Biomedical subjects

E Zuskin

Publications and source records attributed to E Zuskin.

205 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

[The smoking habit in schoolchildren].

Smoking habit was studied in 2776 school boys aged 9-16 years from Zagreb and surrounding area. In a total sample, 422 (15.2%) examinees were smokers. The most of the smokers smoke 1 to 5 cigarettes daily and the most frequent duration of smoking is 1 to 3 years (62.6%). Boys started smoking already at the preschool age. Most of them started smoking during the first four years of primary school (54.1%). Statistical analysis did not show association between intensity and duration of smoking. Smoking intensity increases significantly with age. Significantly larger frequency of cough was found in smokers compared to nonsmokers (p < 0.0001). However, there is no significant association between cough and duration and intensity of smoking. Significantly larger number of fathers and other members of the family who smoke was found for boys smokers than for boys nonsmokers (p < 0.0001). Intensity of smoking and age of starting smoking in school children were independent of smoking status of the family members.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Disorders of clearance of pollutants from the lung].

Mechanisms of elimination of pollutants from the lungs are described. Factors which might produce deleterious effects on elimination of pollutants are listed. Changes of mucociliatry clearance and phagocytosis under the influence of general atmospheric pollutants, cigarette smoke, pharmacologic preparations, immunologic system, occupational exposures, and other effects are presented.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Ventilatory function and immunologic reactions in female workers processing dried fruits and teas].

Ventilatory capacity and immunological reactions were studied in 54 female workers employed in processing dried fruits and teas, and in 40 control workers. There was higher prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms in the exposed compared to control workers, although the differences were statistically significant only for dyspnea and nasal catarrh (p < 0.01). The exposed workers with positive skin tests had significantly higher prevalence of dyspnea (p < 0.05) and nasal catarrh (p < 0.01) than those with negative skin tests. In exposed workers there were statistically significant acute reductions of ventilatory capacity tests during the shift, particularly in flow rates at 50% and the last 25% of vital capacity on maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves (FEF50, FEF25). In comparison to predicted normal values, the mean FEF25 was significantly lower than normal (p < 0.01). Significantly larger number of exposed workers compared to controls reacted with positive skin tests to at least one of the occupational allergens (p < 0.01). However, only the prevalence of positive skin test to sage (60.0%) was significantly higher than in control workers (20.0%) (p < 0.01). Our data indicate that exposure to aerosols of dried fruits and teas may in some workers cause the development of respiratory symptoms and increased skin reactivity to work-related allergens, with an increase of immunoglobulin IgE.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Pharmacologic study of the effects of the components of beer in vitro].

The effect of brewery dust extracts was studied on 28 isolated nonsensitized guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle. Dust extracts of barley, hops and brewery yeast were prepared in a concentration of 1:10 w/v. Biological activity (constriction of smooth muscle) of dust extracts was expressed as a percent of initial maximal carbacol contraction 10(-4) M. Pharmacological studies were performed by pretreating guinea pig tracheal tissue with drugs such as atropin (10(-6) M), pirilamin (10(-6) M), indometacin (10(-6) M) i verapamil (10(-5) M). Constrictor effects of the dust extracts was significantly inhibited by atropine suggesting an interaction of the extracts with parasympathetic nerves. Inhibition of contraction of other mediators was less effective and varied with dust extract. Our data suggest that brewery dust extracts cause a dose related airway smooth muscle constriction by nonimmunological mechanisms involving cholinergic receptors and a variety of airway mediators.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The respiratory system--its self-cleaning system. General mechanisms of clearance].

The behaviour of particles and deposition in different parts of respiratory system are described. Listed are factors which contribute to the deposition of particles in the lungs and upper areas of the respiratory system. The general mechanisms of lung clearance and their action such as cough, mucociliary transport, alveolar clearance and immunological system are reported. Particularly is stressed the necessity of coordination of all defense mechanisms in order to maintain normal respiratory function.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Occupational asthma].

The definition of occupational asthma is described. Causative agents which may be responsible for the development of occupational asthma are listed. Among factors responsible for the development of occupational asthma, immunological and nonimmunological mechanisms are specially described. The clinical characteristics of the disease, diagnostic methods, differential diagnosis, prognosis and prevention of occupational asthma are described. Procedures for determining exposure, occupations in which most frequently occupational asthma can develop, as well as preventive measures are reported.

Asthma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Characteristics of paper dust extract in vitro].

The effects of recycling paper dust extract on isolated nonsensitized guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle were studied in vitro. Dust extract was prepared as a 1:10 w/v aqueous solution. Dose related contractions of guinea pig tracheal rings were elicited with paper dust extract. Pharmacologic studies were performed with atropine (10(-6) M), indomethacine (10(-6) M), pyrilamine (10(-6) M), Ly 171883 (10(-5) M), NDGA (10(-5) M) and TMB8 (10(-5) M). The effects of extract were almost totally inhibited by the anticholinergic agent atropine, suggesting that a principal pathway mediating this response may involve the parasympathetic nervous system. The intracellular calcium blocking agent TMB8 also induced a reduction of the contractile response to paper dust extract, which is consistent with intracellular calcium's well established role in smooth muscle constriction. We suggest that paper dust extract causes dose related airway smooth muscle constriction, possibly associated with the release of cholinergic as well as other mediators. The constrictor effect does not require tissue presensitization.

Animals↗