Loss of body mass in ex-prisoners of war.

Body mass was examined in the defenders of Vukovar (n = 71) from eastern Slavonia, Republic of Croatia, immediately on release from enemy concentration camps. The sample consisted of a group of 33 male smokers who had been imprisoned for (mean +/- SD) 127.4 +/- 18.4 days (age 31.6 +/- 7.2 years) and 38 male smokers, imprisoned for 271.6 +/- 14.4 days (age 30.8 +/- 6.5 years). According to subjective estimations the prisoners of war had lost 18.4 +/- 6.1% and 21.6 +/- 10.2% respectively, in relation to body mass before the war. For comparison data were used on a healthy population of male smokers from eastern Slavonia (Vinkovci, Republic of Croatia (n = 75) aged 32.4 +/- 5.2 years taken from a study carried out in 1976. Data were analysed on body mass, body mass index, triceps, subscapular skinfolds and percentage of body fat. All parameters were statistically significantly lower in males imprisoned for 271.6 +/- 14.4 days in relation to the comparative group (P < 0.0001-0.05). A negative deviation from body mass nomogram was registered in prisoners of war in relation to the comparative group (5-16%). Basic biochemical parameters were examined in the prisoners of war. In the group imprisoned for 127.4 +/- 18.4 days statistically significant differences and pathological values of mean corpuscular volume and haematocrit were verified in relation to the group of prisoners with longer duration of imprisonment (P < 0.001). Although the prisoners of war had lost weight during imprisonment in the camps due to the frugal diet no clinical signs of malnutrition were found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Immunologic reactions in poultry-processing workers]. / Neke imunoloske reakcije radnica na preradi hrane za perad.

The relationship between respiratory symptoms and immunological reactions was studied in 57 female workers holding jobs in the poultry food processing industry and in 51 non-exposed female workers. The prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in exposed than in control workers (P < 0.01) except for occupational asthma. The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms in exposed workers was highest for chronic cough (49.1%), followed by dyspnoea (43.9%), rhinitis (38.6%), chronic phlegm (31.6%) and chronic bronchitis (26.3%). Occupational asthma was found in 5.3% of exposed workers. Exposed workers with positive skin prick test to poultry food demonstrated a higher prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms than those with negative skin tests, although the difference was statistically significant only for rhinitis (P < 0.05). The most frequent positive skin reactions were found for poultry food extract (exposed: 66.7%; control: 25.5%; P < 0.05). Increased IgE serum level was found in 19 (33.3%) exposed and in four (7.8%) control workers (P < 0.01). Three exposed workers with occupational asthma demonstrated increased IgE serum level. Our data indicate that occupational exposure to poultry food dust may be associated with the development of chronic respiratory symptoms and immunological changes in exposed workers.

Alpha 1-antitrypsin and lung function in cement workers.

The relationship between the serum concentration of alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT), the concentration of dust at the workplace and lung function abnormalities was examined in 48 male workers occupationally exposed to cement dust. Measurements were performed in all subjects and included ventilatory volumes (FVC, FEV1), airway resistance (Raw), static lung volumes (RV, FRC, TLC), transfer factor for CO and AAT serum concentration. The relationship between lung function, smoking, respirable cement dust exposure, and AAT serum concentration was investigated by the method of multiple linear regression. A statistically significant correlation was observed between AAT blood concentration and respirable dust exposure. The contribution of respirable dust exposure to the description of AAT concentration was positive as was the contribution of Raw. The contributions of transfer CO, smoking and RV/TLC ratio were negative. All the variables considered accounted for approximately 30% of the total variability of the AAT concentration. To conclude, in cement workers the higher AAT serum concentration which is associated with a loss of lung function, and higher respirable cement dust concentration may be part of the defence mechanism against the potential proteolytic activity occurring in occupational dust exposure.

Ferruginous bodies in the lungs of urban dogs.

The aim of the study was to assess health hazards induced by environmental exposure to asbestos using urban dogs as biological indicators. Samples of the lung tissue taken from 36 randomly chosen urban dogs were examined. In the group of dogs aged up to four years (n = 15) ferruginous bodies were identified in only two. In the dogs older than four years (n = 21) 17 were ferruginous body positive. According to Fisher's exact test the difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.001). The presence of asbestos bodies in the lungs of dogs is considered to be evidence of serious contamination of urban areas with respirable mineral fibres. The more frequent presence of asbestos bodies in the lungs of the older dogs indicates long-term accumulation of mineral fibres exceeding 10 microns in length. Continuous environmental exposure of the city's population to respirable mineral fibres may therefore pose a health risk.

[Immunologic status, respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function in fur processing workers]. / Imunoloski status, respiratorni simptomi i ventilacijske funkcije radnica na preradi krzna.

A group of 54 women employed in the fur processing industry and a control group of 31 non-furriers were examined. The highest prevalence of positive immediate skin reactions to antigen from animal hair was found for marten (10%), followed by fox and lamb (7%), mink (5%) and chinese lamb, domestic fox and chinese calf (2%). Precipitating antibodies were demonstrated for lamb (17%), astrakhan (14%), mink, domestic fox and for skunk (12%), chinese lamb (10%), and chinese calf (7%). Increased total IgE was found in 9.5% of the furriers. Chronic respiratory symptoms were more prevalent among workers with positive skin tests and positive precipitins than among those with negative tests. The prevalence of the acute symptoms was higher among workers with precipitins than in those without them. There was no such relationship between the symptoms and the results of skin tests. Acute reductions of ventilatory capacity over the work shift occurred in workers with positive precipitins but not in those with positive skin tests. Our study suggests that furriers can develop acute and chronic respiratory difficulties frequently associated with specific indicators of atopy.

[Prevalence of atopy indicators in the adult population of the Zagreb region]. / Prevalencija pokazatelja atopije u odrasloj populaciji Zagrebacke zupanije.

In a sample of 583 subjects (303 men and 280 women) intradermal test with 13 inhalatory allergens, total serum IgE (PRIST Phadezym) determination and nonspecific bronchial reactivity measurement by histamin test, were performed. History data on respiratory symptoms was also taken. The following were evaluated: mean urtica diameter D+d/2 > 8 mm (KT+), value of IgE > 125 IU/ml, and bronchial hyperreactivity (BH), separately in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. In symptomatic smokers total IgE (G.M. IU/ml) was higher in women than in men (177.70:68.20-p < 0.01), and in asymptomatic smokers it was higher in men than in women (50.71:33.79-p < 0.01). A larger number of allergens discriminated skin reactivity between the symptomatic and asymptomatic women (grass, tree and weed pollen-p < 0.001; house dust-p < 0.05), than between the symptomatic and asymptomatic men (grass pollen-p < 0.001). The level of IgE < 125 and > 125 IU/ml discriminated significantly the prevalence of persons with KT+ in the group of symptomatic men (80%:27%-p < 0.001) but not in the group of symptomatic women (77%:67% N.S.). BH only partially coincides with KT+ and raised IgE (> 125 IU/ml) in symptomatic subjects (men 20%, women 23%) and in asymptomatic subjects only in men (8%).

Electrocardiographic changes in rats after inhalation of dichlorotetrafluoroethane, Arcton 114, C2Cl2F4.

The effects of dichlorotetrafluoroethane, Arcton 114, on the heart of rats were examined in 17 white rats. The animals inhaled dichlorotetrafluoroethane for 1 or 1.5 min. Severe electrocardiographic changes including marked bardycardia, atrioventricular heart block of the second degree and complete heart block were registered. Cardiac standstill appearing 11 to 31 min after inhalation was a death cause in all rats. These results are similar to our previous results concerning the effects of dichlorodifluoromethane (Arcton 12) on the heart of rats.

The role of atopy in potroom workers' asthma.

A study was performed to clarify a possible role of atopy in the occurrence of acute bronchoconstrictive impairment observed in some workers in a plant using the Alu-Swiss process for the electrolytic extraction of aluminum. Of 227 workers examined the percentage of those with a history of atopy and positive skin tests for common allergens was within the expected range. Six had positive patch test with 2% NaF. Among seven workers with paroxysmal wheezing and dyspnea, of whom three were only light smokers, three had positive skin test with common allergens but only one of them had an increased IgE value. The same worker also had positive patch test for 2% NaF. The average age of workers with paroxysmal wheezing and dyspnea was 32.6 years, and only two had symptoms defined as chronic bronchitis. Although their forced expiratory volumes, with two exceptions, measured at the beginning of work shift were within normal limits, in most of those workers bronchial hyperreactivity was also objectively assessed using nonspecific bronchoprovocative tests with histamine (or metacholine). The results support our previous findings that acute respiratory impairment in some workers is most probably based on bronchial hyperreactivity and not on an allergic mechanism.