bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ocular lens blue autofluorescence cannot be used as a measure of individual cumulative UVR exposure
Authors: Sandby‐Møller Jane , Thieden Elisabeth , Alshede philipsen Peter , Schmidt Grethe , Christian wulf Hans 
Published: January 2004

Background/Purpose: The accumulation of fluorophores in the ocular lens with age might be caused by ultraviolet solar radiation (UVR) exposure, but evidence of a relation between individual cumulative UVR exposure and lens autofluorescence is lacking. Individually determined UVR exposure has never before been related to lens autofluorescence, and the aim of this study was to investigate if ocular lens blue autofluorescence can be used as a biological UVR dosimeter.Methods: Ocular lens autofluorescence was quantified in vivo by fluorescence spectroscopy in 145 volunteers (108 healthy subjects, 18 with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 19 with cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM)). The excitation wavelength was 350 nm and the fluorescence emission was 450 nm. Individual UVR exposure data were collected both retrospectively and prospectively using questionnaires and electronic personal UVR dosimeters.Results: Lens blue autofluorescence increased significantly with age (P=0.01), and females had significantly higher autofluorescence than males (P=0.024); the two factors explained 10% of the total variation in lens autofluorescence. Neither smoking habits nor use of glasses/contact lenses or sunglasses influenced autofluorescence. No correlations between autofluorescence and UVR exposure measurements were found, and neither was there a difference in autofluorescence between groups with high and low UVR exposure (P‐values>0.1), respectively. MM patients had significantly (P=0.019) higher autofluorescence than healthy subjects when age and sex differences were taken into account; no such difference (P=0.097) was detected between BCC patients and healthy subjects.Conclusion: The results indicate that age and gender only play a minor role in the level of lens blue autofluorescence. Exposure to UVR has been suggested to be responsible for a part of the age‐related increase in autofluorescence, but this could not be confirmed in this study. The higher level of lens autofluorescence found in MM patients might be due to genetics rather than higher cumulative UVR exposure. In conclusion, ocular lens blue autofluorescence cannot be used as a biological UVR dosimeter.
Iron chelation can modulate UVA‐induced lipid peroxidation and ferritin expression in human reconstructed epidermis
Authors: Seité Sophie , Popovic Evelyne , Verdier Marie Paule , Roguet Roland , Portes Pascal , Cohen Catherine , Fourtanier Anny , Galey Jean Baptiste 
Published: January 2004

Background/Purpose: As ferritin has been identified as an important factor in antioxidant defense in cultured human skin cells, we evaluated UVA‐induced lipid hydroperoxides (LPO) production and ferritin expression in reconstructed human epidermis in vitro.Results: Ferritin is regularly present in the basal layer of unirradiated epidermis both in the human skin in vivo and in the reconstructed human epidermis in vitro. Following acute UVA exposure, ferritin expression increased in basal epidermal cells in both models. Quantitative analysis showed that, in reconstructed human epidermis, LPO and ferritin levels increased linearly with the UVA dose. An iron chelator, OR10141, inhibited these inductions.Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that reconstructed human epidermis is a useful in vitro model to study UVA‐induced oxidative stress and protection afforded by iron chelators, antioxidants or UVA absorbers.
Effect of clothing varieties on solar photosynthesis of previtamin D3: an in vitro study
Authors: Salih Fadhil M. 
Published: January 2004

Background/Purpose: Vitamin D3 plays important roles in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the gastrointestinal tract and in the treatment of rickets; in addition, it facilitates the deposition of minerals in bones, thus minimizing the possibility of developing osteomalacia. Sunlight naturally induces vitamin D3 photosynthesis. Such a process is affected by a number of factors such as age, geographical location, skin color, sunscreen application and clothing. It is intended in the present investigation to study in vitro the effect of clothing on the solar photoproduction of vitamin D3.Methods: Fifteen different fabric samples were tested for their effect on the efficiency of the in vitro solar conversion of 7‐dehydrocholesterol (7‐DHC) to vitamin D3. 7‐DHC was dissolved in methanol to give a concentration of 2.6×10−4 M. Solutions were exposed to sunlight in quartz containers for predetermined periods either uncovered or covered with the fabric sample under test. Changes in the concentrations of 7‐DHC and the photoproducts were monitored by HPLC. Fabrics were graded as the number of threads per square inch (in2), and their sunlight attenuation was determined.Results: 7‐DHC is transformed to previtamin D3 upon exposure to sunlight, and the amount generated exhibited an almost linear relationship. When fabric‐covered samples of 7‐DHC were irradiated, photoproducts were also detected and their concentrations depended on the degree of sunlight attenuation imposed by the fabric. Generally, the higher the number of threads per in2 the more the light attenuation produced.Conclusion: Clothing plays an important role in attenuating sunlight, thus leading to diminished vitamin D3 production to an extent that would require dietary compensation.
Topical exposure to exogenous ultraviolet‐irradiated urocanic acid enhances Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in a Crl:IAF(HA)‐hrBR hairless guinea‐pig model of Buruli ulcer disease
Authors: Cope R. B. , Stang B. , Valentine B. A. , Bermudez L. E. 
Published: January 2004

Background: Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) pre‐exposure enhances Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in the Crl:IAF(HA)‐hrBR hairless guinea‐pig, possibly via a photoimmunosuppressive mechanism. The trans–cis photoisomerization of epidermal urocanic acid is an important initiator of the web of events leading to photoimmunosuppression. Thus, the hypothesis tested in this paper was that topical pre‐exposure to UVR‐irradiated urocanic acid mixture containing cis‐urocanic acid (UVR‐UCA) enhances the ulcerative form of M. ulcerans infection in the Crl:IAF(HA)‐hrBR hairless guinea‐pig model of human Buruli ulcer disease.Methods: Groups of six animals were subjected to daily topical treatment with either 0 (vehicle only), 0.1, 0.5 or 1 mg of trans (tUCA) or UVR‐UCA (contained a cis : trans urocanic acid isomer ratio of 1 : 9) for three consecutive days. A sham treatment group was also included in the experiment. Three days following their final treatment, the guinea‐pigs were intradermally infected in the right dorsal flank with 1.5×107 CFU of M. ulcerans in 0.1 ml of phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) and sham infected with 0.1 ml of PBS in the left dorsal flank. The resultant skin lesions were then measured over the next 21 days. At day 21 postinfection, the animals were tested for delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactivity to M. ulcerans cell fragment antigens (MCF).Results: Distinct, well‐demarcated, dermally situated skin nodules were present at infected, but not sham‐infected, skin sites by day 3 postinfection, and the lesions progressed to frank ulcers by day 5. Between days 5 and 21, the mean lesion diameters of the UVR‐UCA‐treated animals were significantly (P<0.001) greater than those of the sham, vehicle only or tUCA‐treated groups. UVR‐UCA‐treated guinea‐pigs also had significantly (P<0.001) suppressed DTH responses to MCF compared with the other treatment groups. There were no significant (P>0.4) differences between the lesion sizes and DTH responses of the tUCA, vehicle only or sham treatment groups. These results demonstrate that topical exposure to UVR‐UCA promotes M. ulcerans infection and suppresses DTH responses to M. uclerans antigens in infected animals. These results lend credence to the hypothesis that UVR‐mediated enhancement of Buruli ulcer disease in the Crl:IAF(HA)‐hrBR hairless guinea‐pig model occurs via modulation of cis‐urocanic acid‐susceptible immune pathways.
Accuracy of task recall for epidemiological exposure assessment to construction noise
Authors: Reeb-Whitaker C K , Seixas N S , Sheppard L , Neitzel R 
Published: January 2004

Aims:To validate the accuracy of construction worker recall of task and environment based information; and to evaluate the effect of task recall on estimates of noise exposure.Methods:A cohort of 25 construction workers recorded tasks daily and had dosimetry measurements weekly for six weeks. Worker recall of tasks reported on the daily activity cards was validated with research observations and compared directly to task recall at a six month interview.Results:The mean LEQnoise exposure level (dBA) from dosimeter measurements was 89.9 (n = 61) and 83.3 (n = 47) for carpenters and electricians, respectively. The percentage time at tasks reported during the interview was compared to that calculated from daily activity cards; only 2/22 tasks were different at the nominal 5% significance level. The accuracy, based on bias and precision, of percentage time reported for tasks from the interview was 53–100% (median 91%). For carpenters, the difference in noise estimates derived from activity cards (mean 91.9 dBA) was not different from those derived from the questionnaire (mean 91.7 dBA). This trend held for electricians as well. For all subjects, noise estimates derived from the activity card and the questionnaire were strongly correlated with dosimetry measurements. The average difference between the noise estimate derived from the questionnaire and dosimetry measurements was 2.0 dBA, and was independent of the actual exposure level.Conclusions:Six months after tasks were performed, construction workers were able to accurately recall the percentage time they spent at various tasks. Estimates of noise exposure based on long term recall (questionnaire) were no different from estimates derived from daily activity cards and were strongly correlated with dosimetry measurements, overestimating the level on average by 2.0 dBA.
The dissemination of anthrax from imported wool: Kidderminster 1900–14
Authors: Carter T 
Published: January 2004

Background:A century ago anthrax was a continuing health risk in the town of Kidderminster. The distribution of cases in people and in animals provides an indication of the routes by which spores were disseminated. The response to these cases provides an insight into attitudes to an occupational and environmental risk at the time and can be compared with responses in more recent times.Aims:To assess the distribution of anthrax cases associated with the use of contaminated wool and to review the response to them.Methods:The area studied was Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England, from 1900 to 1914. Data sources were national records of the Factory Inspectorate and local records from the infirmary, Medical Officer of Health and inquest reports, and county agricultural records, supplemented by contemporary and later review articles. Case reports and summary data were analysed, and discussions and actions taken to improve precautions reviewed.Results:There were 36 cases of anthrax, with five deaths, one of which was the sole case of the internal form of the disease. Cases of cutaneous anthrax were most frequently found in those handling raw wool, but they also occurred in workers at later stages of the spinning process and in people with little or no recorded exposure to contaminated wool. Limited precautionary measures were in place at the start of the study period. Some improvements were made, especially in the treatment of infections, but wool with a high risk of anthrax contamination continued to be used and cases continued to arise. Major changes were made to the disposal of waste and to agricultural practice in contaminated areas to curtail outbreaks in farm animals.Conclusions:The introduction of anthrax as a contaminant of imported wool led not only to cases in the highly exposed groups of workers but also to cases in other members of the population and in farm animals. The measures taken during the study period reduced fatalities from cutaneous anthrax but did not eliminate the disease. Public concern about the cases was muted.
Lung cancer and dust exposure: results of a prospective cohort study following 3260 workers for 50 years
Authors: Moshammer H , Neuberger M 
Published: January 2004

Aims:To study the lasting health impact of occupational dust exposure on life expectancy and specific causes of death.Methods:Male Viennese workers, selected at age ⩾40 (mean 54) years during preventive check-ups between 1950 and 1960, were followed prospectively until death. Half of them (1630) were exposed at work to (non-fibrous) particulates, while the non-exposed workers were matched for year, age, and smoking status at the start of observation.Results:Average life expectancy of those exposed was 1.6 years less than that of those non-exposed. Only a small part of this decrease in life expectancy (hazards ratios in brackets) was related to acknowledged occupational diseases such as silicosis and silicotuberculosis (67.12). Chronic obstructive lung disease (1.82) and cancer of the lung (1.42) and stomach (1.77) were found more frequently among those exposed.Conclusions:Results support the hypothesis that high exposure to insoluble particulates such as silica in the metal, glass, ceramics, and stone industries promotes bronchial cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The finding of an increased incidence of stomach cancer might be related to particles swallowed after clearance from the airways.
Update of a prospective study of mortality and cancer incidence in the Australian petroleum industry
Authors: Gun R T , Pratt N L , Griffith E C , Adams G G , Bisby J A , Robinson K L 
Published: January 2004

Aims:To update the analysis of the cohort mortality and cancer incidence study of employees in the Australian petroleum industry.Methods:Employees from 1981 to 1996 were traced through the Australian National Death Index and the National Cancer Statistics Clearing House. Cause specific mortality and cancer incidence were compared with those of the Australian population by means of standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and standardised incidence ratios (SIRs). Associations between increased incidence of specific cancers and employment in the petroleum industry were tested by trends according to period of first employment, duration of employment, latency, and hydrocarbon exposure, adjusting for personal smoking history where appropriate. Total follow up time was 176 598 person-years for males and 10 253 person-years for females.Results:A total of 692 of the 15 957 male subjects, and 16 of the 1206 female subjects had died by the cut off date, 31 December 1996. In males, the all-cause SMR and the SMRs for all major disease categories were significantly below unity. There was a non-significant increase of the all-cancer SIR (1.04, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.11). There was a significant increase of the incidence of melanoma (SIR 1.54, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.81), bladder cancer (SIR 1.37, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.83), and prostate cancer (SIR 1.19, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.40), and a marginally significant excess of pleural mesothelioma (SIR 1.80, 95% CI 0.90 to 3.22), leukaemia (SIR 1.39, 95%CI 0.91 to 2.02), and multiple myeloma (SIR 1.72, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.84).Conclusions:Most cases of mesothelioma are probably related to past exposure to asbestos in refineries. The melanoma excess may be the result of early diagnosis. The excess bladder cancer has not been observed previously in this industry and is not readily explained. The divergence between cancer incidence and cancer mortality suggests that the “healthy worker effect” may be related to early reporting of curable cancers, leading to increased likelihood of cure and prolonged mean survival time.
The association between sex segregation, working conditions, and sickness absence among employed women
Authors: Hensing G , Alexanderson K 
Published: January 2004

Aims:To analyse the association between sickness absence and sex segregation of occupation and of work site, respectively, and to analyse work environmental factors associated with high sickness absence.Methods:The study group consisted of 1075 women employed as nurses, assistant nurses, medical secretaries, or metal workers who answered a questionnaire comprising 218 questions on women’s health and living conditions. Sickness absence was collected from employers’ and social insurance registers.Results:Women working in the male dominated occupation had in general higher sickness absence compared to those working in female dominated occupations. However, metal workers at female dominated work sites had 2.98 (95% CI 2.17 to 3.79) sick-leave spells per woman and year compared to 1.70 (95% CI 1.29 to 2.10) among those working with almost only men. In spite of a better physical work environment, female metal workers at a female dominated work site had a higher sickness absence than other women, which probably could be explained by the worse psychosocial work environment. Working with more women also had a positive association to increased frequency of sick-leave spells in a multivariate analysis including several known indicators of increased sick-leave.Conclusions:There was an association between sickness absence and sex segregation, in different directions at the occupational and work site level. The mechanism behind this needs to be more closely understood regarding selection in and out of an occupation and a certain work site.
Psychosocial work environment and indoor air problems: a questionnaire as a means of problem diagnosis
Authors: Lahtinen M , Sundman-Digert C , Reijula K 
Published: January 2004

Aims:To examine the relation between the psychosocial work environment and the perceived indoor air problems measured by a questionnaire survey; and to discuss the role of a questionnaire as a means to enhance collaboration in the challenging multiprofessional process of solving indoor air problems.Methods:The research material comprises surveys conducted in 1996–99 in 122 office workplaces with 11 154 employees.Results:The association between the psychosocial work environment measured by the Indoor Air Questionnaire (MM-40) and the occupants’ complaints concerning indoor air as well as symptoms attributed to indoor air was significant. Those who perceived their psychosocial work environment more negatively had more complaints regarding the indoor environment and more symptoms attributed to the indoor air. The association was detected among both genders, in every age group, among smokers and non-smokers, and respondents with an allergic or a non-allergic background.Conclusions:Results support the hypothesis that psychosocial factors in the work environment play a significant role in indoor air problems at workplaces. The survey data can be used as a reference database for future studies, and in occupational health care practice when the working conditions of individual workplaces are estimated. The MM-40 could be useful as a practical screening method in field work for analysing the role of the psychosocial work environment among the different background factors of an indoor air problem. However, in order to interpret and evaluate the significance of the results concerning a single workplace, more information on the organisation is needed, as well as cooperation and discussions with the staff. Further studies of the reliability and validity of the psychosocial questions in MM-40 are also needed.
Attention and working memory in resident anaesthetists after night duty: group and individual effects
Authors: Bartel P , Offermeier W , Smith F , Becker P 
Published: January 2004

Aims:To investigate the effects of a single period of night duty on measures of attention and working memory in a group of residents (registrars) in anaesthesiology. Emphasis was placed on individual deficits using a reference point of the equivalent effect of a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >0.05% determined by other researchers.Methods:There were 33 subjects aged 26–42 years. Night duty was performed on a weekly basis. Baseline assessments were conducted at either 08 15 or 08 55 preceding night duty and repeated 24–25 hours later, just after the completion of duty. Questionnaires included items regarding duration of sleep and the Stanford Sleepiness Scale. A battery of four reaction time (RT) tasks of increasing difficulty, lasting approximately 35 minutes, was administered on a personal computer. These ranged from simple RT to progressively more complex RT tasks incorporating working memory. A significant change was regarded as >15% deterioration in respect of speed or accuracy.Results:The mean duration of sleep preceding night duty was 7.04 hours and 1.66 hours during the period of night duty. Intergroup comparisons revealed significant prolongation in mean response speed in the first three tests. Mean accuracy was significantly reduced only in respect of the two more complex tests. A >15% deterioration in response speed occurred in up to 30% of subjects on a single task, rising to 52% (17/33) overall. Deterioration occurred in a patchy distribution in most subjects, involving no more than one or two of the four tasks. As regards accuracy, the prevalence of deterioration increased with task complexity.Conclusions:Results are in general agreement with previous group analyses. A new dimension was added by the analysis of a broad spectrum of individual response to sleep deprivation. The effects of sleep loss in residents cannot be overlooked, even in a relatively benign work schedule.
Risk of selected birth defects by maternal residence close to power lines during pregnancy: Table 1
Authors: Blaasaas K G , Tynes T , Lie R T 
Published: January 2004

Aims:To evaluate selected birth outcomes from a published Norwegian cohort study in a nested case-control design with improved exposure data.Methods:Two controls matched for sex, year of birth, and municipality were selected randomly for children with the following defects: central nervous system (CNS) defects, cardiac defects, respiratory system defects, oesophageal defects, and clubfoot. The distances between maternal addresses, during pregnancy, and power lines were obtained from maps mainly of scale 1:5000. The magnetic fields in the residences were estimated based on distance, current, voltage, and configuration.Results:The highest increased risks were seen for hydrocephalus (OR 1.73, 95% CI 0.26 to 11.64) and for cardiac defects (OR 1.54, 95% CI 0.89 to 2.68).Conclusion:This study does not support the hypothesis that residential exposure to electromagnetic fields from power lines causes any of the investigated outcomes.