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Biomedical subjects

H Koskinen

Publications and source records attributed to H Koskinen.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Urinary chlorophenols in sawmill workers.

The concentration of urinary chlorophenol was assayed for 230 sawmill workers. Information on the work tasks was obtained through questionnaires from occupational health centres. The workers were divided into three groups on the basis of the type of exposure: (1) those with skin absorption as the main route, (2) those with skin and respiratory route of equal importance and (3) those with respiratory tract as the main route. The concentrations of urinary chlorophenol were higher in workers with skin absorption as the main route (median concentration: 7.8 mumol l-1; range 0.1 to 210.9 mumol l-1) than in those with both routes of equal importance (1.4 mumol l-1; range 0.1 to 47.8 mumol l-1, P less than 0.001) or in those with mainly respiratory route (0.9 mumol l-1; range 0.1 to 13.3 mumol l-1, P less than 0.001). The urinary chlorophenol concentration was below 15 mumol l-1 in all workers with the lungs as the main absorption route. In nine out of 112 workers whose main absorption route was the skin, the urinary chlorophenol values were above 50 mumol l-1. Six were loaders when the through-dipping method was used. In two of them urinary chlorophenol concentrations were as high as 170.8 and 210.9 mumol l-1. These results emphasize the need to develop and use simple methods of protection against skin contact with chlorophenols.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1986

Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme and lysosomal enzymes in tobacco workers.

The activities of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in people with extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) have been both increased and decreased. These observations suggest that pulmonary macrophages or endothelial cells participate in the disease process. Exposure to molds in the tobacco industry has recently been suspected to be associated with chronic extrinsic allergic alveolitis. In the present study, we analyzed the serum activities of ACE and two lysosomal enzymes, beta-N-acetylglycosaminidase (NAG) and beta-glucuronidase (GLU), among 57 tobacco workers. The tobacco workers not exposed had serum ACE levels similar to those of the reference population workers not occupationally exposed to dust (N = 127). The tobacco workers' serum levels of NAG (16.0 +/- 2.0 units/L and GLU (2.4 +/- 0.7 units/L) were higher than among the referents (NAG, 9.1 +/- 2.0 units/L; GLU, 1.0 +/- 0.6 units/L; p less than 0.01). Fifteen tobacco workers with respiratory symptoms compatible with pulmonary diseases caused by organic dust had a trend toward increased ACE, NAG, and GLU levels. The mean level of ACE in serum was higher among the workers with (25.8 +/- 4.5 units/L) than among those without pulmonary fibrosis (20.7 +/- 7.5 units/L; p less than 0.025). The mean ACE level was also higher among workers with the highest exposure to molds (24.6 +/- 7.1 units/L) compared to those with the mildest exposure (18.3 +/- 5.7 units/L; p less than 0.05). Tobacco workers with or without antibodies against one or more microbes had similar mean levels of ACE, NAG, and GLU. All of these findings indicate that raw tobacco dust and its contaminants may cause allergic or toxic reactions or both, reflected by the serum levels of ACE, NAG, and GLU.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1985

Symptoms and clinical findings in patients with silicosis.

Respiratory symptoms, radiographic findings, and lung function were analyzed in 144 Finnish patients with silicosis. The prevalence of persistent phlegm production in these patients was 46% and that of dyspnea 87%. Impairment of the vital capacity (VC) and the diffusion capacity (DLCO) (less than 80% of predicted values) were found in 46 and 47% of the patients with simple silicosis, respectively. The mean DLCO was lower in patients with advanced simple silicosis (category 3) than in those with slight simple silicosis (categories 1 and 2). In category 3 the DLCO was impaired in 9 out of 12 patients, the impairment being below 65% of the predicted values in six of the nine. All patients with large opacities showed impairment in their lung function tests. Twenty-eight of the silicosis patients had referents matched for exposure to silica dust, age, and gender. The referents had no radiographic signs of silicosis. The patients experienced dyspnea more often than their referents, whereas no difference was found in the prevalence of persistent phlegm production. The mean values of VC, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0), and DLCO were lower in the patients than in the referents. The results indicate a high prevalence of dyspnea, restrictive impairment of lung function, and impaired diffusion capacity in the patients with simple or complicated (ie, large radiographic opacities) silicosis. The DLCO proved to be a rather sensitive lung function parameter for advanced simple silicosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Toxicity of polymethylmethacrylate thermodegradation products.

Polymethylmethacrylate was thermally degraded in air at 300 degrees C and the volatile decomposition products studied with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main product was monomeric methacrylate, although many other compounds existed among the products. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed the presence of free radicals. Wistar rats were exposed to the fumes of the plastic (300 degrees C) and their lungs and brain studied for biochemical effects. In the lung, the activity of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase decreased and an initial inhibition of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase was observed. The contents of reduced nonprotein sulfhydryl groups were decreased in the lung and brain. The exposures enhanced the activities of acetylcholine esterase, creatine kinase and NADPH-diaphorase in the brain. Scanning electron microscopy of the exposed lungs showed disorganization of ciliated cells, and the epithelial serous cells (Clara cells) were damaged.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Increased activity of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme in progressive silicosis.

The serum activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, EC 3.4.15.1) in 135 male silicosis patients was analyzed. Twenty-eight of the patients had referents matched for silica dust exposure and age but without roentgenographic signs of silicosis. A reference group not exposed to silica dust comprised 34 lumberjacks. The serum mean activity of ACE was higher in silicosis patients (46.6 +/- 12.1 units/L) than in the referents exposed to silica (38.5 +/- 8.1 units/L) or in the lumberjacks (36.6 +/- 9.7 units/L). There was an association between the serum ACE level and the roentgenographic severity of fibrosis. A retrospective side-by-side assessment of roentgenographic progression was made in 49 silicosis patients. The ACE was higher in the 18 patients with progression (50.5 +/- 16.4 units/L) than in those with no progression (41.5 +/- 9.5 units/L). According to the multivariate regression analysis, progression of fibrosis explained the elevation of ACE better than profusion. The results confirm that the serum ACE activity is elevated in silicosis and suggest that the elevation is associated with progression of the disease.

Bronchitis↗
PubMed1984

Serum beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase activities in silicosis patients and in workers exposed to silica dust.

The serum activities of two lysosomal enzymes, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30; NAG) and beta-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31; GLU) were analysed in 116 male patients with silicosis. Twenty-eight of the patients were matched with controls of similar sex, age and exposure to silica dust but with no radiographical evidence of silicosis. A control group which had not been exposed to silica dust consisted of male blood donors. The mean activity of NAG in serum was higher in the silicosis patients than in the blood donors (P less than 0.01). Similarly, the NAG level in the silicosis patients with matched controls was higher than that in the silica-exposed controls (P less than 0.05). The silicosis patients who showed a progression of small opacities by one or more subcategories had a slightly higher mean NAG activity in their sera than the patients with no progression but this difference did not reach statistical significance; the activity was higher than in silica-exposed controls (P less than 0.05). We suggest that these findings may be related to the effects of silica on macrophages which have been observed experimentally in vitro and in vivo and might indicate an increased turnover of macrophages caused by silica dust and active, progressive silicotic fibrosis.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1984

Serum lysozyme concentration in silicosis patients and workers exposed to silica dust.

Lysozyme in serum (LZM, EC 3.2.1.17) was assayed in 135 male patients with silicosis. Twenty-eight of the patients had controls matched for exposure to silica dust, age and sex but with no radiographical signs of silicosis. A reference group without exposure to silica dust was composed of 34 lumberjacks. The mean concentration of serum LZM was higher in silicosis patients (7.8 +/- 2.8 mg/l, n = 28) than in the controls exposed to silica (6.0 +/- 1.7 mg/l, p less than 0.05), or in the lumberjacks (5.7 +/- 2.1 mg/l, p less than 0.01). There was an association between serum LZM concentration and radiographic severity of silicosis, and on a group basis an association of serum LZM concentration with the progression of silicosis. In the multivariate regression analysis the highest regression coefficients were found for progression of small opacities as well as patient age. The results suggest that the elevation of LZM concentration is associated with the progression of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Wollastonite exposure and lung fibrosis.

Wollastonite is a naturally occurring acicular or fibrous metasilicate used in ceramics and as a substitute for asbestos in some applications. Wollastonite fibers are rather similar in form, length, and diameter to amphibole asbestos fibers but mineralogically they are different. Dust measurements in both the Finnish limestone--wollastonite quarry and in the flotation plant yielded high concentrations of both total dust and respirable fibers in some operational stages. The clinical study comprised a total of 46 men who had been exposed to wollastonite at the quarry for at least 10 years. Three of the fifteen nonsmokers showed chronic bronchitis. Radiographs revealed slight lung fibrosis among fourteen men, and slight bilateral pleural thickening among thirteen men. Their sputum specimens were normal. Spirometry and nitrogen single breath tests indicated the possibility of small airways disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Increased prevalence of HLA-Aw19 and of the phenogroup Aw19,B18 in advanced silicosis.

The frequencies of HLA antigens in 27 patients with silicosis were compared with those of referents matched for exposure to silica dust, age, and sex, and having no roentgenographic signs of silicosis. A group of 900 blood donors served as an additional reference group. The prevalence of HLA-Aw19 was higher in the silicosis patients (29.6 percent) than in the silica-exposed referents (3.7 percent; p = 0.02). In turn, the frequency of Aw19 in the unexposed population consisting of blood donors (19.6 percent) was higher than that of silica-exposed referents (p = 0.04). Accepting that the prevalences of HLA antigens in the blood donors fairly well describe those of the silica-exposed population, the highest risk of developing advanced fibrosis was associated with the phenotypic combination Aw19,B18 (observed-expected ratio = 17.05; p less than 0.01). The results suggest that HLA-Aw19 and the haplotype Aw19,B18 are, at least in Finnish population, associated with a progression into advanced silicotic fibrosis.

Finland↗
PubMed1983

Preliminary results from a cohort of workers exposed to wollastonite in a Finish limestone quarry.

Wollastonite metasilicate fibers are rather similar in form, length, and diameter, but mineralogically different, to amphibole asbestos fibers. We have studied immunologic findings from 46 men exposed to wollastonite at a limestone quarry for at least 10 years. These workers showed a higher prevalence of positive serum rheumatoid factors than blood donors did. This finding resembles the one detected among asbestos workers. The group of wollastonite workers with radiological signs of pulmonary fibrosis had activities of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme that were similar to those of wollastonite workers without fibrosis. A mortality study of 238 quarry workers with 5,769 person-years was, as expected, nonpositive. It was interesting that one woman with 20 years of exposure to wollastonite and with no other known exposure to fibers revealed a malignant retroperitoneal mesenchymal tumor 30 years after the initial exposure. This kind of very rare tumor is difficult to distinguish from mesothelioma. However, this is only one case, and it is impossible to draw any definite conclusions.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Serum lysosomal enzyme activities in silicosis and asbestosis.

The serum activities of two lysosomal enzymes, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30) and beta-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31) were analyzed for 28 silicosis and 34 asbestosis patients. The enzyme activities of the patients were compared with those of age-, sex- and exposure-matched controls with no radiological signs of pneumoconiosis, and with an additional reference group of blood donors. The serum activity of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase was higher in the silicosis patients (32.5 +/- 11.7 U/l) than in the asbestosis patients (21.7 +/- 7.9 U/l, p less than 0.001), in the silica exposed controls (27.1 +/- 6.7 U/l, p less than 0.05) or in the blood donors (24.8 +/- 6.3 U/l, p less than 0.05). No significant differences were found in the serum activity of beta-glucuronidase in the studied groups. Although the mechanisms causing different levels of serum beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity in silicosis and asbestosis patients remain unresolved, they may be related to the different mechanisms of action of the two dusts on lung (10).

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1981

Measurement of pulmonary perfusion using a digitised ECG-triggered gamma ray absorption technique.

AN ECG-triggered multisweep method for the collection of low-energy gamma ray absorption data in normal and cancerous tissue has been developed, resulting in digital perfusion curves with reliable statistics. The small intensity modulation ( approximately equal to 1.2%) due to lung perfusion is detected and separated from the much stronger intensity variations caused by ventilation in a satisfactory way. During this non-invasive test the patient is supine and breathes smoothly.

Americium↗