Our laboratory has been comparing the activity of a water extract of cotton bract (CBE) with the isolated trachealis smooth muscle of the dog, guinea pig, and cat. CBE induced contractions that were not mediated by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), histamine, or muscarinic receptors. The active agent(s) in CBE was dialyzable (less than 14,000 molecular weight), and substantial activity was retained a...

This paper presents a comparison between the construction and the coal mining industries in the USA relating to the different types of pneumoconiosis (i.e. silicosis, asbestosis, Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis (CWP), and byssinosis) in order to determine the relationships between each type of pneumoconiosis and the occupations in both industries that are mostly affected by the disease. In this st...

Research on bioaerosols has experienced, and continues to experience, stellar growth. This is evident in the rocketing number of scientific articles published during recent years (double the number in 2013 compared to 2003 based on keywords on Web of Science and about 10% of the articles in the last volume of Annals of Occupational Hygiene). This outbreak of research is due, among others, to (i...

It is well known that suVerers with asbestos related lung disease may be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) and obtain common law compensation from former employers through the courts. 2 The former is a tax free benefit paid weekly or monthly to patients with prescribed diseases—that is, interstitial asbestosis (D1), mesothelioma (D3), bilateral diVuse pleural thickeni...

BACKGROUND Exposure to cotton is known to produce a specific occupational disease known as byssinosis. A large population of textile workers was investigated to determine whether such exposure was also associated with chronic bronchitis once other possible aetiological factors had been accounted for. METHODS A total of 2991 workers were investigated for the presence of symptoms compatible wit...

FOR many years there have been several excellent reference books on Thoracic Medicine, such as Crofton and Douglas and Frazer and Par6. Until very recently there have been very few good concise textbooks available. The early chapters, not surprisingly, deal with pulmonary physiology. This very complex subject has been treated in a simple and readable manner. So many authors manage to make this ...

Cloutier, Michelle M., Craig M. Schramm, and Linda Guernsey. Tannin inhibits the cAMP-b-adrenergic receptor pathway in bovine tracheal epithelium. Am. J. Physiol. 274 (Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 18): L252–L257, 1998.—Tannin, isolated from cotton bracts, inhibits chloride secretion in airway epithelium. In bovine tracheal epithelial cells, tannin (25 μg/ml) blunted isoproterenol (Iso)-stimulated a...

Almost every aspect of modem living exposes us to health risks. The air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the drugs we take, and the places where we work may be contaminated by toxic substances or additives. This is in addition to natural carcinogens, such as sunshine, and habits such as smoking, or the way our food is cooked. Their effects on our health may not be noticed until ...

Bacterial contamination of various parts of the cotton plant and of cotton from different mills was investigated. The predominant bacterial species were Gram-negative rods mainly of the Enterobacter genus. When guinea pigs inhaled strains of these bacteria cultivated from cotton, a strong leucocyte mobilising capacity was found for Pseudomonas and Enterobacter but not for Agrobacterium or Bacil...