Biomedical subjects

Edward Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to Edward Robinson.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

An outbreak of extrinsic alveolitis at a car engine plant.

BACKGROUND: Twelve workers from a car engine-manufacturing plant presented with extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA), with heterogeneous clinical, radiological and pathological findings. They were exposed to metalworking fluids (MWF) that cooled, lubricated and cleaned the machines. METHODS: They were characterized by history, examination, lung function testing, radiology, bronchoscopic lavage, lung biopsy and serology. Sera were tested for precipitins to a crude extract of used MWF and to reference cultures of bacteria suspected to be implicated. RESULTS: All were males and none were current smokers. All had dyspnoea, many had weight loss and cough, but only half had influenza-like symptoms. Only half had auscultatory crackles. Five had peak flow variability, four with an occupational component. There was overall restrictive spirometry, decreased lung volumes and reduced gas transfers. Ten had radiological evidence of interstitial lung disease. Seven (of eight) had lymphocytosis on bronchial lavage, including the two with inconclusive radiology. Seven (of 11) had lung biopsies showing inflammatory infiltrates, two with fibrosis and one with granulomas. Three (of 11) had strong positive precipitins to an extract of the used MWF from the plant. Molecular biological analysis of the MWF revealed Acinetobacter and Ochrobactrum. Precipitins to Acinetobacter were detected in seven of 11 workers tested (and four of 11 control workers). Precipitins to Ochrobactrum were detected in three of 11 workers tested (and three of 11 control workers). CONCLUSION: This is the largest series reported in Europe of EAA due to an aerosol of microbiologically contaminated MWF in heavy manufacturing industry.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗

PubMed2006

CryptoDB: a Cryptosporidium bioinformatics resource update.

The database, CryptoDB (http://CryptoDB.org), is a community bioinformatics resource for the AIDS-related apicomplexan-parasite, Cryptosporidium. CryptoDB integrates whole genome sequence and annotation with expressed sequence tag and genome survey sequence data and provides supplemental bioinformatics analyses and data-mining tools. A simple, yet comprehensive web interface is available for mining and visualizing the data. CryptoDB is allied with the databases PlasmoDB and ToxoDB via ApiDB, an NIH/NIAID-fundedBioinformatics Resource Center. Recent updates to CryptoDB include the deposition of annotated genome sequences for Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis, migration to a relational database (GUS), a new query and visualization interface and the introduction of Web services.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Specific IgE to colophony?

BACKGROUND: Colophony (rosin) is a natural product obtained from coniferous trees. It is used in a diverse range of products such as adhesives, ink, paints and soldering fluxes. Some workers exposed to colophony during soldering can develop occupational asthma; at present, no specific IgE test is available to assess sensitization to colophony. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from exposed symptomatic individuals (n = 7), some with a likely diagnosis of occupational asthma, exposed asymptomatic individuals (n = 10) and unexposed individuals (n = 11). Serum was tested for specific IgE antibodies against a protein extract produced following in vitro challenge of mono-mac-6 cells with colophony extract. RESULTS: Serum from exposed symptomatic individuals showed increased binding of specific IgE antibodies to a range of colophony-cell protein conjugates [29% (2/7) of samples tested when cut-off > 0.1 or 86% (6/7) of samples tested when cut-off > 0%] compared with both the exposed asymptomatic [0% when cut-off > 0.1, or 20% when cut-off > 0% (2/10)] and the non-exposed control populations [0% when cut-off > 0.1, or 27% when cut-off > 0% (3/11)]. CONCLUSIONS: This novel approach for the production of conjugates to assess sensitization to colophony was able to detect specific IgE in colophony-exposed workers with a likely diagnosis of occupational asthma.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Respiratory symptoms, immunology and organism identification in contaminated metalworking fluid workers. What you see is not what you get.

BACKGROUND: Metal working fluids (MWF) constitute a significant respiratory hazard, although symptoms experienced by workers are often poorly investigated and attributed. AIMS: A single possible case of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) led to a formal workplace investigation. It was clear that other exposed workers were affected. The aim of this study was to accurately quantify the clinical, immunological and microbiological findings in MWF workers following presentation of a sentinel case. METHODS: Eleven of 21 individuals participated; eight were assessed by symptom questionnaire, spirometry and serology and three workers provided blood samples only. The microbes cultured from MWF and air samples were used to determine the presence of precipitating antibodies. RESULTS: Work-related respiratory symptoms were reported in six of eight individuals questioned, two of these complaining of 'flu-like' symptoms. Personal breathing zone measures identified 2.1 x 10(3) to 1.1 x 10(5) colony-forming units/m3 air (CFU/m3). Pseudomonas fluorescens was isolated from air samples. Despite visible 'fungal' contamination of MWF, airborne fungi were detectable in only one sample, at 486 CFU/m3 air. MWF cultured Eurotium sp., Fusarium sp. and Pseudomonas sp. Precipitating IgG antibodies to Pseudomonas sp. were identified in 4/11 and to an extract of the MWF in 3/11. IgG to Pseudomonas was elevated in the two individuals who had the strongest precipitating bands to Pseudomonas sp. CONCLUSIONS: Workplaces with possible EAA must be investigated promptly, thus allowing clinical assessment to be contemporary to exposures and accurate microbiological profiling included to identify the likely cause.

Adult↗