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Biomedical subjects

L Ambrosi

Publications and source records attributed to L Ambrosi.

89 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the effects on the nervous system from exposure to low concentrations of mercury in employees manufacturing fluorescent lights].

In order to evaluate the effects of low inorganic mercury concentrations on workers employed in the manufacture of fluorescent lamps, a stratified sample of workers was selected at random and assigned to three groups according to the level of exposure. In all three groups, the urinary mercury values were within the normal range for unexposed population. Among the indicators of effect the simple reaction times test showed statistically significant differences between the three groups. Also "state anxiety" and "trait anxiety", investigated by the S.T.A.I. questionnaires, differed between the unexposed group and the other two. A positive correlation was found between simple reaction times and the state and trait anxiety scores in the whole sample and in the subsample of women. Moreover, the prevalence of symptoms related to low mercury exposure, collected by a questionnaire, was higher in the two exposed groups. Due to the absence of group-differences for the urinary mercury levels, interpretation of the results is cumbersome. On the one hand it cannot be ruled out that the unexposed group (mainly white collar workers) had some characteristics which could explain the difference in the simple reaction times test and in anxiety. Conversely, if a true mercury effect does indeed exist, the similarity of the performance between the second and third groups (both consisting of exposed blue collar workers) could be explained if we assume that the high turn-over inside the factory could have caused a similar previous exposure to mercury vapours.

Anxiety↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of noise-induced injury: consideration of a group of exposed cement workers].

The study covered 1334 workers employed in 12 cement factories located in southern Italy. They were submitted to audiometric screening consisting of a questionnaire containing questions on past otologic complaints, metabolic diseases, use of ototoxic drugs and past occupational or non-occupational exposure to noise, plus otoscopic examination and full audiometric examination. The results revealed a statistically significant relationship between duration of exposure to noise and elevation in the hearing threshold. The highest noise levels were found in the "crude/baked mills" department; however, the highest frequency of occupational hearing loss was observed in the "mine and crushing installations", maintenance and "hodmen" departments. On the question of assessment of the audiometric tracings for preventive and insurance purposes, attention is drawn to the fact that there is a need for a method that will enable an evaluation for prevention to be transformed into an evaluation for insurance. This method should in any case allow for deduction of the portion of hearing loss regarding presbycusis and socioacusis and take due account of the 3 KHz frequency. The attention of industry and public administration is drawn to the urgent need for prevention programs to protect against noise-induced hearing loss in both occupational and non-occupational settings.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effects of carbaryl on the morphogenesis of the extremities in chick embryos].

Experimental studies have been carried out to evaluate the effects of carbaryl (l.-naphthyl-methyl-carbamate)- an anticholinesterase pesticide - on the morphogenesis and development of the chick embryo. A solution containing 0.5 mg of carbaryl has been injected in the allantoic sac of the embryos treated (n = 130), at the 5th or 6th incubation day. In comparison with a control group (= 70), some morphological alterations have been found in the embryos treated, at the expense of the skeleton apparatus, particularly in the most distal portions of the lower limbs, as tibial and metatarsal angulations, with their curtailment. Such effects might be related to an interference in the synthesis of NAD (nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide), as reported for other organophosphoric pesticides.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Health survey on morbility and accidents in various productive agricultural sectors].

A health survey on morbidity and accidents was carried out on a population of 970 farmers in the district of Bari working in 6 different agricultural sectors. Data were gathered through a CNR-based (National Research Council) questionnaire administered by two occupation specialists. Results showed, first of all, that fertilizers are used in all agricultural sectors, while antiparasitic agents and herbicides are used in different ways according to the kind of culture. Horticulture is the sector where pesticides are more widely used as it is an intensive culture and has many cultivation cycles during the agricultural year. Interviewed subjects referred different pathologies, in particular arthrosis of spinal cord and limbs paresthesia. No significant direct association was observed between these pathologies and the sectors considered. Arthrosis of spinal cord seems to be related to exposure duration as it is well known that agricultural work implies unfavourable postures and exposure to adverse climatic conditions which favour the degeneration processes causing arthrosis. 19.5% of cases showed eczema. As far as accidents are concerned the situation is worrisome both for the frequency of accidents and the seriousness of lesions. This survey showed the need to investigate thoroughly the etiology of limbs paresthesia, eczema and accidents of farmers.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Health status of shift workers in oil refineries].

Within a cross-sectional epidemiologic study in an oil refinery the "mean health score" in shift and daily workers was estimated, following a method developed by the authors and based on the mean health score technique processed by M. Koller for an Austrian refinery. No significant difference was observed in the mean health score between the shift-workers and the daily-workers. However analysis of the results shows, some meaningful trends to be considered: the mean health score would seen higher in shift-workers than in daily ones for lower class of age (30; 30-40 years), while an inverse trend is observed in higher class of age. In the Austrian refinery the shift-workers mean health score is uniformly lower in all class of age. The difference observed in the study refinery could be due to the lower class of length of employment of the young shift workers with regard to the young daily ones, while in the Austrian refinery the greater damage for the shift-workers state of health could be due to a greatly more irregular shift with less adaptability.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioural and neurochemical changes in offspring of rats exposed to methyl mercury during gestation.

On day 8 of gestation, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were intubated with 8 mg/kg of methyl mercury (MM). At 15 days of age, stereotyped sniffing was elicited by a challenge dose of apomorphine (1 mg/kg) only in pups prenatally exposed to MM; furthermore, at 22 days of age, the stereotyped behaviour induced by apomorphine (0.5-1 mg/kg) was significantly potentiated in MM-pretreated animals. Neurochemical data showed that at 22 days of age there was a significant increase of 3H-spiroperidol binding sites in striatal membranes of MM-pretreated rats. At 40 and 60 days of age, these behavioural and neurochemical changes were absent. On the other hand, prenatal exposure to MM influenced neither the effects of a challenge dose of clonidine (0.025 mg/kg) on locomotor activity nor the affinity and the density of alpha-2 adreno-receptors in cortex of 15, 22, 40 and 60 day old rats. The behavioural alterations in the response to apomorphine presumably result from an enhancement of dopamine binding sites induced by MM. Finally, our data further confirm that prenatal MM induces long lasting behavioural alterations which can be accurately displayed by using passive avoidance procedures.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The evaluation of the thermal threshold in those exposed to vibrations].

The results of a study carried out on 90 subjects exposed to vibratory trauma of the hand-arm compared to a non-risk control group of 54 subjects are reported. All subjects underwent a medical and neurological examination and Doppler ultrasound of the upper limbs, plethysmography of the hands, electromyography of the bilateral median nerve area and T.T.T. (Thermal Threshold Tester) evaluation of the thermal threshold, were performed. Workers exposed to risks show a higher threshold for hot/cold sensitivity compared to those not exposed. This increase is earlier compared to the onset of vascular and neurophysiological changes detected by plethysmography, Doppler ultrasound and electromyography. Thermal threshold evaluation by T.T.T. would seem to be a useful test for monitoring workers exposed to vibrations.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Strain-gauge plethysmography in angiopathies caused by vibrant tools].

The authors compare the results obtained from the strain gauge plethysmography on 79 patients affected by vibrating machines angiopathology with a group of 20 others non exposed to vibrations. The results, analyzed according to the microcirculation vision, lead the authors to suppose that the damage caused by vibrating instruments is revealed at the capillary bed trophic exchange level.

Adult↗