Physical occupational exposures during working life and quality of life after labour market exit: results from the GAZEL study

Objective: To investigate variations in quality of life at older ages, we take a life course perspective to analyse long-term effects of physical working conditions upon quality of life after retirement. In doing so, we study to what extent these associations are explained by individuals’ health at older ages.

Method: We use administrative data and self-administered questionnaire responses from the French GAZEL cohort. Quality of life was assessed with CASP-19 in 2009 and related to three types of physical working conditions during previous working life: (1) ergonomic strain, (2) physical danger and (3) exposures to chemicals. Health was assessed in 2007 with the SF-36 Health Survey. Multiple regressions were calculated in retired men only, controlling for important confounders including social position.

Results: In contrast to men, few women were exposed to strenuous and dangerous working conditions in this cohort and were not included in subsequent analyses. Negative effects on retired men's quality of life were found for the physical occupational exposures of ergonomic strain and physical danger, but not for chemical exposures. Effects were attenuated after the introduction of physical and mental health to the models, indicating an indirect effect of physical working conditions upon quality of life via health.

Conclusion: Adverse physical working conditions have long-term consequences for health and quality of life at older ages. Improvements to physical working conditions may improve individuals’ quality of life over the long term.     

Alveolar macrophages from overweight/obese subjects with asthma demonstrate a proinflammatory phenotype

Rationale: Obesity is associated with increased prevalence and severity of asthma. Adipose tissue macrophages can contribute to the systemic proinflammatory state associated with obesity. However, it remains unknown whether alveolar macrophages have a unique phenotype in overweight/obese patients with asthma. Objectives: We hypothesized that leptin levels would be increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from overweight/obese subjects and, furthermore, that leptin would alter the response of alveolar macrophages to bacterial LPS. Methods: Forty-two subjects with asthma and 46 healthy control subjects underwent research bronchoscopy. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 66 was analyzed for the level of cellular inflammation, cytokines, and soluble leptin. Cultured primary macrophages from 22 subjects were exposed to LPS, leptin, or leptin plus LPS. Cytokines were measured in the supernatants. Measurements and Main Results: Leptin levels were increased in overweight/obese subjects, regardless of asthma status (P = 0.013), but were significantly higher in overweight/obese subjects with asthma. Observed levels of tumor necrosis factor-α were highest in overweight/obese subjects with asthma. Ex vivo studies of primary alveolar macrophages indicated that the response to LPS was most robust in alveolar macrophages from overweight/obese subjects with asthma and that preexposure to high-dose leptin enhanced the proinflammatory response. Leptin alone was sufficient to induce production of proinflammatory cytokines from macrophages derived from overweight/obese subjects with asthma. Conclusions: Ex vivo studies indicate that alveolar macrophages derived from overweight/obese subjects with asthma are uniquely sensitive to leptin. This macrophage phenotype, in the context of higher levels of soluble leptin, may contribute to the pathogenesis of airway disease associated with obesity.     

A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Performance of the Test Strip Technology for OneTouch Verio Glucose Meter Systems

Abstract Background: OneTouch(?) Verio(?) test strips (LifeScan Inc., Milpitas, CA) are designed to minimize error when used in blood glucose monitoring systems. These strips have a specialized architecture and incorporate a sophisticated waveform and proprietary algorithm. Materials and Methods: Performance of OneTouch Verio test strips was assessed in the laboratory in the presence of a wide range of patient, environmental, and pharmacologic factors. A clinical evaluation was conducted in which 296 patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) performed glucose testing using OneTouch Verio test strips and OneTouch VerioIQ meters. Results: In the laboratory study, OneTouch Verio test strip results achieved a high level of performance over a wide range of hematocrit (19-61%), temperature (5-45(°)C), humidity (10-90% relative humidity), and altitude (0-3,048?m) conditions. Performance was not affected by 22 of 23 chemical compounds. In the clinical study, 100% (31/31) of lay-user test results were within ±10?mg/dL of reference values for blood glucose <75?mg/dL. At blood glucose ≥75?mg/dL, 99.2% (243/245) were within ±15% of reference values. A feature of the VerioIQ meter, PatternAlert(?) Technology, was correctly used and positively evaluated by >98% of lay users. Conclusions: OneTouch Verio test strips are accurate and precise over a wide range of patient, environmental, and pharmacologic conditions. In addition, lay-users were able to successfully use the OneTouch VerioIQ PatternAlert Technology without HCP training.     

Health and wellbeing of Victorian adults with intellectual disability compared to the general Victorian population

Multiple measures of health and wellbeing of people with intellectual disability (ID) and the general Victorian population were compared using representative population level data. The sample consisted of adults with ID (N = 897) and the general Victorian population (N = 34,168) living in the state of Victoria in Australia. Proxy respondents were interviewed on behalf of people with ID, while respondents from the general Victorian population were interviewed directly. The data were weighted to reflect the age/sex/geographic distribution of the population. Results revealed that adults with ID reported higher prevalence of poor social determinants of health, behavioural risk factors, depression, diabetes, poor or fair health. A higher proportion of people with ID reported blood pressure and blood glucose checks, while a lower proportion reported cervical and breast cancer screening, compared with the general Victorian population. The survey identified areas where targeted approaches may be undertaken to improve the health outcomes of people with ID and provide an important understanding of the health and wellbeing of these Victorians.