Shift-specific associations between age, chronotype and sleep duration.

The objective of this study was to examine the association of age with chronotype and sleep duration in day workers and rotating shift workers, including night shift work. Between October 2012 and February 2015, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a German chemical company. Using the "Munich ChronoType Questionnaire" (MCTQ), data about sleep onset and sleep offset during workdays and work-free days were retrieved and the chronotype was computed during regular voluntary occupational health check-ups.

Are chronotype, social jetlag and sleep duration associated with health measured by Work Ability Index?

The present study investigates the impact of chronotype, social jetlag and sleep duration on self-perceived health, measured by Work Ability Index (WAI), within an industrial setting. Between 2011 and 2013, 2474 day and shift workers participated in a health check offered by an occupational health promotion program and filled out the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (adapted to the rotational 12-h schedule for shift workers) and the WAI. We computed sleep duration on work and free days, chronotype, and social jetlag.

A unique, fast-forwards rotating schedule with 12-h long shifts prevents chronic sleep debt.

Sleep debt--together with circadian misalignment--is considered a central factor for adverse health outcomes associated with shift work. Here, we describe in detail sleep-wake behavior in a fast-forward rotating 12-h shift schedule, which involves at least 24 hours off after each shift and thus allows examining the role of immediate recovery after shift-specific sleep debt. Thirty-five participants at two chemical plants in Germany were chronotyped using the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire for Shift-Workers (MCTQ(Shift)) and wore actimeters throughout the two-week study period.

Pregnant Employee Protection Program in a Large Chemical Company.

Objectives: To assess whether a structured employee protection program for pregnant workers at a chemical company has an impact on pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: Reported pregnancies (n = 1402) between 2003 and 2010 and their outcomes were documented using questionnaires at the time of pregnancy report, end of pregnancy, and 1 year later. Potential maternal exposures were assessed using job histories, workplace inspections, and questionnaires.

Primary selection into shift work and change of cardiovascular risk profile.

Objectives: A potential "healthy shift worker effect" may bias the studied effect of shift work on health. The observed differences among shift and day workers in health behavior and health outcomes can be caused by: (i) primary selection, (ii) the influence from the shift work-related environment, and (iii) the impact of shift work. We aimed to study these potential sources.

Chromosomal alterations in exfoliated urothelial cells from bladder cancer cases and healthy men: a prospective screening study.

Background: Chromosomal instability in exfoliated urothelial cells has been associated with the development of bladder cancer. Here, we analyzed the accumulation of copy number variations (CNVs) using fluorescence in situ hybridization in cancer cases and explored factors associated with the detection of CNVs in tumor-free men.

Methods: The prospective UroScreen study was designed to investigate the performance of UroVysion™ and other tumor tests for the early detection of bladder cancer in chemical workers from 2003-2010.

A retrospective cohort study of shift work and risk of incident cancer among German male chemical workers.

Objective: Human evidence of carcinogenicity concerning shift work is inconsistent. This industry-based cohort study aimed to examine the relationship between working in a rotating shift and cancer incidence.

Methods: The cohort consisted of male production workers (12 609 shift and 15 219 day), employed in a large chemical industry for at least one year between 1995-2005, and residing in the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Shift work and risk of non-cancer mortality in a cohort of German male chemical workers.

Objectives: Shift work is widely considered to be a health risk. In a previous study, we observed no elevated risk of total mortality in BASF shift workers followed up until the end of 2006. The present study aims to investigate non-cancer mortality, especially mortality caused by ischaemic heart disease (IHD), relative to shift work.

A retrospective cohort study of shift work and risk of cancer-specific mortality in German male chemical workers.

Objectives: Human evidence of carcinogenicity concerning shift work is inconsistent. In a previous study, we observed no elevated risk of total mortality in shift workers followed up until the end of 2006. The present study aimed to investigate cancer-specific mortality, relative to shift work.

Occupational stress perception and its potential impact on work ability.

Objective: To examine perceived stress across employees with different occupational status, to investigate the impact of stress on work ability and to derive conclusions regarding health promotion activities.

Participants And Methods: A comprehensive survey combining questionnaire and medical examination was offered in one division in BASF Ludwigshafen. Among 867 voluntary participants, 653 returned complete questionnaires.

Alanine-aminotransferase levels predict impaired glucose tolerance in a worksite population.

Insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance precede the development of type 2 diabetes. In 2006, the BASF Occupational Medicine and Health Protection Department offered a diabetes screening program for 33,000 employees. 1,594 employees had their diabetes risk tested: 285 employees were at medium to high risk for diabetes type 2, according to the Finrisk score.

Medical program for shift workers--impacts on chronic disease and mortality outcomes.

Objective: In 1983, global chemical company BASF SE implemented a supplemental health protection program to help its employees cope with the stressors associated with shift work. The program included comprehensive medical examinations and health promotion activities targeted at shift workers.

Methods: To assess the possible long-term health impacts of the program, cohorts of 14,128 male rotating shift and 17,218 male day wage employees were established via electronic job history searches.

Health and safety protection for chemical industry employees in a rotating shift system: program design and acute injury and illness experience at work.

Objectives: To describe a comprehensive health protection program for rotating shift employees and evaluate the program effectiveness in injury and illness prevention.

Methods: For 14,128 shift and 17,218 day wage employees, occupational medical records were linked to job assignment records and studied over an 11-year period.

Results: Between 1995 and 2005, initiatives directed to shift employees contributed to their 59% and 100% greater participation in medical examinations and health seminar days, respectively, compared to day wage employees.

Screening for pre-diabetes and diabetes in the workplace.

Background: Diabetes is an increasingly prevalent and burdensome disease in working populations. In settings with established occupational medical programmes, there may be opportunities to intervene in a positive way to reduce the burden of this disease.

Aim: To integrate diabetes screening and prevention into an existing occupational medical programme.

Metabolic syndrome in a large chemical company: prevalence in a screened worksite sample.

The metabolic syndrome (MS) leads to serious health problems like diabetes and has serious economic consequences for multinational companies. Thus, the workplace is an important setting for primary prevention. Aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of MS in a mixed working population to provide a basis for interventional strategies.

Considerations on occupational medical surveillance in employees handling nanoparticles.

Objectives: The use of engineered nanoparticles not only offers new technical perspectives but also raises questions regarding possible health aspects for producers and users. Nanoparticles may, just by virtue of their size, exert biological effects unrelated to the chemicals they are composed of. These considerations, and results from experimental animal studies suggesting that engineered nanomaterials may pose a health hazard to employees, all underscore the need for preventive measures.

Experimental herpes simplex virus encephalitis: a combination therapy of acyclovir and glucocorticoids reduces long-term magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities.

Despite early antiviral treatment, herpes simples virus encephalitis (HSVE) still remains a life-threatening sporadic disease with high mortality and morbidity. In patients and in experimental disease, chronic progressive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities have been found even after antiviral therapy. Secondary autoimmune-mediated and not directly virus-mediated mechanisms might play a key role for the outcome of disease.