[Prevention and clinical aspects of pneumoconiosis induced by organic dusts (author's transl)]. / Prophylaxe und Klinik der Pneumokoniosen durch organische Stäube.

Only those pneumoconioses induced by organic dusts are discussed which are met with in Germany. They comprise: byssinosis which is caused by toxic agents in cotton and flax, farmer's lung, sprayer's fever, exogenous allergic alveolitis due to thermophil actinomyces in the dust of mouldy agricultural meterials or the air of air-conditioning systems, bird fancier's lung which is caused by antigens in animal waste products. Byssinosis and farmer's lung have now been acknowledged as occupational diseases.

Studies on the metabolism of vinyl chloride.

Vinyl chloride (VCM) is not carcinogenic by itself, it is bioactivated to the highly reactive alkylating oxirane chloroethylene oxide. Further metabolism, apparently, leads via an interaction of the primary alkylating metabolites with glutathion to S-(2-carboxy-methyl)-cysteine and thiodiacetic acid which are eliminated with the urine. Up to now, it has not been ascertained whether the oxirane alone is the essential carcinogenic factor or whether other metabolites are also involved in carcinogenicity. Likewise, it is still unknown whether the metabolites excreted in the urine might be used as biological criteria for exposure to VCM, because these metabolites probably can originate from a series of substances other than VCM. This problem could stimulate investigations on the possible carcinogenic activity of these substances.

[Disodiumcromoglycate and histamine liberation by cotton dust extract in the rat (author's transl)]. / Dinatriumcromoglycat und Histaminfreisetzung bei der Ratte durch Extrakte von Baumvollstaub

1. Disodiumcromoglycate (DSCG) had no influence on the microscopical appearance of rat peritoneal mast cells either by i.p. injection (2 times 10(-5) g/ml) or by i.v. infection (10 mg/kg) nor by local application (2 times 10(-5)/1 times 10(-4) g/ml). 2. A particular effect of DSCG (2 times 10(-6)/2 times 10(-5) on the tonus of guinea pig ileum or an interaction with contractor activity due to histamine (3 times 10(-8)/1 times 10(-7) g/ml) has not been established. 3. Histamine liberation from rat peritoneal mast cells by i.p. injection of aqueous cotton dust extract was not inhibited by DSCG (2 times 10(-8)/2 times 10(-7) g/ml), histamine liberation was rather increased.

[Investigations on the influence of NO2 and SO2 as well a combination of the two gases on the production of precipitating antibodies in guinea-pigs (author's transl)]. / Untersuchungen zur Frage des Einflusses von NO2 und SO2 bzw. einer Kombination beider Gase auf die Bildung präzipitierender Antikörper beim Meerschweinchen

The influence of NO2 and SO2 or their combination on the production of precipitating antibodies was studied in guinea pigs. The gas concentration has been 10 mg/m3; the continuous exposure began 3 days before sensitization and lasted up to the testing date. Sensitization was done s.c. and i.m. with fresh chicken albumen plus complete Freund's adjuvans. Production of precipitating antibodies was tested by the double diffusion method of Ouchterlony. Moreover total protein content was measured and an immunelectrophoretic separation of the protein fractions was performed with polyvalent antiguinea pig serum. The statistical evaluation of the results has yielded no support in favour of an interaction of NO2 and SO2 or their combination in the concentration used on the formation of precipitating antibodies.

[Can polyvinylpyridine-N-oxide act as an antigen? (author's transl)]. / Kann Polyvinylpyridin-N-oxid antigen wirken?

Anaphylactic tests in guinea pigs and double-diffusion tests with rabbit serum produced no evidence of antigen-like properties of polyvinylpyridine-N-oxide (PVNO). It is very unlikely therefore that the occasional clinical observations of collapse-like states, occurring when PVNO injection is resumed after a treatment-free interval are of allergic nature. These are most probably due to erythrocyte aggregation following excessively rapid injection of PVNO, producing collapse in the terminal pulmonary vasculature by a reflex action. This reaction can be avoided by slow intravenous injection or infusion.