Risk of occupational exposure to the HBV infection in non-clinical healthcare personnel.

BACKGROUND: Occupational risk of blood-borne infections is investigated mostly among nurses and doctors, studies concerning non-clinical health personnel (nCHP) being rare. The analysis of the occupational exposure to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the history of vaccination against the HBV in the nCHP group has been the aim of the study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 458 cases of the occupational exposure to biological agents was conducted: group I - doctors (N = 121, 28%), group II - nursing staff (N = 251, 55%), group III - nCHP (N = 86, 19%). RESULTS: In the group III the source was usually unknown (group: I - 0.83%, II - 11.16%, III - 86.05%, p < 0.001), and the proportion of individuals vaccinated against hepatitis B before the exposure was the lowest (group: I - 98.35%, II - 97.19%, III - 77.91%, p < 0.001). In this group most exposures resulted from injuries caused by needles/sharps deposited in waste sacks (60%) or anywhere outside of the medical waste container (5%). The possibility of the HBV infection risk during the exposure was found in 25 cases and was significantly more frequent in the group III. The qualification for the HBV post-exposure prophylaxis was also significantly more frequent in the group III. CONCLUSIONS: The exposure to the occupational risk of the HBV infection also concerns the non-clinical healthcare personnel. The non-clinical healthcare personnel comprises one of the main groups of the HBV post-exposure recipients. It is essential to determine the causes of the low hepatitis B vaccination coverage in the nCHP and consider introduction of mandatory vaccination in this group in Poland. Med Pr 2016;67(3):301-310.

Cognitive disorders in type 2 diabetic patients with recognized depression.

OBJECTIVES: The most important factors in the pathogenesis of cognitive disorders in diabetes mellitus (DM) are metabolic changes directly caused by hyperglycemia. Impairment of cognitive function is accompanied by a decrease in cerebral insulin. Insulin improves cognitive processes, including somatosensoric cognitive functions. Cognitive disorders are especially pronounced if diabetic patients suffer also from depression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The evaluation of cognitive functions, especially sensomotoric skills were obtained from three study groups (aged 37-52 years): 30 healthy subjects, 40 diabetic patients with clinically documented depression and 30 depressive patients without DM. The sensomotoric skills were carried out using a SPS-2001E apparatus - a computer working stress simulator. The examination with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were also performed in all the investigated persons. RESULTS: Sensomotoric skills investigation revealed slight cognitive disorders in the early stages DM (subgroup IA) and its intensification according to increasing BDI scores and HbA1c blood concentration (from subgroup IA to IC). Intensification of sensomotoric cognitive disorders was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the depressive patients with DM (group I), than in these without DM (group III). CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results suggest that coincidence of aggravating factors, such as depression and metabolic disorders in DM, may cause mutual interactions leading to premature and more intense cognitive impairment. The method proposed by the authors may serve as a screening examination in early diagnosis of CNS disorders reflected by somatosensoric cognitive disorders. The presented work indicates importance of sensomotoric skills investigation for the early diagnosis of the nervous system damage related to DM.

[Analysis of the holter records in miners working at the deepest located work stations in copper mines of the Legnica-Glogow copper mining district]. / Wyniki analizy zapisów holterowskich u górników zatrudnionych na najglebiej polozonych stanowiskach pracy kopalni miedzi legnicko-glogowskiego okregu miedziowego.

BACKGROUND: Microclimate at mining stations consists of numerous parameters, such as air temperature, humidity, air flow velocity and rock temperature. These parameters have an impact on thermal work conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigation was performed on 71 operators of mining machines from sections G-6 (group I) and G-11 (group II), aged 23-50 years, with mining experience of 7-25 years. One part of operators worked in air-conditioned chambers (subgroups A) and the other in chambers without air-conditioning (subgroups B). The continuous heart rate (HR) recording was taken during the whole shift. RESULTS: Average values of HR in subgroup B were significantly higher than in subgroup A, especially between 8:00 and 9:00, but the increased HR did not exceed the border line of 140 bpm. CONCLUSIONS: The results did not show significant deviation in the range of HR in operators working in unfavorable climatic conditions. They demonstrated benefits from using air-conditioned chambers to reduce effects of hot microclimate.

[Effect of psychotherapy on autonomic balance in VDT-operators with somatoform disorders]. / Wplyw psychoterapii na napiecie ukladu wegetatywnego u operatorów VDT z zaburzeniami nerwicowymi.

BACKGROUND: The omnipresence of stress-inducing factors that stems from the permanent development of our civilization results in a constantly growing number of people with neurotic disorders. Computer technology, a very new labor technique, has become a stressful factor. Stressful factors initially affect the central nervous system, which modifies vegetative functions. The autonomic balance can be a measurable indicator of disease severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 50 VDT-operators with neurotic disorders. Twenty five healthy VDT-operators formed the control group. The autonomic balance was investigated with Holter monitoring. Each of the 50 neurotic VDT-operators were qualified for a 3-month psychotherapy. RESULTS: The analysis of Holter recordings proved that the applied model of psychotherapy significantly reduced the number of sympathicotonics in favor of normotonics in the study group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The Holter analysis can be considered as a reliable indicator of the effect of psychotherapy.