Risk factors for work-related eczema and urticaria among vocational students of agriculture

Introduction and objective. Farmers are at high risk of occupational skin diseases which may start already during vocational training. This study was aimed at identification of risk factors for work-related skin diseases among vocational students of agriculture. Materials and method. The study involved 440 students (245 males, 195 females aged 17–21 years) in 11 vocational schools which were at least 100 km from each other. The protocol included a physician-managed questionnaire and medical examination, skin prick tests, patch tests, total IgE and Phadiatop. Logistic regression model was used for the identification of relevant risk factors. Results. Work-related dermatoses were diagnosed in 29 study participants (6.6%, 95%CI: 4.3–8.9%): eczema in 22, urticaria in 14, and co-existence of both in 7 students. Significant risk factors for work-related eczema were: history of respiratory allergy (OR=10.10; p<0.001), history of eczema (itchy rash) provoked by wet work and detergents before entering the school (OR=5.85; p<0.001), as well as history of contact dermatitis to metals, rubber or cosmetics prior to inscription (OR=2.84; p=0.016), and family history of any skin disease (OR=2.99; p=0.013). Significant risk factors for work-related urticaria were: history of allergic rhinitis and asthma prior to inscription (OR=7.29; p=0.006), positive skin prick tests to work place allergens (OR=4.65; p=0.002) and to environmental allergens (OR=3.79; p=0.009), and positive Phadiatop test (OR=3.61; p=0.013). Conclusions. Work-related skin diseases are common among vocational students of agriculture. Atopy, past history of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema (either atopic, allergic or irritant) are relevant risk factors for work-related eczema and urticaria in young farmers, along with family history of any skin disease. Positive skin prick tests seem relevant, especially in the case of urticaria. Asking simple, aimed questions during health checks while enrolling students into agricultural schools would suffice to identify students at risk for work-related eczema and urticaria, giving them the chance for selecting a safer profession, and hopefully avoiding an occupational disease in the future

Assessment of Pristine Carbon Nanotubes Toxicity in Rodent Models

Carbon nanotubes are increasingly used in nanomedicine and material chemistry research, mostly because of their small size over a large surface area. Due to their properties, they are very attractive candidates for use in medicine and as drug carriers, contrast agents, biological platforms, and so forth. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) may affect many organs, directly or indirectly, so there is a need for toxic effects evaluation. The main mechanisms of toxicity include oxidative stress, inflammation, the ability to damage DNA and cell membrane, as well as necrosis and apoptosis. The research concerning CNTs focuses on different animal models, functionalization, ways of administration, concentrations, times of exposure, and a variety of properties, which have a significant effect on toxicity. The impact of pristine CNTs on toxicity in rodent models is being increasingly studied. However, it is immensely difficult to compare obtained results since there are no standardized tests. This review summarizes the toxicity issues of pristine CNTs in rodent models, as they are often the preferred model for human disease studies, in different organ systems, while considering the various factors that affect them. Regardless, the results showed that the majority of toxicological studies using rodent models revealed some toxic effects. Even with different properties, carbon nanotubes were able to generate inflammation, fibrosis, or biochemical changes in different organs. The problem is that there are only a small amount of long-term toxicity studies, which makes it impossible to obtain a good understanding of later effects. This article will give a greater overview of the situation on toxicity in many organs. It will allow researchers to look at the toxicity of carbon nanotubes in a broader context and help to identify studies that are missing to properly assess toxicity

Copper(I) (pseudo)halide complexes with neocuproine and aminomethylphosphines derived from morpholine and thiomorpholine : in vitro cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity and the interactions with DNA and serum albumins

Herein, a series of CuI or CuNCS complexes with neocuproine (2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline: dmp) and two tris(aminomethyl)phosphines derived from morpholine (P(CH2N(CH2CH2)2O)3) or thiomorpholine (P(CH2N(CH2CH2)2S)3) were tested as cytotoxic agents in vitro towards mouse colon carcinoma (CT26) and human lung adenocarcinoma (A549). The studies showed that the complexes exhibit potential antitumor properties, displayed by IC50 values below 10 μm towards the tested cell lines, in the case of 4-h incubation time with the examined compounds. Moreover, a high antimicrobial activity of all the complexes was observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans with minimal inhibitory concentrations equal to 1–2 μg/mL. To gain insight into the molecular mechanism of biological activity of the complexes, we investigated also their interactions with plasmid DNA (pUC18) and the human and bovine serum albumins. Gel electrophoresis experiments demonstrated that all the compounds were comparably efficient in DNA degradation process; however, luminescence quenching showed surprising dependence on the interactions strength of the used compounds with the albumins. Apart from exceptionally effective [CuI(dmp)P(CH2N(CH2CH2)2O)3], the complexes with P(CH2N(CH2CH2)2O)3 quenched more strongly luminescence of bovine serum albumin, while the complexes with P(CH2N(CH2CH2)2S)3 were more active in the quenching of human serum albumin luminescence

A subjective sense of the quality of life in adolescents from the Świętokrzyskie Voivodship

ObjectivesThe measurement of the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is one of the most important methods for self-assessment of health, which makes it possible to identify irregularities in the physical, mental and social functioning. The aim of the research was to determine HRQOL using the Health Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children and Young People (the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire) – the instrument recommended by the World Health Organization – which makes it possible to distinguish groups of adolescents with a diversified subjective sense of the quality of life.Material and MethodsThe study involved a group of 871 adolescents, 411 boys and 460 girls, aged 13–16 years, residing in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodship. The method of a diagnostic survey was used in the research. The KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire, which is an instrument for examining the HRQOL of adolescents, was employed in the study. The k-means clustering method was applied, which made it possible to establish 3 groups of adolescents with a different subjective sense of the quality of life.ResultsThree groups of adolescents with a diversified subjective sense of the quality of life (high, average, low) were identified using the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire. The subjective quality of life in the majority of the respondents was high, in particular in those living in rural areas. The surveyed boys with a high subjective quality of life showed a significantly higher self-esteem, acceptance and peer support than the surveyed girls.ConclusionsThe KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire is an accurate and sensitive tool for assessing HRQOL. It allows identifying 3 groups of adolescents with a diversified subjective sense of the quality of life. It can form the basis for further diagnosis of the bio-psycho-social functioning of adolescents

Application of FTIR spectroscopy for analysis of the quality of honey

Every kind of honey is a very precious natural product which is made by Mellifera bees species. The chemical composition of honey depends on its origin or mode of production. Honey consists essentially of different sugars, predominantly fructose and glucose. There are also non – sugar ingredients like proteins and amino acids, as well as some kind of enzymes, such as: invertase, amylase, glucose oxidase, catalase and phosphatase. The fact that honey is one of the oldest medicine known worldwide is remarkable. Scientists all over the world have been trying to improve analytical methods as well as to implement new ones in order to reaffirm the high quality of honey the benefits of which may be distracted or disturbed. There are many methods and popular analytical techniques, including as follows: mass spectroscopy and molecular spectroscopy (especially FTIR spectroscopy). The infrared spectroscopy technique is one of the most common analytical methods which are used to analyse honey nowadays. The main aim of the task was to use ATR-FTIR infrared spectroscopy to compare selected honey samples as well as typical sequences coming out from certain functional groups in the analysed samples

Application of FTIR spectroscopy for analysis of the quality of honey

Every kind of honey is a very precious natural product which is made by Mellifera bees species. The chemical composition of honey depends on its origin or mode of production. Honey consists essentially of different sugars, predominantly fructose and glucose. There are also non – sugar ingredients like proteins and amino acids, as well as some kind of enzymes, such as: invertase, amylase, glucose oxidase, catalase and phosphatase. The fact that honey is one of the oldest medicine known worldwide is remarkable. Scientists all over the world have been trying to improve analytical methods as well as to implement new ones in order to reaffirm the high quality of honey the benefits of which may be distracted or disturbed. There are many methods and popular analytical techniques, including as follows: mass spectroscopy and molecular spectroscopy (especially FTIR spectroscopy). The infrared spectroscopy technique is one of the most common analytical methods which are used to analyse honey nowadays. The main aim of the task was to use ATR-FTIR infrared spectroscopy to compare selected honey samples as well as typical sequences coming out from certain functional groups in the analysed samples

Problematyka głębokiego wiercenia na Orawie a popaleogeńska tektonika Karpat Północnych

This paper presents an insight into the geology of the area surrounding the ODDP proposed drilling site, and the structural development of the Carpathians in post-Palaeogene times. Since the deep drilling is proposed to be located in the Orava region of the Northern Carpathians, on the Polish-Slovak border, the structure and origin of the Neogene Orava Basin is also addressed in the paper. The outline of geology of the Carpathian Mountains in Slovakia and Poland is presented. This outline includes the Inner Carpathian Tatra Mountains, the Inner Carpathian Palaeogene Basin, the Pieniny Klippen Belt, the Outer Carpathians, the deep structure below the Carpathian overthrust, the Orava Basin Neogene cover, the Neogene magmatism, faults and block rotations within the Inner and Outer Carpathians, and the Carpathian contemporary stress field. The outline of geology is accompanied by the results of the most recent magnetotelluric survey and the detailed description of the post-Palaeogene plate tectonics of the circum-Carpathian region. The oblique collision of the Alcapa terrane with the North European plate led to the development of the accretionary wedge of the Outer Carpathians and foreland basin. The northward movement of the Alpine segment of the Carpathian-Alpine orogen had been stopped due to its collision with the Bohemian Massif. At the same time, the extruded Carpatho/ Pannonian units were pushed to the open space, towards a bay of weak crust filled up by the Outer Carpathian flysch sediments. The separation of the Carpatho/Pannonian segment from the Alpine one and its propagation to the north was related to the development of the N-S dextral strike-slip faults. The formation of the West Carpathian thrusts was completed by the Miocene time. The thrust front was still progressing eastwards in the Eastern Carpathians. The Carpathian loop including the Pieniny Klippen Belt structure was formed. The Neogene evolution of the Carpathians resulted also in the formation of genetically different sedimentary basins. These basins were opened due to lithospheric extension, flexure, and strike-slip related processes. A possible asteno- sphere upwelling may have contributed to the origin of the Orava Basin, which represents a kind of a rift modified by strike-slip/pull-apart processes. In this way, a local extensional regime must have operated on a local scale in the Orava region, within the frame of an overall compressional stress field affecting the entire West Carpathians. Nevertheless, many questions remain open. Without additional direct geological data, which can be achieved only by deep drilling under the Orava Deep Drilling Project, these questions cannot be fully and properly answered.W grudniu 1999 Polska dołączyła do programu wierceń kontynentalnych - International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). W ramach tego programu jest przygotowywany projekt głębokiego wiercenia w strefie kontaktu teranu Karpat wewnętrznych i płyty północnoeuropejskiej. Praca przedstawia zarys geologii Karpat na terenie Polski i Słowacji, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem Tatr, paleogenu wewnątrzkarpackiego, pienińskiego pasa skałkowego, zachodnich Karpat zewnętrznych, podłoża nasunięcia karpackiego na południe od Krakowa, neogeńskiego wulkanizmu i budowy geologicznej niecki orawskiej. Wiercenie "Orawa" byłoby usytuowane w rejonie Jabłonki-Chyżnego na linii przekroju sejsmicznego CELEBRATION CEL01, jak również w niedalekim sąsiedztwie głębokiego przekroju geologicznego Kraków-Zakopane i na linii przekroju Andrychów-Chyżne. Przekroje Kraków--Zakopane i Andrychów-Chyżne wykorzystują szereg wierceń Państwowego Instytutu Geologicznego i PGNiG, a także badania sejsmiczne i magnetote-luryczne. Usytuowanie wiercenia w rejonie przygranicznym pozwoli na międzynarodową współpracę z geologami i geofizykami słowackimi. Wiercenie to ma na celu wyjaśnienie szeregu problemów badawczych. Jednym z nich jest zagadnienie młodych i współczesnych ruchów tektonicznych w Karpatach. Przez obszar karpacki przebiega granica europejskiego pola plam gorąca, wyznaczona neogeńskim wulkanizmem oraz rozkładem strumienia cieplnego. Na obszarze pomiędzy Górną Orawą a Górnym Śląskiem, linia graniczna łącząca neogeńskie wulkanity Zakarpacia z andezytami rejonu przypienińskiego i bazaltami Dolnego Śląska przecina skośnie nasunięcia jednostek fliszowych Karpat Zewnętrznych. Równocześnie w rejonie Orawy do pienińskiego pasa skałkowego skośnie dochodzi oś karpackiej, ujemnej anomalii grawimetrycznej, a podłoże skonsolidowane występuje na głębokości nie większej niż 6-9 km, a więc w zasięgu głębokiego wiercenia, co sugerują wyniki badań megnetotellurycznych (Żytko, 1999) i magnetycznych. Podniesienie to, przy generalnym zapadaniu podłoża platformy europejskiej pod Karpaty ku południowi, może bya spowodowane warunkami geotermicznymi, na skutek podnoszenia się astenosfery i występowania pióropuszy płaszcza. Pióropusze te mogą bya niezależne od karpackiej kompresji i subdukcji. Z piórpuszami tymi łączy się lokalna i regionalna ekstensja w warunkach megaregionalnej kompresji. Zjawiska tego rodzaju nie są jeszcze dokładnie poznane, aczkolwiek występują w kilku miejscach na świecie (np. Panteleria na Morzu Śródziemnym). Opracowanie zagadnienia roli pióropuszy płaszcza i określenie ich relacji do kolizji i subdukcji mają zasięg globalny, a ich wyjaśnienie w rejonie karpackim pozwoli na stworzenie uniwersalnego modelu ewolucji orogenów. Nie jest wykluczone, że mamy do czynienia z orogenezą "modyfikowaną" przez pióropusz płaszcza. Powstanie niecki Orawy i Podhala mogłoby więc mieć związek z riftingiem spowodowanym wpływem pióropuszy płaszcza na pograniczu dwóch płyt. Ryft ten jest obrzeżony między innymi wyniesieniami Babiej Góry i Orawskiej Magury. Z ryftem może być związany wulkanizm ukryty pod neogeńskimi utworami niecki orawskiej, a widoczny jako wysokooporowe ciała na profilach megnetotellurycznych. Tektonikę tego obszaru komplikuje występowanie uskoków przesuwczych o różnym przebiegu i orientacji i związane z nimi tworzenie się basenów międzyprzesuwczych typu pull-apart. Proponowane wiercenie przyczyniłoby się do uzyskania odpowiedzi na postawione wyżej problemy. Dla określenia dokładnej lokalizacji wiercenia i jego właściwej interpretacji geologicznej konieczne będzie wykonanie dodatkowych prac geofizycznych. Płytka sejsmika wyjaśniłaby zasięg utworów neogeńskich i pozycję pienińskiego pasa skałkowego pod utworami neogenu, zaś głęboka sejsmika, a zwłaszcza zdjęcie 3-D, przyczyni łaby się do lepszego rozpoznania tektoniki wgłębnej