- Aluminum (Al) metal is considered one of the most benign industrial metals. Although the harmful effects of Al on respiratory health have been denied by some studies, others reported its noxious effect on the lung through spirometric measurements. This work aimed at studying the effect of Al fumes on pulmonary functions of occupationally exposed workers. It investigated the possible relationship between inhalation exposure to Al fumes and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT). The study participants comprised a group of 56 male Al workers with a mean duration of occupational exposure of 10.1 ± 9.5 years and 52 male participants who were not exposed to Al fumes as the control group. All participants filled a questionnaire, underwent full clinical examination and their spirometric pulmonary functions were measured. Blood samples were collected for the determination of serum CRP and A1AT and urine samples for measuring Al. Results revealed that urinary Al (UAl) was significantly higher in Al workers compared with controls (p < 0.05). However, spirometric measures showed no significant difference between the exposed group and the controls. A1AT was significantly lowered in Al workers compared with the controls (p < 0.000). Serum CRP was positive in only two (3.6%) of the exposed workers. Smokers of both groups (exposed and controls) showed significantly higher UAl and lower A1AT compared with nonsmokers. There was only significant negative correlation between the duration of exposure and A1AT (p < 0.05). There was a positive significant correlation between smoking index (SI) and UAl. There was also significant negative correlation between SI and some of the pulmonary function tests namely the percentage of predicted forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the first second and peak expiratory flow in the exposed group. Those correlations point to the importance of the combined effect of smoking and Al exposure on the impairment of lung functions. The study recommends the determination of CRP and A1AT in Al-exposed workers. It is expected that those parameters may undergo changes before reduction in pulmonary functions takes place.
=>1.低くする/なる, 下げる/下がる, 卑しめる, 2.しかめっ面, 3.lowの比較級
Overview of noun lower
The noun lower has 1 sense (no senses from tagged texts)
1. lower berth, lower -- (the lower of two berths)
Overview of verb lower
The verb lower has 5 senses (first 3 from tagged texts)
1. (15) lower, take down, let down, get down, bring down -- (move something or somebody to a lower
position; "take down the vase from the shelf")
2. (6) lower, lour -- (set lower; "lower a rating"; "lower expectations")
3. (1) turn down, lower, lour -- (make lower or quieter; "turn down the volume of a radio")
4. lower, depress -- (cause to drop or sink; "The lack of rain had depressed the water level in the
reservoir")
5. frown, glower, lour, lower -- (look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal
disapproval)
Overview of adj low
The adj low has 10 senses (first 6 from tagged texts)
1. (55) low -- (less than normal in degree or intensity or amount; "low prices"; "the reservoir is
low")
2. (23) low -- (literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward
extension; "low ceilings"; "low clouds"; "low hills"; "the sun is low"; "low furniture"; "a low
bow")
3. (11) low, low-toned -- (very low in volume; "a low murmur"; "the low-toned murmur of the surf")
4. (6) low -- (unrefined in character; "low comedy")
5. (4) low, low-pitched -- (used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency)
6. (3) abject, low, low-down, miserable, scummy, scurvy -- (of the most contemptible kind; "abject
cowardice"; "a low stunt to pull"; "a low-down sneak"; "his miserable treatment of his family"; "You
miserable skunk!"; "a scummy rabble"; "a scurvy trick")
7. humble, low, lowly, modest, small -- (low or inferior in station or quality; "a humble cottage";
"a lowly parish priest"; "a modest man of the people"; "small beginnings")
8. depleted, low -- (no longer sufficient; "supplies are low"; "our funds are depleted")
9. broken, crushed, humbled, humiliated, low -- (subdued or brought low in condition or status;
"brought low"; "a broken man"; "his broken spirit")
10. gloomy, grim, blue, depressed, dispirited, down, downcast, downhearted, down in the mouth, low,
low-spirited -- (filled with melancholy and despondency ; "gloomy at the thought of what he had to
face"; "gloomy predictions"; "a gloomy silence"; "took a grim view of the economy"; "the darkening
mood"; "lonely and blue in a strange city"; "depressed by the loss of his job"; "a dispirited and
resigned expression on her face"; "downcast after his defeat"; "feeling discouraged and
downhearted")
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