Barth综合征导致幼儿心内膜弹力纤维增生症的临床特点及其<i>TAZ</i>基因突变

目的探讨以心内膜弹力纤维增生症为主要表现的Barth综合征患儿的临床表现、诊断、治疗及TAZ基因突变情况。 方法选择2014年11月因"间断咳喘、发现心内膜弹力纤维增生症1个月",于北京大学第一医院住院治疗的1例1岁7个月男性Barth综合征患儿为研究对象。对患儿进行血常规、生化(心肌酶谱等)、心血管功能检查,尿液有机酸谱分析、血液氨基酸及酯酰肉碱谱测定,检测患儿及其父母的基因突变情况。 结果①相关检测结果：本例患儿智力正常,体格及运动发育落后,肌张力低。血常规检测结果显示中性粒细胞减少及其百分率降低。超声心动图等结果显示左心室肥大,心肌肥厚,心功能不全。尿液3-甲基戊烯二酸显著增高,为241.34 mmol/mol肌酐(正常参考值为0～4.2 mmol/mol肌酐,均值为1.1 mmol/mol肌酐),为正常均值的219.4倍。血液氨基酸谱正常,血浆游离肉碱浓度降低,为13 μmol/L(正常参考值为20～60 μmol/L)。基因检测结果显示,患儿存在TAZ基因c.280 C>T(p.R94C)突变,母亲为TAZ基因c.280 C>T杂合突变携带者。②临床治疗及预后：对本例患儿采取口服左卡尼汀、维生素B1、辅酶Q10、地高辛、酒石酸美托洛尔片等治疗后,患儿体力好转,尿液3-甲基戊烯二酸水平降至正常,心功能恢复正常。 结论Barth综合征为X连锁遗传性线粒体病,是导致心肌病的重要原因之一。尿液有机酸谱分析及TAZ基因检测,有助于该病的临床诊断及治疗。     

Barth综合征导致幼儿心内膜弹力纤维增生症的临床特点及其TAZ基因突变

目的探讨以心内膜弹力纤维增生症为主要表现的Barth综合征患儿的临床表现、诊断、治疗及TAZ基因突变情况。方法选择2014年11月因"间断咳喘、发现心内膜弹力纤维增生症1个月",于北京大学第一医院住院治疗的1例1岁7个月男性Barth综合征患儿为研究对象。对患儿进行血常规、生化(心肌酶谱等)、心血管功能检查,尿液有机酸谱分析、血液氨基酸及酯酰肉碱谱测定,检测患儿及其父母的基因突变情况。结果 1相关检测结果:本例患儿智力正常,体格及运动发育落后,肌张力低。血常规检测结果显示中性粒细胞减少及其百分率降低。超声心动图等结果显示左心室肥大,心肌肥厚,心功能不全。尿液3-甲基戊烯二酸显著增高,为241.34mmol/mol肌酐(正常参考值为0~4.2mmol/mol肌酐,均值为1.1mmol/mol肌酐),为正常均值的219.4倍。血液氨基酸谱正常,血浆游离肉碱浓度降低,为13μmol/L(正常参考值为20~60μmol/L)。基因检测结果显示,患儿存在TAZ基因c.280CT(p.R94C)突变,母亲为TAZ基因c.280CT杂合突变携带者。2临床治疗及预后:对本例患儿采取口服左卡尼汀、维生素B1、辅酶Q10、地高辛、酒石酸美托洛尔片等治疗后,患儿体力好转,尿液3-甲基戊烯二酸水平降至正常,心功能恢复正常。结论 Barth综合征为X连锁遗传性线粒体病,是导致心肌病的重要原因之一。尿液有机酸谱分析及TAZ基因检测,有助于该病的临床诊断及治疗。     

原发性肉碱缺乏症的筛查、诊断、治疗及基因型研究

目的 分析新生儿及母源性原发性肉碱缺乏症(PCD)临床筛查、诊断、治疗及基因型,为PCD的临床诊治提供依据。方法 采用串联质谱法(MS/MS)对2009年1月1日—2018年12月31日在浙江省医疗机构出生后3 d的新生儿足跟血进行多种遗传代谢病筛查。游离肉碱(C0)低于本实验室切值的可疑患儿及其母亲同时召回确诊。结果 共筛查3 040 815例新生儿,血C0低于正常参考值(切值＜10μmol/L)者4 459例,确诊PCD 患儿121例(其中男55例,女66例);发病率为1/25 131。对确诊后随访资料完整的111例患儿分析显示:初筛C0值为(5.94±2.01)μmol/L、召回复查C0值为(5.70±1.99)μmol/L,差异无统计学意义(t=1.05,P>0.05)。左卡尼汀初始剂量为40～200mg/(kg·d),维持剂量时C0的水平为(24.94±10.26)μmol/L,显著高于治疗前C0水平(t=20.728,P<0.001)。母源性PCD 64例,发病率为1/47 513,C0平均为(3.31±1.79)μmol/L。111例PCD患儿共检出SLC22A5基因上42种变异,其中以c.1400C>G (p.S467C) 突变最为常见,约占33.33%(74/222);其次为c.51C>G(p.F17L)占14.73 %。93.75%的母源性PCD患者母亲进行基因检测(60/64),c.1400C>G (p.S467C) 突变约占35.83%(43/120)。除2例患儿不明原因死亡外,其他PCD患儿生长发育正常。结论 PCD可通过新生儿疾病筛查早期发现,但需排除母源性肉碱缺乏症。基因检测可明确诊断,SLC22A5 c.1400C>G (p.S467C) 变异是浙江省PCD患者最常见的突变类型。左卡尼汀治疗有效,但需要长期规范治疗与随访。     

营养不良患儿酰基肉碱谱变化

目的 探讨营养不良患儿血酰基肉碱谱特点及用于代谢病的鉴别.方法 收集营养不良患儿13例,同期同年龄段非代谢病患儿214例作为对照组.入院时空腹采集末梢血制成千血片,串联质谱非衍生化法检测其肉碱和多种酰基肉碱浓度.结果 脂肪酸氧化分解相关的脂酰基肉碱,营养不良组从十八碳脂酰基肉碱至乙酰基肉碱,包括酮体酰基肉碱,即丙二酰基肉碱和羟基丁酰基肉碱都有不同程度增高,以中链酰基肉碱增高明显,其中营养不良组癸酰基肉碱为（0.203 ±0.105） μmol/L,超出正常参考值范围（0～0.200 μmol/L）,显著高于对照组[0.054±0.030）μmol/L,P＜0.001].氨基酸分解相关的丙酰基肉碱、戊酰基肉碱、羟基戊酰基肉碱和戊二酰基肉碱等,营养不良组和对照组比较差异均无统计学意义（均P＞O.05）.结论 营养不良患儿血中脂肪酸代谢相关的酰基肉碱增高,以中链酰基肉碱增高明显,癸酰基肉碱略超出正常值等特点,可与中链酰基辅酶A脱氢酶缺乏症和多种酰基肉碱辅酶A脱氢酶缺乏症等疾病鉴别.     

甲基丙二酸血症的临床特点及基因型与临床表型关系的探讨

目的 探讨甲基丙二酸血症的临床特征,治疗前后血氨基酸、尿有机酸的变化及基因型与临床表型的关系。方法 对中国医科大学附属盛京医院发育儿科2011年8月-2012年12月10例确诊的甲基丙二酸血症患儿的临床资料,血氨基酸、尿有机酸及基因结果进行分析。结果 10例患儿的发病年龄为出生5 d~2岁5月,主要临床表现包括喂养困难2例,体重不增1例,反复呕吐2例,顽固性抽搐1例,发育落后3例,发育倒退1例,肌张力异常3例。代谢性酸中毒3例,血氨增高7例,伴同型半胱氨酸增高6例。头部MRI典型改变3例,非特异性改变4例。VitB12 有效型尿MMA平均下降倍率为6.45倍,血丙酰肉碱(C3)为2.05倍,血丙酰肉碱/乙酰肉碱(C3/C2)为1.64倍。4例患儿检测到相关基因突变,基因分型3例为cblC亚型,1例为mut-亚型。 结论 甲基丙二酸血症除了表现为非特异性临床特征以外,易发生代谢性酸中毒、高氨血症和同型半胱氨酸血症;头部MRI既可以为典型改变也可以为非特异性改变;尿MMA可作为VitB12治疗有效的敏感指标;基因检测可进一步帮助临床分型、估计预后及产前诊断。     

98例甲基丙二酸血症患儿的临床分析

目的探讨分析98例甲基丙二酸血症患儿(methylmalonic acidemia,MMA)的临床特点。方法以随机抽选的模式在本院2016年5月—2017年5月收治的MMA患儿中抽选98例,对其就诊资料进行回顾性分析。收集患儿尿液样本以及干血滤纸片,分别采用气相色谱—质谱联用分析(gas chromatography and mass spectrometry,GC-MS)和液相色谱—串联质谱分析(liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer/mass spectrometer,LC-MS/MS)进行有机酸测定以及酰基肉碱谱测定,观察并统计检测结果。同时观察患儿肝肾功能、血乳酸、血气分析、血糖、尿常规、血氨以及血常规等常规辅助检查结果。结果 98例MMA患儿的疾病确诊在3 d~12岁间,患儿主要的临床表现囊括9例发作性呕吐,19例间断抽搐,11例智力、运动落后,15例乏力、下肢水肿,6例贫血,14例皮肤黄染,15例嗜睡以及9例反应弱。患儿各项检查指标水平结果包含14例尿常规异常,13例心肌酶谱异常,9例血气分析异常,13例血乳酸升高,14例肾肝功能异常,5例血氨升高,15例不同程度的红细胞计数减低以及15例血糖降低。患儿采用GC-MS尿有机酸分析发现其甲基丙二酸指标为0.09~89.21mmol/(mmol·Cr)。通过LC-MS/MS可发现,90.81%的患儿丙酰肉碱(C3)、丙酰肉碱与游离肉碱比例值(C3/C0)以及丙酰肉碱与乙酰肉碱比值(C3/C2)较正常儿童相应指标高出2~3倍,9.19%的患儿仅有C3/C2增高。结论临床上可根据患儿的临床症状、实验检测指标水平异常现象,并结合GC-MS、LC-MS/MS的检测结果,诊断甲基丙二酸血症患儿病情起到重要的辅助作用,有效提高其诊断结果的准确性,具有较好的临床价值,值得采纳。     

母亲维生素B_(12)缺乏与婴儿继发性甲基丙二酸尿症

目的探讨母亲维生素B_(12)缺乏导致的婴儿继发性甲基丙二酸尿症(MMA)的临床特点,以及该病的诊断、治疗及转归。方法选择2014年11月12日,因"吐奶、贫血、疑为遗传性MMA",于北京大学第一医院被确诊为因母亲维生素B_(12)缺乏导致的继发性MMA、日龄为27d的男性双胎新生儿为研究对象。对双胎患儿及其母亲进行血常规、血清维生素B_(12)与叶酸检测,以及血清与尿液总同型半胱氨酸检测,尿液有机酸谱及血液氨基酸、肉碱谱检测,同时检测患儿及其父母的MMA相关基因突变情况。本研究与2例受试者监护人签署临床研究知情同意书,本研究遵循的程序通过北京大学第一医院医学伦理委员会的审核批准。结果 12例患儿生后4d于当地医院就诊时,尿液甲基丙二酸浓度分别为479.21 mmol/mol肌酐和65.90 mmol/mol肌酐(正常参考值为0.20~3.60mmol/mol肌酐);血液丙酰肉碱浓度分别为12.01μmol/L和10.55μmol/L(正常参考值为1.00~5.00μmol/L)。生后27d于北京大学第一医院就诊时发现,2例患儿均存在中度贫血,长子血清总同型半胱氨酸浓度轻度增高,为17.6μmol/L(正常参考值为0~15.0μmol/L),次子正常,为14.3μmol/L;血清维生素B_(12)浓度均降低,分别为121.0pmol/L与105.0pmol/L(正常参考值为133.0~675.0pmol/L);血清叶酸浓度均正常,分别为26.50nmol/L与18.60nmol/L(正常参考值为6.80nmol/L);尿液中均未检出甲基丙二酸,血液丙酰肉碱均增高,分别为9.26μmol/L与15.90μmol/L。给予维生素B_(12)肌内注射,口服亚叶酸钙及左卡尼汀治疗后,2例患儿尿液中均未检出甲基丙二酸,血液丙酰肉碱浓度恢复正常,智力、运动发育正常,贫血好转。22例患儿母亲于早孕期出现厌食、呕吐等早孕期妊娠反应,中孕期出现糖尿病、甲状腺功能减低、大细胞性贫血及同型半胱氨酸血症,曾口服补血中药及铁剂治疗,未曾补充维生素B_(12)治疗。产后2个月时,母亲血清维生素B_(12)浓度降低,血清总同型半胱氨酸浓度升高。经左卡尼汀、甲钴胺、叶酸等营养干预治疗2个月后,母亲血清维生素B_(12)及总同型半胱氨酸浓度均恢复正常。3对于与遗传性MMA相关基因的检测结果显示,2例患儿及其父母均未见MUT、MMAA、MMAB、MMACHC等基因突变。结论母亲孕期营养不良及健康状况不佳,可导致维生素B_(12)缺乏,继而引起婴儿继发性MMA。临床注意对继发性MMA患者与遗传性MMA的早期鉴别诊断,并于确诊后及时给予维生素B_(12)治疗,是救治继发性MMA,改善其预后的关键。对于妊娠期贫血的母亲,更应注意维生素B_(12)缺乏的可能性,以免导致婴儿罹患继发性MMA。     

左卡尼汀治疗小儿心肌病的疗效观察

目的:探讨左卡尼汀治疗小儿心肌病临床疗效及对血浆游离肉碱水平的影响.方法:研究对象选取收治的小儿心肌病患儿共100例,以随机抽签法分为对照组(50例)和治疗组(50例),分别在常规对症干预基础上采用大剂量维生素C单用治疗和与左卡尼汀联用治疗;比较两组患儿临床疗效,治疗前后CK-Mb、cTnI及血浆左旋肉碱水平等.结果:治疗组患儿临床疗效显著优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗组患儿治疗后CK-Mb和cTnI水平均显著低于对照组和治疗前,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗组患儿治疗后血浆左旋肉碱水平均显著高于对照组和治疗前,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论:左卡尼汀治疗小儿心肌病可有效减轻临床症状体征,保护心脏功能,并有助于提高血浆游离肉碱水平.     

海南省某医院337例NICU患儿串联质谱结果分析

目的探讨串联质谱法对NICU酸碱失衡住院患儿的检测价值,为NICU酸碱失衡患儿遗传代谢病的诊治提供依据。方法采用串联质谱技术,使用PE公司生产的非衍生化多种氨基酸、肉碱和琥珀酰丙酮测定试剂盒(串联质谱法)对海南省妇幼保健院新生儿科337例住院患儿展开氨基酸谱与肉碱谱分析,血串联质谱异常者送血样本至北京迈基诺基因公司做基因诊断,送尿样本至广州金域检验做尿气相质谱验证。结果337例住院患儿中血串联质谱检测到指标异常44例,其中疑似氨基酸血症12例,疑似有机酸血症18例,疑似脂肪酸血症14例,初筛IEM的患病率为13.1%(44/337)。目前已确诊1例同型半胱氨酸血症、2例苯丙酮尿症、1例高苯丙氨酸血症、1例甲基丙二酸血症、1例戊二酸血症I型、1例全羟化酶合成酶缺乏症、2例原发肉碱缺乏症。结论用串联质谱技术可以分析患儿的氨基酸谱与肉碱谱,为NICU酸碱失衡患儿遗传代谢病的诊治提供了依据。     

甲基丙二酸血症被误诊为血液系统疾病二例分析并文献复习

目的探讨甲基丙二酸血症(MMA)的临床特征及其被误诊为血液系统疾病的原因，并进行相关文献复习。 方法选择2016年11月2日及2017年2月25日，于南京医科大学附属妇产医院收治的被误诊为血液系统疾病的2例MMA患儿为研究对象，其年龄分别为5个月与15岁。对这2例MMA患儿的诊疗过程进行回顾性分析。采用基于高通量测序技术的遗传代谢病基因Panel测序法对患儿家系进行致病基因突变分析。本研究遵循的程序符合2013年修订的《世界医学协会赫尔辛基宣言》要求。设定检索策略，以"甲基丙二酸血症""误诊""血常规""MMA"等为关键词，对万方数据库、中国知网等数据库中关于MMA的文献进行检索，设定检索时间为2000年1月1日至2017年12月31日。 结果①患儿1于出生后1个月时误诊为小细胞低色素性贫血，5个月时确诊为MMA。其血液高效液相色谱-串联质谱检测(HPLC-MS/MS)结果提示，丙酰肉碱(C3)浓度为3.2 μmoL/L，C3/乙酰肉碱(C2)为0.34，C3/游离肉碱(C0)为0.22；尿液气相色谱-质谱法(GC/MS)检测结果提示，尿甲基丙二酸值为20 μg/μmoL肌酐；血清同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)浓度为40 μmol/L。血常规检查结果显示，血红蛋白(Hb)为105 g/L。其基因检测结果提示，基因突变位点为MMACHC c．80G>A/c.609G>A。该例患儿最终被确诊为MMA合并高同型半胱氨酸血症，属于cblC型。②患儿2于出生后6个月误诊为血小板减少，15岁时确诊为MMA。其血液HPLC-MS/MS检查结果提示，C3浓度为7.22 μmo/L，C3/C2为0.32，C3/C0为0.82；尿液GC/MS检测结果提示尿甲基丙二酸值为14.02 μg/μmoL肌酐；血清Hcy浓度为80 μmol/L；血常规检查结果提示Hb为103 g/L，血小板计数为85×10⁹/L。其基因检测结果提示，基因突变位点为MMACHC c．482G>A/c.609G>A。该例患儿最终被确诊为MMA合并高同型半胱氨酸血症，属于cblC型。③2例患儿均被误诊为血液系统疾病并采取输血、给予铁剂和激素等对症治疗，均无明显临床疗效。2例患儿确诊为MMA后，给予羟钴胺肌内注射(1 mg/d)，以及左卡尼汀、甜菜碱、亚叶酸钙口服治疗1个月，复查血常规结果提示各项指标均在正常参考值范围，并且病情稳定。 结论MMA的临床表现无特异性，部分患儿易误诊为血液系统疾病，血液HPLC-MS/MS、尿液GC/MS和基因检测是诊断MMA的有效方法。     

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.