Τετάρτη 31 Μαΐου 2017

Transient ischemic attacks on turning the head to one side, with immediate remission of symptoms when the head returned to the neutral position.

http://medicine-greece.blogspot.com/2017/05/transient-ischemic-attacks-on-turning.html

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 585: Evaluation of Low-Cost Mitigation Measures Implemented to Improve Air Quality in Nursery and Primary Schools

Indoor air pollution mitigation measures are highly important due to the associated health impacts, especially on children, a risk group that spends significant time indoors. Thus, the main goal of the work here reported was the evaluation of mitigation measures implemented in nursery and primary schools to improve air quality. Continuous measurements of CO2, CO, NO2, O3, CH2O, total volatile organic compounds (VOC), PM1, PM2.5, PM10, Total Suspended Particles (TSP) and radon, as well as temperature and relative humidity were performed in two campaigns, before and after the implementation of low-cost mitigation measures. Evaluation of those mitigation measures was performed through the comparison of the concentrations measured in both campaigns. Exceedances to the values set by the national legislation and World Health Organization (WHO) were found for PM2.5, PM10, CO2 and CH2O during both indoor air quality campaigns. Temperature and relative humidity values were also above the ranges recommended by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). In general, pollutant concentrations measured after the implementation of low-cost mitigation measures were significantly lower, mainly for CO2. However, mitigation measures were not always sufficient to decrease the pollutants’ concentrations till values considered safe to protect human health.

http://ift.tt/2rk6Tj4

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 587: Short-Term Associations between Air Pollution Concentrations and Respiratory Health—Comparing Primary Health Care Visits, Hospital Admissions, and Emergency Department Visits in a Multi-Municipality Study

Acute effects of air pollution on respiratory health have traditionally been investigated with data on inpatient admissions, emergency room visits, and mortality. In this study, we aim to describe the total acute effects of air pollution on health care use for respiratory symptoms (ICD10-J00-J99). This will be done by investigating primary health care (PHC) visits, inpatient admissions, and emergency room visits together in five municipalities in southern Sweden, using a case-crossover design. Between 2005 and 2010, there were 81,019 visits to primary health care, 38,217 emergency room visits, and 25,271 inpatient admissions for respiratory symptoms in the study area. There was a 1.85% increase (95% CI: 0.52 to 3.20) in the number of primary health care visits associated with a 10 µg/m3 increase in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in Malmö, but not in the other municipalities. Air pollution levels were generally not associated with emergency room visits or inpatient admissions, with one exception (in Helsingborg there was a 2.52% increase in emergency room visits for respiratory symptoms associated with a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM10). In conclusion, the results give weak support for short-term effects of air pollution on health care use associated with respiratory health symptoms in the study area.

http://ift.tt/2qFDMVm

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 586: Extending Participatory Sensing to Personal Exposure Using Microscopic Land Use Regression Models

Personal exposure is sensitive to the personal features and behavior of the individual, and including interpersonal variability will improve the health and quality of life evaluations. Participatory sensing assesses the spatial and temporal variability of environmental indicators and is used to quantify this interpersonal variability. Transferring the participatory sensing information to a specific study population is a basic requirement for epidemiological studies in the near future. We propose a methodology to reduce the void between participatory sensing and health research. Instantaneous microscopic land-use regression modeling (µLUR) is an innovative approach. Data science techniques extract the activity-specific and route-sensitive spatiotemporal variability from the data. A data workflow to prepare and apply µLUR models to any mobile population is presented. The µLUR technique and data workflow are illustrated with models for exposure to traffic related Black Carbon. The example µLURs are available for three micro-environments; bicycle, in-vehicle, and indoor. Instantaneous noise assessments supply instantaneous traffic information to the µLURs. The activity specific models are combined into an instantaneous personal exposure model for Black Carbon. An independent external validation reached a correlation of 0.65. The µLURs can be applied to simulated behavioral patterns of individuals in epidemiological cohorts for advanced health and policy research.

http://ift.tt/2qG0koS

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 584: Health, Well-Being and Energy Poverty in Europe: A Comparative Study of 32 European Countries

Despite growing pan-European interest in and awareness of the wide-ranging health and well-being impacts of energy poverty—which is characterised by an inability to secure adequate levels of energy services in the home—the knowledge base is largely British-centric and dominated by single-country studies. In response, this paper investigates the relationship between energy poverty, health and well-being across 32 European countries, using 2012 data from the European Quality of Life Survey. We find an uneven concentration of energy poverty, poor health, and poor well-being across Europe, with Eastern and Central Europe worst affected. At the intersection of energy poverty and health, there is a higher incidence of poor health (both physical and mental) amongst the energy poor populations of most countries, compared to non-energy poor households. Interestingly, we find the largest disparities in health and well-being levels between energy poor and non-energy poor households occur within relatively equal societies, such as Sweden and Slovenia. As well as the unique challenges brought about by rapidly changing energy landscapes in these countries, we also suggest the relative deprivation theory and processes of social comparison hold some value in explaining these findings.

http://ift.tt/2rjnWle

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 583: Water Consumption in European Children: Associations with Intake of Fruit Juices, Soft Drinks and Related Parenting Practices

Background: High intake of fruit juices and soft drinks contributes to excessive weight gain and obesity in children. Furthermore, parenting practices play an important role in the development of children’s dietary habits. The way parents play this role in the development of their children’s choices of beverages is still unclear. Objectives: To study the associations: (1) of both fruit juices and soft drinks consumption with water consumption of children and (2) The associations between parenting practices towards fruit juices and soft drinks and water consumption of children. Design: Cross-sectional data from 6 to 8 year old children from seven European communities (n = 1187) were collected. Associations among fruit juices, soft drinks, the respective parenting practices and the child’s water consumption were assessed by parental questionnaires. Results: The consumption of water was inversely associated with that of soft drinks but not with the consumption of fruit juices. The child’s water intake was favorably influenced when stricter parenting practices towards soft drinks were adopted (e.g., less parental allowance, low home availability and high parental self-efficacy in managing intake). There was less influence observed of parenting practices towards fruit juices. Fruit juices were consumed more often than soft drinks. Conclusions: Low consumption of soft drinks—and not of fruit juices—was associated with high water consumption in children in the current study. Moreover, parenting practices towards both fruit juices and soft drinks were associated with the water intake of the children, irrespective of their socio-economic status.

http://ift.tt/2qA3kIq

Twelve years of Protein Research from the University Alliance of the Ruhr

Scientific journal Biological Chemistry publishes double special issue on the German Research Council's Collaborative Research Centre 642

http://ift.tt/2qAC741

Gewinner des Preises „Zukunftsgestalter in Bibliotheken 2017“ ausgezeichnet

http://ift.tt/2rjG9ix

Analysis of experimental hydrocarbon localised fires with and without engulfed steel members

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Fire Safety Journal, Volume 92
Author(s): Nicola Tondini, Jean-Marc Franssen
Localised fires can represent an important hazard to structural safety of buildings where a fully generalised fire cannot develop or when it is at its early stage. Plume correlations given in the codes are valid for undisturbed plume and it is not known whether the presence of a structural element engulfed into the localised fire can affect the validity of such correlations. In structural design, this may lead to highly conservative assumptions or, even, to possible misuses of the correlations. In order to provide insight into this issue, a comprehensive experimental programme aimed at providing data on hydrocarbon localised fires with and without engulfed vertical steel members was performed. In detail, a series of 22 tests of circular hydrocarbon pool fires in well-ventilated conditions of diameters ranging from 0.6 m to 2.2 m were performed with diesel and heptane. The particular aspect of these tests is that they were performed by means of a system that controlled the fuel flow and thus the rate of heat release (RHR) of the fire. The flame length and the temperatures of the fire plume measured experimentally were compared with existing plume correlations, data in the literature and the Eurocode correlations. The results show that: the presence of the column contributed to “straighten” the flame; although pool fires with same diameters were characterised by the same RHR, the flame length was different depending on the fuel type; experimental gas temperatures were lower than the temperature correlation given in the Eurocodes. In sum, the correlations included in the Eurocodes provided reasonable predictions in terms of flame length and of fire plume temperature rise around a steel vertical element located along the centreline of the localised fire.

http://ift.tt/2sd9wmI

Experimental bending tests of partially encased beams at elevated temperatures

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Fire Safety Journal, Volume 92
Author(s): Paulo A.G. Piloto, Ana B. Ramos-Gavilán, Carlos Gonçalves, Luís M.R. Mesquita
This paper presents the result of an experimental research about the lateral torsional buckling instability during bending tests of Partially Encased Beams (PEB) at elevated temperature. A set of twenty seven four-point bending tests, grouped in ten series, were carried out to analyse the influence of relative slenderness, beam temperature and the shear bond conditions between concrete and steel in bending. In addition, this study compares the behaviour of PEB and bare steel beam under bending at room temperature.PEB specimens are based on IPE100 steel profiles, with two different lengths 2.4 m (medium series) and 3.9 m (large series), tested in bending using simple supporting conditions and exposed to different temperatures levels of 200 °C, 400 °C, and 600 °C.Two different shear bond conditions, between steel profile and lateral concrete, were analysed at 400 °C: one series with connectors formed by welded stirrups to the web and another series with natural adherence between steel and concrete, not welded stirrups.PEB attained lateral torsional buckling as deformed failure mode at the ultimate limit state, except for the case of PEB tested at 600 °C that results in a plastic hinge failure. The bending resistance was determined for the maximum load event (Fu) and for the displacement limit corresponding to L/30 (FL/30) and compared with the results of the Eurocode 3 part 1–2 simple calculation method, considering an adaptation of its formulae to PEB. The expected reduction in bending resistance at elevated temperature is in good agreement with the experimental reduction factor, when the deformation criterion is used.

http://ift.tt/2rDyqyJ

Wildland fire spot ignition by sparks and firebrands

Publication date: Available online 30 May 2017
Source:Fire Safety Journal
Author(s): A. Carlos Fernandez-Pello
Wildland and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) fires are an important problem in many areas of the world and may have major consequences in terms of safety, air quality, and damage to buildings, infrastructure, and the ecosystem. It is expected that with climate changes the wildland fire and WUI fire problem will only intensify. The spot fire ignition of a wildland fire by hot (solid, molten or burning) metal fragments/sparks and firebrands (flaming or glowing embers) is an important fire ignition pathway by which wildfires, WUI fires, and fires in industrial settings are started and may propagate. There are numerous cases reported of wildfires started by hot metal particles from clashing power-lines, or generated by machines, grinding and welding. Once the wildfire or structural fire has been ignited and grows, it can spread rapidly through ember spotting, where pieces of burning material (e.g. branches, bark, building materials, etc.) are lofted by the plume of the fire and then transported forward by the wind landing where they can start spot fires downwind. The spot fire problem can be separated in several individual processes: the generation of the particles (metal or firebrand) and their thermochemical state; their flight by plume lofting and wind drag and the particle thermo-chemical change during the flight; the onset of ignition (smoldering or flaming) of the fuel after the particle lands on the fuel; and finally, the sustained ignition and burning of the combustible material. Here an attempt has been made to summarize the state of the art of the wildfire spotting problem by describing the distinct individual processes involved in the problem and by discussing their know-how status. Emphasis is given to those areas that the author is more familiar with, due to his work on the subject. By characterizing these distinct individual processes, it is possible to attain the required information to develop predictive, physics-base wildfire spotting models. Such spotting models, together with topographical maps and wind models, could be added to existing flame spread models to improve the predictive capabilities of landscape-scale wildland fire spread models. These enhanced wildland fire spread models would provide land managers and government agencies with better tools to prescribe preventive measures and fuels treatments before a fire, and allocate suppression resources and issue evacuation orders during a fire.

http://ift.tt/2sd3Uci

Safety leadership at construction sites: the importance of rule-oriented and participative leadership

Objectives The construction industry accounted for >20% of all fatal occupational accidents in Europe in 2014. Leadership is an essential antecedent to occupational safety. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of transformational, active transactional, rule-oriented, participative, and laissez-faire leadership on safety climate, safety behavior, and accidents in the Swedish and Danish construction industry. Sweden and Denmark are similar countries but have a large difference in occupational accidents rates. Methods A questionnaire study was conducted among a random sample of construction workers in both countries: 811 construction workers from 85 sites responded, resulting in site and individual response rates of 73% and 64%, respectively. Results The results indicated that transformational, active transactional, rule-oriented and participative leadership predict positive safety outcomes, and laissez-faire leadership predict negative safety outcomes. For example, rule-oriented leadership predicts a superior safety climate (=β0.40, P0<.001 enhanced safety behavior p0 and fewer accidents ratio confidence interval ci the effect of rule-oriented leadership on workers was moderated by level participative suggesting that when rules plans are established in a collaborative manner motivation to comply with regulations participate proactive activities is elevated. influence behaviors outcomes were largely similar sweden denmark. more common swedish than danish construction industry which may partly explain difference occupational accident rates. conclusions applying less laissez-faire transformational active transactional appears be an effective way for site managers improve industry.>by Grill M, Pousette A, Nielsen K, Grytnes R, Törner M. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3649

http://ift.tt/2r9XR9Q

Predicting working beyond retirement in the Netherlands: an interdisciplinary approach involving occupation epidemiology and economics

Objectives No study so far has combined register-based socioeconomic information with self-reported information on health, demographics, work characteristics, and the social environment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether socioeconomic, health, demographic, work characteristics and social environmental characteristics independently predict working beyond retirement. Methods Questionnaire data from the Study on Transitions in Employment, Ability and Motivation were linked to data from Statistics Netherlands. A prediction model was built consisting of the following blocks: socioeconomic, health, demographic, work characteristics and the social environment. First, univariate analyses were performed (P0<.15 followed by correlations and logistic multivariate regression analyses with backward selection per block all remaining factors were combined into one final model results in the only from blocks health work social environmental characteristics remained. better physical being intensively physically active for>2 days/week, higher body height, and working in healthcare predicted working beyond retirement. If respondents had a permanent contract or worked in handcraft, or had a partner that did not like them to work until the official retirement age, they were less likely to work beyond retirement. Conclusion Health, work characteristics and social environment predicted working beyond retirement, but register-based socioeconomic and demographic characteristics did not independently predict working beyond retirement. This study shows that working beyond retirement is multifactorial. by Scharn M, van der Beek AJ, Huisman MA, de Wind A, Lindeboom M, Elbers CTM, Geuskens GA, Boot CRL. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3648

http://ift.tt/2riQMSA

Τρίτη 30 Μαΐου 2017

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 580: The Effects of the Global Economic Recession and a Reduced Alcohol Tax on Hospitalizations Due to Alcohol-Attributed Diseases in Taiwan

This study is to assess the effects of the 2008 economic crisis and a 2009 alcohol tax reduction on alcohol-related morbidity for men of different socioeconomic statuses in Taiwan. Admissions data for the period from 2007 to 2012 for men aged 24–59 years in 2007 was retrieved from the National Health Insurance Research Database. With stratification over three income levels, an interrupted time-series analysis examining the effects of the crisis and taxation reduction on incidence rates of hospitalization for alcohol-attributed diseases (AADs) was employed. The low income group showed a significant (p < 0.05) change in the rate of AAD-related hospitalizations in July 2008; specifically, an abrupt 7.11% increase that was then sustained for several months thereafter. In contrast, while the middle income group exhibited a significant 22.9% decline in the rate of AAD-related hospitalizations over the course of the crisis, that downward trend was gradual. The reduction of the alcohol tax resulted in increased rates of AADs among both the low and high income groups. The economic recession and the reduction of the alcohol tax resulted in an increased rate of AAD among low income men.

http://ift.tt/2r6PawZ

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 579: Ultrafine Particle Distribution and Chemical Composition Assessment during Military Operative Trainings

(1) Background: The assessment of airborne particulate matter (PM) and ultrafine particles (UFPs) in battlefield scenarios is a topic of particular concern; (2) Methods: Size distribution, concentration, and chemical composition of UFPs during operative military training activities (target drone launches, ammunition blasting, and inert bomb impact) were investigated using an electric low-pressure impactor (ELPI+) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS); (3) Results: The median of UFPs, measured for all sampling periods and at variable distance from sources, was between 1.02 × 103 and 3.75 × 103 particles/cm3 for drone launches, between 3.32 × 103 and 15.4 × 103 particles/cm3 for the ammunition blasting and from 7.9 × 103 to 1.3 × 104 particles/cm3 for inert launches. Maximum peak concentrations, during emitting sources starting, were 75.5 × 106 and 17.9 × 106 particles/cm3, respectively. Particles from the drone launches were predominantly composed of silicon (Si), iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca), and those from the blasting campaigns by magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), barium (Ba) and silicon (Si); (4) Conclusions: The investigated sources produced UFPs with median values lower than other anthropogenic sources, and with a similar chemical composition.

http://ift.tt/2qwQtCN

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 578: Cognitive-Motivational Determinants of Residents’ Civic Engagement and Health (Inequities) in the Context of Noise Action Planning: A Conceptual Model

The Environmental Noise Directive expects residents to be actively involved in localising and selecting noise abatement interventions during the noise action planning process. Its intervention impact is meant to be homogeneous across population groups. Against the background of social heterogeneity and environmental disparities, however, the impact of noise action planning on exposure to traffic-related noise and its health effects is unlikely to follow homogenous distributions. Until now, there has been no study evaluating the impact of noise action measures on the social distribution of traffic-related noise exposure and health outcomes. We develop a conceptual (logic) model on cognitive-motivational determinants of residents’ civic engagement and health (inequities) by integrating arguments from the Model on household’s Vulnerability to the local Environment, the learned helplessness model in environmental psychology, the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress, and the reserve capacity model. Specifically, we derive four hypothetical patterns of cognitive-motivational determinants yielding different levels of sustained physiological activation and expectancies of civic engagement. These patterns may help us understand why health inequities arise in the context of noise action planning and learn how to transform noise action planning into an instrument conducive to health equity. While building on existing frameworks, our conceptual model will be tested empirically in the next stage of our research process.

http://ift.tt/2rQsJNR

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 581: Transtheoretical Model of Change during Travel Behavior Interventions: An Integrative Review

This study aims to identify the relevant empirical work, to synthesize its findings, and to thus attain a general understanding of the application of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) in transport behavior research. An integrative literature review was used to determine whether or not the implemented interventions impact the stages and processes of travel behavior change. Data was collected from different databases. English language articles published between 2002 and 2017 were included. After sequentially narrowing the search and removing duplicates, 53 relevant papers remained, 13 of which fulfilled the stated criteria of constituting a transport intervention study using the TTM as a reference frame. The final 13 studies were classified and categorized according to stages and processes in the TTM. Findings showed that none of the interventions met the method requirements for a proper evaluation of design and outcome measurement. Reporting did not follow a standardized structure desirable when enabling comparative analyses. Allowing for these shortcomings, it is inferred that positive travel behavior changes have been obtained during some interventions. Importantly, although it was stated that the empirical studies were based on the TTM, the included interventions were implemented irrespective of the individual’s stage of change. For future research, it will be necessary to conduct evaluations of higher quality.

http://ift.tt/2rQm85X

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 577: Quality of Life in Women with Stage 1 Stress Urinary Incontinence after Application of Conservative Treatment—A Randomized Trial

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) influences quality of life in female patients. In this study, we used ICIQ LUTS QoL (The International Consultation Incontinence Questionnaire Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms quality of life) to determine the quality of life (QoL) in various domains in patients with stage 1 SUI. The study included 140 perimenopausal women subjected to urodynamic tests at the Department of Gynaecology, Endocrinology and Gynaecologic Oncology, Pomeranian Medical University, Police (Poland) in 2013–2015. The study subjects were divided into two groups, A and B. Each patient completed two questionnaires, an original survey developed by the authors and the validated ICIQ LUTS QoL. Two exercise programs, each lasting for 3 months and consisting of 4 weekly sessions, were recommended to the study subjects. The program for Group A included exercises for pelvic floor muscles (PFM) with simultaneous tension of the transverse abdominal muscle (TrA), and the program for Group B, PFM exercises without TrA tension. After completing the exercise programs, patients with stage 1 SUI, both from Group A and from Group B, showed a significant improvement in most QoL domains measured with ICIQ LUTS QoL. However, more beneficial effects of the training were observed in the group subjected to PFM exercises with TrA tension.

http://ift.tt/2rAcAwe

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 582: Heterogeneous Trajectories of Physical and Mental Health in Late Middle Age: Importance of Life-Course Socioeconomic Positions

Drawing on life course and cumulative disadvantage theory, this study examines heterogeneous trajectories of functional limitations and depressive symptoms among late middle-aged individuals. This study used prospective data from 6010 adults, 51 to 64 years old, collected over a 12-year-period from the Health and Retirement Study. Considering the empirical proposition that several physical and mental trajectories may exist, Latent Class Growth Modeling was used. Five heterogeneous patterns of joint trajectories (Relatively healthy, Moderately improving, Steadily deteriorating, Steeply deteriorating, and Persistently high comorbid) were identified. Early life adversity was related to an increasing risk of declines in physical and mental health. The Persistently high comorbid class was characterized by a concentration of disadvantages over the life course. The development of public health interventions could help reduce co-existing physical and mental health problems, especially during late middle-age.

http://ift.tt/2r6Vtkl

Sore throat and an ache radiating from the centre of the anterior neck to the both ears and the occiput.Idiopathic Carotidynia,TransIent Perivascular Inflammation of the Carotid artery (TIPIC) syndrome,Vascular Neck Pain,Painful carotid artery,Inflammation of Carotid artery and neck pain,Carotidynia on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging,CT findings in a patient with bilateral metachronous carotidyniaContralateral recurrence of carotidynia during steroid therapy,,Carotidynia Possibly due to Localized Vasculitis,

Carotidynia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Drawing from Gray's anatomy with blue arrow showing the bifurcation area which is painful in Carotidynia.

Carotidynia is a syndrome characterized by unilateral (one-sided) tenderness of the carotid artery, near the bifurcation. It was first described in 1927 by Temple Fay.^[1] The most common cause of carotidynia may be migraine, and then it is usually self-correcting. Common migraine treatments may help alleviate the carotidynia symptoms. Recent histological evidence has implicated an inflammatory component of carotidynia, but studies are limited.^[2] Carotid arteritis is a much less common cause of carotidynia, but has much more serious consequences. It is a form ofgiant cell arteritis, which is a condition that usually affects arteries in the head. Due to this serious condition possibly causing carotidynia, and the possibility that neck pain is related to some other non-carotidynia and serious condition, the case should be investigated by a medical doctor.^[3]Because carotidynia can be caused by numerous causes, Biousse and Bousser in 1994 recommended the term not be used in the medical literature.^[4] However, recent MRI and ultrasound studies have supported the existence of a differential diagnosis of carotidynia consistent with Fay's characterization.^[5]^[6]

References

Hill and Hastings list this reference as: Fay, Temple (1927) "Atypical neuralgia." Arch Neurol Psychiatry.
Upton, P.; Smith, J. G.; Charnock, D. R. (2003). "Histologic confirmation of carotidynia". Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. 129 (4): 443–444. doi:10.1016/S0194-5998(03)00611-9. PMID 14574303.
Hill LM, Hastings G (1994). "Carotidynia: a pain syndrome.". J Fam Pract. 39 (1): 71–5. PMID 8027735.
Biousse V, Bousser MG (1994). "The myth of carotidynia.". Neurology. 44 (6): 993–5. doi:10.1212/wnl.44.6.993. PMID 8208434.Available here
Lee TC, Swartz R, McEvilly R, Aviv RI, Fox AJ, Perry J, Symons SP. CTA, MR and MRA imaging of carotidynia: case report. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2009 May; 36(3):373-375.
Kuhn, J.; Harzheim, A.; Horz, R.; Bewermeyer, H. (2006). "MRI and ultrasonographic imaging of a patient with carotidynia". Cephalalgia. 26 (4): 483–485. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2006.01053.x. PMID 16556251.

External links

Family Practice notebook.com
Blog assessing whether carotidynia is a valid medical diagnosis.
Carotidynia condition page on PatientsLikeMe.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carotidynia&oldid=768647731"

Categories:
Symptoms and signs: Circulatory system
Pain
Cardiovascular system stubs

Case Rep Vasc Med. doi: 10.1155/2013/585789

Carotidynia Possibly due to Localized Vasculitis in a Patient with Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection.

Cassone G1, Colaci M1, Giuggioli D1, Manfredi A1, Sebastiani M1, Ferri C1.

Author information

1Chair and Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Medical School, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Policlinico di Modena, Via del Pozzo 71, 41100 Modena, Italy.

Abstract

Carotidynia is a syndrome characterized by tenderness of the carotid artery near the bifurcation due to numerous, heterogeneous causes. Here we reported the case of a 31-year-old Moroccan woman with right-sided neck pain and tenderness with irradiation to ipsilateral ear, eye, and occipital region. Clinical symptoms and imaging findings were suggestive of primary variant of carotidynia syndrome. In particular, color-Doppler ultrasonography revealed a concentric wall thickening of the distal common carotid artery, while thoracic magnetic resonance showed localized perivascular enhancement of the soft tissue in the right medial-distal common carotid artery in T1-weighted images, without intraluminal diameter variation. Moreover, careful clinicoserological and imaging investigations (cranial, cervical, and thoracic angiocomputed tomography and magnetic resonance) excluded well-known disorders potentially responsible for carotidynia syndrome. The patient was scarcely responsive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but clinical symptoms resolved after three months. Of interest, the patient showed latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (positive tuberculosis interferon-gamma release assay; QuantiFERON-TB Gold); this finding suggested a possible triggering role of mycobacterial antigens in the immune-mediated mechanism responsible for localized carotid injury.

PMID: 24363952

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2012.10.011

Contralateral recurrence of carotidynia during steroid therapy.

Inatomi Y1, Nakajima M2, Yonehara T3, Hirano T4.

Author information

1Department of Neurology, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: y.inatomix@silk.ocn.ne.jp.

2Department of Neurology, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan; Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

3Department of Neurology, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.

4Department of Internal Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan.

Abstract

A 44-year-old woman presented with contralateral recurrence of carotidynia during steroid therapy at 1 month after onset. Carotidynia can present with a multiphasic clinical course and can affect the neck bilaterally. Therefore, patients with carotidynia should be observed even after remission.

KEYWORDS:

Carotidynia; arteritis; carotid artery; magnetic resonance imaging; temporal arteritis; ultrasonography

PMID: 23253536

Wien Klin Wochenschr. doi: 10.1007/s00508-014-0633-2

A pain in the throat: a 19-year history of symptoms relating to the carotid artery.

Elkins A1, Barakate M, Henderson J, Grieve S.

Author information

1School of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

A 38-year-old man presented with a 19-year history of sore throat and an ache radiating from the centre of the anterior neck to the both ears and the occiput. Computed tomography angiography revealed a tortuous submucosal right internal carotid artery, which was causing tonsillar displacement. The diagnosis of carotidynia has a controversial history within the literature and is currently not accepted as a distinct pathological entity by the International Headache Society. In this patient, the clinical and imaging features, in addition to the absence of any other pathology confers support to the diagnosis of carotidynia.

PMID: 25398291

Clin Imaging. 2015 Mar-Apr;39(2):305-7. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2014.12.001

CT findings in a patient with bilateral metachronous carotidynia.

Young JY1, Hijaz TA2, Karagianis AG2.

Author information

1Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Section, 251 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL, 60611. Electronic address: joseph.y.young@gmail.com.

2Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Section, 251 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL, 60611.

Abstract

Carotidynia is a self-limiting, idiopathic clinical syndrome characterized by acute unilateral neck pain and tenderness of the carotid artery. We describe a unique case of bilateral carotidynia that occurred metachronously, with each incident resolving without long-term sequelae. Knowledge of this entity is important to properly interpret the imaging findings and to not mistake this finding as an ill-defined tumor, thus avoiding unnecessary biopsy.

J Mal Vasc. 2015 Dec;40(6):395-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jmv.2015.06.001

Comparative evolution of carotidynia on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

Behar T1, Menjot N2, Laroche JP3, Böge B3, Quéré I3, Galanaud JP3.

Author information

1Clinical investigation center and department of internal medicine, hôpital de Montpellier, university hospital, 80, avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 05, France. Electronic address: t-behar@chu-montpellier.fr.

2Department of neuroradiology, university hospital, 80, avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 05, France.

3Clinical investigation center and department of internal medicine, hôpital de Montpellier, university hospital, 80, avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 05, France.

Abstract

Carotidynia is rare and associates neck pain with tenderness to palpation usually over the carotid bifurcation, the diagnosis of which is based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ultrasounds (US) are also frequently used but their accuracy in predicting the course of the disease is unknown. We are reporting the case of a 52-year-old man who presented a typical carotidynia. Clinical symptoms, ultrasound and MRI imaging evolution were closely correlated. Our case suggest that after a first MRI to set a positive diagnosis of carotidynia and exclude differential diagnoses, US which is more widely available and less expensive could constitute the imaging of reference for the follow-up.

Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.KEYWORDS:Carotidynia; Carotidynie; Follow-up; Imagerie par résonance magnétique; Magnetic resonance imaging; Suivi; Ultrasonography; Échographie.PMID: 26163344

Vasc Endovascular Surg. 2017 Apr;51(3):149-151. doi: 10.1177/1538574417697212.

Idiopathic Carotidynia.

Policha A1, Williams D2, Adelman M1, Veith F1, Cayne NS1.

Author information

1 Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.

2 Department of General Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, NY, USA.

Abstract

Idiopathic carotidynia is a syndrome characterized by pain and tenderness over the carotid artery without an associated structural luminal abnormality. Controversy exists over whether this is a distinct disease entity or merely a symptom attributable to other causes of neck pain, such as carotid dissection or vasculitis. A 50-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset right neck pain. Imaging studies demonstrated transmural inflammation of the proximal internal carotid artery, without evidence of intraluminal pathology. The patient was placed on low-dose aspirin and ibuprofen. Her symptoms resolved within a week. At 3-month follow-up, her carotid artery appeared normal on duplex ultrasonography.

KEYWORDS:

carotid artery; carotidynia; ultrasound

PMID: 2833043

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2017 May 11. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A5214

TIPIC Syndrome: Beyond the Myth of Carotidynia, a New Distinct Unclassified Entity.

Lecler A1, Obadia M2, Savatovsky J2, Picard H2, Charbonneau F2, Menjot de Champfleur N2, Naggara O2, Carsin B2, Amor-Sahli M2, Cottier JP2, Bensoussan J2, Auffray-Calvier E2, Varoquaux A2, De Gaalon S2, Calazel C2, Nasr N2, Volle G2, Jianu DC2, Gout O2, Bonneville F2, Sadik JC2.

Author information

From the Departments of Radiology (A.L., J.S., F.C., J.C.S.), and Neurology (M.O., G.V., O.G.), and Clinical Research Unit (H.P.), Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France; Department of Neuroradiology (N.M.d.C.), Montpellier University Hospital Center, Gui de Chauliac Hospital, Montpellier, France; Department of Radiology (B.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France; Department of Neuroradiology (O.N.), Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Paris, France; Department of Neuroradiology (M.A.-S.), Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France; Centre D'imagerie Médicale Tourville (M.A.-S.), Paris, France; Department of Radiology (J.P.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Tours, Tours, France; Brain and Imaging Laboratory Unite Mixte de Recherche U930 (J.P.C.), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, François-Rabelais University, Tours, France; Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology Department (E.A.-C.) and Neurology Department (S.D.G.), Hôpital René et Guillaume-Laënnec, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Saint-Herblain, France; Department of Radiology (J.B.), Hotel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France; Department of Radiology (A.V.), Conception Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Departments of Neuroradiology (C.C., F.B.) and Neurology (N.N.), Hôpital Pierre-Paul-Riquet, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Department of Neurology (D.C.J.), Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. alecler@for.paris.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

The differential diagnosis of acute cervical pain includes nonvascular and vascular causes such as carotid dissection, carotid occlusion, or vasculitis. However, some patients present with unclassified vascular and perivascular changes on imaging previously reported as carotidynia. The aim of our study was to improve the description of this as yet unclassified clinico-radiologic entity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

From January 2009 through April 2016, 47 patients from 10 centers presenting with acute neck pain or tenderness and at least 1 cervical image showing unclassified carotid abnormalities were included. We conducted a systematic, retrospective study of their medical charts and diagnostic and follow-up imaging. Two neuroradiologists independently analyzed the blinded image datasets.

RESULTS:

The median patient age was 48 years. All patients presented with acute neck pain, and 8 presented with transient neurologic symptoms. Imaging showed an eccentric pericarotidian infiltration in all patients. An intimal soft plaque was noted in 16 patients, and a mild luminal narrowing was noted in 16 patients. Interreader reproducibility was excellent. All patients had complete pain resolution within a median of 13 days. At 3-month follow-up, imaging showed complete disappearance of vascular abnormalities in 8 patients, and a marked decrease in all others.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study improved the description of an unclassified, clinico-radiologic entity, which could be described by the proposed acronym: TransIent Perivascular Inflammation of the Carotid artery (TIPIC) syndrome.

PMID: 28495942 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A5214

Vascular Neck Pain–A Common Syndrome Seldom Recognized

Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine.

LEONARD L. LOVSHIN, M.D.

Department of Internal Medicine

Abstract

A YOUNG or middle-aged women reported to her physician because of a sore throat, without fever or other constitutional manifestations, which may have been present for weeks or months. The patient believes that the glands in the neck are swollen. These "swollen glands" are said to act strangely: sometimes the swelling lasts only a few hours, sometimes it persists for weeks; it disappears mysteriously and recurs frequently. During the course of the physical examination the physician finds no abnormality, but when he re-examines the neck and follows the directions given by the patient, he finds a tender swelling that could be an inflamed lymph node.

The patient then is treated with a sulfonamide or with penicillin, and, when no relief ensues, a course of one of the broad-spectrum antibiotics is administered. This therapeutic program also is unsuccessful, and the harried physician begins to think of other possibilities. Since the patient has "swollen glands," feels weak, tired, and run-down, and antimicrobial therapy has not helped, a diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis may be considered. But, results of a heterophil antibody test are negative, and the diagnosis is changed to possible viral infection.

After several weeks or months of having diagnoses changed, the nervous patient can sense that her physician is uncertain, and she begins to worry about the looming possibility of cancer. She keeps poking in the region of the soreness, and the area becomes even more tender. In desperation, further investigations are carried out and nothing definitely abnormal is found. Teeth . . .

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0009922816677040?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3Dpubmed&

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Does age modify the association between psychosocial factors at work and deterioration of self-rated health?

Objectives Few epidemiological studies have examined whether associations of psychosocial working conditions with risk of poor health differ by age. Based on results from mostly cross-sectional studies, we test whether (i) psychosocial relational factors (social support) are more strongly associated with declining health of older than younger employees and (ii) psychosocial job factors (workpace, influence, possibilities for development) are more strongly associated with declining health of younger than older employees. Methods We extracted two cohorts from the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study (DWECS): the 2000–2005 and 2005–2010 cohorts. The participating 5281 employees with good self-rated health (SRH) at baseline were observed in 6585 5-year time windows. Using log-binomial regression analyses, we analysed whether psychosocial factors at work predicted 5-year deterioration of SRH. Effect modification by age was estimated by calculating relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). Results High workpace among men, low influence at work as well as low social support from colleagues among women, and low possibilities for development and low social support from supervisors among both genders predicted 5-year decline in SRH. Of the 20 interaction analyses, only 1 was statistically significant and in the opposite direction of what was hypothesized (higher risk for declining SRH among middle-aged men with low possibilities for development compared to the young men with high possibilities for development). Conclusions Psychosocial working conditions predicted decline in SRH in this 5-year follow-up study. The model did not support our hypotheses about modifying effects by age. by Burr H, Hasselhorn HS, Kersten N, Pohrt A, Rugulies R. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3647

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Δευτέρα 29 Μαΐου 2017

Giant cell tumor in the sphenoid sinus and ethmoid sinus during childhood, and it is thought that optic atrophy was caused by compressive optic neuropathy.

http://orlhealth.blogspot.com/2017/05/giant-cell-tumor-in-sphenoid-sinus-and.html

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

In This Issue of Occupational Medicine

This issue showcases the unique preventive role of occupational medicine. Heralding the Society of Occupational Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting in Leeds in June, Mathie [1] applauds the legacy of Charles Turner Thackrah, anatomist, experimental physiologist, clinician, teacher, founder of the Leeds Medical School, preventive medicine pioneer and humanitarian. Thackrah packed so much into his short life before dying of pulmonary tuberculosis the day after his 38th birthday in 1833. He was a shrewd observer, an assiduous recorder, who married benevolence with imagination and vision. He published his famous tract in 1831 with a larger and definitive edition following in 1832, ‘The effects of the arts, trades, and professions, and of civic states and habits of living, on health and longevity: with suggestions for the removal of many of the agents which produce disease, and shorten the duration of life’. The book covered over 100 trades in Leeds at the time and made important recommendations for prevention, opining that ‘Thoughtlessness or apathy is the only obstacle to success.’ The discipline of occupational medicine resulted and it influenced the Factory Act 1833 which prohibited the employment of children under 9 years old in the textile mills. Sir John Simon, the first chief medical officer in 1855, ranked Thackrah’s contribution to preventive medicine as important as Jenner’s work on smallpox.

http://ift.tt/2rd67UW

Occupational cancer: recent developments in research and legislation

In recent years, it has been become increasingly popular to carry out estimation of the burden of disease with the aim of identifying major risk factors contributing to important morbidity burdens as an aid to prioritizing risk reduction strategies. The area of occupational disease and in particular occupationally related cancer is no exception. As outlined in an earlier Editorial [1], the British occupational burden of cancer project provided one of the most detailed evaluations of the relationship between >40 workplace carcinogens and >20 cancer sites highlighting industries of particular concern and demonstrating the usefulness of different burden measures such as proportion affected and numbers of new cancers versus deaths [2].

http://ift.tt/2qsGDWn

mHealth Innovation: Best Practices From the Mobile Frontier

Edited by KrohnRick and MetcalfDavid. Published by Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), Chicago, Illinois, 2014. ISBN: 978 1 938904 61 5. Price: $72 (online) e-books also available. 388 pp.

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Charles Turner Thackrah, 1795–1833, ‘The Father of Occupational Medicine’

‘I hold in my hand a treatise by a medical gentleman of great intelligence, Mr Thackrah of Leeds.’

http://ift.tt/2qsgAyB

Effort–Reward Imbalance Questionnaire

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Location, vocation, procreation: how choice influences life expectancy in doctors

Dear Sir,

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Reply

Dear Sir,

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George Stubbs Haymakers 1785

Nine farm workers (four men, three women and two horses) are stylishly posed against the backdrop of a pale blue summer sky full of wispy white clouds and framed by a majestic oak. The open fields and distant hills fade away to the hazy lower right [1], drawing the eye past a graceful rustic tableau. The characters are carefully positioned in three groups, their unexpected elegance gentrifying the humble bucolic scene. On the left two implausibly but impeccably dressed women, all frills and finery, caress newly mown hay with long-handled wooden rakes, poised in delicate hands and projecting diagonally towards the waiting cart, where a bare-headed man gathers in from his colleague’s pitchfork. The central group of three is organized vertically. The workers’ upright stance, farm implements and extended limbs accentuate the provocative, hand-on-hip pose of an elegant young woman, who affects the iconic pretensions of a Roman goddess or a mediaeval martyr [2]. The final group, horizontally displayed on the right, consists of one and a bit horses or in racing parlance ‘one length and a neck’. The lead horse is beautifully portrayed, its features captured by an artist intimately familiar with equine anatomy—coat gleaming, ears pricked, eyes blinkered, heroic patience worthy of a study in itself. The location is not known. It may be England’s South Midlands or the countryside around London [3]. The painting is likely based on drawings made ‘on site’ then worked up in the studio [4]. Stubbs sets his ‘heroic’ workers centre stage like civic dignitaries creating a ‘feel-good vision of the countryside, made to order for the gentry’ [5], a ‘proletariat conversation piece’ [1]. It is signed ‘Geo: Stubbs pinxit 1785’.

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in miners with special reference to smoking

Dear Sir,

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Well-being apps

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Occupational Medicine Calendar

2017DateEventContact AddressVenueAugust 28–31EPICOH 2017 Conference - Eliminating Occupational Risk: Translating Research into Actionhttps://epicoh2017.orgEdinburghAugust 29– September 16^th International Congress of the ICOH Scientific Committee on Work Organization and Psychosocial Factorshttp://condor.zaragoza.unam.mx/wops/Mexico City, MexicoSeptember 3–6XXI World Congress on Safety and Health at Work 2017http://www.safety2017singapore.com/SingaporeSeptember 13–1545^th International MEDICHEM Congress 2017http://medichem2017.euVienna, AustriaSeptember 20How to Manage Back Pain at Work – a New Approach, organised by The At Work Partnership Ltdinfo@atworkpartnership.co.ukLondon, UK September 27–29 (part 1) and November 14–15 (part 2)Certificate in OH Law, organised by The At Work Partnership Ltdinfo@atworkpartnership.co.ukLondon, UKOctober 1–410^th International Symposium on Biological Monitoring in Occupational and Environmental healthhttp://www.centercongressi.com/isbm10Naples. ItalyOctober 3–6WOS 9^th International Conference on the prevention of accidents at workhttp://www.wos2017.net/Prague, Czech RepublicOctober 10–11Workplace Health 2017, organised by The At Work Partnership Ltdinfo@atworkpartnership.co.ukWarwickshire, UKNovember 1–410^th European Public Health Conference 2017. Sustaining resilient and healthy communitieshttp://www.ephconferences.euStockholm, SwedenDecember 28–3010^th International Joint Conference on Occupational Health for Healthcare Workers: Health & wellbeing in the health care sector; addressing current threats to workerswww.ohhcw2017.orgKhon Kaen, Thailand

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Low back pain among taxi drivers: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

Low back pain (LBP) is a common occupational problem for drivers all over the world. However, few epidemiological studies have investigated LBP among taxi drivers.

Aims

To investigate the prevalence of LBP and associated work-related factors among Chinese taxi drivers.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was administered to all participants. Using cluster sampling, questionnaires were collected from taxi drivers of three major taxi companies in Jinan, China. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to estimate the odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) among participants.

Results

A total of 800 taxi drivers were invited to take part, with a participation rate of 90%. The 1-year period prevalence of LBP was 54%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that longer daily driving duration (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.9–5.9), night shifts (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2–3.1) and increasing work years as a taxi driver (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.5) were associated with increased risk of reporting LBP; while increased rest days per month (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7–0.9), longer sleep duration (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5–0.9) and more physical activity (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.8) were significantly associated with decreased risk of reporting LBP.

Conclusions

The prevalence of LBP among professional taxi drivers in China was associated with a number of occupational features.

http://ift.tt/2rcU7CZ

Corrigendum

Public Health: A Very Short Introduction

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Occupational asthma caused by acrylic compounds from SHIELD surveillance (1989–2014)

Abstract

Background

Acrylic monomers (acrylates), methacrylates and cyanoacrylates all cause asthma by respiratory sensitization. Occupational inhalation exposures occur across a variety of industries including health care and dental work, beauty, laboratory science, assembly and plastic moulding.

Aims

To examine notifications of occupational asthma caused by acrylic compounds from a UK-based regional surveillance scheme, in order to highlight prevalent exposures and trends in presentation.

Methods

Retrospective review of all cases reported to the SHIELD surveillance scheme for occupational asthma, West Midlands, UK between 1989 and 2014. Patient data were gathered on demographics, employment, asthma symptoms and diagnostic investigations including serum immunological testing, serial peak flow analysis and specific inhalation challenge tests. Descriptive statistics were used to illustrate worker characteristics and evidence for sensitization to acrylic compounds.

Results

There were 20 affected patients out of 1790 total cases of occupational asthma (1%); all cases were confirmed by OASYS (Occupational Asthma SYStem) analysis of serial peak flow measurements, with three additional positive specific inhalation challenge tests. Three out of 20 (15%) patients were current smokers and 11/20 (55%) were atopic. A variety of exposures and industries were implicated including: manufacturing, health care, beauty and printing and a novel presentation seen in teachers exposed to floor adhesives.

Conclusions

This is the largest reported series of occupational asthma caused by acrylic compounds, which remain an important aetiological factor in this disease. Exposure occurs in a variety of industries, particularly in manufacturing and is seen with other, perhaps better recognized sensitizing agents such as isocyanates and epoxy resins.

http://ift.tt/2rcUmO8

Work organization, sleep and metabolic syndrome among long-haul truck drivers

Abstract

Background

The work organization of long-haul truck drivers in the USA contains factors that have been shown to degrade sleep. In combination, these factors generate elevated cardiometabolic risk by inducing components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the prevalence and severity of MetS and the degree to which such factors differentially influence MetS among these drivers are unknown.

Aims

To determine the prevalence and severity of MetS among US long-haul truck drivers and to determine the predictive value of demographic, work organization and sleep variables in MetS diagnosis and severity.

Methods

A non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional study, designed to collect survey, anthropometric and biometric data from US long-haul truck drivers. Descriptive analyses were performed for demographic, work organization, sleep and MetS measures. Logistic and linear regression analyses examined potential predictive relationships between demographic, work organization and sleep variables and MetS diagnosis and severity.

Results

The study population was 262. Nearly 60% of drivers met MetS diagnosis criteria. Over 80% had a waist circumference >102 cm, 50% had triglyceride levels of ≥150 mg/dl, 66% had an high-density lipoprotein of <40 mg/dl, 28% had a blood pressure of ≥135/80 mm Hg and 17% had a fasting glucose of ≥110 mg/dl. Driving experience and work day sleep quality were associated with MetS prevalence and severity.

Conclusions

The prevalence and severity of MetS among this sample of US long-haul truck drivers were high. Preventive efforts should focus on experienced drivers and work day sleep quality.

http://ift.tt/2qstsVG

Biopsy-proven hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by a fluorocarbon waterproofing spray

Abstract

Background

We present the case of a 35-year-old male who developed a chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) following inhalational exposure to a fluorocarbon waterproofing aerosol spray, caused by his work for an upholstery and soft furnishings retailer. This is the first case report from inhalational fluorocarbon exposure with histological evidence of chronic HP. This is then discussed in the context of previous reports of interstitial lung disease and lung injury, caused by similar occupational and non-occupational exposures.

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Mixed contact methods to improve response to a postal questionnaire

Abstract

Background

Postal questionnaires remain an important method of collecting data in trials. However, a high non-response rate can lead to biases, which may undermine the validity of the study.

Aims

To assess a simple method of trying to improve response rates in an occupational health trial evaluating an intervention to prevent hand dermatitis in nurses.

Methods

The trial employed questionnaires at t = 0, t = 1 month and t = 12 months. The t = 1 month questionnaire was posted to study participants (student and intensive care nurses) together with a free postage reply envelope. After 2 weeks, an e-mail was sent to non-responders reinforcing the need for completed questionnaires to be returned. Two weeks later, non-responders were sent another hard copy of the questionnaire, along with an accompanying letter. Six weeks after posting the initial questionnaires, non-responders were sent an SMS text message or were telephoned to remind them to return the questionnaire.

Results

The response rates for the 744 student nurses were 8% (no reminder), 27% (after first reminder), 22% (after second reminder) and 27% (after the third reminder), resulting in a response rate of 63%. The response rates for the 959 intensive care nurses were 9% (no reminder), 24% (after first reminder), 24% (after second reminder) and 31% (after third reminder), resulting in a final response rate of 63%.

Conclusions

We found that a series of regular reminders including a third, personalized reminder by SMS text or telephone had a positive impact on non-responders.

http://ift.tt/2qswl8X

Cardiac health and fitness of Colorado male/female firefighters

Abstract

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is documented as the leading cause of mortality in on-duty firefighters.

Aims

To examine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components, cardiorespiratory fitness levels and the association between them in firefighters in Colorado, USA.

Methods

This study included male and female Colorado firefighters. MetS was identified where three or more metabolic abnormalities were present, using Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Cardiorespiratory fitness (indicated by VO₂ max) was evaluated with the Bruce protocol. Poisson regression was conducted to examine the association between MetS components and VO₂ max.

Results

Among the 947 male and 76 female study subjects, MetS was present in 9% of all firefighters, in 5% of females and 10% of males. The mean age was 37 ± 10 years. MetS prevalence increased with age (from 3% at age <30 to 17% at 50 and older, data not shown). In addition, 35% had one and 19% had two abnormal MetS components and 49% of participants did not meet the minimum recommended VO₂ max of 42.0 ml/kg/min. VO₂ max was negatively associated with abnormal MetS components (incident rate ratios = 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.94–0.96, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

About one in 10 of these Colorado firefighters had MetS and nearly half had insufficient cardiorespiratory fitness. Comprehensive CVD risk management and cardiorespiratory fitness improvement are essential for firefighter health and safety.

http://ift.tt/2rd64Zg

Factors associated with sickness absence among employees with chronic conditions

Abstract

Background

The growing prevalence of chronic conditions in the ageing workforce has been shown to have a negative impact in terms of optimal work performance and quality of life. It is therefore important to understand the factors associated with sickness absence due to health problems.

Aims

To examine the socio-demographics, health status indicators, barriers to self-care and social support associated with working adults missing work because of chronic conditions.

Methods

We analysed data from working adults in the USA with one or more chronic conditions who completed the National Council on Aging (NCOA) Chronic Care Survey. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 22; independent sample t-tests and chi-squared tests were used to compare sample characteristics and logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with missed work as a dichotomous outcome variable.

Results

Among the 250 study subjects, employees who reported poorer general health status [odd ratio (OR) = 1.62, P < 0.05], more physician visits (OR = 1.45, P < 0.01), not having enough money for their health (OR = 3.69, P < 0.01) and a higher reliance on their co-workers (OR = 1.71, P < 0.05) were significantly more likely to report sickness absence due to their chronic conditions.

Conclusions

To reduce absences among employees with chronic conditions, employers need to understand the importance of factors such as employee income, resources and knowledge of disease self-care. US employers should explore opportunities for employees to offset health care costs, apply appropriate time-flexible work policies and encourage employees’ participation in health knowledge enhancing interventions.

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IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 576: The Occurrence of the Colistin Resistance Gene mcr 1 in the Haihe River (China)

Antibiotic failure is occurring worldwide. In a routine surveillance study on antibioticresistance genes (ARGs) in natural water bodies, we noted the detection of colistin-resistance gene mcr-1, previously identified in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from human beings and animals in several countries. The mcr-1 gene might be present in water environments, because aquatic ecosystems are recognized as reservoirs for antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs. In this study, a qPCR assay was developed to monitor and quantify the mcr-1 gene in the Haihe River, China. The results showed that all 18 samples collected from different locations over 6 months along the Haihe River were positive for the mcr-1 gene, and the highest level of mcr-1 reached 3.81 × 105 gene copies (GC) per liter of water. This is the first study to quantify mcr-1 in a natural water system by qPCR. Our findings highlight the potential for this antibiotic resistance determinant to spread extensively, suggesting a significant health and ecological impact.

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IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 575: Functional Coping Dynamics and Experiential Avoidance in a Community Sample with No Self-Injury vs. Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Only vs. Those with Both Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Suicidal Behaviour

Although emotional avoidance may be a critical factor in the pathway from psychological distress to self-injury and/or suicidality, little is known about the relative importance of differing functional coping dynamics and experiential avoidance between people with self-injury histories of differing intent (e.g., Non-Suicidal Self-Injury only vs. Non-Suicidal Self-Injury plus Suicidal Behaviour; NSSI vs. NSSI + SB). A community-based survey (N = 313; female, 81%; ages 16–49 years, M = 19.78, SD = 3.48) explored self-reported experiential avoidance and functional coping dynamics in individuals with (i) no self-injury history (controls); (ii) a history of NSSI only; and (iii) a history of NSSI + SB. Jonckheere-Terpstra trend tests indicated that avoidance coping was higher in the NSSI and NSSI + SB groups than in controls. Emotion regulation was higher in controls than those with a history of self-injury (NSSI and NSSI + SB). Approach and reappraisal coping demonstrated significant ordered effects such that control participants were higher in these coping dynamics than those with a history of NSSI only, who, in turn, were higher than those with a history of NSSI + SB (Control > NSSI > NSSI + SB). Endorsement of the reappraisal/denial facet of experiential avoidance was most pronounced in those with a history of NSSI + SB (Control < NSSI < NSSI + SB). No significant ordered effects were observed for other dimensions of experiential avoidance. Understanding how the endorsement of functional coping dynamics and which components of experiential avoidance vary between groups with differing self-injury intent histories has important implications for treatment planning.

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IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 574: A Three-Year Follow-Up Study of Antibiotic and Metal Residues, Antibiotic Resistance and Resistance Genes, Focusing on Kshipra—A River Associated with Holy Religious Mass-Bathing in India: Protocol Paper

Background: Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is one of the major health emergencies for global society. Little is known about the ABR of environmental bacteria and therefore it is important to understand ABR reservoirs in the environment and their potential impact on health. Method/Design: Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected during a 3-year follow-up study of a river associated with religious mass-bathing in Central India. Surface-water and sediment samples will be collected from seven locations at regular intervals for 3 years during religious mass-bathing and in absence of it to monitor water-quality, antibiotic residues, resistant bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes and metals. Approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India (No. 2013/07/17-311). Results: The results will address the issue of antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance with a focus on a river environment in India within a typical socio-behavioural context of religious mass-bathing. It will enhance our understanding about the relationship between antibiotic residue levels, water-quality, heavy metals and antibiotic resistance patterns in Escherichia coli isolated from river-water and sediment, and seasonal differences that are associated with religious mass-bathing. We will also document, identify and clarify the genetic differences/similarities relating to phenotypic antibiotic resistance in bacteria in rivers during religious mass-bathing or during periods when there is no mass-bathing.

http://ift.tt/2s62Zdw

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 573: Socioeconomic, Geospatial, and Geopolitical Disparities in Access to Health Care in the US 2011–2015

Individuals forgoing needed medical care due to barriers associated with cost are at risk of missing needed care that may be necessary for the prevention or maintenance of a chronic condition among other things. Thus, continued monitoring of factors associated with forgone medical care, especially among vulnerable populations, is critical. National survey data (2011–2015) for non-institutionalized adults residing in the USA were utilized to assess forgone medical care, defined as not seeking medical care when the individual thought it was necessary because of cost in the past 12 months. Logistic regression was used to predict forgone medical care vs. sought medical care. Racial/ethnic minority working-age adults, those with lower incomes, those with lower educations, those residing in the South, and those residing in states that failed to participate in Medicaid Expansion in 2014 were more likely (p < 0.01) to forgo medical care due to cost in the past year. Policy makers seeking to reduce barriers to forgone medical care can use this information to tailor their efforts (e.g., mechanisms targeted to bridge gaps in access to care) to those most at-risk and to consider state-level policy decisions that may impact access to care.

http://ift.tt/2s5ZVhr

Κυριακή 28 Μαΐου 2017

Sometimes pain originating from a non-odontogenic pathologic condition is mistaken as endodontic illness, leading to misdiagnosis.

http://otorhinolaryngology-crete.blogspot.com/2017/05/adenoid-cystic-carcinoma-of-maxillary.html

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Πληροφορίες

Τετάρτη 31 Μαΐου 2017

Τρίτη 30 Μαΐου 2017

Carotidynia

References

External links

Δευτέρα 29 Μαΐου 2017

Κυριακή 28 Μαΐου 2017