Determinants of Anti-S Immune Response at 12 Months after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in a Multicentric European Cohort of Healthcare Workers-ORCHESTRA Project.

Background: The effectiveness of the immunity provided by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is an important public health issue. We analyzed the determinants of 12-month serology in a multicenter European cohort of vaccinated healthcare workers (HCW).

Methods: We analyzed the sociodemographic characteristics and levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies (IgG) in a cohort of 16,101 vaccinated HCW from eleven centers in Germany, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Spain.

Multimorbidity and Serological Response to SARS-CoV-2 Nine Months after 1st Vaccine Dose: European Cohort of Healthcare Workers-Orchestra Project.

Understanding antibody persistence concerning multimorbidity is crucial for vaccination policies. Our goal is to assess the link between multimorbidity and serological response to SARS-CoV-2 nine months post-first vaccine. We analyzed Healthcare Workers (HCWs) from three cohorts from Italy, and one each from Germany, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain.

Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection before Vaccination among European Health Care Workers.

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) were on the frontline of the current pandemic. We aimed at identifying determinants of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the effectiveness of personal protection equipment (PPE) worn by HCWs before vaccination.

Methods: We abstracted data on SARS-CoV-2 infection based on positive PCR results and sociodemographic characteristics of 38,793 HCWs from public hospitals and public health authorities from 10 European centers.

Biomonitoring Exposure and Early Diagnosis in Silicosis: A Comprehensive Review of the Current Literature.

Silicosis is a particular form of lung fibrosis attributable to occupational exposure to crystalline silica. The occupational exposure to crystalline silica also increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer and lung infections, especially pulmonary tuberculosis. Silicosis is currently diagnosed in previously exposed workers by standard chest X-ray, when lesions are visible and irreversible.

Exhaustion in Healthcare Workers after the First Three Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aims to identify the determinants of exhaustion of frontline and second-line healthcare workers (HCW) during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A case−control study was conducted based on an anonymously distributed questionnaire, which was completed by 1872 HCW. Exhaustion was assessed with a validated Romanian questionnaire.

Coronasomnia in Employees without a Direct Contact with COVID-19 Infected Patients in Their Workplace.

Background: The aim of this analysis was to explore coronasomnia in second line workers.

Methods: Data were collected via in an online questionnaire. Patients with new onset or aggravation of insomnia were defined as cases and those without insomnia as controls.

Smoking Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Arguments for a Distinctive Phenotype and a Personalized Intervention.

Background: This is the first study that aims to define smoking, with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as a phenotype (SOSA). Moreover, we wanted to demonstrate the deleterious effects of the continuation of smoking on OSA.

Methods: The cross-sectional study highlighted four dimensions of SOSA: the demographic and anthropometric features, the symptoms, the comorbidities, and the sleep study parameters.

Challenges in Diagnosing Occupational Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (oCOPD) represents 15-20% of the global burden of this disease. Even if industrial bronchitis has long been known, new occupational hazards continue to emerge and enlarge the number of people exposed to risk. This review discusses the challenges related to the early detection of oCOPD, in the context of new exposures and of limited usage of methods for an efficient disease occupational screening.

Adiponectin and Asthma: Knowns, Unknowns and Controversies.

Adiponectin is an adipokine associated with the healthy obese phenotype. Adiponectin increases insulin sensitivity and has cardio and vascular protection actions. Studies related to adiponectin, a modulator of the innate and acquired immunity response, have suggested a role of this molecule in asthma.

Modified Plasma Cytokine Profile in Occupational Dermatitis.

Background: Despite significant progress in the diagnosis of contact dermatitis, the identification by specific tests or biomarkers remains an unsolved issue, particularly when needed for the confirmation of the occupational origin of the disease.

Objective: To characterize the plasma proteome profile in occupational dermatitis in workers of paint industry.

Methods: The study has a case-control design, comparing exposed workers with and without occupational contact dermatitis, matched for age, gender, occupational history, and comorbidities.

Vitamin D Intake and Obesity in Occupational Asthma Patients and the Need for Supplementation.

Background: Occupational asthma occurs in a significant number of adult unset forms of asthma. Even after exposure cessation, persistent asthma is frequent. Although recognized as important, nutrition, specifically vitamin D intake, was rarely evaluated in occupational asthma.

Occupational exposure to urinary bladder carcinogens - risk factors, molecular mechanisms and biomarkers.

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most frequent forms of cancer, particularly in Caucasian population. Many environmental factors are recognized as carcinogenic in humans for this form of neoplasia and some of them are related to occupation. In order to illustrate these effects, we have selected several relevant cases with smoking and occupational exposure to carcinogens and their histopathological findings.

Distinction between mesothelioma and lung adenocarcinoma based on immunohistochemistry in a patient with asbestos bodies in bronchoalveolar fluid - case report.

Asbestos is a mineral-mined form the rocks, consisting in amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos) and÷or chrysotile (white asbestos) used in many industries. Researches about the exposure to asbestos dust and asbestosis related diseases started almost a century ago. The first case report of fatal asbestosis disease was published in 1906, in England, by Dr.

Smoking and work overload level.

Smoking is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and Romania makes no exception. On the other hand, work overload has become the second cause of illness among employees in Europe, being a major factor which favors multiple addictions, including smoking. This study is part of a broader investigation that aims to analyze from several perspectives the link between socio-professional factors and smoking.

Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and metabolic syndrome in a patient with chronic extrinsic allergic alveolitis.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a health issue of major importance globally. Although OSAS has a prevalence of 4-10% in the general population, it is less diagnosed, with redoubtable consequences on the quality of life and the professional performance. Observational studies showed that lack of sleep is correlated with weight gain and an increased risk of obesity; this relationship was confirmed by mutually reinforcing pathophysiological mechanisms.

Interrelationship Between Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Vitamin D Deficit and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Several similarities have reported between patients suboptimal level of vitamin D and patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): both conditions are more prevalent after the 6th decade and are associated with impaired defense mechanisms, with skeletal muscles dysfunction and with an early ageing process. We have reviewed the literature concerning the interrelationship between the main pathophysiological processes of both conditions, in order to emphasize the influence of vitamin D deficit on COPD development and evolution. Epidemiological, clinical and experimental data supporting this association are presented.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in a Railroad Controller Worker.

Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) constitutes a healthcare issue of major importance at international level with a prevalence of 5% in the active population. Consequentially to the induced co-morbidities, the mortality reaches as high as 39% at eight years time lapse from the initial diagnostic. Seldom undiagnosed, the severity spectrum of SAS, in the absence of therapy, only continues to amplify.

Role of comorbidities in caring for chronicly ill elderly patients with and without dementia.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study is to highlight the presence of co-morbidities and their role in caring for chronicly ill patients with and without dementia.

Patients And Methods: The study was performed on a group of 213 chronic patients. We used CIRS-G (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale in Geriatric Population) and IADL (Instrumental Activity Daily Living) scales.

[Diagnosis and management of occupational asthma in the American College of Chest Physicians statement].

Occupational asthma is one of the most common work-related respiratory conditions and causes considerable morbidity and impairment of quality of life. In the general population, the occupations that contribute to asthma are concentrated in the construction industry, metal, plastic and rubber work, printing and industrial cleaning. The magnitude of the attributable risk of occupational asthma is estimate between 4 to 58% among all cases of asthma.

[Information group--a solution to increase the efficacy of specialized intervention for smoking cessation].

Since 2007, in Romania, the Ministry of Health implements the national programme for tobacco control which contains also a sub-programme for sustaining smoking cessation through free treatment and counselling. Because the specialised intervention lasts too long (often more than 60 minutes) and the requests for support increased with a high rate, we had to identify methods to increase the efficacity of the intervention and, thus, the efficiency. According to this new situation, since January 2008, all the smokers asking for support to the Center for Smoking Cessation from the National Institute of Pneumology "Marius Nasta" had to participate to an "information group" prior to visit to the doctor or/and psychologist for specialized help.

Farmer's lung.

Farmer's lung is a well known occupational disease, described many years ago; the incidence in our country is still very low. That is the reason why we find interesting to make a review of the main diagnostic procedures and to present the new data in this form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Other farmers' occupational induced respiratory diseases are also presented, with their similitudes and their differences from the classical farmer's lung.

Systemic dermatitis and obstructive respiratory syndrome following occupational sensitization to trichloroethylene.

We present a derma-respiratory syndrome in a patient occupationally exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE). At the beginning of its industrial use trichloroethylene was considered harmless. But, in time it showed a high noxious capacity.