The recent cloning of the genome of a parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis virus, designated the hepatitis C virus (HCV), has been used for the development of an enzyme immunoassay for the detection of antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV). We have employed this assay to evaluate the prevalence of HCV antibodies in hospital personnel and voluntary blood donors. Twelve of 1018 sera (1.2 percent) from health care workers were repeatedly reactive in the enzyme immunoassay for anti-HCV. Specificity testing with a modification of the enzyme immunoassay (additional wash cycle with 8 mol/l urea) and a recombinant immunoblot assay demonstrated HCV antibodies in only 6 of the 12 sera. Thus, the true prevalence of anti-HCV in hospital personnel was 0.6 percent. Nine of 1046 sera (0.9 percent) from blood donors were reactive in the enzyme immunoassay for anti-HCV. In none of the 9 sera the presence of HCV antibodies could be confirmed by additional testing with the urea wash modification or the recombinant immunoblot assay. The true prevalence of anti-HCV in blood donors thus appears to be lower than 0.1 percent. Our results indicate that the risk of HCV transmission in the hospital setting appears to be low, but is significantly higher than that of the general population.
The following points of emphasis were highlighted during a tour of the laboratory in which physicians participated who are interested in measurements in environmental hygiene (e.g. biomonitoring) and are therefore keen on installing such equipment themselves: Relevant substances in water, soil and air--Sampling procedures--Methods of analysis and price of equipment--Limit values, reference (standard) values, general principles of assessment--Legal aspects of measurement programmes conducted by Public Health Services. Possibilities were shown to gradually change over from the methods of measurement conventionally employed by the Public Health services, to more efficient methods, by discussing as examples the direct indicating air measurement tubes (standard size approx. 1 mg/m3 transverse sensitivity) as well as active sampling using Dräger activated carbon tubes.
Hypertension is one of the principal risk factors for cardiovascular diseases; its roots go back to childhood. A load study such as ergometry can help to recognise which persons are at risk. Ergometric measurements were performed by us on 105 children and adolescents, 72 of whom had borderline hypertensive or hypertensive blood pressure levels. Of these, the blood pressure rose during stress in 14%, the proportionate share being independent of the physical activity of the subjects. However, among those whose hypertension was on a borderline level, there was a disproportionately large percentage of obese subjects. These showed in addition an increase in blood pressure with increasing load and a reduced physical performance range. Obesity and lack of physical mobility had an unfavourable influence on blood pressure. Unfortunately there are no standardised rules for assessing the blood pressure during stress in children and adolescents. This would be all the more desirable since this easy examination is of prognostic value for an early discovery of manifest hypertension.
It is possible to describe all work-relevant psychological abilities of every disabled person, as well as the corresponding requirements of different jobs with a recently developed catalogue of only 30 items. A comparison of ability profiles with job-related requirement profiles allows a well-directed vocational integration of the disabled. The method can be used in every trade or branch; it includes all job-related psychological characteristics and is economic in application.
