In Finland, data about the incidence of clinically confirmed (according to predefined criteria) farmer's lung have been collected in successive years since 1980. All special hospitals for pulmonary diseases and departments of pulmonary diseases in other hospitals (23 clinical units throughout Finland) took part in the study. This report deals with the results collected from 1980 to 1982 (inclusive), during which 512 new cases of farmer's lung were recorded, 186 in 1980, 153 in 1981, and 173 in 1982. The mean age of the patients was 47 years (range 14-75), 45 years for men and 48 years for women. About two-thirds of the patients were women. The mean annual incidence of farmer's lung among the entire farming population (standardized for age and sex to the total population in Finland in 1975) was 44 per 100,000 persons in farming. Both the standardized mean annual incidence (range 8-60 per 100,000 persons in farming) and the female/male ratio of the standardized incidence showed distinct regional differences. Most cases of farmer's lung occurred during the indoor feeding season for cattle. The highest frequency of new cases was observed in April and the lowest in October. The incidence of farmer's lung was positively correlated with measures of daily rainfall and negatively correlated with days without rainfall and with sunshine during the haymaking period preceding the diagnosis. A rainy haymaking period calls for artificial drying of hay in order to reduce the incidence of farmer's lung.
{"title":"Incidence of clinically confirmed farmer's lung in Finland and its relation to meteorological factors.","authors":"E O Terho, O P Heinonen, S Lammi, V Laukkanen","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Finland, data about the incidence of clinically confirmed (according to predefined criteria) farmer's lung have been collected in successive years since 1980. All special hospitals for pulmonary diseases and departments of pulmonary diseases in other hospitals (23 clinical units throughout Finland) took part in the study. This report deals with the results collected from 1980 to 1982 (inclusive), during which 512 new cases of farmer's lung were recorded, 186 in 1980, 153 in 1981, and 173 in 1982. The mean age of the patients was 47 years (range 14-75), 45 years for men and 48 years for women. About two-thirds of the patients were women. The mean annual incidence of farmer's lung among the entire farming population (standardized for age and sex to the total population in Finland in 1975) was 44 per 100,000 persons in farming. Both the standardized mean annual incidence (range 8-60 per 100,000 persons in farming) and the female/male ratio of the standardized incidence showed distinct regional differences. Most cases of farmer's lung occurred during the indoor feeding season for cattle. The highest frequency of new cases was observed in April and the lowest in October. The incidence of farmer's lung was positively correlated with measures of daily rainfall and negatively correlated with days without rainfall and with sunshine during the haymaking period preceding the diagnosis. A rainy haymaking period calls for artificial drying of hay in order to reduce the incidence of farmer's lung.</p>","PeriodicalId":12048,"journal":{"name":"European journal of respiratory diseases. Supplement","volume":"152 ","pages":"47-56"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14621824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
K Husman, M Koskenvuo, J Kaprio, E O Terho, I Vohlonen
Based on data in the Finnish Twin Registry, which was obtained by postal questionnaire, the prevalence of chronic bronchitis among non-smoking farmers was 3.6% and among a corresponding group of non-farmers (reference subjects) 3.4%. The six-year incidences of chronic bronchitis for these 2 groups were 2.7% and 0.7%, respectively. The difference in incidence between these groups was significant (p less than 0.001). The fact that the incidence among farming subjects was three times the incidence among non-farming subjects indicates that chronic bronchitis is a work-related disease among farmers. This is analogous to previous findings that symptoms compatible with chronic bronchitis occur more often among grain elevator workers than among urban dwellers. The occurrence of chronic bronchitis among both farmers and grain elevator workers probably is associated with exposure to grain dusts.
{"title":"Role of environment in the development of chronic bronchitis.","authors":"K Husman, M Koskenvuo, J Kaprio, E O Terho, I Vohlonen","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Based on data in the Finnish Twin Registry, which was obtained by postal questionnaire, the prevalence of chronic bronchitis among non-smoking farmers was 3.6% and among a corresponding group of non-farmers (reference subjects) 3.4%. The six-year incidences of chronic bronchitis for these 2 groups were 2.7% and 0.7%, respectively. The difference in incidence between these groups was significant (p less than 0.001). The fact that the incidence among farming subjects was three times the incidence among non-farming subjects indicates that chronic bronchitis is a work-related disease among farmers. This is analogous to previous findings that symptoms compatible with chronic bronchitis occur more often among grain elevator workers than among urban dwellers. The occurrence of chronic bronchitis among both farmers and grain elevator workers probably is associated with exposure to grain dusts.</p>","PeriodicalId":12048,"journal":{"name":"European journal of respiratory diseases. Supplement","volume":"152 ","pages":"57-63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14621825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
O P Heinonen, M Horsmanheimo, I Vohlonen, E O Terho
In order to compare the prevalences of common allergic symptoms identical postal questionnaires were sent to all farmers of a rural municipality in eastern Finland and to a sample of similar size in the adjacent industrialized urban municipality. To investigate the validity of the survey random subsamples of each study group participated in health examinations. In both the rural and urban populations subjects most frequently suffered from allergic rhinitis, 26.7% and 28.8%, respectively of the two populations. The proportions of individuals with any one of the five allergic symptoms recorded did not differ significantly in the two populations. Asthma was somewhat more frequent among the urban than among the rural population. The difference was not statistically significant, however, and could be due to the difference in smoking habits. The factors reported to provoke allergic symptoms were significantly different in the two groups. In the rural population the provoking factors were mostly work-related, whereas in the urban population these factors were related to living conditions.
{"title":"Prevalence of allergic symptoms in rural and urban populations.","authors":"O P Heinonen, M Horsmanheimo, I Vohlonen, E O Terho","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In order to compare the prevalences of common allergic symptoms identical postal questionnaires were sent to all farmers of a rural municipality in eastern Finland and to a sample of similar size in the adjacent industrialized urban municipality. To investigate the validity of the survey random subsamples of each study group participated in health examinations. In both the rural and urban populations subjects most frequently suffered from allergic rhinitis, 26.7% and 28.8%, respectively of the two populations. The proportions of individuals with any one of the five allergic symptoms recorded did not differ significantly in the two populations. Asthma was somewhat more frequent among the urban than among the rural population. The difference was not statistically significant, however, and could be due to the difference in smoking habits. The factors reported to provoke allergic symptoms were significantly different in the two groups. In the rural population the provoking factors were mostly work-related, whereas in the urban population these factors were related to living conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12048,"journal":{"name":"European journal of respiratory diseases. Supplement","volume":"152 ","pages":"64-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14621826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study was based on a sample of 3,065 farmers from a larger survey population of 12,056 Finnish farmers. Data were collected in a postal survey conducted by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. Serum samples for determination of precipitating antibodies were taken at local health centres. Precipitins were determined by the method of microplate immune diffusion. The antigen panel consisted of mycelial antigens of Micropolyspora faeni, Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Aspergillus umbrosus. Precipitins to any one of the four microbes were detected in 8.6% of the sera. The most common causes of positive precipitin tests were Aspergillus umbrosus and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, which agrees with previous findings reported from Finland. In general, the precipitins were more prevalent among women, which corresponds to local cultural traditions, and in older farmers. The prevalence of precipitins did not differ between non-atopic and atopic (defined as past or present co-existence of atopic dermatitis including infantile eczema and/or hay fever or other allergic rhinitis) subjects. In contrast, the prevalence of precipitins was about 1.5-2 times larger among non-smokers than among smokers, which confirms the findings in previous reports. In future studies on occurrence of precipitins, the data should be controlled with respect to age, sex, and smoking.
{"title":"Serum precipitins against microbes in mouldy hay with respect to age, sex, atopy, and smoking of farmers.","authors":"E O Terho, K Husman, I Vohlonen, R A Mäntyjärvi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study was based on a sample of 3,065 farmers from a larger survey population of 12,056 Finnish farmers. Data were collected in a postal survey conducted by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. Serum samples for determination of precipitating antibodies were taken at local health centres. Precipitins were determined by the method of microplate immune diffusion. The antigen panel consisted of mycelial antigens of Micropolyspora faeni, Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Aspergillus umbrosus. Precipitins to any one of the four microbes were detected in 8.6% of the sera. The most common causes of positive precipitin tests were Aspergillus umbrosus and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, which agrees with previous findings reported from Finland. In general, the precipitins were more prevalent among women, which corresponds to local cultural traditions, and in older farmers. The prevalence of precipitins did not differ between non-atopic and atopic (defined as past or present co-existence of atopic dermatitis including infantile eczema and/or hay fever or other allergic rhinitis) subjects. In contrast, the prevalence of precipitins was about 1.5-2 times larger among non-smokers than among smokers, which confirms the findings in previous reports. In future studies on occurrence of precipitins, the data should be controlled with respect to age, sex, and smoking.</p>","PeriodicalId":12048,"journal":{"name":"European journal of respiratory diseases. Supplement","volume":"152 ","pages":"115-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14623062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Preliminary results of the pathological review of a small cell lung cancer trial (EORTC 08825).","authors":"S S Wagenaar","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12048,"journal":{"name":"European journal of respiratory diseases. Supplement","volume":"149 ","pages":"63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14167809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The physical properties of respiratory tract secretion (RTS) play a prominent rôle in the non-specific defence mechanisms of the lung. Viscosity and elasticity, that is flow and deformation, are only two of the physical properties of RTS. Spinability, pourability, adhesiveness and tackiness are starting to be recognised as physical properties of RTS and its is likely that they may be relevant in the pathogenesis of airways obstruction. RTS is a gel, which consists of a cross-linked polymer network dispersed in a liquid solvent. The polymeric structure of the epithelial glycoprotein can be explained in terms of covalent (disulphide) linkages and/or physical entanglement between glycoproteins subunits. Other constituents of RTS such as proteins, lipids, ions and water can influence the physical properties of RTS.
{"title":"Biochemical basis of physical properties of respiratory tract secretions.","authors":"M T Lopez-Vidriero","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The physical properties of respiratory tract secretion (RTS) play a prominent rôle in the non-specific defence mechanisms of the lung. Viscosity and elasticity, that is flow and deformation, are only two of the physical properties of RTS. Spinability, pourability, adhesiveness and tackiness are starting to be recognised as physical properties of RTS and its is likely that they may be relevant in the pathogenesis of airways obstruction. RTS is a gel, which consists of a cross-linked polymer network dispersed in a liquid solvent. The polymeric structure of the epithelial glycoprotein can be explained in terms of covalent (disulphide) linkages and/or physical entanglement between glycoproteins subunits. Other constituents of RTS such as proteins, lipids, ions and water can influence the physical properties of RTS.</p>","PeriodicalId":12048,"journal":{"name":"European journal of respiratory diseases. Supplement","volume":"153 ","pages":"130-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14450566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
During the farmers' occupational health study 1979-82, the work conditions of 3,358 randomly selected farmers were investigated with respect to occurrence of work-related health hazards. The farmers also underwent a health examination in their local health centre, and precipitating antibodies against four microbes present in mouldy hay were analyzed. Results of the precipitin tests and the symptoms of chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung were analyzed with respect to the occurrence of work-related exposures to biological agents and dust in farming. The prevalence of antibodies against Aspergillus umbrosus was largest (6.9%) among farmers with biological health hazards. The occurrence of antibodies against any of the four microbes was associated more with work-related biological agents than with dust exposures. Chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung were also more common among farmers with exposures to biological agents and dust than among those without such exposures. The work conditions were investigated independently of the results of the health examinations. Occurrence of chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung are associated with the work-related health hazards in farming. For proper delivery of occupational health services methods of investigating work-related health hazards need to be improved.
{"title":"Prevalence of serum precipitins against microbes in mouldy hay, and of chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung with respect to farmers' occupational health hazards.","authors":"I Vohlonen, K Husman, E O Terho, K Tupi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the farmers' occupational health study 1979-82, the work conditions of 3,358 randomly selected farmers were investigated with respect to occurrence of work-related health hazards. The farmers also underwent a health examination in their local health centre, and precipitating antibodies against four microbes present in mouldy hay were analyzed. Results of the precipitin tests and the symptoms of chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung were analyzed with respect to the occurrence of work-related exposures to biological agents and dust in farming. The prevalence of antibodies against Aspergillus umbrosus was largest (6.9%) among farmers with biological health hazards. The occurrence of antibodies against any of the four microbes was associated more with work-related biological agents than with dust exposures. Chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung were also more common among farmers with exposures to biological agents and dust than among those without such exposures. The work conditions were investigated independently of the results of the health examinations. Occurrence of chronic bronchitis and farmer's lung are associated with the work-related health hazards in farming. For proper delivery of occupational health services methods of investigating work-related health hazards need to be improved.</p>","PeriodicalId":12048,"journal":{"name":"European journal of respiratory diseases. Supplement","volume":"152 ","pages":"139-45"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14601849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P Malmberg, A Rask-Andersen, U Palmgren, S Höglund, B Kolmodin-Hedman
{"title":"Respiratory problems among Swedish farmers, correlation between symptoms and environment.","authors":"P Malmberg, A Rask-Andersen, U Palmgren, S Höglund, B Kolmodin-Hedman","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12048,"journal":{"name":"European journal of respiratory diseases. Supplement","volume":"154 ","pages":"22-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14603446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J E Agnew, D Pavia, M T Lopez-Vidriero, S W Clarke
Mucociliary clearance data obtained with 5 microns radioaerosol particles have been analyzed for asymptomatic young cigarette smokes and non-smokers. The rate and the amount of peripheral zone clearance were both considered in relationship to the overall depth of radioaerosol lung penetration. In the smokers, but not in the non-smokers, the forms of relationship found appeared compatible with prediction based on simple mathematical modelling of aerosol deposition sites within the lung. We suggest that the results found in the non-smokers are attributable to poor mucociliary defence (which is rarely required) of their more distal peripheral airways--due presumably to low levels of cross-linked glycoprotein mucus in these airways--whilst those in the smokers functionally reflect the presence of an increased supply of mucus appropriate for mucociliary transport.
{"title":"Mucus clearance from peripheral airways.","authors":"J E Agnew, D Pavia, M T Lopez-Vidriero, S W Clarke","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mucociliary clearance data obtained with 5 microns radioaerosol particles have been analyzed for asymptomatic young cigarette smokes and non-smokers. The rate and the amount of peripheral zone clearance were both considered in relationship to the overall depth of radioaerosol lung penetration. In the smokers, but not in the non-smokers, the forms of relationship found appeared compatible with prediction based on simple mathematical modelling of aerosol deposition sites within the lung. We suggest that the results found in the non-smokers are attributable to poor mucociliary defence (which is rarely required) of their more distal peripheral airways--due presumably to low levels of cross-linked glycoprotein mucus in these airways--whilst those in the smokers functionally reflect the presence of an increased supply of mucus appropriate for mucociliary transport.</p>","PeriodicalId":12048,"journal":{"name":"European journal of respiratory diseases. Supplement","volume":"153 ","pages":"150-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14603799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Density gradient ultracentrifugation has been used to analyse the lavage from the proximal intrapulmonary bronchi of normal human volunteers and of dogs. The secretion from explants of canine trachea and human lobar bronchi has been examined under basal conditions and after stimulation by secretagogues. Mucus from the hypersecretory airways has been obtained from tracheostomized patients and from a canine model of chronic bronchitis produced by exposure to SO2 gas. No macromolecule of density gradient typical of an epithelial glycoprotein was recovered from normal basal secretions: the glycoconjugate recovered was of higher density and has sugars typical of a proteoglycan. The explant produced typical epithelial glycoprotein if stimulated. As volume of secretion increases, macromolecular yield does also, both of epithelial glycoprotein and of a number of lipids that are synthesised by the airway and which are different from alveolar lipids.
{"title":"Pathophysiology of bronchial hypersecretion.","authors":"L M Reid, D D O'Sullivan, K R Bhaskar","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Density gradient ultracentrifugation has been used to analyse the lavage from the proximal intrapulmonary bronchi of normal human volunteers and of dogs. The secretion from explants of canine trachea and human lobar bronchi has been examined under basal conditions and after stimulation by secretagogues. Mucus from the hypersecretory airways has been obtained from tracheostomized patients and from a canine model of chronic bronchitis produced by exposure to SO2 gas. No macromolecule of density gradient typical of an epithelial glycoprotein was recovered from normal basal secretions: the glycoconjugate recovered was of higher density and has sugars typical of a proteoglycan. The explant produced typical epithelial glycoprotein if stimulated. As volume of secretion increases, macromolecular yield does also, both of epithelial glycoprotein and of a number of lipids that are synthesised by the airway and which are different from alveolar lipids.</p>","PeriodicalId":12048,"journal":{"name":"European journal of respiratory diseases. Supplement","volume":"153 ","pages":"19-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1987-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14605701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}