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Objective: To determine the association between the occupational history as a wildland firefighter (WFF) and clinical indicators of cardiovascular health. Methods: Among 2862 WFFs, we evaluated associations between the number of total days assigned on fire and high-risk categories of three clinically measured cardiovascular indicators. Results: Almost one-third (32%) of WFFs had one or more clinicalmeasures that would place them in high-risk categories for body mass index, blood pressure, and total cholesterol. WFF work history was associated with some of these measures: odds ratio (and 95% confidence interval) for highest versus lowest tertile of days on fire were 1.4 (1.2, 1.8) and 1.2 (1.0, 1.5) for high-risk categories of body mass index and cholesterol, respectively. Conclusion: More frequent screening and targeted health promotion programs for WFFs are warranted to increase awareness of cardiovascular risk and prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and is associated with inhalational exposures. Aggregate measures of occupational hazard categories can serve as valid predictors of COPD disease prevalence and morbidity, while use of single point measures may underestimate important differences in health risks. Objective: The aim of the study is to determine whether aggregate measures of occupational exposures are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outcomes in the Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD study cohort. Methods: Individuals were assigned to six predetermined exposure hazard categories based on self-reported employment history. Multivariable regression, adjusted for age, sex, race, current smoking status, and smoking pack-years determined the association of such exposures to odds of COPD and morbidity measures. We compared these with the results of a single summary question regarding occupational exposure. Results: A total of 2772 individuals were included. Some exposure estimates, including "gases and vapors" and "dust and fumes" exposures resulted in associations with effect estimates over two times the estimated effect size when compared with a single summary question. Conclusions: Use of occupational hazard categories can identify important associations with COPD morbidity while use of single-point measures may underestimate important differences in health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our findings suggest that hazardous dust exposures in coal mines are not limited to miners working in occupations designated for regulatory sampling, and further implicate crystalline silica as a key factor in the resurgence of severe black lung disease among U.S. coal miners. Regulatory modifications regarding dust measurements may be necessary. Objective: To characterize differences in mining jobs and tenure between contemporary (born 1930+, working primarily with modern mining technologies) and historic coal miners with progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). Methods: We classified jobs as designated occupations (DOs) and non-DOs based on regulatory sampling requirements. Demographic, occupational characteristics, and histopathological PMF type were compared between groups. Results: Contemporary miners (n = 33) had significantly shorter mean total (30.4 years vs 37.1 years, P = 0.0006) and underground (28.8 years vs 35.8 years, P = 0.001) mining tenure compared with historic miners (n = 289). Silica-type PMF was significantly more common among miners in non-DOs (30.1% vs 15.8%, P = 0.03) and contemporary miners (58.1% vs 15.2%, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Primary jobs changed over time with the introduction of modern mining technologies and likely changed exposures for workers. Elevated crystalline silica exposures are likely in non-DOs and require attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The term 'occupational profile' is widely used within the occupational therapy profession; however, its use and application appear inconsistent in the literature. Understanding how occupational profile is described in existing literature can reduce ambiguity and strengthen consistent use of terminology across practice and research. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to examine how occupational profile has been described in occupational therapy and occupational science literature. Results: Seventy-six journal papers were included. A lack of consistent definitions, conceptualisation and measurements was identified. Key concepts relating to the conceptualisation of occupational profile included occupational history, motivation and performance. Only one measurement was used consistently with paediatric clients to identify individuals' occupational profiles. Occupational profiles of populations and communities were not identified. Conclusion: The lack of consistency in definitions, conceptualisation and measurement of the term 'occupational profile' presents significant issues for occupational therapy practice, including an inability to compare populations. Researchers should articulate their conceptualisation of occupational profile in the absence of a universally agreed-upon definition. More comprehensive measures seeking to explore the occupational profile of a variety of clients need to be developed. Occupational profiles of communities and populations should be explored to understand occupational patterns and identify potential occupational issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicosis is a particular form of lung fibrosis attributable to occupational exposure to crystalline silica. The occupational exposure to crystalline silica also increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer and lung infections, especially pulmonary tuberculosis. Silicosis is currently diagnosed in previously exposed workers by standard chest X-ray, when lesions are visible and irreversible. Therefore, it would be necessary to find specific and non-invasive markers that could detect silicosis in earlier stages, before the occurrence of X-ray opacities. In this narrative review, we present several diagnostic, monitoring and predictive biomarkers with high potential in the management of silicosis, such as: pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF (Tumour necrosis factor-α), IL-1 (Interleukin-1), IL-6, IL-10), CC16 (Clara cell 16, an indirect marker of epithelial cell destruction), KL-6 (Krebs von den Lungen 6, an indirect marker of alveolar epithelial damage), neopterin (indicator of cellular immunity) and MUC5B gene (Mucin 5B, a gel-forming mucin in mucus). Studies have shown that all the aforementioned markers have a high potential for early diagnosis or evaluation of progression in silicosis and represent promising alternatives to radiology. We consider that a multicentric study is needed to evaluate these biomarkers in correlation with occupational history, histopathological examination, imaging signs and pulmonary functions tests on large groups of subjects to better evaluate the accuracy of the presented biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occupational history is often neglected in the routine evaluation of new patients with asthma, chronic rhinitis, or dermatologic complaints. Such omissions are inadvertent because work-related conditions are often not prioritized. There also may be lack of awareness of the scope of respiratory or cutaneous allergens capable of inducing occupational asthma (OA) or work-related contact dermatitis. Evidence exists suggesting that the occupational history is often neglected among primary care physicians and specialists. Failure to diagnose OA in a timely fashion by identifying occupational sources of exposure, for example, may result in unnecessary morbidity in workers whose exposure is not modified. In this commentary, we propose a brief intake survey to be administered to all patients coming to an allergy practice to quickly screen for possible work-related respiratory symptoms and another for occupational dermatitis. This would require minimal physician time and could be self-administered at the initial encounter and incorporated into the medical record. A positive response to either survey should trigger a more detailed evaluation by the allergy specialist. More detailed approaches for stepwise clinical evaluation of the worker suspected of OA and contact dermatitis are discussed., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Copyright of Estudios Atacameños is the property of Estudios Atacamenos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Silicosis is a particular form of lung fibrosis attributable to occupational exposure to crystalline silica. The occupational exposure to crystalline silica also increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer and lung infections, especially pulmonary tuberculosis. Silicosis is currently diagnosed in previously exposed workers by standard chest X-ray, when lesions are visible and irreversible. Therefore, it would be necessary to find specific and non-invasive markers that could detect silicosis in earlier stages, before the occurrence of X-ray opacities. In this narrative review, we present several diagnostic, monitoring and predictive biomarkers with high potential in the management of silicosis, such as: pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF (Tumour necrosis factor-α), IL-1 (Interleukin-1), IL-6, IL-10), CC16 (Clara cell 16, an indirect marker of epithelial cell destruction), KL-6 (Krebs von den Lungen 6, an indirect marker of alveolar epithelial damage), neopterin (indicator of cellular immunity) and MUC5B gene (Mucin 5B, a gel-forming mucin in mucus). Studies have shown that all the aforementioned markers have a high potential for early diagnosis or evaluation of progression in silicosis and represent promising alternatives to radiology. We consider that a multicentric study is needed to evaluate these biomarkers in correlation with occupational history, histopathological examination, imaging signs and pulmonary functions tests on large groups of subjects to better evaluate the accuracy of the presented biomarkers.

Kettle Falls, located 1125 km from the mouth of the Columbia River in present-day Washington State (USA), was the second-most important salmon fishing and trading locus on that river in the early historic era. We encapsulate the late Holocene history of the fishery by deriving a summed probability distribution function (SPDF) from 50 radiocarbon ages from 13 archaeological sites within 2 km of the falls. When compared to an SPDF from 307 sites from elsewhere on the Columbia Plateau, and a null model, the Kettle Falls SPDF exhibits two phases of elevated activity at 1700–1300 cal BP and 800–500 cal BP, and an intervening lull. These phases are not related to the excavation history or differential exposure of sites to taphonomic processes, but they are concordant with episodes of glacial advance in the local mountains, which reflect hemispheric-scale changes in climate. Modern returns of summer-run Chinook salmon to the Columbia River are inversely correlated with sea-surface temperature regimes in the northeast Pacific Ocean, and we propose that the occupational history of the Kettle Falls fishery echoes long-term variations in the returns of salmon to the upper Columbia River linked to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive ability is important for the elderly to be able to live independently. Many factors influence this ability in elderly, one of them being occupational history. The purpose of this study was to analyze occupational history as a cause of decreased cognitive ability. An observational analytic study with a crosssectional approach. 87 subjects who met the inclusion criteria were recruited from Nursing Homes in Surabaya. 71.3% of the subjects have a history of physical-dominated occupation and 28.7% have intelectualdominated occupation. There were no differences regarding duration of work and perception of workload in both groups. The average cognitive score is 18.57 (SD 5.939). The ANOVA test between occupational history and cognitive abilities shows p=0.001, R Square=0.172, and estimated standard of error of 5.501. This study concluded that occupational history can be used as a predictor of cognitive ability in elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Positive associations between education and late-life cognition have been widely reported. This study examines whether occupational complexity mediates the relationship between education and late-life cognition, and whether the magnitude of mediation differs by race, gender, or education level. Methods Data were from a population-based cohort of non-Hispanic Blacks and Whites aged ≥45 years (n = 7,357). Education was categorized as less than high school, high school, some college, and college or higher. Using linear regression, we estimated the direct effect of each successive increase in education on cognitive functioning and indirect effects via substantive complexity of work. Results Occupational complexity significantly mediated 11%–22% of the cognitive gain associated with higher levels of education. The pattern of mediation varied between White men and all other race–gender groups: among White men, the higher the education, the greater the mediation effect by occupational complexity. Among Black men and women of both races, the higher the education, the smaller the mediation effect. Discussion Higher levels of education may provide opportunity for intellectually engaging environments throughout adulthood in the form of complex work, which may protect late-life cognition. However, this protective effect of occupational complexity may not occur equally across race–gender subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Night shift work involving circadian disruption has been associated with increased breast cancer rates in some epidemiological studies, but the evidence is still on debate. Aim of the study. The objective of this study is to assess the association between night shift work and breast cancer in Mexican women. A Case-control study was conducted with incident cases of breast cancer at the Instituto de Seguridad Social del Estado de México y Municipios. Cases were interviewed about past exposures prior to the final diagnosis. Controls were women without breast cancer matched on multiple sociodemographic characteristics. 101 cases and 101 matched controls were interviewed; this small sample size provided consistent, but wide estimates of the assessed associations. The multivariate conditional logistic regression showed that breast-feeding was associated with reduced risk for breast cancer (OR 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02–0.60); women who experienced early menarche (12 years) were more likely to develop breast cancer (OR 18.58; 95% CI 18: 2.19–148). Women who worked at night were more likely to develop breast cancer compared to women who never did (OR = 8.58; 95% CI: 2.19–33.8). Our results are consistent with studies from other countries, which positively associated night shift work with breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether working night shifts was associated with the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). METHODS: Between January 2008 and December 2010, we recruited 1808 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of idiopathic PD from Denmark and 1876 population controls matched by year of birth and gender. Information on lifelong occupational history, including information on night work, smoking, caffeine and alcohol consumption habits, and family history of PD was collected through structured telephone interviews. RESULTS: Overall, there was no association between a history of night shift work and PD [odds ratio (OR) for any type of night work (ie, either permanent or rotating night work) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.86–1.21]. Compared with persons who never worked night shifts, risks of those with longer durations of night work did not appear to differ (OR_

Objectives: The incidence of occupational diseases (ODs) is below expectations. The approaches of family physicians are very important. In this study, we aimed to evaluate attitudes and behaviors of family physicians about ODs. Methods: The questionnaire was first sent to family physicians via e-mail. Of 3663 responders, 3090 replies were included to study. Results: 44.1% of them stated they obtained detailed occupational history. In logistic regression analysis, physicians who obtained detailed occupational history, discussed their patient's health with an occupational physician, had education about ODs and those who stated that they wanted to receive training in ODs were more likely to refer their patient. Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that those who received education on ODs and those who have worked as workplace physician obtained occupational history, knew occupational diseases hospitals and wanted to receive further education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

See relatedarticle [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudios Atacameños is the property of Estudios Atacamenos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The nature of the association between occupational social prestige, social mobility, and risk of lung cancer remains uncertain. Using data from the international pooled SYNERGY case-control study, we studied the association between lung cancer and the level of time-weighted average occupational social prestige as well as its lifetime trajectory.Methods: We included 11,433 male cases and 14,147 male control subjects. Each job was translated into an occupational social prestige score by applying Treiman's Standard International Occupational Prestige Scale (SIOPS). SIOPS scores were categorized as low, medium, and high prestige (reference). We calculated odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for study center, age, smoking, ever employment in a job with known lung carcinogen exposure, and education. Trajectories in SIOPS categories from first to last and first to longest job were defined as consistent, downward, or upward. We conducted several subgroup and sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of our results.Results: We observed increased lung cancer risk estimates for men with medium (OR = 1.23; 95 % CI 1.13-1.33) and low occupational prestige (OR = 1.44; 95 % CI 1.32-1.57). Although adjustment for smoking and education reduced the associations between occupational prestige and lung cancer, they did not explain the association entirely. Traditional occupational exposures reduced the associations only slightly. We observed small associations with downward prestige trajectories, with ORs of 1.13, 95 % CI 0.88-1.46 for high to low, and 1.24; 95 % CI 1.08-1.41 for medium to low trajectories.Conclusions: Our results indicate that occupational prestige is independently associated with lung cancer among men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esse trabalho é parte de um estudo mais abrangente. Com o objetivo de descrever características das condições de vida e história profissional que possam estar relacionadas com a ocorrência de cervicodorsolombalgias, entrevistou-se 75 funcionárias de enfermagem de um Hospital Universitário durante a realização de uma avaliação clínica específica.Este trabajo es parte de un estudio más amplio. Con el objetivo de describir características de las condiciones de vida e historia profesional que pueden estar relacionadas con la incidencia de cervicodorsolombalgias, fueron entrevistadas 75 empleadas de la enfermería de un Hospital Universitario durante la realización de una evaluación clínica específica.This paper is part of a broader study. In order to describe life style and occupational history possibly related to back pain, 75 female workers of the nursing staff from a University Hospital were interviewed during clinical evaluation.

Occupational contact dermatitis, including occupational allergic contact dermatitis, is one of the most common occupational diseases. Making a timely and accurate diagnosis is important to improving the outcome. Taking a work history and patch testing are essential elements in the diagnostic process. Management, based on an accurate diagnosis, must include both medical treatment to address the disease and workplace modifications as appropriate to reduce exposure the causative agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicosis is a particular form of lung fibrosis attributable to occupational exposure to crystalline silica. The occupational exposure to crystalline silica also increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer and lung infections, especially pulmonary tuberculosis. Silicosis is currently diagnosed in previously exposed workers by standard chest X-ray, when lesions are visible and irreversible. Therefore, it would be necessary to find specific and non-invasive markers that could detect silicosis in earlier stages, before the occurrence of X-ray opacities. In this narrative review, we present several diagnostic, monitoring and predictive biomarkers with high potential in the management of silicosis, such as: pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF (Tumour necrosis factor-α), IL-1 (Interleukin-1), IL-6, IL-10), CC16 (Clara cell 16, an indirect marker of epithelial cell destruction), KL-6 (Krebs von den Lungen 6, an indirect marker of alveolar epithelial damage), neopterin (indicator of cellular immunity) and MUC5B gene ( Mucin 5B , a gel-forming mucin in mucus). Studies have shown that all the aforementioned markers have a high potential for early diagnosis or evaluation of progression in silicosis and represent promising alternatives to radiology. We consider that a multicentric study is needed to evaluate these biomarkers in correlation with occupational history, histopathological examination, imaging signs and pulmonary functions tests on large groups of subjects to better evaluate the accuracy of the presented biomarkers.

Occupational exposure to crystalline silica dust in the workplace can cause lung damage (silicosis, chronic airflow limitation and lung cancer). Silicosis results from the fibrotic reaction to the deposition of inhaled crystalline silica dust in the lung tissue. Even though many coalmines and foundries have closed, crystalline silica is still widely used, making silicosis a significant public health issue. Occupational exposure to crystalline silica must be considered when diagnosing respiratory symptoms to avoid under- or misdiagnosis. The diagnosis of silicosis relies on acknowledging the causal relationship linked to exposure, the pulmonary radiological changes and the exclusion of other diseases with imaging or clinical characteristics similar to silicosis. The diagnosis is often not straightforward and, in many cases, histopathological examination is necessary for confirmation. In this case report, we present two cases in which an initial misdiagnosis led to inadequate treatment., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Based on evidence from animal experiments and case reports, certain occupational exposures may contribute to yet undetected cancer risk in humans. Since traditional epiemiological studies are time consuming, the use of existing information from registers may facilitate the research process. Due to the existence of a unique personal identification number (CPR-number), a national cancer register operating since 1943, a nationwide pension fund scheme with compulsory membership for all employees covering long-term individual employment history, and sometimes with addition of information from external sources, e.g. interviews or job exposure matrices, it is possible to conduct large nationwide studies of occupational exposures and cancer risk in Denmark. Research topics: In this review we give three examples of cancer studies of widespread occupational exposures: formaldehyde, night shift work, and bitumen. Conclusion: Results from register-based studies have contributed to the now-existing evidence on occupational exposures and risk of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The study is based on occupational history and functional respiratory exploration in a number of 892 workers from a chemical fertilizer factory with occupational exposure to irritant gases and vapors. Analyzing the relationship between exposure to pollutants and the occurrence of changes in respiratory parameters we show that there is no a direct relationship between them. Also, smoking does not influence decisively the modifies in spirometry values to workers exposed to occupational respiratory pollutants, in the context of the existence of different degrees of pulmonary obstruction in a significant proportion of the study group, being due to many factors, comprising both employment component as regular component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore associations between social mobility and tumours of the upper aero-digestive tract (UADT), focussing on life-course transitions in social prestige (SP) based on occupational history. 1,796 cases diagnosed between 1993 and 2005 in ten European countries were compared with 1585 controls. SP was classified by the Standard International Occupational Prestige Scale (SIOPS) based on job histories. SIOPS was categorised in high ( H), medium ( M) and low ( L). Time weighted average achieved and transitions between SP with nine trajectories: H → H, H → M, H → L, M → H, M → M, M → L, L → H, L → M and L → L were analysed. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95%-confidence intervals [95%-CIs] were estimated with logistic regression models including age, consumption of fruits/vegetables, study centre, smoking and alcohol consumption. The adjusted OR for the lowest versus the highest of three categories (time weighted average of SP) was 1.28 [1.04–1.56]. The distance of SP widened between cases and controls during working life. The downward trajectory H → L gave an OR of 1.71 [0.75–3.87] as compared to H → H. Subjects with M → M and L → L trajectories ORs were also elevated relative to subjects with H → H trajectories. The association between SP and UADT is not fully explained by confounding factors. Downward social trajectory during the life course may be an independent risk factor for UADT cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archivos de Bronconeumología (English Edition) is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Neumologia y Cirugia Toracica (SEPAR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article reports on the results of a study designed to compare the practice patterns, barriers and needs for early diagnosis of occupational asthma (OA) among pulmonologists and family physicians. A description of study methods is presented. The study had identified opportunities to improve health services delivery and educational initiatives for OA, with approaches tailored to each particular physician group.

Abstract: This study aimed at identifying and describing occupational career patterns (OCPs) from age 16 to 43 by applying optimal matching techniques to sequence data obtained from a sample of Swedish women. Women’s occupational trajectories were found to be diverse. Upward mobility (3 patterns) and stable careers (4 patterns) were prevalent, but there were also women characterized by downward mobility, fluctuation and being outside the labor market (1 pattern each). Women’s OCPs were related to family of origin, but more strongly to their overall life career (i.e., multiple role constellations over the life course). The study indicates that occupational mobility patterns do matter in terms of job perceptions, work attitudes, and quality of life. The results generally confirm the popular belief of the advantage of upward mobility, followed by stable occupational careers, whereas women with downward or fluctuating careers fared worst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Medical practitioners have a role in the recognition of occupational contact dermatitis. The longer the duration of symptoms before diagnosis, the poorer the outcome. Our objective was to understand practice patterns, barriers and needs for early diagnosis of occupational contact dermatitis. A survey to obtain information on practice patterns was developed based on the literature and interviews with dermatologists and family practitioners. The survey was sent to all dermatologists and a random sample of 600 family practitioners in Ontario. Fifty-seven per cent of dermatologists and 9% of family practitioners report seeing more than 20 patients per year with occupational contact dermatitis. The majority of practitioners report taking a workplace exposure history. Barriers to taking a workplace exposure history include time constraints and lack of knowledge. Reasons for referral to specialists include a lack of expertise, testing facilities and knowledge about workers’ compensation, time constraints and inadequate re-imbursement, whereas lack of access to specialists is a barrier for referral. Although most practitioners identify a need for further education, a low volume of patients and time constraints are key barriers to continuing education. Opportunities are identified to improve educational initiatives and health services delivery for occupational contact dermatitis, tailored to each practitioner group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To evaluate the validity of information about employment obtained from self-respondents and proxies in a nested case-control study. Methods. We interviewed 230 self-respondents and 652 proxies covering 237 cancer cases and 645 controls. Questions about employment as a bus driver, other jobs, and residence were asked. Golden standard was employment data obtained from personnel records. Results. All categories of respondents tended to over-report the length of employment, and respondents aged above 70 years had significantly decreased odds ratio for disagreement between interview and company files compared with respondents below the age of 60 years. There were no significant differences in whether the respondent was a case or control as there were no differences in whether the respondent was a self-respondent or a proxy. The validity of the reported employment time was statistically independent of the interval between death and proxy contact. Compared with the self-responders, the proxies reported significantly fewer jobs and residential areas. Conclusions. In general, data obtained from cases and controls not knowing that the study was about cancer and without the interviewer's knowing who were cases and who were controls appeared good. The quality of information obtained from proxies appeared good as well. There seems to be no problem in interviewing very old people about a specific job when they are mentally prepared for it. The time interval between death and proxy contact was without importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which differences between physically light and heavy work, with respect to the development of health problems, might in cross-sectional data be eliminated or diminished by health-related selection into and out of occupations. The study population comprised 12,314 men and 12,393 women between 25 and 74 years of age, who were interviewed within the framework of the Statistics Sweden Survey of Living Conditions. For all respondents, detailed occupational histories were recorded. For all the diseases and functional disorders studied, morbidity differences were apparently diminished compared to what would be expected if there was no selection. This association was most apparent when studying musculoskeletal disorders, impaired hearing and impaired working capacity for men. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Fifty patients with histologically confirmed chronic glomerulonephritis (34 males, 16 females, average age 42 years) and 50 control patients, age and sex-matched, with a variety of internal diseases, were selected. Both cases and controls completed an extensive questionnaire and additional information was sampled by means of a personal interview, especially concerning the exposure to organic solvents. In contrast to three other recently published case-control studies, no difference in exposure between cases and controls was found in our study. A relative risk of 1.1 with an upper 95% confidence limit of 2.7 was calculated. It is suggested that one particular solvent, contaminant, or additive present, which is less used in the Amsterdam region than in other areas, may explain the discrepancy with previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medial fractures are the least common type of clavicular fracture (2–10%). The patient is a 29-year-old gynaecology resident with hyper-laxity and sternoclavicular instability. The latter had been surgically stabilized with Dacron® tape, which eroded the bone causing an usura. Acute right shoulder pain occurred 10 years later. CT revealed medial clavicular stress fracture. After 4 weeks of conservative management, internal fixation followed. Five months postoperatively the patient performed all activities without pain. In this patient the weakened medial clavicle due to usura clearly played a role in both the site and nature of the fracture. Furthermore, CT is essential in arriving at the correct diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Occupational History is a part of the Clinical History of patients who documents the conditions of health of the working places and relates risks caused or aggravated by work. It is a condition "sine qua non" that laboral risk must be present in order to development any occupational disease. It is indispensable apply the methodical and complete method of Occupational History. It should ask about the labor life of the patient and recognizes the possible risks in relation to the number of pollutants and to the time (in years). Therefore, this one is constituted in a diagnostic tool of the physician specialist in Occupational Medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational and environmental exposures contribute to the development and progression of most lung diseases, yet their impact is greatly under-recognized in clinical practice. Clinicians caring for patients with respiratory diseases should maintain a high index of suspicion for occupational and environmental contributing factors. Mastering occupational and environmental medicine clinical decision making requires specialized clinical skills. These skills include obtaining an appropriate work and exposure history; making an assessment of the magnitude and relevance of exposures and their contribution to a patient's respiratory disease; utilizing appropriate resources for evaluation and management of exposure-related disease; and considering socioeconomic and public health factors., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors have nothing to disclose. Funding sources: none., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective To determine how accurately information on the occupations of patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC) was recorded. Patients and methods Using a semi-structured interview and a standard proforma, 108 patients with TCC of the urinary tract were studied and the results compared with records in their case notes. Results Case notes were substantially correct in only 39% of patients. Occupations that might have been a significant factor in the aetiology of TCC were omitted in 71% of potentially exposed male patients and no occupational history was recorded in 12% of all patients. Conclusions Important clinical information was missing from the case notes that might have been of practical use in determining whether patients might be eligible for financial redress and which might be of use in future clinical research. It is recommended that details of occupational history should be taken using a structured proforma; this could be a suitable topic for regular audit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]