RESUMEN
The aim of this research project was to learn more about work-related health risks among dental assistants in Flanders, Belgium. Forty-seven dental assistants completed an extensive questionnaire concerning ionized radiation, protection against infection and exposure to chemicals such as mercury, disinfectants and acrylates. Collective and personal means of protection, musculoskeletal disorders and work-related stress were also evaluated. Pain in the lower back, neck pain and shoulder pain were reported by, respectively, 15%, 17% and 22% of the respondents. Eczema resulting from skin irritation or contact-allergy was reported by 13%. Twenty-three percent of the assistants did not consistently make use ofa radiation badge; 80% wore a mouth mask and 33% wore protective glasses; and 82% was vaccinated against hepatitis B. Almost 10% reported verbal or physical aggression by patients. The mean stress score was 3.95 on a scale from 0 to 10. The results may contribute to the formulation of a number of recommendations for the improvement of the health of dental assistants.
Asunto(s)
Asistentes Dentales , Higienistas Dentales , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/epidemiología , Enfermedades Profesionales/epidemiología , Adulto , Bélgica/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Asistentes Dentales/estadística & datos numéricos , Higienistas Dentales/estadística & datos numéricos , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estrés Psicológico/epidemiología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: People with epilepsy are socially discriminated against on the grounds of widespread negative public attitudes, misunderstandings and defensive behaviour. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the public understanding of and attitudes toward epilepsy among the Chinese population in Malaysia. METHODS: A validated, self-administered questionnaire comprising 23 questions was utilised to evaluate the understanding of and attitudes toward epilepsy among randomly approached respondents from the Chinese population living in the urban areas of Penang, Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur and Sibu in Malaysia. RESULTS: Out of 1,000 people approached, 697 (69.7 percent) respondents agreed to participate in the study. When asked whether people with epilepsy are slow learners and have intellectual functioning below normal, 448 (64.3 percent) respondents answered 'no'. This positive answer was mainly provided by female (35.6 percent) as compared to male (28.6 percent) respondents. Moreover, more than half responded positively to the following statements: people with epilepsy should not be isolated from the normal population; epileptics can perform daily activities; epileptics can receive academic education; and epileptics can become useful members of society. In addition, significant associations were discovered between the education level of the respondents and several statements, including whether epileptics are as intelligent as everyone else (p-value is 0.009), whether epilepsy can be treated with drugs (p-value is 0.037) and whether epileptics can be as successful as other people in their chosen career (p-value is 0.009). Positive responses were mainly acquired from those with secondary education and above. A large number of the respondents felt that people with epilepsy should not be employed as lorry drivers, firefighters, doctors and army personnel. CONCLUSION: The general Chinese population in the urban areas of Malaysia had, at the time of the investigation, a relatively high level of understanding and positive attitudes toward certain aspects of epilepsy, although a minority of the study population demonstrated prejudice and discriminatory behaviours toward people with epilepsy.
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Epilepsia/etnología , Epilepsia/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Actitud Frente a la Salud , China , Escolaridad , Femenino , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Humanos , Malasia , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Población UrbanaRESUMEN
Sixty five methanolic extracts of Sumatran rainforest plants representing 63 species of 21 families were assayed in vivo for antinematodal activity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus using our cotton ball-fungal mat method. Extracts of 27 plants species from 14 families exhibited antinematodal activity, while 37 species were inactive. Among them, three extracts of Bischofia javanica, Knema hookeriana and Areca catechu exhibited very strong activity at minimum effective dose (MED) of 0.7 mg/cotton ball (mg/bl.). Eight extracts from Allamanda cathartica, Ervatamia corymbosa, Hoya diversifolia, Bischofia javanica, Derris malacensis, Melastoma melabathricum, Ophiorriza konsteleary and Brucea sumatrana also showed strong activity (MED, 5 mg/bl.).
Asunto(s)
Antihelmínticos/farmacología , Nematodos/efectos de los fármacos , Plantas/química , Árboles/parasitología , Animales , Especificidad de la EspecieRESUMEN
The activity-guided chromatographic purification of the methanol extract of Knema hookeriana, using pine wood nematodes Bursaphelenchus xylophilus has successfully led to the isolation and characterization of two phenolic antinematodal compounds with minimum effective dose (MED) of 4.5 and 20 microg/cotton ball (microg/bl.) or 0.018 and 0.073 microM/cotton ball (microM/bl.), respectively. Based on their chemical and spectral properties, these compounds were determined to be 3-undecylphenol (1) and 3-(8Z-tridecenyl)-phenol (2). These compounds were isolated for the first time from this species, and 2 seems to be a novel compound.