[Molecular genetic markers in evaluating risk of cardiovascular diseases in coal miners of Ukraine].

Left ventricle hypertrophy increases risk of cardiac failure and influences life expectancy. The authors demonstrated diagnostic reliability of genetic markers in evaluating left ventricle hypertrophy formation and their advantages over clinical signs, as outlines prognosis of diseases development on preclinical stage. Through genetic markers analysis with consideration of echo-cardiographic values of left ventricle myocardial weight, the authors determined genotypes associated with left ventricle hypertrophy development.

Results from a Ukrainian-US collaborative study: prevalence and predictors of respiratory symptoms among Ukrainian coal miners.

BACKGROUND: Underground coal mining is an expanding industry in Ukraine, yet little is known about the burden of respiratory disease among Ukrainian miners. METHODS: A Fogarty International Center-supported collaboration between researchers at the University of Illinois and the Institute of Occupational Health in Kyiv, Ukraine formed to improve capacity for conducting and monitoring medical surveillance among Ukrainian coal miners. A cross-sectional survey among a random sample of working and former miners was conducted; demographic, work, and health information were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Weighted prevalence rates were calculated and predictors of respiratory symptoms explored. RESULTS: Improvements in infrastructure, including spirometry and chest radiography testing, transformed medical surveillance among these miners. Results from the health study included that the prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher among former compared to current miners (shortness of breath 35.6% vs. 5.1%; chronic bronchitis 18.1% vs. 13.9%, respectively). A statistically significant exposure-response relationship was observed between years mining and respiratory symptoms in former miners and between years mining at the coal face and respiratory symptoms among current miners. Evidence of downward bias from the healthy worker survivor effect was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This successful international collaboration built a sustainable infrastructure for conducting workplace medical surveillance and research. The resulting study was the first in the western literature to report on respiratory symptoms in this population; likely underestimation of disease rates due to selection and measurement biases was demonstrated. Efforts should continue to build this collaboration and to characterize and reduce respiratory illness among Ukrainian coal miners.

[High resolution CT to diagnose early stages of pneumoconiosis caused by coal dust].

The article deals with results obtained in analysis of high-resolution CT data for 177 coal miners with suspected pneumoconiosis.

[The early clinical signs of bronchopulmonary pathology in workers exposed to organic dust].

144 workers of two Ukrainian fodder production plants have been examined. Respiratory troubles such as chest tightness, cough with phlegm, wheezing were revealed not only in the group of workers exposed to high levels of endotoxins but also in the group exposed to low concentrations. The prevalence of ODTS (Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome), mucosal irritation syndrome, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and obstructive changes of lung function were related to levels of endotoxins in the air of work zone. Respiratory challenge test is the principal to reveal the early signs of obstructive changes of lung function. The protective measures for prophylaxy of the development of occupational diseases in workers exposed to organic dust were proposed.

[Substantiation of preclinical manifestations of bronchopulmonary diseases in workers exposed to organic dust]. / Obhruntuvannia doklinichnykh proiaviv urazhennia bronkholehenevoï systemy u robitnykiv, iaki zaznaiut' vplyvu orhanichnoho pylu.

144 workers of two Ukrainian fodder plants have been examined. Respiratory troubles presenting as cough, expectoration, shortness of breath have come to be the case from not only exposure to high concentrations of endotoxins but from low-level exposures as well. The prevalence of the toxic organic dust syndrome, musocal irritation syndrome, bronchial hyper-reactivity and obstructive changes in the ventilation function of the lungs have been found out to be associated with endotoxin levels in the air of the work environment of the production floor-area. Regarded as valid screenring procedures to early identify those persons predisposed to obstructive changes in the function of external respiration are pharmacological loading tests. Sanitary-and-hygienic and treatment-and-prophylactic measures are proposed to prevent development of occupational diseases in workers exposed to organic dust.

[Classification of pneumoconiosis]. / O klassifikatsii pnevmokonioza.

The article presents a modern classification of pneumoconiosis taking account of the international classification and experience gained by specialists in this country.

Bronchopulmonary pathology in workers exposed to organic fodder dust.

The purpose of this study was to investigate work-related respiratory symptoms, the prevalence of chronic lung diseases and ODTS, and to study the lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the workers of Ukrainian fodder production facilities. 240 workers of two Ukrainian fodder production plants have been examined. Dust concentrations in the air of working zone were different, reaching 48.2 mg/m(3) in the first plant and 16.8 mg/m(3) in the second. Endotoxin levels were 240.0 ng/m(3) and 1.8 ng/m(3) respectively. The length of service at the first plant exceeded 2 times that at the second. In the actual research the investigation of respiratory symptoms, lung function and bronchial reactivity was carried out. A comparison between animal feed workers and internal controls revealed work-related symptoms. The predominant symptomatic and lung function effects indicate a clinical picture related to chronic bronchitis. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 26.4 +/- 4.0% at the first plant and 8.8 +/- 4.8% at the second one (p < 0.01). The prevalence of respiratory troubles was related to dust exposure more strongly that to smoking. 39.7 +/- 4.4% of exposed workers at the first plant and 14.7 +/- 6.0% at the second one revealed organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS). In 47.9 +/- 7.2% of workers with ODTS, this syndrome was associated with chronic bronchitis. Examination of lung function revealed obstructive changes which were more expressed in exposed workers of the first plant. Lung function clearly decreased with increasing duration of employment. Obstruction of small bronchi and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (registered in 74.7% of workers) were the early signs of respiratory troubles in exposed workers.

[Bronchial-pulmonary pathology and its early diagnosis in workers of combined fodder industry]. / Patologiia bronkholegochnoi sistemy u rabochikh proizvodstva kombikormov i ee ranniaia diagnostika.

The article is devoted to the question of peculiarity of bronchopulmonary system's pathology in the workers of the animal fodder production. The production dust contains high concentrations of endotoxins and leads to the development of allergic reactions and diseases of respiratory system. The ODTS (organic dust toxic syndrome) revealed as an acute reaction of organism in (39.7 +/- 4.4) % workers of the 1st plant and in (14.7 +/- 6.0) % of the 2nd one. Among chronic diseases predominates chronic bronchitis: (26.4 +/- 4.0) % at the I and (8.8 +/- 4.8) % at the II plants. We propose to use the obstruction of little bronchi and bronchial hyperresponsivennes as early diagnostical criterions of the influence of organic dust.