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Current trends in pleurodesis.

Pleurodesis is intended to prevent the accumulation of fluid or air in the pleural space by creating symphysis between the visceral and parietal pleura. The main indications for this procedure are malignant effusions and pneumothorax. A reexpandable lung and reasonably long expected survival are criteria that must be met before pleurodesis is attempted in a patient with malignant pleural effusion. A low pleural fluid pH (less than 7.20) is a good predictor for both the presence of a trapped lung and short expected survival. Talc appears to be the sclerosing agent of choice in cases of cancer, whereas video-assisted thoracic surgery techniques are preferable for the treatment of pneumothorax, especially in young patients. To improve results and prevent complications, application of the right technique is crucial, especially with regard to size of drainage and rate of suction. In addition, recent research suggests that prevention of a systemic activation of coagulation with prophylactic heparin should be taken into account in patients who are undergoing pleurodesis for palliative treatment of malignant effusion.

Humans↗

Pleural malignancies.

Carcinoma of the lung, metastatic breast carcinoma, and lymphoma are responsible for approximately 75% of all malignant pleural effusions. The presence of malignant cells in the pleural fluid or in the parietal pleura confirms the diagnosis. Recently, several authors have proposed the combination of morphometric procedures and quantitative analysis of nucleolar organizer regions stained by silver nitrate. Videothoracoscopy is recommended for patients suspected of having a malignant pleural effusion in whom the diagnosis is not established after two cytologic studies of the fluid and one needle biopsy. The standard treatment is the intrapleural instillation of a chemical agent to produce a pleurodesis. The recommended sclerosant is talc, a tetracycline derivative, or Corynebacterium parvum where it is available. When a patient is not an ideal candidate for chemical pleurodesis, the options include symptomatic treatment, serial thoracentesis, implantation of a pleuroperitoneal shunt, and pleurectomy.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Asbestos exposure and ovarian fiber burden.

Epidemiologic studies suggest increased risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in female asbestos workers and increased risk of malignancy in general in household contacts of asbestos workers. Ovaries were studied from 13 women with household contact with men with documented asbestos exposure and from 17 women undergoing incidental oophorectomy. Ovarian tissue was examined by analytic electron microscopy. Significant asbestos fiber burdens were detected in 9 out of 13 women with household asbestos exposure (69.2%), and in 6 out of 17 women who gave no exposure history (35%). Three exposed women had asbestos counts over 1 million fibers per gram wet weight (23%), but only 1/17 women without an exposure history had a count that high (6%). Although asbestos has been documented as a contaminant of some older cosmetic talc preparations, the chrysotile and crocidolite types of asbestos we detected are more indicative of background and/or occupational exposure. This study demonstrates that asbestos can reach the ovary. Although the number of subjects is small, asbestos appears to be present in ovarian tissue more frequently and in higher amounts in women with a documentable exposure history.

Asbestos↗

Mineral phases and some reexamined characteristics of the International Union Against Cancer standard asbestos samples.

Standard asbestos samples to be used for biomedical research were first prepared by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) in 1966 in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Using modern techniques, X-ray diffractometry, analytical transmission electron microscopy, and thermal analysis, we have now analyzed these UICC samples to determine the mineral compositions (mineral phases) and their respective quantities. UICC chrysotile A (from Zimbabwe) contains 2% fibrous anthophyllite as impurity; chrysotile B (from Canada) does not contain any fibrous impurities, only non-fibrous minerals. UICC amosite and crocidolite are almost pure. UICC anthophyllite has 20-30% talc as impurity. The chemical compositions and fiber size distributions of the UICC asbestos samples have also been determined. The mean widths of the fibers of chrysotile A and B are smaller than those of the amphibole fibers. This agrees well with the earlier results which showed the two chrysotile samples to have a larger respirable fraction than the amphiboles.

Asbestos, Amosite↗

Cancer incidence among women in the Norwegian pulp and paper industry.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate cancer risk among women working in the Norwegian pulp and paper industry. The cohort included a total of 4,247 workers employed for at least one year between 1920 and 1993 (108,095 person-years), 85% of them as paper or administration workers. METHODS: The follow-up period for cancer was from 1953-1993. No data of exposure measurements were available. The analyses were based on comparisons of standard incidence ratios. The expected numbers of cancer cases were calculated using the five-year age-specific incidence rates for the entire female population. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 380 new cases of cancer were observed vs. 322 expected (SIR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.07-1.30). An excess risk of ovarian cancer was found (SIR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.07-2.09). The SIR was highest among those younger than 55 years, and mostly among those working in paper departments. Short-term workers showed increased risk of lung and bladder cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Based on results from the present study, the increased risk of ovarian cancer is difficult to interpret, since existing knowledge of its etiology is limited. However, these women might have been exposed to various work-related agents such as talc, microbes, and different types of paper dust.

Adult↗

Cancer mortality among women in the Russian printing industry.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates cancer mortality among women employed in two large printing plants in Moscow. METHODS: A total of 3,473 women who were actively employed as of December 31, 1978, with a minimum of 2 years employment were followed from 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1993. There were 47,791 person-years observed, with only 51 women lost to follow-up (1.5%). Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated using the population of Moscow to generate expected numbers. Analyses by job (compositors, press operators, and bookbinders), age hired, latency, and duration of employment were conducted. RESULTS: Among women employed in the two printing plants, there was a significant excess of esophageal cancer, based on seven deaths (expected = 2.7, SMR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.1-5.4). Four of the seven esophageal cancer deaths occurred among bookbinders (expected = 1.0, SMR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.1-10.4), all among workers hired before 1957 (expected = 0.6, SMR = 7.1, 95% CI = 1.9-18.3), the last year benzene was used in bookbinding. Ovarian cancer was also significantly elevated among bookbinders (12 observed, 4.2 expected, SMR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.5-5.0), which, along with one death from mesothelioma of the abdomen, might be related to the use of asbestos-contaminated talc fillers in paper. Press operators had significantly elevated mortality from stomach cancer (observed = 9, expected = 4.1, SMR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.0-4.2) and, based on two deaths each, melanoma and bladder cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Women in this printing industry cohort experienced excess mortality of cancer of the esophagus and stomach, with suggested increases of melanoma and bladder cancer. Further follow-up of this cohort, which would allow more in-depth analysis of rare cancer sites, latency, and duration of employment, is warranted. Gender comparisons within the cohort should also be conducted to clarify the role of occupational and lifestyle factors in the etiology of cancer among workers in the printing industry.

Adult↗

Identification and distribution of synthetic ligament wear particles in sheep.

After one year, wear of medial collateral ligament replacements in sheep resulted in the presence of large numbers of wear particles and fibers in the joint space. This study examined the frequency of transport of these particles to the regional lymph nodes and to the liver and spleen. Inguinal, iliac, and paraaortic nodes were examined with regular and polarized light for the presence of particles presumably originating from polyethylene, aramid, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyesterterephthalate, polylacticacid, and carbon ligaments. Lymph nodes from sheep that had received tendon autograft replacements were also evaluated. Particles were observed in 33% of all nodes and in at least one node in 84% of all sheep. Particles were found in contralateral nodes, but not in the spleen or liver. Particles were observed usually as intracellular in foamy histiocytes, although extracellular carbon fibers and extracellular aramid fibers were also seen. Giant cells were occasionally detected in the polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, and aramid nodes. In the polytetrafluoroethylene nodes and in the autograft nodes particles containing Mg, Si, and Fe were identified by elemental analysis. The morphological similarities between various birefringent particles and the particles indirectly identified as talc have led us to question the identification of wear debris solely on the basis of birefringence.

Animals↗

Mortality among unionized construction plasterers and cement masons.

BACKGROUND: Plasterers perform a variety of duties including interior and exterior plastering of drywall, cement, stucco, and stone imitation; the preparation, installation, and repair of all interior and exterior insulation systems; and the fireproofing of steel beams and columns. Some of the current potential toxic exposures among plasterers include plaster of Paris, silica, fiberglass, talc, and 1,1,1-trichloroethylene; asbestos had been used by the plasterers in the past. Cement masons, on the other hand, are involved in concrete construction of buildings, bridges, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, highways, streets and roads, floors and pavements and the finishing of same, when necessary, by sandblasting or any other method. Exposures include cement dust, silica, asphalt, and various solvents. METHODS: Proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) and proportionate cancer mortality ratios (PCMRs) were calculated for 99 causes of death among 12,873 members of the Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association who died between 1972 and 1996 using United States age-, race-, and calender-specific death rates. Statistical significance (P value) of results was based upon the Poisson distribution. RESULTS: Among plasterers, statistically significant elevated mortality was observed for asbestosis, where the PMR reached 1,657 (P < 0.01) with eleven observed deaths and less than one death expected, for lung cancer (PCMR = 124, P < 0.01), and for benign neoplasms (PMR = 210, P < 0.05). Among cement masons, statistically significant elevated mortality was observed for cancer of the stomach (PCMR = 133, P < 0.01), benign neoplasms (PMR = 132, P < 0.01), and poisonings (PMR = 159, P < 0.05). Except for poisonings, which were not thought to be occupationally related, all of the statistically significant results occurred among those members who entered the union prior to 1950. However, the risk for lung cancer among plasterers was still elevated among those entering the union after 1970 as was the risk for stomach cancer among cement masons who entered the union after 1950. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that plasterers and cement masons still have elevated risks for certain diseases, especially lung and stomach cancer. Therefore, union members currently living should be screened for asbestos-related diseases and educated about the future risks for these diseases.

Adult↗

A striking deposition of mineral particles in the lungs of a farmer: a case report.

The object of this study was to analyze mineral particles in lung tissue from a farmer who underwent lobectomy due to a lung tumor and relate these analytical findings to occupational exposure and histopathological and clinical diagnoses. Despite no clear evidence of previous occupational dust exposure, heavy deposits of birefringent particles and slight pulmonary fibrosis were found during histopathological examination. Extracts from the lung tissue were analyzed by electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis for mineral particles. The major components of the dust were identified as mica, talc, and silica. Minor components included asbestos fibers and rutile fibers. Some of these fibers were coated by ferroproteins. Mica, quartz, feldspars (plagioclase), and rutile fibers were found in the soil from the farmer's potato storehouse. Based on these findings it is assumed that the slight pulmonary fibrosis is probably caused by the different mineral particles deposited.

Humans↗

Silicon carbide in lung tissue of a worker in the abrasive industry.

Lung tissue of a worker in an abrasive manufacturing plant, whose duration of dust exposure was about 10 years, was analyzed by means of bulk analysis and in situ analytical electron microanalysis. The content of the total dust in the lung was 120 mg/g of the dried lung tissue. This value is close to the average concentration of the total dust in the lungs of coal miners with massive fibrosis. The lung dust composition in this case was approximately 43% silicon carbide, 24% aluminium oxide, 2.3% cristobalite, 2.0% quartz, and trace of talc and feldspar. Silicon carbide may be one of the major etiologic agents in this case of pneumoconiosis.

Adult↗

Effect of magnesium trisilicate on nitrofurantoin absorption.

In vitro adsorption studies revealed that for an identical initial concentration of nitrofurantoin, magnesium trisilicate exhibited the greatest adsorptive capacity with bismuth oxycarbonate, talc, kaolin, and magnesium oxide exhibiting intermediate adsorptive powers, while aluminum hydroxide and calcium carbonate exhibited low or no adsorption properties. Trials to elute the drug with acidic or alkaline solution were unsuccessful. The in vivo absorption characteristics of nitrofurantoin and nitrofurantoin-magnesium trisilicate combination were evaluated in 6 healthy males. Administration of magnesium trisilicate with nitrofurantoin reduced the rate and extent of its excretion reflecting decrease in both rate and extent of absorption. The time during which the drug concentration in the urine was above the minimum effective concentration of 32 microgram/ml was also significantly reduced after administration of the antacid.

Adsorption↗

Reproductive and other factors and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer: an Australian case-control study. Survey of Women's Health Study Group.

Of the few factors known to be associated with epithelial ovarian cancer, the most consistently observed relate to women's reproductive function, although even here uncertainties remain. We have undertaken a case-control study involving personal interviews with over 1,600 women, the largest of its kind to date, to investigate further the associations between women's reproductive histories and other factors and the development of ovarian cancer. Cases were drawn from women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer in 3 Australian states, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, between August 1990 and December 1993, and controls were drawn at random from the electoral roll, stratified by age and geographic region. Trained interviewers administered standard questionnaires to obtain detailed information about women's reproductive and contraceptive histories and other factors of interest, such as smoking and family history of ovarian or other cancer. Findings were based on data from 824 cases and 860 controls and confirmed the reduced risk of ovarian cancer associated with increasing parity and duration of use of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP), hysterectomy and tubal ligation. The strongest association of all was seen with use of the OCP for 10 years or more. An inverse association between ovarian cancer and age at first birth was observed, but this was not statistically significant. There were no associations between development of ovarian cancer and number of incomplete pregnancies, use of hormone replacement therapy or menstrual history. Among other factors considered, education after leaving school was negatively associated and high body mass index, family history of ovarian cancer, use of talc in the abdominal or perineal region and smoking were positively associated with occurrence of ovarian cancer.

Adolescent↗

The epidemiology of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the second most common cancer of the female reproductive system and the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies. In 1995, 26,600 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S., and 14,500 women will die from the disease. Between 1986-1900, the overall age-adjusted incidence was 14.3/100,000 women; mortality was 7.8/100,000 women. Ovarian cancer, rare before age 40, increases steeply thereafter and peaks at ages 65-75. Incidence and mortality rates are higher among white women than among African-American women. Over the last three decades, ovarian cancer incidence has remained stable in high-risk countries, while an increasing trend has been reported in low-risk countries. Despite recent advancements in treatment, the overall five-year survival rates continues to be low (39%). Over 70% of ovarian tumors are diagnosed when regional or distant involvement has already occurred, causing survival rates to remain stable. The etiology of ovarian cancer is poorly understood. Most studies have focused on the epidemiology of invasive epithelial ovarian tumors, while few have explored the epidemiology of epithelial tumors of low malignant potential and nonepithelial tumors. Factors associated with an increased risk for invasive epithelial ovarian cancer include age, race, nulliparity, family history of ovarian cancer, and history of endometrial or breast cancer. Factors associated with a reduced risk are history of one or more full-term pregnancies, use of oral contraceptives, history of breast feeding, tubal ligation, and hysterectomy. Other factors such as infertility drugs, hormone replacement therapy, age at menarche, age at menopause, dietary factors, lactose intolerance, talc use, coffee and alcohol consumption have been suggested, but their role is still inconclusive.

Female↗

Hydrocolloid carriers with filler inclusion for diltiazem hydrochloride release.

Hydrocolloid beads based on agarose, alginate (both 3%, w/w), or gellan (2%, w/w) were produced to study their potential as drug carriers. The beads included various fillers: talc, kaolin, calcium carbonate, potato, or corn starch (10%, w/w). After gelation, the carriers were subjected to either freeze- or vacuum-drying. The dried carriers were spheroids. The diameters of freeze- and vacuum-dried carriers ranged from 2.4 to 4.1 mm and 1.5 to 2.8 mm, respectively. The porosity values of the freeze-dried carriers were significantly higher than those of their vacuum-dried counterparts. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that all dried carriers included internal voids that were partially occupied by the filler particles. Upon their introduction into simulated gastric fluid (3 h), followed by 6 h in intestinal fluid, all carriers were stable and underwent swelling. Release profiles of diltiazem hydrochloride from different carriers were obtained during immersion in dissolution medium. Filler inclusion (but not the type of filler) contributed to the stability of the carriers and prolonged the time of drug release (6.5-8.5 h) relative to the faster drug release from carriers that contained no filler (3.5 h). In summary, alginate, agar, and gellan beads with filler inclusion may be useful for slow drug release.

Alginates↗

Effects of compression force, particle size, and lubricants on dissolution rate.

The effects of compression force, particle size, and lubricant concentration on the dissolution rates of compressed disks of salicylic acid, aspirin, and an equimolar mixture of aspirin and salicylic acid were investigated. Compression forces from 450 to 9100 kg had no effect on dissolution rates. With 5% starch incorporated into an equimolar mixture of aspirin and salicylic acid, the dissolution rates were independent of compression forces from 910 to 9100 kg. A 10-fold change of particle size of the materials being compressed did not affect the dissolution rates. An increase in the concentration from 0.1 to 5% of calcium stearate, glyceryl monostearate, magnesium stearate, and stearic acid progressively slowed the dissolution rate. An increase in the concentration from 0.1 to 5% talc and polyethylene glycol 4000 did not affect the dissolution rates. An increase in the concentration of starch from 0.1 to 5% progressively increased the dissolution rates.

Aspirin↗

Preparation of enteric-coated microcapsules for tableting by spray-drying technique and in vitro simulation of drug release from the tablet in GI tract.

Improved methods were developed for the preparation of enteric-coated microcapsules for tableting by a spray-drying technique, and the drug release behavior from the tableted microcapsules was investigated using a disintegration apparatus and a new in vitro method of simulating the GI tract. As a model system, ammonium solutions of sulfamethoxazole and cellulose acetate phthalate were spray dried using a centrifugal wheel atomizer at 140 degrees. Additives such as colloidal silica, montmorillonite clay, and talc were included in the formulations for spray drying. The influence of the additives on the particle diameter, density, packing properties, and compressibility of the product and on the release characteristics of the resultant tablet in vitro were investigated. The additives in the formulations greatly improved the flow properties of the spray-dried products, which could be tableted easily. Products from the nonadditive formulations could not be tableted due to their poor flowability. The hardness and disintegration rate of the tablet increased with increasing concentration of additives in the formulations. X-ray analysis and IR spectroscopy confirmed that the crystals of sulfamethoxazole in the spray-dried microcapsules with cellulose acetate phthalate were converted from Form I to Form II. In vitro release characteristics of the tablets were studied using a disintegrator (JP) in buffer solutions (pH 1.2 and 7.5) and distilled water. Enteric action of the spray-dried products was proved by comparison with the original nontreated powders. The additives in the tablet increased the release rate at the initial stage in all dissolution media used. A new in vitro release simulator was devised consisting of a flow-type dissolution container in which the pH of the medium was changed continuously from 1.2 to 7.0 to simulate the pH change of tablets exposed to the GI tract.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Studies on adsorptiochromism. I: Binding of adsorptiochromic spiropyrans to some pharmaceutically useful solids.

The adsorption of four adsorptiochromic spiropyrans to many solids (silica gel, silicic acid, fumed silica, alumina, microcrystalline cellulose, talc, titanium dioxide) was studied at 25 degrees C from cyclohexane solution. Nineteen adsorption isotherms were determined; and the binding data were fitted to the Langmuir equation. A model for binding of adsorptiochromic substances is described, and the parameters of the model are related to the experimental binding constant K.

Adsorption↗

Studies on adsorptiochromism. II: Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy of adsorptiochromic spiropyrans adsorbed to some pharmaceutically useful solids.

The colored powders produced by the adsorption of four adsorptiochromic spiropyrans to many solids (silica gel, silicic acid, fumed silica, alumina, microcrystalline cellulose, talc, titanium dioxide) were examined by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The reflectance spectra were dominated by two bands, one at 550 nm and the other in the range 400-500 nm, often at 472 nm. Plots of the Kubelka-Munk function [F(R' infinity)] against g, the coverage expressed in nmol/m2, were linear at very low g and approached a limiting value independent of g at high coverage. The color formation upon adsorption terminates at coverages much lower than the maximum binding capacity of the solid. The slope of the plot of F(R' infinity) against g, at low g (denoted f0), appears to be sensitive to the scattering properties of the solid. For a single solid (silica gel), comparison of f0 for adsorptiochromic adsorbates with f0 for permanent dyes allowed estimates to be made of the fraction of adsorbed spiropyran in the colored form on the surface.

Benzopyrans↗