老年男性冠心病人群总胆固醇水平与全因死亡的相关性研究

目的 探讨老年男性冠心病人群总胆固醇(TC)水平与全因死亡的关系。方法 连续入选878例65~86岁的男性冠心病患者,按基线TC水平分为4组:组1(TC<4.16 mmol/L)、组2(4.16≤TC<4.68 mmol/L)、组3(4.68 mmol/L≤TC<5.2 mmol/L)、组4(TC≥5.2 mmol/L),应用Cox比例风险模型对TC与1996年~2007年间发生的全因死亡进行多因素分析。结果 (1)老年男性冠心病人群的最主要死因是冠心病,占31.30%;(2)与组1相比,组2、组3、组4的全因死亡相对风险分别降低了33%、19%、33%;(3)在≥75岁人群中,高TC血症组(组4)的全因死亡相对危险较组1降低13%;(4)Coxs比例风险模型分析显示,在老年男性冠心病人群中,年龄、吸烟、饮酒、空腹血糖、高血压病史是全因死亡的危险因素,降脂治疗是保护性因素。结论 在老年男性冠心病人群中,降脂有益,但TC过低(TC<4.16 mmol/L)增加全因死亡率;对于≥75岁冠心病人群,高TC血症不增加全因死亡率,提示对该人群可能无需强化降脂。     

总胆固醇与2型糖尿病关联性的前瞻性队列研究

目的探讨总胆固醇与2型糖尿病(type 2 diabetes,T2DM)发病的关系。方法筛选20~90岁入队列时未患糖尿病并且体检次数≥2次者,应用t检验或χ^2检验比较有无发生T2DM两组人群基线特征,按总胆固醇四分位数由低到高划分4组(2.10~mmol/L组、4.16~mmol/L组、4.76~mmol/L组和5.42~13.29 mmol/L组),应用广义估计方程(generalized estimating equation,GEE)分析总胆固醇对2型糖尿病发病的影响。结果此队列共纳入12 928人,共随访45 626人年,平均随访时间为3.53年。随访期间,新发T2DM患者447人,发病密度为9.80‰,随着总胆固醇水平增高,T2DM高发病密度呈上升趋势,在多因素GEE分析中,调整年龄、高密度脂蛋白、是否患高血压、是否肥胖后,以2.10~mmol/L组为参照,4.16~mmol/L组、4.76~mmol/L组和5.42~13.29 mmol/L组的相对危险度(relative risk,RR)值分别为1.24(95%CI:0.83~1.86)、1.75(95%CI:1.19~2.56)、3.60(95%CI:2.51~5.17)。结论总胆固醇与T2DM存在相关性,随着总胆固醇水平的上升,发生T2DM的危险性逐渐增大。     

基线总胆固醇水平对糖尿病人群新发脑梗死事件的影响

目的探讨基线总胆固醇水平对糖尿病人群新发脑梗死事件的影响。方法采用前瞻性队列研究方法,以空腹血糖≥7.0 mmo/lL或<7.0 mmo/lL但已确诊为糖尿病,正在使用降糖药物的8 306例糖尿病人群作为观察队列,随访(48.01±3.14)个月,随访期间每半年收集一次新发脑梗死事件情况。分析基线总胆固醇水平对糖尿病人群新发脑梗死事件的影响。结果 (1)随着基线总胆固醇水平的增高,研究对象的空腹血糖、甘油三酯、收缩压和舒张压的水平逐渐增高(P<0.05)。(2)总胆固醇<4.46 mmo/lL组累积发生脑梗死事件率最低(2.2%,P<0.05)。校正年龄、性别、空腹血糖、收缩压、舒张压、甘油三酯、体重指数、吸烟和糖尿病病程因素,Cox比例风险回归分析表明,相对于总胆固醇<4.46 mmo/lL组,总胆固醇≥5.93 mmo/lL组发生脑梗死事件的相对危险(RR)增加1.90倍(95%CI 1.24～2.89,P<0.01)。结论糖尿病人群总胆固醇控制在4.46 mmo/lL以下发生脑梗死事件率最低。     

吸烟校正因素间接调整法在职业流行病学队列研究中的应用

目的介绍一种新的吸烟校正因素间接调整法在职业流行病学队列研究中的应用。方法以1981—1999年香港男性矽肺回顾性队列研究人群纯石英暴露组作为研究实例,用吸烟组[1/((1-PAR%)×RR)]与非吸烟组(1/(1-PAR%))各自的吸烟校正因素校正原始的标准化死亡比(SMR),用暴露超相对危险度和增效指数作为指标来判断吸烟与暴露对肺癌死亡的危险有无偏离乘法和相加模型。结果非吸烟和吸烟组矽肺队列人群的吸烟校正因素分别为1/0.33和1/1.62,校正吸烟后矽肺队列肺癌的SMR由原来的1.61(95%CI:1.22～2.10)显著地下降到1.08(95%CI:0.81～1.41),结果与Axelson方法完全一致。矽肺超相对危险度和增效指数分别为0.63(95%CI:0.08～0.79)和0.90(95%CI:0.42～1.94),提示吸烟与矽肺对肺癌死亡的危险呈明显的负相乘交互作用。结论吸烟校正因素间接调整法的优势是能定量分析和评估吸烟的混杂和交互作用的影响,但也有局限性。     

湖南地区≥30岁社区人群高同型半胱氨酸血症现状及影响因素分析

目的了解湖南地区≥30岁社区人群血浆同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)水平现状及相关影响因素,为湖南地区心脑血管疾病防治提供科学依据。方法采用分层整群随机抽样方法,于2013年6月—2014年5月对湖南地区≥30岁常住居民4 012人进行调查。内容包括人口学特征、体格检查和实验室检测等资料。通过χ2检验和多因素logistic回归分析,探讨高同型半胱氨酸血症(HHcy)现状及影响因素。结果调查人群总Hcy水平为(13.77±7.68)μmol/L,HHcy患病率为35.4%,其中男性为45.3%,女性为28.5%。HHcy组与非HHcy组人群性别、年龄、吸烟、饮酒、高血压患病率及尿酸、肌酐、甘油三酯(TG)、胆固醇(TC)含量差异有统计学意义(均P 0.01);Pearson积差相关分析结果显示,Hcy水平分别与年龄、肌酐、尿酸、TC、TG呈正相关(r=0.068、0.072、0.138、0.109、0.266,均P 0.01)。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,男性(OR=1.307,95%CI=1.078～1.585)、吸烟(OR=1.294,95%CI=1.053～1.589)、高血压(OR=3.707,95%CI=3.195～4.302)、高胆固醇(OR=1.276,95%CI=1.175～1.386)、高甘油三酯(OR=3.993,95%CI=2.960～5.388)、高尿酸(OR=1.002,95%CI=1.001～1.003)、高肌酐血症(OR=1.004,95%CI=1.001～1.008)是HHcy的影响因素。结论 HHcy患病率男性高于女性,并随年龄增长而升高。男性、吸烟、高血压、高胆固醇、高甘油三酯、高尿酸、高肌酐血症是HHcy的影响因素。     

牙周干预改善冠心病伴牙周炎患者血脂水平的研究

目的观察牙周干预对冠心病伴牙周炎患者血脂的影响。方法予51例冠心病伴牙周炎患者牙周干预3个月,观察干预后血清总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白、高密度脂蛋白、甘油三酯的水平变化。结果干预后总胆固醇、甘油三酯分别较干预前降低0.3 mmol/L、0.2 mmol/L,高密度脂蛋白较干预前升高0.2 mmol/L,低密度脂蛋白干预前(3.4±0.8)mmol/L,干预后(3.3±0.7)mmol/L,变化无统计学差异。结论牙周干预可降低伴牙周炎的冠心病患者血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯,升高高密度脂蛋白水平,牙周干预有可能减缓伴牙周炎的冠心病发生、发展。     

基线心率对中国北方成年人群全因死亡率的影响

目的探讨基线心率水平对人群全因死亡的影响.方法选取参加2006-2007年度开滦集团健康体检有完整心电图资料且心率在40 ～ 120次/分、无心肌梗死和脑卒中病史93 716人为研究对象,研究随访期为2006年7月至2010年12月,平均随访时间(47.5±4.3)个月,随访期间每6个月收集一次全因死亡事件.结果(1)总人群心率60 ～ 69次/分组累积死亡率最低为1.61%;男性心率60～ 69次/分组累积死亡率最低为1.78%;女性心率<50次/分组中没有发生全因死亡事件,80～89次/分组累积死亡率最低为0.60%.(2)Cox风险比例模型结果显示总人群心率70～ 79次/分组、80～ 89次/分组、90 ～ 99次/分组和≥100次/分组发生全因死亡的RR值(95%CI)分别为1.187(1.039 ～ 1.336)、1.392(1.185～1.636)、1.733(1.404 ～ 2.139)和2.716(2.171～3.398),男性人群各心率组发生全因死亡的RR值(95%CI)分别为1.227(1.067 ～ 1.410)、1.481 (1.254～1.750)、1.754(1.406 ～ 2.188)、2.831(2.245～ 3.571),女性人群以心率80～ 89次/分组作为对照组,心率60～ 69次/分组、70～79次/分组和≥100次/分组发生全因死亡的RR值(95%CI)分别为0.671(0.568～ 0.793)、0.825(0.703～ 0.970)、1.925(1.512 ～2.453).结论心率≥70次/分后,随心率增加发生全因死亡事件率增加.心率与发生全因死亡的风险比呈J形曲线关系.     

职业有害因素接触或(和)吸烟对死亡的影响——广州165 660名职工队列的前瞻性研究

目的研究职业有害因素接触或(和)吸烟对死亡的影响.方法利用1989～1992年广州市实施职业健康监护系统建立的165660名年龄≥30岁的工厂职工和司机的个体健康档案为基础资料,填入光学扫描直读表(ICR)并建立基线数据库,随访至1998年12月31日,了解队列中职工生存状态和死亡原因,计算RR(95%CI),绘制产生职业有害因素接触或吸烟的累积生存曲线.结果(1)165 660名队列职工,平均年龄(42.0±6.3)岁,30～49岁占87%;37.3%的职工接触职业有害因素,工厂男职工吸烟率为70.8%,男司机吸烟率为54.8%,全部女职工吸烟率不足2.0%;(2)平均随访时间为(7 6±1.1)年,共随访1 252 168人年,总死亡人数为2 437人,有51名死因不明(占2.1%),总死亡率为194.6/10万人年;(3)调整相关因素后,职业有害因素接触对总死亡、中风和其他原因的死亡,其RR(95%CI)分别为1.11(1.02～1.20)、1.30(1.01～1.68)和1.27(1.06～1.51);吸烟对男职工总死亡、恶性肿瘤和肺癌死亡,其RR(95% CI)分别为1.23(1.11～1.35)、1.34(1.16～1.54)和2.51(1.81～3.48);职业有害因素接触并吸烟者,总死亡和恶性肿瘤死亡的RR(95% CI)增至1.32(1.16～1.51)和1.35(1.12～1.62);(4)调整相关因素后的总死亡、恶性肿瘤死亡、肺癌和胃癌死亡的RR随吸烟总量(包年)的增加而明显增高,差异有显著性(P<0.01).结论职业有害因素接触对死亡有影响,吸烟对死亡的影响比职业有害因素接触的影响更大,职业有害因素接触并吸烟对死亡的影响非常大.     

2014-2021年北京市通州区大气污染物PM_(2.5)对人群每日死亡人数的影响

目的 分析北京市通州区大气污染物PM_(2.5)对人群每日死亡人数的影响,为开展防控工作提供依据。方法收集2014年1月1日-2021年12月31日北京市通州区大气污染物包括细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))、可吸入颗粒物(PM_(10))、二氧化硫(SO_(2))、二氧化氮(NO_(2))、一氧化碳(CO_(2))和臭氧(O_(3-8h))的数据。气象数据指标包括每日平均温度、相对湿度和气压。应用时间序列的广义相加模型(GAM),即单污染物模型及多污染物模型定量分析大气PM_(2.5)对人群每日死亡例数的影响。采用人群超额死亡危险度(ER)及其95%可信区间(95%CI)分析大气PM_(2.5)浓度每升高10μg/m^(3),人群每日死亡人数增加的百分比。结果2014年1月1日-2021年12月31日北京市通州区大气污染物PM_(2.5)平均浓度值为40μg/m^(3),2021年PM_(2.5)浓度值较2014年下降66%。同期北京市通州区居民平均每日死亡人数14例。GAM单污染物模型显示,PM_(2.5)对全人群每日死亡人数单日滞后7d的死亡影响效应最大,ER值为0.31%(95%CI:-0.14%~0.77%),其中男性ER值为0.14%(95%CI:-0.36%~0.63%),女性ER值为0.53%(95%CI:0.03%~1.02%);年龄<65岁组人群ER值为0.43%(95%CI:-0.14%~1.00%),年龄≥65岁组人群ER值为0.28%(95%CI:-0.20%~0.76%)。多污染物模型显示,PM_(2.5)对全人群每日死亡人数单日滞后1d的死亡影响效应最大,ER值为0.39%(95%CI:-0.16%~0.94%),其中男性滞后1dER值为0.34%(95%CI:-0.25%~0.94%),女性滞后7dER值为0.49%(95%CI:-0.00%~0.99%);年龄<65岁组人群滞后2dER值为0.58%(95%CI:0.00%~1.16%),年龄≥65岁组人群滞后1 dER值为0.45%(95%CI:-0.12%~1.03%)。结论2014-2021年北京市通州区大气污染物PM_(2.5)浓度与人群每日死亡人数有相关性,其中女性和<65岁人群死亡风险较高,并存在一定的滞后性。     

空腹血糖水平和胆石病患病风险的关联分析

目的 评估人群空腹血糖水平与胆结石患病风险之间的关联性。方法 本研究纳入天津医科大学肿瘤医院、济宁市人民医院、重庆市开州区人民医院、重庆黔江中心医院和重庆医科大学附属第一医院5家单位2015—2020年期间参加健康体检的研究对象。在各研究中心中使用多变量logistic回归分析评估空腹血糖和胆结石患病风险之间的关联性，再用meta分析的方法对各个中心的研究结果进行合并。结果 本研究共纳入585 071名研究对象，其中41 852人被诊断为胆结石。与<6.10 mmol/L血糖水平相比，空腹血糖≥6.10 mmol/L和≥7.0 mmol/L人群胆结石患病风险为1.82(95%CI:1.50～2.22)和2.61(95%CI:2.21～3.10)。空腹血糖每上升1 mmol/L和1个标准差胆结石患病风险为1.05(95%CI:1.04～1.07)和1.06(95%CI:1.04～1.09)。经年龄和性别分组后，空腹血糖和胆结石的关联性未受显著影响。结论 较高的血糖水平可能增加胆结石发病风险，该结果可能对胆结石发病机制探讨和高危人群识别提供基础。     

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.     

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.     

Psychopathological features of a patient population of targets of workplace bullying

BACKGROUND: A strong association between workplace bullying and subsequent anxiety and depression, indicated by empirical research, suggests that bullying is an aetiological factor for mental health problems. AIMS: To evaluate levels of stress and anxiety-depression disorder developed by targets of workplace bullying together with outcome at 12 months and to characterize this population in terms of psychopathology and sociodemographic features. METHODS: Forty-eight patients (36 women and 12 men) meeting Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror criteria for bullying were included in a prospective study. Evaluations were performed at first consultation and at 12 months using a standard clinical interview, a visual analogue scale of stress, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale, the Beech scale of stress in the workplace and a projective test (Picture-Frustration Study). RESULTS: At first consultation, 81% of patients showed high levels of perceived stress at work and 83 and 52% presented with anxiety or depression, respectively. At 12 months, only 19% of working patients expressed a feeling of stress at work. There was a significant change in symptoms of anxiety while there was no change in symptoms of depression. Stress at work and depression influenced significatively capacity to go back to work. At 12-month assessments, workers showed a significantly better score on the HAD scale than non-workers. Over half the targets presented a neuroticism-related predominant personality trait. CONCLUSION: Workplace bullying can have severe mental health repercussions, triggering serious and persistent underlying disorders.     

The rise and fall in incidence of malignant mesothelioma from a British Naval Dockyard, 1979-1999

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Britain is predicted to rise over the next 15-25 years because of past failure to protect the workforce against inhalation of asbestos. In British Naval dockyards, alternative insulation materials and respiratory protection were introduced from the mid-1960s. Aims This study was carried out to investigate the effects of these control measures on mesothelioma deaths in dockyard workers. METHODS: Cases of mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum between 1979 and 1999 in workers from the Devonport Naval Dockyard, south-west England, were sought from coroners' and medico-legal records. RESULTS: Three hundred and one cases were identified, 7% peritoneal. The peak incidence occurred in 1991 with 25 cases per annum (quadratic model fit R(2) = 74.2%, P < 0.001) and we predict that by 2003 the incidence will fall to fewer than five cases per annum. The mean time between first exposure and presentation was 48.5 years [95% confidence interval (CI) = 47.3-49.8], but this was significantly shorter in the more heavily exposed trades, when compared with the less heavily exposed (42 years, 95% CI = 39.0-45.0, versus 49.5 years, 95% CI = 48.2-50.9). Those with higher exposure were also at significantly greater risk of peritoneal disease (P < 0.023, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION: The reduction in incidence of mesothelioma is greater than can be accounted for by reduction in numbers of dockyard workers over the last 50 years. Changes in insulation materials and improved industrial hygiene measures introduced into the Devonport Dockyard from the mid-1960s have resulted in an earlier decline in the incidence of malignant mesothelioma than that predicted for the British workforce as a whole.     

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.     

Organophosphate toxicity and occupational exposure

The ubiquitous organophosphates present a continuing health hazard in agriculture, public health eradication programmes and as chemical warfare agents. Despite significant progress in understanding the potential mechanisms of toxicity far beyond the commonly accepted mechanism of cholinesterase inhibition in intentional exposures, the precise health effects following occupational exposures are yet to be completely defined. A much greater understanding exists of the clinical features of organophosphate poisoning. These are characterized by a triphasic response involving an initial acute cholinergic phase, an intermediate syndrome (both associated with high mortality) and a disabling but non-lethal delayed polyneuropathy. The delayed polyneuropathy may occur in the absence of the cholinergic or intermediate phases. However, progress is still required in order to improve the quantification and assessment of occupational exposures and the implementation of appropriate preventive measures. Finally, evidence-based guidelines for appropriate or optimal therapeutic interventions following poisoning are required urgently and collaborative work with colleagues in developing countries, where the occurrence of organophosphate exposures is more frequent, may provide the answers.     

Miliaria rubra of the lower limbs in underground miners

This report documents a case series of miliaria rubra of the lower limbs in miners at a deep underground metalliferous mine in tropical arid Australia. During the summer months of February and March 1999, all cases of miliaria rubra of the lower limbs in underground miners seen at the mine's medical centre were clinically examined and administered a questionnaire. Twenty-five patients were seen, an incidence of 56.4 cases per million man-hours. Miliaria rubra was most often located between the ankle and knee (88% of cases). Twenty-four percent had concurrent folliculitis and 20% had concurrent tinea. Thirty-two percent had a personal history of asthma. Walking through ground-water and splashing of the legs was common. Three to 4 weeks of sedentary duties in air conditioning was generally required to achieve resolution of miliaria rubra. The incidence of miliaria rubra of the lower limbs is 38% of the incidence of heat exhaustion at the same mine. The length of disablement is greater, however. Atopics may be at increased risk of miliaria rubra. Control measures are discussed.     

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.