PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Piekarski

Publications and source records attributed to C Piekarski.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Comparison of digital selenium radiography with an analog screen-film system in the diagnostic process of pneumoconiosis according to ILO classification].

UNLABELLED: Comparison of digital selenium radiography with an analog screen-film system in the diagnostic process of pneumoconiosis according to ILO classification. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic value of digital selenium radiography in patients with pneumoconiosis. For this purpose chest x-rays by digital selenium radiography and analog screen-film system were compared according to the ILO classification of pneumoconiosis. METHOD: After approval of the study by the local ethic commission and the Federal German Office for Radiation Protection 50 patients were subjected to x-rays by digital selenium radiography (Thoravision; Philips Medical Systems, Hamburg, Germany) and analog screen-film system of the same day within the scope of an industrial medicine preventive checkup. Four investigators rated the chest x-rays according to the ILO classification of pneumoconiosis. RESULTS: The findings demonstrated by chest x-rays according to ILO classification were rated similar by digital selenium radiography and analog screen film systems. Image quality of the digital pictures was rated significantly better. CONCLUSION: The use of digital selenium radiography in evaluating chest x-rays according to the ILO classification does not result in over- or underestimation of pulmonary pathologies. Hence, in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, digital selenium radiography can replace the tested analog screen-film system.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

An epidemiological study of the respiratory health of workers in the European refractory ceramic fibre industry.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate possible relations between respiratory health and past airborne exposure to refractory ceramic fibres (RCFs) and respirable dust in workers at six European factories, studied previously in 1987. METHODS: The target population comprised all current workers associated with RCF production, plus others who had participated in 1987 "leavers". Information was collected on personal characteristics, chest radiographs, lung function, respiratory symptoms, smoking, and full occupational history. Regression analysis was used to study relations between indices of health of individual workers and of cumulative exposure to airborne dust and fibres, and likely past exposure to asbestos. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 774 workers participated (90% of current workers, 37% of leavers). Profusion of small opacities in exposed workers (51% 0/1+; 8% 1/0+) was similar to that among an unexposed control group but higher than in new readings of the 1987 study films (11% 0/1+, 2% 1/0+). The large difference between 1987 and recent films may be, at least in part, a reading artefact associated with film appearance. Small opacities of International Labour Organisation (ILO) category 1/0+ were not associated with exposure. An association of borderline significance overall between 0/1+ opacities and exposure to respirable fibres was found for some exposure periods only, the time related pattern being biologically implausible. Pleural changes were related to age and exposure to asbestos, and findings were consistent with an effect of time since first exposure to RCFs. Among men, forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were inversely related to exposure to fibres, in current smokers only. FEV(1)/ FVC ratio and transfer factor (TL(CO)) were not related to exposures. The estimated restrictive effect was on average mild. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms was low. Chronic bronchitis and its associated symptoms (cough, phlegm) showed some association with recent exposure to respirable fibres. This could be due to an irritant effect of RCFs.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The evaluation of workplaces subjected to heat stress: can ISO 7933 (1989) adequately describe heat strain in industrial workplaces?

The International Standard ISO 7933 (1989) Hot environments--Analytical determination and interpretation of thermal stress using calculation of required sweat rate has been proposed for the evaluation of climatic stress within the European system of CEN standards. Comparison of results of studies performed in climatic chambers and those in the field with the predictions of ISO 7933 show that there are considerable problems in using this index in practice. In its present state of development, ISO 7933 seems to be rather a step towards a useable index for evaluating climatic conditions rather than an established climatic index which is applicable in practice. Within the CEN standards, the deficiencies of ISO 7933 are reflected mainly by a restriction of the limits of application within EN 12 515 (1997) which is based on ISO 7933.

Atmosphere Exposure Chambers↗
PubMed1999

Does winter darkness in the Artic protect against cancer? The melatonin hypothesis revisited.

The melatonin hypothesis states that excess exposure to environmental light may contribute to breast cancer risks via impaired pineal secretion of melatonin. A corollary, not considered previously, is that a net annual increase in oncostatic melatonin would be expected in persons who experience a light deficit during extended winter darkness periods; thus, hormone-dependent cancers should occur less frequently in people who reside north, rather than south, of the Arctic circle. Consistent with our prediction, epidemiological data indicate uniformly low risks for hormone-dependent cancers in the Arctic. The available literature on genetic, reproductive, nutritional, life-style, and environmental risk factors provides no obvious clues to the observed cancer patterns. Moreover, diurnal and 24-hour melatonin concentrations in humans living in Arctic regions were reported as high in November-January, when light intensity is low. Since these observations are consistent with our corollary and the associated prediction, we suggest that research on a melatonin-inhibited carcinogenesis in the low-risk populations of the Arctic should be pursued.

Alaska↗
PubMed1999

Synergy between asbestos and smoking on lung cancer risks.

We have examined data from 12 epidemiologic studies for quantitative evidence of biologic synergy between asbestos and smoking on lung cancer risks. Estimates of the effect associated with joint exposure to the two agents exceeded the sum of their separate effects in each study. We explored the variations in the strength of the synergistic effect across the studies using three indices: the ratio of the combined effects to the sum of the separate effects of smoking and asbestos (S), the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), and the attributable proportion of risk due to interaction (AP). The weighted average of S across all studies was 1.64 (95% confidence interval = 1.33-2.03). The attributable proportion associated with this average S was estimated as 33%, that suggests that one-third of cancer cases among smokers who were exposed to asbestos can be attributed to the synergistic behavior of the two carcinogens, as distinct from their separate effects and those attributable to other ("background") factors.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1995

Climatic stress in coalmining in Germany: occupational health aspects.

Coalmining in Germany is performed in depths as low as 1400 m. Owing to an average thermal gradient of 30 m/K the work underground is burdened by heat stress to which occupational medicine must pay special attention. Therefore heat stress standards and mining safety regulations have been set up not only for coal production but also for mine rescue activities. This specific situation of heat burdened work in the coal mining industry in Germany is discussed under the specific aspects of German coalmining regulations (Klima-Bergverordnung und Plan für das Grubenrettungswesen).

Coal↗
PubMed1994

[Ergospirometry: a suitable method for evaluating work capacity in occupational medicine?].

In various industrial tasks elevated physical strain of workers can be expected. In order to identify possible health hazards as soon as possible and to effectively prevent occupational diseases and accidents, a series of occupational health medical examinations are mandatory according to German accident prevention regulations such as VBG 100 "Occupational Health Care", Regulations for Climatic Conditions Underground (KlimaBergV), Regulations for Mine Rescue Teams, etc. Besides a clinical medical inspection and a laboratory blood test as well as urine test the physical fitness and aptitude for several specific occupational hazards are tested by means of a mandatory ergometry test. In the present publication the possible predictive limits as well as the making sense or nonsense of the use of ergometry in occupational aptitude tests under the auspices of German accident prevention regulations will be discussed.

Exercise Test↗
PubMed1975

[Sense and applicability of means. Various critical considerations].

The range of application and account of the arithmetic and geometric mean, the mode and the median set different standards to the frequency distribution of the original data. The quite frequently inadequate use of the geometric mean in serological dilution series will be demonstrated in a practical example. The interview of 66 physicians and 31 graduate and postgraduate engineers was made to give an impression of the participants' knowledge of the above mentioned statistical mean values and their practical application. The arithmetic mean proved to be the best known and most popular method in use, closely followed by the geometric mean and far of by the median and the mode. Other questions were to find out, why the arithmetic mean was the favourite. The result was as astonishing as it was simple: The arithmetic mean seemed to be used most because it was known best at school and university. Therefore in a great number of cases statistical means were chosen from a formalistic point of view and not, as it would be much more appreciated, according to the specific nature of the data or to pertinent accounts.

Adolescent↗