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Biomedical subjects

K Golka

Publications and source records attributed to K Golka.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Volume calibration of various gasmeters using a modified Tissot spirometer.

Various methods for determinating energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry are used in laboratory and field studies such as the Douglas bag method, often used in combination with a wet gasmeter, the respirometer of Kofranyi and Michaelis (KM) and the Oxylog (OX). To calibrate the volume measurements of these pieces of apparatus a modified Tissot spirometer was built, consisting of an outer casing filled with water, a core and a bell. It was equipped with a solid counterbalance and with an additional roller chain, partly freely suspended on the side of the counterbalance. This construction allowed compensation for the varying buoyancies of the bell. The lift of the bell was measured by means of a vernier scale. From calculations of the geometric volume a revolution counter was adapted to record the moved volume in litres. By means of this spirometer volumes up to 200 l can be used for calibration at various physiological flow rates. Calibration procedures for KM, wet gasmeters and OX were developed. For OX a small inaccuracy up to 2.0% was observed within the flow range from 20 to 70 l.min-1. The inaccuracy increased at higher flow rates. Under defined calibration conditions the modified Tissot spirometer enabled repeated calibrations of different types of gasmeters.

Calibration↗
PubMed1990

A comparative study on different methods for the determination of energy expenditure.

In order to determine energy expenditure, the Douglas Bag technique (DB) and Kofranyi-Michaelis respirometers (KM) have been widely used under field conditions for several decades. Some years ago the Oxylog (OX) method was developed, measuring simultaneously the difference of partial oxygen pressure in inspired and expired air (PO2 diff.) by two polarographic oxygen sensors. In order to compare these three methods laboratory experiments (3 test subjects, 5 different bicycle ergometer work loads, 180 measurements per apparatus) were performed. Oxygen uptake (VO2) varied between about 0.9 to 3.0 l/min. The VO2 data obtained by the DB method, which were used as a reference, and those obtained by the KM method agreed fairly well. The recorded data of OX underestimated VO2 up to 21%, with the deviation increasing with work intensity. A sufficient accuracy of recorded VO2 was observed only up to moderate work intensity. OX data calculated from ventilation volume of inspired air per minute (VI) and PO2 diff., measured by OX, were always about 19% higher than those recorded by OX. This means that the calculated VO2 values of the OX corresponded fairly well with DB values at heavy work loads. The reason for the differences between recorded and calculated OX data is still unknown. Further research is urgently needed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological effects upon exposure to polyhalogenated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans.

Thirty workers who had been exposed to combustion products for several years due to testing of flame retarding qualities of building materials and 30 controls from the same facility were investigated. Concentrations found in samples taken from different places of the facility were up to 14,660 microg/kg for polybrominated dibenzofurans and up to 67.1 microg/kg for polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Physical examination, routine laboratory parameters, and blood fat concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs revealed normal findings. Neurotoxic symptoms showed a weak tendency of overrepresentation among the exposed workers. The frequency of neurobehavioural symptoms increased significantly with trait anxiety independent of exposure to combustion products.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Interaction between smoking, GSTM1 deletion and colorectal cancer: results from the GSEC study.

Cigarette smoking has inconsistently been associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. One of the enzymes responsible for the detoxification of the carcinogenic compounds present in tobacco smoke is glutathione S-transferase-mu (GST-mu). The gene that codes for this enzyme is GSTM1. In this study, we evaluated the associations and interaction between GSTM1 deletion, smoking behaviour and the development of colorectal cancer. We performed a pooled analysis within the International Collaborative Study on Genetic Susceptibility to Environmental Carcinogens (GSEC). We selected six studies on colorectal cancer, including 1130 cases and 2519 controls, and restricted our analyses to Caucasians because the number of patients from other races was too limited. In addition we performed a meta-analysis including the studies from the GSEC database and other studies identified on MEDLINE on the same subject. The prevalence of the GSTM1 null genotype was within the range reported in other studies: 51.8% of the cases had the GSTM1 null genotype versus 56.6% of the controls. No significant association between the GSTM1 null genotype and colorectal cancer was found (odds ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.73-1.14). Our results suggest a possible positive association between lack of the GST-mu enzyme and colorectal cancer for non-smoking women (odds ratio 1.47, 95% confidence interval 0.80-2.70). There was no interaction between the effects of smoking and GSTM1 genotype on colorectal cancer risk in men and women (chi2=0.007, p=0.97). Our findings do not support an association between the GSTM1 null genotype and colorectal cancer. In addition, we did not find any modification of the smoking-induced colorectal cancer risk by GSTM1 genotype

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Urothelial cancer of the bladder in an area of former coal, iron, and steel industries in Germany: a case-control study.

In a case-control study performed in an area of former coal, iron, and steel industries, the professional and lifestyle histories of 412 male urothelial bladder cancer inpatients (cases) and 414 inpatients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (controls) were investigated. Smoking habits were identified as the main confounder for occupational bladder cancer risk. Two hundred and forty (58.3%) of the bladder cancer inpatients and 146 (35.3%) of the inpatients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were smokers. The percentage of ex-smokers in the bladder cancer cases was 10.2%; the percentage of ex-smokers in the controls was 9.7%. Smoking-adjusted Mantel-Haenszel estimates of the odds ratios (OR&infMH;) for bladder cancer were elevated in underground hard-coal miners (OR&infMH; =2. 54, 95% CI =[1.64; 3.93]), chemical workers (OR&infMH; =2.16, 95% CI =[0.87; 5.38]), painters/varnishers (OR&infMH; = 2.42, 95% CI =[1. 05; 5.57]), technicians (OR&infMH; = 1.99, 95% CI =[0.95; 4.16]), and foundry workers (OR&infMH; = 2.22, 95% CI = [0.53; 9.08]). Administrative officers had significantly lower smoking-adjusted odds ratios (OR&infMH; = 0.61, 95% CI = [0.42; 0.88]). Although statistically not significant, the results of the Breslow-Day test of homogeneity of the odds ratios over the strata are compatible with interactions between tobacco smoking and the occupations of underground hard-coal miners (chi(2)&infBD; = 4.91, p=0.07) and chemical workers (chi(2)&infBR; = 3.32, p=0.06).

Adult↗