Biomedical subjects

S A Olenchock

Publications and source records attributed to S A Olenchock.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1986

Human ventilatory response to washed and unwashed cottons from different growing areas.

Thirty volunteer subjects were exposed to controlled amounts of respirable dust generated by the carding of cotton in an experimental cardroom. Eighteen exposures each lasting six hours were performed while carding unwashed and washed cottons from the three major growing regions of the United States. Elutriated dust was analysed gravimetrically and was comparable (0.59 mg/m3 +/- 0.04) for all exposures. Spirometry was recorded before and after each exposure. California cotton resulted in a significantly smaller fall in FEV1 than cotton of the same grade from Texas or Mississippi. All washed cottons resulted in reduced declines when compared with unwashed cottons. For 17 subjects breathing zone personal total dust samples were analysed for airborne endotoxin and compared with the individual's pulmonary function response. A significant correlation between endotoxin exposure and acute decrease in FEV1 was seen. The effect on FEV1 per nanogram of airborne endotoxin was greater for Mississippi cotton than for cotton from the other regions. Airborne endotoxin appears to be an important determinant of acute pulmonary effects of cotton dust. Water washing of cotton results in reduced airborne endotoxin and less bronchoconstriction.

Byssinosis↗

PubMed1986

Composition of extracts of airborne grain dusts: lectins and lymphocyte mitogens.

Airborne grain dusts are heterogeneous materials that can elicit acute and chronic respiratory pathophysiology in exposed workers. Previous characterizations of the dusts include the identification of viable microbial contaminants, mycotoxins, and endotoxins. We provide information on the lectin-like activity of grain dust extracts and its possible biological relationship. Hemagglutination of erythrocytes and immunochemical modulation by antibody to specific lectins showed the presence of these substances in extracts of airborne dusts from barley, corn, and rye. Proliferation of normal rat splenic lymphocytes in vitro provided evidence for direct biological effects on the cells of the immune system. These data expand the knowledge of the composition of grain dusts (extracts), and suggest possible mechanisms that may contribute to respiratory disease in grain workers.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Carbohydrate and protein contents of grain dusts in relation to dust morphology.

Grain dusts contain a variety of materials which are potentially hazardous to the health of workers in the grain industry. Because the characterization of grain dusts is incomplete, we are defining the botanical, chemical, and microbial contents of several grain dusts collected from grain elevators in the Duluth-Superior regions of the U.S. Here, we report certain of the carbohydrate and protein contents of dusts in relation to dust morphology. Examination of the gross morphologies of the dusts revealed that, except for corn, each dust contained either husk or pericarp (seed coat in the case of flax) fragments in addition to respirable particles. When viewed with the light microscope, the fragments appeared as elongated, pointed structures. The possibility that certain of the fragments within corn, settled, and spring wheat were derived from cell walls was suggested by the detection of pentoses following colorimetric assay of neutralized 2 N trifluoroacetic acid hydrolyzates of these dusts. The presence of pentoses together with the occurrence of proteins within water washings of grain dusts suggests that glycoproteins may be present within the dusts. With scanning electron microscopy, each dust was found to consist of a distinct assortment of particles in addition to respirable particles. Small husk fragments and "trichome-like" objects were common to all but corn dust.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1986

Prevalence of IgE antibodies to grain and grain dust in grain elevator workers.

IgE-mediated allergic reactions have been postulated to contribute to respiratory reactions seen in workers exposed to grain dusts. In an attempt better to define the prevalence of IgE antibodies in workers exposed to grain dusts, we performed the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) on worker sera using both commercial allergens prepared from grain and worksite allergens prepared from grain dust samples collected at the worksite. We found that the two types of reagents identified different populations with respect to the specificity of IgE antibodies present. The RAST assay performed using worksite allergens correlated well with skin test procedures. These results may allow us to gain better understanding of allergy associated with grain dust exposure, and document the utility of the RAST assay in assessment of occupational allergies.

Allergens↗

PubMed1986

In vitro and in vivo changes in human complement caused by silage.

Aqueous extracts of silage samples from four farms in up-state New York were reacted in vitro with normal human serum. Hemolytic levels of complement component C3 were consumed in a dose-dependent fashion, and the four extracts differed in their relative activity rankings. Studies with chelated serum indicate that the alternative complement pathway is involved in the activation, and the active fragment C3b was demonstrated. Serum levels of hemolytic C3 and C4 in vivo were quantified before and after farmers performed their normal silo unloading operations. Although the study groups were small, suggestive evidence of in vivo complement consumption was found. IgE-related allergy did not appear to be of significance to the study groups. Complement activation may be an initiator of or contributor to adverse reactions in farmers who are exposed to airborne silage dusts.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1984

Sources of respiratory insult in the poultry processing industry.

Although the agricultural community has focused a great deal of attention on improving the overall health of poultry for production purposes, the health of poultry workers has, by comparison, received less direct attention. Recent studies suggest that poultry workers who come in direct contact with live birds may be at risk of pulmonary dysfunction, including the development of chronic respiratory diseases. Exposure of poultry workers to live birds results in potential pulmonary insult from a variety of allergenic and immunologic agents, as well as nuisance dust particles. In addition, marked levels of gram-negative bacterial endotoxins and antibiotic-resistant bacteria contaminate the occupational environment. Health care professionals should be aware of the potential sources of respiratory insult to workers in poultry processing and related industries.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed1984

Elemental analysis of airborne grain dusts.

The elemental composition of a group of airborne and settled grain dusts is reported. This survey was undertaken as part of a study to systematically describe the chemistry and morphology of these representative dusts. Our data show that airborne or settled grain dusts differ from each other with respect to elemental composition. Such fundamental differences may be related to previously observed differences in the biological activities of the dusts.

Air↗

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↗

PubMed1984

Airborne endotoxins in a rice production commune in the People's Republic of China.

Concentrations of total and vertical elutriated airborne dusts were quantified for five work areas within a rice production commune near Shanghai, the People's Republic of China. Mean (+/- SE) commune levels of 15.69 +/- 1.91 mg/m3 and 6.00 +/- 1.47 mg/m3 were found for total and vertical elutriated dusts, respectively. Analysis of the airborne dusts for the presence of gram-negative bacterial endotoxins resulted in mean levels of 21.23 +/- 8.63 ng/mg total dust and 14.57 +/- 7.97 ng/mg elutriated dust, with respective airborne concentrations of 492.12 and 100.22 ng endotoxin/m3. These data show that rice production in the People's Republic of China is associated with a dust burden that is contaminated with relatively high levels of endotoxins. The long-term respiratory effects of inhalation of these dusts should be studied.

China↗

PubMed1984

Interactions of complement with an extract of airborne spring wheat dust.

The inhalation, by grain elevator workers, of airborne grain dusts can lead to pulmonary problems. Complement, which is present in human airways, can interact with various grain dusts, producing activation products that have been shown to participate in the inflammatory reaction. Because of this apparent connection between grain-dust inhalation, complement activation, and respiratory difficulties, we are studying the reaction of an aqueous extract of spring wheat dust (swd) with human complement. The swd extract activates both the classical and alternative pathways; it acts on purified C2 to inhibit it, and it reacts with undiluted serum to consume C4 with kinetics significantly different from those shown by a "typical" antigen-antibody complex (sensitized sheep erythrocytes). Enzyme susceptibility experiments suggest that the alternative and classical pathway activators of swd extract are neither protein nor nucleic acid; periodate oxidation indicates these substances are carbohydrate, and gel filtration suggests they are macromolecular. Enzyme vulnerability also indicates that the C2 inhibitor of swd extract is ribonucleic acid. Although endotoxin is present in swd extract, a gel-filtration experiment showed that a major fraction of the complement reactivity was not associated with this substance.

Complement Activation↗

PubMed1984

Acute bronchoconstriction induced by cotton dust: dose-related responses to endotoxin and other dust factors.

Fifty-four healthy humans, selected for their acute airway responsiveness to cotton dust, had spirometric tests immediately before and after 6 hours of exposure to card-generated cotton dust from seven different cottons (of several grades and growing regions). During exposures, we measured airborne concentrations of viable fungi and bacteria (total and gram negative), vertically elutriated gravimetric dust, and vertically elutriated endotoxin. Correlation between each of these five exposure indices and exposure-related acute changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 s showed a statistically significant relationship between all of the indices except concentration of viable fungi. Of the other four indices, endotoxin was the most highly correlated (r = -0.94; p less than 0.00001), and gravimetric dust was the least correlated (r = -0.34; p less than 0.05). These findings suggest that gram-negative endotoxin may play a major role in the acute pulmonary response to inhaled cotton dust.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Environmental study of poultry confinement buildings.

Environmental measurements were made in three poultry confinement buildings in order to characterize gas and particulate contaminants. Levels of total and respirable dust averaged 4.4 and 0.24 mg/m3, respectively. Particle size distribution as measured by cascade impactors was similar in the three confinement houses with a mass median aerodynamic diameter of about 15 microns and a geometric standard deviation of about 2.2. Ammonia levels measured in the active areas of the buildings averaged about 25 ppm. Ammonia concentration was quite high, however, in an unused and unventilated portion of one of the buildings (mean = 170 ppm). CO2 levels ranged from 0.05-0.1%. Levels of CO, H2S, NO2, NOx, CH4, mercaptan, formaldehyde, and hydrocarbons were all below the limit of detection for indicator tubes. Concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi were on average about 1.5 X 10(5) and 1.0 X 10(4) colony-forming units/m3, respectively. Endotoxin analysis was also performed on the total and respirable dust samples. Endotoxin levels (expressed in air concentration) ranged from 0.77 to 61 ng/m3 for total dust and from 0.71 to 15 ng/m3 for respirable dust. Endotoxin was also measured on the collection media from the individual impactor stages. Endotoxin was detected in all size ranges with the highest concentration of endotoxin per unit of dust found in the smallest (less than approximately 3.5 microns) size fraction. The endotoxin levels tend to be lower than those previously reported in poultry operations.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗

PubMed1984

Gram-negative bacterial endotoxins in airborne dusts from washed and unwashed cottons.

Gram-negative bacteria possess lipopolysaccharide-protein complexes termed endotoxins as an integral portion of their cell walls. These biologically active substances elicit profound effects both in vitro and in vivo. Organic dusts from many occupational environments contain measureable amounts of gram-negative bacteria and their endotoxins. In particular, cottons and cotton dusts contain these materials, and research is directed to elucidate the association between endotoxins and the acute and chronic respiratory effects of inhaling cotton dusts. It is the purpose of this paper to describe an experimental process which removes endotoxins from cotton by washing prior to processing the baled cottons. The studies show that water washing is a reliable method for removing endotoxins, and pulmonary function studies correlate well with endotoxin levels in the air. Quantification of airborne endotoxins provides a good indicator of cleanliness and toxocity of the cotton dusts. However, the differential toxicities of different endotoxins must be considered and evaluated further.

Dust↗

PubMed1983

Endotoxins in cotton: washing effects and size distribution.

Endotoxin contamination was measured in washed and unwashed cottons from three distinct growing areas, California, Mississippi, and Texas. The data show differences in endotoxin contamination based upon the geographic source of the cotton. It is also shown that washing bulk cotton before the carding process results in lower endotoxin in the cotton dust. Washing conditions can affect the endotoxin levels, and all size fractions of the airborne dust contain quantifiable endotoxin contamination. Endotoxin analyses provide a simple and reliable method for monitoring the cleanliness of cotton or airborne cotton dusts.

Air Microbiology↗

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↗

PubMed1983

Endotoxins in baled cottons and airborne dusts in textile mills in the People's Republic of China.

Bulk cotton samples and airborne vertical elutriated cotton dusts were obtained from textile mills in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Analysis of endotoxin contents revealed that baled cottons which were grown in different countries varied in endotoxin contamination. The two textile mills, which operated at similar overall airborne dust levels, differed markedly in the levels of airborne endotoxins. The data suggest that the biological activity or "toxicity" of airborne cotton dusts may not be correlated directly with gravimetric dust levels.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed1982

Occupational exposure to airborne endotoxins during poultry processing.

Airborne gram-negative bacterial endotoxin levels were quantified in a live chicken hanging (shackling) room of a poultry processing plant. The mean respirable dust levels at the entrance and exit of the shackling line were 1.13 +/- 0.12 and 0.72 +/- 0.06 mg/m3, respectively, or approximately 6% of the total dust. Endotoxins constituted 43.3 +/- 2.8 micrograms per gram of respirable dust. Airborne endotoxins were present in the total dust at the mean level of 918.4 +/- 159.0 ng/m3 at the room entrance and 634.0 +/- 96.9 ng/m3 at the exit, with respirable levels of 44.3 +/- 7.8 and 33.6 +/- 2.2 ng/m3. Inhalation of gram-negative bacterial endotoxins can result in respiratory and systemic pathophysiology. The potential for adverse health effects in the working environment of the live poultry processing industry is discussed. Medical studies of workers in this area are required to confirm or deny the existence of occupationally related health effects.

Air Pollutants↗