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Biomedical subjects

R Rylander

Publications and source records attributed to R Rylander.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Pregnancy abnormalities among personnel at a virological laboratory.

Observations on an increased spontaneous abortion rate initiated a study among personnel working at a laboratory for diagnostic virology. Personnel at a bacteriological laboratory and at another virological laboratory served as controls. Seventy-seven female employees at the laboratory for virology were interviewed, as well as 91 at the bacteriology laboratory and 45 women at another virological laboratory. A significantly increased perinatal death rate was found among the virology personnel, with no apparent clustering over the time period studied. A higher serum titer against common viruses was found among employees actively working with patient sera. A model experiment demonstrated the risk for aerosolization of serum samples during processing. No evidence of a relationship between chemical work environment factors and the increased perinatal death rate was found. It is concluded that the factor in the working environment most closely related to the increased perinatal death rate was exposure to viral aerosols.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

[CO-pollution, a health risk in Geneva?].

The results from CO measurements at different locations in Geneva show that the highest levels are found in streets in the center of the city. An evaluation of the medical risks is performed against the most sensitive criteria--effects on the central nervous system, the cardiac muscle and the fetus. It is concluded that symptoms of anoxia may develop among persons with existing cardiovascular diseases.

Air Pollution↗

Chemical structure and inhalation toxicity of lipopolysaccharides from bacteria on cotton.

Lipopolysaccharides from different bacteria isolated from cotton were purified and chemically analyzed. Their pulmonary toxicity to animals was tested in inhalation tests. Lipopolysaccharides from Agrobacterium and Xanthomonas were shown to differ from the others in that they contained no heptose and no non-hydroxylated fatty acids with a chain length of 12, 14, or 16 carbon atoms. Lipopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas putida, Enterobacter agglomerans, and Klebsiella oxytoca were found to cause an influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the airways. Lipopolysaccharides from Agrobacterium sp. and Xanthomonas sinensis caused no significant invasion. The data point to substances in both the lipid A part and the core part of the lipopolysaccharides being responsible for the capacity to induce leukocyte invasion into the airways.

Animals↗

Free lung cell phagocytosis and the effect of cigarette smoke exposure.

We report on a technique for studying phagocytosis in free lung cells with the use of fungal spores. Free lung cells were obtained from a bronchial lavage. They were incubated with fungal spores and the engulfment of these spores was studied at various time intervals and under different conditions. The phagocytosis process was found to occur from relatively stationary macrophages within the first hours after incubation. The number of engulfed spores was proportional to their number in the solution. Addition of serum or surfactant to the medium increased the phagocytosis rate. In hamsters and rats exposed to tobacco smoke under in vivo conditions, a dose-related increase in phagocytosis rate could be demonstrated.

Animals↗

Occupational symptoms among compost workers.

Exposure to gram-negative bacteria and the presence of subjective symptoms among workers were investigated at an experimental compost plant. Four of the 11 workers reported nausea, headache, and diarrhea, an incidence greater than that reported by workers in a drinking water plant. The number of airborne gram-negative bacteria was high where household garbage was agitated by the technical equipment. The findings are similar to those in studies on workers in sewage treatment plants.

Air Microbiology↗

Bacterial contamination of cotton as an indicator of respiratory effects among card room workers.

The influence of the bacterial contamination of cotton dust on the development of pulmonary symptoms has been investigated. The pulmonary function of card room workers in 23 US cotton mills was tested before and after the Monday working shift. A significant relation was found between the delta FEV1.0 decrement and the vertical elutriator dust level in the different mills. An improved correlation was obtained when the number of Gram-negative bacteria cultured from the bale cotton used in the different mills was employed in the exposure description. The results support earlier epidemiological and experimental studies, which demonstrate the importance of the Gram-negative bacteria in the development of pulmonary symptoms among workers in cotton mills.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

Humidifier fever and endotoxin exposure.

Three cases of humidifier fever were detected in an office environment. Flavobacteria were found in the contaminated water in a humidifier. After an experimental exposure, the three persons with previous symptoms suffered from fever and slight respiratory symptoms. A leucocytosis and an increase in the number of segmented white blood cells were found the day following the exposure. General immunoglobulins as well as antibodies to Flavobacterium and endotoxin were slightly elevated in the exposed group. The possibility that endotoxins may be the causative agent by means of an indirect complement activation is discussed.

Adult↗

Bacterial contamination of cotton and cotton dust and effects on the lung.

Bacterial contamination of various parts of the cotton plant and of cotton from different mills was investigated. The predominant bacterial species were Gram-negative rods mainly of the Enterobacter genus. When guinea pigs inhaled strains of these bacteria cultivated from cotton, a strong leucocyte mobilising capacity was found for Pseudomonas and Enterobacter but not for Agrobacterium or Bacillus species. The aetiology of the development of pulmonary symptoms after inhalation of bacteria-containing dusts and subsequent production of endotoxins is discussed.

Animals↗

Clinical and immunological findings in workers exposed to sewage dust.

A clinical investigation was made between workers exposed to dried sewage sludge dust and age matched controls not exposed. About 50% of the workers reported work related fever, eye symptoms and general fatigue. Thirteen percent of the workers in the sewage plant reported work related diarrhea. Serum immunoglobulins, white blood cells and thrombocytes were elevated and a higher percentage of increased levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen degradation products was found in the exposed group. Although no definite cause-effect relationship could be established, it is suggested that the responsible agent in the environment is endotoxins.

Air Microbiology↗

[Cellular reactions in the lungs after inhalation of cotton dust and of endotoxin].

The free lung cell count has been studied in guinea pigs after exposure to extracts of various cotton dusts. A good correlation was found between the increase in leukocyte count in the airways and the number of gram-negative bacteria in the different dusts. The importance of endotoxin in the acute effects following exposure to cotton dust is discussed.

Aerosols↗