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T I Fortoul

Publications and source records attributed to T I Fortoul.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Cadmium determination in Mexican-produced tobacco.

Exposure to cadmium by inhalation or ingestion is dangerous for human health. This metal induces damage to the kidneys, the bones, the prostate, and the lungs. In the lungs, cadmium can produce cancer, emphysema, and fibrosis. It is well known that tobacco leaves are contaminated with cadmium, a metal that has been related to pulmonary damage. In this paper we report the concentration of cadmium in tobacco leaves and in cigarettes produced for domestic consumption. Fifty-five cigarettes of different brands, prices, and stocks were analyzed as well as 48 samples from four different types of tobacco. The average concentration of cadmium in cigarettes was 4.41 +/- 0.67 micrograms/g, and 2.65 +/- 0.99 micrograms/g for tobacco leaves; the content of cadmium was 2.8 +/- 0.4 micrograms/cigarette. It was estimated that a person that smokes 20 Mexican cigarettes per day can increase his (her) cadmium burden by 1.4 to 2.8 micrograms per day.

Cadmium

Subpopulations of T cells in lung biopsies from patients with pigeon breeder's disease.

Monoclonal antibodies were used to determine surface phenotypes of T cells in tissue obtained by open lung biopsies from patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (pigeon breeder's disease). The results indicate that an increased number of suppressor/cytotoxic cells is present in these patients when compared with the number of helper/inducer cells. These findings, which were present within the interstitium, are consistent with those found in bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with this disease. In addition, in two-thirds of the patients there was a greater total number of helper and suppressor cells than the total count for Pan T cells. A possible interpretation of these findings might be the presence of both markers in the same cell.

Adult

Mast cells and idiopathic lung fibrosis.

Mast cells are usually related with allergic reactions in the lung. This cells has a biochemical repertoire capable of modulate inflammatory reactions in this organ. The relation of this cell with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), has not been studied in depth. There is no agreement in which is the best technique for counting mast cells and what are the normal counts of these cells in the lung. We analyse some of the reported "normal values" and the differences within IPF and patients with nonfibrotic lung diseases. The results of the present study demonstrate that the largest population of mast cells in IPF patients were the interstitium (342 +/- 83 cells) compared with the nonfibrotic patients (31 +/- 8 cells), and almost equal in both groups of patients in the subpleural, peribronchiolar and perivascular areas. However, it is necessary to unify criteria, in order to define what the normal values for mast cells in the lung are.

Adolescent