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Biomedical subjects

R Winkelmann

Publications and source records attributed to R Winkelmann.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Aplastic anemia, leukemia and other cancer mortality in a cohort of shoe workers exposed to benzene.

Benzene is a well documented carcinogen for the hematic and lymphopoietic system, and experimental research confirms its carcinogenicity for tumors of other sites. This report presents the results of a historical cohort study in a shoe manufacturing plant in Florence where cases of aplastic anemia and leukemia were reported in the 1960s. A total of 1008 men and 1005 women were considered eligible members of the cohort. For total mortality, comparing the rates of the cohort with the national rates, the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 79 for the women and 95 for the men. For the men excesses of risk for aplastic anemia [SMR 1566; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 547-3264] and leukemia (SMR 400, 95% CI 146-870) were observed. The increased risk occurred among workers first employed during the period in which benzene was used, but the expected number of cases in the subsequent period was too small to evaluate whether any reduction in risk had occurred. No increasing pattern with duration of employment was discernible.

Adhesives↗

Relation of environmental exposure to erionite fibres to risk of respiratory cancer.

During the period 1979-1983, IARC, in collaboration with the Department of Chest Diseases of Hacettepe University in Ankara and the MRC Pneumoconiosis Unit in Penarth, conducted an epidemiological and environmental survey in 4 villages in central Turkey affected by a high incidence of mesothelial tumours. Recent data point to erionite, a zeolite fibre, as the most plausible etiological agent. From animal experiments, erionite appears to be the most powerful carcinogenic fibre so far known. During the study period, 17 pleural mesotheliomas and 7 lung cancer cases have been reported among the villagers. These cancer cases are analysed in relation to exposure to fibres. We assume exposure to occur from birth onwards and therefore consider duration of exposure equal to age. On this basis, the incidence of mesothelial and lung tumours is analysed in relation to age and cumulative exposure to fibres computed using the airborne fibre levels measured during the survey.

Adult↗

Mortality of workers compensated for silicosis during the period 1959-1963 in the Veneto region of Italy.

After reports appeared from other countries indicating an excess risk of lung cancer among silicotics, a cohort of workers compensated for silicosis during the period 1959-1963 in the Veneto region of Italy was constructed and followed for mortality through 1984. The results of the study showed a large mortality excess for infectious diseases (180 observed versus 9.5 expected), due to silicotuberculosis, and for diseases of the respiratory system (270 observed versus 33.5 expected) due to silicosis. An elevated standardized mortality ratio of 239 (70 observed versus 29.3 expected) from lung cancer was also detected. An increasing pattern was observed with time since first exposure, while the relationship with employment category and duration of exposure was less clear-cut. The lung cancer excess was also strongly associated with cigarette smoking, there being a dose-response relationship with daily cigarette consumption. The study confirms the results from other epidemiologic studies on silicotics which show this pathological condition to be associated with increased lung cancer mortality.

Humans↗

[Investigations on the basal dendritic tree of lamina-V-pyramidal cells in the visual cortex of rats after destruction of the lateral geniculate body and after dark raising (author's transl)].

The basal dendritic trees of the lamina-V-pyramidal cells of rats were investigated after 1th unilateral destruction of the dorsal lateral geniculate body (Cgld) 2nd dark raising I. Animals with destroyed Cgld. Comparing the data of free dendritic terminations (FDE), branching points (VZP), number of segments (AdD) and length of segments (LdD) no significant differences have been remarked between--controls of the same litter (non-influenced side),--influenced sides of animals of the same litter. A significant difference between the ipsi- and contralateral hemispheres of animals with unilateral geniculate destruction. II. Dark raised animals There were no significant differences between dark raised animals, their controls and between dark raised animals and controls. The causes of postoperative changings have been discussed. Mainly retrograde degeneration effects may be responsible for the ascertained differences.

Animals↗