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Biomedical subjects

M Neuberger

Publications and source records attributed to M Neuberger.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[How dangerous is passive smoking?].

Homes and workplaces are polluted by sidestream smoke which irritates eyes and airways and impairs lung functions longer than outdoor summer smog, is more mutagenic than particulates in a city with dense traffic and will cause more cancers in the population than all emissions of diesel, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), benzene, asbestos and heavy metals together which are measured at present outdoors in Austrian towns and industrial areas. Lethal effects of passive smoking by placenta have been proven for the fetus and also breathing of parent's tobacco smoke may threaten life of babies by interactions with viral infections. In about 50% of asthmatic children passive smoking aggravates symptoms and in 10% it is a major aggravating factor. Even in healthy children we found significant relations between passive smoking and lung function deficit. Even though these deficits are small at school age they could be early symptoms of chronic inflammatory changes in small airways and indicate risk for later COPD.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Cancer incidence and mortality in women occupationally exposed to chlorophenoxy herbicides, chlorophenols, and dioxins.

The association between exposure to chlorophenoxy herbicides contaminated with dioxins and occurrence of cancer has been studied mainly in male populations. In animal experiments, gender differences have been recorded in the cancer response to administered 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Mortality and cancer incidence in an international cohort of 701 women from an International Register of Workers occupationally exposed to chlorophenoxy herbicides, chlorophenols, and dioxins is examined. Cause-specific, national death rates and cancer incidence rates were used as referents. Cancer risk was not increased overall, with a standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 96 and 95 percent confidence interval (CI) of 64-137, based on 29 cases. Among workers exposed to those chlorophenoxy herbicides contaminated with TCDD, excess cancer incidence (for all sites) was observed (SIR = 222, CI = 102-422, 9 cases); this was highest in the first 10 years after exposure. No excess was observed for breast cancer, the most common cancer in this cohort. Results on cancer mortality were consistent with those on incidence.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed1992

Hearing loss from industrial noise, head injury and ear disease. A multivariate analysis on audiometric examinations of 110,647 workers.

From compulsory screening examinations of 260,917 noise-exposed workers standardized audiograms as well as medical and occupational histories of 110,647 workers were selected because of full-time exposure to well-defined noise greater than 85 dB (A) and analyzed by loglinear and multiple linear regression. The most important factors for prediction of pure-tone hearing loss at 4 kHz were found to be age, sex and noise immission level. For predicting speech impairment and handicap the history of ear disease, head injury and tinnitus were more important than noise immission level. Dose-response relationships are given to improve prevention and compensation of hearing loss from combined factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Impact noise and hearing. A study from audiometry screening in noisy occupational environments].

The hearing loss of 46,776 subjects exposed to hazardous impact or continuous noise was measured: 11% were exposed to impact noise (10.3% in men, 12.7% in women). Impact noise causes less hearing loss than continuous noise up to a noise emission level (NIL) of 115 dB(A). This result is still compatible with the concept of equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level (LA,eq) and seems to be caused by the protective effect of the stapedius muscle. However, at emission levels higher than 115 dB(A), not covered by ISO 1999 prognosis, impact noise becomes more detrimental. This could be the effect of mechanical damage to the organ of Corti, as observed in animal experiments at sound pressure levels exceeding 114 dB(A). A diminishing protective function of the stapedius muscle could explain the more serious hearing impairment after long exposure to impact noise compared with shorter exposures to an equal dose. Since the hearing loss caused by impact or continuous noise is clearly different in the highest NIL ranges, safety criteria for impact noise should be revised. The NIL defined by Burns and Robinson underestimates the effect of the exposure time for impact noise.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Blood levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in chemical workers after chloracne and in comparison groups.

Nine production workers with a history of chloracne from exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in 1971-1973 had a median level of 340 pg 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) per gram blood lipid (range 98-659 pg/g) in 1990. This was significantly higher than blood levels in 4 reference subjects without chloracne and no known exposure from the same plant (median 18, range 8-28 pg/g) and in 17 external referents (median 16, range less than 5-23 pg/g). We therefore consider chloracne to be a reliable indicator of heavy dioxin exposure in a cohort of herbicide production workers and will use its former presence in 159 cases as a substitute for exposure when investigating cancer morbidity and mortality in a multicenter cohort study.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1991

Risk factors for hearing loss at different frequencies in a population of 47,388 noise-exposed workers.

Weighted regression analysis was applied to determine the dependence of the hearing thresholds of 47,388 noise-exposed workers on age, sex, noise immission level, ear disease, head injury, tinnitus, hearing protector usage, and audiometric frequency in the range from 0.5 to 6 kHz. It could be shown that the hearing thresholds at any frequency are dominated by the age of the worker and that women, after equivalent exposure conditions, hear better than men. The relative effects of sex, noise immission level, ear diseases, tinnitus, and hearing protector usage are related to the audiometric frequency. Users of hearing protectors at the last audiometric investigation hear worse than nonusers. Hearing protector usage is strongly related with the hearing threshold in the low-frequency range. The noise immission level does not noticeably affect the hearing threshold below 3 kHz. The most important frequency of the noise immission level is as expected 4 kHz. For 4 kHz, it was shown that the variables age, noise immission level, tinnitus, head injuries, and ear diseases act in a good approximation additively on the pure-tone hearing threshold.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Developmental regulation of IgM secretion: the role of the carboxy-terminal cysteine.

B lymphocytes do not secrete IgM, and plasma cells only secrete IgM polymers. Here we show that both events are attributable to the tailpiece found at the carboxyl terminus of mus chains, and we specifically implicate Cys-575. Thus, if Cys-575 was mutated, IgM was secreted by B cells. Similarly, a mutant IgG containing a mus tailpiece became largely retained within the cell; secretion was restored upon mutation of the tailpiece cysteine. Removal of Cys-575 also allowed hypersecretion of monomeric IgM by plasmacytoma cells. Following further removal of Cmu1, heavy chains were secreted in the absence of light chains. Thus, in B and plasma cells, Cys-575 is involved both in the polymerization of IgM and in intracellular retention of unpolymerized intermediates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Lack of somatic mutation in a kappa light chain transgene.

Analysis of mice transgenic for immunoglobulin genes should allow definition of the cis-acting DNA sequences required to target somatic mutation to antibody V genes. We have looked for mutations in a chimeric kappa transgene encoding a V region specific for the hapten 2-phenyloxazolone (phOx) linked to a rat C kappa gene. Two independent lines of transgenic mice were hyperimmunized with phOx and splenic hybridomas established. In B cells that had been selected by antigen and which used mouse anti-phOx genes, the endogenous sequences were found to be mutated whereas the transgene remained unchanged. These results suggest either that (a) if the transgene is a "passenger" gene expressed at a low level, transgene mutation is a rare event, or that (b) sequences far from the kappa coding region are necessary to direct somatic mutation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Individual asbestos exposure: smoking and mortality--a cohort study in the asbestos cement industry.

A historical prospective cohort study comprised all persons employed from 1950 to 1981 for at least three years in the oldest asbestos cement factory in the world. From 2816 persons eligible for the study, record based estimates and measurements of dust and fibres and histories of smoking based on interviews were used to calculate individual exposures over time. After observation of 51,218 person-years and registration of 540 deaths, underlying causes of death for this cohort were compared with those for the regional population on the basis of death certificates. Deaths from lung cancer in asbestos cement workers were higher (standard mortality ratio (SMR) 1.7), but after adjustment for age and sex specific smoking habits this was not significant (SMR 1.04). The study had a probability of greater than 92% of detecting a smoking adjusted SMR of 1.5 or more. Using the best available evidence (including necropsy records) 52 deaths were assigned to lung cancer and five to mesothelioma. Life table analyses confirmed the predominant influence of smoking on lung cancer. Mesothelioma was associated with the use of crocidolite in pipe production. From present working conditions with much lower concentrations of chrysotile and no crocidolite no more occupational cancers are expected in the asbestos cement industry.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1990

Occupational dust exposure and cancer mortality--results of a prospective cohort study.

Over the period 1950-60, occupational and smoking histories were collected in the course of the preventive medical examinations of 247,064 workers in Vienna. Of these, 1630 male workers aged greater than or equal to 40 were selected because of their occupational exposure to silica and 'inert' dusts, and were matched for age, time at which observation was begun, and smoking with 1630 subjects from the same source but without such exposure. Follow-up of 99.8% of the members of these two cohorts resulted in 60,237 person-years of observation, while identification of the underlying cause of death for 98.8% of them (by autopsy in greater than 50%) up to the end of 1985 showed a significantly higher mortality from lung cancer in dust-exposed subjects (179 cases) as compared with those not so exposed (141 cases) and with the local population (standardized mortality ratio (SMR 169). This excess lung cancer mortality was found in all subgroups (SMR in foundries 164, other metal industries 133, ceramics and glass 237, stone and construction 294), consistent with the hypothesis that long-term heavy occupational exposure to silica and 'inert' dusts promotes lung cancer. The only other cancer site for which the number of cases was significantly greater in those exposed to dust was the stomach (SMR 166).

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Artificial mineral fibers and the risk of cancer].

The cancer risk can be reduced by replacing crocidolite and amosite by chrysotile asbestos, by replacing asbestos by man-made mineral fibres that produce less dust, and by nonfibrous materials. MMMF have been found to be carcinogenic in experiments in animals. All respirable mineral fibres that are retained in the lungs are suspected to increase the lung cancer risk, the fibre length and surface properties appearing to be the decisive factors. For most of these fibres, data so far collected in humans are still insufficient to permit definite conclusions to be drawn. There is a certain amount of evidence to suggest that rock/slag wool may be carcinogenic in humans: lung cancer in workers in the production area in the USA was found to be significantly increased (SMR 134%), and in the early phase of European production an SMR of 257% was observed. In the area of glass wool production, exposure to fibre and lung cancer rates were lower, but showed an increasing tendency with increasing time elapsed since the first exposure to respirable fibres. Methodological problems associated with published epidemiological studies are reviewed, and prevention strategies--which need to give consideration to the possibility that the carcinogenicity per fibre could be higher in the case of MMMF than in chrysotile asbestos--are discussed.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
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↗
PubMed1987

Provision of the immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer downstream of a test gene is sufficient to confer lymphoid-specific expression in transgenic mice.

To test whether the immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer is sufficient to direct lymphoid specific gene expression in vivo, we have incorporated into the mouse germ line a test gene (chloramphenicol-acetyl transferase) whose transcription is potentiated by the enhancer. Analysis of transgenic mice bearing single-copy integrations of the injected DNA indicates that provision of the enhancer downstream of the test gene (beyond the polyadenylation site) is sufficient to direct lymphoid-specific expression. The tissue specificity is considerable as judged by the fact that transgene expression is at least one thousandfold higher in spleen than in liver. Within the lymphoid family, expression of the transgene is much higher in surface IgM+ spleen cells than in thymocytes high in Thy-1 expression, suggesting that the enhancer preferentially directs expression to cells of the B lineage.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1985

[Pulmonary function tests in a population with endemic pleural plaques and environmental asbestos exposure].

The prevalence of pleural plaques in a sample of a community subjected to environmental asbestos exposure from natural deposits was 10%. Spirogram, flow-volume curves and pulmonary resistance of persons with plaques were not significantly different from controls. The larger, age-dependent decrease in lung function parameters in our sample as compared with various reference values may be explained by accelerated "aging" of the bronchial tree related to exposure to the noxious inhalant or by underrepresentation of the higher age groups in the reference studies.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

[Prevention of occupational cancer in the asbestos cement industry (preliminary report)].

In a cohort study on 324 asbestos cement workers an increased risk of lung cancer was observed in comparison to cement workers (O/E = 1.7, p less than 0.05). 10 out of 17 deaths from lung cancer occurred after age 65, stressing the need for screening after retirement. In a pilot study on 198 asbestos cement workers we tried to adjust the screening intensity to individual risk (esp. for respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases) by use of history (exposure, smoking, etc.) and results of earlier examination. We found relations between smoking and respiratory symptoms, smoking and parameters of flow-volume-curves, smoking and radiological signs of early pneumoconiosis. Possibilities for early detection and intervention are discussed.

Aged↗