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OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of tobacco smoking exposure on cough among construction workers. METHODS: Convenient sampling method was adopted to choose 204 construction workers as the study objects. The relationship of cough and tobacco smoking exposure was investigated. The objects were divided into no-smoking( 18 workers),passive-smoking( 66 workers) and active-smoking( 120 workers) groups according to different tobacco smoking exposure situation. RESULTS: The occurrence of active smoking for 204 construction workers was 58. 8%( 120 /204) and the daily active smoking rate was 51. 5%( 105 /204). The occurrence of passive smoking for the non-smokers was 78. 6%( 66 /84) and the daily passive smoking rate was 66. 7%( 56 /84). Among the construction workers,15. 2%( 31 /204) had occasional cough,and 52. 4%( 107 /204) had frequent cough,total cough occurrence was 67. 6%( 138 /204). The occurrence of occasional cough in active-smoking group was higher than that of the passive-smoking group( 23. 3% vs 1. 5%,P < 0. 01); the occurrence of frequent cough in passive-smoking group and active-smoking group were higher than that of the no-smoking group( 54. 5% vs 22. 2%,55. 8% vs 22. 2%,P < 0. 017); the total cough occurrence in active-smoking group was higher than those of the no-smoking group and passive-smoking group( 79. 2% vs 33. 3%,79. 2% vs 56. 1%,P < 0. 01). There was an association between tobacco smoking exposure and cough frequency among the construction workers. Active-smokers had higher risks than non-smokers in both occasional cough and frequent cough( odds ratio were 5. 958 and 6. 990,P <0. 05); the passive smokers had a higher risk of frequent cough than non-smokers( odds ratio was 3. 536,P < 0. 05).CONCLUSION: Tobacco smoking exposure was an important risk factor for coughing among construction workers. Effective approach should be taken into account to control tobacco usage in the construction work site.
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Objective To investigate new cases of endemic cretinism in high-risk areas of Inner Mongolia, the prevalence of endemic goiter, the implementation of comprehensive measures, and to provide scientific basis for developing control strategies against iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Methods In 2007 and 2008, a search for new cretin cases was conducted among children under the age of 10 in 11 historical serious epidemic cretinism prevalent areas of Songshan district, Keshiketeng qi, Kalaqin qi, Zhalaite qi, Zhuozi county,Liangcheng county, Qingshuihe county, Helin county, Dongsheng district, Zhungeer qi and Yinjinhuoluo qi. Three to 5 towns were selected in each qi(county, district) and 3 to 5 village primary schools were selected in each town.One hundred and twenty to 200 children aged 8 to 10 were selected in each school to inspect thyroid by B ultrasound and palpation and to test intelligence and urinary iodine. Two villages were selected in each town and 30 households were selected to determine urinary iodine of housewives and salt iodine. Results A total of 56 cases of suspected cases of endemic cretinism were found from the 11 counties but no case was confirmed. The goiter rate of children aged 8 to 10 was 5.2% (309/5922) by palpation and 4.3% (252/5922) by B-ultrasound. The median urinary iodine of children aged 8 to 10 was 241.5 μg/L, and urinary iodine was 100 to 300 μg/L, accounted 65.9%(3901/5920). Median urinary iodine of the 9 Qis(counties, districts) was in the range of 200 and 300μg/L.Higher than 5% of the 11 Qis(counties, districts) with urinary iodine lower than 50 μg/L was zero. Higher than 10% of the 11 Qis(counties, districts) with urinary iodine lower than 100 μg/L was 1. The median urinary iodine of housewives was 225.6 μg/L, and lower than 50 μg/L accounted for 2.2%(35/1597). Higher than 10% of the 11 Qis(counties, districts) with urinary iodine lower than 100 μg/L was 4. A total of 2109 households were investigated and 97.45%(2055/2109) of them ate iodized salt and 2.55%(54/2109) of them ate non-iodized salt. Conclusions In the 11 investigated counties, goiter rate of children has decreased to less than 10%, and no new cretin was found. It could be concluded that the fulfillment of prevention and control of IDD is effective. The iodine nutrition of children and women of childbearing age is in an adequate level. The coverage rate of iodized salt has maintained at a higher level, the sales network is sound, the salt price is reasonable and salt is easy to get and the children's intelligence is protected effectively. But, the health education about IDD is still weak, need to be reinforced.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the changes of urinary iodine levels among the family members with iodine content of 5 - 150 microg/L in drinking water, before and after non-iodized salt intervention through a field trail study.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Family members who routinely drank water with iodine content 5 - 150 microg/L were chosen to substitute non-iodized salt for their current iodized salt for 2 months, and urine samples of the family members were collected for determination of iodine change before and after intervention was carried out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Median urinary iodine of school children, women with productive age and male adults exceeding 370 microg/L before intervention and the frequency distribution of urinary iodine were all above 70%. Our results revealed that iodine excess exited in three groups of family members. After intervention, all median urinary iodine level seemed to have decreased significantly, and groups with drinking water iodine 5.0 - 99.9 microg/L reduced to adequate or close to adequate while the group that drinking water iodine was 100 - 150 microg/L reached the cut-off point of excessive iodine level (300 microg/L).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Results from your study posed the idea that the iodine adequate areas should be defined as the areas with iodine content of 5.0 - 100 microg/L in drinking water, and edible salt not be iodized in these areas. Areas with iodine content of 100 - 150 microg/L in drinking water should be classified as iodine excessive.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Iodides , Urine , Iodine , Urine , Sodium Chloride, Dietary , Urine , Water SupplyABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>There are few studies on the arterial compliance of noise exposure. The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between hearing loss, blood pressure and arterial compliance of female workers who exposed to occupational noise in a textile mill.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The noise levels in the workplace were measured with a HS6288 sound level meter. Cumulated noise exposure (CNE) was calculated according to the noise intensity and the exposure period. Hearing ability and arterial compliance were measured in 618 noise exposed workers. The database was set up with EpiData and the statistical analysis was performed with SAS software 9.1.3.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The noise levels were 80.1dB (A) to 113.5dB (A), of which the levels at 92.5% of the noise monitoring sites were over the national standard. The incidence of high frequency hearing loss (HFHL) was 24.43% and language frequency hearing impairment (LFHI) was 0.81%. The incidence of hypertension was 7.93%. Both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the high frequency hearing loss group were significantly higher than those in the normal hearing group (P < 0.05), while C(1) (large artery compliance) and C(2) (small artery compliance) were significantly lower (P < 0.05). The high frequency hearing threshold (HFHT) of the hypertension group was significantly higher than in the normal blood pressure group (P < 0.05), while C(1) and C(2) were significantly lower (P < 0.05). C(1) and C(2) had a negative correlation with HFHT, SBP, DBP, mean of arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP) and pulse rate (PR) (P < 0.05). The multiple regression analyses showed that blood pressure and PR were the main influencing factors on C(1) and C(2). LFHT was an influence on C(2) and HFHT on C(1).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Textile mill noise pollution is very serious and has an obvious influence on worker's auditory function. The female workers with low artery compliance or with high blood pressure might be suffering from hearing loss; those with noise induced hearing loss might be suffering from hypertension if she is constantly exposed to loud industrial noise.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Arteries , Physiology , Blood Pressure , Compliance , Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced , Noise, Occupational , Regression Analysis , TextilesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the clinical effect and therapeutic mechanism of Nanmiqing capsule made of rheum palmatum, leech, astragalus memberanaceus on patients with chronic prostatitis(CP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-six CP cases were treated with Nanmiqing, while 32 CP cases were treated with Qianliekang as a control. The changes of EPS were observed pre- and post-treatment. The rat model of CP got by Xiaozhiling inducing were treated with Nanmiqing and Qianliekang respectively. The concentration of endothelin, TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and SOD, IgG, IgA in plasma were measured pre- and post-treatment, meanwhile, pathological changes of prostate tissues were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 89.47% in treatment group, which was significantly higher than 71.88% in the control group (P < 0.01). Experimental study for CP rats showed that the Nanmiqing was more effective medicine than Qianliekang (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Nanmiqing was an effective medicine for CP. The mechanism of clearing heat and resolving toxin, activating blood and removing stasis and reinforcing Qi in chinese medicine could be the explanation of the useful treatment including three therapentic ways.</p>