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[Analysis of pulmonary mechanics in patients with silicosis (author's transl)].

Parameters of pulmonary mechanics were measured at rest and during physical effort in patients with silicosis and normal subjects. Between normal subjects and patients with silicosis of stage I a significant difference could not be found. However, a decrease of dynamic compliance and an increase of elastic work of breathing were found in patients with silicosis III during exercise. The PT/VT-quotient is already high at rest. These results are not in agreement with the subjective symptom "dyspnea". The feeling of dyspnea appears when the PT/VT-quotient is enhanced signifcantly during exercise in comparison with the value at rest. Therefore, only the PT/VT-quotient is a suitable parameter indicating dyspnea.

Dyspnea↗

[Experimental studies on the therapeutic effects of lung lavage with large volume of saline on silicosis].

Sterile saline was instilled into and aspirated from the lung of dust-exposed rabbits in imitation of clinical method of the whole-lung lavage. The changes of the biochemical and cellular components in alveolar fluid were observed before and after lavage with a view to providing evidence for the applicability of the method in the treatment of silicosis. The results showed that the number of cells, the protein content and the activities of both LDH and AKP were significantly lower than those of control group, except the total phospholipid and dipalmityl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) in alveolar fluid after lavage. A certain amount of dust was also removed from lung with lavage. The wash-out of SiO2 from the first lavage was higher than that of the second lavage. It is suggested that lavage might delay the development of silicosis and be more effective in early stages of silicosis.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

[X-ray morphological changes and the degree of lost work capacity in silicosis patients].

In a series of 200 patients with silicosis an analogy is drawn between form, size, widespreading and evolution of the pneumoconiotic changes, on the one had, and working ability loss, on the other. It is established that the heavier the form of the pneumoconiotic process, the higher the degree of severity and widespreading of the roentgenmorphological changes in the lungs and the quicker the evolution, the heavier the retriction of the ability for work among the affected. The conclusion is reached that that the working ability of patients with silicosis represents a complex phenomenon resulting from numerous factors with varying in intensity effect. A new, more complex and updated method for the assessment of working ability in patients with silicosis is proposed.

Bulgaria↗

Effects of non-mining occupational silica exposure on proportional mortality from silicosis and systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Studies report an association between mining related silica exposure and systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study evaluated associations between non-mining occupational silica exposure, silicosis, and SSc. METHODS: The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently identified 36 non-mining occupations in which workers face the "potential for substantial silica exposure." Data from death certificates in 25 US states during 1985-92 were analyzed to determine whether excess proportional mortality from silicosis or SSc occurred among those who worked in these occupations. RESULTS: Proportional mortality from silicosis in the occupations identified by NIOSH was significantly elevated among men [proportional mortality ratio (PMR) = 1.4; p < 0.0001] and women (PMR = 7.1; p = 0.002). The proportional mortality from SSc was not elevated among men (PMR = 1.0; p = 0.90) and was lower than expected among women (PMR = 0.8; p = 0.39). CONCLUSION: When cited on death certificates, the non-mining occupational categories identified by NIOSH reflect prior silica exposure; however, no evidence of excess mortality from SSc was observed in these occupations. The reported increased frequency of SSc among miners may depend on a level or mode of silica exposure unique to the mining industry.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Pemphigus vulgaris in association with silicosis.

We report on a sixty-seven year old miner with pemphigus vulgaris characterised clinically by a three month history of relapsing oral lesions and blisters/erosions on the trunk, axillae and extremities, histologically by suprabasal cleavage due to acantholysis, immunologically by the epidermal intercellular net-like pattern due to deposits of IgG- and IgM-antibodies and complement C3 in the direct immunofluorescence as well as by serum antibodies to desmoglein 3 (130 KD) and plakoglobin (85 KD) by immunoblotting analysis. Silicosis has already been known for 6 years. In addition, antinuclear antibodies, anti-ssDNA-antibodies and anti-topoisomerase antibodies were found. Clinical improvement and clearing of skin symptoms could be achieved by systemic steroids in combination with cyclophosphamide. However, the patient died of sepsis deriving from recalcitrant pneumonia. Although the association of silicosis with various autoimmune diseases such as systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and dermatomyositis has been reported many times, our patient is, to the best of our knowledge, the second case with features of the two diseases: pemphigus vulgaris and silicosis.

Aged↗

Cohort mortality study of North American industrial sand workers. II. Case-referent analysis of lung cancer and silicosis deaths.

BACKGROUND: A cohort mortality study of 2670 men in nine North American industrial sand plants resulted in 83 deaths from lung cancer 20 or more years after hire (standardized mortality ratio 139) and 37 deaths from silicosis (including seven from silico-tuberculosis). The lung cancer excess was unrelated to duration of employment and not found in all plants. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim was to determine whether lung cancer risk among these employees was related to quantitative estimates of crystalline silica exposure, after allowance for cigarette smoking. A secondary aim was to do the same for silicosis mortality, partly as a means of validating the estimated levels of exposure. METHODS: A nested case-referent study was undertaken with cases matched with up to two controls on plant, age and date of first employment from men who survived the case. Exposures were estimated by linking work histories to a job-exposure matrix, undertaken separately. Cigarette smoking information was obtained from medical records and other sources, blind as to case-control status. Matched statistical analyses were conducted using conditional logistic regression. FINDINGS: Odds ratios for silicosis mortality were significantly related to cumulative silica exposures and tended to a relationship with category of average crystalline silica concentration, but inconsistently with length of employment. After accounting for a strong effect of cigarette smoking, odds ratios for lung cancer were related to cumulative crystalline silica exposure and to average silica concentration, but not to length of employment. CONCLUSION: These findings support a causal relationship between lung cancer and quartz exposure after allowance for cigarette smoking, in the absence of cristobalite or other known occupational carcinogens.

Aged↗

[Maximal mid-exiratory flow (MMEF) in the evolution of the respiratory functional patter of silicosis. (author's transl)].

A follow up study of VC, FEV and MMEF was performed by the authors in forty silicotic patients, mainly in order to find out if MMEF were more sensitive than VC and FEV 1 IN detecting respiratory function impairment in the follow up of silicosis. In patients with moderate bronchial obstruction, a statistically significant difference was found between themean values of MMEF measured in two different instances: such a finding suggests a greater MMEF reduction in the early stages of silicosis. In 22 subjects with moderate respiratory function impairment (VC and FEV1 less than or equal 40% predicted values), MMEF was found to be, percentually, more decreased than FEV1: the difference was statistically significant. It is therefore concluded that MMEF changes in the follow up examination of silicosis are more sensitive than other functional indexes.

Forced Expiratory Flow Rates↗

[Comparative analysis of respiratory function in miners suffering from anthracosilicosis and silicosis].

The authors revealed differences in pulmonary volumes, bronchial patency of bronchi at various levels, integral time of air transit in individuals having early anthracosilicosis and silicosis signs vs in healthy miners. During stage 1 of anthracosilicosis and silicosis respiratory function progressively deteriorates and demonstrates moderate disorders. When compared to anthracosilicosis ones, patients having polymetallic dust silicosis showed more significant decrease of the studied parameters.

Anthracosilicosis↗

[Study on the correlation of silicosis with antioxidant and antioxidase].

Plasma vitamin C(P-VC), vitamin E(P-VE) and beta-carotene(P-beta-CAR) contents and the activities of superoxide dismutase(E-SOD), catalase(E-CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (E-GSH-Px) in erythrocyte in 73 silicosis patients and 60 healthy control subjects were measured. The average levels of P-VC, P-VE, P-beta-CAR, E-SOD, E-CAT and E-GSH-Px of patients were significantly lower than those of the controls (P < 0.001). All indexes were correlated to the course, condition and pulmonary function of silicosis patients. The results analyzed by stepwise regression showed that the correlation between course, condition and pulmonary function of patients and P-VE and E-SOD was close. The balance between oxidation and the antioxidation in silicosis patients may be disturbed, and oxygen free radical reaction may be pathologically exacerbated.

Adult↗

[The importance of assessing angiotensin-converting activity in silicosis patients].

The macrophage cells have an essential role in the pathogenesis of silicosis. After the endocytosis of silica grains, the lung macrophage demonstrates an active state, associated with high levels of lysosomal enzymes, expressed also in serum. A similar active state of macrophages is evident in sarcoid lung which manifests also an intensive serum activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme. The angiotensin-converting assay in the serum of 116 silicotic patients revealed over 60 per cent higher levels than in normals. Such increased levels were present more frequently among the patients with early studies of silicosis. In the same patients, the serum acid phosphatase activity, a marker of macrophage activity, and also serum lactate dehydrogenase activity, were higher than in normal individuals. On present evidence, it can be appreciated that increased serum levels of angiotensin-converting activity could be the expression of an active progressive state of silicosis.

Acid Phosphatase↗

[Silica, silicosis, and lung cancer: analysis if the literature and mortality studies of minor workers in Sardinia].

Starting from a short review of the recent epidemiological studies available in the international literature concerning the association between silica, silicosis and lung cancer, the results of two mortality studies performed in Sardinia are reported. The first study concerns a 20-year follow-up of 1741 miners employed in 1973 in two metalliferous Sardinian mines. In the second study the cause specific mortality of 724 patients with silicosis, firstly diagnosed by standard chest x-ray between 1964 and 1970 in our Institute, has been analysed by a cohort study extended to December 31, 1997. The findings indicate that the slight increased lung cancer mortality observed in these cohorts, more than to the severity of radiological silicosis or to the entity of the cumulative exposure to crystalline silica dust in itself, was significantly associated to other risk factors as cigarette smoking, airflow obstruction and radon-daughters exposure in underground mines.

Humans↗

The relationship between mediastinal lymph node attenuation with parenchymal lung parameters in silicosis.

OBJECTIVE: Attenuation changes on computed tomography (CT) in mediastinal lymph nodes (LN) may be related to lung alterations and functional impairment in silicosis. DESIGN: CT and clinical data of 41 (64.2 +/- 8.3 years) males with silicosis were retrieved. Attenuation type (calcified, hyperdense, normodense) and calcification pattern (central, eccentric, dense, eggshell, speckled) of mediastinal LN were evaluated; LN attenuation of uncalcified LNs quantified on CT in six LN stations. Nodular profusion (CT-NP) and progressive massive fibrosis (CT-PMF) were graded. Relationships between LN, CT, lung function and clinical parameters were determined. RESULTS: LN sites were paratracheal (n = 39), subcarinal (n = 39), tracheobronchial (n = 37), aortopulmonary (n = 37), hilar (n = 27), and peri-oesophageal (n = 21). LNs were calcified, hyperdense and normodense in 107, 85 and 54 LN stations, respectively. Uniformly calcified LN was most common, followed by speckled calcification. Central, eccentric and eggshell calcification was rare. CT-NP scores > or = 16 were associated with higher LN attenuation and number of calcified LN stations than CT-NP scores < 16. PMF had no influence over LN morphology or calcification pattern. LN attenuation correlated with CT-PMF (r = 0.36, P = 0.01), CT-NP (r = 0.54, P < 0.001) and DLCO/VA (r = -0.33, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Uniformly calcified and hyperdense LNs are common in silicosis, and eggshell LN calcification is rare. There are associations between LN attenuation and lung function impairment, and CT grades of nodular profusion and PMF.

Aged↗

[Characteristics of the occurrence of silicosis in the workers exposed to uranium dust].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the laws and characteristics of silicosis incidence of the workers exposed to the uranium dust from 1956 to 2002. METHODS: The length of employment, age of occurrence of silicosis, and its duration and death age were compared between the uranium miners and uranium geological prospecting teams, and also between the miners exposed to uranium dust and those exposed to mixed uranium dust by single factor analysis method. RESULTS: With time going on, the length of employment, age of occurrence of disease and its duration and death age were prolonged respectively in the workers exposed to uranium dust. The length of employment and age of occurrence of disease in uranium geological prospecting teams [(10.15 +/- 5.95) and (40.60 +/- 9.86) years respectively] were shorter than those in uranium miners [(14.23 +/- 8.12) and (41.38 +/- 10.98) years], but the duration (P(50)) and death age were longer [(14.29 years vs 12.52 years), (53.69 +/- 10.04) years vs (51.45 +/- 10.85) years respectively]. The length of employment and age of occurrence of disease in those exposed to uranium dust only [(11.78 +/- 8.06) and (38.04 +/- 9.89) years] were shorter than those exposed to mixed uranium dust [(12.74 +/- 6.29) years, (41.40 +/- 10.67) years], but the duration (P(50)) and death age were longer than the mixed uranium dust ones [(14.59 years vs 13.20 years), (53.93 +/- 10.60) years vs (51.82 +/- 10.20) years]. CONCLUSION: The difference in the occurrence of silicosis in the workers exposed to uranium dust may be attributed to the physical and chemical character of the uranium dust and the different working circumstance.

Age of Onset↗

[Evaluation of silicosis in ceramic workers].

This study is aimed to evaluate the incidence of silicosis and the relation of it with personal and work-related factors among workers exposed to silica in ceramic factory. Workers were evaluated by respiratory symptoms, physical examination, pulmonary function and radiological findings. Occupational and Enviromental Pulmonary Disease Evaluation Questionnaire of the Turkish Thoracic Society Enviromental and Occupational Pulmonary Diseases Working Group was used. 365 of 626 workers had exposure to silica and the rest 261 were concerned as control group. There was no difference between mean age, duration of work and smoking pack year among the groups (p> 0.05). Cough and sputum rates were higher in silicosis group FEV1 and FVC values were lower in silica group but this was not statistically significant. When the two subgroups of silica group (the workers in high dust concentration and the ones in low concentration) were compared, the high concentrated group had significantly more sputum but the other symptoms and pulmonary functional parameters were not different significantly. 24 workers had parenchymal densities adjusted with pneumoconiosis. The workers with the pneumoconistic finding, had a higher mean age and longer duration of work. As a conclusion, ceramic industry has risk for silicosis. And the risk increase by time and age.

Adult↗

[Trials of casual treatment of silicosis].

Silica-induced lung injury and the development of silicosis is one of the major occupational diseases. Accumulation and deposition of respirable dust containing silica mineral particles in the lung produces chronic lung disease characterized by granulomatous and fibrotic lesions. Knowledge of precise mechanisms, which induce this process is still limited, hence problems faced in the treatment of silicosis, especially the casual one. This article describes various trials of casual silicosis treatment with tetrandrine (Tet), isolated from the root of Stephania tetrandra, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists, polyvinyl-pyridine-N-oxide (PVNO), aluminum compounds, corticosteroids or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The existing methods are not sufficient, which warrants further investigations. At present, prevention of the disease and treatment of its complications are most important.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Enhanced pulmonary absorption of drugs in rats with experimental silicosis.

To investigate the effect of pulmonary silicosis on absorption of drugs from the lung, rats were given an intratracheal injection of 50 mg quartz dust, and rates of drug absorption from silicotic and control lungs were compared at 60 and 120 days after treatment. The pulmonary absorption of procaine amide ethobromide and p-aminohippuric acid was increased by 33-41% in animals with silicosis, whereas absorption of procaine amide in silicotic animals was not significantly different from control. The results suggest that silicosis results in an increased porosity of the pulmonary epithelium.

Aminohippuric Acids↗

[Interrelationships between lipids and scleroproteins in silicosis caused by crystalline and condensed modifications of silicon].

Accumulation of lipids, including phospholipids, in lungs was accompanied by a proliferative-cellular reaction. The proliferation of cells was caused by accumulation of lipids. One of possible mechanisms of interrelation between lipids and collagen synthesis was as follows: in silicosis degradation of macrophages was accompanied by secretion into the medium of phospholipids, which inhibited free radical oxidation; in this case the decreased formation of cytotoxic products caused the cell proliferation, including fibroblasts, which produced collagen. The importance of lipids in collagen formation was corroborated: by accumulation of lipids, which preceded the hydroxyproline increase (scleroproteins, collagen), by development of the proliferative-cellular reaction together with the higher phospholipid-hydroxyproline level as compared with control, by formation of earlier sclerosis of silicotic nodes in "condensed" silicosis with the simultaneous increase in absolute content of phospholipids and total lipids. This role of lipids was also supported by the observed correlation between the absolute contents of scleroproteins and lipids within all steps of "quartz" silicosis development.

Animals↗

[Early detection of scleroderma in quartz dust exposed workers and workers with silicosis by determining serum beta-galactosidase activity].

Progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) is a rare disease belonging to the collagen diseases. PSS is frequently observed in workers with an intensive exposure to crystalline silica and with silicosis in the GDR. The recognition as an occupational disease is regulated by law. The elevated beta-galactosidase activity in the serum of patients with silicosis and beginning PSS can be used for detecting of early stages of PSS. References are given to medical care of patients with silicosis and exposure to quartz.

Adolescent↗