[Intervention methodology for training and information for workers of the building sector]. / Metodologie di intervento per la formazione e l'informazione dei lavoratori nel settore edile.

Regarding the seriousness of work-accident in Gorizia district, various organizations as ASL 2 "Isontina" (local health agency), INAIL of Friuli Venezia Giulia (National Institute for occupational accident insurance), trade unions and trade associations created a organization called "Observatory for Working-accidents and Professional Illness Prevention". The aim of this association is the promotion of safety in working environment. Diffusing importance of safety in building trade was the first projects of Observatory. So, Observatory carried an initiative to make more aware the workers. Than, it organized training courses for building workers. Moreover, the construction of an informative pamphlet on risks in building trade was made. For some experimental investigation, Observatory works with Department of Psychology, University of Trieste.

Liver function alterations in synthetic leather workers exposed to dimethylformamide.

A cross-sectional study of the prevalence of chronic liver function alterations was performed in 75 workers employed in a synthetic leather factory, exposed to dimethylformamide (DMF) air concentrations below threshold limit values (30 mg/m3). Biological monitoring among workers revealed acceptable urine levels of monomethylformamide (NMF) on average, but the very wide range indicated that occasional overexposure was possible. The worker survey showed a high percentage of disulfiram-like symptoms (50%) and liver function abnormalities (22.7%), compared with a demographically similar group of unexposed workers. Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) revealed that enzyme levels were significantly higher in exposed workers than in controls after data were corrected for age, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and cholesterol levels. The authors conclude that DMF can cause liver diseases even if air TLVs are respected, because accidental contact with liquid DMF can significantly increase DMF uptake. In this situation, air monitoring is no longer sufficient to evaluate worker exposure.

Peritoneal macrophage beta-2 microglobulin production and bacterial peritonitis in CAPD patients.

To evaluate the role of bacterial peritonitis in peritoneal macrophage (PM) Beta-2 Microglobulin (B2M) production, and its relationship with PM Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) release, the authors studied 20 CAPD patients (10 with peritonitis): 1. in vivo plasma and peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) B2M, IL-1, and LTB4 levels; 2. in vitro B2M, IL-1, and LTB4 release by PM. Values were compared with those seen in the plasma or with peripheral blood monocytes of 30 hemodialysis (HD) patients (10 treated with Cuprophan [CU]; 10 with Polyacrylonitrile [PAN]; and 10 with Cellulose Acetate [CA]). Results showed that in CAPD patients with bacterial peritonitis B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 concentrations in the PDE were significantly higher than those seen in CAPD patients without peritonitis, or in the plasma of HD patients treated with PAN or CA, but were similar to those seen in HD patients treated with CU. At the same time, in vitro PM from CAPD patients with bacterial peritonitis produced more B2M, IL-1, and LTB4, than did PM from CAPD patients without peritonitis, or peripheral blood monocytes from HD patients treated with PAN or CA. The authors conclude that in CAPD patients, bacterial peritonitis is able to induce PM B2M production, probably via a cytokine mediated process, which may be analogous to what occurs with peripheral blood monocytes of HD patients treated with CU.

Identification of pancreatic glucagon cells in the cartilaginous fish Scyliorhinus canicula by ultrastructural immunocytochemistry.

The ultrastructural localization of glucagon in the presence of Scyliorhinus canicula was investigated. We used a post-embedding immunoelectron microscopy method on pancreatic samples fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmicated before embedding. Contrasting with uranyl acetate and lead citrate was also performed after immunolabelling, but best results were obtained with uranyl acetate only. Glucagon-like immunoreactivity was located in round granules (300-600 nm) surrounded by a limiting membrane. The matrix varied in electron density and exhibited a dense core surrounded by a less dense mantle. The granules were seen in two different cell types, which differed in the electron density of their cytoplasm. Glucagon-immunoreactive cells were the largest pancreatic cells types and were often localized near somatostatin-containing cells.

Bacterial peritonitis and beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) production by peritoneal macrophages (PM0) in CAPD patients.

To evaluate the role of bacterial peritonitis in peritoneal macrophage (PMO) Beta-2 Microglobulin (B2M) production and its relationship with PMO Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) release we analyzed in 20 CAPD patients (10 with peritonitis): 1. in vivo plasma and peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 levels; 2. in vitro B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 release by PMO. Values were compared with those seen in the plasma or with peripheral blood monocytes of 30 hemodialysis (HD) patients (10 treated with Cuprophan-CU-, 10 with Polyacrylonitrile - PAN, and 10 with Cellulose Acetate - CA). Results showed that in CAPD patients with bacterial peritonitis B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 concentrations in the PDE were significantly higher than those seen in CAPD patients without peritonitis or in the plasma of HD patients treated with PAN or CA, but were similar to those seen in HD patients treated with CU. At the same time, in vitro, PMO from CAPD patients with bacterial peritonitis produced more B2M, IL-1 and LTB4 than did PMO from CAPD patients without peritonitis or peripheral blood monocytes from HD patients treated with PAN or CA. We conclude that in CAPD patients bacterial peritonitis is able to induce PMO B2M production, probably via a cytokine-mediated process, which may be analogous to what occurs with peripheral blood monocytes of HD patients treated with CU.

Intraperitoneal verapamil therapy in CAPD patients with peritoneal hypopermeability. Effects on ultrafiltration.

We found higher peritoneal lymphocyte (PLy) and macrophage (PM0) Ca++ concentrations in CAPD patients with low peritoneal ultrafiltration (UF), than in normal UF patients, as well as the release of greater amounts of lymphomonokines such as interferon-gamma and interleukin-1, which stimulate peritoneal fibroblast proliferation. Since Ca++ is essential in immune-cell activation and lymphomonokine production, the authors analyzed the effects of intraperitoneal (IP) verapamil therapy in 16 CAPD patients with UF loss. The areas studied included: 1) PLy and PM0 Ca++ concentration, 2) peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) lymphomonokine levels, 3) peritoneal glucose absorption, 4) UF volume, and 5) peritoneal morphology. In the 10 low UF patients who showed normal glucose absorption and increased peritoneal fibroblast proliferation, of verapamil therapy increased UF volume, decreased the amount of peritoneal fibroblast proliferation, and normalized the previously high PLy and PM0 Ca++ concentrations and PDE lymphomonokine levels. Conversely, UF was not improved by IP verapamil in the six low UF patients showing high glucose absorption and prevalent mesothelial alterations. In conclusion, IP verapamil can be considered a suitable therapy for increasing UF volume in CAPD patients with peritoneal hypopermeability due to a lymphomonokine-mediated hyperproliferation of peritoneal fibroblasts.

Hepatic or splenic targeting of carrier erythrocytes: a murine model.

Carrier mouse erythrocytes, i.e., red cells, subjected to a dialysis technique involving transient hypotonic hemolysis and isotonic resealing were treated in vitro in three different ways: (a) energy depletion by exposure for 90 min at 42 degrees C; (b) desialylation by incubation with neuroaminidase; and (c) oxidative stress by incubation with H2O2 and NaN3. Procedure (c) afforded maximal damage, as shown by analysis of biochemical properties of the treated erythrocytes. Reinfusion in mice of the variously manipulated erythrocytes following their 51Cr labeling showed extensive fragilization as indicated by rapid clearance of radioactivity from the circulation. Moreover, both the energy-depleted and the neuraminidase-treated erythrocytes showed a preferential liver uptake, reaching 50 and 75%, respectively, within 2 h. On the other hand, exposure of erythrocytes to the oxidant stress triggered a largely splenic removal, accounting for almost 40% of the reinjected cells within 4 h. Transmission electron microscopy of liver from mice receiving energy-depleted erythrocytes demonstrated remarkable erythrocyte congestion within the sinusoids, followed by hyperactivity of Kupffer cells and by subsequent thickening of the perisinusoidal Disse space. Concomitantly, levels of serum transaminase activities were moderately increased. Each of the three procedures of manipulation of carrier erythrocytes may prove applicable under conditions where selective targeting of erythrocyte-encapsulated chemicals and drugs to either the liver or the spleen has to be achieved.