Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0037116 (silicosis)
 1,822 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) causes severe haemolytic anaemia, thrombopenia, fever and neurological and renal involvement. Currently five large aetiologic groups have been identified: viral or bacterial infection, drugs, conjunctive tissue diseases, pregnancy and solid tumours. We observed two cases resulting from an adenocarcinoma. In the first case, a 71-year-old man with chronic silicosis, the presenting signs were asthenia, fever, epistaxis with diffus purpura and spontaneous haematomas of the lower limbs. Diagnosis of TTP was based on routine laboratory tests and the patient responded well to fresh frozen plasma. On the 5th day of treatment, haemoglobin level dropped sharply and melana occurred. Upper digestive tract endoscopy revealed a tumoural formation of the antrum-fundic junction and histology examination of the biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Ten months after gastrectomy the patient was in excellent health with no relapse of the TTP. In the second case, the presenting signs included spontaneous haematomas, rectorrhagia and low grade fever. Microscopic haematuria and renal failure were observed in addition to the biological syndrome of TTP. The patient responded poorly to fresh frozen plasma and packed cell transfusions. Plasma exchange was equally unsuccessful. The disease continued a fulminant course and the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma located in a pulmonary lymph nodes was made at autopsy. These rare cases of TTP caused by cancer emphasize the importance of a thorough aetiological research. Plasma exchange has been shown to be effective but mortality at 1 year approximately 85% in cancer related cases. Early diagnosis and specific anti-cancer therapy might improve prognosis. We report our personal experience with 16 other similar cases.
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PMID:[Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura disclosing cancer: apropos of 2 cases]. 763 25

The essential occupation of well-digger includes wells drilling and maintenance in order to provide water. He comes in contact with various minerals, especially silica, whose particles unquestionably are a contributing factor to pulmonary diseases known as silicosis. Our study aims to highlight the epidemiological, clinical, radiological and evolutionary features of well-diggers with silicosis. We conducted a retrospective study of 54 well-diggers with silicosis whose data were collected in the Department of Respiratory Diseases at the University Hospital Ibn Rushd of Casablanca from March 1997 to January 2016. All patients were male well-diggers with an average age of 50 years. Smoking was found in 36 cases and a personal history of tuberculosis was observed in eight cases. Chest x-ray showed large opacities in 39 cases, small opacities in 15 cases and septat thickening in 11 cases. Silicosis was complicated by bacterial infection in 37% of cases, by pneumothorax in 4% of cases and by tuberculosis in 20% of cases. Therapeutic approach was established based on these complications. A declaration of occupational disease and compensation was made. Outcome was good in 12 cases, stationary in 17 cases and poor in 16 cases. Silicosis is a common pneumoconiosis among well-diggers. It affects lung function. We here highlight its frequent association with tuberculosis and emphasize on prevention which is the best treatment.
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PMID:[Well-digger's lung]. 2829 19