Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Edurad HanslÃk
T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute, Prague
Keynote: Occupation health at drinking water treatment plant using ground water with elevated concentrations of radon 222, radium 226 and radium 228
Biography:
Edurad HanslÃk has completed his studies at Department of Water Technology and Environment of the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague in 1969 and successfully concluded his Post-graduate research in 1981 at the same university. He completed the UNESCO Hydrological Course at Lomonosov University in Moscow. He focused on behavior of radioactive substances in the aquatic environment and possibilities of removal of radioactive substances, including radon-222 gas, during water treatment. He is an expert guarantor of national conferences e.g., adionuclides and ionizing radiation in water management (1978–2016).
Abstract:
The content of radionuclides in ground water, as raw water for drinking water treatment, can vary in a wide range. In the case of high content of the natural radionuclides, especially content of radium 226 and radium 228, the most often used process of their removing is aeration followed by the filtration on gravity or pressure filters filled with sand covered with iron and manganic oxides, eventually with other medium as Birm or Greensand. These procedures had been used for the water treatment before the radioactive substances content in water and their ingestion risk were known. During the water treatment process, the radioisotopes of radium 226 and radium 228 are retained in the filter media together with iron and manganese. Retained radium 226 generates its daughter radionuclide - gaseous radon 222. During the filters washing, radon 222 is released into the air of the water treatment plant hall. This will be shown on an example, when the radon 222 concentration in raw ground water is low but it gets into the treated water during the treatment process. When the filters are being washed, the radon 222 concentration in the air of the plant significantly increases. The dependence of radon concentration in the air on the radium 226 activity in the sand of the particular filters was assessed. The inhalation dose rates due to radon 222 and dose rates from filter media for the operating personnel were evaluated.
- Occupational Disease and Human Health, Women and Occupational Health, Epidemiology & Infectious Diseases, Chronic Health, Industrial Food Safety and Management, Occupational Medicine and Therapy
Session Introduction
Won-Jun
Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Korea
Title: Blood cadmium is associated with osteoporosis in obese males but not in non-obese males
Biography:
Won-Jun Choia, Sang-Hwan Hana, Soyoung Hongb aDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea bDepartment of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
Abstract:
Osteoporosis in males is becoming an important health concern in an aging society. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between cadmium exposure and osteoporosis by considering the effect of obesity in aged males using a representative sample of the Korean population. Using the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 1,098 males over 50 years of age were analyzed. The blood cadmium concentration was measured. The bone mineral density in the total hip, femur neck and lumbar spine was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. T-scores to determine the presence of osteoporosis were calculated using a Korean reference. Subjects were stratified into two groups according to obesity status (body mass index <25 kg/m2 and ≥25 kg/m2). In comparison with obese subjects with blood cadmium <1.00 μg/L, those with blood cadmium >1.50 μg/L had odds ratios of 4.57 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49-14.01) and 5.71 (95% CI 1.99-16.38) at the femur neck and any site, respectively, after adjusting for potential confounders such as age, serum creatinine, vitamin D deficiency, smoking, alcohol drinking and physical activity level. However, this association was not significant in non-obese males. In conclusion, the effect of cadmium on osteoporosis was different by obesity status in aged males.
Michael Silva
SEK International University, Ecuador
Title: Design of the questionnaire on occupational safety and health for Ecuador
Biography:
Doctor en Prevención de Riesgos Laborales - Sobresaliente Cum Laude - por la Universidad de Málaga (UMA), MaestrÃas en Seguridad en el Trabajo, Higiene Industrial, ErgonomÃa y PsicosociologÃa. En la actualidad es profesor-investigador de la Facultad de Ciencias del Trabajo y Comportamiento Humano de la Universidad Internacional SEK, autor de diferentes artÃculos de investigación en revistas indexadas, ponente en jornadas, seminarios y congresos, tanto nacionales como internacionales.
Abstract:
Background: In recent years, Latin-American countries and other countries worldwide have been conducting surveys on working conditions and occupational health. Collecting relevant information to formulate public policy and to set lines of priority on scientific research in this field has been done. In the case of Ecuador, there is no survey focused on this subject, except for the Survey of Living Conditions (ECV), aimed at studying the economic impact and the living conditions of the Ecuadorian Population and the National Survey of Health and Nutrition (ENSANUT), from a public health perspective. Objective: The School of Labor and Human Behavior Sciences of SEK International University - Ecuador--as a university committed to research, has designed a survey based on the conditions of Occupational Safety and Health--Ecuador (CSSO-E), with the aim to propose a model for gathering information to know the occupational risk factors present in the workplace and their impact on the health of the Ecuadorian working population. Method: The survey was design, in collaboration with other universities of Ecuador and Colombia, and professional experts of private companies, was designed following the standards and recommendations of European, Spanish and Latin American surveys, documentary research and exhaustive bibliographic reviews of others works, in order to fit it to the Ecuadorian national context, and in the future to allow comparison of its results with other international surveys. Results: The construction and design of the questionnaire was carried out in different phases. By consensus, the group of university experts determined seven dimensions: sociodemographic and labor, conditions of employment, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, psychosocial and occupational health. It was also divided up into 24 sub-dimensions: personal protective equipment, physical and chemical hazard, manual handling, repetitive movements, psychosocial intra and extra-occupational factors, occupational accidents, occupational diseases, etc. Finally, 67 variables (questions) related with worker-perception of occupational risk factors and health hazards. Conclusions: The present survey model on safety and occupational health aims to contribute modestly to other studies and surveys conducted in Latin America and its results can be compared with others internationally.
Shu Yu
National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan
Title: Nurses Perceived Emotional Labour , Safety Climate, and Their Relationships with
Biography:
Shu Yu has completed her PhD in 1996 from National Taiwan University School of Public Health. She is a Professor and the Dean of School of Nursing, National Yang-Ming University in Taiwan. She has published many papers in scientific journals and international conferences.
Abstract:
Job pressure has been explored in previous studies. However there is a room to understand nurses’ emotional labor and safety climate. The aim of this study was to examine nurse’s perceived emotional labor and safety climate in hospital, and then their relationships with health status. We adopted a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire to collect data. A purposive randomly selected sample of 445 full-time nurses participated in this study. We found that nurses had a moderate level of emotional labor (92.17 27.33; total scores ranging 26-156) and safety climate (106.99 12.52; total scores ranging from 60 to 146). Overall, emotional labor had no significant correlation with health status, whereas safety climate revealed a significant correlation with health status. Among three dimensions of emotional labor, only controlling negative emotion revealed a significant correlation with health status. Among six dimensions of safety climate, except working conditions, the other five dimensions (including team work climate, safety climate, job satisfaction, stress recognition, and perceptions of management) revealed significant correlation with health status. Our study supported that safety climate is a key factor for nurses’ health status whereas the influence from emotional labour is not so significant except controlling negative emotion. Health care organizations and administrators should pay more attention in building a better climate, increasing job satisfaction, improving stress management skill, and adopting a humanistic management to increase safety climate. Encouraging nurses to adopt more effective strategies to handle their negative emotion and expressing positive emotions are also recommended.
Thomas patitucci
Psychotherapeutic Services, USA
Title: Methods of Ensuing Worker Safety in the Provision of In-Home Services
Biography:
Thomas Patitucci holds a MSW from Fordham University and is licensed clinical social worker. He possesses 37 years’ experience in managing Mental Health, Assertive Community Treatment, Case Management, Supervised Housing, Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Substance Abuse Services. He has offered consultation and training across the US and Canada; has presented in over 25 natioanal conferences with respect to behavioral health treatment and rehabilitation. He formerly was a Visiting Instructor at the Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work.
Abstract:
The point of service for the health care sector has become increasing home based. Funders and policy makers are purposefully driving services away from hospitals and clinics to the homes of the patients. This trend is particularly prevalent in the mental health field. As this direction expands, the risk posed to mental health practitioners providing these services have concomitantly increased both from the patients being treated and the environments many of persons with mental illness reside. As a result, a need for safety conscious worker force, comprehensive worker training and organizational safety strategies are extremely important in the process of managing the risk and provide quality care in home services. The presenter will describe that exposure to violence is a common place experience in many of the urban and suburban areas given the low socio-economic areas most of the patients reside. Discuss how exposure to the threat of violence and crime, is common place and that violence is prevalent both for practitioners and patient stand point. The presenter will describe that risk for practitioners is further exacerbated due to the fact; they face unstable and unpredictable patients and or roommates alone. Therefore, providers and healthcare leaders will need to have comprehensive strategies to manage the risk to practitioners providing in home mental health intervention. The presentation will include individual practitioner field based safety tips and a discussion of the overall needs for risk management strategies for healthcare leaders and what elements these may include.
Josthna Penchalaneni
Sri Padmavathi Mahila University, India
Title: Basella rubra a Natural Chemopreventive Agent Against Colon Cancer: An Outbreak
Biography:
Dr.P.Josthna is Assistant Professor at Sri Padmavathi Mahila University, Tirupati, India.
Abstract:
The present study deals with the exploration of traditionally used plant (Basella rubra) against colon cancer. Aqueous leaf extract of Basella rubra were studied for chemotherapeutic potential against chemically induced carcinogenesis model. Chemopreventive effect of BRAE (Basella rubra aqueous extract) is evidenced by the decreased incidence and distribution of tumors along the colon with reduction in number of ACF and AgNOR count. Immunohistochemistry findings demonstrated that BRAE significantly inhibited the growth of cancer cells by inhibiting cell proliferation and by inducing apoptosis through activation of apoptosis pathway which is cleared by the increased expression of apoptosis markers (p53 & Caspase-3) and decreased expression of cell proliferation markers (PCNA & Ki67). Plants are known to be rich in a number of bioactive compounds, which have demonstrated to possess numerous therapeutical activities. This research arose from the interest to identify the potential active anti-carcinogenic compounds and characterize their effects on proliferation and cell death in colon cancer (HT-29) cell lines. This makes the isolation, identification of bioactive compounds for a specific biological activity and structural determination of active compound. Bioactive compound (BR-1) was identified by MTT assay and the compound (BR-1) was identified as flavonoid group of compound by chemical screening. Based on the results from spectral analysis (UV, IR, MS and NMR) the active compound (BR-1) was tentatively identified as isovitexin with the molecular formula was coined as C21H20O10. The effect of isovitexin on the anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects against HT-29 human colon cancer (HT-29) cells was assessed by the MTT and LDH assay. A significant decrease in cell viability and increased in cell death was observed with increasing concentrations of isovitexin. The results showed that IC50 of isovitexin was found to be 21.44 µg/ml concentrations on HT-29 cell line. Induction of apoptosis by isovitexin was supported with evidence of DNA fragmentation. At the same time, apoptosis-related proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2, pro-caspase-3, and active caspase-3 expression were determined by Western blot analysis. The HT-29 cells were treated with isovitexin for 0-24 h. An increase in expression of the Bax, which led to an activation of caspases- -3 and a decrease in expression of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 were observed in a time-dependent manner. Isovitexin could also down-regulate the expression of pro-caspase-3 in a time-dependent manner. Our results evaluating the molecular mechanism that isovitexin induced apoptosis cell death in HT-29 cells may occur via caspase-3, through mitochondrial dependent pathway. Hence, these findings support and strengthen the anticancer activity possessed by the isovitexin and it might be used as a good chemotherapeutic approach against colon cancer. Thus overall study reports the potential usefulness of B.rubra as a chemopreventive agent.
Chung-Hey Chen
National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
Title: Effectiveness of Aerobic Gymnastic Exercise on Stress, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality
Biography:
Chung-Hey Chen completed her PhD from University of Pittsburgh, USA in 1994. Her research has focused for the past 35 years on peri-natal depression, stressfulness of childbearing and complementary/alternative therapy. She has published more than 140 articles in the field of health care. Her research findings not only contribute to the clinical practice in terms of establishing the women health care model in Taiwan, but also motivating the graduate students to extend her research focus on women health, nursing education and illness management. She has been serving as a section editor of repute.
Abstract:
“Doing the month†is Taiwan-specific socio-cultural system, women usually decrease their exercising during their postpartum periods. A growing body of evidence suggests that exercise is important contributor to maternal health and thus is beneficial to infants. Gymnastics is a preferable safe exercise for postnatal women performing regularly. To determine the effectiveness of aerobic gymnastic exercise in health promotion during postpartum, a total of 140 postnatal women without contraindications were systematically assigned, with a random start to experimental (n=70) or a control (n=70) group. Participants in the gymnastic exercise group were instructed to engage in aerobic gymnastic exercise at least 3 times (15 minutes per section) a week in addition to receiving general postnatal care similar to that in the control group for 3 months. Outcome measures include Perceived Stress Scale, Postpartum Fatigue Scale, Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Sixty-four women in experimental and 65 in control group completed the 4-week post-tests; 60 in the experimental group and 62 in control group completed the 12-week post-tests. Paired t-tests revealed that aerobic gymnastic exercise participants had improved significantly in perceived stress and fatigue after 4 weeks gymnastic exercise; these positive effects extended to the 12-week posttests. In addition, the physical symptoms-related sleep inefficiency of participants showed significant improvements in the aerobic gymnastic exercise group than in the control group at the 12-week posttest. The results contribute to the further study of exercises and compact disc multimedia health education programs for postnatal women.
Gisele Marquini
Federal University of Uberlandia/MG, Brazil
Title: Cesarean delivery: Is it possible to decrease or readjust our rates?
Biography:
Gisele Vissoci Marquini, Bachelor’s in Medicine, Specialization Medical Residence in Gynecology and Obstetrics, M aster's in Health’s Sciences by Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), MG Brazil, place where she has been working as a doctor and a researcher of Nucleus of Health Assistance to the Worker, for twelve years. She has published papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute. Studies continuing medical education at the Federal University of São Paulo Brazil.medical organization of credibility that promotes safe vaginal delivery and the careful assessment of indications for cesarean delivery. FEBRASGO has developed the guideline Cesarean Indications, which includes recommendations on indications for cesarean delivery and could promote a reduction in these rates of this procedure. It has carried out a study, in Brazil, specifically at the Federal University of Uberlandia, that was to evaluate how to readjust indications for cesarean delivery by using of this guideline with its evidence based medicine with health workers. According to this study, protocols could enable and encourage physicians to perform vaginal delivery. It was possible to identify barriers to change this paradigm. Stimulation of team members to develop standardized and updated obstetrics can improve indications for cesarean delivery in low risk pregnancies.
Abstract:
Brazil has been cited as a country with one of the highest rates of cesarean delivery in the world: approximately 36% of births are by cesarean. Statistics from private hospitals show an even higher frequency, reaching 8090%. Despite the importance of cesarean sections, the concern of the international scientific community is directed toward a possible abuse in the procedure. The Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Societies (FEBRASGO) is a nationwide medical organization of credibility that promotes safe vaginal delivery and the careful assessment of indications for cesarean delivery. FEBRASGO has developed the guideline Cesarean Indications, which includes recommendations on indications for cesarean delivery and could promote a reduction in these rates of this procedure. It has carried out a study, in Brazil, specifically at the Federal University of Uberlandia, that was to evaluate how to readjust indications for cesarean delivery by using of this guideline with its evidence based medicine with health workers. According to this study, protocols could enable and encourage physicians to perform vaginal delivery. It was possible to identify barriers to change this paradigm. Stimulation of team members to develop standardized and updated obstetrics can improve indications for cesarean delivery in low risk pregnancies.
Biography:
Daniel Woodard is pursuing his Master's degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in the school of Mechanical Engineering. He received his undergraduate degree from UAB, which included coursework focused on HVAC applications and computer simulations. He has been a member of ASHRAE since 2010.
Abstract:
Indoor air quality is an important factor to consider when designing HVAC systems. The health and safety of those who occupy the space within any structure could be significantly affected by the air handling system inadvertently recirculating dirty exhaust air, or capturing exhaust from neighboring structures. And thus, the design and placement of intake and exhaust structures on building rooftops must be thoroughly evaluated. When evaluating the intake and exhaust structures on building rooftops, it is important to collect and consider as much information as possible. This may include building dimensions, structures on the rooftop, the dimensions of neighboring buildings in addition to their ventilation specifications, and environmental factors such as temperature and wind direction. This paper reviews the concept of using simulation software to model the likelihood of exhaust gases recirculating through intake structures on building rooftops. Each of the simulations consisted of a rectangular building with an intake structure and exhaust stack in various positions on the roof. ASHRAE stack design guidance, provided in chapter 45 of the 2011 ASHRAE Handbook, was used to develop these cases. Exhaust gas of various velocities is simulated to identify whether modeling techniques can serve as an adequate replacement or alternative to traditional ASHARE based hand calculations. A properly designed exhaust structure would result in minimal exhaust gas recirculation. In other words, a case in which the exhaust gas travels over the recirculation zone that is adjacent to the intake structure and is carried beyond the building.
Biography:
Lansing, Michigan Area - ‎Mental Health Care Professional
Abstract:
Uniformed officers working with the Immigration & Checkpoint Authority (ICA) of Singapore are part of the Home Team Officers (including Police officers, Prison officers and Fire Fighters) serving under the Ministry of Home Affairs. This paper aims to explore the occupational and organizational stress among immigration officers in ICA. While immigration officers are facing similar stressors as those by Police officers (E.g. shift work, dealing with members of public and difficulty transiting between work and personal life), limited research has been done on stressors and the mental wellness of immigration officers. This study focuses on investigating the challenges and psychological service needs of ICA officers to aid in the shaping of in-house mental wellness services to maintain and enhance the mental resiliency of these guardians of our borders. This study includes a review of existing literature, observation and feedback made during ground visits to ICA work premises and a self-reporting survey by the officers. Findings are reported in this paper followed by recommendations to meet the identified gaps.
Arif Ali Chishti
University of Karachi , Pakistan
Title: Comprehensive needs assessment of COPD patients residing in east-central Indiana and west-central Ohio
Biography:
Arif Ali Chishti has completed his MSc from Univesity of Applied Sciences, Germany and PhD from University of Bonn, Germnay and now working as Assistant Prof. at The Karachi Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KIBGE), Karachi Pakistan. He has 2 papers in reputed journals. He is currently doing research in occupational health and safety of radiation workers.
Abstract:
Exposure to ionizing radiation occurs from natural sources (e.g. cosmic or terrestrial radiation) or man-made sources (e.g. radiation used in diagnosis and radiotherapy). Ionizing radiation being used in diagnostic procedures (X-ray or computed tomography) can increase the risk of development of ionizing radiation induced cancer even at low doses. A better understanding of biological effects and cellular responses to ionizing radiation will lead to efficient use in radiotherapy and better protection. Up to now, it is not clear to what extent the different NF-ï«B target genes are activated in response to different doses and qualities of ionizing radiation. Therefore, the effect of heavy ions of a broad LET range (ï¾ 0.3 - 9674 keV/µm) on cellular survival and activation of NF-ï«B were investigated. The biological relevance of the recently discovered LET dependency of NF-ï«B activation is also unknown, especially the resulting profile of NF-ï«B target gene expression. This study clearly demonstrates that NF-ï«B activation and NF-ï«B-dependent gene expression by heavy ions are highest in the LET range ofï¾50-200 keV/μm. The up-regulated chemokines and cytokines (CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL10, IL-8 and TNF) might be important for cell-cell communication among hit as well as unhit cells (bystander effect). Hence, the expression profile was determined in this work. The results clearly show the role of LET in modulating radiation induced NF-ï«B activation and NF-ï«B dependent gene expression by ionizing radiation of different LET.
Eduard HanslÃk
T.G.Masaryk Water Research Institute, Czech Republic
Title: Occupation health at drinking water treatment plant using ground water with elevated concentrations of radon 222, radium 226 and radium 228
Biography:
HanslÃk completed his studies at Department of Water Technology and Environment of the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague in 1969 and successfully concluded his postgraduate research in 1981 at the same university. He completed the UNESCO Hydrological Course at Lomonosov University in Moscow. He focused on behavior of radioactive substances in the aquatic environment and possibilities of removal of radioactive substances, including radon-222 gas, during water treatment. He is an expert guarantor of national conferences e.g. „Radionuclides and ionizing radiation in water management“ (1978–2016).
Abstract:
The content of radionuclides in ground water, as raw water for drinking water treatment, can vary in a wide range. In the case of high content of the natural radionuclides, especially content of radium 226 and radium 228, the most often used process of their removing is aeration followed by the filtration on gravity or pressure filters filled with sand covered with iron and manganic oxides, eventually with other medium as Birm or Greensand. These procedures had been used for the water treatment before the radioactive substances content in water and their ingestion risk were known. During the water treatment process, the radioisotopes of radium 226 and radium 228 are retained in the filter media together with iron and manganese. Retained radium 226 generates its daughter radionuclide - gaseous radon 222. During the filters washing, radon 222 is released into the air of the water treatment plant hall.This will be shown on an example, when the radon 222 concentration in raw ground water is low but it gets into the treated water during the treatment process. When the filters are being washed, the radon 222 concentration in the air of the plant significantly increases. The dependence of radon concentration in the air on the radium 226 activity in the sand of the particular filters was assessed. The inhalation dose rates due to radon 222 and dose rates from filter media for the operating personnel were evaluated.
Anyanwu
National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria, Nigeria
Title: New standadrs for occupational safety and health management and recognition of occupational diseases
Biography:
DR. REGINALD CHIDIEBERE ANYANWU holds Ph.D in Occupational Health. He is a fellow, Chartered Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria. He is Chairman Board of Trust and President, Foundation for Occupational Accidents Victims. DR. ANYANWU lectures Occupational health at M.Sc and Ph.D level of centre for Occupational Health Safety and Environment University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and University Of Benin, Nigeria. He is the CEO National Industrial Safety council of Nigeria. Inspectorate Division federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity. He has published several Research works and Author of a book Principles And Application of Health and Safety at work 2011.Amongst others.
Abstract:
International Labour Organization and World Health Organization committee aims at the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social of well being of workers in all occupations. A study was carried in Lagos metropolitan, the largest city in West Africa, Employee Survey findings about workplace stress as result of increased workload, new technology at work, new business environment meeting deadlines, overdependence on targets, Gender insensitivity, extended work hours, conflict resolution. The findings reveals that 80% of the working hours is spent at work, 1/3 reported high level of stress, 1/4 reported their jobs as number 1 stressor in their life above family and financial pressure. ¾ believe more on the job stress than a generation ago. As results an alternative to reduce stress is employed by metropolitan residence in Lagos State in Nigeria to ease off stress as result of work stress. Lagosians spend Nib (USD 6.25m) per day on social parties (annual expenditure of N365 Billion) just to reduce stress. Some Occupational Diseases includes Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), Low Back Pain, Hepatitis B, HIV, Mental Disorder, Leukemia, Zoonosis, Pneumoconiosis (Silicosis and Asbestosis) Pesticides Poisoning, Skin Disorder, Noise included Hearing loss, Musculo-skeletal Disorder, Cancer etc. Recommendations for Health promotion in a work place are creation of strong leadership for prevention of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD), strong support from management/employers, strong support from employees unions, stakeholder involvement, ensure availability of facilities for physical activity such as gyms, promotion of physical activity among employees including games and sports (6000 steps/week or 2000minutes/week) encourage use of stairs instead of lifts at work places, ensure availability of healthy foods at work. SUMMARY/CONCLUSION These occupational diseases are largely preventable and so the society will be better off with structures to mitigate those waiting disaster. Work place health and safety is a business of all as the society benefits therefrom.
Suman Bahadur
School of Public Health and Community medicine, Nepal
Title: Respiratory disorders among dust exposed workers in eastern Nepal
Biography:
Dr. Suman Bahadur Singh, Associate Professor, has completed his MD (Community Medicine) in 2008 from B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal and is working in the same institution since then. He has professional experience as leader in outreach occupational health services, coordinator in residency program in community medicine and guide and co-guide in thesis. His career objective is to promote wellness at work by working in a multidisciplinary approach to establish Occupational Safety and Health at national level in Nepal. He has published about ten papers in peer reviewed journal.
Abstract:
Exposure to dusts is common in developing industrialized countries. Chronic respiratory illness has been reported from jute and textile industry. This study compared respiratory problem among the workers of jute and textile industry. A cross-sectional study enrolled 315 workers from each of the industries. Almost all the workers were selected from the textile industry while the workers from the jute industry were selected from dust prone areas. Workers were interviewed by using pretested questionnaires. Measurement of height and weight and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was done by appropriate tools and techniques. Majority of workers were non smokers in both the industries (73% vs. 70.8%). Most of the workers had the working experience of less than five years in both the industries (42.5% vs. 57.1%). Upper respiratory disorder was found among more than one fifth of workers in the jute industry and around one twentieth of workers in the textile industry. One and two worker suffered from chronic bronchitis in the jute and the textile industry respectively. Chest tightness was reported by 1.3% and 5.4% workers in the jute and textile industry respectively. Higher proportion of workers (27.3%) in the jute industry suffered from cough symptom than the workers (8.3%) in the textile industry which was statistically very significant (p<0.001). Mean score of PEFR of workers in jute mill was lower than the workers of textile industry, which was statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). Chronic respiratory problem did not appear to be alarming in both the industries.
Josthna Penchalaneni
Sri Venkateswara University, India
Title: Basella rubra a natural chemopreventive agent against Colon cancer: An outbreak in Health care
Biography:
Josthna Penchalaneni Department of Biotechnology, Sri Padmavathi Mahila University, Tirupati-517502. A.P. INDIA 2 DST PURSE Centre, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati-517502 .A.P. INDIA
Abstract:
The present study deals with the exploration of traditionally used plant (Basella rubra) against colon cancer. Aqueous leaf extract of Basella rubra were studied for chemotherapeutic potential against chemically induced carcinogenesis model. Chemopreventive effect of BRAE (Basella rubra aqueous extract) is evidenced by the decreased incidence and distribution of tumors along the colon with reduction in number of ACF and AgNOR count. Immunohistochemistry findings demonstrated that BRAE significantly inhibited the growth of cancer cells by inhibiting cell proliferation and by inducing apoptosis through activation of apoptosis pathway which is cleared by the increased expression of apoptosis markers (p53 & Caspase-3) and decreased expression of cell proliferation markers (PCNA & Ki67). Plants are known to be rich in a number of bioactive compounds, which have demonstrated to possess numerous therapeutical activities. This research arose from the interest to identify the potential active anti-carcinogenic compounds and characterize their effects on proliferation and cell death in colon cancer (HT-29) cell lines. This makes the isolation, identification of bioactive compounds for a specific biological activity and structural determination of active compound. Bioactive compound (BR-1) was identified by MTT assay and the compound (BR-1) was identified as flavonoid group of compound by chemical screening. Based on the results from spectral analysis (UV, IR, MS and NMR) the active compound (BR-1) was tentatively identified as isovitexin with the molecular formula was coined as C21H20O10. The effect of isovitexin on the anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects against HT-29 human colon cancer (HT-29) cells was assessed by the MTT and LDH assay. A significant decrease in cell viability and increased in cell death was observed with increasing concentrations of isovitexin. The results showed that IC50 of isovitexin was found to be 21.44 µg/ml concentrations on HT-29 cell line. Induction of apoptosis by isovitexin was supported with evidence of DNA fragmentation. At the same time, apoptosis-related proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2, pro-caspase-3, and active caspase-3 expression were determined by Western blot analysis. The HT-29 cells were treated with isovitexin for 0-24 h. An increase in expression of the Bax, which led to an activation of caspases- -3 and a decrease in expression of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 were observed in a time-dependent manner. Isovitexin could also down-regulate the expression of pro-caspase-3 in a time-dependent manner. Our results evaluating the molecular mechanism that isovitexin induced apoptosis cell death in HT-29 cells may occur via caspase-3, through mitochondrial dependent pathway. Hence, these findings support and strengthen the anticancer activity possessed by the isovitexin and it might be used as a good chemotherapeutic approach against colon cancer. Thus overall study reports the potential usefulness of B.rubra as a chemopreventive agent.
Thomas Patitucci
Development Officer, USA
Title: Methods of Ensuing Worker Safety in the Provision of In-Home
Biography:
Holds a MSW from Fordham University and is license clinical social worker. He possesses 37 years’ experience in managing Mental Health, Assertive Community Treatment, Case Management, Supervised Housing, Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Substance Abuse Services. He has offered consultation and training across the US and Canada; has presented in over 25 natioanal conferences with respect to behavioral health treatment and rehabilitation. Formerly was a Visiting Instructor at the Rutgers Graduate School of Social Work.
Abstract:
The point of service for the health care sector has become increasing home based. Funders and policy makers are purposefully driving services away from hospitals and clinics to the homes of the patients. This trend is particularly prevalent in the mental health field. As this direction expands, the risk posed to mental health practitioners providing these services have concomitantly increased both from the patients being treated and the environments many of persons with mental illness reside. As a result, a need for safety conscious worker force, comprehensive worker training and organizational safety strategies are extremely important in the process of managing the risk and provide quality care in home services. The presenter will describe that exposure to violence is a common place experience in many of the urban and suburban areas given the low socio-economic areas most of the patients reside. Discuss how exposure to the threat of violence and crime, is common place and that violence is prevalent both for practitioners and patient stand point. The presenter will describe that risk for practitioners is further exacerbated due to the fact; they face unstable and unpredictable patients and or roommates alone. Therefore, providers and healthcare leaders will need to have comprehensive strategies to manage the risk to practitioners providing in home mental health intervention. The presentation will include individual practitioner field based safety tips and a discussion of the overall needs for risk management strategies for healthcare leaders and what elements these may include.
Chung-Hey Chen
National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
Title: Effectiveness of Aerobic Gymnastic Exercise on Stress, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality during Postpartum
Biography:
Chung-Hey Chen completed her PhD from University of Pittsburgh, USA in 1994. Her research has focused for the past 35 years on peri-natal depression, stressfulness of childbearing and complementary/alternative therapy. She has published more than 140 articles in the field of health care. Her research findings not only contribute to the clinical practice in terms of establishing the women health care model in Taiwan, but also motivating the graduate students to extend her research focus on women health, nursing education and illness management. She has been serving as a section editor of repute.
Abstract:
“Doing the month†is Taiwan-specific socio-cultural system, women usually decrease their exercising during their postpartum periods. A growing body of evidence suggests that exercise is important contributor to maternal health and thus is beneficial to infants. Gymnastics is a preferable safe exercise for postnatal women performing regularly. To determine the effectiveness of aerobic gymnastic exercise in health promotion during postpartum, a total of 140 postnatal women without contraindications were systematically assigned, with a random start to experimental (nï¼70) or a control (nï¼70) group. Participants in the gymnastic exercise group were instructed to engage in aerobic gymnastic exercise at least three times (15 minutes per section) a week in addition to receiving general postnatal care similar to that in the control group for three months. Outcome measures include Perceived Stress Scale, Postpartum Fatigue Scale, Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Sixty-four women in experimental and 65 in control group completed the 4-week post-tests; 60 in the experimental group and 62 in control group completed the 12-week post-tests. Paired t-tests revealed that aerobic gymnastic exercise participants had improved significantly in perceived stress and fatigue after 4 weeks gymnastic exercise; these positive effects extended to the 12-week posttests. In addition, the physical symptoms-related sleep inefficiency of participants showed significantly improvements in the aerobic gymnastic exercise group than in the control group at the 12-week posttest. The results contribute to the further study of exercises and compact disc multimedia health education programs for postnatal women.
Gisele Marquini
Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Brazil
Title: Cesarean delivery: Is it possible to decrease or readjust our rates?
Biography:
Gisele Vissoci Marquini, Bachelor’s in Medicine, Specialization-Medical Residence in Gynecology and Obstetrics, Master's in Health’s Sciences by Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), MG Brazil, place where she has been working as a doctor and a researcher of Nucleus of Health Assistance to the Worker, for twelve years. Member of Santa Clara Hospital and Maternity (Brazil), a premier service organization, has completed her post graduation at the age of 35 years. She has published papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute. Studies continuing medical education at the Federal University of São Paulo Brazil.
Abstract:
Brazil has been cited as a country with one of the highest rates of cesarean delivery in the world: approximately 36% of births are by cesarean. Statistics from private hospitals show an even higher frequency, reaching 80-90%. Despite the importance of cesarean sections, the concern of the international scientific community is directed toward a possible abuse in the procedure. The Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Societies (FEBRASGO) is a nationwide medical organization of credibility that promotes safe vaginal delivery and the careful assessment of indications for cesarean delivery. It adapts recommendations of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) for application in Brazil. FEBRASGO has developed the guideline Cesarean-Indications, which includes recommendations on indications for cesarean delivery and could promote a reduction in these rates of this procedure It has carried out a study, in Brazil, specifically at the Federal University of Uberlandia, that was to evaluate how to readjust indications for cesarean delivery by using of this guideline with its evidence-based medicine. According to this study, protocols could enable and encourage physicians to perform vaginal delivery. Frequent meetings with discussions on the applicability of the recommended protocols in local practice are valid. Stimulation of team members to develop standardized and updated obstetrics can improve indications for cesarean delivery in low- risk pregnancies.
Lindiwe Zungu
University of South Africa, South Africa
Title: Occupational exposures to patients’ body fluids among health care workers in a university hospital in Ethiopia
Biography:
Professor Lindiwe Zungu completed her PhD at the age of 32 from the University of Zululand in South Africa. She is a research professor in Occupational Health at the University of South Africa and a National Research Foundation (NRF) C3-rated researcher. She has produced over 35 articles in peer reviewed scientific local and international journals; and supervised to graduation a sizeable number of Masters and PhD candidates within the discipline of Health Sciences. She has been recognised for her innovative and unique scientific contributions to research and scholarship, as evidenced by several research grants and awards since 2007.
Abstract:
Globally, exposures to patients’ body fluids (BFs) are common occupational hazards among health care workers (HCWs); and over 90% of such occupational exposures occur in developing countries such as Ethiopia. However, there is paucity of data to quantify the magnitude and circumstances around the occurrence of these occupational exposures among HCWs in Ethiopia. The study aimed at describing the patterns of exposure to patients’ BFs among HCWs at a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia. A contextual descriptive cross-sectional design was used for this study and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. The one year and professional life prevalence of occupational exposures to patients’ BFs among HCWs was 33.5% and 66.5% respectively. Circumstances that led to participants’ exposures to patients’ BFs include needle stick injuries to fingers and splashes to the eyes (82.4%); conducting procedures including withdrawal of blood (10.8%) and inserting intravenous infusions (8.1%) as well as recapping of used needles (12.2%). Findings of this study generally indicated that occupational exposures to patients’ BFs of different types and circumstances were common among all categories of HCWs in the study site. This high finding of BFs exposures should not be over looked. HCWs should be encouraged to adhere to universal precautionary measures to prevent the exposures to patients’ BFs. Furthermore, availability of and compliance with post-exposure prophylaxis should be strengthened
Renato Lagana
Mediterranean University, Italy
Title: Training of teachers of construction safety in schools
Biography:
Associate professor, Department DARTE, Mediterranean University, Reggio Calabria, Italy
Abstract:
On several occasions we recently dealt with the safety managers’ training. We’d like to propose you our experience made during internship activities for secondary-school teachers, which our University run in the last year. The training project is carried out complying with the guidelines provided by the Ministerial decree no. 357/2013 published on August 11, 1998 within the framework of the progressive implementation of the provisions contained in the Consolidated law on Education (no. 297/1994). The initiative launched by the Italian Ministry for Education had two important phases: - Activities in schools carried out by would-be teachers in secondary school classrooms; - Teachers’ training in universities by qualified lecturers. Here are the experiences of two participants who chose to deal with safety in building sites for surveyor training (subject A016 – Constructions, construction technology and technical drawing). In their graduation thesis they analysed two themes: 1) Trenching and excavation safety within the building site; 2) Safety in road construction sites. The originality of those contributions is characterised by the implementation of new teaching methods involving the use of the cutting-edge IT tools, by the techniques adopted to involve students and by the straightforward experience in building or road construction sites. They are going to enable would-be surveyors to achieve a good qualification level thus impacting positively on companies operating in the building sector.