-
Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi. Japanese... May 2011Several types of fibrous stone called asbestos have been an unexpected cause of human cancer in the history. This form of mineral is considered precious in that they are... (Review)
Review
Several types of fibrous stone called asbestos have been an unexpected cause of human cancer in the history. This form of mineral is considered precious in that they are heat-, friction-, and acid-resistant, are obtained easily from mines, and can be modified to any form with many industrial merits. However, it became evident that the inspiration of asbestos causes a rare cancer called malignant mesothelioma. Because of the long incubation period, the peak year for malignant mesothelioma is expected to be 2025 in Japan. Thus, it is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of asbestos-induced mesothelial carcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize the cutting edge results of our 5-year project funded by a MEXT grant, in which local iron deposition and the characteristics of mesothelial cells are the key issues.
Topics: Animals; Asbestosis; Humans; Mesothelioma; Pleural Neoplasms
PubMed: 21701088
DOI: 10.1265/jjh.66.562 -
European Respiratory Review : An... Mar 2015Asbestos is the term for a family of naturally occurring minerals that have been used on a small scale since ancient times. Industrialisation demanded increased mining... (Review)
Review
Asbestos is the term for a family of naturally occurring minerals that have been used on a small scale since ancient times. Industrialisation demanded increased mining and refining in the 20th century, and in 1960, Wagner, Sleggs and Marchand from South Africa linked asbestos to mesothelioma, paving the way to the current knowledge of the aetiology, epidemiology and biology of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is one of the most lethal cancers, with increasing incidence worldwide. This review will give some snapshots of the history of pleural mesothelioma discovery, and the body of epidemiological and biological research, including some of the controversies and unresolved questions. Translational research is currently unravelling novel circulating biomarkers for earlier diagnosis and novel treatment targets. Current breakthrough discoveries of clinically promising noninvasive biomarkers, such as the 13-protein signature, microRNAs and the BAP1 mesothelioma/cancer syndrome, are highlighted. The asbestos history is a lesson to not be repeated, but here we also review recent in vivo and in vitro studies showing that manmade carbon nanofibres could pose a similar danger to human health. This should be taken seriously by regulatory bodies to ensure thorough testing of novel materials before release in the society.
Topics: Animals; Asbestos; Asbestosis; Biomarkers; History, 18th Century; History, 20th Century; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Pleural Neoplasms; Poliovirus Vaccines; Simian virus 40; Viral Vaccines
PubMed: 25726562
DOI: 10.1183/09059180.00007014 -
Journal of the National Medical... Apr 1979
Topics: Asbestosis; Environmental Health; Humans
PubMed: 439164
DOI: No ID Found -
British Medical Journal Mar 1968
Topics: Asbestosis; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Male; Mesothelioma; Middle Aged; Pleural Neoplasms
PubMed: 5641478
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Biomedicine & Biotechnology 2009Manganese and extracellular superoxide dismutases (SOD2 and SOD3) are part of the enzymatic defence against reactive oxygen species, which are involved in the...
Manganese and extracellular superoxide dismutases (SOD2 and SOD3) are part of the enzymatic defence against reactive oxygen species, which are involved in the pathogenesis of asbestosis. This study investigates whether SOD2Ala - 9Val and SOD3 Arg213Gly genetic polymorphisms represent risk factors for asbestosis in workers exposed to asbestos. The study included 262 cases with asbestosis and 265 controls with no asbestos-related disease. Cumulative asbestos exposure was calculated for each subject. A real-time PCR assay was introduced for genotyping. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess asbestosis risk. Asbestosis was associated with the homozygous SOD2 - 9Ala/Ala genotype (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.01-2.24), whereas the association for the SOD3 Arg/Gly genotype was not significant (OR = 1.63, 95% CI 0.62-4.27). The finding that the SOD2 - 9Ala/Ala genotype increases the risk for asbestosis indicates that, in addition to asbestos exposure, genetic factors may also have a significant influence on the development of asbestosis.
Topics: Asbestosis; Case-Control Studies; Chi-Square Distribution; Cohort Studies; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; Polymorphism, Genetic; Smoking; Superoxide Dismutase
PubMed: 19636420
DOI: 10.1155/2009/493083 -
Gaceta Sanitaria 2017
Topics: Asbestosis; Humans
PubMed: 28595991
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2017.02.011 -
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England) Mar 2016Previous studies have demonstrated that the rising mortality due to mesothelioma and asbestosis can be predicted from historic asbestos usage. Mortality due to... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have demonstrated that the rising mortality due to mesothelioma and asbestosis can be predicted from historic asbestos usage. Mortality due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is also rising, without any apparent explanation.
AIMS
To compare mortality due to these conditions and examine the relationship between mortality and national asbestos imports.
METHODS
Mortality data for IPF and asbestosis in England and Wales were available from the Office for National Statistics. Data for mesothelioma deaths in England and Wales and historic UK asbestos import data were available from the Health & Safety Executive. The numbers of annual deaths due to each condition were plotted separately by gender, against UK asbestos imports 48 years earlier. Linear regression models were constructed.
RESULTS
For mesothelioma and IPF, there was a significant linear relationship between the number of male and female deaths each year and historic UK asbestos imports. For asbestosis mortality, a similar relationship was found for male but not female deaths. The annual numbers of deaths due to asbestosis in both sexes were lower than for IPF and mesothelioma.
CONCLUSIONS
The strength of the association between IPF mortality and historic asbestos imports was similar to that seen in an established asbestos-related disease, i.e. mesothelioma. This finding could in part be explained by diagnostic difficulties in separating asbestosis from IPF and highlights the need for a more accurate method of assessing lifetime occupational asbestos exposure.
Topics: Age Distribution; Asbestos; Asbestosis; Carcinogens; Construction Materials; Female; Humans; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesothelioma; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Prevalence; Registries; United Kingdom
PubMed: 26511746
DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqv142 -
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Dec 1998The largest Italian asbestos cement factory had been active in Casale Monferrato until 1986: in previous studies a substantial increase in the incidence of pleural...
OBJECTIVE
The largest Italian asbestos cement factory had been active in Casale Monferrato until 1986: in previous studies a substantial increase in the incidence of pleural mesothelioma was found among residents without occupational exposure to asbestos. To estimate exposure to asbestos in the population, this study evaluated the presence of histological asbestosis and the lung burden of asbestos fibres (AFs) and asbestos bodies (ABs).
METHODS
The study comprises the consecutive series of necropsies performed at the Hospital of Casale Monferrato between 1985 and 1988. A sample of lung parenchima was collected and stored for 48 out of 55 necropsies. The AF concentration was measured with a TEM electron microscope with x ray mineralogical analysis. The ABs were counted and fibrosis evaluated by optical microscopy. The nearest relative of each subject was interviewed on occupational and residential history. Mineralogical and histological analyses and interviews were conducted in 1993-4.
RESULTS
Statistical analyses included 41 subjects with AF, AB count, and interview. Subjects without occupational exposure who ever lived in Casale Monferrato had an average concentration of 1500 AB/g dried weight (gdw); Seven of 18 presented with asbestosis or small airway lung disease (SAL). G2 asbestosis was diagnosed in two women with no occupational asbestos exposure. One of them had been teaching at a school close to the factory for 12 years. Ten subjects had experienced occupational asbestos exposure, seven in asbestos cement production: mean concentrations were 1.032 x 10(6) AF/gdw and 96,280 AB/gdw. Eight of the 10 had asbestosis or SAL.
CONCLUSION
The high concentration of ABs and the new finding of environmental asbestosis confirm that high asbestos concentration was common in the proximity of the factory. Subjects not occupationally exposed and ever living in Casale Monferrato tended to have higher AB concentration than subjects never living in the town (difference not significant). The concentrations of ABs and AFs were higher than those found in other studies on nonoccupationally exposed subjects.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Asbestos, Crocidolite; Asbestos, Serpentine; Asbestosis; Construction Materials; Environmental Exposure; Female; Humans; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 9924446
DOI: 10.1136/oem.55.12.840 -
BMC Pulmonary Medicine Nov 2017Asbestosis and silicosis are progressive pneumoconioses characterized by interstitial fibrosis following exposure to asbestos or silica dust. We evaluated the potential...
Serum concentrations of Krebs von den Lungen-6, surfactant protein D, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 as diagnostic biomarkers in patients with asbestosis and silicosis: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Asbestosis and silicosis are progressive pneumoconioses characterized by interstitial fibrosis following exposure to asbestos or silica dust. We evaluated the potential diagnostic biomarkers for these diseases.
METHODS
The serum concentrations of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), surfactant protein D (SP-D), and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-7, and MMP-9 were measured in 43 patients with asbestosis, 45 patients with silicosis, 40 dust-exposed workers (DEWs) without pneumoconiosis, and 45 healthy controls (HCs). Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images were reviewed by experts blinded to the clinical data. According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the ideal level of each biomarker and its diagnostic sensitivity were obtained.
RESULTS
The serum KL-6 and MMP-2 concentrations were highest in patients with asbestosis, particularly in comparison with those in DEWs and HCs (P<0.05). The serum SP-D concentration was significantly higher in patients with asbestosis than in patients with silicosis, DEWs, and HCs (P<0.01), whereas no significant difference was noted among patients with silicosis, DEWs, and HCs. No significant difference in the serum MMP-7 or -9 concentration was found among patients with asbestosis, patients with silicosis, DEWs, or HCs. Among patients with asbestosis, the serum KL-6 concentration was significantly correlated with the lung fibrosis scores on HRCT and negatively correlated with the forced vital capacity (FVC) % predicted and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL) % predicted. The serum SP-D and MMP-2 concentrations were negatively correlated with the DL % predicted (all P<0.05). The order of diagnostic accuracy according to the ROC curve was KL-6, SP-D, and MMP-2 in patients with asbestosis alone and in the combination of both patients with asbestosis and those with silicosis. The combination of all three biomarkers may increase the possibility of diagnosing asbestosis (sensitivity, 93%; specificity, 57%) and both asbestosis and silicosis (sensitivity, 83%; specificity, 62%).
CONCLUSIONS
KL-6, SP-D, and MMP-2 are available biomarkers for the adjuvant diagnosis of asbestosis and silicosis. The combination of all three biomarkers may improve the diagnostic sensitivity for asbestosis and silicosis.
Topics: Aged; Asbestosis; Biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Matrix Metalloproteinase 7; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Middle Aged; Mucin-1; Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; ROC Curve; Silicosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vital Capacity
PubMed: 29149883
DOI: 10.1186/s12890-017-0489-0 -
The Western Journal of Medicine Dec 1982Diffuse malignant mesothelioma is a signal tumor of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma incidence has been steadily rising during the past two decades, reflecting the... (Review)
Review
Diffuse malignant mesothelioma is a signal tumor of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma incidence has been steadily rising during the past two decades, reflecting the increases in asbestos use during and following World War II. The onset of the disease follows exposure by 25 to 40 years. The dose-response relationship appears to be much lower than that for asbestosis or lung cancer-it is not known whether current levels of exposure will entail a risk for disease 30 years hence. There is no synergistic or additive interaction with smoking for this tumor. Current knowledge indicates that pleural plaques, per se, do not increase the risk for this tumor beyond that of the previous asbestos exposure alone. Durable fibers with high aspect ratios, especially amphiboles, are associated with experimental tumor induction. Treatment modalities including surgical procedures and chemotherapy with doxorubicin and 5-azacytidine offer prospects for palliation.
Topics: Animals; Asbestosis; Humans; Mesothelioma; Occupational Diseases; Occupations; Pleural Neoplasms; Risk
PubMed: 6761970
DOI: No ID Found