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M Tabona

Publications and source records attributed to M Tabona.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Predictors of bronchial hyperexcitability in grainhandlers.

We have studied bronchial hyperexcitability to methacholine (defined as a fall of at least 20 percent in FEV1 at 8 mg/ml or lower) in 504 white male grainhandlers working in terminal elevators in the Port of Vancouver. There was a significant association between bronchial hyperexcitability and level of FEV1; for a 10 percent decrease in percent of predicted FEV1, bronchial hyperexcitability was twice as common. Among those with bronchial hyperexcitability, the PC20 was significantly related to the FEV1. Grainhandlers with immediate skin reactivity to common allergens were twice as likely to have bronchial hyperexcitability. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of bronchial hyperexcitability with increasing duration of employment. Grainhandlers with chest tightness and breathlessness were over twice as likely to have bronchial hyperexcitability. We did not observe an increased prevalence of bronchial hyperexcitability in smokers, and there was no difference between age groups. We conclude that the determinants of bronchial hyperexcitability in this population include baseline FEV1, immediate skin reactivity to common allergens, some respiratory symptoms, and cumulative exposure to grain dust.

Adult↗

Host factors affecting longitudinal decline in lung spirometry among grain elevator workers.

The host factors affecting the longitudinal decline in lung function among 267 white male grain elevator workers who were still working in the industry and did not change their smoking habits over a period of six years were studied. Spirometric measures declined more rapidly in older grain handlers as compared with younger workers. Smokers had slightly greater decline in spirometry compared to nonsmokers, but the differences failed to reach the level of statistical significance. Acute changes in lung function over the course of one work week during the initial study were also positively correlated with subsequent decline in lung function, as was bronchial hyperreactivity determined during the follow-up study. Positive immediate skin reactivity to common allergens, presence and absence of respiratory symptoms, and initial lung function did not appear to influence the subsequent decline in lung function in this group.

Adult↗