Low-Dose Occupational Exposure to Nickel and Thyroid Hormones.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a low-dose exposure to nickel, as it is present in urban air, on thyroid hormones and on thyrotropin in outdoor workers exposed to urban pollutants.

Materials And Methods: A total of 164 outdoor workers were studied and divided by sex and smoking habit. Each worker underwent measurement of urinary nickel and of blood triiodothyronine, L-thyroxine, and thyrotropin levels.

Cadmium and lipid balance in outdoor workers exposed to urban stressor.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between levels of blood and urinary cadmium and lipid balance in a group of outdoor workers. The study was conducted on a group of 146 individuals (average age 45,1 ± 8,5). Blood and urinary samples were collected for the detection of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood cadmium and urinary cadmium.

Practical Clinical and Diagnostic Pathway for the Investigation of the Infertile Couple.

Capsule: This expert opinion summarizes current knowledge on risk factors for infertility and identifies a practical clinical and diagnostic approach for the male and female partners of an infertile couple aimed to improve the investigation and management of fertility problems.

Background: Infertility represents an important and growing health problem affecting up to 16% of couples worldwide. In most cases, male, female, or combined factor can be identified, and different causes or risk factors have been related to this condition.

Prevalence of chronic venous pathology in healthcare workers and the role of upright standing.

Background: Chronic venous disease (CVD) affects around 25% of adult population in developed countries and it often represent a health problem for different kind of workers, in particular for who spend much of the working time in upright standing.

Methods: The study was carried out on a population of 173 nonmedical workers of a midsize hospital in Italy (91 nurse, 31 support staff workers and 51 employees). The study protocol was taken from a previous study of our group and included a clinical examination and a questionnaire.

No Correlation between Blood Benzene Levels and Luteinizing Hormone Plasma Values in Outdoor Workers.

Objective: The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether low-dose exposure to benzene, an environmental pollutant to which male and female traffic policemen are daily exposed to could cause alterations in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) levels.

Methods: From an initial sample of 1594 workers, we only selected 95 workers of whom study we knew the values of late-shift benzene and LH hormone. All subjects underwent biological monitoring (final blood benzene evaluation) and luteinizing hormone dosing.

Post Vaccinal Temporary Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

In our systematic research we identified four studies concerning the onset of neurological adverse events following vaccination and two excluding this association. A 33-year-old Italian man, belonging to the Italian Army was hospitalized because he suffered from vertigo, nausea and sudden right hearing loss not classified (NDD), that set in 24 h after the administration of tetanus-diphtheria and meningococcal vaccines. Some neurological events arising after vaccination are very difficult to treat.

Blood pressure in indoor and outdoor workers.

Introduction: The aim of our study is to evaluate the changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in two occupational categories: outdoor workers (traffic policemen and environment technicians) and indoor workers.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted comparing the results obtained from three samples of male workers: 175 outdoor traffic policemen, 175 outdoor environment technicians and 175 indoor workers. The outdoor and indoor groups were made comparable by age, length of service, body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking status.

Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in workers exposed to urban stressors.

The study aimed to compare the distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) with the pure-tone audiometry and to analyze the changes in participants exposed to noise. The results show a prevalence of participants with impaired DPOAEs higher than the prevalence of participants with impaired audiometries in the total sample, in men, and in outdoor workers and a prevalence of impaired DPOAEs and of impaired audiometries in men higher than in women and in outdoor workers higher than in indoor workers. The comparison of mean values between outdoor and indoor workers shows a significant difference only on some frequencies, in the DP-gram.

[Arterial pressure in workers exposed to urban stressors].

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether occupational exposure to urban stressors could cause alterations of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in "outdoor" workers. The research was conducted on a sample of 101 municipal policemen. The sample was divided in 2 groups according to length of service: group A (length of service between 1 and 15 years) and group B (length of service > 15 years).

Overweight and urban pollution: preliminary results.

The aim of this study is to determine whether in workers exposed to urban pollution the risk of developing overweight and obesity is higher in workers exposed to urban pollution compared to a control group. The study was conducted on 150 volunteers, 75 workers exposed to urban pollution (50 women and 25 men) and 75 indoor workers (50 women and 25 men). Once measured the weight and height and calculated body mass index (BMI) for each worker, the research was based on the comparison, between the two groups, of the mean values of the measurements and of the frequency of workers with BMI index higher than the cut-off of normality.

Noise and cardiovascular effects in workers of the sanitary fixtures industry.

Unlabelled: The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether workers in the sanitary fixtures industry are a category at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, and in particular, whether chronic noise exposure may play a role in cardiovascular effects in exposed workers. Seventy-five employees engaged in sanitation fixtures production and a control group of sixty-four office workers, who were not exposed to agents that could damage the cardiovascular system, participated in our study. The selected workers completed a clinical-anamnestic questionnaire, and underwent a medical examination, blood pressure test, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests, and audiometry.

Nickel and blood counts in workers exposed to urban stressors.

Nickel (Ni) and Ni compounds are widely present in the urban air. The purpose of this study is to estimate exposure of individuals to Ni and the correlation between this exposure and the values of blood counts in outdoor workers. This study focused on a sample of 101 outdoor workers (55 male and 46 female; 65 nonsmokers and 36 smokers), all employed in the municipal police in a large Italian city.

[Biological risk among health workers].

Introduction: In health care the contact with body fluids, such as saliva or blood is frequent. The aim of our study was to analyze whether the exposure to biological risks in health care, in particular exposure to HBV and HCV, could cause alterations of some liver parameters.

Materials And Methods: Our study analyzes of 254 health care workers of a big hospital in Rome.

Anesthetic gases and occupationally exposed workers.

The aim of this study is to estimate whether the occupational exposure to low dose anesthetic gases could cause alterations of blood parameters in health care workers. 119 exposed subjects and 184 not exposed controls were included in the study. Each worker underwent the complete blood count test (CBC), proteinaemia, leukocyte count, serum lipids, liver and kidney blood markers.

Can we prevent premature luteinization in IVF cycles?

From 1991 there is a long-lasting discussion on a possible detrimental effect of premature increase of progesterone levels during ovarian stimulation in IVF. A recent meta-analysis of more than 60,000 cycles states that premature progesterone increase reduces pregnancy rates starting from P4 values of 0.8 ng/ml.

Peripheral blood counts in workers exposed to synthetic fibres.

Acrylonitrile is an intermediary with possible adverse health effects in the synthesis of organic products, such as acrylic fibres. This investigation was undertaken to determine the possible changes in the peripheral blood counts in workers of a polyacrylic fibres plant. The study involved 218 workers exposed to acrylonitrile at low doses and a control group of 200 unexposed workers.

Assessment of liver function in two groups of outdoor workers exposed to arsenic.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the exposure to arsenic (As) causes alterations of liver enzymes in two groups of outdoor workers.

Methods: Total urinary As and the levels of AST/GOT, ALT/GPT, and GGT were measured on 80 traffic policemen and 50 police drivers. Personal air samples were obtained for assessing the exposure to As on a subgroup of 20 traffic policemen and 20 police drivers.