An Outbreak of Pruritic Skin Lesions in a Group of Laboratory Workers A Case Report

In May 1993, an outbreak of pruritic skin lesions occurred amonga group of employees located in tour laboratories in the basementof an office building. Medical interviews with the affectedworkers were performed and an industrial hygiene survey of thesite was conducted. Workers commonly reported a prickling sensationon exposed skin. Four of the workers had small (<5mm) erythematouspapules on their forearms. Just prior to the outbreak, the installationof fibrous glass insulation had commenced in the mechanicalrooms which provided air to the basement of the building. Becauseof the nature of the symptoms and the temporal relationshipwith the nearby insulation work, direct skin contact with fibrousglass fibres was thought to be the cause of the outbreak. Thepoorly maintained air handling unit supplying air to the laboratoriesprobably contributed to this outbreak by inefficient filteringof the circulating air.     

Les cellules endothéliales du tissu adipeux

The adipose tissue plays a major role in energy homeostasis through the storage and release of fatty acids as well as adipokine production. The endothelial cells of the adipose tissue vascular network constitute a barrier between the blood and the adipocyte compartments. They are key players in the metabolic status of the fat mass controlling the exchanges of nutrients, hormones, oxygen and immune-inflammatory cells. Recent data highlight the process of lipid handling at the endothelial cell surface and of the transendothelial transit of fatty acids. The extension of the vascular network and its functionality are necessary for the adipose tissue integrity. Insufficient oxygen supply generates hypoxic area within the tissue that favors metabolic abnormalities and the recruitment of immuno-inflammatory cells. The present review relates to the role of adipose tissue endothelial cells in the adipose tissue physiology. Their involvement and more particularly the role of accelerated ageing, in the link between obesity and associated metabolic and cardiovascular pathologies are described.     

Occupational Health Services in Manufacturing Industries in Nigeria

The provision of adequate health care facilities to cater forthe health of workers is an important consideration in the managementof manufacturing industries, since productivity is dependenton the health status of the workers. There are very few studiesevaluating the health care provision in Nigerian industries.This study elucidates such health care services in Edo and DeltaStates of Nigeria. One hundred and thirty-five (56%) of the241 registered manufacturing industries in Edo and Delta Statesof Nigeria were randomly selected and investigated. The responserate was 91.1% and the result showed that the medical staffcomprised 2.5% of the total workforce, with the large scaleindustries contributing the highest proportion of these. Fourpoint five per cent of the medical staff had formal trainingin occupational health and 15.6% of them visited the factoryshop floor. The doctor:staff ratio in the medium and large scaleindustries were 1:819 and 1:618 respectively. It was found thatall the industries used the health care facilities providedby the government, there were no clinics in all the small scaleindustries and group practice was not used by any of the industriesstudied. Pre-employment medical examinations were carried outin each of the groups of industries (100%, 39.4% and 5%) respectively,as were periodic medical examinations during employment, althoughto a lesser extent (100%, 13.2%, 0%) for the large, medium andsmall scale industries respectively. These finding suggest theavailability of a reasonable standard of health care provisionfor large scale industries and somewhat less availability formedium and small scale industries. Health education of boththe employers of labour, and the employees and the enforcementof existing laws are needed to improve the existing standardof occupational health services.     

Manufacture and use of nanomaterials: current status in the UK and global trends

This paper provides an overview of the production and use of nanomaterials (NMs), particularly in the UK. Currently, relatively few companies in the UK are identifiable as NM manufacturers, the main emphasis being the bulk markets in metals and metal oxides, and some niche markets such as carbon nanotubes and quantum dots. NM manufacturing in the UK does not reflect the global emphasis on fullerenes, nanotubes and fibres. Some assumptions have been made about the types of NM that are likely to be imported into the UK, which currently include fullerenes, modified fullerenes and other carbon-based NMs including nanotubes. Many university departments, spin-offs and private companies have developed processes for the manufacture of NMs but may only be producing small quantities for research and development (R&D) purposes. However, some have the potential to scale up to produce large quantities. The nanotechnology industry in the UK has strong R&D backup from universities and related institutions. This review has covered R&D trends at such institutions, and appropriate information has been added to a searchable database. While several companies are including NMs in their products, only a few (e.g. manufacturers of paints, coatings, cosmetics, catalysts, polymer composites) are using nanoparticles (NPs) in any significant quantities. However, this situation is likely to change rapidly. There is a need to collect more information about exposure to NPs in both manufacturing and user scenarios. As the market grows, and as manufacturers switch from the micro- to the nanoscale, the potential for exposure will increase. More research is required to quantify any risks to workers and consumers.     

La ghréline : seule hormone orexigène connue

Ghrelin is a 28-amino acid acylated peptide predominantly produced by the stomach peripherally as well as the pituitary and the hypothalamus in the brain. Originally discovered as the endogenous ligand of the orphan growth hormone secretagogue receptor, it is also involved in the regulation of food intake and body weight. Ghrelin is the first known orexigenic hormone. Human plasma ghrelin levels sharply increase before and decrease after every meal. Plasma ghrelin levels correlate negatively with the magnitude of energy stores. Obesity is characterized by low ghrelin plasma concentration, conversely patients suffering anorexia or cachexia display high levels. Weight loss triggers an increase in ghrelin levels while the opposite is observed during weight gain. The role for ghrelin in the regulation of appetite and body weight is mediated, at least in part, via the activation of neurons in the hypothalamus that coexpress neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP), two anabolic neuropeptides. Ghrelin appears as the hormone that coordinates GH secretion and food intake to assure an optimal growth and a steady energy balance. Due to its role in the regulation of body weight, ghrelin holds promise as a target for both medical and surgical approaches to obesity treatment.     

Obésité : que nous dit l’épidémiologie ?

In most developed and developing countries, a regular increase of the prevalence of obesity has been documented during the last decade(s) of the xxth century. The last figure from the USA is for the first time discordant with this general trend by showing a clear slowing down since year 2000. In children likewise, a rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity took place in the second half of the xxth century but recent publications from France, Switzerland, UK, USA also report a stabilization of childhood overweight and obesity prevalences. The experience of developing countries clearly shows the impact of socioeconomic status improvement and urbanization on the prevalence of obesity. In developed countries like France, a striking element was the diffuse nature of the adult obesity epidemic observed from the 1990s. The general improvement of living conditions after the Second World War probably explains the diffuse nature of the epidemics. Specifically, the changes in the nutritional status of children that happened at that time have long lasting consequences for adult obesity epidemics. Indeed, a new current in epidemiology, lifecourse epidemiology, has prompted over the past decade a new approach of the pathophysiology of chronic diseases, including obesity. Lifecourse epidemiology considers factors affecting the susceptibility to diseases over the whole life with critical periods during developmental phases. Critical periods for the susceptibility to obesity have been documented in prenatal life, during the first 6 months of postnatal life and from 3 years on starting at the time of the adiposity rebound. Parental obesity is involved at each of the critical periods. The transgenerational transmission of obesity is explained by genetic factors, shared lifestyle but also epigenetics especially during the early developmental periods. The slowing down of the childhood obesity epidemics observed in several developed countries may signal that factors affecting the early susceptibility to obesity have recently changed.     

An update of a systematic review of controlled clinical trials on the primary prevention of back pain at the workplace

OBJECTIVE: To update the evidence on the effectiveness of lumbar supports, education and exercise in the primary prevention of low back pain at the workplace. METHODS: A computerized search for controlled clinical trials published between 1997 and 2002 was conducted, and the methodological quality of the studies was assessed using a criteria list. The available evidence was graded with a rating system for the level of evidence. Effect sizes of individual studies were combined if the studies were sufficiently similar. RESULTS: Five new papers were identified for the update. These trials were added to the previously available trials (n = 11). The methodological quality of most studies was low. Since three of four RCTs on lumbar supports reported no effect, there is no evidence for the effectiveness of lumbar supports. No evidence for education could be found either, since all six RCTs showed negative results. The four RCTs on exercise consistently reported a positive effect, indicating limited evidence for the effectiveness of exercise. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence for the effectiveness of lumbar supports or education in the primary prevention of low back pain at the workplace. There is limited evidence for the efficacy of exercise, and the effect that can be obtained is moderate. There is still a need for methodologically sound studies and studies on the cost-effectiveness of exercise. Also the possible effect of lumbar supports in the treatment of back pain needs further investigation.     

Détecteurs de glucose et régulation de la prise alimentaire

Based on the glucostactic and lipostastic theories, it has been proposed that two dependent phenomena could be involved in the control of food intake. At short term, the regulation of food intake is part of the of the glucoregulatory mechanism, i.e. to the mechanism of use and replenishment of the glucose stores. This mechanism which is mainly involved in meal initiation is modulated by a second mechanism linked to the use and storage of lipids i.e. fat mass. Some molecules have been proposed to play the role of signal informing some brain structures of the metabolic status of the individual, among them leptin, insulin and glucose seems to play a major role. New insights into the cellular and molecular mechanism that support the fact that the electrical activity of some neurones depends on the glucose and/or insulin concentration, have been gained recently. Making the analogy with the beta cell of the islet of Langerhans, it has been proposed that proteins such as glucose transporter 2, glucokinase and the ATP-dependent potassium channel, could assure this sensing. Alteration in this sensing system could be at the origin of some alterations in feeding behavior.     

Ocular trauma in an iron forging industry in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

Occupational accidents occur in industry worldwide, and theKingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is no exception. However, accidentsare not routinely analyzed in this country and therefore theirextent and types remain unknown. The aim of this study was tocalculate the rates of ocular injuries in an iron forging factoryin the Eastern Province of the KSA. It also aimed at identifyingthe main causes of injury and the groups at risk. All ocularand non-ocular injuries that occurred during 1991 were reviewed.Data sources were the company's accident report and the employees'medical files. A total of 193 injuries were reported. Seventy-seven(39.9%) of these affected the eyes. The incident rate for ocularinjuries was 111.8 per 1,000 men exposed. The age group 33–42had the highest prevalence rate (55.8%) and 67.5% of the eyeinjuries involved employees with job experience of 11 monthsor less. Use of pneumatic chisels was among the most hazardousactivities. Projectile foreign bodies were responsible for 76.6%of the incidents. More than a third of the injured were notwearing eye protection. Avoidable factors, such as negligence,were major contributory factors. A training programme concerningsafety has much to commend it, and pneumatic chisels shouldbe replaced by other safer means.     

Validity of the HSE stress tool: an investigation within four organizations by the Corporate Health and Performance Group

AIM: To examine the validity and accuracy of the HSE Management Standards Stress Tool. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to employees of the occupational health and human resource departments of four of the Corporate Health and Performance Group organizations. The relationship between the six first-pass stress filter questions and self-rated health were examined using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) and the Short Form. The relationship between the filter questions and objective work characteristics such as sickness absence, self-rated performance and job satisfaction was also examined. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-five employees participated, giving an overall response rate of 68%. The study sample met the proposed HSE of 85 and 65% pass rates and would not normally progress to further analysis. Almost 40% of the group were above threshold on the GHQ12; 19% rated their work as very or extremely stressful. While the filters were highly specific, they were insensitive and at best detected for less than 40% of those with psychological or work stress. All but one of the filters had less than 50% positive predictive value for work stress and the majority of those identified by the filters did not consider themselves stressed, either overall or by work. Five of the filter questions were significantly associated with self-rated performance, three with absence and two with other objective work indicators. CONCLUSIONS: Further developmental work on these filter questions is indicated. Use of work absence as a measure of the impact or 'cost' of stress may lead to a significant underestimation of the 'true cost' of psychosocial hazards in the workplace.     

Impact of a latex policy on an acute NHS hospital: an audit

BACKGROUND: A latex policy was introduced in 1999 in a large, acute UK hospital. AIM: To audit the impact of the policy. METHOD: Semi-structured interview of the managers of 40 wards between April 2001 and July 2002. RESULTS: A policy was available on only 26 (65%) of the wards. Compliance with the policy was limited to 20 (50%) wards. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with the policy was low in the hospital. Staff and patients are being unnecessarily exposed to the hazard of latex.     

An evaluation of occupational health services within the NHS in London

AIMS: To establish the nature, extent and organization of occupational health service provision for employees within the National Health Service (NHS) in London and to review the systems for monitoring performance. METHODS: Human resources directors and occupational health managers were contacted from a random selection of NHS trusts in the London area and invited to complete an interviewer-led questionnaire. RESULTS: All seventeen trusts interviewed claimed to provide an occupational health service to their employees, with 88% providing this service in-house. The organization of the services varied, although most resided within the human resources function. Only 29% of the trusts could provide a written occupational health policy. Teaching hospital trusts had the most qualified and the highest numbers of medical staff. District/General hospital trusts had the least qualified clinical staff. Although most trusts were able to provide a comprehensive range of services, 87% of occupational health managers felt they could only provide a reactive service. Income was generated from non-NHS sources by 88% of the trusts and all were aware of NHS Plus. There was an indication that some trusts assigned NHS Plus status did not meet the standard of NHS Plus, although the survey took place only 3 months after the launch of NHS Plus. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant variation in the nature and extent of occupational health services in the NHS trusts. As a consequence, there may be differences in the level of occupational health service available to staff across the NHS in London.     

AIDS Programmes at the Workplace: A Scoresheet for Assessing the Quality of Services

Little data is available on the extent or comprehensivenessof AIDS prevention activities at South African workplaces. Across-sectional postal survey was performed of all members ofthe local occupational health nursing association in the areaof greater Cape Town in 1994 to assess the quality of such programmes.Use was made of an index to score services based on their comprehensiveness,using criteria based on recommendations previously identifiedin the South Africa literature on AIDS control. The presenceof a workplace policy on AIDS was the strongest predictor ofhigh quality AIDS prevention activities. Substantial numbersof companies reported sending staff for HIV-related training,and the presence of training was non-significantly associatedwith higher quality services with regard to HIV prevention.Treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) was reportedin slightly over half of the sample. Given the central importanceof STD treatment for the prevention and control of AIDS, improvementsin STD management at the workplace may significantly assistattempts at the public health control of the HIV epidemic. Inaddition, worker involvement in the planning, management andimplementation of AIDS prevention activities is also limitedat present and needs attention. Recommendations for the useof a scoring system to promote evaluation of AIDS programmesin the workplace are made.     

The impact of needle-exchange programs on the spread of HIV among injection drug users: A simulation study

Objective. To determine the impact of the implementation of a needle-exchange program (NEP) on the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in an injection drug user (IDU) community. We conducted a Monte Carlo simulation study of a theoretical population of 10,000 IDUs. The population was followed monthly from 1984 to 2000. HIV was assumed to be transmitted only by needle sharing. The NEP was introduced in 1989 and evaluated over a period of 11 years. The impacts of the proportion of the population attending the NEP, the risk level of IDUs attending the NEP, the reduction in needle-sharing frequency, and the number of new needle-sharing partners acquired at the NEP on prevalence and incidence of HIV were determined. Increasing the proportion of the population who always attend the NEP and eliminating needle-sharing incidents among IDUs who always attended the NEP were the most effective ways of reducing the spread of HIV. Attracting high-risk users instead of lower risk users to the NEP also reduced the spread of HIV, but to a lesser extent. NEPs are effective at reducing the spread of HIV; even under the worst case scenario of low risk users more likely to attend the NEP, one additional partner per month as a result of attending the NEP, and poor NEP attendance, the estimated prevalence was still less than that from the scenario without an NEP. Under our model, NEPs were shown to reduce the spread of HIV significantly. Efforts should be focused on getting as many IDUs as possible to become regular NEP attenders and stop sharing needles rather than partially reducing the frequency of sharing by a larger number of IDUs.     

The effects of asthma on the quality of life and employment of construction workers

Relatively little is known about the consequences of asthma for patients' work ability. In particular, the relationship between asthma and construction work has not been studied previously. The aim of this study was to determine how asthma affects construction workers' work ability and quality of life, and the most important conditions that cause respiratory symptoms in construction work. A questionnaire was sent to all construction workers examined in the pulmonary clinic of Tampere University Hospital between 1991 and 1995 who were diagnosed as having 'asthma bronchiale' (n = 104). In addition, 206 non-asthmatic construction workers were recruited from the register of the local trade union. Altogether, 73% of the asthmatic construction workers and 70% of the controls completed the questionnaire. Of the asthmatics, 48% were retired, whereas only 24% of the controls were receiving a pension. The asthmatics evaluated their work ability and general health as significantly worse than did the controls. The asthmatics had more limitations in their work and everyday life than the controls. Asthmatic construction workers had often changed work tasks and also occupation because of their illness. Building renovation, cleaning and insulation with mineral fibre materials were the most common causes of respiratory symptoms in the workplace, among both the asthmatics and the controls. Cold air, physical exercise and all types of dust and smoke caused the asthmatics to experience symptoms. It was concluded that asthma limits the work and everyday life of construction workers. Exposure to dusty, non-sensitizing agents is associated with asthmatic symptoms among construction workers.     

Le processus du vieillissement : longévité et alimentation

Ageing and the nutrition knew two great evolutions recently. First of all, progress of the genetics of ageing which showed the genetic control of longevity. In addition, the important corpus of knowledge accumulated in the field of the food restriction, one of the rare interventions not-genetics known to increase the longevity of the mammals. This type of food mode being associated with a reduction in pathologies related to the age. The conjunction of these two targets of research made it possible to discover at animal models, mainly invertebrate, the subjacent genetic mechanisms binding the level of food and longevity. The comprehension of these genetic mechanisms will make it possible to open therapeutic new prospects connected to the processes of ageing. From yeast to mammals, a certain number of homologous genetic ways were shown. This rise of knowledge brings a beam, always growing, of data showing that the nervous system power station plays a part crucial in the perception of the requirements out of food also in the invertebrates.     

The prevalence of work-related upper limb disorders in a printing factory

The association between problems of the upper limb and the workplaceis complex. A large printing manufacturer in the North Westof England sought the advice of both a surgeon, specializingin problems of the upper limb and an ergonomist in an attemptto control the frequency of these abnormalities amongst itsworkforce. The prevalence of these problems prior to and afterthe introduction of a number of recommendations was collatedand the results are discussed. Effectively the introductionof sensible and sympathetic modifications to the workplace appearedto reduce the number of upper limb disorders.     

Diseño y validación de la escala para valorar la fragilidad de los pacientes crónicos

ObjectiveTo create a scale and tool that allows us to measure the fragility of the chronic patient.DesignObservational study on the area's chronicles.LocationBetween January 2011 and December 2015, a population of 2108 individuals. Data were collected from the medical history and expressed application for the registration of fragile patients, on structured data collection sheet.ParticipantsFragile subjects of the North Sanitary Area of Malaga.InterventionDesign and validation of a scale.Main measurementsStudy variables. Main outcome variable: Antequera Fragility Scale (EPADI) consisting of five criteria / factors: age, Pfeiffer, Barthell, Charlson, sociofamiliar and pluripatological.Accessibility outcome variables were used as prediction variables.Quantitative variables are described by mean and standard deviation. The qualitative variables are presented in frequencies along with their percentages. To obtain a predictive model of resource utilization the sample was divided into two subsamples of equal size.ResultsFrom the variables of interest by experts, univariate predictors were identified in the use of resources in the sample M_EPADI1, to construct a model of multivariate logistic regression that allows to predict the resource utilization. For the validation of the scale, the sample M_EPADI2 was used.ConclusionsIt was verified that the criteria used in our scale are adequate to define the fragility, therefore the EPADI scale perfectly values the degree of fragility of chronic users based on the resources consumed. Conclusions: It has been verified that the criteria used in our scale are adequate to define the fragility, therefore the EPADI scale perfectly evaluates the degree of fragility of chronic users based on the resources consumed.     

供精人工授精技术的伦理思考

伴随着精子冷冻技术的进步以及精子库的成立,供精人工授精技术日趋成熟,造福了许多不育症夫妇,但同时也带来一系列伦理方面的争论。当下的伦理争论热点主要集中在精液来源、捐精次数的限制、供精者年龄的限定、跨国供精人工授精、受者的选择权、供受者匿名及子代知情权等6个方面。通过对比国内外现行法律法规,结合目前社会现象,对上述伦理问题进行剖析和探讨,进而提出相应的观点和建议：精液来源应根据供者身体状况而非身份地位选择;捐精次数可适当提高;供精者年龄区间可适当下调;跨国供精人工授精尚不具备运行基础;受者的选择权应谨慎对待;供受者匿名制度应继续坚持。     

Two cases of thyroid cancer in a small workforce

In 1994, in a large parcel depot in the north of England employing 600 staff and 24 electrical and mechanical engineers, two engineers developed papillary cell carcinoma of the thyroid in the same year. A comprehensive review of the literature revealed that ionizing radiation is the only known direct cause of this disease. There was speculation that air filter changing undertaken by the two men affected, shortly after the Chernobyl accident in 1986, may have exposed them to concentrated radioactive fallout. A radiation survey of the parcel depot was undertaken and revealed no evidence of abnormal radioactivity. A total of 27 past and present engineering staff were screened for thyroid cancer. No cases of thyroid cancer were found. Investigation of clusters of rare disease in the occupational setting is indicated mainly in order to address the concerns of the workforce. Nevertheless, investigation is warranted, especially when the aetiology of a disease is poorly understood. It would be prudent for doctors, in whatever speciality, to take an occupational history from individuals who develop thyroid cancer.