Visual Acuity and Self-Reported Visual Function among Migrant Farmworkers.

Purpose: Visual impairment presents significant risks for occupational injuries among farmworkers, a vulnerable population with limited access to vision care. Although previous research has noted farmworkers' low lifetime experience with vision screening and high rates of complaints of eye ailments and poor vision, there have been few screening data collected to evaluate these self-reports. The objectives of this analysis are to (1) describe farmworker visual health using standardized visual acuity screening data and self-reported visual function, and (2) to compare the screening and self-report data.

Comparison of Estimations Versus Measured Oxygen Consumption at Rest in Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction Who Underwent Right-Sided Heart Catheterization.

Cardiac output during right-sided heart catheterization is an important variable for patient selection of advanced therapies (cardiac transplantation and left ventricular assist device implantation). The Fick method to determine cardiac output is commonly used and typically uses estimated oxygen consumption (VO2) from 1 of 3 published empirical formulas. However, these estimation equations have not been validated in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Does providing nutrition information at vending machines reduce calories per item sold?

In 2010, the United States (US) enacted a restaurant menu labeling law. The law also applied to vending machine companies selling food. Research suggested that providing nutrition information on menus in restaurants might reduce the number of calories purchased.

Factors related to the number of fast food meals obtained by college meal plan students.

Objectives: This study tested whether days on campus, financial access through a meal plan, and health consciousness were associated with number of meals that college students obtained from fast food restaurants.

Participants And Methods: In April 2013, all students currently enrolled in a meal plan were invited to participate in an online survey (N = 1,246). Students were asked to report the total number of meals eaten in the past week and where they obtained them.

Airway obstruction among Latino poultry processing workers in North Carolina.

This analysis was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of airway obstruction among Latino poultry processing workers. Data were collected from 279 poultry processing workers and 222 other manual laborers via spirometry and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Participants employed in poultry processing reported the activities they perform at work.

Prevalence of bifid median nerves and persistent median arteries and their association with carpal tunnel syndrome in a sample of Latino poultry processors and other manual workers.

Introduction: The prevalence of bifid median nerves and persistent median arteries, their co-occurrence, and their relationship to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are only understood partially.

Methods: We screened 1026 wrists of 513 Latino manual laborers in North Carolina for bifid median nerves and persistent median arteries using electrodiagnosis and ultrasound.

Results: A total of 8.

One-year incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in Latino poultry processing workers and other Latino manual workers.

Objective: To determine the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) over 1 year in Latino poultry processing workers.

Methods: Symptoms and nerve conduction studies were used to identify Latino poultry processing workers (106 wrists) and Latinos in other manual labor occupations (257 wrists) that did not have CTS at baseline, and these individuals were then evaluated in the same manner 1 year later.

Results: Based on wrists, the 1-year incidence of CTS was higher in poultry processing workers than non-poultry manual workers (19.

Predictors of uncontrolled hypertension in the Stroke Belt.

Inadequate control of high systolic blood pressure in older adults has been largely attributable to poor control of overall hypertension (HTN). The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) guidelines emphasize the importance of controlling isolated systolic HTN in older adults. The study examined demographics, self-reported health information, and clinical measures as predictors of uncontrolled HTN among individuals taking antihypertensive medications.

Predictors of congruency between self-reported hypertension status and measured blood pressure in the stroke belt.

Background: Few studies have comprehensively investigated the validity of self-reported hypertension (HTN) and assessed predictors of HTN status in the stroke belt. This study evaluates validity self-reporting as a tool to screen large study populations and determine predictors of congruency between self-reported HTN and clinical measures.

Methods: Community Initiative to Eliminate Stroke project (n = 16,598) was conducted in two counties of North Carolina in 2004 to 2007, which included collection of self-reported data and clinical data of stroke-related risk factors.

Ultrasound for carpal tunnel syndrome screening in manual laborers.

Introduction: Manual laborers are at increased risk for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and a combination of history, physical examination, and nerve conduction studies is often used to screen for CTS in this population. Neuromuscular ultrasound may be a better screening tool, because it is painless. In this study we compare the accuracy of nerve conduction studies and ultrasound for CTS screening.

Dermatologist-diagnosed skin diseases among immigrant Latino poultry processors and other manual workers in North Carolina, USA.

Background: Immigrant Latino workers represent an expanding workforce in rural areas of the USA, where their employment is concentrated in occupations such as poultry processing that entail chemical, infectious, and mechanical skin exposures. Occupation-related skin illnesses in this vulnerable population are not well characterized.

Objectives: This study was designed to describe the prevalences of skin diseases among immigrant Latino poultry processors and other manual workers in North Carolina.

Prevalence of epicondylitis, rotator cuff syndrome, and low back pain in Latino poultry workers and manual laborers.

Background: The goal of this study is to improve understanding of immigrant Latino manual workers' occupational health, focusing on upper body musculoskeletal injury.

Methods: Physical exams were conducted with a representative sample of 516 Latino poultry workers and manual laborers in western North Carolina; outcome measures were prevalence of epicondylitis, rotator cuff syndrome, and low back pain.

Results: Low back pain (n = 89; 17.

Upper body musculoskeletal symptoms of Latino poultry processing workers and a comparison group of Latino manual workers.

Background: Upper body musculoskeletal injuries are often attributed to rapid work pace and repetitive motions. These job features are common in poultry processing, an industry that relies on Latino immigrants. Few studies document the symptom burden of immigrant Latinos employed in poultry processing or other manual jobs.

Work organization and musculoskeletal health: clinical findings from immigrant Latino poultry processing and other manual workers.

Objective: To determine the potential role of differential exposure to work organization hazards in musculoskeletal disorders among immigrant Latino workers.

Method: Self-reported work organization data were obtained from immigrant Latino workers in poultry processing and nonpoultry, manual occupations (N = 742). Clinical evaluations for epicondylitis, rotator cuff syndrome, and back pain were obtained from a subsample (n = 518).

The prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in Latino poultry-processing workers and other Latino manual workers.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in Latino poultry-processing workers.

Methods: Symptoms and nerve conduction studies were used to prospectively assess 287 Latino poultry-processing workers and 226 Latinos in other manual-labor occupations.

Results: The prevalence of CTS was higher in poultry-processing (8.

Poultry processing work and respiratory health of Latino men and women in North Carolina.

Objective: To evaluate associations between poultry processing work and respiratory health among working Latino men and women in North Carolina.

Methods: Between May 2009 and November 2010, 402 poultry processing workers and 339 workers in a comparison population completed interviewer-administered questionnaires. Of these participants, 279 poultry processing workers and 222 workers in the comparison population also completed spirometry testing to provide measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity.

Occupational eye injuries experienced by migrant farmworkers.

Migrant farmworkers in North Carolina (n = 300) reported eye injuries, circumstances of injuries, and outcomes during lifetime U.S. agriculture work.

Eye health and safety among Latino farmworkers.

Farmworkers face a variety of risk factors for eye injuries. Measures of eye protection use and of eye safety knowledge and beliefs are based on a survey of 300 Latino farmworkers in North Carolina. Few farmworkers report using eye protection (8.

Lower body stiffness and muscle activity differences between female dancers and basketball players during drop jumps.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries often occur during landing, with female athletes at higher injury risk than male athletes. Interestingly, female dancers have lower ACL injury rates than do female athletes in general.

Hypothesis: Female dancers will have earlier and greater lower extremity muscle activity and higher sagittal knee joint and leg stiffness than will female basketball players.

Ethnic and racial differences of baseline stroke knowledge in a "stroke belt" community.

Acute stroke is often a treatable condition; however, intervention is time dependent and typically should ensue within 3 hr from onset of symptoms. The ability of individuals to understand stroke risk factors to reduce individual risk and to recognize warning signs and symptoms of stroke as signals to initiate medical care is paramount to decreasing stroke-related morbidity and mortality. This descriptive study presents ethnic and racial differences of baseline stroke knowledge among residents (n = 1,904) of two North Carolina counties situated in the Stroke Belt.

Teledermatology consultations provide specialty care for farmworkers in rural clinics.

Context: Rural patients have limited access to dermatologic care. Farmworkers have high rates of skin disease and limited access to care.

Purpose: This exploratory study assessed whether teledermatology consultations could help meet the needs of health care providers for farmworkers in rural clinics.

Health care utilization among migrant Latino farmworkers: the case of skin disease.

Context: Skin diseases are common occupational illnesses for migrant farmworkers. Farmworkers face many barriers in accessing health care resources.

Purpose: Framed by the Health Behavior Model, the purpose of this study was to assess health care utilization for skin disease by migrant Latino farmworkers.

The prevalence of melasma and its association with quality of life in adult male Latino migrant workers.

Background: Melasma is a common condition of Latino women that detracts from their quality of life (QOL). The prevalence and impact of melasma in Latino men is not well characterized.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of melasma and its association with QOL in Latino men from Mexico and Central America working in the USA.

Common skin disorders seen in the migrant farmworker health care clinic setting.

Background: Skin diseases are common occupational illnesses for farmworkers. Migrant farmworkers commonly access rural health clinics for diagnosis and treatment of skin disease.

Purpose: To assess common skin conditions of migrant farmworkers treated in rural clinics and to describe effective and economic management of these conditions.

Vision problems, eye care history, and ocular protection among migrant farmworkers.

In this article, the authors describe the self-reported eye conditions, eyecare history, and eye safety practices of migrant farmworkers in eastern North Carolina. The authors administered interviews to 79 farmworkers recruited at migrant clinics. Data collected included eye-related complaints and diagnoses, self-assessed visual acuity, eye symptoms, use of protective gear during work, and attitudes toward eye protection gear.