{"title":"Functional assessment of military aircrew applicants in a hypobaric chamber.","authors":"T Ang, D Tan, B Goh, W T Ng, B B C Tan, B See","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqac059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Aircrew are exposed to environmental pressure changes. In the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), applicants assessed to be at intermediate risk of otic barotrauma undergo a hypobaric chamber assessment [\"trial of chamber\" (TOC)] to functionally evaluate their suitability for military aircrew vocations.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To identify factors associated with TOC failure among applicants with otorhinolaryngological conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>All applicants to RSAF aircrew vocations who were assessed to be at intermediate risk of otic barotrauma over a 3-yr period were identified using the RSAF Aeromedical Centre's electronic database. Their medical records, as well as the TOC assessment records of the subset of applicants who underwent TOC, were reviewed for demographic data, clinical findings, and TOC outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 483 identified applicants, 374 (77%) had abnormal otoscopic findings, 103 (21%) had rhinitis symptoms, and 6 (1%) had previous ENT surgery. 123 (25%) underwent TOC, of which 20 (16%) failed. Holding other predictor variables constant, the odds of TOC failure increased by 0.79 per unit decrease in BMI (95% CI 0.63-0.99), and the odds of TOC failure increased by 0.93 per kg decrease in body weight (95% CI 0.87-1.00). An abnormal tympanogram was not a statistically significant predictor of TOC failure (OR 1.96, 95% CI 0.59-6.42). Of the 47 applicants who passed TOC and were eventually recruited, none subsequently developed otic barotrauma (mean follow-up, 3.3 yr ± 1.5 yr).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Applicants with lower weight and BMI are more likely to develop otic barotrauma with environmental pressure change. Tympanometry cannot be reliably used to identify applicants who would more likely pass TOC.</p>","PeriodicalId":520727,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":"452-455"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2022-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40339918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Erlend Hassel, Hans Thore Smedbold, Hilde Brun Lauritzen
{"title":"Acute respiratory distress after exposure to chlorine dioxide-based disinfectant.","authors":"Erlend Hassel, Hans Thore Smedbold, Hilde Brun Lauritzen","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqac078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A hospital cleaner developed acute respiratory distress after working with a chlorine dioxide-based disinfectant. The content of chlorine dioxide in the product is below the limit that would require the product to be labelled as hazardous to health, but we show with a simple estimation that the relevant threshold limit values for chlorine dioxide in the working atmosphere may be exceeded under normal use of the product. This may have implications for risk assessment of the use of such chlorine dioxide-based disinfectants and may warrant stricter regulations for labelling these products.</p>","PeriodicalId":520727,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":"492-494"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2022-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9578674/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40697311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to: Military service and alcohol use: a systematic narrative review.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqac069","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520727,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":"499"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2022-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9578673/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40558697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to: Occupational asthma in office workers.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqac081","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520727,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":"499"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2022-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40564263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Antibody response to an accelerated course of Hepatitis B vaccination.","authors":"P C S Lian, B Morrish","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqac054","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There are several courses with different dosing intervals for Hepatitis B vaccination. This independent study is looking at the antibody response after three doses of the accelerated course.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>The primary aim of the study was to examine data available at an Occupational Health Service for the antibody response to one or if nonresponsive, two accelerated Hepatitis B courses. A secondary aim is to determine if there is a difference in response for different sex and age groups.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective anonymous and blinded study looking at the antibody response in 1032 healthcare personnel given the accelerated course of the Hepatitis B vaccine over a period of over 6 years. An anti-Hbs response 4 months after the start of the vaccination of >10 IU/ml was taken as indicative of a response.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After one course, 93% of the healthcare personnel developed antibody levels thought to confer immunity. After two courses, nearly 99% of the healthcare personnel had developed an adequate immune response. The response was better in females and <40 years old, a difference that was statistically significant for those aged <40.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The accelerated course confers high levels of immunity after 4 months and this supports the current practice of offering the accelerated dose to UK healthcare personnel who can be at immediate and higher risk of infection. Though some groups are less responsive, all groups mount a good response so all those at risk should be encouraged to have this vaccination.</p>","PeriodicalId":520727,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":"446-451"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2022-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40697310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Silica health surveillance: a new approach.","authors":"Evelyn Lee, Lay Lay June Sim","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqab186","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqab186","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520727,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":"357-359"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2022-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40618223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Silicosis-lessons from Australia's Dust Diseases Taskforce (2019-21).","authors":"Graeme M Edwards","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqab184","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqab184","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520727,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":"354-356"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2022-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40618224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F S Albez, Ö Araz, E Yılmazel Uçar, F Alper, A Karaman, L Sağlam, M Akgün
{"title":"Long-term follow-up of young denim sandblasters in Turkey.","authors":"F S Albez, Ö Araz, E Yılmazel Uçar, F Alper, A Karaman, L Sağlam, M Akgün","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqac043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Denim sandblasting-induced silicosis is a recently identified occupational disease.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>In this study, we aimed to evaluate pulmonary and radiological changes in the long-term follow-up of former denim sandblasters.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ninety former denim sandblasters were followed from 2007 to 2018. Chest X-rays were evaluated according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) classification. Baseline and final data were compared. Silicosis prevalence, radiological progression and pulmonary dysfunction were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All of the sandblasters were men. Their mean age was 34 ± 5 years, mean follow-up time was 9 ± 2 years (mean time since initial exposure: 17 ± 2 years) and mean duration of exposure was 34 ± 25 months. Rates of radiological progression and decline in pulmonary during follow-up were 63% and 39%, respectively. During follow-up, all patients were diagnosed with silicosis. All workers who were ILO category 0 at baseline (n = 26, 29%) progressed to higher categories. The number of patients in Category 2 doubled and the number of patients in Category 3 increased by 2.5-fold. Eleven patients developed new large opacities and the number of patients with category C opacity increased from 4 to 13. Exposure time was an independent determinant of radiological progression (OR: 1.0, P = 0.036) and decline in pulmonary function (OR: 1.3, P = 0.019).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The prevalence of silicosis in denim sandblasters increases steadily even after exposure is discontinued. Radiological progression was observed in a higher proportion of workers than a decline in lung function. Duration of exposure was the major determinant of disease progression in our study.</p>","PeriodicalId":520727,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":"403-410"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2022-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40406156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Health Care Worker Skin.","authors":"Christopher Kalman","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqac021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqac021","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520727,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":"347"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2022-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40510453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Y Motreff, P Pirard, C Vuillermoz, G Rabet, M Petitclerc, L Eilin Stene, T Baubet, P Chauvin, S Vandentorren
{"title":"Mental health care utilization by first responders after Paris attacks.","authors":"Y Motreff, P Pirard, C Vuillermoz, G Rabet, M Petitclerc, L Eilin Stene, T Baubet, P Chauvin, S Vandentorren","doi":"10.1093/occmed/kqab150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqab150","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>First responders (FRs) are frequently exposed to potentially traumatic events, including terror attacks, and may consequently be at risk of developing mental health disorders. Prior research suggests that FRs with mental health disorders often do not receive appropriate treatment. More knowledge is needed about their use of mental health care (MHC).</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study aimed to identify factors associated with receiving immediate support, post-immediate support and engagement in MHC among FRs of the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A web-based study was conducted 8-12 months after the attacks on 663 FRs who were mobilized during the night and/or the aftermath of the attacks. Logistic regression was performed to analyse factors associated with MHC.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 44 FRs sought MHC. Among FRs with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), partial PTSD or depression (n = 60), 38% sought MHC (n = 23). Post-immediate support was associated with immediate support, and both were associated with knowing someone who could help regarding the potential psychological risks following a traumatic event. MHC engagement was associated with a history of MHC, post-immediate support and the presence of PTSD, partial PTSD or depression.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Among FRs with PTSD, partial PTSD or depression, few sought MHC. Improved access to MHC for FRs after terror attacks is essential. Knowing someone who could help regarding potential psychological risks may facilitate immediate and/or post-immediate support. Furthermore, post-immediate support could encourage engagement in MHC. Efforts should be made before and after potentially traumatic events to ensure mental health education for FR.</p>","PeriodicalId":520727,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)","volume":" ","pages":"81-90"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2022-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/64/6c/kqab150.PMC8863088.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39586290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}