Occupational and Environmental Medicine by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis: Αυγούστου 2017

Τετάρτη 30 Αυγούστου 2017

Internet-based stress management for distressed managers: results from a randomised controlled trial

Objective

The aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to evaluate the efficacy of a guided internet-based stress management intervention (iSMI) among distressed managers compared with a attention control group (AC) with full access to treatment-as-usual.

Method

A total sample of 117 distressed managers, mainly employed in the healthcare, IT, communication and educational sector, were randomised to either iSMI (n=59) or an AC group (n=58). The iSMI consisted of eight modules including cognitive behavioural stress management and positive management techniques. Participants received a minimal and weekly guidance from a psychologist or master-level psychology student focusing on support, feedback and adherence to the intervention. Self-report data were assessed at pre, post and 6 months after the intervention. The primary outcome was perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-14). The secondary outcomes included mental and work-related health outcomes.

Results

Participants in the iSMI intervention reported significantly less symptoms of perceived stress (d=0.74, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.19) and burnout (d=0.95, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.37) compared with controls, at postassessment. Significant medium-to-large effect sizes were also found for depression, insomnia and job satisfaction. Long-term effects (6 months) were seen on the mental health outcomes.

Conclusion

This is one of the first studies showing that iSMIs can be an effective, accessible and potentially time-effective approach of reducing stress and other mental-related and work-related health symptoms among distressed managers. Future studies are needed addressing distressed managers and the potential of indirect effects on employee stress and satisfaction at work.

http://ift.tt/2vFmbjz

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 985: Determinants of FDI Localization in China: A County-Level Analysis for the Pharmaceutical Industry

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 985: Determinants of FDI Localization in China: A County-Level Analysis for the Pharmaceutical Industry

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090985

Authors: Su Li Antonio Angelino Haitao Yin Francesca Spigarelli

Foreign direct investments (FDIs) have been widely recognized as a crucial feature of the Chinese industrial development process. Over the past decades, China has been attracting huge amounts of inward FDIs as a consequence of both spontaneous market dynamics and place-based preferential policies at the sub-national level. However, the Chinese market exhibits large dissimilarities in terms of FDI localization across territories that are worth investigating at a more disaggregated level. In this regards, our study explores the determinants of attraction of inward FDIs in China, at the county level. It focuses on the pharmaceutical industry and attempts to assess whether factors related to location advantages, agglomeration dynamics, information cost effects and environmental regulation costs affect foreign firms’ localization choices as well as invested amounts in that location. By means of discrete choice models, our paper confirms the findings of the prevalent literature about the positive effects of location advantages on pharmaceutical FDI attraction. Different from our expectations, a higher proportion of foreign enterprises do not stimulate significant effects on FDI localization, while preferential policies and sectoral agglomeration are positively correlated with the localization of pharmaceutical foreign firms. Finally, our results suggest that investing firms tend to avoid areas with strict environment regulation.

http://ift.tt/2vJPIrI

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 983: Longitudinal Study-Based Dementia Prediction for Public Health

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 983: Longitudinal Study-Based Dementia Prediction for Public Health

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090983

Authors: HeeChel Kim Hong-Woo Chun Seonho Kim Byoung-Youl Coh Oh-Jin Kwon Yeong-Ho Moon

The issue of public health in Korea has attracted significant attention given the aging of the country’s population, which has created many types of social problems. The approach proposed in this article aims to address dementia, one of the most significant symptoms of aging and a public health care issue in Korea. The Korean National Health Insurance Service Senior Cohort Database contains personal medical data of every citizen in Korea. There are many different medical history patterns between individuals with dementia and normal controls. The approach used in this study involved examination of personal medical history features from personal disease history, sociodemographic data, and personal health examinations to develop a prediction model. The prediction model used a support-vector machine learning technique to perform a 10-fold cross-validation analysis. The experimental results demonstrated promising performance (80.9% F-measure). The proposed approach supported the significant influence of personal medical history features during an optimal observation period. It is anticipated that a biomedical “big data”-based disease prediction model may assist the diagnosis of any disease more correctly.

http://ift.tt/2wSITJx

Dynamic thiol disulphide homeostasis in operating theater personnel exposed to anesthetic gases

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis and occupational exposure to volatile anesthetic gases in operating theater personnel. Decreased blood thiol levels and raised blood disulphide levels serve as biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Methods

We included 65 subjects occupationally exposed and 55 unexposed healthy medical professionals into the study. A novel method enabled separate measurements of components involved in dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis (native thiol, disulphide, and total thiol). To control for the potential confounding effect on oxidative stress of psychological symptoms potentially caused by occupational stress, we used scores obtained from four different anxiety and depression inventories.

Results

Mean ± standard deviation native thiol was found to be 433.35 ± 30.68 in the exposed group, lower than among controls, 446.61 ± 27.8 (P = 0.02). Disulphide in the exposed group was 15.78 ± 5.12, higher than among controls, 12.14 ± 5.33 (P < 0.001). After adjusting for anxiety and depression scores, age and gender, native thiol remained lower and disulphide higher in the exposed group (P = 0.008 and P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis in workers exposed to anesthetic gases was found to be disturbed after adjusting for the possible contribution of anxiety. We infer that this is due to the oxidative effect of exposure to anesthetic gases.

http://ift.tt/2xN2fMC

Sexual assault in the US military: A comparison of risk in deployed and non-deployed locations among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom active component and Reserve/National Guard servicewomen

Background

To determine whether sexual assault in the military (SAIM) among active component and Reserve/National Guard servicewomen is more likely to occur in deployed or non-deployed locations; and which location poses greater risk for SAIM when time spent in-location is considered.

Methods

A total of 1337 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom era servicewomen completed telephone interviews eliciting socio-demographics, military and sexual assault histories, including attempted and completed sexual assault.

Results

Half of the sample had been deployed (58%). Overall 16% (N = 245) experienced SAIM; a higher proportion while not deployed (15%; n = 208) than while deployed (4%; n = 52). However, the incidence of SAIM per 100 person-years was higher in deployed than in non-deployed locations: 3.5 vs 2.4. Active component and Reserve/National Guard had similar deployment lengths, but Reserve/National Guard had higher SAIM incidence rates/100 person-years (2.8 vs 4.0).

Conclusions

A higher proportion of servicewomen experienced SAIM while not deployed; however, adjusting for time in each location, servicewomen were at greater risk during deployment.

http://ift.tt/2wSt1Xm

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 984: The Non-Linear Relationship between BMI and Health Care Costs and the Resulting Cost Fraction Attributable to Obesity

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 984: The Non-Linear Relationship between BMI and Health Care Costs and the Resulting Cost Fraction Attributable to Obesity

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090984

Authors: Michael Laxy Renée Stark Annette Peters Hans Hauner Rolf Holle Christina Teuner

This study aims to analyse the non-linear relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and direct health care costs, and to quantify the resulting cost fraction attributable to obesity in Germany. Five cross-sectional surveys of cohort studies in southern Germany were pooled, resulting in data of 6757 individuals (31–96 years old). Self-reported information on health care utilisation was used to estimate direct health care costs for the year 2011. The relationship between measured BMI and annual costs was analysed using generalised additive models, and the cost fraction attributable to obesity was calculated. We found a non-linear association of BMI and health care costs with a continuously increasing slope for increasing BMI without any clear threshold. Under the consideration of the non-linear BMI-cost relationship, a shift in the BMI distribution so that the BMI of each individual is lowered by one point is associated with a 2.1% reduction of mean direct costs in the population. If obesity was eliminated, and the BMI of all obese individuals were lowered to 29.9 kg/m2, this would reduce the mean direct costs by 4.0% in the population. Results show a non-linear relationship between BMI and health care costs, with very high costs for a few individuals with high BMI. This indicates that population-based interventions in combination with selective measures for very obese individuals might be the preferred strategy.

http://ift.tt/2xxjjH7

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 986: Identification of Potential High-Risk Habitats within the Transmission Reach of Oncomelania hupensis after Floods Based on SAR Techniques in a Plane Region in China

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 986: Identification of Potential High-Risk Habitats within the Transmission Reach of Oncomelania hupensis after Floods Based on SAR Techniques in a Plane Region in China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090986

Authors: Yuanyuan Shi Juan Qiu Rendong Li Qiang Shen Duan Huang

Schistosomiasis japonica is an infectious disease caused by Schistosoma japonicum, and it remains endemic in China. Flooding is the main hazard factor, as it causes the spread of Oncomelania hupensis, the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, thereby triggering schistosomiasis outbreaks. Based on multi-source real-time remote sensing data, we used remote sensing (RS) technology, especially synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and geographic information system (GIS) techniques to carry out warning research on potential snail habitats within the snail dispersal range following flooding. Our research result demonstrated: (1) SAR data from Sentinel-1A before and during a flood were used to identify submerged areas rapidly and effectively; (2) the likelihood of snail survival was positively correlated with the clay proportion, core area standard deviation, and ditch length but negatively correlated with the wetness index, NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), elevation, woodland area, and construction land area; (3) the snail habitats were most abundant near rivers and ditches in paddy fields; (4) the rivers and paddy irrigation ditches in the submerged areas must be the focused of mitigation efforts following future floods.

http://ift.tt/2wi135Q

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 982: The Canadian Atlas of Child and Youth Injury: Mobilizing Injury Surveillance Data to Launch a National Knowledge Translation Tool

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 982: The Canadian Atlas of Child and Youth Injury: Mobilizing Injury Surveillance Data to Launch a National Knowledge Translation Tool

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090982

Authors: Ian Pike Jennifer Smith Samar Al-Hajj Pamela Fuselli Alison Macpherson

Child and youth injury prevention research in Canada has lagged behind other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development nations, despite existing surveillance systems and longitudinal data. A critical need to improve access to the available data, as well as need to tailor its display and interpretation, was identified by injury prevention stakeholders involved in research, policy, and practice. The Canadian Atlas of Child and Youth Injury Prevention (“the Atlas”) was developed to address this need. Following a series of iterative consultation meetings and a pilot testing session, the Atlas was scaled up with national data. Two testing sessions were held to evaluate the tools. The Atlas is comprised of three main components: data, indicators, and visualizations. The accessibility of the dashboard is enhanced by customization of data visualizations and data outputs to suit the user’s needs. Overall feedback indicated that the tools were easy to use, and that the interface was intuitive and visually appealing. The Canadian Atlas of Child and Youth Injury Prevention provides readily accessible information to injury prevention practitioners, policy makers and researchers, helping to chart pathways to success in improving the child and youth injury prevention system in Canada.

http://ift.tt/2wI0zaa

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 981: Poverty and Child Behavioral Problems: The Mediating Role of Parenting and Parental Well-Being

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 981: Poverty and Child Behavioral Problems: The Mediating Role of Parenting and Parental Well-Being

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090981

Authors: Till Kaiser Jianghong Li Matthias Pollmann-Schult Anne Song

The detrimental impact of poverty on child behavioral problems is well-established, but the mechanisms that explain this relationship are less well-known. Using data from the Families in Germany Study on parents and their children at ages 9–10 (middle childhood), this study extends previous research by examining whether or not and to what extent different parenting styles and parents’ subjective well-being explain the relationship between poverty and child behavior problems. The results show that certain parenting styles, such as psychological control, as well as mothers’ life satisfaction partially mediate the correlation between poverty and child behavioral problems.

http://ift.tt/2wnLdVC

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 980: Peri-Urbanism in Globalizing India: A Study of Pollution, Health and Community Awareness

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 980: Peri-Urbanism in Globalizing India: A Study of Pollution, Health and Community Awareness

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090980

Authors: Linda Waldman Ramila Bisht Rajashree Saharia Abhinav Kapoor Bushra Rizvi Yasir Hamid Meghana Arora Ima Chopra Kumud Sawansi Ritu Priya Fiona Marshall

This paper examines the intersection between environmental pollution and people’s acknowledgements of, and responses to, health issues in Karhera, a former agricultural village situated between the rapidly expanding cities of New Delhi (India’s capital) and Ghaziabad (an industrial district in Uttar Pradesh). A relational place-based view is integrated with an interpretive approach, highlighting the significance of place, people’s emic experiences, and the creation of meaning through social interactions. Research included surveying 1788 households, in-depth interviews, participatory mapping exercises, and a review of media articles on environment, pollution, and health. Karhera experiences both domestic pollution, through the use of domestic waste water, or gandapani, for vegetable irrigation, and industrial pollution through factories’ emissions into both the air and water. The paper shows that there is no uniform articulation of any environment/health threats associated with gandapani. Some people take preventative actions to avoid exposure while others do not acknowledge health implications. By contrast, industrial pollution is widely noted and frequently commented upon, but little collective action addresses this. The paper explores how the characteristics of Karhera, its heterogeneous population, diverse forms of environmental pollution, and broader governance processes, limit the potential for citizen action against pollution.

http://ift.tt/2wnnsgk

Τρίτη 29 Αυγούστου 2017

Psychosocial job stressors and suicidality: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Objectives

Job stressors are known determinants of common mental disorders. Over the past 10 years, there has been evidence that job stressors may also be risk factors for suicidality. The current paper sought to examine this topic through the first comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to date.

Methods

We used a three-tier search strategy of seven electronic databases. Studies were included if they reported on a job stressor or job-related stress as an exposure and suicide ideation, self-harm, suicide attempt or suicide as an outcome. Two researchers independently screened articles. All extracted effect estimates were converted to log-transformed ORs.

Results

There were 22 studies that were included in meta-analysis. Overall, exposure to job stressors was associated with elevated risk of suicide ideation and behaviours. The OR for suicide ideation (14 studies) ranged from 1.29 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.44) for poor supervisor and colleague support to 1.96 (95% CI 1.33 to 2.90) for job insecurity. For suicide (six studies), exposure to lower supervisor and collegial support produced an OR of 1.19 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.42), while low job control resulted in an OR of 1.30 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.53). There were only two studies that examined suicide attempt, both of which suggested an adverse effect of exposure to job stressors.

Conclusions

This study provides some evidence that job stressors may be related to suicidal outcomes. However, as most studies in the area were cross-sectional and obsThe current gold standard for asseservational in design, there is a need for longitudinal research to assess the robustness of observed associations.

http://ift.tt/2wQjakJ

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 978: Job Stress and Presenteeism among Chinese Healthcare Workers: The Mediating Effects of Affective Commitment

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 978: Job Stress and Presenteeism among Chinese Healthcare Workers: The Mediating Effects of Affective Commitment

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090978

Authors: Tianan Yang Yina Guo Mingxu Ma Yaxin Li Huilin Tian Jianwei Deng

Background: Presenteeism affects the performance of healthcare workers. This study examined associations between job stress, affective commitment, and presenteeism among healthcare workers. Methods: To investigate the relationship between job stress, affective commitment, and presenteeism, structural equation modeling was used to analyze a sample of 1392 healthcare workers from 11 Class A tertiary hospitals in eastern, central, and western China. The mediating effect of affective commitment on the association between job stress and presenteeism was examined with the Sobel test. Results: Job stress was high and the level of presenteeism was moderate among healthcare workers. Challenge stress and hindrance stress were strongly correlated (β = 0.62; p < 0.05). Affective commitment was significantly and directly inversely correlated with presenteeism (β = −0.27; p < 0.001). Challenge stress was significantly positively correlated with affective commitment (β = 0.15; p < 0.001) but not with presenteeism. Hindrance stress was significantly inversely correlated with affective commitment (β = −0.40; p < 0.001) but was significantly positively correlated with presenteeism (β = 0.26; p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study provides important empirical data on presenteeism among healthcare workers. Presenteeism can be addressed by increasing affective commitment and challenge stress and by limiting hindrance stress among healthcare workers in China.

http://ift.tt/2wPkm89

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 979: Investigation on Indoor Air Pollution and Childhood Allergies in Households in Six Chinese Cities by Subjective Survey and Field Measurements

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 979: Investigation on Indoor Air Pollution and Childhood Allergies in Households in Six Chinese Cities by Subjective Survey and Field Measurements

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090979

Authors: Jinhua Hu Nianping Li Yang Lv Jing Liu Jingchao Xie Huibo Zhang

Greater attention is currently being paid to the relationship between indoor environment and childhood allergies, however, the lack of reliable data and the disparity among different areas hinders reliable assessment of the relationship. This study focuses on the effect of indoor pollution on Chinese schoolchildren and the relationship between specific household and health problems suffered. The epidemiological questionnaire survey and the field measurement of the indoor thermal environment and primary air pollutants including CO2, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), chemical pollutants and fungi were performed in six Chinese cities. A total of 912 questionnaires were eligible for statistical analyses and sixty houses with schoolchildren aged 9–12 were selected for field investigation. Compared with Chinese national standards, inappropriate indoor relative humidity (<30% or >70%), CO2 concentration exceeding 1000 ppm and high PM2.5 levels were found in some monitored houses. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were the most frequently detected semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in house dust. Cladosporium, Aspergillus and Penicillium were detected in both indoor air and house dust. This study indicates that a thermal environment with CO2 exceeding 1000 ppm, DEHP and DBP exceeding 1000 μg/g, and high level of PM2.5, Cladosporium, Aspergillus and Penicillium increases the risk of children’s allergies.

http://ift.tt/2gloiq7

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 976: Pharmaceutical Industry in Vietnam: Sluggish Sector in a Growing Market

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 976: Pharmaceutical Industry in Vietnam: Sluggish Sector in a Growing Market

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090976

Authors: Antonio Angelino Do Khanh Nguyen An Ha Tuan Pham

Vietnam is a fast growing economy in the Asian region with a significantly high population (over 92 million in 2015). Although still expanding (about 1.1% on average during 2000–2015), the Vietnamese population is considered to be entering the ageing stage at a very high rate. The rapid expansion of the middle-income urban class and the ageing people ratio have dramatically pushed up the demand for healthcare goods, particularly in terms of pharmaceutical products. Since the early 1990s the government has addressed the necessities of rising demand for healthcare products by formulating a series of policies aimed at promoting the development of the pharmaceutical industry. However, the implementation of such policies does not seem to have been completely efficient given that the country still needs to import up to 90% of its pharmaceutical consumption. This paper aims to explore the development of the pharmaceutical industry during the years 1990–2015 and to identify a series of weaknesses in the government promotion of the industry. Future developments will also be discussed on how the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry could increase its participation in the regional supply chain, which is currently being dominated by big players like India and China.

http://ift.tt/2gmMjwQ

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 977: Bioaccessibility and Human Exposure Assessment of Cadmium and Arsenic in Pakchoi Genotypes Grown in Co-Contaminated Soils

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 977: Bioaccessibility and Human Exposure Assessment of Cadmium and Arsenic in Pakchoi Genotypes Grown in Co-Contaminated Soils

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090977

Authors: Yanyan Wei Xiaoman Zheng Md. Shohag Minghua Gu

In many countries cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) commonly coexist in soils contaminated by mining activities, and can easily enter the human body via consumption of leafy vegetables, like the popularly consumed pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.), causing major health concerns. In the present study, bioaccessibility and human exposure of Cd and As were assessed in twenty genotypes of pakchoi cultured at two different levels of co-contamination to identify low health risk genotypes. The bioaccessibilities of Cd and As represent a fraction of the total metals content could be bioaccessible for human, in the present study, significant differences in pakchoi Cd and As bioaccessibility were observed among all tested genotypes and co-contaminated levels. Cd and As bioaccessibility of pakchoi were in the ranges of 24.0–87.6% and 20.1–82.5%, respectively, for in the high level co-contaminated soils, which was significantly higher than for low level co-contaminated soils with 7.9–71.8% for Cd bioaccessibility and 16.1–59.0% for As bioaccessibility. The values of bioaccessible established daily intakes (BEDI) and the total bioaccessible target hazard quotients (TBTHQ) of Cd and As were also considerably higher in high level co-contaminated soils than in low level co-contaminated soils. Two genotypes (Meiguanqinggengcai and Zhenqing60F1) contained relatively low concentrations and bioaccessible Cd and As and, their BEDI and TBTHQ for Cd and As ranged below the tolerable limits set by the FAO/WHO (BEDI of Cd < 0.83 μg kg−1 bw day−1, BEDI of As < 3 μg kg−1 bw day−1) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (TBTHQ for Cd and As < 1), this applied for both levels of co-contaminated soils for adults and children. Consequently, these findings suggest identification of safe genotypes in leafy vegetable with low health risk via genotypic screening and breeding methods could be a useful strategy to ensure the safety of food crops grown in those Cd and As co-contaminated fields due to mining activities.

http://ift.tt/2xub4LP

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 974: Association between Blood Pressure and Birth Weight among Rural South African Children: Ellisras Longitudinal Study

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 974: Association between Blood Pressure and Birth Weight among Rural South African Children: Ellisras Longitudinal Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090974

Authors: Kotsedi Monyeki Han Kemper Alfred Mogale Leon Hay Machoene Sekgala Tshephang Mashiane Suzan Monyeki Betty Sebati

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between birth weight, underweight, and blood pressure (BP) among Ellisras rural children aged between 5 and 15 years. Data were collected from 528 respondents who participated in the Ellisras Longitudinal Study (ELS) and had their birth weight recorded on their health clinic card. Standard procedure was used to measure the anthropometric measurements and BP. Linear regression was used to assess BP, underweight variables, and birth weight. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of hypertension risks, low birth weight, and underweight. The association between birth weight and BP was not statistically significant. There was a significant (p < 0.05) association between mean BP and the sum of four skinfolds (β = 0.26, 95% CI 0.15–0.23) even after adjusting for age (β = 0.18, 95% CI 0.01–0.22). Hypertension was significantly associated with weight for age z-scores (OR = 5.13, 95% CI 1.89–13.92) even after adjusting for age and sex (OR = 5.26, 95% CI 1.93–14.34). BP was significantly associated with the sum of four skinfolds, but not birth weight. Hypertension was significantly associated with underweight. Longitudinal studies should confirm whether the changes in body weight we found can influence the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

http://ift.tt/2vAt05Y

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 973: Young People’s Use of E-Cigarettes across the United Kingdom: Findings from Five Surveys 2015–2017

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 973: Young People’s Use of E-Cigarettes across the United Kingdom: Findings from Five Surveys 2015–2017

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090973

Authors: Linda Bauld Anne MacKintosh Brian Eastwood Allison Ford Graham Moore Martin Dockrell Deborah Arnott Hazel Cheeseman Ann McNeill

Concern has been expressed about the use of e-cigarettes among young people. Our study reported e-cigarette and tobacco cigarette ever and regular use among 11–16 year olds across the UK. Data came from five large scale surveys with different designs and sampling strategies conducted between 2015 and 2017: The Youth Tobacco Policy Survey; the Schools Health Research Network Wales survey; two Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Smokefree Great Britain-Youth Surveys; and the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey. Cumulatively these surveys collected data from over 60,000 young people. For 2015/16 data for 11–16 year olds: ever smoking ranged from 11% to 20%; regular (at least weekly) smoking between 1% and 4%; ever use of e-cigarettes 7% to 18%; regular (at least weekly) use 1% to 3%; among never smokers, ever e-cigarette use ranged from 4% to 10% with regular use between 0.1% and 0.5%; among regular smokers, ever e-cigarette use ranged from 67% to 92% and regular use 7% to 38%. ASH surveys showed a rise in the prevalence of ever use of e-cigarettes from 7% (2016) to 11% (2017) but prevalence of regular use did not change remaining at 1%. In summary, surveys across the UK show a consistent pattern: most e-cigarette experimentation does not turn into regular use, and levels of regular use in young people who have never smoked remain very low.

http://ift.tt/2wZA3sy

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 975: Transnational Research Networks in Chinese Scientific Production. An Investigation on Health-Industry Related Sectors

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 975: Transnational Research Networks in Chinese Scientific Production. An Investigation on Health-Industry Related Sectors

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090975

Authors: Lauretta Rubini Chiara Pollio Marco Di Tommaso

Transnational research networks (TRN) are becoming increasingly complex. Such complexity may have both positive and negative effects on the quality of research. Our work studies the evolution over time of Chinese TRN and the role of complexity on the quality of Chinese research, given the leading role this country has recently acquired in international science. We focus on the fields of geriatrics and gerontology. We build an original dataset of all scientific publications of China in these areas in 2009, 2012 and 2015, starting from the ISI Web of Knowledge (ISI WoK) database. Using Social Network Analysis (SNA), we analyze the change in scientific network structure across time. Second, we design indices to control for the different aspects of networks complexity (number of authors, country heterogeneity and institutional heterogeneity) and we perform negative binomial regressions to identify the main determinants of research quality. Our analysis shows that research networks in the field of geriatrics and gerontology have gradually become wider in terms of countries and have become more balanced. Furthermore, our results identify that different forms of complexity have different impacts on quality, including a reciprocal moderating effect. In particular, according to our analysis, research quality benefits from complex research networks both in terms of countries and of types of institutions involved, but that such networks should be “compact” in terms of number of authors. Eventually, we suggest that complexity should be carefully taken into account when designing policies aimed at enhancing the quality of research.

http://ift.tt/2wkKKDR

Δευτέρα 28 Αυγούστου 2017

Immunological effects among workers who handle engineered nanoparticles

Objective

To determine whether exposure of workers handling engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) may result in increased inflammation and changes in lung function.

Methods

A prospective panel study compared changes in several markers of inflammation for ENP handling and non-ENP handling control workers. Nanoparticle exposure was measured during ENP handling and for controls. Lung function, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), C-reactive protein (CRP), blood cell counts and several serum cytokines were measured at baseline, at the end of the shift and at the end of the working week.

Results

Nanoparticle exposure was not higher when ENPs were being handled; nanoparticle counts were higher in offices and in ambient air than in laboratories. There were no differences at baseline in lung function, FeNO, haemoglobin, platelet, white cell counts or CRP levels between those who handled nanoparticles and those who did not, with or without asthmatic participants. There were statistically significant increases in sCD40 and sTNFR2 over the working day for those who handled ENPs. The changes were larger and statistically significant over the working week and sCD62P also showed a statistically significant difference. The changes were slightly smaller and less likely to be statistically significant for atopic than for non-atopic participants.

Conclusions

Even at low ENP exposure, increases in three cytokines were significant over the week for those who handled nanoparticles, compared with those who did not. However, exposure to low and transient levels of nanoparticles was insufficient, to trigger measurable changes in spirometry, FeNO, CRP or blood cell counts.

http://ift.tt/2vlFvGM

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 971: Surveillance Bias in Child Maltreatment: A Tempest in a Teapot

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 971: Surveillance Bias in Child Maltreatment: A Tempest in a Teapot

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090971

Authors: Brett Drake Melissa Jonson-Reid Hyunil Kim

Background: Children are believed to be more likely to be reported for maltreatment while they are working with mental health or social service professionals. This “surveillance bias” has been claimed to inflate reporting by fifty percent or more, and has been used to explain why interventions such as home visiting fail to reduce official maltreatment reporting rates. Methods: We use national child abuse reporting data (n = 825,763), supplemented by more detailed regional data from a multi-agency administrative data study (n = 7185). We determine the percentage of all re-reports made uniquely by mental health and social service providers within and across generations, the report sources which could be subject to surveillance bias. Results: At three years after the initial Child protective services (CPS) report, the total percentage of national reports uniquely made by mental health or social service providers is less than 10%, making it impossible that surveillance bias could massively inflate CPS reporting in this sample. Analysis of national data find evidence of a very small (+4.54%) initial surveillance bias “bump” among served cases which decays to +1.84% within three years. Our analysis of regional data showed similar or weaker effects. Conclusions: Surveillance bias effects appear to exist, but are very small.

http://ift.tt/2xr9mdZ

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 970: Occurrence, Distribution, and Risk Assessment of Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs) in Muscle and Liver of Cattle in Xinjiang, China

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 970: Occurrence, Distribution, and Risk Assessment of Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs) in Muscle and Liver of Cattle in Xinjiang, China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090970

Authors: Gehui Wang Jianjiang Lu Zhenni Xing Shanman Li Zilong Liu Yanbin Tong

Despite risks associated with perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in many regions, little is known about their prevalence in Xinjiang. We determined the presence of 13 PFAAs in 293 beef muscle and liver samples collected in 22 cities covering northern, southern, and eastern Xinjiang using liquid chromatography, coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Overall, the average values for PFAAs were relatively low compared with previous studies. Liver presented higher mean levels of total PFAAs at 1.632 ng/g, which was over 60-fold higher than in muscle (0.026 ng/g). Among the PFAAs analyzed, medium-chain compounds were dominant, accounting for more than 70% of the total. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was highly prevalent in the liver with the highest mean concentration (0.617 ng/g) and detection frequency (80%). When comparing the three regions of Xinjiang, we found differences in PFAA profiles, with the northern region showing the highest levels. Furthermore, the average daily intake and hazard ratios of PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid varied by region, urban/rural environment, gender, ethnicity, and age. The highest risk value of 13 PFAAs was estimated to be 0.837 × 10−3, which is far below 1, indicating that there is no health risk posed by eating beef muscle and liver in Xinjiang.

http://ift.tt/2wbO31x

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 972: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital on the Association between Occupational Stress and Job Satisfaction among Township Cadres in a Specific Province of China: A Cross-Sectional Study

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 972: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital on the Association between Occupational Stress and Job Satisfaction among Township Cadres in a Specific Province of China: A Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090972

Authors: Chang-Yue Guan Yu Li Hong-Lin Ma

Background: Township cadres, considered as basic executors of state policy, play an important role in Chinese society. Their job satisfaction is a vital issue for township management, but there are few studies on this topic in China. The goal of this study is to analyze the relationship between occupational stress and job satisfaction, and to further examine whether psychological capital (PsyCap) can serve as a mediator between stress and job satisfaction in Chinese township cadres. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out during the period of from October 2015 to January 2016 in Liaoning Province of China. The questionnaires, which consisted of an effort-reward imbalance scale, Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) for job satisfaction, and the psychological capital questionnaire (PCQ-24), as well as questions about demographic characteristics, were distributed to 1800 township cadres and complete responses were received from 1525 participants. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the role that psychological capital played in mediating between occupational stress and job satisfaction. Results: In the present study, effort-reward ratio (ERR= 11 × effort/6 × reward) was negatively associated with job satisfaction (r = −0.372, p < 0.001), whereas psychological capital was positively associated with job satisfaction in township cadres (r = 0.587, p < 0.001) from a specific province in China. Psychological capital is a mediator between the association of job stress and job satisfaction. Conclusions: Psychological capital partially mediated the relationship between job stress and job satisfaction among Chinese township cadres. Interventions to improve Chinese township cadres’ job satisfaction should be developed in the future, especially the enhancement of PsyCap. Interventions need to be verified in further cohort studies. At present, we are only proposing a theoretical model. Intervention effects need to be validated in further cohort studies.

http://ift.tt/2vvSh1k

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 969: Determination of Selected Chemical Levels in Room Air and on Surfaces after the Use of Cartridge- and Tank-Based E-Vapor Products or Conventional Cigarettes

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 969: Determination of Selected Chemical Levels in Room Air and on Surfaces after the Use of Cartridge- and Tank-Based E-Vapor Products or Conventional Cigarettes

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090969

Authors: Jianmin Liu Qiwei Liang Michael Oldham Ali Rostami Karl Wagner I. Gillman Piyush Patel Rebecca Savioz Mohamadi Sarkar

There is an ongoing debate regarding the potential of secondhand exposure of non-users to various chemicals from use of e-vapor products (EVPs). Room air levels of 34 chemicals (nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), glycerol, 15 carbonyl chemicals, 12 volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), and four selected trace elements) were measured where EVPs and cigarettes were used by n = 37 healthy adult tobacco users in an exposure chamber. The products used were MarkTen® 2.5% Classic (Group I), a Prototype GreenSmoke® 2.4% (Group II), Ego-T® Tank with subjects’ own e-liquids (Group III) and subjects’ own conventional cigarettes (Group IV). Products were used under controlled conditions and 4-h ad libitum use. Background (without subjects) and baseline levels (with subjects) were measured. Cumulative 4-h. levels of nicotine, PG and glycerol measured were several-fold below the time-weighted average limits used in workplace exposure evaluation. Most the other chemicals (>75%) were at or below the limit of quantification during EVP use. Significant levels of chemicals (17 out of 34) were observed in Group IV. Overall, our results indicate that under the study conditions with the products tested, cumulative room air levels of the selected chemicals measured over 4-h were relatively small and were several-fold below the current occupational regulatory and consensus limits.

http://ift.tt/2wazifq

Injury risk factors to farm and ranch operators in the Central United States

Background

This study focused on risk factors for serious injuries in farm and ranch operators in the central United States.

Methods

The Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, in collaboration with the National Agricultural Statistics Service, sent mail surveys to 6953, 6912, and 6912 farms/ranches in 2011-2013, respectively, covering seven Midwestern states.

Results

The average survey response rate was 35%. The average annual incidence rate (injuries/100 workers) was 6.91 for all injuries and 2.40 for serious injuries. Univariate analyses determined several demographic and farm production-related risk factors for serious injury. Adjusted analysis showed a greater risk of serious injury for operators of age 45-54 years (vs. 65 and higher), those who worked 75-99% of their time (vs. less time), and those who operated larger land areas (vs. smaller).

Conclusion

The identified risk factors should be considered when targeting injury prevention programs.

http://ift.tt/2vkBrGD

Κυριακή 27 Αυγούστου 2017

A multi-sector assessment of community organizational capacity for promotion of Chinese immigrant worker health

Background

Community-based collaborative approaches have received increased attention as a means for addressing occupational health disparities. Organizational capacity, highly relevant to engaging and sustaining community partnerships, however, is rarely considered in occupational health research.

Methods

To characterize community organizational capacity specifically relevant to Chinese immigrant worker health, we used a cross-sectional, descriptive design with 36 agencies from six community sectors in King County, Washington. Joint interviews, conducted with two representatives from each agency, addressed three dimensions of organizational capacity: organizational commitment, resources, and flexibility. Descriptive statistics were used to capture the patterning of these dimensions by community sector.

Results

Organizational capacity varied widely across and within sectors. Chinese and Pan-Asian service sectors indicated higher capacity for Chinese immigrant worker health than did Chinese faith-based, labor union, public, and Pan-ethnic nonprofit sectors.

Conclusions

Variation in organizational capacity in community sectors can inform selection of collaborators for community-based, immigrant worker health interventions.

http://ift.tt/2whpui0

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 967: Assessing Knowledge and Attitudes towards Cervical Cancer Screening among Rural Women in Eastern China

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 967: Assessing Knowledge and Attitudes towards Cervical Cancer Screening among Rural Women in Eastern China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090967

Authors: Tongtong Liu Shunping Li Julie Ratcliffe Gang Chen

There is a heavy burden of cervical cancer in China. Although the Chinese government provides free cervical cancer screening for rural women aged 35 to 59 years, the screening rate remains low even in the more developed regions of eastern China. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes about cervical cancer and its screening among rural women aged 30 to 65 years in eastern China. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four counties of Jining Prefecture in Shandong Province during August 2015. In total, 420 rural women were randomly recruited. Each woman participated in a face-to-face interview in which a questionnaire was administered by a trained interviewer. A total of 405 rural women (mean age 49 years old) were included in the final study. Among them, 210 (51.9%) participants had high knowledge levels. An overwhelming majority, 389 (96.0%) expressed positive attitudes, whilst only 258 (63.7%) had undergone screening for cervical cancer. Related knowledge was higher amongst the screened group relative to the unscreened group. Age, education and income were significantly associated with a higher knowledge level. Education was the only significant factor associated with a positive attitude. In addition, women who were older, or who had received a formal education were more likely to participate in cervical cancer screening. The knowledge of cervical cancer among rural women in eastern China was found to be poor, and the screening uptake was not high albeit a free cervical cancer screening program was provided. Government led initiatives to improve public awareness, knowledge, and participation in cervical cancer screening programs would likely be highly beneficial in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality for rural women.

http://ift.tt/2xnGnbc

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 968: Responses of Biogeochemical Characteristics and Enzyme Activities in Sediment to Climate Warming under a Simulation Experiment in Geographically Isolated Wetlands of the Hulunbuir Grassland, China

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 968: Responses of Biogeochemical Characteristics and Enzyme Activities in Sediment to Climate Warming under a Simulation Experiment in Geographically Isolated Wetlands of the Hulunbuir Grassland, China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090968

Authors: Liliang Han Derong Su Shihai Lv Yan Luo Xingfu Li Jian Jiao Zhaoyan Diao He Bu

Climate warming generates a tremendous threat to the stability of geographically-isolated wetland (GIW) ecosystems and changes the type of evaporation and atmospheric precipitation in a region. The intrinsic balance of biogeochemical processes and enzyme activity in GIWs may be altered as well. In this paper, we sampled three types of GIWs exhibiting different kinds of flooding periods. With the participation of real-time temperature regulation measures, we assembled a computer-mediated wetland warming micro-system in June 2016 to simulate climate situation of ambient temperature (control group) and two experimental temperature differences (+2.5 °C and +5.0 °C) following a scientific climate change circumstance based on daily and monthly temperature monitoring at a two-minutes scale. Our results demonstrate that the contents of the total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in the warmed showed, roughly, a balance or a slight decrease than the control treatment. Warming obstructed the natural subsidence of sediment, but reinforced the character of the ecological source, and reduced the activity of urease (URE), but promoted the activity of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and sucrase (SUC). Redundancy analysis showed that sucrase, urease, available phosphorus (AP), and pH were the major correlating factors under warming conditions in our research scope. Total organic carbon, total nitrogen, sucrase, catalase (CAT), and alkaline phosphatase were the principal reference factors to reflect the ambient temperature variations. Nutrient compositions and enzyme activities in GIW ecosystems could be reconstructed under the warming influence.

http://ift.tt/2vi15vx

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 966: Effect of Water Supplementation on Cognitive Performances and Mood among Male College Students in Cangzhou, China: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 966: Effect of Water Supplementation on Cognitive Performances and Mood among Male College Students in Cangzhou, China: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090966

Authors: Na Zhang Songming Du Zhenchuang Tang Mengqi Zheng Guansheng Ma

Introduction: Water accounts for about 75% of brain mass. Cognitive performances and mood may be impaired by hypohydration and improved by water supplementation. Two surveys conducted in China demonstrated that a large proportion of adults and children drank less fluid than the amounts recommended by the Chinese Nutrition Society. The association between hypohydration and cognitive performance has not been reported in China. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of water supplementation on cognitive performances and mood among male college students in Cangzhou, China. Methods and Analysis: A randomized controlled trial is designed to test the hypothesis. A total of 68 male college students aged 18–25 years will be recruited and randomly assigned into water-supplementation group (WS group, n = 34) and no water-supplementation group (NW group, n = 34) after an overnight fasting, i.e., without eating foods and drinking fluid for 12 h. The first morning urine will be collected to determine urine osmolality on the water supplementation day. Cognitive performances and mood will be performed before water supplementation by researchers with questionnaire. Subjects in the WS group will drink 400 mL purified water within 5 min, while those in NW group will not drink any fluid. One hour later, urine will be collected and urine osmolality, cognitive performances and mood will be measured again. Mixed model of repeated measures ANOVA will be used to investigate the effect of water supplementation on cognitive performances. The study would provide information about the benefit of water supplementation on cognitive performances. Ethics and Dissemination: The study protocol is reviewed and approved by the Ethical Review Committee of the Chinese Nutrition Society. Ethical approval project identification code is CNS-2015-001. Results will be published according to the CONSORT statement and will be reported in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration: Chinese clinical trial registry. Identifier: ChiCTR-IOR-15007020. Registry name “The effect of hydration on cognitive performance”.

http://ift.tt/2vhEjDZ

Σάββατο 26 Αυγούστου 2017

Occupational metal exposures, smoking and diabetes

Dear Sir,

http://ift.tt/2vgktcB

Health and Safety in a Changing World

Edited by DingwallRobert, FrostShelley. Published by Routledge, Abingdon and New York, 1st edition, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-138-22521-3. Price: £34.99 (paperback). 164 pp.

http://ift.tt/2vyXtjW

Golden Jubilee Travel Fellowship 2016

While undertaking higher specialist training in occupational medicine in the UK, I developed a particular interest in the management of psychological ill-health in the workplace, probably as a result of this constituting three quarters of my workload. I attended a talk on the management of ‘sick doctors’ in the UK by the Practitioner Health Programme (PHP) and was intrigued by the support and resources available for ‘struggling’ medical colleagues and the role occupational medicine played. It, however, made me think what fellow medical colleagues had for ‘support’ around the world; in particular, in Nigeria where I studied and trained as a doctor at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals, Ile-Ife over 25 years ago.

http://ift.tt/2vgDs6P

The effects of arts, trades and professions on health and longevity

Charles Turner ThackrahThe first edition was published in early 1831 with the title The Effects of the Principal Arts, Trades and Professions and of Civic States and Habits of Living on Health and Longevity: with a particular reference to The Trades and Manufactures of Leeds: and suggestions for the removal of many of the agents, which produce disease and shorten the duration of life. The most widely available version is the second edition of 1832. Published by Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green and Longman, with Simkin and Marshall in London and Baines and Newsome in Leeds. This contained some additional material and corrections. The title was shortened by the omission of ‘particular reference… of Leeds’. A reprint of this edition, with an introductory essay by Andrew Meiklejohn on Thackrah’s life was produced for the Society of Occupational Medicine by W. H. Smith in 1989.

http://ift.tt/2vyYRDg

Why I became an Occupational Physician

Growing up in India, while the next door oil-fired furnace kept my lungs supplied with smoke, my dad’s engineer colleagues home-tutored me and inspired my numeracy skills. Over my school days, I kept up an interest in industry, visiting fireclay factories, fertilizer works, heavy engineering companies, railway yards, ship and navy yards. While in high school, suffering from teenage exuberance, on a few occasions, I have travelled not just on the footplate (strongly recommended for Rail Physicians) but also on the buffers of overcrowded trains (definitely not recommended). In that environment, industrial (and non-industrial) injuries and illnesses were never far away.

http://ift.tt/2vgkugF

Organizational occupational health interventions: what works for whom in which circumstances?

According to the EU Framework Directive 89/391/EEC, organizations have a legal obligation to ‘ensure the safety and health of workers in every aspect related to work’ and the European Framework Agreement of 8 October 2004 specifies that this includes psychosocial issues. The directive does not provide information on how to manage the psychosocial work environment and therefore the European Commission called upon the social partners to develop their own strategies [2]. As a result, national policies have been developed across Europe, e.g. the Management Standards in the UK [3], WorkPositive in Ireland [4], SOBANE (Screening, Observation, Analysis and Expertise) in Belgium [5], START in Germany [6] and the INAIL (National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work) methodology for the assessment and management of work-related stress in Italy [2,7,8]. All of these strategies apply a stepwise participatory approach to organizational-level occupational health interventions (OOHIs) aimed at improving employee health and well-being through changing the way work is organized, designed and managed [8].

http://ift.tt/2vzjr6x

Fake Silk: The Lethal History of Viscose Rayon

BlancPaul David. Published by Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2017. ISBN: 978-0-300-20466-7. Price: £30.00. 328 pp.

http://ift.tt/2vzjpvr

Revalidation, appraisal and multisource feedback for occupational physicians

It is a regulatory requirement for all doctors working in the UK to have annual formative appraisals in which they discuss their practice and performance. Since December 2012, there has also been a requirement for UK doctors to revalidate every 5 years. Revalidation is a summative process by which doctors demonstrate that they remain up to date and fit to practice. The UK General Medical Council (GMC) document Good Medical Practice (GMP) outlines core ethical guidance for doctors [1]. Appraisal is structured to demonstrate compliance with the key principles and values set out in GMP. Doctors are required to provide supporting information about their practice, continuing education and professionalism as part of the appraisal process. Revalidation is largely determined by the outcome of annual appraisal. There is therefore a tension between the formative input from appraisal and the summative output of revalidation.

http://ift.tt/2vgSERk

Reply

Dear Sir,

http://ift.tt/2vyMqHz

Occupational medicine in the Middle East

The Middle East consists primarily of countries in the Arabian Peninsula with similar culture and geography, but with considerable differences in stage of development, industrialization and provisions for occupational health. Middle-Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman have a much longer history compared with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar which were established as independent nations as recently as 1971. Many of these countries are located in desert environments, rich in oil and gas, and with less infrastructure for agriculture (cultivation of date palms being a notable exception). Most are relatively stable with fast developing economies although some, such as Iraq and Yemen, are in the midst of experiencing or recovering from recent wars. Saudi Arabia has the unique experience of having a regular influx of large numbers of Muslim visitors who travel to Mecca for pilgrimage. This has an impact on workers in the transport, catering and hospitality industry. Middle-Eastern countries have large diverse groups of expatriate workers, mainly from Africa and Asia. In the UAE and Qatar, they constitute >80% of the total population. This creates a major challenge especially for occupational medicine provision. Some countries in the region have attracted bad publicity in the social media and the press in regards to their facilities and support for expatriate workers. Physical and mental health and social and adjustment problems are reported wherever individuals seek employment in countries distant from their homes, leaving their families behind. Any difference between countries is often a matter of scale, with conflicting and confusing cultural and occupational practices, and biased attitudes and beliefs being major contributors to workplace health and safety problems.

http://ift.tt/2vgMlgw

Christopher ‘Kit’ Wood, Loading the Boats, St Ives 1926

http://ift.tt/2vz3GfV

In this issue of Occupational Medicine

Occupational medicine involves a series of activities aimed at worker protection. We consider how to prevent work-related illness and injury and develop standards for particular roles so the right people are doing the job. When working, we look at the demands and resources that workers have to do the job and consider how we can help and support workers who develop problems which are caused by or impact on work. Thus, the whole (well not quite the whole) of occupational medical practice is present in this issue as these aspects of practice, particularly with regards to public sector and emergency service workers, are studied.

http://ift.tt/2vgn4CZ

The MRC breathlessness scale

In total, 40142 HCWs had 197932 tests over the 16 years, with 123 conversions (conversion rate: 0.3%; 95% CI 0.3–0.4%). Among 61 HCWs with a negative two-step TST, 30 (49%) were found to have early TST conversion within 2 years; 31 (51%) had late conversion, with likely occupational exposure but no identifiable community risks. Persons with early conversion were more likely to be born outside the USA (89% versus 57%; P < 0.05), had a higher rate of prior bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination (89% versus 52%; P < 0.05) and had no identifiable risk factors for conversion (63% versus 58%; P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Early conversions among HCWs after negative two-step TST are associated with various nonoccupational factors, including international birth and BCG vaccination history. Therefore, conversion is not a reliable indicator of recent tuberculosis contact in this population, and two-step TST is insufficient to discount a delayed boosting response for HCWs.

http://ift.tt/2vgSCZI

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 963: Increase of Elderly Population in the Rainstorm Hazard Areas of China

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 963: Increase of Elderly Population in the Rainstorm Hazard Areas of China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090963

Authors: Pujun Liang Wei Xu Yunjia Ma Xiujuan Zhao Lianjie Qin

In light of global warming, increased extreme precipitation events have enlarged the population exposed to floods to some extent. Extreme precipitation risk assessments are of great significance in China and allow for the response to climate change and mitigation of risks to the population. China is one of the countries most influenced by climate change and has unique national population conditions. The influence of extreme precipitation depends on the degree of exposure and vulnerability of the population. Accurate assessments of the population exposed to rising rainstorm trends are crucial to mapping extreme precipitation risks. Studying the population exposed to rainstorm hazard areas (RSHA) at the microscale is extremely urgent, due to the local characteristics of extreme precipitation events and regional diversity of the population. The spatial distribution of population density was mapped based on the national population census data from China in 1990, 2000 and 2010. RSHA were also identified using precipitation data from 1975–2015 in China, and the rainstorm tendency values were mapped using GIS in this paper. The spatial characteristics of the rainstorm tendencies were then analyzed. Finally, changes in the population in the RSHA are discussed. The results show that the extreme precipitation trends are increasing in southeastern China. From 1990 to 2010, the population in RSHA increased by 110 million, at a rate of 14.6%. The elderly in the region increased by 38 million at a rate of 86.4%. Studying the size of the population exposed to rainstorm hazards at the county scale can provide scientific evidence for developing disaster prevention and mitigation strategies from the bottom up.

http://ift.tt/2gdbrGx

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 965: Neighbourhood Environmental Attributes Associated with Walking in South Australian Adults: Differences between Urban and Rural Areas

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 965: Neighbourhood Environmental Attributes Associated with Walking in South Australian Adults: Differences between Urban and Rural Areas

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090965

Authors: Narelle Berry Neil Coffee Rebecca Nolan James Dollman Takemi Sugiyama

Although the health benefits of walking are well established, participation is lower in rural areas compared to urban areas. Most studies on walkability and walking have been conducted in urban areas, thus little is known about the relevance of walkability to rural areas. A computer-assisted telephone survey of 2402 adults (aged ≥18 years) was conducted to determine walking behaviour and perceptions of neighbourhood walkability. Data were stratified by urban (n = 1738) and rural (n = 664). A greater proportion of respondents reported no walking in rural (25.8%) compared to urban areas (18.5%). Compared to urban areas, rural areas had lower walkability scores and urban residents reported higher frequency of walking. The association of perceived walkability with walking was significant only in urban areas. These results suggest that environmental factors associated with walking in urban areas may not be relevant in rural areas. Appropriate walkability measures specific to rural areas should be further researched.

http://ift.tt/2iyHrW3

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 964: Improved Housing Accessibility for Older People in Sweden and Germany: Short Term Costs and Long-Term Gains

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 964: Improved Housing Accessibility for Older People in Sweden and Germany: Short Term Costs and Long-Term Gains

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090964

Authors: Björn Slaug Carlos Chiatti Frank Oswald Roman Kaspar Steven Schmidt

The physical housing environment is important to facilitate activities of daily living (ADL) for older people. A hindering environment may lead to ADL dependence and thus increase the need for home services, which is individually restricting and a growing societal burden. This study presents simulations of policy changes with regard to housing accessibility that estimates the potential impact specifically on instrumental activities of daily living (I-ADL), usage of home services, and related costs. The models integrate empirical data to test the hypothesis that a policy providing funding to remove the five most severe environmental barriers in the homes of older people who are at risk of developing dependence in I-ADL, can maintain independence and reduce the need for home services. In addition to official statistics from state agencies in Sweden and Germany, we utilized published results from the ENABLE-AGE and other scientific studies to generate the simulations. The simulations predicted that new policies that remove potentially hindering housing features would improve I-ADL performance among older people and reduce the need for home services. Our findings suggest that a policy change can contribute to positive effects with regard to I-ADL independence among older people and to a reduction of societal burden.

http://ift.tt/2wPhBmy

Παρασκευή 25 Αυγούστου 2017

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 960: Social Environment of Older People during the First Year in Senior Housing and Its Association with Physical Performance

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 960: Social Environment of Older People during the First Year in Senior Housing and Its Association with Physical Performance

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090960

Authors: Sinikka Lotvonen Helvi Kyngäs Pentti Koistinen Risto Bloigu Satu Elo

Increasing numbers of older people relocate into senior housing when their physical performance declines. The change in social environment is known to affect their wellbeing, providing both challenges and opportunities, but more information on the relations between social and physical parameters is required. Thus, we elicited perceptions of the social environment of 81 older people (aged 59–93 years, living in northern Finland) and changes in it 3 and 12 months after relocation to senior housing. We also measured their physical performance, then analysed associations between the social and physical variables. Participants reported that they had freedom to do whatever they liked and generally had enough contact with close people (which have recognized importance for older people’s wellbeing), but changes in their physical condition limited their social activity. Moreover, their usual walking speed, dominant hand’s grip strength and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) significantly decreased. The pleasantness of the residential community, peer support, constraints on social activity imposed by changes in physical condition, meaningful activity at home and meeting close people all affected these physical performance parameters. Clearly, in addition to assessing physical performance and encouraging regular exercise, the complex interactions among social factors, physical performance and wellbeing should be considered when addressing individuals’ needs.

http://ift.tt/2xyuBKl

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 958: Phytostabilization—Management Strategy for Stabilizing Trace Elements in Contaminated Soils

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 958: Phytostabilization—Management Strategy for Stabilizing Trace Elements in Contaminated Soils

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090958

Authors: Maja Radziemska Magdalena Vaverková Anna Baryła

Contamination of soil by copper (Cu) has become a serious problem throughout the world, causing the reduction of agricultural yield and harmful effects on human health by entering the food chain. A glasshouse pot experiment was designed to evaluate the potential use of halloysite as an immobilizing agent in the aided phytostabilization of Cu-contaminated soil, using Festuca rubra L. The content of Cu in plants, i.e., total and extracted by 0.01 M CaCl2, was determined using the method of spectrophotometry. Cu content in the tested parts of F. rubra differed significantly when halloysite was applied to the soil, as well as with increasing concentrations of Cu. The addition of halloysite significantly increased plant biomass. Cu accumulated in the roots, thereby reducing its toxicity to the aerial parts of the plant. The obtained values of bioconcentration and translocation factors observed for halloysite treatment indicate the effectiveness of using F. rubra in phytostabilization techniques.

http://ift.tt/2wDGbY9

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 961: Contaminations, Sources, and Health Risks of Trace Metal(loid)s in Street Dust of a Small City Impacted by Artisanal Zn Smelting Activities

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 961: Contaminations, Sources, and Health Risks of Trace Metal(loid)s in Street Dust of a Small City Impacted by Artisanal Zn Smelting Activities

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090961

Authors: Tingting Wu Xiangyang Bi Zhonggen Li Guangyi Sun Xinbin Feng Lihai Shang Hua Zhang Tianrong He Ji Chen

To investigate the impact of artisanal zinc smelting activities (AZSA) on the distribution and enrichment of trace metal(loid)s in street dust of a small city in Guizhou province, SW China, street dust samples were collected and analyzed for 10 trace metal(loid)s (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, Pb, and Hg). Meanwhile, the health risks of local resident exposed to street dust were assessed. The result showed that the average concentrations of 10 elements were Zn (1039 mg kg−1), Pb (423 mg kg−1), Cr (119 mg kg−1), Cu (99 mg kg−1), As (55 mg kg−1), Ni (39 mg kg−1), Co (18 mg kg−1), Sb (7.6 mg kg−1), Cd (2.6 mg kg−1), and Hg (0.22 mg kg−1). Except Ni, Co, and Cr, other elements in street dust were obviously elevated compared to the provincial soil background. Pb, Zn, Cd, Sb, and Cu were at heavy to moderate contamination status, especially Pb and Zn, with maximums of 1723 and 708 mg kg−1, respectively; As and Hg were slightly contaminated; while Cr, Ni, and Co were at un-contaminated levels. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed AZSA contributed to the increase of Pb, Zn, Cd, Sb, As, and Hg, while, natural sources introduced Ni, Co, Cr, and Cu. The health risk assessment disclosed that children had higher non-carcinogenic risk than those found in adults, and As has hazardous index (HI) higher than 1 both for children and adults, while Pb and Cr only had HIs higher than 1 for children, other elements were relatively safe. For carcinogenic risks, the major concern was As, then a lesser concern for Cr. The study showed that although the scale of AZSA was small, the contamination of heavy metal(loid)s in street dust and associated health risks were severe.

http://ift.tt/2xyeBb5

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 962: Relationships between Safe Pesticide Practice and Perceived Benefits and Subjective Norm, and the Moderation Role of Information Acquisition: Evidence from 971 Farmers in China

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 962: Relationships between Safe Pesticide Practice and Perceived Benefits and Subjective Norm, and the Moderation Role of Information Acquisition: Evidence from 971 Farmers in China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090962

Authors: Jianhua Wang Yuanyuan Deng Yuting Ma

Improper use of pesticides among farmers has caused food safety issues which are serious threats to public health in China. A central question concerns how to motivate farmers to self-regulate their pesticide usage. The paper aims to identify the influence of an internal driving factor, i.e., perceived benefits, and an external driving factor, i.e., subjective norm, on farmers’ safe pesticide behaviors, and whether the two factors are moderated by the exposure to information on government policies and the market, based on a sample of 971 farmers selected from 5 Chinese provinces. The results revealed that farmers’ safe pesticide usage was predominately driven by perceived benefits whereas external pressure or subjective norm did not play much of a role. Interaction effects were found between the exposure to market information and perceived benefits, and also between subjective norm and exposure to government policy. Extensions agencies are recommended to effectively convey to farmers the benefits to follow safe pesticide practices. Meanwhile, surveillance and monitoring systems should be established so that the prices of their agricultural products are reflected by the quality of the products.

http://ift.tt/2gc0ipk

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 959: Bisphenol A and Metabolic Diseases: Challenges for Occupational Medicine

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 959: Bisphenol A and Metabolic Diseases: Challenges for Occupational Medicine

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090959

Authors: Lidia Caporossi Bruno Papaleo

The prevalence of metabolic diseases has markedly increased worldwide during the last few decades. Lifestyle factors (physical activity, energy-dense diets), together with a genetic predisposition, are well known factors in the pathophysiology of health problems. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound used for polycarbonate plastics, food containers, epoxy resins coating metallic cans for food and beverage conservation. The ability of BPA to act as an endocrine disruptor—xenoestrogen in particular—is largely documented in literature, with numerous publications of in vivo and in vitro studies as well as epidemiological data on humans. Recently, different researchers studied the involvement of BPA in the development of insulin resistance; evidences in this way showed a potential role in etiology of metabolic disease, both for children and for adults. We review the epidemiological literature in the relation between BPA exposure and the risk of metabolic diseases in adults, with a focus on occupational exposure. Considering published data and the role of occupational physicians in promoting Workers’ Health, specific situations of exposure to BPA in workplace are described, and proposals for action to be taken are suggested. The comparison of the studies showed that exposure levels were higher in workers than in the general population, even if, sometimes, the measurement units used did not permit rapid comprehension. Nevertheless, occupational medicine focus on reproductive effects and not metabolic ones.

http://ift.tt/2w3uYyt

Πέμπτη 24 Αυγούστου 2017

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 955: Modulatory Effect of Methanol Extract of Piper guineense in CCl4-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Male Rats

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 955: Modulatory Effect of Methanol Extract of Piper guineense in CCl4-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Male Rats

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090955

Authors: Babatunji Oyinloye Foluso Osunsanmi Basiru Ajiboye Oluwafemi Ojo Abidemi Kappo

This study seeks to investigate the possible protective role of the methanol extract of Piper guineense seeds against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in an animal model. Hepatotoxicity was induced by administering oral doses of CCl4 (1.2 g/kg bw) three times a week for three weeks. Group 1 (Control) and Group 2 (CCl4) were left untreated; Piper guineense (PG; 400 mg/kg bw) was administered to Group 3 (T1) by oral gavage for 14 days prior to the administration of CCl4 and simultaneously with CCl4; PG (400 mg/kg bw) was administered simultaneously with CCl4 in Group 4 (T2); and Livolin forte (20 mg/kg bw) was administered simultaneously with CCl4 in Group 5 (T3), the standard drug group. The administration of CCl4 induces histopathological alteration in the liver, with concomitant increased activities of serum hepatic marker enzymes associated with increased levels of lipid peroxidation. Similarly, there was decrease in non-enzymatic (reduced glutathione) and enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione S-transferase), superoxide dismutase, and catalase. An elevation in serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels was noticed along with decreased levels of serum total protein. Treatment with PG 400 mg/kg bw exhibited excellent modulatory activity with respect to the different parameters studied by reversing all the above-mentioned biochemical changes significantly in the experimental animals. These results suggest that PG offered protection comparable to that of Livolin forte with better efficacy when pre-treated with 400 mg/kg bw 14 days prior to CCl4-exposure.

http://ift.tt/2xwgAwN

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 954: Consumption of Energy Drinks among Undergraduate Students in Taiwan: Related Factors and Associations with Substance Use

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 954: Consumption of Energy Drinks among Undergraduate Students in Taiwan: Related Factors and Associations with Substance Use

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090954

Authors: Yen-Jung Chang Ching-Yi Peng Yu-Ching Lan

Background: This study aimed to investigate the consumption of energy drinks and associated factors among undergraduate students in Taiwan. Methods: Data came from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2015. Eligible participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing use and perceptions of energy drinks, tobacco, alcohol, and betel nut. Results: Among 606 surveyed undergraduate students, 24.8% reported consuming energy drinks in the past 30 days. The major reasons for use included keeping alert at work (48.7%), being curious about the products (32.0%), enjoying the flavor (31.3%), or preparing for school exams (26.7%). Among energy drink users, half have never read the nutrition label, and 15.3% reported that they had ever mixed energy drinks with alcohol. Most participants showed negative attitudes toward using tobacco, alcohol, or betel nut, while 54.1% reported positive attitudes toward consuming energy drinks. Being male, living away from parents’ home, tobacco use, alcohol use, and positive perceptions of energy drink’s effects significantly predicted energy drink consumption. Conclusions: In addition to exploring motivations of energy drink consumption in undergraduate students in Taiwan, the study findings indicated that energy drink consumption might relate to the use of tobacco and alcohol, which should be taken into account in substance use prevention programs.

http://ift.tt/2vj5JFM

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 956: Positive Rates and Factors Associated with Abnormal Lung Function of Greenhouse Workers in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 956: Positive Rates and Factors Associated with Abnormal Lung Function of Greenhouse Workers in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090956

Authors: Xiaojun Zhu Panjun Gao Yishuo Gu Pei Xiao Mengxuan Liu Juan Chen Yacai Cen Wenjun Ma Tao Li

Since the number of greenhouse workers are increasing in China, this observational cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate lung function and discuss the potential risk factors, to provide evidence in the surveillance of greenhouse workers’ health. 678 greenhouse workers in Gansu Province, China were enrolled. A questionnaire which included demographic and occupational information was used. Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and FEV1:FVC ratios (FEV1/FVC), maximal expiratory flow after 50% of the FVC has not been exhaled (MEF50), maximal expiratory flow after 25% of the FVC has not been exhaled (MEF25) and maximal mid-expiratory flow curve (MMEF) were measured as lung function indicators. The mean values and standard deviations (SDs) of VC% predicted, FVC% predicted, FEV1% predicted and FEV1/FVC ratio were 106.07 ± 13.36, 107.60 ± 13.95, 97.19 ± 14.80 and 89.76 ± 10.78 respectively. The positive rates of above four and abnormal lung ventilation function were 2.9%, 2.8%, 11.2%, 4.6% and 6.5% respectively. Gender, age, BMI and number of greenhouses owned were influence factors of lung ventilation function (p < 0.05). The mean values and SDs of MEF50% predicted, MEF25% predicted and MMEF% predicted were 69.63 ± 24.95, 54.04 ± 24.94 and 66.81 ± 24.53. The positive rates of above three and abnormal small airway function were 45.0%, 72.1%, 47.2% and 49.4% respectively. Age, education and number of greenhouses owned were influence factors for small airway function (p < 0.05). Working in a greenhouse might influence lung function of the workers. Small airway function indicators could be used as priority indicators for the surveillance of greenhouse workers’ health.

http://ift.tt/2isDbr8

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 957: Longitudinal Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Mental Health Symptoms

IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 957: Longitudinal Impact of Hurricane Sandy Exposure on Mental Health Symptoms

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14090957

Authors: Rebecca M. Schwartz Christina N. Gillezeau Bian Liu Wil Lieberman-Cribbin Emanuela Taioli

Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern coast of the United States in October 2012, causing billions of dollars in damage and acute physical and mental health problems. The long-term mental health consequences of the storm and their predictors have not been studied. New York City and Long Island residents completed questionnaires regarding their initial Hurricane Sandy exposure and mental health symptoms at baseline and 1 year later (N = 130). There were statistically significant decreases in anxiety scores (mean difference = −0.33, p < 0.01) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scores (mean difference = −1.98, p = 0.001) between baseline and follow-up. Experiencing a combination of personal and property damage was positively associated with long-term PTSD symptoms (ORadj 1.2, 95% CI [1.1–1.4]) but not with anxiety or depression. Having anxiety, depression, or PTSD at baseline was a significant predictor of persistent anxiety (ORadj 2.8 95% CI [1.1–6.8], depression (ORadj 7.4 95% CI [2.3–24.1) and PTSD (ORadj 4.1 95% CI [1.1–14.6]) at follow-up. Exposure to Hurricane Sandy has an impact on PTSD symptoms that persists over time. Given the likelihood of more frequent and intense hurricanes due to climate change, future hurricane recovery efforts must consider the long-term effects of hurricane exposure on mental health, especially on PTSD, when providing appropriate assistance and treatment.

http://ift.tt/2wIkky2

Occupational styrene exposure and acquired dyschromatopsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Styrene is a chemical used in the manufacture of plastic-based products worldwide. We systematically reviewed eligible studies of occupational styrene-induced dyschromatopsia, qualitatively synthesizing their findings and estimating the exposure effect through meta-analysis.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were queried for eligible studies. Using a random effects model, we compared measures of dyschromatopsia between exposed and non-exposed workers to calculate the standardized mean difference (Hedges’g). We also assessed between-study heterogeneity and publication bias.

Results

Styrene-exposed subjects demonstrated poorer color vision than did the non-exposed (Hedges’ g = 0.56; 95%CI: 0.37, 0.76; P < 0.0001). A non-significant Cochran's Q test result (Q = 23.2; P = 0.171) and an I² of 32.2% (0.0%, 69.9%) indicated low-to-moderate between-study heterogeneity. Funnel plot and trim-and-fill analyses suggested publication bias.

Conclusions

This review confirms the hypothesis of occupational styrene-induced dyschromatopsia, suggesting a modest effect size with mild heterogeneity between studies.

http://ift.tt/2wIb9NV

Τετάρτη 23 Αυγούστου 2017

Long-term prognosis for neck-shoulder pain and disorders: a 14-year follow-up study

Objectives

The long-term prognosis for neck-shoulder pain and disorders and the impact of shoulder exposure among former sewing machine operators were investigated in a 14-year follow-up study.

Methods

Information on neck-shoulder pain and disorders was collected by questionnaire and clinical examination at baseline in 243 female sewing machine operators and by questionnaire 14 years later. During follow-up, information on comorbidity and job exposures was obtained from registers and by linking register-based D-ISCO 88 codes with a job exposure matrix. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associations between neck-shoulder pain and disorders at baseline and neck-shoulder pain and physical functioning at follow-up.

Results

We found an association between neck-shoulder disorders at baseline and neck-shoulder pain at follow-up (OR 5.9;95% CI 1.9 to 17.7), and between neck-shoulder pain at baseline and neck-shoulder pain at follow-up (OR 8.2;95% CI 3.5 to 19.2). Associations between neck-shoulder disorders and pain at baseline and limited physical functioning at follow-up had ORs of 5.0 (95% CI 1.5 to 16.1) and 2.2 (95% CI 1.1 to 4.6), respectively. In women still working in 2008, the association between neck-shoulder pain in 1994 and in 2008 seemed to be stronger for those in jobs with high job shoulder exposure.

Conclusions

The results suggest a long-term adverse prognosis for neck-shoulder pain. High job shoulder exposure can worsen this prognosis for those who continue working. This knowledge could influence the counselling given to similar workers and emphasises the need to prevent neck-shoulder pain.

http://ift.tt/2vpoOVN

Sleep duration as a mediator between an alternating day and night shift work schedule and metabolic syndrome among female hospital employees

Objectives

The main objective was to determine whether sleep duration on work shifts mediates the relationship between a current alternating day and night shift work schedule and metabolic syndrome among female hospital employees. The secondary objective was to assess whether cumulative lifetime shift work exposure was associated with metabolic syndrome.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study of 294 female hospital employees, sleep duration was measured with the ActiGraph GT3X+. Shift work status was determined through self-report. Investigation of the total, direct and indirect effects between shift work, sleep duration on work shifts and metabolic syndrome was conducted using regression path analysis. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between cumulative shift work exposure and metabolic syndrome.

Results

Shift work is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome (OR_Total=2.72, 95% CI 1.38 to 5.36), and the relationship is attenuated when work shift sleep duration is added to the model (OR_Direct=1.18, 95% CI 0.49 to 2.89). Sleep duration is an important intermediate between shift work and metabolic syndrome (OR_Indirect=2.25, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.26). Cumulative shift work exposure is not associated with metabolic syndrome in this population.

Conclusions

Sleep duration mediates the association between a current alternating day–night shift work pattern and metabolic syndrome.

http://ift.tt/2v6fg6L

Πληροφορίες

Τετάρτη 30 Αυγούστου 2017

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Τρίτη 29 Αυγούστου 2017

Δευτέρα 28 Αυγούστου 2017

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Κυριακή 27 Αυγούστου 2017

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Σάββατο 26 Αυγούστου 2017

Παρασκευή 25 Αυγούστου 2017

Πέμπτη 24 Αυγούστου 2017

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Τετάρτη 23 Αυγούστου 2017