study of hepatocellular carcinoma in relation to different occupational exposures

This study was conducted to determine the probable occupational exposures and to estimate the risk of occupational exposure in hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. The index group included 53 patients of HCC, while, the control group included 53 patients matched for age and sex. All individuals were subjected to a questionnaire [sociodemographic characteristics, medical and occupational history] and medical examination. The results revealed the following: Past history of either schistosomiasis or jaundice was a significant risk factor for HCC in the univariate analysis [OR= 2.35 and 3.45, respectively] but not in the multivariate analysis; the presence of occupational exposures in general and exposure to pesticides in particular was a risk factor for the development of HCC [OR= 3.48 and 5.53, respectively, in the univariate analysis as well as 1.87 and 2.55, respectively, in the multivariate analysis]; also, the risk for HCC increased for persons with both exposure to pesticides and history of jaundice [OR= 8.88 in the univariate analysis and 3.34 in the multivariate analysis] compared to persons with either of them alone. It was concluded that the exposure to pesticides is a risk factor for HCC and this risk increases with the concomitant presence of history of jaundice. Furthermore, schistosomiasis may have an association with HCC. It was recommended that the use of pesticides should be restricted to the minimal possible extent and further studies were advised to explore the effect of pesticides and serologically diagnosed viral hepatitis on the occurrence of HM

Aneuropsychological study on workers exposed to inorganic lead in battery manufacture part I: affect

60 battery manufacture workers exposed to inorganic lead were randomly selected, together with an equal number of controls, not exposed to inorganic lead, matched as possible with the index group as regards the probable confounding variables. Workers were interviewed to fill the standardized Arabic forms of both Beck Depression Inventory and Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS/PC + and EP15 programs and non-parametric statistics were applied. The results revealed that, inorganic lead exposure had no effect on the distribution of exposed workers on the depression scale while, it seemed to cluster most of them in the severe and very severe grades of anxiety scales. Anxiety scores were significantly positively correlated with years of exposure while, depression scores were not. Also, it was clear that non-exposed workers had high scores on both anxiety and depression scales. This might be due to information bias or bad work conditions

neuropsychological study on workers exposed to inorganic lead in battery manufacture part II: intellect

60 battery manufacture workers exposed to inorganic lead were randomly selected together with 60 controls matched as possible with the index group as regards probable confounding variables. The digit symbol and digit span tests were the study tools. Data were analyzed using SPSS/PC+ program where non-parametric statistics were applied. Also, due to the known neurotoxicity of lead, one tailed significance levels were reported. The results revealed that lead exposed workers had significantly poorer performance than their controls in the studied intellectual abilities. Digit span scores were significantly negatively correlated with the duration of exposure to inorganic lead in years. These results were in agreement with several earlier studies. In view of these results, it was recommended to perform periodical neuropsychological assessment of lead exposed workers, and accordingly employment actions may be taken

Hepatic dysfunctions among workers in expansible polystyrene factory

In this study, 55 workers in the Expansible Polystyrene [Artificial Cork] Factory in Alexandria constituted the index group and 43 subjects in the Administrative Department of the same factory constituted the control group. All individuals were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and laboratory investigations including total and direct bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP and GGT in serum as well as urinary mandelic acid. In Urinary mandelic acid regression analysis, high serum activity of GGT was significantly associated with exposure to styrene [b = 9.456] and with longer duration of exposure among the exposed workers [b = 0.337]. No significant association was detected between any of the used hepatic tests and history of schistosomiasis among the index group. There were significant direct associations between serum activities of AST and GGT, and urinary mandelic acid in the index group [b = 0.076 and 0.142, respectively]. Pre-employment and annual periodic medical examinations with determination of serum GGT activity and urinary mandelic acid were recommended for workers in the Expansible Polystyrene [Artificial Cork] Factory

Are new textile machines more safe?

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of machine replacement on accident pattern in textile industry. Accident's records were reviewed for a period of 2 years before the intervention and another 2 years, thereafter. In all mills, improved design of new machines could explain the significant reduction of machines as accident's agency of caught in or between objects type of accidents, and of accidents with hazardous condition due to lack of protection. Insignificant changes were observed in the frequency of injuries among production workers and foremen, as well as unsafe acts following replacement which could be attributed to insufficient or inefficient training. Increased frequency of boxes as agency of accidents could be due to their bad design and handling. Defective ground caused insignificant reduction of ground surface as agency of accidents. It was concluded that, in the studied factory, the new textile machines contributed to the reduction of work accidents as reflected by the injury index. Moreover, great potential for further reduction could be achieved through efficient training of workers, and improvement of methods of transportation between mills, as well as good housekeeping of the workplace

Psychological profile and job satisfaction of health workers in some stressful situations

The aim of this study was to portray the psychological profile of health workers exposed to continuous stress and to assess their job satisfaction. Seventy healthy professionals in radiotherapy and critical medicine departments were included. All professionals were subjected to a questionnaire on work related attitudes and beliefs, irritability, depression, anxiety [IDA] scale and job descriptive index [JDI] with its 5 facets. Desire to change job, adverse effect on family life or behavior were significantly more among professionals in critical medicine than radiotherapy department. High scores on irritability subscale were significantly more among professionals in critical medicine. There was a significant direct correlation between duration of employment and JDI scores regarding promotion. Moreover, significant reverse correlations were found between duration of employment and depression as well as irritability scores on IDA scale

Evolution of a new crown shape index for the mandibular incisors

In this study the role played by the mandibular incisors crown size and shape in influencing their alignment has been tested. A new crown shape index [gingival MD width] was deviced and evaluated on a incisal MD width sample of 137 subjects divided into 3 groups having normal, crowded and spaced mandibular incisors. Statisttically, the gingival MD width of the mandibular incisors was able to differentiate between the 3 groups. The crown shape indices of both the mandibular central and lateral incisors demonstrated a highly statistically significant difference between the three groups. From the results of this study, it is clear that the crown shape index be considered in the routine diagnosis as an important cause of mandibular incisors crowding and that the orthodontic clinicians should evaluate it and normalize it

Changes in soft tissue profile associated with mandibular lip bumper

This study was carried out to identify the possible changes in the soft tissue profile after six months of mandibular lip bumper wear. The sample consisted of twenty subjects with class 11 division 1 malocclusion. Their age ranged from 8-12 years. The samples were divided into two equal groups. The first group received mandibular lip bumper for six months, and second group was used as a control group. It was found that in the lip bumper group the soft tissue submentale and the labrale inferius, moved significantly forward. On the other hand the soft tissue subspinale and the labrale superius moved significantly backward with a highly significant improvement in the mutual relationship of soft tissue subspinale and submentale. The soft tissue profile tended to become more convex