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Objective@#To investigate the changes in the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and let-7e in rats induced by coal mine dust, so as to provide the basis for the mechanism of coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP).@*Methods@#Sixty-four clean and healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group, coal dust group, mixed dust group (mixed coal and silica dust) and quartz group. The rats in the control group were exposed to 1 mL physiological saline by non-exposure tracheal perfusion, and the rats in the dust-exposed groups were exposed to 1 mL dust suspension. Rats were sacrificed by anesthesia after 1 month and 6 months, lung tissue was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining, the pathological change in the lungs was scored using the Szapiel scoring system, the levels of IL-6 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of let-7e was determined by quantitative real-time PCR.@*Results@#A month after exposure, a small amount of coal spots and inflammatory exudation were observed in the lung tissue of the coal dust group and the mixed dust group. The quartz group showed tissue structure destruction and mild fibrosis and thickening of alveolar septum. Six months after exposure, there were more coal spots and slightly thickened alveolar septum in the coal dust group, and hyperplasia of pulmonary interstitial fibers, destruction of alveolar structure and silica nodules were observed in the mixed dust group. In the quartz group, the alveolar structure was obviously destroyed, the interstitial fiber proliferation was significant and silica nodules were seen. Two-factor analysis of variance showed that the interaction between duration of exposure and dust type significantly influenced the pathological score of lung tissue, IL-6 levels, and let-7e expression levels (P<0.05). Under the same dust type, the pathological score of lung tissue and IL-6 levels were higher at 6 months after exposure than at 1 month, while the relative expression of let-7e was lower at 6 months after exposure than at 1 month (all P<0.05). Under the same duration of exposure, the pathological score of lung tissue and IL-6 levels were higher in the dust-exposed groups than in the control group, while the relative expression of let-7e was lower in the dust-exposed groups than in the control group (all P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#Coal dust can cause an increase in levels of IL-6 and a decrease in let-7e expression in rats. The type of dust and duration of exposure can interactively affect IL-6 and let-7e.
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Background Multi-slice spiral computerized tomography (MSCT) can be used as an auxiliary diagnosis of chest radiography in diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, but there are few studies on the correlations between interstitial images and stage classification of coal workers' pneumoconiosis in the existing literature. Objective To present MSCT imaging manifestations and distribution characteristics of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and complications, evaluate correlations between coal workers' pneumoconiosis stages and pulmonary interstitial lesions, and provide a reliable imaging diagnosis basis for pneumoconiosis interstitial lesions. Methods From June 2022 to June 2023, a total of 1002 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis confirmed by the pneumoconiosis diagnostic and identification group in the Department of Occupational Diseases of the Emergency General Hospital were enrolled. MSCT was used to observe the abnormal imaging manifestations of the lungs of coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients and the diseases of pulmonary fibrosis related to their own diseases (thickening of the interlobular septum, bronchial perivascular interstitial mass thickening, parenchymal banding, subpleural line, intralobular interstitial thickening, honeycomb, and subpleural interstitial thickening), the occurrence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and complications (old tuberculosis, active tuberculosis, pneumonia, atelectasis, lung cancer, bronchiectasis), and the density, size, and location of pneumoconiosis nodules. Imaging data were analyzed and statistically processed. Results All 1002 patients were male, with an average age of (60.71±6.87) years and an average dust exposure time of (23.01±7.80) years. Among them, there were 470 patients with stage I, 422 patients with stage II, and 110 patients with stage III. There were significant differences in the distribution of thickening of the interlobular septum, bronchial perivascular interstitial mass thickening, parenchymal banding, intralobular interstitial thickening, subpleural interstitial thickening, and honeycomb across different stages (P<0.05). Statistically significant differences in p, q, and r subsets of round nodules were found in patients with pneumoconiosis at different stages (P<0.05). Observed nodule types included solid nodules, pure ground-glass shadow nodules, and partial solid nodules. There were statistically significant differences in pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchiectasis among different stages of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in interstitial shadows and patches combined with interstitial shadows among different stages of pneumoconiosis complicated with pneumonia (P<0.05). Conclusion MSCT provides images of the progression of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and have a certain relationship with the stages of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, which is conducive to the formulation of reasonable treatment plans in the early clinical stage. Therefore, in the diagnosis and treatment of pneumoconiosis, a great attention should be paid to the imaging technology of chest computerized tomography, especially the use of MSCT examination.
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Background It is a research hotspot to study the changes of metabolites and metabolic pathways in the process of coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP) by metabonomics and to explore its pathogenesis. Objective To study the change of metabolites in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with CWP and explore the metabolic regulation mechanism of the disease. Methods Patients with CWP who met the national diagnostic criteria according to Diagnosis of occupational pneumoconiosis (GBZ 70-2015) and underwent massive whole lung lavage were selected as the case group, and patients with tracheostenosis who underwent bronchoscopy were selected as the control group. BALF samples were collected from the cases and the controls. After filtering out large particles and mucus, the supernatant was stored in a −80 ℃ refrigerator. The samples were detected and analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry after adding extraction solution, cold bath ultrasonication, and high-speed centrifugation, and the metabolic profiles and related data of CWP patients were obtained. The differential metabolites related to the occurrence and development of CWP were screened by multiple statistical analysis; furthermore, we searched the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database for potential metabolic pathways involved in the progression. Results There was no significant difference in the general conditions of the subjects, such as weight, height, age, and length of service among the stage I group, the stage II group, the stage III group, and the control group (P˃0.05). When comparing the CWP stage I group with the control group, 48 differential metabolites were screened out, among which 14 were up-regulated and 34 were down-regulated. A total of 66 differential metabolites were screened out between the patients with CWP stage II and the controls, 14 up-regulated and 52 down-regulated differential metabolites. Compared with the control group, 63 differential metabolites were screened out in the patients with CWP stage III, including 11 up-regulated and 52 down-regulated differential metabolites. There were 36 differential metabolites that may be related to the occurrence of CWP, among which 11 differential metabolites were up-regulated, and 25 were down-regulated. Four significant differential metabolic pathways were identified through KEGG database query: linoleic acid metabolic pathway, alanine metabolic pathway, sphingolipid metabolic pathway, and glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway. Conclusion The metabolomic study of BALF show that there are 36 different metabolites in the occurrence and development of CWP, mainly associating with linoleic acid metabolism, alanine metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways.
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Background Coal workers are inclined to report multi-site work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) due to their specific working environment and extensive exposure to occupational hazards, which seriously affect the physical and mental health of coal workers. objective To investigate the prevalence of multi-site WMSDs among workers in coal mining enterprises in Xinjiang, and analyze the related factors influencing multi-site WMSDs. Methods Using stratified cluster random sampling method, Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire, Job Burnout Questionnaire, and Brief Occupational Stress Questionnaire were distributed in six Xinjiang coal mining enterprises to collect data on general information, prevalence of WMSDs in the past year, work-related information, job burnout, and occupational stress among coal miners with a working experience ≥ 1 year. A multiple logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of multi-site WMSDs. Results A total of 1730 questionnaires were distributed in this survey, 1448 valid questionnaires were recovered, and the valid recovery rate was 83.7%. Among the 1448 coal miners, 93.2% were males and 6.8% were females; 39.2% were aged ≤ 35 years, 31.1% were aged 35-45 years, and 29.6% were aged > 45 years; 58.4% reported ≤ 10 years of working experience, 20.0% reported 10-20 years, and 21.6% reported > 20 years. The total prevalence rate of WMSDs in the coal miners was 75.6% (1095/1448), the prevalence rate of multi-site WMSDs was 58.4% (846/1448), and the prevalence rate of one-site WMSDs was 17.2% (249/1448). The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that working experience > 20 years (OR=2.245, 95%CI: 1.655-3.045), severe burnout (OR=2.644, 95%CI: 1.549-4.516), and multiple repetitive operations per minute very often (OR=2.038, 95%CI: 1.339-3.101), often bending at larger angles (OR=1.467, 95%CI: 1.111-1.938), long-time bending the neck forward (OR=1.671, 95%CI: 1.294-2.159), and slipping or falling down (OR=2.459, 95%CI: 1.908-3.168) were positively correlated with multi-site WMSDs; sufficient rest time (OR=0.718, 95%CI: 0.565-0.913) was negatively correlated with multi-site WMSDs. Conclusion Multi-site WMSDs is common among workers in coal mining enterprises, and the prevalence rate of multi-site WMSDs is higher than that of one-site WMSDs. Working experience, job burnout, frequent multiple repetitive operations per minute, often bending at larger angles, long-time bending the neck forward, slipping or falling down, and sufficient rest time are influencing factors of multi-site WMSDs in coal workers.
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OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of multistep breathing training combined with acupoint plastering on the treatment of patients with occupational coal worker's pneumoconiosis(CWP). METHODS: Eighty cases of male occupational CWP patients were selected as the research subject using convenient sampling method. They were divided into control group(40 cases) and treatment group(40 cases) according to random number table method. The control group was given conventional treatment, while the treatment group received multistep respiratory training combined with acupoint plastering for 12 weeks based on conventional symptomatic treatment. Before and after treatment, clinical curative effect, pulmonary function, immune function, the total score of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test(CAT) Questionnaire and 6 minutes walk distance(6 MWDS) in two groups were observed. RESULTS: Before treatment, there was no statistical difference on forced vital capacity(FVC), ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV_1)/FVC, lymphocyte cluster of differentiation(CD) 4~+/CD8~+ ratio, percentage of natural killer cells(NK), total CAT scores and 6 MWD(P>0.05). After treatment, the FVC, FEV_1/FVC ratio and lymphocyte CD4~+/CD8~+ ratio increased [median: 78.3% vs 80.7%, 68.7% vs 72.5%, 1.16 vs 2.00, P<0.01], 6 MWD was increased [(430.6±45.9) vs(494.8±58.7) m, P<0.01], and CAT total score was decreased [(18.1±5.6) vs(15.5±5.3) points, P<0.01] in the treatment group compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in NK cell percentage between the two groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Multistep respiratory training combined with acupoint plastering can alleviate the clinical symptoms such as cough, and shortness of breath of patients with CWP, improve their lung function, regulate the function of immunity, as well as improve sports endurance.
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Objective@#To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of lower respiratory tract disease.@*Methods@#The health physical examination data of 4000 coal dust exposed workers who had physical examination in the Institute of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment in 2016 were collected and analyzed with SPSS 20.0 software.@*Results@#Out of the 4000 coal workers, the Prevalence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, CWP were 1.00% (40/4000) , 0.63% (25/4000) , 0.43% (17/4000) . 17 coal workers suffered from coal workers. The prevalence of workers both exposed to silicon and coal dust was 1.15% (2/174) , which was higher than that of other the job type. The prevalence of CWP among age groups, length of service and occupational category were found significant difference (P<0.05) , raising with the increase of duration of dust exposure and age increasing (χ2trend=17.171, 5.344, P<0.05) . The prevalence of emphysema and chronic bronchitis between different working years and different ages are all statistically significant (P<0.05) , increasing with duration of dust exposure (χ2trend=9.906, 10.118, P<0.05) .@*Conclusion@#The prevalence rate of CWP is not high, and closely related with duration of dust exposure and dust species. The prevalence of lower respiratory tract disease is higher in the tunneling and mining workers and raising with the duration of dust exposure.
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Objective@#To summarize the isolation characteristics and drug resistance of HACEK bacteria in lower respiratory tract infection of coal worker's pneumoconiosis.@*Methods@#From 2016 to 2018, K-B method and MIC method were used to test the susceptibility of 10 commonly used antimicrobial agents to isolated 46 strains of HACEK bacteria, and the drug resistance of lactamase and non-enzyme producing haemophilus was compared.@*Results@#Haemophilus influenza (Hi) accounted for 71.74% (33/46) of the HACEK bacteria in the lower respiratory tract infection patients of coal workers' pneumoconiosis in our hospital, Haemophilus parainfluenzae (HPi) accounted for 23.91% (11/46) , which corroded one strain of Eikenella and one strain of actinomycetes. HACEK bacteria were isolated most in winter and spring, and less in summer and autumn. Cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and levofloxacin have good antimicrobial activity against HACEK bacteria. The sensitivity of non-enzyme-producing strains Tetracycline (TE) , Compound trimethoprim (SXT) , Azithromycin (AZI) and Ampicillin (AMP) was stronger than that of enzyme-producing strains (P<0.05) .@*Conclusion@#Hi is the main HACEK bacteria isolated from patients with lower respiratory tract infection of coal worker's pneumoconiosis, followed by Hpi. The enzyme-producing strains of these bacteria are resistant to AMP, SXT and AZI to some extent. These drugs should not be the first choice for treatment.
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OBJECTIVE: To analyze the tendency of incidence in coal workers' pneumoconiosis( CWP) in different time of dust exposure and different types of work in a mining enterprise in Huaibei City. METHODS: A total of 12 152 dust exposed workers who worked from 1970 to 2014 in a mining enterprise in Huaibei City were chosen as study subjects by judgment sampling method. They were divided into 2 cohorts were formed according to initial year of dust exposure( 1970-,1980-),and 4 group according to the type of work( tunneling,mining,combining and helping). Life table method was adopted to calculate cumulative life-incidence of CWP in each cohort. RESULTS: Among 12 152 workers,there were 594 of them diagnosed as CWP patients with a 4. 89% of incidence. During the same 34-year-observation period,the cumulative CWP incidence of 1970-cohort was higher than that of the 1980 s( 8. 03% vs 5. 45%,P < 0. 01). The cumulative CWP incidence of tunneling,mining,combining and helping workers were 69. 33%,40. 53%,36. 66% and 19. 70% by 2014,respectively. The cumulative incidence of CWP in tunneling group started to rise from the 14-year-observation window,mining's from 16-year-observation window,combining and helping workers from 18-year-observation window. Among the workers in 1970-cohort at the 34-year-observation window,the CWP cumulative incidence in mining group was the highest( 33. 83%,P < 0. 004),and combining's was the lowest( 2. 28%,P < 0. 004). Among the workers in 1970-cohort at the 44-year-observation window,the CWP cumulative incidence in tunneling group was the highest( 66. 66%,P < 0. 004),and helping's was the lowest( 27. 24%,P < 0. 004). Among the workers in 1980-cohort at the 34-year-observation window,the CWP cumulative incidence in tunneling group was the highest( 29. 87%,P < 0. 004). CONCLUSION: The cumulative incidence of CWP patients was slowed down with prolonged dust exposure starting time. There were differences among different types of workers with different starting time of dust exposure.
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Objective We studied the clinical features and its significance of coal worker's pneumoconiosis combined with sleep apnea Methods In 40 patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis combined with sleep apnea hospitalized from February 2006 to December 2009, polysomnography ( PSG) , blood routine, urine routine, blood pressure and biochemical indicators were measured and analyzed. Results Patients with coal worker' s pneumoconiosis combined with sleep apnea manifested mainly as duplicate hypoxemia and multi-organ dysfunction: high blood pressure, dysfunction of heart, lung and kidney, increase of serum glucose, blood lipids, blood uric acid and finally led a vicious cycle to aggravate the above mentioned damage. Conclusions In clinical, multiple-organ dysfunction resulted from severe hypoxemia and hypercapnia caused by coal worker's pneumoconiosis combined with sleep apnea, should be fully aware and give ational and effective treatment early to reverse or delay the further function damages of multiple organs, and therefore significantly improve the prognosis.
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OBJECT: We measured the activity of telomerase in coal workers lung tissue and found a significant increase in telomerase activity compared to the control group. Pneumoconiosis has the characteristics of fibroblast proliferation and the accumulation of collagen,thus finally causing the pathologic changes,which lead to the irreversible and progressive fibrosis of the lungs. We hypothesized that this cellular proliferation causing irreversible fibrosis may induce some elongation of the life cycle in the chromosomes and lead to further cellular immortalization. METHOD: 8 postmortem(within 24 hours)pneumo-coniotic cases were examined and their telomerase activity was compared with that of the autopsied lungs of lung cancer patients and of accident victims without any respiratory diseases. Using the extracted ribo-nucleoprotein from pneumoconiotic nodules, telomeric repeat amplification assay (TRAP)was done. RESULT: The pneumoconiotic lungs showed strong telomerase activity, similar to that of the lung cancer patients, while the control group showed no such activity. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, we found that coal dust-induced cellular proliferation affects telomerase-activity clinically.