ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Learning ObjectivesRecall the properties of stachylysin and the characteristics of the assays developed to quantify it.Identify the types of indoor environment that harborStachybotrys chartarum.Summarize the results of stachylysin assays in rats and humans exposed toS. chartarum.The goal of this research was to develop a measurable indicator of human exposure toStachyborys chartarum. Antibodies were produced against the hemolytic agent stachylysin obtained from the moldS. chartarum. These antibodies were used to develop two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods for the analysis of stachylysin in human and rat sera and environmental samples. Stachylysin was measured in rat pups that received nasal instillations ofS. chartarumconidia but not in control rat serum. Stachylysin in the serum of five human adults exposed toS. chartarumin water-damaged environments was 371 ng/mL but none was detected in the control serum. Stachylysin was also quantified in spore, wallboard, mycelial, and dust samples. The measurement of stachylysin may be a useful indicator in assessing human exposure toS. chartarumand in determining the presence of this indoor mold.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Learning ObjectivesEvaluate the rationale used by those who would recommend genetic testing of railroad workers engaged in track management who have carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).Describe the probable respective contributions of physical/environmental and genetic factors in railroad track workers with CTS.Discuss the medical, social, and ethical issues raised by testing railroad track workers for genetic mutations and deletions.In 2000, approximately 20 railroad track workers who filed injury reports or compensation claims for carpal tunnel syndrome were tested by their employer for two genetic traits to determine the work relatedness of the condition. The testing involved deletions, variants, or mutations in the genetic coding for peripheral myelin protein (PMP22) and transthyretin (TTR). This article is an assessment of whether there is a scientific basis for such testing. A review of the scientific literature indicated that neither the scientific basis nor the population validity of the PMP22 or TTR tests for carpal tunnel syndrome were adequately established before use on railroad track workers in 2000. Although ethical and legal issues may predominate in this case, the absence of a compelling scientific basis undermines the decision to conduct the tests.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Learning ObjectivesRecall the clinical abnormalities reported in epidemiological studies to be more frequent in workers at waste incinerating plants.Identify any associations between high or low blood levels of dioxins/furans and altered blood lipid levels.Describe the changes in liver enzymes, if any, associated with high exposure of waste-burning workers, and note any interactive effect of dioxins/furans and hepatitis B infection on enzyme levels.This study examined the effects of dioxins/furans on blood lipids and hepatic function and assessed potential interaction between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and dioxins on hepatic function for 133 male workers of municipal waste incinerators. We found that total cholesterol levels in workers with blood dioxins/furans levels of 15.4–59.0 pg TEQ/g lipid (high-exposure workers) averaged 13.5 mg/dL higher than workers with 5.5–15.3 pg TEQ/g lipid (low-exposure workers). The adjusted odds ratio for total cholesterol abnormality (>220 mg/dL) was 2.8 (95% confidence interval = 1.0–7.9) between high and low-exposure workers. High-exposure workers showed consistently, although not statistically significantly, higher abnormality in &ggr;-glutamyltransferase (>52 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (>41 U/L), and aspartate aminotransferase (>37 U/L) than did low-exposure workers. However, there was no statistically significant interaction between dioxins/furans and HBV on these hepatic enzymes among incinerator workers.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Many chronic illnesses that affect the working population can cause losses in productivity. The extent to which these productivity losses can be reduced by pharmacological treatment is of particular interest to employers, who bear the productivity costs and subsidize the cost of employees’ health care. In the past several years, the effects of pharmaceuticals on productivity losses have been tested in numerous studies, including randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. In this article, we summarize and critically review these studies and, where appropriate, provide quantitative overviews. The evidence is very good for about a dozen drug classes that pharmaceuticals reduce productivity losses caused by respiratory illnesses (ie, asthma, allergic disorders, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, and influenza) diabetes, depression, dysmenorrhea, and migraine. We also discuss the calculation of productivity costs, reductions in which may partially or completely offset the costs of treatment. This information should be helpful to occupational physicians who are increasingly providing recommendations on employer benefit plan designs and pharmaceutical benefits.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The purpose of this work was to assess the relation between exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) at work and reported respiratory and sensory symptoms. A cross-sectional telephone survey of 382 nonsmoking indoor workers in Victoria, Australia was used. After controlling for potential confounders, exposure to SHS at work for part of the day was significantly associated with an increased risk of wheeze (OR = 4.26), frequent cough (OR = 2.26), sore eyes (OR = 3.77), and sore throat (OR = 2.70). Among workers who had not experienced a cold in the past 4 weeks, we found strong dose–response relationships between increasing levels of exposure to SHS at work and morning cough, frequent cough, sore eyes and sore throat, and a positive relationship for wheeze. These findings provide compelling evidence that nonsmoking indoor workers are adversely affected by exposure to SHS at work and underline the importance of workplace smoke-free policies in protecting the health of workers.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The literature on anxiety and depression in work life is scarce. This study examined if and how levels of anxiety and depression differed between occupations. The study encompassed 17384 workers with occupations classified according to ISCO-88 (COM) from the population-based Hordaland Health Study. Levels of anxiety and depression were assessed by the anxiety and depression subscales of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A and HADS-D, respectively). Main analytical method was univariate analysis of variance. Both HADS-A and HADS-D scores differed significantly between occupaional groups. HADS levels showed a distinct and inverse association with skill levels, most strongly observed for HADS-D scores in men. The relationship between skill levels and depression caseness was equally strong. Elementary occupations consistently showed higher-than-average HADS scores. The strength of the associations between depression score/caseness and skill levels are of clinical significance. Screening for depression should be considered in low-skill occupations.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The etiology of gliomas is not well understood. Some jobs might involve sustained and elevated exposures to carcinogens. This study compares lifetime job histories of 879 glioma cases diagnosed between August 1991 to April 1994 and May 1997 to August 1999 in the San Francisco Bay Area and 864 controls. Logistic analyses compared longest and ever held occupations of 1 year or more for all astrocytic and nonastrocytic cases and controls overall with adjustment for age, gender, and ethnicity and separately for men and women. Two-fold or higher or statistically significant elevated odds ratios were found overall and in men among those with longest held occupations, as firefighters, physicians, material moving equipment operators, and janitors; such elevated odds ratios were also observed for longest-held occupations among male motor vehicle operators and personal service workers and female messengers, legal/social service workers, electronic equipment operators, painters, and food processors. Odds ratios of 0.50 or less, but not statistically significant, were found for those with longest held jobs as writers/journalists, biological scientists, paper workers, mechanics, chemists, and photographers/photoprocessors. This study supports previously observed occupational associations and is one of the few studies with sufficient numbers to separately analyze occupations by gender.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Only few studies have assessed relative risks on occupational asthma and allergy among bakery workers, and none of them have included respiratory and work-related symptoms as well as sensitization to occupational allergens and pulmonary function. A random sample of 246 workers from traditional and industrial bakeries in two regions of Belgium were compared with a reference population of 251 workers from a petrochemical plant in the same region. Data on skin test positivity, symptoms, and lung function were collected by standardized procedures. Differences between the two subpopulations were analyzed using multiple logistic and linear regression analyses. On average, bakery workers did not more often have skin test positivity than reference workers (39.4% and 42.6%, respectively). However, bakery workers had a strongly increased risk of sensitization to specific bakery allergens (OR 22.0, 95% CI = 6.3–77.1.), whereas their risks of positive skin tests to common allergens, including wheat pollen and storage mite, were significantly decreased (OR 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4–0.9). Bakery workers had significantly more often respiratory and work-related symptoms. Accordingly, they had lower lung function parameters. Atopy and sensitization to bakers’ allergens were independent and additional risk factors for work-related symptoms. Bakery workers are at increased risk of respiratory and allergic symptoms and skin test reactivity to specific bakers’ allergens wheat flour and &agr;-amylase. Wheat pollen and storage mite should not be regarded as baker’s allergens. Nevertheless, pulmonary function of bakery workers can be characterized as mild airway obstruction only.

ISSN:1076-2752    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID