SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “PNEUMOCONIOSIS”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

[Clinical analysis of home oxygen therapy in patients with pneumoconiosis at Iwamizawa Rosai Hospital].

Although home oxygen therapy (HOT) has become one of the standard therapies in the management of chronic respiratory failure, especially for patient with hypoxia, there are very few studies about HOT in patients with pneumoconiosis. Therefore, we clinically investigated the characteristics of 97 patients with pneumoconiosis and 30 patients with COPD on home oxygen therapy (HOT) followed at Iwamizawa Rosai Hospital during the period from 1990 to 2003. The mean survival time in patients with pneumoconiosis (42 months) by the Kaplan-Meier method was shorter than in patents with COPD (75 months). Among the patients with pneumoconiosis divided by chest radiography classification of pneumoconiosis, there was no significant difference in mean survival time. The survival time in pneumoconiosis patients with dyspnea grade IV was shorter than in patients with dyspnea grade III.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

[Carcinoma of the lung in patients with pneumoconiosis].

From 614 patients with notified pneumoconiosis who died in 1964-1992 on necropsy carcinoma of the lungs was found in 87, i.e. 14.1% (in 48 it was the cause of death). The incidence in individual years did not differ significantly; on evaluation in relation to the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis an insignificantly more frequent incidence was found in complicated pneumoconiosis of miners. On evaluation by work places miners in black coal mines and workers in quarries were affected more frequently, the difference being at the borderline of statistical significance. As to the histological aspect, most frequently squamous cell carcinoma was involved, the site was most frequently in both upper lobes. The carcinoma was seven times associated with silicotic lesions, with anthracofibrotic lesions six times (a total of 14.9%). In lifetime carcinoma was detected in 55 of the patients who died, i.e. in 63.2%. As to aetiopathogenetic influences, the relationship with smoking is significant. The aetiopathogenesis of carcinoma of the lungs in patients with pneumoconiosis is most probably not uniform-the influence of smoking is beyond doubt, the carcinogenic effect of silica should be considered in patients with carcinoma in the scar. With regard to the repeatedly proved more frequent incidence of carcinoma of the lungs in patients with pneumoconiosis, frequent check-ups of patients with pneumoconiosis focused on possible detection of lung cancer are essential.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Welder's pneumoconiosis: diagnostic usefulness of high-resolution computed tomography and ferritin determinations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the usefulness of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and ferritin determinations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid for diagnosis of welder's pneumoconiosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated 11 patients with welder's pneumoconiosis who were 34 to 67 years old and had been welding for 17 to 45 years. Ten patients were current smokers. We performed chest radiography and HRCT, and measured serum ferritin on all 11 patients. We obtained BAL fluid in 9 cases and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) specimens in 7. Ferritin concentrations in BAL fluid were compared with those in welders without pneumoconiosis and other pneumoconiosis cases. RESULTS: HRCT revealed small centrilobular nodules in 9 cases, mild fibrotic changes in 3, and emphysematous changes in 3. Serum ferritin concentrations were elevated (>240 ng/ml) in 10 cases. Ferritin concentrations in BAL fluid were higher in welder's pneumoconiosis than in the occupational control group. CONCLUSION: In welder's pneumoconiosis, small centrilobular nodules are frequently seen on HRCT, and ferritin shows elevations in serum and/or BAL fluid. Such ferritin determinations are of value in diagnosis.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

[Interpretation of early radiological changes in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis among coal miners].

Apart from certain changes which are typical for pneumoconiosis, the radiological picture of the lungs of sigma coal miners does frequently show some irregular small opacities of s, t and u types. The role and specificity of these changes in the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis has not been too well defined by now. A 10-year study (conducted at 2 or 3 year intervals) was carried out among 150 miners from 2 mines characterized by different dust loading. Some irregular changes in the miners' lungs were observed. The control group derived from the same mines comprised 115 miners with no radiological changes found in their lungs. The evolution of radiological changes took place in 55.3% of the miners and was more intensive in the heavily dusted mine. Radiological changes were revealed in 38.3% of the controls. It was indicated that pneumoconiosis results much more frequently (38.6%) from the evolution of the irregular changes rather than directly from the proper radiological picture of the lungs (5.3%). In 44.7% of the subjects the changes of s, t and u type did not undergo any evolution, which may be due to their non-specific characteristics. The evolution of irregular opacities is dominating in the patients with bronchitis and emphysema. No significant correlation between smoking and the progress of irregular opacities was found. The observation of the further exposure to the dusts did not produce any clear results. The progress of the changes of s, t and u type was observed more frequently in those still working under ground, but more cases of pneumoconiosis were found in the miners who stopped working. This fact indicates that the further exposure affects the s, t and u type changes and confirms the observations by other authors concerning the manifestation of pneumoconiosis after the break of exposure. The results of the 10-year study prove that the miners with this sort of changes are exposed to a higher risk of pneumoconiosis, although the answer concerning specificity of irregular changes in the radiological picture has not yet been found.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Evaluation of paranasal sinus mucosa in coal worker's pneumoconiosis: a computed tomographic study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate by computed tomographic scanning the paranasal mucosal changes of coal workers with and without pneumoconiosis. METHODS: Examination of images and scores from paranasal computed tomographic scans. The study participants were 26 coal workers with pneumoconiosis, 29 coal workers without pneumoconiosis, and 20 controls. All were men. The extent and patterns of inflammatory paranasal sinus disease were evaluated on computed tomographic scans by 2 radiologists using the terminology and definitions of Newman and associates. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement for the presence of abnormalities was from good to excellent (kappa, 0.63-0.89). The mucosal scores of individuals and groups were higher for coal workers than for control subjects. Both scores were significantly higher in the pneumoconiosis group than in the 2 other groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that paranasal sinuses were affected more severely in coal workers than in control subjects. In coal workers with pneumoconiosis, the affection was most severe. The relationship between coal dust exposure and paranasal mucosal changes needs further study.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Occurrence and prevention of coal miners' pneumoconiosis in Poland.

BACKGROUND: Coal production is one of the largest industries in Poland and incidence of coal miners' pneumoconiosis is high. METHODS: Data concerning the epidemiology of coal miners' pneumoconiosis stem from the national register and previous investigations performed in Poland. Improvements in medical and technical methodologies for the prevention of pneumoconiosis is discussed. RESULTS: Analysis of the dust concentration measurements shows that TLV values are exceeded in 90% of underground workplaces. The number of new pneumoconiosis cases diagnosed annually ranges from 400-800 and has been showing a diminishing tendency in the last five years. Recently, a new system of medical and technical prevention has been introduced in seven collieries. CONCLUSIONS: The current epidemiological situation of coal miners pneumoconiosis in Poland is unfavorable and needs vast improvement.

Coal Mining↗

PubMed1984

The incidence and progression of pneumoconiosis over nine years in U.S. coal miners: I. Principal findings.

Chest radiographs, taken at a 9-year interval for 1,261 U.S. coal miners, were read for pneumoconiosis side-by-side by six readers in a controlled trial. Incidence and progression of small, rounded opacities were consistent with levels predicted from dose-response curves developed by the British Pneumoconiosis Field Research interpolated at a concentration derived from U.S. compliance levels mandated over the last 9 years. The results imply that the level of pneumoconiosis in U.S. miners is being reduced through application of the current 2 mg/m3 standard. The long developmental period for pneumoconiosis necessitates that further study be undertaken to verify this finding and to determine whether 2 mg/m3 is an appropriate regulatory dust level for the prevention of category 2 or greater simple pneumoconiosis over a 35-year period.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Long-term outcome after resection of non-small cell lung carcinoma complicated by pneumoconiosis.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer resection in patients with respiratory complications is associated with a high surgical risk and the operative indications are usually serious. Consequently, the long-term results are unclear. We aimed to clarify the validity of surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with pneumoconiosis. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical and pathological data of 122 patients undergoing resection of NSCLC with pneumoconiosis (n = 34: group A) or without pneumoconiosis (n = 88: group B) to assess treatment outcomes and prognostic factors. RESULTS: Among the treatment factors, intraoperative blood loss was significantly greater in group A (723.2 +/- 647.3 ml) than in group B (466.4 +/- 450.7 ml) (P = 0.0067), although the operative times (207 +/- 103.4 min vs 196.1 +/- 53.5 min, respectively) and postoperative drainage period (8.3 +/- 4.2 days vs 8.5 +/- 5.7 days, respectively) did not differ significantly between the two groups (P = 0.9466 and P = 0.6355, respectively). Among the postoperative complications, the incidence of hemorrhage was significantly higher in group A (29.4%) than in group B (7.9%) (P = 0.0022). The 5-year survival rates did not differ significantly between the two groups, (45.9% and 55.7% for groups A and B respectively) (P = 0.9424). CONCLUSIONS: The coexistence of pneumoconiosis does not adversely affect postoperative survival or the treatment of NSCLC, although it is associated with increased intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hemorrhage. Thus, if precautions are taken to minimize hemorrhage, surgery cannot be excluded as a treatment option for NSCLC in patients with pneumoconiosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Prevalence of and factors related to pneumoconiosis among foundry workers in central Taiwan.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of and factors related to pneumoconiosis in foundry workers. Seven hundred and eighteen workers from 50 foundries in central Taiwan were interviewed using a constructed questionnaire. A full-sized PA chest radiograph was used to diagnose pneumoconiosis, according to ILO criteria. Overall, pneumoconiosis was found in 7.5% of the workers. The highest prevalence was found among furnace workers (15.9%) and molding workers (8.40%). All foundry workers except those in administrative positions had a significantly increased risk of developing pneumoconiosis. Using a multiple logistic regression, compared to administrative workers, furnace workers had the highest risk (10.63 times), followed by post-treatment workers (6.63 times), and molding workers (5.41 times). In conclusion, the prevalence of pneumoconiosis was significantly related to high concentrations of dust, especially with a high proportion of free silica, however, smoking and length of exposure were also contributing factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[Comparison of digital selenium radiography with an analog screen-film system in the diagnostic process of pneumoconiosis according to ILO classification].

UNLABELLED: Comparison of digital selenium radiography with an analog screen-film system in the diagnostic process of pneumoconiosis according to ILO classification. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic value of digital selenium radiography in patients with pneumoconiosis. For this purpose chest x-rays by digital selenium radiography and analog screen-film system were compared according to the ILO classification of pneumoconiosis. METHOD: After approval of the study by the local ethic commission and the Federal German Office for Radiation Protection 50 patients were subjected to x-rays by digital selenium radiography (Thoravision; Philips Medical Systems, Hamburg, Germany) and analog screen-film system of the same day within the scope of an industrial medicine preventive checkup. Four investigators rated the chest x-rays according to the ILO classification of pneumoconiosis. RESULTS: The findings demonstrated by chest x-rays according to ILO classification were rated similar by digital selenium radiography and analog screen film systems. Image quality of the digital pictures was rated significantly better. CONCLUSION: The use of digital selenium radiography in evaluating chest x-rays according to the ILO classification does not result in over- or underestimation of pulmonary pathologies. Hence, in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, digital selenium radiography can replace the tested analog screen-film system.

Adult↗

PubMed1974

Circulating antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor in coal pneumoconiosis.

Circulating antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor have been measured in 109 coal miners with pneumoconiosis whose chest radiograph showed a range of abnormalities varying from simple pneumoconiosis of mild degree to advanced progressive massive fibrosis.At a screening dilution of 1/10 the overall incidence of antinuclear antibody was 17%. In almost half of the positive cases the titre was 1/40 or greater.The prevalence of antinuclear antibody was lowest in those with simple pneumoconiosis (9%) and highest in those with category C progressive massive fibrosis (27%). A similar but less striking trend was seen with rheumatoid factor, ranging from 6% in simple pneumoconiosis to 18% in category C progressive massive fibrosis. The trend of increasing frequency of autoantibodies with advancing radiographic category was most marked when the frequencies of antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor were combined. These autoantibodies were found in 13% of the miners with simple pneumoconiosis and 45% of those with category C progressive massive fibrosis (P for the trend=0.01).

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Pneumoconiosis in Cornish china clay workers.

A radiological survey of men employed in the china clay industry in Cornwall was carried out in 1977. Each man completed a short questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and smoking habits, his occupational history was determined, and his forced expiratory volume and vital capacity were measured. The radiographs were read independently by three observers, using the 1980 ILO classification. Of the 1728 men in the study, 23 had had dust exposure elsewhere, mostly in tin mining, and were excluded. Readings of the radiographs were available for 1676 men: 77.4% were within category 0, 17.9% in category 1, and 4.7% in categories 2 and 3. In 19 men (1.1%) one or more readers recorded the presence of a large shadow and read it as complicated pneumoconiosis, but in only four men were the readers unanimous. Every job recognised as dusty contributed significantly to the amount of simple pneumoconiosis, and in two jobs the conditions were such that the average worker would reach category 2 in a working lifetime. Smoking appeared unrelated to the radiographic appearance. Vital capacity showed a significant reduction with increasing amount of pneumoconiosis, but not, when this was allowed for, on the duration of exposure in any of the job categories. In addition it depended, as would be expected, on smoking. The effect of one category increase in pneumoconiosis was equivalent to 4.1 years of age in smokers, 3.9 years of age in ex-smokers, and 5.4 years of age in non-smoker. Forced expiratory volume did not decline significantly with amount of pneumoconiosis, so that FEV% VC showed an increase, though not to a significant extent. No extent. No relationship between symptoms and past exposure was detected.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Contrasting geographical distribution of mortality from pneumoconiosis and chronic bronchitis and emphysema in British coal miners.

To explore whether the characteristics of coal mine dust that predispose to chronic airways obstruction are the same as those associated with pneumoconiosis, mortality from the two disease was compared in coal miners in 22 counties of England and Wales during 1979-80 and 1982-90. The proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) for coal workers' pneumoconiosis varied from 135 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 16-488) in Leicestershire to 3825 (95% CI 1538-7881) in South Glamorgan. The PMRs for chronic bronchitis and emphysema were consistently higher than those in other occupations, but showed much less geographical variation and did not correlate geographically with those for pneumoconiosis. These findings indicate that the pathogenetic mechanisms by which coal mine dust causes chronic bronchitis and emphysema depend on different features of the dust from those producing pneumoconiosis. Also, they suggest that current social security regulations in Britain, which require evidence of pneumoconiosis as a condition of compensation for chronic bronchitis and emphysema in coal miners, may discriminate unfairly against claimants from some regions.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

The survival analyses of 2738 patients with simple pneumoconiosis.

OBJECTIVES: To explore whether the inhalation of coal mine dust increases the risk of premature death in miners, a survival analysis was conducted in a cohort of 2738 patients with simple pneumoconiosis in the Huai-Bei coal mine, in China. METHODS: Age specific mortalities were calculated by disease severity in terms of pneumoconiotic category with the life table method. The progressions from simple pneumoconiosis to death or progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) were analysed with the Cox's regression model with time as the dependent variable to identify risk factors. RESULTS: During a follow up period (mean 8 y) 3.2% of patients with simple pneumoconiosis developed PMF. The patients with development of PMF presented higher age specific mortalities than those remaining in a state of simple pneumoconiosis (SMR: 3.42; P < 0.01). After adjustment for tuberculosis and duration of work, the relative risk of premature death due to development of PMF was 2.4. Tuberculosis was found to be a main risk factor which not only facilitated premature death (relative risk (RR): 2.0; P < 0.01), but was also a strong facilitator for development of PMF (RR: 7.0; P < 0.01). Also, a long term of work underground and drilling as a main job were identified as risk factors for development of PMF. CONCLUSION: The results imply that patients with simple pneumoconiosis will have altered survival, and premature death among them is related to an increased risk of the development of PMF and the complication of tuberculosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1976

Evolution of disability in coalworkers' pneumoconiosis.

Retrospective analysis of the results of serial ventilatory capacity tests (FEV 1-0), which had extended over an average period of almost 15 years, has been carried out in 215 miners and ex-miners who suffer with coalworkers' pneumoconiosis. All were unselected previously diagnosed cases who attend the Cardiff Pneumoconiosis Panel at regular intervals for re-assessment examinations. They consisted of 68 miners and 147 ex-miners and they were divided into three groups according to their radiological category at their most recent examination, carried out in either 1973 or 1974. There were 90 cases of category B progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), 50 cases of category A PMF and 75 cases of simple pneumoconiosis. Findings for the 38 life-long non-smokers within the 215 were compared with those for the smokers. All three groups showed progressive impairment of ventilation over the whole period of observation. This was most marked in the category B cases but this group had already acquired a substantial proportion of their eventual impairment while still classified radiologically as category A or as simple pneumoconiosis. These findings are not compatible with the view that coalworkers' pneumoconiosis does not cause significant impairment of ventilation until the category B radiological stage is attained; they suggest rather that cases destined to progress to serious disablement show evidence of progressive impairment of ventilation at very much earlier radiological stages. Non-smokers showed a pattern of impairment similar to that of the smokers but were less disabled; the differences, however, were slight and not statistically significant.

Coal Mining↗

PubMed1999

Pneumoconiosis among Cretan dental technicians.

Pneumoconiosis among dental technicians has recently emerged as an area of research in interstitial lung disease. This study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of pneumoconiosis in Greek dental technicians on the island of Crete. Fifty-one of the 58 dental technicians of the Heraklion Dental Technicians' Association completed an exposure history questionnaire and underwent a clinical examination, including chest radiographs, and spirometric assessment of lung volume and diffusing capacity. Values were compared with 51 control subjects. Five dental technicians showed radiological evidence of pneumoconiosis. Mean lung function values of the dental technicians, even in those with pneumoconiosis, were not significantly different from controls. No significant changes in lung function parameters were associated with smoking, exposure to metals and other contaminants. Dental technicians, however, reported more respiratory symptoms than controls (p = 0.008). Symptoms were associated to the absence of a ventilation system. We concluded that occupational exposure in dental technicians in Crete did not affect lung function. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis in this study was 9. 8%.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Can the evolution to pneumoconiosis be suspected in coal miners? A longitudinal study.

To assess whether the evolution to pneumoconiosis may be suspected in coal miners, we conducted a 4-yr longitudinal study of 80 dust-exposed miners with chest X-ray findings classified 0/1 or 1/0 according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) classification (exposed to coal mine dust, suspected of pneumoconiosis [ES group]) and two control groups having normal X-rays. The first of these latter two groups included 80 miners with similar exposure to that of the first group (exposure with normal X-rays [EN]), whereas the second group consisted of markedly less exposed miners (no exposure with normal X-rays [NN]). The protocol comprised a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and smoking, assessment of cumulative coal-mine-dust exposure, X-rays, computed tomographic (CT) scans, and lung-function tests. The study was conducted in 1990 and 1994 by the same medical team. At the end of the follow-up, 24 members of the ES group had worsened X-ray findings, and 10 of them had X-ray findings classified as 1/1 or greater. In the EN and NN groups, six and one subjects, respectively, had worsened X-ray findings. At the first examination, subjects who developed pneumoconiosis had significantly lower values for FEV1/FVC ratio, maximum midexpiratory flow (MMEF), and maximal forced expiratory flow at 25% of vital capacity (FEF25%), and higher CT-scan micronodule scores. This latter score and FEF25% were significantly associated with the evolution to pneumoconiosis in the ES group, and scanner micronodule score and MMEF were significantly associated with this in all three groups combined. Worsening findings on X-ray and change to pneumoconiosis must be controlled in coal miners. The findings in this study offer the possibility of identifying miners who especially need follow-up and monitoring.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

24 years of pneumoconiosis mortality surveillance in Australia.

Asbestosis, silicosis and Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis (CWP) represent three of the most important occupationally-related dust diseases in Australia. To gain a clear picture of pneumoconiosis trends over time, a 24-yr retrospective analysis of national mortality data was performed for the period 1979 to 2002. Over 1,000 pneumoconiosis-related fatalities occurred during this time, 56% of which were caused by asbestosis, 38% by silicosis and 6% by CWP. Between 1979 and 1981, silicosis accounted for 60% of all pneumoconiosis-related fatalities in Australia, followed by asbestosis (31%). By 2002 however, asbestosis was causing 78% of all fatalities, while silicosis accounted for only 19%. Asbestos-related mortality increased three-fold between 1979 and 2002, with a clear excess risk demonstrated among males. On the other hand, mortality rates for silicosis and CWP declined significantly during the same time period. Overall, this study suggests that pneumoconiosis, particularly asbestosis, continues to be an important occupational disease in Australia. Although progress has been made in reducing deaths due to occupational silicosis and CWP, asbestosis rates continue to rise, reflecting the long latency between dust exposure and clinical disease. Countries which continue to use asbestos products in the workplace should note the tragic legacy of this material within contemporary Australia.

Asbestos↗