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Biomedical subjects

P Wallner

Publications and source records attributed to P Wallner.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Subjective symptoms, sleeping problems, and cognitive performance in subjects living near mobile phone base stations.

BACKGROUND: The erection of mobile telephone base stations in inhabited areas has raised concerns about possible health effects caused by emitted microwaves. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of randomly selected inhabitants living in urban and rural areas for more than one year near to 10 selected base stations, 365 subjects were investigated. Several cognitive tests were performed, and wellbeing and sleep quality were assessed. Field strength of high-frequency electromagnetic fields (HF-EMF) was measured in the bedrooms of 336 households. RESULTS: Total HF-EMF and exposure related to mobile telecommunication were far below recommended levels (max. 4.1 mW/m2). Distance from antennae was 24-600 m in the rural area and 20-250 m in the urban area. Average power density was slightly higher in the rural area (0.05 mW/m2) than in the urban area (0.02 mW/m2). Despite the influence of confounding variables, including fear of adverse effects from exposure to HF-EMF from the base station, there was a significant relation of some symptoms to measured power density; this was highest for headaches. Perceptual speed increased, while accuracy decreased insignificantly with increasing exposure levels. There was no significant effect on sleep quality. CONCLUSION: Despite very low exposure to HF-EMF, effects on wellbeing and performance cannot be ruled out, as shown by recently obtained experimental results; however, mechanisms of action at these low levels are unknown.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Blood concentrations of polycyclic musks in healthy young adults.

Knowledge on the concentration of polycyclic musk fragrance compounds in human blood is sparse. This study examined the concentrations of six polycyclic musks in blood samples from healthy volunteers. Blood was taken from hundred healthy students of the Medical University of Vienna. The lipophilic fraction was extracted and after purification analyzed by GC-MS. Study participants also completed a questionnaire on the use of cosmetics, about nutrition and other life-style aspects. Two compounds -- galaxolide and tonalide -- were identified in higher percentages of the blood plasma samples. Maximum plasma levels over 100 ng/l were also only found for galaxolide (4100 ng/l) and tonalide (800 ng/l). Women showed significantly higher levels than men. In a statistical multivariate approach only use of body lotion and age were predictive of positive galaxolide concentrations. For tonalide no significant predictor could be found. The findings mirror the replacement of nitro musk fragrances by polycyclic musks, mainly galaxolide. The high concentrations of galaxolide in human blood raise concern since few toxicological data are available.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Workshop on partial breast irradiation: state of the art and the science, Bethesda, MD, December 8-10, 2002.

Breast conserving surgery followed by radiation therapy has been accepted as an alternative to mastectomy in the management of patients with early-stage breast cancer. Over the past decade there has been increasing interest in a variety of radiation techniques designed to treat only the portion of the breast deemed to be at high risk for local recurrence (partial-breast irradiation [PBI]) and to shorten the duration of treatment (accelerated partial-breast irradiation [APBI]). To consider issues regarding the equivalency of the various radiation therapy approaches and to address future needs for research, quality assurance, and training, the National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, Radiation Research Program, hosted a Workshop on PBI in December 2002. Although 5- to 7-year outcome data on patients treated with PBI and APBI are now becoming available, many issues remain unresolved, including clinical and pathologic selection criteria, radiation dose and fractionation and how they relate to the standard fractionation for whole breast irradiation, appropriate target volume, local control within the untreated ipsilateral breast tissue, and overall survival. This Workshop report defines the issues in relation to PBI and APBI, recommends parameters for consideration in clinical trials and for reporting of results, serves to enhance dialogue among the advocates of the various radiation techniques, and emphasizes the importance of education and training in regard to results of PBI and APBI as they become emerging clinical treatments.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2002

Moulds in housing: visual inspection and spore counts comparison--implications for future strategies in the public health setting.

OBJECTIVES: Among the problems of health related to living conditions presented to a public consulting centre for environmental medicine in Vienna, the main point at issue was damp housing and mould growth. On answering this demand indoor exposure to fungal spores was identified by visual semi-quantitative assessment of fungal growth on the one hand and quantitative measurement of viable spores on the other hand. The validity and practicability of this approach was investigated. METHOD: We applied these two simple methods in a standardised form and compared the results in a field study, which has been conducted between 1995 and 1999. In 197 rooms in Viennese flats (183 of which were claimed to be "mouldy") fungal spore concentrations were measured by RCS-impactor and Rose-Bengal-agar. Outdoor measurements were taken simultaneously outside the buildings and were used for reference. RESULTS: Independent classification of visible growth of mould in flats correlated significantly (r = 0.635; p < 0.0001) with the ratio of indoor/ outdoor concentration of fungal spores. CONCLUSIONS: It is usually possible to classify the severity of the problem just by local inspection. Visible plaques should always be an indication for sanitary measures. However, spore counting is indicated for quantifying health relevant exposures, for scientific comparisons and in documentation and follow up such as for litigation purposes. Quantitative data bear more credibility and so help to prove the need of sanitation.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2001

[Determinants of patient satisfaction with services of the Vienna environmental medicine counseling center].

Client satisfaction is a relevant aspect for assessing the efficiency of a Medical Advisory Board. The study presented here aimed at determining the factors that guarantee satisfaction. These findings are essential for the further development of the service of the Advisory Board of the City of Vienna for Environmental Medicine ("UMB"). To this end a brief anonymous questionnaire was sent to 245 clients. This comprised elements evaluating the degree of satisfaction with the consultant service of the Advisory Board, fulfillment rate of expectations, solutions offered for various problems, and whether--if necessary--the "UMB" Advisory Board would be consulted again. A satisfactory response rate of 43% was obtained. The results show a high degree of satisfaction among the clients with the consultations (= 78%) despite unresolved or only partly resolved problems (71%) and questions that remained open for discussion (38%). Approximately 90% of the clients would again consult "UMB" for advice. The reasons for consultation did not show any significant influence on the client satisfaction. However, satisfaction of clients depended on whether or not a solution was found in respect of their problem and on the action taken by "UMB" to solve it. Summarising the findings, the analyses show that apart from on-the-spot assessment and detailed inspection, comprehensive case histories and interviews are an important basis for further clarification of problems caused by environmental factors.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Toxicologically determined indoor air guidelines values].

At the Austrian Ministry for Environment (now: Federal Ministry for agriculture and forestry, environment and water management) a working group was established to propose indoor air guideline values. This consists of representatives of different disciplines, such as physicians, toxicologists, engineers and lawyers. Already in the constituent meeting it was decided to employ a set pattern for establishing toxicologically sound guideline values. It was then agreed to use the pattern proposed by the German ad-hoc-working team. The interdisciplinary discussions, however, demonstrated the need for additional clarification, since representatives of different disciplines obviously interpret the various terms and principles differently. In particular, there is a need for discussing in detail the relation between the guideline values for indoor air to other air quality standards (outdoor air and workplace) and to specify their scope and application, especially the need to describe in greater detail what should be done in case either guideline value I or II was exceeded.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed1995

[Some comments on public health service and city health planning].

This paper gives a short presentation on some of the difficulties a public health officer has to face concerning questions of town-planning. The focus is on giving an expert opinion on development plans. It may be said that the public health service and "health" often play minor roles in town planning. The article presents some suggestions for a change of this situation.

City Planning↗
PubMed1994

Protein EnvM is the NADH-dependent enoyl-ACP reductase (FabI) of Escherichia coli.

The EnvM protein was purified from an overproducing Escherichia coli strain. It showed NADH-dependent enoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductase activity using both crotonyl-ACP and crotonyl-CoA as substrates. The protein bound a radioactive diazaborine derivative in the presence of NAD+ and radioactive NAD+ in the presence of the drug. Based on these data, it is concluded that EnvM is the NADH-dependent enoyl-ACP reductase (EC 1.3.1.9) of E. coli and we propose to rename the corresponding gene fabI.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗
PubMed1994

[Long-term integrated radon measurement on a small scale in Vienna and communication with the population].

Long-term integrated radon measurements (alpha-track) were carried out in two housing blocks in Vienna diagonally across from each other. The arithmetic mean was 41 becquerels/cubic metre (= Bq/m3), concentrations ranging from 157 to 9 Bq/m3. The largest variation found within one block came up to a factor of 13, within one house to a factor of 8 and within one floor of one and the same house to a factor of 4. The measurements gave the opportunity to practice risk communication with the residents of the two housing blocks.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗
PubMed1992

[Health and urban renewal: experiences with the "Healthy Kreuzgassen Quarter--with reference to Vienna--healthy city].

In the context of the WHO-project "Vienna-Healthy City" problems concerning health promotion in an urban renewal district were examined. On that occasion planners and physicians practised intersectoral collaboration. Some of the results, especially the answers of the occupants of two blocks concerning health, environment and health promotion are presented and discussed.

Austria↗
PubMed1991

Spatial distribution of motor unit fibres in fast- and slow-twitch rat muscles with special reference to age.

The spatial arrangement and morphometrical properties of the muscle fibres within single motor units (motor unit fibres) were studied in fast-twitch units of the tibialis anterior (TA) and in slow-twitch units of the soleus, using a computer-assisted model. The motor unit fibres were identified by the glycogen-depletion technique and the position of each fibre was defined by (x, y)-coordinates. The distance between each fibre and the nearest motor unit fibre (nearest-neighbour distance), and the distance between each fibre and each of the other fibres in the unit (interfibre distance), was calculated and plotted. Comparisons were made between young adult (3-6 months) and old (20-25 months) rats. In old animals, the motor units of TA and the soleus were larger (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01), contained an increased number of muscle fibres (P less than 0.01) and covered a larger portion of the muscle cross-section (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.1). These changes indicate the presence of an age-related denervation-reinnervation process in both types of muscles. In the young adult group, the fast-twitch motor unit fibres of TA were non-randomly arranged (P less than 0.05-0.01) whereas the fibre arrangement within the slow-twitch motor units of the soleus was not significantly different from random. In old animals, the fibre arrangement was non-random in both fast- and slow-twitch motor units. In TA, the distribution of nearest-neighbour distances showed an increased (P less than 0.05) proportion of short distances in old age, whereas the distribution of interfibre distances was unchanged. In the soleus, the distribution of interfibre distances showed an age-related displacement to the left at short distances (P less than 0.05) and to the right at long distances (P less than 0.01), but the distribution of nearest-neighbour distances was not significantly altered. It is concluded that motor unit fibres are non-randomly arranged in the fast-twitch motor units studied and that a non-random rearrangement of motor unit fibres takes place in both fast- and slow-twitch units during the ageing process. This age-related rearrangement is secondary to a denervation-reinnervation process and it appears as if different types of reinnervation predominate in fast- and slow-twitch units.

Aging↗
PubMed1976

Image characteristics of liquid developed electron radiographs.

This paper presents electron radiograph studies using the new Xonics liquid development system described only briefly previously. Results indicate: (a) higher contrast images with reduced but useful edge enhancement; (b) adjustable contrast; (c) reduced exposure vs. aerosol development; (d) sharp, low artifact images to densities greater than 2.5; and (e) possibility of nongrid scatter control in some situations.

Electrons↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Therapy of cancers from the viewpoint of the Austrian population].

The aim of this study was to survey the level of knowledge of the Austrian population about cancer treatment and to explore the ratings of the respondents concerning the importance of different modalities of treatment. A representative sample of Austrians > or = 15 years of age (n = 2073) was interviewed. Out of the respondents 94% claim that they have heard or read about chemotherapy. With regard to surgery and radiotherapy, this is stated by 83% and 73%, respectively. Hormonal therapy, immunotherapy and complementary therapy are known by a much smaller percentage (34% and less), whereas 52% claim that they have heard about homeopathy as a form of cancer treatment. The self-assessment of knowledge shows that 64% of all respondents state to have some knowledge about chemotherapy (surgery: 45%, radiotherapy: 26%). Persons with limited formal education report to have a lower level of knowledge. Surgery is rated to be the most important regimen, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Respondents with some knowledge about a certain treatment give higher ratings concerning the importance of this modality. The survey shows that a high percentage of the Austrian population has heard or read about chemotherapy and claims to have some knowledge about it. Especially the latter is not found for other treatments. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are seen as the most important modalities of treatment. Individuals with a low level of education constitute an especially important target group for information about cancer treatment.

Adolescent↗