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Biomedical subjects

M Koller

Publications and source records attributed to M Koller.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

[Health risks due to long-term stress--night work as an example].

Multiple matched cases of shiftworkers, dayworkers and drop-outs, (N = 301) were split into four groups corresponding in age and years at work. Data concerning different parameters of health and wellbeing were collected by means of medical case histories, check-ups, questionnaires and interviews. Time contingent effects of health deterioriation were analysed. In terms of an overall score ("Health Score") in shiftworkers health was found to decrease with age markedly; the difference to dayworkers got significant from the 12th year of work exposure onwards. This finding can be ascribed to a high rate of sleep disturbances and a pronounced reduction of wellbeing (already present in younger workers) as well as to a significant increase in morbidity concerning gastrointestinal and cardiovascular ailments. Corresponding rates of doctor's consultations and drug intake increased with age and work exposure. Subjective ratings of work conditions suggest marked mental and emotional stress components. In dayworkers a destabilization of health was found which was marked for the middle age; the health score, however, was still significantly better than that of shiftworkers in all age classes. There was evidence of an excess rate for respiratory illnesses. In drop-outs less adverse conditions of health and wellbeing than in shiftworkers were found. But health was more deteriorated than in dayworkers. Having dropped out of shiftwork means an improvement of gastrointestinal and nervous symptoms; the cardiovascular disorders, however, remain high.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1984

The use of IgM tests for analysis of the causes of measles vaccine failures: experience gained in an epidemic in Hungary in 1980 and 1981.

Following a period of 6 years of low measles incidence, an epidemic occurred in Hungary with more than 11,000 reported cases between September 1980 and August 1981. About 60% of the cases had a documented history of previous measles vaccination. Serum samples obtained from 7815 patients were examined for measles antibody by haemagglutination inhibition (HI). In addition to conventional antibody titration, most of the sera or their IgM fraction obtained by a simple ion exchange chromatography were tested for the presence of measles-specific IgM antibodies by 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) treatment, and in 300 patients also by the fluorescent antibody (FA) technique. Laboratory results confirmed the diagnosis of measles in 5356 patients and supported it in 685 cases. Primary antibody response was found in 96.1% of unvaccinated and in 77.4% of previously vaccinated patients. The percentage of secondary antibody responses increased with increasing time from vaccination only in patients vaccinated before their first birthday, whereas in those who were immunized when over 12 months old, the distribution of primary and secondary antibody responses was independent from the time that had elapsed since vaccination. Therefore, secondary vaccine failure due to waning immunity account for only 6.2% of previously vaccinated patients, whereas in 93.8% of patients, including the majority of those with secondary antibody response, a primary failure of vaccination due to unsuccessful immunization was incriminated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Health disorders caused by noise].

This review describes first the physical and technical basis of sound measurement and noise evaluation. Then the effects of noise on hearing are demonstrated by our experimental data on TTS and data on noise induced hearing loss. Extraaural noise effects on the cardiovascular system, blood-pressure and on sleep are reported. Moreover some long-lasting effects on health with respect to neuro-humoral regulations, gastrointestinal disturbances and psychosomatic symptoms are described. With respect to annoyance the questions of habituation, subjective attitudes and controllability of noise are important. In this area of multifactorial disturbing influences objectivation and quantification seem especially difficult.

Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced↗
PubMed1983

Health risks related to shift work. An example of time-contingent effects of long-term stress.

In an oil refinery with a labour force of 1260 male blue-collar workers, 300 matched cases of permanent shift workers, day workers, and drop-outs were selected and split into four groups corresponding in age and years at work. In terms of an overall score ("health score", computed from data concerning absence due to sickness, morbidity, distribution and severity of diseases, and subjective complaints) health was found to deteriorate with age, but to a different degree in the shift and day workers. In shift workers, a steep decrease in score during the first years at work was followed by a continued slight decrease in middle age; from the age of 41 years onwards there was a further pronounced decrease in score. In day workers a stabilization in score was observed up to middle age, with a distinct decrease thereafter. The difference in health parameters between the groups was only small in younger workers (up to 12 years at work), but became striking and significant with increasing age. In the permanent shift workers an increasing health risk was clearly indicated by increases in absence due to sickness, gastro-intestinal and cardiovascular diseases and unspecific health complaints (sleep disturbances, premature fatigue). A specific kind of behaviour during illness (e.g. less readiness to consult a doctor) was also observed in the shift workers. In the permanent day workers health risks were not strictly age-related. Whereas absence due to sickness was highest in young workers, morbidity for respiratory diseases and injuries was significantly elevated in the older workers; the frequency of subjective complaints increased up to middle age and decreased thereafter. In drop-outs with considerable prior exposure to shift work, strikingly high rates of absence due to sickness and excess rates of cardiovascular diseases were observed.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1982

A prospective study on infectious mononucleosis in childhood--symptoms, serology, Epstein-Barr-Virus specific leukocyte migration inhibition.

The clinical course, serological changes and the development of the specific cell-mediated immune response to Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV), measured in terms of leukocyte migration inhibition, were followed in 40 children suffering from an EBV infection. The patients were followed for between six and 24 months. Although the majority of the children were under six years of age, they presented a typical clinical course; heterophil antibodies could only be demonstrated in 60% of the cases. Anti-VAC-IgM and IgG antibodies were found in all patients during the acute phase, but no anti-EBNA could be demonstrated. In children under three years of age, no antibodies against the D component of the early antigen were found; this antibody was found in 50% of the adolescents. An antibody against the R component of the early antigen could be demonstrated in 73% of the children five to six months after the onset of the disease. Specific leukocyte migration inhibition was present only during convalescence or later. A relationship between the appearance of anti-EBNA and the development of specific leukocyte migration inhibition has been established.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1982

Calcium transport in the ileum of uremic rats.

Duodenal and ileal calcium transport was studied by 45Ca uptake and estimation of unidirectional fluxes in vitro in kidney-intact and 5/6-nephrectomized rats. After normal-calcium diet, calcium transport was impaired by uremia in the duodenum but not in the ileum. However, 5/6-nephrectomized rats on low-calcium diet showed, in concert with impaired growth, a reduced calcium transport both in duodenum and ileum. Comparing data after normal- and low-calcium diets, the ileal adaptation to low-calcium diet was intact in mild renal failure but abolished in severe uremia (urea less than 100 mg/dl). These results suggest that ileal calcium transport after normal-calcium diet is mainly passive. Taking into account reduced food intake as an additional factor, the active ileal calcium transport after low-calcium diet declines with progressive renal failure according to decreasing levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. A suspected enhancement of the distal small intestinal calcium transport by parathyroid hormone in uremic rats as compensation for proximally impaired absorption could not be demonstrated.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

[Effect of various furniture covering fabrics on heat regulation and comfort].

The effects of three different materials for furniture fabrics (wool, polyacrylonitrile and Skai) on thermophysiological parameters and comfort were studied. In a laboratory design male, middle aged subjects were tested three times for three hours in a climate chamber, being exposed to internal and external thermal strains as well as to stress inducing situations. The outcome of this research suggests an essential influence of the structure of the tested materials but only small influences by the kind of fibres. The test situation "Skai" induced markedly different effects on skin temperature, skin moisture level and self rated thermal comfort as compared to both textile materials: A high sweat secretion followed by a continuously increasing moisture accumulation could be observed, especially for areas of the body surface which were tight contact with the material. Simultaneously a distinct skin temperature decrease at the back was found, which can be interpreted as a consequence of a high heat conduction due to the material itself as well as by sweat vaporization when the back was lifted from the backrest. The differences between the natural fibre- and synthetic fibre materials were generally small and occurred merely under heat stress conditions, where a pronounced reactivity of skin temperatures, skin moisture and heart rate could be observed testing the synthetic textile material. Being asked about thermal comfort, the subjects attributed their ratings to uncomfortable room climate conditions rather than to properties of the materials on which they were seated.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Serological follow-up of children with infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus.

Ninety children, most under 6 years of age, 73 of whom were suffering from a disease suspect of infectious mononucleosis, were examined serologically for EBV infection. Acute EBV infection was demonstrated in 40 cases. These children were followed up until the end of the second year by examining serum samples taken every month of every third month for anti-VCA-IgM, anti-VCA-IgG, anti-VCA-IgA anti-EBNA, and for the specific antibodies to the components D and R of the early antigen. Heterophil antibodies were examined by agglutination of sheep and horse erythrocytes. The temporal course of the antibody response was similar to those reported in adults while anti-EA-D and heterophil antibodies were demonstrated less frequently.

Adolescent↗