The burden of exposure-related diffuse lung disease.

Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2008 Dec;29(6):591-602

Authors: Goldyn SR, Condos R, Rom WN

Estimating the burden of exposure-related diffuse lung disease in terms of health effects and economic burden remains challenging. Labor statistics are inadequate to define the scope of the problem, and few studies have analyzed the prevalence of exposure-related illnesses and the subsequent health care cost. Well-defined exposures, such as those associated with coal mines, asbestos mines, and stonecutting, have led to more accurate assessment of prevalence and cost. As governmental regulation of workplace exposure has increased, the prevalence of diseases such as silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis has diminished. However, the health and economic effects of diseases with long latency periods, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma,

Early detection of malignant pleural mesothelioma through measurement of soluble mesothelin-related protein and positron emission tomography.

Med J Aust. 2009 Feb 2;190(3):158-9

Authors: O'Lone EL, Park EK, Sandrini A, Fogarty GB, Yates DH

A 51-year-old man with no known history of asbestos exposure presented with hydropneumothorax. Soluble mesothelin-related protein testing and combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography were used to diagnose malignant pleural mesothelioma. One year after radical surgery and radiotherapy, there was no clinical recurrence.

PMID: 19203317 [PubMed - in process]

Gene therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma: present and future.

Oncol Res. 2008;17(6):239-46

Authors: Tada Y, Takiguchi Y, Hiroshima K, Shimada H, Ueyama T, Nakamura M, Tatsumi K, Kuriyama T, Tagawa M

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is relatively rare in frequency but one of the intractable diseases linked with asbestos exposure. Clinical outcomes with the present treatment modalities are unsatisfactory and no effective prevention method has been reported. Growing numbers of the patients in the Western countries with a long latent period need development of a novel therapeutic strategy. Gene therapy is a candidate for mesothelioma treatment because of its easy accessibility of a vector-mediated gene medicine into the intrapleural cavity. Several preclinical studies demonstrated that the gene medicine produced antitumor effects, suggesting the feasibility in clinical settings. In this article, we review the current status of gene therapy and clinical trials

Update of Potency Factors for Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma.

Crit Rev Toxicol. 2008 Aug 1;:1

Authors: Berman DW, Crump KS

The most recent update of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health assessment document for asbestos (Nicholson, 1986, referred to as "the EPA 1986 update") is now 20 years old. That document contains estimates of "potency factors" for asbestos in causing lung cancer (K(L)'s) and mesothelioma (K(M)'s) derived by fitting mathematical models to data from studies of occupational cohorts. The present paper provides a parallel analysis that incorporates data from studies published since the EPA 1986 update. The EPA lung cancer model assumes that the relative risk varies linearly with cumulative exposure lagged 10 years. This implies that the

Environmental exposure to Libby asbestos and mesotheliomas.

Am J Ind Med. 2008 Jul 23;

Authors: Whitehouse AC, Black CB, Heppe MS, Ruckdeschel J, Levin SM

BACKGROUND: Thirty-one cases of mesothelioma resulting from exposure to Libby Asbestos have been identified from Libby, Montana. Eleven cases not previously reported are the subject of this report. METHODS: These cases are in non-occupationally exposed people, appearing to have resulted from exposure to contamination of the community, the surrounding forested area, and areas in proximity to the Kootenai river and railroad tracks used to haul vermiculite. RESULTS: These exposures are considered to be of a low degree of magnitude, but are similar to those in Western Australia's crocidolite mine at Wittenoom Gorge. An epidemic of mesothelioma can likely be expected from this type of asbestos contamination over the next 20 plus years. Am. J. Ind. Med.

Advances in the systemic therapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Nat Clin Pract Oncol. 2008 Jan 29;

Authors: Fennell DA, Gaudino G, O'Byrne KJ, Mutti L, van Meerbeeck J,

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive thoracic malignancy associated with exposure to asbestos, and its incidence is anticipated to increase during the first half of this century. Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment, yet sufficiently robust evidence to substantiate the current standard of care has emerged only in the past 5 years. This Review summarizes the evidence supporting the clinical activity of chemotherapy, discusses the use of end points for its assessment and examines the influence of clinical and biochemical prognostic factors on the natural history of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Early-phase clinical trials of second-line and novel agents are emerging from an increased understanding of mesotheliom

The defence of chrysotile, 1912-2007.

Int J Occup Environ Health. 2008 Jan-Mar;14(1):57-66

Authors: Greenberg M

The commercial exploitation of asbestos may be dated from the late 1870s, when Canada was the major world source. Reports of severe and fatal respiratory disease in workers in asbestos factories appeared in Britain (1898, 1906), and in France (1906) and Italy (1908). In 1912 the Canadian Department of Labour denied that the health of Quebec's millers and miners was affected. A series of denials appeared for over 40 years, until in 1955 a Thetford Mines medical officer reported finding that between 1945 and 1953, among some 4,000 asbestos workers 128 had asbestosis of various degrees of severity, 121 diagnosed radiographically, and 33 confirmed at autopsy. Although a committee of inquiry into health in the asbestos industry (1976), and a Royal Commission on health and safety arising in the use of asbestos in Ontario (1984) confirmed that disease had o

Medico-legal aspects of mesothelioma.

Ann Ital Chir. 2007 Sep-Oct;78(5):401-3

Authors: Partemi S, De Giorgio F

The Authors, reviewing the Literature on asbestos-related Malignant Mesothelioma (MM), found that because of its very peculiar characteristics, the causal link between professional asbestos exposure and the development of this tumour is very difficult to define in respect to: diagnosis, causal link and individuation of possible culpable conducts. The evaluation of causal link in different medico-legal areas is studied by different criteria. In civil law the criterion of weak causality is followed to allow compensation for damages. For institutional purposes in INAIL, the definition of causal link is particularly facilitated by the legal presumption of origin. In fact it is sufficient, that asbestos-related lesions are ascertained in individuals who are or were exposed at any time of their professional life to the risk of inhaling asbestos fibres. In c

Mortality Of Former Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos) Miners And Millers At Wittenoom.

Occup Environ Med. 2007 Nov 28;

Authors: Musk AB, de Klerk N, Reid A, Ambrosini GL, Fritschi L, Olsen N, Merler E, Hobbs M, Berry G

Introduction: Blue asbestos was mined and milled at Wittenoom in Western Australia between 1943 and 1966. METHODS: 7000 male workers who worked at the Wittenoom mine and mill have been followed up at death and cancer registries throughout Australia and Italy to the end of 2000. Person years at risk were derived using two censoring dates in order to produce a minimum and maximum estimate of asbestos effect. Standardised Mortality Ratios (SMRs) compare the mortality of the former Wittenoom workers with the Western Australian male population. RESULTS: There have been 190 cases of pleural and 32 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma in this cohort of former workers o

Induction of mesothelioma in p53+/- mouse by intraperitoneal application of multi-wall carbon nanotube.

J Toxicol Sci. 2008 Feb;33(1):105-16

Authors: Takagi A, Hirose A, Nishimura T, Fukumori N, Ogata A, Ohashi N, Kitajima S, Kanno J

Nanomaterials of carbon origin tend to form various shapes of particles in micrometer dimensions. Among them, multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) form fibrous or rod-shaped particles of length around 10 to 20 micrometers with an aspect ratio of more than three. Fibrous particles of this dimension including asbestos and some man-made fibers are reported to be carcinogenic, typically inducing mesothelioma. Here we report that MWCNT induces mesothelioma along with a positive control, crocidolite (blue asbestos), when administered intraperitoneally to p53 heterozygous mice that have been reported to be sensitive to asbestos. Our results point out the p

[Proceedings of the National Conference on Malignant Mesotheliomas in the Lower Iseo Lake Area, 22 May 2006, Iseo, Italy]

Epidemiol Prev. 2007 Jul-Aug;31(4 Suppl 1):1-84

Authors:

PMID: 18338467 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Feasibility of a screening programme for lung cancer in former asbestos workers.

Occup Med (Lond). 2008 Mar 15;

Authors: Mastrangelo G, Ballarin MN, Bellini E, Bizzotto R, Zannol F, Gioffrè F, Gobbi M, Tessadri G, Marchiori L, Marangi G, Bozzolan S, Lange JH, Valentini F, Spolaore P

BACKGROUND: Low-dose computed tomography (CT) has been found to detect more Stage IA lung cancer than chest x-ray. AIMS: To investigate whether lung cancer screening with CT was effective and acceptable in former asbestos workers. METHODS: CT scanning was carried out following the protocol previously described in the literature. A questionnaire was used to assess cumulative asbestos exposure. An economic analysis was also performed. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. RESULTS: A total of 1119 male asbestos workers (58% of invited) were examined, of whom 65% were smokers or ex-smokers. Mean age was 57.1 years with mean cumulative exposure to asbestos of 123 fibres/

[Epidemiological risk assessment of asbestos-related benign pleural and parenchymal changes in workers after past exposure to chrysotile asbestos]

Med Pr. 2007;58(4):279-86

Authors: Staniszewska MD, Sobala W, Szeszenia-Dabrowska N

BACKGROUND: Health effects related with asbestos dust exposure are observed many years after its onset. The objective of the study was to evaluate the risk of pleural and parenchymal changes depending on the duration of exposure, lapse of time since first contact with asbestos dust, and cumulative dust exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population comprised 222 former workers of asbestos processing plants. Risk assessment was based on the results of chest radiograms and retrospective exposure measurements. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) were used as a relative risk measure and logistic regression models were employed in statistical analyses. RESULTS: The risk of diffuse pleural thickening in the group of workers exposed to asb

Malignant Mesothelioma Resistance to Apoptosis: Recent Discoveries and their Implication for Effective Therapeutic Strategies.

Curr Med Chem. 2008;15(7):631-41

Authors: Villanova F, Procopio A, Rippo MR

Malignant Mesothelioma is an aggressive and fatal type of tumor. The incidence of mesothelioma has increased in the past 30 years and is now common as male cancers of the liver, bone and bladder, especially in Europe and Australia. The main risk factor is asbestos exposure even if other co-factor, such as simian virus 40 (SV40) could be implied in its etiology. Unfortunately, its incidence is expected to continue to increase for the next decades, also in rapidly industrializing countries, such as India, where it is not recognised as an occupational disease. Furthermore, some disastrous events, such as the World Trade Center Disaster, may contribute to increase future risk for mesothelioma. The treatment-resistant phenotype of mesothelioma is largely due to its

Lung cancer and mesothelioma among engine room crew--case reports with risk assessment of previous and ongoing exposure to carcinogens.

Int Marit Health. 2007;58(1-4):5-13

Authors: Forsell K, Hageberg S, Nilsson R

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to illustrate, by means of case reports on occupational exposure in four men with cancer, the hazards of previous and ongoing carcinogenic exposures in ships' engine rooms. Several cases of cancer occurred within a few years among the engine room crew of a passenger ferry. An investigation was undertaken to establish the number of cases, the types of cancers involved, and their possible relation to work. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Nine cases of cancer among crew members of the ferry were reported between 2001 and 2006, six of which occurred in crew working in the engine room. During the investigated time period, 65 men had been employed in the engine room (mean age 40, range 16-65, years). Four cases were referred to

Mesothelioma: You do not have to work for it.

Diagn Cytopathol. 2007 Nov 15;35(12):774-777

Authors: Ampleford EJ, Ohar J

Asbestos pollution is a global problem. Asbestos exposure induced mesothelioma does not require an 'occupational' type of exposure. Bystander exposures may result in earlier age of disease onset and more aggressive disease progression as described in the following 3 case reports. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:774-777. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 18008340 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]