Respiratory symptoms and impairment in shipyard welders and caulker/burners.

All 607 men, aged 17 to 69, comprising a stratified sample of workers from one shipyard completed a respiratory questionnaire, clinical examination, and detailed spirometry. Chest radiographs were available on 332 men. Among the men aged 50-69 the prevalence of persistent cough and phlegm (chronic bronchitis) was 40%, of wheeze on most days 25%, and undue breathlessness on exertion 25%.

Unsuspected exposure to asbestos and bronchogenic carcinoma.

Two hundred and fifty men admitted to a thoracic surgical centre and matched controls were questioned in detail about their occupations after leaving school and their smoking habits. Of 201 men with confirmed bronchial carcinoma 58 gave a history of occupational exposure to asbestos, whereas only 29 out of 201 men matched for age and residential area who were admitted with other diseases gave such a history. This difference was statistically highly significant.

Lymphocyte sensitization in asthma with special reference to nature and identity of intrinsic form.

Studies of lymphocyte sensitization in patients with asthma showed that the intrinsic and extrinsic forms of the disease fell into two distinct groups. Intrinsic disease showed a general sensitization to a number of non-specific antigens, while the extrinsic form had only slight elevation above normal values. These findings suggest that intrinsic asthma results from a defect of general immunity, whereas extrinsic asthma is a specific sensitization.