Search results

1

Pneumomediastinum, bilateral pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema complicating acute silicosis

100%

Dixit R., Meena M., Patil C. B.

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

|

2015

|

vol. 28

|

issue 3

635-638

EN

A case of acute silicosis complicating as spontaneous pneumomediastinum, bilateral pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema is described in a 35-year-old male engaged in stone crusher unit. Diagnosis was established on clinical and radiological assessment and supported by occupational history of the patient. This case is unique one as all these 3 complications at the same time are very uncommon in acute silicosis.

2

Concept of health surveillance programme for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica at present and in the past

86%

Nowak-Pasternak J., Świątkowska B., Lipińska-Ojrzanowska A.

Medycyna Pracy

|

2023

|

vol. 74

|

issue 4

341-346

EN

In the paper authors present general assumptions of health surveillance programme concept for workers employed in respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure at present and in the past. There is no effective treatment for silicosis thus disease prevention is of paramount significance. For decades efforts of World Health Organization (WHO) and International Work Organization (ILO) have been focused on eliminating silicosis globally. Unfortunately silicosis is still one of the most lethal occupational diseases and the preventative programmes have not yet been successful. The authors identify main steps to complete an overview of RCS exposure and suggest lines of actions to be taken before launching the health surveillance programme. Introduction of the health surveillance programme would increase awareness of harmful health effects of the RCS exposure, emphasize the significance of preventive medical check-ups and early diagnostics of occupational diseases as well as the importance of using appropriate protective equipment. The programme development on a national level might be carried out with the cooperation of multiple backgrounds and institutions. This would allow for detailed planning, implementation, monitoring and effective evaluation of its results. Having a better and updated knowledge of silicosis epidemiology, early diagnostics, the possible sources of RCS occupational exposure and evaluation of undertaken preventive actions are crucial factors in disease prevention. The programme introduction would be of educational significance for all the stakeholders and the groups engaged in the project implementation, which would contribute to high effectiveness of the preventive activities and their improvement in the future.

3

A study of oxidative stress and pulmonary damage after silica instillation in rats and the effect of curcumin administration

86%

Barsan M., Rajnoveanu A. G., Cocarla A., Bolfa P., Login C. C., Socaciu A. I., Decea N., Leucuta D.-C.

Medycyna Pracy

|

2021

|

vol. 72

|

issue 3

239-247

EN

BackgroundThe authors’ aim was to study the dynamics of oxidative stress in experimental exposure to silica dust, to evaluate the histopathological findings in the phase preceding the formation of fibrous/fibrohyaline pulmonary nodules, and to assess the effects of curcumin administration.Material and MethodsThe research was performed on 48 male Wistar rats with an average weight of 320 g. Overall, 38 rats were instilled with a single dose of 0.3 ml suspension containing 30 mg of a SiO2/ml saline solution, and were sacrificed 30, 90 and 120 days after instillation; 14 of those sacrificed on days 90 and 120 also received curcumin. The control group included 10 animals which were instilled with a saline solution. Malondialdehyde (MDA), carbonyl proteins (CPs), total thiolic proteins (TPs) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were determined in blood and the lung tissue. The standard technique for pulmonary toxicology developed by Porter was applied to semi-quantitatively assess the histopathological findings.ResultsIt was found that MDA had increased significantly early on in both biological environments and remained elevated, and adding curcumin proved beneficial, while CPs only increased moderately in the lung tissue without a curcumin impact. Moreover, TPs dropped abruptly, significantly and persistently in the lung tissue and blood, and were not influenced by curcumin. Finally, GSH decreased significantly and intensely in the lung tissue and blood, with curcumin lowering the levels towards those found within the control group. The histopathological examination identified nodules of a cellular type, without any fibrosis, but with spots of associated lipoproteinosis. The early lesions in the airways and vessels were suggestive of a remodeling process. Curcumin diminished the occurrence of alveolitis but not the remodeling process.ConclusionsThe study confirms the early onset of oxidative stress in experimental silicosis. It also simultaneously and dynamically researches markers of oxidative stress in blood and the lung tissue. Curcumin proved beneficial on oxidative stress and lesions in the alveolar epithelia, but ineffective in preventing vascular and airway remodeling. Med Pr. 2021;72(3):239–47

4

Silicosis in Switzerland

86%

Koller M. F., Scholz S. M., Pletscher C., Miedinger D.

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

|

2018

|

vol. 31

|

issue 5

659-676

EN

Objectives The correlation between quartz dust concentrations in the Swiss enterprises and the incidence of silicosis and other related diseases acknowledged as occupational diseases (OD) was investigated. Material and Methods Quartz dust concentrations were obtained from Suva’s databases of occupational health surveillance measurements between 2005 and 2014. Information on quartz dust-related diseases was from medical dossiers of workers with OD acknowledged by Suva between 2005 and 2014. Results The median quartz dust concentration of the 2579 measurements between 2005 and 2014 was 0.09 mg/m³ (alveolar fraction). Out of all measurements, 28% were above the Swiss occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 0.15 mg/m³ (alveolar fraction). One hundred eighty-one individuals suffered from acknowledged quartz dust-related disease (179 silicosis and 2 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)). Additionally, 8 out of these workers were diagnosed with lung cancer and 55 with COPD of a non-specified cause. Out of all workers, 46% were exposed to silica dust for the first time before 1975 when the current Swiss OEL was introduced. Out of the foreign workers, 63% began to work abroad, during which they could have at least partly acquired their silicosis. Out of all workers, 75% were ever-smokers. Conclusions The incidence of silicosis decreased drastically from approximately 300 cases/year in the 1970s to fewer than 20 cases/year 20 years ago. Several findings of this study that could help to interpret the ongoing occurrence of the disease include excessive exposure in or outside of Switzerland in former or current times, vulnerability to the development of silicosis due to cigarette smoke, or poor compliance with wearing breathing masks. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(5):659–676

5

Epidemiology of silicosis reported to the central register of occupational diseases over last 20 years in Poland

86%

Nowak-Pasternak J., Lipińska-Ojrzanowska A., Świątkowska B.

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

|

2022

|

vol. 35

|

issue 5

561-570

EN

Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate and assess the incidence of silicosis cases acknowledged as occupational diseases in Poland in 2000–2019. Material and Methods The cases of all medically recognized pneumoconioses, including silicoses, certified as occupational diseases were studied. The records were extracted from the Central Register of Occupational Diseases, the only official Polish central electronic data base of occupational diseases. Results During the period 2000–2019, 2066 confirmed cases of silicoses and 10 665 cases of other pneumoconioses including asbestosis and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis were reported to the Central Register of Occupational Diseases. Silicoses accounted for 12.8–21.2% of all pneumoconioses. The number of confirmed silicoses cases was growing along with the length of latency period and was the highest for the period of ≥40 years (513 cases). Over 70% of silicoses cases occurred after occupational exposure >20 years. The most workers who evolved silicosis were employed in manufacturing, predominantly casting of iron, mining and quarrying and construction. Conclusions The number of confirmed cases of silicosis in Poland decreased in 2000–2019 but the disease still remains an important health problem. Prevention is crucial to reduce further disease incidence. The medical monitoring standards of exposed workers should be improved. Developing new diagnosing guidelines with the use of other imaging examinations, like high-resolution computed tomography, has to be considered. The analysis should contribute into the implementation of silicosis preventative programmes, both at the enterprise and national level.

6

Subcutaneous administration of infliximab-attenuated silica-induced lung fibrosis

86%

Zhang H., Sui J.-N., Gao L., Guo J.

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

|

2017

|

vol. 31

|

issue 4

503-515

EN

Objectives To investigate the influence of the anti-tumor necrosis factor-α infliximab (IFX) in the case of rats with silicosis. Material and Methods Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. The study group (N = 16) – silicosis was induced by intratracheal instillation of 50 mg silica on day 1, and IFX was subcutaneously administered at a dose of 15 mg/kg of body weight from day 2 to day 6, the vehicle group (N = 16) – silica used as the study group but without IFX, the sham group (N = 16) – 1 ml of saline was intratracheal-used. Eight rats in each group were euthanized on day 7 and on day 14, respectively. Lung tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or Masson’s trichromedye. The nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) positioning in the lung tissues were determined by immunohistochemical staining. Levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in rat serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in the lung tissues was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, as well as inhibitor protein-κB (I-κB) and NF-κB p65 expression were measured quantitatively by western blotting. Results Silica installation increased the lung tissues inflammation reaction, oxidative stress and pulmonary fibrosis. Infliximab treatment significantly improved silica-induced lung pathological changes (inflammatory cells, collagen deposition), decreased the TNF-α inhibited NF-κB signaling (I-κB, NF-κB p65) as well as oxidant status (iNOS). Conclusions Infliximab may improve silica-induced pulmonary inflammation by decreasing the TNF-α, inhibiting NF-κB signaling (I-κB, NF-κB p65) as well as oxidant status (iNOS), which suggest that IFX has potential role in the treatment of silica-induced lung damage. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(4):503–515

7

Evaluation of differential serum expression of three factors and pulmonary function in patients with silicosis

86%

Zhu Y., Duan X. Y., Cheng Y. Q., Yao X. J., Xu H., Zhang K. S., Li F. S., Yang F., Liu L. H., Yuan X. J.

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

|

2021

|

vol. 34

|

issue 4

527-540

EN

ObjectivesSilicosis is a chronic occupational lung disease. As was previously found by the authors, some proteins increased in the lung tissue of activated rats, and protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2), factor B, and vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) showed highly differential expressions.Material and MethodsIn this study, serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were collected from patients with silicosis and healthy people to verify the expression of PTPN2, factor B, and VRK1. The diagnostic value of differentially expressed proteins for silicosis was judged.ResultsThe expression levels of serum PTPN2, VRK1, and factor B in patients with silicosis were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.01). Higher serum PTPN2 and factor B concentrations significantly and negatively correlated with the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), maximum vital capacity (VCmax), FEV1, and FVC, suggesting that the high expression of PTPN2 and factor B is associated with decreased pulmonary ventilation function and restrictive ventilatory impairment in patients with silicosis. All area under curve (AUC) measurements generated from single detection events were >0.744, with PTPN2 reaching the highest value (0.858). The AUC, sensitivity, and specificity for the combined diagnosis using factor B and PTPN2 were 0.907, 86.91% and 85.07%, respectively, for factor B and PTPN2. The 3 differentially expressed proteins are potential classes of predictive biomarkers for silicosis.ConclusionsRegarding the economy and test practicality, the best diagnostic combination is factor B and PTPN2 for the analysis of AUC, sensitivity and specificity.

8

Health effects of occupational exposure to crystalline silica in the light of current research results

58%

Maciejewska A.

Medycyna Pracy

|

2014

|

vol. 65

|

issue 6

799-818

PL

Crystalline silica is commonly found in the work environment. Possible health effects of occupational exposure continue to be the subject of extensive research. The aim of this paper was to analyze the recent findings concerning the health effects of exposure to crystalline silica, taking into account different levels of exposure. This work is based on the relevant information from the papers retrieved from the following databases: EBSCO, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science, using the following keywords: crystalline silica, quartz, health effects. The review of the results confirms the multi-faceted harmful effects of crystalline silica. Prolonged occupational exposure, apart from silicosis and non-cancer respiratory diseases, may also result in the development of lung cancer, and autoimmune and chronic kidney diseases, the pathogenesis, which has not been completely explained yet. The exposure to the crystalline silica at concentrations close to the current occupational exposure limit value does not exclude the risk of the following pathologies: silicosis, lung cancer, other lung diseases and renal diseases. It is not feasible to completely eliminate the crystalline silica dust from the work environment. The best way to reduce the health effects of the exposure is to minimize the concentrations of silica dust. Further progress in clarifying the true mechanisms of interaction between silica dust and lung cells, the determination of the importance of surface properties of the silica particles in the pathogenic processes and explaining the effects of co-morbid dust in the work environment may help to prevent the harmful effects of silica dust. Med Pr 2014;65(6):799–818

EN

Krystaliczna krzemionka powszechnie występuje w środowisku pracy. Możliwe zdrowotne skutki zawodowego narażenia są nadal przedmiotem wielu badań. Celem niniejszej pracy była analiza aktualnych wyników badań dotyczących zdrowotnych skutków narażenia na krystaliczną krzemionkę, z uwzględnieniem różnych poziomów ekspozycji. Podstawę opracowania stanowiły publikacje zawarte w bazach: EBSCO, Scopus, ScienceDirect oraz Web of Science, znalezione z użyciem słów kluczowych: crystalline silica, quartz, health effects. Przegląd wyników badań potwierdza wielokierunkowe szkodliwe działanie krystalicznej krzemionki. W następstwie długotrwałej zawodowej ekspozycji, oprócz krzemicy płuc i nienowotworowych chorób układu oddechowego, może rozwijać się rak płuca, a także choroby o niewyjaśnionej ostatecznie patogenezie – choroby autoimmunizacyjne i choroby nerek. Ekspozycja na krystaliczną krzemionkę występującą w zakresie stężeń zbliżonych do obecnie obowiązujących wartości dopuszczalnych nie wyklucza ryzyka wystąpienia następujących patologii: krzemicy, raka płuca, innych chorób płuc oraz chorób nerek. Wyeliminowanie pyłu krystalicznej krzemionki ze środowiska pracy jest praktycznie niemożliwe, a głównym sposobem ograniczania zdrowotnych skutków narażenia nadal pozostaje jego minimalizowanie. Ważnym elementem zapobiegania szkodliwemu działaniu krzemionki może być dalszy postęp w dokładnym wyjaśnieniu mechanizmów interakcji pyłu krzemionkowego z komórkami, ustalenie znaczenia właściwości powierzchniowych cząstek w patogenezie oraz dokładne poznanie interakcji z pyłami współwystępującymi w środowisku pracy. Med. Pr. 2014;65(6):799–818

Refine search results

Pneumomediastinum, bilateral pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema complicating acute silicosis

Concept of health surveillance programme for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica at present and in the past

A study of oxidative stress and pulmonary damage after silica instillation in rats and the effect of curcumin administration

Silicosis in Switzerland

Epidemiology of silicosis reported to the central register of occupational diseases over last 20 years in Poland

Subcutaneous administration of infliximab-attenuated silica-induced lung fibrosis

Evaluation of differential serum expression of three factors and pulmonary function in patients with silicosis

Health effects of occupational exposure to crystalline silica in the light of current research results