[The cardiovascular risk in chemical factory workers exposed to mercury vapor]. / Ryzyko sercowo-naczyniowe u narazonych na dzialanie par rteci pracowników zakladów chemicznych.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, are a leading cause of death in developing and developed countries. Mercury can induce hypertension and atherosclerosis in experimental animals and humans. The assessment of the effect of mercury on the occurrence of cardiovascular system disturbances in the population is an essential task. The aim of this study was to assess the association between mercury concentration in urine and the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease during ten coming years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included chemical factory workers who used mercury in the chlorine production. RESULTS: The mean urine concentration of mercury in 154 workers was 4.9 +/- 11.2 microg/g creatinine. The most common disease was hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiovascular risk was higher in workers exposed to small or moderate mercury levels than in workers exposed to mercury vapor in high concentrations. Furthermore, the negative association was observed between mercury exposure and smoking in workers with low urinary excretion of mercury.

The dependence between urinary mercury concentration and carotid arterial intima-media thickness in workers occupationally exposed to mercury vapour.

OBJECTIVES: Mechanisms of the mercury effect on arterial vessel walls include increased free radicals generation, decreased nitric oxide synthesis and increased reactivity to vasoconstrictors, leading to accelerated development of atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between urinary mercury (Hg-U) concentration and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) or intraventricular septum diastolic diameter (IVSDD) to find the best markers of mercury cardiovascular toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 154 workers of a chemical factory using mercury in chlorine production. Urinary mercury concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum lipids were assessed by routine methods using enzymatic assay. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS) was determined by colorimetry. Measurements of IMT and IVSDD were made by ultrasound imaging using MEDISON SA 9900 PRIME system. RESULTS: The mean Hg-U concentration was 1.9+/-2.7 microg/g creatinine in women (n = 29) and 5.6+/-12.2 microg/g creatinine in men (n = 125). In the group of non-smokers (n = 102) there was a positive linear correlation between Hg-U concentration and IMT (r = 0.1728; p < 0.05) and a negative dependence between high density cholesterol (HDL-C) and IMT (r = -0.2109; p < 0.01). The negative linear correlation between serum total antioxidant status (TAS) and carotid IMT (r = -0.2142; p < 0.05), and the positive correlation between HDL-C and TAS (r = 0.1953; p < 0.05) were shown to be valid for the total studied group. Serum lipids in women were normal, but in men the mean triglyceride level was higher than normal. CONCLUSIONS: The occupational exposure to mercury vapour remains in a relationship with early, asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis. The dependence between urinary mercury elimination and carotid intima-media thickness is evidenced in non-smoking workers. Defensive anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms in these workers are strongly related with HDL. In smokers, these protective mechanisms are disturbed.

Drinking of chokeberry juice from the ecological farm Dzieciolowo and distensibility of brachial artery in men with mild hypercholesterolemia.

The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of drinking chokeberry juice on the endothelial function in men with mild hypercholesterolemia. It was shown that chronic treatment with flavonoids improves vascular function and reduces cardiovascular remodelling by increasing NO release from endothelial cells. A group of 35 men diagnosed with mild hypercholesterolemia (mean age: 53.9 +-5.8 years), with no earlier pharmacological treatment, were enrolled to the study. In all men, assessment of endothelial function, and serum lipids level were carried out at four time points: at the beginning of the studies, after 6 weeks of regular drinking of chokeberry juice, after 6 weeks without drinking the juice, then after repeated 6 weeks of drinking chokeberry juice. During the study, significant decreases in serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels were observed. A statistically significant increase in serum nitric oxide (NO) concentration and in the flow mediated dilatation (FMD) were observed. At the beginning, FMD > or = 7 % was present in 13 of 35 subjects (37.1 %). After 6 weeks of regular chokeberry juice drinking, FMD > or = 7 % was present in 29 of 35 subjects (82.9 %). However, after 6 weeks abstaining from drinking the juice and repeated exposure to 6 weeks drinking of chokeberry juice, FMD > or = 7 % was present in all studied subjects. Regular drinking of chokeberry juice has a beneficial effect on endothelial function and lipid metabolism in men with mild hypercholesterolemia.

[A case of lung silicosis associated with plasmocytoma: the diagnosis and certification difficulties]. / Przypadek krzemicy pluc wspólistniejacy ze szpiczakiem--trudnosci diagnostyczne i orzecznicze.

Silicosis is a chronic, progressing disease of the respiratory system. The aim of this paper was to describe a case of silicosis coexisting with not typical plasmocytoma. Silicosis was diagnosed in a 62-year old woman, after an 8-year employment as a grinder. The patient has suffered from progressing weakness, fatigue, and dyspnea for 2 years. The increased leucocytosis (18-20,000) and moderate lymphocytosis were found in laboratory tests. The patient was admitted to the hospital in a very serious condition, with fever and progressing insufficiency of the respiratory and circulatory systems. Following computed tomography (CT), tumorous silicosis was diagnosed in the Department of Internal and Occupational Diseases. After three months, the increased level of the whole number of serum proteins (until 90 g/l) was found for the first time together with few places of osteolysis in the x-ray cranium picture. The plasmocytoma infiltrations were found in the post-mortem lung examination. The described case seems to be interesting in view of a possible induction of monoclonal gammopathy by silicosis.

[Occupational health problems in dental practice]. / Zawodowe zagrozenia zdrowotne w gabinetach stomatologicznych.

The overload of the osteoarticular system resulting from standing and stooping position of the body is the main health problem of dentists. This may cause vertebral pain, symptoms of sciatica and foot valgo-planus. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are induced by repeated carpus movements. Frequent numbness associated with the peripheral nerves changes result from using drills by dentists. Menstruation disturbances observed in dental assistants could be related to the increased levels of mercury in serum and urine. Allergy is also a frequent medical problem, particularly allergy to latex. manifested by contact eczema or allergic urticaria, asthma and shock. There also is an increased risk for infectious diseases through the contact with biological material, mostly saliva and blood.

[Occupational and non-occupational aspects of carpal tunnel syndrome]. / Zawodowe i pozazawodowe aspekty zespolu kanalu nadgarstka.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the pressure of the medianus nerve in the carpal canal. This syndrome is characterized by the following symptoms: numbness of the thumb and fingers, hand pain, particularly at night, and handicap of the hand efficiency. The examination of the perception, provocation tests, electromyography, carpal radiography, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging are very helpful in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Pathological changes in flexor's theca are the most frequent causes of the syndrome. It may also occur in patients with lupus erythematosus, tuberculosis, endocrinopathy, rheumatic diseases and during pregnancy. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common occupational neuropathy. It is associated with the recurrence of carpal movements and observed in seamstresses, butchers, persons testing bar codes in supermarkets and meat packers.