Polyendocrine syndrome type 3C in a family from Pakistan.

In type 3 polyendocrine syndrome (PAS3), autoimmune thyroiditis occurs with other organ-specific autoimmune disease, but not with autoimmune adrenalitis. In this report we described a family from Pakistan in which mother and three daughters were affected by a PAS3. We studied a family from Pakistan: Father MMu age 44, mother KN aged 44, three daughters MM age 20, MH age 16 and MA age 14 and a son MU age 18. These subjects were tested for thyroids function, metabolic function, adrenal function, autoimmune disease. In this family the four females were shown hypothyroidism with presence of anti thyroid autoantibodies (AA) and high TSH serum concentration in association with the presence of anti transglutaminase AA. Moreover KN, MM and MH were positive for anti nuclear AA (granular pattern) and for antibodies against Saccaromyces cerevisiae. MM was positive for AA against nuclear extractable antigens (SSA and SSB) too. No diabetes or pernicious anemia were observed. Adrenal and Pituitary function were normal. PAS 3C is an uncommon disease. In this family from Pakistan we observed a PAS3C in the four female members: mother and three daughters while father and son were unaffected.

Work and chronic health effects among fishermen in Chioggia, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether there is an association between deep-sea fishing and common chronic disease. METHODS: The study was cross-sectional, simultaneously considering groups of fishermen and non-fishermen. Information on life-style and work was collected by means of questionnaires, and clinical data were collected by specialists in: Internal Medicine (general clinical examination), Cardiology (ECG, measurement of arterial pressure), Pneumology (measurement of spirometric volumes), ENT (clinical examination of the ear, nose and throat, including audiometry), Ophthalmology (examination of lens). Beside the common statistical methods, the logistic stepwise regression analysis was used in order to find the risk factors of the diseases, and to correct the risk estimates for the confounding variables. RESULTS: Fisherman had prolonged hours of continuous work, which were found to be correlated with high cigarette and alcohol consumption. Significant associations were found between, on the one hand, work accidents, noise-induced hearing loss, solar keratosis, cataracts, obstructive bronchitis, rhino-sinusitis, otitis media with tympanic perforation, ECG alterations, and, on the other hand, various aspects of fisherman occupation, mainly fishing in high sea and work duration as fisherman. CONCLUSION: Deep-sea fishing is a stressful and risky work; a reduction in the number of years at sea with reduced exposure to noise, poor weather conditions and sun, and a lower consumption of cigarettes and alcohol might result in fewer skin, eye respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and injuries.

Mortality from lung cancer and other diseases related to smoking among fishermen in north east Italy.

OBJECTIVES: To study the mortality of fishermen. This was suggested by a cluster of cases of lung cancer in Chioggia, a large fishing harbour in the Veneto. The aim was to weight occupation against smoking with respect to risk of lung cancer. METHODS: 7530 fishermen registered in the 1971-86 port authority registers of Chioggia and Venice were followed up for mortality from 1971 to 1989. Of 475 causes of death, 460 were traced. Standardised mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated with the regional population as a reference. A nested case-control study was carried out in Chioggia decedents only by interviewing next of kin. Complete data were obtained in 172 (70% response). Cases (lung cancer deaths) and controls (other causes of death) were compared for smoking and occupation, as a group of non-fishermen was available in the cohort. Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding factors. RESULTS: SMRs were high for lung cancer but low for other diseases related to smoking: circulatory and respiratory disease, tumours of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, and bladder. Likewise, SMRs were high for liver cancer but low for other diseases related to alcohol: digestive and circulatory disease, buccal, pharyngeal, and oesophageal tumours. In the case-control study, the risk of lung cancer was found to be related to smoking, and there was no interaction between occupation and smoking. When adjusted for age and smoking, the occupational indicators had no influence on the risk of mortality from lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Among fishermen in north east Italy the greatest health hazard is lung cancer, and the factor involved in this risk is smoking, not occupation. Smoking, however, was linked with long hours at sea in another study.