Biomedical subjects

U Maugeri

Publications and source records attributed to U Maugeri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1994

Ventilatory lung function level as a predictor of survival among the elderly.

During a population survey in 1986/1987 among community-dwelling elderly in Cracow, aged 65 yrs and over, measurements of ventilatory lung function were carried out on 698 males and 1,211 females. The main objective of the study was to assess the importance of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) as a predictor of survival experienced in this population group over a 6 year follow-up, in comparison with that of sociodemographic variables, smoking habit, chronic respiratory symptoms, hypertension, obesity and self-assessment of health. Statistical analysis of the relationship between mortality and chosen predictors has been performed with Cox proportional hazards statistical model. It was found that in addition to age, the FEV1 level was the most relevant and independent of age survival predictor among the elderly. In males, a reduction of FEV1 by 100 ml after allowing for age, showed a significantly higher risk of dying by 4%, (relative risk (RR) = 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.06), and in females by 5% (RR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.05-1.09). Male current or ex-smokers displayed a higher mortality risk due to reduction of FEV1 (RR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.01-1.09) compared to lifetime nonsmokers (RR = 1.04; 95% CI 1.00-1.07); the corresponding RR values in women were 1.12 (95% CI 1.02-1.23) and 1.04 (95% CI 1.00-1.08), respectively. However, the differences found between the smokers and nonsmokers were not significant in either gender group. Other potential predictors considered, such as education, chronic respiratory symptoms, hypertension, self-assessment of health, or obesity, appeared to have been irrelevant in the multivariate analysis.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1990

The analytic epidemiologic study on occupational factors and stomach cancer occurrence.

A multicenter hospital based case-control study involving 562 incident male gastric cancer caused under the age of 75 years and an equal number of age matched controls has been carried out. The study aimed at examining occupational factors in the development of stomach cancer after accounting for confounding variables such as dietary habits and alcohol consumption. The interviews with case and control series covered detailed questions on frequency of consumption of various dietary items and socio-demographic characteristics. The results of the study showed that manual workers in industry and farmers run the higher risk of stomach cancer compared with non-exposed clerical workers. Some job categories like painters, tanners and millers displayed the highest relative risk (RR: 3.4) and this higher risk could not be explained by differences in dietary habits or alcohol consumption. The results of the study are discussed against background of possible occupational hazards present in particular environmental settings.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1989

Erythrocytes parameters due to aging, smoking, alcohol consumption and occupational activity in a working population of petrochemical industry. The Pavia Study.

The main purpose of the study was to assess the red blood cell disorders in works employed in the petrochemical industry in the Lombardia region (ENI). In the analysis of the data the confounding factors such as age, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, nutritional status based on body mass index have also been taken into consideration. In total, material consisted of 1175 male workers in whom red blood cell examination of the peripheral fasting blood was carried out. The results of the study showed that clinical anemia has been found in 1.7% of subjects examined. The distribution of anemia cases was not related to job category or physical occupational activity, neither to age, smoking or alcohol consumption. However, the results of the study suggest that aging processes are associated with weakening of hemopoietic system which affect in a great extent hemoglobin production. The effect of smoking on hemopoietic system appeared to have different features from that attributed to aging. Smoking increased hemoglobin level and hematocrit significantly in comparison to nonsmokers, but had no effect on the number of erythrocytes. It was concluded that adaptation to carbon monoxide inhaled with cigarette smoke is reflected by an increased red cell mass and hemoglobin. Occupational factors measured by the type of job (manual vs nonmanual) appeared to have no harmful effect on the hemopoietic system, however, respondents who reported working physically in an intensive way, showed significantly lower mean corpuscular concentration hemoglobin level than those having a sedentary job or engaged in very small physical activity at work.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Coronary heart disease risk score and ECG abnormalities in apparently healthy workers from petrochemical industry. The Pavia Study.

The purpose of the study undertaken was to define the vulnerable fraction of the industrial population in northern Italy using the CHD risk score profile. In addition, ECG examinations were carried out in order to see whether there is a correlation between cardiovascular risk profile and the frequency of ECG abnormalities. The study covered in total 1443 male workers employed in various petrochemical plants. The calculation of the CHD risk score was based on age, relative weight, serum cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, smoking habit, physical activity at work and at home, and heredity factors. The study demonstrated that on an average 47.3% of male workers in the petrochemical industry have high or very high risk of cardiovascular disease and this draws the attention to the urgent need to develop the better and more effective primary preventive strategy against cardiovascular diseases, specially among manual workers. The study disclosed also that the persons with elevated risk score displayed more frequently ECG repolarization disorders.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

The short-term effects of an intervention programme on the modifications of plasma lipids in workers. The pilot study.

The purpose of the pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of a medical intervention program in the reduction of plasma lipids in a group of hyperlipemic persons. Two groups were compared in this study over a one year period. The groups consisted of a group of hyperlipemic persons with TG levels greater than 150 mg% and a second group with plasma lipids within normal limits. The plasma lipids concerned in this study were cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL-C. The group of hyperlipemic subjects received intense nutritional counselling while the normal subjects received only printed guidelines to normal healthy nutrition. The results of this study, confirm positive results obtained by other intervention programs. A substantial reduction in TG levels was observed in 37.7% of the hyperlipemic group while 14.1% of the normal group had considerable increases in their TG levels during this one year study period. The results of the serum lipid surveys proved the high interyear correlation for both HDL-C and TC, but a very much weak interyear correlation for TG.

Body Weight↗

PubMed1986

Effect of smoking on serum immunoglobulins and cellular blood constituents in healthy individuals.

The purpose of this paper was to study a possible link between smoking and systemic immunological abnormalities, which could have been eventually the common ground for chronic degenerative processes Blood samples were taken from 319 apparently healthy men from 19-45 years of age. Mean values of hemoglobin were slightly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers but the difference appeared to have been insignificant. In contrast, the erythrocyte counts in nonsmokers were significantly higher. Although all types of white cells were in larger numbers among smokers only neutrophilic granulocytes and lymphocytes were substantially higher than in the group of nonsmokers. In nonsmokers mean value of IgG and IgA were about 10% higher than in smokers. The same pattern was observed for serum globulin alpha 2. The clear dose-response relationship was observed for neutrophilic granulocytes, erythrocyte counts and IgG level.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Serum lipids and lipoproteins in relation to smoking among the apparently healthy workers: a preliminary survey. The Pavia Study.

This pilot study is concerned mainly with the interrelationships between serum lipids and lipoproteins, and personal variables like age, body mass index (BMI) and smoking habit. The analysis was limited to the male workers employed in the Lombardia region. The results of the study confirm the findings of the other investigators on the interaction between smoking and lipid metabolism. The effect of smoking on the cholesterol level appeared to have been the most pronounced and the clear strong relationship with the exposure was established. Also triglycerides concentration was related to the smoking exposure. The HDL lipoproteins were lower and LDL-VLDL higher in smokers than in nonsmokers, however, the association with the smoking exposure was insignificant. The findings showed that HDL-cholesterol level was inversely dependent on the plasma triglycerides both in nonsmokers and smokers. The paper discusses the implications of the research carried out on the interpretation of the HDL-cholesterol values as a eventual potential risk factor for the coronary heart disease.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1984

[Use of a biophysical model to verify various methods for limiting the time of work activity at risk in thermal stress].

The Authors measure the environmental microclimatic parameters (dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, globe temperature, natural wet bulb, air speed, vapor pressure) in twenty working sites. Starting from the values obtained, they calculate the safe exposure times for works under unfavourable thermal conditions by means of three different methods (time weighted average WBGT, allowable exposure time-AET, required sweat rate index). Finally they verify the results obtained by application of a biophisical model proper to calculate the response of rectal temperature to changes in metabolic rate and environmental conditions.

Body Temperature↗

PubMed1984

[Control of duration limits of work activity at risk in thermal stress by prediction of values for internal body temperature].

A biophysical model for studying the response of the rectal temperature to changes in metabolic rate and environmental conditions has been utilized to establish the safe exposure times for works at risk of thermal stress. The prediction of the rectal temperature allows to evaluate for how long the heat load due to metabolic rate is lasting after the work stopping in the period of recovery.

Body Temperature↗

PubMed1984

[Decrease in environmental pollution and changes in biological indicators in occupational exposure to lead].

The Authors examine the variations of the levels of PbB and EPP in 39 workers at known lead exposure and evaluate the capacity of these parameters to follow the measured decreases of the environmental pollution. They conclude that the variations of the mean PbB values are well related to environmental pollution and that the diagram on the probability paper of median values and their corresponding standard deviations allows to calculate the number of exposed workers with biological values above a fixed limit.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

[Microclimate and duration of work tolerance in hothouse for cultivation of tropical plants].

The AA. starting from the environmental values carried out in a greenhouse for tropical plants investigate the possibility of prevent the risk of thermal stress at standardized energetic expenditures by means of the measurement of a few microclimatic parameters; they elaborate also a nomogram proper to calculate the safe exposure times for works under unfavourable thermal conditions.

Climate↗

PubMed1973