Liver functions in silica-exposed workers in Egypt: possible role of matrix remodeling and immunological factors

Abstract

Background:

Brick manufacturing constitutes an important industrial sector in Egypt with considerable exposure to silica.

Objectives:

We aimed for evaluating hepatic functions in silica-exposed workers in the clay brick industry, and the possible role of matrix remodeling and immunological factors.

Methods:

A case–control study, 87 workers as exposed and 45 as control subjects. Questionnaire, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations: liver functions, matrix metalloproteinase-9, immunoglobulins G and E, and anti-liver kidney microsomal antibody.

Results:

In the exposed workers, mean levels of liver functions, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and IgG and IgE were significantly higher. In the silicotic subgroup the mean level of GGT was almost twice the level in the non-silicotic subjects. Logistic regression showed that abnormal GGT and ALT were associated with production workers.

Conclusion:

Workers in the clay brick industry showed evidence of liver disease that could be related to matrix remodeling.     

Processus,procédures et critères d’évaluation conduisant à la mise sur la liste d’aptitude aux fonctions de Maître de conférences des universités – praticien hospitalier (MCU-PH) et de professeur des universités – praticien hospitalier (PU-PH) en anesthésie-réanimation

Since several decades, anesthesia care and intensive care, as well, are engaged in the way of excellence in clinical care and research. This requirement is also applied for the selection of professor and academic workers. The goals of this article are twice: first to diffuse this knowledge at the medical community and second to describe in details the long process leading to the final appointment.     

沙井街道1019例外来女工人工流产原因调查

目的 调查沙井街道外来女工人工流产的原因.方法 选取2012年1～12月于本院社康中心行人工流产的1019例外来女工为研究对象,将其中不同年龄段和文化程度人员的流产原因和相关知识掌握情况进行比较.结果 文化程度低和低年龄段人员流产原因主要为未采取避孕措施,其相关知识掌握情况也较文化程度高和高年龄段的妇女差,其差异均具有统计学意义(P均＜0.05).结论 沙井街道外来女工人工流产的主要原因为未采取避孕措施和对相关知识掌握较差,应给予重点干预.     

某二级综合医院女职工孕期劳动保护需求情况调查

目的:了解上海市某二级甲等综合医院女职工孕期劳动保护需求情况。方法:便利抽取上海市某二级甲等综合医院的392名女职工,运用女职工孕期劳动保护需求调查表进行问卷调查。结果:孕期休长假需求情况:23.1%的女职工认为怀孕后需全程休假,61.4%的女职工认为需根据身体及岗位而定;孕期工间休息需求情况:87.4%的女职工认为怀孕后需全程安排工间休息,且希望孕早、中期工间休息的时间为30分钟,7个月后工间休息的时间为60分钟;生育后岗位安排:83.4%的女职工希望生育后回原岗位。不同职业、科室及是否准备生二胎情况的女职工其孕期全程休假需求率比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05),职业为护士、科室为病房、准备生二胎的女职工孕期休长假需求较高。结论:医院相关部门应做好女职工孕期劳动保护工作,在保障女职工休息、休假及生育待遇方面权利的同时,采取合理措施,通过人性化排班制度,提供多元化的岗位选择及加强工间休息等举措来调动女职工的工作积极性,降低女职工孕期全程休假事件的发生率,以有效利用有限的人力资源。     

Supervision of Lesbian,Gay, and Bisexual Social Work Students by Heterosexual Field Instructors

Abstract

This paper describes findings from a qualitative study of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) student-heterosexual field instructor dyads. Each dyad was assessed for its level of agreement in characterizing the student's experience in field placement. Disagreements were common, with more than half of the dyads having 2–5 areas of disagreement. The following factors seemed to impact the level of student-field instructor agreement: the field instructor supervisory style, the quality of the student-field instructor relationship, field instructor comfort with addressing LGB development and practice issues, the student's perception of the agency climate as gay-friendly, and the student's level of disclosure and stage in coming out.     

The influence of demographics and working conditions on self-reported injuries among Latino day laborers

Abstract

Background: The majority of day laborers in the USA are Latinos. They are engaged in high-risk occupations and suffer high occupational injury rates.

Objectives: To describe on-the-job injuries reported by Latino day laborers, explore the extent that demographic and occupational factors predict injuries, and whether summative measures for total job types, job conditions, and personal protective equipment (PPE) predict injuries.

Methods: A community survey was conducted with 327 participants at 15 corners in Houston, Texas. Hierarchical and multiple logistic regressions explored predictors of occupational injury odds in the last year.

Results: Thirty-four percent of respondents reported an occupational injury in the previous year. Education, exposure to loud noises, cold temperatures, vibrating machinery, use of hard hats, total number of job conditions, and total PPE significantly predicted injury odds.

Conclusion: Risk for injury among day laborers is not only the product of a specific hazard, but also the result of their exposure to multiple occupational hazards.     

Public Response to Elevated Nitrate in Drinking Water Wells in Wisconsin

The authors conducted a survey by mail of Wisconsin families who had their well water tested for nitrate to (a) assess their awareness and compliance with the state's health advisories for nitrate, (b) evaluate their reaction(s) to their test results, and (c) compare demographic differences between exposure levels. Owners of contaminated wells (i.e., > 12.9 mg/l nitrate-nitrogen) were more likely to have lived on a farm, had lower annual incomes, and had older and shallower wells than families whose wells were low in nitrate (i.e., < 2.0 mg/l nitrate-nitrogen). Most respondents were aware of the advisories for pregnant women and infants and, in accordance with these advisories, the majority of families with nitrate-contaminated drinking water took no remedial action. Given that many rural families consume nitrate-contaminated water daily, scientists should conduct additional research to determine whether chronic ingestion of nitrate-contaminated water poses a significant health threat to these families.