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Asbestos manufacturing has been banned in the Czech Republic; however, about 280 workers in the 2nd-4th work category have been exposed during the remediation of asbestos, and the health consequences of the former use of asbestos will be apparent for many years. The incidence of mesothelioma in the Czech Republic is about 0.5/100,000 inhabitants, which places it among the lowest incidences of mesothelioma in Europe, and ranks the Czech Republic among the countries with the lowest rates in the world. The proportion of occupational mesotheliomas is only about one-tenth of these malignancies. These data show an underreporting of occupational cancers, most probably due to low awareness of the association of exposures more than 40 years ago with this disease. Physicians should focus more on the occupational history of these patients and refer them to the Departments of occupational diseases. Benefits are available for all patients with mesothelioma, in whom industrial hygienists confirm former exposure to asbestos, corresponding to the latency period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the pathogenesis of lung scarring and the role of Leukotrienes (LTs), molecules produced by the immune cells of the body, and their concentration in the condensed breath of human patients of pneumoconiosis, an occupational lung disease. It states that several methods such as tandem mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, and electrospray ionization were employed to measure the concentration of LTs in the urine of patients.

Na podkladě dat z Národního registru nemocí z povolání byla zpracována analýza nemocí z povolání vzniklých ve zdravotnictví (odvětví ekonomické činnosti – oddíl CZ-NACE Q86) v letech 1996–2021. Zdravotnictví patří mezi odvětví ekonomické činnosti s nejvyšším počtem vzniklých nemocí z povolání, opakovaně bylo dokonce na prvním místě. Ve sledovaném období bylo ze zdravotnictví hlášeno celkem 9 682 případů nemocí z povolání, resp. ohrožení nemocí z povolání. Podíl nemocí z povolání ve zdravotnictví na celkovém počtu případů nemocí z povolání hlášených v ČR se v jednotlivých letech dlouhodobě pohyboval mezi 10–20 %. Toto číslo dramaticky narostlo po vypuknutí epidemie covidu-19, takže v roce 2021 dosáhlo 83 %! Nejvíce nemocí z povolání ve zdravotnictví dlouhodobě představují nemoci infekční (cca 90 %). Alergická onemocnění (alergická kontaktní dermatitida, astma a alergická rýma) tvoří cca 7 %. Onemocnění způsobené fyzikálními faktory (přetěžování končetin a expozice ionizujícímu záření) tvoří pouhá 2 %. Nejčastěji se jednalo o syndrom karpálního tunelu či jiná muskuloskeletální onemocnění. Z infekčních onemocnění je dlouhodobě nejčastější svrab, který se objevuje v nepravidelných miniepidemiích. Následují hepatitidy, TBC, varicella a další. Zejména u hepatitid a TBC je v průběhu sledovaného období patrný výrazně klesající trend výskytu. Zásadní změnu situace způsobil covid-19. Od počátku epidemie do 31. 3. 2022 bylo do registru hlášeno celkem 6 745 případů, z toho ze zdravotnictví 6 147 případů (což je 91 %). Doba mezi onemocněním a uznáním za nemoc z povolání je relativně dlouhá, řádově několik měsíců, takže většina dosud nahlášených případů (cca 80 %) pochází z roku 2020. Většina případů onemocnění z let 2021 a 2022 se tedy v registru objeví až později. Nejvíce dosud registrovaných případů covidu-19 vzniklo v Olomouckém, Moravskoslezském a Královéhradeckém kraji. Z hlediska profese jsou nejvíce zastoupeny zdravotní sestry (cca polovina všech pacientů). Následují ošetřovatelé/sanitáři, lékaři a široké spektrum dalších pracovníků ve zdravotnictví. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presented herein are the results of follow-up examinations of 13 workers performed in 1996--30 yr following 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) intoxication in a herbicide production plant. In these workers, the current mean plasma level of 2,3,7,8-TCDD, measured by high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry, was 256 pg/gm lipid (range = 14-760 pg/gm lipid). This mean value corresponded to an estimated concentration of approximately 5,000 pg/gm plasma fat that existed about 30 years ago. Such a mean plasma level indicates that this group was one of the most heavily exposed groups to 2,3,7,8-TCDD described in the literature. Patients with persistent chloracne had significantly higher plasma levels of 2,3,7,8-TCDD than persons without chloracne. A significant, positive correlation was found between plasma levels of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in 1996 and levels of cholesterol and plasma lipids that existed since 1974. During I996, there was a significant positive correlation between 2,3,7,8-TCDD and levels of beta-lipoproteins, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Also in 1996, significant correlations were found between [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent experimental studies point to a high reactivity of nanoparticles and the potential of sunscreens to penetrate the skin. We measured 20 markers of oxidative stress and inflammation to find out whether skin exposure to nanoTiO2 sunscreen may elevate the level of the markers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and urine of exposed subjects, as was suggested by our earlier study.Methods: Six volunteers (3 males and 3 females), with a mean age of 48.0 ± 6.7 years, used commercial sunscreen for three days continuously. The first samples were collected before the test. The second samples were collected on day 4, before the sunscreen was washed off, and the third samples on day 11. The following biomarkers were measured: malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxy-trans-hexenal, 4-hydroxy-trans-nonenal, aldehydes C6-C12, 8-isoProstaglandin F2α, o-tyrosine, 3-chlorotyrosine, 3-nitrotyrosine, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, 8-hydroxyguanosine, 5-hydroxymethyl uracil, and leukotrienes B4, C4, D4, and E4, using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry.Results: In the urine, 4-hydroxy-trans-hexenal was significantly higher in post-exposure sample 2, and the same trend was seen in all urinary markers. In EBC, no difference was seen between the mean values of 20 post-test markers as compared with pre-test samples.Conclusion: This study suggests potential side effects of the sunscreen - borderline elevation of markers of oxidative stress/inflammation - which may relate to the absorption of the nanoTiO2, and the non-significant difference may be explained by the small number of subjects. The effect was not seen in EBC, where nanoTiO2 was not found. A larger study is needed, as according to our previous study, the beneficial effect of the sunscreen to suppress oxidative stress caused by UV radiation may be questioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The paper summarizes neuropsychological monitoring of employees exposed to TCDD during mass industrial intoxication in years 1965 - 1968 in an herbicides producing factory. Sample and methods: About 350 persons were exposed, the signs of poisoning expressed themselves in about 80 workers. 13 men in the years 1996 and 2001, 14 men in 2004, and 10 men in 2008 were examined. 1. Basic cognitive performance (WAIS-R), 2. Memory, attention, executive functions (WMS, HRNB, WCST, and others), 3. Self-assessment of examined persons, and 4.Symptom validity (TOMM, Retest Consistency Index - RCI and the performance pattern in Digit span and Vocabulary subtests) were evaluated. Statistical analysis: Methods of descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation were used. Results: Even forty years after the intoxication, the level of TCDD in fat was still 100 times higher in the group of examined men than in the general population. During the whole period of monitoring, there was the evidence of neuropsychological impairment, first of all in the executive functions, in the examined group. Significant correlations of TCDD levels and neuropsychological achievements were found. Study limitation: The small scope of the sample limits the possibility of the generalization of results. Nevertheless, the results are in correspondence with a number of quoted publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to develop a computational module for the prediction of compressive force on the L4/L5 disc suitable for use in field settings.Method: The value of compressive force is intended to be used as a proxy measure of the mechanical burden of low-back when performing work activities. The compressive force predicted by the module in a particular worker should be compared with the NIOSH limit value of 3,400 N for the assessment of lumbar spine load during manual lifting tasks. Exceeding the limit will be considered as the fulfilment of "hygienic criterion" that should be met to acknowledge low-back disorder as an occupational disease. To develop the computational module we used the ergonomic software TECNOMATIX Classic Jack taking into account the anthropometric parameters of a worker and ergonomic parameters of his/her work activity.Results: We calculated compressive forces on the L4/L5 disc in about 1,300 simulated combinations of various factors influencing compressive force. Parameters which turned out to be crucial for the compression of L4/L5 disc were included in the computational algorithm.Conclusion: Our study was primarily aimed at the assessment of lumbar disorders as occupational diseases. Moreover, the study can contribute to the recommendation of preventive measures to decrease health risks in occupations associated with the overload of low-back region. The graphic maps generated by the computational module enable a fast and exact analysis of particular job. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]