Journal of Occupational Health
Online ISSN : 1348-9585
Print ISSN : 1341-9145
ISSN-L : 1341-9145
Volume 41, Issue 3
Displaying 1-10 of 10 articles from this issue
  • Megumi HARA, Mitsuru MORI, Masahiro NISHIZUMI
    1999 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 137-143
    Published: 1999
    Released on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Differences in Lifestyle-related Risk Factors for Death by Occupational Groups; A Prospective Study: Megumi HARA et al. Department of Community Health Science, Saga Medical School—To evaluate the relationship between lifestyle and risk of death from all causes in different occupational groups, we conducted a follow-up (13.6 years) study of 2, 262 subjects who were selected randomly out of 40-69 year-old inhabitants of Saga Prefecture in 1983. At that time it was found that among male white-collar workers, as well as blue-collar workers, the risk of death was significantly associated with poor health status. The smoking habit had increased the relative risk of death, but a significant difference was found only among male white-collar workers. Among male farmers, as well as the male blue-collar workers, risk of death was associated with a low score in the physical function test in 1983. In female sales and service workers, the risk of death was significantly associated with decreased physical activity. Among the female farmers, there was no significant relationship between any lifestyle and risk of death. Among the female housekeepers and the retired, the risk of death was significantly associated with poor health status in 1983. Consequently the results of this study suggest that there may be some differences in risk factors for death associated with occupational group, but it can be inferred from the results that keeping in good health, maintaining high physical function, and quitting smoking may reduce the risk of death in all occupational groups.
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  • Li Ren ZHOU, Jian Hua ZHOU, Ji Cheng YANG
    1999 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 144-148
    Published: 1999
    Released on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Effects of cytokines induced by asbestos on lung fibroblasts in vitro: Li Ren ZHOU, et al. Department of Occupational Health, Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou China—Rabbit's alveolar macrophages (AM) obtained by lavage were cultured with three mineral dusts (quartz, asbestos fibre and uranium dust) in vitro. The activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lung fibroblast (LF) proliferation were measured by 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation, the collagen synthesis in LF by 14C-proline (14C-Pro), interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity in the supernatant of AM by 3-(4, 5-dimethyiazo-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; thiazoylblue (MTT) colorimetry, and the total hydroxy-proline (HOP) in LF by the chloromine-T method. The assay of the inhibiting effect of anti-TNF antibody and IFNγon LF proliferation and collagen synthesis were carried out. The results show that the three mineral dusts can induce AM to release TNF and IL-6. When the three mineral dusts were added at a dose of 200 μg/ml, the levels of TNF were 1369 U/ml, 1198 U/ml and 852 U/ml, and the levels of IL-6 were 1336U/ml, 1511U/ml and 1335 U/ml, which were significantly higher than those in the TiO2 control. The LF proliferation and collagen synthesis can be increased by the supernatant of the AM treated with the three minerl dusts. 3H-TdR incorporations were 22320 dpm, 12547 dpm and 15048 dpm (at a 1:2 dilution of AM supernatant), which was significantly higher than in the TiO2 and Hank's control (P<0.01). 14C-Pro incorporations were 34001 dpm, 16319 dpm and 22550 dpm (at a dust concentration of 200 μg/ml), which were much higher than in the TiO2 and Hank's control (P<0.01). Total amounts of HOP in WI-38 cell activated by supernatants of AM induced by the three mineral dusts were 22.41 μg/ml, 24.00 μg/ml and 21.29 μg/ml (at a dust concentration of 200 μg/ml), which were significantly higher than in the TiO2 and Hank's control (P<0.01). Both anti-tumor necrosis antiboby and interferon-gamma can inhibit the proliferation of the LF and decrease collagen synthesis.
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  • Hajime HORI, Toru ISHIDAO, Takako OYABU, Hiroshi YAMATO, Yasuo MORIMOT ...
    1999 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 149-153
    Published: 1999
    Released on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Effect of Simultaneous Exposure to Methanol and Toluene Vapor on Their Metabolites in Rats: Hajime HORI, et al. Department of Environmental Management I, School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan—Wistar male rats were exposed to methanol and toluene vapors by inhalation individually and simultaneously. Blood was sampled from the tail of the rats at 0, 1.5 and 3 h after a 6-h exposure and the methanol and/or toluene concentrations were measured by the headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Major metabolites of methanol and toluene, that is, formic acid and hippuric acid in urine were measured at 0, 18 and 42 h after the end of the exposure. The toluene concentration in blood in the simultaneous exposure group was lower than that in the toluene exposure one. The biological half time of toluene in blood in the simultaneous exposure group was shorter than that in the single exposure one. The excretion rate of hippuric acid in urine in the simultaneous exposure group was significantly lower than that in the toluene exposure one when both the methanol and toluene concentrations were 300 ppm. These results suggest that the metabolic rate of toluene was enhanced by methanol. On the other hand, the biological half time of methanol in blood and the formic acid concentration in urine were not significantly different in the single and simultaneous exposure groups, although the methanol concentration in blood in the simultaneous exposure group was lower than that in the methanol exposure one.
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  • Tomoyuki KAWADA, Shosuke SUZUKI, Fumio KUBOTA, Naoki OHNISHI, KOUJI SA ...
    1999 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 154-159
    Published: 1999
    Released on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Content and Cross Validity of the Todai Health Index Depression Scale in Relation to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale: Tomoyuki KAWADA, et al. Department of Public Health, Gunma University School of Medicine—The validity of the Todai Health Index (THI) depression scale was tested with outpatient data by comparing with a clinical diagnosis based on the DSM III-R criteria of major depression. The cross validity of the Japanese versions of the CES-D score and SDS index were also tested in comparison with the THI scale scores of survey data from Japanese female students. The main results obtained were as follows: 1) The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the THI depression scale were 0.91, 0.84, 0.86 and 0.89, respectively, and were satisfactory for identifying clinical cases of depression. 2) The CES-D score and the SDS index showed a high correlation with the THI scale scores, especially with the depression scale of THI. The coefficients of correlation for the THI depression scale and the CES-D score or SDS index were 0.727 and 0.715, respectively. The partial coefficients of correlation for the THI depression scale and the CES-D score or SDS index, when the variances of all other scale scores of the THI were kept constant, were 0.528 and 0.536, respectively. 3) Factor analysis was used to compare SDS and CES-D with 12 THI scales. SDS was related mainly to the psychological complaints and partly related to the physical symptoms. The results indicate that the THI depression scale is valid for use not only in epidemiological surveys but also in monitoring the severity of the depressive state.
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  • Shigeki KODA, Hiroshi OHARA
    1999 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 160-165
    Published: 1999
    Released on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Preventive Effects on Low Back Pain and Occupational Injuries by Providing the Participatory Occupational Safety and Health Program: Shigeki KODA, et al. Department of Public Health, Kochi Medical School—The goal of the study was to estimate the effects of a participatory occupational safety and health (OSH) program on the incidence of low back pain (LBP) and occupational injuries (OIs). This participatory OSH program was introduced in the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Waste Management in 1986. The authors examined the incidence rates of LBP and OIs with lost working time and/or medical care cost. The incidence rate per 100 full-time employees was calculated from 2, 297 claimed cases of LBP and 9, 272 claimed ones of OIs from 1984 to 1994. The strategy of a participatory OSH program, which developed original rule-based OSH activities, included two factors: OSH activities that involved employees and employers from 1986 to 1990, and have been promoted by employee participation since 1991. The incidence rates for LBP and OIs have decreased from 2.73 and 8.30 per 100 full-time employees in 1986 to 0.87 and 5.02 in 1994, respectively. The participatory OSH program, which has promoted employee-employer involvement and employee participation, is effective in preventing LBP and OIs in the workplaces.
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  • Hyun-Cheol AHN, Kyu-Yoon HWANG, Yong-Bae KIM, Gap-Soo LEE, Sung-Soo LE ...
    1999 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 166-171
    Published: 1999
    Released on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Different Effects of Serum Iron Status on the Relationship between Blood Lead and Zinc Protoporphyrin in Lead Workers in Korea: HyunCheol AHN, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Industrial Medicine, School of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University—This study was conducted to determine whether there was a different toxic effect of lead on heme synthesis by serum iron status in 360 lead workers in Korea. We examined the association between blood lead (PbB) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) in whole blood according to the level of serum iron in low to moderate lead-exposed workers in 1997-1998. Serum iron levels (FeS) were divided into two groups: iron-deficient group (serum iron < 80 μg/dl, 57 subjects) and iron-sufficient group (serum iron ≥ 80 μg/dl, 303 subjects). Blood lead corrected by the standard value for hemoglobin (15 g/ dl) as an explanatory variable was assessed to explain the variance of ZPP. After adjusting for possible confounders, such as age, body mass index (BMI), cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and size of factory, the linear slope of corrected PbB on ZPP in the iron-deficient group was statistically higher than that of the iron-sufficient group. The interaction term between corrected PbB and ZPP with the modification of the serum iron status was statistically significant in the regression model (p=0.0053). The result suggests that the relationship between corrected PbB and ZPP may be modified by the serum iron status in male leadexposed workers.
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  • Yuqing CHEN, Changfa CHEN, Shenxiong JIN, Lin ZHOU
    1999 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 172-176
    Published: 1999
    Released on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Acrylonitrile Poisoning: A Clinical Study of 144 Cases: Yuqing CHEN, et al. Division of Occupational Medicine, Jinshan Hospital of Shanghai Medical University—An analysis of clinical manifestations and emergency treatment of 144 cases of acute acrylonitrile (ACN) poisoning is reported in this article. It is suggested that the acute poisoning induced by inhalation of ACN at high concentrations for a short duration primarily impairs the central nervous system (CNS), and inhalation of ACN at medium concentrations but for a longer period leads to damage to the liver tissues besides the CNS. In severely poisoned victims, the cardiac muscles may be damaged and in the blood levels glutathione (GSH) is decreased. The rational administration of antidotes including the methemoglobin-producing agent (MHbPA), and the sulfur-providing agent (SPA) is the key to the success of emergency treatment and thus the early recovery of the victims.
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  • Boguslaw KULA, Andrzej SOBCZAK, Rozalia GRABOWSKA-BOCHENEK, Danuta PIS ...
    1999 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 177-180
    Published: 1999
    Released on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Effect of Electromagnetic Field on Serum Biochemical Parameters in Steelworkers: Boguslaw KULA, et al. Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Medical University of Silesia—The aim of the study was to evaluate some biochemical parameters in the serum of steelworkers exposed to electromagnetic field (electric field strength of 20 V/m and magnetic field strength of 2 A/m) generated by induction heaters. We found significant decreases in the levels of total protein, β- and γ-globulins, and in the activities of γglutamyltranspeptidase (E.C.2.3.2.2) and malate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.37). The activity of aspartate aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.1) decreased, but the activity of alanine aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.2) was unchanged. Total lipid, cholesterol, triglycerides and pre-β-lipoproteins decreased, but α-lipoproteins increased. The most pronounced changes in the biochemical parameters studied were found in workers with the longest exposure to an electromagnetic field.
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  • Bambang WISPRIYONO, Yoshihisa IRYO, Tohko YOSHIDA, Masato MATSUOKA, Hi ...
    1999 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 181-182
    Published: 1999
    Released on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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  • Kai Way LI, Cheng-Lung LEE
    1999 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 183-190
    Published: 1999
    Released on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Postural Analysis of Four Jobs on Two Building Construction Sites: an Experience of Using the OWAS Method in Taiwan: Kai Way LI, et al. Department of Industrial Management, Chung-Hua University—Ovako Working Postures Analysing System (OWAS) is a widely used method for studying awkward working postures in workplaces. This study with OWAS, analyzed 2, 880 working postures for form, scaffold, iron, and cement works at two building construction sites in northern Taiwan. A computer program, CCOWAS, was designed for the study. It was found that more than 30% of the working postures observed were classified as either AC2 (slightly harmful), AC3 (distinctly harmful), or AC4 (extremely harmful). The percentage of harmful postures for scaffold workers was even as high as 43.3%. Postures that needed to be corrected either soon (AC3) or immediately (AC4), and corresponding tasks, were identified. The most stressful tasks observed were sawing, positioning and hammering of the forms for form workers; positioning and wire-tying of iron rods for iron workers; brick-laying for cement workers; and manual handling of steel frames in confined spaces for scaffold workers. Improvement of these tasks was discussed. Some hand-intensive activities, such as wire-tying of iron work, were observed. The unnatural hand postures of these activities could not be recorded by means of OWAS. It was therefore recommended that incorporation of hand postures into basic OWAS or the use of supplementary methods is required to identify ergonomic risk factors for iron work or other hand-intensive activities on local construction sites.
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