Atopic dermatitis in adults: a population-based study in Finland.

Background: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has increased, but studies in adult or elderly populations are sparse.

Methods: We investigated 12-month and lifetime prevalences of AD in the Finnish adult population ≥30 years of age and analyzed living environment factors, socioeconomic factors, lifestyle-related factors, and serum vitamin D levels for their associations with AD in a national health examination survey.

Results: The lifetime prevalence was 21.

Cross-Cultural Validation of the Quality of Life in Hand Eczema Questionnaire (QOLHEQ).

The Quality of Life in Hand Eczema Questionnaire (QOLHEQ) is the only instrument assessing disease-specific health-related quality of life in patients with hand eczema. It is available in eight language versions. In this study we assessed if the items of different language versions of the QOLHEQ yield comparable values across countries.

Cumulative trauma disorders among California veterinarians.

Background: The prevalence of cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) in veterinarians has not been adequately studied.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 2,000 California veterinarians in 1997; the return rate was 73% (n = 1,415).

Results: Ninety-six percent (1,353) of the respondents were professionally active and were included in the analyses.

Long-term follow-up study of occupational hand eczema.

Background: Long-term follow-up studies on the prognosis and consequences of occupational hand eczema (OHE) and the prognostic risk factors for persistent OHE are sparse.

Objectives: To determine the medical and occupational outcome after a follow-up of 7-14 years in 605 patients diagnosed with OHE and to identify the prognostic risk factors for the continuation of hand eczema.

Methods: Patients examined at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in 1994-2001 completed a follow-up questionnaire 7-14 years after diagnosis.

Sensitization to dimethyl fumarate with multiple concurrent patch test reactions.

Background: Chairs and sofas imported from China to Europe were shown to contain dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a sensitizing, volatile chemical. Many of the sensitized patients also had positive patch test reactions to acrylates.

Objectives: To analyse the occurrence and strength of DMF sensitization and the appearance of concomitant reactions.

A 6-month follow-up study of 1048 patients diagnosed with an occupational skin disease.

Background: Occupational skin diseases (OSDs) often have considerable medical and occupational consequences. Previous data on prognostic factors have been derived from studies with fairly small sample sizes.

Objectives: To determine the medical and occupational outcome in 1048 patients diagnosed with OSD at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and to identify the prognostic risk factors for the continuation of OSD.

An epidemic of furniture-related dermatitis: searching for a cause.

Background Sitting in new chairs or sofas has elicited dermatitis in numerous patients in Finland and in the U.K. since autumn 2006.

An outbreak of furniture related dermatitis ('sofa dermatitis') in Finland and the UK: history and clinical cases.

In February 2007, an epidemic of severe dermatitis from Chinese recliner chairs and sofas started to unfold first in Finland and a few months later in the UK. Some patients reacted in patch tests (PTs) strongly to the material of their furniture, either leather or fabric. There have been hundreds of reports of chair or sofa dermatitis from Finland and the UK, with all cases linked to the same furniture factory in China.

Self-reported skin symptoms in metal workers.

Machinists and machine maintenance men working in the metal industry use metal-working fluids capable of causing irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. The objectives of this study were to find out the frequency of skin symptoms in machinists and machine maintenance men (metal workers) and to compare the risk of their skin symptoms to that in office workers (controls). A total of 726 male metal workers and 84 controls answered a structured telephone questionnaire enquiring about work, atopy, skin symptoms, their impact on life, etc.

Occupational protein contact dermatitis from shiitake mushroom and demonstration of shiitake-specific immunoglobulin E.

Shiitake are popular edible mushrooms all over the world, and eating raw shiitake may lead to relatively common 'shiitake dermatitis' or toxicodermia. Workers involved in shiitake cultivation and marketing have distinct occupational respiratory and skin diseases unrelated to 'shiitake dermatitis'. There are no previous reports of protein contact dermatitis (PCD) from shiitake, and there is only 1 report of shiitake-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E.

Chemical exposure and symptoms of hand dermatitis in construction painters.

Studies on the prevalence of hand dermatitis in construction painting are rare. Our aim was to study the painters' chemical exposure and the prevalence of self-reported skin symptoms on hands and forearms. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 1000 Finnish male construction painters and 1000 carpenters (response rates 60.

Self-reported dermatitis and skin cancer in California farm operators.

Background: High rates of skin diseases and higher non-melanoma skin cancer rates have been reported in farmers.

Methods: Self-report of dermatitis and skin cancer was among the information collected from 1947 California farm operators, mostly men, in a telephone survey. The majority of the farmers cultivated fruits, nuts, or other field crops.

Occupational skin diseases among dental nurses.

Out of 923 female dental nurses in the Helsinki district, 799 were interviewed using a computer-assisted telephone interview. A structured questionnaire was used to inquire about skin, respiratory symptoms, atopy, work history and methods, and exposure at work. The 328 nurses, who reported work-related dermatitis on their hands, forearms or face, were invited to an interview by an occupational physician; 245 nurses participated.

Frequency of allergic rhinitis to laboratory animals in university employees as confirmed by chamber challenges.

Background: Occupational risk for laboratory animal allergy (LAA) is well known, but prevention is often insufficient and new cases keep appearing.

Methods: A questionnaire on work-related symptoms was sent to all laboratory animal workers in Kuopio University. Subjects with rhinitis were invited to an examination for LAA, which consisted of an otorhinolaryngological examination and skin prick testing (SPT) with 16 common environmental allergens and two to five relevant laboratory animals.

Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-2002): a new tool for surveying occupational skin diseases and exposure.

Occupational skin diseases are among the most frequent work-related diseases in industrialized countries. Good occupational skin disease statistics exist in few countries. Questionnaire studies are needed to get more data on the epidemiology of occupational skin diseases.

Atopic symptoms among California veterinarians.

Background: The prevalence of allergic symptoms among veterinarians has not been studied adequately.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 2,000 California veterinarians; the return rate was 73% (N=1416).

Results: A history of either asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), or atopic dermatitis (AD) was reported by 66% of respondents.

Evaluation of exposure to airborne bacterial endotoxins and peptidoglycans in selected work environments.

The aim of this study was to assess workers' exposure to endotoxins and peptidoglycans, as well as associations between workers' reported symptoms and the detected bacterial exposures. From the filter samples, biologically-active endotoxins were analysed with the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. The total amount of endotoxins was analysed as 3-hydroxy (OH) fatty acids with a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) assay, which was also used to assess peptidoglycans as muramic acid.

Self-reported hand dermatitis in California veterinarians.

Background: Veterinarians are exposed to allergens, dirt, and chemicals, but there are very few epidemiologic data on dermatoses veterinarians.

Objective: The aim of this study is to get information about skin diseases in veterinary work.

Methods: A sample of California veterinarians were sent a questionnaire, which was returned by 73% (n = 1,416).

Increase in occupational skin diseases of dental personnel.

Occupational diseases of dentists and dental nurses were compiled from the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases. The cases were recorded during 3 3-year observation periods, namely 1982-1984, 1986-1988, and 1992-1994 (i.e.

Respiratory symptoms and dermatoses among grinders and brazers of hard metal and stellite blades.

The objectives of the study were to determine whether grinders and brazers of hard metal and stellite blades have more respiratory symptoms and dermatoses than referents and to obtain information on the relation between respiratory symptoms and combined exposure to cobalt and wood dust. Two groups of workers exposed to cobalt (108 workers in the manufacture or maintenance of tools and 116 saw filers in the mechanical wood-processing industry) and two reference groups (106 rolling mill and 103 sawmill workers) were interviewed. The prevalence of ODTS-like symptoms (work-related cough, dyspnoea, or fever or chills) was higher for the saw filers than the sawmill referents.