In lungs

Paraffins. Methane and ethane are simple asphyxiants, whereas the higher homologues are central nervous system depressants. Liquid paraffins can remove oil from exposed skin and cause dermatitis or pneumonia in lung tissue. Generally, paraffins are the least toxic class of hydrocarbons. 

The replacement of asbestos fibers by other fibrous materials has raised similar health issues in relation to substitute materials. However, since lung cancer has a latency period of approximately 25 years, and since the fiber exposure levels in contemporary industries is far lower than those which prevailed half a century ago, the epidemiological data on most substitutes is insufficient. A possible exception is slag fibers for which several studies on worker populations are available over extended periods (44) some results show a substantial increase in lung cancer occurrence. Consequentiy, the toxicity of asbestos substitute fibers remains a subject of active investigation. 

Chest constriction impaired carbon monoxide diffusion capacity decrease in lung function without exercise... 

Headache chest discomfort sufficient to prevent completion of exercise decrease in lung function in exercising subjects... 

Forced expiration is commonly used to assess pulmonary function in both healthy and impaired individuals. Static measures of lung volumes (TLC, Vj, FRC) fail to detect dynamic changes in pulmonary function that are attributable to disease (e.g., asthmatic airway constriction). Obtaining maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves (Fig. 5.21) permits derivation of key parameters in detecting changes in lung function. 

Taylor, A. E., and Drake, R. E. (1978). Fluid and protein movement across the pulmonary microcirculation. In Lung Water and Solute Exchange (N. C. Staiib, Ed.), pp, 129-166. Marcel Dekker, New York. 

Gemne, 6450 women Blue-collar workers (M) in lung 149 1.6 [1.4-1.9] ... 

For example, exposure to the air toxin benzene catr increase the risk of getting myelogenous leukemia or aplastic anemia, while exposure to ground-level ozone can cause a 15 to 20 percent decrease in lung capacity in some healthy adults. 

Dimeric complexes like [Cl(NH3)Pt H2N(CH2)4NH2 Pt(NH3)Cl]Cl2 are also being investigated as they bind to DNA in a different way to that involved in cisplatin binding and are active in cisplatin-resistant human tumour cells. They are more potent than cisplatin in lung cancer models in vivo and are likely to go on clinical trials in the near future [204],... 

Inhaled steroids (commonly used are beclomethasone, budesonide, triamcinolone, fluticasone, flunisolide) appear to attenuate the inflammatory response, to reduce bronchial hyperreactivity, to decrease exacerbations and to improve health status they may also reduce the risk of myocar dial infar ction, but they do not modify the longterm decline in lung function. Whether- steroids affect mortality remains unclear. Many patients appear to be resistant to steroids and large, long-term trials have shown only limited effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroid ther apy. Certainly, the benefit from steroids is smaller in COPD than in asthma. Topical side-effects of inhaled steroids are oropharyngeal candidiasis and hoarse voice. At the normal doses systemic side-effects of inhaled steroids have not been firmly established. The current recommendation is that the addition of inhaled gluco-coiticosteroids to bronchodilator treatment is appropriate for patients with severe to veiy sever e COPD. 

MMP-28 Epilysin Secreted Discovered in 2001, given its name due to have been discovered in human keratinocytes. Highly expressed in lung, placenta, salivary glands, heart, uterus, skin... 

CYP2F1 appears to be expressed preferentially in lung where it bioactivates the selective pneumotoxins 3-methylindole and naphthalene. 

In a proportion of patients systemic and extra-articular features may be observed during the course of the disease (and rarely prior to joint disease). These include anaemia, weight loss, vasculitis, serositis, nodules in subcutaneous, pulmonary and sclera tissues, mononeuritis multiplex, and interstitial inflammation in lungs as well as in exocrine salivary and lacrimal tissue. However, these systemic manifestations occur relatively late in the disease progression. 

In the past number of years a number of studies have shown that in a variety of diseases there is a significant oxidation of Met residues to Met(O) in specific proteins that results in a loss of biological activity. These diseases include cataracts, rheumatoid arthritis, adult respiratory distress syndrome and emphysema. The most convincing evidence that Met(O) in proteins may be involved in the etiology of a pathological condition comes from studies with a-l-PI. It is well accepted that a-l-PI is inactivated upon oxidation of its Met residues. A decreased activity of a-l-PI in lung tissue that would result in an increased elastase activity has been associated with pulmonary emphysema. In patients who have a... 

Narayan S, Misra UK. 1985. Delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase and heme oxygenase activity in lung and liver of rats given DDT and endosulfan intratracheally. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 34 24-28. 

Narayan S, Bajpai A, Tyagi SR, et al. 1985b. Effect of intratracheal administration of DDT and endosulfan on cytochrome P-450 and glutathione-s-transferase in lung and liver of rats. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 34 55-62. 

The major routes of uptake of xenobiotics by animals and plants are discussed in Chapter 4, Section 4.1. With animals, there is an important distinction between terrestrial species, on the one hand, and aquatic invertebrates and fish on the other. The latter readily absorb many xenobiotics directly from ambient water or sediment across permeable respiratory surfaces (e.g., gills). Some amphibia (e.g., frogs) readily absorb such compounds across permeable skin. By contrast, many aquatic vertebrates, such as whales and seabirds, absorb little by this route. In lung-breathing organisms, direct absorption from water across exposed respiratory membranes is not an important route of uptake. 

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