[Health state of aluminum industry workers in the European North of Russia].

Despite the constant performed improvement of technological processes, working conditions in the aluminum industry compose an increased risk of work-stipulated and occupational diseases. An examination of 1172 workers from aluminum facilities of European North of Russia showed that in the structure of their health state disorders and the pathology of the musculoskeletal system of dystrophic-degenerative character (29.8%) have the particular importance and the most commonly diagnosed disease is deforming osteoarthritis (8.6%). Conditions of the work in the professions "anode worker" and "electrolysis worker" (OR = 1.20; CI: 1.07-1.34), as well as the impact of aluminum production waste and the polluting the environment (OR = 1.62; CI 1.44-1.82) increase the risk of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In the structure of occupational pathology diseases of the respiratory (39.6%) and musculoskeletal (38.5%) systems are of the most importance. There were made conclusions about the necessity of the optimization of working conditions in the aluminum industry, restoration of the state of the environment and the improvement of the medical methods of the prevention of health disorders in this contingent of workers.

[Influence of smoking and industrial air pollutants on respiratory health of nickel industry workers].

Studies covered respiratory health of 1530 workers of nickel industry, among which were 796 (52.0%) smokers. Findings are that tobacco smoke combined with nickel industry hazards cause potentized negative effects in respiratory organs, with earlier and more frequent chronic bronchitis. For isolated influence of these factors, chronic bronchitis risk is higher from exposure to tobacco smoke vs. occupational hazards (OR = 2.48; DI 1.49-4.13). Chronic obstructive lung disease development in nickel industry workers is caused by smoking. Industrial air pollutants appeared to have no potentizing effect on COLD formation, as well as on toxic pneumosclerosis formation.

[Risk and features of occupational diseases in nonferrous metallurgy workers of Kolsky Transpolar area].

The study covered data on 977 cases of occupational diseases in 615 workers of nonferrous metallurgy in Kolsky Transpolar area. Findings are high risk of occupational diseases in workers engaged into electrolysis production of aluminium, all nickel reprocessing and pyrometallic copper reprocessing (GR 7.02-10.0). Electrolysis operators and anode operators of aluminium production are more prone to occupational diseases, with bone and muscular disorders (46.8%) prevalent in the morbidity structure. Respiratory diseases are more prevalent (68.2-100%) in the occupational morbidity structure of copper-nickelindustry workers. Conclusion is made on mandatory improvement of the work conditions and more effective individual protective means against occupational hazards in workers of nonferrous metallurgy in Kolsky Transpolar area.

[Occupational morbidity among miners engaged into contemporary method of extracting copper-nickel ores in Kola Transpolar regions].

The risks for developing occupational pathology and its specific features were studied in 358 Kola Transpolar copper-nickel miners who were diagnosed with 722 cases of occupational diseases (OD) in the years 1990-2013. The highest risk for developing OD, which are dominated by the diseases of the musculoskeletal system, has been found in tunnellers (OR = 12,8) and operators of drilling rigs (OR = 10,4). A significant increase in the risk of OD has been established in miners with length of service at 11-15 years and over 25 years. The conclusion is made about the need to improve the technical, medical and organizational measures targetted at preventing health problems in this group of workers.

[Influence of industrial pollution of ambient air on health of workers engaged into open air activities in cold conditions].

The article presents the results of a study on assessment of occupational exposure to air pollutants and related health effects in3792 outdoor workers engaged in operations performed in the vicinity of non-ferrous metallurgical facilities in Far North. Findings are that during cold season repeated climate and weather conditions are associated with higher level of chemical hazards and dust in surface air. At the air temperature below -17 degrees C, maximal single concentrations of major pollutants can exceed MAC up to 10 times. With that, transitory disablement morbidity parameters and occupational accidents frequency increase significantly. The workers with long exposure to cooling meteorological factors and air pollution demonstrate significantly increased prevalence of respiratory and circulatory diseases, despite relatively low levels of sculpture dioxide and dust in the air, not exceeding the occupational exposure limits. It has been concluded that severe cold is to be considered asa factor increasing occupational risk at air polluted outdoor worksites dueto more intense air pollution, higher traumatism risk and lower efficiency of filter antidust masks respiratory PPE and due to modification of the toxic effects.

[Peculiarities of bronchopulmonary pathology in copper industry workers in the Kola High North].

A survey of 1097 workers of metallurgical enterprises showed that a chronic bronchitis is the most common bronchopulmonary disease (8,8-13,3%) in copper production workers There are much less detected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (0.8-1.7%), asthma (0.3-0.4%), and only in copper-smelting plant workers - a toxic chemical pneumosclerosis (0.6%). Working conditions determine a higher prevalence of respiratory diseases and their development in less industrial work record in the manufacturing workers employed in electrolytic processing of copper and auxiliary shops. The conclusion about the need to improve working conditions and the use of more effective personal respiratory protection devices for copper production workers has been made.

[Skin vessel lesions in aluminum potroom workers].

The features of development of the skin vessels lesions in 550 aluminum production workers have been investigated. The high prevalence of these disorders have been revealed in anode-operators and cell-operators, 49, 3 and 26.0% of workers, respectively. The regularity and staging of the development of this abnormity have been established, etiology, pathogenesis and clinical significance of those remain unknown.

[Working conditions and occupational pathology in electrolytic nickel refinery workers].

The working conditions during electrolytic nickel refinery correspond to Class 3, Grade 3-4, which may give rise to health problems in workers of all occupations employed in this production. Their risk and prevalence are significantly higher in the most exposed occupational group, such as electrolysis workers (40.1% of all cases). The structure of occupational diseases is dominated by respiratory diseases (68.8%), mainly due to exposure to aerosols of nickel compounds. It is concluded that working conditions and medical prevention interventions should be improved for this group of workers.

[Characteristics of general and occupational pathology in miners of apatite mines in Far North].

Study covering 2377 miners of apatite mines in Far North demonstrated that among general pathology locomotory diseases (24.4%), eye disorders (16.3%) and circulatory diseases were prevelent, and among the occupational one--locomotory (34.5%) and peripheral nervous system (19.8%) diseases, vibration disease (20.2%) and deafness (19.6%) were more prevalent. The highest risk of health disorders was seen for sinkers and drillers: 38.6% and 16.0% of the diseased.

[Bronchopulmonary diseases in workers engaged in carbonyl production of nickel in the Kola Arctic].

The paper gives data on the prevalence and pattern of chronic bronchopulmonary diseases (CBPD) in 188 workers engaged in carbonyl production of nickel versus 162 auxiliary process workers. Chronic bronchitis was the most common disease in both groups (11.2 and 5.6%, respectively). 9.6% of the carbonyl production workers were found to have toxic pneumofibrosis developing mainly in those having a service length of more than 20 years. As compared with auxiliary process workers, the nickel production process workers had a higher risk of CBPD (odds ratio 1.80; 95% confidence interval 1.00-3.22; p = 0.04496) who also came to the front in the pattern of occupational diseases (73.2% of all cases).

[General and occupational morbidity in workers engaged into electrolysis nickel production in Transpolar Kolsky area].

Findings are that occupational factors in nickel electrolysis workshops induce respiratory and peripheral nervous system diseases. Electrolysis workers demonstrate the highest prevalence and risk of occupational diseases. The authors make a conclusion on necessity to improve prophylactic methods for occupational disorders in these workers.

[Bronchopulmonary diseases features in miners of Kolsky Transpolar area].

Miners engaged into open-cast and underground extraction of copper-nickel ores in Kolsky Transpolar area have chronic bronchitis as a main nosologic entity among chronic bronchopulmonary diseases (19.1% of the workers). Considerably lower (4.0% of the workers) occurrence concerns chronic obstructive lung disease and bronchial asthma, both developed before the occupational involvement (1.3% of the workers). Complex of occupational and nonoccupational risk factors is connected mostly with smoking that increases COLD/CB risk 10.7-15.8-fold.

[Bronchopulmonary diseases in workers engaged in deep-mined extraction of copper-nickel ore].

Examinations were made in 220 male workers exposed to dust-gas (low-silicon dioxide, nitric oxides, and carbon oxide) mixture, physical exercises, and cooling microclimate on deep-mined output of copper-nickel ore. Twenty-eight per cent of the workers were found to have evolving chronic bronchitis that did not substantially affect the patients' working capacity; 3.2% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 1.4% had asthma that had developed before the onset of professional activity. 32.3% of the examinees were ascertained to have individual clinicofunctional disorders that permit their identification as a bronchopulmonary disease risk group to carry out early preventive and rehabilitative measures.

[Bronchopulmonary diseases in workers engaged into aluminium production in Transpolar area of Kolsky peninsula].

Findings are that chronic bronchitis (14.1-18.5% of workers) is leading among bronchopulmonary diseases in workers engaged into electrolysis and auxiliary workshops of aluminium production. Chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) and bronchial asthma (BA) occur in 1.6-2.4% of the workers requiring employment. Among other variants of BA, potroom asthma--occupational form of the disease--should be emphasized. Risk of chronic bronchitis and COLD depends on length of exposure to the occupational hazards, and intensity of smoking habit.

[Role of smoking in bronchopulmonary disease formation in nickel production workers].

Questionnaire and external respiration studies in 295 workers engaged into nickel production (including 158 smokers and 137 nonsmokers) revealed that smoking (7.92 +/- 0.63 packs/year in average) causes clinical symptoms of broncho-pulmonary diseases, lower functional parameters, increased risk of acute and chronic respiratory diseases preceding to chronic bronchitis.

[Diagnostics and therapeutic approach in clinical remission of chronic bronchitis].

Clinical examination and laboratory tests performed on 708 patients with chronic obstructive and non-obstructive bronchitis (COB and CNB), demonstrated heterogeneous character of the group of these patients in clinical remission. This suggests that it is appropriate to distinguish between the stages of complete and partial remission, implying different tasks concerning treatment and rehabilitation. Remission of CNB is characterized by minimal deviation of clinical and laboratory parameters; functional balance between the lipid peroxidation-antioxidative activity (LP-AA) system and immunity is preserved. At the stage of rehabilitation of these patients the major attention is paid to the general sanitary measures (physiotherapy exercises, climate therapy). The stage of partial remission in COB and CNB is characterized by residual activity of the inflammatory process, a disbalance between the LP-AA system and immunity, most prominent in partial remission of COB. Rehabilitation of these patients, in addition to physiotherapy exercises and tempering of the organism, should include special activity, directed towards the normalization of LP and immunity parameters.

[Effects of essential oil on lipid peroxidation and lipid metabolism in patients with chronic bronchitis]. / Vliianie 'efirnykh masel na perekisnoe okislenie i obmen lipidov u bol'nykh khronicheskim bronkhitom.

Natural concentrations of some essential oils were examined for effects on the system lipid peroxidation-antioxidant defense and lipid metabolism in 150 patients with chronic bronchitis. Lowering of plasm levels of dienic conjugates and ketons, activation of catalase in red cells characteristic of antioxidant effect were observed in exposure to essential oils of rosemary, basil, fir, eucalyptus. Lavender essential oil promotes normalization of the level of total lipids, ratio of total cholesterol to its alpha-fraction.

[The expediency of assessing the severity of the state of patients with chronic bronchitis at the rehabilitative treatment stage]. / O tselesoobraznosti otsenki tiazhesti sostoianiia bol'nykh khronicheskim bronkhitom na étape vosstanovitel'nogo lecheniia.

Notion of current gravity of patient's state was introduced in order to carry out aggregate estimation of pathological manifestations in patients with chronic bronchitis in rehabilitative stage of the treatment. There were suggested three degrees of patients' state: satisfactory, slightly compromised and moderately grave. Patients with different states were unlike with respect to most clinical, laboratory and instrumental parameters. Dependence of immediate and remote results of rehabilitation on initial and attained patients state proves advisability of its current estimation. Determination of patients state in chronic bronchitis allows to prognosticate effectiveness of the treatment.

[The characteristics of lysozyme and carbenicillin action on the clinico-immunological status of patients with chronic bronchitis]. / Osobennosti deistviia lizotsima i karbenitsillina na kliniko-immunologicheskii status bol'nykh khronicheskim bronkhitom.

Clinical, laboratory and immunological methods used to study 68 patients with chronic bronchitis revealed a normalizing effect of intratracheal administration of lyzozyme and its combinations with carbenicillin on the indices of cellular and humoral links of immunity. Treatment tactics is discussed.

[Possibilities of immunomodulation in patients with chronic bronchitis during physiotherapeutic impacts on the thymic area]. / Vozmozhnost' immunomoduliatsii pri fizioterapevticheskikh vozdeistviiakh na oblast' timusa u bol'nykh khronicheskim bronkhitom.

Immune effects of galvanic current (GC) and ultrasound (US) applied on the thymic area were studied in 66 patients with chronic bronchitis (CB) on rehabilitation treatment. 64 control CB patients either receive an immunomodulating drug thymalin or were treated without immunomodulation. It was found that GC and US are effective in disorders of cellular immunity and result in closer interaction between separate components of immune system. The immunomodulating effect of GC and US was comparable with that of thymalin.