[Examples for asbestos-related findings in HRCT - criteria for the assessment of causal relationships in surveillance programmes and medical expert opinion]. / Beispiele asbestfaserstaubbedingter Veränderungen im HRCT - Anhaltspunkte für die Kausalzuordnung bei Vorsorgeuntersuchungen und bei der gutachterlichen Beurteilung.

The increasing use of high-resolution computed tomography in formerly asbestos-exposed workers requires valid diagnostic criteria for the findings which have to be reported as suspicious for being asbestos-related in surveillance programmes and for the assessment of causal relationships between former asbestos exposure and findings in computed tomography. The present article gives examples for asbestos-related findings in HR-CT and discusses the specificity of parenchymal and pleural changes due to asbestos fibres.

[Recommendations for reporting benign asbestos-related findings in chest X-ray and CT to the accident insurances]. / Anzeigekriterien asbestfaserstaubbedingter Erkrankungen gemäss BK-Nr. 4103 BKV.

Asbestos-related diseases still play an important role in occupational medicine. The detection of benign asbestos-related diseases is one condition for the compensation of asbestos-related lung cancer in Germany. Due to the increasing use of computed tomography, asbestos-related diseases are more frequently detected in the early stages. The present article proposes recommendations for the findings which have to be reported as suspicious for being asbestos-related based on a) chest X-rays and b) computed tomography using the International Classification System for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Diseases (ICOERD).

[Digital radiography in chest imaging of occupational and environmental lung diseases]. / Digitale Radiografie in der Untersuchung von arbeits- und umweltbedingten Lungen- und Pleuraerkrankungen.

The classification of pneumoconiosis according to ILO standard - comparing a X-ray of the lung with ILO radiographs - is well established in Germany. The extension of digital imaging is a challenging task in occupational medicine as well as in pneumology. Technical requirements are not known sufficiently and the necessary equipment is not well distributed. This paper describes the current position on recording, assessment and documentation of digital imaging of the lung and pleura.

Melting of two-dimensional adatom superlattices stabilized by long-range electronic interactions.

The melting transition of Ce adatom superlattices stabilized by long-range substrate-mediated electronic interactions on Cu(111) and Ag(111) noble metal surfaces has been investigated by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, density functional theory calculations, and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Intriguingly, owing to the interaction between Ce adatoms and substrate, these superlattices undergo two-dimensional melting to a liquid without transition through the hexatic phase. The crucial parameters for this direct solid to liquid transition are identified.

[Further development of the International Pneumoconiosis Classification--from ILO 1980 to ILO 2000 and to ILO 2000/German Federal Republic version]. / Die Weiterentwicklung der Internationalen Staublungenklassifikation - von der ILO 1980 zur ILO 2000 und zur ILO 2000/Version Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

The ILO (1980) Classification has been revised during recent years. The new version is now available as the International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses (Revised edition 2000). The Guidelines booklet is currently available only in English. Those involved felt it was important to maintain continuity with the ILO (1980) edition, in particular to retain the standard radiographs, despite their restricted quality, so as to ensure comparability with earlier national and international data sets. The standard films illustrating pleural abnormalities, and 'u'-shadows, have been modified and reconstituted. The most important changes relate to assessment of film quality, pleural abnormalities, and additional symbols. In Germany, film quality is characterised as "+", "+-", "+--" and "u" according to whether the ability to assess pneumoconiosis is judged to be unimpeachable ("+") to unusable ("u"). If a film is not classified as "+", then written comments regarding defects are required. For "diffuse" pleural thickening, the ILO (2000) edition now requires the presence also of obliteration of the costophrenic angle. This was not required in the earlier (1980) edition and, as previously, is also not stipulated in the German version. A minimum width of 3 mm (previously 0-5 mm), coded "a", is required both for plaques as well as for the margin to the lateral chest wall. Congruence is thus achieved for criteria, which, in German practice, lead to an indication of suspect occupational disease. Plaques on the diaphragm are not considered for measurement of extent; they are only coded as present or absent. If calcification is identified, then this must also be classified and measured as a localised plaque. Extent of calcification on its own, previously coded "0" to "3", is no longer specified. The following new symbols, illustrated by new diagrams, have been introduced: aa = atherosclerotic aorta; at = apical thickening; cg = calcified granuloma (or other non-pneumocononiotic nodules); me = mesothelioma (already previously differentiated from "ca" on the German record sheet); pa = plate atelectasis; pb= parenchymal bands; ra = rounded atelectasis; od = other disease. (Examples of the latter are illustrated diagrammatically by lobar pneumonia, aspergilloma, goiter and hiatal hernia.) Earlier national differences (ILO 1980/German Federal Republic) on particular issues have also been agreed among German "double-readers" ["Zweitbeurteiler"]. However, conformity between the original (ILO 2000) text and the national (German) modified text has been retained in large measure. The detailed descriptions of the standard films differ in certain respects from the German (1980) definitions. Some revision of individual descriptions of the films are proposed. Except for a few differences, agreement was reached here too. The definitive date for the change in Germany is expected to be in early 2004. The standard films are already available now through ILO offices in Geneva or Bonn (addresses in appendix.)

Insulator at the ultrathin limit: MgO on Ag(001).

The electronic structure and morphology of ultrathin MgO films epitaxially grown on Ag(001) were investigated using low-temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. Layer-resolved differential conductance (dI/dU) measurements reveal that, even at a film thickness of three monolayers, a band gap of about 6 eV is formed corresponding to that of the MgO(001) single-crystal surface. This finding is confirmed by layer-resolved calculations of the local density of states based on density functional theory.

Photon emission at molecular resolution induced by a scanning tunneling microscope.

The tip-surface region of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) emits light when the energy of the tunneling electrons is sufficient to excite luminescent processes. These processes provide access to dynamic aspects of the local electronic structure that are not directly amenable to conventional STM experiments. From monolayer films of carbon-60 fullerenes on gold(110) surfaces, intense emission is observed when the STM tip is placed above an individual molecule. The diameter of this emission spot associated with carbon-60 is approximately 4 angstroms. These results demonstrate the highest spatial resolution of light emission to date with a scanning probe technique.

[Experiences with a standardized acetylcholine test in occupational medicine]. / Erfahrungen mit einem standardisierten Azetylcholintest in der Arbeitsmedizin.

This review deals with methodological features and the corresponding argumentation of a screening test for non-specific bronchial provocation with acetylcholine as it was standardized in the eastern part of Germany. This test has shown its suitability, whereby it has to be mentioned critically that the low provocation dose detects only higher grades of hyperreactivity. On the other hand the relevance of the test could be proved especially in occupational health follow-up studies.

[Effect of smoking on immunologic parameters]. / Zur Wirkung des Tabakrauchens auf immunologische Parameter.

Non-specific immunological parameters were analysed in dependence of cigarette smoking. Although the serum protein levels were in the normal range, it was remarkable to find some differences between non-smokers, ex-smokers and (heavy) smokers. These differences are especially distinct in the mean levels of IgE, alpha 1 PI and ceruloplasmin.

[Results of an epidemiological study with subsequent specialized diagnostic studies in dust exposure]. / Ergebnisse einer epidemiologischen Studie mit nachfolgender spezialisierter Diagnostik in einem Staubbetrieb.

Preparing a special occupational health follow-up a cross sectional study in 304 dust exposed workers was performed. According to these screening results 23% of the workers examined revealed as fit only under special conditions. Clinical examinations confirmed these judgements except a small group of 2.9%. In confirmed cases hygienic measures in regard of the working places and/or medical treatments were started. Effectivity will be studied in a longitudinal manner.

[Methodology and assessment of testing bronchial reactivity]. / Methodik und Bewertung der bronchialen Reaktivitätsprüfung.

Starting from diagnostic relevance of non specific bronchial challenges the principles and experiences of a screening type acetylcholine test which is recommended as a standard in GDR since 1974 are discussed. For special tasks like longitudinal studies and clinical pharmacology a threshold method using histamine was derived and modified from literature. Special attention is paid to diagnostic, prognostic and expertizing relevance of non specific bronchial hyperreactivity.

[A case report of welder's lung]. / Kasuistischer Beitrag zur Schweisserlunge.

The case of a 57-year-old man is reported, who worked as a plasma welder about 15 years. Chronic recurrent bronchitis was diagnosed 12 years after beginning of this work. The patient changed the place of his employment but the course of disease was uncommonly progressive. He died of right ventricular heart failure 10 years later. One year before death, the chronic obstructive pulmonary lesions were acknowledged as occupational disease. The post-mortem histological and chemical analysis of lung tissue yielded a mixed dust pneumoconiosis. These findings supported additionally the diagnosis of occupational disease.

[Determination of total lung capacity from the thoracic roentgen image]. / Zur Bestimmung der totalen Lungenkapazität aus Thoraxröntgenaufnahmen.

Formulas for calculation of total lung capacity from chest X-rays were compiled from literature. Using the total lung capacity measured by bodyplethysmography as reference, these formulas and several modifications were tested for usefulness. The product of lung area in the posterior-anterior X-rays and the largest diameter from sternum to the dorsal rib bow in the frontal X-rays was the most simple and exact roentgenological indicator of total lung capacity. 95%-confidence intervals for predictive values gained by this method revealed to be of similar range as for total lung capacity estimated by the gas dilution methods in comparison to bodyplethysmography.

[Reference values for the maximal expiratory flow volume curve for adults. Results of a cooperative study]. / Referenzwerte der maximalen exspiratorischen Fluss-Volumen-Kurve für Erwachsene. Ergebnisse einer kooperativen Studie.

Reference values of the maximal expiratory flow-volume curve for the adult GDR's population have been ascertained by a co-operative study of 5 lung function laboratories. We analysed measurements in 1,004 healthy subjects aged 16 to 69 years (728 males and 276 females). Prediction equations for the maximal expiratory flow rates, several time constants of lung mechanics and screening parameters of ventilatory inhomogeneity have been calculated by means of the multiple linear regression analysis. Our reference values are in good accordance with SEPCR summary equations. It is recommended to subtract from or add to the predicted values 1.64 standard deviations and to consider abnormal all values beyond this limit.

[Functional significance of lung siderosis in electrode welders]. / Zur funktionellen Bedeutung von Lungensiderosen bei Elektroschweissern.

56 electric arc welders found in a cross-sectional study to show pulmonary siderosis in full size x-rays were clinically examined. Looking for the discussed functional, relevance of such lung diseases in welders the diagnostic program included spirometry, flow-volume-curves, body-plethysmography, single breath diffusion capacity, pulmonary compliance and ergooxytensiometry. The results are supporting that "lung siderosis" in welders is associated with slight functional deterioration in the type of interstitial lung diseases.