GLORIA

GEOMAR Library Ocean Research Information Access

X
feed icon rss

Your email was sent successfully. Check your inbox.

An error occurred while sending the email. Please try again.

Proceed reservation?

Export
  • 1
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Psychoactive substance use in truck drivers: occupational health and public health (2013)
    BMJ Publishing Group
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-12-07
    Description: The review on psychoactive substance use among truck drivers by Girotto et al 1 is important from the occupational health perspective, but also has consequences from the broader public health perspective. After commenting on the review's methodology related to its findings, this commentary pays attention to both perspectives. Relevant papers for inclusion in the review were searched systematically and results of the included studies were synthesised independently by two researchers. The authors wisely decided to stratify the results from studies relying on self-reported information and those using biological samples. Still, the observed prevalence of intake of psychoactive substances showed a very large range in both strata. For example, self-reported alcohol intake varied from 9.9% (‘while driving’, Pakistan) up to 91.0% (‘current’, Brazil), and the use of amphetamines analysed from biological samples ranged from 0.2% (Norway) to 82.5% (Thailand). Apart from empirical variation across different truck driver...
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 2
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Respiratory disease mortality among US coal miners; results after 37 years of follow-up (2013)
    BMJ Publishing Group
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-12-07
    Description: Objectives To evaluate respiratory related mortality among underground coal miners after 37 years of follow-up. Methods Underlying cause of death for 9033 underground coal miners from 31 US mines enrolled between 1969 and 1971 was evaluated with life table analysis. Cox proportional hazards models were fitted to evaluate the exposure-response relationships between cumulative exposure to coal mine dust and respirable silica and mortality from pneumoconiosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Results Excess mortality was observed for pneumoconiosis (SMR=79.70, 95% CI 72.1 to 87.67), COPD (SMR=1.11, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.24) and lung cancer (SMR=1.08; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.18). Coal mine dust exposure increased risk for mortality from pneumoconiosis and COPD. Mortality from COPD was significantly elevated among ever smokers and former smokers (HR=1.84, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.22; HR K =1.52, 95% CI 0.98 to 2.34, respectively) but not current smokers (HR=0.99, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.28). Respirable silica was positively associated with mortality from pneumoconiosis (HR=1.33, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.33) and COPD (HR=1.04, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.52) in models controlling for coal mine dust. We saw a significant relationship between coal mine dust exposure and lung cancer mortality (HR=1.70; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.83) but not with respirable silica (HR=1.05; 95% CI 0.90 to 1.23). In the most recent follow-up period (2000–2007) both exposures were positively associated with lung cancer mortality, coal mine dust significantly so. Conclusions Our findings support previous studies showing that exposure to coal mine dust and respirable silica leads to increased mortality from malignant and non-malignant respiratory diseases even in the absence of smoking.
    Keywords: Respiratory
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 3
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Effort-reward imbalance and medically certified absence for mental health problems: a prospective study of white-collar workers (2013)
    BMJ Publishing Group
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-12-07
    Description: Objective Little is known about the effects of psychosocial work factors on objectively assessed mental health problems leading to medically certified absence. Only one study has evaluated the prospective effects of effort–reward imbalance (ERI) at work with regards to this outcome. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of ERI on the incidence of medically certified absence for mental health problems. Methods The study included 2086 white-collar workers (63.3% women) employed in public organisations in Quebec city. Participants were followed over a 9-year period. Medical absences from work were collected from employers’ files and psychosocial factors were measured using the ERI questionnaire. Cox regression models were used to estimate the incidence of certified sickness absence due to mental health problems that lasted 5 workdays or more, while controlling for confounders. Results Workers exposed to ERI had a higher risk of a first spell of medically certified absence for mental health problems (HR=1.38, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.76) compared with unexposed workers. Low reward was significantly associated with a high risk among men (HR=2.80, 95% CI 1.34 to 5.89) but not in women. (HR=1.24, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.73). Effort at work had no effect on certified absence. All these effects were adjusted for potential confounders. Conclusions ERI and low reward at work were prospectively associated with medically certified absence for mental health problems. These effects seem to differ by gender. Primary prevention that is aimed at reducing these stressors should be considered to help reduce the incidence of such severe mental health problems.
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 4
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Research into 'night shift work' and cancer: on the evolution of 'exposure' classification (2013)
    BMJ Publishing Group
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-12-07
    Description: Grundy et al 1 provided a diligent study into possible links between long-term shift work and incident breast cancer. Their investigation contributes to the evolution of research in a field of considerable relevance to occupational and environmental health. This is particularly true with regard to reducing ‘exposure’ classification errors by capturing diverse shift patterns and temporal details of the latter. Intriguingly, from a chronobiological perspective, there may be room for further improvements of classifying ‘exposure’; to examine this notion, we must answer a key question: what is the exposure-of-interest in this and in similar studies? The authors start out from the 2007 evaluation by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): "shift-work that involves circadian disruption [CD] is probably carcinogenic to humans". 2 Clearly, not shiftwork per se but exposure to shiftwork involving CD has been identified as a probable cancer culprit. CD, while neither...
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 5
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    An extensive epidemiological investigation of a kidney cancer cluster in a chemical plant: what have we learned? (2013)
    BMJ Publishing Group
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-12-07
    Description: Objectives In 2003, a cluster of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cases was reported among men working at a French chemical plant using a proprietary process to produce vitamin A. The 10 index cases yielded a standardised incidence ratio of 13.1 for 1994–2002. Nine of these 10 cases were diagnosed by a plant-specific abdominal ultrasonography screening programme that targeted exposure to an intermediate chemical, 4-chloro-1,1-dimethoxy-3-methyl-2-butene, commonly named ‘chloracetal C5’, suspected as the cause by some experts. Epidemiological investigations sought to examine the relations between occupational exposures and RCC. Methods A retrospective cohort mortality study and a nested case–control study were conducted. The cohort study included all workers who had been employed at the plant for at least 6 months between 1960 and 2003. The case–control study included an extensive search within the region for other kidney cancer cases among the cohort members. Industrial hygienists assessed occupational exposure. Results From 1968 to 2006, no significant excess mortality was observed for all causes of death or for all cancers. We found excess mortality for kidney cancer only among women. The nested case–control study showed a dose–response relation for cumulative exposure to chloracetal C5: the OR rose from 2.5 in the low-exposure category to 10.5 in the high-exposure group. Adjustment for screening attenuated this relation. Conclusions The results of the case–control study were consistent with the positive results of in vivo genotoxic tests and suggest that chloracetal C5 can have a causal role in RCC.
    Keywords: Other exposures
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 6
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Are all-cause and diagnosis-specific sickness absence, and sick-leave duration risk indicators for suicidal behaviour? A nationwide register-based cohort study of 4.9 million inhabitants of Sweden (2013)
    BMJ Publishing Group
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-12-07
    Description: Objectives Recent studies have found an increased risk of suicide in people on sickness absence, but less is known about to what extent diagnosis-specific sickness absence is a risk indicator for suicidal behaviour. This study aimed to examine all-cause and diagnosis-specific sickness absence and sick-leave duration as risk indicators for suicide attempt and suicide. Methods This is a population-based prospective cohort study. All non-retired adults (n=4 923 404) who lived in Sweden as on 31 December 2004 were followed-up for 6 years regarding suicide attempt and suicide (2005–2010). HRs and 95% CIs for suicidal behaviour were calculated, using people with no sick-leave spells in 2005 as reference. Results In analyses adjusted for sociodemographic factors and previous mental healthcare, suicide attempt and current antidepressants prescription, sickness absence predicted suicide attempt (HR 2.37; 95% CI 2.25 to 2.50 for women; HR 2.69; 95% CI 2.53 to 2.86 for men) and suicide (HR 1.91; 95% CI 1.60 to 2.29 for women; HR 1.92; 95% CI 1.71 to 2.14 for men), particularly mental sickness absence (range of HR: 2.74–3.64). The risks were also increased for somatic sickness absence, for example, musculoskeletal and digestive diseases and injury/poisoning (range of HR: 1.57–3.77). Moreover, the risks increased with sick-leave duration. Conclusions Sickness absence was a clear risk indicator for suicidal behaviour, irrespective of sick-leave diagnoses, among women and men. Awareness of such risks is recommended when monitoring sickness certification. Further studies are warranted in order to gain more detailed knowledge on these associations.
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 7
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Genes involved in innate immunity associated with asbestos-related fibrotic changes (2013)
    BMJ Publishing Group
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-12-07
    Description: Objectives To determine whether genetic polymorphisms in several candidate genes related to innate immunity and protease–antiprotease balance modify individual susceptibility to develop asbestos-related fibrotic pleuropulmonary changes. Methods Sixteen polymorphisms from nine genes ( NLRP3 , CARD8 , TNF , TGFB1 , GC , MMP1 , MMP9 , MMP12 and TIMP2 ) were genotyped from 951 Finnish asbestos-exposed workers. The genotype/haplotype data were compared to signs of fibrosis and pleural thickenings using linear and logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders. Results A functional polymorphism (Q705K; rs35829419) in the NLRP3 gene was associated with interstitial lung fibrosis (p=0.013), and the TGFB1 rs2241718 SNP with visceral pleural fibrosis (VPF) (p=0.044). In stratified analysis, the carriage of at least one NLRP3 variant allele conferred a 2.5-fold increased risk for pathological interstitial lung fibrosis (OR 2.44, 95% CI 0.97 to 6.14). Conversely, the carriage of at least one TGFB1 rs2241718 variant allele protected against VPF (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.98). The TIMP 2 rs2277698 SNP and a haplotype consisting of the TGFB1 rs1800469 and rs1800470 SNPs were associated with the degree of pleural thickening calcification (p=0.037 and p=0.035), and the CARD8 rs2043211 SNP with the greatest thickness of pleural plaques (p=0.015). Conclusions Our results support the hypothesis that the NLRP3 inflammasome is important in the development of fibrotic lung disease by associating the NLRP3 rs35829419 variant allele with increased risk of asbestos-related interstitial lung fibrosis, and the TGFB1 rs2241718 variant allele with decreased risk of asbestos-related VPF. Polymorphisms in CARD8 and TIMP2 are proposed to modify the development and/or calcification of pleural thickenings.
    Keywords: Open access
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 8
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Psychoactive substance use by truck drivers: a systematic review (2013)
    BMJ Publishing Group
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-12-07
    Description: The aim of this study was to summarise the scientific evidence on the prevalence of psychoactive substance use and on the factors associated with their intake among truck drivers. A systematic review was performed in the databases PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences, and Cochrane and 36 cross-sectional studies were identified with quantitative results about the use of psychoactive substances by truck drivers. Out of these, 28 were carried out in countries with large land areas and 23 obtained their information through self-reporting. The most frequently studied substances were alcohol (n=25), amphetamines (n=17), marijuana (n=16) and cocaine (n=13). The prevalence of the use of these substances greatly varied: alcohol (0.1–91.0%); amphetamines (0.2–82.5%), marijuana (0.2–29.9%), cocaine (0.1–8.3%). The frequency of substance use was lower in studies that investigated the presence of these substances in biological samples than in those based on self-reported use. In 12 studies that evaluated factors associated with the intake of psychoactive substances, the following stood out: younger age, higher income, longer trips, alcohol consumption, driving in the night shift, travelling interstate routes, long or short sleep, fewer hours of rest, little experience of the driver, connection with small and medium sized companies, income below levels determined by labour agreements, productivity-based earnings and prior involvement in accidents. The frequency of psychoactive substance use by truck drivers seems to be high, although that greatly varies according to the type of substance and the method of collecting the information. The use of these substances was mainly associated with indicators of poor working conditions.
    Keywords: Open access
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 9
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Effects of an exercise programme on preventing neck pain among office workers: a 12-month cluster-randomised controlled trial (2013)
    BMJ Publishing Group
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-12-07
    Description: Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an exercise programme focusing on muscle stretching and endurance training on the 12-month incidence of neck pain in office workers. Methods A 12-month prospective cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted in healthy office workers with lower-than-normal neck flexion movement or neck flexor endurance. Participants were recruited from 12 large-scale enterprises. A total of 567 healthy office workers were randomly assigned at the cluster level into either intervention (n=285) or control (n=282) groups. Participants in the intervention group received an exercise programme that included daily stretching exercise and twice-a-week muscle endurance training. Those in the control group received no intervention. The primary outcome measure was the 12-month incidence of neck pain, and the secondary outcome measures were pain intensity, disability level, and quality of life and health status. Analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard models. Results Over the 12-month follow-up, 12.1% of participants in the intervention group and 26.7% in the control group developed incident neck pain. Hazard rate ratios showed a protective effect of the exercise programme for neck pain (HR=0.45, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.71) after adjusting for biopsychosocial factors. There was no significant difference in pain intensity, disability and quality of life and health status between those who reported incident neck pain in the intervention and control groups. Conclusions The exercise programme reduced incident neck pain and increased neck flexion movement for office workers with lower-than-normal neck flexion movement.
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
  • 10
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Screenings and clusters: a cancer cluster in a chemical plant (2013)
    BMJ Publishing Group
    Details
    Publication Date: 2013-12-07
    Description: Iwatsubo et al 1 establish a strong link between workplace exposure from vitamin A synthesis and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Their paper highlights how evaluation of screening data can identify cancer clusters, and reminds us that thorough investigations of selected cancer clusters can promote scientific discovery and cancer prevention. In 1981, a French chemical plant began manufacturing vitamin A using a proprietary synthesis procedure ( Navis procedure). Technical difficulties led to significant worker exposures to an intermediate chemical— chloracetyl C5. Unrelated to the Navis procedure, in 1986, the plant established an abdominal ultrasound screening programme to detect liver tumours in workers previously exposed to vinyl chloride monomer. The screening programme was extended to cover chloracetyl C5 exposed workers in 1992. Screening identified RCC in 10 male plant workers during 1994 through 2002. 2 Nine of the men synthesised vitamin A. The reported standardised incidence ratio for RCC among...
    Print ISSN: 1351-0711
    Electronic ISSN: 1470-7926
    Topics: Medicine
    Published by BMJ Publishing Group
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    PAPER CURRENT
Close ⊗
This website uses cookies and the analysis tool Matomo. More information can be found here...