Gender and Nightshift Work: A Cross Sectional Study on Sleep Quality and Daytime Somnolence.

A few studies suggested that female nightshift workers suffer more frequently from sleep deprivation and insomnia. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in two different occupational settings to address gender-related differences in nightshift work adaptation. We used the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaires to quantify daytime sleepiness and sleep quality among 156 workers, 91 from a ceramic tile factory and 65 healthcare workers, including hospital doctors, nurses, and nurse assistants.

Reconstructing historical exposure to asbestos: the validation of 'educated guesses'.

Background: In both the epidemiological and legal context, the causal attribution of asbestos-related lung diseases requires retrospective exposure assessment (REA).

Aims: To assess the correlation between the retrospective assessment of occupational and anthropogenic environmental exposure to asbestos and its content in the lung tissue.

Methods: Based on the available exposure information, a team of occupational physicians retrospectively assessed cumulative exposure to asbestos in 24 subjects who died of asbestos-related diseases.

Shift rotation scheme, sleepiness and sleep quality in night-shift workers.

Background: Shift rotation schemes can influence workers' tolerance of night-shift work and its impact on health.

Aims: This study was aimed to assess the influence of shift work rotation schemes on sleepiness and sleep quality.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 145 male workers, 77 from a ceramic tile factory on a fixed, forward-rotating shift work scheme, and 68 from a dockyard company, working on-call night shifts.

Return to Work of Breast Cancer Survivors: Perspectives and Challenges for Occupational Physicians.

Breast cancer is one of the most common diseases worldwide, mainly affecting the female gender. Considering the increase of breast cancer incidence and the decrease of mortality due to news diagnostic and therapeutic tools, the return to work issue after treatment is going to be very common in the next years. Occupational physicians therefore need to face the return to work and the fitness for work of workers previously diagnosed with breast cancer with a sufficient cultural and technical background.