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Biomedical subjects

G Mastrangelo

Publications and source records attributed to G Mastrangelo.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Descriptive epidemiology of Hodgkin's disease in the province of Padova, 1970-1974.

The age-standardized incidence rates of Hodgkin's disease in the province of Padova during the period 1970-1974 were 4.33/10(5) per year for males and 3.70/10(5) per year for females. These rates are higher (particularly for females) than in other European countries and close to those reported for North America. A bimodal distribution by age is present in the province as a whole. These findings, with the limitations due to the small population and diagnostic difficulties taken into account, are discussed with a view to further investigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons administered in humans by dermal route increase total IgE.

Inhalation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) extracted from diesel exhaust particles (DEP) enhances local (nasal) production of IgE in humans. The aim of the present research is to investigate whether in humans dermal exposure to PAHs which are not extracted from DEPs increases serum IgE, and whether host factors modify the immunologic effect. In thirty-two patients with acute psoriatic lesions, a cream containing 3% of coal tar (which holds a variety of PAHs) was applied to the skin for 24 hours. Serum IgE were measured before (IgE0) and four (IgE4) and eight (IgE8) days after application. Replicated means were compared by analysis of variance for repeated measures and by the Newman-Keuls' test. IgE0, IgE4 and IgE8 were 151.19, 159.69 (a 6% excess) and 170.90 kU/L (a 13% excess) respectively; pairwise comparison showed IgE8 was significantly higher than IgE0 (p<0.05). At multiple linear regression analysis, the percentage increase in serum IgE across observation days was the dependent variable against age, sex, cigarettes/day, urinary 1-pyrenol, atopy, skin area treated, and grams of cream. Of the independent variables, only age had a significant (p<0.028) influence: the younger the age, the higher the IgE response to PAHs. We conclude that whatever the source and the route of entry (skin or respiratory tract), PAHs increase total serum IgE, mainly in younger age groups.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of atmospheric pollution on respiratory function in children from Venice (author's transl)].

The respiratory function has been compared in two standard school populations. A sample, of 700 children from the industrial quarters of Venice (highly polluted) and 350 children from the Historic Center (not polluted), has been subjected to a respiratory questionnaire, clinical investigation and plethysmographic functional testing with measurement of airways resistance by the panting method. The changes in the airways resistance were related to the residing area and to the bronchitic episodes in the past, while the family's socio-economic situation and the living area did not play any role.

Air Pollution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ventilatory functions in subjects exposed to hydrogen peroxide at levels below the TLV: longitudinal study].

In the bottling departments of a beverage processing plant, exposure to hydrogen peroxide was below TLV from 1995 to 2001. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume 1st second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC were compared between exposed and unexposed workers. Using sparse data collected from 1993 to 2002, changes over time (slope) were calculated for each functional index in each subject. The slope was the dependent variable at multiple regression analysis with exposure and smoking as predictive variables. Using complete data collected from 2000 to 2002 in fewer subjects, the longitudinal changes were assessed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Both methods provide same results: with respect to unexposed, in exposed workers FVC increased, FEV1/was unchanged and FEV1/FVC decreased; the latter difference was no more significant when FVC slope was added as covariate to the model. In conclusion, the findings seem to support the current TLV for hydrogen peroxide. There were no similar studies in the literature.

Forced Expiratory Volume↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Changes in risk factors for spontaneous abortion in an area with high concentrations of shoe manufacture after a preventive intervention].

Risk factors of spontaneous abortion were investigated in two matched case-control studies in 1987-88 and 1997-99. An history of previous abortions significantly increased the risk in both studies. Lifestyle (coffee) and occupational (exposure to organic solvents) factors were associated with a significantly increased risk in the first but not in the second calendar period, following a community intervention with advice given to workers, employers, and physicians; the latter also counseled a greater use of medicines against spontaneous abortion.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Italian law (decree no. 336/1994) and epidemiological evidence].

BACKGROUND: In Italy, occupational diseases are required by law to be listed (however, any occupational diseases not included in the list may be compensated if workers demonstrate causation in court). The list is periodically updated in order to incorporate new findings from medical research. Decree no. 336/94 uses a less inclusive term (chronic obstructive bronchitis) than that used in the earlier decree, no. 482/75 (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD). Moreover, it includes fewer occupations that involve a risk of developing COPD. OBJECTIVES: In order to find an epidemiological basis that might justify the above changes to Italian law, risk of COPD was investigated in relation to occupation and time, using a case-referent design. METHODS: The same definition for COPD (clinical history of >2 years with shortness of breath and/or winter phlegm and an FEV1 less than 80% of the predicted value, only minimally reversible with bronchodilators and without marked change during the hospital observation period) was used in two case-referent studies. The first study was carried out from 1972 to 1980 (202 cases of COPD and 202 referents matched for age and sex) and the second from 1990 to 1997 (131 cases of COPD and 298 referents, every fourth eligible patient in each calendar year of observation). In both studies cases and referents were classified into 16 occupational categories, and office workers were the reference. All subjects were selected from male patients admitted to the Occupational Health Clinic in Padua. Smoking-adjusted (Mantel-Haenszel analysis, first study), or age-smoking-adjusted (logistic regression analysis, second study) Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for COPD were estimated in each occupational category and in two main groups: workers employed in occupations at either high or low risk for COPD. The latter OR and the fraction of exposed cases (pc) were used to estimate the population attributable risk (PAR) through: pc(OR-1)/OR. RESULTS: Significantly high risks for COPD in miners and chemical workers were observed in the first period, but not in the second time window. On the other hand, an increased time trend for OR estimates was found in welders, wood carpenters, construction and foundry workers. Among farmers, painters, cotton textile and refractory brick workers, the OR for COPD was significantly above unity in both time periods. PAR was 37% in the first and 52% in the second study. CONCLUSIONS: The restrictive definition of occupational COPD, which was introduced by Decree no. 336/94, contrasts with the epidemiological evidence showing that the risk of occupational COPD has increased over time: up to 50% of COPD cases referred to an occupational medicine physician might have an occupational origin.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Anti-B[a]PDE-DNA formation in lymphomonocytes of humans environmentally exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons].

[Anti-B[a]PDE-DNA formation in lymphomonocytes of humans environmentally exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons] We are currently evaluating anti-benzo[a]pyrenediolepoxide-(B[a]PDE)-DNA adduct levels in lymphomonocytes of humans exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to validate this indicator of biologically effective dose in a surrogate tissue. The study protocol (October 2002-June 2005) implies: (a) a signed informed consent by each participant; (b) recruitment of 600 Padua municipal workers during visits at our outpatient clinic; (c) administration of a questionnaire regarding non occupational sources of PAH (B[a]P) exposure; (d) collection of blood (15 ml) and urine (200 ml) samples. Anti-B[a]PDE-DNA adduct levels in lymphomonocytes are detected by HPLC-fluorescence analysis. To date, 438 subjects have been examined (age range 20-62 years; 52% males). We found that: (i) anti-B[a]PDE-DNA adduct levels are significantly lower than those we previously found in coke-oven workers (N=95) occupationally exposed to high levels of PAHs (1.51 +/- 2.68 versus 4.07 +/- 3.78 anti-B[a]PDE-adduct/10(8) nucleotides, p < 0.001; 37% versus 97% positive subjects with > or =1 adduct/10(8) nucleotides; p < 0.001); (ii) smokers (23%) have significantly higher adduct levels than non smokers (p < 0.001); iii) non smokers who consume PAH-rich meals > or =52 times/year (142 subjects, 42%) have significantly increased adduct levels than those <52 times/year (p < 0.01). Dietary and smoking habits did not influence the occupationally-induced adduct levels in coke-oven workers. This is the first study that examines anti-B[a]PDE-DNA adduct levels in a large cohort showing that anti-B[a]PDE-DNA adducts can be detected in humans environmentally exposed to low doses of PAH (B[a]P and are modulated by smoke and dietary habits.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗