scholarly journals The asbestos fibre burden in human lungs: new insights into the chrysotile debate

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 1602534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inke Sabine Feder ◽  
Iris Tischoff ◽  
Anja Theile ◽  
Inge Schmitz ◽  
Rolf Merget ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Individual Data ◽  
Asbestos Fibre ◽  
Human Lungs ◽  
Long Latency ◽  
Asbestos Body ◽  
Mesothelioma Register ◽  
Median Interval

The traceability of asbestos fibres in human lungs is a matter of discussion especially for chrysotile. This issue is of high significance for differential diagnosis, risk assessment and occupational compensation. At present no intra-individual longitudinal information is available. This study addresses the question whether the asbestos fibre burden in human lungs decreases with time after exposure cessation.The database of the German Mesothelioma Register was screened for patients with asbestos body counts of at least 500 fibres per gram of wet lung, which had been analysed twice from different tissue excisions at minimum intervals of 4 years.Twelve datasets with individual longitudinal information were discovered with a median interval of about 8 years (range 4–21 years). Both examinations were performed after exposure cessation (median: surgery, 9.5 years; autopsy, 22 years). Pulmonary asbestos fibre burden was stable between both examinations (median 1623/4269 asbestos bodies per gram wet lung). Electron microscopy demonstrated a preponderance of chrysotile (median 80%).This study is the first to present longitudinal intra-individual data about the asbestos fibre burden in living human lungs. The high biopersistence of amphiboles, but also of chrysotile, offers mechanistic explanations for fibre toxicity, especially the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases.

scholarly journals Metastatic Extraskeletal Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma of the Pancreas: Report of an Unusual Case with Review of Literature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saloni Naresh Shah ◽  
Ashok Parameswaran ◽  
Prasanna Kumar Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Unusual Case ◽  
English Literature ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Sudden Onset ◽  
Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma ◽  
Pancreatic Tumors ◽  
Good Survival ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Long Latency ◽  
Extraskeletal Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma

AbstractExtraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (ESMC) metastasizing to the pancreas in isolation is a rare occurrence. We report a 49-year-old gentleman who had undergone excision of an ESMC of the thigh in 2009 and presented with sudden onset abdominal pain and icterus in 2019. Radiological imaging revealed calcified mass of the pancreas with multiple nodules with extension into the adipose tissue. Distal pancreatectomy was performed and the pathology revealed a bimorphic tumor composed of undifferentiated round blue cells with abrupt transition to hyaline cartilage, typical of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. To the best of our knowledge, there are only seven prior cases of metastatic ESMC of the pancreas in the English literature. Surgical intervention appears to be the preferred modality of treatment for metastatic pancreatic tumors. These patients may have long latency period before metastasizing and seem to have a good survival period post excision.

scholarly journals Paracoccidioidomycosis Diagnosed in Europe—A Systematic Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Gernot Wagner ◽  
Deddo Moertl ◽  
Anna Glechner ◽  
Verena Mayr ◽  
Irma Klerings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latency Period ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Systemic Mycosis ◽  
Endemic Region ◽  
Travel History ◽  
Long Latency ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
The World ◽  
First Occurrence ◽  
Full Text Screening

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis that is endemic in geographical regions of Central and South America. Cases that occur in nonendemic regions of the world are imported through migration and travel. Due to the limited number of cases in Europe, most physicians are not familiar with paracoccidioidomycosis and its close clinical and histopathological resemblance to other infectious and noninfectious disease. To increase awareness of this insidious mycosis, we conducted a systematic review to summarize the evidence on cases diagnosed and reported in Europe. We searched PubMed and Embase to identify cases of paracoccidioidomycosis diagnosed in European countries. In addition, we used Scopus for citation tracking and manually screened bibliographies of relevant articles. We conducted dual abstract and full-text screening of references yielded by our searches. To identify publications published prior to 1985, we used the previously published review by Ajello et al. Overall, we identified 83 cases of paracoccidioidomycosis diagnosed in 11 European countries, published in 68 articles. Age of patients ranged from 24 to 77 years; the majority were male. Time from leaving the endemic region and first occurrence of symptoms considerably varied. Our review illustrates the challenges of considering systemic mycosis in the differential diagnosis of people returning or immigrating to Europe from endemic areas. Travel history is important for diagnostic-workup, though it might be difficult to obtain due to possible long latency period of the disease.

“Re-Emergence” of Silicosis and Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis in Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-92
Author(s):  
Beris Penrose
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Coal Mining ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Dust Exposure ◽  
Long Latency ◽  
History Of ◽  
Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis ◽  
Coal Workers

Some reporters, politicians, and doctors have described current cases as a “re-emergence” of these diseases, based on the notion that they had been eliminated. However, silicosis persisted in centuries-old industries like sandblasting and stonemasonry and coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP) continued in coal mining. Until recently, their presence was obscured by a combination of factors such as misdiagnosis, especially if there was a history of smoking; the failure to follow up workers thought to have silicosis or CWP; the long latency period between dust exposure and disease onset that can conceal the link between the two; and the lack of data collection that may have revealed their presence. As the recent Queensland government inquiry into CWP noted, current cases are more accurately a reidentification.

scholarly journals Identification of Faults in Asbestos Minerals and Application to Pollution Studies

1976 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 616-617
Author(s):  
K. Seshan ◽  
H.-R. Wenk
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Single Crystals ◽  
Twin Plane ◽  
Fibre Axis ◽  
Fibre Structure ◽  
Asbestos Fibre ◽  
Fibre Texture ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Diffraction Patterns

Asbestos fibre texture occurs in various mineral groups (e.g. chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite, grunerite, tourmaline) and it has been established that at least chrysotile is carcinogenic. We are investigating various aspects of the asbestos structure, with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (1) in order to develop methods for unequivocal asbestos identification using minute samples and also to determine defects responsible for the fibre structure in these minerals which often occur as large, we 11-developed single crystals.In order to do this, we have started by investigating clinoamphibole asbestos such as tremolite Ca2Mg5[Si8O22] (OH, F)2 and crocidolite Na2 (Mg, Al, Fe3+, Fe2+) (Si8O22) (OH, F )2 , from California localities. In crocidoli te - asbestos we observed a high density of very narrow microtwins parallel to the fibre axis [001] (Fig. 1). They are often only 50-100Å wide. Diffraction patterns display the typical twin arrangement of spots and although preliminary contrast experiments are not yet conclusive the twin plane appears to be (100).

Geological occurrence, mineralogical character and preliminary risk assessment of carcinogenic erionite in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janki Patel ◽  
Martin Brook ◽  
Dario Di Giuseppe ◽  
Valentina Scognamiglio ◽  
Alessandro F. Gualitieri
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Malignant Mesothelioma ◽  
Land Development ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
International Agency ◽  
Potential Hazard ◽  
Potential Health

<p>Erionite is a naturally-occurring zeolite mineral that has emerged as a well-known health hazard over the last few decades. Human exposure to erionite fibers has been unequivocally linked to malignant mesothelioma, a disease also associated with inhalation of airborne asbestos. Indeed, erionite is now classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogen (i.e., carcinogenic to humans), but it appears to be more toxic than asbestos. Since volcaniclastic rocks containing erionite are widely present in New Zealand, there is a concern over potential health issues following inhalation of dust particles in particular areas.  Indeed, New Zealand is one of a number of high-income countries with elevated incidence of malignant mesothelioma (2.6 per 100,000), and this has traditionally been thought to be a result of occupational exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. However, recent cases of malignant mesothelioma have emerged without a known link to asbestos exposure, and in 2015, the New Zealand Government acknowledged that erionite was a more potent carcinogen than asbestos. Despite this, there are no established occupational exposure limits for erionite in New Zealand or globally. We are currently using a multi-methodological approach, based upon field investigation, morphological characterization, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) to analyse erionite from sites around New Zealand. Preliminary results are reported here, including erionite from Miocene tuff in Auckland. The erionite appears to be erionite-K. From the dimensional analysis, 45.6% of minerals satisfied the requirements for a respirable airborne fibre (length, L ≥ 5 μm, a diameter, w ≤ 3 μm, and L/w value ≥ 3:1). The presence of this mineral is of concern for risk to human health, especially considering the land development in the Auckland region and the quarries and mining-related activities that are operating in the zeolite host rocks elsewhere in New Zealand. Thus, there is a need for a detailed risk assessment in parts of the country indicative of potential hazard. Further assessments of erionite species, quantification of the potentially respirable airborne fibers, and targeted epidemiological surveillance are planned.</p>

Firing patterns of human flexor carpi radialis motor units during the stretch reflex

1985 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 1179-1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Calancie ◽  
P. Bawa
Keyword(s):  
Motor Unit ◽  
Stretch Reflex ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Response Probability ◽  
Short Latency ◽  
Single Motor Unit ◽  
Single Motor ◽  
Motoneuron Pool ◽  
Long Latency ◽  
Long Latency Reflex

Single motor unit and gross surface electromyographic responses to torque motor-produced wrist extensions were studied in human flexor carpi radialis muscle. Surface EMG typically showed two "periods" of reflex activity, at a short and long latency following stretch, but both periods occurring before a subject's voluntary reaction to the stretch. The amplitude of EMG activity in both reflex periods increased monotonically with an increase in the torque load. The amplitude of the short-latency reflex response was very dependent on the motoneuron pool excitability, or preload. The amplitude of the long-latency reflex response also varied with the preload, but could, in addition, be modulated by the subject's preparatory set for a voluntary response to the imposed displacement. When a single motor unit that was not tonically active began to fire during the stretch reflex, it did so primarily during the long-latency period. When caused to fire repetitively by voluntary facilitation of the motoneuron pool, that same unit now showed activity during both periods of the stretch reflex. Further increases in either motoneuron pool facilitation or in perturbation strength resulted in a monotonic increase in response probability of a single motor unit during the short-latency period. However, the response probability of a single unit during the long-latency reflex period did not always vary in a monotonic way with increases in either torque load or motoneuron pool facilitation. For an additional series of experiments, the subject was instructed on how to respond voluntarily to the upcoming wrist perturbation. The three instructions to the subject had no effect on the response probability of a single motor unit during either the background or short-latency periods of the stretch reflex. However, prior instruction clearly affected a unit's response probability during the long-latency reflex period. Changes in the firing rate of motor units, and in the recruitment or derecruitment of nontonic units, contributed to this modulation of reflex activity during the long-latency period.

scholarly journals Exhibition of Local but Not Systemic Induced Phenolic Defenses in Vitis vinifera L. Affected by Brown Wood Streaking, Grapevine Leaf Stripe, and Apoplexy (Esca Complex)

Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piebiep Goufo ◽  
Ana C. Marques ◽  
Isabel Cortez
Keyword(s):  
Vitis Vinifera ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
Induced Response ◽  
Vitis Vinifera L ◽  
Induced Responses ◽  
Biotic Stresses ◽  
Leaf Stripe ◽  
Long Latency ◽  
Arachidonic Acids

Balance between constitutive and induced responses provides plants flexibility to cope with biotic stresses. This study tested the hypothesis that invasion of grapevine wood by esca-associated fungi induces the production of defensive compounds as part of locally- and systemically-induced responses. In a vineyard, different symptomatic expressions of “Esca complex” in Vitis vinifera L. ‘Malvasia’ were evaluated in annual inspections. Then, levels of phenolics and fatty acids were determined in asymptomatic leaves of brown wood streaking (BWS) and grapevine leaf stripe (GLSD) vines, and in symptomatic leaves of GLSD and apoplectic vines; the results were compared with levels in healthy vines. In asymptomatic leaves of BWS and some GLSD vines, levels of phenolics decreased, independent of the total phenolic group. Such responses were usually associated with an increase in levels of linoleic, γ-linolenic and arachidonic acids, well-known signal transduction mediators. In symptomatic leaves, levels of phenolics increased, which is consistent with a locally-induced response; the onset of symptoms coincided with the highest increases e.g., 35% for quercetin-3-O-glucuronide. Thus, the long latency period between trunk invasion by fungi and visible foliar damage and the year-to-year fluctuation in symptomatic expressions observed with “Esca complex” might be partially attributed to a better utilization of constitutive defenses.

scholarly journals BCR/ABL P210 and P190 cause distinct leukemia in transgenic mice

Blood ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 86 (12) ◽  
pp. 4603-4611 ◽  
Author(s):  
JW Voncken ◽  
V Kaartinen ◽  
PK Pattengale ◽  
WT Germeraad ◽  
J Groffen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Hematopoietic Tissue ◽  
Long Latency ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Overt Disease

DNA constructs encoding BCR/ABL P210 have been introduced into the mouse germ line using microinjection of one-cell fertilized eggs. Kinetics of BCR/ABL P210 expression in transgenic mice were very similar to those of BCR/ABL P190 constructs in transgenic mice. mRNA transcripts were detectable early in embryonic development and also in hematopoietic tissue of adult animals. Expression of BCR/ABL in peripheral blood preceded development of overt disease. P210 founder and progeny transgenic animals, when becoming ill, developed leukemia of B, T-lymphoid, or myeloid origin after a relatively long latency period. In contrast, P190-transgenic mice exclusively developed leukemia of B-cell origin, with a relatively short period of latency. The observed dissimilarities are most likely due to intrinsically different properties of the P190 and P210 oncoproteins and may also involve sequences that control transgene expression. The delayed progression of BCR/ABL P210-associated disease in the transgenic mice is consistent with the apparent indolence of human chronic myeloid leukemia during the chronic phase. We conclude that, in transgenic models, comparable expression of BCR/ABL P210 and BCR/ABL P190 results in clinically distinct conditions.

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