Association between cough and tobacco smoking exposure among construction workers / 中国职业医学

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.

Research on the features of DNA damage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients of normal constitution and abnormal constitution and in high-risk population of nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the features of DNA damage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients of normal constitution and abnormal constitution and in high-risk population of NPC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using single cell gel electrophoresis technique, the DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes was detected in 28 healthy subjects, 27 in high-risk population of NPC, and 13 NPC patients at their first visits. The DNA damage was detected in the populations of normal constitution and of abnormal constitution. The tail length, the tail moment, and the tail DNA% were taken as the indices of DNA damage.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The tail length was (35.77 +/- 4.22) microm, the tail moment was (8.10 +/- 1.63) microm, and the tail DNA% was 57.48% +/- 4.63% in NPC patients. They were (15.25 +/- 4.15) microm, (5.01 +/- 1.92) microm, and 31.99% +/- 4. 11% in high-risk population of NPC. They were (14.31 +/- 3.64) microm, (4. 37 +/- 1.80) microm, and 29. 89% +/- 3. 15% in healthy subjects. There was statistical difference in the three indices among the three populations (P <0.05). In all the three populations, more DNA damage existed in those of abnormal constitution than in those of normal constitution (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Obvious instability of genetic materials exists in NPC patients, manifested as severe DNA damage of lymphocytes. In all the three populations, more DNA damage existed in those of abnormal constitution than in those of normal constitution.</p>

Cluster analysis applied in the epidemiological stratification analysis / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a new method on stratification analysis when the stratification limits of confounding factors was not clear or contradictory.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Data on a study of diabetes mellitus in Guangdong province collected in the year of 1997 and 1998 was analyzed using cluster-stratification analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The efficiency of stratification analysis was improved and the confounding bias was effectively controlled with information bias avoided when the clusters-stratification analysis was applied.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The problem was logically solved using cluster analysis as an assistant stratification means.</p>