1,721,217 research outputs found
RESPIRATORY DISORDERS AMONG WORKERS IN A TOBACCO FACTORY
No full textObjectives: This work aimed to study respiratory disorders and pulmonary function tests among workers in a tobacco factory along with measurements of levels of serum IgE, and urinary cotinine and studying dust level inside the factory. Subjects & methods: The study was carried out on 79 randomly selected tobacco processing workers in a tobacco manufacturing factory in Menoufia Governorate and 80 voluntarily participating controls. Both groups matched for age, sex, residence, income and educational level and were subjected to a structured chest symptoms questionnaire,
clinical chest examination, spirometric measurements and measurements of total serum IgE (IU/ml) and urinary cotinine (ng/ml) by Enzyme Immuno Assay (EIA). Environmental total and respirable dust was measured inside the factory. Results: Tobacco workers reported significantly higher respiratory symptoms and signs (cough, expectoration and wheezes), (P<0.05) as compared with controls and had lower mean values of predicted spirometric measurements (FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC), P<0.001. Values of serum IgE level (IU/ml) and urinary cotinine (ng/ml) were significantly higher among tobacco workers (75.06 + 43.69 and 1422.73 + 1265.59) than controls (57.43 + 38.55 and 84.33 + 82.89, respectively), P < 0.05. Smoker and non-smoker
tobacco-exposed workers had statistically significantly lower mean percentage values of predicted of FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC as compared with smoker and non-smoker controls, (P <0.05). In addition, urinary cotinine and serum Ig E were significantly higher among smoker and non-smoker exposed workers as compared with exposed and non-smoker controls. A negative weak and significant correlation between spirometric measurements and levels of serum Ig E is noted among tobacco workers. Conclusion: The respiratory impairments noted among tobacco processing workers might be due to their exposure to the work environment and sensitization to tobacco dust
Manganese-Induced Parkinsonism: Evidence from Epidemiological and Experimental Studies
Full text linkManganese (Mn) exposure has evolved from acute, high-level exposure causing manganism to low, chronic lifetime exposure. In this latter scenario, the target areas extend beyond the globus pallidus (as seen with manganism) to the entire basal ganglia, including the substantia nigra pars compacta. This change of exposure paradigm has prompted numerous epidemiological investigations of the occurrence of Parkinson’s disease (PD), or parkinsonism, due to the long-term impact of Mn. In parallel, experimental research has focused on the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of Mn and its interactions with genetic susceptibility. In this review, we provide evidence from both types of studies, with the aim to link the epidemiological data with the potential mechanistic interpretation
Upper limb work-related disorders: Description of an Italian hospital based case study
No full textThe work-related biomechanical overload of the upper limb can cause an heterogeneous group of upper-limb musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this paper was to analyse the characteristics of 539 patients observed at the Institute of Occupational Health of the Spedali Civili of Brescia, referred for upper limb work-related disorders from 1987 to 2006. Using the Hospital computerized database, individual variables including referral source, gender, age, life style, work sector, clinical and work history, final clinical diagnosis and work-relatedness evaluation were retrieved and analysed. The results of this survey showed a significant increase of number of cases, especially from 1999 to 2006. Shoulder disorders showed a significant increase in the latest years of the observation period, while the other upper limb districts remained constant. The work sectors mostly affected were textile, construction, metalmechanical and food industry. The findings of this study indicates an increasing demand for clinical assessment of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb. Therefore, it is important that a standardized diagnostic procedure is applied together with an accurate evaluation ofbiomechanical overload
Integration of subjective and objective methods for stress related risks evaluation in the health care sector
No full textOne of the most relevant aspects in the evaluation of occupational stress is concerned with the survey methodology. Several studies adopted subjective and objective methods of evaluation and the debate about the benefits and limitations of both approaches has continued for several years (Frese et al. 1988, Hurrell et al. 1998). To choose an appropriate, specific and focused-on-context evaluation, it is necessary to identify the sources of risk in the investigated area. Then, it is necessary to choose the methods, subjective and objective, more suitable for stress evaluation. In this study we reviewed the psychosocial risk factors that are specific to the health sector and the instruments, objective and subjective, most used in this context. We considered also the methods for the detection of episodes of violence. Finally, we presented the results of a study conducted in the health care sector, which has adopted and compared objective parameters, as potential stressors, and subjective symptoms. The study revealed statistically significant correlations between objective and subjective indicators, suggesting the importance of integrated methods of evaluation. © PI-ME, Pavia 2010
Proposal of a method for identifying exposure to hazardous chemicals in biomedical laboratories
No full textControlling occupational exposure to chemical substances in biomedical laboratories is very complex because of the high number of compounds involved, and the rapid changes in analytical techniques and methods. On the other hand, evidence of increased mortality for malignant lymphoma and leukemia has been observed in laboratory technicians. This calls for more precise procedures of risk assessment to identify the specific substances that may be responsible for these effects. A model of hazard identification is presented, which includes the following steps: identification, classification and periodical updating of the chemical substances used in each analytical technique; evaluation of the variables that can influence the exposure; quantification of exposure using environmental measurements. The availability of such a procedure can be useful for the organization of health and epidemiological surveillance programs for the laboratory workers
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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