scholarly journals Musculoskeletal Symptoms among the Brick Kiln Workers of Kathmandu Valley

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-11
Author(s):  
Tanweer Mikrani ◽  
Naresh Manandhar ◽  
Sunil Kumar Joshi

Background: Brick kilns may pose threat to the environment and health of the workers and people residing around them. Health problems related to brick kilns are musculoskeletal, respiratory, digestive system, nutritional and skin disorders. Objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms (problems) among brick kiln workers of Kathmandu valley. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in the brick kilns of Kathmandu valley from February to April 2015. Two hundred (200) workers were selected randomly from the sampled brick kilns of Kathmandu Valley as the exposed group and the equal number of grocery vendors from the surroundings of the brick kilns was included as the control group in term of exposure to ergonomic hazards. The data was collected using Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Results: A majority of the respondents were Hindu by religion. The mean age of exposed group was 30.75 years and 33.25 years for control group. Male female ratios were 2.39:1 and 1.94:1 in exposed and control groups respectively. The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal problem was found on Shoulders followed by Lower back, Knee and Neck for exposed group. Conclusion: All musculoskeletal problems were significantly different between exposed and control groups. Compared to the control groups, brick kiln workers had almost 8 times more likely to experience shoulder problem and 7 times more low back pain. All musculoskeletal symptoms at any time during last 12 months were found higher in exposed group compared to the control group, which was statistically significant.

Author(s):  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Chao Song ◽  
Meng Wang ◽  
Weiyan Gong ◽  
Yanning Ma ◽  
...  

Undernutrition in early life may have a long consequence of type 2 diabetes in adulthood. The current study was aimed to explore the association between famine exposure in fetal life during China’s Great Famine (1959–1961) and dysglycemia in adulthood. The cross-sectional data from 7830 adults from the 2010–2012 China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance was utilized. Participants who were born between 1960 and 1961 were selected as the exposed group, while the participants who were born in 1963 were selected as the unexposed group. Logistic regression was utilized to examine the relationship between fetal famine exposure and dysglycemia in adulthood. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the exposed and control group was 6.4% and 5.1%, respectively, and the risk of type 2 diabetes in the exposed group was 1.23 times higher than that of the control group (95%CI, 1.01–1.50; P = 0.042) in adulthood, and 1.40 times in the severely affected area (95%CI, 1.11–1.76; P = 0.004). The fasting plasma glucose of the exposed group was higher than that of the control group, which was only found in the severely affected area (P = 0.014) and females (P = 0.037). The association between famine and impaired fasting glucose was observed only in females (OR 1.31, 95%CI, 1.01–1.70; P = 0.040). Our results suggested that fetal exposure to Chinese famine increased the risk of dysglycemia in adulthood. This association was stronger in the severely affected area and females.


2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-118
Author(s):  
Ayşe Tuğba Kartal ◽  
Zeynep Çağla Mutlu

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between febrile convulsion, serum iron levels and whole blood parameters. This cross-sectional case-control study included patients aged 6 months-6 years-old brought to the department of pediatrics of Kütahya ParkHayat Hospital with febrile convulsions between January 2015 and December 2019. The patients were divided into two groups as: febrile with convulsions (study group; n= 47) and febrile without convulsions (control group; n= 35). Both groups were age and sex-matched. Some blood parameters such as mean serum iron, ferritin, Hb and MCV levels were used to compare the groups. Mean serum iron levels of the study and control groups were 33.7 ± 2.1 μg/dL and 56.3 ± 7.4 μg/dL (p<0.05), and serum ferritin levels were 27.3 ± 6.2 ng/mL and 31.1 ± 2.1 ng/ mL (p>0.05), respectively. Mean hemoglobin levels of the study and control groups were 10.6 ± 1.7 g/dL and 11.1 ± 1.4 g/dL (p <0.05), and mean MCV levels were 71.1 ± 1.2 fL and 73.2 ± 1.1 fL (p>0.05), respectively. In the light of the findings of this study, the low serum iron and ferritin levels may be reinforcing factors for developing febrile convulsion. However, multicentre studies with more patients are needed to reach a precise conclusion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Huang ◽  
Dandan Liu ◽  
Ying Lian ◽  
Hongbin Chi ◽  
Jie Qiao

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is the most prevalent autoimmune endocrine disease, with a higher incidence in women than in men. Immunological abnormalities may lead to the impairment of ovarian folliculogenesis; however, whether the presence of AIT affects immunological microenvironment in follicles remains controversial. We performed a cross-sectional study including 122 patients, aged 20–40 years, who underwent IVF/ICSI treatment owing to isolated male or tube factor infertility. Patients were divided into AIT and control groups according to clinical presentation, thyroid function, and thyroid autoantibody measurements. Follicular fluid was collected and the distribution of cytokines/chemokines in follicular fluid was measured by flow cytometry using multiplex bead assays between the two groups. Based on differences in levels of intrafollicular chemokines and cytokines between the AIT and control groups, the relevant inflammatory cascade was further demonstrated. Among the 12 chemokines analyzed, three (CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11) showed significantly elevated levels in the follicular fluid of patients with AIT. Among the 11 cytokines detected, compared with those in the control group, significantly higher levels of IFNγ were observed in patients with AIT. IFNγ dose-dependently stimulated the expression and secretion of CXCL9/10/11 in cultured primary granulosa cells. The percentage of CXCR3+ T lymphocytes was significantly elevated in the follicular microenvironment of patients with AIT. We concluded that the IFNγ-CXCL9/10/11-CXCR3+ T lymphocyte inflammatory cascade is activated in the follicular microenvironment of patients with AIT. These findings indicate that a considerable immune imbalance occurred in the follicular microenvironment of patients with AIT.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Farhana Rahman ◽  
Fatema Sultana Haque ◽  
Shankar Kumar Biswas ◽  
Rubina Begum ◽  
Sadia Hossain ◽  
...  

<p><strong>Objective:</strong> Endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis may be associated with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) in multiple ways. The intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CIMT) is an important parameter for early atherosclerotic change. Previously several studies addressed the association between SCH and CIMT. Some studies indicate that SCH might be related to increase CIMT, while other studies revealed no significant association.   The aim of the study was to further examine the relationship between CIMT and SCH patients in our own laboratory setting in Bangladesh.</p><p><strong>Patients and Methods: </strong>This cross sectional study was carried out at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), Dhaka Medical College Hospital Campus, Dhaka during the period of January 2016 to October 2016. The study included 56 consecutive patients. Out of 56 patients, 26 were in SCH group and 30 were in euthyroid control group. CIMT was measured in each subject via High resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Data were analyzed between these two groups in respect to age, sex, BMI, and mean CIMT.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 56 subjects, 26 were SCH group and 30 were euthyroid control group. Male to female ratio was 3:23 and 9:21 in SCH and control groups respectively. The mean age was 30±7.4 and 32±8.7 years in SCH and control groups respectively. The mean BMI was 25.6±4.7 kg/m<sup>2</sup> in SCH and 25.1±4.1 kg/m<sup>2</sup> in control group. The mean CIMT was significantly (p≤0.05) higher in SCH group (Right-0.80±0.05 mm, Left-0.80±0.07 mm) than control group (Right-0.60±0.05 mm, Left- 0.61±0.05 mm). SCH group was further subdivided into two groups with a cut off value of serum TSH at 10 mIU/L.  The mean CIMT was significantly higher in SCH with TSH above 10 mIU/L than SCH group with TSH less than 10 mIU/L (p≤0.05). Pearson’s rank correlation test showed significant positive correlation between both CIMT and TSH values.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study showed that CIMT was significantly higher in SCH group than euthyroid control group. The CIMT values were positively correlated with the TSH values. Therefore we may conclude that SCH is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis  in addition to other  classical risk factors.</p><p>Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 19(2): 123-127, July 2016</p>


QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prof.Dr. Ayman Mohamed Nassef ◽  
Lobna Mohamed ElNabil ◽  
Mohamed Mahmoud Fouad ◽  
Amira Ahmed Moussa

Abstract Background Here we enrolled patients into 3 groups: Relapsing remittent MS in relapse (RRMS) [N = 26], progressive MS (progressive) [N = 19] and relapsing remittent MS in remission (remission) [N = 18] Control group matching age and sex [N = 20] P-Value was &lt;0.001, which is significant in RRMS group in relation to progressive, remission and control groups. P-Value was 0.849, which is insignificant in progressive group in relation to remission group. P-Value was 0.584, which is insignificant in progressive group in relation to control group. P-Value was 0.973, which is insignificant in remission group in relation to control group. Aim of the Work To investigate the possible association between IP changes and MS through measurement serum zonulin in different population of MS for possible implication on treatment. Patients and Methods A. Subjects Type of the Study A case control observational cross sectional study Study Setting The Neurology department of Ain Shams University hospitals. Study Period 6 months to 1 year Study Population This study will enroll 92 subjects who will be divided into 4 groups; group 1 including 24patients with the diagnosis of relapsing remittent MS (RRMS) who are in relapse phase within one week from the time of sample withdrawal, group 2 including 24 patients with the diagnosis of RRMS who are in remission phase, group 3 including 24 patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and group 4 including 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Results In the RRMS group of this study, serum Zonulin varying between (12_ 93) with mean 28.692 and +\-22.894 SD. In the progressive group of this study, serum Zonulin varying between (2_ 18) with mean 8.021 and +\-3.866 SD. In the remission group of this study, serum Zonulin varying between (1.5_ 11) with mean 4.522 and +\-3.026 SD. In the control group of this study, serum Zonulin varying between (1.3_ 6) with mean 2.690 and +\-1.292 SD. P-Value was &lt;0.001, which is significant in RRMS group in relation to progressive, remission and control groups. P-Value was 0.849, which is insignificant in progressive group in relation to remission group. P-Value was 0.584, which is insignificant in progressive group in relation to control group. P-Value was 0.973, which is insignificant in remission group in relation to control group. Conclusion this study included 62 patients diagnosed as multiple sclerosis that are divided into 3 groups and serum Zonulin level was assessed in each group and the results were significant in the relapse group which indicates autoimmune theory of MS and link between gut barrier and CNS also illustrated the role of gut microbiota in the MS. It also supported disintegration of intestinal barrier during the attack of MS for further work up studies regarding oral medication in the acute attack of MS.


Kardiologiia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 29-39
Author(s):  
N. V. Pogosova ◽  
Y. M. Yufereva ◽  
A. K. Ausheva ◽  
A. A. Kursakov ◽  
A. A. Arutyunov ◽  
...  

Purpose: to assess efficacy of correction of anxiety states by anxiolytic drug fabomotizole in ambulatory patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and / or ischemic heart disease (IHD).Materials and methods. In the framework of multicenter cross-sectional study with participation of patients aged ≥55 years with verified AH / IHD we conducted the therapeutic part of the COMETA program in which we included patients with comorbid anxiety state (≥11 points on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Anxiety [HADS-A] and clinically expressed anxiety state) without clinically expressed depressive symptoms (<11 points on the HADS-Depression). Participants were randomized into main and control groups. Patients in the main group in addition to therapy prescribed because of AH / IHD were given a recommendation to take fabomotizole (10 mg thrice a day), patients of control group received standard therapy. Efficacy of therapy was evaluated by HADS and visual analog scale after 6 and 12 weeks of observation.Results. We included 182 and 104 in the main and control groups, respectively. Most patients in main and control groups had AH (97.3 and 95.2 %, respectively, about one third had IHD (36.8 and 30.8 %, respectively). Social-demographic, clinical characteristics, and recommended for AH / IHD treatment of participants of both groups were similar. Portion of patients with complete reduction of anxiety symptoms (<8 points on HADS-A) was significantly higher already after 6 weeks of fabomotizole therapy (37.9 and 19.2 %, respectively, p<0.001). Analogous picture was noted by the end of observation (66.9 and 32 %, respectively; p<0.001). Mean estimate of chronic psychoemotional stress in the main group decreased by 25 % after 6 weeks (from 6.45±2.20 to 5.05±1.96 points; р<0.001) and by 40 % after 12 weeks (from 6.45±2.20 to 3.98±1.99 points; р<0.001). In the control group it also decreased but degree of lowering was 2 times less than in the main group (11.1 % vs. 25 % after 6 weeks, р=0.016; and 20 % vs. 40 % after 12 weeks, р<0.001, respectively).Conclusion. The use of fabomotizole by patients with AH / IHD provided improvement of psychological status (reduction of anxiety symptoms and lowering of the level of chronic psychoemotional stress).


2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (4) ◽  
pp. 712-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. G. FERRARINI ◽  
F. G. SPINA ◽  
L. Y. WECKX ◽  
H. M. LEDERMAN ◽  
M. I. De MORAES-PINTO

SUMMARYTuberculosis (TB) infection was evaluated in Brazilian immunocompetent children and adolescents exposed and unexposed (control group) to adults with active pulmonary TB. Both groups were analysed by clinical and radiological assessment, TST, QFT-IT and T-SPOT.TB. The three tests were repeated after 8 weeks in the TB-exposed group if results were initially negative. Individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) were treated and tests were repeated after treatment. Fifty-nine TB-exposed and 42 controls were evaluated. Rate of infection was 69·5% and 9·5% for the exposed and control groups, respectively. The exposed group infection rate was 61% assessed by TST, 57·6% by T-SPOT.TB, and 59·3%, by QFT-IT. No active TB was diagnosed. Agreement between the three tests was 83·1% and 92·8% in the exposed and control groups, respectively. In the exposed group, T-SPOT.TB added four TB diagnoses [16%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·6–30·4] and QFT-IT added three TB diagnoses (12%, 95% CI 0–24·7) in 25 individuals with negative tuberculin skin test (TST). Risk factors associated to TB infection were contact with an adult with active TB [0–60 days: odds ratio (OR) 6·9; >60 days: OR 27·0] and sleeping in the same room as an adult with active TB (OR 5·2). In Brazilian immunocompetent children and adolescents, TST had a similar performance to interferon-gamma release assays and detected a high rate of LTBI.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Carlos A. A. de Brito ◽  
Claudia D. L. Marques ◽  
Rafael F. O. França ◽  
Janaína R. Monteiro ◽  
Marina C. M. de Brito ◽  
...  

Chikungunya fever (CHIK) has caused important epidemic outbreaks in the Americas, with musculoskeletal involvement being the main manifestation, causing chronic symptoms in half of the affected patients. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical course of the infection in 168 patients with autoimmune inflammatory disease using biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), comparing this group with 56 household controls. Anti-CHIKV IgG serology was positive in 42 (25%) of the patients in the bDMARD group and in 15 (27%) of the controls (p=0.79). Of those with positive serology, 32 (76%) and 14 (93%) were symptomatic among subjects in the bDMARD and control groups, respectively (p=0.87). Persistence of musculoskeletal symptoms for more than three months occurred in 64% of the patients in the control group and only in 28% in the bDMARD group (p=0.021), maintaining a statistically significant difference only for users of anti-TNF. This study found that patients affected by chikungunya fever using bDMARDs did not present severe forms or complications in the acute phase of the disease, and patients using anti-TNF biologicals had a lower frequency of chronic joint symptoms than the household controls. This favorable outcome may be related to the cytokine blockade, with a reduction in the inflammatory response and joint damage.


2010 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Min Chao ◽  
Wan-Hsuan Chen ◽  
Chun-Huei Liao ◽  
Huey-Mei Shaw

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a collective term for the positional and geometric isomers of a conjugated diene of linoleic acid (C18:2, n-6). The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether levels of hepatic α-tocopherol, α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP), and antioxidant enzymes in mice were affected by a CLA-supplemented diet. C57BL/6 J mice were divided into the CLA and control groups, which were fed, respectively, a 5 % fat diet with or without 1 g/100 g of CLA (1:1 mixture of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12) for four weeks. α-Tocopherol levels in plasma and liver were significantly higher in the CLA group than in the control group. Liver α-TTP levels were also significantly increased in the CLA group, the α-TTP/β-actin ratio being 2.5-fold higher than that in control mice (p<0.01). Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were significantly decreased in the CLA group (p<0.01). There were no significant differences between the two groups in levels of three antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase). The accumulation of liver α-tocopherol seen with the CLA diet can be attributed to the antioxidant potential of CLA and the ability of α-TTP induction. The lack of changes in antioxidant enzyme protein levels and the reduced lipid peroxidation in the liver of CLA mice are due to α-tocopherol accumulation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Mccance ◽  
David Roberts-Harry ◽  
Martyn Sherriff ◽  
Michael Mars ◽  
William J.B. Houston

The study models of a group of adult Sri Lankan patients with clefts of the secondary palate were investigated. Tooth-size and arch-dimension comparisons were made with a comparable control group. Significant differences were found between the cleft and control groups in tooth sizes, chord lengths, and arch widths. The cleft group dimensions were generally smaller than those of the control group. Overjets were larger in the cleft group.


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