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Korean Journal of Radiology Aug 2023Occupational lung diseases (OLD) are a group of preventable conditions caused by noxious inhalation exposure in the workplace. Workers in various industries are at a... (Review)
Review
Occupational lung diseases (OLD) are a group of preventable conditions caused by noxious inhalation exposure in the workplace. Workers in various industries are at a higher risk of developing OLD. Despite regulations contributing to a decreased incidence, OLD remain among the most frequently diagnosed work-related conditions, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. A multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) is necessary for a timely diagnosis. Imaging, particularly computed tomography, plays a central role in diagnosing OLD and excluding other inhalational lung diseases. OLD can be broadly classified into fibrotic and non-fibrotic forms. Imaging reflects variable degrees of inflammation and fibrosis involving the airways, parenchyma, and pleura. Common manifestations include classical pneumoconioses, chronic granulomatous diseases (CGD), and small and large airway diseases. Imaging is influenced by the type of inciting exposure. The findings of airway disease may be subtle or solely uncovered upon expiration. High-resolution chest CT, including expiratory-phase imaging, should be performed in all patients with suspected OLD. Radiologists should familiarize themselves with these imaging features to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Topics: Humans; Lung Diseases; Pneumoconiosis; Occupational Diseases; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 37500580
DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2023.0274 -
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial... 2023Schaumann bodies are the inclusion bodies usually seen in sarcoidosis, but can also be found in other conditions like tuberculosis, chronic beryllium diseases and...
Schaumann bodies are the inclusion bodies usually seen in sarcoidosis, but can also be found in other conditions like tuberculosis, chronic beryllium diseases and Crohn's diseases. Histopathologically, these bodies appear as round to oval shell-like basophilic calcifications usually considered to be as a residuum of lysosomal organelles activity.
PubMed: 38304499
DOI: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_428_23 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023In the search for common bonding patterns in pure and mixed clusters of beryllium and magnesium derivatives, the most stable dimers and trimers involving BeX and MgX (X...
In the search for common bonding patterns in pure and mixed clusters of beryllium and magnesium derivatives, the most stable dimers and trimers involving BeX and MgX (X = H, F, Cl) have been studied in the gas phase using B3LYP and M06-2X DFT methods and the G4 ab initio composite procedure. To obtain some insight into their structure, stability, and bonding characteristics, we have used two different energy decomposition formalisms, namely MBIE and LMO-EDA, in parallel with the analysis of the electron density with the help of QTAIM, ELF, NCIPLOT, and AdNDP approaches. Some interesting differences are already observed in the dimers, where the stability sequence observed for the hydrides differs entirely from that of the fluorides and chlorides. Trimers also show some peculiarities associated with the presence of compact trigonal cyclic structures that compete in stability with the more conventional hexagonal and linear forms. As observed for dimers, the stability of the trimers changes significantly from hydrides to fluorides or chlorides. Although some of these clusters were previously explored in the literature, the novelty of this work is to provide a holistic approach to the entire series of compounds by using chemical bonding tools, allowing us to understand the stability trends in detail and providing insights for a significant number of new, unexplored structures.
PubMed: 38005228
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227507 -
BMJ Open Respiratory Research May 2024Many interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) have clear causal relationships with environmental and occupational exposures. Exposure identification can assist with diagnosis,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Many interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) have clear causal relationships with environmental and occupational exposures. Exposure identification can assist with diagnosis, understanding disease pathogenesis, prognostication and prevention of disease progression and occurrence in others at risk. Despite the importance of exposure identification in ILD, there is no standardised assessment approach. Many questionnaires are in clinical and research use, yet their utility, applicability, relevance and performance characteristics are unknown.
OBJECTIVES
This scoping review aimed to summarise the available evidence relating to ILD exposure assessment questionnaires, identify research gaps and inform the content for a future single evidence-based ILD questionnaire.
METHODS
A scoping review based on Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework was conducted.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Any questionnaire that elicited exposures specific to ILD was included. A modified COSMIN Risk of Bias Framework was used to assess quality.
SOURCES OF EVIDENCE
Relevant articles were identified from MEDLINE and EMBASE up to 23 July 2023.
RESULTS
22 exposure questionnaires were identified, including 15 generally pertaining to ILD, along with several disease-specific questionnaires for hypersensitivity pneumonitis (n=4), chronic beryllium disease, sarcoidosis and silicosis (1 questionnaire each). For most questionnaires, quality was low, whereby the methods used to determine exposure inclusion and questionnaire validation were not reported or not performed. Collectively the questionnaires covered 158 unique exposures and at-risk occupations, most commonly birds, mould/water damage, wood dust, asbestos, farming, automotive mechanic and miners. Only five questionnaires also provided free-text fields, and 13 queried qualifiers such as temporality or respiratory protection.
CONCLUSIONS
Designing a robust ILD-specific questionnaire should include an evidence-based and relevance-based approach to exposure derivation, with clinicians and patients involved in its development and tested to ensure relevance and feasibility.
Topics: Humans; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Surveys and Questionnaires; Occupational Exposure; Environmental Exposure
PubMed: 38754906
DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2023-002155 -
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. A Sep 2023Two porphyrinoid nanorings have been studied computationally. They were built by linking 40 Zn-porphyrin units with butadiyne bridges. The molecular structures belonging...
Two porphyrinoid nanorings have been studied computationally. They were built by linking 40 Zn-porphyrin units with butadiyne bridges. The molecular structures belonging to the point group were fully optimized with the Turbomole program at the density functional theory (DFT) level using the B3LYP functional and the def2-SVP basis sets. The aromatic character was studied at the DFT level by calculating the magnetically induced current-density (MICD) susceptibility using the GIMIC program. The neutral molecules are globally non-aromatic with aromatic Zn-porphyrin units. Charged nanorings could not be studied because almost degenerate frontier orbitals led to vanishing optical gaps for the cations. Since DFT calculations of the MICD are computationally expensive, we also calculated the MICD using three pseudo-π models. Appropriate pseudo-π models were constructed by removing the outer hydrogen atoms and replacing all carbon and nitrogen atoms with hydrogen atoms. The central Zn atom was either replaced with a beryllium atom or with two inner hydrogen atoms. Calculations with the computationally inexpensive pseudo-π models yielded qualitatively the same magnetic response as obtained in the all-electron calculations.
PubMed: 37665662
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.3c03564 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023QBe2.0 strips were used to fabricate spiral tubes and actuators for controlled extension (STACERs) through the winding and stabilization method, which is a novel...
QBe2.0 strips were used to fabricate spiral tubes and actuators for controlled extension (STACERs) through the winding and stabilization method, which is a novel technique for obtaining STACERs. The raw strips and the STACERs were investigated using tensile tests and SEM for the mechanical properties and fractography observation, employing specialized test equipment for service performance, and via XRD, EBSD, and TEM were used to test the residual stress and microstructure evolution. The tensile strength/elongation for raw strips was 485.8 MPa/60%, while for STACERs, tensile strength increased by 834.67 MPa to 646 MPa, and the elongation rate decreased by 12% to 19.3%. The fractography showed that the fracture mode was ductile. The service performance tests indicated that STACERs obtained under 320 °C had a higher driving force, good pointing accuracy, and high bending stiffness, while the residual stress of raw strips was τ = -6 MPa; for STACERs obtained between 290 °C and 350 °C, τ decreased from -5 MPa to -74 MPa, then increased from -74 MPa to 21 MPa, and the optimum fabricating parameter was 320 °C + 2 h. The EBSD results showed that LABs and HABs for raw strips and STACERs at 320 °C + 2 h accounted for 3-97% and 24.5-75.5%, the grain sizes were 7.07 μm and 3.67 μm, and the twin fraction decreased from 57.3% to 31.8%, respectively. The KAM and Schmid factor maps indicated that the STACER was prone to recovering and recrystallizing. Coupled with the EBSD results, the TEM results indicated that the strengthening mechanism for raw strips is twinning strengthening, while that for STACER is grain-refining strengthening with a precipitation of the γ″ phase. It is a meaningful novelty that the relationship between the macro properties and microstructure has been elucidated.
PubMed: 37895702
DOI: 10.3390/ma16206719 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023To solve radioecological and oceanological problems (estimate the vertical transport, flows of particulate organic carbon, phosphorus biodynamics, submarine groundwater...
To solve radioecological and oceanological problems (estimate the vertical transport, flows of particulate organic carbon, phosphorus biodynamics, submarine groundwater discharge, etc.), it is necessary to determine the natural values of the radionuclides' activity in seawater and particulate matter. For the first time, the radionuclides' sorption from seawater was studied using sorbents based on activated carbon modified with iron(III) ferrocyanide (FIC) and based on activated carbon modified with iron(III) hydroxide (FIC A-activated FIC) obtained by FIC sorbent treatment with sodium hydroxide solution. The possibility of trace amounts of phosphorus, beryllium, and cesium recovery in laboratory conditions has been investigated. Distribution coefficients, dynamic, and total dynamic exchange capacities were determined. The physicochemical regularities (isotherm and kinetics) of sorption have been studied. The results obtained are characterized via Langmuir, Freindlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm equations, as well as pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, intraparticle diffusion, and the Elovich model. Under expeditionary conditions, the sorption efficiency of Cs using FIC sorbent, Be, P, and P-using FIC A sorbent with a single-column method by adding a stable tracer, as well as the sorption efficiency of radionuclides Pb and Th with their natural content by FIC A sorbent in a two-column mode from large volumes of seawater was assessed. High values of efficiency of their recovery by the studied sorbents were achieved.
PubMed: 37297315
DOI: 10.3390/ma16114181