Of all workers exposed globally to synthetic sources of radiation, medical personnel represent the largest group, but receive relatively low doses. Accidental or therapeutic acute radiation exposure of humans was observed to induce various forms of cytogenetic damage, including the possibility of increasing the incidence of micronuclei (MN) and chromosomal aberrations (CA). The aim of this study was to assess occupationally induced chromosomal damage in a large population of hospital workers exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation (IR). The cytokinesis-block MN and comet assays were used to examine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 31 exposed workers to IR and 33 control subjects corresponding in gender, age, and smoking. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1) are postulated to be involved in the detoxification of endogenous and exogenous genotoxicants. The association between these biomarkers and polymorphic genes of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes was thus also assessed. MN frequency was significantly higher in the exposed subjects compared controls. Comet assay results showed a significant increase of tail length in workers exposed to IR. Data obtained suggest that GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphism do not modify significantly the genotoxic potential of IR. Therefore, the exposed medical personnel need to carefully apply radiation protection procedures and minimize, as low as possible, IR exposure to avoid possible genotoxic effects.

Epidemiological studies suggest that cytogenetic biomarkers, such as micronuclei (MN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes may predict cancer risk because they indicate genomic instability. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the frequencies of MN and chromosome aberrations (CA) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of hospital workers exposed to ionizing radiation and healthy subjects. The study was conducted using peripheral blood lymphocytes from 30 workers from the radiology department and 30 from the cardiology department. This study included 27 healthy age- and sex-matched individuals as the control group. The assessment of chromosomal damage was carried out by the use of CA and micronucleus assays in peripheral lymphocytes. Our results show that CA and micronucleus frequencies were significantly higher among the exposed groups when compared to controls. Our finding of significant increase of CA and MN frequencies in peripheral lymphocytes in exposed workers indicates a potential cytogenetic hazard due to this exposure. The enhanced chromosomal damage of subjects exposed to genotoxic agents emphasizes the need to develop safety programs.

BackgroundGrip muscle force has always been used to assess functional limitations in elderly. Its use as a tool to assess work capacity has never been described in the literature.ObjectiveTo describe the patent determinants of grip strength and the usefulness of its measurement in assessing workability index in the healthcare sector.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 293 healthcare workers representative of 1181 based on a comprehensive questionnaire about socio-professional characteristics and on an 8-item work capacity evaluation (WAI). Besides, Body mass index was measured and muscle strength was assessed by JAMAR hydraulic dynamometer.ResultsHandgrip Strength was stronger in male nurses (p < 0.001), with low perceived physical load (p = 0.0001) and working on a night shift (p = 0.001). It decreased with a greater duration of household work (p < 0.0001) and increased with a greater BMI (p = 0.015) and a better workability index (p < 0.0001). After removal of all the variables that were not independently associated with the muscle strength force, factors accounting for 52.6% of the variance in nurses handgrip strength were gender (p < 0.001), workability index (p < 0.001), duration of household work (p = 0.021), BMI (p = 0.002), perceived physical load (p < 0.001) and work schedule (p = 0.002).ConclusionGrip Strength Test is a useful tool to assess strength and functional capacity at work in healthcare workers. Further longitudinal studies are required to confirm this hypothesis.

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Nowadays, occupational asthma is the most common form of occupational lung disease in the world. In some countries the textile industry remains an important source of potential agents causing occupational asthma. In the textile industry several agents such as cotton dust and dyes may cause occupational asthma. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology, pathogenesis/mechanisms, clinical presentations, management and prevention specific to occupational asthma in the textile industry.Work-related asthma risk is considerable. Current understanding of the mechanisms by which many textile agents cause occupational asthma is limited, especially for low molecular-weight sensitizers and irritants. The diagnosis is generally established on the basis of a suggestive history of a temporal association between exposure and the onset of symptoms and objective evidence that these symptoms are related to airflow limitation. Early diagnosis, elimination or reduction of exposure to the offending agent and early use of convenient therapy according to disease severity may play an important role in the prevention of long-term persistence of asthma. Its prevention in the textile industry should be both technical and medical. It depends on the difficulties to reduce dust level, the limits in arranging work station or in occupational rehabilitation. These difficulties are increased in small textile industry companies. Persistent occupational asthma in this sector is often associated with substantial disability and consequent impacts on income and quality of life. Prevention of new cases is the best approach to reduce the burden of asthma attributable to occupational exposures. This review also outlines different patents on the diagnosis and treatment of asthma.