Release of metal particles from needles used for transbronchial needle aspiration.

Background: Although mediastinoscopy is still the gold standard for diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy, minimally invasive procedures have been developed: transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) using a flexible bronchoscope (conventional TBNA) or linear echoendoscope (endobronchial ultrasound [EBUS]) allowing real-time guided lymph node aspiration. The observation of contamination of samples by foreign particles led us to determine the frequency and the nature of this material and to identify its origin.

Methods: From June 2007 to November 2008, 141 consecutive patients underwent conventional TBNA (n = 84) or EBUS-guided TBNA (EBUS-TBNA) (n = 57).

[Bronchial anthracosis and pulmonary mica overload].

Introduction: The discovery of anthracotic plaques generally suggests either a history of tuberculosis or occupational exposure to dust. Other etiologies should, however, be considered.

Case Reports: A 60-year-old Iranian woman presented with a history of dyspnoea and with chest radiography demonstrating calcified hilar lymph nodes and interstitial lung disease.

Role of fibre characteristics on cytotoxicity and induction of anaphase/telophase aberrations in rat pleural mesothelial cells in vitro: correlations with in vivo animal findings.

Thirteen samples of natural fibres and five samples of man-made fibres (MMF) were tested to determine their cytotoxicity and ability to produce chromosome missegregation in cultures in rat pleural mesothelial cells (RPMC). The natural samples included attapulgite, two amphiboles (amosite and crocidolite); seven consisted of chrysotile from various origins and three were obtained after chemical treatment of chrysotile. MMF included three refractory ceramic fibres (RCF) and two vitreous fibres (MMVF).

Pleural plaques, asbestos exposure, and asbestos bodies in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

The profiles of occupational asbestos exposure were investigated in a series of 66 hospital patients in whom pleural plaques constituted the only asbestos-induced abnormality. The relationship between a radiological semiquantitative score of pleural plaques and indices of asbestos exposure was also examined. On the basis of a standardized occupational questionnaire, four classes of asbestos exposure were distinguished in our study population: no evidence of exposure, low-level exposure, sporadic exposure at higher levels, and a remaining group of individuals with substantial exposure.

[Osteoarthritis with rice bodies rich in calcium microcrystals. 4 cases with ultrastructural study].

Rice bodies are often found in inflammatory joint fluid specimens, especially from rheumatoid arthritis patients, but have rarely been reported in osteoarthritis. We found rice bodies in knee joint fluid specimens from four of 88 patients with osteoarthritis. There were three males and one female.

Lung retention of cerium in humans.

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate lung retention of particles containing cerium in subjects with and without previous occupational exposure to mineral dusts. Analytical transmission electron microscopy was performed on 459 samples of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and 75 samples of lung tissue. Study of the distribution of mineralogical species in human samples showed that particles containing cerium were encountered in less than 10% of subjects.

Non-fibrous dust load and smoking in dental technicians: a study using bronchoalveolar lavage.

A study was conducted with transmission electron microscopy to find whether bronchoalveolar lavage could be used to identify subjects with occupational exposure to mineral particles. Non-fibrous mineral particles in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from 46 dental technicians and 41 white collar controls with lung diseases but free from occupational exposure to dusts were analysed. The total particle concentration in BAL fluid was significantly higher in dental technicians than in controls (12.

Induction of metaphase and anaphase/telophase abnormalities by asbestos fibers in rat pleural mesothelial cells in vitro.

The cytogenetic effects of asbestos fibers on rat pleural mesothelial cells were studied in vitro. Crocidolite UICC significantly enhanced aneuploidy and produced few structural chromosome aberrations, whereas anatase, an isomorphic particle, induced no numerical or structural changes. Mitomycin C (300 nM) produced a tenfold increase in abnormal anaphases compared with controls.

In vitro response of rat pleural mesothelial cells to talc samples in genotoxicity assays (sister chromatid exchanges and DNA repair).

The genotoxicity of three samples of talc has been determined using in vitro cell systems previously developed for testing asbestos fibres. The talc samples used consisted of particles of respirable size in order to test the effect of particles likely to be deposited in the lung. Genotoxicity was tested in cultures of rat pleural mesothelial cells (RPMC) using genotoxicity assays for unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs).

Mesothelioma in rats following intrapleural injection of chrysotile and phosphorylated chrysotile (chrysophosphate).

Pathological effects of asbestos are probably dependent on the size and surface properties of the fibers. Surface-modified chrysotile fibers were injected into the pleural cavity of rats to investigate the potency of the fiber to induce mesothelioma. Chrysotile fibers were modified by a phosphorylation process, resulting in the presence of phosphorus at the fiber surface.

Sister chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes treated with silica.

The abilities of Min U Sil quartz or tridymite particles to induce sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in cultures of human lymphocytes plus monocytes or of human purified lymphocytes were investigated. With cultures of lymphocytes plus monocytes the level of SCEs was significantly enhanced after treatment with tridymite at the highest dose tested (50 micrograms/cm2). No effect was observed with purified lymphocytes.

Translocation of subcutaneously injected chrysotile fibres: potential cocarcinogenic effect on lung cancer induced in rats by inhalation of radon and its daughters.

Exposure to radon 222 and its daughters has been shown to induce lung cancer in rats. The cocarcinogenic effect of intrapleurally injected mineral fibres in rats which have previously inhaled radon has also been established. The aim of this work was to establish whether a similar process could be induced at a distance from the lungs by subcutaneous injection of chrysotile fibres.

[The metrology of mineral fibres in thoracoscopic lung and pleural biopsies. Preliminary results (author's transl)].

Metrology of mineral fibres by electron microscopy was carried out in thoracoscopy specimens ("normal" parietal pleura, pleural plaque, tumour, lung) obtained from different sites in 19 patients: 9 exposed to asbestos and 10 non-exposed controls. With regard to results concerning the parietal pleura, the differences in exposure of the patients (as revealed by history) were not reflected by metrological characteristics (nature and number of fibres, size, topographical distribution) and it was impossible to distinguish the exposed cases from the controls. The number of fibres ("non-measurable presence" being 130.

Asbestos retention in human respiratory tissues: comparative measurements in lung parenchyma and in parietal pleura.

Asbestos fibres in respiratory tissues from 29 cases diversely exposed to asbestos dusts have been characterized, sized and counted using a transmission electron microscope. Comparison of data obtained by measurement of fibres in lung parenchyma and in parietal pleura samples showed the following: -- In each case, the proportion of chrysotile fibres (as opposed to amphiboles) was higher in parietal pleura than in lung parenchyma. (The proportion of chrysotile in pleura was greater than 90% in 30 of the 40 samples.