A longitudinal study on lung disease in dental technicians: What has changed after seven years?

Objectives: The aim of this 7-year follow-up study was to determine respiratory changes in dental technicians. Material and Methods: In our region, in the year 2005, 36 dental technicians were evaluated with a cross-sectional study on respiratory occupational diseases, and in 2012 we evaluated them again. Inclusion of information on respiratory symptoms and demographic features questionnaires was applied. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) were performed. Chest X-rays (CXR) were evaluated according to the ILO-2000 classification. For the comparisons of the technicians' findings in 2005 and 2012, data analyses were performed with the Wilcoxon test in addition to descriptive statistical procedures. Results: In 2012, 19 out of the 36 technicians continued to work in the same place, so we were able to evaluate their findings. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms in dental technician was as follows: dyspnea 7 (37%), cough 6 (32%), and phlegm 5 (26%). According to ILO classifications in 2005, among the 36 technicians, 5 (13.8%) had pneumoconiosis. At the end of 7 years, there were 9 pneumoconiosis cases among the 19 remaining technicians (47%). Thus, there was a statistically significant progression on the profusion of the radiologic findings (p < 0.005). Also there was a significant worsening on spirometric findings (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In dental technicians, a determination of both radiologic and functional progressions at the end of 7 years demonstrate that the primary and secondary preventive measures are necessary for these workplaces. Workplaces must be regularly controlled for worker health and hygiene

Concentrations of sialic acid in serum in Behcet disease

PubMed ID: 2302798[No abstract available

Airway disease risk from environmental tobacco smoke among coffeehouse workers in Turkey

Objectives: To examine the effect of ETS exposure on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function and to compare workers in coffeehouses to those in other occupations in order to assess the risk of respiratory illness in this occupation. Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: The study area consisted of the three metropolitan districts of the city of Izmir, Turkey. 86 coffeehouses and 80 other small scale shops which had no known respiratory risk factor, located in the same area, were taken as the study group. Subjects: 207 workers were assessed. Main outcome measurements: Subjects answered a questionnaire about demographic and working characteristics, respiratory symptoms, and smoking behaviour. Physical examinations and spirometric measurements were carried out at the workplaces. Results: There was a significant increase in respiratory symptoms in coffeehouse workers. Working in a coffeehouse showed a significant risk for chronic bronchitis (odds ratio (OR) 4.3). In coffeehouse workers, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) decreased 5.1%, forced vital capacity (FVC) 3.4%, FEV(1)/FVC 1.6%, peak expiratory flow (PEF) 6.45%, and forced expiratory flow (FEF(25)) 7.2%, FEF(50) 10%, and FEF(25–75) 9.8%. Among workers who were described as having an "airway disease", coffeehouse workers were significantly greater in number. When age, body mass index, and smoking behaviour were controlled, working in a coffeehouse was strongly associated with "airway disease" compared to other workers (OR 5.35, 95% confidence interval 2.41 to 11.87). Conclusions: Workers in coffeehouses showed significant increases in respiratory symptoms and decreased pulmonary function. All workers need to gain an awareness of these occupational risks and working conditions should be improved immediately

Komplikasyon olarak spontan pnömotoraks gelişen kistik bronşioloalveolar karsinoma olgusu: Patoloji, YRBT bulguları ve literatürün derlenmesi

We present a rare case of cystic bronchioloalveolar cacinoma (BAC) which was complicated by spontaneous pneumothorax. Descriptions about the mechanism of cysts and complications of pneumothorax in BAC are few in the literature. Check-valve mechanism is one of these factors which may be responsible for the cystic lesions and spontaneous pneumothorax in cystic BAC. Narrowing of the respiratory bronchioles by the tumor cells should be a cause of the check-valve mechanism. In our case, high resolution CT (HRCT) showed that some of the cysts have a connection with the airways, which was confirmed by pathology. This case is original because the connection between the airways and cysts was supported by not only pathology specimens but also HRCT