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Byline: Chitra. Tomy, Naveen. Ramesh, Farah. Fathima, Rodney. D'cunha, Kote. Chakravathi Context: Work-related stress is associated with cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, psychological ailments, and work-related injuries. Imbalance between high effort [...]

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]

Context: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are influenced by factors acting at all stages of life. Healthy lifestyle practices among adolescents and youth are crucial in preventing CVDs in the later years. Many barriers prevent young people from practicing healthy lifestyles. Aims: The aim of this study is to identify barriers to healthy lifestyle among college-going students in Bengaluru Urban District. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 722 students aged 15–25 years, in a degree college in Bengaluru Urban district. Subjects and Methods: A structured interview schedule with good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.887), consisting of 50 questions scored on a 5-point Likert scale with five domains (diet, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and stress) was administered. The total score was classified into high-, moderate-, and low-barrier categories using percentiles. The barrier score for each domain and for each individual question was computed by multiplying the weight of the responses by their frequencies. Statistical Analysis Used: Barriers to healthy lifestyle and its association with sociodemographic variables were analyzed using inferential statistics such as t-test and ANOVA. Significant factors were entered into a multiple linear regression model. Results: The domain of stress emerged as the topmost barrier followed by diet. The main factors responsible for stress among college students were examinations (74.9%), long hours of the study (71.1%), and lack of time (69.6%). Conclusions: Barriers to healthy lifestyle are common among adolescents and youth. The topmost barriers identified were stress- and diet-related barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]