Background.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disease with predominant involvement of neutrophils, macrophages and CD8+ lymphocytes. Eosinophilic airway inflammations are reported in stable state and during acute exacerbations of tobacco smoke-associated COPD (TS-COPD). Women exposed to biomass fuel smoke are known to have eosinophils in sputum. However, little is known about the sputum cellular inflammatory profile in biomass fuel smoke-associated COPD (BMS-COPD). We therefore aimed to compare the sputum cellular inflammatory profile in tobacco smoke- and biomass smoke-associated COPD.Methods.The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Goa, India. A total of 113 patients with stable COPD reporting to the outpatient pulmonary clinic were recruited. All participants were ≥ 40 years of age. Sputum induction studies were performed by the method of Pizzichini et al. after baseline subject characterization. Significant eosinophilia was defined as induced sputum eosinophils ≥ 3%.Results.There were 85 TS-COPD and 28 BMS-COPD patients. The mean age [standard deviation (SD)] was 64.7 (7.8) and 63.0 years (8.3), p = 0.32 in TS and BMS-COPD, respectively. Eighteen subjects (21.1%) were female smokers. The smoking pack-year median [interquartile range (IQR)] was 36 (20, 58) and hour-years of biomass smoke exposure mean (SD) was 192.4 (61). The TS-COPD and BMS-COPD cases showed a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) mean (SD) of 57.9 (17.1), and 62.6 (19.4), p= 0.22, respectively. Both groups had similar symptoms and severity of disease. Induced sputum total cell count per gram of sputum × 106 mean (SD) was 3.05 (1.53) for TS-COPD, and 2.55(1.37) for BMS-COPD p=0.12. The neutrophils % mean (SD) was 86.4 (16.5) and 87.9 (10.2), p = 0.64; eosinophils % median (IQR) was 2.5 (1, 10) and 8 (2, 12.8), p = 0.07; lymphocytes % median (IQR) was 0 (0, 0.75) and 0 (0, 1) p = 0.13; macrophages % median (IQR) was 2.5 (0.75, 5.7) and 1 (0, 4.7) p = 0.13; and significant eosinophilia (eosinophils ≥3%) was 42 (49.4%) and 20 (71%), p=0.04, for TS-COPD and BMS-COPD, respectively.Conclusions.For similar severity of disease and clinical symptoms, significant eosinophilic inflammation was observed in stable BMS-COPD, while both groups had similar neutrophilic inflammation.Participant Consent.Obtained.Ethics Approval.The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the Goa Medical College, Goa, India.Competing Interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Oral glucocorticoids are efficacious for treating respiratory diseases but with a high risk to induce diabetes. We analysed a subset of patients from the Redi iron ore miners from a rural setting (n=25,500), who were newly diagnosed diabetics on extensive chronic methylprednisolone equivalent glucocorticoid dose of ≥4 mg/day for at least 3 months for treatment of respiratory ailments due to occupational hazard (n=1100, males= 660, females=4400). t test and Fisher's exact test were used for the statistical analysis. The mean HbA1c was 7.1% (SD ± 0.62, 95% CI 7-7.3), mean age 51 years (SD ± 14, 95% CI 48 - 54), mean BMI 26 kg/m2 (SD ± 3.6, 95% CI 25 - 27), mean Fasting Plasma Glucose 146 mg/dl (SD ± 49, 95% CI 136-155) mg/dl, mean Post Prandial Glucose 207mg/dl (SD±74, 95% CI 192 - 221). HbA1c at diagnosis in the relatively low risk group (young - normal weight group with age < 40 years, BMI <25 kg/m2) (n=231) was less than the high risk group (older - overweight with age > 40 years, BMI >25 kg/m2) (n=616); mean HbA1c 6.7% (SD±0.33, 95% CI 6.5 - 6.8) vs. mean HbA1c 7.3% (SD±0.65, 95% CI 7.1 - 7.5) (p<0.0001). There was a significant correlation for a high propensity of relatively younger <50 years (n=506) and near normal weight people with BMI < 26 kg/m2 (n=594) to develop GIDM (p=0.006). We observed that high incidence of GIDM (4.31%) is an alarmingly harmful problem which has pronounced comorbid implications, especially in the younger, economically productive population in the limited resource setting. The health care professionals need to be educated to limit the use of glucocorticoids to inhalational therapy with minimal systemic effects. Specific pathophysiological approach to address the steroid induced insulin resistance in this population, makes the treatment of GIDM difficult, which calls for action to limit the mining activities and mitigate the risk of chronic complications due to diabetes. Disclosure V. Redkar: None. S. Redkar: None. M. Inamdar: None. A. Inamdar: None. S. Redkar: None. M. Jagtap: None. S. Rane: None. S.V. Kulkarni: None. J. Deshpande: None. U. Wadhwa: None.
The nexus of nuclear safety and security is protecting human life and health and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Stakeholders continually strive to enhance nuclear safety and security with a view to avoiding trade-offs between the two elements. Nuclear safety and security interfaces are examined in the chapter through emphasizing common linkages that promote synergies and highlighting specific areas where conditions may conflict. In the goal to achieve effective integration, the role of organizational culture is emphasized in strengthening safety and security. It provides some recommendations for developing a healthy nuclear safety and security regime, followed by a discussion on the benefits of a risk-informed approach. Finally, it presents an overview of recent research in the interface between nuclear safety and security.
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