Biomedical subjects

G Jendritzky

Publications and source records attributed to G Jendritzky.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Winter mortality in relation to climate.

We report further details of the Eurowinter survey of cold related mortalities and protective measures against cold in seven regions of Europe, and review these with other evidence on the relationship of winter mortality to climate. Data for the oldest subject group studied, aged 65-74, showed that in this vulnerable group, high levels of protection against indoor and outdoor cold at given outdoor temperatures were found mainly in countries with cold winters, and were associated with low levels of excess mortality at a given level of outdoor cold. Regions such as London that had poor protection against cold and/or high baseline mortalities had higher levels of winter excess mortality than expected for the coldness of their winters.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Atmospheric heat exchange of the human being, bioclimate assessments, mortality and thermal stress.

In epidemiological investigations of the impact of the atmospheric environment on mortality usually only air temperature, in addition to sometimes relative humidity, are used, although it is generally known that the heat exchange conditions of the human body also depend on water vapour pressure, wind velocity, and short- and long-wave radiation. The state-of-the-art approach to this problem is the application of complete heat budget models which allow thermophysiologically significant assessments of the above-mentioned meteorological variables taking metabolic rate and isolation of clothing into account. The application of such a model to 30-year mortality data of Baden-Württemberg (SW-Germany) shows, in winter, increasing daily mortality rate with decreasing "perceived temperature." (a term which relates temperature to a fixed standard condition). A sudden warming during a cold period also results in an increase in mortality, a certain contradiction which has not yet been able to be explained. During cold spells a marked increase in mortality with a delay of 3 days can be observed. Above normal values last for about 4 weeks and will then be partially compensated by an "undershot". Generally the explanation of variance in winter is distinctly lower than in summer, probably because in winter there is rarely direct exposure to outdoor conditions. The degree of cold stress is likely to serve only as an indicator for indoor conditions which promote infectious diseases.

Body Temperature Regulation↗

PubMed1993

The atmospheric environment--an introduction.

The atmosphere is part of the environment with which the human organism is permanently confronted. Epidemiological research investigates the occurrence of effects on morbidity and mortality due to heat, cold, air pollution and changes in the weather. Concentrating on aspects of the environment relevant for medical questions, three major complexes of effects can be discriminated: the complex conditions of heat exchange, the direct biological effects of solar radiation, and air pollution. Biometeorological knowledge can serve to assess the atmospheric environment, and can also be of help in the field of preventive planning, to conserve and develop the climate as a natural resource with regard to man's health, well-being and performance.

Atmosphere↗

PubMed1991

Selected questions of topical interest in human bioclimatology.

This paper deals with the different effects of climate, and the likely impact of climatic change, on the human being, his health and well-being. Those effects follow from consideration of the human energy budget and air pollution, including photooxidants and radiation, the latter especially in the UV-range. The development of tools to produce bioclimate maps, i.e. maps expressed in physiologically significant terms, in different scales up to the high resolution necessary for the microscale urban climate, will be discussed. The most important questions in bioclimate research and its application will be considered.

Air Pollution↗

PubMed1979

[The effect of weather on blood sugar fluctuations in insulin-dependent patients. Medical meteorological observations (author's transl)].

In agreement with the results of urinary sugar examinations obtained by other authors it was established that there are probable connections between biochemical parameters and climatic events and that the reaction of the blood sugar to meterological changes may be an index for the changing responses of the body to weather as a stress factor. Further investigations, especially on the temporal distribution of hypoglycemias should contribute to a clearer explanation of the undoubtedly important correlation which could be shown to be helpful in the optimal stabilization of diabetics.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1979

[The evaluation of the thermal environment of man (author's transl)].

Many problems in bioclimatology require an accurate knowledge of the variations of all meteorological parameters which influence the thermal environment of man (i.g. short- and long-wave radiation, air temperature, wind velocity and air humidity). In addition to that a method for determining this thermal environment by a biometeorological index has to consider thermophysiologically relevant factors so as activity level and thermal resistance of the clothing. By means of the comfort equation (Fanger, 1970) it is possible, for any activity level and clothing to calculate all combinations of meteorological parameters, which will create optimal thermal comfort. The parametrization of the fluxes of short- and long-wave radiation permits to applicate this equation to outdoor conditions (Jendritzky, Sönning and Swantes, 1977). Examples for calculating some given conditions (i.g. street in the city, cross-country kinesitherapy, special land-use areas within a city) are demonstrated.

Body Temperature↗

PubMed1976

[The effects of the weather on hemophilic hemarthrosis (author's transl)].

Hemophilic hemarthroses occur more frequently in spring and autumn. In the present study, possible weather situations are investigated which are characterized by a particular action on the increasing of hemorrhagic tendency. In 574 hemarthroses in 45 patients, the regional weather events were set in relation to the hemarthroses by means of a computer program. The following weather constellations significantly increase the tendency to bleed: Regional west weather conditions combined with longer lasting ascending procedures. The weather dynamics are dominated by the warm face of weak frontal zones with formation of a warm front. The biotropic weather elements demonstrated are also shown to be biotropic in other disease processes.

Germany, West↗

PubMed1976

[Industrial accidents and the weather (author's transl)].

Of the numerous factors which can be held responsible for the frequency of industrial accidents, the influence of the weather plays a certain role. Accidents occur more frequently during warm air advection with climatic instability (heat thunderstorms), they occur less frequently in north west weather conditions with cold air advection and particularly in east weather conditions. Germans and foreigners are similarly affected by the weather.

Accidents, Occupational↗