Prevention of Occupational Diseases in Turkey: Deriving Lessons From Journey of Surveillance.

Introduction: To prevent and manage the societal and economic burden of occupational diseases (ODs), countries should develop strong prevention policies, health surveillance and registry systems. This study aims to contribute to the improvement of OD surveillance at national level as well as to identify priority actions in Turkey.

Methods: The history and current status of occupational health studies were considered from the perspective of OD surveillance.

Development and Evaluation of a Training Program on Occupational Health Research and Surveillance in Turkey.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to increase knowledge and skills regarding occupational health surveillance and research in professionals.

Methods: Following the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation model, several training modules have been designed and implemented in the course of 2016. Evaluation forms were distributed to 42 participants before the start and after each training module to measure changes in knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy.

Education and Training: Key Factors in Global Occupational and Environmental Health.

Introduction: Education and training in Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) play an important role in building global capacity and contribute to safer working conditions. The shortage of occupational health professionals, the lack of knowledge and a high number of occupational accidents and diseases stress the demand for providing further education and training in OEH. This need is especially urgent in low and middle-income countries.

The Mersin Greenhouse Workers Study. Surveillance of Work-related Skin, Respiratory, and Musculoskeletal Diseases.

Background: Skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases in greenhouse workers are frequently observed due to exposure to plant products and pesticides in enclosed conditions and ergonomic risks. Current studies on occupational health risks of greenhouse workers in Turkey are insufficient.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess work-related skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases in greenhouse workers in the Erdemli province, Mersin, an area with a workforce predominantly active as greenhouse workers.

Chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy: course and prognostic factors of neuropsychological functioning.

Purpose: Working in conditions with daily exposure to organic solvents for many years can result in a disease known as chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE). The aims for this study were to describe the neuropsychological course of CSE after first diagnosis and to detect prognostic factors for neuropsychological impairment after diagnosis.

Methods: This prospective study follows a Dutch cohort of CSE patients who were first diagnosed between 2001 and 2011 and underwent a second neuropsychological assessment 1.

[Brain damage caused by exposure to organic solvents; diagnostics and disease course of chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy].

Since 1997 more than 3,000 patients have been referred to one of the two Dutch Solvent Teams with health problems that may have been caused by long-term occupational exposure to organic solvents. A diagnosis of 'chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy' was made in approximately 500 patients. The diagnostics of this disease is based on five elements: (a) symptoms in line with the diagnosis; (b) relevant exposure to an organic solvent with neurotoxic effects; (c) a clear temporal relationship between the onset of symptoms and exposure to a solvent with neurotoxic effects; (d) exclusion of other causes for the symptoms; and (e) impairment on neuropsychological assessment.

The Coping with Attention and Memory Complaints Questionnaire (CAMQ): psychometric evaluation of an instrument in suspected chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE).

Long-term occupational exposure to organic solvents may induce chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE), leading to neuropsychological impairments. We developed the Coping with Attention and Memory Complaints Questionnaire (CAMQ), an instrument for the assessment of coping strategies in patients suspected of CSE with neuropsychological complaints. Items for the CAMQ were based on existing coping dimensions and constructed by experts.

Decision rules for assessment of chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy: Results in 2370 patients.

For the diagnosis of patients suspected of chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE), it would be helpful if the applied cognitive tests show a characteristic profile of impairment in this disease. We investigated the existence of such a profile. In 1997-2006 two expert teams in The Netherlands systematically examined 2370 patients referred for evaluation of suspected CSE.

A screening programme on chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy among Dutch painters.

Background: Long-term exposure to organic solvents may lead to chronic solvent induced encephalopathy (CSE) in painters. In combination with reduction of exposure, a workers' health surveillance programme was developed, resulting in a three-stage CSE screening procedure for early neurobehavioural changes possibly predicting chronic health effects. The screening consists of a questionnaire (Neurosymptom Screening Checklist 60, NSC-60), computerised neurobehavioural functioning testing (Neurobehavioural Evaluation System; NES2) and multidisciplinary differential diagnostic evaluation by experts (called 'Solvent Team').

Chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy: European consensus of neuropsychological characteristics, assessment, and guidelines for diagnostics.

Introduction: The presence of neuropsychological impairment is a hallmark of chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE), and using clinical neuropsychological procedures to generate a valid assessment of the condition is crucial for its diagnosis. The goals of this consensus document are to provide updated knowledge of the neuropsychological characteristics of CSE and to provide internationally acceptable guidelines for using neuropsychological assessments in the process of diagnosing patients who are suspected of having CSE.

Materials And Methods: A European working group that was composed of experts in the field of the clinical diagnosis of CSE met at several round-table meetings and prepared this report.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with chronic solvent induced encephalopathy (CSE).

Introduction: Long term occupational exposure to organic solvents may induce chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE), characterized by mild to severe cognitive impairment, generally seen as the key diagnostic feature. Psychiatric disorders are often diagnosed in subjects with CSE, but were never studied in more detail. This study was designed to establish the prevalence rates of DSM IV mood, anxiety, and alcohol and substance related disorders in patients with CSE.

NanoLINEN: nanotoxicology link between India and European Nations.

Nanotoxicology link between India and European Nations (NanoLINEN) is a consortium of 7 European laboratories and Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR Laboratory) from India to strengthen the research ties in the area of Nanomaterial Toxicology. The goal of this project is to develop robust risk assessment methodologies that will be useful for the community manufacturing and using nano-products.

Tracing new occupational diseases in nano-workers.

Identifying new risks due to new technologies like nanotechnology is a process that involves many uncertainties in which a balance must be found between a dynamic and a careful approach. The challenge is to prevent any occupational damage to health without creating unnecessary concern.

The course of chronic solvent induced encephalopathy: a systematic review.

Background: Worldwide millions of workers are exposed to organic solvents. Long term exposure leads in some workers to the development of Chronic Solvent induced Encephalopathy (CSE). The first reports about CSE came from the European Nordic countries in the 1970s.

Cerebral impairment in chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy.

Objective: Worldwide, many workers experience occupational exposure to organic solvents, which may induce chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE). Disturbances within the frontostriatothalamic (FST) circuitry might explain the symptomatology of CSE. We tested the hypothesis of FST circuitry abnormalities in CSE, as well as associations with performance of psychomotor speed, attention, and solvent exposure.