Adverse outcome pathways: Opportunities, limitations and open questions

Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) are a recent toxicological construct that connects, in a formalized, transparent and quality-controlled way, mechanistic information to apical endpoints for regulatory purposes. AOP links a molecular initiating event (MIE) to the adverse outcome (AO) via key events (KE), in a way specified by key event...

Estimation of low back moments from video analysis: A validation study

This study aimed to develop, compare and validate two versions of a video analysis method for assessment of low back moments during occupational lifting tasks since for epidemiological studies and ergonomic practice relatively cheap and easily applicable methods to assess low back loads are needed. Ten healthy subjects participated in a protocol...

Henoch-Schönlein purpura in children: An epidemiological study among Dutch paediatricians on incidence and diagnostic criteria

Background: The aim of the present study on the occurrence of Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) in Dutch children is to give some insight into the epidemiology of HSP in the Netherlands, to record the diagnostic criteria used by Dutch paediatricians and to evaluate the accuracy of the latter using the presence of IgA in the skin when biopsies are...

Nutrition in the prevention of gastrointestinal cancer

Diet has been hypothesized to play a role in the etiology of gastrointestinal cancer for a long time. Initially, strong evidence of such effects was found in retrospective epidemiological studies. Dietary habits, in particular those from the distant past, are difficult to measure, however. Results from recent, prospective and larger studies of...

Risk estimation for carcinogens based on epidemiological data: A structured approach, illustrated by an example on chromium

It is generally recognized that human, epidemiological data, if available, are preferred as the starting point for quantitative risk analysis above the use of data from animal studies. Although methods to obtain proper risk estimates from epidemiological data are available, several impediments prevent their widespread application. These...

Epidemiology of work related neck and upper limb problems: Psychosocial and personal risk factors (Part I) and effective interventions from a bio behavioural perspective (Part II)

Work related neck and upper limb symptoms have a multi-factorial origin. Possible risk factors are of a physical, psychosocial or personal origin. These factors can reinforce each other and their influence can also be mediated by cultural or societal factors. Initially, most research on neck and upper limb symptoms focused on work-related...

Gender and regional differences in perceived job stress across Europe

Background: Over the last 20 years stress at work has been found to be predictive of several conditions such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and non-specific sick leave. The Karasek demand/ control/strain concept has been the most widely used in prospective epidemiological studies. Objectives: To describe distribution in Karasek's...

Intrauterine famine exposure and body proportions at birth: The Dutch Hunger Winter

Background. Fetal programming of adult disease may be a long-term effect of fetal nutrition. Expected short-term effects include changes in body size and proportions at birth. The specific responses of fetal growth to acute undernutrition at varying points in pregnancy are still unclear. Methods. We abstracted all birth records of infants born...

Insulineresistentie en diabetes mellitus type 2 bij kinderen met overgewicht [Insulin resistance and diabetes type 2 in overweight children]

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children is increasing significantly. This increase is attended by an increase in diabetes type 2 in children and adolescents. The most important risk factor for the rise of insulin resistance amongst young people is overweight. The diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus in young people are: (a)...

The influence of climatic factors on non-specific back and neck-shoulder disease

An epidemiological study was carried out to explore the relationship between climatic factors and non-specific low-back and neck-shoulder symptoms in working populations. In a review of published literature, 27 studies were found which related climatic factors to musculoskeletal symptoms, but none of these studies specifically addressed the...

The impact of response bias on estimates of health care utilization in a metropolitan area: The use of administrative data

Background. Surveys among the general population are an important method for collecting epidemiological data on health and utilization of health care in that population. Selective non-response may affect the validity of these data. This study examines the impact of response bias on estimates of health care utilization and on risk estimates for...