Background: While the prevalence of byssinosis is decreasing in industrialized countries and persists at high levels in developing countries, this prevalence is remaining constant in Turkey. Objective: In order to determine the effects of past cotton dust exposure on the respiratory tract, a total of 223 persons working in a cotton mill were included in this study. Methods: A questionnaire was used to inquire about respiratory symptoms. Participants underwent several spirometric measurements, which were performed on the 1st, 3rd and 5th day of the working week. Cotton dust measurements were performed in different divisions of the factory. Results: The most common respiratory symptom was chest tightness (20.3%). The prevalence of byssinosis was 14.2% in cotton-processing workers. Among these cases, 28.6% had symptoms on the 1st day of the week, and 71.4% had symptoms on all days of the week. An acute effect was seen in 53.6% of the workers with byssinosis. Mean respirable dust levels were between 0.095 and 0.413 mg/m3. Conclusions: In spite of technological improvements, respirable dust concentrations are still above the permissible limits, and thus the risk of byssinosis remains. Workers in the cotton industry where obsolete technology is used and standardized protection measures are not applied should be followed for byssinosis.
QT interval dispersion (QTd) reflects inhomogeneity of repolarisation. Delayed cardiac repolarisation leading to the prolongation of the QT interval is a well-characterised precursor of arrhythmias. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) can cause cardiovascular complications, such as arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and systemic and pulmonary hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess QTd in OSAS patients without hypertension.A total of 49 subjects without hypertension, diabetes mellitus, any cardiac or pulmonary diseases, or any hormonal, hepatic, renal or electrolyte disorders were referred for evaluation of OSAS. An overnight polysomnography and a standard 12-lead ECG were performed in each subject. According to the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), subjects were divided into control subjects (AHI ,5, n520) and moderate-severe OSAS patients (AHI o15, n529). QTd (defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum QT interval) and QT-corrected interval dispersion (QTcd) were calculated using Bazzet's formula.In conclusion, the QTcd was significantly higher in OSAS patients (56.1¡9.3 ms) than in controls (36.3¡4.5 ms). A strong positive correlation was shown between QTcd and AHI. In addition, a significantly positive correlation was shown between QTcd and the desaturation index (DI). The AHI and DI were significantly related to QTcd as an independent variable using stepwise regression analysis.The QT-corrected interval dispersion is increased in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients without hypertension, and it may reflect obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome severity.
Respiratory Effects of Chronic AnimalFeed Dust Exposure: Sevin BASER, et al. Pulmonology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Turkey-Aim-The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of chronic work related respiratory symptoms and to determine lung function abnormalities in animal feed industry workers. Method-108 workers with a mean age of ± SD: 32 ± 7.11 yr employed in the animal feed industry and 108 unexposed subjects as a control group were enrolled in the study. All subjects filled out a questionnaire on their respiratory symptoms. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were conducted. Airborne dust (respirable fraction) was sampled during an 8-h work shift. Dust sampling was performed with a Casella AFC 123 machine. Results-A significantly higher prevalence of work related upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms such as cough (12%), dyspnea (5.6%) and sinusitis (8.3%) were found among the workers than in the control group (p=0.001, p=0.04 and p=0.008 respectively). Irritation symptoms such as pruritis of the eyes (11.1%), skin lesions (7.4%) and nose symptoms (8.3%) were also significantly higher among workers that in the control group (p=0.001, p=0.014 and p=0.005 respectively). The mean PFTs (predicted %) of the workers; forced vital capacity (FVC)% ± SD (85.23 ± 12.06), 1-s forced expiratory volume (FEV 1 )% ± SD (88.73 ± 13.09), peak expiratory flow (PEF)% ± SD (70.64 ± 18.76) and forced expiratory flow rate at 25-75% of the FVC (FEF 25-75 )% ± SD (88.42 ± 25.94) were found significantly lower than in the control group ( p < 0 . 0 0 0 1 , p < 0 . 0 0 0 1 , p < 0 . 0 0 0 1 , p < 0 . 0 0 0 1 respectively). Our data indicate that exposure to animal feed dust is an important factor in the occurrence of respiratory symptoms and decline in lung functions. (J Occup Health 2003; 45: 324-330)
M Mi in ne er ra al lo og gi ic ca al l a an na al ly ys si is s o of f t th he e r re es sp pi ir ra at to or ry y t tr ra ac ct t i in n a al lu um mi in ni iu um m o ox xi id de e--e ex xp po os se ed d w wo or rk ke er rs s ABSTRACT: A retrospective study was conducted in order to characterize the retention of fibrous and nonfibrous mineral particles in the respiratory tract in subjects with previous occupational exposure in the aluminium industry. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid (three samples) or lung parenchyma (two samples) were studied using analytical transmission electron microscopy in five patients.A high concentration of aluminium fibres (>10 7 fibres·g -1 dry lung) was identified in two lung tissue samples, and aluminium fibres were also identified in BAL fluid in three patients. All fibres were short (mean length: 1-2 µm), with no fibre longer than 5 µm. Some biopersistence of these fibres in the respiratory tract is suggested from these observations, since fibres were identified in biological samples collected more than 4 yrs after cessation of exposure in four out of five patients.Occupational physicians should be aware of possible exposure to short, thin aluminium fibres during primary aluminium production. Further studies are needed to assess the potential health effects of these fibres. Industrial hygiene measurements should also be performed to document the potential sources of exposure to aluminium fibres in this industry.
A 26-yr-old female was referred to the Chest Dept of the Pamukkale University Medical School, Turkey, for the investigation of coughing and abnormal chest roentgenogram. She suffered flu 3 weeks prior to this and her coughing was persisting since then. She denied fever, phlegm, dyspnoea, wheeze, night sweats and haemoptysis. Before a splenectomy at aged 18 yrs, blood transfusions had been applied monthly.Physical
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