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Biomedical subjects

A Budak

Publications and source records attributed to A Budak.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Airway function and respiratory symptoms in sanitation workers.

The prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung-function changes was studied in a group of 81 municipal sanitation workers. In addition, the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function was studied in 65 control workers. There were significantly higher prevalences of all chronic respiratory symptoms among the sanitation workers than among the control workers. Sanitation workers (smokers and nonsmokers) 40 years of age or older had higher prevalences of all chronic respiratory symptoms than younger workers. In addition, sanitation workers (both smokers and nonsmokers) employed for 10 years or longer had significantly higher prevalences of chronic respiratory symptoms than control workers. There was also a high prevalence of acute symptoms, which developed among the sanitation workers during work shifts. Of these symptoms, prevalences were highest for dryness of the nose and throat, followed by throat and eye irritation. Lung-function testing demonstrated significantly diminished forced vital capacity (FVC) and 1-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) for the 81 sanitation workers compared with control values. These differences only become significant after 10 or more years of employment in the sanitation industry and were not entirely explained by smoking. These differences were smaller and not statistically significant for maximum flow rates at 50% and the last 25% of the vital capacity. Our data suggest that sanitation worker--particularly those with long periods of work exposure--may develop acute and/or chronic respiratory symptoms accompanied by decreases in lung function (primarily FVC and FEV1).

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of the general practice program of women education for breast self-examination.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the program of education of women for breast self-examination (BSE) in general practice. A random sample of 5% of women over 18 years of age, living in Dugave (a suburb in Novi Zagreb) were chosen for the study. The study covered 251 women of whom 122 (48.6%) presented for BSE training. Women were taught about BSE by the method which included the theoretical part, group discussion, practical training on silicon breast model, individual practice of BSE, and additional individual assessment of the acquired skill of BSE. Six months after the BSE training, out of 116 women presented for retesting, BSE was performed by 91 (78.4%) women: 75 (82.4%) performed BSE regularly once a month or in two months, while 60 (65.9%) women dedicated sufficient time to BSE. Assessment of BSE performance in our subjects showed palpation with the longer parts of fingers and palpation of the whole breast to be skills best mastered by the women. Palpation of the nipple area and palpation of the armpit were sections of BSE in which the women also achieved good results. It is surprising that breast inspection, easy as the procedure may seem, is the section of BSE in which the women did not achieve expected results. On the post-course assessment, as many as 15 (12.9%) women left out breast inspection, while 10 (8.6%) women performed breast inspection in a completely wrong way. Keeping self-records on BSE was by far the most poorly assessed part. Incomplete keeping of self-records on BSE findings is an important objection to BSE as a procedure which should contribute to the systematic continuous drive for early detection of breast cancer. The most important conditions for the education of women for BSE are the knowledge, ability and willingness of the GP and members of his team to provide health education to the population under their care. BSE is not the ultimate solution, but is a significant step in the continuous struggle against breast cancer. That is why it is essential that all women be informed about BSE and as many women as possible be covered by systematic education for BSE. Authors' results indicate that it is possible to implement the proposed model of continuous education of women for BSE within the scope of work of the GP's team.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Motivation for the choice of a general practitioner--attitudes of practitioners and patients.

The aim of this study was to find out if any significant changes occurred after introducing, the free choice of a general practitioner (GP) into primary health care. The determinants of patients' choice and GP's attitudes regarding this matter were tested. A survey was conducted in 1992 by distributing questionnaires to 71 GP's and 292 patients who chose these GPs. The questionnaires were composed selectively for GPs and patients, and they all answered them anonymously. The group of GPs consisted of 37 (52.1%) GPs with vocational training and of 31 (43.7%) GPs without vocational training. The patients evaluated the GPs' characteristics as very important in choosing a particular GP. Of medium importance were the surgery characteristics (where it was situated, work organization, equipment), and recommendations were the least important. Most frequently, the patients chose a particular GP because he was already the GP of one of the family members. The GPs assessed the family to be the most important determinant for a patient to choose a particular GP. Surgery characteristics (distance and work organization) were evaluated as being of medium importance. The recommendations of a friend were of medium importance, and the recommendations of medical staff were not important, according to the opinion of the surveyed GPs. The only occurrence detected in the survey was that of a "return" phenomenon, in which patients returned to their old GPs, which was a direct consequence of the implementation of the free choice principle into health care practice. The results of this study match the results of similar studies already published, and they are argumented theoretically.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Evaluation of mycologic and myco-serologic studies of materials derived from the respiratory tract of patients in the years 1986-1990].

The material for mycological studies consisted of 7146 samples of respiratory tract material derived from 7764 patients (6495 samples of sputum, 235 bronchial rinsings and 416 throat smears). Serological studies were performed with 684 samples of serum by application of indirect immunofluorescence (IF) and gel immunodiffusion (ID) tests. Candida- like fungi in amounts which were diagnostically significant (10(6) cells/ml) were found in 16.7% samples of sputum. among fungi isolated from sputum there were 14 species of Candida- like fungi, mainly C. albicans (76%) and 7 species of moulds (including A. fumigatus-0.7%). Fungi were isolated from bronchial washings in 23.4% of samples. Among the isolated strains, 12.6% of Candida albicans were resistant to 5-fluorocytosine and 14.1% were resistant to amphotericin B. Antibodies against C. albicans by application of both IF and ID were found in 2.2% samples of serum. Antibodies against A. fumigatus were present in 11.6% of samples.

Aspergillosis↗
PubMed1993

[Immunologic and respiratory reactions in workers exposed to organic aerosols].

The relationship of skin reactivity and IgE serum level to the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity in workers exposed to different organic aerosols and in control workers is presented. In general, the exposed workers had a higher prevalence of positive skin tests to occupational allergens than the controls, with the exception of soy-bean workers. The workers with positive skin tests to occupational allergens had a higher prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms although the differences did not always reach statistical significance. Among workers with positive skin reactions the prevalence of increased IgE serum level was significantly higher than among those with negative skin reactions. There were large mean relative acute across-shift reductions of ventilatory capacity in all groups of exposed workers, varying for FVC from 1.7 to 13.3%, for FEV1 from 0.4 to 21.9%, for FEF50 from 1.5 to 16.1% and for FEF25 from 0 to 24.9%. However, there was no correlation of acute and chronic lung function changes with skin reactivity or IgE serum level. Our data suggest that although exposure to organic aerosols may cause immunological reactions, it appears that such changes are not caused by allergic mechanisms. On the basis of positive skin reactivity or IgE serum level the workers who are prone to the development of chronic respiratory impairment cannot be predicted with certainty.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1992

[Monitoring of respiratory function in hemp-processing workers].

In a follow-up study the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and changes in ventilatory capacity were followed over a period of three years in 38 female and 28 male hemp workers in a textile industry. The prevalence of all respiratory symptoms was found to be increased. Significant acute reductions of ventilatory capacity were recorded during the work shift. The measured ventilatory capacity values were significantly decreased in comparison to predicted normal values. The mean annual decline of FVC (range: 0.014-0.065 L), FEV1 (range: 0.041-0.068 L), FEF50 (range: 0.020-0.220 L/s) and FEF25 (range: 0.030-0.140 L/s) was considerably greater than in healthy non-exposed subjects. The mean annual decline of all tests was considerably larger in workers with the symptoms of byssinosis than in those without such symptoms. Our data suggest that long-term exposure to hemp dust may cause the development of chronic respiratory symptoms and impairment of ventilatory capacity.

Cannabis↗
PubMed1992

[Immunologic reaction and ventilatory function in hemp-processing workers].

The relationship between immunological status and respiratory function was studied in 42 hemp workers and in 49 control workers. The highest prevalence of positive skin tests was recorded for a mixture of hemp and flax (64%), followed by flax (48%), hemp on a combining machine (41%), hemp on a carding machine (38%), hemp on spinning and weaving machines (33%), and hemp on a softening machine (20%). The prevalence of positive skin tests in control workers was smaller and varied from 21 to 5%. Increased IgE was found in 35.7% of the hemp workers and in 5.0% of the controls (P less than 0.05). Hemp workers with positive skin tests had a significantly higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms than those with negative skin tests. Acute ventilatory capacity reductions did not differ in respect to the immunological status. An extract of hemp dust caused a constriction of an isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle in vitro. Our data suggest that hemp dust as well as producing an immunological effect may exert an irritant effect on the respiratory system in exposed textile workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiology of Candida infection. I. Use of killer system for typing of Candida albicans strains.

A killer system was used for epidemiological differentiating of 350 Candida albicans strains isolated from human sources of different anatomical and geographical origin. By using 9 killer strains from genera: Hansenula, Pichia, Torulopsis, Saccharomyces it was possible to differentiate 87 killer types. Our findings showed differences in the occurrence of the types according to the origin of the strains. The killer system proves to be valid for the differentiation of strains within the Candida species for epidemiological purposes.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiology of Candida infection. II. Application of biochemical methods for typing of Candida albicans strains.

Biochemical profiles of 350 C. albicans isolates from five towns in Poland and from Freiburg in Germany were determined on the basis of nine biochemical tests of Odds and Abbott method. API 20 C AUX system and additionally a resistogram. The analysis of the strains according to Odds' and Abbotts's system showed that investigated strains can be typed into 9 profile codes of common biochemical patterns. There were some differences among the profiles according to their geographical origin and anatomical sources of the isolation. On the basis of the ability C. albicans strains to assimilate of carbon sources, 350 isolates were categorised into 13 separate auxotrophic profiles with the major one: 2,576,174 accounting for 81% of the total. The majority of the investigated isolates were susceptible to antifungal agents (83%). A disproportionate distribution of auxotrophic profiles limited the use of resistogram method and API 20 C AUX as systems for typing C. albicans strains. On the other hand, the method of Odds and Abbott provides valuable criteria for typing of C. albicans.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiology of Candida infection. III. A proposal for a new typing system for Candida albicans strains.

A proposal of a new typing system for C. albicans strains in this paper is presented. Our system was elaborated on the basis of computer analysis of the results received using various already existing methods (killer system, resistogram, API system and Odd's and Abbott's method) for typing of 350 C. albicans strains. The strains originated from various anatomical and geographical sources. For the new system we have chosen three characters: sensitivity to two killer strains (Pichia sp. STUMM 1035, Hansenula sp. STUMM 1034) and urea assimilation test. The computer-aided program, used as an analytical tool, permitted the selection of 8 types among the strains. The majority of tested isolates belonged to types 6 and 7. We observed differences in the distribution of types according to the geographical and anatomical origin of the strains. The criteria adopted in our system can be useful in typing of C. albicans for epidemiological studies.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1982

Antibacterial activities of Candida yeasts. Partial purification and characterization of the active substance of Candida guilliermondii.

The activity spectra of 25 Candida strains on strains of different species of bacteria were recorded. The active substance produced by Candida guilliermondii strain 848 was partially purified by cation exchange and chromatography gel filtration on Sephadex G-15. The substance is heat stable (80 degrees C, 10 min), not susceptible to treatment with proteases and most probably of a molecular weight smaller than 3500 Dalton. At a concentration of 50 A.U./ml it acts bacteriostatically on a Staphylococcus epidermidis strain (Fig. 1).

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗