Journal of occupational health
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Comparative Study
Comparison of digital direct readout radiography with conventional film-screen radiography for the recognition of pneumoconiosis in dust-exposed Chinese workers.
Pneumoconiosis in China remains a disease with substantial public health significance. Diagnostic standards for the pneumoconioses are based on traditional film-screen radiography (FSR). However, FSR is increasingly being replaced with digital radiographic imaging, which has become the predominant technology available in Chinese clinical practice. To evaluate the applicability of digital direct readout radiography (DR) images in the recognition of pneumoconioses, we compared the profusion of small opacities and large opacities between FSR and DR radiographs. ⋯ DR images with soft copy display are equivalent with respect to image quality and the recognition and classification of small parenchymal lung opacities. Additionally, we observed likeness between modalities with respect to the classification of large opacities. Overall, our study findings demonstrate that in a population of Chinese workers with pneumoconiosis, direct readout digital systems are equivalent to traditional film-screen radiography in the recognition and classification of small pneumoconiotic opacities.
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This study explored the associations between biomechanical and psychosocial work factors and musculoskeletal symptoms in vineyard workers. ⋯ These results underlined that both biomechanical and psychosocial work factors may play a role in musculoskeletal pain among vineyard workers. Prevention policies focusing on both biomechanical and psychosocial work exposures may be useful to prevent musculoskeletal symptoms.
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Comparative Study
Two- and 13-week inhalation toxicities of indium-tin oxide and indium oxide in rats.
Two- and 13-week inhalation toxicities of indium-tin oxide (ITO) and indium oxide (IO) were characterized for risk assessments of workers exposed to ITO. ⋯ Persistent pulmonary lesions including alveolar proteinosis and macrophage infiltration occurred after 2- and 13-week inhalation exposures of rats to ITO and IO. Fibrosis of alveolar wall developed later. These lesions occurred after ITO exposure at the same concentration as the current occupational exposure limit in the USA and at blood indium levels below the biological exposure index in Japan for indium.
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To determine the incidence rate of work-related aggression and violence (WRAV) against doctors and investigate risk factors and psychological influences of WRAV doctors. ⋯ Doctors encountered WRAV at an incidence rate of 0.20×10(-3) per practice hour, and some of them might develop PTSD. Countermeasures are required to maintain sound health and safe workplaces for doctors.
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To investigate the injury of cell tight junctions and change in actin level in the alveolus epithelial cells of the lung after perfluoroisobutylene (PFIB) exposure and the role of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in the injury. ⋯ At an earlier stage, the increased permeability of the blood-air barrier after PFIB exposure is probably the result of injury of cell tight junctions that acts in concert with later changes in actin, resulting in an increase in permeability. MLCK could be a potential target for novel drug development for relief of acute lung injury.