Biomedical subjects

P Boschetto

Publications and source records attributed to P Boschetto.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1986

Toluene diisocyanate-induced asthma without airway hyperresponsiveness.

Six workers with occupational asthma due to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) were studied. For each worker a detailed clinical and occupational history was taken, and lung function measurement and skin intradermal tests for common allergens were carried out. Methacholine inhalation challenge was performed before TDI inhalation, and 8 h after TDI inhalation. Methacholine challenge was within normal limits when performed before TDI inhalation, but went into the asthmatic range after TDI inhalation. These cases provide evidence that asthma can be induced by toluene diisocyanate in the absence of airway hyperresponsiveness. They further demonstrate that an isolated negative methacholine inhalation test cannot be used to exclude sensitization to TDI. Screening and follow-up studies on workers exposed on TDI require serial measurements of airway responsiveness and of variable air-flow obstruction.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1985

Combined asthma and alveolitis due to diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) with demonstration of no crossed respiratory reactivity to toluene diisocyanate (TDI).

Two workers, who developed asthmatic symptoms, were studied with inhalation provocation tests using diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI). The subjects showed specific asthmatic reactions to MDI challenge (more than 20% fall in FEV1), and one also had an alveolar response. Alveolitis was suggested by fever, basal crackles, increased neutrophil counts in venous blood and in bronchoalveolar lavage. The asthmatic reaction to MDI challenge was associated with an increase in airway responsiveness to methacholine in both subjects. We conclude that MDI is a cause of asthma and/or hypersensitivity pneumonitis in workers exposed to diphenylmethane diisocyanate.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Substance P in the sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and occupational exposure to respiratory irritants].

The role of tachykininis in airway inflammation has been extensively demonstrated in experimental animal models, but evidence in humans is very sparse. The aim of this study was first to quantify the content of substance P (SP) in sputum of a group of patients, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and with exposure to occupational irritants. Secondly, to compare them with sputum SP content of a group of control subjects.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Occupational exposure to respiratory irritants and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Cigarette smoking and occupational exposure to respiratory irritants are the major riskfactors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is characterized by small-airway obstruction and destruction of pulmonary parenchyma: emphysema. We studied two groups of subjects: one exposed and the other one not-exposed to respiratory irritants, to investigate the relationship, if any, between occupational exposure and COPD. Subjects underwent high-resolution computed tomography-density mask of the chest to quantify pulmonary emphysema, pulmonary function tests, sputum induction and analysis for cell counts and measurements of metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and its tissue inhibitor TIMP-1. Subjects with occupational exposure to respiratory irritants had higher residual volume and functional residual capacity, higher total inflammatory cells and neutrophils in induced sputum. By contrast, sputum levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and MMP-91TIMP-1 ratio did not differ between the 2 groups. We conclude that sputum induction and analysis could be a useful and non-invasive tool to study and follow subjects with occupational exposure to respiratory irritants.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Efficacy in occupational medicine: proposals of the regional sections of SIMLII of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna].

The efficacy in Occupational Medicine is based on the degree of attainment of workers health and safety care. The Occupational Physician activity, attending on business parts, gives a contribution to the mission of the firm leading to the workers health/safety. The Occupational Physician actions are conditioned by workers features and by the other members of prevention system. It is necessary to verify the efficacy, the efficiency and the adequacy of the Occupational Physician activity finding goals and specific indicators.

Italy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pathogenesis of late asthmatic reactions induced by exposure to isocyanates.

The importance of airways inflammation for the development of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and for exacerbation of asthma was investigated in subjects with occupational asthma. We examined subjects sensitized to isocyanates, a small molecular weight compound that causes occupational asthma. Studies in asthmatic subjects sensitized to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) demonstrated that late, but not early, asthmatic reactions induced by TDI were associated with an acute increase in bronchial responsiveness, and with a marked infiltration of neutrophils and a slight infiltration of eosinophils into the airways, both prevented by steroids. As the late asthmatic reactions and the increase in responsiveness induced by TDI were prevented by steroids, but not by indomethacin, we speculated that cell membrane phospholipid metabolites, which are inhibited by steroids but not by indomethacin, may be involved in TDI induced hyperresponsiveness. The results of these studies suggest that bronchial hyperresponsiveness and exacerbation of asthma may be related to inflammation of the airways and that cell membrane phospholipid metabolites may be involved.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis caused by rape flour: description of a clinical case].

A 48 year old man, employed in a grain and animal feed store for 9 years, was referred to our clinic complaining of nasal blockage, rhinorrhea, sneezing, ocular burning, coughing and wheezing occurring over the last 12 months. The man's main task was to manually load and unload the unpackaged grain and feed. Symptoms occurred only when he worked directly with oilseed rape flour and not when he worked with other types of grains. Eye and nasal symptoms appeared during the work shift, while respiratory symptoms were worse at night than during the day after exposure to rape for more than 2 consecutive days. Physical examination was normal, as were the results of the pulmonary function studies. The methacholine inhalation test, performed to measure the level of non-specific airways responsiveness, showed normal bronchial reactivity. Results of allergy skin prick tests were negative for common inhalant and food allergens, but slightly positive for the oilseed rape flour extract. Registration of the peak expiratory flow (PEF) showed slight decreases in PEF values after occupational exposure. We conclude that this case is suggestive of asthma and rhino-conjunctivitis, induced by oilseed rape flour, probably due to an allergic mechanism.

Brassica↗