职业性锰暴露对男性工人血浆脑源性神经营养因子含量的影响

[目的]通过测定职业性锰暴露男性工人血浆脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)水平,探讨锰暴露对工人血浆BDNF含量的影响. [方法]选择广西某锰冶炼厂179名男性工人为暴露组,按锰累积暴露指数(CEI)分为低暴露组(CEI＜2.000,84名)和高暴露组(CEI≥2.000,95名),以同一地区某糖厂96名男性工人为对照组,对其进行一般情况调查和血浆BDNF含量的测定. [结果]控制年龄、民族等协变量后,该厂锰作业男性工人CEI与血浆BDNF含量呈负相关(r=-0.200,P＜0.05);两个暴露组人群血浆BDNF含量均低于对照组工人(均P＜0.01),高暴露组工人低于低暴露组(P＜0.05). [结论]职业性锰暴露可降低锰冶炼厂男性工人的血浆BDNF水平.     

职业性锰暴露对锰冶炼厂男性工人认知能力的影响

[目的]探讨不同职业锰暴露水平对锰冶炼厂工人认知能力的影响及其他可能影响其认知能力的因素.[方法]选择广西某锰冶炼厂240名男性冶炼工人为暴露组,按锰累积暴露指数(CEI)分为高暴露组(CEI≥2.000,86名)和低暴露组(CEI＜ 2.000,154名),以同一地区某糖厂240名男性工人为对照组,调查其一般情况,并采用北京版蒙特利尔认知评估调查问卷对认知能力进行调查. [结果]该厂锰作业男性工人CEI与认知能力呈负相关(r=-0.324,P＜0.05).控制年龄、婚姻状况等协变量后,暴露组工人认知能力低于对照组人群(P＜0.01),且高暴露组工人认知能力低于低暴露组(P＜0.05).多重线性回归分析显示,影响锰暴露工人认知能力的因素有:年龄、文化水平、CEI、吸烟指数(均P＜0.05).[结论]职业性锰暴露可能降低锰冶炼厂男性工人认知能力;此外,年龄、文化水平、吸烟也可影响锰冶炼工人的认知能力.     

电焊作业对工人神经行为功能的影响

目的探讨锰对电焊作业工人神经行为的影响。方法采用计算机神经行为评价系统(NESC3)中8个行为测试项目对91名电焊作业工人和49名对照组工人进行测试。同时对接触组、对照组作业环境空气中的锰浓度及所有受试者血锰浓度进行采样测定。结果接触组工人的符号译码、视简单反应时、视复杂反应时、目标追踪和情感状态中紧张、疲惫、有力的测试结果明显差于对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01);接触组血锰为(0.78±0.39)μmol/L,明显高于对照组血锰[(0.53±0.32)μmol/L],P<0.01;但接触组血锰浓度与工龄、神经行为测试结果无明显相关关系(P>0.05)。结论锰可引起工人情感状态、手眼协调能力、心理运动能力的改变,计算机神经行为测试可作为一种检测电焊工人神经系统早期损害的较合适的方法。     

锰接触工人神经行为改变与Parkin基因4号外显子多态性的关系

目的 探讨锰接触工人神经行为改变与Parkin基因4号外显子S/N167多态性的相关性.方法 选工龄在半年以上的职业性锰暴露工人200名和劳动强度相似,但工作环境不接触锰工人94名,按累积暴露指数将其分为高、低暴露组和对照组.利用沟槽稳定试验和拼板试验进行神经行为改变检测;利用PCR-RFLP法对Parkin基因4号外...     

噪声和锰接触对职业人群神经行为功能影响的研究

目的 探讨噪声与锰作业对工人神经行为功能的影响.方法 应用计算机神经行为评价系统(NES-C3)对87名噪声与锰联舍接触组、85名单纯噪声组和55名对照组工人进行测试,并对工作场所的噪声水平与空气锰浓度进行检测.结果 噪声和锰接触组工人在符号译码、视简单反应时、复杂反应时目标追踪和情感表达中的紧张、愤怒、疲惫、忧郁的测试结果与噪声接触组比较差异有显著性(P＜0.05),但血锰浓度、工龄与神经行为之间无明显相关关系.结论 噪声与锰对神经行为功能的联合作用效应比单一噪声所致的损害严重.     

锰接触工人神经行为改变与Parkin基因7号外显子多态性的关系

[目的]探讨锰接触工人神经行为改变与Parkin基因7号外显子Gly284Arg多态性的相关性. [方法]选工龄在半年以上的职业性锰暴露工人200名和劳动强度相似,但工作环境不接触锰工人94名,按猛累积暴露指数将其分为高、低猛暴露组和对照组.利用沟槽稳定试验和拼板试验进行神经行为改变检测;利用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)方法对Parkin基因7号外显子多态性位点进行基因分型. [结果]高暴露组中,Parkin基因7号外显子CC型工人的划痕长度、拼板试验得分均低于GG型和GC型,而碰撞次数高于GG型和GC型,其差别有统计学意义(P＜0.05);低暴露组中,Parkin基因7号外显子CC型工人的划痕长度、拼板试验得分均低于GG型和GC型,其差别有统计学意义(P＜0.05),3个基因型工人碰撞次数间差别无统计学意义(P＞0.05);对照组中,Parkin基因7号外显子3个基因型划痕长度、碰撞次数、拼板试验得分之间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05). [结论]环境因素和遗传因素共同作用更易导致锰引起神经行为改变;携带Parkin基因7号外显子CC基因型的工人是锰损伤的易感者;Parkin基因7号外显子G951C突变导致Gly284Arg多态性有可能作为检测锰致神经行为改变以及锰中毒风险评估的指标.     

印刷作业对工人神经行为功能的影响

目的　通过对印刷作业场所的职业卫生调查 ,探讨印刷作业对工人神经行为功能的影响。方法　采用世界卫生组织推荐的神经行为核心测试组合 (NCTB) ,分别对某印刷厂 76名同时暴露于正己烷、混苯 (苯、甲苯、二甲苯 )的工人 (暴露组A)与 5 9名暴露于混苯的工人 (暴露组B)以及 5 1名不接触任何职业有害因素的工人 (对照组 )进行神经行为功能测试。结果　两暴露组在紧张 焦虑、困惑 迷茫、手提转捷度、目标追踪的错误打点数、数字跨度方面与对照组相比差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 ) ,两暴露组之间各项指标差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。结论　印刷作业环境中正己烷及混苯对工人的神经行为功能可产生一定的影响     

锰的累积接触水平与神经行为功能改变的剂量-效应关系

旨在探讨锰的累积暴露水平与神经行为改变之间的剂量效应关系。对１３９名锰铁冶炼工人和９３名电焊工人进行了研究。研究内容包括空气锰采样测定和神经行为功能测定;同时依据空气锰浓度和接触工龄计算出累积接触指数。相关分析发现神经行为功能改变与累积接触水平之间存在剂量效应关系。     

甲苯作业对工人神经行为功能的影响

对接触甲苯工人(暴露组)和对照组工人采用神经行为核心测试组合(NCTB)进行神经行为测试。结果暴露组在目标追踪、数字译码、数字跨度及视觉记忆测试等方面与对照组相比差异有显著性(P<0.05)。说明接触甲苯对作业工人的神经行为功能可产生一定的影响。     

接触甲苯、二甲苯人群计算机神经行为测试结果分析

[目的 ]　通过使用计算机神经行为测试系统项目的测试 ,探讨甲苯、二甲苯对职业工人神经行为功能的影响。　 [方法 ]　采用中文版神经行为测试系统中 9个测试项目和 3套不同参数的方案对职业性接触甲苯、二甲苯的 58名工人和对照组 70名工人进行测试。同时对作业环境空气中混苯浓度和作业工人尿中马尿酸水平进行测试。　 [结果 ]　作业环境中甲苯浓度 0 .81～ 1 71 .2 2mg/m3,平均 51mg/m3。二甲苯为 4 .57～ 1 60mg/m3,平均 2 0 .4mg/m3。心算、目标追踪、连续识别记忆、视简单反应时和注意力调转项目接触组和对照组差异有显著性。　 [结论 ]　甲苯、二甲苯可引起职业接触工人心理运动能力、计算能力、记忆能力和协调能力的改变     

Calcium intake in the elderly: validation of a dietary questionnaire

Epidemiological studies of calcium and osteoporosis have been hampered by the lack of a suitable tool for assessing calcium intake. This report describes a new frequency and amount questionnaire for measuring present and past calcium intake in the elderly. The validity of the questionnaire was tested against two commonly used standards of dietary assessment, five-day duplicate diets and seven-day weighed dietary inventories. The resulting correlation coefficients were, respectively, r = 0.76 and r = 0.69, while that for repeatability was r = 0.84. Furthermore, the questionnaire categorized subjects into thirds of the distribution of intake with almost no gross misclassification. It is suggested that the present findings may be extended to the majority of normal, healthy elderly subjects, implying wide application for the questionnaire in the assessment of calcium intake in the elderly.     

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.     

深圳公立医院管理体制改革制度设计

深圳公立医院管理体制改革实行政事分开、管办分开,在理事会架构下按法定机构模式组建市医管中心,落实公立医院运营管理自主权.作者从当前公立医院管理体制的弊端入手,介绍了深圳市进行公立医院管理体制改革的基本思路及改革方案设计的主要举措,深入剖析了的改革方案的特点,并对改革效果进行了预测.     

Effects of nitrogen dioxide on red blood cells of rats: Changes in components of red cell membranes during in vivo exposure to NO2

Red cell membranes, prepared from red blood cells of rats exposed to 4, 10, or 20 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) for 1 to 10 days, were examined for evidence of changes in membrane components. Appreciable changes were not found in contents of phospholipid and cholesterol during exposure to 10 ppm NO₂. By contrast, protein content altered with the time of exposure. Moreover, changes in protein composition were observed by employing sodium dodecyl sulfate — polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Twenty-four-hour exposure to NO₂ at the concentration above 10 ppm resulted in a marked increase in the percentage of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE) to the total phospholipids. The prolonged exposure to 10 ppm NO₂ gave rise to a further increase in LysoPE, whereas the percentage of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) showed a gradual decrease. A 1-day exposure to 4.0 ppm NO₂ also caused an increase in sialic acid content and decreases in those of PE and hexose. In addition to contents of these components the percentage of LysoPE increased 5 days after exposure and the elevated values were maintained up to the end of exposure period. These results demonstrate that red blood cells in circulation exhibit different membrane properties in terms of lipid and carbohydrate composition during 10 days of exposure to 4.0 ppm NO₂.     

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.