The physical and psychological aspects of quality of life mediates the effect of radiation-induced urgency syndrome on disability pension in gynecological cancer survivors.

Background: Radiation-induced fecal urgency syndrome is highly prevalent in gynecological cancer survivors. It is associated with decreased quality of life (QoL) and with disability pension. The literature remains unclear about the mediating role of physical and psychological aspects of QoL in the association between urgency syndrome and disability pension.

Noninvasive electrophysiological differences between women and men: differences in body size not an explanation.

There are numerous sex-related differences in cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmia propensity but very little knowledge about the reasons. Difference in body size has been proposed as one reason and was tested in this study of >20 cardiac electrophysiology parameters in 319 (158 women) apparently healthy 50- to 64-yr-old subjects from a randomly enrolled population sample, the pilot SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimaging Study), using Frank vectorcardiography. We studied conventional conduction intervals, parameters reflecting electrical heterogeneity (dispersion) in the ventricles, QRS- and T-vector directions, spatial QRS-T angles, and T-vector loop morphology.

Disability pension among gynaecological cancer survivors with or without radiation-induced survivorship syndromes.

Purpose: Gynaecological cancer patients treated with external radiation therapy to the pelvis may face long-lasting and long-term gastrointestinal syndromes. The aim of this study was to assess the association between such radiation-induced survivorship syndromes and disability pension among gynaecological cancer survivors treated with pelvic radiation therapy.

Methods: This prospective register study included gynaecological cancer survivors (n=247) treated during 1991-2003, alive at the time of the study, and <65 years of age.

Mediating Factors for the Relationship between Stress and Work Ability over Time in Young Adults.

Stress can affect work ability. The aim of this study was to identify how this pathway is mediated over time in young adults. Participants of the Work Ability in Young Adults cohort were selected.

Important work demands for reducing sickness absence among workers with neck or upper back pain: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate what exposure to work demands, physical and psychosocial, is associated with lower levels of sickness absence among workers with neck or upper back pain in different groups, by age, gender, duration of sickness absence and work ability score.

Methods: This study was a prospective study of 4567 workers with neck or upper back pain. Data on neck or upper back pain, work demand and work ability were obtained from the Swedish Work Environment survey over a 3-year period (2009-2013).

Workplace Interventions can Reduce Sickness Absence for Persons With Work-Related Neck and Upper Extremity Disorders: A One-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether workplace interventions are effective in reducing sickness absence in persons with work-related neck and upper extremity disorders and whether disorder improvement after intervention reduces sickness absence.

Methods: This study was a prospective cohort study of workers with work-related neck pain or upper extremity disorders. Data were obtained from the Swedish "Work-related disorders" and "Work environment" surveys.

The Quick Exposure Check (QEC) - Inter-rater reliability in total score and individual items.

The development of musculoskeletal disorders has been linked to various risk factors in the work environment including lifting heavy loads, machine and materials handling, work postures, repetitive work, work with handheld vibrating tools, and work stress. The Quick Exposure Check (QEC) was designed to assess exposure to work-related musculoskeletal risk factors affecting the back, shoulder/arm, wrist/hand, and neck. We investigated the inter-rater reliability of the summary scores and individual items of the QEC by comparing two simultaneous assessments of 51 work tasks, performed by 14 different workers.

Long-term effect of hand-arm vibration on thermotactile perception thresholds.

Background: Occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) is known to cause neurological symptoms such as numbness, reduced manual dexterity, grip strength and sensory perception. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to compare thermotactile perception thresholds for cold (TPT) and warmth (TPT) among vibration exposed manual workers and unexposed white collar workers during a follow-up period of 16 years to elucidate if long-term vibration exposure is related to a change in TPT over time.

Methods: The study group consisted of male workers at a production workshop at which some of them were exposed to HTV.