Cardio-respiratory pre-participation screening of competitive athletes

Substantially, it was to highlight how valuable is the routine use of ECG, echocardiography and spirometry among the pre-participation routine examinations for the athletes to differentiate between normal physiological and the pathological changes that could face down the performance of the athletes during competitions or even more might endanger their lives. The study was conducted among some junior athletes who were attending at Sports Medicine center in Madinat Nasr for regular assessment of their physical fitness. The study sample included 120 junior athletes from the national team of football [< 17 years and < 19 years]. Another 95 non- athletic healthy individuals from the school for talented students were selected to represent the control group. They were classified into two groups, each one was matching with a corresponding athletic group in age. Age, body weight, height and body mass index were recorded. Ergometric test with Spirometry, ECG and echocardiography were applied for all the participants. Both groups were matching with their corresponding controls concerning age and height, while the weight and body mass index were found to be statistically significantly higher among their corresponding controls. It was proved in our study that athletes do have statistically significantly lower resting heart and maximum heart rates with higher VO2 max comparing with the non athletes. The anaerobic threshold values were statistically significantly lower among the athletes that were found to be achieved after prolonged times of performance if compared with the control groups. All the spirometric parameters were statistically significantly higher among the athletes. EGG and echocardiography, revealed a normal and accepted physiological changes that can be acquired due to prolonged training. Based on the results of the study, it's deemed that spirometry, ECG, and echocardiography must be tabled among the pre-participation routine examinations of the athletes as a sensible approach to differentiate the physiological changes from the pathological ones, which subsequently can mitigate the usual raised concern of sudden death of athletes during prolonged competitions

Health hazards among workers exposed to different chemicals in paints industry

This study was conducted in the Egyptian company for paints and inks in Cairo Governorate. One hundred and fifty workers were randomly selected from the paint department. Fifty individuals were randomly selected from the departments of security and management of the same company as a control group. Subjects of both groups were subjected to a history taking according to a questionnaire form clinical examination and pulmonary ventilatory functions. Environmental measurements were also carried out. It has been found that workers exposed to chemicals in paint industry had higher prevalence of chest symptoms and signs with pulmonary ventilatory measurements lower than those of the control group workers

Seroagglutination pattern of brucellosis among high risk occupational groups

This investigation was conducted to study the pattern of brucella agglutination titre [BAT] among workers in some occupations with possible exposure to infected animals, and to study some factors that might be related to the development of brucellosis. It was found that 9.94% of the exposed workers [no. = 483] had BAT >/= 1/200, and 10.14% had BAT >/= 1/100. Veterinarians, butchers and abattoir workers had the highest prevalences of [BAT] [>/= 1/100 and 1/200]. Age of the workers had no relation with the level of BAT, A difference between males and females was detected concerning the agglutination titre, but it was not a true one. Male workers were involved in violent jobs [Slaughtering and Skinning] which were characterized by high titres, these jobs could not be tolerated by the females. The percentage of rural residents with high [BAT] was higher than that among urban residents [23.26% and 15.38%, respectively]. Duration of exposure to the infected animals had no relation with [BAT] or with the development of manifestations of brucellosis. Use of protective measures and regular periodic medical examination were effective tools in protection against occupational brucellosis. It was revealed that 84.16% and 95.05% respectively of the exposed workers who used protective measures and were regularly examined, had low BAT, in comparison with 15, 84% and 4.95%. respectively, who had high titres. Constitutional symptoms were the most prevalent manifestations of brucellosis among the exposed workers [9.94%]. Arthritis and orchitis were detected in 4.55% and 3.31%, respectively. The highest BAT were recorded among the exposed workers who had symptoms and signs of brucellosis. The study concluded that type of job and severity of exposure to infected animals regardless of the duration of exposure were decisive in the development of brucellosis with high brucella agglutination titres. The results pointed to the importance of using the protective measures and regular medical examination as effective steps in minimizing the problem of occupational burcellosis

Problems of work - related stress with some behavioral and health impact among teachers

This study was conducted to investigate the problems of work related stress among teachers in different grades of basic education, and to study the influence on physical health and behavioral reactions. Among teachers 24.07% reported their jobs as being wholly stressful [an overall job stress score above the cut off point] compared with 10.45% among the controls. [Controls were selected from nurseries and kindergartens and were of the same social class]. Mean score values of the overall job stress among teachers in primary, preparatory and secondary schools were 121.24 +/- 12.33, 128.19 +/- 13.11 and 139.00 +/- 10.93. respectively, while those of the controls were 119.12 +/- 10.84. The prevalence of problems relevant to coping, context and stressors [Conflicts, job pressure, job scope and rapport with management] were all higher among the teachers with higher mean score values of all the items compared with those of the controls. A little inter group difference was detected among the teachers. In comparison with teachers of recreational subjects [music, sports and arts]. The teachers of academic subjects [Arabic, English, science, geography... etc] revealed higher prevalence of all the items of job stress related problems with higher mean score values, Except for the problems of rapport with management which were more prevalent among males [47.37% with mean score value 8.97 +/- 1.57] in comparison with females [9.8% with mean score value 5.50 +/- 1.62], all work stress related problems revealed no sex differences. The prevalence of all stress related behavioral reactions, syndromes and diseases which were studied were higher among the group of teachers in comparison with those among the controls, with higher prevalence among teachers in secondary schools compared with those in preparatory and primary schools. The design of an appropriate type of stress reduction program depending on an accurate assessment of the origin of the problem is highly recommended. Provision of counseling services for solving problems, social activities, leisure, exercises are important. Periodic medical examination [physical and mental] should be carried out regularly

Psychological and psychosomatic impact of work related stress among the staff members of Zagazig University Benha branch

This study was conducted among the staff members of Zagazig University, Benha Branch. The sample included 110 members from Faculties of Engineering, Sciences, Literature and Commerce. Another 38 subjects have been selected as a control group from the management sectors of the previous faculties. Subjects of both groups were subjected to assessment of work stress, mental health, behavioral reactions to stress and physical health. Conflicts, job pressure and job scope constituted the main problems among the staff members [38.18%, 34.55% and 37.27% respectively], while rapport with management was the main problem among the control [44.74%] subjects of practical faculties suffered more from work related stress. More females complained of being more dissatisfied with their jobs [37.5%] if compared to males [33.87%]. Also mental health traits, and the prevalence of some stress related behavioral reactions and symptoms appeared to be higher among the staff members than among the control group

Study of immunological reactions among workers in flour milling industry

This study was carried out among workers of Nasr Grain Milling Factory in El-Sharkia Governorate. It was intended to investigate the immunological reactions due to exposure to grain and flour dust. Skin test [using an antigen of grain flour and bran dust], total and specific IGE [commercial Ag specific to flour dust] were carried out. It was proved that subjects of the exposed group had a statistically significant higher positive skin test and total IGE than their matched controls. The duration of exposure proved to have an impact on the development of positive skin test and specific IGE. Skin test showed high sensitivity as a screening test that makes it applicable in the pre-employement medical examination to exclude subjects prone to allergy. Also, it could be used in the periodic medical examination for early detection of susceptible individuals in the pre-manifest stage

Biological indicators and lipogram pattern among workers in battery industry

The effects of chronic lead exposure on the cardiovascular system were investigated in the workers in the battery industry at Chloride Company. One hundred and ten workers exposed to lead were selected randomly, also 45 workers who have never been exposed to lead before, of comparable age group and socioeconomic standard were selected randomly to be the control group. General clinical examination, cardiovascular manifestations [by an observation sheet], blood pressure determination were carried out and blood lead, urinary delta amino levulenic acid and lipogram pattern [total lipids, cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides and B/A lipoproteins] were determined. Also lactic acid dehydrogenase and lactic acid isoenzymes estimation were performed. The atmospheric lead concentration was found to be 0.039 - 0.28 ug/m3. The present study showed high prevalence of cardiovascular manifestations [27.3%] and hypertension [35.5%] among exposed workers with significant correlation between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and some parameters of lipogram pattern on one hand with blood lead and urinary delta amino levulenic acid