Cinquentenário da Revista Brasileira de Saúde Ocupacional: um marco para celebrar o passado e construir o futuro / Fiftieth anniversary of the Brazilian Journal of Occupational Health: a milestone to celebrate the past and build the future

Resumo A Revista Brasileira de Saúde Ocupacional (RBSO) é um periódico considerado referência pela comunidade da área de segurança e saúde do trabalhador, sendo veículo dedicado à publicação de artigos científicos que contribuam para a reflexão e análise científica de questões atuais e relevantes relacionadas às relações entre trabalho e saúde. Em 2023, a RBSO completa 50 anos de existência. Esta nota editorial dedica-se a relatar o evento comemorativo, descrevendo os principais aspectos abordados nas apresentações e nos debates ocorridos, com vistas a registrar este importante momento, que pode ser considerado um marco para celebrar o passado e construir o futuro da revista. Tal evento foi uma oportunidade crucial, não somente para celebrar o meio século de existência da RBSO, mas também para propiciar o encontro de uma comunidade dedicada à publicação científica em saúde do trabalhador, que proporcionou reflexões, propostas e recomendações voltadas ao fortalecimento da revista e do campo. A presença e o envolvimento da equipe editorial, bem como dos convidados, foram fundamentais para o sucesso desse encontro, durante o qual a RBSO reafirmou o compromisso com a busca contínua por aprimoramento editorial, a partir das experiências e ideias debatidas.

Abstract The Brazilian Journal of Occupational Health (RBSO) is a reference journal within the occupational health and safety community. It is dedicated to publishing scientific articles that contribute to the critical analysis of current and pertinent issues concerning the relationship between work and health. In 2023, RBSO celebrates its 50th anniversary. This editorial note is dedicated to reporting on the commemorative event, describing the main topics covered in the presentations and discussions, with the aim of documenting this important moment, which can be considered a milestone for celebrating the past and building the future of RBSO. This event offered a crucial opportunity not only to celebrate RBSO's five decades of existence but also to bring together a community deeply committed to scientific publishing in the field of occupational health. It brought valuable reflections, proposals, and recommendations aimed at strengthening both the journal and the field it represents. The presence and active participation of the editorial team, along with the invited attendees, played an indispensable role in the success of this gathering. During this event, RBSO reaffirmed its dedication to keep enhancing its editorial standards, drawing from the experiences and ideas that have been discussed.

Correction: Saito et al. Sex-Specific Mortality from Asbestos-Related Diseases, Lung and Ovarian Cancer in Municipalities with High Asbestos Consumption, Brazil, 2000-2017. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 3656.

In the original publication [...].

Sex-Specific Mortality from Asbestos-Related Diseases, Lung and Ovarian Cancer in Municipalities with High Asbestos Consumption, Brazil, 2000-2017.

The aim of this study is to compare the mortality rates for typical asbestos-related diseases (ARD-T: mesothelioma, asbestosis, and pleural plaques) and for lung and ovarian cancer in Brazilian municipalities where asbestos mines and asbestos-cement plants had been operating (areas with high asbestos consumption, H-ASB) compared with in other municipalities. The death records for adults aged 30+ years were retrieved from multiple health information systems. In the 2000-2017 time period, age-standardized mortality rates (standard: Brazil 2010) and standardized rate ratios (SRR; H-ASB vs. others) were estimated. The SRRs for ARD-T were 2.56 for men (257 deaths in H-ASB municipalities) and 1.19 for women (136 deaths). For lung cancer, the SRRs were 1.33 for men (32,604 deaths) and 1.19 for women (20,735 deaths). The SRR for ovarian cancer was 1.34 (8446 deaths). Except for ARD-T and lung cancer in women, the SRRs were higher in municipalities that began using asbestos before 1970 than in municipalities that began utilizing asbestos from 1970 onwards. In conclusion, the mortality rates for ARD-T, and lung and ovarian cancer in municipalities with a history of asbestos mining and asbestos-cement production exceed those of the whole country. Caution is needed when interpreting the results of this ecological study. Analytical studies are necessary to document the impact of asbestos exposure on health, particularly in the future given the long latency of asbestos-related cancers.

Sickness absenteeism among health care workers in a public hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Several studies showed that sickness absenteeism has considerable impact on civil service given the increasing number of sick leaves granted to and days off work among employees. Health care workers, especially those in hospitals, represent one of the occupational groups at higher risk of absenteeism. Therefore, establishing the pattern of sickness absenteeism in this group is crucial to implement efficacious preventive measures against work-related diseases. OBJECTIVE: To characterize sickness absenteeism among the nursing and medical staff of a public hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, in the period from 2011 through 2013. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in a large hospital in which we analyzed data from January 2011 to December 2013. RESULTS: Employees missed a total of 71,460 days of work along the analyzed period; 3,323 sick leave benefits were granted to 1,533 workers. Nursing assistants and workers in the adult emergency department accounted for the largest number of days off work to a total of 11,460. The most common reasons for sick leaves among emergency department employees were musculoskeletal diseases and mental and behavioral disorders. CONCLUSION: We detected changes in the morbidity profile of the nursing and medical staff along the analyzed period, characterized by conditions which demand longer time for recovery and return to work.

INTRODUÇÃO: Pesquisas revelam que os estudos das ausências motivadas por doença são particularmente importantes na esfera do funcionalismo público em razão do número crescente de afastamentos por licença médica e de dias não trabalhados por parte desse importante grupo de trabalhadores. Entre as categorias profissionais mais expostas ao afastamento, estão os profissionais de saúde, particularmente os de instituições hospitalares. Torna-se imprescindível a análise do comportamento de suas ausências motivadas por doença no intuito de promover medidas de prevenção eficazes contra o adoecimento laboral. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar o perfil do absenteísmo-doença da equipe de enfermagem e da equipe médica de um hospital público estadual de São Paulo no período de 2011 a 2013. MÉTODO: Estudo descritivo e transversal realizado em um hospital estadual de grande porte no período de janeiro de 2011 a dezembro de 2013. RESULTADOS: No período trienal ocorreu o total de 71.460 dias de afastamento, e 3.323 licenças médicas foram concedidas a 1.533 trabalhadores. A categoria profissional mais acometida pelo absenteísmo-doença foram os auxiliares de enfermagem, sendo o pronto-socorro adulto o setor com o maior número de afastamentos, alcançando 11.460 dias. Nesse mesmo setor, a maior parte dos motivos de adoecimento deveu-se a doenças do sistema osteomuscular e do tecido conjuntivo e a transtornos mentais e comportamentais. CONCLUSÕES: Com os resultados, foi possível verificar mudanças no perfil de morbidade da equipe de enfermagem e da equipe médica ao longo de três anos, com predomínio de agravos cujo tempo de recuperação e de retorno ao trabalho é consideravelmente longo nessa população trabalhadora.

Mortality from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a temporal trend analysis in Brazil, 1979-2014 / Mortalidade por fibrose pulmonar idiopática: análise temporal no Brasil, 1979-2014

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze mortality from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in Brazil over the period 1979-2014. Methods: Microdata were extracted from the Brazilian National Ministry of Health Mortality Database. Only deaths for which the underlying cause was coded as International Classification of Diseases version 9 (ICD-9) 515 or 516.3 (until 1995) or as ICD version 10 (ICD-10) J84.1 (from 1996 onward) were included in our analysis. Standardized mortality rates were calculated for the 2010 Brazilian population. The annual trend in mortality rates was analyzed by joinpoint regression. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) by age group, time period of death, and gender, using a person-years denominator. Results: A total of 32,092 deaths were recorded in the study period. Standardized mortality rates trended upward, rising from 0.24/100,000 population in 1979 to 1.10/100,000 population in 2014. The annual upward trend in mortality rates had two inflection points, in 1992 and 2008, separating three distinct time segments with an annual growth of 2.2%, 6.8%, and 2.4%, respectively. The comparison of RRs for the age groups, using the 50- to 54-year age group as a reference, and for the study period, using 1979-1984 as a reference, were 16.14 (14.44-16.36) and 6.71 (6.34-7.12), respectively. Men compared with women had higher standardized mortality rates (per 100,000 person-years) in all age groups. Conclusion: Brazilian IPF mortality rates are lower than those of other countries, suggesting underdiagnosis or underreporting. The temporal trend is similar to those reported in the literature and is not explained solely by population aging.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a mortalidade por fibrose pulmonar idiopática (FPI) no Brasil no período de 1979-2014. Métodos: Foram extraídos microdados do Sistema de Informações de Mortalidade do Ministério da Saúde cuja causa básica de óbito tenha sido codificada conforme a Classificação Internacional das Doenças, 9ª edição, códigos 515 ou 516.3 (até 1995), e 10ª versão, código J84.1 (a partir de 1996). Os coeficientes de mortalidade padronizados foram calculados para a população brasileira de 2010. A tendência anual da mortalidade foi analisada pelo método de regressão por pontos de inflexão. Foram calculadas as razões de risco (RR) por faixa etária, período analisado e gênero, utilizando-se como denominador pessoas-ano. Resultados: Foram registrados 32.092 óbitos no período estudado. O coeficiente de mortalidade padronizado mostrou-se ascendente, passando de 0,24/100.000 habitantes em 1979 para 1,10/100.000 em 2014. A tendência anual de crescimento identificou dois pontos de inflexão, em 1992 e 2008, gerando três retas com crescimento anual percentual de 2,2%, 6,8% e 2,4%, respectivamente. As RR (IC95%) por faixa etária, elegendo a faixa de 50-54 anos como referência, e por período estudado, elegendo o período de 1979-1984 como referência, foram de 16,14 (14,44-16,36) e de 6,71 (6,34-7,12), respectivamente. Homens, comparados a mulheres, apresentaram taxas de mortalidade padronizadas (por 100.000 pessoas-ano) superiores em todas as faixas etárias. Conclusões: Os coeficientes de mortalidade brasileiros por FPI são inferiores aos de outros países, podendo indicar subdiagnóstico ou subnotificação. A tendência temporal é semelhante à descrita na literatura e não é justificada apenas pelo envelhecimento populacional.

Mortality from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a temporal trend analysis in Brazil, 1979-2014.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze mortality from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in Brazil over the period 1979-2014. METHODS: Microdata were extracted from the Brazilian National Ministry of Health Mortality Database. Only deaths for which the underlying cause was coded as International Classification of Diseases version 9 (ICD-9) 515 or 516.3 (until 1995) or as ICD version 10 (ICD-10) J84.1 (from 1996 onward) were included in our analysis. Standardized mortality rates were calculated for the 2010 Brazilian population. The annual trend in mortality rates was analyzed by joinpoint regression. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) by age group, time period of death, and gender, using a person-years denominator. RESULTS: A total of 32,092 deaths were recorded in the study period. Standardized mortality rates trended upward, rising from 0.24/100,000 population in 1979 to 1.10/100,000 population in 2014. The annual upward trend in mortality rates had two inflection points, in 1992 and 2008, separating three distinct time segments with an annual growth of 2.2%, 6.8%, and 2.4%, respectively. The comparison of RRs for the age groups, using the 50- to 54-year age group as a reference, and for the study period, using 1979-1984 as a reference, were 16.14 (14.44-16.36) and 6.71 (6.34-7.12), respectively. Men compared with women had higher standardized mortality rates (per 100,000 person-years) in all age groups. CONCLUSION: Brazilian IPF mortality rates are lower than those of other countries, suggesting underdiagnosis or underreporting. The temporal trend is similar to those reported in the literature and is not explained solely by population aging.

The next mesothelioma wave: mortality trends and forecast to 2030 in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on mesothelioma mortality in industrializing countries, where, at present, most of the asbestos consumption occurs. OBJECTIVES: To analyze temporal trends and to calculate mortality rates from mesothelioma and cancer of the pleura in Brazil from 2000 to 2012 and to estimate future mortality rates. METHODS: We retrieved records of deaths from mesothelioma (ICD-10C45) and cancer of the pleura (ICD-10C38.4) from 2000 to 2012 in adults aged 30 years and over. Crude and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) were calculated. Rate ratios of mean crude mortality for selected municipalities were compared to the Brazilian rate. A regression was carried out of the annual number of deaths against asbestos consumption using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM). The best model was chosen to estimate the future burden and peak period of deaths. RESULTS: There were 929C45 and 1379 C38.4 deaths. The ratio of men to women for C45 was 1.4. A positive trend in C45 numbers was observed in Brazil (p=0.0012), particularly in São Paulo (p=0.0004) where ASMRs presented an increasing linear trend (p=0.0344). Selected municipalities harboring asbestos manipulation presented 3.7-11 fold rate ratios of C45 compared to Brazil. GAM presented best fits for latencies of 34 years or more. It is estimated that the peak incidence of C45 mortality will occur between 2021 and 2026. CONCLUSIONS: The observed ASMRs and the gender ratio close to 1 suggest underreporting. Even so, deaths are increasing and mesothelioma clusters were identified. Compared to industrialized countries Brazil displays a 15-20 year lag in estimated peak mesothelioma mortality which is consistent with the lag of asbestos peak consumption in the country.

From occupational safety and health to Workers' Health: history and challenges to the Brazilian Journal of Occupational Health.

The Revista Brasileira de Saúde Ocupacional (RBSO) - Brazilian Journal of Occupational Health - is an academic peer-reviewed journal in the field of Workers' Health that has been published by Fundacentro since 1973. Its historical trajectory, current performance, challenges and future perspectives were approached, in this paper, from a documental analysis. The journal's history can be divided into three periods, starting during the military government. At the beginning, the journal was the official vehicle for the Brazilian occupational accidents prevention policy, in which Fundacentro played a central role. The early 1980s opens space for technical-scientific publications and the field of Workers' Health emerges on the journal's pages. In 2005-6, a restructuring process is implemented, ensuring independent editorial policy and structures. Since 2006, 139 original papers and 9 thematic issues have been published. The journal is indexed in 9 bibliographic databases, has been ranked B1 in the field of interdisciplinary studies and B2 in the field of public health by CAPES, has an upward trend in the SciELO Impact Factor, and has an h-index of 5 in Google Scholar. Nevertheless, the low scientific production in the field and the high rate of rejection of manuscripts may jeopardize the survival of the journal, which is the main locus for scientific publications in the field of Workers' Health.

Da segurança e medicina do trabalho à Saúde do Trabalhador: história e desafios da Revista Brasileira de Saúde Ocupacional / From occupational safety and health to Workers’ Health: history and challenges to the Brazilian Journal of Occupational Health

Resumo A Revista Brasileira de Saúde Ocupacional (RBSO) é o periódico científico do campo da Saúde do Trabalhador publicado pela Fundacentro desde 1973. O percurso histórico, o desempenho atual, os desafios e as perspectivas futuras da RBSO são discutidos a partir de análise documental. A história da revista pode ser dividida em três períodos, começando durante o governo militar. No início, se constituiu em veículo de difusão de conhecimentos e da política de prevenção de acidentes, na qual a Fundacentro desempenhava papel central. No início dos anos 80 abre-se espaço para publicações de caráter técnico científico, assim como o campo da Saúde do Trabalhador surge em suas páginas. Em 2005-6, um processo de reestruturação é implementado, assegurando política e estruturas editoriais independentes. Desde 2006, 139 artigos originais e nove dossiês temáticos foram publicados; a Revista está indexada em 9 bases; Qualis/CAPES B1 na área Interdisciplinar e B2 em Saúde coletiva, com tendência ascendente no Fator de Impacto SciELO e índice h5 no Google Scholar. Todavia, a relativa baixa produção científica no campo e o alto índice de rejeição de manuscritos podem colocar em risco a sobrevivência do “lócus principal” para publicações científicas no campo da Saúde do Trabalhador.

Abstract The Revista Brasileira de Saúde Ocupacional (RBSO) - Brazilian Journal of Occupational Health - is an academic peer-reviewed journal in the field of Workers’ Health that has been published by Fundacentro since 1973. Its historical trajectory, current performance, challenges and future perspectives were approached, in this paper, from a documental analysis. The journal's history can be divided into three periods, starting during the military government. At the beginning, the journal was the official vehicle for the Brazilian occupational accidents prevention policy, in which Fundacentro played a central role. The early 1980s opens space for technical-scientific publications and the field of Workers’ Health emerges on the journal's pages. In 2005-6, a restructuring process is implemented, ensuring independent editorial policy and structures. Since 2006, 139 original papers and 9 thematic issues have been published. The journal is indexed in 9 bibliographic databases, has been ranked B1 in the field of interdisciplinary studies and B2 in the field of public health by CAPES, has an upward trend in the SciELO Impact Factor, and has an h-index of 5 in Google Scholar. Nevertheless, the low scientific production in the field and the high rate of rejection of manuscripts may jeopardize the survival of the journal, which is the main locus for scientific publications in the field of Workers’ Health.

Dengue maculopathy: visual electrophysiology and optical coherence tomography.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the visual loss due to dengue fever using retinal and cortical electrophysiology and retinal imaging. The participants were three female patients with low visual acuity after dengue fever. They were evaluated by routine ophthalmological investigations, transient pattern electroretinogram (tPERG), transient pattern visual evoked cortical potential (tPVECP), and retinal optical coherence tomography (retinal OCT). tPERG and tPVECP amplitude (microV) and implicit time (ms) were the parameters evaluated using OCT retinal thickness (microm) and reflectivity. All patients presented low visual acuity and scotomata with or without changes in the oculus fundus. tPERG from two patients showed decreased amplitude or absence of the main components; it was not possible to record a reliable response in the third patient due to excessive blinking. tPVECP at 0.5 cpd was normal in all three patients, while at 2 cpd the main components were absent in one patient and normal in the other two patients. OCT image was abnormal in two patients, one of them with high reflectance areas and another with decreased retinal thickness (the third patient was not studied with this technique).The dengue fever can lead to visual impairment detectable by ophthalmological exams such as angiography, retinography, and OCT imaging, as well as retinal and cortical electrophysiology. Dengue maculopathy which could be caused by vascular alterations and/or aberrant immune response after infection may result in temporary or permanent visual losses.

Division of labor between M and P visual pathways: different visual pathways minimize joint entropy differently

Visual perception and action are strongly linked with parallel processing channels connecting the retina, the lateral geniculate nucleus, and the input layers of the primary visual cortex. Achromatic vision is provided by at least two of such channels formed by the M and P neurons. These cell pathways are similarly organized in primates having different lifestyles, including species that are diurnal, nocturnal, and which exhibit a variety of color vision phenotypes. We describe the M and P cell properties by 3D Gábor functions and their 3D Fourier transform. The M and P cells occupy different loci in the Gábor information diagram or Fourier Space. This separation allows the M and P pathways to transmit visual signals with distinct 6D joint entropy for space, spatial frequency, time, and temporal frequency. By combining the M and P impacts on the cortical neurons beyond V1 input layers, the cortical pathways are able to process aspects of visual stimuli with a better precision than it would be possible using the M or P pathway alone. This performance fulfils the requirements of different behavioral tasks.(AU)

Division of labor between M and P visual pathways: different visual pathways minimize joint entropy differently

Visual perception and action are strongly linked with parallel processing channels connecting the retina, the lateral geniculate nucleus, and the input layers of the primary visual cortex. Achromatic vision is provided by at least two of such channels formed by the M and P neurons. These cell pathways are similarly organized in primates having different lifestyles, including species that are diurnal, nocturnal, and which exhibit a variety of color vision phenotypes. We describe the M and P cell properties by 3D Gábor functions and their 3D Fourier transform. The M and P cells occupy different loci in the Gábor information diagram or Fourier Space. This separation allows the M and P pathways to transmit visual signals with distinct 6D joint entropy for space, spatial frequency, time, and temporal frequency. By combining the M and P impacts on the cortical neurons beyond V1 input layers, the cortical pathways are able to process aspects of visual stimuli with a better precision than it would be possible using the M or P pathway alone. This performance fulfils the requirements of different behavioral tasks.

Voronoi analysis uncovers relationship between mosaics of normally placed and displaced amacrine cells in the thraira retina.

Although neuronal dynamics is to a high extent a function of synapse strength, the spatial distribution of neurons is also known to play an important role, which is evidenced by the topographical organization of the main stations of the visual system: retina, lateral geniculate nucleus, and cortex. The coexisting systems of normally placed and displaced amacrine cells in the vertebrate retina provide interesting examples of retinotopic spatial organization. However, it is not clear whether these two systems are spatially interrelated or not. The current work applies two mathematical-computational methods-a new method involving Voronoi diagrams for local density quantification and a more traditional approach, the Ripley K function-in order to characterize the mosaics of normally placed and displaced amacrine cells in the retina of Hoplias malabaricus and search for possible spatial relationships between these two types of mosaics. The results obtained by the Voronoi local density analysis suggest that the two systems of amacrine cells are spatially interrelated through nearly constant local density ratios.

Estimativa da sensibilidade ao contraste espacial de luminância e discriminação de cores por meio do potencial provocado visual transiente / Spatial luminance contrast sensitivity and color discrimination measured with transient visual evoked potential

O potencial provocado visual (VEP) é uma resposta cortical registrável na superfície do couro cabeludo, que reflete a atividade dos neurônios de V1. É classificado, a partir da freqüência temporal de estimulação, em transiente ou de estado estacionário. Outras propriedades do estímulo parecem provocar uma atividade seletiva dos diversos grupos de neurônios existentes em V1. Desse modo, o VEP vem sendo usado para estudar a visão humana acromática e cromática. Diversos trabalhos usaram o VEP para estimar a sensibilidade ao contraste de luminância no domínio das freqüências espaciais. Mais recentemente, há estudos que empregaram o VEP para medir os limiares de discriminação de cores. O VEP transiente pode complementar as medidas psicofísicas de sensibilidade ao contraste espacial de luminância e de discriminação cromática, e constitui um método não invasivo para estudar a visão de indivíduos com dificuldades de realizar testes psicofísicos (AU)

Estimativa da sensibilidade ao contraste espacial de luminância e discriminação de cores por meio do potencial provocado visual transiente / Spatial luminance contrast sensitivity and color discrimination measured with transient visual evoked potential

O potencial provocado visual (VEP) é uma resposta cortical registrável na superfície do couro cabeludo, que reflete a atividade dos neurônios de V1. É classificado, a partir da freqüência temporal de estimulação, em transiente ou de estado estacionário. Outras propriedades do estímulo parecem provocar uma atividade seletiva dos diversos grupos de neurônios existentes em V1. Desse modo, o VEP vem sendo usado para estudar a visão humana acromática e cromática. Diversos trabalhos usaram o VEP para estimar a sensibilidade ao contraste de luminância no domínio das freqüências espaciais. Mais recentemente, há estudos que empregaram o VEP para medir os limiares de discriminação de cores. O VEP transiente pode complementar as medidas psicofísicas de sensibilidade ao contraste espacial de luminância e de discriminação cromática, e constitui um método não invasivo para estudar a visão de indivíduos com dificuldades de realizar testes psicofísicos