Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences

Research Article

27/9/2016

A Model to Determine the Level of Serum Aldosterone in the Workers Attributed to the Combined Effects of Sound Pressure Level, Exposure Time and Serum Potassium Level: A Field-Based Study

Parvin Nassiri, Sajad Zare, Mohammad Reza Monazzam, Akram Pourbakht

Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical study was conducted on 45 workers of Gol-Gohar Mining and Industrial Company in the fall of 2014. The subjects were divided into three groups (one control and two case groups), each including 15 workers. Participants in the control group were selected from workers with administrative jobs (exposure to the background noise). On the other hand, participants in the case groups were selected from the concentrator and pelletizing factories exposed to excessive noise. Serum aldosterone and potassium levels of participants were assessed at three different time intervals: at the beginning of the shift and before exposure to noise (7:30 - 8:00 AM), during exposure to noise (10:00 - 10:30 AM), and during continuous exposure (1:30 - 2:00 PM). The obtained data were transferred into SPSS ver. 18. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to develop the statistical model of workers’ aldosterone level in light of the combined effect of sound pressure level, exposure time, and serum potassium level.

Results: The results of the final statistical model to determine the level of serum aldosterone based on the combined effect of sound pressure level, exposure time and serum potassium level indicated that the sound pressure level had a significant influence on the human’s serum aldosterone level (P = 0.04). In addition, the effects of exposure time and serum potassium on aldosterone level were statistically significant with P-values of 0.008 and 0.001, respectively.

Research Article

2/10/2016

The Effect of Safety Costs on Productivity and Quality: A Case Study of Five Steel Companies in Ahvaz

Gholamabbas Shirali, Reza Savari, Kambiz Ahmadiangali, Vahid Salehi

Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis and was implemented in five steel companies in Ahvaz. The data relating to the safety costs such as staffing costs and total safety costs, and productivity and quality indicators were collected in five years. This information and data were collected according to statistics from documents and archives of safety, accounting, and production sectors of companies. Costs as well as numbers and figures of variables were expressed in the form of per capita and percentage to make the data comparable. Linear and generalized regression models and Wald Chi-Square test were used by the SPSS 22 software to determine the relationships between them.

Research Article

27/9/2016

Assessment of Noise Exposure and Noise Annoyance in a Steel Factory

Leila Ibrahimi Ghavam Abadi, Behzad Fouladi Dehaghi, Abbas Mohammadi, Ghasem Mardi, Afshine Rahmati

Research Article

7/11/2016

The Relationship Between Fatigue and Job Content with Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Nurses

Mohammad Khandan, Somayeh Momenyan, Leila Ataei Manesh, Zahra Khosravi, Zeinab Eyni, Alireza Koohpaei

Research Article

26/9/2016

Determination of Work-Rest Schedules Based on Physical Workload Among Bakers in Ahvaz, Iran

Davood Afshari, Hamid Saednia, Amal Saki, Abdolhosein Bigdeli, Leila Jodakinia

Methods: It was an analytical and descriptive research. Heart rate of workers was continuously recorded to achieve the physiological monitoring and the obtained information was used to determine the work difficulty and physical workload. The ratio of heat stress and RHR was measured using the WBGT and polar team pro device, respectively. Work-rest schedules were detected through the heart rate reserve and heat stress indexes. The level of significance was α = 0.05.

Results: Physical workload based on heart rate was estimated light to moderate in bakery workers. Suitable work-rest schedule for all bakery workers according to WBGT index was 25% work-75% rest and based on heart rate reserve index in half of the workers was 50% work-50% rest, and in the other half of the bakery workers was continuous work without rest. According to Kappa test, there was no agreement between the two methods of heat stress index and heart rate reserve to determine the work-rest schedules of workers (P < 0.001).

Research Article

26/9/2016

Validation of Environmental Stress Index by Measuring Infrared Radiation as a Substitute for Solar Radiation in Indoor Workplaces

Peymaneh Habibi, Habiboallah Dehghan, Mahnaz Shakerian

Methods: This study was conducted on 2303 indoor workstations in different industries in Isfahan, Iran, during July, August, and September in 2012. The intensity of the Infrared Radiation (IR) (w/m²) was measured at five-centimeter distances in six different directions, above, opposite, right, left, behind and below the globe thermometer. Then, the dry globe temperature (T_a), wet globe temperature (Tnw), globe temperature (Tg) and relative humidity (RH) were also simultaneously measured. The data were analyzed using correlation and regression by the SPSS₁₈ software.

Conclusions: Based on the results, to study heat stress in indoor workplaces when the WBGT measurement instrument is not available and also in short-term exposures (shorter than 30 minutes) when measuring the wet bulb globe temperature shows a considerable error, it is possible to calculate the environmental stress index and accordingly to the WBGT index, by measuring the parameters of dry bulb temperature (T_a), relative humidity (RH), and infrared radiation intensity that can be easily measured in a short time.

Research Article

3/10/2016

Reno and Hepatoprotective Activity of Buffalo’s Milk Against Xylene-Induced Toxicity in the Rat

Massumeh Ahmadizadeh, Shaghayegh Koshbasirat, Zohreh Jaffarzadeh

Methods: A total 42 male rats were randomly assigned into 7 groups. The rats in group I was the control . Groups II, III and IV were received 1 mL distilled water ten minutes prior to administration of xylene (X) at doses of 0.81, 0.162 and 0.324 mmole/kg. Rats in groups of V,VI and VII were received 1mL buffalo’s milk 10 minutes prior to administration of X ( ip) at doses of 0.81, 0.162 and 0.324 mmole/kg. The experiment repeated for 7 consecutive days. 24 hours after last administrations, all animals were killed with an overdose of sodium pentobarbital. The blood was then collected for determination of biochemical tests including alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),alkaline phosphatase (ALP),blood urea nitrogen (BUN),creatinine (CR),catalase (CAT),superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH). The liver and kidney tissues were removed, fixed and processed for light microscopy.

Results: Biochemical analyses indicated a significant decline in the activities of SOD, CAT and GSH level and markedly increased ALT, AST, ALP, BUN, CR when compared to those in non-treated rats (control). Dose-dependent injuries in rat liver and kidneys were also observed in xylene treated rats. Buffalo’s milk protected all biochemical parameters against xylene-induced toxicity. It also protected liver and kidney tissues against xylene produced cell damage.

Research Article

7/11/2016

Assessment of Stages and Processes of Change, Eating Self-Efficacy and Decisional Balance for Weight Loss in Obese Women Attending Nutrition Clinics

Fatemeh Ghannadiasl, Reza Mahdavi, Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi

Methods: In this descriptive study, ninety volunteered apparently healthy obese women aged 18 - 50 years with body mass index of 30 - 40 kg/m² attending a nutrition clinic in Ardabil city were recruited. The subjects completed the translated and validated versions of University of Rhode Island Change Assessment, processes of change, weight efficacy lifestyle, and Decisional Balance scales as the transtheoretical model components before any intervention. The score on each subscale was calculated by averaging the scores obtained by all participants within each subscale. T-test was used to compare the mean total score of each scale with the mean score of its subscales.

Results: The results showed that 46.7% of participants were in the advanced stages of weight loss. The mean score of behavioral processes was significantly lower than that of cognitive processes (2.33 ± 0.51 vs. 3.02 ± 0.45, P < 0.001). The minimum and maximum scores of confidence to resist the desire to eat were observed in availability and physical discomfort subscales (3.62 ± 1.83 and 4.54 ± 1.71, respectively). Nearly half of the subjects had lower scores than the mean total score in decisional balance.

Research Article

26/9/2016

Determination of Work-Rest Schedules Based on Physical Workload Among Bakers in Ahvaz, Iran

Davood Afshari, Hamid Saednia, Amal Saki, Abdolhosein Bigdeli, Leila Jodakinia

Methods: It was an analytical and descriptive research. Heart rate of workers was continuously recorded to achieve the physiological monitoring and the obtained information was used to determine the work difficulty and physical workload. The ratio of heat stress and RHR was measured using the WBGT and polar team pro device, respectively. Work-rest schedules were detected through the heart rate reserve and heat stress indexes. The level of significance was α = 0.05.

Results: Physical workload based on heart rate was estimated light to moderate in bakery workers. Suitable work-rest schedule for all bakery workers according to WBGT index was 25% work-75% rest and based on heart rate reserve index in half of the workers was 50% work-50% rest, and in the other half of the bakery workers was continuous work without rest. According to Kappa test, there was no agreement between the two methods of heat stress index and heart rate reserve to determine the work-rest schedules of workers (P < 0.001).

Research Article

27/9/2016

A Model to Determine the Level of Serum Aldosterone in the Workers Attributed to the Combined Effects of Sound Pressure Level, Exposure Time and Serum Potassium Level: A Field-Based Study

Parvin Nassiri, Sajad Zare, Mohammad Reza Monazzam, Akram Pourbakht

Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical study was conducted on 45 workers of Gol-Gohar Mining and Industrial Company in the fall of 2014. The subjects were divided into three groups (one control and two case groups), each including 15 workers. Participants in the control group were selected from workers with administrative jobs (exposure to the background noise). On the other hand, participants in the case groups were selected from the concentrator and pelletizing factories exposed to excessive noise. Serum aldosterone and potassium levels of participants were assessed at three different time intervals: at the beginning of the shift and before exposure to noise (7:30 - 8:00 AM), during exposure to noise (10:00 - 10:30 AM), and during continuous exposure (1:30 - 2:00 PM). The obtained data were transferred into SPSS ver. 18. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to develop the statistical model of workers’ aldosterone level in light of the combined effect of sound pressure level, exposure time, and serum potassium level.

Results: The results of the final statistical model to determine the level of serum aldosterone based on the combined effect of sound pressure level, exposure time and serum potassium level indicated that the sound pressure level had a significant influence on the human’s serum aldosterone level (P = 0.04). In addition, the effects of exposure time and serum potassium on aldosterone level were statistically significant with P-values of 0.008 and 0.001, respectively.

Research Article

27/9/2016

Assessment of Noise Exposure and Noise Annoyance in a Steel Factory

Leila Ibrahimi Ghavam Abadi, Behzad Fouladi Dehaghi, Abbas Mohammadi, Ghasem Mardi, Afshine Rahmati

Research Article

2/10/2016

The Effect of Safety Costs on Productivity and Quality: A Case Study of Five Steel Companies in Ahvaz

Gholamabbas Shirali, Reza Savari, Kambiz Ahmadiangali, Vahid Salehi

Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis and was implemented in five steel companies in Ahvaz. The data relating to the safety costs such as staffing costs and total safety costs, and productivity and quality indicators were collected in five years. This information and data were collected according to statistics from documents and archives of safety, accounting, and production sectors of companies. Costs as well as numbers and figures of variables were expressed in the form of per capita and percentage to make the data comparable. Linear and generalized regression models and Wald Chi-Square test were used by the SPSS 22 software to determine the relationships between them.

Research Article

7/11/2016

The Relationship Between Fatigue and Job Content with Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Nurses

Mohammad Khandan, Somayeh Momenyan, Leila Ataei Manesh, Zahra Khosravi, Zeinab Eyni, Alireza Koohpaei

Research Article

7/11/2016

Assessment of Stages and Processes of Change, Eating Self-Efficacy and Decisional Balance for Weight Loss in Obese Women Attending Nutrition Clinics

Fatemeh Ghannadiasl, Reza Mahdavi, Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi

Methods: In this descriptive study, ninety volunteered apparently healthy obese women aged 18 - 50 years with body mass index of 30 - 40 kg/m² attending a nutrition clinic in Ardabil city were recruited. The subjects completed the translated and validated versions of University of Rhode Island Change Assessment, processes of change, weight efficacy lifestyle, and Decisional Balance scales as the transtheoretical model components before any intervention. The score on each subscale was calculated by averaging the scores obtained by all participants within each subscale. T-test was used to compare the mean total score of each scale with the mean score of its subscales.

Results: The results showed that 46.7% of participants were in the advanced stages of weight loss. The mean score of behavioral processes was significantly lower than that of cognitive processes (2.33 ± 0.51 vs. 3.02 ± 0.45, P < 0.001). The minimum and maximum scores of confidence to resist the desire to eat were observed in availability and physical discomfort subscales (3.62 ± 1.83 and 4.54 ± 1.71, respectively). Nearly half of the subjects had lower scores than the mean total score in decisional balance.

Research Article

26/9/2016

Validation of Environmental Stress Index by Measuring Infrared Radiation as a Substitute for Solar Radiation in Indoor Workplaces

Peymaneh Habibi, Habiboallah Dehghan, Mahnaz Shakerian

Methods: This study was conducted on 2303 indoor workstations in different industries in Isfahan, Iran, during July, August, and September in 2012. The intensity of the Infrared Radiation (IR) (w/m²) was measured at five-centimeter distances in six different directions, above, opposite, right, left, behind and below the globe thermometer. Then, the dry globe temperature (T_a), wet globe temperature (Tnw), globe temperature (Tg) and relative humidity (RH) were also simultaneously measured. The data were analyzed using correlation and regression by the SPSS₁₈ software.

Conclusions: Based on the results, to study heat stress in indoor workplaces when the WBGT measurement instrument is not available and also in short-term exposures (shorter than 30 minutes) when measuring the wet bulb globe temperature shows a considerable error, it is possible to calculate the environmental stress index and accordingly to the WBGT index, by measuring the parameters of dry bulb temperature (T_a), relative humidity (RH), and infrared radiation intensity that can be easily measured in a short time.

Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences: Apr 2017, 9 (2), 15 articles.