Risk Factors for Mortality in Denim Sandblasters Silicosis: Selecting Candidate for Lung Transplantation.

Objective: This study aimed to review the risk factors for silicosis together with survival analysis and a perspective for lung transplantation with data from a single center.

Material And Methods: We reviewed the medical records of denim sandblasters who were referred to our center between January 2006 and December 2011 and evaluated 219 patients with a history of denim sandblasting with a minimum follow-up period of 5 years until 2016. We analyzed several personal and occupational features, together with functional and radiologic data.

Assessment of Diastolic Function and Thiol-Disulphide Homeostasis in Arsenic-Exposed Workers.

Objectives: Exposure to arsenic is associated with various cardiovascular diseases. The imbalance between antioxidant and oxidant homeostasis plays a crucial role in the cardiovascular effects of arsenic. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of arsenic exposure on diastolic function by measuring thiol and disulphide in arsenic-exposed workers.

Serum endocan level and diastolic functions in the case of lead exposure.

Background/aim: Lead can cause morphological and functional changes in heart, and inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in vasculature. Endocan, as a novel indicator of endothelial dysfunction, has been used for cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the relationship between lead exposure, endocan levels, and diastolic functions.

Evaluation of Erectile Dysfunction and Left Ventricular Diastolic Parameters in Lead Exposed Workers.

Background: Lead exposure causes a wide range of vascular diseases through oxidative stress, sympathetic hyperactivity and impairment in nitric oxide bioavailability. In this study, the association between the effects of lead exposure on left ventricular diastolic indices and erectile function were assessed.

Methods: A total of 94 lead-exposed workers without known cardiovascular diseases or risk factors and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled.

Serum S100B, NSE, and GRIA1 levels as neurological biomarkers in lead exposure.

Background/aim: The central nervous system is one of the major targets in lead exposure. Biomarkers for the diagnosis and follow-up of lead exposure have not been identified. In this study, serum S100B, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and glutamate receptor 1 (GRIA1) levels were determined as possible biomarkers for lead neurotoxicity.

Fixed drug eruption due To 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) treatment for mercury poisoning: a rare adverse effect.

Background: Fixed drug eruptions (FDE) are characterized by recurrent, usually solitary erythematous or dark red macular, plaque or bullous lesions, all at the same site. Among the first choices for antidotal treatment in mercury exposure, 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) is generally a drug with a low incidence of side effects. FDE due to DMPS was not detected in our literature research and so we aimed to present this rare case.

Maternal second trimester blood levels of selected heavy metals in pregnancies complicated with neural tube defects.

Purpose: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the most common malformations of the central nervous system (CNS). There is continuing research for the identification of risk factors and interventions for prevention of NTDs. The aim of this study was to investigate the maternal second trimester blood levels of selected heavy metals namely, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) and their possible relation with the occurrence of NTDs.

Assessment of DNA damage in ceramic workers.

It is known that ceramic workers are potentially exposed to complex mixture of chemicals such as silica, inorganic lead, lime, beryllium and aluminum that can be associated with an increased risk of several diseases. All operations in the ceramic industries such as mixing, moulding, casting, shaking out and finishing jobs, have been associated with the higher exposure levels and in most of the silica-related industries, average overall exposure exceeded permissible exposure levels for respirable crystalline silica. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible genotoxic damage in ceramic workers exposed to complex mixture of chemicals mainly crystalline silica.

Possible changes of New-Generation inflammation markers with occupational lead exposure.

Objectives: Occupational lead (Pb) exposure is still an important health problem in the world. Long-term Pb exposure causes several adverse effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of inflammation markers with chronic Pb exposure by analyzing neopterin levels and kynurenine (Kyn) to tryptophan (Trp) ratio that reflects indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity and to compare with healthy volunteers' parameters.

Evaluation of the ambulatory arterial stiffness index in lead-exposed workers.

Objective: Lead exposure has been associated with various cardiovascular disorders. It may also cause increased inflammation and fibrosis in the arterial system resulting in an increase in arterial stiffness. In this study, the ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI), which is a technique that measures arterial stiffness, was evaluated in occupationally lead-exposed workers.

Assessment of heart rate response to exercise and recovery during treadmill testing in arsenic-exposed workers.

Background: Arsenic exposure is associated with various cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess cardiac autonomic function via heart rate response to exercise and recovery period of treadmill testing in arsenic-exposed workers.

Methods: Sixty-five (65) occupationally arsenic-exposed workers and 35 healthy controls were enrolled.

Alteration of thiol-disulfide homeostasis in workers occupationally exposed to arsenic.

This study evaluates the redox state in occupationally arsenic-exposed workers (n = 71) by assessing the dynamic serum thiol-disulfide homeostasis. We determined the serum thiol-disulfide homeostasis parameters of exposed workers and controls (n = 43) using a novel automated colorimetric assay. Median urinary As and 8-isoprostane levels of exposed group were significantly higher than control group (16.

Dynamic disulfide/thiol homeostasis in lead exposure denoted by a novel method.

Lead is a toxic heavy metal, and prevention of human exposure to lead has not been accomplished yet. The toxicity of lead is continually being investigated, and the molecular mechanisms of its toxicity are still being revealed. In this study, we used a novel method to examine thiol (SH)/disulfide homeostasis in workers who were occupationally exposed to lead.

Exercise heart rate recovery assessment of the cardiac autonomic nervous system in workers occupationally exposed to lead.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess cardiac autonomic function via indices of exercise heart rate recovery (HRR) in workers occupationally exposed to lead.

Methods: A total of 98 lead-exposed workers and 98 healthy controls were enrolled. All underwent exercise testing and transthoracic echocardiography.

Assessment of the Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System in Mercury-Exposed Individuals via Post-Exercise Heart Rate Recovery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess exercise heart rate recovery (HRR) indices in mercury-exposed individuals when evaluating their cardiac autonomic function.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty-eight mercury-exposed individuals and 28 healthy controls were enrolled. All the subjects underwent exercise testing and transthoracic echocardiography.

Arsenic related hearing loss in miners.

Purpose: Arsenic is a toxic metalloid that carries number of potential risks to human health, although there is little evidence of the ototoxic effect of arsenic. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between arsenic exposure and hearing loss by measuring blood arsenic concentrations and hearing among miners.

Materials And Methods: This research is a retrospective case control study.

Thiol/disulfide homeostasis in asphalt workers.

The aim of this study was to investigate thiol/disulfide homeostasis in asphalt workers who are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons occupationally. The study was carried out in 34 nonsmoker asphalt workers. Additionally, 35 healthy nonsmoker volunteers were recruited as control group.

A comparison of the effects of solvent and noise exposure on hearing, together and separately.

The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of occupational exposure to noise and organic solvents on hearing loss in bus and truck plant workers. Our case control study contained 469 workers from a bus and truck plant divided into three groups. The first group contained workers exposed to only noise; the second group contained workers exposed to both noise and mixture solvents at a permissible level; and the third group included workers exposed to permissible levels of solvents.

Tamoxifen citrate: a glimmer of hope for silicosis.

Background: Inhalation of crystalline silica nanoparticles causes pulmonary damage resulting in progressive lung fibrosis. Currently, there is no effective treatment for silicosis. Tamoxifen citrate is a selective estrogen receptor modulator, which is one of the adjuvant treatment choices for breast cancer.

Severe Demodex infestation of a coal miner.

We report a case of Demodex infestation in a 35 year old coal miner presenting with a 5 year history of scally papulopustular eruption on his face. He had been working inunderground coal tunnels in a humid- hot- dusty environment and he had been used to bath twice a day with hot water and multiple cleaners. The patient was treated successfully with oral metronidazol, topical permethrin, topical steroids and avoidance of undergraund mining .

Immunomodulation and oxidative stress in denim sandblasting workers: changes caused by silica exposure.

Workers in denim sandblasting are at a high risk of developing silicosis, an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust. The development and progress of silicosis is associated with the activation of the immune system and oxidative stress. In the former, interferon-gamma induces both neopterin release and the enzyme indoleamine [2, 3]-dioxygenase (IDO) in various cells.