Varicose veins of lower extremities in workers with jobs requiring continuous standing or sitting position

Epidemiološka ispitivanje učestalosti varikoznih vena donjih ekstremiteta izvršeno je u 779 industrijskih radnika (434 muškarca i 345 žena). Ispitivana je učestalost varikoznih vena u odnosu na stojeći odnosno sjedeći položaj pri radu. Utvrđena je statistički značajna (p < 0,05) povezanost između varikoznih vena i duljine zaposlenja u svih radnika osim u žena sa sjedećim položajem. Učestalost varikoznih vena povećavala se do 19 godina, a nakon toga je registriran pad (vjerojatno kao posljedica selekcije). Nije dobivena značajna razlika u učestalosti varikoznih vena donjih ekstremiteta između stojećeg i sjedećeg položaja pri radu.An epidemiological study of the prevalence of varicose veins of lower extremities was carried out in an industrial population of 434 men and 345 women. A statistically significant (p < 0.05) association between the varicose disease and duration of work was found in all groups of workers, except for women sitting at work. Decrease in the prevalence of varicose veins after 20 years of employment may be explained at least partly, by the factor of selfselection in the industry. However, there was no difference in the prevalence of varicose veins between workers standing and those sitting at work

Immunological changes and ventilatory capacity in animal food workers

U skupini od 35 radnika na preradi stočne hrane ispitivan je odnos respiratornih nalaza i imunološkog statusa. Najveći broj radnika reagirao je pozitivnim kožnim testovima na riblje brašno (82,9%), zatim na karoten (77,l %), kukuruz (65>,7%), djetelinu (62,9%), suncokret (54,3%), mesa pilica (31,4%), soju (28,6%) i kvasac (22,7%). Povišeni ukupni IgE utvrđen je u 40% radnika u svinjogojstvu i u 2,6% radnika kontrolne skupine. Značajno veća prevalencija kroničnih respiratornih simptoma utvrđena je u radnika na preradi stočne hrane nego u radnika kontrolne skupine. Međutim, nije utvrđena značajna razlika u prevalenciji kroničnih respiratornih simptoma između radnika s pozitivnim i negativnim kožnim testovima na kućnu prašinu i riblje brašno kao i između onih s povišenim i normalnim IgE (osim za dispneju). Statistički značajne akutne redukcije tijekom radne smjene utvrđene su za sve parametre, osobito za FEF25. Radnici s pozitivnim kožnim testovima na riblje brašno pokazivali su značajno veće redukcije FEF25 nego oni s negativnim kožnim testovima. Vodeni ekstrakt stočne hrane uzrokovao je kontrakciju glatke muskulature izolirane traheje zamorca u in vitro eksperimentima. Naši podaci upućuju na to da osim imunološkog djelovanja stočna hrana može uzrokovati i direktnu iritativnu reakciju na dišne putove eksponiranih radnika.Respiratory symptoms and immunological reactions were examined in 35 animal food workers. The most frequent positive skin prick reactions occurred to fish flour (82.9%), followed by carotene (77.1 %), cornflour (65.7%), four-leaf clover (62.9%), sunflower (54.3%), chicken meat (31.4%), soy (28.6%) and yeast (22.7%). The IgE serum level was increased in 40% of the animal food workers and in 2.6% of the controls. A significantly higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was found in animal food workers than in controls. However, there was no significant difference in prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms between workers with positive and those with negative skin tests to house dust and fish flour or between those with increased and those with normal IgE levels (except for dyspnoea). There were significant acute across-shift reductions in ventilatory capacity, particularly for FEF25. The workers with positive skin tests to fish flour demonstrated significantly larger acute FEF25, reductions than those with negative skin tests. An extract of animal food caused constriction of isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle in vitro. It appears that animal food dust in addition to immunological response may produce a direct irritative effect on the airways of exposed workers

Respiratory and immunological changes in tea workers

Respiratorna funkcija ispitivana je u 100 radnica zaposlenih u preradi čajeva (gruzijski, kadulja, šipak, indijski i kamilica) i u 84 radnice kontrolne skupine. Prevalencija većine kroničnih respiratornih simptoma bila je značajno viša u radnica pri preradi šipka, kadulje i gruzijskog čaja nego u radnica kontrolne skupine. Tijekom radne smjene utvrđene su statistički značajne srednje akutne redukcije za maksimalni ekspiratorni protok pri 50% i 25 % vitalnog kapaciteta na krivulji maksimalnog ekspiracijskog protoka i volumena (FEF50: 4,1-8,8%; FEF25: 7,8-21,8%) u svih osim u radnica izloženih kamilici. Akutne redukcije FEV1 bile su mnogo manje i uglavnom statistički neznačajne. Imunološki status ispitivan je u 26 radnica u preradi čajeva i u 17 radnica kontrolne skupine. Intradermalni testovi s alergenima čajeva pokazivali su najveći postotak pozitivnih kožnih reakcija na kadulju (45%), gruzijski čaj (40%) i šipak (10%). U kontrolnoj skupini radnica utvrđene su pozitivne kožne reakcije u 23 % na kadulju, 19 % na gruzijski čaj i 11 % na šipak i indijski čaj. Koncentracija IgE u serumu povišena je u 27% radnica u preradi čajeva i u 7% radnica kontrolne skupine.Respiratory function was examined in 100 female workers employed in the production of different types of tea (gruzyan, sage, dog rose, indian and chamomile) and in 84 female control workers. The prevalence of almost all chronic respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in workers processing dog rose, sage and gruzyan tea than in the control group. During work shift there were significant mean acute reductions in maximal expiratory flow rates at 50% and 25 % of the vital capacity on maximum expiratory flow-volume curves (FEF50: 4.l-8.8%;FEF25: 7.8-21.8%) except in workers exposed to chamomile. Acute reductions in FEY1 were considerably smaller and not significant. The immunological status was examined in 26 tea workers and in 17 control workers. Skin tests with tea allergens demonstrated the highest percentage of positive reaction to sage (45%), gruzyan tea (40%) and dog rose (10%). Among the control workers, 23% had a positive skin reaction to sage, 19 % to gruzyan tea and 11 % to dog rose and indian tea. Serum levels of total IgE were elevated in 27 % of the tea workers and in 17% of the control subjects

Ventilatory capacity in soy bean workers

Ventilacijska funkcija ispitivana je u 27 radnika izloženih prašini soje nakon ekstrakcije ulja. Prevalencija svih kroničnih respiratornih simptoma bila je viša u eksponiranih nego u kontrolnih radnika, premda razlike nisu bile statistički značajne. Tijekom radne smjene ponedjeljkom utvrđene su statistički značajne akutne redukcije za maksimalni ekspiratorni protok pri 50% i 25% vitalnog kapaciteta (FEF50: -6,4%; FEF25: - 12,4%). Promjene u vitalnom kapacitetu (FVK: -3,6%) i forsiranom ekspiratornom volumenu u prvoj sekundi (FEV1: -2, 7%) bile su manje, ali još uvijek statistički značajne. Analiza rezultata testiranja ventilacijskih kapaciteta ponedjeljkom prije smjene u radnika na preradi soje upućuje na to da eskpozicija prašini soje u nekih radnika može dovesti do pojave kroničnog oštećenja respiratornog sustava.Ventilatory capacity was examined in a group of 29 workers exposed to soy bean dust. The prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms was higher in the exposed than in control workers, although the differences were not statistically significant. During the Monday work shift there was a significant mean acute across-shift decrease in maximum expiratory flow rates at 50% and 25% vital capacity (FEF50: -6.4%; FEF25: -12.4%). Changes in forced vital capacity (FVC: -3.6%) and in one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1: -2. 7%) were smaller, but statistically significant. Analysis of Monday preshift values of ventilatory capacity in soy bean workers suggests that exposure to soy bean dust may lead to chronic respiratory impairment in some workers

Ventilatory capacity in animal food workers

Prevalencija kroničnih respiratornih simptoma i bolesti te ventilacijski kapacitet pluća ispitivani su u skupini od 71 radnika zaposlenog na preradi hrane za stoku. Značajno veća prevalencija većine kroničnih respiratornih simptoma i nekih bolesti utvrđena je u eksponiranoj nego u kontrolnoj skupini radnika. U eksponiranih pušača utvrđena je značajno veća prevalencija kroničnog kašlja, kroničnog iskašljaja, kroničnog bronhitisa i stezanja u prsima nego u pušača kontrolne skupine. Za nepušače razlika između radnika eksponirane i kontrolne skupine bila je značajna samo za kronični iskašljaj i stezanje u prsima. U eksponiranih radnika utvrđene su značajno niže vrijednosti FYK, PEV1 i PEP50 u odnosu na referentne vrijednosti. Pušači su pokazivali sve testove ventilacijske funkcije pluća značajno niže od normale, dok su te razlike u nepušača bile značajne samo za FVK i FEV1. Rezultati našeg istraživanja pokazuju da ekspozicija aerosolima hrane za stoku može u osjetljivih osoba dovesti do pojave i razvoja kroničnih respiratornih simptoma i bolesti te poremećaja ventilacijske funkcije pluća.The prevalence of chronic and acute respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity were studied in a group of 71 workers employed in animal food processing. A control group of 55 unexposed workers was also included in the study. A significantly higher prevalence for most of the chronic respiratory symptoms was found among the exposed than among control workers. Exposed smokers had a significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, chronic bronchitis and chest tightness than control smokers. The values for PVC, FEV1 and FEF50 measured in the exposed workers were significantly lower in comparison to predicted normal lung function values. In smokers all the measured parameters of ventilatory capacity were significantly lesser than predicted. For non-smokers only PVC and FEV1 were below normal. Our data indicate that occupational exposure to animal food may cause the development of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and impairment of ventilatory capacity

Specific bronchial reactivity in coffee workers

Ventilacijska funkcija ispitivana je u devet radnika koji su se tužili na respiratorne smetnje u ekspoziciji prašini sirove kave. Bronhalni provokativni test s alergenom sirove kave uzrokovao je u četiri radnika ranu astmatičnu reakciju s akutnim redukcijama ventilacijske funkcije. Relativne akutne redukcije bile su veće za FEF25-75, varirajući od 28% do 66%, nego za FEV1, varirajući od 18% do 62%. U osam radnika utvrđena je povećana koncentracija ukupnog imunoglobulina IgE u serumu i u šest radnika pozitivna prick-reakcija na alergen sirove kave. Naši podaci pokazuju da bronhalni provokativni testovi s alergenom sirove kave, zajedno s kožnim testovima i imunoglobulinima predstavljaju vrijedne pokazatelje za utvrđivanje osjetljivosti respiratornog sustava na prašinu sirove kave.Ventilatory capacity was studied in nine coffee workers who complained of job-related respiratory symptoms. Bronchoprovocation testing with green coffee allergen provoked immediate asthmatic reactions with acute reductions of ventilatory capacity in four workers. The relative fall was greater in FEF25-75, ranging from 28% to 66% than in FEV1 where it ranged from 18% to 62% of the control values. Eight workers out of nine had increased total IgE serum levels and six showed a positive reaction to prick testing with green coffee allergen. According to our data bronhchoprovocation with green coffee allergen along with skin tests and immunoglobulin levels can serve as indicator of the sensitivity of the respiratory system to green coffee dust