[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.

[Immune genetic markers of anthracosilicosis].

Studies of ABO, Rh, MN, rho, Lewis blood groups in coal miners suffering from anthracosilicosis and in reference healthy individuals proved that MM phenotypes are predisposed to anthracosilicosis and MN phenotypes could be resistant to the disease. These results could be valuable for prevention of this occupational disease among coal industry workers.

[Parameters of oxidative metabolism, neuro-humoral and hormonal regulation in the condensed exhaled air in early stages of anthracosilicosis]. / Pokazateli okislitel'nogo metabolizma, neirogumoral'noi i gormonal'noi reguliatsii v kondensate vydykhaemogo vozdukha pri rannikh stadiiakh antrakosilikoza.

For early diagnosis of anthracosilicosis, the authors studied oxidation parameters, neuromediators and hormones in expired air condensate in coal miners. Premorbid stage of anthracosilicosis is characterized by activated lipids peroxidation, high levels of neuromediators (acetylcholine, catecholamines), tissue hormones (histamine, serotonine) and lower contents of adaptive hormones (cortisol, triiodothyronine, thyroxine).

[Supplementary criteria of evaluation of health status in selecting the personnel for work in coal mines]. / Dopolnitel'nye kriterii otsenki sostoianiia zdorov'ia pri prieme na rabotu v ugol'nykh shakhtakh.

200 newly-engaged young miners were medically examined in an outpatient department. The routine examination techniques were supplemented with studies of the changes after 2 minute-long inhalations of 0.6% acetylcholine chloride and mine dust (78 mg/m3), hemodynamics and electrocardiography indices, as well as the indices of the immunologic and hormonal state. Established was diversified manifestations of the respiratory tract's response to the aerogenic irritations, combined with deviations in the immunologic state indices. The studies provide basis for further improvements in the preventive examination techniques for workers in coal-mining industries.

[Selected parameters of the immune system in coal miners with pneumoconiosis]. / Wybrane parametry ukladu odpornosciowego chorych na pylice pluc górników kopaln wegla kamiennego.

The study was carried out in a group of 84 men divided in three groups: I--41 miners with simple pneumoconiosis, II--25 miners exposed to coal dust for the same period, and III--28 healthy persons of similar age (control group). All the persons were studied for absolute and proportional values of T and B lymphocytes, also subpopulation of TH helper lymphocytes and TS suppressor lymphocytes, a lymphocyte index (TH/TS) was determined. Besides, the concentration of serous immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM was determined. The author showed a statistically significant decrease in the number of TS suppressor lymphocytes in the group of patients with pneumoconiosis and at the same time an increase in the lymphocyte index in comparison with the other groups. Besides, the author also found a significant decrease in the total amount of T lymphocytes in the same group and at the same time an increase in the concentrations of serous immunoglobulins IgG, IgA. The changes observed in the immunological system in patients with pneumoconiosis may lie at the bottom of the pathogenesis of fibrosis .