Evidence of complement catabolism in acute pancreatitis.

Active proteolytic enzymes are released into the gland parenchyma and surrounding tissues during episodes of acute pancreatitis. Since complement components are potential substrates for active proteases and may be the source of biologically active peptides capable of mediating tissue injury, we have examined sera obtained from 12 patients during 13 episodes of acute pancreatitis for evidence of complement catabolism. In 8 of 13 acute phase sera, there were decreased levels of CH50, C3, C4, or some combination thereof as well as degradation products of C3 (revealed by crossed immunoelectrophoresis). In convalescent sera, levels of complement components were normal or elevated. Measurements of alpha1-antitrypsin, alpha2-macroglobulin, and trypsin inhibitory capacity failed to reveal evidence of protease-antiprotease imbalance. These findings provide evidence of complement catabolism in acute pancreatitis and suggest the possibility that activated complement components may play a role in the pathogenesis of some systemic pathologic changes which occur in this disease.

[Exposure to benzene and hematologic changes in workers at the Ina-Oki Drnisplast factory in Drnis]. / Izlozenost benzenu i hematoloske promjene u radnica u tvornici "Ina-Oki Drnisplast" u Drnisu.

In the summer of 1984 workers in the "INA-OKI Drnisplast" factory frequently complained about headaches, weight loss and irregular menstrual cycles. According to the factory engineers that might have been due to an altered composition of the paints and glues that were used in the manufacturing process that year. Those had been found to lack specifications of chemical composition. Experts from the Institute for the Safety at Work from Zagreb were called in to perform measurements of organic solvents content in the workroom air. Benzene concentrations were found to be up to five times higher than the maximum permissible levels, those of toluene up to three times and of cyclohexane up to ten times higher. The polluted part of the factory was closed down, changes were introduced into the working process (use of paints was stopped, only glues without benzene content were allowed and proper ventilation was installed) and all the workers, twenty in all, received medical treatment. After three months the working process was resumed. In 1989 all the twenty workers underwent a control medical examination. All showed signs of recovery, both objective and subjective. Their blood tests values were within normal range. All the workers continued working, save one who retired in 1988 upon recommendation of a disability commission. The cause of disablement was occupational disease--benzene poisoning. On the basis of this experience emphasis is placed on the importance, in working with benzene, of complying with the Legislation on working capacity assessment for jobs requiring special working conditions and with the Safety at work act.

[Physical stress and bronchial hyperreactivity in aluminum-processing workers]. / Fizicko opterecenje i bronhijalna hiperreaktivnost radnika u proizvodnji aluminija.

A possible impact of physical load on the degree of bronchial hyperreactivity was studied in actual working conditions among the workers in an aluminium electrolysis plant. Respiratory irritants present in the working environment were also determined. The study was conducted in two groups of workers: one, of 34 workers who had been previously categorized as having respiratory symptoms and the other, of 19 control workers without symptoms. Both groups were matched by age, height, weight and years of service in the plant. All workers underwent a progressive submaximum exercise test of 300-600-900 kpm/min load on a bicycle ergometer. Simultaneously a continuous monitoring of heart function was performed. Heart rate, blood pressure and lung function parameters: FVC, FEV1, PEF, MEF25, MEF50, MEF75 and FEV1/FVC% ratio were measured before and 18 minutes after exercise. The results of the study showed that physical load and concurrent exposure to respiratory irritants had no impact on bronchial hyperreactivity in either group of workers. However, the exercise test demonstrated the existence of appreciable individual differences within the two groups.

[Sibenik schoolchildren and the war (7 months later)]. / Sibenski ucenici i rat (sedam mjeseci poslije).

We have conducted a study among 553 school children from the fifth and seventh classes of two primary schools; one, under the continuous Serbian bombardment, and another outside the activities of the enemy's cannons and artillery. The aim of the research, based on a questionnaire, was to discover how 11- and 13-year-old school children have experienced alarms, rocket attacks at schools without shelters, what those children think about the war, who had started it and why, will the war come to finish soon, and what are they going to recall the longest from this brutal and dirty war.