Workability, quality of life and cardiovascular risk markers in aging nightshift workers: a pilot study.

Background: In aging healthcare professionals, multiple stressors such as night work may affect life and work satisfaction and risk for chronic diseases (e.g. cardiovascular disease [CVD]).

Expression Profiling Suggests Loss of Surface Integrity and Failure of Regenerative Repair as Major Driving Forces for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Progression.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) poses a major risk for public health, yet remarkably little is known about its detailed pathophysiology. Definition of COPD as nonreversible pulmonary obstruction revealing more about spatial orientation than about mechanisms of pathology may be a major reason for this. We conducted a controlled observational study allowing for simultaneous assessment of clinical and biological development in COPD.

Employment Status and Associations with Workability, Quality of Life and Mental Health after Kidney Transplantation in Austria.

Kidney transplantation (KTx) in end-stage renal disease is associated with a significant increase in quality of life (QoL) and self-perceived health, optimally leading to the maintenance of employment or return to work (RTW) in working-age patients. The aim of this study was to assess individual factors including the QoL and mental health of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) associated with employment after transplantation. A cross-sectional study including working-age patients with a history of KTx after 2012 was conducted at two Austrian study centers (Vienna and Graz).

Plasma MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels on ICU admission are associated with 30-day survival.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in systemic inflammatory responses and organ failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate early circulating plasma levels of MMP‑2, MMP‑9 and their inhibitors TIMP‑1 and TIMP‑2 and their prognostic significance in critically ill patients on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: In a single center prospective study 120 consecutive patients (72.

Next-Generation Magnetic Nanocomposites: Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Coated and Uncoated Ferric Cobalt Boron (FeCoB) Nanoparticles In Vitro.

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) have unique physicochemical properties and a widespread application scope depending on their composition and surface characteristics. Potential biomedical applications and the growing diversity of novel nanocomposites highlight the need for toxicological hazard assessment of next-generation magnetic nanomaterials. Our study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic properties of coated and uncoated ferric cobalt boron (FeCoB) NPs (5-15 nm particle size) in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.

Sublingual house dust mite immunotherapy has no impact on decrease of circulating erythrocytes upon airway allergen challenge in allergic rhinitis.

House dust mite (HDM) allergy is a predominant cause for perennial allergic rhinitis (AR) in Europe. We recently reported that circulating erythrocyte numbers decrease after airway allergen challenge in a murine asthma model and in grass-pollen sensitized AR subjects. Consequently, we aimed to evaluate these findings in HDM sensitized AR subjects and the influence of preceding allergen immunotherapy.

Affective and inflammatory responses among orchestra musicians in performance situation.

A number of studies have shown that mental challenge under controlled experimental conditions is associated with elevations in inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). However, relatively little work has been done on the effects of 'naturalistic' stressors on acute changes in inflammatory markers. The present study examined whether perceived arousal, valence and dominance in musicians are associated with pro-inflammatory and oxidative responses to a concert situation.

Peripheral erythrocytes decrease upon specific respiratory challenge with grass pollen allergen in sensitized mice and in human subjects.

Background And Aims: Specific hyper-responsiveness towards an allergen and non-specific airway hyperreactivity both impair quality of life in patients with respiratory allergic diseases. We aimed to investigate cellular responses following specific and non-specific airway challenges locally and systemically in i) sensitized BALB/c mice challenged with grass pollen allergen Phl p 5, and in ii) grass pollen sensitized allergic rhinitis subjects undergoing specific airway challenge in the Vienna Challenge Chamber (VCC).

Methods And Results: BALB/c mice (n = 20) were intraperitoneally immunized with grass pollen allergen Phl p 5 and afterwards aerosol challenged with either the specific allergen Phl p 5 (n = 10) or the non-specific antigen ovalbumin (OVA) (n = 10).

Genotoxicity of metal nanoparticles: focus on in vivo studies.

With increasing production and application of a variety of nanomaterials (NMs), research on their cytotoxic and genotoxic potential grows, as the exposure to these nano-sized materials may potentially result in adverse health effects. In large part, indications for potential DNA damaging effects of nanoparticles (NPs) originate from inconsistent in vitro studies. To clarify these effects, the implementation of in vivo studies has been emphasised.

The eye--a neglected organ in environmental and occupational medicine: an overview of known environmental and occupational non-traumatic effects on the eyes.

The objective of this study was to give an overview of the known literature data on the influence of environmental and occupational factors on the eye. Sixty-six articles were selected by searching Medline and PubMed databases using the following key words in different combinations: occupational and environmental factors, dry eye syndrome, cataract, retinal vascular changes. Most of the studies dealt with conditions on the eye surface and used eye discomfort syndrome and dry eye syndrome to outline the effects of air pollutants.

Case based e-learning in occupational medicine--a European approach.

Objective: The main aim of the European Union project NetWoRM (Net-based training for Work-Related Medicine) is an international case-based e-learning curriculum for occupational medicine (OM).

Methods: To improve teaching in OM, web-based cases have been created and implemented at the University of Munich since 1999. In the last 5 years, the project has been further developed with a view to implement the methods internationally.

[The new German general threshold limit value for dust--pro and contra the adoption in Austria].

Since it has been realised that inhalation of inert dust is one of the important confounding variables for the development of chronic bronchitis, the threshold values for occupational exposure to these dusts needs to be further decreased. The German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK-Commission) has set a new threshold (MAK-Value) for inert dusts (4 mg/m3 for inhalable dust, 1.5 mg/m3 for respirable dust) in 1997.