Preliminary study among truck drivers in Turkey: effects of ultraviolet light on some skin entities.

In this study, we aimed to compare driver (left) and opposite (right) sides for some skin entities in drivers. We also evaluated the effect of occupational duration, age and skin type among this population. One hundred and forty-eight truck drivers were included in this study. Sun exposed areas were classified. Dermatological entities such as actinic keratosis, solar lentigo, seborrheic keratosis, melanocytic nevus, spider angioma, ephelid, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma were compared to driver and right sides. In addition, drivers were divided into two subgroups according to: (i) age (subgroups A1, 20-40 years, and A2, >40 years); (ii) occupational duration (subgroups O1, 1-10 years, and 02, >10 years); and (iii) skin type (subgroups S1, skin types I and II, and S2, skin types III and IV. Each of the two subgroups were compared with respect to the total prevalence (left and right sides) of lesions excluding the location. Seborrheic keratosis and lentigo solaris were found to be increased on the driver side of the face (P = 0.00) and ear (P = 0.013), respectively. Statistically significant increases of lesions on the driver side were determined according to the subgroups: melanocytic nevi were found to be increased on the driver side in A1 (P = 0.00), A2 (P = 0.00), O2 (P = 0.00), S1 (P = 0.00) and S2 (P = 0.006) groups; actinic keratoses were found to be significantly increased on the driver side in A2 and O2 groups (P = 0.03 for both).

The relationship between iron status and thyroid hormones in adolescents living in an iodine deficient area.

BACKGROUND: Iron may be only one of many nutritional factors that influence thyroid hormone metabolism in iodine-deficient areas. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of iron status on thyroid hormone profile in adolescents living in a mild iodine-deficient area in Turkey. SUBJECTS: Three hundred and thirty school-aged children with mean age 14 years were examined. METHODS: Free triiodothyronine, free tetraiodothyronine and thyrotropin levels were analyzed by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. Hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume were measured with a Hemocounter. Iron and total iron binding capacity concentration were determined by colorimetric photometric methods. Ferritin level was determined by immunoturbidimetry. RESULTS: Thyroid hormone levels of the children with anemia were not significantly different compared to children without anemia. No significant correlation was found between thyroid hormones and iron status. CONCLUSION: The thyroid hormone profile was not significantly affected in this area. This survey showed no correlation between iron status and thyroid hormone levels.

Respiratory symptoms and peak expiratory flow rates among furniture-decoration students.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of furniture production, mainly including fir tree (aberia mulleriana), on respiratory health of young workers and to compare the results with those obtained from previous studies. Sixty-four furniture-decoration students (57 males and 7 females) and 62 controls (54 male, 8 female) from different departments in the same school were included into the study. All participants were assessed with a questionnaire (concerning history of occupational exposure, work-related respiratory and other symptoms, smoking history, previous asthma history), full physical examination, spirometric evaluation and chest radiograph. Participants then performed serial monitoring of peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) at work and away from work within a month. Mean age of students was 20.9 +/- 3.7 years, 20.5 +/- 2.6 years in controls. There was no difference between study and control groups with regard to age, gender, smoking status and previous asthma history. Reported cough (23.4 % vs. 8.1 %) and shortness of breath (18.8 % vs. 6.5 %) were significantly higher in furniture-decoration students than in controls (p = 0.016 and p = 0.034, respectively). Furniture-decoration students had higher conjunctivitis (34.4 % vs. 9.7 %, p = 0.001) and rhinitis (34.4 % vs. 19.4 %, p = 0.044) history when compared with controls. Both students and controls were normal in terms of respiratory examination. PEF recordings were performed for approximately one month. Diurnal variability greater than 20 % was seen in 12/64 (18.7 %) of students at work, whereas it was detected in 4/62 (6.4 %) of controls (p = 0.034). When comparing for the presence of diurnal variability greater than 20 % in weekends, no difference was found between groups (p = 0.457). In conclusion, early detection of work-related respiratory changes by serial monitoring of peak expiratory flows should save the workers from hazardous respiratory effects of the furniture production, especially in young population.