中国7～10岁儿童腹型肥胖与血压的关系

目的 分析中国7 ～10岁儿童腹型肥胖与血压的关系.方法 采用2010年全国学生体质与健康调研数据,选取身高、体重、腰围和血压资料完整的7～10岁儿童青少年作为研究对象,共计40 495名.利用中国肥胖工作组(WGOC)制定的BMI超重、肥胖筛查标准和腰围身高比(WHtR)＞0.46判定体形,将研究对象分为正常体形、单纯腹型肥胖、腹型肥胖合并外周型肥胖(简称复合型肥胖)和其他体形;以血压高于2010年全国学生同性别、同年龄收缩压和(或)舒张压第95百分位数(P95)界值判定为血压偏高.描述单纯腹型肥胖、复合型肥胖和血压偏高的检出情况;并按相同性别、年龄(相差±0.5岁)、身高(相差±0.3 cm)以1∶1∶1相互匹配正常体形、单纯腹型肥胖、复合型肥胖3种体形儿童青少年,每组分别为2165名,利用x2检验、方差分析及多水平模型分析腹型肥胖与血压的关系.结果 40 495名研究对象,包括男生20 175名,女生20 320名;单纯腹型肥胖检出率为6.36％(2576/40495),男生为7.41％(1494/20 175),女生为5.32％(1082/20 320);复合型肥胖检出率为16.33％(6611/40 495),男生为21.30％(4298/20 175),女生为11.38％(2313/20 320);男女生体形分布差异有统计学意义(x2=869.01,P＜0.01).血压偏高检出率为9.62％(3896/40 495),男生[10.05％(2028/20 175)]高于女生[9.19％(1868/20 320)](x2=8.59,P＜0.01).复合型肥胖组收缩压、舒张压数值[男生:(103.8±11.3)、(64.7±10.1)mm Hg(1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa);女生:(102.9±12.1)、(64.5±10.0)mm Hg],高于单纯腹型肥胖组[男生:(99.5±11.2)、(61.6±9.9)mm Hg;女生:(99.6±11.4)、(62.6±9.3)mm Hg]高于正常体形组[男生:(97.4±10.8)、(60.5±9.4)mm Hg;女生:(97.2±10.8)、(60.8±9.4) mm Hg],差异有统计学意义(男生:F值分别为113.22、62.05;女生:F值分别为54.19、32.31,P值均＜0.01).多水平分析结果示:复合型、单纯型肥胖组较正常体形组,男生收缩压分别升高6.0、1.8 mm Hg(Wald x2值分别为17.55、204.94,P值均＜0.01),舒张压分别升高4.0、0.9 mm Hg(Wald x2值分别为6.37、114.05,P值均＜0.05);女生收缩压分别升高5.0、2.1 mm Hg(Wald x2值分别为16.47、92.52,P值均＜0.01),舒张压分别高3.5、1.6 mm Hg(Wald x2值分别为12.29、57.52,P值均＜0.01).单纯腹型肥胖男生收缩压偏高的风险高于正常体形男生[OR=1.48(95％ CI:1.06 ～ 2.06)],复合型肥胖男[收缩压:OR=3.06(95％ CI:2.28 ～4.11);舒张压:OR =2.72(95％ CI:1.99～3.72)]、女生[收缩压:OR=2.48(95％ CI:1.75 ～3.53);舒张压:OR =2.64(95％CI:1.82 ～3.93)]收缩压和舒张压偏高的风险均高于正常体型者.结论 单纯腹型肥胖是儿童青少年血压升高的相关因素,复合型肥胖与血压升高的关系更为密切.     

中国7～17岁青春期女生月经初潮较早与血压水平的关系

目的 分析中国7～17岁女生青春期月经初潮较早与血压水平的关系.方法 从2010年全国学生体质与健康调研资料中,选择体测项目(身高、体重、血压等)、月经初潮史等资料记录完整的7～17岁女生作为研究对象,共76 869名.采用概率单位回归法计算女生月经初潮年龄的第10百分位数(P10)概率界值,月经初潮出现年龄小于其对应的界值定义为初潮时间较早,按城乡、年龄进行1∶2匹配未来初潮者,初潮较早者和未来潮者分别作为初潮较早组和未来潮组,收缩压或舒张压大于其对应的同年龄第95百分位数(P95)值定义为“收缩压或舒张压偏高”,收缩压和(或)舒张压大于其对应的同年龄P95值定义为“血压偏高”.采用x2检验分析已来潮和未来潮女生血压偏高检出率的差异,并用多水平模型分析初潮较早与血压水平的关系.结果 76 869名女生身高为(152.2±10.4)cm,BMI为(18.7±3.1) kg/m2,收缩压和舒张压值分别为(103.4±11.0) mm Hg(1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa)和(65.0±9.1) mm Hg,已来潮女生有47 942名(62.4％),未来潮女生有28 927名(37.6％).女生9岁开始出现月经初潮,13岁时有81.5％(7123/8736)的女生已出现月经来潮.11岁组、12岁组、13岁组已来潮女生血压偏高的检出率分别为6.71％ (100/1490)、5.99％(265/4423) 、5.38％(383/7123),明显高于同龄未来潮女生的3.78％ (265/7005)、3.33％ (144/4328)、4.09％(66/1613),差异有统计学意义(x2值分别为25.62、32.36、4.46,P值均＜0.05).初潮较早者年龄在9～11岁,其中11岁组血压偏高、收缩压偏高、舒张压偏高的检出率分别为6.08％ (49/806)、4.84％(39/806)、3.35％ (27/806),明显高于同年龄未来潮组的3.11％ (50/1607)、2.30％(37/1607)、1.43％ (23/1607),差异有统计学意义(x2值分别为12.02、11.32、9.74,P值均＜0.01).多水平模型分析显示,在控制了不同省(自治区、直辖市)和年龄后,初潮较早者血压偏高的检出率仍然高于同龄未来潮者[OR =2.188(95％ CI:1.254～3.818)],其中初潮较早者收缩压和舒张压偏高的检出率均高于同龄未来潮者[OR(95％ CI)值分别为1.925(1.097～3.379)、2.088(1.072 ～4.065)].结论 月经初潮较早可能与血压升高有关联,可能会导致我国儿童青少年血压升高的年龄进一步提前.     

上海市初中生体脂率与血压偏高的关联

  目的  探讨上海市青春期学生体脂率与血压偏高的关联,为心血管疾病的早期预防和干预提供依据。  方法  采用多阶段分层整群抽样的方法在上海市16个区的16所学校中选取5 148名11~18岁初中生进行问卷调查和体格测量,采用生物电阻抗法(BIA)测量全身体脂率。按照中国儿童青少年血压参考标准判定血压偏高与否,采用t检验、χ2检验和Logistic回归等方法分析体脂率与血压偏高的关联。  结果  2019年上海市5 148名初中学生血压偏高检出率为10.98%,其中男生为8.99%,女生为13.13%,女生高于男生(χ2=22.48,P < 0.01);男生全身体脂率平均为(20.90±10.73)%,随年龄增加而下降(F=10.04,P < 0.01);女生全身体脂率平均为(25.14±8.03)%,随年龄增加而增加(F=69.23,P < 0.01)。控制年龄、饮食、运动、是否月经/遗精等影响因素后,无论男生还是女生,随着体脂率百分位的上升,血压偏高检出率呈上升趋势,体脂率≥P₉₀的男生血压偏高的风险是体脂率＜P₂₅男生的12.43倍(95%CI=6.98~22.14),体脂率≥P₉₀的女生血压偏高的风险是体脂率 < P₂₅女生的6.12倍(95%CI=3.89~9.63)。  结论  青春期学生体脂率与血压偏高呈正相关,血压偏高检出率随体脂率百分位的上升而上升,且在男生中关联更明显。     

重庆城区中小学生月经初潮及首次遗精与父母生育年龄的相关性

分析重庆城区中小学生月经初潮及首次遗精年龄与其父母生育年龄的相关性,为儿童青少年青春早期发育研究和健康教育提供理论依据.方法 采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样方法,调查重庆主城2个区7 285名中小学生(男生3 649名,女生3 636名)的月经初潮、首次遗精年龄及其父母生育年龄.采用描述统计分析、t检验、多重线性回归等方法进行统计分析.结果 重庆城区男生首次遗精的平均年龄为13.14岁,乡村男生比城镇男生早0.2岁(=-3.016,P=0.003);女生月经初潮的平均年龄为12.43岁,城乡差异无统计学意义(=-0.506,P=0.613).母亲生育年龄对其子女月经初潮、首次遗精年龄影响无统计学意义(P值均>0.05);父亲生育年龄每增加1岁,其女儿月经初潮提前0.034岁(乡村提前0.019岁,P=0.024;城镇提前0.048岁,P<0.01),儿子首次遗精年龄提前0.025岁(乡村提前0.013岁,P=0.818;城镇提前0.029岁,P=0.027).结论 父亲生育年龄较大可能是其子女首次遗精、月经初潮年龄提前的影响因素之一.减少大龄产父母可降低其对儿童青少年生长发育的不良影响.     

中国9~14岁青春期女生睡眠时间与月经初潮的关系

目的 探讨2014年中国9~14岁青春期女生月经初潮与睡眠时间的关系,为进一步研究青春期发育的影响因素提供科学依据。方法 选取2014年全国学生体质与健康调研数据中9~14岁青春期女生的身高、体重、月经初潮情况和睡眠时间等数据。将研究对象分为睡眠充足组和睡眠不足组,月经初潮情况由女性内科医师询问,只询问“已”、“未”,不问具体日期。采用Logistic回归模型和多水平模型进行统计学分析。 结果 研究共纳入48 096名女生。其中,9~14岁女生的平均睡眠充足报告率为31.34%(15 074/48 096),平均月经初潮报告率为50.13%(24 112/48 096)。从总体上看,月经初潮报告率随年龄增加而增加。其中,在睡眠充足女生组中,月经初潮报告率从9岁的0.97%(22/2 258)增长到14岁的95.87%(1 832/1 911);睡眠不足女生组中,月经初潮报告率从9岁的1.52%(52/3 423)增长到14岁的97.32%(6 720/6 905)。除9岁外,各年龄段中睡眠不足组的女生月经初潮的比例均高于睡眠充足组,且差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。在控制片区、身高、BMI等因素后,相对于睡眠不足组,睡眠充足组女生月经初潮发生较晚(OR＝0.73,95%CI:0.69~0.77),在各年龄段(除9岁外)中,相对于睡眠不足组,睡眠充足组女生月经初潮发生较晚(OR<1,P<0.05)。多水平模型分析发现,在控制其他因素后,睡眠时间越长,月经初潮的发生越晚(OR＝0.90,95%CI:0.87~0.92)。同时,月经初潮与睡眠时间的关系在省份水平不具有组内聚集性(ICC<0.01),在年龄水平具有较明显的组内聚集性(ICC=0.61)。 结论 青春期女生的睡眠情况与月经初潮是否发生有着密切联系,进一步影响女生青春期的发育与性成熟。应当采取有效的措施确保儿童青少年的正常睡眠时间,保证儿童青少年的健康成长。     

苏州市9～17岁儿童青少年睡眠时间及血压偏高的关系研究

目的 了解苏州市9～17岁儿童青少年睡眠时间与血压的关系,为儿童高血压综合防控提供依据。方法 2020年9—12月采用分层整群抽样方法,对苏州市2 903名9～17岁儿童青少年进行问卷调查,测量其身高、体重及血压等。结果 2 903名儿童青少年中,男生1 500名(占比51.67%),血压偏高413人(检出率14.23%),睡眠不足的学生共1 762名(检出率60.70%)。睡眠不足者中血压偏高率为16.00%,高于睡眠充足者(11.48%),差异有统计学意义(χ²=11.612,P=0.001),睡眠不足儿童青少年的收缩压z评分、舒张压z评分分别为0.34、0.25,睡眠充足者分别为0.24、0.20,差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为2.564、2.193,P均＜0.05)。调整相关因素后,logistic回归分析显示,与睡眠不足者相比,睡眠充足者发生血压偏高的风险增加32.9%(OR=1.329,95%CI:1.038～1.701)。按照性别、年龄段分层分析发现,男生组(OR=1.480,95%CI:1.079～2.029)、12～14岁组(OR=1.616,95%CI:1.113～2.345)中睡眠不足增加血压偏高发生风险。结论 苏州市儿童青少年睡眠时长不足可能是血压偏高的影响因素之一,应保证儿童青少年充足睡眠时间。     

青春早中期不同发育阶段青少年抑郁症状及影响因素分析

  目的  探究重庆市某区青少年各青春发育指标处于不同发育阶段时的抑郁现况,为改善青少年身心健康提供依据。  方法  对重庆市九龙坡区1 001名随访小学高年级和初中学生采用自编问卷和抑郁量表(Children's Depression Inventory, CDI)进行调查,通过描述性统计分析、χ2检验、方差分析和多因素Logistic回归分析统计调查对象的抑郁症状检出率、得分和影响因素等。  结果  青少年抑郁症状的检出率为17.3%,抑郁量表总得分为(12.02±6.72)分,外生殖器、阴毛、腋毛和胡须处于不同发育阶段以及是否发生首次遗精的男生效率低下分量表得分差异均有统计学意义(t/F值分别为7.08,5.46,5.18,4.21,5.84),乳房、阴毛和腋毛处于不同发育阶段以及是否发生月经初潮的女生快感缺乏、效率低下分量表得分差异均有统计学意义(t/F值分别为19.43,4.92,3.98,7.35,P值均 < 0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,男生未出现首次遗精和女生未发生月经初潮与抑郁症状呈负相关(OR=0.60,95%CI=0.36~0.98;OR=0.46, 95%CI=0.22~1.00),女生阴毛处于发育期与检出抑郁症状呈正相关(OR=9.58,95%CI=1.28~71.71)。  结论  青春早中期青少年抑郁症状检出率处于较低水平,已发生首次遗精的男生、阴毛发育较为成熟的女生和已发生月经初潮的女生更易出现抑郁情绪和症状。     

南京市城区中小学生睡眠时间与血压关系的研究

目的了解南京市中小学生睡眠时间与血压水平之间的关系,为儿童青少年高血压的预防干预提供依据。方法于2013年9月采用多阶段按比例随机整群法抽取南京市48所学校10 091名学生作为调查对象,调查其一般情况和睡眠时间,并测量收缩压和舒张压,分析不同睡眠情况血压水平的差异。用SPSS 20.0软件进行t检验,用一般线性模型分析睡眠时间对血压的影响。结果 10 091名调查对象中包括5 355名男生,4 736名女生。四年级学生5 246名,七年级4 845名。四年级组血压偏高的比例为1.4%,七年级组血压偏高的比例7.8%。四年级组睡眠充足的比例为43.6%,七年级组睡眠充足的比例为22.1%。四年级组女生睡眠充足者舒张压[(58.95±5.54) mmHg]低于睡眠不足者[(59.45±5.88)mmHg],差异有统计学意义(t=2.15,P0.05)。使用一般线性模型控制身高影响,七年级男生睡眠充足者收缩压比睡眠不足者降低了1.031 mmHg,四年级女生睡眠充足者舒张压比睡眠不足者降低了0.448 mmHg,差异均有统计学意义(Waldχ~2值分别为-1.998、-1.987,P0.05)。结论青春期睡眠不足可能是血压升高的影响因素之一。     

月经初潮/首次遗精与户外活动时间对学生视力的影响

分析月经初潮、首次遗精与户外活动时间联合作用对中国学生视力的影响,旨在为制定防控儿童青少年视力不良的策略和措施提供科学依据.方法 基于2012年基线调查,在中国7 个省市采用分层整群随机抽样方法抽取17 210 名中小学生纳入研究对象.按照青春期发育指标与户外活动时间的不同将研究对象分成4 组.分年龄、性别探讨视力不良检出率,并采用多因素Logistic 回归模型分析月经初潮/首次遗精与户外活动时间联合作用对学生视力的影响.结果 所调查学生视力不良检出率为70.9%.不论男、女生,月经初潮/首次遗精与户外活动时间的不同联合分组之间的视力不良检出率差异均有统计学意义(χ2 值分别为74.17, 262.06,P 值均<0.01),均表现为已出现月经初潮/首次遗精且户外活动时间< 2 h 组最高(男女生分别为76.0%,77.8%),其次是已出现月经初潮/首次遗精且户外活动时间≥2 h 组(71.9%, 73.8%),未出现月经初潮/首次遗精且户外活动时间≥2 h 组最低(62.9%, 56.1%).多因素Logistic 回归模型分析显示,在调整年龄、地区、学习习惯等因素后,已出现月经初潮/首次遗精且户外活动时间<2 h 组学生视力不良发生的风险明显高于未出现月经初潮/首次遗精且户外活动时间≥2 h 组[OR 值(OR 值95%CI) = 1.46(1.27 ~ 1.69) ]; 分性别分析发现,男女生呈现相同趋势[OR 值(OR 值95%CI) 分别为1.38(1.13~ 1.67),1.54(1.24 ~ 1.90) ].结论 中国学生月经初潮/首次遗精和户外活动时间与视力不良有密切关联; 不论男、女生,已出现青春期发育且户外活动时间较短者更易发生视力不良.在学生进入青春期前增加户外活动时间可预防未来视力不良的发生.     

中国9～18岁儿童青少年首次遗精/月经初潮与心理困扰的关联研究

目的分析中国9～18岁汉族儿童青少年首次遗精/月经初潮的发生与心理困扰情况的关联。方法使用2019年全国学生体质与健康调研数据, 共选取首次遗精/月经初潮和心理困扰情况记录资料完整的11～18岁男生54 438名和9～18岁女生76 376名。是否发生首次遗精/月经初潮由内科医生询问记录, 心理困扰程度根据凯斯勒心理困扰量表得分判定。使用χ2检验比较各年龄组心理困扰率和首次遗精/月经初潮发生率的差异、采用多因素logistic回归模型分层分析各年龄组男女生存在心理困扰与发生首次遗精/月经初潮的关联。结果 2019年中国男生8个年龄组首次遗精发生率为6.3%～96.5%, 女生10个年龄组月经初潮发生率为2.8%～99.0%, 男女生高心理困扰率分别为32.5%和32.7%。11～18岁男生中, 高心理困扰率随年龄增加而升高, 趋势检验P<0.001, 各年龄组已出现与未出现首次遗精者高心理困扰率差异无统计学意义。9～18岁女生中, 高心理困扰率随年龄增加而升高, 趋势检验P<0.001, 10岁及12岁已出现月经初潮组高心理困扰率高于未出现月经初潮组, 差异有统计学意义(均...     

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.     

Occupational health hazards in mining: an overview

This review article outlines the physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial occupational health hazards of mining and associated metallurgical processes. Mining remains an important industrial sector in many parts of the world and although substantial progress has been made in the control of occupational health hazards, there remains room for further risk reduction. This applies particularly to traumatic injury hazards, ergonomic hazards and noise. Vigilance is also required to ensure exposures to coal dust and crystalline silica remain effectively controlled.     

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.     

Investigating clusters in the workplace and beyond

Clusters of disease are common and occur in the workplace and in the general community. They often arouse considerable concern among the population. Investigations have sometimes lead to exciting new knowledge, but in general the investigation of clusters is difficult and often unrewarding, especially for community clusters. In the workplace, investigations are more likely to find associations and even new causes, but still many clusters remain enigmatic. Despite this, there are many reasons for investigating clusters, including allaying community concern and identifying uncontrolled exposures. A structure for investigating clusters in the workplace is suggested.     

Assessing occupational and environmental exposure

Exposure assessment is a poorly understood component of the science of epidemiology. The relationship between exposure to chemicals and ill-health outcomes is often calculated using crude exposure measures such as ever/never exposed or duration. When investigating subtle effects, exposures need to be characterized much more fully in terms of intensity, frequency, duration and route. While occupational exposures tend to be much greater than those experienced from the wider environment there is a need to remember that, for many chemicals, exposure can occur occupationally, environmentally and through consumer use of products containing the material of interest. Inhalation exposure has generally been the traditional focus for most epidemiological investigations but there is now growing awareness of the importance of the dermal and ingested routes of contact and internalization. Quantification of the exposure also needs to be related to a biological mechanism of action and exposure metrics need to be selected accordingly. Occupational exposures can generally be measured using simple well-validated techniques. Environmental exposures require much more sensitive instruments and are more difficult to assess. Exposure modelling, particularly for the environmental fate of chemicals has undergone many recent developments and Monte Carlo techniques can be used to characterize model uncertainty and variability. This approach to exposure assessment can now be used in the setting of the wider environment and will enable a far better understanding of the relationship between exposure and disease.     

Mercury toxicity due to the smelting of placer gold recovered by mercury amalgam

A 19-year-old man developed tremor in both hands and fatigue after starting work at a placer gold mine where he was exposed to mercury-gold amalgam. Examination revealed an intention tremor, dysdiadochokinesis and mild rigidity. The 24-h urinary mercury concentration reached a peak of 715 nmol/l (143 ug/l) shortly before the clinical examination, after which he was removed from working in the gold room [Mercury No. Adverse Effect Level: 250 nmol/l (50 ug/l)]. On review 7 weeks later his tremor had almost resolved and the dysdiadochokinesis and rigidity had gone. The 24-h urinary mercury concentration had fallen to 160 nmol/l (32 ug/l). The principal exposure to mercury was considered to be the smelting of retorted gold with previously unrecognized residual mercury in it. The peak air concentration of mercury vapour during gold smelting was 0.533 mg/m3 (Mercury Vapour ACGIH TLV: 0.05 mg/m3 TWA). Several engineering and procedural controls were instituted. This episode occurred at another mine site, unrelated to Mount Isa Mines Limited.     

How Adults with Acquired Brain Damage Perceive Computer Training as a Rehabilitation Tool: A Focus-group Study

The aim of this study was to explore and describe how adult outpatients with acquired brain damage and referred to occupational therapy perceive computer training with the RehaCom programs, in order to evaluate the method of treatment as a tool in the rehabilitation of persons with cognitive disorders. By using focus-group discussions as a qualitative method of research when analysing the result, five themes with corresponding categories emerged, describing a development of understanding and learning about capacities. Themes describing how the participants could apply strategies to overcome shortcomings in daily occupations and the therapeutic role of the occupational therapist were identified as well. The result shows that a computer training program such as RehaCom can be used as an educational tool, for example, to guide a person who is trying to adopt compensatory strategies to avoid overload by taking pauses. It was found that anything the participants learned was also applicable to occupational performance in daily life.