老年居民抑郁与情绪调节策略的相关性研究

目的 探讨银川市老年居民抑郁与情绪调节策略的现况及两者的关系。方法 2016年3-5月选择银川市5所养老机构505名老年人及5个社区的538名老年人,共1 043名。抑郁调查采用老年抑郁量表（GDS）,情绪调节策略调查采用Gross情绪调节问卷和反刍思维量表。结果 银川市老年居民抑郁发生率为32.0%,其中社区老年人为35.5%,养老机构老年人为28.3%,差异有统计学意义（χ²=6.187,P<0.05）。经倾向值匹配分析法分析,社区老年人和养老机构老年人抑郁发生率差异无统计学意义（χ²=0.066,P=0.798）。1 043名老年居民GDS得分为（9.1±5.7）分,老年人认知重评得分为（26.7±8.0）分,表达抑制得分为（16.3±6.6）分,反刍思维得分为（34.5±11.7）分。不同性别、兴趣爱好、体育锻炼的老年人认知重评得分差异有统计学意义（均P<0.05）;不同文化程度、经济收入的老年人表达抑制得分差异有统计学意义（均P<0.05）;不同年龄、婚姻状况、文化程度、兴趣爱好的老年人反刍思维得分差异有统计学意义（均P<0.05）。抑郁得分与认知重评负相关（r=-0.400,P<0.01）、与反刍思维呈正相关（r=0.652,P<0.01）。结论 银川市老年居民抑郁发生率较高,老年人抑郁与情绪调节策略有关。     

杭州市城区成年居民步行时间与建成环境主观感知的关联分析

目的 了解杭州市城区成年居民步行与建成环境主观感知之间的关系。方法 2012年采用多阶段分层随机抽样方法选取杭州市城区25~59岁居民开展面对面问卷调查。采用国际体力活动量表长版(IPAQ-L)和社区步行环境量表简版(NEWS-A)评价居民过去1周交通出行相关步行时间、休闲性步行时间以及建成环境主观感知。利用多因素logistic回归法分析步行与建成环境主观感知得分的关联性。结果 杭州市城区成年居民过去1周总体力活动得分M=2 766 met·min^-1·week^-1,平均1周休闲相关步行时间为90 min,平均1周交通相关步行时间则为100 min。控制年龄、BMI、婚姻状况、工作状态、文化程度、居住社区类型、总体力活动水平后,男性(OR=0.764,95%CI:0.588~0.992)和女性(OR=0.633,95%CI:0.481~0.833)的休闲性步行时间均与场所设施可及性维度得分呈负相关,女性休闲性步行时间还与住宅密度维度得分呈负相关(OR=0.997,95%CI:0.996~0.999),女性交通出行相关步行时间则与步行道/自行车道维度得分呈正相关(OR=1.537,95%CI:1.138~2.075)。男性交通出行相关步行时间与建成环境主观感知各维度得分的关联均无统计学意义。结论 可通过改善步行道/自行车道等建成环境促进成年居民的交通相关步行时间,开展成年人步行的环境干预时需要考虑性别差异。     

中老年人睡眠与外周血白细胞端粒长度的关联性分析

目的 探索中老年人群睡眠与外周血白细胞端粒长度的关联性，为提倡健康睡眠延缓衰老提供科学依据。方法 使用匹兹堡睡眠质量指数调查表（PSQI）及一般情况调查表，对176名中老年人进行睡眠质量状况调查；采用荧光定量PCR法测量外周血白细胞端粒相对长度，并进行相关和回归分析。结果 外周血白细胞端粒平均长度为（0.995±0.23）T/S，年龄与端粒长度呈负相关（r=-0.241，P=0.003）；睡眠与年龄有关，随着年龄的增加，睡眠质量更差（r=-0.230，P<0.01）、入睡时间更长（r=0.227，P<0.01）、睡眠时间更短（r=-0.486，P<0.01）、睡眠效率更差（r=-0.226，P<0.01）；校正性别、年龄、婚姻、学历、家庭月收入、居住形式、吸烟、饮酒、体育锻炼、基础疾病因素的影响后，线性回归分析显示睡眠时间（β=0.057，P<0.01）、入睡时间（β=-0.046，P<0.01）、睡眠质量（β=0.086，P<0.01）是外周血白细胞端粒长度的独立影响因素，表明睡眠时间越长、入睡时间越短、睡眠质量越好，端粒长度越长。结论 睡眠是影响中老年人群端粒长度的因素，优良的睡眠可能通过减缓端粒长度的缩短延缓衰老，鼓励在社区进行健康睡眠知识的宣教活动，提高睡眠质量。     

铊暴露与出生结局的关联研究

目的 研究铊暴露与出生结局关联的相关性。方法 以2013年5月至2014年9月在马鞍山市妇幼保健院纳入的3 236名孕妇作为研究对象,采用电感耦合等离子质谱法检测孕妇外周血及新生儿脐血中的铊浓度,运用多元线性回归方法分析研究铊暴露与出生结局关联的相关性。结果 孕妇孕早、中期外周血和新生儿脐血中铊浓度分别为61.7（50.8~77.0）、60.3（50.8~75.2）和38.5（33.6~44.1）ng/L。调整混杂因素后,孕早期外周血铊浓度与新生儿出生头围呈负相关（β=-0.41,95%CI：-0.76~-0.06）;脐血中铊浓度与新生儿出生身长呈负相关（β=-0.65,95%CI：-1.25~-0.05）;而孕中期外周血铊浓度与新生儿出生体重、身长、头围均无统计学关联（P>0.05）。性别差异分析显示：孕早期外周血铊浓度与女婴出生头围呈负相关（β=-0.53,95%CI：-1.05~-0.01）;脐血中铊浓度与女婴出生体重（β=-277.08,95%CI：-485.13~-69.03）、身长（β=-1.39,95%CI：-2.26~-0.53）呈负相关;孕早期和孕中期外周血及脐血中铊浓度与男婴出生体重、身长、头围均无统计学关联（P>0.05）。结论 铊暴露对新生儿出生结局的影响存在性别差异,孕早期外周血铊浓度与女婴出生头围呈负相关,脐血中铊浓度与女婴出生体重、身长均呈负相关。     

黑龙江省大庆市社区老年人社会隔离与认知功能关联的研究

目的 探讨老年人社会隔离与认知功能间的关联。方法 采用横断面调查对黑龙江省大庆市社区981位≥60岁社区居民采用结构化问卷进行调查。用LSNS-6量表筛查老年人的社会隔离情况、蒙特利尔认知评估量表汉化长沙版评估认知功能。采用多元线性回归分析社会支持网络与认知功能的关系；采用累积比数logit模型分析社会支持网络与不同认知维度的关系。结果 调查对象平均年龄71岁；LSNS-6量表筛查出10.60%（104/981）的老年人存在社会隔离情况；9.48%（93/981）的老年人存在家庭联系疏松；13.97%（137/981）的老年人存在朋友联系疏松。LSNS-6量表得分与认知功能得分存在相关关系，与社会联系越紧密的老年人，认知功能得分越高，偏回归系数为0.10（P< 0.01）。存在社会隔离的老年人认知功能得分为20.38±5.54，而社会联系正常的老年人认知功能得分为22.10±5.01，两者差异有统计学意义（P< 0.01）；与无社会隔离相比，社会隔离与视空间/执行能力（P=0.02）、命名（P=0.03）、语言（P=0.01）和延迟记忆（P< 0.01）等认知维度有关联，而与注意力（P=0.33）、抽象（P=0.49）和定向（P=0.27）方面无明显关联。结论 社会隔离与认知功能密切相关，朋友联系疏松是老年人社会隔离的主要来源。     

河南省HIV/AIDS社会支持与社会适应能力现况

目的 分析河南省HIV/AIDS社会支持与社会适应能力的现状及其相关关系,为提高HIV/AIDS生活质量提供参考依据。方法 采取多阶段分层随机抽样方法,按照河南省18个地级市HIV/AIDS流行分布特点选择6个研究现场,包括驻马店市上蔡县和周口市沈丘县（高流行区）、驻马店市确山县和商丘市永城市（中流行区）、济源市和三门峡市（低流行区）,以我国艾滋病防治基本信息系统中截至2017年河南省6个研究现场累计报告HIV/AIDS存活者为目标人群,根据估算样本量528例,采用随机数字表抽取研究对象。采用社会支持量表和社会适应能力量表,分别收集HIV/AIDS的客观支持、主观支持及支持的利用度3个维度、认知意愿、社会交往及角色适应3个维度的信息,分析其社会支持与社会适应能力的特点及相关关系。结果 共调查506例HIV/AIDS,其社会支持总分为36.30±9.34,其中客观支持得分为7.48±3.01,主观支持得分为22.35±5.79,对支持的利用度得分为6.28±2.38,HIV/AIDS的社会支持总分及3个维度得分均低于全国常模分值,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;HIV/AIDS社会适应能力总分为39.10±7.10,其中认知意愿得分为9.96±3.23,社会交往得分为18.57±3.25,角色适应得分为10.57±2.52,HIV/AIDS的社会适应平均得分不足总分的2/3,认知意愿得分不足其维度总分的1/2。不同性别、年龄、婚姻状况、职业、传播途径、症状数的HIV/AIDS在社会支持及社会适应能力得分的差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。HIV/AIDS社会支持与社会适应能力之间存在相关性（r=0.14,P<0.05）。结论 HIV/AIDS存在社会支持和社会适应能力偏低的现状,社会支持可能为HIV/AIDS社会适应能力的促进因素。     

成都市男男性行为人群对重复HIV检测阴性的反应与危险性行为的关联研究

目的 研究成都市MSM对重复HIV检测阴性的反应及与危险性行为的关联。方法 2022年3-5月与成都同乐健康咨询服务中心合作,采用方便抽样方法招募研究对象610名MSM。收集研究对象社会人口学特征、对HIV检测阴性的反应和性行为情况。采用单因素及多因素logistic回归模型分析HIV检测阴性反应与性行为的关联。结果 参加问卷调查579名（94.9%）,纳入研究对象354名（61.1%）,HIV检测阴性反应得分分别为强化安全（17.03±2.20）分、运气（7.50±1.87）分和低风险感知（8.87±3.62）分。多因素logistic回归模型结果显示,强化安全与发生群交呈负相关（aOR=0.80,95%CI：0.67~0.95）;运气与临时性行为（aOR=1.20,95%CI：1.06~1.35）、不坚持使用安全套（aOR=1.21,95%CI：1.06~1.37）、发生群交（aOR=1.26,95%CI：1.00~1.60）和多性伴（aOR=1.24,95%CI：1.09~1.42）与危险性行为呈正相关。低风险感知仅与多性伴（aOR=1.08,95%CI：1.01~1.15）呈正相关。结论 成都市MSM对重复HIV检测阴性反应的强化安全和运气维度认可程度较高,自身风险感知良好。在提供HIV检测和咨询服务期间,干预策略和风险咨询应重视向对运气认可较高的个体倾斜,帮助其树立安全性行为意识,减少侥幸心理带来的负面影响。     

叶酸与p16蛋白在宫颈癌变中的作用及其相互效应

目的 探讨叶酸与p16蛋白在宫颈癌变中的作用及其相互效应。方法 选取经病理学确诊的80例正常宫颈（NC）妇女、55例低度宫颈上皮内瘤样变（CINⅠ）患者、55例高度宫颈上皮内瘤样变（CINⅡ/Ⅲ）患者、64例宫颈鳞状细胞癌（SCC）患者为研究对象。分别采用微生物法和Western-blot方法检测其血清叶酸水平和p16蛋白的表达量。同时采用体外细胞实验研究方法,对HPV阴性的宫颈癌细胞C33A和HPV16阳性的宫颈癌细胞Caski进行不同浓度叶酸干预,检测两种宫颈癌细胞的增殖和凋亡情况,以及p16蛋白的表达。结果 NC组、CINⅠ组、CINⅡ/Ⅲ组和SCC组血清叶酸含量分别为（5.96±3.93） ng/ml、（5.08±3.43） ng/ml、（3.92±2.59） ng/ml、（3.18±2.71） ng/ml,p16蛋白表达水平分别为0.80±0.32、1.33±0.52、1.91±0.77、2.09±0.72;随着宫颈病变的进展,血清叶酸含量逐渐降低（趋势检验 χ²=32.71,P<0.001）,p16蛋白表达量逐渐升高（趋势检验 χ²=56.06,P<0.001）。在CINⅠ、CINⅡ/Ⅲ、SCC组中血清叶酸缺乏与p16蛋白高表达均存在正相加交互作用。体外实验结果显示,随着叶酸浓度的增加,宫颈癌细胞的增殖抑制率（C33A：r=0.928,P=0.003;Caski：r=0.962,P=0.001）和凋亡率（C33A：r=0.984,P<0.001;Caski：r=0.986,P<0.001）均上升,p16蛋白表达量逐渐降低（C33A：r=-0.817,P=0.025;Caski：r=-0.871,P=0.011）,且p16蛋白表达量与宫颈癌细胞的增殖抑制率（C33A：r=-0.935,P=0.002;Caski：r=-0.963,P=0.001）和凋亡率（C33A：r=-0.844,P=0.017;Caski：r=-0.898,P=0.006）均呈负相关关系。结论 血清叶酸缺乏与p16蛋白高表达均可增加宫颈癌和癌前病变的发病风险,两者在宫颈癌和癌前病变中存在正相加交互作用。补充叶酸可逆转p16蛋白的异常表达,有效抑制宫颈癌细胞的增殖,促进凋亡。     

中国成年人生存质量及影响因素分析

目的 了解中国成年人群生存质量及其影响因素。方法 纳入2010年中国慢性病及其危险因素监测所有调查对象共83 666名。应用问卷收集调查对象的年龄、性别、相关疾病患病情况等信息。并使用WHO生存质量测定简表(WHOQOL-BREF)测定其生存质量。采用t检验和方差分析比较不同组间各维度得分的差异。运用基于多阶段复杂抽样设计的多元线性回归模型,分析生存质量的影响因素。结果 中国成年人生理、心理、社会关系和环境4个维度的得分为73.97±13.84、66.65±14.21、65.76±14.08和56.59±15.15。年龄越大文化程度越低,4个维度的得分越低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);农村人群得分高于城市,已婚或同居人群得分高于其他人群,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。女性生理和心理两个维度的得分低于男性,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。除环境维度外,慢性病患病状况对其他3个维度的得分影响较大,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 年龄、性别、城乡、文化程度、婚姻状况和慢性病患病状况是中国成年人群生存质量得分的重要影响因素。     

广州市大学生暴力恐怖袭击应对行为及其影响因素分析

目的 分析广州市大学生暴力恐怖袭击个人应对行为及其影响因素。方法 采用分层整群抽样方法抽取广州市5所高校在读本科生共1 800名, 利用暴力恐怖袭击行为应对量表测量大学生相关应对行为, 用自编问卷收集人口学特征、认知情况和情感反应状态。结果 大学生应对暴力恐怖袭击的个人准备行为得分为13.49±5.02, 信息寻求行为得分为4.27±1.64, 规避行为得分为5.97±2.16。应对行为平均得分为23.73±7.21, 应对行为得分低和高的大学生占30.0%。不同性别、专业、有无宗教信仰的大学生应对行为得分的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。logistic回归分析发现, 女生(OR=1.46, 95%CI:1.06～2.01)、认为出现可能性越大(OR=1.60, 95%CI:1.12～2.30)、警觉性越高(OR=3.77, 95%CI:2.15～6.61)、应对信心越强(OR=0.34, 95%CI:0.24～0.48)和情感反应越大(情感反应较小OR=3.42, 95%CI:2.40～4.86;情感反应较大OR=0.23, 95%CI:0.13～0.41)对暴力恐怖袭击个人应对行为越突出。结论 广州市大学生对暴力恐怖袭击的个人应对行为较理想。出现可能性、警觉性、应对信心和情感反应是大学生暴力恐怖袭击应对行为的独立影响因素。     

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.     

Die sogenannte Vinylchlorid-Krankheit—eine berufsbedingte Systemsklerose?

Zusammenfassung Es wurden 13 Arbeiter untersucht, die zwischen 1 3/4 und 18 Jahren in einem PVC-herstellenden Betrieb beschäftigt waren. 8 von ihnen wiesen sklerodermieartige Hautveränderungen (Abb. 2) auf, die histologisch charakterisiert sind durch Verbreiterung und Homogenisierung der kollagenen Faserbündel (Abb. 3 u. 4) sowie Fragmentation und Rarefizierung der elastischen Fasern (Abb. 5). Bei 7 Patienten bestanden trommelschlegelartige Auftreibungen einzelner Fingerendphalangen (Abb. 1). 11 Patienten zeigten Durchblutungsstörungen der Extremitäten (4 von diesen ein Raynaud-Syndrom) und 6 Patienten Acroosteolysen einzelner Fingerendphalangen (Abb. 6, Tabellen 1–3).Darüber hinaus bestand bei allen Patienten eine Thrombocytopenie, bei 12 Patienten eine Splenomegalie, bei 11 Patienten eine Einschränkung der Leberfunktion (erhöhte BSP-Retention). An der Leber ließ sich histologisch bei den 5 laparoskopierten Patienten eine deutliche Fibrosierung der Portalfelder nachweisen. Bei 4 Patienten bestanden Oesophagusvaricen (Tabellen 4 u. 5). 8 Patienten zeigten eine Partialinsuffizienz mit Hinweisen für vorwiegend restriktive Veränderungen.Die hier beschriebenen Veränderungen gehen weit über das bisher bekannte Acroosteolysesyndrom hinaus. Es wird der dringende Verdacht geäußert, daß langfristige Vinylchlorid-Exposition dieses komplexe Krankheitsbild verursacht. Daher wird für diese systemische Krankheit die Bezeichnung Vinylchlorid-Krankheit vorgeschlagen.Wir danken Frau E. Voigtländer für die Herstellung der klinischen und histologischen Abbildungen.     

Empathic processes: perception by medical students of patients'' anxiety and depression

Perceptions by medical students of patients' affective states were investigated, and the effect of the students' own emotions on such perceptions. One hundred and one fourth-year medical students rated the levels of anxiety and depression of three women patients presented on videotape, rated their own levels of anxiety and depression and completed a questionnaire on aspects of the rating process. Students had widely different and often inappropriate perceptions of patients' levels of anxiety and depression. Students who consistently overrated anxiety or depression in patients, compared to those who consistently underrated, were themselves significantly more anxious or depressed. These data suggest a need in medical education for systematic teaching of empathic skills and for recognition of potential bias in clinical decision-making arising from the clinician's own emotional state.     

The reported incidence of work-related ill-health in Scotland (2002-2003)

BACKGROUND: Although incidence data for work-related ill-health in the UK are available, more detailed information for smaller geographical areas has hitherto been unpublished. AIMS: To estimate the incidence of work-related ill-health reported by clinical specialists in Scotland, 2002-2003. METHODS: THOR (The Health and Occupation Reporting network) is a UK wide reporting scheme for work-related ill-health. In 2002-2003, 241 out of 2162 physicians in THOR were based in Scotland. We have summarized the reported cases and calculated incidence rates for categories of ill-health by age, gender and industry. The UK Labour Force Survey (2002) was used to provide denominator data, with comparisons made between rates for Scotland and the rest of the UK. RESULTS: In 2002-2003, 4043 estimated cases were reported from Scotland. Mental ill-health was most frequently reported (41%); followed by musculoskeletal disorders (31%), skin disorders (16%), respiratory disease (10%), hearing disorders (2%) and infection (1%). The reported average annual incidence rate per 100,000 employees for all work-related ill-health in Scotland was 86.0. The highest reported rate for mental ill-health was found for employees in public administration and defence (76.7 per 100,000), and health and social work (72.3 per 100,000). The construction industry had the highest reported rate of musculoskeletal disorders (41.6 per 100,000), while hairdressers appeared at most risk of developing occupational contact dermatitis (rate=86.4 per 100,000). CONCLUSIONS: Despite its limitations, THOR has indicated types of work-related ill-health and related industries for targeted disease prevention in Scotland.     

Function of the protein RPE65 in the visual cycle

A protein called RPE65 performs a key role in the trans-cis isomerization of retinol in the retinal pigment epithelium of the eye. The palmitoylation of RPE65 serves to switch off the visual cycle in darkness and to switch it on in the light.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Acute symptoms following work with pesticides

BACKGROUND: Serious accidental poisoning by pesticides is rare in the UK, but more minor pesticide-related illness may be under-reported. Anecdotally, use of sheep dip has been linked with flu-like symptoms. AIM: To explore the frequency, nature and determinants of acute symptoms following work with pesticides. METHODS: A postal survey of men in three rural areas of England and Wales provided data on occupational use of five categories of pesticide, occurrence of 12 specified symptoms within 48 h of using pesticides and tendency to somatize. Risk factors for pesticide-related symptoms were assessed by modified Cox regression. RESULTS: Of 10 765 responders (response rate = 31%), 4108 had at some time used pesticides occupationally, including 935 (23%) who reported symptoms following such work on at least one occasion. In two areas, acute symptoms were most frequent following use of sheep dip (29 and 32% of users), but in the third area the rate was significantly lower (13% of users). The relative frequency of symptoms was similar for all five categories of pesticide, and flu-like symptoms did not cluster unusually among users of sheep dip. Risk of pesticide-related symptoms increased with somatizing tendency (prevalence ratio for highest versus lowest category 2.4, 95% confidence interval 2.0-3.0) and was higher in men who had used pesticides most often or handled concentrate. CONCLUSION: Acute symptoms are common following work with pesticides, but in many cases the illness may arise through psychological rather than toxic mechanisms.