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Biomedical subjects

A Kraut

Publications and source records attributed to A Kraut.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma by occupational groupings in Manitoba, Canada.

The objective of this research was to determine whether there are differences in the rate of physician-diagnosed asthma in various occupational groups. A prevalence survey using a population-based administrative database of a sample of the labor force in Manitoba, Canada was used. A sample of 22,561 individuals who were in the labor force at the time of the 1986 census were linked to the provincial administrative health database. The frequency of physician-diagnosed asthma and other obstructive respiratory conditions were measured. A case of asthma was defined as having at least three physician contacts for asthma between April 1, 1986, and March 31, 1990. Data on potential confounding factors such as age, gender, area of residence, income, and education were also available. The results showed that frequency of physician-diagnosed asthma by occupational grouping ranged from a low of 0.1/100 workers to a high of 4.8/100 workers. Three occupational groups, 1) other teaching and related occupations (SOC 279) (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.18-5.44); 2) fabricating, installing, and repairing occupations of electrical electronic and related equipment (SOC 853) (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.05-5.33); and 3) other occupations in laboring and other elemental work (SOC 992) (OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.21-5.24) were found to have elevated odds ratios for physician-diagnosed asthma. Datasets linking occupation and health care utilization may be useful tools for surveillance of work-related diseases in general, and for asthma in particular. However, further work should be done utilizing larger databases to determine the overall usefulness of this approach.

Asthma↗
PubMed1997

Acanthamoeba corneal infection in a contact lens wearer.

Corneal infections cause by micro-organisms are the most serious complications of wearing contact lenses. The paper presents the first case of contact lens-associated keratitis caused by the protozoon Acanthamoeba sp. identified in Slovenia so far. The identification of Acanthamoeba as a cause of keratitis in a soft contact lens wearer alerted us to the fact that this health issue should be given more attention in the future.

Acanthamoeba↗
PubMed1995

Vitreous alcohol.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Confidence Intervals↗
PubMed1994

Estimates of the extent of morbidity and mortality due to occupational diseases in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the extent of occupational disease morbidity and mortality in Canada by comparing and contrasting four different data sources. DATA SOURCES: 1) Canadian National Workers' Compensation Boards Statistics, 2) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics adjusted to Canadian Workforce, 3) California Physician's First Reports adjusted to the Canadian Workforce, and 4) proportionate model of overall disease incidence obtained through literature review. MAIN FINDINGS: Each data source was limited in its ability to provide a true estimate of the extent of morbidity and mortality due to occupational disease in Canada. Collectively, an estimate of between 77,900 and 112,000 new cases of occupational diseases and 2,381 to 6,010 occupational disease deaths were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational diseases are a significant and under-estimated cause of morbidity and mortality in Canada.

Canada↗
PubMed1994

Using administrative health data to monitor potential adverse health effects in environmental studies.

Following episodes of environmental contamination, health professionals are limited in their ability to detect adverse health effects in surrounding communities due to lack of relevant baseline health data, resources, and appropriate control populations. The objective of this study was to ascertain the feasibility of using administrative health data for these purposes. The Manitoba Health Services Commission's (MHSC) database is comprehensive since universal health care is free in Canada. As part of an evaluation of two proposed hazardous waste treatment sites, the feasibility of using MHSC's data was tested by (a) defining the two study and control sites through use of MHSC's population registry and (b) determining baseline morbidity rates through analysis of MHSC's physician visit payment files; diagnoses were coded using ICD-9-CM. The results indicated that there were some differences between the groups studied in the age- and sex-standardized morbidity rates of diagnoses potentially influenced by exposures to chemicals. Use of administrative data provided by a national health service is an inexpensive and efficient way to create and follow potentially exposed cohorts residing in defined communities. Despite limitations related to small populations in exposed communities and lack of standardized diagnostic criteria by physicians, this method should be explored further in environmental studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Occupational allergy after exposure to caddis flies at a hydroelectric power plant.

A cross sectional survey was conducted in a hydroelectric power plant in which the workforce was exposed to large numbers of caddis flies. 28 of 57 employees participated. About 50% of the participants reported work related eye, nose, and sinus symptoms and wheezing. Working in locations with greater exposure to caddis flies was significantly associated with work related symptoms. 17 workers (61%) were skin prick positive to a laboratory prepared caddis fly antigen (LCFA) made from the remains of caddis flies present in the plant and 11 (39%) had positive reactions to a commercial caddis fly antigen (CCFA). Workers stationed in heavily exposed areas were 3.7 times as likely to have a positive response to the LCFA (p = 0.009) and 5.3 times as likely to have a positive response to the CCFA (p = 0.036). 13 (46%) of survey respondents reported three or more work related symptoms. 10 (91%) CCFA positive workers reported three or more work related symptoms. Pulmonary function studies revealed slight, but not significantly decreased forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC ratios in workers who were skin test positive to either caddis fly preparation when compared with those who were negative. One worker who was skin test positive to both antigens had a cross shift fall in FEV1 of 20% predicted. Occupational allergy to caddis flies proved to be a significant health problem at this work site.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Occupational asthma induced by inhaled egg lysozyme.

A 26-year-old man employed in a company which manufactured hen egg white derived lysozyme for use in the pharmaceutical industry was evaluated for occupational asthma. The worker began to experience immediate-onset asthmatic symptoms two months after starting to work with egg lysozyme powder. The work process involved the production of approximately 1,000 kg of purified dried lysozyme powder per week. Prick skin testing was positive to egg lysozyme (50 mg/ml) and other egg protein components, but negative to whole egg white and egg yolk reagents. Serum specific IgE to egg lysozyme was documented. Decrements in serial peak expiratory flow rates were associated with lysozyme exposure at work. A specific bronchoprovocation challenge to lysozyme powder was positive demonstrating an isolated immediate asthmatic response (48 percent decrease from baseline FEV1). This is the first reported case of lysozyme-induced asthma specifically caused by inhalational exposure to egg lysozyme.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Christmas candy maker's asthma. IgG4-mediated pectin allergy.

We evaluated a 29-year-old candy maker with no history of asthma who developed asthma after exposure to pectin, a compound manufactured from fruits and fruit rinds. Following eight years of employment during which he added pectin to a recipe for Christmas candies, the candymaker developed acute respiratory symptoms. Challenge testing with the pectin mixture caused a 40 percent decrease in FEV1. Skin prick testing was positive to the pectin extract. Total IgE was normal and pectin-specific IgE antibodies were not detected. A strongly positive pectin-specific IgG4 antibody response was present that was not detected in a control serum and could be inhibited by the addition of pectin. Antigen-specific IgG4 should be sought in IgE negative cases of occupational asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Completeness of case ascertainment of the State Cancer Registry.

The authors evaluated the ability of the New Jersey State Cancer Registry to detect known cancer cases during an investigation of a cancer cluster occurring in professional football players. The Registry was found to be a valuable tool for the detection of cancer cases for New Jersey residents.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Epidemiologic investigation of a cancer cluster in professional football players.

In 1976, the New York Giants professional football team relocated to the newly constructed Meadowlands Sports Complex (MSC) in East Rutherford, NJ. Between 1980 and 1987 four team members developed cancer: one case each of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, glioblastoma, angiosarcoma, and Hodgkin's disease. Because the surrounding area contains three superfund sites, concern was widespread that the cancers were related to environmental contamination. To assess for a possible environmental etiology, we conducted clinical, environmental, and epidemiologic studies at the MSC. Measurements of volatile organic compounds were all below occupational exposure limits and were similar to ambient levels in nearby Lyndhurst, NJ. Outdoor AM radio broadcast field strengths were in the uppermost 0.1% of field strengths measured in urban areas of the United States. Proportionate mortality ratio and proportional cancer incidence ratio studies of the MSC workforce found no excesses of cancer deaths or of incident cancer cases either for all sites combined or for any specific site. No significant differences in cancer incidence or mortality were found between indoor and nonindoor workers. Based on examination of all available data, the four cancer cases were judged most likely to have been clustered by chance and not to have been caused by environmental conditions at the MSC.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Pulmonary effects of acute exposure to degradation products of sulphur hexafluoride during electrical cable repair work.

Six electrical workers accidentally exposed to degradation products of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) during electrical repair work were followed up for one year. One degradation product, sulphur tetrafluoride (SF4), was identified from worksite measurements. Unprotected exposure in an underground enclosed space occurred for six hours over a 12 hour period. Initial symptoms included shortness of breath, chest tightness, productive cough, nose and eye irritation, headache, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms subsided when exposure was interrupted during attempts to identify the cause of the problem. Although exposure ended after several hours, four workers remained symptomatic for between one week and one month. Pulmonary radiographic abnormalities included several discrete areas of transitory platelike atelectasis in one worker, and a slight diffuse infiltrate in the left lower lobe of another. One worker showed transient obstructive changes in tests of pulmonary function. Examination at follow up after one year showed no persistent abnormalities. Preliminary data from this paper were presented at the VIIth international pneumoconioses conference. Pittsburgh, PA, August 1988.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Chemical pneumonitis due to exposure to bromine compounds.

A 60-year-old laboratory technician developed pulmonary infiltrates consistent with chemical pneumonitis following accidental exposure to a mixture of hydrogen bromide and phosphorus tribromide. A protracted clinical course ensued consistent with bronchiolitis obliterans. These problems may have been avoided if the potential for subsequent damage had been realized at the time of the initial exposure. Health personnel must be aware of the potentially delayed effects of accidental exposures to respiratory irritants.

Bromine↗
PubMed1988

Industrial respirators: certifying the worker.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires medical evaluation of workers prior to certification for industrial respirator wear. For proper evaluation, the physician must understand the physiologic effects of respirators, the stresses of the work and the health of the worker. Most of the information needed to make certification decisions can be obtained from the history, the physical examination and observation of the worker exercising while wearing a respirator. Pulmonary function testing or cardiac stress testing may be helpful in difficult cases.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Toxocara antibodies in patients with visceral or ocular disorder in Slovenia.

The incidence of Toxocara antibodies was determined in 319 sera from patients suspected of having Toxocara infection. Serological responses were compared with clinical manifestations and age of the patients. A seropositive reaction was found in 24% of the patients. Highly positive results (OD 0.510-1.000 and OD > 1.000) by ELISA were obtained significantly more frequently in younger patients than in older ones (p < 0.005). The percentage of seropositive patients with visceral disorder was found to decrease with age, whereas the proportion of seropositive patients with ocular disorder increased with age. Serologically confirmed Toxocara infection in Slovenia alerted us to the fact that this health issue should be given due attention in the future.

Adolescent↗