[Changes in activities of SOD and GSH-Px in induced sputum and their significance among silicosis patients].

Objective: To observe the changes in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxide (GSH-Px) in the induced sputum of silicosis patients, and to investigate the roles of SOD and GSH-Px in the development and progression of silicosis and the significance of measuring activities of SOD and GSH-Px in induced sputum among silicosis patients.

Methods: Fifty hotel attendants were chosen as control group, 50 workers with more than one year of silica dust exposure as dust exposure group, 32 silica dust-exposed workers as observation subject group, and 52 silicosis patients as silicosis group. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px in their induced sputum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

[Clinical efficacy of tetrandrine combined with acetylcysteine effervescent tablets in treatment of silicosis].

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of tetrandrine combined with acetylcysteine effervescent tablets in the treatment of silicosis.

Methods: A total of 96 patients with silicosis were randomly divided into treatment group (49 cases) and control group (47 cases). Both groups were given routine therapy including anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and antiasthmatic drugs, and the patients in treatment group were given tetrandrine combined with acetylcysteine effervescent tablets at the same time.

[Change of serum TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha in silicosis patients].

Objective: To observe serum TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha in silicosis patients and workers exposed to silica dust to study the role of TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha in the development of silicosis.

Methods: One hundred non-exposed workers were selected as control group, 200 workers exposed to silica dust for more than 1 year as exposed group, 32 suspected silicosis patients (originally diagnosed as 0+) as observing group, 130 silicosis patients were as silicosis group. Serum TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha in each group were determined with ELISA.