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X Baur

Publications and source records attributed to X Baur.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Obstructive airway diseases due to occupation and profession].

Prevalences of obstructive airway diseases, i.e. of bronchial asthma and COPD, are in the range of 5% in our populations. Approximately every 10th of these cases is caused by occupational agents. Due to different pathomechanisms and legal definitions allergic disorders have to be separated from irritant disorders. A further entity represents isocyanate induced diseases (caused by hardeners, agents for manufacturing of plastics etc.). The latter mainly behave as irritants but may also elicit allergic reactions. Among causative occupational allergens flour, food and feed products and latex dominate; among irritative agents hairdresser material, welding and cutting fumes and varnishes are most important. In most cases prognosis is poor; it depends on duration of exposure to causative agents. This emphasizes the need of early diagnosis and individual preventive measures.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed2006

Dermal, inhalation, and internal exposure to 1,6-HDI and its oligomers in car body repair shop workers and industrial spray painters.

OBJECTIVES: To study inhalation and dermal exposure to hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and its oligomers as well as personal protection equipment (PPE) use during task performance in conjunction with urinary hexamethylene diamine (HDA) in car body repair shop workers and industrial spray painters. METHODS: Personal task based inhalation samples (n = 95) were collected from six car body repair shops and five industrial painting companies using impingers with di-n-butylamine (DBA) in toluene. In parallel, dermal exposure was assessed using nitril rubber gloves. Gloves were submerged into DBA in toluene after sampling. Analysis for HDI and its oligomers was performed by LC-MS/MS. Urine samples were collected from 55 workers (n = 291) and analysed for HDA by GC-MS. RESULTS: Inhalation exposure was strongly associated with tasks during which aerosolisation occurs. Dermal exposure occurred during tasks that involve direct handling of paint. In car body repair shops associations were found between detectable dermal exposure and glove use (odds ratio (OR) 0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09 to 0.57) and inhalation exposure level (OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.84 for a 10-fold increase). HDA in urine could be demonstrated in 36% and 10% of car body repair shop workers and industrial painting company workers respectively. In car body repair shops, the frequency of detectable HDA was significantly elevated at the end of the working day (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.07 to 4.22 for 3-6 pm v 0-8 am). In both branches HDA was detected in urine of approximately 25% of the spray painters. In addition HDA was detected in urine of a large proportion of non-spray painters in car body repair shops. CONCLUSION: Although (spray) painting with lacquers containing isocyanate hardeners results in the highest external exposures to HDI and oligomers, workers that do not perform paint related tasks may also receive a considerable internal dose.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2006

Increase in exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) after work-related isocyanate exposure.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of eNO changes post inhalative isocyanate challenge tests (DeltaeNO) with regard to specific asthmatic reactions and unspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to predict clinical and subclinical responses of isocyanate workers. METHODS: 55 workers with isocyanate-related respiratory complaints (29 with BHR and 25 without BHR) underwent occupational-type challenge tests. We determined eNO before, during and up to 22 h after diagnostic isocyanate challenge. RESULTS: The 12 asthmatic responders (22%) in the isocyanate-challenge test showed the highest eNO changes 22 h after challenge as well as a significant association between these changes and BHR. There was a positive association between an eNO increase of > 50% and an asthmatic response when compared to nonresponders with an odds ratio of 6.1; 95% CI 1.4-26.3; P = 0.02. More than half of the employees with BHR (52%) but only 20% of those without BHR developed an eNO rise of > 50% after 22 h. Furthermore, a significant positive association was found between the combination of BHR plus eNO increase of 50% after 22 h and the maximum sRaw change (% of baseline value) during the period 0-22 h after isocyanate exposure. The combination of BHR and eNO increase of > 50% was also associated with clinical symptoms during specific challenge tests (cough, shortness of breath, and/or rhinitis). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: An eNO increase 22 h post isocyanate challenge occurred in two-thirds of responders and in approximately half of nonresponders with BHR but only rarely in those without BHR. The combination of BHR and eNO increase in nonresponders may offer a new diagnostic tool to register subjects with an increased risk of developing occupational asthma. However, a large study group to perform follow-up investigations into this topic would be helpful to emphasize the importance of this finding.

Asthma↗
PubMed2006

[Silicosis or chronical obstructive bronchitis/emphysema as compensatory occupational disease].

We report on a 73-year-old man, who developed chronical bronchitis after 15 years of working as a coal miner. About 3 decades later a manifest COPD, and additionally a silicosis, were diagnosed. The silicosis was rated as an accepted case for the hazard insurance, but not as a reason for pension. The reasoning for the declining of pension for the applicant is refuted by the literature which defines occupational diseases and is generally accepted by the legislation. In this case the insurance argued that in low- to medium-grade spread of silicosis functional deficits of the lung and/or the cardio-vascular system are not to be expected. Thus the recognition and recompensation of a BK 4101 (grinders' disease, silicosis) was proposed, in contrast to the social court which demanded an expert's opinion on causality.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Non-malignant occupational respiratory diseases in Germany in comparison with those of other countries.

OBJECTIVE: To present recent data on the occurrence of non-malignant occupational airway diseases in Germany and to compare mainly affected occupations of obstructive airway diseases caused by allergens and irritants with available surveillance data from other countries. METHODS: Sources of German data were statistics for the year 2003 of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and of the federation of statutory accident insurance institutions for the industrial sector. RESULTS: Confirmed cases of non-malignant occupational respiratory diseases in Germany are mainly benign asbestos-associated diseases (occupational disease no. 4103: 1,975 cases), silicosis/coal worker's pneumoconiosis (occupational disease no. 4101: 1,158 cases), obstructive airway diseases due to allergens (occupational disease no. 4301: 935 cases), chronic obstructive bronchitis and/or emphysema in hard coal miners (occupational disease no. 4111: 414 cases), obstructive airway diseases due to irritants and toxic agents (occupational disease no. 4302: 181 cases), diseases caused by ionising radiation (171 cases), diseases due to isocyanates (occupational disease no. 1315: 55 cases), and 22 cases of other rare occupational lung and airway diseases. Miners, bakers, chemical workers, hairdressers and health care workers are mostly affected. Bakers were also frequently affected by occupational asthma in Finland, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Piedmont region in Italy, South Africa, and New Zealand. Further, high frequencies of occupational asthma were reported for health care workers in France, Italy, New Jersey, Michigan, and South Africa. CONCLUSION: Despite completely different legal definitions and regulations, comparably high numbers of occupational obstructive diseases in western countries require better primary and secondary prevention in industries with high incidence, especially in bakeries, the health care sector, farming, and mining. Furthermore, there is a urgent need for harmonization of recognition and compensation systems for occupational diseases as well as of respective preventive strategies within the European Union.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Allergic and irritant skin and airway diseases in masseurs and medical bath attendants].

The profession of masseur or bath attendant involves intense contact with multiple potential allergens and irritants. There is a complete lack of epidemiological studies for this professional group in spite of the general agreement that sensitization to ingredients of beauty and healthcare products such as fragrances is common. In this review, we critically review the relevant literature, and present own results from recently performed analyses of the German Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK). Fragrances, preservatives, emulsifiers, and antioxidants are relevant from the allergological perspective. In order to evaluate the particular importance of these and other potentially important allergens for occupational dermatology, further systematic research in allergology as well as epidemiological studies are needed.

Balneology↗
PubMed2005

Latex allergen exposure increases exhaled nitric oxide in symptomatic healthcare workers.

The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical and diagnostic impact of baseline exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels and latex allergen-induced eNO changes in different healthcare worker groups. Healthcare workers, 31 latex-sensitised and 14 nonsensitised, underwent occupational-type challenge tests with powdered allergenic latex gloves. Sensitised as well as nonsensitised healthcare workers developed a significant eNO increase 1 h after challenge. Conversely, only latex-sensitised employees showed a significant eNO increase 22 h after challenge, which showed a significant relationship with bronchial obstruction (specific airway resistance changes). However, there was no difference in either baseline eNO level or eNO increase after 22 h between asthmatic (n = 13) and rhinitic only (n = 20) responders. The specificity and sensitivity of a 50% eNO increase after 22 h in responders were 100 and 56%, respectively. These results support the assumption that the whole respiratory tract is involved in a combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome. Smoking healthcare workers showed reduced baseline exhaled nitric oxide levels, but, as shown for the first time, an allergen-induced exhaled nitric oxide increase comparable to that of nonsmokers. Corticosteroid therapy inhibited the allergen-induced exhaled nitric oxide change but not the clinical response in the challenge test. These findings suggest that cigarette smoke and corticosteroids initiate distinct molecular mechanisms influencing nitric oxide concentrations in the airways.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Effects on the lung due to underground coal mining work].

The long-term exposure to dust in the hard coal mining industry can lead to various pathological lung changes, especially to chronic bronchitis without and with obstructive ventilation disorder, lung emphysema, pneumoconiosis (coal miner's pneumoconiosis, in Germany categorized as silicosis) and silicotuberculosis. These health disorders show a close pathogenetic and pathophysiological association and should not necessarily be regarded as individual entities. Most exposed subjects demonstrate more or less all of these pathological disorders. On account of individual (genetic?) susceptibility, their degree differs greatly. Some individuals are largely resistent, other subjects show severe effects like emphysema, progressive massive pneumoconiosis, or the Caplan syndrome. Several studies showed that the pathologically verified degree of lung fibrosis is associated with lung crystalline SiO(2) content whereas the emphysema score is inversely correlated with the coal content. With regard to diagnostics and medical expert opinion, it is important that conventional radiology has a low sensitivity. Further, health impairments of miners engaged for longtime which are insurance relevant (MdE) exist in cases without (BK 4111 if beginning after 12/31/1992) or with coalworkers' pneumoconiosis even for categories < 2/3.

Bronchitis↗
PubMed2003

IgE-mediated allergy to recombinant human insulin in a diabetic.

A 63-year-old nonatopic female suffering from type II diabetes with severe local and systemic immediate-type allergic reactions to injections of different recombinant human insulin products has been reported. Skin testing as well as IgE measurements not only proved immediate-type sensitization to human insulin but also to porcine and bovine insulin which had never been administered and indicated immunological cross-reactivity. Cross-reactivity was proved by an IgE inhibition test. Independent of this reaction, the patient showed IgE-mediated sensitization to protamine.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed2003

[Asthma due to grain dust].

The actual literature as well as two case reports described in detail show that grain dust induces asthmatic reactions and ODTS which are obviously not of allergic origin. For diagnosis occupational-type exposure tests are decisive whereas allergological testing usually is not. Endotoxins which are present in the grain dust samples in high concentrations have to be regarded as the major causative components. To avoid irreversible lung function impairment a comprehensive early diagnosis is necessary. Generally, a remarkable reduction of exposure to dust with high levels of airborne endotoxin in agriculture has to be achieved since in many workplaces corresponding exposures are still rather high.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed2003

[Isocyanates: occupational exposures and disorders].

Isocyanates are extensively used for the production of different foams and elastomers. They also serve as glues, lacquer hardeners, inks, adhesives, fillers, finishes, sealants, coating and insulation materials. Usually, their application results in inhalative, partly also in cutaneous uptake. This review describes occupational exposures to isocyanates as well as hazardous effects. Isocyanates are used in the automotive/mechanical engineering/building and construction/mining/casting/electricity and electronic/plastics/printing/timber and furniture/white goods and textile industry, partly also in medicine. Hazardous exposures to thermal degradation products of isocyanate-based polyurethanes and other materials have also be taken into consideration. Obstructive airway diseases are the major disorder caused by isocyanates. Rare cases suffer from extrinsic allergic alveolitis or eczema. In addition to regulation-based primary prevention qualitative medical surveillance mostly prevents disorders. There is also a need for the establishment of a validated biomonitoring of endangered employees.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

IgE-mediated allergy to phytase -- a new animal feed additive.

BACKGROUND: Although fungal phytase is frequently used as an additive to animal feed few investigations of its allergenic property have been conducted. METHODS: Fifty-three subjects occupationally exposed to powdered phytase from Aspergillus niger were studied. Exposure data and symptoms were registered by the company physician. RESULTS: Thirty-eight subjects complained of work-related respiratory symptoms and 14 of them showed phytase-specific IgE antibodies; only one asymptomatic subject revealed such antibodies. IgE antibodies were significantly more frequently found in the high-exposure group (technical centre) when compared with the low-exposure group (laboratories, experimental animal husbandry). Phytase-specific IgG antibodies were present in 19 symptomatic (50%) and five (33%) asymptomatic subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that powdered fungal phytase is a highly sensitizing substance whose inhalation exposure should be avoided. Hypersensitivity symptoms could be prevented by means of extensive hygienic measures and ongoing medical surveillance.

6-Phytase↗