Health profile of workers in the paint industry

In paint manufacture, there is unacceptably high chemical exposure with consequent effects on health. Raw materials used to manufacture paints constitute major chemical hazards to workers as a result of mechanical operations. This study is conducted on a group of workers in a paint industry in an attempt to assess the impact of the paints and coatings on health and on the clinical and laboratory parameters. Due to the high concentration of solvents in this industry, high incidence of renal impairment has been observed. The liver was less affected as evidenced by the serum transaminases level, though these were considered unreliable measures being unrelated to sub-clinical affection. Chest examination revealed the presence of some cases of chronic bronchitis and others with frequent asthmatic attacks. Immunological assessment revealed statistically significant elevation in the serum immunoglobulin E [IgE] among the exposed population. Contrarily, the IgG was not significantly elevated though positively correlating with the IgE level. The paint industry is, therefore, one of the most hazardous industries that need further investigations to keep the levels of toxic dust to minimum and set the precautions to protect the working population

Effect of glucose and insulin infusion on glucose, sodium and potassium levels in uremic patients

The effect of infusion of 500 cc. glucose solution [25%] with 30 IU insulin [Leo neutral, 20 IU/ml] and 500 cc glucose solution [5%] with 6 IU insulin was studied on ten chronic renal failure patients. Four samples were taken from each patient, during fasting, one hour after the start of infusion, at the end of infusion [2nd hour sample] then one hour after stopping the infusion [3rd hour sample]. Each sample was tested for plasma glucose, serum potassium and sodium concentrations. The results showed that infusion of both high and low dose glucose solution plus insulin had the ability to lower the blood potassium concentration constantly and persistently over the infusion time [2 hours]. Serum Potassium started to rise again one hour after stopping the infusion. Serum sodium was not altered in all samples. Blood glucose rose markedly with 25% glucose solution infusion, while it was not significantly changed with 5% glucose solution. So, the use of 5% glucose solution with 6 IU insulin infusion in the treatment of hyperkalaemia in cases of chronic renal failure is recommended