[Clinical features of the hand-arm vibration syndrome in miners].

Introduction: It is well known that the vibrating tools used by the miners can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome. However no detailed reports on this field could be found in the Hungarian literature.

Aim: The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical features of the hand-arm vibration syndrome of the miners.

[Hand-arm vibration syndrome in foundry workers].

Introduction: The hand-arm vibration syndrome of the foundry workers using chipping hammers and grinders were analysed in Hungary last in 1950th-s years. Therefore it seemed necessary to consider the present situation of the disease.

Aim: To study of the signs of the hand-arm vibration syndrome of the foundry workers using chipping hammers and grinders.

[Chronic perchloroethylene poisoning].

The authors describe the clinical features of the chronic perchloroethylene poisoning discussing their own 7 cases (2 women and 5 men). The 2 women worked as dry-cleaner, the 5 men performed degreasing of metal objects. The mean age of the patients was 46 (36-55), the exposure time 9.

[Acute appendicitis in a patient with increased lead absorption].

The authors describe the case history of an acute appendicitis of a patient suffering from increased lead resorption. The operation resulted in complete healing. They draw the attention to the possibility of an acute abdominal disease also in case of abdominal complaints of patients suffering from increased lead resorption.

[Lead poisoning caused by lead-glazed ceramic household article, initially assumed to be of occupational origin].

The authors observed serious lead intoxication of a 18 year old female ceramic apprentice caused by tea with lemon stored in a glazed ceramic teapot made by the patient herself. The case history suggests: 1. the need of warning people to avoid the use of ceramic tablewares made by insufficient technology for alimentary purposes.

[Some current questions concerning occupational diseases in Hungary].

The author reviews the management of the professional diseases in Hungary from the beginning till now. It can be stated that the number of the registered professional diseases in Hungary has decreasing steadily. He thinks that this tendency can be explained not only by the improvement of the labour higienic conditions and systematic screening tests with biologic monitoring but also by the increase of unemployment and the threatening of the latter of the workers as well as the lack of the discipline of the registration.

[Severe lead poisoning caused by an ingested fishing weight].

Authors describe the case-history of a 17 year old male who accidentally ingested a fishing weight that was retained in the stomach and caused a serious lead poisoning. It is worth mentioning that beside the wellknown symptoms and signs of lead intoxication also the liver was seriously affected. The histologically verified toxic lesion of the liver presumably can be attributed to the large quantities of lead absorbed within a short period.

[Microenvironmental lead poisoning].

Authors describe two cases of lead poisoning of unusual origin. A 43 year old male patient bought some waste metal in order to build a fence around his new house for saving money. He removed the old corroded coat of paint using a grinder without any protection.

[Hand-arm vibration syndrome in caisson miners].

Authors examined 43 caisson-miners with symptoms of the upper extremities because of suspicion of hand-arm vibration syndrome. Also vibration measurements were performed on the pneumatic hammer used by the workers. The acceleration of the vibration exceeded 2.

Lead intoxication epidemic caused by ingestion of contaminated ground paprika.

Objective: Report of a lead intoxication epidemic caused by ingestion of contaminated ground paprika.

Design: Retrospective study of case histories.

Setting: Institutional, toxicological and medical referral center for ambulatory and hospitalized care.

[Hand and arm vibration syndrome caused by mechanical screw driver].

Authors performed angiological, neurological and radiological examination of 17 persons working with power screw-drivers. Vibration measurement of the tools was made too. 10 patients had symptoms and signs corresponding to the hand-arm vibration syndrome.

Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in different geriatric subpopulations from a moderately iodine-deficient Hungarian region. Comparative clinical and hormonal screening.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in different geriatric subpopulations from a moderately iodine-deficient Hungarian region and to compare the efficacy of clinical versus hormonal screening. A screening study was done on 279 chronically ill geriatric patients (Group I) and 256 consecutive hospital admissions over 60 years of age (Group II). The method of clinical screening was different from those used so far: the object was not to search for symptoms of hypo- or hyperthyroidism but to find any sign justifying a further thyrotrophin-based biochemical evaluation, i.

[Vibration-induced Raynaud phenomenon caused by an electric hedge trimmer].

Authors observed Raynaud's phenomenon verified by cold-provocation test and measuring finger systolic blood pressure on a man working with bush cutter equipment installed on a tractor. Vibration measurements showed acceleration superior to maximal allowable level. Other causes of a secondary Raynaud's phenomenon were excluded by means of detailed internal examination.

[An undying civilization damage: lead poisoning].

The authors summarise the history, the sources, the pathophysiology, the symptoms and signs, the diagnostic methods, the differential-diagnostic possibilities, the therapy and prevention of the lead poisoning. They suggest that besides the classical professional and alimentary sources the environmental pollution caused first of all by leaded petrol plays a more and more important role in the lead exposure of the people. They draw the attention of the physicians to the lead intoxication as a possible cause of abdominal pain and/or anemia.

Tunnel syndromes of the upper extremities in workers using hand-operated vibrating tools.

Neurological and electrophysiological (EMG, ENG) examinations of the upper extremities were carried out in 167 patients exposed to hand-arm vibrations. All patients had typical symptoms (Raynaud's phenomenon and/or numbness, muscle weakness). The results showed that the circumscribed lesions of the tunnel nerves are far more common (92.

Ultrasonography of the thyroid gland in hospitalized, chronically ill geriatric patients: thyroid volume, its relationship to age and disease, and the prevalence of diffuse and nodular goiter.

Ultrasongraphy of the thyroid gland was performed in a screening study of 177 chronically ill, hospitalized geriatric patients older than 60 years of age, from an area with only moderate iodine deficiency. The normal reference ranges of thyroid volume for males (1.7 mL to 22.

Vibration disease.

Today, in this age of technology, vibration caused by machinery is an almost universal hazard. Vibration transferred from a machine to the human body may cause discomfort, a reduction of performance, and even injury. Vibratory manual tools may cause damage to the circulatory system of the upper extremities (Raynaud's syndrome), to the peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy), and to the bones and joints (aseptic necrosis, fatigue fractures, degenerative joint disease).