Respiratory health of cigar factory workers

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether occupational exposure to raw tobacco causes respiratory or allergic diseases, an excess of respiratory symptoms, a decrease in lung function, or parenchymal changes in chest radiography among Finnish cigar workers. METHODS: This cross sectional study included all Finnish cigar workers (n = 106) exposed to raw tobacco and also a group of unexposed matched referents. Data were collected with a self administered questionnaire, flow volume spirometry, measurements of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, chest radiography and skin prick tests. A questionnaire was also sent to former workers of the factory. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and chest radiography findings. Nine of 102 tobacco workers had pulmonary fibrosis of at least 1/0 (according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) 1980 classification) and the corresponding figure was five for the referents. The tobacco workers tended to have a low forced vital capacity (FVC), and they had impaired forced expiratory volume in 1 second and lower means of the maximal expiratory flow at 25% of the FVC significantly more often than the referents. Diffusing capacity tended to be lower among the referents. The referents more often had atopy and earlier atopic diseases than the exposed workers. These results indicate the possibility of selection among the exposed workers. CONCLUSIONS: No excess of prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the tobacco workers was found. According to the questionnaire episodes of allergic alveolitis may have occurred in the cigar factory workers. However, in the absence of impairments in lung function and radiological changes it was not possible to distinguish humidifier fever and allergic alveolitis. In exposure conditions that include humidification of the air humidifier, fever and allergic alveolitis constitute a risk for tobacco workers. No effects were shown of exposure to tobacco dust on lung function.       

2-[对-(二甲氨基)苯乙烯]氯化甲基吡啶对大鼠心电图、豚鼠左心房收缩及乳头肌动作电位的影响

2-[对-(二甲氨基)苯乙烯]氯化甲基吡啶(DSPM-Cl),是由氯取代2-[对-(二甲氨基)苯乙烯]碘化甲基吡啶(DSPM)上的碘而得。本文应用心电图、机械收缩描记方法及细胞内标准微电极技术,研究DSPM-Cl对大鼠心电图(ECG)、豚鼠心房肌量效曲线及对豚鼠乳头肌快反应动作电位(AP)、高钾除极慢反应动作电位(SAP)的影响。结果显示,DSPM-Cl(2mg·kg^-1)对大鼠有明显的负性频率、负性传导作用,分别使PP间期、PR间期延长达66.2%(P<0.01),17.0%(P<0.01),50μmol·L^-1能明显抑制左心房收缩力,非竟争性拮抗Iso及CaCl₂对豚鼠左心房的正性肌力作用,PD^2'分别为4.6,4.34,100μmol·L^-1DSPM-Cl延长动作电位时程APD₉₀,有效不应期(ERP),降低高钾除极豚鼠乳头肌0期最大上升速率Vmax,其作用与Ver相似,提示DSPM-Cl可能为钙拮抗剂。     

ENDOTHELIAL CELL CULTURE AND SEEDING OF PROSTHETIC VASCULAR GRAFTS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Current synthetic vascular prostheses do not acquire lining of vascular endothelium in humans or dogs. Endothelial seeding of vascular grafts has been proposed as a means of reducing the thrombogenicity of these grafts. We examined feasibility of cultivating endothelial cells (EC) by tissue culture technique and their subsequent seeding onto small diameter polytetra fluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts. Twenty adult dogs underwent common carotid artery interposition with 4 mm PTFE grafts. Ten dogs received seeded and the remaining ten received unseeded grafts. Grafts were removed at 4 and 12 weeks and their gross/morphological features compared. Cumulative patency rates for seeded grafts were 70% as compared to unseeded ones 30%. Seeded grafts were completely surfaced with a mono-layer of endothelium by 4 weeks. Small graft patency appears to be related to the establishment of an endothelial surface, the development of which is clearly facilitated by seeding with autogenous endothelium.KEY WORDS: Endothelial cell seeding, Vascular grafts     

Resources and Productivity in Radiation Oncology in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden During 1987

Data concerning megavoltage equipment and use of mega-voltage external beams in cancer management during 1987 in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden were collected from all 37 centres serving a population of 23 million in these countries. Population per Linear Accelerator Equivalent (LAE) unit ranged from 0.30 million/LAE unit (Denmark) to 0.19 million/LAE unit (Sweden). the number of field treatments were 227 548 (Denmark), 259 917 (Finland), 10 426 (Iceland), 147 960 (Norway) and 490 126 (Sweden). the number of field treatments per million population per year ranged from 35 229 (Norway) to 58 438 (Sweden). the number of field treatments per LAE unit/year ranged from 13 192 (Denmark) to 9 546 (Norway). the fraction of cancer patients receiving megavoltage radiotherapy in 1987 out of all newly diagnosed cancer patients during 1987 was 24% in Denmark, 37% in Iceland, 25% in Norway, and 34% in Finland and Sweden. We conclude that Denmark and Norway probably did not provide adequate levels of radiotherapy for their cancer patients during 1987.     

Cloning of cDNA coding for connective tissue activating peptide III from a human platelet-derived lambda gt11 expression library

We report here the cloning of the cDNA coding for platelet connective tissue-activating peptide-III (CTAP-III) from a lambda gt11 expression library prepared using messenger RNA (mRNA) isolated from human platelets. The open reading frame of the clone coded for a protein with 128 amino acid residues. Since the precursor of CTAP-III, platelet basic protein (PBP is 94 amino acids long, the 5'-translated region of the cDNA codes for a leader sequence 34 amino acids long. This leader sequence, like the sequence of mature CTAP-III, shows significant homology to the sequence of platelet factor 4 (PF4), the only other platelet specific alpha-granule protein cloned until now, from a human erythroleukemic (HEL) cell line-derived cDNA library. These leader sequences are probably critical for targeting such proteins to the alpha-granule. Northern blot hybridization with platelet and megakaryocyte mRNA shows a single species mRNA of approximately 0.8 kb, suggesting that the corresponding cDNA is full length. The cloning of platelet specific CTAP-III provides additional evidence for the platelet specificity of the cDNA library used.     

Effect of tamoxifen on immune functions

Tamoxifen (20 mg twice daily) was given to ten patients with breast cancer whose immune functions were determined prior to and 3, 6, and 12 months after starting tamoxifen therapy. No consistent changes could be observed in erythrocyte rosette-forming cell counts, erythrocyte antibody rosette-forming cells, active erythrocyte rosette-forming cells, theophylline-resistant rosette-forming cells, surface immunoglobulin-positive cells, and responses to mitogens phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. Erythrocyte antibody rosette-forming cells decreased significantly, however, at 6 months and active erythrocyte rosette-forming cells at 12 months after starting tamoxifen. We conclude that no change in the immune capacity could be detected during tamoxifen treatment.