Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate factors within nine identified areas that influence why some older workers want to (or believe they can) work until age 65 years or beyond, whereas others leave the workforce earlier. MethodsThe questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study included 1792 respondents aged 55-64 years, employed in the healthcare sector in Sweden. Using logistic regression, we investigated the associations between statements within nine areas and two outcome measures: (i) whether the individual wanted to work until age 65 years or beyond and (ii) whether the individual believed they can work until age 65 years or beyond. ResultsOf the 1792 respondents, 54% stated that they "can" and 38% that they "want to" work until age 65 years or beyond. Three areas were significantly associated with both these outcomes: worker health, economic incentives, and retirement decisions by life partners or close friends. Mental and physical working environment, work pace and skills/competence were associated with the "can" outcome, whereas work as an important part of life, working time, and management attitude to older workers were associated with the "want to" outcome. ConclusionAlthough there were differences regarding the associations between six of the areas and the two outcomes (ie, "can" and "want to" go on working until age 65 years or beyond), three of the areas were important to both outcomes. Among those, it was interesting that life partner or close social environment gave higher odds ratios than for example health, physical work environment, or work satisfaction.Key terms employee; motivation; older worker; organization; retirement; work ability; work environment. In most of the industrial world, the fraction of older people is continuously increasing (1). A work session on demographic projections in Lisbon in 2010 stated that current demographic trends, characterized by low fertility and increasing longevity and leading to an ageing population, have economic and budgetary implications (2). A consequence analysis carried out by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) compared the elderly boom to the social effect arising from natural disasters (3). In the OECD countries, it is estimated that 29% of men and 34% of women will be ≥60 years in 2050, compared with 15% of men and 20% of women in 2000 (4). In the EU25 (European Union of 25 members), more than 33% of men and 38% of women are estimated to be ≥60 years in 2050, up from 18% of men and 24% of women in 2000 (4). The demographic situation is similar in most of the Western world and in the Nordic countries, as illustrated by the following predicted figures for men and women, respectively, in 2050: USA 24% and 28%; Sweden 28% and 30%; Finland 31% and 35%; Germany 34% and 39% (4).The demographic change will result in an increased old age dependency ratio when fewer in the workforce have to provide for more elderly people. For the EU27, the old age dependency ratio is expected to rise from 25% in 2008 to 38% in 2030. In ...

Background: Diabetes is a major threat to public health in the United States and worldwide. Understanding the role of environmental chemicals in the development or progression of diabetes is an emerging issue in environmental health.Objective: We assessed the epidemiologic literature for evidence of associations between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and type 2 diabetes.Methods: Using a PubMed search and reference lists from relevant studies or review articles, we identified 72 epidemiological studies that investigated associations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with diabetes. We evaluated these studies for consistency, strengths and weaknesses of study design (including power and statistical methods), clinical diagnosis, exposure assessment, study population characteristics, and identification of data gaps and areas for future research.Conclusions: Heterogeneity of the studies precluded conducting a meta-analysis, but the overall evidence is sufficient for a positive association of some organochlorine POPs with type 2 diabetes. Collectively, these data are not sufficient to establish causality. Initial data mining revealed that the strongest positive correlation of diabetes with POPs occurred with organochlorine compounds, such as trans-nonachlor, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dioxins and dioxin-like chemicals. There is less indication of an association between other nonorganochlorine POPs, such as perfluoroalkyl acids and brominated compounds, and type 2 diabetes. Experimental data are needed to confirm the causality of these POPs, which will shed new light on the pathogenesis of diabetes. This new information should be considered by governmental bodies involved in the regulation of environmental contaminants.

To ascertain the frequency of treatment-related acute myeloid leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes (t-AML/t-MDS) in an unselected series, we have identified all adult cases analyzed in our department from 1976 to 1993. Further aims were to compare karyotypic features of t-AML/t-MDS with de novo AML/MDS, in our material as well as in 5098 unselected, cytogenetically abnormal, published cases, and to analyze associations between type of prior therapy and karyotype. Among our 372 AML and 389 MDS, 47 (13%) were t-AML and 62 (16%) were t-MDS. Clonal abnormalities were significantly more common in t-AML and t-MDS than in de novo disease (68% vs 50%, P Ͻ 0.05 and 84% vs 45%, P Ͻ 0.001, respectively). Among the available 4230 AML and 1629 MDS (the present series and published cases), 14% were t-AML and 15% were t-MDS. In t-AML/t-MDS, the number of anomalies and the ploidy levels differed significantly from de novo cases, with complex and hypodiploid karyotypes being more common in t-AML/t-MDS. In t-AML, unbalanced changes in general, t(1;3), der(1;7), 3p−, −5, 5q−, −7, 7q−, t(9;11), t(11;19), t(11q23), der(12p), −17, der(17p), −18, and −21 were significantly more frequent than in de novo AML. In t-MDS, −5, −7, 7q−, 13q−, der(17p), and −18 were significantly more common. Type of prior treatment correlated significantly with number of anomalies in t-AML and with ploidy levels in t-AML/t-MDS. The frequencies of several aberrations varied with type of therapy, eg, 5q− was more frequent in radiotherapyassociated t-MDS, monosomy 7 was more common in t-AML and t-MDS after treatment with alkylators, and t(11q23) in t-AML was associated with topoisomerase II inhibitors. Abnormalities significantly more common in de novo disease were +8 as a sole anomaly, balanced changes in general, t(8;21), t(9;22), t(15;17), inv(16), and t(21q22) in AML, and −Y, 5q−, and 20q− as sole anomalies and +8 in MDS. The results emphasize the strong association between previous genotoxic exposure and karyotypic features. Leukemia (2002) IntroductionEver since the mid-1970s, when the first case reports describing chromosomal abnormalities in treatment-related acute myeloid leukemias (t-AML) were published, 1,2 the cytogenetic features of t-AML and of therapy-associated myelodysplastic syndromes (t-MDS) have received much attention. 3,4 To date, two distinct karyotypic patterns that correlate with specific types of chemotherapeutic agents have emerged. Previous chemotherapy (CT) with alkylators (alk) has been strongly linked to the development of t-MDS/t-AML harboring unbal- anced changes, mainly whole or partial losses of chromosomes 5 and 7, often in complex, hypodiploid karyotypes, 5-9 whereas prior CT with DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors (topo II) has been associated with t-AML characterized by, in particular, translocations involving chromosome band 11q23 resulting in MLL gene rearrangements. 4,[10][11][12] It has been debated, but remains to be settled, whether prior radiotherapy (RT) alone or exposure to CT other than alk/topo II may correla...

Dental personnel had an increased risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders as verified by symptoms and diagnoses and more painful or persistent conditions. This led to a selection out of work. The questionnaire and the present pain rating gave a relatively good picture of the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders arising from the neck, shoulders, and hips and would be useful as screening tools. Their sensitivity in detecting disorders was higher for diagnoses than for findings. However, these methods were not as sensitive for disorders involving the elbows/wrists/hands. Physical examinations gave more detailed information.

Hairdressers are highly exposed to skin-damaging substances. The self-reported incidence of hand eczema was substantially higher in female hairdressers than in controls from the general population and than that found previously in register-based studies. For many individuals, onset of hand eczema occurs early in life. Only about 10% of the hand eczema cases among hairdressers would be prevented if no one with skin atopy entered the trade.

Standard sperm parameters have a limited power for prediction of the chance of natural conception. Recent studies have indicated that the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) DNA fragmentation index (DFI), a measure for the fraction of sperms with DNA damage, is associated with fertility in vivo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of this parameter for prediction of infertility. One hundred and twenty-seven men from infertile couples with no known female factor and 137 men with proven fertility were included. Semen analysis was performed as recommended by the WHO. DFI was assessed using SCSA. Logistic binary regression was used to compute the odds ratios (OR) for infertility. As compared with men with a DFI <10%, men with a DFI between 10% and 20% had an increased risk for infertility (OR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.0-6.1). This was also true for men with a DFI >20% (OR 8.4; 95% CI: 3.0-23). In men with normal standard semen parameters (sperm concentration, motility and morphology) the OR for infertility was increased with DFI >20% (OR 5.1, 95% CI: 1.2-23), whereas if one of the standard semen parameters was abnormal, the OR for infertility was increased already at DFI above 10% (OR 16, 95% CI: 4.2-60). We conclude that SCSA DFI adds to the value of semen analysis in prediction of the chance of natural conception.

Human plasma samples from 50 wives of fishermen have been analyzed with respect to PCBs. The non-ortho-substituted PCB congeners CB-126 and CB-169 were determined by mass spectrometry in negative ion chemical ionization mode, which demonstrated a limit of detection of 30 fg. The recoveries of the internal standards used for determination of ortho-substituted CBs were approximately 95%. Two methods, one gravimetric and the other based on enzymatic determinations of triglycerides, cholesterol and phospholipids, were compared for the determination of total amount of lipids in the plasma samples; the correlation coefficient was 0.82 and the slope 0.98. For practical reasons, enzymatic determinations are recommended for further use. The total, lipid-adjusted concentrations of PCBs in plasma were influenced by age, total lactation time and consumption of fatty fish from the Baltic Sea.

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