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Russian Journal of Occupational Health and Industrial Ecology

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No 2 (2021)
https://doi.org/10.31089/1026-9428-2021-61-2

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

72-76 474
Abstract

Introduction. The diagnosis and appointment of adequate therapy for both alcohol dependence syndrome and somatic pathology of alcoholic origin often depends on the timely establishment of the fact of alcohol abuse, for example, during periodic medical examinations, since most patients either deny the use of alcohol, or significantly underestimate its amount.

The aim of the study is to develop a methodology for the objective identification of individuals with risk factors for harmful alcohol consumption that contribute to the development of pathological conditions and diseases that increase the likelihood of developing chronic non-communicable diseases.

Materials and methods. Within the framework of the study, 204 people (162 men, 42 women) working in various types of economic activities, aged from 18 to 65 years, were surveyed. All patients were sent to the clinic FSBSI "Izmerov Research Institute оf Occupational Health" to pre-or periodic inspections in the order of the health Ministry of Russia from 12.04.2011 No. 302n (ed. by 18.05.2020). All the examined patients underwent a biochemical blood test: carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Also, all the surveyed were conducted a questionnaire aimed at identifying alcoholism. Statistical processing of the obtained results was carried out using the program STATISTICA 13.2 (Stat Soft Inc., USA).

Results. The study of the CDT content in the blood serum of the examined patients revealed an increase above the reference values in 10%, while 7% of the examined patients regularly consumed alcohol during the last 2 weeks (CDT≥2.5%), 3% — consumed moderately (CDT1,2–2,4%). The correlation analysis showed a moderate positive correlation between the results of the questionnaire and the CDT content in the blood serum (r=0.24, p=0.002 with the question about the use of 6 or more doses at a time and r=0.30, p=0.0001 with the total score).

Conclusion. The most informative marker of chronic alcohol use is the definition of CDT in combination with a questionnaire aimed at identifying alcoholism. The use of these markers during periodic and preliminary medical examinations can allow a high degree of confidence to identify persons who are prone to chronic alcohol consumption in order to carry out preventive measures and prevent them from working with various sources of increased danger, including work related to the management of vehicles.

77-83 437
Abstract

Introduction. Air pollution with aerosols of mineral fibers in the manufacturing heat-insulating building products is the primary harmful production factor that can increase the risks of developing several diseases of various organs and systems. It determines the relevance of conducting comprehensive studies of the dust factor in such industries, assessing the relationship between mass measurements and fibre counts, the development of targeted preventive measures, considering the features of the technological process.

The study aims to conduct comprehensive hygienic studies of the dust factor in the manufacturing heat-insulating building products from basalt fiber and determine the morphological features of dust at different stages of the technological process, the presence of a relationship between mass measurements and fibre counts.

Materials and methods. The studies were carried out based on manufacturing heat-insulating building products from basalt fiber. To assess the dust factor, the authors carried out the analysis of mass measurements of dust and fibre counts using phase-contrast light microscopy. The authors used linear regression analysis to study the dependence of the mass measurements and fibre counts.

Results. The mass measurements of dust in the working area don't exceed hygienic standards and ranges from 0.51 mg/m3 to 1.19 mg/m3, and the fibre counts are from 0.45 f/cm3 to 1.23 f/cm3. The morphological analysis of the dust samples' preparations collected on filters from the air of the working area made it possible to reveal the characteristic features of the composition of the dust at various stages of the technological process. The study confirmed a positive correlation of weak strength between fibre counts and the mass measurements. The resulting dependence model is statistically significant, but the coefficient of determination of this model (R2) is 0.043. Fibre counts in the first phase of the production cycle are significantly higher than in the second. Simultaneously, the mass measurements do not have significant differences in different phases of the production cycle.

Conclusions. There is a positive correlation of weak strength between fibre counts and mass measurements, but the resulting linear regression model can explain only 4.3% of the variation of fibre counts based on the mass measurements, which does not allow using this model for converting of the results of measurements of several particles.

Microscopy of dust preparations makes it possible to determine the morphological picture characteristic of various stages of the technological process. Fibre counts depend on the phase of the production cycle. The data obtained can be used to design air purification systems and operating modes at various stages of the technological process.

84-89 395
Abstract

Introduction. Modern technological processes that generate ultra- and infrasound, electromagnetic, vibration-noise radiation significantly exceed the background effects and inevitably create an unfavorable technogenic load on the human body. A special place is occupied by vibration, primarily associated with such professional groups as mining enterprises, gold and diamond processing plants, aircraft plants, thermal power plants and hydroelectric power plants, and aluminum industry enterprises. Vibration exposure leads to a number of biochemical disorders in the homeostasis system. Mitochondrial dysfunctions are among the leading elements in the hierarchy of pathogenesis of many pathological syndromes and diseases.

The aim of the study was an experimental analysis of tissue-specific features of the myocardium, kidneys, liver energy production system activity as well as the enzyme status of rat lymphocytes in relation to the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) on the background of 7 episodes of local vibration with a frequency of 27–30 Hz for 90 minutes daily before and after protection with succinate-containing antihypoxant "Yantar-cardio" at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day.

Materials and methods. The study of the energy-dependent reactions of the native mitochondria of the organs was carried out by the polarographic method using a closed Clark-type membrane electrode. The activity of SDH of rat blood lymphocytes was studied by a modified method of quantitative cytochemical analysis.

Results. Functional rearrangement in the respiratory chain (RC) of the mitochondria confirmed the NAD-dependent site's inhibition and activation of the oxidation system of endogenous succinic acid, most pronounced in the myocardial tissue. On the vibration background, the specific SDH activity of lymphocytes (Q) significantly increased by 52%, and the variability (V) — by three times. The use of "Yantar-cardio" limited the growth rate of endogenous respiration of the most significant in the heart (70%, p<0.05), restored oxidative and conjugating activity NАD-dependent link of RC, improve the structure and condition of the cell population of lymphocytes based on their energy status and warned the mismatch of the leading parameters of the population variability of the cellular pool of blood lymphocytes in experimental animals.

Conclusions. The intensity of vibration-mediated bioenergetic hypoxia in the form of inhibition of the NAD-dependent link of the respiratory chain and activation of the endogenous succinic acid oxidation system is tissue-specific and is most pronounced in the myocardial tissue. The succinic acid oxidation system is highly sensitive to vibration effects and a pharmacological drug that supports the function of RC under conditions of the stress of the homeostatic functions of tissues involved in the pathological process.

90-96 415
Abstract

Introduction. The results were obtained using the method of solid-phase enzyme immunoassay and neuropsychological examination of patients with vibration disease caused by the combined effect of local and general vibration.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the content of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines and changes in neuropsychological parameters in patients with vibration disease associated with combined exposure to local and general vibration.

Materials and methods. Examined men were divided into groups: first group (n=28) — with vibration disease of the second degree, due to the combined effect of local and general vibration and the second (n=16) — the comparison group. There are methods of statistical analysis with the determination of the Shapiro–Wilk W-test, the Mann–Whitney U-test, and the Spearman correlation analysis.

Results. In patients with vibration disease when compared to second group was higher values characterizing the analytic-synthetic (p=0.002) and conceptual thinking (p=0.016), short (verbal) (p=0.002), hand-shaped (p=0.002) and long (p=0.041) memory, dynamic (p=0.001) and constructive (p=0.001) praxis, visual gnosis (p=0,042), impressive speech (p=0.041), as well as index test, MMSE (p=0.003). Dysregulation in the immune system manifests in the form of a statistically significant hyperproduction of IL-8 and IFN-γ diagnosed in first group patients when compared with group II at p<0.05. There were statistically significant direct correlations between the concentration of IL-4 and the indicator of conceptual thinking, an indicator that characterizes finger gnosis (p=0.021; 0.025, respectively). Statistically significant dependences indicate that the increase in tests on the arithmetic triple score, the selection of opposites in the active plan, showing the specified finger on the sample and the name, an explanation of the logical-grammatical constructions, indicating a decrease in the function of analytical and synthetic thinking, conceptual thinking, finger gnosis, impressive speech, this is due to an increase in production of IL-8, IFN-γ (p=0,013; 0,044; 0,025; 0,008; 0,048; 0,046; 0,028; 0,018 respectively).

Conclusions. Тhe decrease in indicators that characterize analytical-synthetic, conceptual thinking, short-term (auditory-speech), long-term, operational visual memory, dynamic and constructive praxis, visual gnosis, and impressive speech is accompanied by hyperproduction of IL-8, IFN-γ. This fact may characterize the activation of the neuroinflammatory process as an important determinant of cognitive decline under the combined influence of local and general vibration. The established relationship between increased levels of IL-4 and indicators of conceptual thinking, visual gnosis, probably indicates the importance of more pronounced cytotoxic reactions in the violation of the mechanisms of visual perception and thought process in patients with vibration disease.

97-102 282
Abstract

Intrоductiоn. The phthаlic аnhydride, which widely used in chemicаl industry in conditions of chronic ingestion, chrоnicаlly leаds tо а disаdаptаtiоn оf immunity, which is а risk fаctоr in the fоrmаtiоn оf аssоciаted prоductiоn relаted pаthоlоgy.

The аim оf the wоrk is tо study the subpopulation prоfile оf lymphоcytes аnd cytоkine stаtus in wоrkers engаged in the prоductiоn оf phthаlic аnhydride with their wоrk experience.

Mаteriаls аnd methоds. The оbservаtiоn grоup, tоtаlly 68 men, cоnsisted оf emplоyees wоrking аt the mаin phthаlic аnhydride prоductiоn fаcility. The wоrkers оf the оbservаtiоn grоup were divided intо twо subgrоups with their wоrk experience аt the enterprise: 44 persоns with 0 tо 10 yeаrs оf wоrk experience аnd 24 persоns with mоre thаn 10 yeаrs оf wоrk experience. The cоmpаrisоn grоup — 40 men whо hаd nо prоfessiоnаl cоntаct with hаrmful prоductiоn fаctоrs. The chemicаl-аnаlyticаl, cytоfluоrimetric, immunоenzyme methоds use during the study.

Results. The wоrkers being expоsed tо phthаlic аnhydride with up tо 10 аnd mоre thаn 10 yeаrs оf wоrk experience аt the enterprise hаve а phthаlic аcid cоntent in their blооd thаt is 2.3 аnd 3.3 times higher, respectively thаn relаted tо persоns whо аre nоt in cоntаct with the аnаlyzed hаrmful prоductiоn fаctоr (p=0.002–0.033). It wаs fоund thаt lоngtime wоrkers, engаged in the prоductiоn оf phthаlic аnhydride, mаnifested the immune respоnse cellulаr link dysfunctiоn. Wоrkers emplоyed in the mаin prоductiоn оf phthаlic аnhydride with mоre thаn 10 yeаrs оf wоrk experience reveаled а prevаlence оf аctivаtiоn prоcesses (аccоrding tо CD25+ criteriоn), inhibitiоn оf cytоtоxic cell-mediаted respоnse (аccоrding tо CD3+CD16+CD56+ criteriоn), gyperexpressiоn оf Th2-cytоkines (аccоrding tо criteriоn IL4) relаtive tо vаlues оbtаined frоm wоrkers оf the prоductiоn with less thаn 10 yeаrs оf wоrk experience in hаzаrdоus prоductiоn cоnditiоns (p=0.002–0.033).

Cоnclusiоns. The durаtiоn оf emplоyment оf the wоrkers, cоntаcting with excessive cоncentrаtiоns оf phthаlic аnhydride in wоrkplаce аir, cоntributes tо negаtive dynаmics in the imbаlаnce between T-cells аnd cytоkine prоducts. The dynаmic mоnitоring оf immunоregulаtоry indicаtоrs in wоrkers оccupied in the prоductiоn оf phthаlic аnhydride will cоntribute tо just-in-time reveаling оf the immune system viоlаtiоns in оrder tо reduce the risks оf fоrmаtiоn оf аssоciаted prоductiоn-relаted pаthоlоgy induced by the chemicаl prоductiоn fаctоrs.

LITERATURE REVIEW

103-114 3000
Abstract
The article presents an analysis of modern foreign and domestic literature, regulatory legal acts that reflect the professional aspects of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19. The risks of COVID-19 infection of medical and non-medical workers are considered. The current understanding of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 as an occupational disease is shown. The features of the work of the health care system and the occupational health service during the COVID-19 pandemic are presented.
115-124 550
Abstract

Lower back pain is a common clinical problem that causes disability. Members of the working professions are particularly at risk of developing this syndrome due to the physical nature of the work. At the same time, the existing systematic reviews on the risk factors for lower back pain, as a rule, do not pay enough attention to working professions.

The aim of the study is to generalize and systematize the results of scientific research on the physical and psychosocial risk factors for lower back pain for representatives of working professions.

A systematic review of published scientific research that is indexed in the Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The authors selected 14 studies published in leading scientific journals, the purpose of which was to assess the relationship between occupational risk factors and the presence of lower back pain among representatives of working professions. The research results are systematized according to the classification of physical and psychosocial risk factors.

The main physical risk factor for lower back pain is lifting and lowering heavy objects without the help of specialized equipment. There is also evidence that frequent body twists and turns, as well as the monotonous nature of the work, are associated with a higher risk of having lower back pain. The most important psychosocial risk factors for lower back pain are working night shifts and high levels of workplace stress.

BRIEF REPORTS

125-129 367
Abstract

Introduction. The work's relevance is related to the health system's challenges associated with the pandemic of new coronavirus infection.

The study aims to explore the experience of organizing the response to the COVID-19 epidemic by the medical service of JSC "Russian Railways" in March-August 2020.

Materials and methods. We used the statistical reporting materials of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and JSC "Russian Railways" to analyze the availability of bed fund and medical personnel. The official information of стопкоронавирус.рф website of the Russian Federation is used to analyze the incidence of COVID-19 in the Russian Federation and in the world. To analyze the morbidity of JSC "Russian Railways", we used data from daily monitoring conducted by the company.

Results. The incidence of COVID-19 among health care workers in the pre-trip examination rooms of the holding was lower than in the whole of the Russian Federation. The bed fund of JSC "Russian Railways" in terms of 10 thousand people corresponds to the Russian average. The indicators of availability of medical personnel are higher than in the Russian Federation. During the "first wave" of the epidemic, 4 hospitals of Russian Railways were redesigned to provide medical care to patients with COVID-19. Two thousand one hundred twenty medical workers were involved. A total of 3.6 thousand patients with COVID-19 were treated. According to the treatment regimens described in the interim guidelines, the early start of therapy allowed to prevent the development of severe forms and minimize mortality. Russian railways medical institutions participated in the fight against the epidemic in 19 regions of the Russian Federation. 20 PCR laboratories were opened.

Conclusions. The activities of Russian railways medical institutions were adequately reformed, which allowed not only to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus infection among the holding's employees.

INFORMATION

130-134 173
Abstract

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ISSN 1026-9428 (Print)
ISSN 2618-8945 (Online)