OBJECTIVETo study the pathological characteristics and the morphological changes of alumina pneumoconiosis.

METHODSThe pathological observation and analysis were performed in lungs of five autopsies with alumina pneumoconiosis.

RESULTSThe early common pathological change of alumina pneumoconiosis was the dust spots. The dust fibrosis had two forms, one was the non-focal fibrous proliferation of interstitial space, the other was the proliferation of inner-dust-spot fibrosis that finally developed into non-typical pneumoconiosis nodules.

CONCLUSIONThe pathological characteristics of the alumina pneumoconiosis may not be all the same to those of aluminium and aluminium oxide pneumoconiosis. Alumina pneumoconiosis is a complex pneumoconiosis. The typical pathological changes are the dust-spot emphysema and dust fibrosis of interstitial tissue. Infection in lung and complication of lung tumor, especially pneumo-tubercolosis would promote dust fibrosis. The pleural thickening, the relationship between lung cancer and alumina dust should be taken seriously.

Aluminum Oxide ; adverse effects ; Autopsy ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Pneumoconiosis ; pathology

Humans ; Aluminum/adverse effects* ; Pruritus/etiology* ; Skin Neoplasms ; Vaccination ; Hypersensitivity

Adult ; Aluminum ; adverse effects ; Electrolysis ; Fluoride Poisoning ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Workplace ; Young Adult

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a kind of neurodegenerative diseases, the most common cause of dementia. Although AD has been studied more than, 100 years and the Aβ and tau theory are most widely accepted among the theories achieved, yet it is not really clear what the mechanism related to AD works up to now. However, it is certain that AD is a kind of diseases resulting from multi-causes. Except for causes correlated with heredity, aging and life habits, environmental role is worth taking into consideration as well. Some metals, such as copper, aluminum, zinc and iron et al, can also have close relationship with AD. Now, we make an overview on the correlative researches in the field.
Aluminum ; Alzheimer Disease ; pathology ; Copper ; Humans ; Iron ; Metals ; adverse effects ; Zinc

Adult ; Aluminum Silicates ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; statistics & numerical data ; Quartz ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Silicosis ; epidemiology ; mortality

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of exposure to rush-mat dust on the health of workers.

METHODSA cross sectional study of 661 workers (349 men, 312 women) from 35 rush-mat plants was carried out by using occupational health investigation, questionnare and physical examination.

RESULTSThe geometric mean total dust concentration in the workshop was up to 20.00 mg/m3, and the geometric mean respirable dust concentration reached 8.22 mg/m3. The mean free SiO2 concentration of accumulated dust was 25.6%. The prevalence of radiographic small opacities profusion category > or = 1/0, according to the China Classification for pneumoconiosis (GB 5906-2000), and compared with the ILO 1980 system, was 2.57%. Even more, one man had category 2 pneumoconiosis with progressive massive fibrosis. However, the incidence of pneumoconiosis (1/0 at least) was correlated with work duration and dust concentration(r = 1.156, P < 0.001; r = 0.106, P = 0.006, respectively). Some positive correlations were found between the incidence of cough or expectoration and occupational exposure (r = 0.085, P = 0.028; r = 0.094, P = 0.016, respectively).

CONCLUSIONTo our knowledge, this is the first report of rush pneumoconiosis in China. The results have offered the possibility of a dose-response relationship between rush-mat dust and pneumoconiosis. More investigation in this area is need.

Aluminum Silicates ; Chemical Industry ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pneumoconiosis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo study the possibly transferable properties of multi-biological toxicities caused by aluminium exposure from exposed animals to their progeny.

METHODSMulti-biological toxicities in aluminium (2.5 micromol/L, 75 micromol/L, and 200 micromol/L) exposed animals and their progeny were analyzed by using model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Endpoints of lifespan, development, reproduction, locomotion behavior and behavioral plasticity were selected for the assay of multiple toxicities and their transfer properties. Four groups of experiments were performed for each endpoint assay. Twenty animals were used for assay of lifespan, development, reproduction and locomotion behaviors, and 100 animals were used for assay of behavioral plasticity in each group experiment. The data were performed for statistical analysis using SPSS 13.0 software.

RESULTSOur data suggest that the aluminium exposure could result in multi-biological defects of phenotypes and behaviors. As compared to those average survival days, 24 d, body size, (1.30 +/- 0.05) mm; brood size, (278 +/- 20); generation time (64.0 +/- 1.2) h; body bend, (45.8 +/- 3.0) times, head thrash, (109.33 +/- 7.30) times, behavioral plasticity (3 +/- 4)% in 0 micromol/L aluminum exposed animals, the low-concentration (2.5 micromol/L) aluminium exposure caused severe defects of average survival days (20 d), body size [(1.12 +/- 0.02 ) mm, t = 14.55, P<0.01], brood size [(145 +/- 23), t = 30.62, P< 0.01], body bend [(29.8 +/- 3.0), t = 20.31, P<0.01], and head thrash, (95.8 +/- 6.2), t = 16.43, P < 0.01]. High-concentration aluminium exposure could further result in severe defects of generation time [75 micromol/L, (67.0 +/- 1.7 ) h, t = 8.92, P<0.01; 200 micromol/L, (70.7 +/- 1.5) h, t =15.13, P<0.01] and behavioral plasticity [75 micromol/L, (16.5 +/- 3.0)%, t = 27.11, P<0.05; 200 micromol/L, (23.5 +/- 4.0)%, t = 16.43, P<0.01]. Moreover, most of these toxicities caused by high-concentration aluminium exposure could be transferred from exposed animals to their progeny. In progeny animals, the phenotypic and behavioral defects might be only partially (such as body size, brood size, and locomotion behaviors) or very slightly (such as the lifespan defects induced by high concentrations of aluminium exposure) rescued. Especially, the generation time defects induced by aluminium exposure would become more severe in progeny animals than in their parents.

CONCLUSIONThe multi-biological defects caused by aluminium exposure might be largely transferred from exposed animals to their progeny in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Aluminum ; toxicity ; Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; genetics ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants ; toxicity ; Genes, Helminth

OBJECTIVETo clarify the effect of aluminum exposure on the cognitive function in electrolytic workers and the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among them by prevalence survey, and to investigate its influential factors.

METHODSSixty-six retired workers from the electrolysis workshop of an electrolytic aluminum plant were selected as an aluminum exposure group, while 70 retired workers from a flour mill in the same region were selected as a control group. MCI patients were screened out by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); the blood aluminum level was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; multivariate statistical analysis was used to investigate the influential factors for MMSE scores and the correlation between blood aluminum level and MCI prevalence.

RESULTSThe aluminum exposure group showed a significantly higher blood aluminum level than the control group (25.18 ± 2.65 µg/L vs 9.97 ± 2.83 µg/L, P < 0.01). The total MMSE score of the aluminum exposure group (26.13 ± 2.57) was significantly lower than that of the control group (27.89 ± 1.91) (P < 0.05), particularly the scores on time and place orientation, short-term memory, calculation ability, and language skill (P < 0.05). The detection rate of MCI was significantly higher in the aluminum exposure group (18.2%) than in the control group (5.7%) (P < 0.01). The main influential factors for MMSE scores were gender, age, education level, and blood aluminum level. The logistic regression analysis indicated that the MCI prevalence was significantly correlated with blood aluminum level in the study population (OR = 1.168, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLong-term exposure to aluminum can cause cognitive disorders in electrolytic workers and may be one of the risk factors for MCI. Advanced age, male, low education level, and high blood aluminum level may be high-risk factors for cognitive impairment.

Aged ; Aluminum ; adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Cognition Disorders ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; Electrolysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Occupational Exposure

Aluminum ; adverse effects ; Female ; Granuloma ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; etiology ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; etiology ; therapy ; Sarcoidosis ; etiology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and safety of the formulation and dosage of aluminium adjuvant, Al(OH)(3), in the preparation of allergic rhinitis animal model.

METHODSSixty health BALB/c mice were divided randomly into 6 groups. Al(OH)(3) powder (5 mg) was used in one group, Al(OH)(3) colloid gel of different concentration (0.5 - 5 mg) was used in four groups, and normal saline was used in the control group. Ovalbumin injection and nasal topical challenge were used in the 5 testing groups to induce allergic rhinitis in mice. Normal saline was used in the control group.

RESULTSTypical allergic rhinitis symptoms including frequent nasal scratching, and edema of peri-nasal mucosa were found in mice of the 5 mg Al(OH)(3) powder group. Eosinophils accumulation, goblet cells hyperplasia and hypersecretion were found in the mucosa of lateral nasal wall and inferior nasal turbinate. Neither obvious allergic rhinitis symptom, nor eosinophils accumulation in nasal mucosa was observed in the Al(OH)(3) colloid gel groups. Hemorrhagic ascites and lots of white nodules (foreign body granuloma) formation were found in the liver, spleen, and kidney of all mice of the 5 mg Al(OH)(3) colloid gel group. Five out of 10 mice of the 2 mg Al(OH)(3) colloid gel group exhibited above signs but of lower grade. Despite dispersed fine white sediment in the liver and mesentery, no obvious ascites was found in mice of the 1 mg and 0.5 mg Al(OH)(3) colloid gel groups.

CONCLUSIONSAl(OH)(3) powder, 5 mg, is effective and safe in the preparation of allergic rhinitis animal model. Al(OH)(3) colloid gel of different concentration (0.5 - 5 mg) may cause side effects such as foreign body granuloma.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Administration, Intranasal ; Aluminum Hydroxide ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal