Bruno Saia

Repeated case-control studies as a method of surveillance for asthma in occupations

Our aim was to establish whether the case-control design may be applied in surveillance for occupational asthma. In a region with intensive manufacturing industries, we carried out one case-control study from 1974 to 1978 and another from 1989 to 1993; 325 and 387 pairs of cases of asthma and of age- and sex-matched control subjects, respectively, were selected. Current risks were found to be higher than past estimates for painters, farmers, millers/bakers, textile, wood/ furniture, and chemical workers. High risks for asthma have recently appeared in leather, polyurethane plastics, hospital and food industry workers, welders, and shoemakers. It is concluded that the case-control approach may be used to describe variations in asthma risk by occupational categories and time. A method to measure the efficiency of the diagnostic process for occupational asthma is also proposed.

Occupational exposure to anaesthetic gases and urinary excretion of D-glucaric acid

In order to ascertain whether the urinary excretion of D-glucaric acid (DGA) might be a suitable biomarker of effect in monitoring workers exposed to anaesthetic gases, we measured DGA before and after an operating session (and, in some workers, before and after a 2-week vacation) in 229 workers of surgical units and in 229 controls. In the former, we also measured urinary levels of nitrous oxide (N2O) and isofiurane after at least 4 h of exposure. For all subjects, information on age, smoking habits, daily intake of alcohol, coffee, and drugs, history of liver or kidney disease was collected. Study subjects were ranked according to: exposure (class 0: subjects not exposed; class 1: N2.In order to ascertain whether the urinary excretion of D-glucaric acid (DGA) might be a suitable biomarker of effect in monitoring workers exposed to anaesthetic gases, we measured DGA before and after an operating session (and, in some workers, before and after a 2-week vacation) in 229 workers of surgical units and in 229 controls. In the former, we also measured urinary levels of nitrous oxide (N2O) and isofiurane after at least 4 h of exposure. For all subjects, information on age, smoking habits, daily intake of alcohol, coffee, and drugs, history of liver or kidney disease was collected. Study subjects were ranked according to: exposure (class 0: subjects not exposed; class 1: N2In order to ascertain whether the urinary excretion of D-glucaric acid (DGA) might be a suitable biomarker of effect in monitoring workers exposed to anaesthetic gases, we measured DGA before and after an operating session (and, in some workers, before and after a 2-week vacation) in 229 workers of surgical units and in 229 controls. In the former, we also measured urinary levels of nitrous oxide (N2O) and isofiurane after at least 4 h of exposure. For all subjects, information on age, smoking habits, daily intake of alcohol, coffee, and drugs, history of liver or kidney disease was collected. Study subjects were ranked according to: exposure (class 0: subjects not exposed; class 1: N2

Age characteristics of mesothelioma incidence in the general population of the province of Padova, 1965-1976.

Twenty-four incidental cases of mesothelioma, diagnosed in the province of Padova during the period 1965–1976, were analyzed according to age characteristics. The results show that the incidence rate increases in the general population under study at the same rate as in other populations occupationally and non-occupationally exposed to carcinogenic fibers according to the time since first exposure. This finding suggests a similar neoplastic process independent of age, in different environmental situations.

Respiratory Diseases in Farmers

Few epidemiological data have been reported regarding the health status of rural workers in relation to environmental or occupational hazards. This study deals with respiratory diseases in farmers. A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was carried out to ascertain the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases and the various associated factors.

Descriptive epidemiology of Hodgkin's disease in the province of Padova, 1970-1974.

The age-standardized incidence rates of Hodgkins disease in the province of Padova during the period 1970-1974 were 4.33/105 per year for males and 3.70/105 per year for females. These rates are higher (particularly for females) than in other European countries and close to those reported for North America. A bimodal distribution by age is present in the province as a whole. These findings, with the limitations due to the small population and diagnostic difficulties taken into account, are discussed with a view to further investigation.