RESUMEN
The present study was conducted to evaluate characteristics of pig houses that are associated with the development of respiratory morbidity in 100 swine producers with work-related respiratory symptoms. A standardized questionnaire for farm characteristics was used, and lung function was assessed immediately before and after feeding the pigs. Exposure to dust and endotoxin was determined by personal sampling. Among these farmers, baseline lung function results were shown to be negatively associated with duration of employment, number of pigs on the farm, manual feeding, and ventilation. The decrease in forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second over the feeding period was negatively correlated with air velocity, whereas respirable dust concentrations were shown to be significant predictors of maximal midexpiratory flow (MMEF25/75) decline. In conclusion, among symptomatic pig farmers, those with higher numbers of pigs and longer duration of employment are at highest risk for developing functional impairment.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Trabajadores Agrícolas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Trabajadores Agrícolas/etiología , Crianza de Animales Domésticos , Enfermedades Respiratorias/epidemiología , Enfermedades Respiratorias/etiología , Adulto , Enfermedades de los Trabajadores Agrícolas/diagnóstico , Animales , Recolección de Datos , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Monitoreo Epidemiológico , Femenino , Humanos , Incidencia , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis de Regresión , Pruebas de Función Respiratoria , Enfermedades Respiratorias/diagnóstico , Factores de Riesgo , Estadísticas no Paramétricas , PorcinosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to determine the distribution of mite allergens in pig-farming environments in comparison to urban homes and the relationship between exposure to mite allergens and sensitization to the respective allergens in 100 pig farmers with work-related respiratory symptoms. METHODS: The concentration of storage mite (Lep d 2) and house-dust-mite (Der p 1, Der f 1, and Der 2) allergens in dust collected from five different sampling sites (floor, wall, grain mill, transit area between confinement house and farmer's kitchen, and farmers' mattresses) was studied in relationship to the respective sensitization rates. Allergen concentrations in the mattresses were compared to those determined in mattresses from 22 urban dwellers. RESULTS: Median concentrations of Der p 1 and Der 2 in the mattresses of the farmers were significantly higher than in the urban dwellers' samples (53.4 microg/g dust vs 1.05 microg/g dust, P=0.001; 19.6 microg/g dust vs 2.2 microg/g dust, P<0.0001, respectively). Allergen concentrations in the transit areas were strongly related to bedroom exposure. In a multiple logistic regression model, a weak but significant relationship between Der p 1 exposure and sensitization to Der p 1 was found. Despite these findings, the prevalence of sensitization to mite allergens in the farmers (18%) was comparable to the prevalence in the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Allergen exposure at the workplace is strongly related to the concentration of allergens in farmers' beds. Exposure to domestic mite allergens should be taken into account when assessing occupational exposure to allergens and the respiratory health of farmers.
Asunto(s)
Alérgenos/análisis , Pulmón de Granjero/inmunología , Glicoproteínas/análisis , Ácaros/inmunología , Proteínas/análisis , Hipersensibilidad Respiratoria/inmunología , Animales , Antígenos Dermatofagoides , Ropa de Cama y Ropa Blanca , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Pulmón de Granjero/epidemiología , Pulmón de Granjero/etiología , Femenino , Alemania/epidemiología , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Exposición Profesional , Prueba de Radioalergoadsorción , Hipersensibilidad Respiratoria/epidemiología , Hipersensibilidad Respiratoria/etiología , Población UrbanaRESUMEN
We report the clinical and cytogenetic findings in a family in which a balanced reciprocal translocation between the long arm of chromosome 4 and the short arm of chromosome 5 is segregating together with Huntington disease in 2 generations. In situ hybridization studies revealed that the linked human DNA marker is located on the short arm of the normal and translocated chromosome 4 in the region 4p16. The association between Huntington disease and the translocation in this family may represent a chance occurrence. However, it is also possible that there is an undetected rearrangement of DNA on chromosome 4 involving the gene for Huntington disease but not affecting the site of the linked marker. Finally, the likelihood that this represents heterogeneity cannot be excluded.