The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety disorders among workers in a hospital in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan

INTRODUCTION@#During the global COVID-19 pandemic, health workers were found to have a higher prevalence of anxiety disorder compared to non-health workers. Anxiety disorder that occurs chronically have a 25% chance to become a major depression disorder.@*OBJECTIVE@#The aim of this study is to understand the anxiety condition and related risk factors among workers in a Balikpapan hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.@*METHOD@#The design of this research used a cross sectional method that involved 279 respondents who are workers in a Balikpapan hospital. The study used SPSS version 20.0, using the chi square and Fisher’s Exact test for the bivariate analysis, and the logistic regression with enter method for the multivariate analysis.@*RESULTS@#The study shows that using the General Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) questionnaire from 279 hospital workers, there were 10.8% with mild-, 1.45% with moderate-, and 0.4% with severe anxiety disorder. A significant relation was found between anxiety disorder and risk factors such as being a health worker with p=0.001 and a 4.8 OR adj (95% CI: 1.9-12.3), working in areas with high risk of transmitting COVID-19 with p=0.04 and a 5.1 OR adj (95% CI: 1.0-24.2), and workers who are being quarantined with p=0.001 a 10.5 OR adj (2.6-42.3) after being adjusted by age and gender variables.@*CONCLUSION@#Significant relations were found between anxiety disorder among hospital workers with risk factors such as being health workers, working in areas with high risk of transmitting COVID-19, and workers who are being quarantined. Researchers strongly advise health providers to do regular monitoring and seek moral support especially for workers who have higher risk of anxiety disorder.

Prevalence of CYP2C19 681G>A and 636G>A gene polymorphisms in Javanese farmers exposed to Chlorpyrifos

Objective@#The objective of our study was to determine the genotype frequencies of CYP2C19*2 and *3 gene polymorphisms among Javanese farmers exposed to chlorpyrifos (CPF) in Central Java, Indonesia. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 2020 in Central Java, Indonesia, involving 151 vegetable farmers aged 18-65 years who used CPF for at least one year. CYP2C19*2 and *3 gene polymorphisms were analyzed using PCR-RFLP. Direct calculations were applied to calculate allele and genotype frequencies. The difference in genotype frequencies among the sex and cumulative exposure level (CEL) group was performed using the Chi-square test. In contrast, the proportion difference of allele frequencies was analyzed using Z-test. @*Results@#The frequency of CYP2C19 genotypes *1/*1, *1/*3, *1/*2, and *2/*2 were 64 %, 7 %, 23 % and 6 %. We observed no significant difference in the genotype distribution according to sex group and CEL group. @*Conclusion@#In summary, the prevalence of toxicologically relevant CYP2C19 polymorphisms was determined in the Javanese agricultural population. The CYP2C19 genotype may be helpful as an essential biomarker of genetic susceptibility towards CPF exposure. Nevertheless, further studies to confirm the role of CYP2C19 in this context are still needed.

Renal function analysis of crane operators in a container terminal and its related factors

Objective@#The objective of this study was to assess factors related to renal function in crane operators at a port container terminal in Indonesia. @*Methods@#A cross-sectional study on crane operators in Medan Container Terminal, Indonesia, was conducted. Renal function was measured through Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). Individual characteristics such as age, nutritional status, fluid consumption, hydration status, and physical activity level were collected. Fluid consumption was obtained from a 24-h food recall questionnaire. Physical activity was measured based on the Bouchard questionnaire. Association was determined by calculating the odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI). @*Results@#A total of 87 subjects were involved. All were male with the median age of 30.1 ± 2.4 years old. The prevalence of decreased renal function was 49.4%. Inadequate fluid consumption (OR = 6.1, 95% CI 2.1 -17.7; p<0.001) significantly increase the risk of renal function decreased, while being overweight/obese (OR 3.3, 95% CI 0.7 -11.7;p<0.125) and dehydration (OR 2.3, 95% CI 0.8-26.9; p=0.111) also increase the risk although not significantly. @*Conclusion@#Inadequate fluid consumption increases the risk of decline in the renal function of crane operators in the container terminal. A company should regularly monitor and evaluate the kidney function of this group of workers through annual medical checkups and provide easier access to drinking water and convenient toilets to improve fluid consumption of the workers.

The Role of CYP2B6*6 Gene Polymorphisms in 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-pyridinol Levels as a Biomarker of Chlorpyrifos Toxicity Among Indonesian Farmers / 예방의학회지

Objectives@#One of the most widely used pesticides today is chlorpyrifos (CPF). Cytochrome P450 (CYP)2B6, the most prominent catalyst in CPF bioactivation, is highly polymorphic. The objective of our study was to evaluate the role of CYP2B6*6, which contains both 516G>T and 785A>G polymorphisms, in CPF toxicity, as represented by the concentration of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), among vegetable farmers in Central Java, Indonesia, where CPF has been commonly used. @*Methods@#A cross-sectional study was conducted among 132 vegetable farmers. Individual socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, as determinants of TCPy levels, were obtained using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and subsequently used to estimate the cumulative exposure level (CEL). TCPy levels were detected with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. CYP2B6*6 gene polymorphisms were analyzed using a TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assay and Sanger sequencing. Linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between TCPy, as a biomarker of CPF exposure, and its determinants. @*Results@#The prevalence of CYP2B6*6 polymorphisms was 31% for *1/*1, 51% for *1/*6, and 18% for *6/*6. TCPy concentrations were higher among participants with CYP2B6*1/*1 than among those with *1/*6 or *6/*6 genotypes. CYP2B6*6 gene polymorphisms, smoking, CEL, body mass index, and spraying time were retained in the final linear regression model as determinants of TCPy. @*Conclusions@#The results suggest that CYP2B6*6 gene polymorphisms may play an important role in influencing susceptibility to CPF exposure. CYP2B6*6 gene polymorphisms together with CEL, smoking habits, body mass index, and spraying time were the determinants of urinary TCPy concentrations, as a biomarker of CPF toxicity.

Effect of a wellness programme on aerobic physical exercise adherence and blood lipid profile changes among office workers

INTRODUCTION@#Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for dyslipidemia. Office work is a job associated with low physical activity. Wellness programmes in the workplace might increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness.@*OBJECTIVE@#This study aimed to determine the effect of a wellness programme on aerobic physical exercise adherence and blood lipid profile changes among government employees.@*METHODS@#This study used a randomized controlled trial design, with the intervention (wellness programme) conducted for six weeks. Thirty participants who were office workers in a government institution were allocated into two groups. The intervention group (n = 15) received health education, aerobic physical exercise (30 minutes on a treadmill, three times/week for six weeks), reminders, and a logbook. The control group (n = 15) received education only. The outcomes were adherence to the exercise programme and lipid profile levels.@*RESULT@#The intervention group showed more adherence to aerobic exercise than the control group (OR 42.2, 95% CI 5.1, 346.9). The mean (SD) total cholesterol level in the intervention group was decreased by 9.9 (21.1) mg/dl, while in the control group, it was increased by −16.0 (14.5) mg/dl at the end of the study (p = 0.010). The mean (SD) of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the intervention group was also decreased by 0.9 (17.2) mg/dl while in the control group, it was increased by -14.8 (11.6) mg/dl (p = 0.007). No significant mean differences were observed for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride.@*CONCLUSION@#A workplace wellness programmes can enhance employees’ adherence to physical exercise and decrease their total blood cholesterol and LDL level.

Challenges and Supports of Breastfeeding at Workplace in Indonesia / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Due to increased number of women workers in Indonesia in the last decade, numbers of women living as a worker and a housewife have increased. This also increases the potential risk of breastfeeding discontinuation. Three months of maternal leave policy and inadequate lactation promotion support in workplace have been identified as factors that hinder lactating practices. The World Health Organization recommendation of 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding and joined regulation of three Indonesia ministers (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, and Ministry of Women Empower) have failed to improve the exclusive breastfeeding rate among female workers in Indonesia due to the lack of a standardized guideline on lactation promotion at workplace. In addition, very limited or no studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of workplace-based lactation intervention programs on exclusive breastfeeding rate among female workers. This is because the relationship of lactation with working performance and productivity could not motivate employer to invest in workplace-based lactation promotion facility or program.