Non-genetic factors associated with the risk of Parkinson's disease in Iranian patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate some of nongenetic factors associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) in a sample of Iranian patients. This case-control study included 75 patients with idiopathic PD and 75 control patients. The patients in the control group were found to have drunk more glasses of tea per day than the case group before the onset of their problem (p=0.019). Every extra glass of tea per day decreased the risk of PD by 0.8 times (OR=0.8, 95%CI=0.73-0.97, p=0.02). Each cup of coffee per week decreased the chance of developing PD by 0.5 times (OR=0.5, 95%CI=0.28-0.9, p=0.021). A previous history of evening work increased PD risk by 4.6 times (OR=4.6, 95%CI=1.29-16.86, p=0.019) while major stressful events increased it by 13.5 times (OR=13.5, 95%CI=4.7-38.1, p=0.0001). In conclusion, coffee and tea consumption may exert a protective effect against PD, while evening work and stress may be risk factors for the development of the disease.

Respiratory disorders associated with heavy inhalation exposure to dolomite dust.

BACKGROUND: Although dolomite is classified as a relatively non-toxic, nuisance dust, little information exists as to its potential to produce respiratory disorders following occupational exposure. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the possible effects, if any, of heavy inhalation exposure to this chemical on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, functional impairments and radiographic abnormalities of the lungs. METHODS: The study population consisted of a group of 39 exposed subjects engaged in digging and excavating activities that were in operation for building a local dam, as well as 40 healthy non-exposed employees that served as the referent group. Subjects were interviewed and respiratory symptoms questionnaires, as suggested by the American Thoracic Society (ATS), were completed for them. Thereafter, they underwent chest X-ray and lung function tests. Additionally, using routine gravimetric techniques, personal dust monitoring for airborne inhalable and respirable dust was carried out at different dusty work sites. Finally to determine the chemical composition of the dust, it was analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique. RESULTS: XRF revealed that the major component (50.52%) of the dust was calcium magnesium carbonate, dolomite. Additionally, levels of exposure to inhalable and respirable dust were estimated to be 51.7±24.31 and 23.0±18.11mg/m3, respectively. Statistical analysis of the data showed that symptoms such as regular cough, phlegm, wheezing, productive cough and shortness of breath were significantly (p<0.05) more prevalent among exposed workers. Similarly, the ratio of FEV1/FVC in exposed subjects was significantly different from that of non-exposed individuals. In contrast, no significant abnormalities were observed in the chest radiographs of both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, while these data cast doubt on the notion that dolomite is a harmless chemical, they provide evidence in favour of the proposition that exposure to high atmospheric concentrations of this compound is likely to be associated with respiratory symptoms.

The Relationship between the Worker's Safety Attitude and the Registered Accidents.

BACKGROUND: Millions of workers are the victims of different kinds of accidents every year throughout the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between safety attitude and occurrence of the occupational accidents. METHODS: This investigation was a cross-sectional study performed in a gas refinery in south of Iran in 2008. Sample size of this study was 176 people. To determine the value of worker's safety attitude a validated 5 degrees questionnaire was used. Different statistic analyses including Chi-square, t-test and Logistic Regression were used by Spss11.5 to analyze the data. The Cronbachs alpha coefficient was found to be 0.97 in this investigation. RESULTS: In the study population, the average age was 31.67(+/- 5.89), the average work experience was 5.65 (+/- 4.29) and the average of the safety attitude was 188.52(+/- 14.84) and only 28.7% were injured through accidents. The relationship between safety attitude of the workers and the accidents occurred was significant (P< 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The relationship between safety attitude of the workers and the accidents occurred was significant, although the relation was not significant for graduate workers. No significant relationship was found between safety attitude and accident in accordance with worker's age and work experience.