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Biomedical subjects

Friedrich Hofmann

Publications and source records attributed to Friedrich Hofmann.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Glove perforation in outpatient dermatologic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Intact surgical gloves ensure protection of health-care employees and health-care recipients. Nevertheless, glove perforation is very common and puncture rates above 50% have been published in the literature. OBJECTIVE: It was our aim to evaluate the perforation rate of surgical gloves in outpatient dermatologic surgery. METHODS: Six-hundred and sixty latex surgical gloves used in outpatient dermatologic surgery were evaluated for perforations using the approved water-leak method. Perforations were analyzed microscopically. RESULTS: Twenty of the 660 gloves were found to have perforations, which corresponds to a perforation rate of 3.0%. Only 5 of these perforations (25%) were noticed by the wearer. Perforations were more numerous in nondominant-handed gloves. Microscopically, all perforations could be identified as needle stick injuries. CONCLUSION: The risk of glove perforation in outpatient dermatologic surgery is lower than in many other medical specialties. The relatively high number of surgical procedures performed successively in outpatient dermatologic surgery, however, emphasizes the decisive relevance of an intact barrier between surgeon and patient. In view of the major fact that most perforations go unnoticed by the wearer, dermatologic surgeons must balance the improved safety of double gloving with costs and the loss of sensitivity and dexterity.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2004

Simultaneous vaccination against hepatitis A and B: results of an open, randomized study from the occupational health point of view.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the immunogenicity of a combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine compared to the effect of the administration of two monovalent hepatitis A and B vaccines by quantitative measurements of the anti-HBs antibody levels at month 2 of the vaccination course. Secondary objectives were to assess immunogenicity of the vaccines investigated at other time points in the vaccination course (months 1, 6 and 7), including the comparison of quantitative measurements results as well as to evaluate seroconversion and seroprotection rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as open, controlled, randomized, monocentric study with two parallel groups. A total of 304 subjects, aged 18-45 years, were enrolled in the study. Group 1 received a combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine, group 2 was vaccinated concomitantly with a monovalent hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine. Seroprotection against hepatitis B was defined as anti-HBs antibody concentration > or =10 IU/l, and longterm seroprotection as > or =100 IU/l. RESULTS: In all, 288 subjects completed the study. One month after the second vaccine dose, the percentage of subjects with anti-HBs antibody concentrations > or =100 IU/l as well as the seroconversion rate were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. Similarly, anti-HBs GMC was higher after combined vaccination one month after the third vaccine dose (1.684 IU/l vs. 528 IU/l; p < 0,0001). After the vaccination course, all individuals were anti-HAV positive. The overall incidence of symptoms (solicited/unsolicited, local/general) tended to be similar in each of the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: If health care personnel are exposed to hepatitis A and B virus, the combined vaccination should be preferred to the concomitant one, as this vaccination scheme induced earlier seroprotection against hepatitis B virus infection (> or =10 IU/l and > or =100 IU/l).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Continuity between waking activities and dream activities.

Empirical studies largely support the continuity hypothesis of dreaming. Despite of previous research efforts, the exact formulation of the continuity hypothesis remains vague. The present paper focuses on two aspects: (1) the differential incorporation rate of different waking-life activities and (2) the magnitude of which interindividual differences in waking-life activities are reflected in corresponding differences in dream content. Using a correlational design, a positive, non-zero correlation coefficient will support the continuity hypothesis. Although many researchers stress the importance of emotional involvement on the incorporation rate of waking-life experiences into dreams, formulated the hypothesis that highly focused cognitive processes such as reading, writing, etc. are rarely found in dreams due to the cholinergic activation of the brain during dreaming. The present findings based on dream diaries and the exact measurement of waking activities replicated two recent questionnaire studies. These findings indicate that it will be necessary to specify the continuity hypothesis more fully and include factors (e.g., type of waking-life experience, emotional involvement) which modulate the incorporation rate of waking-life experiences into dreams. Whether the cholinergic state of the brain during REM sleep or other alterations of brain physiology (e.g., down-regulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) are the underlying factors of the rare occurrence of highly focused cognitive processes in dreaming remains an open question. Although continuity between waking life and dreaming has been demonstrated, i.e., interindividual differences in the amount of time spent with specific waking-life activities are reflected in dream content, methodological issues (averaging over a two-week period, small number of dreams) have limited the capacity for detecting substantial relationships in all areas. Nevertheless, it might be concluded that the continuity hypothesis in its present general form is not valid and should be elaborated and tested in a more specific way.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Low back pain and lumbago-sciatica in nurses and a reference group of clerks: results of a comparative prevalence study in Germany.

OBJECTIVES: To gain more conclusive evidence on the question of work-related low-back disorders in German nurses, a comprehensive study with several methodological approaches was performed. METHODS: As part of this project, a cross-sectional study on working conditions and prevalence of low back pain, a sample of 3,332 nurses and 1,720 clerks as reference group was investigated by a questionnaire. In this article, final results referring to a sub-sample of 2,207 nurses and 1,177 clerks who had always worked in their profession, so that we could exclude confounding effects of former occupations, will be presented. Excluding the confounding effects of several covariates by logistic regression, we computed relative risks for different pain symptoms. RESULTS: The data suggest a considerably higher risk of low back pain for nurses than for the reference population of clerks. Results, however, differ markedly when specific pain symptoms are considered. With respect to lumbago-sciatica and sciatica - which have to be regarded as indicators for possible disc herniation - the study group's relative risk is the most elevated (2.88 for point prevalence of lumbago-sciatica/sciatica). Adjusting the results for several confounders and covariates leads to still higher estimations of nurses' relative risk.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Environmentally and occupationally acquired diseases in adolescents and adulthood: control of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and poliomyelitis through regular booster vaccinations--a European perspective.

Despite the success of childhood vaccination in industrialized countries, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), and poliomyelitis (polio) still affect adults and adolescents whose immunity has waned. The resurgence in the 1990s of diphtheria in the area of the former Soviet Union and its subsequent control with immunization campaigns, demonstrates the value of continued adult vaccination. Tetanus cannot be eradicated from the soil reservoir, necessitating routine primary vaccination and regular booster doses to maintain protective immunity. Although Europe has been certified endogenous polio-free since June 2002, polio imported from endemic areas continues to pose a serious threat for vulnerable populations. Booster polio vaccination is required in adolescence and adulthood. Pertussis among adults and adolescents is underestimated, representing a considerable health burden. The consequences can be more serious as this pool of susceptible adolescents and adults is a major source of pertussis transmission to newborns not yet protected by vaccination. The now available acellular pertussis-based combination vaccine covering diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and pertussis, suitable for adults and adolescents, provides the ideal tool for implementing booster immunization programs. Strong recommendations for adolescent and adult boosters are needed to overcome the continued threat of these diseases.

Adolescent↗