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Biomedical subjects

G Westphal

Publications and source records attributed to G Westphal.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Long-term effect of occupational dust exposure.

In 1950-1960, a cohort of dust-exposed workers and a cohort of multiple matched unexposed subjects was set up from the files of preventive medical checkups performed in 1,089 Viennese plants. Male workers with a history of long-term exposure to nonfibrous particulates in different industries (metal, ceramics, brick, glass, stone etc.) aged greater than or equal to 40, and male workers without dust exposure (matched for residency, start of observation, age, and smoking) were followed up to 1980 or death (48,960 person yr). By life table methods, dust-exposed workers compared to unexposed workers showed a reduced survival of age 60 (p less than 0.0001), due to lung cancer (123 exposed, 87 controls, p = 0.001), stomach cancer (48/27, p = 0.003), silicosis (40/0), emphysema, bronchitis and asthma (41/23, p = 0.007). No difference in mortality from cardiovascular diseases was observed (p greater than 0.50). We concluded that heavy and long term exposure to respirable particulates is related to increased lung cancer mortality after age 60. A comparison of 2,212 deaths among Austrian silicotics, with deaths in the corresponding population showed a relation between lung cancer and silicosis (p less than 0.001), fairly independent of age and time-period. The estimated relative lung cancer risk of Austrian silicotics in the period 1955-79 averaged 1.41 (95% confidence 1.21-1.64).

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1986

Epidemiology and risk calculation of hepatitis-B as an occupational disease in the Austrian health service.

The present investigation of occupation-related cases of hepatitis in the statistics of occupational diseases attempted to quantify the specific risk of this infectious disease for all occupations within the health service. The absolute number of occupation-related cases of hepatitis B increased fourfold over the last two decades, while at the same time the number of health service employees only doubled. In comparison with the Austrian population, the hepatitis risk is about 11 times higher for the health service employees. Especially laboratory personnel, doctors and support service personnel are exposed to these increased risks. The relative risks according to age, sex and type of occupation were also investigated and a comparison was made with the findings of other investigations in Austrian and international specialized literature. First information is also given about the findings of the screening on immunity against HBs-antigen, anti-HBs and anti-HBc in the professional group of health service employees. The calculations, and also experience in other countries, show the need for the introduction of an active protective immunization against hepatitis B for all health service employees. The prophylaxis against hepatitis that was begun in Austria on January 1st, 1983, is the first extensive vaccination programme against this liver disease, that on the basis of research done by a social security institute, has been implemented free of charge by this institute for a professional category.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Clinical aspects and course of Crohn disease].

The influence of clinically observable criteria on the course of disease was investigated in 150 patients, 72 men and 78 women, with morbus Crohn who could be followed for an average period of 6.6 years (8-348 months). In 29 patients (19%), the small intestine only was involved, in 31 patients (21%) the colon, and in 90 patients (60%) both the small intestine and colon. During the observation period 71 patients (47%) developed fistulae and 55 (37%) extra-intestinal manifestations. The patients were admitted to hospital on a total of 466 occasions (3.1 times per patient), and 199 operations (1.3 times per patient) were carried out. There were significantly more extra-intestinal manifestations in the colon cases (P less than 0.01) and of admissions and operations in the small intestine-colon cases (P less than 0.001), whereas patients with isolated involvement of the small intestine underwent significantly fewer operations (P less than 0.001). In addition, significant positive correlations existed between the appearance of fever and fistulae (P less than 0.001) and between the number of operations within the first 2 years and the number of subsequent operations (P less than 0.001).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Apolipoproteins and lipoproteins in children with type I diabetes: relation to glycosylated serum protein and HbA1.

Serum levels of cholesterol (C), triglycerides (TG), lipoprotein-C and apolipoproteins (apo) A-I, A-II and B were measured in 30 children with type I diabetes mellitus (16 boys, 14 girls, aged 11-14 years) and in 26 healthy controls (15 boys, 11 girls, aged 10-13 years). For 19 diabetics controls matched for age, sex and relative body weight were selected. The diabetic patients were considered to be in fair metabolic control according to HbA1 levels and glycosylated serum protein concentrations. Mean serum apo A-I, A-II and B, C, TG, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) did not differ significantly between diabetic nondiabetic children. Very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) was significantly higher in diabetic children than in controls. Serum C and LDL-C levels showed close univariate linear correlations with glycosylated serum protein (LDL-C: r = 0.53, p less than 0.01, C: r = 0.58, p less than 0.01) in diabetics. The ratio LDL/HDL-C was significantly correlated to HbA1 levels (r = 0.47, p less than 0.01). By canonical and multiple linear correlation analysis significant relations of a selected set of variables concerning the control and therapy of diabetes (serum glucose, HbA1, glycosylated serum protein, insulin dose) with a set of lipoprotein variables (C, TG, VLDL-C, HDL-C, LDL-C, apo A-I, A-II, B) could be demonstrated. From these data we conclude that significant relations between atherogenic serum lipids and lipoproteins (C, LDL-C) and the degree of metabolic control exist in diabetic children, even in the absence of marked dyslipoproteinemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Is tube feeding with elemental diets a primary therapy of Crohn's disease?

Tube feeding (TF) with elemental diets was used as primary therapy in 25 patients with an acute phase of Crohn's disease (CD). Feed was infused continuously via a nasoduodenal tube in a dosage of 2600-3200 kcal/day. The Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI), the serum levels of a1-antitrypsin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin were used as parameters for disease activity; the body weight and the serum levels of albumin, prealbumin and transferrin were parameters for the nutritional status. Disease activity could be reduced in the total group by TF shown by a reduction of CDAI from 269 +/- 72 to 174 +/- 103, a1-antitrypsin from 449 +/- 160 to 378 +/- 147 mg/dl, CRP from 6.12 +/- 5.6 to 3.23 +/- 5.4 mg/dl and haptoglobin from 414 +/- 167 to 344 +/- 152 mg/dl. Nutritional status was improved (body weight 83 +/- 12% to 87 +/- 10% ideal body weight, prealbumin 20.2 +/- 7.7 to 29.7 +/- 9.5 mg/dl, and transferrin 229 +/- 107 to 310 +/- 103 mg/dl). Albumin did not change significantly. In 15 patients the CDAI was reduced to levels below 150. These patients were characterized as responders. In ten patients a normalization of CDAI could not be achieved and therapy had to be changed. With a stepwise linear discriminant analysis it could be demonstrated that patients with colonic disease and fever do not react to TF, with a probability of 90%. We conclude that TF can be used as primary therapy for the acute phase of CD in patients with small bowel disease. In patients with colonic disease and fever it is not as effective.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1981

[Antimicrobial activity of selected quinoxalines (author's transl)].

After a survey of the literature on biological effects of quinoxalines experimental results of 2,3- and 2,3,6-substituted quinoxalines against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporon gypseum were demonstrated. The most active compound was 2-chlor-3-methyl-6-nitroquinoxaline. Its MIC values against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida albicans were determined with 54 and 223 micromol/l.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1978

[Determining the average posteruptive age of teeth from the results of cross-sectional studies (author's transl)].

If results of cross-sectional studies must be used as a basis for setting up models of development of caries in permanent teeth, then the average rather than individual posteruptive age of teeth has to be resorted to. Data available for this purpose had been obtained from a total of 54,000 children living in two G.D.R. cities, namely, Plauen and Karl-Marx-Stadt, as well as from two surveys made in 1959 and 1971, respectively. Calculation of the average posteruptive age of teeth assumes good knowledge of the distribution of dates of eruption in a population. Of the three types of distribution considered, namely, normal, lognormal, and log-logistic distribution, the log-logistic model proved to be superior to others because of better adaptation to the data available. The method of calculating the posteruptive age of teeth is described and illustrated by use of a number of examples. Since one of the two surveys (namely that which was made in Karl-Marx-Stadt in 1971) was made after twelve years' drinking water fluoridation, it was possible to study the effect of fluoridation upon the eruptive behavior of permanent teeth. The results of this study confirmed those obtained during previous investigations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

[The clinical value of radioimmunological oestradiol assays in the diagnosis of menstrual disorders. Evidence suggesting the presence of an ovarian "inhibin" (author's transl)].

The radioimmunoassay of oestradiol 17 beta (E2) from the blood without chromatography was evaluated in regard to the diagnosis of menstrual cycle disturbances. Two significantly different classes were distinguished, viz. 1. Women with higher E2 values, consisting of three groups: normal controls, cases of oligomenorrhoea, and WHO II (normogonadotropic, clomiphen-positive amenorrhoea). 2. Women with lower E2 values, consisting of two groups: WHO I (hypogonadotropic, clomiphen-negative amenorrhoea) and WHO III (hypergonadotropic amenorrhoea). Within these classes no significant differences were found between the groups. Only values below 43.1 pg/ml can be assigned with 95% certainty to the low-value class and only values above 108.8 pg/ml can be assigned with 95% certainty to the high-value class. The fact that 40% of all E2 values in hypergonadotropic, (i.e. ovarian) amenorrhoea fell within the range of the double standard deviation of the normal group and, likewise, the fact that physiological doses of oestrogen cannot reduce postmenopausal FSH to the level found in women of reproductive age suggest that E2 is not the only FSH-reducing factor, which leads us to postulate the existence of an ovarian "inhibin".

Adult↗