AIM:To determine whether cigarette smoking, as a risk factor for CAD, affects (anti)oxidant status.MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study included patients with CAD, divided according to their smoking status and the number of cigarettes smoked during a day. Biological markers of oxidative stress (concentration of oxidants and activity of antioxidant enzymes) were measured in all subjects.RESULTS:The study included 300 patients with CAD, (average age of 63 ± 11 years), predominantly males. Of the total, 34.0% were active smokers, 23.0% were former smokers, and 43.0% were non-smokers. Most of the active smokers smoked 1-20 cigarettes/day. In terms of concentration of oxidants (MDA and HP) there was not a significant difference between smokers versus non-smokers. As for the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPX), a statistically significant difference was found in the activity of GPX among the active smokers with CAD and the non-smokers with CAD (p = 0.039).CONCLUSION:Smoking as a risk factor for CAD is closely associated with increased oxidative stress, and the number of cigarettes smoked plays an important role in increasing the level of oxidative damage and reducing antioxidant defence.

This review provides information beneficial to both policy makers and researchers by identifying data sources useable to measure OD trends in European countries and opening the way to future work, both on trend comparisons within Europe and on the definition of a core template to extend OD surveillance on a larger scale.

Aim. To evaluate sleep disturbance caused by environmental noise in residents of Skopje urban centre and to quantify the probability for sleep disturbance related to night-time noise exposure. Methods.Cross sectional study with noise measurements for determination of noise exposure indicator L night . A randomised sample was selected from adult population and directly interviewed with questionnaire for assessment of sleep disturbance.Results. 510 questionnaires were collected and the response rate was 72%, 8% of the population sample reported a high level of sleep disturbance and 18% reported a moderate level of sleep disturbance. The most frequent sources of noise were neighbourhood and road traffic. The most disturbed age group were individuals 51-65 years old, who were significantly more disturbed (p=0.010) than the age group of 41-50 years old. Differences in sleep disturbance were significant only for the group exposed to L night ≥ 56 dBA (Wald = 4.31; p = 0.04). Exposure to L night above 56 dBA had OR = 2.2 (95% CI 1.1 -4.7) or double significant increase probability for sleep disturbance, compared with control group of subjects exposed to L night ≤ 45 dBA. Conclusion.Night time noise exposure above the established limit values significantly increased the risk for sleep disturbance. These findings induce necessity for reducing noise exposure, especially during night-time and for taking preventive measures.

This paper describes a retrospective cohort study comparing 60 workers occupationally exposed to inorganic lead and 60 matched controls. All subjects were assessed using data obtained from a specially designed Questionnaire for lead exposure and toxic effects assessment, physical examination, spirometry, ECG, and laboratory tests including blood lead level (BLL) and biomarkers of lead toxic effects. Muscle pain, droopiness, and work-related nasal symptoms were significantly more frequent in lead workers. The prevalence of lung symptoms was higher in lead workers than in controls, but not significantly (20 % vs. 6.6 %, respectively). Mean values of BLL and δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) were significantly higher in lead workers. The activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) in lead workers was significantly lower than in controls. Abnormal of BLL, ALAD, and ALA were more frequent in lead workers, with statistical difference for BLL and ALAD. Inverse correlation was found between BLL and ALAD, and positive correlation between BLL and age, years of employment, and years of exposure. Inverse correlation was found between ALAD and age, years of employment, years of exposure, blood pressure, alcohol consumption, and years of alcohol consumption. Changes in spirometry correlated inversely with BLL. A positive correlation was found between BLL and erythrocyte count and haemoglobin concentration, whereas it was inverse for ALAD and haemoglobin concentration. A significant difference was found for BLL and ALAD, with a very high odds ratio (14.64 and 7.23, respectively) and high relative risk (4.18 and 3.08, respectively). Our data have confirmed the association between occupational lead exposure and deviation in specific biological markers of lead effect and between the role of occupational exposure in the development of adverse effects.

In practice, the assessment of occupational overload and its contribution to the development of LBPD as well as its inclusion in the compensation system are important for several reasons. Firstly, it may be considered essentially preventable. Secondly, cases with a significant contribution of occupational aetiology may be viewed as occupational diseases for which compensation may be claimed, as it is the case in many European countries. Importantly, inclusion of LBPD in the list of occupational diseases or another system of compensation may be viewed as a preventive measure as it increases the visibility of this problem not only for the workers, but especially for the employers.

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Background: Nurses are at risk for occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens (BBP), including hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Occupational exposure to BBP among nurses includes percutaneous injuries with sharp objects or contacts of mucous membranes or nonintact skin with blood, tissues, or other potentially infectious body fluids.

Objective: To explore the association between lead biomarkers and their deviations in the circumstances of occupational exposure, and influence of life style factors. Material and Methods:We performed cross-sectional study using 60 workers occupationally exposed to lead compared with 60 controls. All examinees were assessed by Questionnaire, and laboratory testing concerning blood lead level (BLL), activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) in blood, concentration of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and coproporphyrin in urine, reticulocytes and erythrocytes with basophilic stippling (EBS). Results:The mean values of BLL and ALA were significantly higher, and mean ALAD activity was significantly lower in lead workers than in controls. Lead workers also had a higher rate of abnormal BLL, ALAD, and ALA, significant for BLL and ALAD. The average BLL values among exposed workers and controls in men were significantly higher. There was strong inverse correlation between distribution of ALAD values in exposed workers due to their BLL values. Significant correlation with mean ALAD values was shown for alcohol consumption, form of compounds, and use of protecting equipment, whereas with mean BLL values was shown for age, gender, exposure duration, smoking, and alcohol consumption.