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Biomedical subjects

E L Teasdale

Publications and source records attributed to E L Teasdale.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Study to evaluate the effectiveness of stress management workshops on response to general and occupational measures of stress.

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of stress management training workshops within Zeneca Pharmaceuticals. The study was of cross-sectional design, comparing groups of workshop attendees and non-attendees. In addition, self-rated well-being scores of attendees were compared with results obtained pre-workshop and 2-3 months after the workshop. Employees participating in the study were drawn from the Manufacturing, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing sites of Zeneca Pharmaceuticals located in Cheshire, United Kingdom. Three hundred and ninety persons who had participated in stress management workshops since 1988 were matched for age, gender and department with an equal number of employees who had not attended stress management workshops. Outcome measures included self-rated well-being (as measured by the 30-question General Health Questionnaire), knowledge of company guidance on the management of stress in staff, and an assessment of coping strategies. Subjects who had not attended a stress management workshop were much more likely to have a poor understanding of the principles of management of stress in staff [odds ratio (OR) = 8.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.3-21.3] and more likely to have poor coping skills (OR = 2.8; CI = 1.3-6.1). However, mean scores for the two measures were similar in attendees and non-attendees. Self-rating of current well-being was strongly associated with the life-events score, but not related to workshop attendance. The study indicates that stress management training workshops reduce the prevalence of employees with a poor understanding of the principles of the management of stress in staff and with poor coping strategies. An improvement in the self-rated well-being observed shortly after the workshop was not sustained.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Allergy to laboratory animals: a follow up study of its incidence and of the influence of atopy and pre-existing sensitisation on its development.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of allergy to laboratory animals (ALA) during the first two years of employment, and to study the effect on ALA of atopy and sensitisation. METHODS: A follow up prospective study of ALA at the Zeneca (formerly ICI) Research Laboratories. RESULTS: The incidence of the disease during the first year of employment has remained at about 10% since the mid-1980s. This compares with an incidence of 37% in the early 1980s. The reduction in incidence and its maintenance at a lower level is thought to be due to the introduction and management of improved engineering controls, working practices, and educational programmes designed to reduce exposure to allergens from laboratory animals. The underlying incidence of immunological sensitisation to animals (the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to animal allergens) is much higher (40% after one and 53% after two years of exposure). Both atopic diathesis and presensitisation to laboratory animals increased the likelihood that a person would develop ALA. CONCLUSION: Neither factor predicted the disease accurately so their use should be restricted to the identification of people who may be more susceptible to the development of ALA (and thus who may need to pay particular attention to the use of personal protective equipment) rather than to their exclusion.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Occupational hygiene measurement strategy in the pharmaceutical industry.

In an industry which handles materials which are biologically active it is necessary to limit the exposure of workers engaged in both research and production to these materials. Part of the control procedure is to be able to demonstrate that whatever system is put in place is effective and remains so. This may require a programme of environmental monitoring. To be effective any monitoring programme must be properly planned and executed. This paper sets out the philosophy and practice of one multinational pharmaceutical company which may stimulate debate in the industry.

Drug Industry↗
PubMed1989

The relationship between exposure to rats and antibody production in man: IgG antibody levels to rat urinary protein.

An ELISA procedure has been developed to measure specific IgG antibodies against rat urine. Using this method antibody levels in individuals with differing exposure levels to rat have been measured. Mean antibody titres in groups of workers regularly exposed to rats were higher than those in groups currently or totally non-exposed. However, only in the group of workers exposed and sensitized to rats were IgG levels significantly elevated. Despite this significant difference in mean antibody titres there was considerable overlap between individuals in each group, and there was no direct relationship between exposure to rats and levels of IgG anti-rat urine antibody. Our results suggest a stronger correlation between sensitization to rats and the levels of antigen-specific IgG antibodies.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Allergy to laboratory animals: a prospective study of its incidence and of the influence of atopy on its development.

The pattern of incidence of allergy to laboratory animals (ALA) has been studied prospectively in 383 individuals occupationally exposed to rodents and to rabbits. The incidence of the disease after one year of exposure to animals fell from 37% in 1980 and 1981 to 20% in 1982, 10% in 1983, and 12% in 1984. A similar reduction was noted after two and three years of exposure in the 1982 and 1983 cohorts. The reduction in incidence coincided with the introduction of a site order and code of practice for working with animals and an education programme designed to focus awareness on the problem. Although rats were believed to be the major cause of the disease, objective measurements of IgE antibody against rat urine allergen were positive in only half the symptomatic individuals. Antibodies to different animal derived allergens were, however, found in several other personnel. Symptoms were generally of mild or moderate intensity and affected mainly the nose, eyes, and skin; chest symptoms were found in only 1.6% of the exposed population. A study of the influence of atopy on the development of ALA showed that after one year of exposure to animals a significantly greater proportion of atopic individuals became symptomatic (19-43% compared with 3-6%). After two and three years of exposure, however, this discrepancy was not maintained, with more non-atopic individuals developing the disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Efficacy of the helmet respirator in occupational asthma due to laboratory animal allergy (LAA).

The efficacy of the Racal Airstream helmet respirator in preventing symptoms due to Laboratory Animal Allergy (LAA) was assessed in ten patients. Eight of these were established cases of asthma and two had severe rhinitis. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) readings, recorded every two hours, were kept for seven weeks (six in exposure), together with a diary of subjective symptoms. Objective evidence of good protection was obtained in six out of the eight asthmatic patients; overt asthma was seen in the other two. The helmet respirator would appear to be a valuable adjunct in the management of occupational asthma in those who opt to remain in exposure. Those asthmatics who use a helmet respirator need to be monitored carefully and regularly to ensure that their respiratory function has not deteriorated. Persons with severe local symptoms of rhinitis and conjunctivitis also benefit subjectively from the use of the helmet although symptoms are not completely suppressed nor may progression towards asthma be prevented. The findings may well be applicable to the management of other types of occupational asthma but any inferences should be drawn with caution.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Allergy to laboratory animals: a retrospective and a prospective study.

Twenty four volunteers who had been allergic to laboratory animals for some years were examined by means of a questionnaire paying particular attention to symptoms associated with rats and by serological and skin tests with extracts of rat urine (retrospective study). Nasal and eye symptoms were reported by 21 and 16 individuals respectively: 13 had asthma. Positive skin tests and high levels of specific IgE antibody to rat urine extract were found in 17 of the more severely affected individuals and this group included 12 of those with asthma. Latent periods of work with animals before symptoms appeared varied from 0.5 to 12 years. Also 148 individuals were studied during their first year of work with animals (prospective study). Symptoms developing during the year were reported by 15%, asthma by 2%. IgE antibody levels to rat urine were raised in 40% of affected and 6% of the unaffected individuals but there was no significant correlation between symptoms and either antibody levels or positive skin tests. Allergic symptoms developing during the first year of postemployment were, on the whole, much milder than those seen in the retrospective study. A tentative conclusion is that most individuals who become allergic to laboratory animals develop the condition in a mild form during their first year of employment but it appears probable that atopic individuals, although having an equal chance of developing allergy as compared with non-atopic individuals, may eventually progress to a more severe form of the disease.

Allergens↗