Identification of the molecular motions responsible for the slower secondary (beta) relaxation in sucrose.

Broad-band isothermal dielectric relaxation measurements of anhydrous sucrose were made at ambient pressure in its liquid and glassy states. We found a new secondary relaxation that is slower than the one commonly observed in sugars. Additionally, we carried out the dielectric measurements of the equimolar mixture of D-glucose and D-fructose in wide ranges of temperature and frequency. Comparison of the behavior of these two systems allowed us to make suggestions on the origin of the slower beta-relaxation in sucrose. Computer simulations and coupling model calculations were performed to support our interpretation of the kind of molecular motions responsible for the slower secondary relaxation in the disaccharide considered.

[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.

[The course of liver cirrhosis not preceded by viral hepatitis with p articular reference to toxic etiology]. / Przebieg marskosci watroby nie poprzedzonej wirusowym zapaleniem, ze szczególnym uwzglednieniem etiologii toksycznej.

The study was aimed at analysing the epidemiological structure of patients with liver cirrhosis without HBsAg treated in 1980-1988. There were 231 of such cases in this period of time. The most frequent cause of liver cirrhosis in patients under 60 years of life was chronic alcoholism whereas 40% of the diagnosed liver cirrhosis in older persons was of unclear etiology. Patients complaints, clinical examinations, and results of the laboratory tests were analysed. The course of the disease was more severe in alcohol-produced liver cirrhosis leading to the haemorrhage from esophageal varices in 36%, and coma in 8% of cases. Alcohol-produced liver cirrhosis promoted other complications such as: cancer of the liver, hepato-renal syndrome or encephalopathy. Liver cirrhosis of unclear etiology in the elderly may be a consequence of the prolonged exposition to environmental pollutants. More severe course of alcohol-produced liver cirrhosis may depend on simultaneous action of two harmful factors: alcohol and environmental pollutants.

[Restoration of physiologic integrity of the gastrointestinal tract because of fever following partial jejuno-ileal anastomosis in extreme obesity]. / Przywrócenie fizjologicznej ciaglosci przewodu pokarmowego z powodu goraczki po czesciowym wylaczajacym zespoleniu czczo-kretniczym u skrajnie otylych.

The authors present three patients with fever of hectic profile following partial excluding jejuno-ileal anastomosis for extreme obesity. Cause of such a high fever was not detected in any patient. Despite the treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics and intensive treatment no decrease in body temperature was achieved. Failure of these conservative methods forced surgeons to restore physiological integrity of the small intestine. Rapid normalization of body temperature and improvement in patients health status were noted after surgery.

[Evaluation of the nervous system in workers in the furnace and coal divisions of the coke-producing plants]. / Ocena ukladu nerwowego u pracowników piecowni i weglowni zakladów koksochemicznych.

240 workers of coking plant exposed to noxious chemical compounds released at coke production and control group consisting of 76 persons including 48 workers without direct contact with coke production process and 28 randomly selected healthy subjects were examined. No characteristic syndrome of subjective changes was found in workers of productive sphere. However, defective neurological symptoms were more prevalent in this group as compared to the controls. The workers from the group exposed developed neurotic syndromes with vegetative disregulation symptoms two times more frequently than the controls. The changes in EEG were significantly more prevalent in the workers occupationally exposed. The prevalence of diffuse changes in EEG depended on the level of exposure to BaP.

[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.

[Some parameters of hemostasis in diabetic patients]. / Niektóre parametry ukladu hemostazy u chorych na cukrzyce.

Parameters of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in diabetic patients chronically treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents and insulin have been analysed. All examined patients were divided into four subgroups: I-treated with biguanides, II-treated with sulfonylurea derivatives, III-sulfonylurea and biguanide derivatives simultaneously, IV-treated with insulin. Observed decrease in haemostasis parameters and activation of fibrinolysis in patients treated with only biguanides seemed associated with favourable effect of these agents on the decrease in the risk of the thrombotic complications in diabetes mellitus.

[Effect of work in coke-processing plants on the efficiency of selected cognitive processes]. / Wplyw pracy w piecowni zakladów koksowniczych na sprawnosc wybranych procesów poznawczych.

Reports demonstrating the usefulness of neurobehavioral methods in estimation of early results of work in exposure to toxic substances have been quite frequent recently. In this study 198 workers of coking plants (including 137 highly exposed--group I and 61 low or medium exposed--group II) and 50 non-exposed workers constituting the control group have undergone psychological examinations consisting of estimation of perception, short-time memory and learning capabilities. The obtained results give evidence of statistically significant visual and motorial disturbances in group I, as compared to the control group and group II. Also the findings in group II were statistically significantly worse than those in the control group (except learning capabilities). The abnormalities coincided with the results of neurological examination (including EEG) and correlated with the degree of BaP exposure. In this connection it is suggested that the exposed workers should be rotated in their working posts.