Objectives To evaluate the impact of day-and-night rotating shift work (RSW) on liver health, we analysed the association between long term RSW exposure and the normalisation of plasma alanine transaminase (ALT) levels over a five-year period. Method The data from physical examinations, blood tests, abdominal sonographic examinations, personal histories, and occupational records were collected from a cohort of workers in a semiconductor manufacturing company. The sample population was divided into three subgroups for analysis: persistent daytime workers, workers exposed intermittently to RSW (i-RSW), and exposed to persistent RSW (p-RSW). Results Records were analysed for 1196 male workers with an initial mean age of 32.5 years (SD 6.0 years), of whom 821 were identified as rotating shift workers, including 374 i-RSW and 447 p-RSW workers. At the beginning of the follow-up, 275 were found to have elevated ALT (e-ALT): 25.1% day-time workers, 23.0% i-RSW workers and 21.3% p-RSW workers. Of those with e-ALT at the beginning, 101 workers showed normalised serum ALT levels at the end of five-year follow-up: 10.7% of day-time workers, 8.6% of i-RSW workers, and 6.5% of p-RSW workers; P = 0.016). By performing multivariate logistic regression analyses, and comparing with the persistent daytime co-workers, after controlling for confounding variables, analysis indicated that the workers exposed to p-RSW were 46% less likely (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.30-0.95; P = 0.03) to attain normal ALT levels within a five-year interval. Conclusions Persistent day-and-night RSW pose a vigorous obstacle to the normalisation of e-ALT among workers with preexing abnormal liver function. Objectives This study aimed to determine the rates of psychological symptoms among those with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and with non-TBI at 3 months and 12 months after occupational injury and to examine the change in psychological status over time.
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RECOVERY FROM MENTAL CONDITION: IS IT DIFFERENT BETWEEN TBI/NON-TBIMethod Our study candidates were injured workers in Taiwan who were hospitalised for 3 days or longer and received hospitalisation benefits from the Labour Insurance. A self-reported questionnaire including Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-50) and Post-traumatic Symptom Checklist (PTSC) was sent to workers at 3 months and 12 months. Results Among 853 injured workers who completed the questionnaire at 3 and 12 months, regarding to the severity of BSRS score, 7.8% of those with TBI had recovered at 12 months, comparing with 8.1% in those with non-TBI. On the other hand, approximately11.6% of those with TBI had recovered from post-traumatic stress symptoms at 12 months, comparing with 9.7% among those with non-TBI. Injured workers with TBI had lower rate of recovery from psychological symptoms, comparing with non-TBI. Conclusions A significant proportion of victims with TBI and non-TBI suffered psychological symptoms after injury. The identification and treatment of psychological symptoms are important for optimal adaptation after traumatic in...