Prostaglandins released into human burn blister fluid

Acidic lipids were isolated from human burn blister fluid and the presence of prostaglandins E and F compounds was demonstrated by the thin-layer chromatography. Prostaglandins E1, E2 and F2alpha were identified and quantitatively determined by radioimmunoassay and by gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Analyses on burn blister fluid obtained from 35 patients with skin burn indicated an extensive release of prostaglandins into the blister after burn injury in a few hours. The high levels of prostaglandins in burn blister fluid decreased gradually during 24 hours after burn.

Prolyl hydroxylase activity in human normal skins and post-burn scars

Post-burn granulation tissues showed an extraordinary high prolyl hydroxylase (EC 1.14.11.2; proline, 2-oxoglutarate dioxygenase) activity, 25 to 50 times higher than the mean value of human normal skins from the frontal thighs of 15 subjects, 385 +/- 247 (S.D.) cpm/min/g of wet weight tissue. The activity in the scars decreased sharply within 4 to 5 months, and then gradually decreased to the normal range after 2 years or so. Well-aged scars tended to show lower values than the mean value of normal skins.

Increased reporting of menstrual symptoms among women who used induced abortion

A mail survey was conducted among 3,222 Japanese women 20 to 44 years of age to determine and compare the characteristics of menstruation among women with and without a history of induced abortion. Women with prior abortion consistently reported an excess of symptoms in all age groups. While it is not yet known whether induced abortion results in a physiologic change in the uterus, it is suggested that a psychic component may be present by which women with prior abortion perceive their menses differently than nonabortion respondents.

Occupational health hazards resulting from elevated work rate situations

Some occupational health hazards resulting from an elevated rate of work due to recent mechanization and automatization are discussed on the basis of results of health examinations. A rapid increase of a cervicobrachial disorder among young cash register and packing machine operators has been observed. Switching to the use of electronic cash registers has been shown to have only limited efficacy due to increased operation speed, and high-speed complex finger and hand movements of packer operators have also proven to be as hazardous as key-board operations. The high incidence of low-back pain, in particular gradually developing pain, among workers in electric power supply work has been suggested to be the result of quick and intensified work to meet increasing supply demand. Likewise, the workload of electric locomotive and bullet train drivers has increased in accordance with increased train speeds, and has been shown to have had significant effects on their health particularly in regards to neural strain, intra-cab environment such as air pressure change, vibration, and noise, and rotation on irregular shifts. New steps seem required therefore to meet the new health problems arising from a combination of modern technological changes and elevated working speeds.

Lysyl oxidase activity in human normal skins and postburn scars

Lysyl oxidase activity of human normal skins derived from the frontal thighs of 33 subjects showed large variations and the mean value was 11 455 +/- 7 172 (S.D.) cpm/g of wet weight tissue. The age of lesion affected the lysyl oxidase activity in postburn scars. Granulation tissues showed a fairly low activity; however, the activity increased sharply within 2--3 months, and reached a significantly higher value than that of normal skin. The high level of activity continued for up to 2--3 years, then gradually decreased to normal range after 5 years or so. Lysyl oxidase activity was detected only after 4 M urea treatment of tissues. Benzylamine oxidase activity also showed large variations in both normal skins and postburn scars, with mean values of: 0.128 +/- 0.077 (S.D.) and 0.145 +/- 0.090 (S.D.) mmol/g of wet weight/h, respectively. No correlation was observed between lysyl oxidase and benzylamine oxidase activities. The granulation tissues showed significantly high values of benzylamine oxidase activity in contrast to the low values of lysyl oxidase activity.

Health hazard among cash register operators and the effect of improved working conditions

The health condition of female cash register operators in relation to their working conditions was investigated. A questionnaire study revealed that cash register operators more frequently complained of general fatigue, headache, sleeplessness, and low back pain than female office machine operators or other female workers. Dullness and pain in the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers especially on the right side were characteristic of cash register operators. Physical examinations in 1973 showed that 31.3% of 371 cash register operators suffered from muscle rigidity or tenderness; 13 were severely afficted and, 69 operators had to be either laid off, reassigned to other jobs, or given shorter working hours. Occupational cervicobrachial disorders were suggested to have been caused by repetitive upper limb motions combined with static load, an unfavorable working environment, and mental stress. Implementation of some improvements including shorter operation time, worker rotation, and adoption of electronic registers proved effective in reducing the number of sufferers of cervicobrachial disorders found during the 1975 physical examinations. But the improvements were not effective enough to alleviate fatigue of the neck, shoulder, and back due presumably to sustaining upper limbs while operating the keyboard.