Occupational disease profile in Taiwan, Republic of China

Lack of knowledge of the exact contents of the materials and improper handling of the toxic chemicals lead to the occurrence of occupational illnesses in the developing countries. However, the incidence of occupational diseases was usually underestimated. This article presents the profile of occupational diseases in Taiwan from two sources, i.e. occupational disease benefit payments of labor insurance and the review of relevant literature. The primarily documented occupational diseases in Taiwan were pneumoconioses. The second most common occupational disease was carbon monoxide intoxication, followed by lead poisoning and noise-induced hearing loss. Less than five percent of occupational diseases were due to the other causes, including decompression syndrome, heat stroke, toxic hepatitis, neurological disorders and hematologic disorders. The number of occupational diseases recognized in Taiwan was considered to be seriously underestimated due to the shortage of occupational medical specialists. Priority in the development of occupational medicine in Taiwan is to educate industrial hygienists and physicians to recognize health hazards in the work environment and to diagnose occupational diseases. Recognition of occupational diseases could subsequently highlight the health hazards in the workplace and prevent workers from overexposure.     

An evaluation of vesical urodynamics before renal transplantation and its effect on renal allograft function and survival

This prospective study investigated the urodynamics of the urinary bladder prior to renal transplantation in 57 patients and related this to graft function and transplantation outcome. The study demonstrated a clear deterioration in the pretransplant urodynamic characteristics in all subgroups, with male patients in the hemodialysis group (HD) showing a more substantial decline: 1st sensation volume (ml) in male HD patients = 112 (120) vs. 171 (173) in male CAPD patients, P < 0.05; and corresponding average flow rate for same groups 3 (3) ml/sec vs. 5 (5) ml/sec, P < 0.05. Figures are median (interquartile range). We have identified a subgroup of patients with a small bladder capacity (less than 100 ml) who have a reduced graft survival (55% vs. 92% for bladders larger than 100 ml at 2 years) apparently unrelated to immunological processes.     

Community-wide youth exercise promotion: long-term outcomes of the Minnesota Heart Health Program and the Class of 1989 Study

The Class of 1989 Study, part of the Minnesota Heart Health Program (MHHP), involved a population-wide research and demonstration project to reduce cardiovascular disease in three intervention communities in the North-Central United States (1980-1993). Beginning in sixth grade (1983), seven annual waves of measurements were taken from students in one of the MHHP intervention communities and its matched pair (baseline N = 2,376). Self-reported data were collected at each time period describing a variety of health-related behavior, including hours of exercise engaged in per week and duration and intensity of regular physical activity. Using school as the unit of analysis, physical activity levels throughout most of the follow-up period were significantly higher in the intervention community for females. Males' average values were higher in the intervention community, but were largely statistically insignificant. Results suggest multiple intervention components such as behavioral education in schools and complementary community-wide strategies can produce lasting improvement in adolescent physical activity, particularly with female students.     

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in human burn wounds

A water-soluble synthetic peptide with only nine amino acid residues, comprising the 131-139 sequence region of the cytotoxic protein alpha-sarcin (secreted by the mold Aspergillus giganteus), interacts with large unilamellar vesicles composed of acid phospholipids. It promotes lipid mixing between bilayers and leakage of vesicle aqueous contents, and it also abolishes the phospholipid phase transition. Other larger peptides containing such an amino acid sequence also produce these effects. These peptides acquire alpha-helical conformation in the presence of trifluoroethanol, but display beta-strand conformation in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The interaction of these peptides with the lipid vesicles also results in beta-structure. The obtained data are discussed in terms of the involvement of the 131-139 stretch of alpha-sarcin in its interaction with lipid membranes.     

Validation of a measure of excessive drinking: frequency per year that BAL exceeds 0.08%

Although self-report data are generally evaluated as reliable, validity estimates for self-reported drinking behavior are not as favorable. A new method of measurement addressing problems currently associated with the questionable validity of self-report drinking information is introduced. Study 1 tests the correspondence between the new measure (occasions per year blood alcohol level exceeded 0.08%), traditional self-report measures, and laboratory alcohol consumption. The novel measure correlated most strongly with volume of alcohol consumed in the laboratory compared to the traditional measures. In Study 2 the novel measure was favored over a traditional measure when discriminating between the presence and absence of problem-drinking symptoms.