bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Consent to open label extension studies: some ethical issues
Authors: Wainwright P 
Published: December 2002

A frequent feature of pharmaceutical research is the open label extension study, in which patients participating in double blind placebo controlled trials of new medications are invited, on completion of the initial trial, to take the study drug for some further period. Patients are openly given the active substance at this stage, regardless of their assignment in the initial trial. Investigators are typically reluctant to unblind the patients’ assignment at the point of entry into the open label phase, on the grounds that this may introduce ascertainment bias in the main study.It is argued that patients invited to participate in open label extension studies cannot give a proper consent to such research unless they know to which arm of the main trial they were recruited. It is further argued that to recruit certain groups of patients from placebo controlled trials into open label extension studies may also be unethical for clinical reasons.
Clinical issues on consent: some philosophical concerns
Authors: Worthington R 
Published: December 2002

On occasions, laws on consent are subject to modification, largely on account of being subject to common law rather than statute—for example, in the UK. Guideline publications such as the UK Department of HealthReference Guide to Consent for Examination or Treatmentare intended to provide information for clinicians on when and how to apply current laws in everyday clinical situations. While the extent to which guidelines influence clinician behaviour depends on how much they are read and followed, what is also relevant, and sometimes omitted from consideration, is discussion about underlying philosophical concepts.This paper analyses philosophical weaknesses relating to English laws on consent, the main focus of attention beingappliedethics and the rights of adults with incapacity. It draws comparisons between the US and the UK, and advocates changes in English law in order to help rectify weaknesses in patient protection. Discussion includes references to Scottish law, and the use of advance directives, and it voices concerns about over-reliance on “best interests” determinations. The problem is partly one oflogicalanalysis, and what can happen is that best interests determinations fail to show proper respect for adults lacking the capacity to consent to examination or treatment on their own behalf. This is fundamentally a matter of rights, and requires further investigation and appropriate legal remedies in order to respond to ethical deficiencies in English law as it now stands.
Definition and assessment of specific occupational demands concerning lifting, pushing, and pulling based on a systematic literature search: Table 1
Authors: Bos J , Kuijer P P F M , Frings-Dresen M H W 
Published: December 2002

Aims:(1) To find a universal strategy for the identification of specific demands of a job or task, focusing on occupations in which there may be an increased risk for health complaints owing to these specific demands. (2) To select reliable and valid tests concerning lifting, pushing, and pulling, which consider the relation between occupational work demands and the assessment of the maximally acceptable load on an individual level.Methods:Literature search was performed using Medline (1988 to May 2001), Embase (1966 to May 2001), and NIOSHTIC (1971–98).Results:No universal strategy was found for the definition of specific occupational demands. Therefore a “three step strategy” was formulated for defining specific occupational demands in a job or a task in order to prevent health complaints on an individual level. Many tests were found in the literature concerning lifting, but only a few concerning pushing and pulling. None of the tests concerning pushing, pulling, or lifting considered the relation between work demands and the assessment of the maximally acceptable load on an individual level. Furthermore, none of the tests met the criteria of reliability and prognostic value for musculoskeletal complaints completely. Only for the prognostic value of relative strength capacity tests concerning pushing pulling and lifting, did there appear to be limited proof for the development of musculoskeletal complaints.Conclusions:In general, for the prevention of work related health complaints, it can be suggested that more attention should be paid to: (1) the definition of specific occupational demands; (2) the assessment of specific occupational demands; and (3) the quality of tests for specific occupational demands.
Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis of a disability prevention model for back pain management: a six year follow up study
Authors: Loisel P , Lemaire J , Poitras S , Durand M-J , Champagne F , Stock S , Diallo B , Tremblay C 
Published: December 2002

Aims:To test the long term cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness of the Sherbrooke model of management of subacute occupational back pain, combining an occupational and a clinical rehabilitation intervention.Methods:A randomised trial design with four arms was used: standard care, occupational arm, clinical arm, and Sherbrooke model arm (combined occupational and clinical interventions). From the Quebec WCB perspective, a cost-benefit (amount of consequence of disease costs saved) and cost-effectiveness analysis (amount of dollars spent for each saved day on full benefits) were calculated for each experimental arm of the study, compared to standard care.Results:At the mean follow up of 6.4 years, all experimental study arms showed a trend towards cost benefit and cost effectiveness. These results were owing to a small number of very costly cases. The largest number of days saved from benefits was in the Sherbrooke model arm.Conclusions:A fully integrated disability prevention model for occupational back pain appeared to be cost beneficial for the workers’ compensation board and to save more days on benefits than usual care or partial interventions. A limited number of cases were responsible for most of the long term disability costs, in accordance with occupational back pain epidemiology. However, further studies with larger samples will be necessary to confirm these results.
Cross sectional study on lung function of coke oven workers: a lung function surveillance system from 1978 to 1990
Authors: Wu J , Kreis I A , Griffiths D , Darling C 
Published: December 2002

Aims:To determine the association between lung function of coke oven workers and exposure to coke oven emissions.Methods:Lung function data and detailed work histories for workers in recovery coke ovens of a steelworks were extracted from a lung function surveillance system. Multiple regressions were employed to determine significant predictors for lung function indices. The first sets of lung function tests for 613 new starters were pooled to assess the selection bias. The last sets of lung function tests for 834 subjects with one or more year of coke oven history were pooled to assess determinants of lung function.Results:Selection bias associated with the recruitment process was not observed among the exposure groups. For subjects with a history of one or more years of coke oven work, each year of working in the most exposed “operation” position was associated with reductions in FEV1of around 9 ml (p = 0.006, 95% CI: 3 ml to 16 ml) and in FVC of around 12 ml (p = 0.002, 95% CI: 4 ml to 19 ml). Negative effects of smoking on lung function were also observed.Conclusions:Exposure to coke oven emissions was found to be associated with lower FEV1and FVC. Effects of work exposure on lung function are similar to those found in other studies.
Relation between colour vision loss and occupational styrene exposure level
Authors: Gong Y Y , Kishi R , Katakura Y , Tsukishima E , Fujiwara K , Kasai S , Satoh T , Sata F , Kawai T 
Published: December 2002

Aims:To investigate the relation between colour vision loss and the exposure level of styrene. Exposure level included the current exposure concentration, past cumulative exposure, and the maximum exposure level in the past.Methods:Colour vision was examined by the Lanthony desaturated panel D-15 test for 76 subjects exposed to styrene in a fibreglass reinforced plastics boat plant (as an exposed group) and 102 non-exposed subjects (as a control group). The current exposure level was expressed by the concentration of atmospheric styrene and end shift urinary mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) levels. The individual cumulative exposure index (CEI) was calculated, based on the exposure frequency and urinary MA concentrations measured for the past eight years.Results:The Colour Confusion Index (CCI) of the exposed group showed a significant difference from the age matched controls. However, only a slight significant relation was found between CCI and the concentration of urinary MA plus PGA. In this study, the exposed group was further divided into two subgroups (as sub-MA+PGA groups) by the median of urinary MA plus PGA of each subject. The dividing line between the subgroups was 0.24 g/g creatinine, which was equivalent to an atmospheric concentration of styrene of about 10 ppm. The CCI values of both the sub-MA+PGA groups were significantly higher than that of the control group. The relation between CCI value and the maximum exposure concentration in the past eight years was examined. It was found that the CCI values of the group with the maximum exposure concentration of styrene over 50 ppm were significantly higher than that of the other groups.Conclusions:Exposure to styrene would impair colour vision even if the exposure concentration was lower than 10 ppm. Furthermore, if the maximum concentration of styrene exposure transiently exceeded 50 ppm in the past, the styrene related damage might remain. Thus, the safe limit of exposure to styrene and the relation between exposure to styrene and the degree of damage to ocular structure, retina, optic nerve, and brain need to be re-examined.
Respiratory symptoms and diseases among workers in the soft tissue producing industry
Authors: Kraus T , Pfahlberg A , Gefeller O , Raithel H J 
Published: December 2002

Aims:To correlate the prevalence of respiratory tract symptoms and diseases with dust and fibre exposure in the soft tissue industry in Germany.Methods:Ambient monitoring was performed for inhalable, respirable dust and fibres in seven soft tissue producing factories. In 441 workers (72 controls, 90 moderate, 279 high exposure) a standardised questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, diseases, occupational history, and smoking habits was used. Crude differences in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases were assessed. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relation between the respiratory symptoms/diseases and the cumulative dust and fibre exposure, respectively, while adjusting for age, gender, smoking habits, and factory. The effects of exposure intensity and duration were differentiated by categorising dust/fibre concentrations and years of exposure separately and setting up logistic regression models.Results:The mean concentrations for inhalable, respirable, and fibrous dusts were 10.3 mg/m3, 0.22 mg/m3, and 415 000 fibres/m3. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) with relation to cumulative dust exposure intensity were significantly raised for blocked nose (18.2), mucosal irritation (6.5), dry nose (8.9), cough (3.5), phlegm (7.5), exercise induced dyspnoea (2.6), hoarseness (11.3), and sneezing attacks (7.9) (ORs for highest exposure categories). Cumulative dust or fibre exposure had no significant effects on the prevalence of respiratory diseases. For all symptoms with significantly raised ORs, combined effects of intensity and duration of exposure were found.Conclusions:Because of the high prevalence of respiratory symptoms a reduction of dust exposures is recommended. Chronic exposure effects could not be found in this study, however, a healthy worker effect has to be considered.
Self perceived work related stress and the relation with salivary IgA and lysozyme among emergency department nurses
Authors: Yang Y , Koh D , Ng V , Lee C Y , Chan G , Dong F , Goh S H , Anantharaman V , Chia S E 
Published: December 2002

Aims:To assess and compare the self perceived work related stress among emergency department (ED) and general ward (GW) nurses, and to investigate its relation with salivary IgA and lysozyme.Methods:One hundred and thirty two of 208 (63.5%) registered female ED and GW nurses participated in the study. A modified mental health professional stress scale (PSS) was used to measure self perceived stress. ELISA methods were used to determine the salivary IgA and lysozyme levels.Results:On PSS, ED nurses had higher scores (mean 1.51) than GW nurses (1.30). The scores of PSS subscales such as organisational structure and processes (OS), lack of resources (RES), and conflict with other professionals (COF) were higher in ED than in GW nurses. ED nurses had lower secretion rates of IgA (geometric mean (GM) 49.1 μg/min) and lysozyme (GM 20.0 μg/min) than GW nurses (68.2 μg/min, 30.5 μg/min). Significant correlations were observed between PSS and log IgA and lysozyme secretion rates. OS, RES, and COF were correlated with log IgA and lysozyme levels.Conclusion:ED nurses, who reported a higher level of professional stress, showed significantly lower secretion rates of salivary IgA and lysozyme compared to GW nurses. Salivary IgA and lysozyme were inversely correlated with self perceived work related stress. As these salivary biomarkers are reflective of the mucosal immunity, results support the inverse relation between stress and mucosal immunity.
Passive smoking and its impact on employers and employees in Hong Kong
Authors: McGhee S M , Hedley A J , Ho L M 
Published: December 2002

Aims:To estimate the prevalence of passive smoking at work in the whole workforce in Hong Kong (population 6.8 million), the characteristics of the passive smokers, any extra use of health care among passive smokers, and who pays for that health care.Methods:A random sample of 14 325 households was contacted by telephone; 6186 responding adults who worked full time were asked about their employment, their most recent use of health care and the cost of that care, their medical benefits, and their exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace. After weighting the sample for sex, age, household size, and income, 4739 subjects were included in the analysis.Results:Of 1961 full time workers who did not smoke, 47.5% were exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace compared with only 26% exposed at home. Exposure at work was associated with being younger, male, married, less educated, and having a lower income. Those exposed at work were 37% more likely to report having visited a doctor for a respiratory illness in the previous 14 days. Employers were paying 28% of the cost of these visits, the government paid 8%, and the individuals paid 63%. If extrapolated to the 3 million workers in the Hong Kong population, employers would pay just over US$9 million per year, while the affected workers would pay around US$20 million.Conclusion:As well as the costs of active smoking, the cost of extra health care utilisation associated with passive smoking is an additional cost being paid by those employers who have not established smoke free workplaces and by their employees.
Influence of years engaged in agriculture and number of pregnancies and deliveries on mortality of inhabitants of the Jinzu River basin area, Japan
Authors: Kobayashi E , Okubo Y , Suwazono Y , Kido T , Nishijo M , Nakagawa H , Nogawa K 
Published: December 2002

Background:The occurrence of itai-itai disease is thought to be affected by such factors as pregnancy, lactation, hormonal disorders, aging, and calcium deficiency.Aims:To study the influence of years engaged in agriculture and number of pregnancies and deliveries on the mortality of inhabitants of the Jinzu River basin area, which has been an endemic region for itai-itai disease.Methods:From 6667 participants (3181 men, 3486 women; participation rate 93.4%) in the 1967 health survey, 3639 subjects (1591 men, 2048 women) whose years engaged in agriculture were established, and 2559 women/2410 women with a known number of pregnancies/deliveries were selected as the target population. These data were confirmed on the basis of self reported replies confirmed afterwards by interview. The survival survey was conducted for 6127 days from 1 August 1967 to 10 May 1984. Subjects were divided according to three water systems: the Jinzu River, non-Jinzu River, and mixed water system; the influence on mortality of the years engaged in agriculture and the number of pregnancies/deliveries was analysed using a Cox’s proportional hazards model according to the water systems.Results:The mean years engaged in agriculture and mean number of pregnancies/deliveries were not different among the three water systems. Cox’s hazard ratios of these parameters to mortality were not statistically significant in the any of the water systems.Conclusions:Neither the years engaged in agriculture nor the number of pregnancies/deliveries influenced mortality in subjects living not only in the non-Jinzu River basin but also in the Jinzu River basin using a Cox’s proportional hazards model.
Two-loop QED bound-state calculations and squared decay rates
Authors: Jentschura U D , Keitel C H , Pachucki K 
Published: December 2002

We discuss the ε method as used in various recent QED bound-state calculations by considering mathematical-model examples. Recently obtained results for higher order self-energy binding corrections at the two-loop level are reviewed. Problems associated with the interpretation of squared decay rates as radiative bound-state energy-level shifts are discussed. We briefly expand on the relation of squared decay rates to nonresonant and radiative corrections to the Lorentzian line shape, including their dependence on the experimental process under study. PACS Nos.: 31.15-p, 12.20Ds
A new value for the mass of the electron from an experiment on the g factor in 12C5+ and 16O7+
Authors: Beier T , Djekic S , Häffner H , Hermanspahn N , Kluge H -J , Quint W , Stahl S , Valenzuela T , Verdú J , Werth G 
Published: December 2002

We present a derivation of the electron's mass from our experiment on the electronic g factor in 12C5+ and 16O7+ together with the most recent quantum-electrodynamical predictions. The value obtained from carbon reads me = 0.000 548 579 909 3(3) u, that from oxygen me = 0.000 548 579 909 2(5) u. The value from carbon agrees with the currently accepted one within 1.5σ but is four times more precise. The contributions to the uncertainties of our values are discussed. PACS Nos.: 14.60Cd, 06.20Jr, 31.30Jv, and 32.10Fn
Optical measurement of the 2S hyperfine interval in atomic hydrogen
Authors: Fischer M , Kolachevsky N , Karshenboim S G , Hänsch T W 
Published: December 2002

We report on work towards an optical measurement of the 2S hyperfine interval in atomic hydrogen. The experimental setup, possible systematic effects, and first preliminary results are discussed. PACS Nos.: 12.20Fv, 32.10Fn, 32.30Jc, 42.62Fi
Cascade problems in precision physics with muonic and hadronic hydrogen
Authors: Markushin V E 
Published: December 2002

Recent progress in the theory of atomic cascade in hydrogen-like exotic atoms is reviewed from the viewpoint of precision experiments with µ  p, π p, K  p, and [Formula: see text]p atoms. PACS Nos.: 36.10-k, 32.30Rj, 32.70Jz, 32.80Cy
Nonvariational and nonadiabatic calculations on the hydrogen molecular ion and its µ  isotopes
Authors: Yakhontov V , Jungen M 
Published: December 2002

A nonadiabatic, nonvariational, and computationally inexpensive scheme to describe bound and continuum states of three-body molecular ions, including µ -mesonic ions, is proposed. The method relies on treating perturbatively the nonadiabatic coupling between the BornOppenheimer (BO) particle states and nuclear motion terms, such that the appropriate expansion parameter is the mass ratio of the lightest particle in the system to that of the heaviest one. In practice, the method requires solving, numerically, a system of coupled inhomogeneous Schrödinger equations with effective potentials that depend on the "internuclear" separation, R, and allow for the mixing of BO states because of nonadiabatic terms in the Hamiltonian. The utility of our approach is clearly evidenced by the results of the numerical calculations carried out for rovibrational states of several lowest J in the H+2 and (ppµ) molecules. These demonstrate that nonadiabatic eigenenergies and eigenstates, both of the bound and scattering type, for ordinary as well as µ-mesonic molecules can be directly and quite accurately calculated from the same principles in the entire range of R, without making use of the variational techniques that more sophisticated studies of this kind are usually based on. PACS Nos.: 31.15Ar, 31.15Pf
Recent results and current status of the muon g  2 experiment at BNL
Authors: Redin S I , Carey R M , Efstathiadis E , Hare M F , Huang X , Krinen F , Lam A , Miller J P , Paley J , Peng Q , Rind O , Roberts B L , Sulak L R , Trofimov A , Bennett G W , Brown H N , Bunce G , Danby G T , Larsen R , Lee Y Y , Meng W , Mi J , Morse W M , Nikas D , Ozben C , Prigl R , Semertzidis Y K , Warburton D , Druzhinin V P , Fedotovich G V , Grigoriev D , Khazin B I , Logashenko I B , Ryskulov N M , Shatunov Yu. M , Solodov E P , Orlov Yu. F , Winn D , Grossmann A , Jungmann K , Putlitz G zu , Walter P von , Debevec P T , Deninger W , Gray F , Hertzog D W , Onderwater C JG , Polly C , Sedykh S , Sossong M , Urner D , Yamamoto A , Bousquet B , Cushman P , Duong L , Giron S , Kindem J , Kronkvist I , McNabb R , Qian T , Shagin P , Timmermans C , Zimmerman D , Iwasaki M , Kawamura M , Deile M , Deng H , Dhawan S K , Farley F J , Grosse-Perdekamp M , Hughes V W , Kawall D , Pretz J , Sichtermann E P , Steinmetz A 
Published: December 2002

The muon (g  2) experiment E821 is currently in progress at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Four data-taking runs for positive muons and one run for negative muons were successfully accomplished in 19972000 and 2001, respectively. Results of the 19972000 runs have been published, thus completing our experiment for µ+. Data analysis for the 2001 run for µ  is currently in progress. To provide measurement of aµ = ½(g  2)µ at the same level of accuracy as for aµ+ = ½(g  2)µ+, we would need one more data-taking run. PACS Nos.: 31.15Pf, 31.30Jv, 32.10Hq
Precise theory of the Stark effect on hydrogen- and helium-like atoms
Authors: Ovsiannikov V D , Pal'chikov V G 
Published: December 2002

The relativistic effects on the dipole polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities are considered for different kinds of energy levels in hydrogen- and helium-like atoms. The relativistic Coulomb Green's function is used for calculating the susceptibilities of the ground-state hydrogen up to terms of order (α Z)10. Both relativistic and interelectronic corrections are determined for the ground state of helium. The formulas are given for polarizability and hyperpolarizability in the relativistic "screened-charge" approximation. The anticrossing of the triplet 3PJ states with zero magnetic quantum number is studied on the basis of perturbation theory for degenerate states. General expressions are given for the dipole matrix elements, up to the fourth order in field strength, within the basis of close fine-structure substates with equal angular momenta L and different total momenta J. The calculation of the higher order matrix elements is carried out with the use of the Green's function in the model potential approximation. PACS Nos.: 31.10Dk, 31.15Ar, 31.30Jv, 32.10-f, 31.25Eb