[Social, demographic and laboral factors associated with the presence of lateral elbow epicondylitis]. / Factores sociodemográficos y laborales asociados con epicondilitis lateral de codo.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the social and demographic factors associated with laboral activities and the presence of lateral epicondylitis of elbow in workers. METHODS: We conducted an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional sampling for convenience. We included 34 patients with a diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis, both sexes between 20 and 55 years, with occupations requiring repetitive movements of the wrist. They answered a questionnaire with 21 questions. We applied descriptive statistic. RESULTS: Lateral epicondylitis occurs predominantly in women, aged 42.4 years with a schooling of 8.8 years; the main laboral activities were as cleaning staff (12%), packaging (12%) and mechanical (12%). Thirty five percent of participants made at least two breaks for health. Nine percent were exposed to low temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: Lateral epicondylitis is a condition that occurs in greater proportion in women. It is situated more frequently in the fifth decade of life. Epicondylitis has not been thoroughly studied in our environment, perhaps it is more prevalent in women who work at home.

[Reflecting about 40 years of occupational medicine in Mexico]. / Reflexiones en torno a los 40 años de la medicina del trabajo en México.

Thirty-eight years ago, occupational medicine was recognized as medical specialty in Mexico. Its achievements have been discreet and its evolution has been marked by situations that have questioned its credibility, relevance and viability, despite its significant value for the Mexican health care institutions, for the public and for the private sector. This paper addresses the importance of the field of occupational medicine, showing its social relevance and makes some remarks about the essential quality of the specialists that this discipline requires.

[Peripheral neuropathy and deterioration of the cognitive functions associated to chronic exposure to organophosphates]. / Neuropatía periférica y deterioro de las funciones cognitivas asociados a exposición crónica a organofosforados.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between the chronic exposure (EC) to organophosphated insecticides (IOF) with the presence of peripheral neuropathy (NP) and the deterioration of cognitive functions (DFC). DESIGN OF THE STUDY: Cross-section, comparative and observational. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Workers with more than three months of seniority, who participated in any stage of the process of production of IOF were included, and those with alterations in the neurological function were excluded. Two control groups were made up: the first one, without direct exposure to IOF, and the second one, without any exposure whatsoever to IOF. A physical examination was practiced on inferior limbs and a motor neuroconduction of the fibular nerves was carried out. The Minimum Exam of the Mental State was set (Mental Mini). The sampling was not random. RESULTS: It was found that the presence of DFC and the clinical data for NP were greater in the exposed group than in the controls, (p < 0.05). Besides, data with a tendency to the continuation in the parameters of latencies, widths and waves F for the motor neuroconduction of inferior limbs were presented. CONCLUSIONS: The long term exposure to IOF is related to deterioration in the cognitive function; as well as to the neurological manifestations in inferior limbs that condition an injury in the peripheral nerve, without being conclusive about the loss of its function.