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Biomedical subjects

J Kern

Publications and source records attributed to J Kern.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Airway function and respiratory symptoms in sanitation workers.

The prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung-function changes was studied in a group of 81 municipal sanitation workers. In addition, the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function was studied in 65 control workers. There were significantly higher prevalences of all chronic respiratory symptoms among the sanitation workers than among the control workers. Sanitation workers (smokers and nonsmokers) 40 years of age or older had higher prevalences of all chronic respiratory symptoms than younger workers. In addition, sanitation workers (both smokers and nonsmokers) employed for 10 years or longer had significantly higher prevalences of chronic respiratory symptoms than control workers. There was also a high prevalence of acute symptoms, which developed among the sanitation workers during work shifts. Of these symptoms, prevalences were highest for dryness of the nose and throat, followed by throat and eye irritation. Lung-function testing demonstrated significantly diminished forced vital capacity (FVC) and 1-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) for the 81 sanitation workers compared with control values. These differences only become significant after 10 or more years of employment in the sanitation industry and were not entirely explained by smoking. These differences were smaller and not statistically significant for maximum flow rates at 50% and the last 25% of the vital capacity. Our data suggest that sanitation worker--particularly those with long periods of work exposure--may develop acute and/or chronic respiratory symptoms accompanied by decreases in lung function (primarily FVC and FEV1).

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Respiratory findings in workers not exposed to air pollutants.

The prevalences of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function changes were studied in a group of 806 workers working in a "clean environment." Acute symptoms during the work shift were reported by smokers but were essentially absent in nonsmokers. Chronic respiratory-symptom prevalences were similar to those reported in community-based populations, with smokers experiencing more chronic symptoms than nonsmokers. Baseline lung function measurements indicated no significant differences with values obtained from prediction equations based on community populations. There were significant across-shift increases in all ventilatory capacity tests (forced vital capacity, 1-second forced expiratory volume, and maximum expiratory flow rates at 50% and the last 25% of the vital capacity) varying from +1.9% to +9.8% of the preshift values. Workers older than 40 years of age and those employed for more than 10 years had similar across-shift changes compared with younger workers and those with longer durations of employment. Our data indicate that workers in clean work environments (with the exception of smokers) complain of few acute or chronic respiratory symptoms and have normal lung function. These workers experience increases in lung function across the work shift, probably reflecting normal diurnal variation. Smokers, although significantly more affected than nonsmokers, do not appear to have work-related findings, and smoking appears to be the most significant risk factor for the development of lung disease in unexposed workers. In this study, community-based control data was equivalent to worker control data in unexposed workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Respiratory symptoms, diseases and ventilatory function in shoe industry workers].

The respiratory health status was studied in 376 female shoe workers. The mean age of workers was 32 years and the mean exposure 12 years. A significantly higher prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases was found in exposed compared to control workers. This was particularly pronounced for chest tightness (exposed: 44.7%; control: 0%), dyspnoea (exposed: 42.6%; control: 2.0%) and rhinitis (exposed: 46.3%; control: 2.4%). In exposed workers there was also a high prevalence of acute symptoms which developed during work shift, particularly irritation of the throat (56.6%), dryness of the throat (61.4%), dryness of the nose (56.4%), and eye irritation (63.6%). The prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases increased with duration of exposure. There were also statistically significant acute reductions in all ventilatory capacity tests (FVC, FEV1, FEF50, FEF25) during work shift. The measured ventilatory capacity values in exposed workers were significantly lower in comparison with the predicted values (P < 0.01). Lung function severity increased with duration of employment. The data suggest that occupational exposure to atmospheric pollution in the shoe manufacturing industry may be responsible for the development of acute and chronic respiratory impairment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Respiratory findings in textile workers employed in dyeing wool and cotton].

The prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases and ventilatory capacity were studied in 97 textile workers employed in dyeing wool and cotton fibres and in 76 non-exposed control workers. The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in the textile workers compared to controls. The symptoms of occupational asthma were recorded in 7.2 per cent of the textile workers. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher in exposed smokers than in exposed non-smokers. The textile workers employed for more than 10 years had a higher prevalence of all respiratory symptoms than those with a shorter period of employment. The textile workers showed a high prevalence of acute symptoms which developed during work shift. Significant acute reductions of ventilatory capacity tests on maximum expiratory flow-volume curves (MEFV) in textile workers varied from 5.1% for FVC to 12.4% for FEF25. Ventilatory capacity tests in the textile workers before work shift were significantly diminished in comparison to the predicted values. Our data indicate that work in the textile dyeing industry may cause the development of respiratory symptoms and diseases as well as impairment of ventilatory capacity.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Respiratory function in poultry workers and pharmacologic characterization of poultry dust extract.

A group of 343 workers (252 males and 91 females) employed in four poultry farms in Croatia was studied for the prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function changes. There were significantly higher prevalences of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, chronic bronchitis, and chest tightness in poultry workers than in control workers. Male poultry workers who were smokers had significantly higher prevalences of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, and chronic bronchitis than poultry workers who were nonsmokers (P<0.01). Poultry workers exposed for more than 10 years had significantly higher symptoms prevalences than those workers with shorter exposures (except among female smokers). There was also a high prevalence in poultry workers of acute symptoms which developed during the work shift. The measured FVC, FEV1, and FEF25 in poultry workers were significantly lower than predicted normal values. Workers exposed for more than 10 years had lower ventilatory capacity tests (expressed as percentage of predicted) than those workers with shorter exposures. Changes in FEV1, FEF50, and FEF25 were less pronounced than FVC. Additionally we showed that a water-soluble poultry dust extract obtained from this workplace caused a dose-related contraction of nonsensitized guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle when studied in vitro. Pharmacologic studies of this response indicate that it may result from the release of multiple endogenous mediators. Our data suggest that work in poultry farms may, for some workers, cause the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function changes.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Respiratory findings in workers with no occupational exposure to air pollutants in the workplace].

The prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases as well as ventilatory capacity were studied in 806 workers without occupational exposure to air pollutants. The established prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was similar to that found in the general pollution. It was also higher in smokers than in non-smokers. Relatively a very small number of workers (only smokers) complained of acute symptoms during work shift. The measured ventilatory capacity values were not significantly different from the predicted values. There was a significant increase in all ventilatory capacity values during work shift (FVC, FEV1, FEF50, FEF25) which varied from +1.9 to 9.8% of the preshift values. In older workers (>40 years of age) as well as in those with longer exposure (<40 years) and those with shorter employment (<10 years). Smoking habit appears to be the major factor responsible for the development of lung impairment in workers not exposed to atmospheric pollution.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Identification of a malignant counterpart of the monocyte-dendritic cell progenitor in an acute myeloid leukemia.

Myeloblasts derived from the peripheral blood of a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia (ORL47) were found to represent the malignant counterpart of the newly elucidated monocyte-dendritic cell colony-forming unit (mono-DC-CFU). The specific cytokine conditions require to achieve intermediate and terminal maturation of DCs and monocytes from these progenitors were defined. With tumor necrosis factor (TNF) + granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) + stem cell factor treatment numerous colony-like clusters developed. In contrast with normal DC development, further advancement of mono-DC-CFU and terminal DC maturation from the leukemic cells were dependent on the addition of interleukin-6. Functional and phenotypic analysis showed that the capacity to differentiate was maintained fully in the DC compartment, but only partially in the monocyte compartment, as judged by the lack of CD14 surface expression. Cells found at intermediate stages of DC development were potent stimulators of a mixed leukocyte reaction, a function usually attributed to mature DCs. As previously shown for normal DC development, antibodies to TNF alpha and GM-CSF blocked proliferative responses and DC growth. The importance of these observations in the classification of leukemias, normal DC development, and potential clinical strategies is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Respiratory function and immunological reactions in sisal workers.

A cross-sectional study of respiratory function was performed in 50 sisal textile workers in 1972. Twenty of the 50 sisal workers still employed in the sisal mill were reexamined 19 years later. At the time of the initial study there were higher prevalences of all chronic respiratory symptoms in sisal compared with control workers. By the time of the follow-up study a significant increase had occurred in almost all chronic respiratory symptoms among the 20 sisal workers. At the time of the initial study there were similar and statistically significant across-shift reductions of forced vital capacity (FVC) and the 1-s forced expiratory volume (FEV1) on Monday and the following Thursday of the work week. Across-shift reductions in FVC and FEV1 in the 20 sisal workers at the follow-up study were larger than at the first measurement. Two sisal workers out of 20 (10.0%) had a positive skin test reaction to an extract sisal; both related symptoms of occupational asthma. In two sisal workers (10.0%) increased IgE was measured; one of these had symptoms of occupational asthma. Our data suggest that exposure to sisal dust in the textile industry may, in some workers, cause the development of respiratory difficulties. Immunological testing may be of value in identifying such workers at risk for occupational asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Respiratory function and immunological reactions in jute workers.

A prospective study of respiratory function was performed in a group of 70 jute and 40 control workers. At the initial study there were consistently higher prevalences of all chronic respiratory symptoms in jute workers compared to control workers; however, the differences were statistically significant only for dyspnea (P < 0.05). At the follow-up study 19 out of the original 70 jute workers were examined 19 years later. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms among these workers. Similar across-shift reductions of forced vital capacity (FVC) and the 1-s forced expiratory volume (FEV1) were recorded on Monday and the following Thursday at the initial study. In the 19 jute workers followed prospectively there were similar across-shift reductions of FVC and FEV1 at the first and the follow-up study, the reduction being slightly larger for FEV1 than for FVC. Only one jute worker (5.3%) and two control workers (5.7%) responded to skin testing with specific textile extracts. Two workers developed symptoms of occupational asthma. One of these workers had a positive response to skin testing with jute extract. Our data suggest that exposure to jute dust may cause the development of chronic respiratory symptoms in some workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function in confectionery workers.

Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity were studied in a group of 288 workers (259 women and 29 men) employed in a confectionery plant. A group of workers (96 women and 31 men) not exposed to confectionery manufacture were also studied as controls. The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was higher in exposed than in control workers, being greatest for confectionery workers exposed to the dust of flour, talc, and starch and the vapours of alcohol. Chronic bronchitis was reported by 7% of the women and 21% of the men, and chest tightness was reported by 27% of women and 66% of men. There was a high prevalence of acute irritative symptoms during the workshift in all groups of confectionery workers, especially for cough, dyspnoea, burning and dryness of the throat, and eye irritation. For all groups of confectionery workers there were statistically significant across shift reductions in ventilatory capacity, being most pronounced for maximum flow rate at 50% of the control vital capacity (FEF50; range 4.6-13.0%) and at 25% of the control vital capacity (FEF25; range 4.7-22.3%). Preshift values of FEF50 and FEF25 were significantly lower than predicted values. The data suggest that some workers employed in confectionery plants may develop acute and chronic respiratory symptoms associated with changes in lung function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Respiratory function in street cleaners and garbage collectors].

The prevalence of chronic impairment of the respiratory system and ventilatory capacity was studied in 81 sanitation workers. In addition, the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was studied in 65 non-exposed control workers. Among the sanitation workers the prevalence of most of the chronic respiratory symptoms was statistically higher than among the controls. The sanitation workers--smokers had a significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough, chronic phlegm and chest tightness than the non-smoking sanitation workers (P < 0.05). The sanitation smokers exposed for more than 10 years had significantly higher prevalences of nasal catarrh (P < 0.01) and sinusitis (P < 0.05) than those with a shorter exposure. FVC and FEV1 were significantly reduced in sanitation workers exposed for more than 10 years in relation to predicted normal values. These differences were not significant for FEF50 and FEF25. Our results suggest that sanitation workers may develop chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function changes, in the first place those of FVC and FEV1.

Adult↗