bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Present Relationship between Japanese Workers' Health Status and Lifestyle
Authors: Sakurada Ichiro , Okubo Yasushi , Suwazono Yasushi , Kobayashi Etsuko , Nogawa Koji , Kido Teruhiko , Kinouchi Natsuo
Published: February 2008

The Present Relationship between Japanese Workers' Health Status and Lifestyle: Ichiro Sakurada, et al. Department of Hygiene, Chiba University School of Medicine—To clarify the factors of lifestyle which are really relevant to present Japanese industrial workers' health, the relationship between physical or mental health status and lifestyle among workers of three different companies in Japan (2265 male) was investigated. The indices of physical health status investigated here were as follows: SBP, DBP, GOT, GPT,γ‐GTP, T‐CHO, TG, RBC, Hb. The index of mental health status was SDS. The explanatory variables were age, nine lifestyle factors, and obesity index. Age and obesity index were statistically significant to physical health status in the three companies. The relationship between health status and the other lifestyle factors differed among the three companies. The lifestyle factors which were significant to the mental health status differed among the three companies. These results suggest that the management of obesity may be the most important issue for present day Japanese industrial workers. But the focus of effective mental health education differed among the three companies.
Ecological Relationship between Mesothelioma Incidence/Mortality and Asbestos Consumption in Ten Western Countries and Japan
Authors: Takahashi Ken , Huuskonen Matti S , Tossavainen Antti , Higashi Toshiaki , Okubo Toshiteru , Rantanen Jorma
Published: February 2008

Ecological Relationship between Mesothelioma Incidence/Mortality and Asbestos Consumption in Ten Western Countries and Japan: Ken Takahashi, et al. Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health—The objective of the present study was to evaluate the ecological relationship between mesothelioma incidence/mortality and per capita asbestos consumption in ten Western countries and Japan. The two national indices used to assess the geographical correlation were the most recent incidence/mortality rate of mesothelioma for the population over 15 years of age, and the per capita asbestos consumption rate of approximately 10‐25 years ago for the population of ail ages at that time. Among the ten Western countries, a clear linear relationship was shown between the mesothelioma incidence/mortality rate and the preceding per capita asbestos consumption rate with the Spearman correlation coefficient at 0.70 (p=0.03), and R2‐value at 66%. However, the data‐point for Japan was situated apart from the linear relationship due to the lower mesothelioma mortality rate, and when combined with other Western countries, the significant relationship diminished. It is possible that the asbestos consumption curve for Japan in past years lagged behind that for the Western countries and the cumulative exposure effect has not yet reached the level that can be expected from other Western countries.
Self‐Reported Asthma and Respiratory Symptoms in Sewage Workers
Authors: Friis Lennart , Norbäck Dan , Edling Christer
Published: February 2008

Self‐Reported Asthma and Respiratory Symptoms in Sewage Workers: Lennart Friis, et al. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden—To investigate whether Swedish sewage workers have an increased risk of respiratory symptoms or diseases. In a cross‐sectional study, 149 sewage workers and 138 referents, selected from among other municipal workers, were given a self‐administered questionnaire about asthma, atopy, smoking and symptoms from the airways, skin and eyes. Two‐by‐two statistics was used to compare proportions and logistic regression was used for multivariable analyses. The sewage workers reported significantly more adult asthma than the referents. The adjusted odds ratio for asthma during adulthood was 5.3 (95% confidence interval 1.1‐26) as determined from a multivariable logistic regression analysis when controlling for age, gender, atopic disposition and tobacco smoking. They also had increased risk, but not statistically significant, of some possibly asthma related symptoms and chronic bronchitis. There was no difference in atopic disposition based on a history of allergic diseases in childhood or in parents. Neither were there any differences in symptoms in the eyes or skin. Self‐reported asthma was more common among the sewage workers than other municipal workers. This might be caused by occupational exposure to irritant or inflammatory substances.
The Development of a Questionnaire to Assess the Attitude of Active Listening
Authors: Mishima Norio , Kubota Shinya , Nagata Shoji
Published: February 2008

The Development of a Questionnaire to Assess the Attitude of Active Listening: Norio Mishima, et al. Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences—Interpersonal relationships are widely recognized as a major source of job stress, and a mental health training program that incorporates active listening (AL) has attracted much attention in Japan. However, few methods are available to assess the attitude of AL easily. To develop a new questionnaire that can measure workers' person‐centered attitude (PCA), which is closely related to AL, we formulated a scale of 47 items that describe basic elements of the PCA and AL. This preliminary scale was administered to 536 workers (426 male and 95 female) at two manufacturing companies. Responses to the scale items were subjected to a principal factor analysis followed by a varimax rotation. A scree test suggested three meaningful factors, whose cumulative contribution was 81.2%. These factors were subsequently labeled as “Listening Attitude”, “Listening Skill”, and “Conversation Opportunity”. Both Cronbach's alphas and test‐retest reliabilities indicated that all three factors were highly reliable. To examine the validity of the scale, factor scores of lay persons (middle‐aged workers) were compared with those of 39 clinical therapists who specialize in psychosomatic medicine. Scores for all three factors were significantly higher for the therapists than for the lay persons. Of the three factors derived from the preliminary scale, the first and second showed remarkable differences between the groups and were retained for their usefulness for evaluating AL. The new scale, the Active Listening Attitude Scale (ALAS), is expected to be a useful instrument for various mental health programs to assess the PCA.
Experimental Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Induced by Fusarium kyushuense in Mice
Authors: Harada Koichi , Hara Shinichiro , Takeya Motohiro , Mahmoud Yehia A.‐G. , Ohmori Shoko , Wei Chang‐Nian , Nakagawa Takenobu , Ueda Atsushi
Published: February 2008

Experimental Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Induced by Fusarium kyushuense in Mice: Koichi Harada, et al. Department of Hygiene, Kumamoto University School of Medicine—Arecently described Fusarium species, Fusarium kyushuense, was isolated from dead leaves of egg plant in a greenhouse where a female farmer who developed hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) with progressing lung lesions had been working. The freeze dried fungus was exposed to specific pathogen‐free, 6‐week‐old female C57Black/6J mice under light ether anesthesia. Each mouse received 40 pi of the suspended fungal solution by dropping it onto its nostrils in 5 consecutive days a week for 4 wk. The control group received 40 μl of 0.1 M sterilized phosphate buffered saline. The mice were killed on the 4th day after the final exposure. The lung indices increased dose dependently in the fungus exposed mice groups. The specific IgG anti‐Fkyushuense levels in sera of the high dose group were significantly higher than in the control group (P <0.05 by Ryan's multiple comparison test). Histologically, the lungs of both low and high dose groups showed signs of atelectasis with granulomatous lesions containing multinuclear giant cells and activated macrophages. This is the first report that mice developed HP induced by repeated exposure to freeze dried F. kyushuense.
Body Mass Index as a Measure of Health Care for Japanese Male Office Workers
Authors: Nakanishi Noriyuki , Nakamura Koji , Suzuki Kenji , Tatara Kozo
Published: February 2008

Body Mass Index as a Measure of Health Care for Japanese Male Office Workers: Noriyuki Nakanishi, et al. Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Course of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine—Cross‐sectional associations between body mass index (BMI) and medical test items in health examinations were examined in 2,435 Japanese male office workers aged 20 to 59 yr in Osaka, Japan. From the logistic regression analyses, BMI showed a significant dose‐relationship for the high levels of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressures (DBP), total cholesterol (T‐CHOL), triglyceride, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (γ‐GTP), uric acid (UA), and hemoglobin A1c and the low levels of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, controlling for age and habits of drinking alcohol and smoking. The high levels of DBP, T‐CHOL, GOT, GPT, γ‐GTP and UA showed significant odds ratios (ORs) for 22.5 to 23.4 kg/m2 of BMI compared with 21.5 to 22.4 kg/m2 of BMI as the reference level. In the logistic regression analyses using the total number of abnormal findings in medical test items as a dependent variable, ORs for 22.5 to 23.4 kg/m2 of BMI relative to 21.5 to 22.4 kg/m2 of BMI were 1.49 [95% confidence interval (Cl): 1.01‐2.21] for one, 1.58 (95% Cl: 1.05‐2.36) for two, 3.31 (95% Cl: 1.86‐5.90) for three and 3.56 (95% Cl: 1.89‐6.72) for four or more. By contrast, there were no definite associations between the BMI levels of less than 21.5 kg/m2 and the total number of abnormal findings in medical test items. These results suggest that the optimal BMI level is 21.5 to 22.4 kg/m2 or somewhat below for promoting better health in this population.
Reduced Expression of the Inhibitory Genes for Fas‐Mediated Apoptosis in Silicosis Patients
Authors: Otsuki Takemi , Tomokuni Akiko , Sakaguchi Haruko , Hyodoh Fuminori , Kusaka Masayasu , Ueki Ayako
Published: February 2008

Reduced Expression of the Inhibitory Genes for Fas‐Mediated Apoptosis in Silicosis Patients: Takemi Otsuki, et al. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School—Silicosis cases are characterized not only by respiratory disorders but by various immunological abnormalities, but the cellular biological effects of silica compounds on human lymphocytes have not been well investigated. Our previous studies revealed high serum soluble Fas (sFas) levels in silicosis patients without any clinical symptoms of autoimmune disease and the dominant expression of sFas mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from these patients. These observations indicate that dysregulation of the Fas gene may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the immunological abnormalities found in silicosis patients. Recently several molecules with inhibitory or regulatory effects on Fas‐mediated apoptosis have been identified and their cellular biological roles investigated. We examined the mRNA expression of inhibitory genes (TOSO, sentrin, and cFLIP), regulatory genes (CPAN and DFF45), and caspases (caspase‐1, ‐3, and ‐8) in PBMC derived from silicosis patients. The results showed a reduced expression of sentrin, cFLIP and DFF45 and an overexpression of caspase‐1. Nevertheless, considering the remarkable dominant expression of sFas in silicosis, the dysregulation of inhibitory genes and caspase‐1 may be evidence of a Fas‐mediated apoptotic pathway activated via the remaining membrane Fas molecules in the PBMC of silicosis patients.
A Follow up Study on the Consequences of VWF Patients in Workers Using Chain Saws in Japanese National Forests
Authors: Futatsuka Makoto , Fukuda Yoshiharu , Uchino Makoto
Published: February 2008

A Follow up Study on the Consequences of VWF Patients in Workers Using Chain Saws in Japanese National Forests: Makoto Futatsuka, et al. Department of Public Health, Kumamoto University School of Medicine—The authors carried out more than 20 yr of follow up studies of vibration‐induced white finger (VWF) from the time the use of chain saws ceased. A total of 496 workers who were affected by VWF during the period 1955‐82 were followed up to observe the consequences of VWF. These subjects were selected from a total of 1,586 chain saw operators who had used chain saws as a professional operator during some of the years from 1955 to 1982 in the national forests on Kyushu Island, Japan. In 1997 the authors had verified the current status and the course of VWF by direct interviews. A life table Product Limit method analysis of VWF prevalence was carried out to describe the consequences of VWF from the time the use of chain saws ceased. Out of the total number of subjects it was possible to follow 488 workers (98.4%) to ascertain their current states. Fourhundred and eighty‐one (98.6%) workers had retired and of these 124 (25.4%) had died. The rate of prevalence of VWF fell continuously after the use of chain saw ceased from 29.3% to a final value of 18.8% after more than 20 years' observation. It was observed that the percentage prevalence depended significantly on the severity: 87% for the subjects with stage 3, 53% for stage 2 and 17% for stage 1. The time course of the rate of recovery from moderate VWF differed from that of severe VWF. Peripheral neuropathies and sympathetic disturbances were predominantly observed in severe stage VWF cases in pathophysiological examinations.
Habituation of Sleep to Road Traffic Noise Assessed by Polygraphy and Rating Scale
Authors: Xin Peng , Kawada Tomoyuki , Yosiaki Sasazawa , Suzuki Shosuke
Published: February 2008

Habituation of Sleep to Road Traffic Noise Assessed by Polygraphy and Rating Scale: Peng Xin, et al. Department of Public Health, Gunma University School of Medicine—The effects of road traffic noise on sleep and habituation of sleep to road traffic noise were assessed by polygraphic sleep parameters and self‐rated sleep scores. Seven male students aged 19 to 21 were tested each for a total of 17 nights by being exposed all night to recordings of road traffic noise with peak levels of Lmax=71.2 dB(A), Leq=49.6 dB(A) and LAE=94.1 dB(A) in an experiment room. Sleepiness, sleep maintenance, worry and integrated sleep feeling, which are subjective assessments, became worse and reaction time after sleep increased due to exposure to the noise. A significant increase in %Stage 1 and a decrease in %REM were observed, suggesting the road traffic noise had an effect on sleep. Habituation to road traffic noise during sleep was observed clearly in subjective sleep scores, but the polygraphic parameters showed little habituation to the noise with considerable individual variation.
Acute and Recurrent Hepatitis Induced by 2,2‐Dichloro‐1,1,1‐trifluoroethane (HCFC‐123)
Authors: Omae Kazuyuki , Takebayashi Torn , Tanaka Shigeru , Sasaki Keiko , Mtyauchi Hiroyuki , Kabe Isamu , Taneichi Koji , Shibaki Hidetoshi
Published: February 2008

Acute and Recurrent Hepatitis Induced by 2,2‐Dichloro‐1,1,1‐trifluoroethane (HCFC‐123): Kazuyuki Omae, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University—A 49‐yr‐old female cleaning worker first visited a hospital because of acute hepatitis. On admission, laboratory examination revealed severe hepatic damage (AST 2125 IU/L, ALT 2391 IU/L, LDH 1279 IU/L, t‐Bil 8.5 mg/d/), but failed to disclose any evidence of viral infection or morphological lesions. She recovered day by day without any specific treatment for hepatitis and was discharged one month later. On the 11th day after restarting her job, she was readmitted due to similar symptoms and signs. Serum biochemistry data again showed severe liver damage (AST 1354, ALT 1604, LDH 1119 t‐Bil 2.6). Histopathological diagnosis based on hepatic needle biopsy was chronic active hepatitis with diffuse infiltration of lymphocyte‐dominant inflammatory cells, bridging necrosis, intercellular fibrosis in a limited region, and with ballooning, degeneration, and/or necrosis of the hepatic cells. A job‐related cause was suspected and 2,2‐dichloro‐1,1,1‐trifluoroethane (HCFC‐123), which has been proven to cause acute hepatitis in humans, was detected in a dry‐cleaning solvent by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis. A job simulation experiment suggested that the concentration of the patient's exposure to HCFC‐123 exceeded 1,000 ppm during the busiest work period, which was sufficiently high to induce severe liver damage.
Effect of Truck Driving on Health of Japanese Middle Aged Male Workers of a Transport Company—Multiple Regression Analyses for Blood Pressure and HbA1C—
Authors: Suwazono Yasushi , Okubo Yasushi , Kobayashi Etsuko , Nogawa Koji
Published: February 2008

Effect of Truck Driving on Health of Japanese Middle Aged Male Workers of a Transport Company —Multiple Regression Analyses for Blood Pressure and HbA1c—: Yasushi Suwazono, et al. Department of Hygiene, School of Medicine, Chiba University—The effect on health of truck driving was investigated in a transport company. The study subjects consisted entirely of Japanese healthy male workers aged 40 yr or more (n=429) and were classified into the three occupations: truck driver, clerical worker, forklift truck driver and laborer. The truck drivers transport goods for short distances and work only in the daytime. The results of an annual health examination were used for comparing variables among occupations. The variables were tested by one‐way ANOVA. The percentages of abnormal findings were tested by chi‐square test. Multiple regression analyses were performed with SBP, DBP or HbA1c as the dependent variables and age, occupation, smoking, drinking, BMI, y‐GTP, T‐Cho or HbA1c as the independent variables. BMI of truck drivers and Hb of clerical workers were significantly higher than those of forklift truck drivers and laborers in ANOVA. The percentage of obesity (BMI>=26.4) was significantly different in the three occupations, with obesity being most frequent in clerical workers. Multiple regression analysis indicated that age, drinking, BMI and HbA1c were significantly associated with increased SBP. The analysis for DBP indicated that age, drinking and BMI were significantly associated with increased DBP, and smoking was associated with decreased DBP. The analysis for HbA1c indicated that age, BMI and T‐Cho were significantly associated with increased HbA1c. Occupation was not significant in these analyses, suggesting that the health effect of driving alone was relatively small in this company.
Safety and Health in Small‐Scale Enterprises and Bankruptcy during Economic Depression in Korea
Authors: Kim Ji‐Yong , Paek Domyung
Published: February 2008

Safety and Health in Small‐Scale Enterprises and Bankruptcy during Economic Depression in Korea: Ji‐Yong Kim, et al. Dongkuk University, School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine—On November 1997, Korea experienced a rather sudden economic depression after a shortage of foreign currency and downfall of foreign investment. This brought a sudden increase in the bankruptcy rate and also an increase in unemployment from the usual 2‐3% to over 10%. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of the antecedent health and safety status on the subsequent bankruptcy during economic depression. We were able to obtain the previous occupational health and safety records of 4,811 out of 5,010 companies which had received a financial subsidy from the government for occupational safety and health services during 1997. Based on the data of the Workmen's Insurance Corporation in Korea as of March 1999, we could identify the bankruptcy status of 3,980 companies altogether. When the results of the annual special workers' health examination, workplace environment measurement, and injury rate during 1996 were analyzed according to the survival status of the identified companies as of 1999, the bankrupt companies had significantly worse records in workplace environmental exposures and injury rates than the survived companies. Although the prevalence of noise‐induced hearing loss and heavy metal poisoning was higher in the bankrupt companies, the prevalence of pneumoconiosis was lower. The type of industry and the size were also analyzed and accounted for in the final analysis of the impact of safety and health status on the survival of the enterprises, and the results showed the same trends. These results suggest that companies run by better management with better health and safety records will experience less bankruptcy during economic downfall. When considering the long latency from the first exposure to the final manifestation, the higher prevalence of pneumoconiosis in the survived companies could be explained on the basis of the longer operation time and longer exposure duration.
Fatal Occupational Events in a Development Area in East China: 1991 to 1997
Authors: Zhu Jinliang , Xia Zhaolin , Christiani David C. , Sorock Gary S. , Ye Tingting , Courtney Theodore K. , Zhu Taokou , Wu Qingmin , Fu Hua
Published: February 2008

Fatal Occupational Events in a Development Area in East China: 1991 to 1997: Jinliang Zhu, et al. School of Public Health, Shanghai Medical University—We analyzed 383 occupational fatal events in a new development area in east China during the period 1991‐1997. Most of the events took place during the period 1994‐1997, because many large projects related to infrastructure development were ratified and implemented during that period. Extra working shifts on weekends were one of the risk factors in occupational fatalities. Falls, collisions, objects struck against, excavation cave‐ins and electrocution were most important types of injury and accounted for the majority of the multiple incident accident types. The most common equipment or environment involved was the work surface, structures being built, cranes, and electric and electronic devices. The most common setting was construction and most incidents occurred in construction. We suggest that the prevention and control of occupational fatalities requires a comprehensive approach which includes improvement of product design, modification of the man‐made environment, safety training, enforcement of relevant regulations and ergonomic controls.
A Cohort Study on Raynaud's Phenomenon in Workers Exposed to Low Level Hand‐Arm Vibration
Authors: Tomida Kotaro , Miyai Nobuyuki , Yamamoto Hiroichi , Mirbod Seyed Mohamad , Wang Tian‐Kui , Sakaguchi Shunji , Morioka Ikuharu , Miyashita Kazuhisa
Published: February 2008

A Cohort Study on Raynaud's Phenomenon in Workers Exposed to Low Level Hand‐Arm Vibration: Kotaro Tomida, et al. Department of Hygiene, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University—To clarify the incidence of Raynaud's phenomenon among workers exposed to low level hand‐arm vibration for a long time, a sample cohort of workers mainly operating a bush cleaner (the vibration level was 2‐4 m/s2rms) were followed up for a period of 20 yr. The sample cohort consisted of 331 male workers mainly working at maintaining public roads or afforesting and gardening on a farm. The examination was based on questionnaires used in special medical examinations for vibration syndrome from 1977 to 1996. Raynaud's phenomenon was observed in 11 subjects. The accumulative occurrence rate increased linearly in the case of more than 11 operating years. The mean number of operating years at the occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon was 11.7 ± 7.1 yr. The mean total operating time at the occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon was 3,756 h on the geometric average. Stockholm Workshop scale classified 1 subject as Stage 1 (mild), 4 subjects Stage 2 (moderate) and 6 subjects Stage 3 (severe). By the person‐year method, the incidence of Raynaud's phenomenon was 4.48 per 1000 person‐year. These findings show that the number of operating years for a bush cleaner should be considered to prevent Raynaud's phenomenon, even though the hand‐arm vibration level is low.
The Effects of Job‐Related Factors and Lifestyle on the Five‐Year Cumulative Incidence of Hypertension in Japanese Steelworkers
Authors: Okubo Yasushi , Miyamoto Toshiaki , Suwazono Yasushi , Kobayashi Etsuko , Nogawa Koji
Published: February 2008

The Effects of Job‐Related Factors and Lifestyle on the Five‐Year Cumulative Incidence of Hypertension in Japanese Steelworkers: Yasushi Okubo, et al. Department of Hygiene, School of Medicine, Chiba University—We conducted this epidemiological follow‐up study from 1990 to 1995 to clarify the effects of job‐related factors and/or lifestyle on the five‐year cumulative incidence of hypertension in Japanese normotensive steelworkers. The subjects were normotensive 3,061 males aged 40‐54 yr, and 2,249 subjects were followed‐up completely. Job‐related factors (job class, job type and promotion), lifestyle (salt intake, calorie intake, habitual exercise, alcohol consumption and smoking habit) and six subjective symptoms which were thought to be related to mental health were evaluated in relationship to the five‐year cumulative incidence of hypertension. The results of the multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that age, mean blood pressure in 1990, and promotion during the five‐year period were factors significantly related to hypertension. Odds ratios of age (per 1 year old), mean blood pressure (per 1 mmHg) were 1.08 and 1.19, respectively. Odds ratio of promoted workers to non‐promoted workers was 0.56. Promotion was related independently to the five‐year cumulative incidence of hypertension. No relationship between hypertension and other job‐related factors, blood findings or subjective symptoms was noted. In conclusion, our study suggested that age and mean blood pressure strongly influence the five‐year cumulative incidence of hypertension, and promotion reduced the risk of hypertension in male workers.
Change in Blood Volume in the Brain during a Simulated Aircraft Landing Task
Authors: Takeuchi Yoshinori
Published: February 2008

Change in Blood Volume in the Brain during a Simulated Aircraft Landing Task: Yoshinori Takeuchi. Department of Public Health, Kyorin University School of Medicine—The change in brain blood volume during a stressful task was measured by using Near Infra‐Red Spectroscopy (NIRS) which monitors concentration changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (Hb) levels in the brain. To operate a flight simulator is a complex task and well‐reflected real world, which is different from the task in a laboratory. Nine pilots landed a flight simulator in a crosswind of which the velocity was varied as four conditions from the light to strong. HbO2 obtained from left forehead was increased as a function of wind velocity. Few or no changes were seen in HbO2 from right forehead or Hb from both the left and right forehead. The results of this study showed that the brain blood volume was affected by mental stress which depended on the difficulty of the task. An assessment of mental stress may be able to monitor an increase in HbO2 in the left forehead by NIRS in the field.
Recovery from Mental Ill Health in an Occupational Setting: A Cohort Study in Japan
Authors: Mino Yoshio , Shigemi Jun , Tsuda Toshihide , Yasuda Nobufumi , Babazono Akira , Bebbington Paul
Published: February 2008

Recovery from Mental III Health in an Occupational Setting: A Cohort Study in Japan: Yoshio Mino, et al. Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Okayama University Medical School—Objectives: The purpose of this study is to clarify the degree of recovery from mental ill health in occupational settings and the nature of perceived job stress associated with recovery. Methods: A 1‐year cohort study was carried out in 287 of 763 workers who scored 8 or more on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐30), and the proportion recovering during the year was compared according to the presence of individual perceived job stress items. To control confounding factors, multiple logistic analysis was used. Results: Recovery from mental ill health was observed in 48.7% after the first 6 months and in 66.1% after 1 year. During the first 6‐month period, no identified job stress item was associated with recovery. During the second 6‐month period, however, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) between recovery and the absence of perceived job stress was 4.2 (1.3‐13.1) for “Too much responsibility”, even after controlling for sex, age, the degree of family life satisfaction, physical health state, and the initial GHQ score. Conclusion: Relief from excessive responsibility might promote recovery in mentally ill workers.
Working Accidents among Mill Operators in Small‐sized Factories Manufacturing Home Roof Tiles in Pejaten and Nyitdah Villages, Tabanan Regency Indonesia
Authors: Sutjana I.D.P.
Published: February 2008

Working Accidents among Mill Operators in Small‐sized Factories Manufacturing Home Roof Tiles in Pejaten and Nyitdah Villages, Tabanan Regency Indonesia: SUTJANA, I.D.P.: Department of Physiology, Udayana University—Hand presses and mills for making home roof tiles have been used since 1980 in small‐sized factories in Pejaten and Nyitdah villages. While the mills have such advantages as shortening the production process, reducing the physical workload and decreasing dust, working accidents caused by using the machines have increased. In December 1996, the heads of two villages, the owners and the operators of the machines were interviewed and the factories were inspected to clarify the relationships between machine use and working accidents. The results showed that the frequency of the accidents was not high but the injuries were severe due to machines with no safety covers and a lack of knowledge in safe machine operation.
Pesticide Poisoning among Farmers in a Rural Province of Korea
Authors: Sohn Seok‐Joon , Choi Jin‐Su
Published: February 2008

Pesticide Poisoning among Farmers in a Rural Province of Korea: Seok‐Joon Sohn, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and The Research Institute of Medical Science, Chonnam National University—Pesticide poisoning is one of the most important occupational health hazards for farmers, but the exact prevalence or incidence of the poisoning has not been fully investigated in Korea. The present study assessed the pesticide poisoning in a rural province of Korea based on episodes reported by farmers. The total number of interviewees in this survey was 8,831. Of these, only 8,420 farmers who worked longer than one hour every day during the past one year were included in the analysis. Questionnaires collected from 8,420 persons were analyzed by means of a SAS statistical package. The average days spent for pesticide spraying was 6.8; the farmers at work experienced pesticide‐related symptoms during the last one‐year period at the rate of 7.0%; the average length of a hospital stay was 4.4 d: and the period of clinic visit averaged 1.7 d. Pesticide poisoning was statistically related with age, sex, region of residence and degree of pesticide use. Among the complaints in the farmers' syndrome, pesticide poisoning was significantly related with shoulder stiffness, sleeplessness, dizziness and a feeling of abdominal fullness, but not with lumbago, limb paresthesia, nocturnal frequency or dyspnea. The present data offer the baseline for the health resources planning and rural health program.
Gene Expression of Clara Cell Secretory Protein, Surfactant Protein‐A and Thyroid Transcription Factor‐1 in the Lungs of Rats Exposed to Potassium Octatitanate Whiskers in vivo
Authors: Ding Li , Morimoto Yasuo , Oyabu Takako , Kim Heungnam , Ohgami Akira , Yatera Kazuhiro , Hirohashi Masami , Yamato Hiroshi , Hori Hajime , Higashi Toshiaki , Tanaka Isamu
Published: February 2008

Gene Expression of Clara Cell Secretory Protein, Surfactant Protein‐A and Thyroid Transcription Factor‐1 in the Lungs of Rats Exposed to Potassium Octatitanate Whiskers in vivo: Li Ding, et al. Institute of Industrial and Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan—Inhalation studies have shown that exposure to potassium octatitanate whiskers (PT1), an asbestos substitute, produces pulmonary fibrotic changes, suggesting that PT1 might have fibrogenic potential. It has been theorized that Clara cell secretion protein (CCSP) and surfactant protein‐A (SP‐A) play a critical role in regulating the acute inflammatory response in the lung. The present study was conducted to investigate the time course (3 days, 1 wk, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months) of the expression of mRNA of CCSP, SP‐A and thyroid transcription factor‐1 (TTF‐1), a common transcription factor of CCSP and SP‐A, in lungs exposed to PT1in vivo. PT1 suspended in saline was administered to male Wistar rats at a dose of 2 mg or 10 mg by single intratracheal instillation, and RNA was then extracted from the lungs. Expression of CCSP, SP‐A and TTF‐1 mRNA from the lungs was examined by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Exposure to 2 mg of PT1 did not increase levels of CCSP, SP‐A or TTF‐1 mRNA. The level of SPA mRNA in PT1‐exposed rats was decreased at 1,3 and 6 months after a single instillation of 10 mg. Levels of CCSP and TTF‐1 mRNA were also decreased at 3 days, 3 and 6 months after a single instillation. These findings suggest that CCSP and SP‐A are involved not only in the acute inflammatory response but also in the chronic response of the lung exposed to PT1.
Chronic Arsenic Poisoning and Respiratory Effects in Bangladesh
Authors: Milton Abul Hasnat , Hasan Ziul , Rahman Atiqur , Rahman Mahfuzar
Published: February 2008

Chronic Arsenic Poisoning and Respiratory Effects in Bangladesh: Abul Hasnat Milton, et al. Arsenic Cell, NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation, Bangladesh—A large population in Bangladesh have been exposed to naturally occurring inorganic arsenic through their drinking water. A prevalence comparison study of respiratory disorders among subjects with and without arsenic exposure through drinking water was conducted in Bangladesh. Characteristic skin lesions, keratoses and pigmentation alteration, and the water arsenic level confirmed the arsenic exposure. Three villages were selected from health awareness campaign programs. Participants in these courtyard meetings who had suspected skin lesions, i.e., keratosis, hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, were examined by a well‐trained medical officer to confirm the diagnosis. Unexposed subjects were randomly selected from another village, where tubewells were not contaminated with arsenic. We interviewed and examined 218 individuals irrespective of age and sex from these villages. The arsenic level in their drinking water was measured and the mean arsenic level was 614μ/l(ranging from 136μg/l to 1,000μg/l). Information regarding respiratory system signs and symptoms was also collected. There were few smokers, and analyses were therefore confined to nonsmokers. The overall crude prevalence (or risk) among the exposed subjects for chronic cough, and chronic bronchitis, was three times the prevalence in the control population. Age was a slightly negative confounding factor. The crude prevalence ratios were noticeably increased for female participants compared to male participants. A possible explanation for this noticeably increased occurrence of respiratory signs and symptoms in women is related to the presence of weakness. These results add to the evidence that long‐term ingestion of arsenic can cause respiratory problems especially among females.
Occupational Health Practice in Greece
Authors: Bazas Theodore
Published: February 2008

Occupational Health Practice in Greece: Theodore Bazas. Committee for Occupational Medicine, Central Council of Health, Greek Ministry of Health and Welfare—In Greece (a Member State of the European Union [EU]), where 57.7% of the four million economically active population are employed in the tertiary sector (mostly in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises [SMEs]), circa 20,000 work accidents, but very few cases of occupational diseases are recorded annually. Nearly 10% of the 400 enterprise physicians are Specialists in Occupational Medicine. In several large companies Occupational Health (Medicine and Hygiene) and Safety [OHS] practice is of a high standard. However, the provision of work‐specific or general preventive medical examinations for workers, and of occupational hygiene services needs to be extended to SMEs. OHS legislation has advanced markedly, having been harmonized to that of the EU, whereas its enforcement (a legal responsibility of the employer) has frequently been inadequate, partly due to the long‐standing shortage of State Technical Work Inspectors; in December 2000 their number rose from 120 to approximately 300. By and large, education and training in OHS for University level students, physicians, engineers, managers, foremen and workers varies from sufficient to basic, stagnant or even lacking, but has recently been making some progress; several Greek books and information material on Occupational Health have lately been published. Virtually no pertinent scientific field research is carried out. Public awareness of the importance of OHS needs to be tackled more effectively.
Relationship between Burnout and Occupational Factors in Staff of Facilities for Mentally Retarded Children
Authors: Takeda Fumi , Yokoyama Eise , Miyake Takeo , Nozaki Sadahiko
Published: February 2008

Relationship between Burnout and Occupational Factors in Staff of Facilities for Mentally Retarded Children: Fumi Takeda, et al. Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Health & Sports Sciences, University of Tsukuba—Based on the data for 382 nursery teachers and instructors in 71 facilities for mentally retarded children, we studied occupational factors related to burnout in staff of facilities for mentally retarded children. As the result of stepwise multiple regression analysis, burnout scores were significantly related to “work burden”, “work satisfaction”, “dissatisfaction with effectiveness of treatment/instruction”, “emotional support”, and “aversion to dealing with children”. The lower scores in “work satisfaction” and “emotional support” and the higher scores in “work burden”, “aversion to dealing with children”, and “dissatisfaction with effectiveness of treatment/instructions” resulted in the higher burnout scores. These results suggest that it is important to improve the organizational working, support, and training systems.
Cytokine Profiles in Airways of Rats Exposed to Toluene Diisocyanate
Authors: Zheng Kui‐Cheng , Ariizumi Makoto , Todoriki Hidemi , Nong Dong‐Xiao
Published: February 2008

Cytokine Profiles in Airways of Rats Exposed to Toluene Diisocyanate: Kui‐Cheng Zheng, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus—To investigate the status of cytokines in asthmatic airways induced by toluene diisocyanate (TDI), we established a Wistar rat model for asthma, and did a quantitative determination of cytokine production in asthmatic rats induced by TDI. Rats were sensitized with two courses of intranasal application of 10% TDI with each course for seven consecutive days, and then provoked with 5% TDI, and were followed by observation for airway symptoms. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was carried out, and total and differential leucocytes from BAL fluid were counted. Lungs were histopathologically examined for the status of inflammation in the airways. The selected cytokines, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6 and IFN‐γ productions, in BAL fluid in vivo and from BAL cells cultured in vitro were quantified with ELISA kits. The results showed that the rats with TDI sensitization exhibited asthmatic symptoms. TDI exposure resulted in an increase in the total number of cells, particularly eosinophils and neutrophils in BAL fluid. Histopathological examination showed a marked infiltration of central and peripheral airways with eosinophils in TDI‐exposed rats. In TDI‐sensitized rats, the productions of IL‐4 and IL‐6 in BAL fluid in vivo were markedly increased compared to that in control rats, but production of IL‐2 and IFN‐ywas similar in the two groups. The cytokines from BAL cells cultured in vitro were released in a similar pattern as in vivo. These findings indicate that IL‐4 and IL‐6 are predominantly secreted in the airways and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of TDI‐induced occupational allergic asthma.
Exposure to Benzene among Workers in a Petroleum Transport Company
Authors: Figà‐Talamanca Irene , Salera Elio Antonio
Published: February 2008

Exposure to Benzene among Workers in a Petroleum Transport Company: I. Figa‐Talamanca, et al . Dip.to Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo, Universitá di Roma “La Sapienza”—The paper reports on the environmental and biological monitoring of a group of 25 male petroleum transport workers. Environmental benzene exposure was monitored through personal sampling devices during one eight hour shift. Biological monitoring involved measurement of benzene and its metabolite trans, trans muconic acid in the urine at the beginning and at the end of the shift on a Monday and again on a Friday. The mean air concentration of benzene detected in the breathing zone of workers exceeded the threshold limit values (TLV) of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist (ACGIH) (TLV=1.6 mg/m3) for workers supervising the loading operations of autocisterns. The values observed among the drivers of multiple autocisterns were just below the TLV, whereas those of the drivers of single cisterns were definitely below the TLV. The biological monitoring revealed that the excretion of benzene increases as exposure increases during the work shift, and reaches the highest concentrations at the end of the work week. The excessive exposure of loading supervisors and drivers of multiple cisterns was also confirmed by the findings of the biological monitoring.
Neurological Diving Accidents in Japanese Breath‐Hold Divers: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Kohshi Kiyotaka , Katoh Takahiko , Abe Haruhiko , Okudera Toshio
Published: February 2008

Neurological Diving Accidents in Japanese Breath‐Hold Divers: A Preliminary Report: Kiyotaka Kohshi, et al. Department of Neurosurgery and Division of Hyperbaric Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health—There have been no reports of diving accidents involving Korean or Japanese professional breath‐hold (ama) divers except for our 2 recent cases. We investigated a direct interview survey on their village to determine whether other ama divers had experienced any accidents during or after dives. Interview responses were retrospectively obtained from 16 partially assisted male ama divers belonging to the Utsu Union on Mishima Island, Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan. We questioned the divers about diving history (diving depth, length of the diving shift, number of dives and diving accidents), medical history (hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular diseases) and health habits (smoking and alcohol consumption). Nine of 16 ama divers previously had stroke‐like neurological accidents, in which the most common symptom were unilateral motor weakness [7 cases] and sensory abnormalities [4 cases]. All of these neurological problems had manifested transiently. In addition, 13 of 16 divers had occasional episodes of dizziness, nausea and/or euphoria during such dives. Repeated deep breath‐hold dives may be harmful to the divers and cause brain involvement.
Effect of Hospitalization on Urinary Catecholamine Excretion in Patients with Hand‐Arm Vibration Syndrome
Authors: Iwamoto Mieko , Nagai Akira , Takahashi Seiichiro , Harada Noriaki
Published: February 2008

Effect of Hospitalization on Urinary Catecholamine Excretion in Patients with Hand‐Arm Vibration Syndrome: Mieko Iwamoto, et al. Department of Hygiene, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine—The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hospitalization for five weeks on the autonomic nervous activity of patients with hand‐arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Urine samples were collected from ten patients with HAVS before, during, and after hospitalization. Amounts of urinary free catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine) were measured. Urinary excretion of norepinephrine and dopamine during hospitalization was significantly lower than that before hospitalization. The effect of hospitalization continued for 10 days after hospitalization. The results of this study suggest that hospitalization is useful for the treatment of patients with HAVS to reduce the sympathetic hyperactivity.
The Effects of Carbon Fibre and Carbon Fibre Composite Dusts on Bronchoalveolar Lavage Component of Rats
Authors: Zhang Zhongyi , Wang Xiuling , Lin Leiguang , Xing Shudong , Wu Yonghui , Li Yao , Wu Lijie , Gang Baoqi
Published: February 2008

The Effects of Carbon Fibre and Carbon Fibre Composite Dusts on Bronchoalveolar Lavage Component of Rats: Zhongyi Zhang, et al . Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, People's Republic of China—Carbon fibre (CF) and carbon fibre composite (CFC) as new materials have increasing industrial application. The People's Republic of China now manufactures CF and CFC. This paper predicted their potential toxicity to human using bronchoalveolar lavage technique on the basis of comparisons with positive reference materials (quartz and chrysotile) and negative reference materials (titanium dioxide and alumina (SAFFIL) fibre). All rats dosed with dust showed some increase in lung weight relative to the saline control, though the only significant differences were seen between the rats dosed with quartz or chrysotile and those dosed with saline. From the morphological observation of lavage cells, a benign reaction of macrophages to CF and CFC was observed, whereas a series of changes in macrophages was involved in rats dosed with quartz and chrysotile. CF and CFC did not induce a significant increase in the total cell count or percentages of neutrophils and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage. The two materials tested had much lower toxicity than that of quartz and chrysotile, and were comparable with the effect induced by titanium dioxide and SAFFIL fibre which had minimal toxicity. The present work provides a scientific basis for the setting of occupational health standards for carbon fibre and carbon fibre composite dust in the workplace.