Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ASBESTOSIS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,207 records · Page 67Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytopathology of asbestos-associated pulmonary disease.

The goal of this investigation was to determine the practical role of cytopathology in the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of asbestos-related pulmonary diseases. For this purpose, sputum, bronchial washings, lung tissues, and pleural fluids were obtained from asbestos workers and controls. The asbestos-associated pulmonary diseases studied were: (1) asbestosis, (2) carcinoma, and (3) mesothelioma. The cytology smears were prepared with both Papanicolaou and iron stains. Lung tissues were digested by the Chlorox (5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution) technique for quantitation of asbestos bodies. Asbestos bodies within the sputum were found to be highly specific markers for past asbestos exposure, indicating a heavy residual pulmonary asbestos load (greater than 900 asbestos bodies/g wet lung weight). Asbestos bodies in sputum were also found to have a highly significant relationship (P less than 0.001) with the degree of accompanying atypia of bronchial epithelial cells. Bronchial washings appeared to be more sensitive than sputum for the detection of asbestos bodies. Asbestos bodies were not found within the pleural fluids of malignant mesotheliomas. It is concluded that sputum cytology screening represents a practical, noninvasive, and inexpensive approach to the diagnosis and study of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos↗
PubMed2005

p53 autoantibodies predict subsequent development of cancer.

Because TP53 mutations can induce an immune response and can occur early in the carcinogenic process for some tumors, p53 autoantibodies may be useful biomarkers for risk of development of cancer. Using banked serum samples from an asbestosis cohort at high risk for cancer, we demonstrate for the first time a statistically significant relationship between p53 autoantibodies and the subsequent development of malignancy (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.8-10.9) with a positive predictive value of 0.76 and an average lead time to diagnosis of 3.5 years. p53 autoantibodies were also significantly associated with p53 alterations in the resultant tumors (kappa = 0.78, p = 0.01).

Asbestosis↗
PubMed1988

Substantiating hazardous exposure to asbestos by examination of pulmonary dust.

Substantiation of relevant asbestos risks by microscopic examination sets a lower detection limit at fibres longer than 5 to 10 micron and thicker than 0.5 micron. Such microscopically detectable fibres are, of course, in respect to "total quantity" the insignificant part of the overall dust burden, but apparently a necessary part of the whole fraction when assessing the relevance of exposure. Until now, no epidemiologically conclusive asbestos risks resulting from occupational exposure have been made known solely with fibre fraction below the microscopic detection limit. Demands for supplementary electromicroscopic examination on the basis of case reports of lung parenchyma damage by fibres of a lower calibre than the microscopic detection limit are, therefore, presently without foundation. The subject examinations reveal that substantiation of asbestos risks with light-optical means, using different methods, provides comparable results. Initially, of course, it is surprising to obtain fluctuations in results of 100,000 to 600,000 asbestos particles for the same case. However, one must realize that calculations based on intermediate results are responsible for this range of fluctuation, due to the varying degree of asbestos fibre dispersion in the different sections of the lung and, depending on the method of detection used. Interest on the part of everyday occupational medicine and expert opinion is determined by the need to categorize individual cases into different basic classes of risk by referring to relevant morphological facts, such as substantiation of asbestosis or drawing a borderline between persons with occupational risk and those with a non-occupational risk.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Asbestos↗
PubMed1996

Elevated interleukin-8 in the alveolitis of individuals with asbestos exposure.

Asbestosis is a fibrotic and inflammatory interstitial lung disease occurring after chronic occupational exposure to asbestos. An alveolitis has been described with activated alveolar macrophages and increased neutrophils as sampled by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Animal models and in vitro studies demonstrate that asbestos can stimulate alveolar macrophages to release neutrophil chemotactic factor. We performed BAL on 18 nonsmoking individuals with asbestos exposure and observed a twofold increase in percent neutrophils recovered. Alveolar macrophages cultured in vitro from the asbestos-exposed individuals spontaneously released significant amounts of the neutrophil chemotaxin, interleukin-8 (IL-8). In addition, the alveolar macrophages expressed a 2.7-fold increase in steady state mRNA levels compared to unexposed normal controls utilizing the reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction. In vitro experiments confirmed that crocidolite or chrysotile asbestos could stimulate the release of IL-8 from mononuclear phagocytes in a dose-dependent fashion. We conclude that asbestos exposure causes a mild neutrophilic alveolitis, and that IL-8 is one potential mediator capable of contributing to this inflammation in the lower respiratory tract.

Asbestos, Crocidolite↗
PubMed1993

Pleural thickening: a comparison of oblique chest radiographs and high-resolution computed tomography in subjects exposed to low levels of asbestos pollution.

The present study was conducted to investigate the value of oblique chest radiographs, compared with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), in the assessment of pleural asbestosis in a group of subjects exposed to low levels of asbestos pollution. The study population consisted of 23 people derived from a previously reported cohort of subjects working in university buildings insulated with asbestos-containing material. Subjects were selected on a voluntary basis from among patients whose initial oblique chest X-rays showed pleural thickening. Sixteen patients were maintenance workers occupationally exposed to asbestos; the remaining seven were environmentally exposed to asbestos. For each subject, two standard chest radiographs [posteroanterior (PA) and right anterior oblique (RAO) views] were taken and HRCT was performed. Films were interpreted after agreement by three chest physicians and a radiologist. Pleural thickening was considered present in all 23 patients on RAO films and in six patients on PA films. HRCT revealed unequivocal pleural plaques in three maintenance workers and doubtful pleural abnormalities in three other maintenance workers. Considering HRCT as the "gold standard," the positive predictive value of RAO film was only 13%-26%. Most of the 17 false-positive diagnoses of pleural fibrosis were due to significant subpleural fat. These results suggest that the routine use of oblique radiographs as a screening test in cohorts of subjects exposed to low levels of pollution by asbestos should be reevaluated.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1984

Asbestos-induced lung inflammation. Role of local macrophage-derived chemotactic factors in accumulation of neutrophils in the lungs.

In a recently developed sheep model of progressive low-dose pulmonary exposure to asbestos, initial alveolar lymphocyte and macrophage activation was followed by pulmonary neutrophilia in higher-dose exposed animals. This was observed after 18 months of exposure to intratracheal instillations of asbestos fibers and coincided with progressive alveolitis and decreased lung compliance. Alveolar macrophages from those animals were found to produce a chemotactic factor which attracted in vitro peripheral blood neutrophils. It attracted neutrophils more efficiently from higher-exposure than lower-exposure animals. Supernatants of control macrophages exposed to asbestos in vitro were also chemotactic for PMN. Similarly, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from the animals showed chemotactic activity for peripheral blood neutrophils. It is suggested that chronic exposure to asbestos activates alveolar macrophages to produce chemotactic factors which in turn attract neutrophils from the vascular compartment and may thus contribute to the inflammatory process in asbestosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Asbestos exposure and Alzheimer disease.

10 cases in which an asbestos-related disease (malignant pleural mesothelioma or asbestosis) was associated with severe Alzheimer type lesions in the brain are reported. The patients, all males aged between 67 and 78 years, had been occupationally exposed to asbestos in the shipbuilding industry. The hypothesis that asbestos is a favoring factor in the genesis of Alzheimer disease is discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

[Findings in a high-risk group following asbestos exposure. Benefit of ENT examinations in patients with long-term exposure to asbestos].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Laryngeal diseases caused by exposure to asbestos are listed in the current German list of occupational diseases under number 4104. Parallel to a multicenter study to evaluate whether a CT scan should be included in the examinations for occupational diseases according to the German surveillance guidelines, an additional ENT examination was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred workers with a mean exposure time to asbestos of 20.9 years were given a complete ENT examination in 4 consecutive years (1993-1996). Radiological signs for asbestosis were observed in 21 cases and 58 participants had pleural affections caused by asbestos. Significant nicotine abuse was reported by 15 persons: 61 participants were ex-smokers and 24 had never smoked. Regular alcohol consumption was reported by 90% (11% more than 80 g/day). RESULTS: As documented in the literature, we found a high prevalence of laryngitis, especially in smoking patients. One patient had early laryngeal cancer (T1). CONCLUSION: The integration of an ENT examination into the German surveillance guidelines for occupational diseases should be discussed for patients with a high exposure to asbestos.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Computed tomography of asbestos-related pleural abnormalities.

OBJECTIVES: To study the observer agreement in several asbestos-related pleural abnormalities and to define criteria to discriminate between pleural changes in workers with occupational disease, and those in controls. METHODS: Pleural abnormalities in spiral computed tomography of 602 construction workers with asbestosis or bilateral pleural plaques and 49 controls were reviewed by three radiologists using structured forms. RESULTS: Intra- and inter-observer agreement (weighted kappa) was 0.4 or better with regard to the calcification, extent and thickness of pleural disease. These factors all correlated positively with the duration of asbestos exposure. There were significant differences in these pleural changes between the workers (mean extent per side 83 cm(2)) and controls (mean extent per side 40 cm(2)). Of the controls, 84% showed pleural lesions with an estimated extent of 10 cm(2) or more, bilateral in 64%. The extent of 45 cm(2) in pleural disease was the best value for discriminating between the controls and diseased workers, with a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 66%. The degree of pleural calcification, however, was the best discriminator between these groups, but quantitative methods are necessary for its use in the diagnostics of individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The extent, calcification and thickness were well-repeatable indicators of benign pleural pathology and thus their use in future classification systems in computed tomography is recommended. In our material, the extent of 45 cm(2) and the degree of calcification were helpful in discriminating between pleural changes in workers with occupational disease, and those in controls who also presented marked pleural pathology.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Asbestos consumption, asbestos exposure and asbestos-related occupational diseases in Germany.

Like in most industrial countries, asbestos is a leading cause of occupational diseases, especially malignant diseases, in Germany. Following the increased consumption of asbestos after World War I, the recognition of asbestos related diseases developed. At the end of the 1930s, Germany was the first country to accept lung cancer in combination with asbestosis as an occupational disease and to initiate the endeavor for reduction of asbestos dust exposure. Nevertheless after World War II the usage of asbestos increased dramatically. The ban of asbestos first came into force in 1993. Until this time several hundreds of thousands of workers had inhaled asbestos and the number of asbestos related diseases increased. In this review the history and current status on asbestos consumption, asbestos exposure and asbestos related occupational diseases in Germany is presented.

Asbestos↗
PubMed2006

Involvement of IL-10 and Bcl-2 in resistance against an asbestos-induced apoptosis of T cells.

To analyze the possibility that immunological alteration in asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) such as asbestosis (ASB) and malignant mesothelioma (MM) may affect the progression of cancers, a human adult T cell leukemia virus-immortalized T cell line (MT-2Org) was continuously exposed to 10 mug/ml of chrysotile-B (CB), an asbestos. After at least 8 months of exposure, the rate of apoptosis in the cells became very low and the resultant subline was designated MT-2Rst. The MT-2Rst cells were characterized by (i) enhanced expression of bcl-2, with regain of apoptosis-sensitivity by reduction of bcl-2 by siRNA, (ii) excess IL-10 secretion and expression, and (iii) activation of STAT3 that was inhibited by PP2, a specific inhibitor of Src family kinases. These results suggested that the contact between cells and asbestos may affect the human immune system and trigger a cascade of biological events such as activation of Src family kinases, enhancement of IL-10 expression, STAT3 activation and Bcl-2 overexpression. This speculation was partially confirmed by the detection of elevated bcl-2 expression levels in CD4 + peripheral blood T cells from patients with MM compared with those from patients with ASB or healthy donors. Further studies will be required to verify the role of T cells with enhanced bcl-2 expression in tumor progression induced by asbestos exposure.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1986

Interaction of asbestos, age, and cigarette smoking in producing radiographic evidence of diffuse pulmonary fibrosis.

The study of 3,472 chest x-rays from four populations with different levels of exposure to asbestos and with different cigarette smoking histories shows that smoking in the general population does not produce pulmonary fibrosis recognizable on chest radiography. In the general population of Michigan, the prevalence of a radiographic pattern of fibrosis was 0.5 percent in men and 0.0 percent in women. In a Long Beach, California census tract population, the prevalences were 3.7 percent for men and 0.6 percent for women. Similarly, cigarette smoking does not enhance fibrosis when the exposure to asbestos has been as light as that in households of shipyard workers. Asbestosis was recognized in 6.6 percent of 137 shipyard workers' wives who have never smoked and 7.6 percent of 132 who had ever smoked. Cigarette smoking and asbestos appear to be synergistic in those occupationally exposed to asbestos (as insulators), since 7.2 percent of 97 nonsmokers and 20.5 percent of 316 ever-smokers showed fibrosis. This apparent synergy was also found in shipyard workers up to age 70 with 31 percent of nonsmokers and 43.3 percent of ever-smokers having fibrosis. There were increases of approximately 10 percent in the prevalence of fibrosis in cigarette smokers and nonsmokers for each decade after age 40.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Crackles in asbestos workers: auscultation and lung sound analysis.

We surveyed 270 asbestos factory workers and 222 control subjects matched for age to assess the usefulness of listening for fine discontinuous adventitious lung sound (fine crackles) in detection of the early stages of interstitial fibrosis of asbestosis. Fine crackles at both bases were heard more frequently in asbestos workers (32.2%) than in controls (4.5%) (P less than 0.01). The presence of bilateral basal crackles was related to the duration of asbestos exposure and occurred before abnormalities could be detected by chest radiography. Two observers examined 74 workers randomly chosen from among 270 asbestos workers and found inter-observer agreement to be high (91.9%). There was close agreement between findings on chest auscultation and sound recordings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Asbestos bodies in a bile duct cancer after occupational exposure.

A case of asbestosis after 5 years of occupational asbestos exposure is presented. At the postmortem examination, cholelithiasis and a cancer developing from the cystic duct were found and identified histologically as a squamous cell carcinoma. After digesting the tumor tissue, short asbestos bodies and fragments could be identified having a similar shape as those observed in the lung. The possible role of asbestos in the carcinogenesis of the observed bile duct cancer is proposed. The digestive examination of all malignant tumors of any origin after an asbestos exposure is suggested for the identification of the possible presence of ingested asbestos fibers, and to obtain further comprehensive human pathological data.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

High-resolution computed tomography of asbestos-related diseases.

There is growing evidence that HRCT can detect both interstitial and pleural disease in advance of conventional clinical or radiographic studies. Limited HRCT scans are roughly competitive in time and cost with 4-view radiographic examinations. The use of limited HRCT for large-scale screening of asbestos-exposed individuals is controversial. Hopefully this will be resolved as we gain greater understanding of the specificity of HRCT and establish guidelines for standardizing technique and interpretation. At present, limited HRCT scans can supplement the chest radiographic evaluation of subjects in whom there is equivocal parenchymal or pleural disease, unexplained abnormalities on pulmonary function tests, or significant coexisting pleural disease that precludes evaluation of the underlying parenchyma. Interstitial abnormalities on HRCT may be reasonably ascribed to asbestos exposure when there is clear historical documentation of significant, remote dust exposure or concomitant evidence of typical bilateral asbestos-related pleural disease. A subpleural distribution of interstitial abnormality in nondependent lung is important to establish the diagnosis of interstitial fibrosis. Although both unilateral pleural and parenchymal fibroses have been reported, lesions should generally be present bilaterally. In individuals with combined asbestos-cigarette smoke exposure in whom symptoms or functional abnormalities are present, HRCT may play a central role in distinguishing emphysematous lung destruction from the peripheral interstitial changes of asbestosis. Finally, in individuals with significant pleural or parenchymal fibrosis, focal lung masses may not be visible on chest radiographs. In these individuals, CT protocols that sample all regions of the thorax are appropriate.

Asbestosis↗
PubMed1989

Minimal pathologic changes of the lung and asbestos exposure.

A group of 199 autopsy subjects was investigated for minimal pathologic pulmonary changes possibly resulting from asbestos exposure. According to the standards proposed by the Pneumoconiosis Committee of the College of American Pathologists, features consistent with asbestosis grade 1 (AG1) include findings of bilateral pleural plaques, high concentrations of asbestos bodies (ABs) in digested lung tissue, and a history of occupational risk. Similar changes without evidence of ABs on histologic section and referred to as small airway lesions (SALs) present a less well-correlated association. In this study, SALs showed significant differences when compared with the features observed in subjects without possible asbestos-related pulmonary fibrotic changes. Minimal bronchioloalveolar fibrotic changes with concomitant presence of ABs can be considered a mild pneumoconiotic lesion (AG1), and SALs may be regarded as an additional indicator of asbestos exposure.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Malignant pleural mesothelioma: the role of computed tomography.

Computed tomography is believed to have a definite role in the evaluation of malignant pleural mesothelioma based on a review of computed tomography findings in 23 of our patients and previous reports. Twelve patients had a single computed tomography examination, and 11 had two or more studies. Computed tomography permits better appreciation of the extent of the tumor. This permits appropriate selection of therapy and may demonstrate that surgery or radiotherapy is not indicated. computed tomography often permits more accurate evaluation following chemotherapy and may be the only means by which to follow a patient after radical surgery. Computed tomography also has a role in differential diagnosis. It facilitates distinction of malignant pleural mesothelioma from rounded atelectasis, pleural changes of asbestosis, and pleural involvement with lymphoma and thymoma. It aids, but may not be diagnostic, in separating malignant pleural mesothelioma from metastases to the pleura.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Asbestos-related pericardial thickening detected by magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in four male asbestos workers in whom the chest radiograph revealed pleural but not pulmonary or pericardial disease. Patients underwent thoracic multislice spin echo imaging, with measurement of left and right ventricular volumes at end-diastole and end-systole, and a study of the flow in the superior vena cava as an indirect measure to the filling of the right ventricle. Patients also underwent respiratory function tests and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Magnetic resonance, but not HRCT, showed pericardial thickening in two patients. Magnetic resonance demonstrated reduced diastolic flow in the superior vena cava in one patient, reflecting impaired right ventricular filling. All other magnetic resonance measurements of cardiac function were normal. HRCT demonstrated mild asbestosis in three patients in which neither the chest radiograph nor magnetic resonance showed signs of parenchymal disease, and pericardiac calcification without thickening in one patient. It is concluded that magnetic resonance is superior to HRCT in identifying pericardial thickening, but that HRCT is superior to magnetic resonance in identifying asbestos-related pleural and pulmonary disease.

Adult↗