Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0034069 (pulmonary fibrosis)
 7,050 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The occurrence of autoantibodies in patients with systemic sclerosis has suggested a role for immune dysregulation in this disease. Recent genetic studies have concentrated on the major histocompatibility complex-encoded antigens and found an association of particular HLA-DQ alleles with anticentromere antibodies. Although the role of major histocompatibility complex antigens and autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis remains unclear, determination of major histocompatibility complex alleles may have clinical value in identifying patients who are at increased risk for development of pulmonary fibrosis or rapidly advancing skin disease. A variety of environmental factors have been associated with systemic sclerosis-like skin diseases, including silica, vinyl chloride, paraffin, adulterated L-tryptophan, and "toxic" rapeseed oil. It has been suggested that silicone used during breast augmentation may be a risk factor for development of systemic sclerosis, but ascertainment bias in case reporting makes interpretation of these studies difficult. The heterogeneity of clinical features, major histocompatibility complex status, and autoantibody profiles in systemic sclerosis suggest that this disorder may actually be a group of distinct disorders, each of which has its own characteristic genetic and environmental predisposing risk factors.
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PMID:Genetic and environmental factors in systemic sclerosis. 145 81

The contributions of several recent reports to the definition of pulmonary effects of PVC dust inhalation are reviewed. Granulomatous reaction, with inclusion of PVC particles in macrophages and histocytes, and associated interstitial pulmonary fibrosis have been found to lead to exertional dyspnoea, diffuse micronodular chest radiographic opacities and restrictive pulmonary dysfunction. The effects of vinyl chloride (VC) monomer (gas) on proteins and the immunologic mechanisms triggered by the altered protein are possible mechanisms for the development in some cases of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis secondary to VC exposure. Vinyl chloride, a confirmed carcinogen, has been associated with, among other malignant tumors, a significant increase in the incidence of lung cancer. The magnitude of this effect has not yet been completely evaluated.
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PMID:Review of pulmonary effects of poly(vinyl chloride) and vinyl chloride exposure. 733 34