Fibreglass dermatitis: diagnostic challenges and occupational interventions.

Fibreglass dermatitis is a common occupationally acquired irritant contact dermatitis, where small spicules of fibreglass lodging in the stratum corneum result in mechanical irritation. We present two patients, an air-conditioning ducting worker and an injection moulding machine operator, who both presented with generalized pruritus. In the first case, polarized microscopy of a skin biopsy specimen demonstrated rare small spicules, with a diameter of 1 µm, lodged in the stratum corneum. In the second case, skin tape stripping demonstrated fibreglass particles, not found on skin biopsy. Proper work practices, personal hygiene and use of impervious barrier materials were recommended. The first patient did not return for follow-up, and the second patient's dermatitis resolved after handling of fibreglass-containing material was eliminated from his job scope. In conclusion, we present two cases of fibreglass dermatitis to illustrate the challenges in diagnosis and highlight strategies for prevention.

Quality characteristics of yogurts fermented with short-chain fatty acid-producing probiotics and their effects on mucin production and probiotic adhesion onto human colon epithelial cells.

Probiotics can ferment nondigestible carbohydrates and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA; acetate, propionate, and butyrate) in the human colon. In this study, the levels of SCFA were determined in the following yogurts fermented with different combinations of probiotics: (1) cocultures of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus (control, C); (2) S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum (C-Bb); (3) S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus (C-La); and (4) S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, and Lactobacillus gasseri (C-Lg). Results showed that the acetate levels were significantly higher in C-Bb, C-La, and C-Lg yogurts than in C yogurt. Fermentation and physicochemical characteristics of all yogurts were identical. Treatment of mucus-secreting colon epithelial cells (HT29-MTX) with C-Bb, C-La, and C-Lg yogurt supernatants resulted in an increase in the expression of MUC2 and CDX2 and the production of mucin proteins. The adhesion of probiotics onto HT29-MTX cells increased following treatment with C-Bb, C-La, and C-Lg yogurt supernatants. Our data suggest that a yogurt diet rich in acetate improves the protective function of the intestinal epithelium.

Short communication: Effects of moringa extract on adhesion and invasion of Escherichia coli O55 in bovine mammary epithelial cells.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activities of extract derived from moringa leaves. In particular, the effect of moringa extract (Mor) on adhesion and invasion of Escherichia coli O55, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus simulans, and Serratia liquefaciens was evaluated in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). Broth microdilution method, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration assays, adhesion and invasion assays, and real-time PCR were performed. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of Mor ranged from 12.5 to 50 mg/mL on 18 out of 27 tested isolates. Treatment of E. coli O55 with Mor (100 and 200 µg/mL) inhibited the adhesion and invasion on MAC-T cells via downregulation of adhesion factors (i.e., papC, f17c-A, and eaeA). Also, when MAC-T cells were pretreated with Mor (200 µg/mL, 12 h) and incubated with E. coli O55, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus simulans, or Serratia liquefaciens, both E. coli O55 and Enterococcus faecalis showed a significant decrease in adhesion and invasion. Staphylococcus simulans exhibited decreased adhesion and increased invasion. Serratia liquefaciens showed increased adhesion and decreased invasion. In addition, Mor increased mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1, and thioredoxin reductase 1) in MAC-T cells. In conclusion, 12.5 to 50 mg/mL of Mor exhibited antibacterial activity against 18 out of 27 tested isolates. Also, pretreatment of 200 µg/mL of Mor to MAC-T cells modulated adhesion and invasion of E. coli O55 and other mastitis-associated pathogens. Furthermore, Mor increased antioxidant capacities in MAC-T cells, but further in vivo studies are needed.

Changes of snoring sound after relocation pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnoea: the surgery reduces mean intensity in snoring which correlates well with apnoea-hypopnoea index.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate objective changes of snoring after surgery in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and correlate these with changes in the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI). DESIGN: Prospective case series. SETTING: A novel measurement, Snore Map, was used to analyse full-night snore sounds in terms of the maximal/mean intensity, peak/mean frequency, snoring index and energy type (Snore Map type, 0-4). Snore sound was classified into three bands according to frequency energy spectrum: B1 (40-300 Hz), B2 (301-850 Hz) and B3 (851-2000 Hz). PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-four male and two female OSA patients (mean age, 39 years; mean AHI, 53.1/h; mean body mass index, 26.8 kg/m(2) ) with favourable anatomic structure were consecutively enrolled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parameters of polysomnographies and Snore Maps at baseline and six months after operation were compared. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients completed this study. The mean reduction in the total-snoring index was insignificant but there were significant decreases in total mean intensity, total peak frequency, total mean frequency and Snore Map type after surgery. There were also significant decreases in the mean intensity in all three bands, the snoring index in B2/B3 and the mean frequency in B1 postoperatively. Changes in the total mean intensity, total mean frequency, B2 mean intensity and B3 snoring index positively correlated with change in the AHI. CONCLUSIONS: Relocation pharyngoplasty significantly decreases both the snoring sound intensity and snoring frequency. These reductions are directly proportional to the improvement of OSA.

Performance on a dementia screening test in relation to demographic variables. Study of 5297 community residents in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between performance on a dementia screening test and the demographic variables of age, education, gender, and urban vs rural residency. DESIGN: Community survey with cluster sampling. SETTING: One urban and one rural community from each of four geographic regions in Taiwan, Republic of China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 5265 nondemented individuals approximately equally divided between men and women and between urban and rural residency with a range in age from 41 to 88 years and in education from 0 to 20 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Score on a Chinese adaptation of the Mini-Mental State Examination. RESULTS: Lower test scores were associated with older age and less education. The decrease in score with age was faster among participants who had never attended school. Better performance by men and by urban residents was found only among participants with fewer than 6 years of schooling. In this group, the magnitudes of sex and residency differences were comparable among those subjects aged 41 to 64 years and those aged 65 to 88 years. Women who had never worked outside of the home performed poorer than those who had worked outside of the home. CONCLUSIONS: The influence of educational background on test performance is most evident in individuals with less education. Commonly used dementia screening tests may be unfair to poorly educated individuals, especially women and rural residents. Efforts should be made to develop ecologically relevant cognitive tests for the intended study populations. To help distinguish test bias from different rates of cognitive decline, the study populations should include individuals in predementia age ranges.

A modified posterior approach for Moore arthroplasty of the hip - a preliminary report.

Prosthetic replacement for displaced femoral neck fracture in the elderly is commonly done through a posterior ("southern') approach. Although this is a good approach post-operative wound infection and dislocation may occur. Such problems have led the authors to modify this surgical approach through the upper part of the quadratus femoris, and the lower part of the hip capsule. Preliminary results in the early post-operative period in ten patients have been encouraging and if done with care it appears to minimise the risk of post-operative infection and dislocation.

A retrospective mortality cohort study of chrysotile asbestos products workers in Tianjin 1972-1987.

The mortality rate of a cohort of asbestos workers was investigated in Tianjin, China, between January 1, 1972, and December 31, 1987. The cohort consisted of 662 males and 510 females, employed in asbestos textiles, friction material, and asbestos cement manufacturing. A statistically significant excess mortality was observed for lung cancer in both males and females (SMR 278 and 427, respectively). An increasing trend in SMR was observed with increasing intervals of exposure as well as with increasing exposure level. A synergistic effect was seen between asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking regarding lung cancer. The ratio of smoking and nonsmoking lung cancer death rates was virtually the same in asbestos and in nonasbestos workers. This ratio was approximately 1.6, a value much less than that reported in other countries. This low ratio appears to reflect the fact that many nonsmokers were in fact passive cigarette smokers. Second, it reflects the fact that most smokers smoked hand-rolled tobacco, since manufactured cigarettes did not become popular in China until 1965. These data confirm the hazards of asbestos exposure in developing countries.

A health survey of workers in the pentachlorophenol section of a chemical manufacturing plant.

During 1968 to 1985, 109 workers who had been engaged in the production of pentachlorophenol, using non-gamma isomers of hexachloroclohexane (BHC) as the raw material, were surveyed. Endemic chloracne among them had been noted since 1974. The prevalence of chloracne was 73.4% (80/109) in total and 95.2% (20/21) in a trichlorobenzene (TCB) tank area where dioxin and dibenzofurans levels were thousands of ppm. To our knowledge, PCDDs and PCDFs have not previously been reported from thermal decomposition of BHC. Urinary porphyrins were significantly higher among exposed workers than among the controls but there was no significant difference between the workers with chloracne and those without. The conduction velocities of the median motor nerves were much slower among the workers in the TCB tank area where the highest PCDDs contamination appeared. The mortality study cohort was relatively young. Based on the three deaths observed during the follow-up, no association could be drawn.