Medizin
Refine
Year of publication
Document Type
- Article (135) (remove)
Has Fulltext
- yes (135) (remove)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (135)
Keywords
- particulate matter (6)
- environmental tobacco smoke (5)
- prevalence (5)
- Gender (4)
- Kinematic analysis (4)
- MSD (4)
- bibliometry (4)
- Citation analysis (3)
- Density equalizing mapping (3)
- Knowledge (3)
- Musculoskeletal disorder (3)
- dental profession (3)
- dentist (3)
- gender (3)
- tobacco prevention (3)
- Access (2)
- Attitude (2)
- COPD (2)
- CUELA (2)
- Cuela (2)
- Dentist (2)
- Global health (2)
- Knees (2)
- Malaria (2)
- Musculoskeletal system (2)
- Nepal (2)
- Postural control (2)
- Prevalence (2)
- Prevention (2)
- Public health (2)
- Research architecture (2)
- Scientists (2)
- Zika virus (2)
- additives (2)
- asthma (2)
- citation (2)
- climate change (2)
- coronavirus (2)
- dental assistants (2)
- dental education (2)
- dentists (2)
- inertial motion capture (2)
- medical students (2)
- musculoskeletal (2)
- musculoskeletal disorders (2)
- nursery schools (2)
- occupational health (2)
- pain (2)
- physical activity (2)
- questionnaire (2)
- school-based prevention (2)
- scientometry (2)
- second-hand smoke (2)
- smoking (2)
- smoking cessation (2)
- therapy (2)
- tobacco smoke (2)
- (novel) brominated flame retardants ((N)BFR) (1)
- Academics (1)
- Accessibility (1)
- Acer platanoides (1)
- Adenocarcinoma (1)
- Aedes aegypti (1)
- Aedes albopictus (1)
- Airways (1)
- Akaike information criterion (AIC) (1)
- Allergy (1)
- Area deprivation (1)
- Arms (1)
- Asthma (1)
- Auric nanoparticles (1)
- Australia (1)
- Automatic Environmental Tobacco Smoke Emitter (1)
- Awareness (1)
- Back pain (1)
- Ballet (1)
- Bibliometric analysis (1)
- Bibliometrics (1)
- COVID-19 (1)
- CUELA system (1)
- Canada (1)
- Cancer epidemiology (1)
- Career promotion (1)
- Chemical biology (1)
- Chemical company (1)
- Chemical ecology (1)
- Chikungunya virus (1)
- Child adiposity (1)
- Chronic obstructive airway disease (1)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1)
- Cigarettes (1)
- Citation (1)
- Citationrate (1)
- Cohort study (1)
- Community health services (1)
- Computer hardware (1)
- Computer science (1)
- Computer software (1)
- Computers (1)
- Coniosporium corticale (1)
- Constrained posture (1)
- Cross-sectional study (1)
- Cryptostroma corticale (1)
- Cytokine (1)
- Dancer (1)
- Dengue (1)
- Dengue fever (1)
- Dengue virus (1)
- Density equalizing (1)
- Density-equalizing mapping (1)
- Diabetes mellitus (1)
- Disabling back pain (1)
- Disease burden (1)
- Distance to water (1)
- Distribution (1)
- ETS (1)
- Economic analysis (1)
- Economic benchmarks (1)
- Elevation (1)
- Endometriosis (1)
- Environmental chemistry (1)
- Epidemiology (1)
- Equity (1)
- Ergonomics (1)
- Europe (1)
- Evidence based medicine (1)
- Factor analysis (1)
- Female (1)
- Five-Konzept (1)
- Formation dance (1)
- Funding (1)
- Gender analysis (1)
- General practitioner (1)
- Geographically weighted regression (GWR) (1)
- Germany (1)
- Gestational diabetes (1)
- Gold (1)
- H-Index (1)
- HPV (1)
- Health care (1)
- Health economics (1)
- Health policy (1)
- Health services (1)
- Healthcare worker (1)
- Hepatitis B (1)
- Hepatitis B infection (1)
- Hepatitis B vaccination (1)
- High-income countries (1)
- Hindu Kush Himalayas (1)
- Hip (1)
- Iceland (1)
- In-vivo (1)
- Incidence (1)
- Index (1)
- Indoor air pollution (1)
- Injuries (1)
- Intensive care (1)
- Internet (1)
- Interspecific competition (1)
- Jaw (1)
- Jumping (1)
- KAP (1)
- Kinematic posture analysis (1)
- Kinematics (1)
- Laterality (1)
- Legs (1)
- Livestock (1)
- Local climate (1)
- Lung (1)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (1)
- Malaria prevalence (1)
- Male (1)
- Maple bark disease (1)
- Maple bark strippers’ lung (1)
- Mapping (1)
- Medical research (1)
- Medical staff (1)
- Medicine (1)
- Medicine and health sciences (1)
- Mental health (1)
- Mental health and psychiatry (1)
- Microalgae (1)
- Motor skills (1)
- Mountain (1)
- Multinomial logistic regression (1)
- Multivariable analysis (1)
- Musculoskeletal diseases (1)
- Music chair concepts (1)
- Musician (1)
- Musician-specific seating position (1)
- Myalgia (1)
- Neonatal outcome (1)
- Neurology (1)
- Neurotransmitter (1)
- Niche differentiation (1)
- Nordic questionnaire (1)
- Normal distribution (1)
- Obstetric care (1)
- Occupational Accidents (1)
- Occupational disease (1)
- Occupational exposure (1)
- Occupational health (1)
- Occupational medicine (1)
- Ordinary least squares (OLS) (1)
- Orthodontist (1)
- Ovarian carcinoma (1)
- PM (1)
- Particulate matter (1)
- Performing Artists (1)
- Physical environment (1)
- Physical therapist (1)
- Posture (1)
- Posture analysis (1)
- Poverty (1)
- Practice (1)
- Primary care (1)
- Prototypes (1)
- Psychology (1)
- Public and occupational health (1)
- Publication (1)
- Publication output (1)
- Rainfall (1)
- Research trends (1)
- Resource competition (1)
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (1)
- Restricted posture (1)
- Rural area (1)
- Rush (1)
- Rush-SIT (1)
- SARS (1)
- SF-36 (1)
- SOCS (1)
- Science structure (1)
- Scientific publishing (1)
- Scientometria (1)
- Scientometric analysis (1)
- Scientometrics (1)
- Scientometry (1)
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (1)
- Sex (1)
- Silicosis (1)
- Social epidemiology (1)
- Social health determinants (1)
- Social research (1)
- Social sciences (1)
- Socio-economic analysis (1)
- Socioeconomic status (1)
- Software tool (1)
- Stringed bow player (1)
- Study protocol (1)
- Sumatra (1)
- Sustainable Development (1)
- Sycamore (1)
- Systematic reviews (1)
- Three-dimensional back scan (1)
- Torque (1)
- Toxicology (1)
- Transportation (1)
- Traumatic injury (1)
- Tubers (1)
- United States (1)
- Upper body posture (1)
- Urban (1)
- VIP (1)
- VPAC1 (1)
- Vitamin D (1)
- Water chemistry (1)
- Workplace (1)
- Zika (1)
- Zika vaccine (1)
- Zoopotentation (1)
- Zooprophylaxis (1)
- academic (1)
- adaptation plan (1)
- adolescents (1)
- adverse reaction (1)
- air pollution (1)
- airborne bacteria (1)
- allergy (1)
- analgesics (1)
- anaphylactic reactions (1)
- animal (1)
- apps (1)
- architecture (1)
- aromatics (1)
- athletes (1)
- atopy (1)
- authorship (1)
- automatic environmental tobacco smoke emitter (1)
- brain function (1)
- car indoor (1)
- carbon oxides (COx) (1)
- cigarette (1)
- cigarette smoke (1)
- cigarette strength (1)
- cigarillos (1)
- cleaning (1)
- coauthor ship (1)
- cognition (1)
- confinement (1)
- decision-making (1)
- declaration of tobacco ingredients (1)
- density equalizing mapping (1)
- dental assistant (1)
- dental health professional (1)
- depression (1)
- dermatology (1)
- diarrhoeal disease (1)
- disasters (1)
- ectopic pregnancy (1)
- endocarditis (1)
- ergonomics (1)
- exercise on prescription (1)
- face (1)
- female health (1)
- fungi (1)
- gender studies (1)
- genetic predisposition (1)
- glioblastoma (1)
- guinea pig (1)
- h-index (1)
- health (1)
- health care (1)
- healthcare worker (1)
- high molecular weight plasticizer (1)
- human papilloma virus (1)
- humectant agents (1)
- hymenoptera (1)
- immunity (1)
- immunization (1)
- impact factor (1)
- in-cabin exposure (1)
- indoor air pollution (1)
- infectious disease (1)
- internet (1)
- kinematics (1)
- maternal tobacco smoke (1)
- medical history (1)
- medication (1)
- mental health (1)
- menthol (1)
- mice (1)
- mobile air quality study (1)
- molecular mechanisms (1)
- mountain (1)
- movement pattern (1)
- movement profile (1)
- musculoskeletal pain (1)
- myocarditis (1)
- network (1)
- nitrogen dioxide (1)
- nitrogen oxides (NOx) (1)
- noise intervention measures (1)
- non-communicable disease (1)
- non-communicable diseases (1)
- novel H1N1 influenza (1)
- nursery school students (1)
- nursery students (1)
- nurses (1)
- occupational factors (1)
- occupational stress (1)
- organophosphate flame retardants (OFR) (1)
- orthodontist (1)
- pain medication (1)
- particle size distribution (1)
- particulate matter (PM) (1)
- passive smoke (1)
- pericarditis (1)
- photoaging (1)
- physical activity counseling (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- prevent smoking (1)
- public health (1)
- publication (1)
- quality of life (1)
- rat (1)
- reproduction biology (1)
- research (1)
- running (1)
- scientometrics (1)
- secondary schools (1)
- self-citation (1)
- sex (1)
- size of cigarettes (1)
- skin (1)
- smoking in pregnancy (1)
- sound analyses (1)
- sports (1)
- statistical parametric mapping (1)
- stretching (1)
- structure (1)
- sulfur dioxide (1)
- tobacco (1)
- tobacco cessation (1)
- tobacco control (1)
- tobacco products (1)
- tobacco taxation (1)
- traffic emissions (1)
- triathlon (1)
- unanticipated (1)
- vaccination (1)
- vaccine acceptance (1)
- vaccine trial (1)
- vacuuming (1)
- vector-borne disease (1)
- ventilation modes (1)
- volatile organic compounds (VOC) (1)
- wheezing (1)
- willingness to participate (1)
- work ability (1)
- working conditions (1)
- workplace health promotion (1)
Background: A number of scientific papers on yellow fever have been published but no broad scientometric analysis on the published research of yellow fever has been reported. The aim of the article based study was to provide an in-depth evaluation of the yellow fever field using large-scale data analysis and employment of bibliometric indicators of production and quantity.
Methods: Data were retrieved from the Web of Science database (WoS) and analyzed as part of the NewQis platform. Then data were extracted from each file, transferred to databases and visualized as diagrams. Partially by means of density-equalizing mapping makes the findings clear and emphasizes the output of the analysis.
Results: In the study period from 1900 to 2012 a total of 5,053 yellow fever-associated items were published by 79 countries. The United States (USA) having the highest publication rate at 42% (n = 751) followed by far from Brazil (n = 203), France (n = 149) and the United Kingdom (n = 113). The most productive journals are the "Public Health Reports", the "American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene" and the "Journal of Virology". The gender analysis showed an overall steady increase of female authorship from 1950 to 2011. Brazil is the only country of the five most productive countries with a higher proportion of female scientists.
Conclusions: The present data shows an increase in research productivity over the entire study period, in particular an increase of female scientists. Brazil shows a majority of female authors, a fact that is confirmed by other studies.
Background: Despite the numerous associations of vitamin D with health and disease, vitamin D deficiency is still common from a global perspective. While basic research, clinical and preventive activities grow constantly in vitamin D research, there is no in-depth analysis of the related global scientific productivity available so far.
Methods: Density equalizing mapping procedures (DEMP) were combined with socioeconomic benchmarks using the NewQIS platform.
Results: A total of 25,992 vitamin D-related research articles were identified between 1900 to 2014 with a significant increase (r2 = .6541) from 1900 to 2014. Authors located in Northern America – especially in the USA – distributed the majority of global vitamin D research, followed by their Western European counterparts. DEMP-analysis illustrates that Africa and South America exhibit only minor scientific productivity. Among high-income group countries, Scandinavian nations such as Denmark or Finland (2147.9 and 1607.7 vitamin D articles per GDP in 1000 billion USD) were highly active with regard to socioeconomic figures.
Conclusion: Networks dedicated to vitamin D research are present around the world. Overall, the Northern American and Western European nations occupy prominent positions. However, South American, African and Asian countries apart from Japan only play a minor role in the global research production related to vitamin D. Since vitamin D deficiency is currently increasing in the Americas, Europe and parts of the Middle East, research in these regions may need to be encouraged.
Background: Only few studies deal with the workload of physical therapists and the health consequences, although this occupational group is quite important for the health care system in many industrialized countries (e.g. ca. 136 000 people are currently employed as physical therapists in Germany). Therefore, the current state of knowledge of work-related diseases and disorders of physical therapists is insufficient. The aim of the "Physical Therapist Cohort" (PTC) study is to analyze the association between work-related exposures and diseases among physical therapists in Germany. This article describes the protocol of the baseline assessment of the PTC study.
Methods/Design: A cross-sectional study will be conducted as baseline assessment and will include a representative random sample of approximately 300 physical therapists employed in Germany (exposure group), and a population-based comparison group (n = 300). The comparison group will comprise a sample of working aged (18–65 years) inhabitants of a German city. Variables of interest will be assessed using a questionnaire manual including questions regarding musculoskeletal, dermal, and infectious diseases and disorders as well as psychosocial exposures, diseases and disorders. In addition to subjective measures, a clinical examination will be used to objectify the questionnaire-based results (n = 50).
Discussion: The study, which includes extensive data collection, provides a unique opportunity to study the prospective association of work-related exposures and associated complaints of physical therapists. Baseline results will give first clues with regard to whether and how prevalent main exposures of physiotherapeutic work and typical work areas of physical therapists are associated with the development of work-related diseases. Thereby, this baseline assessment provides the basis for further investigations to examine causal relationships in accordance with a longitudinal design.
Hintergrund: Es ist unbekannt bzw. umstritten, ob die in Deutschland eingeführten Umweltzonen (UWZ) die Feinstaubbelastung nachweisbar reduzieren.
Methode: PM10-Konzentrationen von den Messstationen innerhalb und außerhalb der UWZ in 19 deutschen Städten wurden analysiert (Augsburg, Berlin, Dortmund, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt a. M., Hannover, Herrenberg, Ilsfeld, Karlsruhe, Köln, Ludwigsburg, Mannheim, München, Reutlingen, Stuttgart, Tübingen, Wuppertal), um die Wirksamkeit der Fahrverbote (Stufe 1) für Fahrzeuge der Schadstoffgruppe 1 (ohne Plakette) auf die Schadstoffkonzentration zu untersuchen. Kontinuierliche Halbstundenmesswerte und gravimetrische Tagesmittelwerte wurden für den Zeitraum von ca. 2005 bis Ende 2009 übernommen. Die Analyse beruht auf vier einander paarweise zugeordneten Messwerten als gematchte Quadrupel aus zwei Index- und zwei Referenzwerten (Indexstationen liegen innerhalb, Referenzstationen messen außerhalb der UWZ). Ein Indexwert und der simultan gemessene Referenzwert wurden während der aktiven Phase der UWZ gemessen, das andere Wertepaar wurde vor Einführung der UWZ erhoben. Die Wertepaare haben eine Zeitdifferenz von 364 Tagen oder von einem Vielfachen von 364 Tagen, wodurch die Jahreszeit, der Wochentag und die Tageszeit im Quadrupel konstant gehalten werden. Differenzen der Indexwerte wurden regressionstechnisch mit den Differenzen der Referenzwerte korrigiert, wobei meteorologische Parameter (Mischungsschichthöhe, Niederschlagsmenge, Windgeschwindigkeit), Schulferienzeiten, Phase der Umweltprämie, LKW-Fahrverbotszeiten und Ausgangswerte an den Index- und Referenzstationen als Kovariablen in sog. „fixed effects“ Regressionsanalysen der Quadrupel berücksichtigt wurden (Differenzwertmethode im Zwei-Perioden-Fall). Dieser statistische Ansatz wurde vor der eigentlichen Datenanalyse an simulierten Messdaten der FU Berlin erfolgreich erprobt.
Ergebnisse: 2 110 803 Quadrupel kontinuierlicher PM10-Messungen und 15 735 gravimetrische Quadrupel wurden aus den verfügbaren Daten der Messstationen identifiziert, aus denen 61 169 Quadrupel zu Tagesmittelwerten aufgebaut wurden. Die Analysen für die erste Stufe ergaben als beste Effektschätzer (an allen Indexstationen) eine Feinstaubreduktion von ≤ 0,2 μg/m3 (bzw. relative PM10-Reduktionen ≤ 1 %). Der beste Effektschätzer an allen Verkehrsstationen (also ohne städtische Hintergrund- und Industrieindexstationen) lag unterhalb von 1 μg/m3 (bzw. weniger als 5 %).
Schlussfolgerungen: Alle Analysewerte liegen damit unter den vor Einführung von UWZ prognostizierten Feinstaubreduktionen. Diese Studie untersuchte als erste übergreifend die Wirksamkeit von UWZ der Stufe 1 in Deutschland auf die Feinstaubkonzentrationen von PM10 nach einem einheitlichen Datensammlungs- und Analyseplan und unter Berücksichtigung möglichst vieler Störeinflüsse.
One of the crucial steps during trials for Zika and other vaccines is to recruit participants and to understand how participants’ attitudes and sociodemographic characteristics affect willingness to participate (WTP). This study was conducted to assess WTP, its explanatory variables, and the impact of financial compensation on WTP in Indonesia. A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in eleven regencies in the Aceh and West Sumatra provinces of Indonesia. Participants were recruited via a convenience sampling method and were interviewed. The associations between explanatory variables and WTP were assessed using a two-step logistic regression analysis. A total of 1,102 parents were approached, and of these 956 (86.8%) completed the interview and were included in analysis. Of those, 144 (15.1%) were willing to participate in a Zika vaccine trial without a financial compensation. In the multivariate analysis, WTP was tied to an age of more than 50 years old, compared to 20–29 years (odds ratio (OR): 5.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.37–10.53), to being female (OR: 2.20; 95% CI: 1.11–4.37), and to having heard about Zika (OR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.59–3.65). Participants’ WTP increased gradually with higher financial compensation. The rate of WTP increased to 62.3% at the highest offer (US$ 350.4), and those who were still unwilling to participate (37.7%) had a poorer attitude towards childhood vaccination. This study highlights that pre-existing knowledge about Zika and attitudes towards childhood vaccination are important in determining community members being willing to participate in a vaccine trial. Financial incentives are still an important factor to enhance participant recruitment during a vaccine trial.
Background: Tobacco is a leading environmental factor in the initiation of respiratory diseases and causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family members are involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases and SOCS-3 has been shown to play an important role in the regulation, onset and maintenance of airway allergic inflammation indicating that SOCS-3 displays a potential therapeutic target for anti-inflammatory respiratory drugs development. Since chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also characterized by inflammatory changes and airflow limitation, the present study assessed the transcriptional expression of SOCS-3 in COPD.
Methods: Real-time PCR was performed to assess quantitative changes in bronchial biopsies of COPD patients in comparison to unaffected controls.
Results: SOCS-3 was significantly down-regulated in COPD at the transcriptional level while SOCS-4 and SOCS-5 displayed no change.
Conclusions: It can be concluded that the presently observed inhibition of SOCS-3 mRNA expression may be related to the dysbalance of cytokine signaling observed in COPD.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) comprise of 17 goals and 169 targets. All SDGs are interlinked to produce synergetic eff ects and emphasize health in all policies. Among the 17 Goals, Goal 3 has a central focus on health, which is underpinned by 13 targets. Th e other 16 goals are also directly or indirectly related to health and will contribute to achieving the associated targets for Goal 3. Th e ambitious SDG agenda and their progress can be tracked by measuring numerous goals, targets, and indicators. The main objective of this paper is to provide an overview about how health- related SDGs and their targets and indicators are being tracked in the national context of Nepal. Adequate investment in research for knowledge generation, capacity building and innovation, and continous research communication among policy makers, researchers and external development partners will contribute to tracking the progress of SDGs in Nepal.
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a major contributor to indoor air pollution. Since decades it is well documented that ETS can be harmful to human health and cause premature death and disease. In comparison to the huge research on toxicological substances of ETS, less attention was paid on the concentration of indoor ETS-dependent particulate matter (PM). Especially, investigation that focuses on different tobacco products and their concentration of deeply into the airways depositing PM-fractions (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1) must be stated. The tobacco smoke particles and indoor air quality study (ToPIQS) will approach this issue by device supported generation of indoor ETS and simultaneously measurements of PM concentration by laser aerosol spectrometry. Primarily, the ToPIQ study will conduct a field research with focus on PM concentration of different tobacco products and within various microenvironments. It is planned to extend the analysis to basic research on influencing factors of ETS-dependent PM concentration.
Asia and its Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is particularly vulnerable to environmental change, especially climate and land use changes further influenced by rapid population growth, high level of poverty and unsustainable development. Asia has been a hotspot of dengue fever and chikungunya mainly due to its dense human population, unplanned urbanization and poverty. In an urban cycle, dengue virus (DENV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes which are also competent vectors of Zika virus (ZIKV). Over the last decade, DENV and CHIKV transmissions by Ae. aegypti have extended to the Himalayan countries of Bhutan and Nepal and ZIKV could follow in the footsteps of these viruses in the HKH region. The already established distribution of human-biting Aedes mosquito vectors and a naïve population with lack of immunity against ZIKV places the HKH region at a higher risk of ZIKV. Some of the countries in the HKH region have already reported ZIKV cases. We have documented an increasing threat of ZIKV in Asia and its HKH region because of the high abundance and wide distribution of human-biting mosquito vectors, climate change, poverty, report of indigenous cases in the region, increasing numbers of imported cases and a naïve population with lack of immunity against ZIKV. An outbreak anywhere is potentially a threat everywhere. Therefore, in order to ensure international health security, all efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to ZIKV ought to be intensified now in Asia and its HKH region. To prepare for possible ZIKV outbreaks, Asia and the HKH region can also learn from the success stories and strategies adopted by other regions and countries in preventing ZIKV and associated complications. The future control strategies for DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV should be considered in tandem with the threat to human well-being that is posed by other emerging and re-emerging vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, and by the continuing urgent need to strengthen public primary healthcare systems in the region.
Cadmium (Cd) has been in industrial use for a long period of time. Its serious toxicity moved into scientific focus during the middle of the last century. In this review, we discuss historic and recent developments of toxicological and epidemiological questions, including exposition sources, resorption pathways and organ damage processes.
The role of endocarditis, myocarditis and pericarditis in qualitative and quantitative data analysis
(2009)
The current study is the first scientometric analysis of research activity and output in the field of inflammatory disorders of the heart (endo-, myo- and pericarditis). Scientometric methods are used to compare scientific performance on national and on international scale to identify single areas of research interest. Interest and research productivity in inflammatory diseases of the heart have increased since 1990. The majority of publications about inflammatory heart disorders were published in Western Europe and North America. The United States of America had a leading position in terms of research productivity and quality; half of the most productive authors in this study came from American institutions. The analysis of international cooperation revealed research activity in countries that are less established in the field of inflammatory heart disorder research, such as Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. These results indicate that future research of heart inflammation may no longer be influenced predominantly by a small number of countries. Furthermore, this study revealed weaknesses in currently established scientometric parameters (i.e., h-index, impact factor) that limit their suitability as measures of research quality. In this respect, self-citations should be generally excluded from calculations of h-index and impact factor.
In the context of workplace health promotion, physical activity programs have been shown to reduce musculoskeletal diseases and stress, and to improve the quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of using the “five-Business” stretch training device for office workers on their quality of life. A total of 313 office workers (173m/137f) participated voluntarily in this intervention–control study with an average age of 43.37 ± 11.24 (SD) years, 175.37 ± 9.35 cm in height and 75.76 ± 15.23 kg in weight, with an average BMI of 24.5 ± 3.81 kg/m2. The participants completed the stretch training twice a week for approximately 10 minutes for a duration of 12 weeks. The SF-36 questionnaire was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention at baseline and after 12 weeks. Significantly improved outcomes in mental sum score (p = 0.008), physical functioning (p < 0.001), bodily pain (p = 0.01), vitality (p = 0.025), role limitations due to physical problems (p = 0.018) and mental health (p = 0.012) were shown after the stretching training. The results suggest that a 12-week stretching program for office desk workers is suitable to improve significantly their health-related quality of life.
Background: Vacuum cleaning, which is associated with musculoskeletal complaints, is frequently carried out in private households and by professional cleaners. The aim of this pilot study was to quantify the movements during habitual vacuuming and to characterize the movement profile with regard to its variability. Methods: The data were collected from 31 subjects (21 f/10 m) using a 3D motion analysis system (XSens). Eight vacuum cleaners were used to vacuum polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and carpet floors. In 15 joints of the right upper extremity, the trunk and the lower extremities, Principal Component Analysis was used to determine the predominantly varying joints during vacuuming. Results: The movements of the trunk and the lower extremities were relatively constant and, therefore, had less influence. The shoulder, elbow and wrist joints were identified as joints that can be decisive for the movement profile and that can be influenced. These joints were represented in the course of the vacuuming cycle by the mean movement with its standard deviation. Conclusion: In summary, the generalization of a movement profile is possible for the trunk and the lower extremities due to the relative homogeneity. In future it will be necessary to identify factors influencing variability in order to draw conclusions about movement ergonomics.
Background: Dentists (Ds) and dental assistants (DAs) have a high lifetime prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). In this context, it is assumed that they have an increased intake of substances such as pain medication. Currently, there exist no data on the use of medication among Ds and DAs with MSDs in Germany. Methods: The online questionnaire (i.e., the Nordic Questionnaire) analysed the medical therapies used by 389 Ds (240 f/149 m) and 406 DAs (401 f/5 m) to treat their MSDs. Results: Ds (28.3–11.5%) and DAs (29.4–10.3%) with MSDs took medication depending on the affected body region. A trend between the Ds and DAs in the intake of drug therapy and the frequency was found for the neck region (Ds: 21.1%, DAs: 28.7%). A single medication was taken most frequently (Ds: 60.0–33.3%, DAs: 71.4–27.3%). The frequency of use varied greatly for both occupational groups depending on the region affected. Conclusion: Ds and DAs perceived the need for medical therapies because of their MSDs. Painkillers such as ibuprofen and systemic diclofenac were the medications most frequently taken by both occupational groups. The intake of pain killers, most notably for the neck, should prevent sick leave.
The impact of shift work induced chronic circadian disruption on IL-6 and TNF-α immune responses
(2010)
Aim: Sleep disturbances induce proinflammatory immune responses, which might increase cardiovascular disease risk. So far the effects of acute sleep deprivation and chronic sleep illnesses on the immune system have been investigated. The particular impact of shift work induced chronic circadian disruption on specific immune responses has not been addressed so far.
Methods: Pittsburgh-Sleep-Quality-Index (PSQI) questionnaire and blood sampling was performed by 225 shift workers and 137 daytime workers. As possible markers the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha and lymphocyte cell count were investigated. A medical examination was performed and biometrical data including age, gender, height, weight, waist and hip circumference and smoking habits were collected by a structured interview.
Results: Shift workers had a significantly higher mean PSQI score than day workers (6.73 vs. 4.66; p < 0.001). Day workers and shift workers had similar serum levels of IL-6 (2.30 vs. 2.67 resp.; p = 0.276), TNF-alpha (5.58 vs. 5.68, resp.; p = 0.841) or lymphocytes count (33.68 vs. 32.99, resp.; p = 0.404). Furthermore there were no differences in cytokine levels (IL-6 p = 0.761; TNF-alpha p = 0.759) or lymphocyte count (p = 0.593) comparing the sleep quality within the cohorts. When this calculation of sleep quality was stratified by shift and day workers irrespective of their sleep quality day workers and shift workers had similar serum levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha or lymphocytes count. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation of lymphocytes count and smoking habits.
Conclusion: Shift work induces chronic sleep debt. Our data reveals that chronic sleep debt might not always lead to an activation of the immune system, as we did not observe differences in lymphocyte count or level of IL-6 or TNF-alpha serum concentration between shift workers and day workers. Therefore chronic sleep restriction might be eased by a long-term compensating immune regulation which (in healthy) protects against an overstimulation of proinflammatory immune mechanisms and moderates metabolic changes, as they are known from short-term sleep deprivation or sleep related breathing disorders.
Objective: The influence of the jaw position on postural control, body posture, walking and running pattern has been reported in the literature. All these movements have in common that a relatively small, but well controlled muscle activation is required. The induced effects on motor output through changed jaw positions have been small. Therefore, it has been questioned if it could still be observed in maximal muscle activation.
Method: Twenty-three healthy, mid age recreational runners (mean age = 34.0 ± 10.3 years) participated in this study. Three different jump tests (squat jump, counter movement jump, and drop jumps from four different heights) and three maximal strength tests (trunk flexion and extension, leg press of the right and left leg) were conducted. Four different dental occlusion conditions and an additional familiarization condition were tested. Subjects performed the tests on different days for which the four occlusion conditions were randomly changed.
Results: No familiarization effect was found. Occlusion conditions with a relaxation position and with a myocentric condylar position showed significantly higher values for several tests compared to the neutral condition and the maximal occlusion position. Significance was found in the squat jump, countermovement jump, the drop jump from 32cm and 40cm, trunk extension, leg press force and rate of force development. The effect due to the splint conditions is an improvement between 3% and 12% (min and max). No influence of the jaw position on symmetry or balance between extension and flexion muscle was found.
Conclusion: An influence of occlusion splints on rate of force development (RFD) and maximal strength tests could be confirmed. A small, but consistent increase in the performance parameters could be measured. The influence of the occlusion condition is most likely small compared to other influences as for example training status, age, gender and circadian rhythm.
Background: Severe allergic reactions during rush-specific immunotherapy (Rush-SIT) may occur in the treatment of hymenoptera sting allergy. The objective of the present study was to examine the characteristics of allergic reactions during Rush-SIT in a cohort of patients with allergy towards hymenoptera venom in the mediterranean population of Albania.
Methods: A retrospective study was performed using the clinical reports of 37 patients with venom of bee (apinae), wasp (vespidae, subfamily vespinae) or paperwasp (vespidae, subfamily polistinae) allergy treated with Rush-SIT between 1987 and 1996. After hymenoptera sting allergy diagnosis according to anamnesis and intracutaneous tests the patient were treated with Rush-SIT. The protocol lasted 3 - 4 d with an increase in the concentration from 0.01 microg/ml to 100 microg/ml. Anaphylactic reactions were classified according to the Mueller-classification.
Results: The frequency of reactions during Rush-SIT for bee-venom was 4.7% and for wasp-venom was 1.5% (p < 0.01). The mean frequency of reactions of Mueller grade II for the bee-venom Rush-SIT patients during the first 4 d (= 26 injections) was 0.73 and for the wasp-venom Rush-SIT patients 0.15. No patient experienced a third-degree reaction. 94.6% of the patient supported an end dose of 100 microg.
Conclusions: Rush-SIT is a reliable method for the treatment of anaphylactic reactions to hymenoptera venom even in less developed countries. Bee-venom Rush-SIT was found to cause higher numbers allergic reactions than wasp or paperwasp Rush-SIT.
Spatial modelling of malaria cases associated with environmental factors in South Sumatra, Indonesia
(2018)
Background: Malaria, a parasitic infection, is a life-threatening disease in South Sumatra Province, Indonesia. This study aimed to investigate the spatial association between malaria occurrence and environmental risk factors.
Methods: The number of confirmed malaria cases was analysed for the year 2013 from the routine reporting of the Provincial Health Office of South Sumatra. The cases were spread over 436 out of 1613 villages. Six potential ecological predictors of malaria cases were analysed in the different regions using ordinary least square (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR). The global pattern and spatial variability of associations between malaria cases and the selected potential ecological predictors was explored.
Results: The importance of different environmental and geographic parameters for malaria was shown at global and village-level in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The independent variables altitude, distance from forest, and rainfall in global OLS were significantly associated with malaria cases. However, as shown by GWR model and in line with recent reviews, the relationship between malaria and environmental factors in South Sumatra strongly varied spatially in different regions.
Conclusions: A more in-depth understanding of local ecological factors influencing malaria disease as shown in present study may not only be useful for developing sustainable regional malaria control programmes, but can also benefit malaria elimination efforts at village level.
Improving spatial accessibility to hospitals is a major task for health care systems which can be facilitated using recent methodological improvements of spatial accessibility measures. We used the integrated floating catchment area (iFCA) method to analyze spatial accessibility of general inpatient care (internal medicine, surgery and neurology) on national level in Germany determining an accessibility index (AI) by integrating distances, hospital beds and morbidity data. The analysis of 358 million distances between hospitals and population locations revealed clusters of lower accessibility indices in areas in north east Germany. There was a correlation of urbanity and accessibility up to r = 0.31 (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 10% of the population lived in areas with significant clusters of low spatial accessibility for internal medicine and surgery (neurology: 20%). The analysis revealed the highest accessibility for heart failure (AI = 7.33) and the lowest accessibility for stroke (AI = 0.69). The method applied proofed to reveal important aspects of spatial accessibility i.e. geographic variations that need to be addressed. However, for the majority of the German population, accessibility of general inpatient care was either high or at least not significantly low, which suggests rather adequate allocation of hospital resources for most parts of Germany.
Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are common among dental professionals. The most common areas affected are the trunk, neck, shoulders and wrists. Current evidence suggests that the causes of MSD can be found in the physical demands of the profession. Posture and movement during treatment is influenced by the arrangement of the treatment concept (patient chair, equipment and cabinets). It has not been investigated whether the ergonomic risk differs between the treatment concepts.
Methods: To evaluate the prevalence of MSD in dental professionals, 1000 responses will be collected from a nationwide (Germany) online questionnaire (mod. Nordic Questionnaire and mod. Meyer questionnaire). In order to assess the ergonomic risk of the treatment techniques used in the four treatment concepts, 3D movement analyses are carried out with inertial sensors. For this purpose, 20 teams of dentists and dental assistants from four dental fields of specializations (generalists, orthodontists, endodontists and oral surgeons) and a student control group will be recruited. Each team will execute field specific standardized treatments at a dummy head. Measurements are carried out in each of the four treatment concepts. The data will be analyzed using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) which will be modified for the evaluation of objective data.
Conclusions: On the basis of these investigations, a substantial gain of knowledge regarding work-related MSD in the field of dentistry and its potential biomechanical causes is possible. For the first time, objective and differentiated comparisons between the four treatment concepts are possible for different fields of dental specialization. Up to now, statically held positions of the trunk and proximal upper extremities, but also the repetitive movements of the hands have been considered a risk for MSD. Since both are included in the RULA, dental activities can be assessed in a detailed but also global manner with regard to ergonomic risks.