果糖注射液对健康受试者血糖和胰岛功能的影响

目的评价果糖注射液对健康受试者血糖和胰岛功能的影响。方法采用前瞻、随机、对照的方法,选择符合入选标准的健康受试者8人,进行4次研究。研究组A、B分别静脉给予5%、10%的果糖500ml,对照组A、B静脉给予对应浓度和量的葡萄糖,测定输液前后血糖、胰岛素和胰岛素C肽、血乳酸和尿酸的变化,同时观察不良事件。结果静脉输注5%和10%果糖500ml对机体血糖影响较小,在输液结束时,血糖变化值分别为(-0.03±1.01)和(0.15±1.05)mmol/L;输注同浓度葡萄糖血糖明显升高,血糖变化值分别为(2.95±1.05)和(4.2±1.27)mmol/L,与对应研究组比较差异有显著性(P<0.01)。研究组静脉输注5%或10%果糖对胰岛素和胰岛素C肽影响均较小,对照组则两项指标均明显升高,且与输液浓度呈正相关,与对应研究组比较差异有显著性(P<0.01)。全组研究对血乳酸和尿酸无明显影响,未出现不良事件。结论适量静脉输注果糖对机体血糖和胰岛功能的影响较小,有较好的安全性。     

混合糖对老年腹部手术后患者糖代谢、胰岛功能和临床结局的影响

目的评价混合糖对腹部手术后老年患者血糖、胰岛功能以及安全性的影响。方法采用前瞻、随机、双盲、对照的研究方法。满足方案入选标准并获得知情同意的腹部手术后老年患者共40例进入本研究。研究组于术后第1天或第2天开始连续静脉输注混合糖电解质注射液1000ml，对照组静脉输注10％葡萄糖电解质注射液1000ml，连续3d。观察血糖和胰岛素、胰岛素C肽的变化，同时观察临床结局指标和血尿酸、乳酸等的变化以及不良事件。结果按计划完成本研究40例，无淘汰病例；腹部手术后老年患者输注混合糖后第2和3天血糖升高幅度明显少于对照组（P=0．008，P=0．001）；血胰岛素和胰岛素C肽水平两组较术前均有升高趋势，但组间比较差异无统计学意义；研究组的变化值分别为（11．4±7．8）μU／ml和（639±506）pmol／L，对照组的变化值分别为（13．9±13．0）μU／ml和（1062±905）pmol／L，两组比较差异无统计学意义（P=0．612，P=0．213）。研究组术后发生全身性炎症反应综合征（6例）和感染并发症（4例）的病例数与对照组（8和6例）比较差异无统计学意义（P=0．639，P=0．606）；用药后两组患者均未发现血乳酸和尿酸升高，未出现不良事件。结论适量应用混合糖对腹部手术后患者血糖和胰岛功能的影响较小，可能改善临床结局。     

含缓释淀粉的整蛋白型肠内营养剂对脏器功能、血胰岛素/血糖曲线下面积及血糖的影响(120例随机、对照、多中心临床研究)

目的观察含缓释淀粉的整蛋白型肠内营养对2型糖尿病患者血胰岛素、血糖曲线下面积及血糖的影响.标准配方的肠内营养剂为对照药.方法符合研究计划要求的2型糖尿病患者120例,按随机表进入研究组及对照组.均住入医院或疗养院观察7天,观察期间患者不得进食任何食品,可饮白水.两组患者服用两种不同的肠内营养剂(Fresubin Diabetes或Fresubin neutral),研究开始前和服用不同的肠内营养剂后第7天进行各项指标的监测.其中20例患者志愿参加血糖和胰岛素曲线下面积的测定以观察服用两种不同营养剂对血糖和胰岛素的影响水平.结果 (1)安全性两组肠内营养剂对血常规和肝肾功能均无不良影响.血糖曲线下面积研究用药后与用药前血糖曲线下面积的差值研究组(-10913±7528)min@mg/dl,对照组(1140±8094)min@mg/dl,两组对比差异有显著性(P=0.003),说明研究用药对血糖的影响明显小于对照药.(2)用药前后两组患者的血胰岛素曲线下面积的差值研究组(-1958±1773)min@μU/L,对照组(-336±1654)min@μU/L,两组对比有差异但不显著(P=0.053).(3)血糖的变化餐后2小时血糖上升值(餐后2小时血糖-空腹血糖)研究开始前研究组(42.22±51.82)mg/dl,对照组(45.1±47.79)mg/dl.表明两组患者用药前有可比性(P=0.75).用药7天后研究组(40.85±39.25)mg/dl,对照组(52.95±46.76)mg/dl,表明研究组患者的餐后血糖升高方面差异无显著性(P=0.13).结论含缓释淀粉的整蛋白型肠内营养剂与标准配方肠内营养剂相比,患者的血糖曲线下面积有明显改善及血胰岛素曲线下面积有改善.两组有相同的安全性.     

手术应激对外科重症患者肠内和肠外葡萄糖负荷后血浆胰高血糖素样肽-1的影响

目的 探讨手术应激对外科重症患者血浆胰高血糖素样肽-1（GLP-1）的影响。方法 采用前瞻性研究方法,连续观察64例接受择期手术的重症患者,根据术后次日8：00能否进食分为肠内组（50%的葡萄糖100 ml鼻饲或口服）和肠外组（50%的葡萄糖100 ml静脉滴注）。分别于术前、术后当天、术后第2天给予50%的葡萄糖100 ml后0、30、90、180 min检测血糖和血浆GLP-1浓度。将肠内组再分为应激性高血糖（SH）组和非应激性高血糖（non-SH）组,观察并比较患者的临床资料,术前、术后当天及术后第2天的肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α和白细胞介素（IL）-6,术前、术后当天、术后第2天给予50%葡萄糖100 ml后0、30、90、180 min的血糖、胰岛素、C肽和GLP-1。结果 给予50%的葡萄糖后肠内组血浆GLP-1水平明显增高,并在30 min达到高峰,而肠外组血浆GLP-1水平无明显变化,并在30 min［(5.69±2.92)、(33.52±12.32)pmol/L,P＝0.00］及90 min［(5.71±2.14)、(15.92±6.63)pmol/L,P＝0.00］显著低于肠内组。SH组的血浆胰岛素水平在术后当天［(18.17±6.18)、（12.10±3.60）mU/L,P=0.01］、术后第2天给予葡萄糖后30 min［(56.02±14.78)、（43.39±15.60）mU/L,P=0.03］及90 min［(114.58±25.11)、（90.45±25.91）mU/L,P=0.03］显著高于non-SH组。SH组的血浆C肽水平在术后第2天给予葡萄糖后30 min［(6.86±1.15)、（4.76±1.06）μg/L,P=0.04］和90 min［(12.17±1.96)、（9.81± 2.35）μg/L,P=0.03］显著高于non-SH组;SH组的血浆GLP-1水平在术后第2天进食葡萄糖后30 min［（28.76±9.61)、（37.36±10.51）pmol/L,P=0.03］和90 min［(13.49±4.26)、（17.33±5.57）pmol/L,P=0.04］显著低于non-SH组。结论 （1）术后早期肠内给予葡萄糖与静脉输注葡萄糖相比,血浆GLP-1水平更高,同时应激性高血糖的发生率更低;（2）应激性高血糖患者内源性胰岛素分泌增加,血浆GLP-1水平降低;（3）术后炎症反应越重,血浆GLP-1水平越低,血糖水平越高。     

二甲双胍及吡格列酮对具有糖尿病的代谢综合征患者胰高血糖素水平的影响

目的　通过观察具有糖尿病的代谢综合征患者采用二甲双胍或吡格列酮治疗后血糖、胰岛素、胰高血糖素、胰岛β细胞功能和胰岛素抵抗的改变,探讨胰岛α细胞功能在以胰岛素抵抗为核心的2型糖尿病致病机制中的可能作用及其在药物治疗后的变化情况。方法　于2012年4月至2013年4月在北京市朝阳区糖尿病中心选取具有糖尿病的代谢综合征患者60例,按随机数字表法分为二甲双胍组（口服二甲双胍0.5 g/次,每日3次,n=30）和吡格列酮组（口服吡格列酮15 mg/次,每日1次,n=30）,治疗1年。同期选取年龄性别匹配的体检正常的健康人30例作为对照组。比较3组的一般资料及药物干预组治疗前后血糖、胰岛素、胰高血糖素、胰岛素敏感性指数、胰岛素抵抗指数、胰岛β细胞功能指数、胰岛素分泌敏感性指数、第1时相胰岛素分泌指数及第2时相胰岛素分泌指数。结果　药物干预组治疗前与对照组比较,空腹胰高血糖素［（146.22±25.41）pmol/L比（21.31±7.85）pmol/L,P=0.002］及胰高血糖素曲线下面积均显著升高［（469.84±13.12）pmol/(L·h)比（100.94±7.73）pmol/(L·h),P=0.006］。二甲双胍组治疗后与治疗前比较,空腹血糖［（6.46±1.38）mmol/L比（7.54±0.43）mmol/L,P=0.031］、空腹胰岛素［（119.22±69.01）pmol/L比（139.38±71.13）pmol/L,P=0.042］、空腹胰高血糖素［（91.69±22.11）pmol/L比（142.81±24.56）pmol/L,P=0.029］、血糖曲线下面积［（25.19±1.31）mmol/(L·h)比（32.68±1.12）mmol/(L·h),P=0.043］、胰岛素曲线下面积［（468.65±20.10）pmol/(L·h)比（786.32±21.37）pmol/(L·h),P=0.017］和胰高血糖素曲线下面积［（280.60±8.26）pmol/(L·h)比（487.14±14.31）pmol/(L·h),P=0.032］均显著降低;吡格列酮组治疗后与治疗前比较,空腹血糖［（6.58±2.21）mmol/L比（7.68±0.59）mmol/L,P=0.028］、空腹胰岛素［（107.92±17.81）pmol/L比（144.66±74.43）pmol/L,P=0.033］、空腹胰高血糖素［（76.07±20.57）pmol/L比（148.34±28.94）pmol/L,P=0.025］、血糖曲线下面积［（25.58±1.22）mmol/(L·h)比（35.07±1.38）mmol/(L·h),P=0.038］、胰岛素曲线下面积［（435.54±19.30）pmol/(L·h)比（854.75±20.61）pmol/(L·h),P=0.013］和胰高血糖素曲线下面积［（223.43±5.83）pmol/(L·h)比（458.55±12.96）pmol/(L·h),P=0.026］也显著降低。二甲双胍组治疗前后空腹胰岛素差值［（20.16±2.98）mmol/L比（36.74±2.88）mmol/L,P=0.011］、空腹胰高血糖素差值［（51.12±3.67）pmol/L比（72.27±4.58）pmol/L,P=0.016］、胰岛素曲线下面积差值［（317.67±13.45）pmol/(L·h)比（419.21±15.44）pmol/(L·h),P=0.031］和胰高血糖素曲线下面积差值［（206.54±9.66）pmol/(L·h)比（235.12±10.29）pmol/(L·h),P=0.046］均显著低于吡格列酮组。结论　具有糖尿病的代谢综合征患者胰高血糖素水平高。二甲双胍及吡格列酮在改善此类患者血糖水平、胰岛β细胞分泌功能及胰岛素抵抗的同时,亦均可降低胰高血糖素水平,提示这两种药物有改善胰岛α细胞功能的作用,并且吡格列酮的作用更显著。     

肥胖儿童血中瘦素、食欲素及胰岛素水平分析

目的:探讨儿童肥胖发生中食欲素(Orexins)、瘦素(Leptin)及胰岛素(Insulin)浓度水平变化及相互作用关系。方法:以12~14岁的肥胖和正常对照儿童为研究对象,以放射免疫法测定血中的食欲素,瘦素,胰岛素,C-肽(C-peptide)浓度。对肥胖和正常儿童血中食欲素,瘦素及胰岛素浓度水平及相互关系进行对比分析。结果:肥胖儿童血中食欲素A浓度(男3.23±1.86;女3.38±1.80)pg/ml显著低于对照组浓度(男4.52±1.52;女4.71±1.53)pg/mlP<0.05;肥胖儿童血中瘦素(男26.00±14.66;女33.59±14.63)ng/ml、胰岛素浓度(男36.05±15.65;女36.38±15.23)mIU/l显著高于对照组浓度瘦素(男6.65±4.49;女10.48±5.52)ng/ml、胰岛素浓度(男20.15±14.66;女22.04±11.79)mIU/l P<0.01;男女儿童两组瘦素与胰岛素,C-肽呈正相关关系,与食欲素A之间无相关关系,但在肥胖组瘦素与食欲素B呈正相关。结论:肥胖儿童相对于正常儿童血中瘦素和胰岛素含量明显升高,食欲素A含量明显降低,瘦素、食欲素、胰岛素之间存在着相互影响关系。     

短期胰岛素泵治疗对2型糖尿病患者的影响

目的探讨短期胰岛素泵治疗对改善2型糖尿病患者的胰岛β细胞功能和血糖控制的影响。方法采用自身前后对照,观察33例新诊断2型糖尿病患者接受2w短期胰岛素泵治疗前后胰岛β细胞对血糖刺激的胰岛素第一时相分泌的变化,探讨胰岛β细胞功能及其影响因素和随访短期胰岛素泵治疗对(不采用任何降糖药物)长期血糖控制的影响。结果治疗2w后,治疗前后静脉葡萄糖试验中胰岛素曲线下面积、胰岛峰值、胰岛素峰值差值、胰岛素与血糖总量比值、胰岛素与血糖增量比值及HomaB指数明显升高;HomaA指数明显下降。治疗前后胰岛素峰值呈正相关。有23例患者仅采用饮食控制,平均随访6个月时糖化血红蛋白为(5·85%±0·61)%,空腹血糖为(6·1±1·2)mmol/L,OGTT2h血糖为(7·8±2·5)mmol/L,空腹胰岛素为(10±5)μU/ml,OGTT2h胰岛素为(20±5)μU/ml。结论短期胰岛素泵治疗可以显著恢复代表胰岛β细胞功能的血糖刺激的胰岛素第一时相分泌,使患者的糖尿病回到2型糖尿病自然病程的更早期阶段,部分患者不用任何药物,仅通过饮食控制就可获得良好的血糖水平。     

口服果糖对糖尿病病人血糖、胰岛素和C肽的影响及安全性研究

目的:探讨口服果糖对糖尿病病人血糖、胰岛素应答的影响及其安全性. 方法:10例2型糖尿病病人,分别给予50 g葡萄糖(50G组)、10 g果糖 40 g葡萄糖(10F 40G组)、30 g果糖 20 g葡萄糖(30F 20G组)、40 g果糖 10 g葡萄糖(40F 10G组)和50 g果糖(50F组),观察测定口服前和口服后15、30、60和120 min的血糖、胰岛素、C肽、血乳酸、血尿酸、血压、心率等的变化,同时密切观察受试者的反应及其安全性. 结果:与50G组相比,口服果糖引起的血糖反应小,胰岛素和C肽分泌水平显著下降;30 min时,10F 40G组、30F 20G组、40F 10G组和50F组胰岛素和C肽分别下降了14.30%、23.73%、40.42%,58.48%和4.62%、14.32%、7.62%、29.33%,并呈剂量效应关系.以50 g葡萄糖为参照,糖尿病病人口服10、30、40和50 g果糖的血糖指数分别是91.8、62.4、43.6和37.5.果糖摄入量超过30 g/次时,血清尿酸和乳酸有明显升高 (P＜0.05);整个试验过程中病人的血压、心率等无明显改变. 结论:糖尿病病人口服适量果糖,可降低餐后血糖、减少胰岛素和C肽的分泌,有助于保护胰岛B细胞功能.摄入果糖对血尿酸和乳酸水平有一定的影响,短时期摄入适量果糖对糖尿病病人是安全的.     

短期持续胰岛素输注治疗对初诊2型糖尿病患者胰岛β细胞功能的影响

目的:探讨短期持续胰岛素输注在治疗对初诊2型糖尿病中的应用,评价对患者胰岛β细胞功能的影响.方法:设90例2型糖尿病患者为研究对象,双盲随机分为参照组45例行常规治疗,研究组45例行短期持续胰岛素输注治疗,比较两组患者临床治疗效果.结果:研究组空腹胰岛素(FINS)水平提升高于对照组(P<0.05);研究组空腹血糖(FBG)、餐后2h血糖(2h-FBG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、胰岛素分泌功能指数(Homa-β)、胰岛素抵抗指数(Homa-IR)、C肽水平等指标改善均优于参照组(P<0.05).结论:短期持续胰岛素输注应用于初诊2型糖尿病治疗中疗效确切,有助于降低患者血糖水平,改善其胰岛β细胞功能功能,具备应用推广与应用价值.     

持续皮下胰岛素注射治疗糖尿病酮症酸中毒疗效评估

本文对不同胰岛素给药方法治疗糖尿病酮症酸中毒的疗效差异进行评估。将本院住院糖尿病酮症酸中毒病人随机分成持续皮下胰岛素注射治疗组(CSII)和常规小剂量胰岛素静脉滴注组(对照组)各18例。观察两组病人血糖、血酮、尿酮变化及低血糖的发生率。结果显示两组患者的血糖经治疗后均有明显下降。CSII组血酮恢复时间(3.5±0.7)d,较对照组(4.5±0.5)d明显缩短(P<0.05);尿酮转阴时间(27.2±11.1)h,亦较对照组(42.2±9.2)h明显缩短(P<0.05),CSII组低血糖发生率(0.6±0.2次/人)较对照组(1.2±0.4次/人)明显减少,具有极显著性差异(P<0.01)。     

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 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.     

Worker education in the primary prevention of occupational dermatoses

This paper reports the evaluation of a skin care education programmeconducted on a fine chemicals manufacturing site where over1,000 employees are located. Approximately 60% are involvedin chemical manufacture. Over a 12 month period production staffreceived training in prevention of occupational dermatoses linkedto a site-wide poster initiative. The incidence of new casesof occupational dermatoses fell from 0.055 (70 cases in 1,277employees) to 0.021 (27 cases in 1,277 employees) before andafter the intervention respectively (p<0.0001). After otherfactors such as chemicals handled, observer bias and changesin reporting related to socioeconomic climate were taken intoaccount it is concluded that this study demonstrates the importanceof worker education as a tool for primary prevention of disease.Training materials such as video and poster presentations maybe effectively used in the chemical manufacturing industry asan adjunct to prevention and control of exposure to substanceshazardous to the skin. Such methods may also be used in otherindustries where there are significant risks of dermatoses.     

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.     

Regional Variation in Travel-related Illness acquired in Africa,March 1997–May 2011

To understand geographic variation in travel-related illness acquired in distinct African regions, we used the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network database to analyze records for 16,893 ill travelers returning from Africa over a 14-year period. Travelers to northern Africa most commonly reported gastrointestinal illnesses and dog bites. Febrile illnesses were more common in travelers returning from sub-Saharan countries. Eleven travelers died, 9 of malaria; these deaths occurred mainly among male business travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. The profile of illness varied substantially by region: malaria predominated in travelers returning from Central and Western Africa; schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and dengue from Eastern and Western Africa; and loaisis from Central Africa. There were few reports of vaccine-preventable infections, HIV infection, and tuberculosis. Geographic profiling of illness acquired during travel to Africa guides targeted pretravel advice, expedites diagnosis in ill returning travelers, and may influence destination choices in tourism.     

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.     

The design of hazard risk assessment matrices for ranking occupational health risks and their application in mining and minerals processing

Two hazard risk assessment matrices for the ranking of occupational health risks are described. The qualitative matrix uses qualitative measures of probability and consequence to determine risk assessment codes for hazard-disease combinations. A walk-through survey of an underground metalliferous mine and concentrator is used to demonstrate how the qualitative matrix can be applied to determine priorities for the control of occupational health hazards. The semi-quantitative matrix uses attributable risk as a quantitative measure of probability and uses qualitative measures of consequence. A practical application of this matrix is the determination of occupational health priorities using existing epidemiological studies. Calculated attributable risks from epidemiological studies of hazard-disease combinations in mining and minerals processing are used as examples. These historic response data do not reflect the risks associated with current exposures. A method using current exposure data, known exposure-response relationships and the semi-quantitative matrix is proposed for more accurate and current risk rankings.