Luigi Isaia Lecca

Metabolomic patterns associated to QTc interval in shiftworkers: an explorative analysis

Abstract Objectives: 1H NMR-metabolomic approach was used to investigate QTc interval correlation with plasma metabolic profiles in shiftworkers. Methods: Socio-demographic data, electrocardiographic QTc interval and plasma metabolic profiles from 32 male shiftworkers, were correlated by multivariate regression analysis. Results: We found a positive correlation between QTc interval values, body mass index, glycemia and lactate level and a negative correlation between QTc interval and both pyroglutamate and 3-hydroxybutyrate plasma level. Conclusions: Our analysis provides evidence of the association between clinical, metabolic profiles and QTc interval values. This could be used to identify markers of early effects and/or susceptibility in shiftworkers.

Work Related Stress, Well-Being and Cardiovascular Risk among Flight Logistic Workers: An Observational Study

Work-related stress is a known occupational hazard, with a putative role on the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Although several investigations have explored the association in various workplace scenarios, none have focused on the airport flight logistic support personnel, a transportation business of crucial importance, potentially exposed to job stress and consequently to an increase in CVD risk. We explored the relationship between work-related stress and cardiovascular risk in 568 healthy workers of a flight logistic support company using the Health and Safety Executive questionnaire, the Framingham Heart Study General Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Prediction Score, and the WHO general well-being index (WHO-5). We used univariate and multivariate statistical methods to take account of possible confounders. Our results show that a low job support significantly increases the CVD risk score and decreases the WHO well-being index with reference to subjects reporting high support on the job. In addition, the well-being index of workers with high strain jobs appears lower in respect to workers employed in low strain job. The multivariate analysis confirms a protective effect of job support, and shows a detrimental influence on CVD risk by physical inactivity, regular intake of alcohol, and a low educational level. In addition, job control, job support, low strain, and high demand coupled with high control (active job) showed a beneficial effect on psychological well-being. Our results suggest that a combination of general risk factors and organizational factors contributes to increase CVD risk and well-being, representing a crucial target for intervention strategies to promote health in the workplace.

Composition of Metallic Elements and Size Distribution of Fine and Ultrafine Particles in a Steelmaking Factory

Background: The characteristics of aerosol, in particular particle size and chemical composition, can have an impact on human health. Particle size distribution and chemical composition is a necessary parameter in occupational exposure assessment conducted in order to understand possible health effects. The aim of this study was to characterize workplace airborne particulate matter in a metallurgical setting by synergistically using two different approaches; Methodology: Analysis of inhalable fraction concentrations through traditional sampling equipment and ultrafine particles (UFP) concentrations and size distribution was conducted by an Electric Low-Pressure Impactor (ELPI+™). The determination of metallic elements (ME) in particles was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; Results: Inhalable fraction and ME concentrations were below the limits set by Italian legislation and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH, 2017). The median of UFP was between 4.00 × 104 and 2.92 × 105 particles/cm3. ME concentrations determined in the particles collected by ELPI show differences in size range distribution; Conclusions: The adopted synergistic approach enabled a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the particles in steelmaking factories. The results could lead to a better knowledge of occupational exposure characterization, in turn affording a better understanding of occupational health issues due to metal fumes exposure.

Education and Training in Global Occupational Health and Safety: A Perspective on New Pathways to Sustainable Development

The institution of specific Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) training programs open to international trainees from developing countries in some European, American and Asian universities is now a well-established reality. Courses and seminars that focus particularly on this subject, widely varying in approach and duration, have been held for years at these universities; these academic institutions have combined their potential to attract students from developing countries with the scheduling of interesting lectures and training activities, depending on the availability of funds sufficient to cover travel and lodging costs. Interdisciplinarity is the key to the entire program and is its main strength, as the trainees have the opportunity to condense the technical notions and methodological aspects of different disciplines (occupational health, industrial hygiene, safety management, ergonomics) in one course. We firmly believe that these programs are a precious instrument for the training of occupational health professionals from low-income countries, as they are able to address their choices correctly, hopefully achieving the goal of reducing the human costs of development.

P061 Association between work related stress and qt prolongation in male workers: the role of low job control

Introduction Several studies have shown that high demand and low control jobs are associated with poor physical and mental wellbeing. Aim of our study was to test the association between job strain and the QTc interval on the electrocardiogram, an indicator of autonomic function, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and fasting glycaemia level. Methods Overall 280 male workers of a logistic support company for secure communication and intelligence were included in our study population. We measured work-related stress using the HSE indicator tool, general wellbeing using the Well-being Index (WHO5); affectivity was measured by the short version of the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS); the frequency corrected QT (QTc) interval on the electrocardiogram was measured using the Bazett’s formula; QT index (QTi) value, blood pressure, BMI, and fasting glycaemia were also recorded, as well as medications, lifestyles and comorbidities. Based on the Karasek’s taxonomy, we compared high strain jobs, low strain jobs, active jobs and passive jobs with respect to WHO5, PANAS, QTc, QTi, blood pressure, BMI and glycaemia. Group differences were analysed by means of parametric and non parametric tests. Results Results showed that low strain jobs were associated with a lower frequency of negative affectivity than high strain jobs (Fisher test = 3.63, p < 0.05). Employees with passive jobs (low demand and low control) showed a significantly longer QT index than workers in high-strain jobs (high demand and low control) (F = 3.18, p < 0.05). No significant differences were found among the four groups on the other investigated variables. Conclusions In our study population, we did not observe a reduction in cardiac vagal control, as indicated by a prolonged QTi, among subjects employed in high strain and low control jobs.

P228 Recreational physical activity and risk of lymphoma subtypes

Background Physical activity is known to protect against several cancers and to improve survival and quality of life in cancer patients. Few studies have addressed the association between physical activity and risk of non Hodgkin lymphoma and its subtypes. Methods During 1998–2004, a case-control study on the aetiology of lymphoma was conducted Sardinia, Italy as part of the European multicentre study EPILYMPH. Information on lifetime recreational physical activity was collected using a standardised questionnaire. Risk of the major lymphoma subtypes associated with ever practicing physical activity and with quartiles of hours of recreational physical activity in the lifetime was calculated with unconditional logistic regression analysis, adjusting by age, gender, education and study centre. Results Risk of lymphoma overall and B-cell lymphoma was not associated with ever practicing recreational physical activity (OR = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.7–1.3). However, a significant protective effect was observed in the upper quartile of hours of recreational physical activity in the lifetime (OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.3–0.8). The inverse association was consistent across the major lymphoma subtypes, namely diffuse large B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and multiple myeloma. Conclusions Our results suggest an inverse association between risk of the major lymphoma subtypes and prolonged recreational physical activity.

0272 Risk of lymphoma and occupational exposure to organic dust

Objectives A medical history of allergy, and particularly asthma, has been associated with an inverse risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). As occupational exposure to specific organic dusts is a risk factor for asthma, we explored risk of lymphoma and its major subtypes in relation to organic dusts. Method In 1999–2004, 324 incident lymphoma cases and 464 population controls, frequency matched to cases by age and gender, were recruited among adult residents in Sardinia, Italy. Expert industrial hygienists assessed exposure to organic dust overall, and specific organic dusts. The odds ratio (OR) for lymphoma (all types) and its major subtypes, and its 95% confidence interval, was calculated using unconditional logistic regression. Results Exposure to organic dust in general was inversely associated with risk of lymphoma (all types) (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.4–1.2), with a declining trend by duration and level of exposure. The inverse association was apparently more pronounced for exposure to flour dust and wood dust, but not to natural or artificial textile fibres. A consistent inverse risk was observed for B-cell lymphoma (OR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.3–1.0), and it was likewise for its major subtypes, namely diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Age <= 18 at first exposure conveyed a further decrease in lymphoma risk (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2–1.2). Conclusions Although with interpretative limitations due to the small study size, our results suggest that exposure to flour dust and wood dust might contribute a reduction in risk of malignant lymphoma.