[Sporadic case of leptospirosis]. / Sporadyczny przypadek leptospirozy.

The flood disaster involves the danger of development of dangerous epidemic and episodic events on leptospirotic endemic area in the nearest spring and summer. The authors present a case of severe hemolytic leptospirosis as a results of gastrointestinal tract infection of 3 strains of leptospira. Polymorphism leptospirotic symptoms were discussed. The authors suggest the concept of the influence of plasma betaphospho-lipoprotein deficiency on cytoplasmatic respiration and substrate phosphorylation of morphologic elements of the blood, vessel endothelium and stroma cells.

[Plasma pancreatic glucagon during glucose tolerance test in workers exposed to vibration and noise]. / Glukagon trzustkowy osocza krwi w czasie testu tolerancji glukozy u narazonych na wibracje i halas.

Pancreatic glucagon plasma concentration (IR-G) were measured during oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) in workers exposed to whole body vibration and noise. In workers with abnormal GTT higher IR-G concentrations were found in comparison with the control group. Langerhans islet alfa cells stimulation may be responsible for a higher frequency of elevated glycemia during GTT in workers exposed to whole body vibration and noise.

[Secretion of insulin and peptide C in workers exposed to whole body vibration and noise]. / Wydzielanie insuliny i peptydu C u pracowników narazonych na wibracje ogólna i halas.

Insulin and C-peptide concentrations were studied in serum (by means of radioimmunoassay) after an oral glucose tolerance test in 62 workers occupationally exposed to whole body vibration and noise, and in 30 non-exposed workers of the control group. In the exposed group more frequent occurrence of higher glucose and insulin concentrations, with normal C-peptide concentrations, were found. The observed non-effective hyperinsulinaemia is likely caused by an impaired insulin degradation in the liver and/or an increased production of proinsulin which is assayed simultaneously by IR-I method.

[Glucose tolerance test and insulinemia in workers occupationally exposed to vibration and noise]. / Test tolerancji glukozy i insulinemia u pracowników zawodowo narazonych na drgania mechaniczne i halas.

Oral glucose test and serum insulin determination was performed in 192 workers of a large metallurgical factory. The subjects were divided into four groups: 1. exposed to isolated noise, 2. exposed to local vibration, 3. exposed to the whole body vibration, and 4. control group. In the group exposed to the whole body vibration more frequent occurrence of higher glucose and serum insulin concentrations were found when compared with the control group. The observed changes were caused by low and medium frequency of the whole body vibration.

[Low frequency vibration and testosterone levels in blood serum and excretion of 17-ketosteroid in urine in exposed workers]. / Wibracja ogólna niskich czestotliwosci a stezenie testosteronu w surowicy krwi i wydalanie 17-ketosterydów z moczem u narazonych pracowników.

Serum testosterone concentrations and excretion of 17-Ketosteroid in urine were determined in 32 caterpillar vehicle drivers exposed to low frequency vibration of the whole body and to noise. Testosterone concentrations were assessed by the RIA method in fasting after 3 hrs of work. 17-Ketosteroid excretion was measured in the 8-hr collection of night urine and in urine collected during the day's work. No significant differences were found in exposed workers, either in mean testosterone concentration in fasting and after 3 hrs of work or in 17-Ketosteroid excretion, before and during the work, when compared with the control group.

[Characterization of coke derivate distillation departments in coke plants. Hygienic and ergonomic conditions]. / Charakterystyka dzialu destylacji weglopochodnych zakladów koksochemicznych. Warunki higieniczne i ergonomiczne.

The studies were carried out in three coke plants mostly with the use of individual dosimetric methods but also with the stationary method. They revealed the values 2-5 times exceeding the MAC of the tar substances in the air of all workposts, and benzo(a)pyrene at several posts only. The other toxic substances like benzene homologous and benzologous and dust exceeded the MAC value only incidentally so that the workers of this department were less exposed than the people employed directly at the coke production. The ergonomic examinations did not reveal any excess of energetic expenditure or physiological cost. The results of medical studies will be presented in further papers.

[Effect of the work environment of the coke-processing industry on the respiratory system of coke factory workers]. / Wplyw srodowiska pracy koksowni na stan ukladu oddechowego pracowników zakladów koksochemicznych.

The influence of the working environment in a coke factory on the respiratory system of workers was examined in 253 workers employed for at least 5 years at coke production in baking ovens, or at coke sorting and processing. They were exposed to high air concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and tar substances as well as other numerous toxic substances e.g. benzene++ derivatives, the level of which however, did not exceed the MAC values. Medical examination comprising the MRC questionnaire and spirometry , using Godart Expirograph, was carried out Among the exposed workers the non-specific chronic respiratory diseases with obstructive symptoms and chronic bronchitis were revealed more often than in the control group such factors as tobacco smoking and the duration of work also had their influence on the frequency of respiratory diseases. The possibility of the impact of high air concentrations of BaP and carbon monoxide cannot be excluded either.

[Characteristics of coke plants. Health and ergonomic conditions]. / Charakterystyka zakladów koksochemicznych. Warunki higieniczne i ergonomiczne.

1300 workers were employed in that plant; 632 in production out of which 308, most exposed, worked in the baking ovens department. The hygienic examinations revealed a very high concentration of benzo(a)piren and crude tar in the air of in the baking ovens department the MAC from several to 600 times. Other harmful substances and dust, as well as the industrial noise exceeded the MAC only incidentally. The ergonomic examinations revealed the exceeding of the energetic expenditory only in the door operators of cooking ovens. The results of medical examination will be presented in subsequent papers.

[Studies of immune system parameters in coke plant workers]. / Ocena ukladu odpornosciowego u pracowników zatrudnionych przy produkcji koksu.

Studies on such parameters of immunological system as lymphocyte subpopulations percentage, immunoglobulins concentration and NBT reduction test were performed in peripheral blood obtained from 232 coke plant workers. All the subjects were divided into groups according to the degree of exposure to BaP. Lymphocyte T and B percentage, immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA concentration and NBT reduction test in the examined groups were not significantly different from those in the control group. However, in subjects exposed to the highest concentrations of BaP the low percentages of lymphocytes T (OKT-3) and lymphocytes TH--helper (OKT-4) were revealed when the lymphocytes T subpopulations were examined (using monoclonal antibodies in indirect immunofluorescent technique). Presumably, the alterations the percentage of lymphocytes T subpopulations depend on high BaP concentration affecting the exposed workers.

[Various plasma components and whole blood viscosity in patients with the vascular form of vibration disease]. / Niektóre skladniki osocza a lepkosc pelnej krwi u chorych na naczyniowa postac choroby wibracyjnej.

In 82 men suffering from vascular form of the vibration disease, divided by the degree of its advancement into two groups: I--consisting of 42 persons (average age 40 +/- 7,5 years) at an early stage of the disease and II--consisting of 40 persons (average age 49.7 +/- 5.6 years) with an advanced stage of the disease--the whole blood and plasma viscosity, the plasma fibrinogen level, the total protein level and its fractions and the total cholesterol level were determined. The control group (III) consisted of 100 men in good health (average age 41.3 +/- 8.4 years). The studies showed in both groups with the disease a significant growth of alpha 1, gamma globulins and fibrinogen. It was demonstrated that the increased blood viscosity is--among other things--a consequence of increased plasma viscosity and proteins disturbances.

[Effect of mechanical vibrations and noise on creatine kinase activity in workers]. / Wplyw drgan mechanicznych i halasu na aktywnosc kinazy kreatynowej u pracowników narazonych.

In two groups of workers exposed to vibration and noise exceeding allowable standards within 3 to 30 years for over 4 hrs daily, the activity of creatine kinase-test enzyme for the diagnosis of muscular diseases and traumata was evaluated. Both in group I, composed of 74 workers aged 21-51 (38 on average) topically exposed to mechanical vibrations and noise, and in group II, composed of 45 workers aged 25-51 (37 on average), with topical or whole-body exposure to mechanical vibrations CPK was found to be significantly increased as compared to controls--26 workers carrying on medium (i.e. not very hard) work. In the group of 30 workers exposed to noise only, CPK values were comparable with the control group. CPK was increased irrespective of evident angioneurosis and duration of exposure. The obtained results indicate the advisability of applying the CPK activity investigation as an exposure test.

[Electrocardiographic examination of the heart and the study of catecholamine secretion in workers subjected to mechanical vibration and occupational noise]. / Badanie elektrokardiograficzne serca i wydzielanie katecholamin u pracowników narazonych na drgania mechaniczne i halas przemyslowy.

Electrocardiographic tests in 281 workers of metallurgical industry, exposed for 3-20 years to mechanical and acoustic vibrations exceeding allowable standards, were carried out. The control group consisted of 120 subjects unexposed to physical or chemical hazards. In 82 subjects exposed to vibration and noise, 43 workers exposed to isolated noise and 30 subjects of the control group, the amount of 3 methoxy--4 hydroxymandelic (3M4HM) acid before and after work was determined. Significantly more frequent repolarization disturbances of neurovegetative nature (V-3), particularly in those simultaneously exposed to general and local vibration, were evidenced. In those exposed exclusively to noise no ECG changes were found. In addition, increased 3M4HM secretion, due to both local and whole--body transmitted vibration, was found. Isolated noise does not induce an increase in 3M4HM secretion.