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Biomedical subjects

J V Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to J V Johnson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Introduction: the need for new directions in research on work organization and health.

The articles in this issue of the Journal conclude the Special Section on work organization and health, dedicated to the late Bertil Gardell. We review here the earlier articles, which have addressed issues such as: the social epidemiology and psychobiology of work and health, psychosocial prevention and work reform, international developments in health policy, and multidisciplinary theoretical developments. The articles in this issue urge an expansion and redirection of research effort in this field into two new areas. The first article examines the relationship between gender, control, and work stress. It is proposed that because the vast majority of studies have previously been performed on males, there is a growing need to examine the work organization conditions of females. The second article discusses the need for a further expansion of knowledge concerning the underlying pathobiological mechanisms that link work stress exposure to chronic illness, and presents a biologically based model of the impact of exposure to low work control conditions on neuroendocrine response patterns. Finally, concluding comments concerning the Special Section are made.

Employment↗

Theoretical developments in psychosocial work environment research.

This article introduces the fourth series of articles in the Special Section on work organization and health. The authors identify the theory of scientific management as one of the major obstacles to workplace democratization efforts. The application of this theory has led to the centralization of workplace knowledge and skill under managerial control. The articles in this issue criticize this conventional theory of job design and suggest new theoretical directions from psychological, sociological, and political-economic perspectives.

Health↗

Structural barriers to change in the workplace.

This article introduces the second series of articles in the Special Section on work organization and health. Empirical research has indicated that increased control--at both an individual and collective level--is a fundamental component of preventive psychosocial interventions aimed at ameliorating the impact of occupational stress-related disorders. However, practical intervention activities oriented toward enhancing levels of worker control have met structural obstacles at the level of the state, the occupational sector, and the workplace. The articles in this issue address these obstacles and suggest strategies for overcoming them from historical sociological, occupational health policy, and action research orientations.

Humans↗

Collective control: strategies for survival in the workplace.

The topic of this article is the mechanism by which groups of workers either formally or informally participate in shaping the nature of their work experience. It is proposed that control over the work process is strongly influenced by the character of workplace social groups. This influence process, collective control, determines the possibilities for collective coping with the chronic demands and pressures of various production systems. Collective control is an active strategy, encompassing aspects of social support and social solidarity. It has its greatest health-related effect in occupational situations where the capacity for individual goal attainment is restricted. Empirical data and case study material are presented to illustrate the mechanisms and health-related effects of collectivity.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Combined effects of job strain and social isolation on cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in a random sample of the Swedish male working population.

This study examined the impact of psychosocial work organization on cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and the nine-year cumulative mortality incidence for a random sample of the male Swedish working population (N = 7219). A multiplicative measure was constructed to model the combined effects of psychological job demands, work-related social support and work control. Highly strained and isolated workers had a higher age-adjusted prevalence ratio for CVD morbidity and a higher age-adjusted risk ratio for CVD mortality when compared with those working under less strained and more collective conditions. Blue-collar workers showed the greatest risk for both morbidity and mortality when groups with highly isolated and strained conditions were compared to those in more collective and less strained conditions. Strained and isolated workers also had a substantially higher probability of developing and dying of CVD at a younger age than did those in less adverse environments.

Adult↗

Effect of intrathecal proctolin administration on the behaviour evoked by the thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) analogue (RX 77368) and the indoleamine, TRH, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide levels and choline acetyltransferase activity in the rat spinal cord.

The behavioral effects and the biochemical changes produced following either a single or repeated intrathecal injection respectively, of the insect peptide proctolin (Arg-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Thr-OH) have been compared with the effects of a stable analogue of thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) in rats. Intrathecal proctolin (1-100 micrograms) did not produce any marked behavioural effects on its own, while intrathecal TRH analogue (RX 77368, 0.5 microgram) administration produced wet-dog shakes and forepaw-licking behaviours. Proctolin (10 micrograms) significantly attenuated the wet-dog shake and forepaw-licking behaviours evoked by intrathecal RX 77368 administration when it was given 30 min before, but not when given in combination with RX 77368. Repeated intrathecal proctolin administration (10 micrograms twice daily for 5 days) significantly reduced the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and TRH levels in the ventral, but not in the dorsal, horn of the spinal cord nor in the brainstem, and elevated hypothalamic TRH without affecting plasma free thyroxine levels when compared with values in saline-treated controls. Repeated proctolin injection did not alter substance P levels in any brain region examined, nor did it affect the choline acetyltransferase activity or the calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactive levels in the ventral horn of the spinal cord, both of which are principally located in motoneurones in this cord region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Depression in unemployed Swedish women.

Two groups of Swedish women--51 employed and 96 unemployed--were compared in terms of their scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). It was hypothesized that unemployed women would be more depressed than their employed counterparts and further that the distress of unemployment would be reflected in elevations in cortisol values among those who were out of work. It was found, even when controlling for social support, stressful life events and marital status, that depression as seen in the BDI scores, was greater in the unemployed group. However, no relationship was observed between either cortisol and employment status or cortisol and depression.

Depressive Disorder↗

Central and systemic effects of a vasopressin V1 antagonist on MAP recovery after haemorrhage in rats.

The present study examined the effects of central and peripheral administration of a vascular (V1) vasopressin (AVP) receptor antagonist on blood pressure, heart rate, and AVP levels in conscious rats. Rats subjected to rapid arterial haemorrhage were administered the AVP V1 antagonist [d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP] either 5 min pre- or 20 min posthaemorrhage. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was monitored for 45 min, after which the animals were killed and selected brain regions and plasma taken for AVP measurement. Intravenous (i.v.) administration of d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP at 10 micrograms kg-1, but not 100 ng kg-1, significantly reduced MAP between 20 and 45 min posthaemorrhage compared with saline-treated controls. In contrast, administration of d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP at 100 ng kg-1 intracerebroventricularly caused an attenuated MAP recovery to haemorrhage comparable with the effect of the antagonist at 10 micrograms kg-1 i.v. Haemorrhage caused a marked increase in circulating AVP levels, which was further enhanced in rats treated with the V1 antagonist at 10 micrograms kg-1 i.v., but no change in AVP levels of selected brain regions. The results indicate a role for AVP in MAP recovery following haemorrhage which may be centrally mediated.

Animals↗

Job strain, work place social support, and cardiovascular disease: a cross-sectional study of a random sample of the Swedish working population.

This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between the psychosocial work environment and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence in a randomly selected, representative sample of 13,779 Swedish male and female workers. It was found that self-reported psychological job demands, work control, and co-worker social support combined greater then multiplicatively in relation to CVD prevalence. An age-adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) of 2.17 (95% CI-1.32, 3.56) was observed among workers with high demands, low control, and low social support compared to a low demand, high control, and high social support reference group. PRs of approximately 2.00 were observed in this group after consecutively controlling for the effects of age together with 11 other potential confounding factors. The magnitude of the age-adjusted PRs was greatest for blue collar males. Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study design, causal inferences cannot be made. The limitations of design and measurement are discussed in the context of the methodological weaknesses of the work stress field.

Adolescent↗

Activity of arylsulfatase A, B-glucosidase and hexosaminidases in chorionic villi at six, eight and ten weeks' gestational age.

Chorionic villus sampling is becoming an accepted method of prenatally diagnosing metabolic diseases. There are few published data on sampling at various gestational ages. Different investigators, using different methods of chorionic biopsy, perform the sampling at various gestational ages. Accurate interpretation of results is dependent on reliable normal values, which could differ on the basis of gestational age. The enzymatic activities of arylsulfatase A, B-glucosidase and hexosaminidases were compared in trophoblast from six-, eight- and ten-week gestations. No significant differences in activity levels were detected. This finding confirms the accuracy of metabolic diagnosis for these enzyme-deficiency syndromes in trophoblastic tissue at gestational ages of six to ten weeks without a requirement for gestational-age-specific normal values.

Cerebroside-Sulfatase↗

Social network interaction and mortality. A six year follow-up study of a random sample of the Swedish population.

This study examined the relationship between social network interaction and total and cardiovascular mortality in 17,433 Swedish men and women between the ages of 29 and 74 during a 6 year follow-up period. The study group was interviewed concerning their social network interactions and a total score was formed which summarized the availability of social contact. A number of sociodemographic and health related background variables known to be associated with mortality risk were also considered. Mortality was examined by linking the interview material with the Swedish National Mortality Registry. In the 6-year follow-up period 841 deaths occurred. The crude relative risk of dying during this period was 3.7 (95% CL 3.2; 4.3) when the lower social network tertile was compared to the upper two tertiles. When controlling for potential confounding effects, only age had a major influence on the association between social network interaction and mortality (RR age-adjusted = 1.46, 95% CL 1.25; 1.72). Controlling for age and sex, age and educational level, age and employment status, age and immigrant status, age and smoking, age and exercise habits and age and chronic disease at interview left the relative risk virtually unchanged. Controlling simultaneously for age, smoking, exercise and chronic illness yielded a risk estimate of 1.36 (95% CL 1.06; 1.69). Similar results were obtained when separately analyzing for cardiovascular disease mortality in an identical manner.

Adolescent↗

Surgical repositioning of impacted mandibular second molar teeth.

Impacted second molars refractory to orthodontic treatment are frequent problems. The family dentist and the orthodontist should be on the alert for them. A philosophy for their management and the authors' experience over the past 13 years are presented. The proper time for definitive treatment of these impactions is during early adolescence, generally in the 11- to 14-year range. Impaction of the second molar is usually a problem of arch length deficiency. There may be an associated problem with a third molar impaction. The alternatives for impacted second molar treatments are surgical repositioning with or without adjacent third molar removal, removal of the second molar allowing the third molar to erupt, and transplantation of the third molar to the second molar socket. In the authors' experience, surgical repositioning has provided the most promising results of the three choices. Technical aspects of surgical repositioning are discussed along with case selection criteria. Six cases are presented to demonstrate typical problems and their management. With proper timing and intervention, the prognosis is excellent for repositioning second molar impactions.

Adolescent↗