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Biomedical subjects

J Mazurek

Publications and source records attributed to J Mazurek.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Evaluation of hepatitis C surveillance in Poland in 1998.

The aim was to evaluate hepatitis C surveillance in Poland during 1998. Hepatitis C reports were obtained from epidemiology offices. Public health staff were interviewed to collect information on surveillance operations. To estimate the proportion of acute cases among the total reported, a study was conducted in the Warsaw district to validate case reports. A total of 1661 (97.2%) hepatitis C cases were studied. Hepatitis C surveillance was timely and acceptable to the user, but did not provide a number of information elements required to differentiate acute from chronic cases of infection. Of the 268 case reports available in the Warsaw district, only 15 (5.6%) met the acute hepatitis C case definition. It is concluded that hepatitis C surveillance in Poland cannot provide useful incidence estimates and information regarding risk factors for acute infection. A strict case definition and a modified case form with specific questions for HCV transmission routes should be applied.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

The cost of developing site-specific environmental regulations: evidence from EPA's project XL.

The flagship of the Environmental Protection Agency's regulatory reinvention initiative, Project XL has been touted as a regulatory blueprint for a site-specific, performance-based pollution-control system, but widespread complaints about the costs of the program beg the question of whether the costs of tailoring regulations to individual facilities are manageable. To address this question, this paper presents original survey data on a sample of 11 XL projects. We find that the fixed costs of putting in place XL agreements are substantial, averaging over $450,000 per firm. While stakeholder negotiations are widely cited as the principal source for these costs, we find that they actually arise mainly from interaction between participating facilities and the EPA. Moreover, EPA management problems are perceived by our survey respondents as having inflated project development costs. Finally, we find that the key factors that explains differences in costs across XL projects are the scope and complexity of the project proposal. These findings suggest that Project XL favors large firms that can afford to pay significant project development costs, that EPA management problems must be resolved to reduce costs, and that there may be a significant economic bias against complex and innovative proposals--precisely the type of proposals that Project XL was designed to foster in order to improve the efficiency of the regulatory system.

Commerce↗
PubMed2001

[The impact of the case of definition in public health surveillance. Assessment of the number of hepatitis C cases].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis C cases in Poland are notified based on symptoms of hepatic disease and anti-HCV and/or PCR for HCV RNA test results. The purpose of this study was to make an effort to define hepatitis C for public health surveillance and assessment of the number of acute hepatitis C cases reported from Warsaw Voivodeship during 1998. METHODS: The 1998 hepatitis C infection case reports were analyzed. Additional data were collected through medical charts and laboratory reports review. The definition for an acute case of hepatitis C included: positive anti-HCV or PCR for HCV RNA, symptoms of acute hepatic disease, negative IgM anti-HAV, and negative IgM anti-HBc or HBsAg. RESULTS: Of the 268 (99.3% of 270) available case reports, 15 (5.6%) were identified as acute cases of hepatitis C. CONCLUSION: Currently used hepatitis C case criteria do not allowed for a proper assessment of the burden of disease. It is necessary to create explicit definition of acute and chronic hepatitis C cases for public health surveillance.

Hepatitis C↗
PubMed2000

[The effect of 6 week treatment with theophylline on spirometric parameters, nonspecific bronchial reactivity and the concentration of soluble interleukin 2 receptor in serum of asthmatic patients].

This study allowed to investigate the effect of theophylline (Theo-Dur Astra) given 1 tablet á 200 mg per day in the evening for six weeks on histamine-induced airways responsiveness++ (PC20H), spirometric parameters and the concentration of soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) in serum. 21 patients with mild asthma (6 women, 15 men), average age 34.8 +/- 11.4 years were qualified for this study. PC20H was estimated according to Cockroft's method using pneumatic inhalator (Voyage-Secura Nova). Concentration of sIL-2R in serum was measured by Predicta Interleukin 2 Receptor Kit (Genzyme). Lung function test was measured by means of ABC PNEUMO (abc MED). Six week treatment with theophylline significantly increased PC20H in comparison with basal results (0.74 +/- 0.68 mg/ml before and 0.89 +/- 0.71 mg/ml after p < 0.04). The concentration of sIL-2R in serum did not change significantly during theophylline therapy. Treatment with theophylline significantly increased FEV1 (3.64 l/sec before and 3.84 l/sec after p < 0.001). The anti-inflammatory effect of theophilline is more clearly shown in the decrease of histamine-inducted airways responsiveness than in the decreased concentration of sIL-2R in serum.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Hospital acquired infections caused by hepatitis C virus].

The purpose of the paper was to present opinions endosed in the literature regarding risk factors, modes of transmission and sources of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in the hospital settings. Infections occurring among health care workers and patients, residual risks to the blood supply and blood transfusion, routes of hepatitis C transmission in haemodialysis centers were analyzed. In the paper significance of disinfection, sterilization, work practices designed to minimize or eliminate exposure, and use of personal protective equipment (universal precautions) wa showed. The importance of the invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in HCV transmission was stressed. Based on the presented findings, procedures to prevent nosocomial infections of HCV should be defined and implemented in all hospitals.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1998

[Treatment with salmeterol and quality of life in patients with asthma].

The aim of this study was to assess an influence of 4-week treatment with salmeterol on quality of life in asthmatic patients. It was a double blind, placebo controlled study. On the first visit spirometer parameters and PC20H were measured. Within one week of observation all patients recorded scores of asthma symptoms and after that time 22 patients were randomised to the treatment with salmeterol or placebo. On the fourth visit 4-week salmeterol or placebo therapy was finished and all parameters were carried out as on the first visit. Symptoms severity recorded in diary cards was reduced after 4-week of salmeterol therapy. Four week treatment with salmeterol did not change PC20H. Treatment with salmeterol reduced severity of asthma symptoms and use of short-acting beta 2-agonists. The reduction of asthma severity and the use of bronchodilators was more pronounced in the group of patients treated with salmeterol than in the placebo group, but the differences were not significant.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The Salmonella mutagenicity test: evaluation of 29 drug candidates.

The Salmonella mutagenicity test (Ames assay) is part of the routine screening battery applied to all new drugs at The Upjohn Company. The purpose of this paper is to report results for 29 compounds. These compounds are very diverse in chemical structure and represent classes of compounds selected because of known biological activity and other reasons. None of the compounds reported here produced an increase in revertant colonies in the Salmonella strains employed (TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537 and TA1538) and therefore the Salmonella mutagenicity results with these materials do not suggest potential for mutagenesis or carcinogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Bacterial mutagenicity and mammalian cell DNA damage by several substituted anilines.

Several substituted alkyl- and haloanilines were tested for their ability to mutate Salmonella typhimurium and to damage the DNA of mammalian (V79) cells. These results were correlated with their reported carcinogenicity. Of 9 suspected carcinogens, 4 were bacterial mutagens and 4 (out of 7 tested) damaged DNA of V79 cells. The following compounds were weakly mutagenic (less than 150 revertants/mumole): 4-fluoroaniline, 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5- and 3,4-dimethylaniline, and 2-methyl-4-fluoroaniline. The following compounds were strong mutagens: 2,4,5-trimethylaniline, 2-methyl-4-chloro-, and 2-methyl-4-bromo-, 4-methyl-2-chloro-, 4-methyl-2-bromo- and 2-ethyl-4-chloroaniline. The compounds which damaged DNA in V79 cells were: 2 methyl-4-chloroaniline, 2-methyl-4-bromoaniline, 2,4,5- and 2,4,6-trimethylaniline.

Aniline Compounds↗