[Evidence Based Occupational Medicine: ten year experience with audiometric examination in a handicraft company].

This work describes the audiometry threshold assessment of 1000 workers employed in different artisan categories during a period of ten-year noise professional exposure. The hearing loss noise-induced rates were determined by analysing audiometric tests at the beginning of our period of study and after 5 and 10 years of noise exposure. Environmental noise exposures were on average 88 dB(A), but near 90 dB(A) in some work categories.

Multivariate analysis of nystatin and metronidazole in a semi-solid matrix by means of diffuse reflectance NIR spectroscopy and PLS regression.

A multivariate method of analysis of nystatin and metronidazole in a semi-solid matrix, based on diffuse reflectance NIR measurements and partial least squares regression, is reported. The product, a vaginal cream used in the antifungal and antibacterial treatment, is usually, quantitatively analyzed through microbiological tests (nystatin) and HPLC technique (metronidazole), according to pharmacopeial procedures. However, near infrared spectroscopy has demonstrated to be a valuable tool for content determination, given the rapidity and scope of the method.

Evidence of the rapid protective effect of formoterol dry-powder inhalation against exercise-induced bronchospasm in athletes with asthma.

Background: Although formoterol, a new long-acting beta(2)-adrenergic agonist, has a rapid bronchodilating action, no studies have previously examined whether it can provide equally rapid protection against exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB).

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of inhaled formoterol against EIB 15 min and 4 h after administration in asthmatic athletes.

Methods: The protective effect of a formoterol (12 microg) dry-powder inhalation was evaluated in 14 EIB-positive asthmatic athletes (13 males, mean age 16.