Diesel engine exhaust and lung cancer risks - evaluation of the meta-analysis by Vermeulen et al. 2014.

Background: Vermeulen et al. 2014 published a meta-regression analysis of three relevant epidemiological US studies (Steenland et al. 1998, Garshick et al.

Effectiveness of low emission zones: large scale analysis of changes in environmental NO2, NO and NOx concentrations in 17 German cities.

Background: Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are areas where the most polluting vehicles are restricted from entering. The effectiveness of LEZs to lower ambient exposures is under debate. This study focused on LEZs that restricted cars of Euro 1 standard without appropriate retrofitting systems from entering and estimated LEZ effects on NO2, NO, and NOx ( = NO2+NO).

Mobile air quality studies (MAQS) in inner cities: particulate matter PM10 levels related to different vehicle driving modes and integration of data into a geographical information program.

Background: Particulate matter (PM) is assumed to exert a major burden on public health. Most studies that address levels of PM use stationary measure systems. By contrast, only few studies measure PM concentrations under mobile conditions to analyze individual exposure situations.

Advantages of the JobReha discharge letter: an instrument for improving the communication interface in occupational rehabilitation.

Purpose: Systematic collaboration between occupational physicians (OPs) and rehabilitation physicians (RPs) can improve occupational rehabilitation processes and outcomes. The JobReha discharge letter (JR-DL) is a key element of JobReha, a multilevel intervention for specific occupational rehabilitation of workers with musculoskeletal disorders. This feasibility study aims to analyse the perceived benefit and acceptance of the JR-DL as an instrument for improving the communication interface between RPs and OPs.

Reduced inclination of cervical spine in a novel notebook screen system - implications for rehabilitation.

Background: Professional working at computer notebooks is associated with high requirements on the body posture in the seated position. By the high continuous static muscle stress resulting from this position at notebooks, professionals frequently working at notebooks for long hours are exposed to an increased risk of musculoskeletal complaints. Especially in subjects with back pain, new notebooks should be evaluated with a focus on rehabilitative issues.

Carpal tunnel syndrome as an occupational disease.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been listed since 2003 in the European Union's list of occupational diseases. In 2001, it took sixth place in frequency among all occupational diseases recognized in the European Union. It was not listed as an occupational disease in Germany until July 2009, when the medical expert advisory panel of the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs issued an evaluative paper supporting its listing.

The impact of shift work induced chronic circadian disruption on IL-6 and TNF-alpha immune responses.

Aim: Sleep disturbances induce proinflammatory immune responses, which might increase cardiovascular disease risk. So far the effects of acute sleep deprivation and chronic sleep illnesses on the immune system have been investigated. The particular impact of shift work induced chronic circadian disruption on specific immune responses has not been addressed so far.

Bidirectional Assessment of Stress, job satisfaction and work ability of Educators in day care centres: a real-time observation study - the study protocol (BASE).

Background: Occupational demands of educators are not very well researched. Nevertheless their work is subject to several requirements. Whether these demands have an effect on the work ability and the health status of employees has also not been examined.

Scientometric analysis and combined density-equalizing mapping of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) research.

Background: Passive exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is estimated to exert a major burden of disease. Currently, numerous countries have taken legal actions to protect the population against ETS. Numerous studies have been conducted in this field.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the automotive industry due to repetitive work - implications for rehabilitation.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to repetitive work are common in manufacturing industries, such as the automotive industry. However, it's still unclear which MSDs of the upper limb are to be expected in the automotive industry in a first aid unit as well as in occupational precaution examinations. It is also unclear which examination method could be performed effectively for practical reasons and under rehabilitation aspects.

Air pollution research: visualization of research activity using density-equalizing mapping and scientometric benchmarking procedures.

Background: Due to constantly rising air pollution levels as well as an increasing awareness of the hazardousness of air pollutants, new laws and rules have recently been passed. Although there has been a large amount of research on this topic, bibliometric data is still to be collected. Thus this study provides a scientometric approach to the material published on this subject so far.

Correlates shift work with increased risk of gastrointestinal complaints or frequency of gastritis or peptic ulcer in H. pylori-infected shift workers?

Aim: There is an ongoing discussion whether work under shift work conditions enhances the ulcerogenic potential of Helicobacter pylori infections. This may be induced by a disruption of the circadian rhythm. The present study assessed whether there is an association between H.

Rheumatoid arthritis: scientific development from a critical point of view.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is classified as a chronic, progressive, systemic autoimmune disorder leading to inflammation, stiffness, defective position and destruction of joints. Finally a complete loss of mobility and functioning can be the result. The fraction of disability varies strongly, for example, a systematic review shows a 50% disability in a period from first occurrence to disability from 4.

Development and evaluation of a computer-based medical work assessment programme.

Background: There are several ways to conduct a job task analysis in medical work environments including pencil-paper observations, interviews and questionnaires. However these methods implicate bias problems such as high inter-individual deviations and risks of misjudgement. Computer-based observation helps to reduce these problems.

Occupational medical prophylaxis for the musculoskeletal system: A function-oriented system for physical examination of the locomotor system in occupational medicine (fokus(C)).

Occupational physicians are very often confronted with questions as to the fitness of the postural and locomotor systems, especially the spinal column. Occupational medical assessment and advice can be required by patients with acute symptoms, at routine check-ups, by persons who have problems doing certain jobs, and for expert medical reports as to the fitness of persons with chronic disorders or after operations. Therefore, for occupational medical purposes a physical examination must aim primarily to investigate functions and not structures or radiologic evidence.

Shift work and pathological conditions.

Shift work exerts major influences on the physiological functions of the human body. These are primarily mediated by the disruption of circadian rhythms since most body functions are circadian rhythmic. Next to the disturbances caused by changes in the circadian system, shift work has also been suggested to be related to a number of other health disorders.

Comparison of the aerosol velocity and spray duration of Respimat Soft Mist inhaler and pressurized metered dose inhalers.

Apart from particle size distribution, spray velocity is one of the most important aerosol characteristics that influence lung deposition of inhaled drugs. The time period over which the aerosol is released (spray duration) is also important for coordination of inhalation. Respimat Soft Mist Inhaler (SMI) is a new generation, propellant-free inhaler that delivers drug to the lung much more efficiently than pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs).