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Unlabelled: Exposure to low doses of benzene: biological monitoring exposure in a group of occupational exposed workers and a group of general population. Even if exposure to benzene is considerably decreased in last years, the interest for this cercinogenic agent is still important. Benzene is used as additive in gasoline and it is present in cigarette smoke. Therefore benzene is considered an important toxic agent not only for occupational exposed people, but also for general population, in particular if living in high polluted areas. Aim of the present study is evaluation of trans, trans-muconic acid in urine of workers exposed to benzene and in the general population, making a distinction between subjects living in an urban centre and subjects living in rural areas. Each subject was invited to complete a questionnaire about job, diet, residence, hobbies and tobacco-smoking. Every one was submit to a physical examination, exams as ECG, audiometry, spirometry and laboratory test to investigate about blood count, liver and kidney function. It was used as biological exposure index the urinary trans, trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA)., Results: t,t-MA was increased in smokers compared to nonsmokers, in exposed workers (t,t-MA = 0.09 mg/L, DS 0.22) compared to general population (t,t-MA = 0.08 mg/L, DS 0.21) and in people living in urban zone compared to people living in rural areas. In particular, among occupational exposed subjects, we found concentration of urinary t,t-MA greater in the subjects living in urban zone (t,t-MA = 0.10 mg/L, DS 0.23) in comparison with the subjects living in rural areas (t,t-MA = 0.09 mg/L, DS 0.3). The same result we found in general population divided in two groups, people living in urban zone (t,t-MA = 0.09 mg/L, DS 0.21) and people living in rural areas (t,t-MA = 0.07 mg/L, DS 0.21). We have to observe that the results obtained have not a statistical relevance and the concentrations of t,t-MA in urines is always less than biologic limits. Anyway, in consideration of the carcinogenic properties of benzene and of its dose-response relation, without a treshold dose, we believe that the environmental and occupational monitoring is very important.

The effects of environmental hyperthermia (exposure to a hot, dry microclimate) on the human body were investigated with particular reference to certain clotting parameters in healthy subjects and patients at risk of thrombosis. The study covered 70 volunteers, 10 of them clinically healthy (6 males and 4 females) aged 37.7 +/- 9.7 and 60 patients at risk of thrombosis aged 18-60 and divided according to pathology as follows: 26 with ischaemic cardiopathy, 22 with metabolic disorders (12 diabetics, 8 with dyslipidaemia, 2 with hyperuricaemia) and 12 with obliterating arteriopathies of the lower extremities (Fontaine stage 2 and 3). The following standardised protocol was adopted: 2 hours exposure in a controlled climate chamber (40 degrees C, 40-50% humidity, standard air speed 4 m/min, barometric pressure 760 mmHg) for a total of 8 exposures (2 per week for 1 month). This approach was adopted in order to assess not only the effect of each single exposure but also the role of any adaptation to heat. Three blood samples were taken from each subject for each session: the first in basal conditions in a comfortable environment, the second at the end of the 2 hour exposure; the third 30 minutes after the end of the session. Simultaneously samples of arterial blood were taken for pH assays and a spleen echography was performed in basal conditions and at the end of the session for each subject. Each blood sample was tested for several parameters essentially attributable to blood concentration for a broader view of the biological effects of exposure to heart (Ht, blood protein, Nat, K+). The clotting factors under specific study were also assessed (platelet count and volume, beta-thromboglobulin, PF4, von Willebrand Factor VIII, thromboxane B2, fibronectin). Body weight, blood pressure and oral temperature were also measured in all subjects before and after each session. In all subjects both healthy and at risk of thrombosis oral temperature increased (1 +/- 0.4 degrees); on average blood pressure was already higher in basal conditions in the patient group; body weight fell by 900 +/- 120 G in both groups. Ht and blood protein increased significantly in both groups while electrolyte changes were insignificant and blood pH showed a tendency towards acidosis. Clotting parameters revealed a tendency towards thrombophilia in all subjects: platelet count and volume were already higher in the patient group in basal conditions and increased after exposure to hyperthermia. Beta-thromboglobulin, FP4, Factor VIII, thromboxane B2 and fibronectin all increased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Urinary infections often complicate the clinical course of hospitalised patients especially those with immunological diseases or under antibiotic treatment for other infectious pathologies. Urethral catheterisation is also a well known cause of such infections. The problem of urinary infections was examined in a general medical division. Over a three year period (1982-84), 384 urinary tract infections (UTI) with one infecting organism and 21 UTI with two bacterial species in urine cultures were found. UTI was more often found to be caused by gram negative than gram positive bacilli in both catheterised and non-catheterised patients and E. Coli accounted for most infections. Pseudomonas, Serratia and Acinetobacter were only found in catheterised patients and Enterobacter cloacae almost exclusively so. Among gram-positive bacilli, Enterococcus was the most common. Staphylococcus aureus was rare but created major pathogenetic and therapeutic problems. The results are discussed with particular reference to the high incidence of Escherichia coli and the significance of the different distribution of Pseudomonas, Serratia, Acinetobacter and Enterobacter cloacae between catheterised and non-catheterised patients. Finally the pathogenic and therapeutic problems of UTI caused by more than one germ are considered.

Nephritic functionality has been studies, making use of same nephritic enzymes dosage (NAG, AAP, alpha-glucosidase, lysozyme) in three groups of workers (varnishers, metallurgists, plastic manufacture employees) professionally exposed to nephritic damage, and in a control group made up of not professionally exposed to the same hazard subjects. The aim was to precociously detect possible nephritic damage, i.e. before classic nephritic functionality indexes were distorted. An increased enzymuria appeared in those subjects that were exposed to nephrotoxic hazard. Increased enzymuria have been found in only one subject of the control group. We deem it should be useful, to customarily measure out nephritic enzymes as trusted index of tabular damage, in hiring and pensionary control examinations.