February 2012
Österberg K, Karlson B, Malmberg B, Hansen AM.
The purpose of the study was to determine whether recovery from burnout is associated with improved cognitive functioning, and whether such improvement is associated with changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and return to work. Forty-five former burnout patients were followed up after 1.5 years with a neuropsychological examination, diurnal salivary cortisol measurements, dexamethasone suppression test (DST), and self-ratings of cognitive problems. At follow-up, improved cognitive performance was observed on several tests of short-term memory and attention. Self-rated cognitive problems decreased considerably, but this decrease was unrelated to the improvement on neuropsychological tests. Diurnal salivary cortisol concentrations at awakening, 30 min after awakening, and in the evening, did not change from baseline to follow-up, nor did the cortisol awakening response. However, slightly, but significantly, stronger suppression of cortisol in response to the DST was observed at follow-up. Improvements in subjective or objective cognitive functioning and changes in diurnal cortisol concentration were unrelated to the extent of work resumption. However, a decreased DST response at follow-up was partially related to improved cognitive performance and work resumption. The clinical implications are that burnout seems to be associated with slight and significantly reversible cognitive impairment, and that self-rated cognitive change during recovery poorly reflects objective cognitive change.
January 2012
Lindegård A, Gustafsson M, Hansson GÅ.
AIM: To quantify the effects of using prismatic glasses including optometric correction, on head and neck kinematics, perceived exertion and comfort, during work in the oral cavity.
METHODS: The study population consisted of forty-five participants. After a basic ergonomic education, baseline measurements of head and neck kinematics were made using inclinometers. Perceived exertion and comfort were rated by the participants. An intervention group (n = 25), selected at random from the participants, received prismatic glasses and optometric correction when needed and were compared with a control group (n = 20). Follow up assessments were made after the intervention.
RESULTS: At follow up there was a reduction in both the intervention group (8.7°) and in the control group (3.6°) regarding head flexion. Neck flexion was reduced by 8.2° in the intervention group and 3.3° in the control group. The difference between the intervention and the control groups, i.e. the effect of the intervention, was statistically significant for both head (5.1°; p = 0.009) and neck (4.9°; p = 0.045) flexion. No effect of the intervention was seen regarding perceived exertion and comfort.
CONCLUSION: The reduction in head and neck flexion achieved by the prismatic glasses is likely to reduce the risk of neck pain during dental work. The effect of the prismatic lenses could not be separated from the effect of the optometric correction. The possible effect of the ergonomic education was not evaluated.
December 2011
Background: Animal studies indicate that some phthalate metabolites may harm female reproductive function.
Objectives: We assessed the associations between exposure to phthalate metabolites and pregnancy loss.
Methods: In a previously established cohort of first pregnancy planners, we analyzed four primary and two oxidized secondary phthalate metabolites in urine samples collected on day 10 after the first day of the last menstrual period before conception occurred (n=128) and during the previous cycle (if any, n=111). Subclinical embryonal loss was identified by repeated urinary hCG measurements and information on clinical spontaneous abortions was obtained by telephone interview with the mother.
Results: Pregnancy loss (n = 48) was increased among women with urinary concentration of monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) in the upper tertile in the conception sample compared with women in the lowest tertile [adjusted odds ratio 2.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1; 7.6]. The corresponding odds ratio for subclinical embryonal loss (n=32) was 40.7 (CI 4.5; 369.5).
Conclusions: The phthalate metabolite MEHP was associated with higher occurrence of pregnancy loss. Since this is the first human study to show this association and the sample size is small, the findings need to be corroborated in independent studies.
November 2011
A mobile workforce can help improve a country’s economy but the effects of commuting on the health of commuters and on the costs to industry in terms of sick days is largely unknown. From a commuter’s point of view, the better paid job or better housing conditions daily travel allows need to be weighed against adverse health effects. New research published in BioMed Central’s open access journal BMC Public Health shows that commuting by car or public transport compared to walking or cycling is associated with negative health.
Researchers from Lund University looked at 21,000 people, aged between 18 and 65, who worked more than 30 hours a week and commuted either by car, train or bus, or were active commuters, who travelled by walking or cycling. ‘One way’ journey time was compared to the volunteer’s perceived general health, including sleep quality, exhaustion and everyday stress.
Erik Hansson from the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University explained, "Generally car and public transport users suffered more everyday stress, poorer sleep quality, exhaustion and, on a seven point scale, felt that they struggled with their health compared to the active commuters. The negative health of public transport users increased with journey time. However, the car drivers who commuted 30 – 60 minutes experienced worse health than those whose journey lasted more than one hour. "
Erik continued "One explanation for the discrepancy between car and public transport users might be that long-distance car commuting, within our geographical region, could provide more of an opportunity for relaxation. However, it could be that these drivers tended to be men, and high-income earners, who travelled in from rural areas, a group that generally consider themselves to be in good health. More research needs to be done to identify how exactly commuting is related to the ill health we observed in order to readdress the balance between economic needs, health, and the costs of working days lost."
Page Manager: Ralf Rittner, Jenny Molested
Last modified: 2012-01-31
