Thyroid Function in Health Care Workers Exposed to Ionizing Radiation.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze possible alterations of thyroid function related to dosimetric values in health care workers exposed to ionizing radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six health care workers exposed to ionizing radiation at a tertiary hospital previously exposed to ionizing radiation were included in the study. Age, sex, history of thyroid diseases, thyroid hormones, work post, service, dosimetric values of previous year, and 5 y period were considered. Alterations of thyroid function and other variables were analyzed by exact logistic regression univariate model. RESULTS: 7.1% workers showed an increased serum thyroid-stimulating hormone without free T3 or free T4 alteration. A significant relationship between workers with increased thyroid-stimulating hormone and dosimetric values of previous year (odds ratio 6.35, 95% confidence interval 1.20-98.1, p = 0.021) and previous 5 y period of radiation exposure (odds ratio 1.72, 95% confidence interval 1.12-3.34, p = 0.007) was obtained. CONCLUSION: An increased risk of subclinical hypothyroidism related to radiation doses was observed in this pilot study on a group of health care workers exposed to ionizing radiation.

Obesity and weight gain among former World Trade Center workers and volunteers.

A high prevalence of obesity has been observed among former World Trade Center (WTC) workers and volunteers. We hypothesized that unemployment and disability status would predict obesity. We surveyed 220 participants at the [INST] Mount Sinai WTC Clinical Center to assess their obesity and current employment and disability status, WTC occupational exposure level, medical comorbidities, and dietary and exercise habits. Bivariate and logistic regression multivariate analyses were used to explore associated risk factors. Obesity was associated with active employment status. Other significant covariates included non-Latino African American race, having a high number of comorbid chronic diseases, low exercise frequency, and not drinking any glass of juice daily. The association of obesity with active employment suggests that interventions that favor healthy habits among actively employed individuals are warranted.

Evolución del resultado positivo del QuantiFERON®-TB Gold in Tube (QFT-GIT) y características asociadas en trabajadores sanitarios con infección tuberculosa latente en un hospital terciario / Evolution of Quanti FERONR-TB Gold in Tube (QFT-GIT) positive result and associated features from health care workers with latent tuberculosis infection in a tertiary hospital

Los test de liberación del Interferon Gamma complementan o reemplazan a la prueba de tuberculina (PT) en el diagnóstico de infección latente tuberculosa (ILTB), pero son objeto de controversia debido a sus posibles reversiones. Nuestro objetivo es describir la evolución del QuantiferonR-TB Gold in Tube (QFT-GIT) tras un resultado positivo en trabajadores sanitarios con ILTB y los factores posiblemente relacionados con la persistencia, o no, del resultado en un periodo de seis años. Analizamos los datos de 46 trabajadores, de ellos 60,9% mujeres, siendo los grupos más frecuentes enfermeros, médicos y auxiliares de enfermería. 32,6% pertenecían a departamentos considerados de alto riesgo, 26% reportaron quimioprofilaxis previa. Observamos reversión del QFT-GIT en un 32,6% de ellos. Encontramos menor riesgo significativo de reversión en relación a un mayor resultado de la PT en milímetros, sin relación significativa entre reversiones y quimioprofilaxis. Es importante continuar investigando para resolver los interrogantes relacionados con las posibles reversiones del QFT-GIT (AU)

The Interferon Gamma release assays complement or replace the tuberculin skin test (TST) for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), but are currently in controversy due to its reversions possibility. Our goal is to describe the evolution of QuantiFERONR- TB Gold in Tube (QFT-GIT) following a positive result in healthcare workers with LTBI and possible related factors to the persistence, or not, of the result in a period of six years. We analyzed data from 46 workers, 60.9% of them women, the most common groups were nurses, doctors and nursing assistants, 32.6% of them belonged to considered high risk departments, and 26% reported previous chemoprophylaxis. We found 32.6% QFT-GIT reversions and less significant reversion risk in relation to a higher result of TST in millimetres, without significant relation between reversions and chemoprophylaxis. It is important to continue researching to resolve questions related to possible QFT-GIT reversions (AU)

Exposición laboral a hidrocarburos clorados y cáncer de páncreas: revisión de la bibliografía reciente / Occupational exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbons and pancreatic cancer: review of recent literature

La proporción de cáncer de páncreas que puede atribuirse a exposiciones laborales es aproximadamente 12%, aunque representan un pequeño porcentaje, estos factores pueden ser prevenibles, siendo importante identificarlos. Algunas ocupaciones se han relacionado con el aumento de riesgo de cáncer de páncreas, y al parecer habría una asociación estadísticamente significativa para la exposición a hidrocarburos clorados u organoclorados. Objetivo: Revisar la literatura científica reciente, buscando evidencias sobre la relación entre la exposición laboral a organoclorados y cáncer de páncreas. Metodología: Se realizó una búsqueda en las principales bases de datos utilizando descriptores relacionados y aplicando criterios de pertinencia, inclusión y exclusión seleccionándose 10 artículos. Resultados: Se analizaron tres meta-análisis, tres estudios de cohortes y 4 estudios de casos y controles, encontrando una mayor producción bibliográfica entre los períodos 2000-2003 y 2007-2011. Conclusiones: Algunas exposiciones se han relacionado con el exceso de riesgo para el cáncer pancreático, sin embargo en la mayoría de estudios se encuentra un efecto débil o moderado a menudo relacionado con la limitada cantidad de participantes. Los estudios que investigan esta asociación por tipo de ocupación no suelen precisar los agentes específicos a los que se encuentra expuesto el trabajador, dificultando establecer asociaciones concretas. Es importante seguir estudiando las interacciones genético-ambientales relacionadas como la asociación con el gen K-ras en busca de resultados más concluyentes que permitan avanzar en el campo de la prevención de riesgos laborales

The proportion of pancreatic cancer that can be attributed to occupational exposures is about 12 %, although that is a small percentage, these factors can be prevented and it is important to identify them. Some occupations have been associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, and these apparently have a statistically significant association for exposure to organochlorine or chlorinated hydrocarbons. Objective: To review the recent scientific literature looking for evidence on the relationship between occupational exposure to organochlorines and pancreatic cancer. Methods: A search was conducted in major databases using related descriptors and applying relevance, inclusion and exclusion criteria; finally we selected 10 articles. Results: Three meta- analysis, three cohort studies and four case-control studies were analyzed, finding more bibliographic production between the 2000-2003 and 2007-2011 periods. Conclusions: Some exposures have been associated with increased risk for pancreatic cancer, but in most studies the effect is weak or moderate, often associated with the limited number of participants. Studies that investigate the association by type of occupation do not usually determine specific agents to which the worker is exposed, making it difficult to establish specific associations. It is important to continue studying gene-environment interactions related to the association with K-ras gene in search of more conclusive results that advance the field of prevention of occupational hazards