The Health Status of Hispanic Agricultural Workers in Georgia and Florida

To examine the health status of Hispanic agricultural workers in Florida and Georgia. Health data from agricultural workers in the Farm Worker Family Health Program (June 2019) and research studies in Florida (May 2015 and May 2019) were examined. Data from 728 agricultural workers were collected through sociodemographic questionnaire and clinical data. In the Florida sample, 83% were overweight or obese, 70% elevated blood pressure, 60% met the definition of prediabetes. In Georgia, 64% were overweight or obese and 67% had elevated blood pressure. Weak correlations were observed between BMI and systolic blood pressure (unadjusted r?=?0.20), diastolic blood pressure (unadjusted r?=?0.19), and glucose (unadjusted r?=?0.14). Adjusting for age and gender did not show statistically significant correlation between BMI and systolic and diastolic blood pressure or glucose. While BMI has been shown to be strongly associated with high blood pressure and impaired glucose, we found a weak correlation among agricultural workers. Given the common and high use of pesticides and elevated rates of hypertension, impaired glucose, and adiposity in agricultural workers, the public health impact of this relationship may require and lead to occupational reform that protects the health of agricultural workers. Future studies should assess occupational and environmental factors and lifestyle differences between agricultural workers and the general population to better understand these discrepancies in health status.

     

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns of prostatic cancer and hyperplasia

Electrophoresis using agarose and lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) film plus scanning fluorometry provide a simple, fast method for precise and accurate measurement of serum and tissue LDH isoenzymes. Via this method prostate tissue LDH isoenzy mes were determined for over 200 patients with either hyperplasia or cancer. Increased LDH isoenzyme V activities generally selected out the cancer patterns, whereas peak isoenzyme I values did not distinguish between the two groups as well. The LDH index (I/V) only confirmed the LDH V values. That the metabolic changes of neoplasia precede histologic changes is suggested by two patients in whom repeat biopsies demonstrated cancer following elevated isoenzyme V levels in tissue originally considered benign.