humulene and Tuberculosis--Pulmonary

Byssinosis is an occupational lung disease observed among workers exposed to cotton, flax, and hemp dust. The severity and extent of Byssinosis are well recognised in the high-income countries and control measures have been implemented to prevent the disease. In India, there are conflicting evidence on burden estimation of the disease, followed by inadequate prevention and control of Byssinosis.. We did a cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of Byssinosis in "home-based" power-loom workers in Mominpura, an administrative ward of Burhanpur Municipality with 2800 population in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. 290 adults working from "home-based" power loom units were randomly selected, profiled and screened for Byssinosis like symptoms with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and simple hand-held peak expiratory flow monitor. For epidemiological purposes the symptoms were classified based on Schilling's classification. Chest x-rays were done for selected subjects. Sputum smear microscopy for detecting TB was done for those who had Byssinosis like symptoms.. Prevalence of Byssinosis among "home based" powerloom workers was found to be 98% [n = 283, 95 CI (95.65-98.96)]. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was reduced in 44% (n = 124), of which 81 (29%) had more than 50% PEFR reduction, and of these, 69 (29%) were in early stage of Byssinosis (Grade 0.5). 11% of study participants who had Byssinosis like symptoms, also had TB.. Byssinosis is highly prevalent in "home-based" power loom units in Madhya Pradesh. Adequate advocacy on awareness and prevention; prompt diagnosis and linkages to treatment services in "home-based" power loom units are urgently required to address Byssinosis at an early disease stage.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Byssinosis; Cannabis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dust; Female; Humans; India; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; Prevalence; Residence Characteristics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Young Adult

Topics: Antitubercular Agents; Aspergillosis; Aspergillus fumigatus; Brain; Cannabis; Dexamethasone; Fatal Outcome; Female; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Lung; Marijuana Smoking; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Matching Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were noted among 11 young tuberculosis patients socially linked through illicit drug-related activities. A large proportion of their friends, 14 (64%) of 22, had positive tuberculin skin-test results. The behavior of "hotboxing" (smoking marijuana inside a closed car with friends to repeatedly inhale exhaled smoke) fueled transmission.

Topics: Adult; Cannabis; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Humans; Male; Marijuana Smoking; Risk Factors; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Washington

Chronic cannabis intoxication of a significant fraction of the male population still prevails in Morocco. The preparation used (kif) is a powder made from the dried flower of the female plant. It contains 2 to 3% THC and is smoked mixed with tobacco (1/3 of the mixture). Cultivation of kif is tolerated in an area of 60 square miles in the high Rif mountain of Northern Morocco, where it constitutes the main cash crop of the local farmers. A significant percentage (50%?) of the men in the area also consume kif regularly. This cultivation is spreading to neighboring areas. Moroccan health authorities claim that cannabis intoxication represents a major health hazard. There exist little data correlating chronic usage of kif with pathological states in these areas of large production and consumption. This dearth of information due to lack of local medical personnel could be alleviated by a combined medical and ethnological study.

Topics: Agriculture; Cannabis; Chronic Disease; Commerce; Culture; Dronabinol; Drug and Narcotic Control; Economics; Female; History, 20th Century; History, Ancient; Humans; Legislation as Topic; Male; Mental Disorders; Minority Groups; Morocco; Substance-Related Disorders; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary