Papers by Ritva Luukkonen
In 1976-1992 245 new cases of asthma induced by diisocyanates were diagnosed, caused by hexamethy... more In 1976-1992 245 new cases of asthma induced by diisocyanates were diagnosed, caused by hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) in 39%, diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) in 39%, and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) in 17% of the cases. Our aim was to study the clinical outcome of diisocyanate-induced asthma. A questionnaire was sent to the 235 patients alive in 1995, and validated by reex- amining
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 1985
Nine healthy male volunteers were exposed to m-xylene for four hours a day, three hours in the mo... more Nine healthy male volunteers were exposed to m-xylene for four hours a day, three hours in the morning and one hour in the afternoon, with a 40 minute break in between, at six day intervals during six succeeding weeks to explore the effects of m-xylene on the sense of balance. The atmospheric m-xylene concentrations were either fixed at 8.2 mumol/l
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2001
OBJECTIVESTo assess the prevalence of enzyme sensitisation in the animal feed industry.METHODSA c... more OBJECTIVESTo assess the prevalence of enzyme sensitisation in the animal feed industry.METHODSA cross sectional study was conducted in four animal feed factories, where several enzymes had been used in powder form for 7–9 years. Before this study, enzymes in liquid form had started to be used. Sensitisation to enzymes was examined by skin prick and radioallergosorbent (RAST) tests. Altogether 218
Page 1. Biometrika (1988), 75, 3, pp. 491-9 Printed in Great Britain Testing linearity against sm... more Page 1. Biometrika (1988), 75, 3, pp. 491-9 Printed in Great Britain Testing linearity against smooth transition autoregressive models BY RITVA LUUKKONEN Institute of Occupational Health, SF-00250 Helsinki, Finland PENTTI ...
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 1997
OBJECTIVES: Hairdressers are exposed to many irritative and allergenic substances capable of caus... more OBJECTIVES: Hairdressers are exposed to many irritative and allergenic substances capable of causing occupational respiratory symptoms and diseases. The self reported prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases was studied, and the risks among hairdressers compared with saleswomen was estimated. METHODS: A cross sectional prevalence study of respiratory symptoms and diseases was carried out among hairdressers and supermarket saleswomen, with a
International journal of obesity (2005), 2005
To study the association between overweight and lumbar disc degeneration. Population-based 4-y fo... more To study the association between overweight and lumbar disc degeneration. Population-based 4-y follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. The subjects were 129 working middle-aged men selected to the baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study from a cohort of 1832 men representing three occupations: machine drivers, construction carpenters, and office workers. The selection was based on the paticipants' age (40-45 y) and place of residence. MR images of the lumbar spines were obtained at baseline and at 4-y follow-up. Signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus of the discs L2/L3-L4/L5 was visually assessed by two readers using the adjacent cerebrospinal fluid as an intensity reference. The weight (at age 25 and 40-45 y) and height of the subjects, history of car driving, smoking, and back injuries were assessed by questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses allowing for occupation, history of car driving, smoking, and back injuries showed that persistent overweight (bo...
Spine, Jan 15, 2005
Prospective cohort study. To study symptoms, chronic disorders, and clinical findings in the low ... more Prospective cohort study. To study symptoms, chronic disorders, and clinical findings in the low back, and work absenteeism, as predictors of hospitalization. Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors are associated with back-related hospitalization, but the significance in the working normal population of low back symptoms and clinical findings are not known. The cohort (n = 902) was drawn in 1973 from among employees in the metal industry (n = 2,653). The data were collected by questionnaire and a structured clinical assessment by a physiotherapist. Weight was measured. A sum score of local and radiating low back symptoms (frequency during the past year on a 4-point Likert scale) was categorized as no/yes and no/infrequent/frequent. Local and radiating symptoms were considered also separately. The data were linked with those from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register during 1973 to 2000. Logistic regression and the Cox proportional hazard models were used. As compared with persons wit...
Pharmacogenetics, 2002
We observed previously that polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes modified aller... more We observed previously that polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes modified allergic responses to diisocyanate exposure. Here, we extended the study to examine the possible role of N-acetyltransferase (NAT) genotypes in the development of diisocyanate-induced ill effects, both separately and in combination with the previously examined GSTM1, GSTM3, GSTP1 and GSTT1 genotypes. The study population comprised 182 diisocyanate-exposed workers, 109 of whom were diagnosed with diisocyanate-induced asthma and 73 of whom had no symptoms of asthma. The diisocyanates to which the workers had been exposed to were diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI). The NAT2 genotype did not have any significant effect on the risk of developing asthma, but the putative slow acetylator NAT1 genotypes posed a 2.54-fold risk of diisocyanate-induced asthma (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32 to 4.91). The effect of the NAT1 genotype was ...
Pharmacogenetics, 2001
Diisocyanates are the most common low molecular weight chemicals to cause occupational asthma. Ho... more Diisocyanates are the most common low molecular weight chemicals to cause occupational asthma. However, only some 5-10% of exposed workers develop asthma, which suggests an underlying genetic susceptibility. Diisocyanates and their metabolites may be conjugated with glutathione by glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). We examined whether polymorphisms in the GSTM1, GSTM3, GSTP1 and GSTT1 genes modify allergic responses to diisocyanate exposure. The study population consisted of 182 diisocyanate exposed workers, 109 diagnosed with diisocyanate-induced asthma and 73 without asthma. Lack of the GSTM1 gene (null genotype) was associated with a 1.89-fold risk of diisocyanate-induced asthma [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-3.52]. Moreover, among the asthma patients, the GSTM1 null genotype was associated with lack of diisocyanate-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibodies [odds ratio (OR) 0.18, 95% CI 0.05-0.61] and with late reaction in the specific bronchial provocation test (OR 2.82, 95% ...
International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health, 2013
To investigate cardiorespiratory and inflammatory responses in male workers following exposure to... more To investigate cardiorespiratory and inflammatory responses in male workers following exposure to welding fumes and airborne particles in actual workplace conditions. We measured blood leukocytes and their differential counts, platelet count, hemoglobin, sensitive C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, E-selectin, IL-(interleukin)1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and endothelin-1 in blood samples of twenty workers before and after their working day. We also studied peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and exhaled nitric oxide (NO). We assessed heart rate variability (HRV) by obtaining 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms. The total blood leukocytes and neutrophils increased after the work shift, whereas IL-1β and E-selectin decreased significantly. There were no statistically significant changes in exhaled NO, FEV1, PEF or HRV. Occupational exposure to welding fumes and particles caused a slight, acute inflammatory effect estimated b...
Toxicology Reports, 2015
The aim of this study was to investigate inflammatory and respiratory responses to welding fume e... more The aim of this study was to investigate inflammatory and respiratory responses to welding fume exposure in patients with suspected occupational asthma.
Respiratory Medicine, 2011
I. Lindström). a v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o ... more I. Lindström). a v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / r m e d Respiratory Medicine (2011) 105, 950e955 0954-6111/$ -see front matter ª
Toxicology, 2005
Occupational exposure to wood dust is related to several respiratory diseases, such as allergic r... more Occupational exposure to wood dust is related to several respiratory diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. However, virtually nothing is known about molecular mechanisms behind wood dust-induced pulmonary inflammation. To elucidate the effects of wood dust exposure on cytokine and chemokine expression in murine macrophage cell line cells, mouse RAW 264.7 cells were exposed to two selected hardwood dusts, oak and birch. TiO 2 and LPS were used as controls. Expression patterns of several cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR system and by ELISA. Exposure to birch dust caused a major increase in TNF-␣ and IL-6 protein levels whereas a weaker induction of TNF-␣ protein was found after exposure to oak dust. Inorganic TiO 2 dust did not induce significant cytokine expression. With respect to the chemokines, a dose-dependent, about 10-fold induction of CCL2 mRNA and protein was found after exposure to birch dust. Oak dust induced weakly CCL2 protein. Similarly, birch dust induced a strong expression of CCL3, CCL4, and CXCL2/3 mRNA whereas only moderate levels of these chemokine mRNAs were detected after oak dust exposure. In contrast, expression of CCL24 mRNA was inhibited by more than 40-fold by both oak and birch dusts. TiO 2 dust induced about five-fold expression of CCL3 and CCL4 mRNA but did not affect significantly other chemokines. These results suggest that exposure to birch or oak dusts may influence the development of the inflammatory process in the airways by modulating the expression of macrophage-derived cytokines and chemokines.
Clinical Physiology, 1996
Previous studies have indicated that disorders producing crackling lung sounds may be different i... more Previous studies have indicated that disorders producing crackling lung sounds may be different in terms of the waveform of the crackles or their timing in a respiratory cycle. In this study, we evaluated whether two-dimensional discriminant analysis of crackles has a better ability to separate pulmonary disorders than does a single-dimensional analysis. Cracking sounds of patients with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (n = 10), bronchiectasis (n = 10), COPD (n = 10), heart failure (n = 10) and acute pneumonia (n = 11) and of those recovering from pneumonia (n = 9) have been studied. Variables indicating the timing of crackles during inspiration (beginning and endpoint of crackling) and their waveform (initial deflection width (IDW), two cycle duration (2CD) and largest deflection width (LDW)), were used for the analysis. The discrimination properties of one- and two-dimensional analyses with these variables were compared. The two-dimensional distances between the patient groups were the largest by combining IDW and the end-point of crackling. Cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis was distinguished from bronchiectasis, COPD, heart failure and acute pneumonia without overlap. The differences between the diseases were illustrated two-dimensionally with ellipses. The two-dimensional analysis resulted in better separation between the groups than the use of single characteristics alone. This type of analysis can enhance the diagnostic power of acoustic pulmonary studies. It is also an informative visual way to find differences among pulmonary disorders.
A prospective cohort study. To study the association of psychosocial factors at work with severe ... more A prospective cohort study. To study the association of psychosocial factors at work with severe back disorders leading to hospitalization. Some psychosocial factors at work have been related to back pain, but little is known about their predictive role in severe back disorders. Psychosocial factors at work were studied by questionnaire and interview in 1973 among a cohort of 902 metal industry employees. Information on hospital admissions for back disorders from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register in 1973-2000 was linked to the data. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the time between the assessment of risk factors and the first hospital admission for intervertebral disc disorders (36 cases) and other back disorders (47 cases). In a model including psychosocial factors and potential confounders, low job control versus high control was associated with a 3.2-fold risk (95% confidence interval, 1.3-7.8) of hospitalization for back disorders other than those of the intervertebral disc. The corresponding rate ratio for low versus high supervisor support was 2.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-6.3). Job demands, coworker support, and distress were not independently associated with these disorders. The result did not change when patients with chronic back disorder at baseline were excluded from the analysis. There was no association between psychosocial factors at work and hospitalizations for intervertebral disc disorders. Low job control and low supervisor support seem to increase the risk of hospitalization for back disorders other than intervertebral disc disorders.
Psychology & Health, 2014
Work & Stress, 2002
ABSTRACT
Toxicology, 2006
Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that occupational exposure to wood dust can induce se... more Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that occupational exposure to wood dust can induce several respiratory diseases such as allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and sino-nasal adenocarcinoma. However, comparison of the harmful potential of different wood dust species on the basis of epidemiological studies is complicated because in the occupational environment workers are usually exposed to several wood dust species simultaneously. In the present study, we have characterized and compared the effects of two hardwood dusts, beech and teak, and two softwood dusts, pine and spruce, on cytokine and chemokine expression utilizing an in vitro model, murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. The expression patterns of selected cytokines and chemokines were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR and by ELISA. All the tested hardwood and softwood dusts induced TNF-␣ expression and inhibited IL-1 expression. Similarly, all the wood dusts induced the expression of CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, and CXCL2/3 chemokines and inhibited CCL24 expression. Our results indicate that both hardwood and softwood dusts influence the cytokine and chemokine expression of RAW 264.7 cells. Although some differences could be detected in the magnitude of responses to different wood dust species, the two tested wood dust groups, hardwoods and softwoods, have quite similar effects on cytokine and chemokine expression in RAW 264.7 cell line.
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Papers by Ritva Luukkonen