Intelligence gain and social cost savings attributable to environmental lead exposure reduction strategies since the year 2000 in Flanders, Belgium.

Background: Recent lead (Pb) exposure reduction strategies enabled to lower children's blood lead levels (B-Pb) worldwide. This study reports the estimated intelligence gain and social cost savings attributable to recent exposure reduction based on reported B-Pb levels observed in adolescents sampled within the framework of the Flemish Environment and Health Studies (FLEHS, Belgium), i.e.

Hepatitis E virus infection: an emerging occupational risk?

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is endemic in many developing countries, causing substantial morbidity. Transmission is primarily faeco-oral and is associated with both sporadic infections and epidemics in areas where poor sanitation and weak public health infrastructures exist. Recently, it has become clear that HEV is also an endemic disease in industrialized countries.

High prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni in six health areas of - Kasansa health zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo: short report.

School-aged children suffer the most from schistosomiasis infection in sub Saharan Africa due to poverty and limited sanitary conditions. Mapping of disease burden is recommended and there is a need of updating prevalence data which is as old as 20 years in the Democratic Republic of Congo. An epidemiological and parasitological study was carried out in 2011 in the health zone of Kasansa.

Hepatitis B vaccination of healthcare workers at the Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana.

Background: Batswana (i.e., the people of Botswana) healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk for occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV), thus the Botswana Ministry of Health recommends that HCWs should receive three doses of hepatitis B (HB) vaccine.

Hepatitis B vaccination policies for student healthcare workers in Europe.

Student healthcare workers represent a particular risk group for hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and should be vaccinated as early as possible after the start of their career. An overview of specific HBV policies in European Union countries was conducted through a cross-sectional survey. Answers were received from 17 countries.

Toxoplasmosis among pregnant women: high seroprevalence and risk factors in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women, as well as the proportion of acutely infected and risk factors in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Methods: Thirty maternities in Kinshasa were randomly selected and women attending antenatal consultation were invited to participate. They were interviewed with a structured questionnaire about known risk factors (age, meat consumption, contact with soil, and presence of cat) and a venous blood sample was taken.

[Collaboration between occupational physicians and other specialists including insurance physicians].

Collaboration between various stakeholders is essential for a well-operating vocational rehabilitation process. Researchers have mentioned, among other players, insurance physicians, the curative sector and employers. In 2011 the WHO organised the congress "Connecting Health and Labour: What role for occupational health in primary care".

Co-exposure to lead increases the renal response to low levels of cadmium in metallurgy workers.

Purpose: Research on the effect of co-exposure to Cd and Pb on the kidney is scarce. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of co-exposure to these metals on biomarkers of early renal effect.

Methods: Cd in blood (Cd-B), Cd in urine (Cd-U), Pb in blood (Pb-B) and urinary renal biomarkers, i.

Predictors of respiratory sickness absence: an international population-based study.

Background: Respiratory tract-related occupational disability is common among adults of working age. We examined occupational vapors, gas, dust, or fume (VGDF) exposure as a predictor of disability, based on respiratory sickness absence among the actively employed, at an early point at which prevention may be most relevant.

Methods: Currently employed European Community Respiratory Health Survey II participants (n = 6,988) were classified into three mutually exclusive, condition/symptom-based categories: physician-diagnosed asthma, self-reported rhinitis, and wheeze/breathlessness (n = 4,772).

Need for a comprehensive, consistently applied national hepatitis B vaccination policy for healthcare workers in higher educational institutions: a case study from South Africa.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted by infected blood and other body fluids, placing healthcare workers (HCWs) and student HCWs at increased risk of HBV infection through occupational exposure.

Aim: To establish the existence, content and implementation of hepatitis B (HB) vaccination policies for student HCWs being trained at higher educational institutions (HEIs) in South Africa.

Methods: Self-administered structured questionnaires were sent to 23 nursing colleges and 11 universities in South Africa that train doctors, nurses or dentists.

Adverse effects of low occupational cadmium exposure on renal and oxidative stress biomarkers in solderers.

Objectives: Recent studies suggest adverse health effects after low exposure to cadmium (Cd). Brazing with Cd-containing solder exposes workers to Cd. The purpose of this study was to assess: (1) indicators of Cd exposure in blood (Cd-B)/ urine (Cd-U); (2) the association between Cd-B, Cd-U and renal and oxidative stress biomarkers.

Work-related health symptoms among compost facility workers: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Industrial composting is a relatively new and expanding activity. Several studies indicate that compost workers are at risk to develop health symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of work-related health symptoms among compost workers compared with control subjects.

Not all mice are equal: welfare implications of behavioural habituation profiles in four 129 mouse substrains.

Safeguarding the welfare of animals is an important aim when defining housing and management standards in animal based, experimental research. While such standards are usually defined per animal species, it is known that considerable differences between laboratory mouse strains exist, for example with regard to their emotional traits. Following earlier experiments, in which we found that 129P3 mice show a lack of habituation of anxiety related behaviour after repeated exposure to an initially novel environment (non-adaptive profile), we here investigated four other 129 inbred mouse substrains (129S2/SvPas, 129S2/SvHsd (exp 1); 129P2 and 129X1 (exp 2)) on habituation of anxiety related behaviour.

Aberrant intestinal stem cell lineage dynamics in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis consistent with protracted clonal evolution in the crypt.

Objective: Genetic predisposition to cancer in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) and the role of germline serine-threonine kinase (LKB1) mutations are poorly understood. The authors studied the effect of germline LKB1 mutations on intestinal stem cell dynamics in unaffected flat PJS mucosa. Recent research has documented that the intestinal crypt houses multiple equipotent stem cell lineages.

[Work related health risks among dentist's assistants in Flanders, Belgium].

The aim of this research project was to learn more about work-related health risks among dental assistants in Flanders, Belgium. Forty-seven dental assistants completed an extensive questionnaire concerning ionized radiation, protection against infection and exposure to chemicals such as mercury, disinfectants and acrylates. Collective and personal means of protection, musculoskeletal disorders and work-related stress were also evaluated.

Air exposure assessment of TDI and biological monitoring of TDA in urine in workers in polyurethane foam industry.

Objectives: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is used in the manufacturing process of polyurethane (PU) foams and is a potent inducer of occupational asthma. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the exposure to total TDI (2,4- and 2,6-TDI) in air and the corresponding biomarker concentration of total TDA (2,4- and 2,6-TDA) in hydrolysed urine. The aim was also to propose an appropriate biological exposure limit for total TDA in urine.

Hepatitis B vaccination coverage in healthcare workers in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

Hepatitis B (HB) virus (HBV) is highly endemic and HBV infection is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Percutaneous/parenteral transmission is an important mode of spread of HBV in the healthcare setting, thus healthcare workers (HCWs) and their patients are at risk for acquiring HBV infections. This study was conducted on three HCW populations in Gauteng Province during 2009, in order to (1) determine HB vaccination coverage of HCWs, and (2) investigate demographic predictors of vaccination uptake.

Do inter-hospital comparisons of in-hospital, acute myocardial infarction case-fatality rates serve the purpose of fostering quality improvement? An evaluative study.

Background: In-hospital case-fatality rates in patients, admitted for acute myocardial infarction (AMI-CFRs), are internationally used as a quality indicator. Attempting to encourage the hospitals to assume responsibility, the Belgian Ministry of Health decided to stimulate initiatives of quality improvement by means of a limited set of indicators, among which AMI-CFR, to be routinely analyzed. In this study we aimed, by determining the existence of inter-hospital differences in AMI-CFR, (1) to evaluate to which extent Belgian discharge records allow the assessment of quality of care in the field of AMI, and (2) to identify starting points for quality improvement.

Workers' perception of chemical risks: a focus group study.

Workers' perceptions with respect to health and safety at work are rarely taken into account when considering the development of prevention programs. The aim of this study was to explore workers' perceptions of chemical risks at the workplace, in order to investigate the prerequisites for a workplace health program. A qualitative study was conducted involving seven focus groups of 5-10 participants (blue-collar workers) each.

European survey of hepatitis B vaccination policies for healthcare workers.

Background: The risk of transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) to healthcare workers (HCWs) is well known. Under current European Union (EU) legislation, all employers should perform a risk assessment to identify those exposed to HBV and offer vaccination. Immunization should happen early after the start of their career to avoid infection and development of carrier status.

Comparative immunogenicity of two vaccination schedules of a combined hepatitis A and B vaccine in healthy volunteers.

In 1996, a combined vaccine against both hepatitis A and B was licensed and commercialized and has been recommended for healthcare personnel in Belgium. This study compares the immunogenicity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and safety of two vaccination schedules (0-1-12 months and 0-1-6 months) with this vaccine. This is a randomized, stratified and controlled study in healthy adult workers, who are not occupationally exposed to HBV.

Analysis of surgical errors in malpractice claims in Belgium.

The relative importance of the different factors that cause surgical error is unknown. Malpractice claim file analysis may help to identify leading causes of surgical errors and identify opportunities for prevention. We retrospectively reviewed 427 surgical malpractice claims from 3202 malpractice liability cases in which patients alleged error between 1996 and 2006.

Healthy hire effect, job selection and inhalation exposure among young adults with asthma.

The aim of the present study was to assess whether asthma onset prior to entering the workforce influences whether a person holds a subsequent job with asthma-related inhalation exposures. The data of 19,784 adults from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey were analysed. For each respondent, a current or previously held job was linked to a job exposure matrix assigning high, low or no exposure to dust, gases or fumes.

Work-related Helicobacter pylori infection among sewage workers in municipal wastewater treatment plants in Belgium.

Introduction: Most studies among sewage workers of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have found a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms than among non-sewage exposed workers. Waterborne transmission of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) has been hypothesised, as the bacteria can survive into an aqueous environment and has been detected in sewage. A health and hygiene questionnaire has demonstrated a higher prevalence of peptic ulcers among Belgian WWTP operators and maintenance workers than among non-sewage exposed colleagues.

Domestic use of hypochlorite bleach, atopic sensitization, and respiratory symptoms in adults.

Background: Professional use of hypochlorite (bleach) has been associated with respiratory symptoms. Bleach is capable of inactivating allergens, and there are indications that its domestic use may reduce the risk of allergies in children.

Objective: To study the associations between household use of bleach and atopic sensitization, allergic diseases, and respiratory health status in adults.