Occupational exposure to crystalline silica and peripheral biomarkers: An update.

Peripheral biomarkers are important tools for detecting occupational exposures to prevent the onset and/or progression of diseases. Studies that reveal early peripheral biomarkers are highly important to preserve the health of workers and can potentially contribute to diagnosing and/or prognosing occupational pathologies. Exposure to crystalline silica is a problem in several workplaces because it increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis, clinically defined as silicosis. Silicosis is diagnosed by chest radiography and/or lung tomography in advanced stages when there is a severe loss of lung function. Peripheral biomarkers can help in diagnosing early changes prior to silicosis and represent a highly important technical-scientific advance that is minimally invasive. This review aimed to investigate the biomarkers studied for evaluating occupational exposure to crystalline silica and to understand the recent advances in this area. Potential oxidative, inflammatory, and immunological biomarkers were reviewed, as well as routine biomarkers such as biochemical parameters. It was found that biomarkers of effect such as serum CC16 and l-selectin levels could represent promising alternatives. Additionally, studies have shown that neopterin levels in urine and serum can be used to monitor worker exposure. However, further studies are needed that include a greater number of participants, different times of exposure to crystalline silica, and a combination of silicosis patients and healthy volunteers. Evaluating the concentration of crystalline silica in occupational environments, its impact on biomarkers of effect, and alterations in lung function could contribute to revealing early health alterations in workers in a more robust manner.

Pulmonology approach in the investigation of chronic unexplained dyspnea.

Chronic unexplained dyspnea and exercise intolerance represent common, distressing symptoms in outpatients. Clinical history taking and physical examination are the mainstays for diagnostic evaluation. However, the cause of dyspnea may remain elusive even after comprehensive diagnostic evaluation-basic laboratory analyses; chest imaging; pulmonary function testing; and cardiac testing. At that point (and frequently before), patients are usually referred to a pulmonologist, who is expected to be the main physician to solve this conundrum. In this context, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), to assess physiological and sensory responses from rest to peak exercise, provides a unique opportunity to unmask the mechanisms of the underlying dyspnea and their interactions with a broad spectrum of disorders. However, CPET is underused in clinical practice, possibly due to operational issues (equipment costs, limited availability, and poor remuneration) and limited medical education regarding the method. To counter the latter shortcoming, we aspire to provide a pragmatic strategy for interpreting CPET results. Clustering findings of exercise response allows the characterization of patterns that permit the clinician to narrow the list of possible diagnoses rather than pinpointing a specific etiology. We present a proposal for a diagnostic workup and some illustrative cases assessed by CPET. Given that airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary vascular disorders, which are within the purview of pulmonology, are common causes of chronic unexplained dyspnea, we also aim to describe the role of bronchial challenge tests and the diagnostic reasoning for investigating the pulmonary circulation in this context.

Pulmonology approach in the investigation of chronic unexplained dyspnea / Abordagem pneumológica na investigação de dispneia crônica inexplicada

ABSTRACT Chronic unexplained dyspnea and exercise intolerance represent common, distressing symptoms in outpatients. Clinical history taking and physical examination are the mainstays for diagnostic evaluation. However, the cause of dyspnea may remain elusive even after comprehensive diagnostic evaluation-basic laboratory analyses; chest imaging; pulmonary function testing; and cardiac testing. At that point (and frequently before), patients are usually referred to a pulmonologist, who is expected to be the main physician to solve this conundrum. In this context, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), to assess physiological and sensory responses from rest to peak exercise, provides a unique opportunity to unmask the mechanisms of the underlying dyspnea and their interactions with a broad spectrum of disorders. However, CPET is underused in clinical practice, possibly due to operational issues (equipment costs, limited availability, and poor remuneration) and limited medical education regarding the method. To counter the latter shortcoming, we aspire to provide a pragmatic strategy for interpreting CPET results. Clustering findings of exercise response allows the characterization of patterns that permit the clinician to narrow the list of possible diagnoses rather than pinpointing a specific etiology. We present a proposal for a diagnostic workup and some illustrative cases assessed by CPET. Given that airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary vascular disorders, which are within the purview of pulmonology, are common causes of chronic unexplained dyspnea, we also aim to describe the role of bronchial challenge tests and the diagnostic reasoning for investigating the pulmonary circulation in this context.

RESUMO A dispneia crônica inexplicada e a intolerância ao exercício representam sintomas comuns e angustiantes em pacientes ambulatoriais. O histórico clínico e o exame físico são as bases da avaliação diagnóstica. No entanto, a causa da dispneia pode permanecer inexplicada mesmo após uma avaliação diagnóstica abrangente - análises laboratoriais básicas, exames de imagem do tórax, testes de função pulmonar e testes cardíacos. Nesse momento (e frequentemente antes), os pacientes geralmente são encaminhados a um pneumologista, o qual se espera que seja o principal médico para a resolução desse enigma. Nesse contexto, o teste de exercício cardiopulmonar (TECP), para avaliação de respostas fisiológicas e sensoriais do repouso ao pico do exercício, proporciona uma oportunidade única de desvendar os mecanismos subjacentes à dispneia e as interações desses mecanismos com um amplo espectro de distúrbios. No entanto, o TECP é subutilizado na prática clínica, possivelmente por questões operacionais (custos dos equipamentos, disponibilidade limitada e baixa remuneração) e limitação da formação médica em relação ao método. Para enfrentar esta última deficiência, almejamos fornecer uma estratégia pragmática para a interpretação dos resultados do TECP. O agrupamento dos achados da resposta ao exercício permite a caracterização de padrões que possibilitam ao clínico restringir a lista de possíveis diagnósticos, em vez de apontar uma etiologia específica. Apresentamos uma proposta de avaliação diagnóstica e alguns casos ilustrativos avaliados por TECP. Como a hiper-responsividade das vias aéreas e os distúrbios vasculares pulmonares, que são da competência da pneumologia, são causas comuns de dispneia crônica inexplicada, também objetivamos descrever o papel dos testes de broncoprovocação e o raciocínio diagnóstico para a investigação da circulação pulmonar nesse contexto.

Importance of abdominal circumference and body mass index values in predicting male hypogonadism – A practical approach

ABSTRACT Objective The objective of this study was to correlate the values of abdominal circumference (AC) and body mass index (BMI) with the levels of total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) and sexual hormone binding globulin (SHBG). We aimed to analyze the association between the anthropometric values and variations in the hormonal levels. Subjects and methods A transversal prospective study was conducted. A total of 159 patients were included in the study. Results BMI was inversely correlated with TT and SHBG (p = 0.02 and p = 0.006, respectively). AC was also inversely correlated withTT and SHBG (p = 0.006 and p < 0.0001, respectively). However, BMI did not correlate signicantly with these hormonal levels after adjusting for age. Conclusion This finding led to the conclusion that AC had a stronger inverse correlation than BMI with TT and SHBG. Our data suggested that AC alone can be used as an anthropometric parameter to help simplify the identification of men with low serum TT levels.