In order to discuss the hypothesized existence of occupational risk factors in the etiology of Hodgkin's disease (HD), the available literature data are reviewed. The occupations most often considered to be at increased risk of the disease are woodworking, school teaching, hospital occupations and occupations entailing exposure to chemicals. The association between HD and employment in wood industry suggest that exposure to unknown occupational factors may play a role as etiologic agent in this disease. A number of chemical substances that are regularly used may be suspected as causative factors. There are many discrepancies among the results of the studies on the association between school teaching and HD. To date no certain conclusion may be drawn from the presented data. However it has been suggested that the reported excess risk for HD among teachers may be explicable by social class gradient for the disease. The existence of risk factors other than viral may explain the excess risk among physicians and nurses. Because of the characteristics of some highly reactive chemicals their etiologic role may not be underestimated. An association between HD and occupations entailing exposure to various chemicals (organic solvents, benzene, phenoxy acids, chlorophenols) was shown; however no definitive conclusion may be drawn. There are increasing findings that point out the importance of the association between some occupations and development of HD. In spite of the evidence of a link between exposure to various chemicals and HD, there is a clear need to evaluate dose-response relationship between specific type and amount of chemicals and the disease, in order to provide some of the answer we need about the etiology of HD.

Benzene↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Course on industrial medicine in graduate education of medicine and surgery at the University of Modena. Critical analysis of the judgment of students of the academic year 1993-1994].

Assessment of teaching activity based on the judgment of students can provide useful information which can be used to revise and improve the courses. In the academic year 1993-1994 the course of "Occupational Medicine" was assessed in the Medical School of the University of Modena. Fifty-six out of 62 medical students participated in the study. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to obtain information on usefulness, clarity (presentation and visual aids quality), cultural and professional interest. Each student was requested to assess these aspects on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (poor) to 5 (very good). The results show that some lectures ("Occupational History", "Allergic respiratory diseases") were considered more useful and more interesting from a professional point of view. No difference was found among the lectures with respect to clarity, which was considered as "good". Clarity depends mostly on the quality of the visual aids. The students suggested that 80% of the program should be covered during the course.

Curriculum↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Beta-thalassemia mutations in Rome. A high frequency of the IVSII-745 allele in subjects of latium origin.

We studied the molecular bases of beta-thalassemia in Rome, a city centrally located in Latium, which is a region with a low incidence of beta-carriers. People also come to Rome from other regions for specific or prenatal diagnostic assessment. Only 11 patients (20%) out of 62 characterized beta-thalassemia subjects were of Latium family origin. They presented five mutations with an uncommonly high frequency of the IVSII-745 allele, that was found in homozygosis in 4 unrelated patients from a southeastern area in the province of Frosinone. These data may indicate a founder effect.

Alleles↗

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[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Personal experience].

Personal experience in the treatment of 120 patients submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy from March 1992 to September 1993 is presented. The good results obtained suggest that VLC is the best surgical approach for the treatment of cholelithiasis in reason of diminished pain after surgery, shortened hospital stay and early return to work.

Adult↗

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[Preoperative cartography of varices].

Thanks to ultrasonography it is possible to obtain more precise therapeutic indications. Dynamic scintigraphy of varicose veins is the result of pulsated Doppler but almost of colour Doppler that completely modifies the understanding of phenomenons. The aim of this complete examination is to avoid either haemodynamic or anatomical tramps. If need be, pre-operative echo-marking will follow scintigraphy. To achieve scintigraphy the first imperative is to investigate the main "vanishing points" between deep and superficial systems. Then it is necessary to locate the main incontinent axis to erradicate. From this complete examination it is possible to infer a treatment adapted to every case. This new tactical approach of diagnostic and therapy is to strengthen relationship and dialogue between the angiologist practitioner and the surgeon.

Hemodynamics↗

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Drinking habits and occupational exposure to inhalation anesthetics at low doses.

The aim of this study was to evaluate certain indicators which are an expression of hepatic (serum aminotransferases activities) and hematologic (erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume) changes among health care personnel exposed to inhalation anaesthetics (nitrous oxide and isoflurane). A total of 172 subjects employed in a single hospital were divided into four groups according to exposure and drinking habits: group (i) non drinkers and unexposed subjects, group (ii) drinkers and unexposed subjects, group (iii) non drinkers and exposed subjects, group (iv) drinkers and exposed subjects. No change in aminotransferases activity or in mean erythrocyte size was detected, which could be regarded as the result of anesthetics exposure. Increased aspartate aminotransferase values among unexposed drinkers were related to alcohol intake. This observation was confirmed by the relationship between AST behaviour and quantitative alcohol intake. Hence, when studying any effect involving functions related to the biotransformation of xenobiotics, in which the liver plays a primary role, the importance of establishing the exact daily amount of ethanol intake is stressed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Doppler pulsed and color echography of the inferior vena cava].

B mode real time echotomography associated with duplex and colour doppler makes possible a complete investigation of the lower vena cava. The ilio-cava fossa is difficult to explore because of gas and digestive superpositions. Diagramatically, it is possible to distinguish five levels of investigation. 1) Iliac veins and ilio-cava convergence. 2) Sub-renal LVC. 3) Inter-renal LVC and communications with renal veins. 4) Retro-hepatic LVC: communications with liver and supra-hepatic veins. 5) Thoracic LVC and termination in the right atrium. Sector-based probes provide a 60 to 110 degrees sector thanks to which it is possible to obtain a sufficient exploration field for a very limited acoustic fenestra. Duplex and colour doppler assess the venous flow and its variations during the respiratory cycle and during the operations of compression or Valsalva's experiment. Colour doppler detects more precisely slow, collateral or repermeation flows. The recent complete thrombosis leads no duplex and colour doppler signal but an increase of the vein diameter associated with a collateralitis syndrome. In case of partial thrombosis, the vein is partially compressible as colour doppler fits thrombus closely round and visualizes the remaining lumen. In the ilio-cava fossa, compressions (either tumorous, ganglial or aneurysmal) which are often associated are diagnosed in the meanwhile. It is important to know the change of diameter and the abnormalities of the LVC position when a cava blocking is advised. A LVC whose diameters exceed 28 mm (mega-cava) contra indicated filter because of the risk of migration. Colour doppler makes easier the supervision of the blocking.

Collateral Circulation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Transitional cell neoplasm of the bladder in childhood: presentation of a clinical case].

A case of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder in a 13-year-old boy is reported. As observed in the literature, it is an extremely rare condition in children. The importance of gross or microscopic hematuria, which is often the only sign of this condition, is underscored. The authors comment on the possible follow-up modalities in relation with the characteristics of this tumor type in young patients. Although it is more invasive (anesthesia, trauma) than US or urinary cytology, cystoscopy is more precise. Because recurrence is extremely rare, it can be performed once a year.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Life style as a confounding factor in the study of biological effects of the occupational exposure to chemical substances].

The evaluation of health status of workers exposed to a variety of chemicals is usually performed by means of several laboratory indices. Our aim was to assess the influence of some lifestyle characteristics (alcohol intake and cigarettes smoking) on these parameters. 103 subjects occupationally exposed to chemicals and 146 non occupationally exposed subject were studied. A significant increase in gamma-GT, MCV e UDGA was observed among drinkers (> or = 5 g alcohol/day) as compared with non drinkers and among cigarette smokers (> or = 5 cigarettes/day) as compared with non smokers. Statistically cigarette smoking and alcohol intake influenced parameters independently from any occupational exposure to chemicals. Among the explored indices, UDGA only was significantly and positively associated to occupationally exposure to chemicals. Alcohol intake and cigarettes smoking are responsible for a modification of some laboratory parameters in healthy workers. The medical surveillance of workers exposed to chemicals should include a careful evaluation of alcohol intake (when gamma-GT and ADGU are measured) and cigarette smoking (when MCV and ADGU are measured).

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Perception of the Occupational Medicine discipline by graduate medical students of the University of Modena before and after taking the course during the academic year 1994-1995].

Until recently, the course in Occupational Medicine was not compulsory for medical students. The introduction of Occupational Medicine in the curriculum as a mandatory course may have caused uncertainty among the students in clearly and correctly identifying the discipline and its role in professional training. The aim of the study was to investigate how the students attending the course in Occupational Medicine at the Medical School of the University of Modena in the academic year 1995-95 perceived this discipline. Fifty-eight 5th year students (out of 76) were administered a questionnaire, before and after the course, in order to check their awareness of the relationship between work, environment and health, their knowledge about the functions of the occupational health specialist, their opinion about the cultural and professional link of Occupational Medicine with other disciplines. The results showed that: (i) students were fully aware of the relationship between working conditions and health, knowledge of which is considered important in the training of the general practitioner; (ii) students correctly indicated the main functions of the occupational health physician which were better defined after attendance of the course; (iii) after the course, students emphasized the cultural and professional links of the discipline with epidemiology, hygiene, forensic medicine, internal medicine and pneumology; (iv) students' expectations of the curriculum mainly regarded occupational diseases and their prevention, and the study of the relationship between health and work; (v) students suggested overlapping of subjects and they believed it was correct for the course to be taken in the 5th year.

Curriculum↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The course on occupational medicine toward university diploma in science of nursing].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Curriculum↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Drinking habits and occupational exposure to xenobiotics: a review.

The evaluation of health status of workers exposed to a variety of chemicals is usually performed by means of several laboratory indices. Our aim is to review literature data in order to evaluate the influence of some lifestyle characteristics (alcohol intake) on these parameters. Since alcohol intake is responsible for a modification of some laboratory parameters in healthy workers, the medical surveillance of workers exposed to chemicals should include a careful evaluation of alcohol intake.

Acyltransferases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Dynamic electrocardiography in the evaluation of cardiac arrhythmias in chronic bronchopulmonary obstructive disease].

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Airway Obstruction↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Study of a matrix for the evaluation and prediction of occupational benzene exposure].

Aim of the study was to assess the occupational exposure to benzene by mean of a job-exposure matrix, which classified job titles according to the level of exposure to benzene. This study consisted of 3 parts: (i) the analysis of the literature which takes into account the biological and environmental monitoring studies of workers exposed to benzene, (ii) the statistical analysis (cluster join-analysis) of biological monitoring data leading to the development of the job-exposure matrix, (iii) the validation of the matrix. The job-exposure matrix allows the estimate of the exposure to benzene according to job and is suggested as a tool to be used when environmental monitoring data are not available.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗