Delayed occupational asthma from epoxy exposure.

BACKGROUND: A delayed asthma reaction occurring several hours after exposure is difficult to diagnose. AIMS: To confirm a delayed asthma reaction in five workers following epoxy exposure. CASE REPORT: Working conditions with exposure to epoxy encountered at the workplace were reproduced in a challenge chamber. Specific inhalation challenge (SIC) with epoxy was compared to a control challenge. All five cases had delayed a asthma response 6-15 h after epoxy exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that SIC is a useful tool in diagnosing delayed asthma response.

Poly (Butyl Acrylate)-Graft-Polystyrene Synthesis by Free-Radical Polymerization: Interplay between Structure, Morphology, Mechanical, and Optical Properties.

We report a new method of preparation of poly (butyl acrylate)-g-polystyrene/polystyrene blends by free-radical polymerization. Copolymerization of glycidyl (meth)acrylate with butyl acrylate is followed by a polymer analogous reaction of this copolymer with acrylic acid and subsequent copolymerization of the modified backbone with styrene. Investigation on the number of reactive groups per backbone chain and its molecular weight allows grafting efficiencies of about 35% to be reached, as well as low cross-linking. Blends of nanophase-separated copolymers having a backbone with Mn of around 50 kg/mol and 4 reactive groups per chain are transparent, with haze as low as 14%, tensile strength of around 22 MPa, and elongations at the break of around 3%. Correlation between morphology determined by transmission electron microscopy and properties of the blend is established.

Risk of contact allergy and dermatitis at a wind turbine plant using epoxy resin-based plastics.

AIMS: To identify workplace and individual risk factors for occupational contact allergy and dermatitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out at an international company producing wind turbine systems in Denmark. A cohort of 724 production workers at four facilities was highly exposed to epoxy resin as well as other chemicals. A screening questionnaire (participation rate 84.7%) was followed by an interview by an occupational physician and a dermatological examination, including patch testing, for a comprehensive list of potential workplace sensitizers. RESULTS: Clinically diagnosed dermatitis was found among 214 workers (35.8%) and contact allergy to materials used in the workplace was found in 66 workers (10.9% of the total population and 20.3% of those who underwent patch testing). Of the 66 workers with a work-related allergy, 40 (60.6%) were allergic to epoxy compounds, 25 (37.9%) to hardeners and ten (15.2%) to other workplace materials, where one person showed an allergy only to these materials. Experiencing contact allergy was related to older age and longer employment in the workplace-however, neither of these risk factors was significant. The main risk factor for current dermatitis was contact allergy to materials used in the workplace, determined by patch testing, OR=5.4 (95% CI 3.9-9.9). Fewer days of absence from work was also related to current dermatitis, OR=2.0 (95% CI 1.2-3.5). CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of workers with extensive exposure to chemicals related to epoxy-resin systems, contact dermatitis and allergy was prevalent. Older age and longer duration of employment at the workplace were individual risk factors for allergy to workplace materials, whilst work-related allergies and longer duration of employment at the workplace were significant risk factors for current dermatitis.

Epoxy-based production of wind turbine rotor blades: occupational dermatoses.

Occupational dermatoses were investigated in a factory producing rotor blades for wind turbines by an epoxy-based process. In a blinded study design, 603 workers were first interviewed and thereafter clinically examined. Based on a history of work-related skin disease, clinical findings of dermatitis, or both, 325 (53.9%) of the workers were patch tested with a specially profiled occupational patch-test series and the European standard patch-test series. Calculated on all investigated workers, 17.1% of the workers were diagnosed with occupational dermatoses caused by work. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis was found in 10.9% of the workers. The estimated frequency of irritant contact dermatitis caused by work was 6.1%. Dermatitis on the hands was associated with contact allergy to epoxy resin (P = 0.017). The number of days on leave before the clinical examination was negatively associated with the presence of dermatitis (P = 0.001). Among workers employed 7-12 months, the frequency of occupational contact allergy was higher than that among workers employed for

Incidence of unintentional injuries in farming based on one year of weekly registration in Danish farms.

BACKGROUND: In Denmark, farming ranks as the industry with the highest incidence rate of fatal injuries. For nonfatal injuries, insufficient registration practices prevent valid comparisons between occupations. This study examines the occurrence of farm accidents and injuries, as well as work-specific factors, via weekly registration in a representative sample of 393 farms in one county during 1 year. METHODS: From a random sample of 794 farms, (10% of farms in the county of Ringkoebing, Denmark) 393 farms with 1,597 residents and employees participated in a 1-year self-registration of work-related unintentional incidents. The procedure included a detailed registration of hours spent on all main working tasks. Weekly recording of incident occurrence or nonoccurrence resulted in the completion of 19,782 registration forms. Three months after incident occurrence, a telephone interview was conducted about the related work situation and resulting injuries. RESULTS: During the 12-month period, 479 occupational accidents were reported, of which 389 resulted in an injury. The absolute number of injuries increased with number of work hours, but there was no relative increase of incidence by work hours. Persons below the age of 50 had slightly less than a doubled risk compared with those over 50 years of age. No other marked, reliable age effect was found. There was, however, a seasonal variation, with summer and autumn having a double relative incidence compared with winter and spring. Among farm owners, 35% experienced at least one injury per year, while this was the case for 17% of farm laborers. When adjusting for work hours, the increased frequency of injuries among farm owners was reduced to a factor of 1.5. Animal-related work was the most common injury mechanism. Repair and maintenance work was found to be the most dangerous task relative to the number of task-specific work hours. Subgroups of tasks with a markedly increased injury rate were moving animals within the farm, veterinary procedures, and repair of field machinery and stable equipment. CONCLUSIONS: Farm injuries occur among 32% of full-time farmers and farm laborers each year. A quarter of these require professional treatment. This area calls for preventive action.

Hand injuries in agricultural accidents.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of hand injuries due to farming accidents in a defined population with a representative mixture of agricultural activities. During a 12-month period all agricultural accidents treated at the five hospitals in the County of Ringkøbing, Denmark were prospectively registered. Follow-up was done by telephone interview 4 months after the accident. Of the 260 persons injured in agricultural accidents, 117 (45%) had lesions of the upper extremity and 73 persons (28%) had hand injuries. The most common injuries were lacerations and amputations (45%) followed by fractures (36%). Mean sick leave was 25 days, and mean work impairment was 31 days in patients with hand injuries.

[Post-traumatic stress after occupational accidents]. / Posttraumatisk stress efter arbejdsulykker.

This study focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder in a follow up one to two years after the occupational accident. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of PTSD, changes in general health status and issues of compensation. The material was all serious accidents registered in the Danish National Register of Work Accidents during 1991. Seriousness was defined by type of injury, including all cases of amputations, bone fractures and extensive body lesions. Of 4745 possible, 3663 persons (77%) participated in a questionnaire study. The prevalence fulfilling the complete set of criteria of posttraumatic stress disorder as a chronic state was 2.8% (102 persons), of whom half had been given compensation. Among the most severe accidents the prevalence was 7.6%. In conclusion, in a large cohort of persons with moderate and severe occupational injuries this study demonstrated that post-traumatic stress disorder and lasting psychological distress should be a matter for concern in addition to the physical injury.

[Development of post-traumatic stress following severe work-related accidents]. / Udvikling af posttraumatisk stress efter alvorlige arbejdsulykker.

The diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) employed by the American DSM-IV from 1994 and ICD-10 from 1993 are reviewed. The literature concerning PTSD, with particular focus on PTSD in relation to occupational accidents, is discussed. A single epidemiological study of the occurrence of PTSD following serious nonfatal occupational accidents reports a one to two years prevalence of PTSD of 4.3%. Physicians and safety and health organisations within companies should be aware of the potential for the occurrence of acute and chronic stress conditions following occupational accidents, primarily with respect to providing supportive psychological treatment and social support aimed at preventing the development of chronic symptoms.

[Post-traumatic stress disorder following an occupational accident]. / Posttraumatisk belastningstilstand som følge af arbejdsulykke.

Two cases of occupational accidents and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of various types are described. These accidents occurred in different occupations and encompass dramatic, life-threatening situations. The cases were compatible with a diagnosis of chronic PTSD. In both cases compensation for occupational injury was awarded on the basis of a PTSD diagnosis.

[Agricultural occupational accidents in the county of Ringkoebing. Local registration]. / Arbejdsulykker i landbruget i Ringkjøbing Amt. Registrering på bedriftsniveau.

The aim of the study was to obtain knowledge of accidents and working conditions related to farm accidents for purposes of a preventive intervention. The survey was a prospective study following a cohort of 393 farms in the county of Ringkoebing in West-Jutland, Denmark. Every farm in the study registered work activity and farmwork related incidents that required a break in work. Every farm reporting an incident was interviewed by phone. The owner himself and the part-time farmer had the highest injury rate per working hour. There was no difference between animal and field related work looking at the incidence rate per workhour, but the incidence rate whilst repairing machinery and buildings was five times higher and highly significant. The results indicate the existence of groups and areas of risk, where a preventive effort is needed. The study is followed by a randomised intervention study among 200 Danish farms.

[Agricultural injuries in Ringkjøbing County]. / Landbrugsulykker i Ringkjøbing Amt.

The aim of the study was to investigate agricultural injuries in Ringkjøbing County in the period 1.1-31.12.1992. At the five local hospitals, all persons treated after accidents on farms were registered prospectively and classified according to activity and injury severity (AIS-90). A total of 294 injured persons were registered. Of those, 257 (87%) accidents were due to working activities. Four persons (1%) were killed in the accident. The mean age was 42 years (2-81). Fractures were seen in 32% of the patients and open wounds in 21%. Only 6% had lesions with an AIS-score > 2, and only six patients (2%) had lesions with an AIS-score > 3. In spite of that, 30% were unable to work for more than four weeks because of the injury. An injury prevention programme towards agricultural injuries is therefore suggested.

Differential expression of interleukin-6, intracellular adhesion molecule 1, and major histocompatibility complex class II molecules in renal carcinoma cells stimulated with S fimbriae of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

The production of interleukin-6, intracellular adhesion molecule 1, and major histocompatibility complex class II molecules by a renal carcinoma cell line (ACHN) in response to S fimbriae of uropathogenic Escherichia coli was studied. S fimbriae adhered to ACHN cells and stimulated the production of interleukin-6 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 but did not affect major histocompatibility complex class II expression by renal carcinoma cells. Our data demonstrate that S fimbriae of E. coli display immunomodulating properties on kidney-derived epithelial cells.

Adherence to and cytotoxicity of Escherichia coli for eucaryotic cell lines quantified by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide).

Adherence of Escherichia coli to human epithelial cells (HEp-2) was studied using MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) which is cleaved by enzymes of eucaryotic or procaryotic cells to formazan. This method allows to quantify adherence of Escherichia coli to HEp-2 cells and offers the advantage of assaying a large number of eucaryotic cells without using specific antisera or radioactive material. Furthermore, toxic effects of isolated hemolysin cloned in Escherichia coli onto a renal tubular cell line (LLC-PK1) was investigated by this method, showing reduced cellular viability of tubular cells after an incubation period of 10 to 20 min. MTT is therefore considered to be useful to assay the adherence of Escherichia coli to eucaryotic cells and to quantify toxic effects in eucaryotic cells induced by bacterial virulence factors.

DNA-ploidy and survival in gastric carcinomas: a flow-cytometric study.

In 125 gastric carcinomas the nuclear DNA content was determined by flow cytometry from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue of surgical specimens. The carcinomas were of intestinal or mixed type (85), and diffuse type (40). DNA-aneuploidy was found in 46% of the intestinal type and in 42% of the mixed type, but only in 15% of the diffuse-type carcinomas (P less than 0.01). The total rate of DNA-aneuploidy was 34%. Carcinomas localized in the cardia were more frequently DNA-aneuploid than tumours in other localizations (P less than 0.01). DNA-aneuploid carcinomas had metastasized more frequently to regional lymph nodes (P less than 0.05) whereas no correlations with tumour stage and cytological/histological grade were detected. In 94 patients follow-up data were available. DNA-aneuploidy was associated with a statistically significant poorer prognosis when compared to DNA-diploid tumours only in advanced gastric carcinomas with lymph node metastases (P = 0.0488) and in the subgroup of advanced intestinal and mixed-type tumours (P = 0.0289).