 118 subjects and a random sample of 131 non-symptomatic subjects were examined by intracutaneous skin tests and double diffusion precipitation tests with antigens associated with farmer's lung. All sera positive by precipitation were examined by immunoelectrophoresis, counterimmunoelectrophoresis, and C1q binding test, and Bovine conglutinin test in solid phase for the detection of circulating immunocomplexes. 27.8% cases of chronic farmer's lung, 4.4% of cases of bronchial asthma and 2.3% of non-symptomatic subjects showed precipitating antibodies against farmer's lung antigens. Of the precipitin-positive subjects, the majority had precipitating antibodies against Micropolyspora faeni. No differences in immunoelectrophoregrams in number and pattern of precipitation arcs for M. faeni were found between chronic farmer's lung and bronchial asthma subjects. Circulating immune complexes were present in 50% of chronic farmer's lung patients, 40% of those with bronchial asthma and 33.3% of non-symptomatic subjects. Three farmer's lung subjects (9.3%) showed immediate skin-test reactions to rural environmental allergens.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1981

Epidemiological study of pneumoconiosis in the Italian poly(vinyl chloride) industry.

Among 1216 workers employed in a poly(vinyl chloride) production factory, 20 cases of pneumoconiosis were found. None of these workers had had previous exposure to organic or inorganic dusts; 731 had been exposed to PVC dust (employed in drying, sacking and blending of polymer) and 485 had been exposed to monomer alone. Chest x-ray films were read by two independent physicians utilizing the ILO/UC Pneumoconiosis Classification, 1971. X-ray abnormalities were characterized by limited profusion, irregular type and low gravidity; in a small percentage of cases these were associated with slight restrictive respiratory function impairments. All 20 workers with PVC-induced pneumoconiosis had been exposed to high PVC dust pollution for at least five years. Mild nonspecific alterations (profusion of 0/1 class) were found both in the group exposed to PVC dust and in the group exposed to VCM alone. Such changes (observed in 388 cases, 31.9% of the whole population), are related mainly to age and smoking habits, and the role of exposure is minor.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Polyvinyl chloride pneumoconiosis: epidemiological study of exposed workers.

Among 1216 workers who were employed in a polyvinyl chloride production factory and who had had no previous dust exposure elsewhere, 20 cases of pneumoconiosis were found. Chest x-ray abnormalities were characterized by limited profusion, irregular type and low gravity. All 20 workers had been exposed to high PVC dust levels. The chest x-ray changes were observed after a minimum exposure of five years and, in a small percentage of cases, were associated with slight restrictive respiratory function impairments. Moreover, in the whole group of workers 388 cases (31.9%) were found with non-specific x-ray abnormalities mainly related to age and smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[Epidemiologic evaluation of isocyanate immediate irritative action: 'one day effect' control (author's transl)].

Nineteen MDI exposed workers showed ventilatory changes, after eight hour exposure, mainly involving upper respiratory airways; the changes reversed following a bronchodilator aerosol. An incomplete recovery of VC was found in some subjects; therefore, the possibility of changes in the lung elastic recoil forces was hypothesized. No statistically significant differences were found as to occupation and smoking habit, which suggests that even low MDI concentrations could be enough to give rise to acute effects. The greater impairment found in subjects who were already affected by morning time emphasizes the necessity that such subjects were not employed in their specific work.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical study on Alternaria spores sensitization.

BACKGROUND: sensitization to fungi spores is often associated with sensitization to other allergens and so it is difficult to estabilish the exact cause of illness. OBJECTIVE: the aim of the study was to evaluate a group of patients monosensitized to Alternaria and to establish the prevalence, periodicity and clinical profile of this kind of sensitization. METHODS: 37 subjects who were monosensitized to Alternaria (prick-test positive), according to a previous epidemiological study were evaluated. Clinical symptoms and the period of their occurrence were taken into consideration as well as immunological parameters (RAST). RESULTS: 20 patients (over 50%) included in the study proved to be affected by asthma associated with other allergic symptoms and 22 patients (60%) presented perennial symptoms. The RAST carried out on 34 monosensitized subjects proved positive in 11 and negative in 23. CONCLUSIONS: Alternaria sensitization is characterized by a perennial periodicity with severe respiratory symptoms (asthma) which occur primarily in children. Prick test is preferable to and more reliable than RAST as a diagnostic test.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An epidemiological survey on the allergological importance of some emerging pollens in Italy.

Epidemiological studies on the pollens responsible for allergic diseases throughout Italy are lacking. Routine diagnostic panels consist prevalently of grass, Parietaria, weeds, birch, olive and mugwort. Considering the great variety of Italian geographical areas and the observation of the growing allergological importance of new botanical species (e.g., ambrosia), a survey on pollen species considered "minor" was necessary. A panel of "emerging" pollens (birch, hazelnut, alder, hornbeam, cypress, ragweed) and a routine panel were used to skin prick test 2,934 consecutive outpatients with respiratory pathology of suspected allergic origin, in 21 centers across Italy. A specific questionnaire was compiled. It was found that 20.1% of patients did not react to allergens tested, 28.2% were positive for at least one emerging pollen and 51.7% did not react to emerging pollens but tested positive for at least one allergen from the routine panel. The prevalence of single pollen species was related to geographical areas. Ragweed pollen was shown to provoke asthma much more frequently than other pollens. Hitherto scarcely considered pollens play a considerable role in causing allergic diseases in Italy. In the great majority of patients, positivity for these pollens was associated with positivity to the better recognized group of pollen allergens, although in some cases they were the primary pathogenic agent. We suggest that these more recently considered allergens be included in routine diagnostic panels.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Potroom asthma: irritative bronchospasm or due to sensitization?].

The incidence of occupational bronchial asthma (potroom asthma) among workers employed on electrolytic reduction of aluminium is between 0.4 and 4%. No precise etiological agent has been identified; irritating agents are usually blamed, especially fluoridric acid, dusts, and SO2. Nevertheless, some features of potroom asthma, such as the moderate prevalence, the latency period, the progressive increase in sensitivity with continuing exposure, the appearance of symptoms several hours after the beginning of the work shift, the persistence of symptoms and of aspecific bronchial hyperreactivity even after withdrawal from the working environment, suggest the possibility of occupational asthma due to sensitization. Knowledge of the pathogenetic mechanism has direct influence on prevention: in the case of asthma due to irritants it may be sufficient to comply with the TLV, while in the case of sensitization, even low levels of exposure can be sufficient to trigger off the symptoms of bronchial asthma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Follow-up of latex-induced occupational asthma].

We studied 29 subjects with latex-induced occupational asthma in a follow-up of 5 +/- 3 years. Initial and follow-up visits included a questionnaire and measurement of lung volumes, bronchial responsiveness to methacholine (PD20FEV1), and latex-specific serum IgE levels. At follow-up, 17 subjects were no longer exposed to latex, whereas 12 subjects had reduced exposure. Asthma and rhinitis symptoms, use of steroids and bronchial hyperresponsiveness improved significantly at follow-up, whereas mean FEV1% and FVC% decreased (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the main determinant of FEV1 and PD20FEV1 at follow up were the values of these variables at diagnosis. Complete recovery of occupational asthma was observed in 7 subjects (24%), all in the non-exposed group. Latex-specific IgE did not exhibit significant changes. In conclusion latex-induced occupational asthma improves after a follow-up of 5 +/- 3 years, but a complete recovery occurs in a minority of subjects and is associated with cessation of exposure. Lung function measurements at follow up depend from their impairment at the time of diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Kawasaki disease: between mystery and reality. A clinical contribution].

Kawasaki disease was described by T. Kawasaki in Japan in 1967 and since then numerous cases have been reported from all over the world. The Authors reports a review of the literature on the main epidemiologic, clinical, etiopathogenetic aspects of the Kawasaki disease, pointing up the present therapeutical trends and the importance of a correct follow-up. A case is reported of children with a particularly complete M.K.: she presented fever, mucosal hyperemia, lymph node swelling, cutaneous rash and desquamation of the fingers of hands and feet. Furthermore leukocytes platelets, alpha 2 globulins and ESR were raised.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Environment and the immune system].

A large number of xenobiotics (i. e. chemicals, drugs and biologicals) may adversely affect the immune system in consequence of different mechanisms: 1) the capacity of a large variety of xenobiotics to cause an allergic sensitization and different types of allergic sequelae (e.g. bronchial asthma, rhinitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, contact dermatitis); 2) the adjuvant effect, potentiating the IgE mediated immuno-response against ubiquitous allergens (e.g. pollens); 3) the direct or indirect action on the immune system, at doses that did not cause overt toxicity. This effect is studied by a new discipline, called Immunotoxicology; 4) the indirect action on the target organ, which facilitate the onset of respiratory symptoms in previously asymptomatic subjects. The widespread distributions of xenobiotics in the environment suggests that our current knowledge of their adverse health effects may represent only the tip of the iceberg and that exposure to such immunotoxic agents may play a greater role than heretofore suspected in disease causation. The exposure to immunotoxic agents in the workplace might represent and additional risk to HIV positive individuals.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acute diarrhea: recent etiopathogenetic findings].

Acute diarrhoeas in children represent still now a very serious problem for Public Health either in developing or in industrialized Countries. In the last years great progress has been made in the aetiology and epidemiology of this disease. The most important results, which are worth recording, obtained in this field are: the detection of Rotavirus as a more common agent causing infectious enteritis in children; the "rediscover" of some pathogenic agents (Campylobacter and Yersinia) ignored since some years ago and now emerging; a renewed interest for "old" etiological agents (Giardia lamblia, that seems to be more frequent in industrialized Countries, and E. Coli, from which various pathogenetic mechanisms are now known). Either remarkable are the recent acquaintances on pathogenic mechanisms developed by the agents causing enteritis (production of cytotonic and cytotoxic toxins, invasion and adhesion of intestinal mucosa).

Acute Disease↗