The Association of Systemic Microvascular Changes with Lung Function and Lung Density: A Cross-Sectional Study

10.1371/journal.pone.0050224PLoS ONE712

Respiratory impairment due to asbestos exposure in brake-lining workers

WOS: 000181780900003PubMed ID: 12648477There is extensive evidence that exposure to asbestos causes pulmonary parenchymal fibrosis, pleural disease, and malignant neoplasm in asbestos-exposed workers. However, few data concerning brake-lining workers are available in the literature. In this study, we aimed to assess the long-term effects of chrysotile asbestos exposure on lung function and the risk of asbestos-related diseases in brake-lining workers. Seventy-four asbestos-exposed workers who processed brake-lining products and 12 unexposed office workers were offered pulmonary function tests (spirometry and transfer factor) in 1992 and 1999. In 1999, the mean duration of asbestos exposure was 10.00+/-4.07 and 11.02+/-4.81 years (7-31 years) in nonsmoking and smoking asbestos workers, respectively. Transfer factor (T-L, CO) and transfer coefficient (K-CO) decline were significant in the 7-year follow-up in both smoking and nonsmoking asbestos workers. However, lung function indices of the control group, whom were all current smokers; were also found to be decreased, including FEF75, T-L, CO and K-CO. We found minimal reticular changes in 10 asbestos workers who were all current smokers, they underwent high-resolution computed tomography scans of the chest and we found that they had peribronchial thickening resulting from smoking. As a conclusion, even in the absence of radiographic asbestosis, T-L, CO and K-CO may decrease after a mean 10-year duration of exposure to asbestos in brake-lining workers and this is more noticeable with cigarette burden. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved

Comparison of Inflammation Biomarkers among Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Groups: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: The Global Initiative classification (GOLD) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which relies on the practical issues of treatment of this complex and heterogeneous disease, may not be reliable in predicting disease severity and prognosis as the term of inflammation is excluded from the definition. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine systemic inflammatory markers in GOLD ABCD groups and to compare these parameters according to clinical and functional features. Methods: The study included 60 COPD patients and 59 healthy subjects. Comparisons were made with the pulmonary function test, transthoracic echocardiography and the six‑minute walk test (6MWT). The COPD assessment test (CAT), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), and index scores of body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity (BODE) were recorded. The systemic inflammatory state was assessed using C‑reactive protein, fibrinogen, tumor necrosis factor‑alpha (TNF‑α), interleukin (IL)‑6, IL‑8 and IL‑18. Results: The levels of all serum inflammatory markers were higher in the COPD group than in the control group. TNF‑α and IL‑6 were significantly higher in the symptomatic groups (B and D) than in the less symptomatic groups (A and C) (P < 0.05). Spirometric parameters were more severe in Group D, followed by groups C, B and A, respectively. The 6MWT and the BODE scores were worst in Group D, followed by groups B, C and A. Conclusion: The results suggest that bronchodilator treatment alone might be insufficient in Group B patients, as the systemic inflammatory markers in addition to exercise capacity and mortality predictors were at the worst level in Groups D and B

Erratum: Respiratory impairment due to asbestos exposure in brake-lining workers (Environmental Research (2003) 91 (151-156))

[No abstract available

Respiratory impairment due to asbestos exposure in brake-lining workers (vol 91, pg 151, 2003)

WOS: 00018374090001

Modification of the GOLD recommendations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to broaden their usage in Turkey

Despite the introduction of numerous national and international COPD guidelines designed to provide clinicians with optimal evidence-based disease management strategies, COPD remains an underdiagnosed and poorly treated disease. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines recommend disease specific diagnosis and management strategies, and they are widely used internationally. In this short report we present the outcomes of a meeting of respiratory experts in Turkey who reviewed the GOLD guidelines and their applicability to the Turkish healthcare system. In particular, we were interested to investigate the possibility of developing a simplified version of the combined assessment model which we believe will be more acceptable to Turkish pulmonologists and will increase its use in everyday clinical practice