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PubMed2000

Cytogenetic damage and cell-mediated immunity in pneumoconiosis.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) determined that crystalline silica inhaled from occupational sources should be classified as carcinogenic to humans and upgraded it from group 2A to group 1. It has also been found that silicosis may be associated with cancer of various organs and with autoimmune diseases. We studied both the cytogenetic effects and the influence on cell-mediated immunity of mineral dust inhalation in patients with pneumoconiosis, including silicosis. The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges and micronucleus in the pneumoconiosis group were significantly higher than in the controls, suggesting a cytogenetic influence of the occupationally inhaled dust. Alterations in the immunoregulatory T cells were observed in the pneumoconiosis groups, suggesting that inhaled mineral dust may cause immunotoxic effects. Based on these findings, we can consider that cytogenetic damages and immunoregulatory abnormalities in pneumoconiosis patients may play a role in the pathogenesis of various cancers and autoimmune diseases associated with pneumoconiosis.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Physiological/pathological correlations in coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

There is remarkably little information about the direct relationship of physiological abnormality in coal workers' pneumoconiosis with structural changes in the lung and there are major difficulties in attempting such a correlation. The general population, including coal workers, has a regrettably high prevalence of pulmonary functional abnormalities attributable to chronic bronchitis or to emphysema occurring either separately or together. The pathological basis for the functional impairment in chronic bronchitis and possible functional sequelae to the anatomical changes of emphysema are not clearly understood, making it extremely difficult to identify separately the functional effects associated with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Any study of coal workers' pneumoconiosis must take into account the background population. The published investigations relating the functional abnormalities and pathological changes in the lung in coal workers' pneumoconiosis are reviewed. The relationship of functional change to emphysema, chronic bronchitis, cor pulmonale and the specific lesions of coal workers' pneumoconiosis are dealt with. There is great need for further work in this field, both in the form of simple studies of pathological changes in miners' lungs as well as more complex attempts to correlate such pathological surveys with physiological abnormalities in life.

Bronchitis↗

PubMed2002

Detection of graphite using laser microprobe mass analysis of a transbronchial biopsy from a foundry worker with mixed dust pneumoconiosis.

Inhalation of dust containing graphite can cause lung disease in foundry workers and workers in graphite mines or mills. Mixed dust pneumoconiosis caused by long-term occupational exposure to graphite dust is a rare disease. Only a few cases of graphite pneumoconiosis have been reported in literature, and these were usually diagnosed post mortem. Our report is of an 80-year-old male patient who had worked in an iron foundry for 20 years and whose work had entailed regular contact with ground graphite and foundry vapors. Chest x-rays revealed both a reticular and nodular pattern in the lung, moderate apical distractions and pleural scarring, all of which were confirmed by high-resolution computed tomography. Bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsies were also consistent with mixed dust pneumoconiosis, and due to the long-term dust exposure, graphite pneumoconiosis was strongly suspected. To confirm this diagnosis, the chemical composition of the dark granules in the semi-thin histological sections of the transbronchial biopsies were analyzed using laser microprobe mass spectroscopy. The mass spectra of these black particles were consistent with those of natural graphite powder. Comparative analyses of normal lung tissue did not produce similar spectral patterns. We conclude that histology and cytology does not always suffice to confirm a diagnosis of graphite pneumoconiosis, because black particles are also found in conditions resulting from other exposures, such as heavy smoking or coal mining. Analysis of the composition of particles deposited in the lung tissue offers more precise information, which can be used as evidence in occupational and forensic medicine. Laser microprobe mass spectroscopy can assess the mineral dust load in lung samples.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

[Quantitative analysis of pneumoconiosis in standard chest radiographs].

A computerized method to quantify and characterize interstitial diseases by using physical texture measures obtained from an analysis of the power spectrum of lung textures in digital chest radiographs was applied to Japanese standard radiographs of pneumoconiosis. Texture measures were determined from standard radiographs of silicosis, asbestosis, and other types of pneumoconiosis as well as chest radiographs of normal lungs. Our preliminary results indicated that the texture measures obtained from computer analysis corresponded closely with the standard categories of silicosis. However, there was no significant correlation between texture measures and the categories for asbestosis and other types of pneumoconiosis in terms of texture pattern. Japanese standard radiographs of pneumoconiosis are categorized according to the profusion of opacities, without reference to the size and shape of the opacities. Furthermore, in some films the size and shape of the opacities vary considerably within the same category. Therefore, it is considered that these characteristics of the standard films affected the results of our texture measures. It also considered that a large ROI and other texture measures are needed to characterize large opacities and mixed-shaped opacities of pneumoconiosis.

Humans↗

PubMed2004

[A study on the variation in classifying chest radiographs for pneumoconiosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the interobserver variation and its sources in classifying chest radiographs of pneumoconiosis for improving diagnostic quality. METHODS: A set of 240 high-voltage chest radiographs including different stages of pneumoconiosis was developed and 5 sets of copies were made in the same condition. It was read by 7 experienced readers independently in eligible situation. Results of reading were recorded in unified reading sheets. The profusion of small opacities and the stage of pneumoconiosis were recorded as corresponding numerical value for analysis. RESULTS: The coefficients of variation of 7 readers in total profusion of small opacities, average profusion of small opacities and stage of pneumoconiosis were 15.17%, 15.91%, 12.06%, respectively. The judgement of the presence or absence of small opacities, large opacities and coalescence of small opacities were closer, and the rates of consistency were 91.09%, 91.93% and 76.41% respectively. Technical quality of the radiographs in this study could not make a considerable impact on the reading results. If the shape of small opacities were recorded consistently by most readers as small rounded opacities or small irregular opacities, the judgement of total profusion of small opacities and stage of pneumoconiosis were more consistent; if the shape of small opacities were recorded inconsistently, the difference of judgement was higher. CONCLUSION: Interobserver variation exists actually among different readers and the main sources of the variation come from uncertain judgement of the shape of small opacities.

Humans↗

PubMed2005

[Oxidative injury and serum cytokines in coal workers with pneumoconiosis].

OBJECTIVE: To inquire into the implication of oxidative injury and two cytokines TGF-beta1 and FGF in the occurrence and development of coal worker's Pneumoconiosis. METHODS: The methods of nitrate reductase, TBA, and xanthine oxidase were used to detect the levels of serum NO, MDA and SOD respectively in 50 patients suffering from coal worker's Pneumoconiosis and 50 healthy controls, then ELISA was performed to detect the level of TGF-beta1 and FGF in the two groups. RESULTS: The levels of NO and MDA in serum of patients with coal worker's Pneumoconiosis were higher than those in the controls; the level of SOD was lower in the patients than in the controls; and there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). Statistically significant differences in TGF-beta1 and FGF were also noted between the two group. CONCLUSION: In this study, the patients with coal worker's Pneumoconiosis were found to have abnormity of oxyradical reaction, unblanced oxidation/antioxidation state, and abnormally high expression of cytokine, which might have relations with the occurrence and development of coal worker's Pneumoconiosis.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

[Morphology of the ferruginous bodies and characteristics of lesions in coal mine pneumoconiosis].

Ferruginous bodies were found in lung tissue collected from 105 coal miner autopsies in Beijing coal area. The incidence rate was 83.8%. Cores of the ferruginous bodies consist of black or transparent fibres partially or entirely coated with golden brown colored iron-protein. They were polymorphic in appearance, and were widely distributed in the lungs. Most of them located in the pulmonary alveoli, and some in the inflammatory or carcinomatous lesions. Besides the pneumoconiosis lesion, there were also abundant multinuclear foreign-body giant cells, and proliferation of type II alveolar cells in the alveoli. Regardless of contact history with coal dust, the average number of ferruginous bodies found in the lungs of workers with no pneumoconiosis was much lower than that with pneumoconiosis lesions (P less than 0.05). The number of ferruginous bodies tends to increase with the severity of the pneumoconiosis lesion. The authors consider that it is worth while to make a further study in elucidating the relationship between ferruginous body and the high incidence of pneumoconiosis in Beijing coal area.

Coal Mining↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evolution of functional respiratory disorders in different types of pneumoconiosis.

Three homogeneous groups of patients with silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis and arc welders' pneumoconiosis had been reexamined after an interval of six years. The same examinations were repeated on each occasion with the purpose of evaluating the evolution of radiographic and functional changes. The clinical course, roentgenographic findings and results of function tests differed in the three groups. In silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis the roentgenographic changes showed distinct progression. This progression was less evident in coal workers' pneumoconiosis, but deterioration of pulmonary function was more pronounced than in silicosis, apparently due to emphysema. In pneumoconiosis of welders roentgenographic changes showed a clear tendency to regression and respiratory function was not impaired.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed2002

[Correlation of different types of emphysema in high-resolution computed tomography (HR-CT) with the ILO-classification of coal workers pneumoconiosis].

PURPOSE: The complaints of patients suffering from pneumoconiosis and the decrease in cardio-respiratory function tests are related to the major complications, emphysema or bronchitis, resp. to a lesser degree the complaints are directly influenced by the silicotic process itself. Up to now, no large study has analysed the correlation of different types and severity of emphysema with the ILO-classification of pneumoconiosis in miners. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 104 miners the severity of pneumoconiosis was classified by ILO. By HR-CT the type and severity of emphysema was analysed using a 4-point-scale. The correlation of emphysema with the ILO-classification was tested with Pearson-correlation. RESULTS: The centrolobular emphysema was the dominant type with 59 %, but there was no dependence on the severity of pneumoconiosis. Only the paracicatricial emphysema had a significant correlation (p < 0.05) with the degree of large opacities. On the other hand, the paracicatricial emphysema was only detected in 32 %; under quantitative aspects it was seen to be less common than the centrolobular, the parapleural and the paraseptal emphysema (46 %). There was no significant correlation with the size and distribution of the small opacities and the different types of emphysema. CONCLUSIONS: Only the large opacities had a significant correlation with the appearance of paracicatricial emphysema. The other types of emphysema, especially, the dominant centrolobular type had no obvious association with pneumoconiosis. The multifactoral genesis of emphysema has to be taken into account.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Clinical course of pneumoconiosis after exposure to dust evaluated by the results of ambulatory follow-up].

Results of follow-up and treatment of different pneumoconiosis types in 749 patients are represented. Rational employment combined with individualized treatment stabilize pneumoconiosis in 80.5% of cases with interstitial silicosis, in those with silico - silicosis --85.5% the nodular form in 70.5% and 77.8% of cases respectively. In the patients with the first symptoms of silicotuberculosisis the interstitial and nodular forms of the process stabilized in more than 50% of cases and in more than 60% of silico - silicatosis cases. Active interstitial tuberculosis was revealed in 7.3% of cases, nodular one--in 16.2%. The course of the macronodular pneumoconiosis in 50.2% of cases was unfavourable. 23.2% of patients with pneumoconiosis caused by electric-welding aerosol showed regress of pneumoconiosis in afterdust period.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed1999

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in coal miners: looking into the effects of simple pneumoconiosis.

BACKGROUND: Although severe impairment of pulmonary function is believed to occur commonly in complicated pneumoconiosis, the relationships of simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) to pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms have remained under debate. The study aims to investigate if simple pneumoconiosis is associated with significant impairment of pulmonary function and increased risk of respiratory symptoms. METHODS: Spirometry and diffusing capacity were performed in 205 miners with simple CWP and 289 without X ray evidence of pneumoconiosis, who were selected from a large underground coal mine in China. A questionnaire on occupational history and respiratory symptoms including breathlessness, chronic cough, and phlegm was administered. The presence or absence of emphysema on their X-ray films was also evaluated. Logistic regression and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to estimate the independent effect of CWP on respiratory symptoms and parameters of pulmonary function. RESULTS: On the average, the miners with CWP had lower values of pulmonary function and higher prevalences of respiratory symptoms, and emphysema than did those without. The simple CWP was associated with increased risk of the respiratory symptoms after adjusting for age, smoking, and years underground. Regression analysis showed that the CWP had significantly independent effects on parameters of pulmonary function. Even when the effects of emphysema, respiratory symptoms indicating chronic bronchitis were taken into consideration, the significant relationship between CWP and decrements in FVC and diffusing capacity remained. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study are consistent with simple CWP being a contributor to significant decrements in pulmonary function, and to increased risk of respiratory symptoms.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum immunoglobulins, rheumatoid factor, and pneumoconiosis in coal miners with rheumatoid arthritis.

The occurrence and severity of pneumoconiosis were studied in 100 coal miners with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compared to findings in a geographically relevant survey of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Contrary to European reports, miners with RA were not found to have an excessive frequency or severity of pneumoconiosis. In 55 of these men, serum immunoglobulin levels and rheumatoid factor were compared with data from matched RA patients with no history of silica exposure. The immunochemical results were unrelated to the stage of pneumoconiosis, nor did they differ from those in the control group.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Some immunological studies on coalworkers with and without pneumoconiosis.

This work formed part of a series of studies devised to investigate immunological markers which it was considered might reflect individual susceptibility to the development of coalworkers' pneumoconiosis and especially progressive massive fibrosis. Estimations of T and B lymphocytes and white blood cell counts (WBCC) were performed on blood samples from 324 coalworkers grouped according to radiographic category of pneumoconiosis, age, and smoking habits. A subgroup of 43 men was further screened for both humoral anti-lung antibodies (ALA) and direct lymphocyte-mediated cellular cytotoxicity (LMCC) towards human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HEL). In addition 673 serum samples obtained during a previous study of autoimmune factors in coalworkers were screened for humoral antibodies to HEL cells. The only correlation found between category of pneumoconiosis and alterations in WBCC, percentage or absolute numbers of lymphocytes, or the presence of anti-lung antibodies was a decrease in a subgroup of T lymphocytes with increasing severity of pneumoconiosis. The major factor influencing these parameters in this study was the smoking status of the man. Smokers showed increased WBCC and lymphocyte numbers and a higher frequency of ALA and LMCC when compared with nonsmokers.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pneumoconiosis and pulmonary function defects in silica-exposed fire brick workers.

This study was conducted to investigate the health effects of exposure to silica dust in firebrick manufacturing plants. A cross-sectional study was designed, and the health effects in 526 exposed workers were compared with 164 nonexposed control workers. The medical examination included chest x-rays, pulmonary function tests, and a respiratory symptom questionnaire. Radiological evidence of pneumoconiosis was evident in 6.9% of the exposed firebrick workers, and the prevalence of pneumoconiosis increased with duration of employment. No differences in forced vital capacity were noted between the exposed and control groups; however, in both smokers and nonsmokers of the exposed group, forced expiratory flow in 1 s/forced vital capacity, mean maximal expiratory flow, forced expiratory flow at 50% vital capacity, and forced expiratory flow at 75% vital capacity were significantly lower than in the control group. Pulmonary function decreased as the duration of employment increased. The exposed group experienced significantly more wheezing, compared with the control group. There was evidence of a dose-response relationship between prevalence of pneumoconiosis/pulmonary function defects and estimated dust exposure levels. Pneumoconiosis and pulmonary function defects occurred frequently in workers who participated in the crushing and burning operations, both of which cause exposure to high levels of silica dust. We concluded that exposure to silica dust in workers at firebrick factories leads to radiological changes, pneumoconiosis, and pulmonary function damage.

Adult↗

PubMed1979

HLA-A and B antigen frequencies in Welsh coalworkers with pneumoconiosis and Caplan's syndrome.

HLA typing was performed on 267 Welsh coalworkers with pneumoconiosis (96 cases of simple pneumoconiosis, 115 cases of progressive massive fibrosis and 56 cases of Caplan's Syndrome) and 134 coalworkers with no abnormality. The presence or absence of rheumatoid factor was also determined. The results fail to confirm a previously reported increase in HLA-A1 and B18 in coalworkers with no pneumoconiosis. When correction was made for the number of antigens typed (i) HLA-Bw21 was significantly increased from 1.1% in the total group with pneumoconiosis to 8.2% in coalworkers with no abnormality (P corrected less than 0.032); (ii) HLA-Bw45 was increased in Caplan's Syndrome (10.7%) and Caplan's Syndrome patients with rheumatoid factor (16.1%) when compared to a non-occupationally exposed control group (0.8%) (P corrected = 0.019 and 0.0064 respectively). These results were not significant when comparisons were made with the coalworker group with no abnormality. The apparent higher frequency of Bw45 in Welsh coalworkers is discussed.

Caplan Syndrome↗

PubMed1983

Prevalence and relation to underground exposure of radiological irregular opacities in South Wales coal workers with pneumoconiosis.

A total of 124 coal workers and ex-coal workers receiving disability benefit for coal worker's pneumoconiosis and routinely reattending the Cardiff Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel during a 10-week period were studied. Those with complicated pneumoconiosis were excluded. Their current chest radiographs and their chest radiographs at the time of certification were read in random order by three readers using the 1980 ILO Classification of Radiographs. An irregularity score was derived from the readings. The x-ray findings were examined for changes since certification and for relationships with age, smoking, and underground coal work exposure. One-fifth of the current radiographs showed mainly irregular opacities, whereas nearly all of those from the time of certification showed mainly irregular opacities, whereas nearly all of those from the time of certification showed mainly rounded opacities. Irregular opacities were related to age, smoking, and underground exposure. The exposure effect remained after excluding the older men. The findings suggest that radiological irregular opacities, and their associated pathology and lung function changes, commonly develop in coal workers with pneumoconiosis and should be considered part of the condition.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Progressive massive fibrosis and simple pneumoconiosis in ex-miners.

A group of 17 738 working miners, medically examined during 1953-8, were followed up from 1974 to 1980. Of the 7118 men re-examined, 2547 were still working miners and 4526 had left the industry (45 were of unrecorded status). The incidence of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) over an average follow up period of 22 years among men who had remained in the industry was 27 per 1000, but 94 per 1000 among men who had left. This difference was only partly related to the difference in age between the groups; for men without simple pneumoconiosis at the start of the period, and for similar age groups (45-64), the attack rate in miners was 20 per 1000 and in the ex-miners 41 per 1000. In a group of 1902 leavers who did not have PMF at a medical examination conducted at most four years before leaving, 172 had developed PMF by the time of the follow up examination. Of these, 116 had had simple pneumoconiosis at the earlier examination. Cumulative exposure to respirable dust, category of simple pneumoconiosis, and age were each found to influence the probability of developing PMF in a subgroup of the 1902 men. Among the 1902 leavers, there was no overall progression or regression of simple pneumoconiosis.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1986

Quantitative relations between exposure to respirable coalmine dust and coalworkers' simple pneumoconiosis in men who have worked as miners but have left the coal industry.

Present estimates of the quantitative relations between exposure to mixed respirable coalmine dust and risk of developing coalworkes' simple pneumoconiosis are based on studies of working miners. These studies did not include men who had been miners but had left the coal industry, and it was not known whether the estimates of risk were also appropriate for these men. The results are reported of a study in which the dust/disease relations in men who have been miners but have left the industry have been compared with those in men who have remained in it. A sample of 17738 men who were first examined when working in 24 British collieries in the 1950s has been followed up about 22 years later. It was possible to examine 61% of the survivors, 44% of the original sample. Simple pneumoconiosis was more frequent among men (particularly older men) who had left the industry than among those who had stayed in it. A detailed analysis did not show any systematic or statistically significant difference between men who stayed and men who left in the quantitative relations between dust exposure and simple pneumoconiosis. Present estimates of risk of simple pneumoconiosis in relation to exposure to mixed respirable dust in working miners adequately describe the relation found in men who have been miners but have left the industry.

Adult↗