bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risks of asthma associated with occupations in a community‐based case‐control study
Authors: Ng Tze Pin , Hong Ching Yee , Goh Lee Gan , Wong Mee Lian , Koh Kevin Tse Chung , Ling Sing Lin 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe aim of this study was to identify occupational risk groups which might usefully be targeted for occupational asthma surveillance and control, using a community‐based case‐control approach. Data on previous and current occupations held by subjects were analyzed for 787 adult patients with bronchial asthma and 1591 nonasthmatic patient controls, aged 20‐54 years, belonging to the three major races (Chinese, Malays, and Indians) in five outpatient primary care polyclinics. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of association were adjusted for sex, age, race, smoking, and clinical atopy. No associated risks of asthma were found for clerical or sales workers in general. Significantly reduced risks of association with asthma were found for professional, technical, administrative, and managerial occupations (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.47‐0.82). The associated risks of asthma were generally elevated for service workers (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.04‐1.74) and manufacturing production and related workers (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.23‐1.81). Among them, increased risks were observed for cleaners, particularly municipal cleaners and sweepers (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.22‐2.99), textile workers (OR, 5.83; 95% CI, 1.93‐17.57), garment makers (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.01‐2.58), electrical and electronic production workers (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.06‐1.75), printers (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.17‐4.31), and construction/renovation workers (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.30‐3.85). The odds ratio of association of asthma with exposures in service and production‐related occupations overall, relative to the “nonexposed” reference group of nonmanual professional/technical, administrative/managerial, clerical, and sales occupations, was estimated to be 1.72 (95% CI, 1.36‐2.19); the estimated population attributable risk was 0.33 (95% CI, 0.22‐0.44). © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Atrial fibrillation and sudden death related to occupational solvent exposure
Authors: Kaufman Joel D. , Silverstein Michael A. , Moure‐Eraso Rafael 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTwo cases of atrial fibrillation and one case of sudden death occurred in workers exposed to trifluorotrichloroethane (CFC 113) as a solvent/degreasing agent. This agent and related halogenated hydrocarbons are widely used in industry as solvents and degreasing agents, and have been previously linked to ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac sudden death when inhaled in excessive concentrations. We suggest that occupational overexposure to halogenated hydrocarbons should be considered a potential precipitant for atrial as well as ventricular arrhythmias. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lead poisoning in precious metals refinery assayers: A failure to notify workers at high risk
Authors: Kern David G. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractLead poisoning in a precious metals refinery fire assayer and a routine OSHA inspection prompted an investigation of the index facility, a survey of the industry, and efforts to notify assayers of this previously unrecognized hazard. Air and blood samples were obtained at the index facility. Management personnel from all fire assay laboratories in Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts were interviewed. The industry's trade association, OSHA, NIOSH, trade unions, and the media were asked to assist in a nationwide notification effort. Assayers at the index facility had excessive exposures to lead due to an age‐old, lead‐based assaying method that remains the industry gold standard. Blood lead levels of the three assayers (mean 61.3 μ/dl, range 48–86 μg/dl) were considerably higher than those of 16 other refinery workers (mean 27.4 μg/dl, range 13–49 μg/dl). The industry survey revealed inadequate knowledge of both the lead hazard and the applicability of the OSHA lead standard. Notification efforts failed in large part due to economic obstacles. The notification of workers at high risk of lead exposure and the eradication of occupational lead poisoning will require greater attention to economic forces. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Occupational factors in work‐related inhalations: Inferences for prevention strategy
Authors: Blanc Paul D. , Galbo Mark , Balmes John R. , Olson Kent R. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAs part of a larger investigation of inhalational toxic exposures, we studied occupationally related cases in order to examine possible preventive strategies. We analyzed data from 224 structured interviews. Of the interviewed subjects, 48 (21%) reported closed space exposures and 44 (20%) concomitant skin exposure at the time of inhalation. Chlorine gas and bleach mixtures were the most common single reported exposure type, occurring in 54 (24%) of cases. The most common occupational groups represented were crafts workers, operatives, and laborers (n = 84, 38%), and service workers (n = 64, 29%). Adjusting for occupational group in a multiple logistic regression analysis that also included length of hire and access to personal respiratory protective equipment, report of prior specific chemical safety training was significantly protective against closed space inhalation (odds ratio (OR) = 0.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1‐0.4) and concomitant skin exposure (OR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.1‐0.7). These data suggest that chemical safety training may be an effective preventive strategy for potentially high‐risk inhalational exposure scenarios.
Retention of Asbestos Bodies in the Lungs of Welders
Authors: Pairon Jean‐Claude , Martinon Laurent , Iwatsubo Yuriko , Vallentin Françoise , Billon‐Galland Marie‐Annick , Bignon Jean , Brochard Patrick 
Published: April 2007

AbstractExamination of asbestos bodies (AB) retained in the lungs is a useful way of assessing past occupational exposure to this material. AB retention has been extensively studied in workers directly exposed to asbestos, but less so in those end users, such as welders, who use asbestos‐containing products. We therefore retrospectively studied AB retention in 211 welders, for whom biological testing procedures had been requested by a chest physician, between 1988 and 1991. Optical microscopy of AB was performed on samples of sputum (40 subjects), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) (147 subjects), and lung tissue obtained after thoracotomy (38 subjects). Information on previous jobs and exposure was obtained using a questionnaire (the mean duration of welding activities was 16.6 years). Eighty‐two subjects (38.9%) had elevated lung retention of AB in all the samples studied. Significant AB retention occurred in only 30% of sputum samples, but in 40.1% of BAL samples and 39.5% of lung tissue samples. The duration of welding activities correlated with the density of AB in BAL or lung tissue (r = 0.31, p < 0.01 and r = 0.49, p < 0.05, respectively). On the basis of the questionnaire, only two of the welders with significant AB retention had other occupational exposure to asbestos. Our findings suggest that welding activities may increase lung retention of AB, and consequently might produce higher risks of fibrotic and/or malignant pulmonary diseases. These potential risks need to be brought to the attention of doctors; a longitudinal follow‐up may also be warranted in such populations, even after individuals have ceased their welding jobs.
Lung Cancer Risk and Welding—Preliminary Results From an Ongoing Case‐Control Study
Authors: Jöckel Karl‐Heinz , Ahrens Wolfgang , Bolm‐Audorff Ulrich 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn a hospital‐based case‐control study, 391 male cases of primary lung cancer and the same number of controls—matched by sex, age, and region—were personally interviewed for their job and smoking histories. The data reported reflect the midpoint of a study aiming at a total of 1,000 cases. One objective of the study was to assess confounding by asbestos exposure in what was thought to be a welding‐associated risk. While the odds ratios (OR) increased steeply with cumulative exposure to tobacco smoke and were raised also for lifelong asbestos exposure of over 4,100 working hours (OR = 1.91), the effect of welding exposure was reduced after adjustment for smoking and exposure to asbestos. Furthermore, no consistent dose‐response relationship could be shown in relation to welding hours. Therefore the present study supports the hypothesis that some, if not all, of the excess risk of welders observed in the literature may be due to the exposure to asbestos. The finding that the subgroup of employees in the aircraft industry showed an increased odds ratio of 2.14 after adjustment for smoking and exposure to asbestos deserves further attention. This suggests the need for further research on the role of berryllium‐containing alloys, which has been suggested by other authors.
Pancreatic cancer in industrial branches and occupations in finland
Authors: Partanen T. , Kauppinen T. , Degerth R. , Moneta G. , Mearelli I. , Ojajärvi A. , Hernberg S. , Koskinen H. , Pukkala E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAn examination of the risk of pancreatic cancer associated with occupation, by industrial branch and job title, was undertaken in a nationwide case‐referent study in Finland. The results are based on job history information from the next‐of‐kin of 625 incident cases of primary malignant exocrinic pancreatic neoplasms, and of 1,700 cancer referents (stomach, colon, and rectum). All cases and referents were between 40 and 74 years at diagnosis. The diagnoses were made in 1984‐87, and both cases and referents were known to be dead by April 1, 1990. The source of the cases and referents was the Finnish Cancer Registry. Increases in risk of pancreatic cancer were suggested for a small number of industrial branches and job titles, including stone mining (odds ratio 3.7), cement and building materials (11.1), pharmacists and sales associates in pharmacies (12.9), male wood machinists (4.1), male gardeners (6.7), female textile workers (5.4), and male transport inspectors and supervisors (9.4). The exposures potentially implicated are discussed. In agreement with the overall results of epidemiologic studies conducted elsewhere, direct occupational determinants probably do not account for a substantial share of the etiology of pancreatic cancer, at least in conditions resembling Finnish working environments some 15‐40 years ago.
Formaldehyde exposure, acute pulmonary response, and exposure control options in a gross anatomy laboratory
Authors: Akbar‐Khanzadeh Farhang , Vaquerano M. Ulises , Akbar‐Khanzadeh Mahboubeh , Bisesi Michael S. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractFormaldehyde exposure, acute pulmonary response, and exposure control options were evaluated in a group of 34 workers in a gross anatomy laboratory. Time‐weighted average (TWA) exposure to formaldehyde ranged from 0.07–2.94 parts per million (ppm) during dissecting operations. More than 94% were exposed to formaldehyde in excess of the ceiling value of 0.3 ppm recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The eight‐hour TWA exposure of 31.7% of the subjects exceeded the action level of 0.5 ppm set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Reported symptoms included irritation of eye (88%), nose (74%), throat (29%), and airways (21%). Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 3 seconds (FEV3) decreased, and FEV1/FVC increased during the exposure. The changes of FEV3 were statistically different from those of the controls. The results strongly support the necessity for designing and testing special local exhaust‐ventilated worktables with necessary flexibility for dissecting operations.
Mortality among fire fighters in metropolitan Toronto
Authors: Aronson Kristan J. , Tomlinson George A. , Smith Lesbia 
Published: April 2007

AbstractFire fighters are exposed to substances which are recognized or suspected causal agents in cancer or heart disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not fire fighters experience increased risk for any specific cause of death. A retrospective cohort study was conducted, with 5,995 subjects recruited from all six fire departments within Metropolitan Toronto. The mortality experience of the cohort was ascertained through computerized record linkage and compared to that of the male Ontario population specific to cause, age, and calendar period from 1950 through 1989. Average duration of follow‐up was 21 years, and there were 777 deaths among the 5,414 males included in the analysis, giving an all‐cause standardized mortality ratio of 95 (95% confidence interval: 88–102). Three specific causes of death exhibit statistically significant excesses (brain tumors, “other” malignant neoplasms, and aortic aneurysms). There are also slight increases in risk for some other sites of cancer, and for various diseases of the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems. This study is consistent with others in demonstrating that fire fighters experience increased risk of death from cancer of the brain, and in suggesting increased risk for various other causes of death.
Follow‐up study of respiratory function in Hemp workers
Authors: Zuskin Eugenija , Mustajbegovic Jadranka , Schachter E. N. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA 3‐year follow‐up study was performed on 38 women and 28 men from the originally studied textile workers employed in a soft hemp processing mill. Acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity were recorded during the cross‐sectional and the follow‐up studies. Maximum expiratory flow‐volume (MEFV) curves were obtained on these workers, and forced vital capacity (FVC), 1‐second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and flow rates at 50% and at 25% of the VC (FEF50, FEF25) were measured. High prevalences of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms persisted at the follow‐up study. In particular, high prevalences of byssinosis were documented at both studies (women: 47.4% and 47.4%; men: 64.3% and 67.9%, respectively). Statistically significant mean across‐shift reductions were recorded for all ventilatory capacity tests at the initial study. A large mean annual decline was calculated for FEV1 in women and for all ventilatory capacity parameters in men; these declines were greater for workers with symptoms of byssinosis than for those without. The accelerated decline in FEV1 noted in the women workers, who were predominantly nonsmokers, suggests an independent hemp effect. Exposures in the work environment were measured with Hexhlet filters and revealed very high dust concentrations (mean total: 21.4 mg/m3, 22.4 mg/m3; respirable: 8.4 mg/m3, 9.9 mg/m3) at both initial and follow‐up studies. These levels are much higher than those found in mills processing organic materials in North America. Our data demonstrate that work in the hemp industry, particularly in small poorly regulated mills, continues to have deleterious effects on respiratory function.
Follow‐up of a group of workers intoxicated with 4,4′‐methylenedianiline
Authors: Liss Gary M. , Guirguis Sam S. 
Published: April 2007

Abstract4,4′‐Methylenedianiline (MDA), an aromatic amine, is a known human hepatotoxin and an animal carcinogen but there is little information regarding its chronic effects in humans. Between 1967 and 1976, 10 workers at a plant in Ontario that used MDA as an epoxy hardener developed acute jaundice. We followed this group from the date of intoxication through to the end of 1991 for cancer incidence by matching with the Ontario Cancer Registry. To date, one cancer, a pathologically confirmed bladder cancer has developed (expected number based on provincial incidence rates: 0.64 for all cancers, 0.05 for bladder cancer). This finding may be important because bladder cancer was a site of interest a priori; bladder cancers have been observed in two other occupationally exposed groups (significantly higher than expected in one of these); in the National Toxicology Program bioassay, urinary bladder tumors occurred in exposed animals but not in controls; and MDA has structural similarity to known human bladder carcinogens such as benzidine.
Mortality among female registered nurses and school teachers in British Columbia
Authors: King Arlene S. , Threlfall William J. , Band Pierre R. , Gallagher Richard P. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe mortality profile of female nurses and teachers in British Columbia (BC) was examined using age‐standardized proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) calculated for the period 1950–1984. Lowered overall mortality among nurses was seen for degenerative heart disease and for cerebrovascular accidents. Significantly elevated PMR values were observed for cancer of the breast and ovary in nurses of age 20–65 years. PMRs were significantly elevated for cancer of the pancreas and leukemia among those age 20 years and older. Elevated values were also observed for motor vehicle accidents and suicide among nurses in both age groups.Lower than expected mortality from degenerative heart disease and cerebrovascular accidents was seen in working age teachers (age 20–65 years). However, elevated PMRs were detected for carcinoma of the colon, breast, endometrium, brain, and melanoma. Among those 20 years and over, significantly elevated PMRs were also observed for cancers of the ovary and other digestive organs. Elevated PMRs were found for motor vehicle and aircraft accidents.Mortality from cirrhosis of the liver was lower than anticipated in both teachers and nurses.A number of significant PMRs declined when deaths of “homemakers” were withdrawn from the comparison group used to generate PMR values, suggesting that risk of death from various causes among women working outside the home differ from those seen in women who are predominantly in the home.
Interference of 16.7‐Hz electromagnetic fields on measured electrocardiogram
Authors: Schlimp Christoph J. , Breiteneder Martin , Seifert Johannes , Lederer Wolfgang 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe extent of electromagnetic interference (EMI) from 16.7‐Hz alternate current power lines in the human surface electrocardiogram (ECG) was evaluated. Results showed a direct linear correlation between mean EMI and magnetic induction of 5.8–21 µT on a railroad platform (electric field: 270 V/m). EMI inside a railroad car (10 µT, 0 V/m) was comparable to the electromagnetic field at the platform. Inside a voltage transformer substation (0 µT, 2000 V/m) EMI occurred only when the ECG device was closer to the power line than the test person. Magnetic induction caused 16.7‐Hz EMI to a degree that proper diagnosis of ECG‐rhythms was rendered impossible. Bioelectromagnetics 28:402–405, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mity model: Tetranychus urticae, a candidate for chelicerate model organism
Authors: Grbic Miodrag , Khila Abderrahman , Lee Kwang‐Zin , Bjelica Anica , Grbic Vojislava , Whistlecraft Jay , Verdon Lou , Navajas Maria , Nagy Lisa 
Published: April 2007

AbstractChelicerates (scorpions, horseshoe crabs, spiders, mites and ticks) are the second largest group of arthropods and are of immense importance for fundamental and applied science. They occupy a basal phylogenetic position within the phylum Arthropoda, and are of crucial significance for understanding the evolution of various arthropod lineages. Chelicerates are vectors of human diseases, such as ticks, and major agricultural pests, such as spider mites, thus this group is also of importance for both medicine and agriculture. The developmental genetics of chelicerates is poorly understood and a challenge for the future progress for many aspects of chelicerate biology is the development of a model organism for this group. Toward this end, we are developing a chelicerate genetic model: the two‐spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae. T. urticae has the smallest genome of any arthropod determined so far (75 Mbp, 60% of the size of the Drosophila genome), undergoes rapid development and is easy to maintain in the laboratory. These features make T. urticae a promising reference organism for the economically important, poorly studied and species‐rich chelicerate lineage. BioEssays 29:489–496, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collectins: sentinels of innate immunity
Authors: Gupta Garima , Surolia Avadhesha 
Published: April 2007

AbstractCollectins, present in plasma and on mucosal surfaces, are humoral molecules of the innate immune system. They were discovered a hundred years ago in 1906 as the first association of an animal lectin with the immune system. They are a family of calcium‐dependent lectins that recognize pathogen‐associated molecular patterns. They share a similar modular domain architecture consisting of four regions; a cysteine‐rich N‐terminal domain, a collagen‐like region, an α‐helical neck domain and a C‐terminal carbohydrate recognition domain. There have been eight collectins members defined so far, of which, MBL, SP‐A and SP‐D are the most characterized. Collectins represent the first line of host defense. Upon recognition of the infectious agents, collectins put into action effector mechanisms like direct opsonization, neutralization, agglutination, complement activation and phagocytosis to curb the microbial growth. In addition, they also modulate inflammatory and allergic responses and apoptotic cell clearance. These functions limit infection and subsequently modulate the adaptive immune responses. The role of collectins, their structure, function, characteristics and clinical significance are reviewed in this article. BioEssays 29:452–464, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Extended binding site of ricin B lectin for oligosaccharide recognition
Authors: Ganguly Debabani , Mukhopadhyay Chaitali 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe plant lectin ricin B chain binds oligosaccharide with more affinity than the mono‐ or disaccharide ligands. The experiments indicated that a biantennary oligosaccharide could bind itself to any of the crystallographically established 1st or 2nd binding sites. After manual docking of either terminal galactose residues of the oligosaccharide in the 1st and 2nd binding sites of Ricin B and simulating the systems over nanosecond trajectories in implicit solvent, it was observed that the protein bound the oligosaccharide strongly through both its 1st and 2nd binding sites. Not only were the terminal galactose residues, several other residues of the oligosaccharide were involved in the binding scheme. Average gas phase energies were calculated molecular mechanically, solvation energies were calculated by Generalized Born model and the normal mode analysis was used to calculate the entropic contribution of binding. The entropy/enthalpy compensation has been observed for the protein–oligosaccharide interactions. The binding was found to be enthalpically favorable and compensating for the unfavorable entropic contribution. Comparison of the calculated free energy with the experimental data clearly suggests that binding is mono‐dentate rather than bi‐dentate through a single Gal‐containing antenna. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 86: 311–320, 2007.This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com