摘要:

&NA;The Occupational Medicine Forum presents questions of general interest received by the AOMA Committee on Occupational Medical Practice. Answers usually are prepared by the Committee, representing the composite best judgment of its members. Such replies do not necessarily represent an official position of the American Occupational Medical Association. In some cases, the responses will be prepared at the Committee's request by consultants with special qualifications in specific fields. Questioners are not named. Readers who wish to submit questions to the Committee should address inquiries to: Committee on Occupational Medical Practice, American Occupational Medical Association, 2340 S Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005.

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1987

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1987

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1987

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;The ability of subjects to recall their year of hire, year of termination, and job title was studied by comparing reported information to that recorded in personnel records. Former shipyard workers were interviewed in 1982. A majority was first employed in one of two shipyards during the early 1940s and 1950s.&kgr; statistics and crude and adjusted measures of percent agreement were derived to determine whether reported work history agreed with what was recorded in the subjects' personnel record and to determine whether recall was associated with race, age of the respondent at the time of interview, years since leaving the yard, length of employment, and year of hire. After adjusting for other covariates, only the number of years since leaving the yard was associated with recall of year of hire and termination, but not job title. In addition, however, there were several other noteworthy findings. Individuals who were 65‐69 years of age at the time of interview had the poorest recall. Recall of both the year of hire and the job title appears to improve with increasing length of employment.

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1987

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;Males and females were compared on several physical performance test items. The tests included five tasks used by the City of Chicago to select firefighters as well as four new test items that were designed to reflect recent changes in firefighting procedures. Sixty‐two subjects (37 males, 25 females) 17‐31 years of age were tested twice with 1 week intervening on a battery of tests that included measurements of body size and composition and the nine physical performance tests. Results indicated that the tests were reliable, but substantial improvement was observed on all items from the first test to the second test. Also, fatness was found to have a negative influence on physical tasks in which the body weight was translocated either vertically or horizontally; conversely, fatfree weight had a positive influence on performance in tasks requiring application of force such as lifting, carrying, and striking activities. Finally, females demonstrated lower scores than males on all physical performance items.

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1987

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;Using a questionnaire and serum antibody studies, we evaluated 13 workers exposed to phthalic anhydride (PA) and tetrachlorophthalic anhydride (TCPA). The questionnaire was designed to identify symptoms compatible with anhydrideinduced immunologic or irritant syndromes. Specific IgG and IgE for both PA‐human serum albumin (PA‐HSA) and TCPA‐HSA were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in two different laboratories. In addition, 11 workers had cutaneous testing with PA‐HSA and TCPA‐HSA, and nine workers were interviewed. One worker was found to have PA‐associated asthma and rhinitis.We conclude that a questionnaire and serologic assays for specific IgG and IgE are helpful to identify workers who have or are at risk for developing occupational immunologic lung disease such as those induced by anhydrides. However, additional evaluation may be necessary in those workers with such diseases as intrinsic asthma that may be difficult to differentiate from occupational immunologic lung disease.

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1987

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;This article presents the mental health care utilization and costs among 14,162 employees and their families, covered under a major medical policy of a large multinational corporation for the 1984 policy year. Mental health care costs comprise a substantial portion of the total health care dollars expended (8.1%) for a relatively small fraction of the total number of claims (2.8%). The average hospital stay for mental disorders (20 days for employees; 15 days for spouses; 43 days for dependents) was significantly longer than for other illnesses (6.1 days for for employees; 6.2 days for spouses; 4.4 days for dependents). Although the average daily hospital cost for mental disorders was less than that for non‐mental conditions, total expenditures per admission were approximately three times higher due to the long lengths of stay. Case management, peer utilization review, and day treatment are recommended to reduce these costs.

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1987

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;An ephemeral and debilitating flu‐like illness experienced by stamp‐makers prompted them to solicit assistance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It was determined that a combination of the use of a mold‐release spray containing a fluorocarbon polymer (polytetrafluoroethylene), poor general hygiene, and smoking during and after use of the spray was responsible for the workers' symptoms, commonly referred to as “polymer‐fume fever.” Recommendations made, and which resulted in the abatement of illness included: ventilating the vulcanizing furnace, cessation of smoking in the workplace, or using a mold‐release spray that does not contain fluorocarbon.

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1987

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;The purpose of this multicenter prospective cohort study was to assess personal and job‐related factors as determinants of incidence of reported back injuries among nurses. The study population included 5,649 nurses who were surveyed by questionnaire and then observed for a 12‐month study period. An annual injury rate of 4.9% was observed. Four factors were found to be significant (P< .01) predictors of back injury. All four factors—service area, lifting, job category, and previously reported back injury—maintain significance when a forward stepping model of logistic regression is applied. The adjusted odds ratios observed are 4.26 for service areas where lifting occurs most as compared with areas where lifting occurs least; 2.19 for daily lifters v light, occasional, and nonlifters; 1.77 for nursing aides v registered nurses and supervisory personnel; and 1.73 for individuals who have previously reported back injury v those who have not reported previous injury. These findings strongly suggest that job‐related rather than personal characteristics are the major predictors of back injury in nurses.

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1987

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;Editorial Comment:This is a very interesting article on the apparent effect of exposure to styrene on the prolactin response to TRH stimulation. The data appear sound, but caution in the interpretation is needed. First, the baseline levels of prolactin were normal in the exposed group as well as the unexposed group. Second, there has been no clear demonstration of a functional role for TRH stimulation of prolactin in the human. Third, the dose of TRH used is clearly a supraphysiological dose. Fourth, it is difficult to assess the importance of TRH stimulated prolactin as an indicator of intrinsic dopaminergic tone as opposed to basal prolactin levels.The assumption that decreased hypothalamic dopamine can play a role in hyperprolactinemia is probably valid. But then the giant leap from that fact to the conclusion that “such an effect might account for subjective symptoms in behavioral disturbances which are often recorded among styrene exposed workers” is a risky one. There are no parallel situations in which similar moderate elevations of prolactin in other circumstances have been demonstrated to cause behavioral disturbances. Finally, reasoning that the amount of elevation of prolactin demonstrated in the experiment can be extrapolated backward to indicate dopamine levels in the hypothalamus low enough to cause symptoms is difficult to support with the data at hand.In summary, the data appear sound but do not necessarily lead to the conclusions as stated.Berkley Beidleman, MDThe prolactin (PRL) response to thyrotrophin‐releasing hormone (TRH) was measured in 16 female workers occupationally exposed to styrene and in 16 sex‐ and age‐matched controls with the aim of evaluating whether tubero‐infundibular dopaminergic activity is impaired by styrene exposure. Only one exposed worker compared with 15 of 16 control subjects showed a normal response to TRH. In styrene workers, the median values of PRL in serum samples taken 10, 20, 30, 45 min after TRH administration were higher than the upper reference limit (mean + 3 SD of a reference population) showing a threefold increase compared with the control values (P < .001). The peak PRL level correlated with the urinary excretion of styrene metabolites (r = .52, P < .05). In two women who had changed work, the PRL response to TRH was normal after they had been removed from exposure for 2 months. These findings suggest that styrene exposure impairs the dopaminergic modulation of pituitary secretion. Such an effect might explain subjective symptoms and behavioral disturbances that are often recorded among styrene exposed workers.

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1987

数据来源: OVID