摘要:

Hyperreflectoric rhinitis is related to an unspecific hyperreactivity probably caused by chemical irritants. As a major modulatory role may be attributed to the mucosal innervation, the present study was carried out to examine possible changes in the nasal mucosa innervation. Immunohistochemistry for the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP) and neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) revealed abundant staining of nerve fibers. Neuropeptide-contents in mucosal nerves was then quantitatively assessed and significant increases were found for SP (3.00 ± 0.37 vs. 1.64 ± 0.34 control group staining intensity) and VIP (2.33 ± 0.42 vs. 0.82 ± 0.33). In conclusion, these findings demonstrated differences in human nasal mucosa innervation between nonrhinitic and hyperreflectoric rhinitic subjects and provide evidence for a modulatory participation of neuropeptide-specific subpopulations of nerve fibers in hyperreflectoric rhinitis.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Early retirement produces a heavy economic burden in many western societies. There is a need to identify single risk factors for early retirement and to find methods for preventing it. To estimate the effect of heavy physical work on early retiring, a cohort of 1755 men aged 42 to 65 years from eastern Finland was followed up from 1984 to 2000. Self-estimated physical workload was assessed at baseline. The inclusive pension records were obtained from national pension institutions. Logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the effect of physical workload and single physical risk factors on the risk of disability pension and nonillness-based pension. Risks were estimated for both disease-specific and all disability pensions. The interaction of physical fitness and physical workload and the resulting effects on risk were also estimated. During the follow-up, 861 (49.1%) men retired on a disability pension and 331 men (18.9%) retired on a nonillness-based early pension. Only 273 (15.6%) men reached the age for getting the normal old-age pension without having had any other early pension After adjustment for age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking, maximal oxygen uptake, education and corresponding illness at baseline, heavy physical work was found to be associated with an increased risk of being retired on a disability pension due to musculoskeletal disorders (odds ratio (OR) 2.21, 95% confidence interval 1.36 to 3.61) but not due to cardiovascular or mental diseases. The association was stronger if cardiorespiratory fitness was poor. Lifting, static muscular loading and uncomfortable work positions increased the risk of early retirement especially due to musculoskeletal disorders. Loading of the upper extremity alone or with the neck and shoulder region seems to be an independent risk factor for early retirement. We concluded that physical workload increases the risk of retirement on a disability pension especially due to musculoskeletal disorders. In heavy physical work, the risk is increased especially among men with musculoskeletal or cardiovascular disease and poor cardiorespiratory fitness.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This study evaluates the usefulness of body mass index (BMI) as a preventive screening tool for general health and duty fitness status among firefighters. Two major BMI categorization methods were used: (1) “standard” [low (<27), medium (≥27 < 30), high (>30)]; and (2) WHO [(normal (<25), overweight (≥25 < 30), obese (≥30 < 39), morbidly obese (≥39)]. Using the “standard” categorization, nearly 60% of individuals had medium or high BMI’s; using the World Health Organization categorization, 80.7% of individuals were found to be overweight, obese, or morbidly obese. Statistically significant, inverse correlation between BMI and each of the following parameters was noted: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, VO2max, METS, and total cholesterol. Inconsistent or statistically insignificant correlation was found between BMI and HDL, Chol/HDL ratio, triglycerides, FVC % predicted, and FEV1 second% predicted. Findings were similar to previous studies of such correlates. BMI continues to prove useful as a screening tool and may be useful in identifying individual firefighters for health and fitness intervention measures.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Flight attendants (FAs) may be at risk of adverse reproductive outcomes. We investigated the feasibility of biomonitoring studies in this mobile workforce. Forty-five female FAs and 26 female teachers (referents) collected daily urine and saliva samples for one menstrual cycle, provided daily diary data for approximately three months, and wore a wrist monitor to measure sleep disruption. A transport system enabled FAs to store samples while traveling. Overall, participation rates were low (37%) but of those recruited, over 90% of FAs and teachers completed the biomonitoring cycle. Data collection and sample integrity were not diminished by travel. Study methods resulted in good compliance and high quality data. It is possible to conduct studies of menstrual cycle function, sleep disruption, and circadian rhythm disruption in a mobile workforce potentially exposed to reproductive hazards.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The study objectives were to determine the incidence of musculoskeletal pain in a cohort of adolescents and whether work is a risk factor for its development. 502 students in the seventh to ninth grades responded to a questionnaire at three times over a 12-month period, addressing musculoskeletal health and lifestyle factors. Annual incidence of musculoskeletal pain was 38%. Adolescents who worked developed pain more than those who did not work (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.96, 2.76). Those who worked in white-collar jobs were at a higher risk of developing pain than those in blue-collar jobs or childcare. The conclusion that work is associated with musculoskeletal pain development in adolescents implies that implementation of prevention strategies in the workplace should include adolescents who work.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Persons who have frequent contact with rodents as part of their occupation may be at increased risk of exposure to rodent-borne viruses such as Sin Nombre virus (SNV), the agent of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and Whitewater Arroyo virus (WWA), a New World arenavirus. Eighty-one persons with possible occupational exposure to rodents completed questionnaires and provided specimens for serologic testing. Seventy-two participants reported handling rodents as part of their job. The mean total number of rodents handled during participants’ careers was approximately 2200. IgG antibody to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus was detected in serum from one (1.2%) participant. IgG antibody to SNV, WWA, and Amapari viruses was not detected in any of the serum specimens. Despite considerable exposure to rodents, participants did not have significant serological evidence of exposure to rodent-borne viruses.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Within the framework of risk assessment of existing substances in the EC the irritating properties on the respiratory tract should be considered. Since no standardized test is available it was studied whether the Alarie test could be used for this purpose, as proposed by the Technical Guidance Document for new and existing substances. The available literature on respiratory tract irritation, seen as a local inflammatory response and/or tissue damage, after single and repeated (few-day) exposure was evaluated and compared with data on sensory irritation. No relation was found between the sensory irritation potential (as measured by the Alarie test) and local tissue damage (histopathological changes) in the respiratory tract after single or repeated exposure. It was concluded that the Alarie test is inappropriate to evaluate respiratory tract irritation. In addition, the available data do not support a quantitative potency ranking for man based on the RD50obtained with experimental animals.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of an educational intervention on physicians’ management of low back pain patients. The study universe composed of 64 providers employed by a large occupational health group, with 4411 LBP cases pretraining and 4665 cases posttraining selected from the organization’s database. The control group had 151 providers with 8478 pretraining and 8876 posttraining cases. Results showed that practices of physicians who participated in the intervention strategy underwent significant changes between the two intervals. Specifically, the intervention group reduced the percentage of restricted work cases, reduced the percentage of lost-time cases for male patients and female patients (less than 40 years old), and shortened restricted workday duration and total case duration for female patients. These results provide early indication for the effectiveness of this type of educational intervention strategy.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID