Pathomorphological Changes in the Brain in Dynamics of Long-Term Dust Exposure.

Histological and morphometric studies of brain autopsy material showed that the development of hypoxic changes in miners starts at the early stages of working in the dusty atmosphere. Edema of the pericellular and perivascular zones and the pia mater, degenerative changes in some nerve cells and even their loss and formation of gliosis foci were identified. The revealed changes in neurons progressed with increasing the duration of working under hazardous conditions.

Comparative Analysis of Connective Tissue Responses to Implantation of Biodegradable Material and Polypropylene in Experimental Animals.

We compared qualitative characteristics of the connective tissue at the site of implantation of polypropylene or a biodegradable polymer synthesized by electrospinning and consisting of 65% polycaprolactone and 35% polytrimethylene carbonate. Synthetic materials were implanted into the interfascial space of the muscles on the back of Wistar rats. The parameters of cellular and non-cellular structures of the forming connective tissue were studied in 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after implantation. It was found that the number of fibrocytes and fibroblasts around biopolymer and polypropylene increased during the period from 1 to 9 months, with a significant lag in case of biopolymer implantation; by 12 months, the number of fibrocytic cells did not significantly differ. The fibroplastic and angioplastic processes developed in the thickness of both materials, but with a one-month lag in case of biopolymer implantation due to degradation properties and nonporous structure of this polymer. Collagen fibers were actively synthesized around both materials, but in case of polypropylene, this process was more pronounced. In 6 months after implantation of polypropylene, dense regular connective tissue was formed; in 12 months after implantation of the biopolymer, the formation of dense irregular connective tissue was observed at the site of implantation. The biopolymer can be used to strengthen the core muscles.

Features of In Vitro Degradation and Physical Properties of a Biopolymer and In Vivo Tissue Reactions in Comparison with Polypropylene.

We compared in vitro degradation and physical properties of polypropylene and a biodegradable polymer synthesized by electrospinning and consisting of 65% polycaprolactone and 35% polytrimethylene carbonate as a possible alternative material for use in surgery for pelvic floor muscle failure. Samples of the studied polymers were implanted to 10 male Wistar rats into the interfascial space on the back (polypropylene on the right side and biodegradable polymer on the left side). The synthesized biopolymer was characterized by elongation and tear resistance, similar to those of polypropylene. During the period from the third to the sixth month after implantation, the area of fibrosis around individual polypropylene and biopolymer fibers increased by 16.7 and 107.9%, respectively, while remaining reduced compared to polypropylene. The total fibrosis area in 6 months after implantation of polypropylene and biopolymer samples significantly increased by 18% (p=0.0097) and 48% (p=0.05), respectively, i.e. fibrosing processes were more intense in case of biopolymer. Induction of more pronounced fibrosis can be an advantage of the synthesized biopolymer when choosing the material for fabrication of implants and their use for correction of incompetence of the ligamentous and muscular apparatus.

[Differential diagnosis of focal osteoplastic masses in the lung of miners].

The paper reviews literature on the current aspects of the diagnosis and expert appraisal of focal osteoplastic masses in the lung upon dust exposure to dust factors. It considers different aspects of the pathogenesis of osteoplastic changes in the tissue structural elements of pulmonary histione. Current views on the prevalence, etiology, and pathogenesis, as well as morphological changes in the development of this abnormality, its association with the dust damaging effects of human activities are reflected.

Specificity of morphologic changes in target organs, associated with exposure to coal rock dust and fluorine compounds.

The studies revealed specificity of morphologic changes in target organs, depending on acting occupational hazard. Evidences are that inhalation of coal rock dust causes irreversible sclerotic and degenerative changes mostly in lungs and bronchi even on 6th week of the experiment. In liver, changes in parenchyma and stroma are controlled by reparative processes by 9th week. Accumulation of sodium fluoride in the body causes irreversible necrotic changes mostly in liver, on 6th week of the intoxication. With that, morphologic changes in lungs and bronchi are minor, characterized by immune inflammation with degenerative changes only after the 9th week. Irrespective of the acting hazard, vascular changes are characterized by media and intima hypertrophy with endothelial dystrophy and hyalinosis since the 6th week of the experiment.

[On problem of interpreting pneumoconiosis concept and possible ways to solve it].

The article focuses on contradictions in contemporary concepts of respiratory diseases due to dust and pneumoconiosis, absence of effective medical measures of their prevention and treatment, inadequacy of methodological approaches to solving the problem and reasons a position of epithelial mesenchimal transformation as a paradigm of the solution.

[Clinical and experimental studies of metabolic response to chronic exposure to coal dust].

In miners anthracosilicosis is caused by chronic exposure to coal dust and is characterized by progressive development of the inflammatory process, the expressed disorders of lipid metabolism, and immunodeficiency. In the experiment we revealed the stages of anthracosilicosis development according to which adequate measures of prevention and correction of the disorders caused by long exposure of an organism to coal dust are recommended.

[Quantitative characteristics of pathomorphologic changes in bronchi and pulmonary artery branches in miners with preroentgenologic stage of anthrasilicosis].

Morphometric studies covered lung tissue of 10 miners exposed to dusty work conditions over 1 to 30 (13.4 +/- 3.6) years, who were considered apparently healthy according to follow-up examinations and died in technogenic accident. Findings are that dysregeneration, hypertrophic and sclerotic changes in respiratory part of lungs, in bronchi and in pulmonary circuit arteries develop simultaneously--that proves common pathogenetic concept of these changes and systemic character of the pneumoconiosis. The results necessitate improved methods to evaluate health state of workers, refined criteria for nosologic diagnosis of respiratory diseases related to dust.

[Tissue morphological changes in experimental anthrasilicosis].

Anthrasilicosis was experimentally stimulated by inhaled inoculation. Various degrees of morphological changes were detected depending on the time of inoculation and the stage of the pathological process: the changes were early observed in the lung and liver, which became worse by week 12 of inoculation; from week 6 these were in the heart and kidney, which was indicative of systemic disorders in response to dust exposure.