Biomedical subjects

M C Colli

Publications and source records attributed to M C Colli.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Occupational asthma and rhinitis caused by 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one in a chemical worker.

We report a case of occupational asthma and rhinitis caused by inhalation of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, an additive used as a microbicidal in detergent production, in a 26-year-old man employed in a chemical factory producing detergents. The subject's task consisted of pouring raw materials into the recipient of a machine which mixed the substances. Two months after the beginning of this job the patient complained of rhinitis and asthma at the workplace. The specific challenge test with 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, one of the raw materials to which the subject was exposed, provoked an immediate prolonged asthmatic response and nasal symptoms, whereas exposure to other agents (e.g., alpha-amylase, alcalase or bezalkonium chloride) to which the patient was also exposed at work did not. To our knowledge this is the first case of occupational asthma and rhinitis caused by this compound.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Bronchial responsiveness to ultrasonic "fog" in occupational asthma due to low molecular weight chemicals.

BACKGROUND: In a previous work we have demonstrated that the use of an indirect stimulus such as ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW, "fog") challenge, in addition to methacholine, in the assessment of occupational asthma due to TDI improves our ability in detecting sensitized subjects. OBJECTIVE: In the present study we aimed to determine the validity of "fog" in the assessment of occupational asthma induced by various low molecular weight substances. METHODS: Fourty subjects exposed to low molecular weight substances with work-related respiratory symptoms underwent methacholine, UNDW and specific bronchial challenge tests. Diagnosis of occupational asthma was made in 20 of 40 patients who developed bronchoconstrictive responses to the specific challenges (reactors). Sensitivity and specificity of UNDW alone, of methacholine alone, and of the combination of the two tests were determined at two different cutpoints of PD20FEV1 of methacholine, with the results of the specific challenge as the "gold standard". RESULTS: Frequency and severity of bronchial hyperresponsiveness both to UNDW and to methacholine were significantly higher in reactors than in nonreactors. Ultrasonically nebulized distilled water had higher specificity (80% versus 60%) but lower sensitivity (65% versus 75% to 90%) than methacholine. As compared with methacholine alone, the combination in series of the two challenges (both challenges positive) substantially improved specificity (85% versus 60%). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, in the assessment of low molecular weight chemical-induced asthma diagnosed with the specific challenge as the "gold standard," UNDW challenge proves more specific than methacholine for occupational asthma, but it is considerably less sensitive. The combination of the two challenges results in very high sensitivity and high specificity for occupational asthma, therefore, although further investigations are required for the definitive diagnosis, it should be regarded as a useful means to confirm objectively a suggestive history.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Patients' interest in educational programmes on asthma.

The compliance of patients in educational programmes on asthma is sometimes lacking and this may be due in part to patients' scarce interest or refusal to expand their knowledge of the disease. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the interest of a group of asthmatic patients in education on asthma and to point out the asthma-related topics considered particularly worth discussing. The study was conducted before starting the educational programme. Sixty adult patients with mild-to-moderate asthma were asked to complete a questionnaire, including a group of 14 questions aimed at evaluating the level of patients' interest in various asthma-related topics, one question regarding patients' willingness to attend a small-group educational course on asthma, and a further question asking patients to suggest topics of particular interest for discussion. For each of the first 14 questions, patients indicated their level of interest according to a score ranging 1-3. The sum of the scores obtained for each topic (partial score) and the sum of partial scores (total score) were calculated and classified into three classes of interest (I: low, II: medium; III: high), and the distribution of patients into the three classes was analysed (chi-squared test).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Occupational asthma: fate and management after the diagnosis.

The clinical and socio-professional fate of subjects with occupational asthma is not univocal. We re-examined twenty-nine subjects diagnosed in our center as suffering from this disease an average 14 months, SE 1.54 after the diagnosis. At the follow-up examination each patient underwent interview, spirometry and methacholine challenge, 18 patients (group A) had ceased exposure to the sensitizing agent but among them only 7 had been relocated in another area of the plant, the others had resigned or retired. The other patients had not changed workplace, 7 (group B) having had intermittent exposure to the offending agent and 4 (group C) having continued to be exposed daily. At the follow-up examination only 9 patients were asymptomatic, each of them belonging to group A, whereas in the other 9 of the same group symptoms persisted, although reduced. In group B and C all patients were still symptomatic and required pharmacologic treatment. Within group A patients who became asymptomatic had shorter duration of symptoms before diagnosis (12.9 months, SE 6.4 vs 23.9, SE 9.7), higher FEV-1 (96.1, SE 6.7 vs 86.9, SE 5.6) and PD20FEV-1 (1773.4 micrograms, SE 590 vs 730.8, SE 295) at the time of the diagnosis and showed a significant (p < 0.01) increase in FEV-1 (from 96.1, SE 6.2 to 101.6, SE 5.5) and a tendency to decrease in bronchial reactivity to methacholine at the follow-up examination. At the time of the follow-up examination only 5 out of 29 patients (17.2%) had been contacted by the compensation board.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗