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Biomedical subjects

K Reijula

Publications and source records attributed to K Reijula.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Radiographic abnormalities among Finnish construction, shipyard and asbestos industry workers.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of asbestos-related radiographic abnormalities was surveyed among Finnish construction, shipyard, and asbestos industry workers. METHODS: The radiographic screening focused on active and retired workers who were under the age of 70 years and had been employed for at least 10 years in construction or for at least 1 year in shipyards or in the asbestos industry. In 1990-1992, 18,943 people participated in an X-ray examination of the lungs and an interview on work history and exposure. The criteria for a positive radiological finding were (i) small irregular lung opacities clearly consistent with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (ILO 1/1 or higher), (ii) lung opacities indicating mild pulmonary fibrosis (ILO 1/0) with unilateral or bilateral pleural plaques, (iii) marked adhesions with or without thickening of the visceral pleura, or (iv) findings consistent with bilateral pleural plaques. RESULTS: Fulfilling the criteria were 4133 workers (22%) (22% from construction, 16% from shipyards, and 24% from the asbestos industry). The radiological findings included signs of pulmonary fibrosis (3%), changes in the visceral pleura (7%), bilateral plaques (17%), and unilateral plaques (10%). Occupational disease was diagnosed according to the Finnish insurance regulations for three-fourths of those referred for further examinations, 96% being abnormalities in the pleura and 4% being asbestosis. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to asbestos dust has been common in ordinary construction work, and, consequently, radiographic abnormalities (mostly pleural) occur frequently among active and retired construction workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Bacteria, molds, and toxins in water-damaged building materials.

Microbial toxins and eukaryotic cell toxicity from indoor building materials heavily colonized by fungi and bacteria were analyzed. The dominant colonizers at water-damaged sites of the building were Stachybotrys chartarum (10(3) to 10(5) visible conidia cm-2), Penicillium and Aspergillus species (10(4) CFU mg-1), gram-negative bacteria (10(4) CFU mg-1), and mycobacteria (10(3) CFU mg-1). The mycobacterial isolates were most similar to M. komossense, with 98% similarity of the complete 16S rDNA sequence. Limulus assay of water extracts prepared from a water-damaged gypsum liner revealed high contents of gram-negative endotoxin (17 ng mg-1 of E. coli lipopolysaccharide equivalents) and beta-D-glucan (210 ng mg-1 of curdlan equivalents). High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the methanol extracts showed that the water-damaged gypsum liner also contained satratoxin (17 ng mg-1). This methanol-extracted substance was 200 times more toxic to rabbit skin and fetus feline lung cells than extract of gypsum liner sampled from a non-water-damaged site. The same extract contained toxin(s) that paralyzed the motility of boar spermatozoa at extremely low concentrations; the 50% effective concentration was 0.3 microgram of dry solids per ml. This toxicity was not explainable by the amount of bacterial endotoxin, beta-D-glucan, or satratoxin present in the same extract. The novel in vitro toxicity test that utilized boar spermatozoa as described in this article is convenient to perform and reproducible and was a useful tool for detecting toxins of microbial origin toward eukaryotic cells not detectable in building materials by the other methods.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Effects of intranasal exposure to spores of Stachybotrys atra in mice.

The effects of highly toxic and nontoxic spores of Stachybotrys atra were investigated in mice after six intranasal administrations of 1 x 10(5) and 1 x 10(3) spores in phosphate-buffered saline during a 3-week period. Toxic spores contained the trichothecene mycotoxins, satratoxins G and H, as well as the immunosuppressant stachybotrylactones and -lactams. No trichothecenes were detected in the nontoxic spores, and they contained only minor amounts of stachybotrylactones and -lactams. In mice injected with toxic and nontoxic spores, the platelet count was decreased and leucocyte and erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit were increased. No IgG antibodies to S. atra were detected in sera of mice exposed intranasally to spores. No histological changes were detected in spleen, thymus, or intestines of mice. The mice receiving 1 x 10(5) toxic spores intranasally developed severe inflammatory changes within both bronchioles and alveoli. Hemorrhage was detected in alveoli. The mice receiving 1 x 10(5) nontoxic spores also developed inflammatory changes in the lungs, but these changes were significantly milder than those in mice receiving toxic spores. The mice receiving 1 x 10(3) toxic spores developed inflammatory changes in the lungs that were less severe than those in the mice receiving 1 x 10(5) toxic spores. No inflammatory changes were detected in the mice receiving 1 x 10(3) of nontoxic spores. The present findings indicate that exposure to S. atra spores containing toxins (satratoxins) can be a significant health risk.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1996

Screening for asbestos-induced diseases in Finland.

Screening for asbestos-induced diseases in Finland was carried out in 1990-1992 as a part of the Asbestos Program of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. The aim of the present study was to find the workers who had developed an asbestos-induced disease in certain occupations. Examination of active or retired workers included a personal interview on work history and asbestos exposure, and a chest X-ray. The target group for the screening comprised workers under 70 years of age who had worked at least for 10 years in construction, 1 year in a shipyard or in the manufacture of asbestos products. A preliminary questionnaire was sent to 54,409 workers, 18,943 of whom finally participated in the screening examination. The mean age of the workers was 53 years; 95% were employed in construction, 2% in shipyards, and 3% in the asbestos industry. The criteria for a positive screening result were (1) a radiographic finding clearly indicating lung fibrosis (at least ILO category 1/1), (2) a radiographic finding indicating mild lung fibrosis (ILO category 1/0) with unilateral or bilateral pleural plaques, (3) marked abnormalities of the visceral pleura (marked adhesions with or without pleural thickening), or (4) bilateral pleural plaques. The positive cases totalled 4,133 (22%) and were sent for further investigation. In addition to the screening, information on the presence of asbestos in the work environment, prevention of asbestos exposure, as well as on the health effects of asbestos exposure and smoking were given to the participating workers. The screening acted as a preliminary survey to prompt further national follow-up of asbestos-induced diseases among the workers who have been exposed to asbestos. This article presents the material, methods, and overall results of the screening.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Experimental lung mycotoxicosis in mice induced by Stachybotrys atra.

Stachybotrys atra is often isolated from building materials in houses with moisture problems. Spores of S. atra can contain mycotoxins which may lead to various symptoms in exposed residents in damp houses. The pathogenesis of S. atra-induced lung diseases has not been elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to investigate lung mycotoxicosis experimentally in mice after an intranasal exposure to spores of S. atra-fungus. One group of mice received one intranasal injection of spores of a toxic strain of S. atra (1 x 10(6) spores) and the other group spores of a less toxic strain. Spores of both strains contained spirolactones and spirolactams while the highly toxic strain contained also trichothecene mycotoxins, satratoxins. The spores containing satratoxins caused severe intra-alveolar, bronchiolar and interstitial inflammation with haemorrhagic exudative processes in the alveolar and bronchiolar lumen. A significant difference was observed in the severity of the lung damage caused by the two strains of S. atra. The spores without satratoxins induced a milder inflammation, so that the toxic compounds of S. atra-spores are most likely responsible for the severity of the lung injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Incidence of occupational asthma and persistent asthma in young adults has increased in Finland.

To investigate the incidence of occupational asthma and its relationship to new cases of persistent asthma, the data was collected from two national registers which cover practically all new cases of both diseases. In 1986 to 1993, the annual incidence of persistent asthma in adults (from 15 to 64 years) increased from 6,645 to 8,056 (21%). The incidence of asthma in women increased from 3,302 to 4,717 (43%). In the age group of 15 to 29 the increase was 91%, in 30 to 49 it was 60%, and in 50 to 64 the increase was 7%. Among men, the annual incidence remained stable. However, in the age group of 15 to 29 it increased by 87%, in 30 to 49 by 46%, while a decrease of 43% was detected in the age group of 50 to 64 years. During the same period, the annual incidence of occupational asthma increased from 227 to 386 (70%), from 109 to 185 (70%) in women and from 118 to 201 (70%) in men. In 1993 the population in Finland in the age range from 15 to 64 was 2.026 million. Thus, the incidence of persistent asthma was 0.4%. The proportion of newly diagnosed occupational asthma out of all new cases of asthma was 4.8%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Latex-induced allergic rhinitis in a laboratory nurse.

A case of occupational rhinitis in association with natural rubber latex hypersensitivity is presented. In the nasal provocation test for natural rubber latex glove powder the nurse experienced rhinorrhoea. A significant increase in the amount of nasal secretion and mucosal oedema could be detected. The patient also showed a positive skin prick test to natural rubber latex allergens, and an elevated natural rubber specific IgE level in her serum. This, to our knowledge, has not been previously reported in the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in a middle-aged Finnish population.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of previously diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) by sex, marital status, employment, exercise behaviour, and body mass index (BMI), and to compare previously diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetic patients. DESIGN: A survey of the total 55-year-old population living in a Finnish city on 1 October 1990. All the participants who were not on antidiabetic medication were invited for an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). SETTING: Oulu, a city in northern Finland. SUBJECTS: 1,008 eligible subjects (456 men and 552 women), of whom 345 men (76%) and 435 women (79%) participated. MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of previously diagnosed diabetes was 6.1% in the men and 3.0% in the women and that of previously undiagnosed diabetes 4.5% of the men and 3.7% of the women. The prevalence of IGT was 28.6% in the men and 26.7% in the women. Diabetes was related to BMI, and previously undiagnosed diabetes was related to the amount of physical exercise in both sexes. One third of the undiagnosed diabetic men and half of the undiagnosed diabetic women were identified among the persons with marked obesity (BMI 30 kg/m2 or more). The group of previously diagnosed diabetic patients included a significantly greater proportion of retired people and people on sick leave than the group of undiagnosed diabetic persons. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes is common in middle-aged Finns. Undiagnosed diabetes was detected especially in persons with marked obesity who were not physically active.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed1994

Sauna builder's asthma caused by obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon) dust.

Two carpenters developed rhinitis, conjunctivitis, bronchial wheezing, and dyspnoea while using obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon, African maple) at their work while they built saunas. Skin prick tests showed an immediate reaction, specific IgE to obeche was detected in their serum, and bronchial provocation test with obeche gave an immediate reaction with decrease of FEV1 and PEF values. The symptoms disappeared after avoiding the use of obeche. Obeche may cause a health hazard to carpenters who are exposed to this dust and who may develop allergic symptoms after the exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Detection of airborne reindeer epithelial antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition.

Hypersensitivity reactions to reindeer epithelial (RE) allergens have been recently demonstrated among reindeer herders. To determine the concentration of airborne RE antigens a method based on inhibition of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed. Dust samples were collected in workshops where reindeer leather was processed and the workers had inhaled dry epithelial dust during their working shifts. Specific IgE to RE allergen could be detected in one of 5 workers. RE antigen concentrations varied from 0.01 microgram to 3.9 micrograms/m3 in the air of the workshop. All workers except one claimed work-associated respiratory symptoms.

Adult↗