Task2 potassium channels set central respiratory CO2 and O2 sensitivity.

Task2 K(+) channel expression in the central nervous system is surprisingly restricted to a few brainstem nuclei, including the retrotrapezoid (RTN) region. All Task2-positive RTN neurons were lost in mice bearing a Phox2b mutation that causes the human congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. In plethysmography, Task2(-/-) mice showed disturbed chemosensory function with hypersensitivity to low CO(2) concentrations, leading to hyperventilation.

Silica, silicosis and lung-cancer: results from a cohort study in the stone and quarry industry.

Background: Workers compensated for silicosis outside the mining industry are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer. In the meta-analyses no data from Germany are involved. Furthermore, exposure data are necessary if a threshold value is to be assessed in order to reduce the risk for silicosis and also for lung cancer.

Silica dust and lung cancer in the German stone, quarrying, and ceramics industries: results of a case-control study.

Background: A work force based case-control study of lung cancer was performed in non-silicotic subjects exposed to crystalline silica to investigate the association between silica dust and lung cancer excluding the influence of silicosis.

Methods: Two hundred and forty seven patients with lung cancer and 795 control subjects were enrolled, all of whom had been employed in the German stone, quarrying, or ceramics industries. Smoking was used as a matching criterion.