Biomaterial Database

Evaluation of low-level asbestos exposure by transbronchial lung biopsy with analytical electron microscopy. 1993

N Kohyama, and H Kyono, and K Yokoyama, and Y Sera

National Institute of Industrial Health, Ministry of Labor, Kawasaki, Japan.

To improve diagnostic sensitivity for detecting low-level asbestos exposure (AEx) in patients, a new method was developed using an analytical transmission electron microscope (ATEM) for specimens of transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB). The TBLB specimens from 28 patients were examined and the results were: 1) In cases with long-term AEx, the present method detected a large amount of asbestos fibers (AF) as well as asbestos bodies (AB) showing a good agreement with the results of light microscope (LM) which detected definite amounts of ferruginous bodies (FB). 2) In cases with short-term or suspected AEx, the LM failed to detect FB in some cases, but an appreciable amount of AF was detected using the present method, and AEx was disclosed through a second close interview. 3) Neither AB nor AF were detected in most of the cases without any dust exposure. Although small amounts of chrysotile fibers were observed in some cases, this might simply reflect the exposure level of urban dwellers. These results show that the ATEM applied to the TBLB specimens promises to confirm low-level AEx in such small specimens even if the patients were unaware of their past AEx.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008168	Lung	Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood.	Lungs
D008175	Lung Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the LUNG.	Cancer of Lung,Lung Cancer,Pulmonary Cancer,Pulmonary Neoplasms,Cancer of the Lung,Neoplasms, Lung,Neoplasms, Pulmonary,Cancer, Lung,Cancer, Pulmonary,Cancers, Lung,Cancers, Pulmonary,Lung Cancers,Lung Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Lung,Neoplasm, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Cancers,Pulmonary Neoplasm
D008297	Male		Males
D008654	Mesothelioma	A tumor derived from mesothelial tissue (peritoneum, pleura, pericardium). It appears as broad sheets of cells, with some regions containing spindle-shaped, sarcoma-like cells and other regions showing adenomatous patterns. Pleural mesotheliomas have been linked to exposure to asbestos. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Mesotheliomas
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009784	Occupational Diseases	Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment.	Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D011009	Pneumoconiosis	A diffuse parenchymal lung disease caused by inhalation of dust and by tissue reaction to their presence. These inorganic, organic, particulate, or vaporized matters usually are inhaled by workers in their occupational environment, leading to the various forms (ASBESTOSIS; BYSSINOSIS; and others). Similar air pollution can also have deleterious effects on the general population.	Bagassosis,Pneumoconioses
D004391	Dust	Earth or other matter in fine, dry particles. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	House Dust,Housedust,Dust, House
D004577	Electron Probe Microanalysis	Identification and measurement of ELEMENTS and their location based on the fact that X-RAYS emitted by an element excited by an electron beam have a wavelength characteristic of that element and an intensity related to its concentration. It is performed with an electron microscope fitted with an x-ray spectrometer, in scanning or transmission mode.	Microscopy, Electron, X-Ray Microanalysis,Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission, Electron Microscopic,Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission, Electron Probe,X-Ray Emission Spectrometry, Electron Microscopic,X-Ray Emission Spectrometry, Electron Probe,X-Ray Microanalysis, Electron Microscopic,X-Ray Microanalysis, Electron Probe,Microanalysis, Electron Probe,Spectrometry, X Ray Emission, Electron Microscopic,Spectrometry, X Ray Emission, Electron Probe,X Ray Emission Spectrometry, Electron Microscopic,X Ray Emission Spectrometry, Electron Probe,X-Ray Microanalysis,Electron Probe Microanalyses,Microanalyses, Electron Probe,Microanalysis, X-Ray,Probe Microanalyses, Electron,Probe Microanalysis, Electron,X Ray Microanalysis,X Ray Microanalysis, Electron Microscopic,X Ray Microanalysis, Electron Probe