Silica, silicosis and lung-cancer: results from a cohort study in the stone and quarry industry.

BACKGROUND: Workers compensated for silicosis outside the mining industry are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer. In the meta-analyses no data from Germany are involved. Furthermore, exposure data are necessary if a threshold value is to be assessed in order to reduce the risk for silicosis and also for lung cancer. METHOD: A cohort study among workers compensated for silicosis between 1988 and 2000 from the stone and quarry industry in Germany has been initiated. The cohort was followed up until the end of 2001. From all workers a detailed description of their jobs was assessed. RESULTS: Four hundred and forty workers were enrolled in the study. During the follow-up 144 workers died, compared with 74.35 expected cases based on the mortality rates of the general population from Germany, leading to a standard mortality ratio (SMR) of 1.94 (95% CI 1.63-2.28). Lung cancer was the cause of death in 16 cases (SMR 2.40; 95% CI 1.37-3.90). All workers had a peak exposure above 0.15 mg/m3, the current threshold value. The cumulative exposure was above 2 mg/m3.years and the average exposure was 0.10 mg/m3 or larger. No association between the exposure and the risk of developing lung cancer could be observed. CONCLUSIONS: Workers from the stone and quarry industry compensated for silicosis are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer. In order to reduce that risk, the exposure has to be lowered, with a peak exposure below 0.15 mg/m3 and an average exposure below 0.10 mg/m3.

A new system for rapid large-caliber percutaneous transhepatic drainage in patients with obstructive jaundice: a prospective randomized trial.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND AND STUDY, AIMS: Percutaneous access to the biliary tract is an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the management of biliary diseases. It is usually chosen when the endoscopic approach via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) fails, or is not possible. Once established, the percutaneous tract is then used for the treatment of biliary stones and strictures. To establish a percutaneous tract with a caliber large enough for cholangioscopy to be performed, or for a large-bore permanent drainage tube to be inserted, stepwise dilation up to 14 Fr or 16 Fr is usually required. We present here a new method of rapid dilation using specially designed materials, including a stiffenable guide wire and specially adapted bougies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous drainage for biliary diseases were included in this prospective study, over a 19-month period. After establishment of a 10-Fr transpapillary drain, the patients were randomly assigned to either conventional percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) or stepwise dilation using the new method, aiming at a need for only one further session, using a specially designed stiffenable metal guide wire of 6.6 Fr and plastic bougies. The details of the procedure (duration, materials used, technical ease), initial and later complications, assessment by the patients, and procedural costs were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of the 60 patients included, 29 were randomly assigned to group I (the new method) and 31 to group II (the conventional approach); there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of clinical data or biliary pathology. The clinical efficacy of PTBD was similar in the two groups, although three patients in group II were switched to the new procedure because of failure of dilation using the conventional approach. The rates of major complications (four of 29 in group I, five of 31 in group II) and patient tolerance were also similar. However, the new procedure led to a significant reduction in the cumulative procedure duration (20.1 minutes vs 30.1 minutes), mean number of sessions (1.1 vs. 1.7), and mean number of hospital days (2.0 vs 5.5), and was therefore also cost-effective, reducing costs from a mean of 5813 to 2581 German marks (DM) per patient. CONCLUSIONS: The new system for rapid establishment of large-caliber PTBD offers significant advantages in terms of saving hospital resources while maintaining clinical efficacy.

Reduced levels of coagulation factor XIII in patients with advanced tumor disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Coagulation factor XIII, which induces the stabilization of fibrin the final step in the coagulation cascade, has various physiological effects. Among these, its beneficial effect in gastrointestinal bleeding episodes is well known. With the exception of inflammatory bowel disease, however, few data are available about this effect, particularly with regard to its role in diffuse bleeding in tumor patients. The study was designed to carry out prospective follow-up investigations, gathering data concerning factor XIII levels in patients with advanced gastrointestinal tumors and evaluating the course of the disease as well as the incidence of bleeding. METHODOLOGY: Sixty patients (22 women, 38 men; median age: 60; range: 29-79) with advanced gastrointestinal tumors were followed-up prospectively. Factor XIII levels were measured using chromogenic substrate. The correlation between the FXIII level and the patients' survival was analyzed using the Cox model. RESULTS: Factor XIII deficiency (below 70%) was seen in only 7 patients (11.6%), 6 of whom died within a median of 1.5 months after the measurement. In all patients however, there was a significant correlation (P = 0.0133) between FXIII levels and the risk of death. Four bleeding episodes occurred in 3 patients, three times with FXIII levels being below the lower normal range. When substitution was attempted, it was only successful in 1 patient in whom the FXIII level was reduced. CONCLUSIONS: FXIII may have predictive value as a marker for the prognosis in these patients with advanced tumor disease. Bleeding episodes were rarely seen, but when they do occur they may be associated with reduced levels of FXIII, and substitution may be beneficial as an adjunct or even as the sole therapeutic intervention.