The relationship between alertness and spatial attention under simulated shiftwork.

Higher and lower levels of alertness typically lead to a leftward and rightward bias in attention, respectively. This relationship between alertness and spatial attention potentially has major implications for health and safety. The current study examined alertness and spatial attention under simulated shiftworking conditions. Nineteen healthy right-handed participants (M = 24.6 ± 5.3 years, 11 males) completed a seven-day laboratory based simulated shiftwork study. Measures of alertness (Stanford Sleepiness Scale and Psychomotor Vigilance Task) and spatial attention (Landmark Task and Detection Task) were assessed across the protocol. Detection Task performance revealed slower reaction times and higher omissions of peripheral (compared to central) stimuli, with lowered alertness; suggesting narrowed visuospatial attention and a slight left-sided neglect. There were no associations between alertness and spatial bias on the Landmark Task. Our findings provide tentative evidence for a slight neglect of the left side and a narrowing of attention with lowered alertness. The possibility that one's ability to sufficiently react to information in the periphery and the left-side may be compromised under conditions of lowered alertness highlights the need for future research to better understand the relationship between spatial attention and alertness under shiftworking conditions.

[Effects of a Phone-Based Follow-Up Care After Inpatient Rehabilitation for Breast Cancer Patients - A Randomized Controlled Trial]. / Effekte der telefonischen Nachsorge in der onkologischen Rehabilitation nach Brustkrebs ­ Ergebnisse einer randomisierten Studie.

Background Benefit and long-term effects of rehabilitation and psychoeducational interventions after cancer therapy are still controversial discussed. Aim of the study was to evaluate feasibility and effects of a telephone-based follow-up intervention after oncological rehabilitation. Methods 172 breast cancer patients (age 27-54 years) were randomized after inpatient rehabilitation to a telephone-based intervention (phone calls every 4 weeks over 6 months) or control group. Patients were evaluated by standardized questionnaire (e. g. IRES-24, HADS, LZI, emotional thermometer, questionnaire "return to work") at T1 (start of rehabilitation), T2 (end of rehabilitation) and T3 (6 months after rehabilitation). Results 2-way-ANOVAs were performed to evaluate long-term effects. Main effects of IRES-24 and HADS were significant depending on time (IRES-24 F(2,116)=40.49, p<0.01 and HADS F(2,117)=31.50, p<0.01; (F(2,11 6)=31.19, p<0.01) but no significant differences between the intervention and control group were seen. Conclusions Telephone-based follow-up care is feasible with high patient acceptance. However an improvement of therapeutic effects in the intervention group were not be detected by IRES-24 and HADS questionnaire. Potential explanations may be the low "dosage" (duration/quantity of phone calls) of the intervention or the fact that in the last years multimodal treatment interventions were established in German rehabilitation centers leading to a so-called "ceiling effect" without significant effects of additional follow-up interventions.

Phase response relationships between light pulses and the melatonin rhythm in rats.

There is some controversy whether phase response curves constructed from studies conducted after acute release into constant darkness (Type II) or after prolonged constant darkness are comparable. This study investigated the effects of brief low-intensity light pulses on the onset of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin excretion in rats 48 to 60 h after lights-off and after 14 days of continuous darkness. In the former condition, maximum phase delays occurred between 4 and 6 h after expected lights-off, but no phase advances were observed within 2 days of the presentation of the stimulus. When the times of the pulses were plotted in relation to the individual onsets, peak light-induced phase delays occurred 0 to 2 h after melatonin onset. After 14 days in continuous darkness, the peak phase delays also occurred 0 to 2 h after melatonin onset and were slightly but significantly smaller. No significant phase advances were observed. In a separate small series of experiments, the temperature rhythm of rats was shown to be delayed by a comparable degree to that of melatonin by light pulses 2 and 4 h after expected lights-off under the Type II conditions. It is concluded that phase response curves conducted under Type I and Type II conditions are comparable.

[Seasonal changes in results of semen analysis from male members of an infertile married couple]. / Sezonowe zachowanie sie badanego nasienia mezczyzn z nieplodnych par malzenskich.

Analysis of 200 semen samples of men from childless couples was performed in order to evaluate the sperm characteristics during the year. Estimated were following features: semen volume, sperm density, motility and percentage of pathological forms. The sperm estimation data obtained from 4 seasons of the year was statistically evaluated. Statistically significant changes were found only in the percentage of pathological sperm forms. During the spring period the observed values were significantly higher than during summer and winter. From the correlation tables it appears that together with the increase of sperm density the percentage of pathological forms decreases. Whereas increase in density is correlated with the increase of sperm motility. It was also revealed that together with the increase of the percentage of pathological forms the motility decreases. Analogical results were obtained in all seasons of the year which indicates that there is a clear regularity existing. The least apparent dependencies were found in winter period.

[Disorders of color vision in employees of the Masovian Refining and Petrochemical Industries in Plock]. / Zaburzenia widzenia barwnego u pracowników MZRiP w Plocku.

Attention is drawn to the problem of the influence of the petrol derivates on the frequency of acquired dyschromatopsia. It has been observed--on the basis of performed examinations of the color vision by means of the Farnsworth-Munsell's 100-Hue test--that the general numerical index of the faults is increasing proportionally to the period of employment, i.s. the period of the contact of the workers with the derivates of petrol.

[Effects of petroleum derivatives and psychological stress on eye changes in prospective studies]. / Wplyw pochodnych ropy naftowej i stresu psychicznego na zmiany w narzadzie wzroku w badaniach prospektywnych.

Prospective study of workers exposed to simultaneous action of petroleum derivatives and psychic stress proved statistically remarkable differences between the first study and control study (after two years) as related to macular degeneration and opacification of the lens. So far, the results do not seem to point to these phenomena as related to the differences of age and training period between the two groups. For the ultimate assessment of the effect of simultaneous intoxication with petroleum derivatives and psychic stress, it is necessary to confront the results of the study with those obtained after examining the control group including persons of the same age.

[The state of the organ of vision in workers in the petrochemical industry. I. Results of ophthalmological examinations]. / Ocena stanu narzadu wzroku pracowników petrochemii. I. Wyniki badan okulistycznych.

The ophthalmological examinations of petrochemical plant workers that have been carried out so far did not enable working out a simple method of rapid ophthalmological evaluation of subclinical aromatic hydrocarbons poisonings. Neither the results of our own studies nor the experience of other authors explained fully the pathogenesis of the described spot lesions. Further observations are advisable to account for that issue.

[Function studies of the organ of sight in welders of the M-5 Division at the brown coal mine in Belchatów]. / Badania czynnosciowe narzadu wzroku spawaczy Wydzialu M-5 kopalni wegla brunatnego w Belchatowie.

The results of functional examinations of the sight organ (vision acuity, colour differentiation, ability to differentiate shapes in darkness at lowest luminances, glare test, stereometry), both in welders and controls, were not significantly changed after eight-hours' work. On the other hand, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups as regards colour differentiation, visual capability within the lowest luminations, and glare test.

[Evaluation of the organ of sight in workers at the Masovian Refinery-Petrochemistry Plant. II. Correlation of the results of ophthalmological tests with the results of specialized and laboratory tests]. / Ocena stanu narzadu wzroku pracowników MZRiP. II. Korelacja wyników badan okulistycznych z wynikami innych badan specjalistycznych i laboratoryjnych.

Basing on the results of examinations of 752 workers of the Refinery-Petro-chemistry Plant, correlations have been searched for between changes in the macula region of retina and disturbances found due to other specialist tests (internal, laryngological, dermatological), as well as laboratory--and toxicological investigations. A statistically significant correlation was found between changes in the macula and dysgeusia at the water-sewage division as well as the level of triglycerides at the phenol-and-total cholesterol division. A strict correlation was found between an increase in arterial hypertension and the rate of macula changes.

[State of the eyes in welders of Division M-5, Brown Coal Mine in Belchatow]. / Ocena stanu narzadu wzroku spawaczy wydzialu M-5 kopalni wegla brunatnego w Belchatowie.

Sight organ impairments have been compared in a group of M-5 Division welders, Brown Coal Mine in Belchatów, and control group of randomly selected administration workers. In the group of welders statistically more frequent were degenerative changes in the eye macula, melanomatosis and conjunctivitis. Those with changes in the area of the macua lutea and melanosis conjunctivae should undergo periodic ophthalmological control (dispensary groups).

51Cr-bleomycin in the diagnosis of ocular melanoma.

51Cr-bleomycin was administered to 18 patients suspected of having an ocular melanoma with varying degree of development. The diagnosis was verified prior to surgical removal of the eye-ball by fluorescent angiography and computerized axial tomography. In operated patients histological diagnosis was also available. Scintigraphy after 51Cr-bleomycin administration appeared to be an effective diagnostic measure: sensitivity and specificity reached 90 and 87%, respectively. It is concluded that the method is useful in the preoperative diagnosis of ocular melanoma.