Atherosclerosis is the most frequent cause of death in Austria as well as in the other western industrialized countries. Sex specific differences in the various age groups concerning relative myocardial infarction-mortality stimulated us to investigate the risk factors for atherosclerosis in 3850 employees. An extensive lipid status, liver and kidney function parameters were determined, the blood-pressure was measured, and a cardiovascular centered case history was examined. The mean cholesterol level and the LDL-cholesterol level in males were significantly higher than in females (cholesterol: males 223.8 +/- 56.8 mg/dl, females 208.2 +/- 43.3 mg/dl, LDL-cholesterol: male 151.9 +/- 55.1 mg/dl, female 132.2 +/- 40.1 mg/dl, p < 0.001). The mean HDL-cholesterol level in males were significantly lower than in females (males: 45.0 +/- 11.6 mg/dl, females 56.2 +/- 13.3 mg/dl, p < 0.001). No significant difference concerning smoking-behaviour could be determined between female and male participants in this cohort (33.0% of the males resp. 33.6% of the females stated that they smoked cigarettes). Hypercholesterolaemia and cigarette-smoking are the main risk factors for both sexes, however the situation of women-except for the 6th decade-is much better than that of men. Remarkable is the increasing number of female-smokers, especially at younger age.

In the course of an atherosclerosis intervention study, a basic medical check-up of 2105 out of 4800 employees of a Viennese banking house was carried out (37.1 +/- 11.0 years, 54.6% females). Apart from liver and kidney function parameters, an extensive lipid status was determined, the blood pressure was measured, and a cardiovascular-centered case history ascertained. The mean cholesterol level in females was 208.3 +/- 54 mg/dl and that in males was 226.8 +/- 61.1 mg/dl. The HDL-cholesterol level in males was 43.8 +/- 11.9 mg/dl; that in females (54.9 +/- 13.4 mg/dl) was significantly higher. The mean value of LDL-cholesterol in the entire group was 141.6 +/- 51.4 mg/dl and it was significantly higher in males, as well as in participants with known hypertension. 33.4% of the persons stated that they smoked. The obtained data will serve not only to discover potential interrelations between the individual risk factors of atherosclerosis in Austria, but also in particular as a basis for interventional strategies on the part of the company's medical services.

In the course of an atherosclerosis intervention study, a basic medical check-up of 2105 out of 4800 employees of a Viennese banking house was carried out (37.1 +/- 11.0 years, 54.6% females). Apart from liver and kidney function parameters, an extensive lipid status was determined, the blood pressure was measured, and a cardiovascular-centered case history ascertained. The mean cholesterol level in females was 208.3 +/- 54 mg/dl and that in males was 226.8 +/- 61.1 mg/dl. The HDL-cholesterol level in males was 43.8 +/- 11.9 mg/dl; that in females (54.9 +/- 13.4 mg/dl) was significantly higher. The mean value of LDL-cholesterol in the entire group was 141.6 +/- 51.4 mg/dl and it was significantly higher in males, as well as in participants with known hypertension. 33.4% of the persons stated that they smoked. The obtained data will serve not only to discover potential interrelations between the individual risk factors of atherosclerosis in Austria, but also in particular as a basis for interventional strategies on the part of the company's medical services.

The present study was designed to evaluate and correlate angiological, neurological and orthopaedic findings in lumberjacks, professionally exposed to vibration by chain-saws with a frequency of 40 to 120 Herz. Raynaud's phenomenon was diagnosed in 16 of 33 subjects. The nerve conduction velocity was delayed in 13 of 32 lumberjacks, the sulcus nervus ulnaris syndrome was diagnosed in 41%, the vibration threshold was abnormal in 10/32 cases. Orthopaedic examination and X-ray studies revealed spondylotic (59%) and spondyloarthritic (65%) alterations of the cervical spine; cysts in bones of the distal upper extremities were observed in 75% of cases. Frequency and severity of angiological, neurological, and orthopaedic pathological findings correlated with the total chain-saw operating time. However, there was no correlation between the presence of digital vascular hyperreactivity and the sulcus nervus ulnaris syndrome or changes in nerve conduction velocity.

The acute effects of a single intravenous Prostigmin injection (0.5 mg) on lung function and gas exchange during rest and bicycle ergometry were measured in 26 patients with myasthenia gravis. The mean age of the patients was 44.6 +/- 17.6 years and the mean duration of myasthenia gravis 5.4 +/- 6.3 years. Lung function parameters obtained from 15 patients showed a normal total lung capacity with an increase in functional residual capacity and residual volume, while vital capacity was diminished. While the application of Prostigmin showed no acute effects on these lung volumes, there was a significant increase in airway resistance, even into the pathologic range. Data obtained during spiro-ergometry concerning gas exchange, circulation and muscle metabolism correspond to those expected from healthy individuals; application of Prostigmin did only influence the heart rate, which can be explained by parasympathomimetic activity. We conclude that dyspnoea in patients with myasthenia gravis need not necessarily be a symptom of the illness itself but can also be caused by therapy; in the latter case bronchodilatators are required.

The acute effects of a single intravenous Prostigmin injection (0.5 mg) on lung function and gas exchange during rest and bicycle ergometry were measured in 26 patients with myasthenia gravis. The mean age of the patients was 44.6 ± 17.6 years and the mean duration of myasthenia gravis 5.4 ± 6.3 years. Lung function parameters obtained from 15 patients showed a normal total lung capacity with an increase in functional residual capacity and residual volume, while vital capacity was diminished. While the application of Prostigmin showed no acute effects on these lung volumes, there was a significant increase in airway resistance, even into the pathologic range. Data obtained during spiro-ergometry concerning gas exchange, circulation and muscle metabolism correspond to those expected from healthy individuals; application of Prostigmin did only influence the heart rate, which can be explained by parasympathomimetic activity. We conclude that dyspnoea in patients with myasthenia gravis need not necessarily be a symptom of the illness itself but can also be caused by therapy; in the latter case bronchodilatators are required

The calcium-dependent constriction of bronchial smooth muscle cells and release of mediators derived from mast cells is important in the pathophysiology of asthma. We hypothesized that nifedipine, a slow calcium channel blocker, would inhibit or attenuate acetylcholine-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatics. Because one consequence of mast cell activation is the release of platelet-activating factor, we wondered whether thromboxane levels would be increased during acute bronchial constriction in asthmatics. Bronchoconstriction was induced in 8 asthmatics (6 men, 2 women) by acetylcholine; each subject was pretreated either with placebo or nifedipine (20 mg sublingually) on 2 separate days. Vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, peak expiratory flow rates and oscillatory resistance were measured prior to and after the intake of placebo or nifedipine as well as after an acetylcholine challenge. Pretreatment with nifedipine significantly attenuated acetylcholine-induced changes in all four lung function parameters studied, but did not significantly influence the increase in thromboxane B2 plasma concentrations observed after the acetylcholine challenge. From these data we conclude that nifedipine inhibits the acetylcholine-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatics. This effect may be either a direct action on bronchial smooth muscle or may be due to the inhibition of mediators other than thromboxane.