Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Huncharek.
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An eighty-three-year-old nulliparous woman hospitalized for orthopedic surgery developed postoperative upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hypotension resulting in her death. Postmortem examination revealed a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. This is the second reported case of gastrointestinal bleeding due to ruptured splenic artery aneurysm in a nulliparous woman and the first such case resulting in death. The incidence, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of splenic artery aneurysm are discussed.
Metastases in pleural mesothelioma usually occur late in the disease process. Diffuse involvement of the lung parenchyma is rare. A patient with miliary pulmonary parenchymal involvement with malignant mesothelioma is described. To our knowledge, this represents the first such case reported.
This paper discusses many of the currently controversial issues surrounding asbestos health effects and their relationship to cancer risk assessment and risk management. The major conclusions reached from this analysis are: (1) All asbestos fiber types are carcinogenic and pose a threat to human health. Therefore, all fiber types should be regulated similarly. (2) The health risks associated with indoor asbestos exposure are uncertain. Available data show that some groups, such as building maintenance personnel (among others), may contract asbestos-related diseases secondary to indoor exposure. Clearly, additional research is needed to accurately determine the extent and nature of disease risk under these conditions. (3) Controlled use has proved an elusive goal. Limited information from underdeveloped countries parallels the experience of Western industrialized nations. Efforts by the Canadian government to establish markets for asbestos in these areas should be opposed. (4) Finally, asbestos-related cancer risk is no longer confined to asbestos industry workers. Asbestos-related mesothelioma has been documented in a wide variety of occupational and nonoccupational settings, highlighting the need for continued surveillance to minimize potential health risks.
The incidence of pleural mesothelioma is increasing. Over the past two decades many new occupational and nonoccupational risk groups have been identified. This paper reports a case of pleural mesothelioma in an office worker employed in a cigarette filter factory. Both secondary occupational and domestic asbestos exposure may have occurred. Only one prior report describes the potential asbestos health risks of this occupational group.
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The health effects of asbestos are well known, with lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis recognized as the most common causes of mortality and morbidity among exposed populations. Recognition of these hazards coupled with an explosion of litigation against asbestos manufacturers brought by injured workers has resulted in declining markets for this commodity in the U.S. and other Western democracies. With Western markets for asbestos decreasing, the developing world has become the target of asbestos exporters in an attempt to revitalize an industry in decline. This paper discusses the trends in worldwide asbestos markets over the last two decades and the serious health implications of policies directed at establishing viable markets for this commodity in developing nations.
Although malignant mesothelioma is a relatively rare tumor, its incidence is rising. Much of the increase is attributable to widespread exposure to asbestos in past decades in asbestos-related industries. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that mesothelioma risk is no longer confined to workers in the asbestos industry. This article reports a variety of recently identified "risk groups" and highlights the need for increased surveillance of these groups to document the occurrence of asbestos-related malignancy and the institution of measures for disease prevention.
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We describe an unusual case of metastatic poorly differentiated laryngeal carcinoma to the pleura resembling pleural mesothelioma in a patient with a positive history of exposure to asbestos. This case not only describes an unusual presentation of metastatic laryngeal carcinoma, but also highlights the need for special pathological techniques to distinguish nonmesothelial tumors from primary pleural mesotheliomas.
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Health risks posed by inhalable asbestos fibers are known to exist in a variety of industrial and nonindustrial settings. Although early studies described an increased risk of asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma in asbestos-industry workers, subsequent research revealed the existence of a potential asbestos-related health hazard in nonasbestos industries such as the textile and railroad industries. Brake mechanics and garage workers constitute a large work force with potential exposures to levels of asbestos capable of producing disease. Unfortunately, the health risk faced by these workers has received little attention. This article briefly discusses currently available information on the asbestos health risks of workers in this setting, and highlights the need for further investigations of this occupational group.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.