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Biomedical subjects

M Valentino

Publications and source records attributed to M Valentino.

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

[Reduced thymulin production during occupational exposure to lead].

Thymulin is a thymic hormone that being activated by binding a zinc ion promotes differentiation and several functions of T lymphocytes. It has been demonstrated only in experimental animals that metallic lead (Pb) is able to cause adverse effects on thymocyte number and function. The objective of this study is to evaluate the plasmatic level of active thymulin of 58 male workers being exposed for more than one year to low lead doses with respect to 59 male never exposed workers. All these were subjected to anamnesis collection, medical examination and determination of blood lead (PbB), plasmatic lead (PbPl), plasmatic thymulin, urinary lead (PbU) and urinary zinc (ZnU) levels. The mean plasma concentration of active thymulin was significantly lower in lead exposed than in non exposed workers. Active thymulin was also significantly and negatively correlated to PbB, PbPl and PbU level and resulted to be significantly and negatively influenced by PbB. Lead exposed workers had slightly higher zinc concentration in urine than non exposed workers, increasing ZnU levels by class of PbB. It is the first time that a toxic effect of lead on plasmatic active thymulin levels is demonstrated in humans, particularly in occupationally exposed workers. This study opens perspectives for further research that would both confirm the results and verify the mechanisms of action of lead on thymulin either direct or indirect and the possible role of zinc.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Occupational brucellosis in slaughtering of sheep and goats: study of five cases from a municipal abattoir in south-eastern Sicily].

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a world-wild zoonosis of bacterial origin. In Italy, where reporting of the disease is mandatory, the incidence is 2.1 cases every 100,000 inhabitants, but tends to be higher in southern regions. However, the incidence decreased from 1999 to 2002. CASES: Five cases of occupational brucellosis, four slaughter-house operators and one veterinary surgeon, were reported in a slaughter-house in south-eastern Sicily employing 15 people. RESULTS: A study of the slaughtering process for sheep and goats led to identification of 23 different operations, some of which involved greater probability of infection: animal consignment; unloading and leading animals from the stable to the trap; strangling and bleeding; skinning and removal of mammary glands; removal and processing of abdominal viscera; post-mortem examination; mobile equipment and facility maintenance, and washing/disinfection. All affected workers had participated in one or more of these operations. CONCLUSION: Eradication of brucellosis in stock-farms should lead to the disappearance of the human disease, since the two are closely related. Despite legislation aimed at eradicating brucellosis in cattle, which has been in force since 1992, the prevalence of the human disease has risen in Italy, especially in Sicily. Within the framework of prevention, occupational physicians should exercise specific surveillance of brucellosis risk by carefully examining the plasma antibody content of workers involved in the slaughtering process. Occupational health physicians should also provide ad hoc information regarding the infectious agent and modes of transmission during slaughtering operations as well as specific training in the use of protective equipment, which is the only way of providing protecting from contagion by infected animals.

Abattoirs↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Maternity leave and possible effects of working during pregnancy in 160 women].

Three years from the approval of the law safeguarding pregnant workers and the foetus (D.Lgs. 151/01), awareness of these provisions and management of pregnancy in relation to their job were assessed in 160 pregnant workers using a questionnaire. Respondents were 147 subjects, mean age 29.4 +/- 4.6 years, employed as blue-collar workers (n=26); white-collar workers (n =47); health workers (n=16); school workers (n=14); workers in shops (n=6); policewomen (n =3) housewives (n=25). Moreprovisions and most of them took advantage of maternal leave. Pre-term birth (16%) and low birth weight (9%) were the mostfrequent events. There were no neonatal diseases. Blue-collar, white-collar work and work in the home were not associated with pre-term births or low birth weight. Analysis based on the fathers' job characteristics did not yield significant associations either. Although the small size of our sample does not allow to draw firm conclusions, it is interesting to note that more than 10% of respondents were not aware of the provisions protecting workers' pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The accident phenomenon in a naval shipyard].

The paper analyses the rate and severity of accidents in a shipyard in the period 1 January-31 December, 1987. Data were collected by consulting the shipyards' accident register, which recorded each single case of injury, and the medical certificates sent to the shipyard management by the worker's physicians. The shipyard employed 996 blue collar workers and 210 white collar workers in 1987, all of whom were subject to obligatory industrial accident insurance. For each of the 1375 accidents that occurred in the period under study, the time, place and cause of the accident and the type and site of the injury were recorded. The aim of the statistical analysis of the data was to assess the risk in each area of the shipyard and the causes of the accidents in relation to the work station and job. The severity rate of injury increased in those workers recently assigned to new jobs; climate had a negative influence since accidents were more frequent in spring/summer. Accident prevention measures are suggested that can be achieved by improving work organisation and by a more appropriate use of personal safety devices.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Occupational asthma caused by azodicarbonamide: clinical case].

A case of asthma due to a plastic blowing agent - azodicarbonamide - is discussed. Administration of disodium cromoglycate before exposure decreases the grade of bronchoconstriction: we suggest an immunopathological mechanism involved in the asthma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Residual electroneurographic modifications in subjects with n-hexane induced polyneuropathy: a follow-up study.

A group of 90 subjects affected by n-hexane polyneuropathy were studied again after at least one year from cessation of occupational exposure to the neurotoxic agent. Neurological examinations, conduction velocities and distal latencies in sensory (sural and median) and motor (peroneal and ulnar) nerves were evaluated in order to study the evolution of the disease. The percentage of subjects with abnormal leg deep tendon reflexes, leg cutaneous sensitivity or vibration sensation was statistically higher in subjects who had ceased n-hexane exposure for less than 10 years than in the other subjects; however, no differences between these two groups were found for electrophysiological parameters. A complete recovery of motor nerve velocities was found. On the contrary, sensory nerve velocities, sensory nerve distal latencies, as well as ulnar nerve latency, were statistically different from controls, even if they were also statistically different from the values which had been recorded at the time of diagnosis. We conclude that in n-hexane polyneuropathy motor nerve components improve, while the sensory nerves are more seriously affected and do not completely recover, even after more than 10 years without exposure to the toxic agent.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Importance of the specific surface area in the study of the biological effects of dusts of industrial use].

We have studied a sample of commercial sepiolite and two samples of commercial vermiculite which are advised to replace asbestos, and we have in vitro tested their abilities to activate the complement and to lyse erythrocytes. Their behaviours has been compared with those of asbestos fibres given by Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) as reference standards. We have first measured the specific surface area and the weight of each mineral. Sepiolite has been inactive in complement activation and little able to lysis red blood cells on the base of surface area; on the base of the weight it has been unreactive in complement activations but very reactive in red blood cells lysis. We believe that in the in vitro assays to evaluate the biological effects of the substitutes of asbestos it is very important to considerate as the weight and as the specific surface are of each clay mineral.

Aluminum Silicates↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Reactive oxygen species produced by the addition of sepiolite and vermiculite (expanded or not) to suspensions of human polymorphonuclear phagocytes and bovine alveolar macrophages].

We have studied a sample of commercial sepiolite and two samples of commercial vermiculite, which are clay minerals advised to replace asbestos. We have in vitro tested their abilities to produce reacting oxygen species (ROS) after they have been added to suspension of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and bovine alveolar macrophages. The behaviour of sepiolite and vermiculite have been compared with those of asbestos fibres given by Unione Internationale contre le Cancer (UICC) and with kaolin and illite. Sepiolite was not able to induce ROS production, while vermiculite was able to induce a relevant ROS generation, even if the values were always lower than that obtained from chrysotile. Kaolin was able to generate a high ROS production.

Adult↗