De Quervain's tenosynovitis as an occupational disease in agricultural worker: A case report.

BACKGROUND: De Quervain's tenosynovitis is upper-limb disorder, more frequent in women. It is rarely recognized as an occupational disease. OBJECTIVE: In this paper we reported work related de Quervain's tenosynovitis in cow milker. METHODS: Ergonomic risk factors were assessed by utilizing assessment of repetitive tasks (ART) of the upper limbs method. Physical examination and imaging exams were used. RESULTS: We presented a 36-year-old female agricultural worker (workplace cow milker) exposed to work factors (forceful hand/wrist exertions, repetition, extreme postures) for 14 years. She was suffering the pain in the right hand, mainly near the thumb for few years. She was treated conservatively and surgically, however disability was permanent. Clinical examination showed slight edema of the right hand, increased palm's sweating. Patient had reduced range of movements and grip strength. CONCLUSIONS: Report shows that work-related factors were strongly associated with diagnosed de Quervain's tenosynovitis. Hand function plays an essential role in carrying out activities of daily living and this disorder pose a relevant burden of disease. Exposure to biomechanical factors should be an important initial target for the prevention of De Quervain's tenosynovitis in the working population.

Effect of simultaneous exposure to benzene and ethanol on urinary thioether excretion.

The toxicity of benzene is not an issue of the past, especially in developing countries. Bone marrow toxicity is demonstrated among workers. In this study, the effect of simultaneous exposure to benzene and ethanol on benzene metabolism in mice was investigated by measuring the excretion of thioethers in urine. Urinary thioether excretion significantly decreased in the mice receiving both benzene and ethanol compared with the animals receiving benzene only. The assay of determining thioethers in urine samples in this study is a simple and low-cost method, thus suitable for routine use, especially in developing countries, not only for benzene, but also for other alkilating agents, which can be found during occupational exposure. Our results suggest that further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of decreased urinary excretion of thioether after simultaneous exposure to benzene and ethanol.

The prevalence of low back pain among nurses in Serbia.

BACKGROUND: The presence of low back pain in nurses is becoming increasingly prominent and it has significant impact both on the individual as well as on the community. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of low back pain among practicing nurses. METHODS: The research has been conducted in five health care institutions in the area of Vojvodina. Data were collected using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). RESULTS: Five hundred and twelve nurses participated in this study. Most of the participants (93.95%) indicated that they experienced discomfort or pain in the lower back in the last 12 months. Due to low back pain, 61.95% of participants had reduced working abilities and 76.09% of participants have never taken time off from work. CONCLUSIONS: Due to low back pain nurses have a reduced working capacity, but they nevertheless rarely seek medical help or the change of the work place. The implementation of better ergonomic approach and adequate organization of work could reduce the occurrence of low back pain.

The effects of aging and driving experience on reaction times of professional drivers.

BACKGROUND: Professional drivers are part of the active working population, so there is a need for continuous improvement of operating efficiency and safety in driving. Reaction time is a very important driver's trait. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of age and driving experience on reaction times of professional drivers. METHODS: This study assesses part of driving efficiency of professional drivers by measuring simple reaction time and complex reaction time which are important to driving safety. Reaction times of 278 male professional drivers were tested using a hardware-software system for determining the speed of response to psychomotor simple and complex audio-visual stimuli. RESULTS: Our results showed a positive correlation between ageing and slowing of reaction times. This suggests that the natural ageing process clearly slows down reaction times. CONCLUSIONS: The response times of professional drivers are more dependent on age than on driving experience.

Gliclazide reduces MKC intestinal transport in healthy but not diabetic rats.

The aim is to investigate the influence of the antidiabetic drug gliclazide on the ileal permeation of the semisynthetic bile acid, MKC, in tissues from healthy and diabetic rats. Sixteen Wistar rats (350 +/- 50 g) were randomly allocated into four groups (4 rats per group, 8 chambers per rat, i.e., n=32) two of which were made diabetic (given alloxan i.v. 30 mg/kg). Group 1 was used to measure the permeation of MKC (50 microg/ml) alone (control) while group 2 to measure MKC permeation in the presence of gliclazide (200 microg/ml). The diabetic groups 3 (gliclazide) and 4 (MKC+gliclazide) were treated in the same way. Rats were sacrificed and tissues were mounted into the Ussing chamber for the measurement of MKC mucosal to serosal (absorptive) and serosal to mucosal (secretory) fluxes. In healthy tissues, gliclazide reduced MKC absorptive flux (p < 0.01) and increased its secretory flux (p < 0.01). In diabetic tissues, gliclazide had no effect on either the absorptive or the secretory fluxes of MKC. The lack of effect of gliclazide on MKC permeation in diabetic tissues suggests the absence or suppressed drug transporters. Furthermore, gliclazide inhibition of MKC absorptive flux and induction of MKC secretory flux in healthy tissues may result from the selective inhibition of an efflux drug transporter.

Cefotaxime pharmacokinetics after oral application in the form of 3alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy-12-keto-5beta-cholanate microvesicles in rat.

The aim of ths study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime sodium (CEF) pharmacokinetics after oral application in the form of sodium 3alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy-12-keto-5beta-cholanate (MKC) microvesicles (MV) in rat. Thirty Male Wister rats were divided into six groups (n=5 per group). Groups were treated orally with: (i) CEF (15 mg/kg) saline solution (15 mg/kg); (ii) CEF (15 mg/kg) saline solution with MKC (2 mg/kg); (iii) CEF saline solution mixed with blank microvesicles; (iv) CEF (15 mg/kg) encapsulated in microvesicles with saline solution; (v) CEF saline solution (15 mg/kg) mixed with blank MKC microvesicules; (vi) CEF (15 mg/kg) encapsulated in MKC microvesicules with saline solution. Data were analyzed using noncompartmental model. CEF oral bioavailability was increased twofold when coadministered with MKC and when encapsulated in microvesicles and ninefold when encapsulated in MKC microvesicles compared to the same CEF dose administered orally as saline solution. The increased bioavailability of CEF resulting from CEF encapsulation in microvesicules with MKC suggests that this formulation can extend the application of CEF from parenteral only to oral application.

Influence of bile acid derivates on morphine analgesic effect in mice.

BACKGROUND/AIM: It is known that bile acids improve the absorption, bioavailability and pharmacodynamic characteristics of some drugs. Morphine analgesia is produced by activation of opioid receptors within the central nervous system (CNS) at both spinal and supraspinal levels. Since a morphine molecule contains 3 polar groups and therefore hard to transfer through the blood-brain barrier, the aim of the study was to examine the potential influence of bile acids derivates, namely sodium salt of monoketocholic acid (MKH-Na) and methyl ester of monoketocholic acid (MKH-Me), on analgesic effect of morphine. METHODS: White male mice of NMRI-Haan strain, with body weight of 20-24 g, were used in this study. The analgesic effect of morphine (administered by subcutaneous and intramuscular route in a dose of 2 mg/kg), with and without pretreatment with MKH-Na (4 mg/kg) and MKH-Me (4 mg/kg) was estimated by the hot plate method. RESULTS: Administration of MKH-Me prior to subcutaneous administration of morphine increased the morphine analgesic effect but the increase was not statistically significant. At the same time administration of MKH-Na did not affect morphine analgesic effect. The analgesic effect of morphine increased when administered intramuscularly 20 min after MKH-Me administration. When compared with the group of animals treated only with morphine, a statistically significant increase in analgesic effect was detected 10, 30, 40 and 50 min after morphine administration (p < 0.05). Pretreatment with MKH-Na did not affect morphine analgesic effect. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study it can be presumed that after intramuscular morphine administration methyl ester of monoketocholic acid increases morphine transport into the central nervous system and consequently the analgesic effect, as well. Further research on bile acids-morphine interaction both in vitro and in vivo is necessary to completely elucidate the mechanism of this interaction and increase in the morphine analgesic effect.

Effect of aqueous solution of stevioside on pharmacological properties of some cardioactive drugs.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Stevioside is a glycoside that supposedly possesses a number of pharmacodynamic effects such as anti-infective, hypoglycemic, along with the beneficial influence on the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of rats pretreatment with aqueous solution of stevioside on pharmacological actions of adrenaline, metoprolol and verapamil. METHODS: Rats were administered (intraperitoneally 200 mg/kg/day) stevioside as aqueous solution or physiological saline in the course of 5 days, then anaesthetized with urethane and the first ECG recording was made. The prepared jugular vein was connected to an infusion pump with adrenaline (0.1 mg/mL), verapamil (2.5 mg/mL) or metoprolol (1 mg/mL). Control animals, pretreated with saline, in addition to the mentioned drugs, were also infused with the solution of stevioside (200 mg/mL) in the course of recording ECG. RESULTS: The infusion of stevioside produced no significant changes in ECG, even at a dose exceeding 1,600 mg/kg. In the control group, a dose of adrenaline of 0.07 +/- 0.02 mg/kg decreased the heart rate, whereas in the stevioside-pretreated rats this occurred at a significantly higher dose (0.13 +/- 0.03 mg/kg). In stevioside-pretreated rats, the amount of verapamil needed to produce the decrease in heart rate was significantly lower compared to the control. The pretreatment with stevioside caused no significant changes in the parameters registered on ECG during infusion of metoprolol. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that pretreatment with stevioside may change the effect of adrenaline and verapamile on the heart rate.

Occupational contact allergic dermatitis in dentistry.

INTRODUCTION: Dental professionals may be at increased risk of developing occupational allergic diseases specially to methacrylates that can permeate protective disposable gloves. CASE REPORT: We presented a case of occupational allergic contact dermatitis in a 28-year-old dental technician. The patient had complained of itching and cracking of fingers for 6 months. The dermatitis improved over weekends. Skin erythema and scaling were present with primarily involvement of the fingertips. Patch testing with dental series gave positive vesicular reaction to methyl methacrylate. Follow-up after 6 months of allergen avoidance showed a complete regression of dermatitis. CONCLUSION: Methacrylates serve as bases for acrylic resins which are used in prosthetics. Methyl methacrylate as a small molecular acrylate can permeate thin protective disposable gloves. Using adequate personal protective equipment, like nitrile rubber gloves, is the most important preventive measure in this occupation. Health practitioners should recognize possible occupational hazards in dentistry and implement appropriate preventive measures to protect health of workers.