Accidents and injuries in Polish seafarers

A survey was conducted among Polish seafarers on work-related accidents and injuries. Their average incidence rate in 1990-1995 was 22.07 per 1000 men per year (fatal accidents: 0.85/1000). Out of 960 accidents recorded including 37 fatal ones, 768 caused work incapacity, and in 307 major injuries the duration of it was 29 or more days. The causes of death of seafarers were: drowning 24, violence 2, suffocation 4, contusion 2, and disappearance from ship during voyage 5. The incidence rate of accidents in the surveyed population varied from year to year and there was no tendency of lowering it. Prevention of accidents on ships should be improved.     

Epidemiology, clinical aspects, and biology of IDDM patients under age 40 years. Comparison of data from Antwerp with complete ascertainment with data from Belgium with 40% ascertainment. The Belgian Diabetes Registry

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence rate of IDDM in the age-groups 0-14 and 15-39 years in Antwerp, Belgium, and to compare demographic, clinical, and biological data from Antwerp IDDM patients with 92% ascertainment with those from a larger Belgian patient group with 40% ascertainment. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Incident cases of IDDM were reported by physicians of the Belgian Diabetes Registry and in Antwerp by several other sources. In Antwerp, completeness of ascertainment was calculated by the capture-recapture method. Demographic and clinical data were collected by questionnaire. Blood was sampled for HLA-DQ genotyping and, in new-inset patients, for autoantibodies. RESULTS: In Antwerp, the age- and sex-standardized IDDM incidence rates were similar in both age-groups (0-14 years: 11.8/100,000; 15-39 years: 8.9/100,000). The incidence rate decreased in girls above age 15 years (6.9/100,000; P = 0.003) but not in boys (11.0/100,000). Both in Antwerp and Belgium, IDDM was diagnosed more frequently in the 15-39 years age-group (60% of all cases) than under age 15 years, with a lower prevalence of acute symptoms, ketonuria, high-risk HLA-DQ genotype, and autoantibodies against insulin, islet cells, and IA-2, but with a higher prevalence of GAD65 autoantibodies. CONCLUSIONS: In Antwerp, the incidence rate of IDDM under age 15 years is intermediately high compared with the rates in other European regions. It is similar in the 15-39 years age-group, but with a marked male predominance. Demographic, clinical, and biological data show the same age-dependent heterogeneity as the data collected nationwide, with 40% ascertainment indicating the representativeness of the latter.     

Nonnius and the Spa cure

The 12th of July 1635, Jan van Beverwyck wrote a letter from Dordrecht to his esteemed friend Luis Nunez, in Antwerp. He asked him for indications about the cure of kidney stones of which he was suffering. He had just passed two calculi very painfully. Nunez answered on July 31. His letter summarized his own experience with this disease. In such cases, temperate diuretics and emollients are well indicated: ingestion of light decoctions of Malva and Viola, Caerefolium and Parieteria as well as Marshmallow syrup. No purge and no 'chemicals'. However, the best remedy was drinking Spa water. Usually the best way to absorb it is to come to the springs, in the Ardennes, part of the independent Principality of Liège. However, considering the horrors of the war (the Thirty Years War) endangering the country, van Beverwyck would be wise to drink imported water during 40 or 50 days, while staying home quietly, in Dordrecht. The letter points out the importance of provoked diuresis in the treatment of kidney stones. On the other hand the letter is an illustration of the continuing contacts between the United Provinces and the Spanish territories and of the commercial traffic between Antwerp, Dordrecht and Spa. The exported water was bottled from many 'pouhons'. It was acid, ferruginous, sulfurous and saturated with carbon dioxide; no pathogen germs, at least at the spring. Nunez quoted the large number of his patients cured with Spa water in Antwerp. This is an illustration of its commercial expansion even during this critical period.     

Prevalence of respiratory symptoms: marked differences within a small geographical area

BACKGROUND: Geographical differences in prevalence of respiratory symptoms have been reported between countries in the EC Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). The differences between two neighbouring centres in the Antwerp area were surprising. We therefore extended the screening phase of this study to four other areas with different features in this region. METHODS: Methods and questionnaires of the first phase of the ECRHS were used to estimate prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms in all areas. Information on some major personal and environmental risk factors was also obtained. RESULTS: Higher prevalence rates of both respiratory symptoms and personal risk factors were recorded in Urban Antwerp, Berendrecht-Zandvliet (harbour area) and Zwijndrecht (industrial area) than in Suburban Antwerp, Essen and Kasterlee (both rural). Neither personal nor environmental risk factors could provide satisfactory explanations for the area differences in symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These large differences between groups of subjects living within a small geographical area prove that estimations of prevalence rates of a whole country based on measurements of prevalence in one specific area should be interpreted very cautiously. Epidemiological research within small geographical areas may thus still prove as informative as comparisons between countries for elucidating causes for different asthma prevalence.     

CCK-8S facilitates 5-HT release in the rat hypothalamus

About 8600 complete or nearly complete sequences are now available from the Antwerp database on small ribosomal subunit RNA. All these sequences are aligned with one another on the basis of the adopted secondary structure model, which is corroborated by the observation of compensating substitutions in the alignment. Literature references, accession numbers and detailed taxonomic information are also compiled. The database can be consulted via the World Wide Web at URL http://rrna.uia.ac.be/ssu/     

Database on the structure of large subunit ribosomal RNA

The Antwerp database on large subunit ribosomal RNA now contains 607 complete or nearly complete aligned sequences. The alignment incorporates secondary structure information for each sequence. Other information about the sequences, such as literature references, accession numbers and taxonomic information is also available. Information from the database can be downloaded or searched on the rRNA WWW Server at URL http://rrna.uia.ac.be/     

The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer: an update

BACKGROUND: A consensus meeting on screening and global strategy for prostate carcinoma, held in Antwerp in 1994, determined the willingness among European cancer prevention centers to pursue vigorously the collaborative formation of a multinational randomized screening trial. This trial was to be named the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC). METHODS: During the years prior to that meeting, several feasibility trials were conducted in Antwerp and Rotterdam to evaluate the pitfalls and problems of a randomized procedure for population screening. Today, five centers in five European countries share their study work and results via the ERSPC, and others are lining up to join this massive effort. Regular meetings and specific work groups enable the research centers to compare their data, because the trial methodology differs slightly from one center to another. RESULTS: However, a common work strategy and analysis of the data has recently been reached, and the first study results of the trial (evaluating 180,000 men over a 10-year screening period) are expected by the year 2007. CONCLUSIONS: A randomized trial of prostate carcinoma screening is set up in Europe currently with five participating centers from five countries. First overall effect results of regular screening are expected after a 10-year period of follow-up.     

Higher asthma occurrence in an urban than a suburban area: role of house dust mite skin allergy

Understanding of geographical differences in asthma prevalence may be helpful in explaining recent increases in the occurrence of asthma. We wondered whether differences in allergic sensitization or other factors could explain differences in reported occurrence of asthma between an urban centre and a neighbouring suburban area. From the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire, responses on asthma symptoms and risk factors and results of 11 skin allergy tests were available from 656 young adults living in urban or south suburban Antwerp, Belgium. Answers to five asthma questions were selected as dependent variables, and eight personal or environmental risk factors, as well as house dust mite (HDM) allergy, as independent variables. The effect of each independent variable on the association of asthma variables with area was assessed. Prior asthma diagnosis, present asthma symptoms, the selected risk factors and HDM allergy were all more frequently recorded in urban Antwerp. Difference in HDM allergy accounted for most of the difference in prior (mostly childhood) asthma diagnosis, since correction for it decreased the odds ratio from 2.10 to 1.65. On the contrary, the regional differences in recent asthma symptoms were not explained by HDM allergy differences nor by any other factor under study. This urban-suburban comparison indicated that house dust mite allergy is a major determinant of prior (childhood) asthma, whereas factors contributing to higher urban prevalence of present asthma symptoms could not be identified. Furthermore, our results indicate that it may be inappropriate to combine data from neighbouring areas, when their similarity has not been verified.     

Indicators of acid-base equilibrium of blood in full-term, premature and over-mature fetuses and newborn infants in different types of uterine inertia]

A detailed appraisal of the British seafarer and his way of life is described and the prevailing management of sexually transmitted disease in the seafarer is outlined. It is shown that the available statistics on the incidence of sexually transmitted disease among seafarers are inadequate. Management at sea and ashore remains generally unsatisfactory. Suggestions are made to improve the management of venereal disease in foreign ports and a simple method is described of managing sexually transmitted disease at sea with trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole.     

Seafaring: a risk for seamen's oral health?

Information about the oral status and dental health behavior and the working history of 369 Finnish seamen on different types of ships was gathered by means of a questionnaire. A control group of workers on shore was formed for sailors 35-44 years of age. Removable dentures were worn by 16% of the seamen. Oral disorders during the week before the study were reported by one-third. During the previous 2 years 14% of the sailors had had at least one episode of oral troubles, 15% twice and 9% three or even more times. One-third of seamen with oral trouble had needed pain-killing tablets or antibiotics. Sick leave days had been needed by 3% of respondents during the previous 2 years because of oral disorder (mean length of sick leave period was 1.4 days). The control group reported gum bleeding more often than the seafarers. Even though there were no signs of poorer dental condition in sailors than in the controls on shore, the possibility that the seafaring could constitute a risk for the oral health of seamen in other age groups cannot be excluded.     

Xylitol for messrooms--a method worth trying to prevent caries among seafarers

Oral diseases seem to be the most common health problem of seafarers world-wide. Seafaring as an occupation may create a risk for the dental health of crews of ships. Sitting in messrooms and eating snacks in between regular meals is a popular way of spending free time during the ships voyage. This means not only high caloric intake which contributes to overweight but also to high dental caries incidence among crews. During long sea voyages, the access of seamen to dental services is very limited and making regular check ups and treatment of caries is difficult. The best solution to the problem of poor teeth is a preventive one. Conventional methods for preventing caries are health education, restrictions the use of sugar-containing products, good oral hygiene and use of fluorides. A newer method to prevent caries is systematic use of xylitol. Scientific evidence shows that the addition of small quantities of xylitol, a natural carbohydrate sweetener, to the diet causes a significant reduction in the incidence of dental caries.     

The prevalence of dementia in Belgium: a population-based door-to-door survey in a rural community

The project Epidemiology Research on Dementia in Antwerp (ERDA) estimated the prevalence of dementia in a random, population-based sample, stratified for age and sex. The sample of 1,736 elderly was screened at home with the Mini-Mental State Examination. All elderly under the cutoff of 23-24/30 got a diagnostic examination with the Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination and the DSM-IIIR criteria. The prevalence of dementia in the population above 65 years was estimated at 9%. The following age-specific prevalences of dementia (included mild dementia) were found in the age-groups 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85+: 0.6, 5.1, 7.6, 16.2 and 33.6%. The prevalence of at least moderate dementia was 0.3, 3.9, 4.0, 11.2 and 25.0%, respectively. The prevalence of dementia, vascular dementia and dementia of the Alzheimer type was markedly higher in women than in men.     

Effects of gamma-irradiation on the survival and development of Metagonimus yokogawai metacercariae in rats

The classical clinical picture of amoebic infection of the liver consists of fever, right upper quadrant pain and hepatomegaly. In recent years, the widespread availability of ultrasound and serology made an early diagnosis possible, which could result in less prominent clinical pictures. Thirty six cases of liver amoebiasis diagnosed in Antwerp between 1985 and 1992, were reviewed. Three patients acquired their infection in Belgium. For the other patients, the average delay between arrival in Belgium and the first symptoms was 5.64 months. The classical triad of clinical signs (fever, right upper quadrant pain and hepatomegaly), was observed in only 13.9% of the patients, whereas it was much more frequent in earlier studies (68-75%). The right lobe was the most frequently affected (94%). The colour of the liquid, obtained by puncture, was brown in 61% of patients in whom it was reported. Amoebic cysts were found in the stools of only one patient. Amoebic serology was initially negative in only one patient, but became positive on second testing. Chest X-rays were abnormal in 34% of the patients. All patients who develop unexplained fever during the year after a stay in tropical countries should undergo an abdominal ultrasound examination and serological testing for Entamoeba histolytica.     

Increased prevalence of sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness in subjects with bronchial asthma: a population study of young adults in three European countries

The aim of this study was to investigate whether asthma is associated with decreased quality of sleep and increased daytime sleepiness. The study involved a random population of 2,202 subjects supplemented by 459 subjects with suspected asthma, aged 20-45 yrs. The subjects were from Reykjavik (Iceland), Uppsala and G?teborg (Sweden) and Antwerp (Belgium), and participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. The investigation included a structured interview, methacholine challenge, skinprick tests and a questionnaire on sleep disturbances. Participants in Iceland and Sweden also estimated their sleep times and made peak expiratory flow (PEF) recordings during a period of 1 week. Asthma was defined as self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma with current asthma-related symptoms (n = 267). Difficulties inducing sleep (DIS) and early morning awakenings (EMA) were about twice as common, and daytime sleepiness 50% more common, in asthmatics compared with subjects without asthma. After adjusting for possible confounders, a positive association was found between asthma and: DIS (odds ratio (OR) = 1.8); EMA (OR = 2.0); daytime sleepiness (OR = 1.6); snoring (OR = 1.7); and self reported apnoeas (OR = 3.7). Allergic rhinitis, which was reported by 71% of subjects with asthma, was independently related to DIS (OR = 2.0) and daytime sleepiness (OR = 1.3). A significant correlation was found between the number of asthma-related symptoms and sleep disturbances (p < 0.001). Asthma is associated with decreased subjective quality of sleep and increased daytime sleepiness. Concurrent allergic rhinitis may be an important underlying cause of sleep impairment in asthmatic patients.     

Efficacy of a portable acustimulation device in controlling seasickness

BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness are serious and sometimes debilitating symptoms for commercial and recreational seafarers. HYPOTHESIS: In order to treat these symptoms, a portable device, the Relief Band, was designed to deliver acustimulation to the Neiguan (P6) acupuncture point. METHOD: Nine volunteers used the device on a placebo point or the P6 active point on the open seas outside the San Francisco Bay. Motion sickness symptoms were graded from 1 ("feel fine") to 5 ("intermittent vomiting, with or without nausea"). RESULTS: Five subjects with motion sickness initially positioned the device at the placebo site and reported minimal symptom improvement (3.6 +/- 0.6 to 3.4 +/- 1.1) (mean, +/- SD), whereas the other four subjects initially used the device in the P6 position and reported decreased symptoms (4.3 +/- 1.0 to 1.0 +/- 0.2). The position of the Relief Band was then switched; in the four subjects who switched to the placebo position, symptoms worsened (1.0 +/- 0.2 to 4.0 +/- 1.4); whereas, in the five subjects where the device was switched to the P6 position, symptoms improved in each subject (3.4 +/- 1.1 to 1.0 +/- 0.7) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Motion sickness symptoms were suppressed by portable acustimulation in field studies of seasickness. The Relief Band may be an alternative to drug treatments of the nausea and vomiting of seasickness.     

HIV antibodies in seafarers, fishermen and in other population groups in the Gdańsk Region (1993-1996)

In 1993-1996, serological tests for HIV were performed comprising seamen, fishermen, people travelling abroad, drug addicts, patients of National Health Service Hospitals, health workers and other groups of people from the Gdańsk Region. HIV-antibodies were determined by means of immunoezymatic method ELISA, using Abbot's test recombinant HIV1/HIV2 third generation. Positive results were verified with the aid of the specific confirmation test Western blot. All in all there were 34,911 tests made and in 40 patients (0.11%) HIV-antibodies were revealed. In the group of seafarers made of 26,988 people HIV-antibodies were detected in 14 men (0.05%): 11 seamen and 3 deep-sea fishermen. The group of people travelling abroad consisted of 4269 subjects, and out them 6 men (0.18%) and one woman (0.12%) were seropositive. Out of 137 people from the group of risk-drug addicts taking narcotics intravenously-8 men (8%) and one women (2.7%) were infected. In the group of 2442 National Health Service patients, HIV-antibodies were noted in 5 men (0.31%) and one women (0.12%). Out of 172 health service workers examined nobody was infected. The group defined as "other subjects", was composed of 703 men, out which 2 were seropositive (0.28%) and 200 women-2 of them had HIV-antibodies (1.0%). The majority of seropositive subjects were men, 35 of them; there were 5 seropositive women.     

Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration in health research in developing countries: lessons from the Triangle Programme in Sri Lanka

The Triangle Programme (1989-1992) aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity for health social science research and intervention in Sri Lanka through the promotion of appropriate international and national partnerships. First, it involved an international partnership (Triangle 1) among two universities in the developed world, i.c. University of Antwerp in Belgium and the University of Connecticut in the USA, and one university in the developing world, i.c. the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. This partnership facilitated the transfer of knowledge, experience, skills across national boundaries and the North/South divide. Second, it developed a national/local partnership (Triangle 2) among the Faculties of Arts, Agriculture and Medicine at the University of Peradeniya by involving them in a joint programme of health social science research and training covering the entire range of activities from proposal development to dissemination of research results. Focusing on the latter aspect (Triangle 2) this paper reviews the results of the programme from the angle of cross-fertilization of disciplines through their collaboration in applied health research in a developing country setting.     

Secondary closure of posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis in normal eyes and eyes at risk for postoperative inflammation

PURPOSE: To observe the posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) after cataract surgery in control eyes and eyes with an increased risk for postoperative inflammation. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium. METHODS: After phacoemulsification, a PCCC was performed before intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in 20 eyes of 18 patients with ocular or systemic conditions that predisposed them for increased postoperative inflammation; e.g., diabetes, uveitis, retinitis pigmentosa (inflammation group). These eyes were compared with 20 eyes of 16 patients who had the same surgical procedure but did not present a history of medical or ocular pathology (control group). The postoperative follow-up was 6 months to 3 years. Reclosure of the PCCC was evaluated by anterior segment photographs. The reclosure was classified as partial when newly formed tissue was present at the PCCC margin and total when the proliferation covered the entire PCCC area. RESULTS: Three types of PCCC reclosure were found: fibrotic, Elschnig pearl or multilayer, and monolayer. All 3 were seen within or at the margin of the PCCC area. Reclosure (total and partial) occurred in 8 eyes (40%) in the control group and 10 (50%) in the inflammation group. Total reclosure was more frequent in the inflammation group (4 eyes [20%]) than in the control group (1 eye [5%]). Monolayered or multilayered cellular proliferation was present in 8 eyes (40%) in the control group and 4 eyes (20%) in the inflammation group; fibrotic proliferation was found in the inflammation group only (7 eyes [35%]). CONCLUSION: Reclosure of the PCCC occurred in both groups, although the frequency of reclosure was slightly higher in the inflammation group. Although PCCC does not prevent posterior capsule opacification in all cases, it is useful in specific situations.     

发明创造学教程学习与运用辅助系统

利用计算机技术设计了发明创造学教程的辅助教学系统，同时也是在发明创造与计算机技术结合上的一次有益探索．该领域要研究的问题很广泛，抽出发明创造学中发明创造技法的几个部分制成学习和运用两个模块．此CAI课讲习引发学生学习的兴趣和巩固学习效果，并且可提高人们创造性思维，激励和帮助人们发明创造．     

纳米复合陶瓷材料的增韧补强机理研究进展

纳米复合陶瓷材料可以极大地提高抗弯强度和断裂韧性。综述了目前相关的增韧补强机理的研究情况，主要包括基体晶粒的细化及由沿晶断裂向穿晶断裂模式的转变，热处理对微裂纹的愈合作用；指出了研究中尚需解决的问题。