In order to monitor biogenic amines in human urine, a method based on field-amplified sample injection combined with capillary electrophoresis and direct UV absorption detection was developed. Dopamine, tyramine, tryptamine, serotonin and epinephrine were effectively separated and identified in human urine samples, and detection limits were 0.072, 0.010, 0.027, 0.010 and 0.120 µmol/L, respectively. Detection limits comparable to laser-induced fluorescence detection or solid phase extraction combined with capillary electrophoresis were achieved. Parameters affecting electrophoretic system detection sensitivity were investigated. Optimal separation conditions were obtained using as background electrolyte a pH 6.5 mixture of 2-(morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid 20 mmol/L and 30 mmol/L phosphate buffer, containing 0.05% hydroxypropylcellulose and 10% v/v methanol. Injections of the sample solution were performed by applying a voltage of 12 kV for 50 s. Recovery and accuracy ranged between 89.4 and 94.9%, and 89 and 112%, respectively. The method was successfully applied on actual urine samples (from a healthy volunteer): target bioamine content was consistent with endogenous levels reported in the literature. The proposed method is simple, fast and inexpensive and can be conveniently employed in work-related stress studies. The affordability and noninvasive sampling of the method allow epidemiological studies on large number of exposed persons to be performed.

Formaldehyde is an organic compound that, at room temperature and standard atmospheric pressure, occurs in the form of a colorless, pungent and irritating gas, extremely volatile and highly soluble in water. 1 It is present as a natural product in many living systems, in the environment, in some foods and in the organism of mammals, including humans, as a product of oxidative metabolism. 2 Although formaldehyde is naturally present in the troposphere, due to its formation during the oxidation of hydrocarbons, 3 the main sources determining human exposure are anthropogenic.Among these, some are present in indoor environments such as

Objectives: Workers in the mining industry in altitude are subjected to several risk factors, e.g., airborne silica and low barometric pressure. The aim of this study has been to assess the risks for this work category, evaluating single risk factors as airborne silica, altitude and work shift, and relating them with cardiovascular and ventilatory parameters. Material and Methods: Healthy miners employed in a mining company, Chile, working at varied altitudes, and subjected to unusual work shifts, were evaluated. Cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were investigated. Exposure to airborne silica was evaluated and compared to currently binding exposure limits. Results: At varied altitudes and work shifts, alterations emerged in haemoglobin, ventilation and respiratory parameters, related to employment duration, due to compensatory mechanisms for hypoxia. Haemoglobin increased with altitude, saturation fell down under 90% in the highest mines. The multiple linear regression analysis showed a direct relationship, in the higher mine, between years of exposure to altitude and increased forced vital capacity percent (FVC%), and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ). An inverse relationship emerged between forced vital capacity (FVC) and years of exposure to airborne silica. In the workplace Mina Subterrànea (MT-3600), statistically significant inverse relationship emerged between the Tiffeneau index and body weight. Conclusions: The working conditions in the mining industry in altitude appeared to be potentially pathogenic; further investigations should be realized integrating risk assessment protocols even in consideration of their undeniable unconventionality. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(2):129 -138

gained) over a 30-year time horizon. Sensitivity analyses were performed. ReSultS: Base-case results suggest that compared to ACEi, sacubitril/valsartan is associated with incremental costs of ₡3,385,614 and 0.53 QALYs gained, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of ₡6,400,593 per QALY gained. Increased costs of pharmacological therapy were offset by reductions in hospitalization costs. All-cause-and CV-related mortality estimates were reduced at all time points. Expected survival estimates increased from 5.84 years for those receiving an ACEi to 6.45 years for those receiving sacubitril/valsartan. Overall, results were not sensitive to changes in model parameters; results were most sensitive to CV mortality estimates and treatment-effect duration. ConCluSionS: The Costa Rica-adapted model estimates suggest that sacubitril/valsartan represents a cost-effective intervention in the treatment of HFrEF (NYHA Class II-IV) versus ACEi, assuming a willingness-topay threshold of 3 times per capita GDP in Costa Rica (₡25,807,290). Consequently, sacubitril/valsartan represents reasonable value compared with other commonly accepted health care interventions.