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At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Work-related road fatalities in Australia, 1982-1984.

A study of work-related fatalities, based on coroners' records, has provided national data on work-related road fatalities. A total of 1,544 work-related fatalities were identified over 1982-1984. Of these, 600 (39%) resulted from injuries sustained in road vehicle accidents on public roads; 366 (24%) in the course of work, and 234 (15%) while commuting between home and work. These figures are likely to underestimate work-related road fatalities because the coroners' records often did not contain the required information. The incidence of road fatalities declined slightly over the three years, although the proportion amongst all work-related fatalities remained constant. The at-work victims tended to be older than victims of road death generally. Fifty-six percent of the at-work cases were in the occupational group "drivers, road transport". Articulated trucks accounted for 41% of the at-work cases. Drivers made up 79% of the at-work group. In contrast, drivers accounted for only 38% of all road deaths. Two-thirds of the at-work road fatalities occurred outside capital city districts, the proportion of nonmetropolitan cases being highest for deaths involving articulated trucks. This is striking, in view of Australia's highly urbanised population. Blood alcohol data were available for 76% of the at-work cases and 79% of the commuting fatalities. Of these, 15% and 13%, respectively, had a blood alcohol of 0.05 g/100mL or more. In contrast, 6% of other workplace fatalities for which blood alcohol data were available had such levels. This difference may reflect more assiduous blood-alcohol testing of road-accident victims.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of the YSI 2300 glucose analyzer: algorithm-corrected results are accurate and specific.

OBJECTIVES: To insure commutability (equivalence) between whole blood and plasma glucose values and to assess potential interferences in glucose oxidase methods. DESIGN AND METHODS: We compared plasma glucose results by the Ektachem 700 analyzer to glucose results on whole blood by the Nova Stat Profile 6, and by the YSI 2300, both without hematocrit correction (YSIunc) and with two different hematocrit (Hct) corrections. The two correction methods were: (a) whole blood results multiplied by 1.11 (YSI1.11), and (b) whole blood results corrected for Hct with the programmed YSI algorithm (YSIcor). Several compounds were tested for interference. RESULTS: 88% of YSIcor results agreed with plasma results within plus/minus 5%, and 78% of Nova and 74% of YSI1.11 results were within this limit. YSIcor results were unaffected by Hct and were valid even when erythrocyte size was abnormal. At low Hct, Nova results were falsely decreased, while YSI1.11 results were falsely elevated. The Ektachem was most affected by ascorbic acid, and the Nova was especially affected by acetaminophen. CONCLUSIONS: The YSI algorithm-corrected whole blood glucose results were commutable with plasma results and the YSI was unaffected by the compounds tested, including acetaminophen and acetylsalicylic acid.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1977

A simple chronic microinjection system for use with chemitrodes.

An inexpensive, electrically operated microinjection system is described which is small enough to be mounted on the animal side of a standard Mercury commutator. This eliminates the troublesome swivel joint needed for chronic microinjection in freely moving animals. This system allows simultaneous electrical stimulation or recording and chemical stimulation via a chemitrode using a standard 4-channel Mercury commutator.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Multi-channel cable assembly for long-lasting recording and/or stimulation of brain electrical activity in small laboratory animals.

A low cost multi-channel (8 single ended or 4 differential) recording and/or stimulating cable assembly is described. The assembly is shown to be suited for derivation of slow and fast brain electrical activity in small laboratory animals confined to an experimental cage. A light-weight impendance transforming circuit (ITC) at the input stage minimizes the movement artifacts associated with the use of the high impedance electrodes. The easy rotating pressurized air-operated commutator equipped with gold-gold slip ring contacts makes the assembly suited for 24 hr recordings and/or stimulation of brain electrical activity. The number of the channels in the assembly can be increased readily with little increase in the weight of the ITC and in the inertia of the commutator.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Work-related road fatalities in Australia.

This study aimed to provide a detailed description of all work-related road deaths in Australia during 1989-1992, compare the results to a prior investigation of work-related road fatalities, and consider the use of data from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) as a possible source of information on work-related road deaths. Results show that there were on average 136 workers, 151 commuters, and 133 road bystanders who were fatally injured in vehicle incidents on a public roadway each year during the study timeframe, giving a rate of 1.7 per 100,000 workers per year for workers, a rate of 2.0 per 100,000 commuters per year, and a rate of 0.78 per 100,000 persons per year for road bystanders. Workers employed in the transport and storage industry had the highest rate of work-related road deaths (15.5 per 100,000 workers per year) in 1989-1992, although this was a decrease from 21.5 per 100,000 workers in 1982-1984. The type of vehicle crash differed by vehicle type and location. High speed, possible fatigue, and wet weather, and/or alcohol and drugs appeared to be factors in many of the incidents, especially those involving prime movers and rigid trucks. Work-related road deaths can be identified in the ATSB data, as long as underenumeration of certain types of vehicle incidents (i.e. those involving cars and vans, wagons, utilities, and four-wheel drives) are taken into account.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2005

Work-related traffic crashes: a record linkage study.

AIM: To examine the characteristics of work-related traffic crashes involving drivers in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. METHODS: Probabilistic data record linkage were used to merge police crash records and workers compensation data for the period 1998-2002. RESULTS: The record linkage identified 13,124 drivers who were injured or died as a result of work-related traffic crash in New South Wales over the 5-year period. Approximately three quarters of driver casualties occurred during commuting (74.8%) with the rest occurring in the course of work. Male drivers made up around three quarters of these crashes and 93% of those that resulted in a fatality. Transport workers were the most frequent victims of work-related crashes while on duty (20.8%), with drivers of heavy trucks representing about half (48%) of all fatalities resulting from on duty work-related crashes. Nearly 1 in 6 male drivers were speeding at the time of the crash (15%, 95% CI 14.2-15.7) compared to less than 1 in 10 female drivers (9%, 95% CI 8.3-9.8) of female drivers. Male drivers were also significantly more likely to be fatigued at the time of the crash 7.6% (95% CI 7.0-8.2) compared to females 4.2% (95% CI 3.7-4.8). No significant difference was observed in the proportion of crashes involving fatigue between on duty and commuting traffic crashes. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the value of record linkage techniques in addressing some of the limitations of work-related data systems and in providing a more complete picture of the circumstances of occupational road crashes.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2006

School regulations governing bicycle helmet use and head injuries among Japanese junior high school students.

We examined the effectiveness of school regulations concerning bicycle helmet use in reducing head injuries among student bicycle commuters to junior high schools in the Japanese prefecture of Saitama. This was done by comparing the rates of head injuries and the ratios of head injuries to non-head injuries between junior high schools with and without school regulations concerning helmet use. Bicycle injury data were derived from school insurance records. Information relating to numbers of bicycle commuters and demographics was collected for each school. We identified that the head injury rate was significantly higher in schools that had no regulations governing the use of bicycle helmets (rate ratio 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-8.56; odds ratio 2.46, 95% CI 0.80-7.60). The observed trend was more prominent in male students than in female students. The actual rate of bicycle injuries did not significantly differ between the schools with and without regulations concerning helmet use. This suggests that students at schools with regulations were no more cautious in riding their bicycles than their counterparts in schools with no regulations, and that there was no significant difference in the traffic environments surrounding each school. Thus implicating that the observed difference in the head injury rate was most accounted for by the presence of school regulations governing helmet use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Associations of leisure time physical activity, self-rated physical fitness, and estimated aerobic fitness with serum C-reactive protein among 3,803 adults.

OBJECTIVE: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Obesity and physical activity are associated with CRP, though population studies are sparse. METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed the cross-sectional relationship of physical activity, self-rated fitness and estimated aerobic fitness with serum CRP among a population-based random sample of 3,803 Finnish adults aged 25-74 years. Conditioning, commuting and non-conditioning physical activity was measured by a recall and self-rated physical fitness by a questionnaire. A non-exercise test was used to estimate aerobic fitness. The combined association of aerobic fitness and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) on CRP was also assessed. Self-rated fitness and aerobic fitness had inverse associations with CRP (adjusted for age, WHR, smoking, anti-hypertensive drugs, aspirin, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hormone replacement therapy and menopausal status) in both sexes (p < 0.001). An inverse age-adjusted association of conditioning and non-conditioning physical activity with CRP was found in both sexes. After further adjustments, associations remained significant in women for conditioning and non-conditioning activity (p < 0.001 and p = 0.010, respectively) and borderline significant in men (p = 0.074 and p = 0.070, respectively). Commuting physical activity was inversely associated with CRP among women only (p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity and fitness may have an anti-inflammatory effect, which is independent of obesity.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Low physical activity as a predictor for total and cardiovascular disease mortality in middle-aged men and women in Finland.

AIMS: To investigate separately for men and women whether moderate or high leisure time physical activity, occupational physical activity, and commuting activity are associated with a reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality, independent of CVD risk factors and other forms of physical activity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Prospective follow-up of 15,853 men and 16,824 women aged 30-59 years living in eastern and south-western Finland (median follow-up time 20 years). CVD and all-cause mortality were lower (9-21%) in men and women (2-17%) who were moderately or highly physically active during leisure time. Moderate and high levels of occupational physical activity decreased CVD and all-cause mortality by 21-27% in both sexes. Women spending daily 15 min or more in walking or cycling to and from work had a reduced CVD and all-cause mortality before adjustment for occupational and leisure time physical activity. Commuting activity was not associated with CVD or all-cause mortality in men. CONCLUSION: Moderate and high levels of leisure time and occupational physical activity are associated with a reduced CVD and all-cause mortality among both sexes. Promoting already moderate levels of leisure time and occupational physical activity are essential to prevent premature CVD and all-cause mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The link between obesity and the built environment. Evidence from an ecological analysis of obesity and vehicle miles of travel in California.

AIMS: Obesity and physical inactivity are known to be risk factors for many chronic diseases including hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and cancer. We sought to explore the association between an indicator of transportation data (Vehicle Miles of Travel, VMT) at the county level as it relates to obesity and physical inactivity in California. METHODS: Data from the California Health Interview Survey 2001 (CHIS 2001), the US 2000 Census, and the California Department of Transportation were merged to examine ecological correlations between vehicle miles of travel, population density, commute time, and county indicators of obesity and physical inactivity. Obesity was measured by body mass index (BMI). Physical inactivity was based on self-reported behaviors including walking, bicycling, and moderate to vigorous activity. The unit of analysis was the county. Thirty-three counties in California with population size greater than 100,000 persons per county were retained in the analyses. RESULTS: CHIS 2001 statewide obesity prevalence ranged from 11.2% to 28.5% by county. Physical inactivity ranged from 13.4% to 35.7%. Daily vehicle miles of travel ranged from 3.3 million to 183.8 million per county. By rank bivariate correlation, obesity and physical inactivity were significantly associated (p<0.01). Furthermore, by rank analysis of variance, the highest mean rank obesity was associated with the highest rank of VMT (p<0.01). Similar rank patterns were observed between obesity and physical inactivity and commute time. Associations between VMT and physical inactivity were examined but failed to reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: This analysis adds to the growing evidence supporting the association between VMT (a measure of automobile transportation) and obesity. An urban design characterized by over dependence on motorized transportation may be related to adverse health effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Temporal variation of airborne fungi concentrations and related factors in subway stations in Seoul, Korea.

This study was performed to assess the levels of fungi concentration in subway stations in Seoul, Korea, and to investigate factors contributing to these concentrations. Ninety air samples were collected hourly over the course of a day from five different subway stations. In addition, five settled dust samples and 12 stagnant water samples were collected to investigate these as potential sources of fungi contamination. The number of passengers and frequency of passing trains were also determined during the sampling periods, as they were considered potential factors influencing the airborne fungi concentrations at a given time during the day. The airborne fungi concentrations, as a function of time, were log-normally distributed. The airborne fungi concentrations measured during the morning and evening commute hours (during which the number of passengers and frequency of passing trains was highest) were significantly higher than those measured during non-commute hours. High concentrations of fungi were found in the settled dust samples, suggesting that the settled dust may have been the main source of airborne fungi concentration. The air movement generated mainly by passengers and additionally by trains might have played a role in suspending the fungi from the settled dust. It was also found that stagnant water might be a potential source of airborne fungi.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed2005

Influence of in-tunnel environment to in-bus air quality and thermal condition in Hong Kong.

In this study, the potential exposure of bus commuters to significant air parameters (CO(2), CO and RSP) and thermal environment (air temperature and relative humidity) when buses traveled through tunnels in Hong Kong was investigated. It was found that air-conditioned buses provided a better commuting environment than non-air-conditioned buses. The blate increasing trend was found on air-conditioned buses as the in-bus air parameters concentration levels rose slowly throughout the traveling process. In contrast, the in-bus environment varied rapidly on non-air-conditioned buses as it depended on the out-bus environment. The measured in-bus CO concentration was 2.9 ppm on air-conditioned buses, while it was 4.6 ppm (even reaching the highest level at 12.0 ppm) on non-air-conditioned buses. Considering the in-bus thermal environment, air-conditioned buses provided thermally comfortable cabins (about 24 degrees C and 59% of relative humidity). However, on non-air-conditioned buses, the thermal environment varied with the out-bus environment. The mean in-bus air temperature was about 34 degrees C and 66% of relative humidity, and the in-bus air temperature varied between 29 and 38 degrees C. Also, the lower-deck to upper-deck air parameters concentration ratios indicated that the vertical dispersion of air pollutants in tunnels influenced non-air-conditioned buses as higher air parameters concentration levels were obtained on the lower-deck cabins.

Air Conditioning↗
PubMed2005

1H/31P distance determination by solid state NMR in multiple-spin systems.

The results of two techniques of dipolar recoupling, REDOR and CPMAS, are compared in the case of a coupled multiple-spin system. A fundamentally different behavior is observed for these two techniques. In REDOR, the terms associated with each interaction S-I(k) commute with each other and no truncation takes place so that each addition of spin I(k) causes a splitting with its dipolar frequency. In CPMAS, the flip-flop terms of the dipolar Hamiltonian do not commute with the dominant term from the strongly coupled spin pair so that the weak coupling terms from the neighboring spin I(k) are effectively truncated by the dominant pair interaction. Spin dynamics calculations are in agreement with the experimental data in a cubane shaped cluster.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Characteristics of leisure time physical activity associated with risk of decline in perceived health--a 10-year follow-up of middle-aged and elderly men and women.

BACKGROUND: Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) has been found to prevent several diseases, but little is known about its protective effect against decline in perceived health. The purpose of the present study is to analyze the protective effect of LTPA against the risk of decline in perceived health in a cohort of 19- to 63-year-old Finnish men (n = 1205) and women (n = 1148) with good perceived health. METHODS: The incidence rate of decline in perceived health was monitored by self-administered questionnaire data from March 1980 through March 1985 through December 1990. LTPA was assessed by (1) a single-item self-assessment of global LTPA; (2) a compiled intensity-frequency measure of LTPA; (3) a total energy expenditure index of LTPA; and (4) three indexes of LTPA (i.e., commuting, fitness, and sport). The association between LTPA and risk of decline in perceived health was assessed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS: Among men, the multivariate analyses revealed an increased risk of decline in perceived health with no weekly vigorous global LTPA (RR = 1.49; 95% CI 1.12-1.98) and with no monthly sport activity (RR = 1.62; 95% CI 1.12-2.35). Among women, the results only showed an increased risk of decline in perceived health with fitness activity at less than once a week (RR = 1.62; 95% CI 1.06-2.48). The total energy expenditure of weekly LTPA and the index of commuting were not associated with the risk of decline in perceived health. CONCLUSIONS: Although energy expenditure of weekly LTPA did not prove to be a protective factor against the risk of decline in perceived health, global level, intensity, and type of weekly LTPA did. Physical activity interventions may need to emphasize the amount, intensity, and type of weekly LTPA, rather than energy expenditure of weekly LTPA, for promoting overall public health among middle-aged and older men and women with good perceived health.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The effect of physical activity in leisure time on neck and upper limb symptoms.

BACKGROUND: : Little is known of the preventive effects of physical activity in leisure time on neck and upper limb symptoms. METHODS: : A cohort of 1742 employees was selected from a prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of 3 years. Independent variables were sporting activities and physically active commuting. Outcome measures were neck/shoulder symptoms and elbow/wrist/hand symptoms as well as sickness absence due to these symptoms. To analyze the data, the generalized estimating equation (GEE) method was used, with adjustment for individual characteristics, such as age, gender, lifestyle, and the outcome at baseline. RESULTS: : Practicing sports for at least 10 months a year decreased the risk of neck/shoulder symptoms (OR: 0.82; CI: 0.67-0.99), sickness absence (OR: 0.48; CI: 0.28-0.84), and long-term sickness absence (OR: 0.37; CI: 0.17-0.84) due to neck or upper limb symptoms. A high mean intensity (> or = 3 h per week) of sporting activities had less effect than the continuation of these activities throughout the year. CONCLUSION: : Sustained sporting activities have a favorable effect on neck/shoulder symptoms and on sickness absence due to neck or upper limb symptoms. An effect of physically active commuting could not be demonstrated, although there was a tendency towards a favorable effect on sickness absence.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2006

Physical activity and associated socio-demographic factors among school adolescents in Jiangsu Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Obesity prevalence is increasing among adolescents in China, especially in urban areas and among higher socio-economic strata. Physical inactivity may be one of the causes. We examined socio-demographic differences in physical activity among school adolescents in Jiangsu Province. METHODS: In 2002, 824 adolescents (12-14 years) in 8 schools filled in a self administered questionnaire on physical activity, sedentary behaviors and socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS.: In girls, low SES elicited the highest physical activity score, mainly derived from housework. More boys (49.1%) than girls (41%) had vigorous physical activity (VPA) >or=3 times/week. Associations between VPA and residence, age, SES were not significant. 88% of the adolescents were actively commuting to schools. Boys with high SES or high education fathers had the lowest percentage walking to school. The students spent daily on average 10.8 h on studying, however, little time was spent on watching TV or playing PC games. CONCLUSIONS: Active commuting to school was common among the adolescents. However, the sedentary activity level is high. Physical activity was negatively associated with SES.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Creatine kinase 2 mass measurement: methods comparison and study of the matrix effect.

Five different commercial immunoassays for the measurement of creatine kinase isoenzyme 2 mass concentration were compared using human plasma samples covering a wide range of creatine kinase 2 concentrations. The immunoassays studied differ in the detection systems, in the specificity of the antibodies and in the calibrators used. Intermethod comparison by regression analysis showed differences in the results of creatine kinase 2 mass concentration. The following ratios were deduced from the obtained equations: Elecsys=1.10xImmulite=1.20xIMx=1.26xACS:180= 1.33 x Stratus. The commutability of different materials prepared by diluting purified human creatine kinase 2 in biological and synthetic matrices was studied using the different immunoassays in comparison with human plasma specimens. Almost all the materials tested were not commutable.

Calibration↗
PubMed1998

Interassay calibration as a major contribution to the comparability of results in clinical enzymology.

OBJECTIVE: Factors contributing to the applicability of interassay calibration of methods measuring enzyme catalytic activities are described. Also discussed are the properties essential for such a material. Similarity of specificity for the methods to be calibrated as well as commutability between the material(s) intended to be used as calibrator are the main criteria to be satisfied. RESULT: Several examples demonstrated that interassay calibration is feasible but a multi-enzyme calibrator with a wide commutability for the most popular methods remains to be developed. This is the project of the IFCC Working Group on Calibrators in Clinical Enzymology (WG-CCE). Several experimental data are also presented that indicate that the temperature at which the reaction is carried out is not a limiting factor in the implementation of interassay calibration in clinical enzymology.

Calibration↗