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Biomedical subjects

M S Mentnech

Publications and source records attributed to M S Mentnech.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1984

Effects of coal dust and diesel exhaust on immune competence in rats.

The effects on the immune system of rats that had been exposed to a 2-mg/m3 dose of either respirable coal dust, diesel exhaust fumes and particulates, or the combination of these were studied. Animals that were housed similarly but exposed only to filtered air served as controls. After 12 and 24 mo of exposure, the rats were tested for immunocompetency by enumerating antibody-producing cells in the spleen 4 d after immunization with sheep erythrocytes and by monitoring the proliferative response of splenic T-lymphocytes to the mitogens concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin. The results of this study indicate that no major alterations occurred in the immunologic functions measured as a result of exposure to either coal dust, diesel exhaust fumes and particulates, or their combination.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Mount St. Helens' volcanic ash: hemolytic activity.

Volcanic ash samples from four Mount St. Helens' volcanic eruptions were subjected to mineralogical, analytical, and hemolytic studies in order to evaluate their potential for cytotoxicity and fibrogenicity. Plagioclase minerals constituted the major component of the ash with free crystalline silica concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 7.2%. The in vitro hemolytic activity of the volcanic ash was compared to similar concentrations of cytotoxic and inert minerals. The ash was markedly hemolytic, exhibiting an activity similar to chrysotile asbestos, a known fibrogenic agent. The hemolysis of the different ash samples varied with particle size but not with crystalline silica concentration. The results of these studies taken in conjunction with the results of our animal studies indicate a fibrogenic potential of volcanic ash in heavily exposed humans.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1983

Pulmonary response to Mount St. Helens' volcanic ash.

The pulmonary response to a sedimented sample of Mount St. Helens' volcanic ash from the first eruption was studied at 1, 7, 28, 90, and 180 days postintratracheal administration of 1 or 10 mg of ash in specific-pathogen-free rats. One day administration of volcanic ash all animals exhibited a marked inflammatory cell response centered on respiratory bronchioles in which polymorphonuclear leukocytes predominated. At 7 days the reaction was characterized by mononuclear cellular infiltrates. The macrophages within the respiratory bronchioles and alveoli contained intracytoplasmic ash particles. At 28 days the intraalveolar aggregates of mononuclear cells had condensed to form granulomas. Most of the granulomas contained foreign body-type giant cells and some showed central necrosis. The granulomas enlarged in size from 28 days until the termination of the experiment at 180 days with progressive increase in the amount of collagenous tissue. The results of these studies suggest that the volcanic ash may pose a risk for pneumoconiosis in heavily exposed human populations.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1983

In vivo pulmonary response to Aspergillus terreus spores.

The fate of intratracheally instilled Aspergillus terreus spores was followed in both rabbits and rats. Phagocytosis of the spores by the pulmonary macrophage was rapid in that approx. 42% of the observed spores were associated with the macrophages immediately after instillation. Direct penetration of the lung architecture by the spores was not observed but spores were seen in the alveolar interstitium at 3 hr after instillation and in the tracheobroncheal lymph nodes at 24 hr. Granulomas formed between 48 hr and 1 week after exposure. In the absence of apparent spore or spore extract toxicity and precipitating antibodies against Aspergillus terreus, the observed reactions preclude the possibility that the lesions were the consequence of hypersensitivity. This model of pulmonary response to fungal spores may be of future value for characterizing further the pathology associated with certain occupational exposures to moldy materials.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Changes in humoral immunologic parameters after exposure to volcanic ash.

Occupational exposure to volcanic ash from Mount St. Helens continues during the salvaging of trees in the high dust blow-down area of Washington. We studied the effects of volcanic ash exposure on the level of humoral immune factors IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4, and ANA (antinuclear antibody) in a group of volcanic ash-exposed loggers shortly after the major eruption and one year later. Comparisons with similar levels in nonexposed, similarly employed, matched loggers were made. C3 and C4 levels were significantly lower at both time periods in the exposed loggers when compared to the reference group. No differences between groups were observed at either time period for the immunoglobulin levels or ANA. The exposed loggers did show a marked decrease (not seen in the reference group) in serum IgG levels after 1 yr of exposure to the volcanic ash. They likewise showed a significant mean increase in IgA, while the reference group had a mean increase in IgM after 1 yr. These data suggest that exposure to volcanic ash may affect humoral immunologic parameters.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Serologic changes in pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis of coal workers.

Serum from 109 coal workers with simple pneumoconiosis, 114 with progressive massive fibrosis, and 130 with normal chest radiographics as control subjects was examined for rheumatoid and antinuclear factors, and antibodies against both native human IgG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A significantly greater prevalence of autoantibodies was observed in subjects with pneumoconiosis than in control subjects; however, a rheumatoid factor prevalence of 16% with observed inthe control subjects. No serologic differences were observed between subjects with simple pneumoconiosis and those with progressive massive fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

HLA-B8 in sarcoidosis.

One hundred and seventy-four unrelated white patients with biopsied and clinically diagnosed sarcoidosis and a reference population of 97 were tested for HLA antigens. Selected comparisons showed a statistically significant association of HLA-B8 with the sarcoidosis group (28.9%) when compared to the reference group (15.5%).

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1981

Immunology of clinically inactive sarcoidosis: serum factors.

Sera from 84 white patients with inactive sarcoidosis were analyzed for immunoglobulins, complement, autoantibodies, alpha 1-antitrypsin and lysozyme. The levels of serum factors were compared with levels in serum from a reference population which was matched for age, sex, ethnic background and geographic location. IgG, IgA, IgD, and C3 levels were similar for both groups, as were frequencies of rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibody and anti-DNA antibody. Lysozyme levels were significantly lower in the inactive sarcoidosis group but the acute phase reactants alpha 1-antitrypsin, IgM as well as complement consumption were increased. The data suggest that the underlying etiological events of sarcoidosis continue, albeit at a subclinical level.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Activation of the alternative pathway of complement by grain. I. C3PA conversion and quantification of complement consumption by rye.

Ground whole rye and airborne rye dust of comparable size distribution were tested for their ability to activate the complement cascade via the alternative pathway. Precipitin-negative pooled normal human serum was incubated with increasing amounts of the two rye dusts. Electrophoresis of the resultant supernatant fluids demonstrated the conversion of the proactivator of the third component of complement to the gamma-migrating activator of the third component. This activation was completely prevented by pre-treating the serum with the chelator EDTA, while pre-treatment with EGTA allowed suboptimal arc conversion, strongly implying that complement was activated via the alternative pathway. Quantification of the supernanant fluids showed dose-dependent complement consumption as defined by both CH100 immunodiffusion and CH50 tube haemolytic techniques. Airborne rye dust showed a greater quantitative potential than ground whole rye for activating the alternative pathway. These results indicate the possibility of the direct action of airborne organic dusts on the induction of inflammatory sequelae in the lungs of both sensitized and unsensitized individuals.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute experimental pulmonary responses to cardroom cotton dust.

Laboratory rabbits were exposed for 60 min to aerosols of dry cardroom cotton dust 4 days/wk (Tuesday through Friday) for 15 consecutive weeks. As a parameter of pulmonary pathophysiology, arterial blood gases were monitored with time after challenge. Post-exposure blood gas analyses at 1 hr showed progressive decreases in arterial oxygen tension, with concommitant increases in arterial carbon dioxide tension and the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient. These responses appeared to result from acute reversible airway obstruction which caused unequal gas distribution and ventilation-perfusion inequalities. When a group of proven responder rabbits was challenged with cardroom cotton dust which was first treated in a manner which paralleled the preparation of medical grade cotton, only minor decreases in arterial oxygen tension were observed. The data suggest that some, as yet undefined, agent(s) which was removed by the treatment was responsible for inciting the observed pathophysiology.

Animals↗