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Biomedical subjects

F Gutzwiller

Publications and source records attributed to F Gutzwiller.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Safer sex behavior and alcohol consumption. Research Group of the Swiss HIV Prevention Study.

To test the hypothesis that safer sex procedures are less consistently observed by persons under the influence of alcohol, data from the Swiss human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Prevention Study (HIPS) were evaluated. HIPS is a large prospective cohort study involving 724 HIV-negative and mainly heterosexual subjects who entertain casual sexual contacts. Of the 724 participants, 36% reported that they had had sex while under the influence of alcohol. Of this group, 31% indicated that safer sex procedures were neglected owing to the influence of alcohol. No significant differences with regard to unprotected sexual intercourse were found between subjects who combine sex and alcohol and those who do not. The same was found to be true among subjects with different levels of general alcohol consumption. However, a significant correlation was found between the intensity of alcohol consumption (i.e., the quantity of alcohol intake per sitting) and the incidence of unprotected sexual intercourse. These findings show that the relationship between alcohol consumption and safer sex is complex; they also emphasize the need for preventive efforts to reinforce safer sexual behavior, for example through individual counseling of persons at risk for HIV-infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Why did Swiss citizens refuse to ban tobacco advertising?

A ban on tobacco advertising is one of the major tools to promote tobacco control. Swiss citizens recently refused to modify the Swiss Constitution to ban tobacco advertising. This case study shows how a strong alliance among the tobacco industry, the state, the media, and sports and cultural activities planners made it difficult for people to make an informed decision. The promoters of the ban were unable to provide counter-arguments to the mostly fallacious claims made by the opponents regarding the likely health and economic impact of this ban. A comparison to successful campaigns in Canada and New Zealand provides insight regarding factors missing in the Swiss campaign which might have been useful in obtaining support from Swiss citizens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Cholesterol: blood level and control by Swiss physicians].

The high coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality and the economic costs have led to intensive prevention efforts in Switzerland, where the management of multiple risk factors plays a prominent role. An important risk factor is hypercholesterolemia, one of the main causes in the development of human atherosclerosis. However, the eminence of this risk factor is not yet sufficiently established in the awareness of many physicians. Inappropriate public discussions of the problem have caused confusion among patients and physicians. Therefore, the purpose of the Cholesterin Informations Program of the Swiss Heart Foundation is to work out a far-reaching and objective information strategy for experts and the general population, based on scientific knowledge, as a contribution to promoting the health of the Swiss population.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Does insurance status have an effect on frequency of appendectomies?].

We investigated the influence of insurance status on the frequency of negative appendectomy. Over 5 years 820 patients underwent surgery with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Private and semi-private rated patients had statistically significantly more appendectomies without inflammation in the pathological specimen than ward patients (p < 0.04). This difference arose only from a statistically highly significant difference in patients aged over 40 years (p < 0.001); there was no difference between patients aged under 40 years. Possible reasons for this phenomenon are discussed. The most important finding from our data seems that financial reasons are not at all a major factor influencing the surgeon's decision for operation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Do antioxidants protect against myocardial infarct? Swiss contribution to the EURAMIC Study].

There is a growing interest in the function of antioxidants and free radicals and their roles in the development of arteriosclerosis. Oxidised LDL-cholesterol and polyunsaturated fatty acids may be involved in the development of arteriosclerotic lesions. The potential of antioxidant vitamins to prevent cardiovascular disease has been the subject of many studies. Up to now the results of different in vitro and in vivo studies remain controversial. For the first time, measurements of the concentrations of lipophilic antioxidants alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and beta-carotene (provitamin A) in fat-tissue have been used as an approach. This method is believed to provide an average of the antioxidant intake over a longer period of time and probably reflects steady-state levels rather than intake. A case-control study was conducted using first occurrence of myocardial infarction in men as disease endpoint. In the swiss part of EURAMIC, cases were recruited in collaboration with the hospitals of Zurich. Controls were chosen randomly from the population register of Zurich. Fifty-seven male cases and 74 male controls were enrolled in the protocol. The classical risk factors showed the expected pattern. Levels for beta-carotene were significantly lower in the patient group (0.36 microgram/g biopsy versus 0.52 microgram/g biopsy in controls, p < or = 0.02). In contrast, levels for alpha-tocopherol were similar in both groups (237.5 micrograms/g biopsy in patients and 233.4 micrograms/g biopsy in controls). The Swiss alpha-tocopherol levels were the highest of all participating centres. Analyses of the questionnaires showed significantly higher consumption of vitamin C supplements in the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1994

Surveillance of occupational illness through a national poison control center: an approach to reach small-scale enterprises?

A pilot study was performed in order to evaluate the usefulness of the Swiss Toxicological Information Center (STIC) in detecting cases of occupational illness. One hundred and fifty-two symptomatic occupational exposure cases were collected, comprising 3.2% of 4830 cases reported to the STIC between 1 April 1992 and 15 August 1992. In 114 cases a follow-up could be performed by a structured telephone interview. On the basis of these interview data it was estimated that 72% of the cases in small enterprises were reported to the STIC without additional notification to an occupational insurance fund. By contrast, only 28% of the occupational illness cases that occurred in companies employing more than 15 workers were not reported to an occupational insurance fund. This discrepancy could have resulted in part from the fact that occupational insurance in Switzerland is mandatory only for salaried employees, not for self-supporting persons. It is concluded that the monitoring of the occurrence of occupational illnesses in small-scale enterprises must be improved. Poison control centers could play a major role in this respect.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Jogging or walking--comparison of health effects.

The present study compared the different health effects of 6 months' endurance training at two exercise intensities. Seventy-five nonsmoking, sedentary men were randomly assigned to either a home-based, unsupervised exercise program of 4 x 30 min/wk jogging at an intensity of 75% VO2max (n = 28), or of 6 x 30 min/wk walking at an intensity of 50% VO2max (n = 28), or to an inactive control group (n = 19). Exercise adherence and injuries related to exercise training as well as changes in endurance capacity, body fat, and serum lipids were assessed. After 6 months, joggers and walkers showed a similar increase in VO2max as measured by a maximal bicycle ergometer test (2.9 +/- 4.1 ml/kg min, P < 0.01 and 2.5 +/- 5.7 ml/kg min, P < 0.5, respectively). There were no significant changes in blood lipids in either group, although results revealed a significant association between the amount of training (i.e., kilometers exercised) and the increase in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in joggers (Pearson's r = 0.42, P < 0.05). In walkers, a significant association between the amount of exercise and the decrease in sum of skinfolds and the waist-hip ratio was observed (Pearson's r = -0.48 and -0.45, P < 0.05 for both). The adherence rate was similar for both training groups with respect to the prescribed intervention goal with an average of 90 +/- 41 min/wk (joggers) and 121 +/- 72 min/wk (walkers) spent on endurance training.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1994

Monitoring of cardiovascular disease and risk factor trends: experiences from the WHO/MONICA project.

The WHO Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA) Project was initiated in the early 1980s with the main objective of assessing the extent to which trends in coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease are related to changes in known risk factors, daily living habits, health care, or major socioeconomic features in defined communities in different countries. In 1994 the WHO/MONICA Project will have completed its 10-year course. To develop a strategy of integrating cardiovascular disease indicators in an overall health indicator system, the problems and opportunities of cardiovascular disease monitoring have to be assessed now. In the industrialized world, cardiovascular diseases are still the most important cause of death. According to WHO estimations, chronic diseases in general will soon, as in the developing areas of the world, be the major health problem. As has been the case for a long time now in the field of cancer, the international community should consider whether, based on the experience of the WHO/MONICA Project, there should be a permanent institution charged with the worldwide monitoring of the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Short and longterm fluctuations of generational MS risk.

According to the hypothesis that childhood is an important age stage in view of MS predisposition, alterations of MS risk may be expected in respect of generational succession. Age-period-cohort-analysis in the appropriate statistical analysis model in this connection. After having shown considerable fluctuations of generational MS risk in the long term view we have tried to derive additional informations from corresponding short term fluctuations: descriptive informations as well as results in relation to the short term fluctuations of infectious diseases' mortality. While applying again age-period-cohort-analysis the results are questioned by the fact that the underlying cohort estimates represent 5-years-moving-averages. Computerized individual death records of the Swiss mortality statistics available since 1969 will enable us to check the recent results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Smoking and smoking weaning].

Stop-smoking counselling is a challenging task in primary health care, its efficacy being often underestimated by the physician. Health care physicians are not very inclined to advise their smoking patients to stop smoking and give specific counselling. This is in contradiction with the expectations of more than two thirds of the smoking patients, who expect their physicians to help them. The present article discusses the therapeutical methods for stop-smoking counselling in primary health care. In particular, the article illustrates the importance for this support (including the possibilities for nicotin substitution in the weaning stage).

Counseling↗
PubMed1993

[How well do condoms protect against HIV infection?].

A review of the literature shows that condoms offer good protection against HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. A series of in vitro experiments demonstrate that quality condoms made of latex are impermeable to HIV. In addition, more than 30 in vivo studies confirm that condoms are highly effective in preventing the transmission of HIV. Condom breakage or slippage is relatively uncommon (1-5%). Most condom failure probably results from incorrect or inconsistent usage. Failures may be minimized by increasing experience, choice of quality condoms and by strictly following instructions for use.

Condoms↗
PubMed1993

[Public health: an interdisciplinary challenge].

Presented as an opening lecture of the new postgraduate education programme of both the Technical and the Free University of Berlin, sponsored by the German Federal Minister of Research and Technology, this lecture recalls the foundation of the first School of Public Health (The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md., USA) by William Henry Welch, 75 years ago. Already in this early experience, several central topics of Public Health can be traced back: for instance the exact description of health problems of total population groups, the aetiological understanding of health problems as well as the transfer of knowledge in public health programmes. After a definition of the Public Health concept both in- and outside Germany, the article reviews three examples of core topics of Public Health. Drawing on results from the first report "Health of Zurich", applications of descriptive epidemiology for both priority finding in Public Health as well as aetiological research are illustrated. The second example, with data from a recent representative survey of adults swiss germans on the issue of discrimination against persons infected with HIV draws attention to the central importance of social sciences within Public Health. Finally, the third example discusses recent advances in health services research, including issues of health economics, an other important part of an interdisciplinary Public Health understanding.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Hip fracture mortality and morbidity in Switzerland and Japan: a cross-cultural comparison.

Based on national mortality data, the frequency of hip fractures in elderly people was compared between Switzerland and Japan. Age-adjusted annual incidence rates per 100,000 population estimated for Swiss persons over 60 years were around 150 and 200 in males and around 450 in females, while for the Japanese they were only 132 in males and 285 in females. Age-adjusted death rates from hip fracture for the Swiss over 60 were 20.0 in males and 28.9 in females, while for the Japanese they were only 1.6 in males and 2.7 in females. The inclination of the age-dependent slope in hip fracture mortality rates was substantially the same in both countries, but there was a "lag time" of approximately 10 years in Japan. Remarkably, the proportion of deaths due to falls among all accidental deaths was several times greater in both sexes for the Swiss than for the Japanese. This differential might be an important underlying reason for the observed difference between death rates of hip fracture in Switzerland and Japan. Other known behavioral risk factors for hip fracture such as diet, exercise, estrogen use etc. are unlikely to explain the observed difference in hip fracture mortality and morbidity between Switzerland and Japan. However, given the doubts on the reliability and thus comparability of the available data on mortality and morbidity, the present findings should be regarded as preliminary. In conclusion, we believe that the unexplained and large difference in the burden of hip fracture between Switzerland and Japan merits further studies, including new aetiological hypotheses.

Aged↗