| Abstract [eng] |
The work describes risk factors of contact allergy to heavy metals (nickel (Ni), chrome (Cr), cobalt (Co)), the penetration of metal particles into the skin and some aspects of pathogenesis. This work consists of clinical and experimental studies, data analysis, and review of current research publications. A survey of 185 employees from a metal processing company and the results of 135 metalworkers' skin patch tests were analyzed. The analysis of Ni residues in 176 samples from index and thumb fingers of 88 participants was performed as well as an experiment simulating long-term - day and week - contact with wire and nails in artificial sweat. An experiment on the penetration of Cr through the skin using Franz cells and two different media (petrolatum and water) was carried out. Quantitative analysis of human INFγ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-9, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-22, and IL-23 in skin biopsies and venous blood was done The experimental works were carried out in collaboration with researchers from the Laboratory of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Lund University Hospital, Skåne University Hospital (Malmö, Sweden), Physics and Technology Center, Nuclear Research Laboratory, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory (Vilnius, Lithuania), and Innovative Medicine Center, Department of Immunology (Vilnius, Lithuania),. The thesis is formed from 12 parts: introduction, literature review, objectives, methods, results, discussion, conclusions, future work, references, summary, supplements, and acknowledgements. Thesis includes: 81 p. of text, 33 figures, 19 tables, 163 references, 2 supplements. |
