Pulmonary fibrosis in a patient with exposure to glass wool fibers.

Glass wool or vitreous fibers are non-crystalline, fibrous inorganic substances (silicates) made primarily from rock, slag, glass, or other processed minerals. They belong to the man-made mineral fibers (MMMFs) group and their respiratory effects are well described by De Vuyst et al. [1995].

Silica, silicosis, and lung cancer.

Evidence that crystalline silica is associated with an increased rate of lung cancer led the International Agency for Research on Cancer to conclude in 1997 that crystalline silica is a known human carcinogen. In Israel too, crystalline silica is considered as such. The decision raised a debate in the scientific arena, and a few scientists have questioned the basis upon which causality was determined.

Risk of hepatitis A virus infection among sewage workers in Israel.

Sewage workers are exposed to a wide range of chemicals and biological agents, including the hepatitis A virus. Inasmuch as Israel is an endemic area for hepatitis A, it is unclear if sewage workers are at increased risk for hepatitis A or which factors contribute to such risk. The authors compared seropositivity of hepatitis A in 100 sewage workers with that in 100 blue-collar worker controls.

Evaluation of asymptomatic subjects with low forced expiratory ratios (FEV1/VC).

Background: Heightened bronchial hyperreactivity is frequently associated with airflow limitation, atopy, or cigarette smoking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate healthy subjects with significantly low values of forced expiratory volume in one second/vital capacity % (FEV1/VC%) by measuring their airway response to exercise and methacholine challenge, compared with a control group with normal spirometric values.

Methods: Eighty four healthy subjects with significantly low flow rates (group A, FEV1/VC% < 2 SD% predicted) were evaluated and compared with 37 subjects with normal flow rates (group B).

Anaerobic osteomyelitis in patients with Gaucher's disease.

Bone involvement in patients with Gaucher's disease is common, and some of its clinical manifestations may resemble acute osteomyelitis. In addition, many studies have emphasized the high risk of secondary infection when surgical procedures are performed at the site of the involved bone. Nevertheless, these infections have never been well documented in the literature.

Streptococcus bovis subacute bacterial endocarditis as a presenting symptom of occult double carcinoma of the colon.

A case of double carcinoma of the colon is presented in association with subacute bacterial endocarditis due to Streptococcus bovis. The presence of Streptococcus bovis septicemia is a strong pointer in favour of associated colon carcinoma even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptomatology.