Prevalence of food allergy in asthmatic patients

This study was conducted to assess the role of clinical sensitivity to food on the pattern of bronchial asthma. A total of 1341 patients with asthma were included in the present study. The clinical sensitivity to food and its relation to respiratory symptoms were assessed cross-sectionally [using detailed questionnaires], and longitudinally during their regular visits to the asthma clinic using diet diary. Total IgE was determined for a subsample of the patients [No = 392]. The prevalence of clinical sensitivity to food was 29%; about 2 thirds of the patients had high total IgE level. Asthmatic patients with clinical sensitivity to food present with some particular features which are considered risk factors that determine the occurrence and clinical pattern of asthma. In addition, some personal characteristics in the asthmatic patients make them at increased risk to have clinical sensitivity to food. From the clinical experience of asthma management in our clinic, the authors believe and emphasize that elimination of food items from the diet of an asthmatic patient should be considered after careful investigation and observation of the patient. In addition, some personal characteristics in the asthmatic patients make them at increased risk to have clinical sensitivity to food. Early detection of food allergy is an important preventive factor for food related respiratory symptoms. The natural course of food allergy is of resolution over time although this may differ between foodstuffs and may be variably affected by avoidance of the offending allergen

Effects of life-time smoking on lung function of symptomatic smoking workers

Lung function tests and personal data were used to fit a mode describing the effect of cumulative and current cigarette smoking on airway function of smoking workers. Smoking workers suffered on irreversible loss of FVC, FEV 1.0, PEFR, FEE 25%-75% and Vmax 50, which is described by a linear function of their cumulative cigarette smoking as measured in pack-year. Current cigarette smoking adds on acute deficits over and above the cumulative effect of life-time smoking. For a typical male 170 cm tall and weighing 70 kg, the estimated loss of FEV 1.0 is 10 ml for each pack year smoked. A worker who starts smoking one pack of cigarette per day at 25 years of age would at age 60, after 35 pack year of exposure, have and expected FEV 1.0 equal to that of a man 67.6 years who had never smoked

Study of work-related medical problems and its impact on sickness absence among employees in a University Hospital in Jeddah

Records of illness visits reported in the Staff Health Clinic of General Hospital, in Jeddah City, which were given certified sick leaves for one or more days during two calendar years [number =855 visits] were included in the present study. Information retrieved from the records included personal as well as occupational data, medical diagnosis, and duration of sick leaves. Sickness absence rates for medical causes were established for different categories of employees. Respiratory tract infection was the most common cause for sick leaves among hospital employees. Lower respiratory tract infection, dysentery, and conjunctivitis were significantly higher among nurses compared to administrators. Peptic ulcer, hypertension, and migraine were more common among physicians and nurses. Bronchial asthma and skin allergy were higher among laboratory technicians and nurses. The ancillary workers suffered more from back pain and injuries compared to other groups. Nurses were found to have high sickness absence rates due to different medical problems

Pulmonary function in workers manufacturing aluminum products

A total of 134 male manual workers in three aluminum manufacturing factories, and 228 control workers not exposed to respiratory noxious materials were studied. Personal and occupational data, anthropometric measurements and forced spirometric tests were obtained from all workers before shift. Lung function measurements were only repeated for aluminum-exposed workers after the end of the same shift. Regression analysis revealed that exposed workers have a significantly lower mean values of forced lung volumes [FVC, FEV1], and flow rates [PEFR, FEV0.2-1.2, Vmax75, FEF25-75, and Vmax50] and a higher FEV1% compared to the control workers. These changes were exposure related. Gross-shift study of spirometric tests among exposed workers revealed no significant acute broncho-constriction due to exposure to aluminum dust. It was concluded that exposure to aluminum is associated with restrictives lung function impairment. It is unlikely that aluminum produces occupational asthma or fixed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Workers in this industry should be protected against this occupational hazard

Standards of forced spirometric tests in normal Saudi males aged 12-16 years

The accurate assessment of various lung functions is basic to the care of children, adolescents and adults exposed to occupational lung hazards, or having asthma. What is required is the availability of standards of normal lung function measurements for those being evaluated. Subjects and Methods: Measurements of commonly performed spirometric lung function tests were evaluated in 404 healthy Saudi children and young adults aged 12-26 years. Data for FVC, FEV 1.0, PEFR, V max50% and V max25% and other flow rate indices support the need for ethnically specific standards of normal and Recommendations: The present study provides normal values for PEFR/FVC and V max50 /FVC and other lung function flow rates. Prediction equations are provided for calculating the standard norm of spirometric tests for the first time in Saudi children and young adults

Factors affecting the use and attidude towards medical resources and educational methods in a Saudi medical school

Medical colleges are using various teaching methods and educational resources in education. In order to explore the attitude of medical students towards these educational methods and resources and the factors playing a major role in their use in a medical school in an Arabic culture, a self answered questionnaire was directed to 283 medical students in their clinical years. Questions on the possible factors which affect the attendance and the use of these education resources were also included. Traditional methods of teaching, lectures, and clinical rounds were found to be the backbone of the educational process in this college. Attendance to lectures was related to both quality of subjects and to the lecturer, emphasizing the importance of a good lecture and lecturer. Clinical bedside teaching was found to be a popular and effective way of teaching medical knowledge, skill, and patient interactions to medical students. The library in this college was the least used resource and student appreciation of its importance was very low. General recommendations are to reduce dependence on lectures gradually in clinical years and to introduce new methods of clinical teaching

Lung function impairment among Egyptian shipyard workers

Welders are usually exposed to heavy clouds of fumes. These fumes contain some gases and particulate matters which are potentially harmful. The subjects for this study were 103 male welders and 93 controls. The Medical Research Council questionnaire [MRC] on respiratory symptoms, occupational questionnaire and forced spirometric indices [FVC, FEV1, PEFR, FEF25-85, FEF50, FEF75 and FET] were performed. The results were submitted to correlation and logistic regression analysis using the Sinclair ZX + 128 K computer. It was found that exposure to high levels of welding fumes was associated with increased respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function and these effects were exposure-related. The lung function index FEF75-885 seems to be sensitive to early changes in lung function

Nitrogen closing volume: a new method

The nitrogen closing volume test [CV] was performed by both the standard method, in which the test inspiration of oxygen is started from residual volume, and a new method, in which the inspiration was started from residual volume [RV] plus 50% expiratory reserve volume [ERV]. The new method was expected to increase the residual nitrogen concentration gradient in the lung. One healthy non-smoker subject and 222 subjects were included. For the new method the starting point was found of significant effect over the range RV + 20% ERV to RV + 80% ERV. Compared with the standard method the new one gave a clearer one to phase IV and the reproducibility of both CV% and closing capacity was increased [coefficient of variations was, respectively, for CV% 5.8% and 15.5% and for CC% 4.1% and 5.7%]. Using the new method all the naive subjects produced technically satisfactory results, whereas 15% of the present subjects could not perform the standard procedure in the recommended manner. The results by the two methods were not interchangeable, instead of the derived indices CV%, CC%, slope of phase III and N2 index, but not the total lung capacity were larger by the new method. The latter is recommended because compared with the standard method the test is easier to perform, so there are fewer lapses and the reproducibility is improved, so fewer measurements are required

State of stress and type of personality among working and non working healthy women in Alexandria

This study was carried out at the Edfina Food Factory; where 50 female. workers were selected randomly out of the 500 females employed by the company. A control group 50 non working women [house wives] were chosen; a neighbour house hold, to be matched for the socio-economic status and some environmental condition. The aim of this work is to examine the effect of employment on the health of women by inducing stress experimentally and study the relationship between type of personality and stress. The study reveals the following: - The mean age of the working women was significantly less than the house hold. - The percentage of illiterate women among the working group were higher than the house hold group and the differences were statistically significant. - The mean score value of the star test for the working women was significantly higher than the house hold. - The working women had a more integrated personality than the house hold where they were more neurotic or extrovert. - Increased duration of work in the working women was associated with increased score on the star test. - In the working group, the mean value of the pulse rate during the star test was significantly higher than before the test in comparison to the house hold where no significant changes were found. - In the working group there was significant rise of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure during the test compared with that before. While for the house hold no significant difference was observed