Occupational risk factors associated with traditional kiln technology are major drivers of respiratory symptoms and illnesses. The current research was designed to evaluate prevalence of selected disease and respiratory symptoms among workers at two types of brick kilns. A proportionate stratified random-sampling-based survey was conducted during 2024-2025; a total of 250 adult men were assessed using a translated version of American Thoracic Society Division of Lung Disease (ATS-DLD) questionnaire. Results of the study show that 60% of Bull's Trench Kiln (BTK) workers had diabetes mellitus, while 40% were suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 44% reported chronic cough than Zig-Zag Kiln workers. A significant lower concentration of PM2.5 (23 ± 0.27 µg/m[3]), PM10 (27 ± 0.31 µg/m[3]) and Cu (0.025 ± 0.002 mg/kg) was observed in the environment of Zig-Zag Kilns (ZZKs). Adjusted generalized linear models (GLMs) with an identity link function showed that BTK workers in burning section had significantly lower FEV1/FVC (%) (B = -7.8; 95% CI: -8.9, -6.8; p < 0.001) than ZZK workers, reflecting a higher respiratory risk in traditional kilns. In conclusion, mandating ZZK adoption is a critical intervention to mitigate respiratory disease burden and heavy metal exposure among brick kiln workers.

Sex differences in asthma severity have been reported; however, the specific contribution of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) remains incompletely defined. We tested the hypothesis that ERβ modulates sex-specific physiological responses to chronic allergen exposure using C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) and ERβ-deficient (Esr2-/-) male and female mice subjected to 5 weeks of house dust mite (HDM) challenge. Lung mechanics were assessed using flexiVent and integrated with histopathology and whole-lung transcriptomics. We found that HDM exposure increased total respiratory resistance (Rrs), Newtonian resistance (Rn), and tissue elastance (H), with the greatest impairment in female Esr2-/- mice, significantly exceeding WT females. These changes were accompanied by marked peribronchial inflammation and mucus metaplasia, particularly in females. ERβ deficiency also produced compartment-specific effects. Transcriptomic analyses revealed disruption of epithelial differentiation, immunoglobulin gene expression, and metabolic pathways, with downregulation of humoral and epithelial programs in Esr2-/- females. Collectively, these findings identify ERβ as a critical determinant of sex-specific airway mechanics and inflammatory remodeling during allergen exposure. We conclude that ERβ protects the female lung from exaggerated functional decline, mucus metaplasia, and tissue stiffening, while exerting distinct spatial and immunological effects in males, highlighting ERβ signaling as a target for sex-informed asthma therapeutics.

The mental and physical health of university students is not just of interest to the students themselves, but to our whole society. While most research has focused on medical students, other disciplines remain underexplored. Therefore, this study aims (1) to assess the prevalence and development of emotional exhaustion and somatic symptoms from 2020 to 2021 in both cross-sectional and longitudinal samples of university students, (2) to examine subgroup differences based on demographics and study fields, and (3) to investigate predictors of symptom changes.

Silicosis is the most common occupational lung disease and association with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is common. Although extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases are rare, skeletal tuberculosis is responsible for 10-35% of these cases. Pott's disease is the most common form of skeletal tuberculosis, but it is not commonly encountered today. A 49-year-old male patient presented to our clinic with complaints of back pain, leg pain, and weight loss for 9 months. His occupational history revealed that he worked as a dental technician and a sandblasting for 30 years. In 2002, he was diagnosed with pneumoconiosis. Thoracovertebral Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging showed lytic lesions in the anterior middle columns of the T6-T9 vertebrae and an anterior narrow angle kyphosis (Gibbus deformity) at the level of T9 vertebra. The findings were primarily evaluated in favor of Pott's disease abscess. Posterior segmental instrumentation and osteotomy were performed. The patient was evaluated as extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and anti-tuberculosis treatment was started. We present a case of pneumoconiosis with extrapulmonary tuberculosis and Pott's disease.