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Background: Karnataka ranks third with regards the number of mines in India and Kolar, at one time, had the world’s deepest and most productive gold mines. Miners are exposed to hazardous agents like silica, coal and asbestos which adversely impact health. Objectives: To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of ex-mine workers at Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), Kolar, Karnataka. Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 (estimated 196 with 50% prevalence) male ex-mine workers of KGF. An interview scheduled, consisting of socio-demographic factors, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and Kings Brief Interstitial Lung Disease (KBILD) was administered. Lower CAT score and higher KBILD score indicate better HRQOL. Results: The mean age of the participants was 69.71±8.56 years. Participants were previously involved in drilling (113-47%) and blasting (127-53%) activities in the mines, with a mean of 14.68±6.46 years of work exposure. The mean scores for CAT and KBILD were 15.80±7.42 and 52.83±8.77 respectively. Based on CAT scores, half (51%) of participants reported medium impact of COPD on their health. Participants with longer duration of work experience had significantly higher CAT scores [OR-36.64 (12.14-110.6)]. KBILD score was significantly higher among those who worked in blasting (M=113. SD=52.14) than those involved in drilling (M=127, SD=53.43). Lower duration of work was significantly associated with higher KBILD scores (p

Byline: Naveen. Ramesh, Archana. Siddaiah, Bobby. Joseph The labor force participation rate for women aged 15-64 years was 25% for India in 2021.[1] Periodic national surveys have indicated declining female [...]

Byline: Kona. Chandralekha, Merlyn. Joseph, Bobby. Joseph Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) is a collective and descriptive term used for the symptoms caused or aggravated by work. Significant WMSDs can [...]

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) contribute significantly to heightened infant mortality rates. This review explores the intricate link between maternal infections and CHDs, emphasizing diverse factors influencing fetal development, such as bacterial, fungal, protozoan and viral agents. These infections pose reproductive health risks, potentially leading to complications like prematurity, stillbirth and heart defect to the fetus. The TORCH acronym (Toxoplasma, Other infections, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex) identifies infectious teratogens related to congenital issues, emphasizing vertical transmission through the placenta or ascending from the vagina. Rubella and Cytomegalovirus play a significant role in heart defects, particularly when maternal infections amplify CHD risk during pregnancy. Specific scrutiny is placed on Rubella and Cytomegalovirus for their impact on pregnancy outcomes and potential links to congenital heart defects, with preventive strategies discussed, including vaccination and antiviral therapy. The timing and severity of these infections are pivotal in determining their impact on fetal heart development. Environmental exposures and maternal nutrition are critical factors influencing fetal development. Maternal undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries associates with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including congenital heart defects. Emphasizing the importance of maintaining a nutritious maternal diet, rich in essential nutrients, is crucial for improved fetal health and successful pregnancy outcomes. This review offers insights into preventive measures and underscores the need for continued research to enhance prenatal care strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cortisol levels (CL) in peri-implant sulcular fluid (PISF) samples in relation to type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and peri-implantitis remain unaddressed. It is hypothesised that PISF CL are higher in patients with type-2 diabetes and peri-implantitis than in healthy patients without and with peri-implantitis. The aim was to assess the PISF CL of peri-implantitis patients without and with T2DM. Materials and Methods: Peri-implantitis patients with T2DM (group 1), T2DM patients without peri-implantitis (group 2), non-diabetic patients with peri-implantitis (group 3) and non-diabetic patients without peri-implantitis (group 4) were included. Demographics were recorded; and patients' medical and dental records were assessed. Peri-implant modified plaque-index (mPI), modified gingival index (mGI), and probing depth (PD) and crestal bone loss (CBL) were recorded. The PISF was collected and CL were determined. p < 0.01 was considered statistically significant. Results: Each of the four groups included 16 subjects (n = 64) with no difference in mean age. In groups 1 and 2, the mean duration of T2DM was 10.5 ± 0.8 and 10.6 ± 0.4 years, respectively. Mean HbA1c levels (p < 0.01) were higher and clinicoradiographic parameters (p < 0.001) were worse in group 1 than in the other groups. The median PISF volume and mean CL were higher in groups 1 (p < 0.01) and 3 (p < 0.01) than groups 2 and 4. There was a statistically significant correlation between PD and CL in group 3 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Cortisol levels in the PISF are higher in T2DM and non-diabetic patients with peri-implantitis than in healthy individuals with and without peri-implantitis. Hyperglycemia did not influence peri-implant clinicoradiographic parameters and CL in the present patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Bobby. Joseph Although not a stated objective of the Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, this publication provides Occupational Health Physicians in this country a wonderful opportunity to [...]

Byline: T. Rajgopal, Bobby. Joseph The current stage of the COVID-19 pandemic of COVID-19 has been labeled as the second wave in India and in many other countries. The situation [...]

Byline: Bobby. Joseph, Nancy. Angeline, Sakthi. Arasu Introduction Globalization, travel, and trade accelerates pandemics illustrating the interconnectedness of the world, and in turn pandemic affects international trade[1] which affects the [...]

Byline: Jisha. Thomas, P. Mercy, Merlyn. Joseph, Bobby. Joseph Introduction: Petrol pump workers are exposed to fumes emanated during petrol filling and vehicular exhaust thus falling prey to several respiratory [...]

Byline: Parvaiz. Koul, Subramanium. Swaminathan, Thirumalai. Rajgopal, V. Ramsubramanian, Bobby. Joseph, Shrinivas. Shanbhag, Ashish. Mishra, Sidram. Raut There is an increasing focus on instituting wellness programs at the workplace among [...]

Byline: Naveen. Ramesh, Archana. Siddaiah, Bobby. Joseph Coronaviruses are zoonotic viruses and six species of Coronaviruses are known to cause human disease such as cause common cold, severe acute respiratory [...]

Byline: Bobby. Joseph Experiences of practitioners of occupational medicine will surely point to an underrecognition and subsequent underreporting of occupational lung diseases (OLDs). Although history will tell us that the [...]

Introduction: Sickness presenteeism is a phenomenon where "workers go to work when ill." The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of and work-related factors associated with presenteeism among nursing care providers in selected tertiary hospitals in Bangalore city. Methodology: Participants were selected using stratified sampling followed by simple random sampling. A questionnaire was designed to capture socio-demographic information, sickness-related behavior, performance-based self-esteem (PBSE), and selected work-related characteristics. Results: A total of 357 participants were enrolled in the study, 274 were staff nurses (S/N) and 83 were nursing assistants (N/A). About 75% of the participants reported presenteeism at least once in the last year, two-fifths did so in the last 4 weeks and nearly 15% were sick on the day of the interview. The mean Stanford Sickness Presenteeism Scale-6 score was 18.49 ± 3.84. The most frequent reason for presenteeism was "perceived mildness of the disease." In bivariate analysis, those who were younger, male, had children, higher qualifications, chronic ailment/s, financial commitments, lesser work experience, and higher PBSE had higher presenteeism scores. When introduced into a linear regression model, those S/N who had children [Standardized coefficient = 0.23 (0.40--1.97)], higher PBSE scores [Standardized coefficient = 0.385 (0.15--2.55)], and reported sickness absenteeism in the preceding 4 weeks [Standardized coefficient = 0.136 (0.12--1.01)] were significantly associated with higher presenteeism scores. Those N/A who had lesser work experience had higher presenteeism scores [Standardized coefficient = -0.33 (-0.02---0.004)]. Conclusion: Presenteeism is a common phenomenon among nursing care providers. It is imperative that both employers and employees be educated about its ill effects on the individual, fellow staff, and patients, followed by the adoption of preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Melvin. Kumar, Bobby. Joseph, B. Goud, Merlyn. Joseph, M. Rajitha Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Infection is most likely to occur when [...]

Byline: Bobby. Joseph The theme for World Health Day 2019 and for the commemorations through the year is 'Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere'. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that [...]

The effect of orthodontic tooth movement on the dental pulp was assessed histologically in twelve subjects. The participants in this study required the extraction of at least two maxillary first premolars for orthodontic treatment. They were asked to wear a maxillary removable appliance that acted to move a randomly determined premolar in a buccal direction. The appliance was designed to avoid contacting the contra-lateral tooth that was used as the matched control. The appliance was initially worn for a week to ensure patient comfort and cooperation. The appliance was then activated and the patient dismissed. Alter two weeks, the appliance was reactivated. Both the control and experimental teeth were extracted three weeks later, on the thirty-fifth day of activated appliance wear. The teeth were fixed, decalcified and sectioned. The sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histological examination. This investigation demonstrated that orthodontic tooth movement did have an effect upon the dental pulp, causing vasodilation in the pulp of an orthodontically stressed tooth.

Introduction: Natural rubber latex (NRL) is processed from Hevea brasiliensis trees. Allergic reactions to certain proteins in the latex manifest as immediate hypersensitivity reactions and allergic reactions to chemicals added to latex during processing manifest as allergic contact dermatitis. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of developing latex allergies. As little data is available from India, this study was directed toward identifying the prevalence of latex glove-related dermatoses among nurses and the factors leading to it. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was undertaken among nurses in a private tertiary care hospital. Results: A total of 700 nurses were included in the study. Symptoms of latex allergy were present in 74 (10.6%) of study subjects, out of which 69 (9.9%) had features of contact dermatitis. Patch test was done in 50 subjects and was positive in 12 (24%); among them, patch test antigens were positive in 9 (18%) and a positive result to glove piece was seen in 3 subjects. Conclusions: Latex allergy in India is a significant problem; though lesser compared to western countries, its prevalence necessitates the development of pre-employment protocols to avoid workplace morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Bobby. Joseph, Merlyn. Joseph A healthcare worker is one who delivers care and services to the sick and ailing either directly as doctors and nurses or indirectly as aides, [...]

Byline: Bhavya. Balasubramanya, Catherin. Nisha, Naveen. Ramesh, Bobby. Joseph Background: Ancillary health services are those supplemental services other than room, board, and medical/nursing services provided to hospital patients in the [...]

Byline: Surekha. Anbazhagan, Naveen. Ramesh, Catherine. Nisha, Bobby. Joseph Introduction: Shift Work Disorder (SWD) is a sleep disorder characterized by sleepiness and insomnia, which can be attributed to the person's [...]

Byline: Deepthi. Vasanth, Naveen. Ramesh, Farah. Fathima, Ria. Fernandez, Steffi. Jennifer, Bobby. Joseph Context: Musculoskeletal pain is common among tea leaf pluckers and is attributed to the load they carry, [...]