[Safety climate in a steel-manufacturing plant]

Safety climate is a psychological phenomenon and a sub-component of safety culture, which is usually reflected in the shared workforce's perceptions about the state of safety at any particular time. It can provide an indication of the priority of safety in an organization with regard to other priorities such as production or quality. The objective of this study was to assess the safety climate profile in a steel manufacturing plant in Iran and using the results to improve the level of safety. In this cross-sectional study, the UK Loughborough University Safety Climate Assessment Toolkit was used to assess the safety climate in a steel-manufacturing industry in Iran. Information was collected through interviews and questionnaires, focus group discussions, and direct observations in the filed. Safety climate scores were calculated in 17 themes. A graphic representation of the safety climate scores obtained showed that safety climate in the company is at the medium level [4.80 +/- 2]. The highest and lowest scores were for dimensions of personal priority and need for safety [8.6 +/- 0.8] and accidents and incidents [1 +/- 0.00]. A non-significant correlation was found between worker's education and work experience on the one hand and their attitude towards safety on the other hand [p>0.05]. Both management commitment and personal priority were associated with the workers' age [p= 0.03 and 0.02, respectively], while work environment was associated only with employment status [p = 0.04]. Safety climate assessment can be a proactive safety performance indicator used to improve the level of safety in an organisation

[Influence of operational, technical and environmental factors on exposure of motor-vehicle painters to volatile organic solvents]

Considering the acute and chronic effects of organic solvents to which vehicle painters are exposed for long periods of time, their evaluation and control is crucial for protection of health of the employees. This study aimed to find the most influential factors on exposure to, and spreading pollution with, benzene, toluene, xylem, and etylebenzene [BTEX] in order to be able to choose the best control measures. In a motor-vehicle company the vehicle painting process was studied in detail and the solvents used in paints and in spreading organic solvent stations were identified. Based on the types and concentrations of the variables being studied, using the NIOSH method a total of 240 air samples were collected [5 samples for each variable and the respective controls] and analyzed. The SPSS version 11.5 was used for data analysis, the statistical tests being multi-regression and analysis of variance. Exposure to benzene in all occupational tasks, as well as to toluene in top coating and undercoating stations exceeded, while exposure to etylebenzene and xylene did not reach, the respective permitted exposure limits [p<0.05]. The most effective factors on exposure to all the four solvents were, in order of effectiveness, occupational task, gun type, and the type of paint sued [p<0.05]. The effects of the variables studies - occupational task, gun and paint types - on exposure to BTEX relate to differences in occupational task work load, the type of gun used, and the paint organic solvent formulation. The reason for the potentially high exposure to benzene is its presence as an impurity in the paint solvents. Thus, it is highly recommended that in the process of control and evaluation special attention be paid to these factors

clinical effectiveness of screw type Implant [Nisastan system] in the posterior - region of the mandible: a 2 year prospective study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of Nisastan screw type implants over a two year follow-up period. 21 patients including 10 male and 11 female with the age range of 21-62 years old with anadontia in the posterior regions of their mandibles were selected to participate in this study. Total of 58 Nisastan implants were used in the lower jaws. After elapse of the osteointegration period, 64 units of fixed partial prosthesis were placed on these implants. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically at the loading time, one year and two years later. The survival rate and success indices like pocket depth, plaque index, bleeding index and crestal bone resorption were recorded. The success rates of implants were 94.4% and stability of the abutments and prosthesis were 96.1% after two years. The mean crestal bone loss was 1.08-1.43 mm. The plaque index in 56.5% of areas was zero at the loading time while 64.5% of areas were zero at the end of study. The bleeding index in the 49.5% and 65.65% of areas was zero at those times respectively. The Nisastan Implants showed acceptable performance during the two year period of study

[Correlation between toluene environmental monitoring and biological index of urinary hippuric acid of workers in the coke industry]

Toluene is an organic solvent that it is one of the byproducts in the coke industry. Exposure to toluene causes central nervous system dysfunction and others disorders. Many workers are exposed to toluene due to leakage from tracks. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine the levels of exposure through environmental and biological monitoring of toluene Air toluene sampling of air inhaled by 36 coke oven workers was done by using activated charcoal tubes and personal sampling pumps. At the e[1id of the shift, urine samples of workers and control group were collected by urine samplers. Air toluene was determined by GC, urinary hippuric acid by FIPLC and urine creatinine level was determined by auto analyzer. The mean of air toluene and urinary hippuric acid levels in exposed and control samples were 14.34 ppm, 0.33 and 0.28 g/g creatinine. Air toluene and urinary hippuric acid showed a correlation of r = 0.8. Toluene TWA was lower than the TLV-TWA [p=0.000]. Urinary hippuric acid concentration was also lower than the BEI [p=0.008]. Difference between exposed and unexposed group was not significant. This study showed that hippuric acid because of its interaction with background factors can not be used as a sensitive biomarker for biomonitoring

Immediately loaded Xive and Nisastan implants; the effect of macro-design on distribution of strain in surrounding bone: a finite element analysis

The fixture macro-design is one of the most important factors influencing the implant's primary stability and micro-motion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the peri-implant stress distribution and micro-motion in 2 types of immediately loaded implants in order to determine the best design by using finite element analysis. In this experimental study the accurate pictures of the two fixtures [ILS and Xive] were taken by a digital camera. By using computer simulation technique, a three dimensional finite element model was inserted in a simulated mandibular bone. The displacement and Von Misses stress was recorded after loading. It was found that, the primary stability of ILS was greater [152 micro a] than Xive [284 micro m]. Likewise, ILS exhibited favorable behavior in stress distribution. Moreover, the maximum stress concentration in Xive peri-bone [almost equal to 30MPa] was lesser than Nisastan [almost equal to 37MPa]. The ILS macro-design provides better primary stability and stress distribution, with less stress around the Xive

effect of plaque on peri implant soft tissue health: a 4 years follow up study

Microbial plaque is the main etiologic factor which causes disease in soft tissue around dental implants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of plaque on health indicies of soft tissue around dental Implants. 45 patients with 211 dental implants were examined clinically for four years after prosthodontic treatment. Plaque index and health indices of soft tissue including pocket depth, attachment level, bleeding index, and gingival index were measured. The results were compared in two groups of zero and non zero plaque. The repeated measured ANOVA and Friedman test were used for statistical data analysis. The results of this study showed that in the first group, in which the plaque index was zero, probing pocket depth, probing attachment level, bleeding index, and gingival index were lower than in the second group. According to the results of this study, aggregation and increase of plaque around dental implants decreases the health level of soft tissue around dental implants and its continuation may cause disease in protective tissues of the implant

Treatment of periimplantitis with an Er: YAG Laser and GBR. A case report

The increasing use of dental implants has led to a larger number of periimplant problems. Different therapeutic techniques have been suggested to restore the health of soft and hard tissues. The utilization of laser has been recently suggested for the preparation of implant surfaces and eradication of bacteria. Based on different investigations, there is no evidence of applying both guided bone regeneration [GBR] and laser techniques simultaneously for eradication of periimplant lesions. Bone loss was encountered on the mesial and distal surfaces of all implant before prosthetic loading in a female patient. Er:YAG laser and GBR by autogenous bone grafting were simultaneously applied for treatment of the defect. The prosthesis was fabricated and loaded after 4 months. The patient then received periodic clinical and radiographic examinations for 18 months, The bone defects on the mesial and distal surfaces resolved completely. There was no evidence of radiographic or clinical symptoms after 18 months

Clinical manifestations accompanying diseases, complications, and thymus pathologies in 102 patients with myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis [MG] is the most common autoimmune neuromuscular disease that may occur in any age. Regarding to the controversies about the epidemiology of MG and lack of sufficient data about MG status in Iran, the present study was performed on patients referred to Shafa hospital, in Kerman, between 1998-2003 in order to determine clinical manifestations, accompanying diseases, complications, and thymus pathologies in patients with MG. It was a descriptive study including 102 patients with MG. Initial data about sex, age of disease onset, disease severity according to Osserman classification, respiratory crisis, thymus pathology, and accompanying diseases were recorded. Chi- square and independent t-test were used for statistical analysis. The study population included 69[68%] females and 33[32%] males. For patients aged >40 years, female to male [F/M] ratio was 1:1. Disease manifestations were commenced before 20 and 40 years of old in 15.8% and 76.2% of patients respectively. Follicular hyperplasia of thymus was reported in 61.5%, whereas in 23% the pathology was normal or atrophy and in 15.4% was thymoma. Ocular involvement was found in 20.6% of patients. Based on Osserman classification, severity of IIA, IIB, III and IV were reported in 43.1, 21.6, 10.8, and 3.9% of the subjects, respectively. F/M ratio, age of disease onset, pathology of thymus, disease severity, and accompanying diseases have shown slight differences with prior studies. Epidemiological studies in other parts of the country are suggested

[Evaluation of esthetics on fixed implant supported prosthesis[Swiss plus]]

Nowadays dental implants are accepted as a successful replacement of conventional fixed and removable prosthesis which can restore esthetics in an ideal way. Because of visibility of anterior teeth while smiling and speaking, the importance of esthetics in these areas is very important. In this research, the provision rate of esthetic indexes of crowns supported with swiss- plus implants is assessed, also overall patient satisfaction is evaluated.The study was done on 21 patients who were treated with 30 implant supported crowns and the variables: clinical crown length, crown width, faciolingual dimention of crown, contact point position, soft tissue margin level and papilla index, crown color, abutment visibility and patient satisfaction range were assessed. Differences in variables between two groups were analyzed using the paired t- test. A wilcoxon signed rank test was used in analysis of differences in papilla index score.The average amount indexes in implant-supported crowns and natural teeth in arrangement were: clinical crown length 10.05mm and 9.35mm, crown width 7.36mm and 7.33mm, faciolingual dimension 6.67mm and 7.72mm, mesial contact point position 36.20 and 32.86 percent, distal contact point position 50.86 and 41.76 percent, soft tissue margin level -0.64mm and -0.15mm, papilla index in mesial 2.17mm and 2.60mm, papilla index in distal 2.10mm and 2.63mm. color of 24 crowns were similar to natural teeth and in one case abutment was visible. 95.2 percent of patients expressed satisfaction from esthetics of the crowns [60 percent complete satisfaction and 40 percent partial satisfaction].In comparison to the natural teeth, The crowns 1 were longer 2 had smaller faciolingual width 3 had more apically soft tissue margin level 4 had lower scores of papilla index. No significant statistically differences were observed in mesiodistal width and contact point position between two groups