Cross-section analysis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and higher brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity within Kailuan study.

BACKGROUND: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. However, there is no related data on the association of baPWVwith coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). We explored the baPWV in subjects withCWP and the associated risk factors. METHODS: Thiscase-control study included 1,007 male CWP cases without a history of stroke and coronary heart disease and 1,007 matched controls from the Kailuan cohort study. All of the participants underwent assessment for baPWV and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The cumulative silica dust exposure (work history linked to a job-exposure matrix) was estimated for the CWP cases. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the CWP cases had higher baPWV (1762.0 ± 355 cm/s vs. 1718.6 ± 354 cm/s, P = 0.006) and a higher risk of increased baPWV (defined as more than the median baPWV of the population distribution; odds ratio 1.43, 95% confidence interval 1.11-1.83) after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Age ≥60 years, body mass index, heart rate, and hypertension were all significantly associated with increased baPWV in the CWP cases. Compared to non-CWP subjects without hypertension, the odds ratios for increased baPWV gradually increased (P for trend, 0.001) across the CWP subjects without hypertension (odds ratio 1.20, 95%confidence interval 0.90-1.61), subjects with hypertension alone (odds ratio 2.54, 95% confidence interval 1.95-3.30), and CWP subjects with hypertension (odds ratio 3.34, 95% confidence interval 2.56-4.37). We detected a significant positive exposure-response relationship between silica dust-exposure quartiles and increased baPWV in CWP cases (P for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with CWP, increased baPWV was associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and long-term silica dust exposure.

Air pollution and fasting blood glucose: A longitudinal study in China.

Limited studies have examined the associations between air pollutants [particles with diameters of 10 µm or less (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)] and fasting blood glucose (FBG). We collected data for 27,685 participants who were followed during 2006 and 2008. Generalized Estimating Equation models were used to examine the effects of air pollutants on FBG while controlling for potential confounders. We found that increased exposure to NO2, SO2 and PM10 was significantly associated with increased FBG levels in single pollutant models (p<0.001). For exposure to 4 days' average of concentrations, a 100 µg/m(3) increase in SO2, NO2, and PM10 was associated with 0.17 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.15-0.19), 0.53 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.42-0.65), and 0.11 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.07-0.15) increase in FBG, respectively. In the multi-pollutant models, the effects of SO2 were enhanced, while the effects of NO2 and PM10 were alleviated. The effects of air pollutants on FBG were stronger in female, elderly, and overweight people than in male, young and underweight people. In conclusion, the findings suggest that air pollution increases the levels of FBG. Vulnerable people should pay more attention on highly polluted days to prevent air pollution-related health issues.

Comparison of the Cumulative Incidence Rates of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis between 1970 and 2013 among Four State-Owned Colliery Groups in China.

The purpose of this study was to identify differences in the incidence characteristics of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) based on data from four large state-owned colliery groups of China, by comparing the cumulative incidence rates of CWP. We investigated 87,904 coal workers from the Datong, Kailuan, Fuxin, and Tiefa Colliery Groups, who were exposed to dust for at least 1 year. The cumulative incidence rate of CWP was calculated with the life-table method and stratified analysis among coal workers with different occupational categories during different years of first dust exposure. Our results showed the cumulative incidence rate of Datong was higher than that of any other colliery group among workers with different occupational categories during different years of first dust exposure. For Datong workers who started their dust exposure in the 1970s, the cumulative incidence rates of CWP among tunneling, mining, combining, and helping workers were 34.77%, 10.20%, 34.59%, and 4.91% during the observed time of 34 years, respectively. For those in the 1980s, the cumulative incidence rates were 32.29%, 13.51%, 2.98%, and 0.47%, respectively. The cumulative incidence rates of Fuxin and Tiefa were the lowest. In conclusion, the Datong colliery has the highest cumulative incidence rate of CWP among the four studied collieries, followed by Kailuan. The cumulative incidence rates of Fuxin and Tiefa were the lowest. Additional dust-proofing measures for decreasing dust concentrations are still necessary.

Risk identification and prediction of coal workers' pneumoconiosis in Kailuan Colliery Group in China: a historical cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Prior to 1970, coal mining technology and prevention measures in China were poor. Mechanized coal mining equipment and advanced protection measures were continuously installed in the mines after 1970. All these improvements may have resulted in a change in the incidence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). Therefore, it is important to identify the characteristics of CWP today and trends for the incidence of CWP in the future. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total of 17,023 coal workers from the Kailuan Colliery Group were studied. A life-table method was used to calculate the cumulative incidence rate of CWP and predict the number of new CWP patients in the future. The probability of developing CWP was estimated by a multilayer perceptron artificial neural network for each coal worker without CWP. The results showed that the cumulative incidence rates of CWP for tunneling, mining, combining, and helping workers were 31.8%, 27.5%, 24.2%, and 2.6%, respectively, during the same observation period of 40 years. It was estimated that there would be 844 new CWP cases among 16,185 coal workers without CWP within their life expectancy. There would be 273.1, 273.1, 227.6, and 69.9 new CWP patients in the next <10, 10-, 20-, and 30- years respectively in the study cohort within their life expectancy. It was identified that coal workers whose risk probabilities were over 0.2 were at high risk for CWP, and whose risk probabilities were under 0.1 were at low risk. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The present and future incidence trends of CWP remain high among coal workers. We suggest that coal workers at high risk of CWP undergo a physical examination for pneumoconiosis every year, and the coal workers at low risk of CWP be examined every 5 years.

[Study on predictive value of pulmonary ventilation function of healthy coal mine workers].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the predictive value of pulmonary ventilation function for dust-exposed-workers in some coal mine. METHODS: From March to August in 2011, 2994 coal workers were involved in the research, their pulmonary ventilation function were examined by pulmonary function measuring instrument. 1389 worker's pulmonary ventilation function were normal, the data of 1139 workers established the predictive value equation, and those of 250 workers tested the equation. RESULTS: Age was negatively correlated with FVC, FEV1, FEV1%, MMF and PEFR (P < 0.05). Height was negatively correlated with FEV1%, however, it was positively correlated with others (P < 0.05). Weight was negatively correlated with MMF and positively correlated with FVC and PEFR (P < 0.05). The regression equation of the predictive value was established by age, height and weight as in dependent variables. It were above 90% that the accordance ratio to test the equation by original data and test data. Predictive value of pulmonary ventilatory function from predictive value equation were lower than that of lung fucntion machine (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Predictive value of pulmonary ventilatory function from predictive value equation was superior to that of lung fucntion machine.

[Value of oxygenic injury sensitive index in the screening of the early coal workers' pneumoconiosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the significance of oxidative injury in the screening of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). METHODS: With the method of nitrate reductase, TBA, et al, the content of NO, MDA and other indexes of peroxidation in plasma lipid were detected in 112 patients suffering from coal workers' pneumoconiosis and 114 healthy coal workers as controls. RESULTS: There were statistical significant between two groups (P < 0.05) with the content or density of MDA, CuZn-SOD, GSH-Px, T-AOC, UA, NO and iNOS except CP. As screening index of pneumoconiosis, there were statistical significant in area under the curve (AUC) of MDA, T-AOC, NO and iNOS between the two groups by ROC. As screening index of pneumoconiosis, MDA, T-AOC, NO and iNOS can be selected as early screening index. Especially, T-AOC was the best index of four indexes (sensitivity is 70.5%, specificity is 68.1%). CONCLUSION: Joint screening of MDA, T-AOC and iNOS is better than single index or series of T-AOC and MDA to the screening of CWP.