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

A series of biochemical and immunological investigations was performed in a group of 33 silicosis patients and in 34 controls. The results obtained suggest future prospects of utilizing the following tests as silicotic-fibrosis markers: alpha 2-globulin and ceruloplasmin levels, activity of certain lysosomal enzymes (beta-galactosidase and beta-acetylglucosaminidase), IgM and IgG immunoglobulins, elastases, and the C4 component of the complement.
 ...
PMID:[Value of biochemical and immunological studies in the diagnosis of silicosis]. 172 20

A group of 191 patients with systemic scleroderma and 12 patients with silicosis-associated scleroderma were investigated for connective tissue turnover. The serum levels of type III collagen aminopropeptide (P-III-P), the laminin PI (Lam PI) fragment and the acid lysosomal beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) were determined by specific radioimmunoassays and spectrofluorometry, respectively. Increased levels of type III collagen aminopropeptide strongly correlated with enhanced activity of beta-galactosidase. Both parameters correlated with the clinical course in idiopathic systemic scleroderma and in silicosis-associated scleroderma. Serum levels of Lam PI were also found to be elevated in both groups, although there was no correlation with the severity of the disease. Autoantibodies directed against the DNA topoisomerase Scl-70 and against centromeric proteins were found in a similar range in patients with idiopathic systemic and silicosis-associated scleroderma. These results suggest that P-III-P, Lam PI and beta-Gal are useful serological markers of fibrotic activity and demonstrate similarities between idiopathic systemic scleroderma and scleroderma associated with silica-dust exposure.
 ...
PMID:Type III collagen aminopropeptide and laminin P1 levels in serum of patients with silicosis-associated and idiopathic systemic scleroderma. 211 68

The concentration of type III collagen aminopropeptide and the activity of lysosomal beta-galactosidase were determined in the serum of patients with progressive sclerosis (PS), silicosis and PS associated with silicosis. In PS-patients, the serum levels of both parameters were significantly increased with a high correlation to the stage of the disease and to each other. In patients with silicosis normal serum concentrations of both parameters were found, whereas in all patients suffering from silicosis and PS significantly elevated serum levels were detectable, independent of the stage of PS. Both parameters can also be used as markers of therapy (e.g. with D-penicillamine) and as early indicators for the development of PS in patients with silicosis.
 ...
PMID:[N-procollagen(III)peptide and lysosomal beta-galactosidase in progressive scleroderma and silicosis]. 212 55

In a survey done in East Germany between 1981 and 1988, we found that 93 of 120 male scleroderma patients had long-term exposure to silica dust. We describe our findings in 12 patients with scleroderma and silicosis. The exposure time to silica dust was between 3 and 34 years; the interval between the beginning of exposure and the onset of scleroderma averaged 27.3 years (range 9 to 40 years). Antinuclear antibodies in titers between 80 and 10,240 with nucleolar and/or speckled patterns were found in 10 patients, antibodies against double-stranded DNA in three, Scl-70 (topoisomerase I) in three, and anticentromere antibodies in five. The following markers of collagen metabolism were increased in serum: beta-galactosidase in 12 patients, laminin peptide-P1 in 10 patients, N-terminal procollagen type III peptide in 10, and urinary sialic acid excretion in 7. We propose that crystalline particles of silica less than 5 microns may be phagocytosed by macrophages and release lymphokines and monokines, which activate fibroblasts and enhance their collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis. In addition, silica may act as an adjuvant to increase immune reactivity.
 ...
PMID:Silica-induced scleroderma. 215 53

Progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) is a rare disease belonging to the collagen diseases. PSS is frequently observed in workers with an intensive exposure to crystalline silica and with silicosis in the GDR. The recognition as an occupational disease is regulated by law. The elevated beta-galactosidase activity in the serum of patients with silicosis and beginning PSS can be used for detecting of early stages of PSS. References are given to medical care of patients with silicosis and exposure to quartz.
 ...
PMID:[Early detection of scleroderma in quartz dust exposed workers and workers with silicosis by determining serum beta-galactosidase activity]. 215 84