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Biomedical subjects

S Lings

Publications and source records attributed to S Lings.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Antimicrobial antibodies in Danish slaughterhouse workers and greenhouse workers.

As a consequence of contact with animals and animal products slaughterhouse workers might be at risk of infection with pathogenic microorganisms. This hypothesis has been supported by some earlier studies. In this study 217 slaughtermen and a control group of 113 greenhouse workers were investigated for the prevalence of serum antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, Campylobacter jejuni (IgA and IgG), Yersinia enterocolitica types 3 and 9, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis types I, II, III, IV, and V, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, and Borrelia burgdorferi. No significant differences were found concerning either frequency of positive tests or magnitude of titers. The prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies was remarkably high in both groups.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1994

Nitrosamine formation via non-prescription drugs?

Both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic nitrosamines can be formed under physiological conditions in the human body by a reaction between nitrite and secondary or tertiary amines. A large number of people are exposed daily through drinking water to high levels of nitrate, which can be reduced to nitrite. Moreover, nitrate and nitrite are present in vegetables and nitrite is used in food preservation. Dietary exposure to amines is normally below 100 mg per day, whereas paracetamol and antazolin, both secondary amines, are used therapeutically at much higher doses. Knowledge about the possible interactions between these widely used drugs and the background exposure to nitrite is presently not available. Therefore, an evaluation of the carcinogenic hazard related to this combination is needed.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1993

[Nitrosamine formation via non-prescription drugs?].

Both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic nitrosamines can be formed under physiological conditions in the human body as a reaction between nitrite and a secondary or tertiary amine. A major part of the population is exposed daily through drinking water to high levels of nitrate, which can be reduced to nitrite. Moreover, nitrate and nitrite are both present in vegetables and nitrite is used in food preservation. Dietary exposure to amines is normally well below 100 mg per day, whereas paracetamol and antazoline, both secondary amines, are used therapeutically at much higher doses. Knowledge about the possible interactions between these widely used drugs and the background exposure to nitrite is presently not available. Therefore, an evaluation of the carcinogenic hazard related to this combination is needed.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1992

Driving with Parkinson's disease. A controlled laboratory investigation.

The part played in traffic safety by illness or disability is unknown, as is the identity and degree of the disorders which necessitate the use of driving aids or completely incapacitate a person from driving. By means of a mock car, 28 persons suffering from Parkinson's disease were compared with 109 healthy controls. Only patients in presumed optimal drug regimen and without complicating disorders were included in the study group. The main results were failure to react to stimuli on several occasions, a high frequency of erroneous reactions in particular directional errors, reduced strength and speed of movement and increased reaction times. Typically the latter would entail a prolongation of the reaction distance with more than 1/3, i.e. 6 m when driving a car at a speed of 80 km/h. The Webster score proved to be an unreliable predictor of the results of the mock car test, and the UPDRS is suggested for future studies.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

[Treatment of chronic occupational lead poisoning with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)].

2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) mobilizes lead from superficial depots. In comparison with other chelating agents, DMSA has a high therapeutic index and has the additional advantage that it can be administered orally. We have used DMSA for treatment of chronic occupational lead poisoning in a 54-year old male with signs of neurotoxic effects. The treatment resulted in a rapid decrease in the blood-lead concentration, followed by a slow increase after the treatment and subsequent stabilization at a blood-lead level lower than prior to treatment. During the first course of treatment, almost 100 mumols lead was excreted in the urine. As a result of successive courses of treatments, the patient's condition was improved. However, during the third course of treatment, he developed a mucocutaneous rash which faded again after withdrawal of DMSA; this reaction was subsequently provoked by sub-therapeutic doses, and continued treatment was therefore cancelled. Only minor, reversible side effects of DMSA have hitherto been reported, and DMSA must therefore be regarded a promising agent for long-term, out-patient chelation treatment of chronic lead poisoning.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Assessing driving capability: a method for individual testing: the significance of paraparesis inferior studied in a controlled experiment.

The part played in traffic safety by driver illness or disability is uncertain or unknown. So also are the specific identity and degree of the disorders which necessitate the use of driving aids or which completely incapacitate a person from driving. Despite the gravity of the problems, the question of fitness to hold a driving licence is decided throughout the world mainly on the basis of subjective assessment. Controlled experiments exploring the significance of disorders have only been carried out on a restricted scale. In this paper a description is given of a mock car, which is used both for research and individual assessment. It enables the measurement of strength application, steering wheel turn speed, simple reaction times when operating pedals and steering wheel, erroneous reactions, and choice reaction times. Experiments involving 109 able-bodied and healthy persons showed, as expected, that the muscular strength of men was greater than of women, and that men were significantly quicker at carrying out functions which primarily depend upon speed of movement and of strength. Apart from this, however, there were no significant sex-related differences. Almost all variables showed age dependence, this being most pronounced in the case of men. Thirty-two percent of the test candidates committed errors like braking instead of turning the wheel or turning to the wrong side. Neither the incidence nor the seriousness of errors bore any relation to sex or age. Fifty-two persons suffering from paraparesis inferior were compared with the 109 able-bodied subjects. The degree of paresis co-varied with reaction times, but the degree of spasticity only to a minor extent. The results indicate that at a speed of 80 km/h, 'slight paresis' increases reaction distance by around 2-3 m (15%), and 'moderate paresis' by the region of 50 m.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Variation in plasma cholinesterase activity among greenhouse workers, fruitgrowers, and slaughtermen.

The purpose of the study was to compare the plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activities of 100 greenhouse workers and 43 fruitgrowers engaged in spraying insecticides with those of 113 slaughtermen who served as controls. The ChE activity in the greenhouse workers and fruitgrowers was not significantly lower than in the controls. Nevertheless the ChE activity of greenhouse workers declined with increasing exposure. The wearing of protective gloves appears to be of particular value for the safety of workers.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1984

Occupational accidents and alcohol.

Alcoholic intoxication is commonly considered to be an important cause of occupational accidents. Over a period of one year the alcohol concentration in the breath and/or blood was studied in 5439 patients, who, following an occupational accident, attended the emergency departments of a large Danish provincial city. It is concluded that only a few, apparently less than 3%, were inebriated in the legal sense of the term (BAC above 0.8%) at the time of the accident.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1984

The consequences to the injured of occupational accidents. A follow-up study of an emergency department material.

The consequences of occupational accidents to the injured have been studied in a follow-up investigation of an emergency department material comprising almost 7 000 patients. The accident resulted in sick leave for 51% (on average 14.9 working days), in a reduced income for 31% (on average 2 125 Danish 1982 kroner), in a prolonged physical handicap for 6%, in hospitalization for 4.2% (on average 27 days), and in occupational consequences for 1.5%.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1983

Some public expenses in connection with occupational accidents. A follow-up study of an emergency department material.

An attempt has been made to calculate some of the public expenses arising from occupational accidents, by means of a follow-up study of an ad hoc emergency department investigation of 6 941 consecutive cases. Each accident has given rise, on average, to two visits to a physician, and to hospitalization for 1.1 days. During a one-year period, the expenses of sick benefits, hospital admissions, and medical treatment alone for the whole of Denmark amount to a minimum of 1.2 milliard 1982 Danish kroner, and at least 8 900 man-working-years have been lost.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1982

Pesticide lung: a pilot investigation of fruit-growers and farmers during the spraying season.

A fruit-grower with large, atypical lung infiltrations and lung fibrosis triggered off an investigation of fruit-growers during the spraying season. An interview was carried out together with a Wright peak flow meter test and an x-ray examination of the chest. No fewer than 156 spray preparations were used by the group; individual fruit-growers used between three and 27. In connection with spraying, 41% of subjects had one or other type of symptom; peak flow was reduced in 19% and x-ray changes were seen in 24%. A questionnaire was returned by 132 of 235 farmers. Of these, 60 had worked with biocides, 72 had not. A non-significant higher frequency of symptoms was found among those who used biocides. The results would indicate that biocides (or "pesticides") can give rise to a lung disease, "biocide lung," which comprises (1) pneumonia, radiologically demonstrable by more or less transient round infiltrations and (2) chronic progressive lung fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Scheuermann's disease with low localization. A problem of under-diagnosis.

Sequelae after Scheuermann's disease below the level of Th10/Th11 occur commonly and are presumed to produce low back pain in almost all cases. Despite this, the condition is frequently over-looked by both clinicians and radiologists. Of 55 rehabilitees with "low Scheuermann" this had only been diagnosed and acknowledged as a cause of pain in 20 prior to admission to the rehabilitation clinic. In 12 it had been diagnosed radiologically but not acknowledged as a cause of pain, while it had been completely over-looked in 23.

Adult↗