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Biomedical subjects

R Kessel

Publications and source records attributed to R Kessel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Alterations in lung function due to mixtures of organic solvents used in floor laying.

To determine the short-term and long-term effects of organic solvents on the respiratory tract, 26 male floorlayers exposed to organic solvents were compared with 36 persons unexposed to such substances. The investigation primarily included a detailed history, determination of solvent concentration in the air inhaled by the workers, long-term ECG during the entire shift and lung-function test (vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, flow volume curve) as well as non-specific bronchial inhalation challenge using a 3% acetylcholine aerosol before and after the shift. The floorlayers were primarily subjected to inhalative exposure to adhesives containing mixtures of toluene, petroleum hydrocarbons, ethyl acetate, methanol and acetone or one of these substances alone. This frequently resulted in short-term value limit excesses, especially in the MAK value (standardised threshold concentration in Germany) for toluene, which is a prime component of neoprene glue. Of the 26 floorlayers, 6 complained of breathlessness and coughing, whereas 13 suffered from nasal discharge and blockage--symptoms closely related to work. The smokers in this group showed a decline in lung function during the shift--especially in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)--as compared with the non-smokers in this group and the persons in the control group. This probably due to the combination of noxious substances. A strong correlation between occupational age and changes in lung function was observed: the occupationally youngest workers demonstrated the highest decrease in values during the course of the shift. There was no evidence of either obstructive or restrictive respiratory disorders or of marked deviation from the European Community for Coal and Steel (ECCS) references.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adhesives↗
PubMed1989

(Mis)understanding Cleveland: foundational issues and the sexual abuse of children.

The Cleveland case led to the widespread condemnation of a new system for the diagnosis, initial treatment, and management of child sexual abuse. The Butler-Sloss Report identifies what went wrong as resulting from poor organisational links among agencies and poor interpersonal skills among professionals. Without denying that these faults occurred, this paper claims that what happened in Cleveland did so primarily because those making policy ignored two foundational issues inherent in the problem of child abuse: the status of the child in society and hence the State's justification in intervening on her behalf, and the status of abuse and the abuser and the consequences of their medicalisation. Analysis of these foundational issues suggests what additional steps will need to be taken if we are to deal effectively with sexually abused children and their families.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Changes in lung function after working with the shotcrete lining method under compressed air conditions.

Shotcrete techniques under compressed air are increasingly applied in the construction of tunnels. Up to now little is known about the influence of shotcrete dusts on the function of the lung. The lung function of 30 miners working with shotcrete under compressed air (before and after one shift) was measured. They carried personal air samplers to assess the total dust exposure. Long term effects were studied on a second group of 29 individuals exposed to shotcrete dusts and compressed air for two years. A significant increase of airway resistance and a significant decrease of some flow-volume parameters were found after one workshift. These changes partially correlate close to the dust exposure. After two years exposure a significant decrease of mean expiratory flow (MEF)50 and MEF25 was found. These results point to damage in the small airways and emphasise the major role of the lung function test--including the flow-volume manoeuvre for the medical examination of the workers. Additionally, they should carry filter masks.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[The cadmium content of human tissues from biopsies].

The level of cadmium (cd) concentration was determined in organs of 130 men and women. This study was conducted on living human beings who, in their occupation, haven't had extraordinary cd-exposure. Samples of tissues taken during operation were evaluated as well as urine samples (24 hours specimen), blood, an extended patient history including occupation and the postoperative diagnosis. The average cd-concentration was means = 27.3 +/- 29.7 micrograms/g wet weight in kidney cortex, 9.3 +/- 11.7 micrograms/g in kidney medulla, 1.1 +/- 0.5 micrograms/g in liver, 2.9 +/- 2.5 micrograms/l in blood and 2.6 +/- 2.9 micrograms/l in urine. Concentrations in 7 other tissues were measured. The critical cd-level for liver and kidney was not reached in any case. Cd-concentration is related to age and cigarette smoking, not to the sex of the person. It is quite impossible to make a precise estimation on the kidney load from blood or urine level of an individual patient. Differences in cd-load between patients with cancer and those without are discussed. A synopsis of international studies shows that results achieved through various methods, radiological cd-measurement, autopsies and our biopsies were comparatively the same.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Stroke volume and cardiac output equivalents under orthostatic load in young and elderly volunteers (author's transl)].

With advancing age, orthostatic disturbances of regulation become clinically more relevant. They are observed in about 25% of persons older than 65 years, independent of their initial blood pressure. The stroke volume equivalents obtained by means of impedance cardiography enable the physician to differentiate between the behaviour during the early regulation phase and that during the phase of late regulation. The following conclusions can be drawn from the findings in 38 young volunteers (average age: 22 years) and 39 elderly volunteers (average age: 76 years): In elderly volunteers with normal late regulation, the stroke volume drops immediately by 16.1 ml and attains a maximum drop by 19.5 ml after ten minutes. Elderly volunteers with pathologic late regulation show a distinctly higher decrease in stroke volume by 38 to 42 ml below the initial level. With younger volunteers with normal late regulation, the stroke volume drops after positional change by 43 ml and attains an average minimum value of 55 ml after ten minutes. With the younger volunteers with pathologic late regulation, there is an average drop by 52.7 to max. 72.7 ml below the initial level. Assessment of the immediate regulation shows 2 different types of behaviour of orthostatic immediate regulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Haemodynamic effects of amezinium in man.

After single i.v. (5 and 10 mg) and p.o. (10, 20 and 40 mg) administrations, 4-amino-6-methyoxy-1-phenyl-pyridazinium methyl sulfate (ameziniummetilsulfate, LU 1631, Regulton), in the following briefly called amezinium, a new antihypotensive agent, was studied by non-invasive methods for its cardiovascular action in comparison with norfenefrine (10 mg i.m. and 40 mg p.o.) and dihydroergotamine (1 mg i.m. and 4 mg p.o.) in a group of 33 volunteers. The action pattern of 10 mg amezinium i.v. consisted of a significant rise in arterial blood pressure (systolic 23%, diastolic 14%) with an increase in pulse pressure (38%) and a reflex fall in heart rate (9%). The total peripheral resistance was increased by 29%, with a moderate reduction of cardiac output (5%; n.s.) and an increase of the stroke volume (6%; n.s.). A clear positive inotropic effect was discernible by the significant reduction of heart rate, corrected preejection period (delta PEP; 13 ms), left ventricular ejection time (delta LVET; 8 ms; n.s.) and a decrease of the ratio PEP/LVET (-0.028). This pattern of action points to stimulation of vascular alpha- as well as cardiac beta 1-adrenoceptors and is in accordance with the findings from animal experiments as amezinium acts via endogenous noradrenaline. The reference substance norfenefrine exhibited purely alpha-sympathomimetic action, whereas dihydroergotamine presumably exerted venoconstrictive and central sympatholytic effects. The effects of amezinium after p.o. administration on the circulation were similar to those after i.v. administration, whereas the reference substances did not reveal any definite pharmacodynamic action when given p.o. Single administrations of the various p.o. doses of amezinium gave rise to a dose-dependent increase of the systolic blood pressure, persisting over the 180 min of the investigation period. From the dose-response relationships after parenteral and oral administration a relative enteral efficacy of 50-80% was established, which corresponds well with bioavailability data. The results show amezinium to have potent, long-lasting blood pressure increasing and positive inotropic actions in man after oral as well as parenteral administration.

2-Hydroxyphenethylamine↗
PubMed1981

Cardiovascular effects of amezinium in humans during passive upright tilt in comparison with norfenefrine and dihydroergotamine.

20 min after single i.v. administration of 10 mg 4-amino-6-methoxy-1-phenyl-pyridazinium methyl sulfate (ameziniummetilsulfate, LU 1631, Regulton), in the following briefly called amezinium, a new antihypotensive agent, was studied in comparison with 10 mg norfenefrine i.m. and 1 mg dihydroergotamine i.m. during orthostatic stress on a tilt table in a total group of 29 healthy volunteers with stable cardiovascular conditions. The study of each substance was preceded by a control tilting test. After amezinium a higher systolic blood pressure of 10 to 15 mmHg in comparison with the control test was maintained during 5 min upright tilt with both a smaller increase in the rise of heart rate and decrease in stroke volume. In comparison with control, pulse pressure was also clearly increased whereas cardiac output and total peripheral resistance were not significantly different. The increase in stroke volume in comparison with control was a result of the positive inotropic effect on the one hand, which could be seen in both a diminished prolongation of the preejection period and increase in the PEP/LVET ratio, and an increased venous return to the heart on the other hand. Systolic blood pressure and heart rate after norfenefrine were principally similar to those after amezinium, whereas the effect on stroke volume was of minor magnitude because of the absence of a positive inotropic action. Moreover, cardiac output decreased more with higher total peripheral resistance in comparison to control. Besides a slight reduction in heart rate, dihydroergotamine did not reveal any significant differences from control during orthostatic stress. At the dose studied, amezinium seemed to produce a better adaptation to passive upright tilt than the reference substances.

2-Hydroxyphenethylamine↗
PubMed1980

[Mercury concentrations in the air, in the blood and urine of dentists in dental clinics and free practice].

The concentration of mercury in the air was measured for 12 assistants and students, 27 dentists, and 42 dental assistants. The total concentration of mercury in the blood and the urine was also determined and compared with a control group. The results were as follows: 1. The highest concentration of mercury in the air (3--12 microgram Hg/m3) appeared only briefly. 2. The mercury concentration in the spontaneous urine of the dentists and dental assistants (6 microgram/l) was only slightly higher than that for the nonexposed control group (4 microgram/l). 3. The mercury concentration in the whole blood of the students (22 microgram/l) was the highest; that of the dentists and dental assistants (with several years exposure to mercury vapor, 7.0 and/or 6.5 microgram/l) was only slightly higher than that of the nonexposed control group (5 microgram Hg/l).

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1979

[High levels of CK and its isoenzymes produced by a thymus carcinoma (author's transl)].

A 63 years old female is described suffering from thymus carcinoma with increased levels of CK and CK-MB enzymes. The separation of the total CK enzymes into the isoenzymes CK-MM, CK-BB, and CK-MB showed a marked difference between the photometric and the immunological method. This discrepancy can be explained by postulating a molecule specific for thymus carcinoma, probably a new CK isoenzyme. The relevance of using the photometric method in cardiologic routine diagnostic is pointed out.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1976

[Stress and electrocardiogram. Telemetric investigations during a stunt flight program (author's transl)].

The excitation process in the electrocardiogram was telemetrically transmitted and recorded during psychic stress of 25 subjects aged between 17 and 56 years with healthy cardiovascular systems, during a standardized stunt flight program. The pulse rate profile showed a clearly marked sinus arrhythmia in the prestart phase and during the flight figures in which no acceleration force is in action, but essentially psychic stress alone. Corresponding to this sinus arrhythmia are distinct changes in amplitude of the P and T waves and the duration of the PQ interval, comparable to a changing sympathetic or vagus ECG. The behavior of the ST segment corresponds to that of ergometric stress, a horizontal or descending lower course was also observed in the younger subjects. In one case a 2:1 parasystole was observed during the change-over phase from higher to lower heart rates.

Adolescent↗