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R Frentzel-Beyme

Publications and source records attributed to R Frentzel-Beyme.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Dietary and lifestyle determinants of mortality among German vegetarians.

Lifestyle characteristics of a cohort of 1904 Germans adhering mainly to a vegetarian diet were examined in relation to their mortality after 11 years of follow-up. Poisson regression modelling was performed to consider the simultaneous effects of different variables on mortality from all causes, cancer (ICD 140-208) and cardiovascular diseases (ICD 390-459). Compared to a low level of self-reported physical activity, those with a medium or high level of activity experienced only half the mortality from all causes and from cardiovascular diseases. Physical activity showed no beneficial effect for cancer mortality in this cohort. The body mass index (BMI) was an independent risk factor for mortality among men but essentially unrelated to mortality among women. Those in the middle third of the BMI distribution experienced the lowest mortality. A negative association between BMI and cancer mortality lost statistical significance when the first 5 years of follow-up were deleted, suggesting that a lower BMI was a consequence of prevalent disease. Both the duration of vegetarianism and the vegetarian status (strict versus moderate) showed a moderate effect on all cause and cancer mortality. A longer duration of vegetarianism (> or = 20 years) was associated with a lower risk, pointing to a real protective effect of this lifestyle. A lower risk of death among moderate vegetarians suggests that sound nutritional planning may be more important than absolute avoidance of meat.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Etiology, pathogenesis and epidemiology or urothelial tumors].

A hospital-based case-control study of 531 male and 144 female matched pairs was conducted to analyse the role of nonoccupational and occupational risk factors in the etiology of tumors of the lower urinary tract. Smoking of cigarettes was associated with an increased risk and showed a significant dose- and time-response for both sexes. Heavy pipe smoking also significantly increased the risk. Controlling for smoking, a significantly twofold or more increase in risk was found for heavy consumption of coffee in both sexes and for heavy intake of beer in males. Increasing levels of total fluid intake were associated with increasing, smoking-adjusted risks in men. Significant associations were found for chronic infection of the lower urinary tract, familial history of bladder cancer, and frequent consumption of high fat meals among men and for frequent consumption of canned food in both sexes. With regard to occupational history, significantly elevated risks were found for ever-employment in the printing, plastics and synthetics, rubber, mining and dyestuffs industries, for exposure to spray paints, zinc, chromium/chromate, oils, petroleum and metal dust/fume, and for occupation as mining worker and truck driver among men. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed-with the exception of fluid intake-significant contribution of the above-mentioned risks factors to the risk of bladder cancer.

Beer↗
PubMed1992

Life style and occupational risk factors for bladder cancer in Germany. A case-control study.

A hospital-based, case-control study of 531 male and 144 female matched pairs was conducted in Germany to analyze the role of nonoccupational and occupational risk factors in the etiology of tumors of the lower urinary tract (bladder cancer). Smoking of cigarettes was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.6 for men and 3.2 for women, compared with not smoking and showed a significant dose- and time-response relationship for both sexes. Heavy pipe smoking significantly increased the risk (OR = 1.9 in men), and smoking of cigars did not alter the risk of bladder cancer. Controlling for smoking, a significantly twofold or more increase in risk was found for heavy consumption of coffee in both sexes and for heavy intake of beer in males. Increasing levels of total fluid intake were associated with increasing, smoking-adjusted risks in men. Significant associations were found for chronic infection of the lower urinary tract (OR = 1.8), familial history of bladder cancer (OR = 2.5), and frequent consumption of high fat meals (OR = 1.4) among men and for frequent consumption of canned food in both sexes (OR = 1.7 for males, 2.4 for females). With regard to occupational history, significantly elevated odds ratios were found for ever-employment in the printing (5.0), plastics and synthetics (2.6), rubber (2.5), mining (2.0), and dyestuffs (1.9) industries, for exposure to spray paints (2.9), zinc (2.3), chromium/chromate (2.2), oils (1.5), petroleum (1.4), stone dust (1.4) and metal dust/fumes (1.3), and for occupation as mining worker (2.0) and truck driver (1.8) among men. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed significant contribution of coffee and beer drinking, ingestion of canned food, and familial occurrence of urothelial tumors to the risk of bladder cancer in men after accounting for the effects of tobacco smoking, occupational exposures, and a history of bladder infection. These other variables did not influence the risk attributable to occupational exposures.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Mortality pattern of German vegetarians after 11 years of follow-up.

A cohort of 1,904 vegetarians and persons leading a health-conscious life-style in the Federal Republic of Germany was identified in 1978. After a follow-up of 11 years, mortality from all causes was reduced by one-half compared with the general population [the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 0.44 for men, 0.53 for women]. Among the 858 men, 111 deaths were observed, with 255 expected; among the 1,046 women, 114 deaths were observed, with 215 expected. The lowest mortality was found for cardiovascular diseases (SMR = 0.39 for men, 0.46 for women); in particular, for ischemic heart diseases, mortality was reduced to one-third of that expected. Cancer mortality was reduced by one-half in men (SMR = 0.48), but only by one-quarter in women (SMR = 0.74). The deficit in cancer deaths was mainly observed for lung cancer and gastrointestinal cancers in males and for gastrointestinal cancers in females. Deaths from diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems were also reduced by about 50%. An excess of deaths occurred only for anemia. When the strict and the moderate vegetarians were analyzed separately, the strongest differential was found for ischemic heart diseases, which were much less frequent among strict vegetarians for both sexes. Some nondietary factors, such as higher socioeconomic status, virtual absence of smoking, and lower body mass index, may also have contributed to the lower mortality of the study participants.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed1992

Lung cancer mortality among workers in the European production of man-made mineral fibers--a Poisson regression analysis.

One hundred and eighty-one lung cancer deaths among workers during 301,085 person-years in European man-made mineral fiber production between 1930-1955 and 1982 were analyzed according to Poisson regression models including age, calendar period, country, and exposure variables. Time since first employment was the variable most strongly associated with lung cancer risk in both the rock-slag wool and glass wool subcohorts. Workers in the early technological phase were at higher risk than those in other categories, particularly in rock-slag wool production. No clear trend with duration of employment was suggested. No major changes occurred in the interpretation of the results when workers with less than one year of employment or less than 20 years since first exposure were excluded. The original results, based on analyses for standardized mortality ratios, were confirmed, and workers with a short duration of employment or a short time since first employment did not need to be excluded from the analysis.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1992

Follow-up study among model and pattern makers in an automobile company in the Federal Republic of Germany.

The follow-up of a cohort of 528 model makers and a control group of 2273 tool makers shows an unusual pattern of mortality in the model makers' cohort. In contrast to the usual ranking, malignant neoplasms are the most frequent group of cause of death followed by diseases of the cardiovascular system. The rate ratio (RR) for malignant tumors is significantly increased among model makers compared with tool makers RR = 1.8, (95% confidence level [CL] = 1.3-2.7). The sites affected by excess cancer were stomach, the genitourinary organs, and the brain. In contrast to other studies, no tumors of the large intestine have been observed. Furthermore, there is a remarkable underrepresentation of tumors of the respiratory organs. Because these results are based on a rather small number of cases, further follow-up of the cohort is warranted to draw more profound conclusions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Case-control study on stomach cancer in Germany.

A multicentric hospital-based case-control study was simultaneously performed in a high-risk and a low-risk area for stomach cancer in Germany, 143 patients with incident stomach cancer and 579 controls completing a retrospective interview about life style aspects. Periods of non-centralized water supply or well water as the only source compared to life-long central water supply, and preservation of meat by smoking it with spruce compared to no home smoking of meat, were significantly associated with an increased stomach cancer risk. use of a refrigerator at home for 30 and more years compared to 24 years or less showed an inverse relationship, whereas salt intake estimated by questionnaire showed no relationship to stomach cancer risk. Tobacco smoking was negatively associated with risk for current smokers of cigarettes compared to non-smokers but was presumably not causally related. After adjustment for other food constituents, only increased vitamin C consumption showed an inverse relation to risk. For food groups, increased consumption of fruit, citrus fruit, cheese and whole-meal bread were associated with decreased risk. A similar effect was also seen for increased consumption of raw vegetables. Total vegetable consumption was not particularly associated with risk. Increased consumption of processed meat and of beer showed a positive association with risk whereas increased wine and liquor consumption showed a significant negative association. The association of alcoholic beverages with stomach cancer risk may reflect a particular life style rather than being causally related to risk.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1991

Common infections in the history of cancer patients and controls.

The association between the frequency of manifest infectious diseases and cancer risk was investigated in a case-control study at Heidelberg, FRG. A total of 255 cases with carcinomas of the stomach, colon, rectum, breast, and ovary, as well as 255 population controls and 230 hospital controls were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. Controls were matched to the cases for age, sex, and region of residence at the time of the interview. A history of common colds or gastroenteric influenza prior to the interview was found to be associated with a decreased cancer risk. Thus the odds ratios for "three or more common colds per year (on average)" versus "no common cold within the last 5 years prior to the interview" were 0.18 (95% CI = 0.05-0.69) and 0.23 (95% CI = 0.06-0.89) relative to population controls and hospital controls, respectively. There was no apparent relationship between childhood infections or other diseases reported in the earlier history, and cancer risk. While the findings are supported by previous studies and fit well into the results of other fields of cancer research, a conclusive interpretation and biological explanation cannot yet be given.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Changes in degree of sclerosis as a function of prophylactic treatment in cancer-prone and CHD-prone probands.

One-hundred and ninety-two probands were selected on the basis of personality questionnaires as being cancer-prone (100) or CHD-prone (92). They were then randomly divided into a control and a treatment group, the latter receiving a special kind of behaviour therapy attempting to change the personality patterns in the direction of a healthier, more autonomous personality. Follow-up after 10 and 13 years disclosed significantly lower death rates in probands receiving prophylactic treatment than in controls. Of special interest was the degree of sclerosis in the fundus of the eye, rateds on a 3-point scale. This was significantly higher prior to therapy in the CHD-prone group than in the cancer-prone group. Treatment reduced the degree of sclerosis, particularly in the CHD group; lack of treatment was followed by an increase in sclerosis. Similar but less marked changes were found in the cancer-prone group. Clearly psychological treatment affects significantly bodily functions associated with CHD. Other risk factors considered were systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugar, all of which, together with personality, influenced the degree of sclerosis observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Risk of cancer for arc welders in the Federal Republic of Germany: results of a second follow up (1983-8).

An extended follow up of 1221 chromium and nickel exposed welders in the Federal Republic of Germany confirmed an increased relative risk of 1.6 for all cancers compared with an internal reference group of 1694 turners. In an external comparison an excess of deaths from malignant tumours compared with that expected from the national mortality rates was found (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) = 109), which was clearly related to both time since first exposure and duration of exposure. Mortality from lung cancer was increased among welders (SMR = 113) but also among turners (SMR = 108). The difference remained when the subgroups were compared according to smoking information. A large excess of mesothelioma as a cause of death could be attributed to exposure to asbestos. The significantly increased SMR seen for urogenital tumours and "other or unspecified tumours" showed, however, an inverse relation with time since first exposure. This and other inconsistencies in the analysis by type of welding do not permit conclusive statements. Thus a further extension of follow up seems warranted.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1991

Regional risk factors for stomach cancer in the FRG.

A multicentric, hospital-based, case-control study was conducted in high- and low-risk areas for stomach cancer in the Federal Republic of Germany, by which means a low intake of dietary vitamin C (relative risk [RR] = 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-4.43 for lowest against highest quintile), noncentralized water supply (RR = 2.17, CI 1.14-4.13 against central water supply), refrigerator use for less than 25 years (RR = 1.33, CI 0.82-2.15 against more than 30 years), and the use of spruce for smoking meat at home (RR = 3.33, CI 1.56-7.12 against not smoking meat at home), were identified as factors potentially causally related to stomach cancer occurrence. The attributable risk for gastric carcinoma among the population (AR) was 37.5% for low vitamin C intake, 37.2% for noncentralized water supply, 10.6% for late refrigerator use, and 4.15% for use of spruce for smoking meat at home in this analysis. The overall ARp amounted to 68.3%. These personally linked factors also showed a strong regional distribution, in that the low-risk area had more favorable categories of exposure. Traditional nutritional habits around 1910 were recorded during a survey by ethnologists in 1965. This material was used to contrast those in high and low stomach cancer risk areas with the habits in the south of Germany in general. Vegetable use was most common in the low-risk area, whereas mashed potatoes, cabbage, and farinaceous dishes dominated in the high-risk area. Tomatoes were introduced several years later into the high-risk area, both in terms of consumption and cultivation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1990

[Work absenteeism data--a source of information for epidemiological research in occupational risks?].

The usefulness of data on absence from work due to sickness (absenteeism) as an indicator of specific and detailed information of diagnoses is widely discussed in the international literature. In occupational health indicators for health risks (e g sickness absence of more than 14 days), details on diagnosis and workplace are very useful, if analysed by epidemiological means. A pilot project, initiated by a high sickness absence in the automobile industry, led to a test of an industrial health information system, which was abruptly stopped by data protection arguments. The epidemiologic approach of an age-adjusted comparison of incidences relies on the access to morbidity data of the health insurance system. With the diagnostic information at hand differences of incidences in one production branch (as recognized by the incidence ratio SIR) are to be discovered if related to certain specific diagnoses. Thus, a direct comparison of comparable rates helps to identify specific reasons for increased absence from work. Practical solutions were found if the owner of the data, the National Federation of Enterprise Sickness Funds, conducted the analyses. First results showed as yet unknown associations of myocardial infarction and obstructive lung diseases in the metallurgical industry. In such cases not only the validity of such results has to be verified, but also other epidemiological tools, such as a case-referent approach to determine risk ratios, are required for the identification of any causally important relationship.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1989

Phospholipase A in acute lung injury after trauma and sepsis: its relation to the inflammatory mediators PMN-elastase, C3a, and neopterin.

Inflammatory mediators involved in the pathogenesis of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are products of the humeral cascade systems like the complement cascade and substances released from neutrophil granulocytes and macrophages like proteases, O2-radicals and arachidonate products. Phospholipase A2 (PLA) was shown by Vadas et al. to be correlated with circulatory shock in the sepsis syndrome, the probably most important underlying disease of ARDS. In a clinical study in 48 patients at risk for ARDS after trauma and sepsis we found plasma PLA elevated (52 +/- 5 U/l) in sepsis, with a positive correlation to the complement split product C3a (r = 0.42, p less than 0.01) and neopterin (r = 0.49, p less than 0.05), which serves as a marker of macrophage stimulation. Elastase-alpha 1PI and C3a showed higher plasma levels in patients with ARDS compared with non-ARDS patients, whereas the neopterin and PLA concentrations were not different with regard to ARDS. The relation between PLA and neopterin shown in the study is consistent with the possibility of macrophages being a source of the plasma PLA, as reported in experimental studies.

Biopterins↗
PubMed1989

[Case-control study for the diagnosis of occupational factors in bladder cancer].

The occupations and life-style factors of 531 male bladder cancer patients were compared with matched hospital controls; risk estimates were obtained as odds ratios of discordant pairs. The case-control study as a "fishing approach" for occupational risk factors has proven successfully that established hazards for cancer could be confirmed (e g smoking, bladder infections, mining and chemical exposures), and others were identified for the first time in Germany (vehicle driving, spray painting, oil- and petroleum exposures). Not only could smoking-adjusted risk estimates be statistically confirmed but also trends of risk increasing with duration of occupational exposure were determined. Logistic regressions were performed to determine the influence of life-style factors on occupational risks.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Mortality among German vegetarians: first results after five years of follow-up.

A prospective study of vegetarians recruited from all regions of the Federal Republic of Germany, including West Berlin, was started in 1978 after a preparatory phase of two years in which the cohort was established. The mortality of the 1,904 study participants was evaluated after a follow-up of five years, comparing observed deaths with expected rates based on the national mortality statistics. Of the 858 men and 1,046 women, 89% had followed their diet for at least five years at study entry, the majority of them as strict vegetarians (1,163). By the end of 1983, only 82 persons had died, whereas 219 deaths were expected. In both sexes, the mortality was lowest from cardiovascular diseases [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for ischemic heart disease about 20] and from cancer (SMR 58 for men, 54 for women). Deaths from diseases of the respiratory and digestive system were also reduced. For individual cancer sites the observed numbers were extremely small, but the risk of dying from lung cancer was significantly reduced; however, deaths from cancers of the colon and rectum, prostate, and breast were rare or even absent. More deaths than expected were observed from stomach, pancreatic, testicular, and brain cancers. An internal comparison of mortality between strict and moderate vegetarians (741) suggests a higher mortality from all causes and malignant neoplasms among strict vegetarians in both sexes, although not statistically significant, and a lower mortality from circulatory system diseases for males. The possible influence of selection factors (e.g., "healthy participant effect," socioeconomic level, and body weight) on the findings of a decreased mortality is discussed together with the role of diet.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Precursor lesions of the GI tract and psychosocial risk factors for prediction and prevention of gastric cancer.

In two prospective studies, including a total of 1,353 and 1,914 male and female participants, a variety of medical and psychosocial risk factors were assessed by means of personal interviews and observational categories. The incidence of gastric cancer was determined for the following study groups: 1) all persons with chronic atrophic gastritis and pernicious anemia who had one to three relatives with a history of gastric cancer, 2) persons with a previous operation for gastric ulcer (partial resection) and one to three relatives with gastric cancer, and 3) a comparable group without any of these characteristics, serving as a reference. The hypothesis was that significantly more gastric cancer was to be expected in groups 1 and 2. A second hypothesis was that interaction between the specific precursors and psychosocial risk factors (chronic hopelessness due to withdrawing objects) was useful for the prediction of gastric cancer. The results may open new avenues for the prevention of gastric cancer via preventive psychotherapy in identified risk groups.

Adult↗