Skin symptoms in veterinary assistant staff and veterinarians: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Veterinary assistants and veterinarians are at an increased risk of developing an occupational skin disease, for example, irritant/allergic contact dermatitis, contact urticaria and hand eczema (HE). OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of skin problems and the influence of predisposing factors especially among veterinary assistants. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among veterinary assistant staff (n = 103) and veterinarians (n = 19). A questionnaire, specific IgE determination and photographs of hands were evaluated for skin symptoms. Logistic regression models assessed predisposing factors. RESULTS: Over 50% (n = 62/122) of our study population reported hand eczema (HE) in the last 12 months (1-year prevalence). Twenty-seven subjects reported redness and contact urticaria directly after animal contact, 35 had a positive history of allergic contact dermatitis. HE was associated with (i) increased frequency of hand washing (11-15 times per day; OR 4.15, confidence interval [CI] 95% 1.18-14.6, p = 0.027, univariate model) and (ii) unprotected contact to fluids and tensides >5 times per day (OR 4.56, CI 95% 1.53-13.6, multivariate model). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high prevalence of self-reported HE among staff in veterinary practices. Excessive hand washing, unprotected contact with irritants and long-term glove use should be avoided.

Self-Reported Survey on Allergy Symptoms Among First-Year Students in Veterinary Medicine: A Preamble to the AllergoVet Cohort Study.

Practical work in veterinary medicine provides exposure to various allergens which could increase the risk of sensitization. With the ongoing prospective "AllergoVet" study, we are investigating patterns of allergic symptoms and sensitization among veterinary students. Here, we report the results of the introductory self-reported survey on the presence of allergies in the first-year students of veterinary medicine, who had begun their studies in the years 2013-2016. The survey included 553 students who answered a questionnaire (63% response rate, 83% female ratio). The median age was 20 years (IQR: 19-22 years). About half of the responders indicated an interest in participating in the prospective study ("candidates"). Those who were uninterested in participating were termed "noncandidates". A doctor's diagnosis of any kind of atopic disease was reported by every fourth student. Hay fever was reported by 71 (13%) and allergic asthma by 38 (6.9%) students. The prevalence of hay fever in "candidates" (n = 294) and "noncandidates" (n = 259) was 13.5% and 12.2%, respectively. Allergic asthma was reported by 9.9% of "candidates" and 3.5% of "noncandidates", the difference being significant (p = 0.003). We conclude that the prevalence of self-reported allergic symptoms in the first-year students of veterinary medicine is similar to that in the general population. Pre-existing allergic asthma may have increased the motivation for the enrolment into the longitudinal "AllergoVet-study".

Animal exposure, sensitization, and allergic symptoms in first-year veterinary medicine students.

The AllergoVet study longitudinally examines the influence of animal exposure on the development of sensitization and allergic diseases among veterinary medicine students. In this group, contact to animals usually existed long before the study began. Therefore, the aim of this analysis was to investigate lifelong animal species-specific exposure and the prevalence of sensitizations and allergic symptoms already existing before the start of the study. Questionnaire data, including exposure history, were summarized to determine the duration and intensity of animal-related exposure as well as the prevalence of allergic symptoms to animals. Serologically, specific IgE was determined against ubiquitous inhalant allergens (atopy screen sx1) and against animal allergens using ImmunoCAP. The association between animal-specific sensitization, allergic symptoms, and exposure was analyzed using Fisher's exact test or Cochran-Armitage trend test. All study participants (n = 313) had previous contact with animals, with dogs mentioned most frequently (91.1%) followed by cats (89.5%) and horses (72.2%). Sensitization to ubiquitous allergens (positive sx1 value) was detected in 38.4% of subjects. Approximately 11%, 7%, and 5% were sensitized to cats, dogs, and horses, respectively. Only a small proportion of these sensitizations were associated with self-reported symptoms (41% for cat, 9% for dog, and 13% for horse). While no significant association between animal-specific exposure and sensitization was found for cats and horses, a clear trend emerged for dogs. With increasing duration of exposure to dogs, the number of dog-specific sensitizations decreased significantly (p = 0.0069). Furthermore, a decreasing trend in sx1 sensitization was noted with increasing cat (p = 0.0288) and dog (p = 0.0107) exposure. None of the subjects who grew up on a farm (n = 40) had any sensitization to animals. The sensitization prevalence determined among first-year students in veterinary medicine roughly corresponds to that in the general population. Most animal sensitizations were not clinically relevant. In this collective, a protective effect of increasing exposure to animals in childhood and adolescence was found on sensitization, which was particularly pronounced during contact with dogs.

Relationship of pulmonary function response to ozone exposure and capsaicin cough sensitivity.

CONTEXT: Challenge studies in humans have shown considerable interindividual variability in pulmonary impairment across ozone exposure. OBJECTIVE: Since previous results suggested effect modulation by neural mechanism, we investigated sensory C-fiber reactivity in relationship to ozone-triggered response pattern. METHODS: Cough reflex thresholds reflecting C-fiber sensitivity were evaluated by capsaicin single breath dose-response method. Capsaicin concentrations triggering, respectively, two and five or more coughs (C2, C5) were recorded. Sixteen healthy subjects were randomly exposed in an intermittent exercise protocol to ozone concentrations of 240 and 40 ppb (sham exposure). Ozone responsiveness was defined by a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) of more than 5%. RESULTS: Based on a dichotomous classification, subjects with enhanced reactivity to ozone had lower cough thresholds than non-responders (C2, p = 0.035; C5, p = 0.086). Over all, we could demonstrate relationships between capsaicin sensitivity and ozone-triggered changes in FEV(1), peak expiratory flow and maximal expiratory flow at 50% vital capacity but not in specific airway resistance. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that capsaicin challenge tests might be useful to characterize subjects with enhanced pulmonary function response towards inhalant irritants.

ATS/ ERS spirometry quality criteria in real life. Results of two occupational field studies.

Spirometry is a widely used test and the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) provide standardised recommendations. However, detailed information on test quality is often incomplete in publications. In light of the 2005 ATS/ERS recommendations, we investigated the acceptability and repeatability criteria of spirometry performed under occupational field conditions in 242 practicing welders (WELDOX study, median age 41.5 years, all male) and 312 first-year veterinary students (AllergoVet study, median age 20.0 years, 84.3% female). At least three acceptable or usable measurements could be identified for 233 welders and 305 students. The repeatability for welders was 96.1% for the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and 97.0% for forced vital capacity (FVC). The corresponding results for students were 95.7% and 95.4%, respectively. The overall repeatability of test sessions at the 150-mL level was 90.5% (219/242) for welders and 90.1% (281/312) for students. Spirometry can be performed with reliable quality in an occupational field setting.

Animal Allergens, Endotoxin, and ß-(1,3)-Glucan in Small Animal Practices: Exposure Levels at Work and in Homes of Veterinary Staff.

OBJECTIVES: In veterinary settings, high exposures to animal allergens and microbial agents can be expected. However, occupational exposure levels are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate the allergen, endotoxin, and ß-(1,3)-glucan concentrations in small animal practices and in the homes of practice employees. METHODS: Dust samples were collected using electrostatic dust fall collectors in diverse rooms of 36 small animal practices, as well as in employees' homes. Major animal allergens (Fel d 1, Can f 1, Ory c 3, Cav p 1, Equ c 1, Bos d 2), domestic mite (DM) allergens, and ß-(1,3)-glucan levels were measured using enzyme immunoassays. Endotoxin was determined using the Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay. Influences on exposure levels were analyzed using multilevel models. RESULTS: The levels of Can f 1, Fel d 1, Ory c 3, and Cav p 1 were up to 30 times higher in practices compared with homes without animals, but significantly lower compared with the homes with the respective pet. Although horses were not treated in the practices, Equ c 1 was found in 87.5% of samples, with the highest concentrations measured in changing rooms. DM levels were significantly lower in practices than in all private homes, and endotoxin levels were similar to those in homes with pets. In the practice itself, exposure levels were significantly influenced by animal presence, type of the room, and area per employee; whereas, room volume and diverse cleaning measures had mostly no effect. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to animal allergens is high in veterinary practices, but it does not reach levels of households with pets. Domestic mite allergen and endotoxin exposure seem to be low for workers in veterinary practices. The high Equ c 1 detection rate strongly indicates dispersal of allergens, most likely through clothing and hair.

Differences in twenty-four-hour profiles of blue-light exposure between day and night shifts in female medical staff.

Light is the strongest zeitgeber currently known for the synchronization of the human circadian timing system. Especially shift workers are exposed to altered daily light profiles. Our objective is the characterization of differences in blue-light exposures between day and night shift taking into consideration modifying factors such as chronotype. We describe 24-hour blue-light profiles as measured with ambient light data loggers (LightWatcher) during up to three consecutive days with either day or night shifts in 100 female hospital staff including 511 observations. Linear mixed models were applied to analyze light profiles and to select time-windows for the analysis of associations between shift work, individual factors, and log mean light exposures as well as the duration of darkness per day. Blue-light profiles reflected different daily activities and were mainly influenced by work time. Except for evening (7-9 p.m.), all time windows showed large differences in blue-light exposures between day and night shifts. Night work reduced the duration of darkness per day by almost 4 h (ß^ = -3:48 hh:mm, 95% CI (-4:27; -3.09)). Late chronotypes had higher light exposures in the morning and evening compared to women with intermediate chronotype (e.g. morning ß^ = 0.50 log(mW/m2/nm), 95% CI (0.08; 0.93)). Women with children had slightly higher light exposures in the afternoon than women without children (ß^ = 0.48, 95% CI (-0.10; 1,06)). Time windows for the description of light should be chosen carefully with regard to timing of shifts. Our results are helpful for future studies to capture relevant light exposure differences and potential collinearities with individual factors. Improvement of well-being of shift workers with altered light profiles may therefore require consideration of both - light at the workplace and outside working hours.

Decreased psychomotor vigilance of female shift workers after working night shifts.

BACKGROUND: We compared psychomotor vigilance in female shift workers of the Bergmannsheil University Hospital in Bochum, Germany (N = 74, 94% nurses) after day and night shifts. METHODS: Participants performed a 3-minute Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) test bout at the end of two consecutive day and three consecutive night shifts, respectively. Psychomotor vigilance was analyzed with respect to mean reaction time, percentage of lapses and false starts, and throughput as an overall performance score, combining reaction time and error frequencies. We also determined the reaction time coefficient of variation (RTCV) to assess relative reaction time variability after day and night shifts. Further, we examined the influence of shift type (night vs. day) by mixed linear models with associated 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for age, chronotype, study day, season, and the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). RESULTS: At the end of a night shift, reaction times were increased (ß = 7.64; 95% CI 0.94; 14.35) and the number of lapses higher compared to day shifts (exp(ß) = 1.55; 95% CI 1.16-2.08). By contrast, we did not observe differences in the number of false starts between day and night shifts. Throughput was reduced after night shifts (ß = -15.52; 95% CI -27.49; -3.46). Reaction times improved across consecutive day and night shifts, whereas the frequency of lapses decreased after the third night. RTCV remained unaffected by both, night shifts and consecutive shift blocks. DISCUSSION: Our results add to the growing body of literature demonstrating that night-shift work is associated with decreased psychomotor vigilance. As the analysis of RTCV suggests, performance deficits may selectively be driven by few slow reactions at the lower end of the reaction time distribution function. Comparing intra-individual PVT-performances over three consecutive night and two consecutive day shifts, we observed performance improvements after the third night shift. Although a training effect cannot be ruled out, this finding may suggest better adaptation to the night schedule if avoiding fast-changing shift schedules.

Vitamin D supply in shift working nurses.

We studied determinants of Vitamin D in serum of 67 female health care workers (aged 25-60 years), including age, body mass index, physical activity, and shift work. Overall, vitamin D levels were low, ranging from 6 to 51 ng/mL (median: 20 ng/mL). Lower serum levels were found in samples drawn in winter and spring and in obese subjects. Shift work had only small effects on vitamin D levels. The high prevalence of vitamin D undersupply is in line with observations from the German general population. Vitamin D supply particularly in winter and spring should be ensured to avoid health problems.