Document LJnqDa87xjnyr5y5Nna0QLo45

*; mgustrtal Hygiene Digest_________________________________________________________________September, 1956 il- `*1188 A Study ot Respiration to Pulmonary Asbestosis. H. Bastenier, H. Denoiin, A. deCoster, sad M. Englenl. Arch, maladies profess. lt| 546-553 (1955). French. la order to test the respiratory value of longs affected with asbestosis nine cases were closely studied. The seven men and two women had been exposed to asbestos dust, 1,000 to 2, 000 particles per cn. m. , for 18 to 30 years. The patients displayed definite symptoms of asbestosis with troublesome cough and dyspnea, and all showed x-ray shadows like ground glass extending over both lungs. No tubercle bacilli were found in any case. A definite reduction was found in vital capacity, but the maximum expiratory volume was satis factory. Breathing, however, was accelerated by hyperventilation. At rest breathing was sufficient and satisfactory, bat on exertion dyspnea appeared, varying considerably accord ing to the pathological lesions in the longs. These functional changes were in no way differ ent from those seen in other cases of pneumoconiosis. .Varying emphysema was found, but no special strain was thrown upon the heart. -- Cood. from Boll. Hyg. 1189 Asbestosis; Report of a Case. E. K. Wiese and W. E. B. Ball. Diseases of Chest 30, 229, 230 (Aug. 1956). The history and autopsy findings In a fatal case of asbestosis are reported. Conditions described include: absence of the middle lobe of the right long; greatly, en larged heart; wide spread, sharply demarcated development of fibrosis; and degenera tion of collagen in extensive irregular fields. These and other conditions are described fully. Fine needles representing the original asbestos fibers were seen. Sms II asbestos bodies were seen in a few areas of focal fibrosld, although they had not appeared tn the sputum. 1190 New Viewpoints on Pulmonary Cancer in Asbestos Workers. H. BohllgandG. Jacob. Peut. mcd. Wochschr. 81, 231-233 (Feb. 17, 1956). derman. The following distinguishing features have been attributed to the lung cancer that has been recognized as an occupational disease of asbestos workers: (1) increased Inci dence; (2) development at an early age; (3) dependence on duration of exposure to asbestos dust; (4) a latent period between onset of exposure and the appearance of the cancer; (5) the localization; (6) the histological structure; and,(7) the multicentral origin. The authors discuss each of these points, and show that there is little dear evidence to support any of these assumptions, with exceptions noted. Women workers in the asbestos industry have - long cancer more often, and at an earlier age than do other women, hut the same is.not true of men. Malignant growths of the pleura seem to occur more often in asbestos workers than, in other persons. The multiceutzal development is observed also in workers exposed to cobalt and to chromates. The study of the pathogenesis is still in the state of hypotheses, and the theory of mechanical pathogenesis is given most consideration. Microtraumas and asbestos bodies are always found in the pulmonary cancers of asbestos workers, bat the authors feel ThatTHls 'docs not necessaray*piwe,tii'e*mwcfasheajL-4hecrry> 3-boy-cite-eoirsneX factors that apeak against a purely mechanical pathogenesis of asbestos cancer, but they concede that the development of so-called asbestos warts proves the irritating effect of asbestos-on human tissues. --Cond. from J. Am. Med. Assn. 1191 Nasal Penetration ot Partidea of Small Inertia in Experimental Animals. Gabrielle Asset, L. E,, Googwer, and Stella Ryan. Arch. Xnd. Health 13,' 597-601 (June 1956). Experiments were carried out to determine the nasal penetration of particles of small inertia in dead rabbits, dogs, and guinea pigs. The beads of the animals, or the entire bodies, were exposed in a wind tunnel to an aerosol consisting of particles of 1.3 microns with density of 1.2 g. per.ee. and moving at a rate of 2.5 mph. The concentra tions of the aerosol entering the nasal passages and ot that leaving the nasal passages were determined. It was found that there was a significant difference in nasal penetration be tween the guinea pigs, on the one band, and the rabbits and the dogs, on the other band. Wind direction had no influence on the nasal penetration ot droplets ot low inertia. , __Authors' summary .29