Journal of occupational and environmental medicine
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J. Occup. Environ. Med. · Oct 2007
Clara cell protein as a biomarker for lung epithelial injury in asphalt workers.
We investigated if asphalt workers showed signs of lung epithelial injury as shown by increased Clara cell protein 16 (CC16) in serum after 6 months of exposure. ⋯ CC16 increased over the season in pavers and appears to be a useful biomarker for lung epithelial injury in exposed workers.
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J. Occup. Environ. Med. · Oct 2007
The association between timing and duration of chiropractic care in work-related low back pain and work-disability outcomes.
To examine the timing and duration of chiropractic care in occupational low back pain (OLBP) and their association with work-disability duration and recurrent disability using workers' compensation (WC) claims data. ⋯ Our findings did not support a benefit of longer chiropractic care in preventing work-disability recurrence or reducing work-disability duration in OLBP.
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J. Occup. Environ. Med. · Jan 2007
Predicting treatment failure in the subacute injury phase using the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire: an observational prospective study in a workers' compensation system.
The goal of the present study was to examine if patient scores on a brief biopsychosocial screening questionnaire--the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (OMPQ)--could predict clinical discharge status ("fit" vs "not fit" for return to work) after a standardized 6-week physical therapy-based work conditioning program. ⋯ These results suggest that the OMPQ can facilitate clinical decision-making through early identification of individuals likely to fail a unidisciplinary physical therapy program and who may benefit from more complete biopsychosocial treatment.