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Biomedical subjects

A Todaro

Publications and source records attributed to A Todaro.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Alveolar and lung fibre levels in non-occupationally exposed subjects.

Mineral fibre concentrations and characteristics were evaluated by the same electron microscope methods in 15 bronchoalveolar lavage samples and in 40 surgical lung tissue samples of subjects with no occupational exposure to asbestos. Both fibre alveolar load and lung burden evaluated by transmission electron microscopy were higher in the groups of industrial workers with no specific asbestos exposure than in the groups of individuals exposed only to general environmental pollution. In both types of samples, the fibre burden consisted of extremely small fibres (mean length less than 2 microns, mean diameter less than 0.1 micron), with a trend towards a further reduction in mean length in the lung tissue as compared with the alveolar load. These data suggest that there is a need for a critical reconsideration of the methods of evaluating environmental fibre pollution and of those for assessing exposure-effect relationships.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Blueprint for proficient practice: an adult medical-surgical nursing orientation program.

Medical-surgical nursing is a specialty that is long overdue for acknowledgment. Our hospital orientation program provides an integration of theory and practical experience using the principles of adult learning. Faculty maintain "facilitator" rather than "instructional" roles and develop supportive and collaborative relationships with the new nurse. Its concise plan and design is intended to have a favorable impact on professional nursing practice and patient care outcomes. In addition, the program has promoted a recruitment advantage in today's arena of educational competitiveness.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Extensive lymphadenectomy in the therapy of cancer of the left colon and rectum: an analysis of the anatomicopathological data].

In the last 12 years in our surgical service, radical resection was performed in 142 patients with cancer of left colon and in 145 patients with rectal cancer. Extended lymphadenectomy was always realized: preaortocaval lymphadenectomy in colonic cancer; preartocaval and pelvic lymphadenectomy in rectal cancer. The incidence of C stage was 40.14% in cancer of left colon and 40.68% in rectal cancer. Neoplastic diffusion in preaortocaval lymph nodes was only in a patient with colonic cancer, never in patients with rectal cancer. The incidence of neoplastic diffusion in pelvic nodes was 3.12% (0 in superior rectum; 6.25% in medium rectum; 2.4% in inferior rectum). In 1 of 90 patients with tumour of medium or inferior rectum, we relieved tumoural involvement of pelvic nodes without neoplastic diffusion in regional nodes. These anatomo-pathological data subline: a) the low incidence of neoplastic diffusion in preaortocaval nodes in cancer of left colon and rectum; b) the importance of pelvic lymphadenectomy in cancer of medium and inferior rectum.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Atmospheric asbestos pollution in the urban environment: Milan, Casale Monferrato, Brescia, Ancona, Bologna and Florence].

The atmospheric concentrations of asbestos fibres were measured in 6 towns by long term sampling of air (3 weeks) and by counting at TEM both long and short fibres. Chrisotile and amphiboles were separately counted. For each town high traffic, low traffic and no traffic zones were considered as well as industrial areas and areas with possible and probable sources of asbestos pollution. For Milano the seasonal variations in atmospheric concentrations of asbestos fibres were also recorded in a central square. The maximum concentrations of total fibres was found in Milano (251.7 fibres/liter) and the minimum in Bologna (0.3 fibres/liter). Chrisotile and ultrashort fibres are the most frequent component of the atmospheric pollution. The fibre counts to which people is exposed are far below the levels at which it has been possible to detect risks in industry: however the possibility of a synergism between asbestos and other pollutants with consequent increase of the total carcinogenic potential of the polluted atmosphere cannot be ruled out. The control of the most active sources of asbestos dispersion must be considered in a correct balance between costs and social benefits.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acute exposure to vanadium-containing dusts: the health effects and biological monitoring in a group of workers employed in boiler maintenance].

The authors describe an episode of acute intoxication due to inhalation of vanadium-containing dusts in a group of 10 workers during maintenance work inside a boiler of an oil-fired electricity power station. Historical, clinical and biological monitoring data concerning the acute exposure phase and subsequent checks are presented. The appearance of irritative symptoms of the upper airways, green tongue (in 6 out of 10 subjects) and the values of urinary excretion of vanadium (means = 92, D.S. = 47 micrograms/l: limits 20-270 micrograms/l) indicated acute vanadium exposure. With the use of appropriate individual protection devices and shorter shifts, 2 weeks after the episode there was a complete remission of the symptoms and a return of urinary vanadium concentrations to 38, D.S. = 26 micrograms/l. Checks made 6 months, 1 and 2 years later did not reveal any alterations in the general blood chemistry parameters and the urinary vanadium concentrations were below 1 microgram/l (reference value). As already often reported in the literature, this episode confirms the danger involved in working in the presence of fuel oil residues or ashes and the need to adopt appropriate prevention measures.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Markers of fibrogenesis in bronchoalveolar lavage and in serum of workers exposed to asbestos].

The N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP) and fibronectin (FBN), two markers possibly implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and in serum of 27 subjects with a history of occupational exposure to asbestos, in 10 sarcoidosis patients and in 7 healthy controls. At the same time, the study of the cell populations and asbestos bodies count in BAL were also performed. In BAL of sarcoidosis patients the mean concentration of PI-IIIP was higher compared to that of the other two groups, and the difference was significant compared with the healthy controls. Among the group of asbestos workers, both PIIIP and FBN were significantly higher in subjects with radiological signs of pulmonary asbestosis compared with those with no signs of asbestosis. On the basis of BAL cytology, the asbestos-exposed were divided into two subgroups, with or without signs of alveolitis: the mean concentrations of BAL PIIIP was significantly higher in the subgroup with alveolitis. Moreover, in this subgroup there was a positive correlation between total number of cells and PIIIP, and between the number of asbestos bodies and PIIIP in BAL. Serum PIIIP values did not differ significantly among the various groups, with the exception of higher values in sarcoidosis patients. The results of this study seem to confirm the usefulness of PIIIP and FBN determinations in BAL, as indicators of the activity of the fibrotic process which, in particular cases, might also assume a prognostic significance.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Allergic disease caused by squaric acid dibutyl ester: description of 2 cases in a work environment].

The paper describes an episode of contact dermatitis in 4 pharmaceutical industry workers. Symptoms regressed after cessation of exposure. Each worker underwent clinical investigations with specific patch tests for the products handled. In 2 subjects there were positive skin reactions to squaric acid dibutyl-ester, a substance with powerful allergenic action and consequently rarely used on the market. Following elimination of the compound from the production cycle, no further cases of dermal symptoms were reported among the operators.

Adolescent↗