5μg和10μg重组乙型肝炎疫苗初次免疫正常应答和高应答新生儿5年抗体持久性比较

目的 比较5 μg和10 μg乙型肝炎疫苗（HepB）初次免疫（初免）正常应答和高应答新生儿初免后5年的抗体持久性。方法 选用5 μg（重组啤酒酵母）和10 μg（重组汉逊酵母）HepB,按照"0-1-6"程序完成3剂次初免的新生儿,并在接种第3剂次后1~6个月（T₀）和5年（T₁）后分别采集静脉血,采用化学发光微粒子免疫分析法（CMIA）定量检测抗-HBs,比较两剂量接种后正常应答和高应答（T₀时抗-HBs ≥ 100 mIU/ml）者T₁时的抗体阳性率（抗-HBs ≥ 10 mIU/ml）和平均抗体浓度（GMC）;通过多因素分析探讨接种剂量与抗体持久性的关系。结果 HepB 5 μg组和10 μg组分别共有1 883名和1 495名观察对象纳入分析,T₁时抗-HBs阳性率分别为49.92%（943/1 883）和75.92%（1 135/1 495）,差异有统计学意义（χ²=237.75,P<0.001）;GMC分别为10.23（95%CI：9.38~11.16）mIU/ml和28.91（95%CI：26.65~31.35）mIU/ml,差异有统计学意义（F=280.36,P<0.001）。10 μg组T₁时抗-HBs阴转者抗-HBs滴度分布与5 μg组的差异有统计学意义（χ²=39.75,P<0.001）。多因素分析显示,排除其他因素影响后,HepB初免剂量与T₁时抗-HBs阳性率和抗-HBs滴度均独立相关[P<0.001,OR=1.44（95%CI：1.20~1.73）;P<0.001,β=0.27（95%CI：0.14~0.40）]。结论 新生儿使用10 μg重组HepB初免后5年抗-HBs持久性优于5 μg重组HepB。     

乙型肝炎疫苗初次免疫正常应答和高应答新生儿在幼儿期加强免疫对免疫保护持久性影响的配对病例对照研究

目的 探讨乙型肝炎(乙肝)疫苗加强免疫对初次免疫(初免)正常应答和高应答新生儿免疫持久性的影响。方法 选择乙肝疫苗初免正常应答和高应答新生儿,在其幼儿期(2~3岁)时加强免疫3剂次者作为加强免疫组,按照1:1匹配原则随机选择性别、居住乡镇相同的未加强免疫者作为未加强免疫组;于初免5年后采血检测抗-HBs和抗-HBc。结果 加强免疫组和未加强免疫组初免5年后抗-HBs阳性率分别为97.39%(224/230,95%CI:94.41%~99.04%)和53.91%(124/230,95%CI:47.24%~60.48%),几何平均抗体浓度(GMC)分别为1140.02(95%CI:887.46~1464.46) mIU/ml和11.53(95%CI:8.73~15.23) mIU/ml;两组5年随访抗体阳性率和GMC值的差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组HBV突破性感染率分别为0.87%(2/230)和2.17%(5/230),差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。多因素分析表明,初免5年后抗-HBs阳性率与是否加强免疫和初免时抗-HBs水平独立相关,OR值分别为38.75(95%CI:16.23~92.54)和3.06(95%CI:1.51~6.17)(P值均<0.05)。结论 乙肝疫苗初免正常应答或高应答儿童在幼儿期加强免疫可有效提高抗体持久性,但对预防HBV感染可能无明显作用。     

不同CD4+T淋巴细胞水平的HIV感染者乙型肝炎疫苗免疫效果及持久性研究

目的 分析HIV感染者CD4⁺T淋巴细胞（CD4）水平对乙肝疫苗免疫应答的影响,探讨不同CD4水平的HIV感染者乙肝疫苗免疫效果及其持久性,为优化HIV感染者乙肝疫苗免疫策略提供理论支持。方法 以2014年广西壮族自治区CDC和宁明县CDC管理的参加0-1-6月20μg和60μg乙肝疫苗接种随机对照试验的182名HIV感染者为研究对象,在首针接种后6个月和全程接种后1个月、6个月、1年和3年时,采集研究对象静脉血5 ml,并采用化学发光微粒子免疫分析方法定量检测乙肝表面抗体（抗-HBs）。本研究在既往研究基础上,着重分析不同CD4水平下乙肝疫苗接种后的免疫效果及持久性。结果 CD4<350个/μl的HIV感染者乙肝疫苗全程接种后1个月时,抗-HBs几何平均浓度（GMC）为442.50 mIU/ml,抗-HBs阳性率为71.05%（27/38）,强阳性率为44.74%（17/38）,明显低于CD4 ≥ 350个/μl者[583.90 mIU/ml、92.13%（117/127）和77.95%（99/127）]（P<0.05）;多因素分析结果显示,控制混杂因素后,CD4<350个/μl者乙肝疫苗抗-HBs阳性的概率是CD4 ≥ 350个/μl者的0.14倍（95% CI：0.03~0.62）,CD4水平较低是乙肝疫苗无应答的危险因素。全程接种后6个月到3年时,CD4<350个/μl者抗-HBs GMC（195.00~27.55 mIU/ml比300.10~45.81 mIU/ml）、阳性率（56.67%~36.67%比78.57%~51.58%）和强阳性率（33.33%~6.67%比44.64%~15.79%）不同程度下降,且均低于CD4 ≥ 350个/μl者。结论 CD4<350个/μl的HIV感染者乙肝疫苗无应答风险高,免疫持久性较差,应定期监测HIV感染者抗-HBs水平,并特别关注CD4<350个/μl者,抗-HBs阴性时应尽早全程及加强接种乙肝疫苗。     

乙型肝炎疫苗初次免疫正常应答和高应答成人9年抗体持久性观察

目的探讨乙型肝炎(乙肝)疫苗(HepB)初次免疫(初免)正常应答和高应答者成人初免后9年的抗体持久性及其影响因素。方法选择成人按照0-1-6程序不同种类HepB初免后的正常应答和高应答者[初免后1月(T1)抗-HBs≥100 mIU/ml],于初免后9年(T2)采血定量检测抗-HBs、HBsAg和抗-HBc;采用多因素非条件Logistic回归模型和多因素线性回归模型分析抗体持久性的影响因素。结果 4 022名随访对象中,抗-HBs阳性率由T1时的100%降为T2时的78.37%;抗-HBs几何平均浓度(GMC)由T1时的1 551.83(95%CI:1 488.30～1 618.07)mIU/ml下降为48.16(95%CI:45.52～50.95)mIU/ml。与初免接种20μg重组酿酒酵母HepB(HepB-SC)者相比,接种20μg重组中国仓鼠卵巢细胞HepB(HepB-CHO)者T2时抗-HBs阳性率和GMC均较高,其OR(95%CI)值和b(95%CI)值分别为1.52(1.19～1.95)和0.36(0.23～0.48)。与T1时抗-HBs GMC为100～999 mIU/ml者相比,T1时抗-HBs GMC为1 000～1 999、2 000～9 999和≥10 000 mIU/ml者T2时抗-HBs阳性率和GMC均较高,其OR(95%CI)值分别为4.64(3.62～5.95)、12.55(9.63～16.36)和16.82(10.61～26.66),b(95%CI)值分别为0.99(0.86～1.12)、1.87(1.76～1.97)和3.30(3.15～3.44)。T2时HBsAg阳转者9例,HBsAg阳转率为0.22%。结论成人HepB初免正常应答和高应答者初免后9年抗-HBs阳性率和GMC均下降,但多数人抗-HBs阳性率仍维持在保护水平;抗体持久性主要与初免疫苗类型和T1时抗-HBs的GMC有关。     

威海市新生儿乙肝疫苗初免和低/无应答者再免疫效果分析

[目的]了解新生儿接种乙肝疫苗后的免疫效果和对全程免后低/无应答者的再免疫效果。[方法]2009年,在威海市3个市(区)抽取7～12月龄儿童1 102名,按"0,1,6"程序接种3剂次5μg啤酒酵母重组乙肝疫苗(HepB-SC),对其中低/无应答者分别按上述程序再次接种不同种类和剂量的乙肝疫苗,检测调查对象血清抗-HBs水平,观察变化情况。[结果]检测儿童1 102名,3剂乙肝疫苗接种后,抗-HBs阳性率为98.19%(正常应答率为84.66%、低应答率为13.52%),无应答率为1.81%;GMC为800.94mIU/ml。检测再免疫的低/无应答儿童127名(17名无应答、110名低应答),抗-HBs的GMC,再免疫前为45.72mIU/ml,1剂次再免疫后为1 373.50mIU/ml(P<0.01);3剂次再免疫后检测其中100名(14名无应答、86名低应答),抗-HBs的GMC上升为1 763.33mIU/ml,与1剂次后的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。[结论]按现行免疫程序乙肝疫苗全程免疫后,可以取得良好的免疫应答。对低/无应答者按相同免疫程序再次接种3针后,抗-HBs水平有较大幅度提高。     

中国2014年HBsAg阳性母亲所生1～14岁儿童乙型肝炎血清流行病学特征分析

目的 分析HBsAg阳性母亲所生1～14岁儿童乙肝血清流行病学特征。方法 以2014年全国乙型肝炎（乙肝）血清流行病学调查中母亲HBsAg阳性的1～14岁儿童作为研究对象,采用SPSS 18.0软件分析不同性别、年龄、民族、出生地点、城乡、地区的儿童HBsAg、抗-HBs、抗-HBc阳性率以及HBsAg、抗-HBs影响因素等。结果 共分析HBsAg阳性母亲所生的1～14岁儿童645人,HBsAg、抗-HBs、抗-HBc阳性率分别为3.41%（22/645）、71.94%（464/645）、7.60%（49/645）。其中,1～、3～、5～、10～14岁组HBsAg阳性率分别为1.27%（3/236）、3.23%（6/186）、5.71%（8/140）、6.02%（5/83）,抗-HBs阳性率分别为85.17%（201/236）、69.35%（129/186）、56.43%（79/140）、66.27%（55/83）,抗-HBc阳性率分别为4.66%（11/236）、5.38%（10/186）、11.43%（16/140）、14.46%（12/83）。多因素logistic分析结果显示,出生地点、首针乙型肝炎疫苗（HepB）接种时间是影响HBsAg阳性母亲所生儿童HBsAg阳性率的主要因素,在医院外出生儿童HBsAg阳性率高于在医院内出生者（OR=7.47,95%CI：1.50～37.25）,首针HepB出生后> 24 h接种儿童HBsAg阳性率高于出生后≤24 h接种者（OR=6.21,95%CI：2.15～17.99）。结论 我国乙肝母婴阻断取得一定成效。住院分娩和首针HepB及时接种仍是新生儿乙型肝炎母婴阻断工作的重点。     

乙型肝炎疫苗初次免疫正常应答和高应答婴儿初次免疫5年后免疫记忆持久性随访观察

目的 探讨乙型肝炎(乙肝)疫苗初次免疫(初免)正常应答和高应答新生儿在初免后5年免疫记忆情况及其影响因素。方法 对初免正常应答和高应答新生儿于初免后5年检测其抗-HBs,其中低于保护水平(10 mIU/ml)者接种1剂次乙肝疫苗(激发剂次)并于接种后14 d采集血标本,再次检测抗-HBs,并计算激发剂次后抗-HBs阳转率(≥10 mIU/ml)和GMT。将检测的初免抗体、随访抗体和激发剂次后抗体均从低到高分成不同等级,分析激发剂次后抗体的影响因素。结果 37.98%(980/2 580)初免正常应答和高应答新生儿在初免后5年抗-HBs已降至保护水平以下,其中激发剂次后98.95%(757/765)出现抗体阳转,GMT为2 811.69(95%CI:2 513.55～3 145.19) mIU/ml。激发剂次后抗体滴度随初免抗体水平和随访抗体水平的升高而升高(F值分别为5.46、10.23,均P<0.000 1)。多因素分析显示,激发剂次后抗体滴度与性别、出生体重、早产等无关(P>0.05),而与初免抗体和随访抗体水平独立相关(OR=1.001,95%CI:1.000～1.002,P<0.001;OR=1.28,95%CI:1.81～1.39,P<0.001)。结论 新生儿乙肝疫苗初免后5年存在较强的免疫记忆;免疫记忆的强度与初免抗体及激发剂次前抗体水平有关。     

新生儿5μg和10μg重组酵母乙型肝炎疫苗初免后抗体免疫应答比较

目的 比较新生儿接种5 μg和10 μg重组酵母乙型肝炎(乙肝)疫苗后抗-HBs血清应答状况.方法 以山东、江苏、上海、广西、北京5省(自治区、直辖市)为研究现场,采用5 μg重组啤酒酵母乙肝疫苗(HepB-SC)和l0μg重组汉逊酵母乙肝疫苗(HepB-HP),按照“0-1-6”免疫程序完成初免的7～ 12月龄健康婴儿.调查对象采用问卷调查并采集静脉血,应用化学发光微粒子免疫分析法(CMIA)定量检测抗-HBs.抗-HBs＜ 10 mIU/ml者采用CMIA检测HBsAg,HBsAg阴性者采用巢式PCR方法检测HBV-DNA.比较不同HepB初免后的抗体应答率和抗体水平,采用多因素分析方法确定HepB种类对抗体阳转率和抗体水平的影响.结果 共观察8947名5μgHepB-SC初免(5μg组)和4576名10 μg HepB-HP初免(10μg组)婴儿.5μg组无应答、低应答、正常应答和高应答率分别为1.88％、15.18％、61.42％和21.52％,10μg组分别为0.15％、2.16％、29.42％和68.26％;5 μg组无应答、低应答和正常应答率高于10μg组,高应答率低于10 μg组,各应答率之间差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.01).5 μg组和10μg组初免后抗-HBs几何平均浓度分别为354.81mIU/ml(95％CI:338.84～363.08 mIU/ml)和1778.28mIU/ml(95％CI:1698.24～1819.70mIU/ml),差异有统计学意义(F=4517.17,P＜0.001).多因素分析显示,排除采血月龄、性别、出生体重、早产、母亲分娩前HBsAg状态等因素影响,两种HepB初免后抗体阳性率和抗体水平的差异仍有统计学意义.结论 新生儿使用10 μg HepB-HP初免抗体应答优于5μg HepB-SC.     

不同种类和剂量乙型肝炎疫苗成年人快速免疫效果观察

目的 探讨不同种类和剂量乙型肝炎（乙肝）疫苗（HepB）在成年人中的快速免疫效果。方法 在北京市朝阳区筛选≥ 20周岁、乙肝5项指标检测为阴性或单独核心抗体阳性者为接种对象,以社区为单位分成4组,按"0-1-2"免疫方案分别接种10、20 μg酒酿酵母乙肝疫苗（HepB-SCY）、20 μg中国仓鼠卵巢乙肝疫苗（HepB-CHO）、10 μg汉逊酵母乙肝疫苗（HepB-HPY）。全程接种1~2个月后采用化学发光法定量检测抗-HBs水平。结果 共有1 772名符合条件的研究对象完成疫苗接种和效果观察。平均年龄48.50岁,女性占62.75%。10、20 μg HepB-SCY组,20 μg HepB-CHO组和10 μg HepB-HPY组的抗-HBs阳转率和几何平均滴度（GMT）分别为79.49%、84.34%、82.50%、74.15%（P=0.005）和39.53、62.37、48.18、33.64 mIU/ml（P=0.025）;总体抗-HBs阳转率和GMT分别为79.01%和41.18 mIU/ml。4组研究对象抗-HBs水平均随年龄增长均呈下降趋势,组间抗-HBs的GMT的差异随年龄增大而缩小。logistic回归分析显示,控制了"是否单独核心抗体阳性"和"乙肝疫苗接种史"2个变量后,"接种疫苗种类和剂量"、"年龄"、"是否吸烟"均与抗-HBs有统计学关联。结论 "0-1-2"快速免疫方案中采用20 μg剂量仍能在中高年龄组人群中获得80%以上的阳转率,可作为"0-1-6"乙肝疫苗常规免疫程序的补充。     

儿童乙型肝炎疫苗免疫和加强免疫后保护性抗体观察

目的评价儿童乙型肝炎(乙肝)疫苗(HepB)免疫后保护性抗体应答水平及乙肝病毒表面抗体(抗-HBs)阴性儿童加强免疫后抗体的变化。方法采取多阶段整群系统抽样方法抽取调查单位和儿童,用固相放射免疫方法检测接种儿童血清乙肝病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)、抗-HBs和乙肝病毒核心抗体水平,并对抗-HBs阴性儿童进行加强免疫。结果3~12岁儿童抗-HBs平均阳性率为49.3%,几何平均浓度(GMC)为70.22毫国际单位/毫升(mIU/ml)。重组乙肝疫苗(酵母)免疫后3~6岁儿童抗-HBs阳性率为37.6%,随年龄增长而下降,GMC为55.29mIU/ml,各年龄组差异有非常显著的统计学意义。6~12岁儿童使用血源HepB,抗-HBs阳性率为51.0%,GMC为68.27mIU/ml,各年龄组差异无显著的统计学意义。抗-HBs阴性儿童加强免疫后抗体阳转率为93.9%,GMC为91.83mIU/ml。结论儿童HepB免疫后12年保护性抗体应答良好,HBsAg阳性率未随免疫时间延长而增加,目前尚不需进行加强免疫。抗-HBs阴性儿童加强免疫后有很好的回忆反应。     

Calcium intake in the elderly: validation of a dietary questionnaire

Epidemiological studies of calcium and osteoporosis have been hampered by the lack of a suitable tool for assessing calcium intake. This report describes a new frequency and amount questionnaire for measuring present and past calcium intake in the elderly. The validity of the questionnaire was tested against two commonly used standards of dietary assessment, five-day duplicate diets and seven-day weighed dietary inventories. The resulting correlation coefficients were, respectively, r = 0.76 and r = 0.69, while that for repeatability was r = 0.84. Furthermore, the questionnaire categorized subjects into thirds of the distribution of intake with almost no gross misclassification. It is suggested that the present findings may be extended to the majority of normal, healthy elderly subjects, implying wide application for the questionnaire in the assessment of calcium intake in the elderly.     

The occurrence of antimicrobial substances in toilet,sink and shower drainpipes of clinical units: A neglected source of antibiotic residues

Antibiotics represent one of the most important drug groups used in the management of bacterial infections in humans and animals. Due to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance, assurance of the antibacterial effectiveness of these substances has moved into the focus of public health. The reduction in antibiotic residues in wastewater and the environment may play a decisive role in the development of increasing rates of antibiotic resistance. The present study examines the wastewater of 31 patient rooms of various German clinics for possible residues of antibiotics, as well as the wastewater of five private households as a reference.To the best of our knowledge, this study shows for the first time that in hospitals with high antibiotic consumption rates, residues of these drugs can be regularly detected in toilets, sink siphons and shower drains at concentrations ranging from 0.02?μg·L^?1 to a maximum of 79?mg·L^?1. After complete flushing of the wastewater siphons, antibiotics are no longer detectable, but after temporal stagnation, the concentration of the active substances in the water phases of respective siphons increases again, suggesting that antibiotics persist through the washing process in biofilms. This study demonstrates that clinical wastewater systems offer further possibilities for the optimization of antibiotic resistance surveillance.     

The human drama of genetics: 'hard' and 'soft' media representations of inherited breast cancer

This paper examines media coverage of 'breast cancer genetics', and explores its implications for public understanding. We present a content analysis of coverage in British newspapers and look at a variety of popular forms, including women's magazines, television soap opera and radio drama. Genetic/inherited risk receives a great deal of coverage across a wide range of media formats and outlets. Much of this attention has focused on individuals from 'high risk families' and dilemmas around prophylactic mastectomies. Through examining media coverage, combined with interviews with media personnel and their sources, we show why this story proved so attractive to the media and highlight the different production values which influence coverage. Finally, we introduce preliminary findings from focus group discussions to demonstrate how such 'human interest' framing has engaged audience attention and influenced public understandings. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications for analysing, predicting, and engaging with, media representations of science.     

Self-reported health problems among Swedish miners one year after unemployment

Unemployment is considered to be a public health concern sincedeterioration in the health of the unemployed is often anticipated.However, for some groups, such as miners, unemployment mightimprove health due to a cessation of potentially harmful occupationalexposures. This study evaluates the health of 79 miners in oneSwedish iron-ore mine, and 226 age-matched controls from thegeneral population, during one year after the closure of themine. The participants received a questionnaire regarding medicalhistory and subjective symptoms at the beginning of the studyperiod, and after one year. Statistically significant negativeeffects on self-reported health attributable to unemploymentwere not found, although neuropsychiatric symptoms were morecommon among the unemployed miners. The miners reported a statisticallysignificant improvement in grip force (p=0.031). They had asignificantly higher prevalence of symptoms associated withmining related exposures when compared with the population controls;pain in the upper extremities [relative risk (RR)=2.27, 95%confidence interval (Cl)=1.44–3.59), back pain (RR=1.84;Cl=1.237–2.75), vasospastic disease of the fingers (RR=2.05;Cl=1.18–3.57) and obstructive respiratory symptoms (attacksof dyspnea and wheezing: RR=3.67; Cl=1.167–11.6).     

Excès de cas humains et animaux de tularémie en France au cours de l’hiver 2007–2008 : émergence ou phénomène isolé ?

Context

Tularemia is a zoonosis affecting humans and hares in France. We describe the results of surveillance in both species, in 2007 and 2008.

Methods

Human tularemia cases are mandatorily notifiable in France since 2003. In hares, surveillance relies on volunteer hunter associations in all districts of the country. Data from mandatory reports and volunteer surveillance in 2007/2008 were analyzed and compared with previous results.

Results

In 2007/2008, 144 cases were reported in humans and 117 cases in hares. This was a 100% increase compared to previous years. Human cases differed from those of previous years only by the frequency of contact with breeding animals. Human cases without any documented risk exposure were also more frequent.

Conclusion

An increase of tularemia cases occurred in 2007/2008 in both species. Complementary studies are needed to identify the species reservoir in France to understand the causes of this peak of cases.     

Fatigue and health in a seafaring population

Background Occupational fatigue is relatively common withinthe general population and has been linked to reduced performance,injury and longer term ill-health. Despite growing acknowledgementof this problem in the maritime sector, little research hasbeen conducted into the risk factors, prevalence and consequencesof seafarers' fatigue. Aims To examine the prevalence of fatigue among seafarers, identifypotential risk factors and assess possible links with poor performanceand ill-health. Methods Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of seafarers workingin the offshore oil support, short-sea and deep-sea shippingindustries. A number of tools were used including the fatiguesubscale of the profile of fatigue-related symptoms, the CognitiveFailures Questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire andthe SF36 General Health scale. Results In all, 1855 questionnaires were completed giving anoverall response rate of 20%. Fatigue symptoms were associatedwith a range of occupational and environmental factors, manyunique to seafaring. Reporting a greater number of risk factorswas associated with greater fatigue [e.g. OR = 2.53 (1.90–3.35)for those with three or four risk factors and OR = 9.54 (6.95–13.09)for those with five or more risk factors]. There was also astrong link between fatigue and poorer cognitive and healthoutcomes, with fatigue the most important of a number of riskfactors, accounting for 10–14% of the variance. Conclusions Seafarers' fatigue could impact on safety withinthe industry and may be linked to longer term individual ill-health.It can only be addressed by considering how multiple factorscombine to contribute to fatigue.     

深圳公立医院管理体制改革制度设计

深圳公立医院管理体制改革实行政事分开、管办分开,在理事会架构下按法定机构模式组建市医管中心,落实公立医院运营管理自主权.作者从当前公立医院管理体制的弊端入手,介绍了深圳市进行公立医院管理体制改革的基本思路及改革方案设计的主要举措,深入剖析了的改革方案的特点,并对改革效果进行了预测.     

Effects of nitrogen dioxide on red blood cells of rats: Changes in components of red cell membranes during in vivo exposure to NO2

Red cell membranes, prepared from red blood cells of rats exposed to 4, 10, or 20 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) for 1 to 10 days, were examined for evidence of changes in membrane components. Appreciable changes were not found in contents of phospholipid and cholesterol during exposure to 10 ppm NO₂. By contrast, protein content altered with the time of exposure. Moreover, changes in protein composition were observed by employing sodium dodecyl sulfate — polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Twenty-four-hour exposure to NO₂ at the concentration above 10 ppm resulted in a marked increase in the percentage of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE) to the total phospholipids. The prolonged exposure to 10 ppm NO₂ gave rise to a further increase in LysoPE, whereas the percentage of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) showed a gradual decrease. A 1-day exposure to 4.0 ppm NO₂ also caused an increase in sialic acid content and decreases in those of PE and hexose. In addition to contents of these components the percentage of LysoPE increased 5 days after exposure and the elevated values were maintained up to the end of exposure period. These results demonstrate that red blood cells in circulation exhibit different membrane properties in terms of lipid and carbohydrate composition during 10 days of exposure to 4.0 ppm NO₂.     

Occupational health hazards in mining: an overview

This review article outlines the physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial occupational health hazards of mining and associated metallurgical processes. Mining remains an important industrial sector in many parts of the world and although substantial progress has been made in the control of occupational health hazards, there remains room for further risk reduction. This applies particularly to traumatic injury hazards, ergonomic hazards and noise. Vigilance is also required to ensure exposures to coal dust and crystalline silica remain effectively controlled.