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The effect of caffeine in coffee can have an adverse effect the blood pressure of people who drink large quantities of coffee, but this varies from person to person. Studies on this have so brought variable results. It is necessary for a great number of people to take part in extensive clinical trials.

The article presents a study which qualitatively examines the risks of silicosis and silica related lung cancer in Australia. It aims to revise the previous estimates of the risks of silicosis and silica dust. The methods used in the study feature different risk function and exposure unit conversion factors. The translation of the risk estimates into predicted number of cases and the occupational health problem related to silica is discussed.

The purpose of this study was to provide information on the occurrence of chemical exposure in small industry. One hundred workplaces were chosen by random sampling. Each worker's chemical exposure was assessed according to a uniform procedure. The prevalence of risk exposures according to the Finnish limit value (FLV) was 7.3%, more than twice the prevalence of risk exposures according to the FLV (2.8% = 1181). The average number of chemical exposures per exposed worker was 1.8. Chemical exposures with a sensitizing property (about 50% of the exposures) were more common than those with toxic (about 30%) or carcinogenic properties (20%) ( = 769). Within small industry chemical risk grew monotonically from the smallest size category (5–9 workers) to the larger size category (20–49 workers). However, there were great differences in the prevalence of chemical exposures according to the type of industry. One can conclude that chemical exposure in small industry is complex in character. The risk evaluation of peak exposures is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), 10 pmol kg−1 injected in the region of locus coeruleus, caused a rapid (within 1 min) rise of mean arterial pressure in the urethane-anaesthetized rat. No clear-cut effects in heart rate or ventilation were observed. When TRH was injected into the lateral ventricle, a dose more than 10-fold higher was required to achieve a comparable rise in arterial pressure. It is concluded that TRH may have a physiological role in central cardiovascular regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: To re-examine the relation between heavy physical work and the occurrence of sciatic pain among construction workers reported previously to be absent in an epidemiological study. METHODS-Poisson log linear regression was used to model for the frequency of sciatic pain among concrete reinforcement workers and maintenance house painters with adjustment for the interactive effects of earlier back accidents and aging that modified the relation.Results: Concrete reinforcement work not only had a direct effect on the frequency of sciatic pain, but it also contributed significantly to the risk indirectly through earlier back accidents. The risk of sciatic pain increased from age 25 to 54 in a different manner for a worker depending on his occupational group and record of back accidents.Conclusions: Epidemiological studies on low back pain need to be analysed with sound methodology. This is important in view of future meta-analyses that will be performed for the purpose of providing guidelines on the prevention of back disorders in heavy physical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The value of several serological tests was assessed by studying sera from 30 women with clinical findings of perihepatitis and a high chlamydial antibody titre in the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The other tests included the complement fixation test and enzyme immunoassays in which the antigen comprised either partially purified particles (EIA kit) or purified major outer membrane protein (MOMP EIA) of Chlamydia trachomatis L2 or lipopolysaccharide isolated from an Re mutant of Salmonella (Re LPS EIA). High IgG titres were noted in most (88-96%) of the patients by MOMP EIA and EIA kit, and in fewer patients (50%) by Re LPS EIA or complement fixation test. Seroconversion was found in 11-44% of the patients for IgG and in 28-36% for IgM; high IgG titre was thus the best diagnostic indicator for each test. The enzyme immunoassay tests have the advantage of being automated either with partially purified corpuscular or purified MOMP antigen and would allow a sensitive easy screening for chlamydial aetiology of women with pain of the right upper quadrant. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and an enzymelinked fluoroimmunoassay (ELFIA) utilizing monoclonal antibody to major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis L2 were developed for rapid detection of chlamydial antigen in clinical samples. The EIA and ELFIA could detect levels of purified chlamydial outer membrane protein as low as 1.0 and 0.2 ng/ml respectively. However, when EIA and ELFIA were compared to chlamydial isolation using 160 patient samples, the sensitivity rate was 68 % and 85% respectively. The sensitivity of the antigen detection method might be increased by simply using less diluted samples than in the present study. Chlamydial antigen was also demonstrated by EIA and ELFIA in 15% and 23% of culture-negative samples. The reason for these false-positive findings remains undetermined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]