COVID-19 symptom duration predicts immunoglobulin G seropositivity.

OBJECTIVES: The study focused on the relationship between routine clinical characteristics and anti-SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in a pilot sample of healthcare workers (HCWs) having suffered COVID-19. The aim was to investigate the existence of readily available predictors of antibodies against COVID-19. METHODS: As part of the recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease in 152 HCWs with the mean age of 43.2 years, personal, anthropometric and anamnestic data related to the disease as well as anti-spike immunoglobulin (Ig) levels were obtained. Through descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analyses, relationships of all variables and Ig levels, especially seropositivity of IgG, were investigated. RESULTS: The mean interval between the symptom onset and the determination of antibodies was 58 days. IgG seropositivity and IgM seropositivity were noted in 82 % and 49 % of HCWs, respectively. Symptom duration was the only statistically significant predictor of IgG seropositivity. With each day of symptom duration, the probability of IgG seropositivity increased from 1.078 to 1.092 times (p < 0.05). If symptoms lasted longer than 17 days, a majority (almost 80 %) of the subjects demonstrated seropositivity in the following months.  CONCLUSION: The presence of IgG immunity may be assumed from symptom duration. Such easy recognizing of seropositive patients may be a useful tool, e.g. in vaccination strategies (Tab. 3, Fig. 1, Ref. 28).

Pre-booster and post-booster seroprevalence of measles antibodies among employees of the Olomouc University Hospital - a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: The increase in measles cases in early 2019 led to the implementation of several preventive measures focused mainly on health care providers. The study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of measles antibodies among employees of a large hospital and, a year apart, the rate of seroconversion in a pilot sample of the revaccinated subjects. METHODS: In 3027 employees of the University Hospital Olomouc, specific immunoglobulin G levels were tested on a voluntary basis. Those with insufficient levels were offered a booster dose. About approximately one year after the booster dose, the same test was performed in a sample of 52 employees. RESULTS: Of the tested subjects with a mean age of 41.8 ± 9.2 years, 54.0% were seropositive. A higher proportion of seropositivity as well as higher absolute values of antibody titers were noted in those born before routine vaccination was introduced in 1969. A total of 80.9% of the seronegative subjects opted for a booster dose. Seroconversion occurred in 73.2% of retested subjects. The relative increase of post-booster antibody titers was moderately correlated with age (r = 0.47, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The proportion of seronegative employees of a large hospital reached 46.0%, being higher in younger individuals. Seroconversion occurred in 73.2% of booster dose recipients included in a pilot sample for reanalysis. A statistically significant correlation was noted between the relative increase of antibody titers and age.

Associations Between Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) and Routinely Examined Parameters in Individuals With Metabolic Syndrome.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether routine clinical parameters, including visceral adiposity index (VAI) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), could become widely applicable predictors of insulin resistance (IR), evaluated using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR, HOMA-ß), with regard to presence of metabolic syndrome (MS). The study comprised 188 individuals identified to meet the MS criteria during regular health examinations and an equal number of age, sex-matched controls without MS. The strongest correlations were noted between HOMA-IR and waist circumference (WC) in the MS group (r=0.57) as well as between HOMA-IR and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, r=0.57) or aspartate aminotransferase (r=0.56) in the controls, with a statistical significance of p<0.001. In a multivariate linear regression model, the predictors of HOMA-IR were WC (linear coefficient ß=0.1, p<0.001), ALT (ß=2.28, p<0.001) and systolic blood pressure (ß=0.04, p<0.001). HOMA-ß was determined by WC (ß=1.97, p=0.032) and ALT (ß=99.49, p=0.004) and inversely associated with age (ß=-1.31, p=0.004). Neither VAI nor AIP were significant predictors. The presence of MS was significantly associated with both HOMA-IR and HOMA-ß. These results indicate that WC and ALT appear to be reliable predictors of IR. Comprehensive assessment of these parameters may serve for estimating the level of IR.

A case of accelerated silicosis.

Silicosis, caused by inhaling dust containing free crystalline silica, typically has a chronic course, with the numbers of silicosis patients declining globally. Much rarer are the acute and subacute forms. Presented is a case of severe subacute (accelerated) silicosis. The condition resulted from ~2 years of very intense exposure without appropriate personal protective equipment while sandblasting. The patient's initial symptoms were progressive cough, dyspnoea and weight loss. Given his occupational history, typical clinical manifestations and radiological findings, an initial diagnosis of accelerated silicosis was proposed and histologically confirmed. The patient was a candidate for lung transplantation. The case demonstrates a rare but largely preventable disease with serious health effects and a poor prognosis.

[Q fever - an occupational disease leading to disability - case report]. / Q-horecka jako profesionální onemocnení vedoucí k invalidite - kazuistika.

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. The infection results from inhalation of infected droplets or aerosols. The most frequent sources in the Czech Republic are sheep, horses, cattles, goats, and pigs. Frequently, the disease is deemed occupational, with male sex being a risk factor for its symptomatic form. Presented is a case of a 27-year-old male diagnosed with a chronic form of Q fever after six months of worsening symptoms. Even years later, his condition is manifested as osteoarthritis, granulomatous hepatitis, and microcytic hypochromic anemia. The source of infection was probably animal food stored in a facility where the patient was employed. He was recognized as having an occupational disease and being disabled, especially due to his severely impaired mobility.

[The influence of targeted intervention on the incidence of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases at medical staff]. / Vliv cílene intervence na výskyt rizikových faktoru kardiovaskulárních onemocnení u zdravotnických zamestnancu.

INTRODUCTION: The work addresses the targeted intervention of cardiovascular diseases at medical staff. SET AND METHODICS: During 2002-2004 years, within the scope of preventive examination, there was made targeted prevention of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) at the big hospital employees at the Centre of preventive care of employees and in the department of preventive cardiology of Ist Internal Clinic of LF UP and FN Olomouc. According to the effective tables, there was stated a CVD risk of these employees. The employees received a personal individual letter which informed them of the level of CVD risk and proposed a targeted intervention of risk factors. The part of the set--427 employees of the average age of 38.93 years (SD 11.39), 69 men (M) of the average age of 40 years (SD 12.47) and 358 women (F) of the average age of 38.7 years (SD 11.18) was examined another time during 2004-2005 years. The methodics of second examination was the same as at the first examination, only the questionnaire was complemented by the questions related to the knowledge of the CVD risk stated at previous examination. RESULTS: There occurred statistically significant decrease of LDL cholesterol in the set (from 2.87 mmol/l to 1.23 mmol/l, p < 0.0001) and BMI decrease (from 24.35 to 24.16, p < 0.05) and at the same time statistically significant increase of total cholesterol (from 5.09 mmol/l to 5.27 mmol/l, p < 0.05) and triglycerides (from 1.27 mmol/l to 3.01 mmol/l, p < 0.0001). There was no significant change in other RFs (BP, WHR, HDL cholesterol, moving activity). The influence on RF of smoking was statistically significant (23 employees quitted smoking, 10 employees started, p < 0.05). 53 F (14.80%) and 3 M (4.34%) know their cardiovascular risk, 235 F (65.64%) and 53 M (76.81%) do not know their cardiovascular risk. CONCLUSION: The work approved the influence of targeted intervention on the incidence of cardiovascular diseases risk factors and at the same time low level of knowledge of one's own individual risk, despite of targeted intervention.

Byssinosis.

Byssinosis as a nonspecific chronic respiratory disease in textile workers exposed to cotton, flax, jute, hemp and sisal is described. Opinions about aetiopathogenesis are presented. The following chapters are focused on clinical symptoms and functional lung changes. Classification of the disease is described afterwards. Finally, the necessity of medical and technical measures to prevent the development of this disease in textile workers is emphasised.

Alternative treatment of the carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a painful disease of the wrist which is usually treated with corticoids locally or surgically. In this study combined infusion therapy with procain, pentoxyphyllin and magnesium sulphuricum in patients with CTS was evaluated retrospectively. 101 manually working patients (65 male, 36 female) aged 42.8 +/- 8.6 years, initially examined at our department to assess professional origin of the disease and who had abnormal conduction to the distal section of median nerve on electromyography (EMG), were entrolled. The group of patients was heterogenous etiologically. 41% of patients were found to be exposed to overlimit vibrations, while 21% of patients were exposed to overload of upper extremities and 16% patients to both the risks. The professional hazard was not proved in 23% of patients. In these patients 166 CTS were diagnosed of which 144 improved after the treatment, while the condition remained unchanged in 11 and even worsened in another 11 cases. Using the clinical and EMG criteria the findings were divided to mild, moderate and severe CTS. 77 mild CTS improved by 61% in average, 63 moderate CTS were improved by 47% and 26 of severe CTS improved by 50%. There was no association between the treatment outcome and sex, age or severity of symptoms. Patients with unfavourite outcome and the possible causes of treatment failure are discussed in detail.

Bone mineralization changes in saw operators.

In vibration disease the impact on bone and joint systems is considered to be the least frequent one. It includes a degenerative component, rare necrotic alteration and osteoporosis, together with cystic alterations, in the carpal bones. The authors concentrated only on osteoporosis in the proximal parts of upper extremities. They evaluated by X-rays of the thorax the extent of mineralization and, consequently, the osteoporosis of the clavicles. For that purpose they used the corticodiaphyseal Barnett-Nordin index (BNI). In a group of 107 chain saw operators whose both upper extremities had been exposed to the impact of vibration exceeding the threshold limit while operating a chain saw, a statistically significant difference was established in the mineralization of clavicles. These findings contrasted with a control group of 107 healthy males who had never worked with vibrating equipment. The authors did not establish a statistically significant dependence of these changes on simultaneously diagnosed traumatic vasoneurosis and neuropathy. After the risk elimination of vibration the value of the BNI indicates the dynamics and the reversibility of the parameter under observation. These findings suggest that osteoporosis due to the impact of vibrations is by no means a rare phenomenon. It does not affect only the distal parts of the upper extremities. Similarly as angiological and neurological changes, osteoporosis tends towards spontaneous adjustment, once the risk of vibrations has been eliminated.

State of health in dental technicians with regard to vibration exposure and overload of upper extremities.

The authors examined 120 dental technicians, 111 women, 9 men, of mean age 44.8 years, mean duration of exposure 24.9 years. Cold water test, plethysmographic investigation, and EMG (in indicated persons), X-ray, neurological and orthopedic examinations were performed. Combination of exposure to vibration above the limit value, with overload of upper extremities, was proved by hygienic measurement. The most frequent subjective complaints included vertebral complaints (52.5%), paresthesiae in the hand fingers (47.4%) and pain in the joints of upper extremities (elbow 26.6%, shoulder 10.8%, wrist 6.6% and small joints of hand 6.6%). Four workers reported history of white fingers, but the cold water test did not prove it. Deteriorated plethysmographic curve was in 11 cases only. Pathological motor conduction in nervus medianus was found (by EMG investigation) in 13 persons. Carpal tunnel syndrome was acknowledged in 4 individuals as an occupational disease. The results of these investigations show the hazard of dental technicians work and the necessity of improvement of their work conditions.