Mortality in punctiform type of coalworkers'' pneumoconiosis

Waters, W. E., Cochrane, A. L., and Moore, F. (1974).British Journal of Industrial Medicine,31, 196-200. Mortality in punctiform type of coalworkers' pneumoconiosis. Recent studies conducted on miners at necropsy and on those attending a pneumoconiosis medical panel have suggested that the punctiform type of opacities are associated with a significant gas transfer defect and with emphysema. However, a 10-year follow-up of a random sample of miners and ex-miners in the Rhondda Fach found that the mortality experience of those with the punctiform type was, if anything, more favourable than that for other types of pneumoconiosis. This may be related to radiographic technique, but there may also be physiological reasons. There was no evidence that those with the punctiform type had different smoking habits from those with other types of pneumoconiosis.     

Relationship of pulmonary impairment in simple coal workers'' pneumoconiosis to type of radiographic opacity

Seaton, A., Lapp, N. L., and Morgan, W. K. C. (1972).Brit. J. industr. Med.,29, 50-55. Relationship of pulmonary impairment in simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis to type of radiographic opacity. From a group of 1 461 working coal miners who participated in an epidemiological study, 223 men with simple pneumoconiosis were selected on the basis of the type of small rounded opacity noted to be present in their chest films. No differences in spirometry or lung volumes were found between those with the micronodular (q) and those with pinhead (p) opacities. Twenty-five non-smoking miners with category 2 or 3 simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis were subsequently selected for further pulmonary function testing. Studies of lung volumes and pulmonary mechanics showed no difference between those with the pinhead and micronodular types of opacity; however, transfer factor was somewhat lower in those with the former.     

Mica pneumoconiosis

Two men developed pneumoconiosis after grinding and packing powdered mica. The disease was characterised by progressive dyspnoea, a restrictive impairment of ventilation, a reduced transfer factor, and hypoxaemia. Radiographs showed widespread fine nodular and linear shadows. Progression occurred after cessation of exposure, but this was much more pronounced in the man who died from coronary artery disease. Postmortem examination showed widespread fine fibrosis and nodules measuring up to 1.5 cm in diameter, all related to the deposition of doubly refractile crystals. Mineral formed over 9% of dry tissue weight, and electron microscopy and x-ray analysis showed it to be muscovite. Other minerals were not found.     

Graphite pneumoconiosis

Ranasinha, K. W., and Uragoda, C. G. (1972).Brit. J. industr. Med.,29, 178-183. Graphite pneumoconiosis. In this survey, which is the first of its kind in the graphite industry, 344 workers in a large mine in Ceylon were investigated for pulmonary lesions; 22·7% of them had radiographic abnormalities, which included small rounded and irregular opacities, large opacities, and significant enlargement of hilar shadows. They had worked considerably longer in the industry and were, on average, older than the rest. Only 19·2% of the affected workers had respiratory symptoms, of which dyspnoea and cough were the most frequent. Digital clubbing was seen in 21·9%.

In an age and sex matched control group, comprising 327 persons from a neighbouring village, only 8 (2·4%) showed radiographic abnormalities.

Graphite pneumoconiosis closely resembles coal miners' pneumoconiosis in many respects. It does not appear to be a pure silicosis, neither could it be considered a true carbon pneumoconiosis. It is likely that massive fibrosis is associated with tuberculous infection.

     

电焊工尘肺与陶工尘肺临床特征对比

收集2014—2021年北京大学第三医院诊断的电焊工尘肺(25例)、陶工尘肺(23例)患者病历资料,回顾性分析比较两组患者的流行病学、X线胸片、肺功能等特征因素。陶工尘肺患者开始接尘年龄小于电焊工尘肺[(21.8±6.4)岁vs(27.7±9.8)岁],潜伏期、诊断年龄高于电焊工尘肺[(48.1±12.5)年vs(28.4±13.5)年,(69.9±11.6)岁vs(56.1±8.4)岁],差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);电焊工尘肺患者X线胸片小阴影分布肺区数目少于陶工尘肺(F=1.658,P=0.032);陶工尘肺患者肺功能异常率高于电焊工尘肺(χ²=10.215,P=0.017),两组患者肺功能相关性分析发现,肺功能与X线小阴影分布肺区数目相关(OR=3.417,P=0.005),提示尘肺患者肺功能异常与肺区受累范围呈正相关。