Airborne fungi in industrial environments--potential agents of respiratory diseases. (57/357)

Investigations on airborne fungi in a poultry house, a swinery, a feed preparing and storing house, a grain mill, a wooden panel producing factory, and organic waste recycling facilities have been carried out in Lithuania. Low concentrations of fungal spores were detected in the wooden panel producing factory, the swinery, the feed preparing and storing house, and the poultry house; moderate concentrations were found in the organic waste recycling facilities; high concentrations were revealed at the grain mill. Species of Aspergillus oryzae, A. nidulans, P. expansum, Penicillium olivinoviride, P. claviforme and Botryotrichum longibrachiatum prevailed in the poultry farm; Geotrichum candidum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, C. herbarum, Penicillium viridicatum and P. fellutanum dominated in the swinery. Fungi of Penicillium viridicatum, P. expansum, Staphylotrichum coccosporum and Aspergillus oryzae prevailed in the feed preparing and storing house at the swinery. Cladosporium cladosporioides, C. herbarum, Penicillium viridicatum and Geotrichum candidum prevailed in the grain mill. Fungi ascribed as Paecilomyces puntonii, Rhizopus nodosus and R. stolonifer dominated in the wooden panel producing factory. Species of Aspergillus raperi, P. paxilli, P. oxalicum, and Cladosporium herbarum prevailed at the organic waste recycling facilities. According to published data, the majority of the identified fungal species are characterized as allergenic and an exposure to their spores may provoke adverse health effects (such as allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma or extrinsic allergic alveolitis) in susceptible individuals.  (+info)

The epidemiology and treatment of adult patients with hand burns in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital in 1985, 1995, 2001 and 2002. (58/357)

This study reviews the epidemiology of adult patients with hand burns admitted to Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital in Lithuania during selected four years (1985, 1995, 2001 and 2002). Two hundred and forty six cases were reviewed retrospectively with 74.4% of males and 25.6% of females among them. Median of age was 40 years (38 males, 45 females). Fire (71.9%) was the most common cause of injury; scalds (15.4%) were the second most common reason. The median of burned total body surface area was 12%. Analyzing the burns, 58.9% of them occurred in urban area (57.1% full-thickness burns), and 41.1% in rural (42.9% full-thickness burns). The study revealed that 17.1% (42) males and 3.7% (9) females were affected by alcohol at the time of injury. Early skin grafting was performed in 29.4% cases (mostly in 2001, 2002), delayed--70.6% (mostly in 1985, 1995) of all skin grafting operations. Early grafting was found to give better results in the length of hospital stay. Overall, the median of hospital stay significantly decreased and was 24 days (35 days in 1985, 19 days in 2002).  (+info)

Health inequalities in Lithuania: education and nutrition habits. (59/357)

The aim of the study was to evaluate the associations between food behavior and educational level among Lithuanian adult population. Five health behavior surveys were carried out within the international Finbalt Health Monitor project in 1994-2002. For every survey the national random sample of 3000 inhabitants aged 20-64 was taken from the National Population Register. The study material was collected through mailed questionnaires covering sociodemographic characteristics and some nutrition habits. The respondents were categorized according to the level of education into three groups: persons having incomplete secondary, secondary and university education. Multiple regression analysis was used for evaluation of associations between level of education and nutrition habits. The persons with university education have a healthier diet than those with incomplete secondary education. The consumption of fish, vegetables and fruit, use of vegetable oil for cooking, was substantially higher in those with university education as compared to persons with incomplete secondary education. The proportion of persons drinking whole milk was the highest among the low educated men and women. The high-educated women consumed meat less often than those with incomplete secondary education did. However, persons with university education preferred butter on bread. The high-educated men consumed cheese daily more often than those with low education. The positive trends in nutrition habits of Lithuanians were observed between 1994 and 2002. However, educational differences in nutrition habits still remain significant. In conclusion, alongside with other health interventions, the programs aimed at reducing inequalities in health should consider the educational differences in nutrition habits of Lithuanians paying more attention to less educated persons.  (+info)

Changes in health behavior of Lithuanian adolescents and adults over 1994-2002. (60/357)

The aim of the study was to investigate the time trends in health behavior during the period 1994-2002 in Lithuanian schoolchildren and adult population. The data on smoking, alcohol drinking, consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits, physical activity habits are presented in the article. The study material was collected in 1994, 1998 and 2002 within the framework of two international projects: Health Behavior in School-aged children coordinated by WHO and Finbalt Health Monitor assessing health behavior among adults in Finland and Baltic countries. The data of our study showed that since 1994 prevalence of smoking substantially increased among Lithuanian teenagers aged 11-15 years and adult women. The increase in alcohol consumption was recorded in schoolchildren as well as in adult population. The adults started eating fresh vegetables and fruits more frequently while the usage of fresh fruits among teenagers declined. In 2002 70% of schoolboys and 45% of schoolgirls were physically active. There were no changes in physical activity among teenagers over the period of the study. The proportion of physically active persons in adult population has increased since 1994. CONCLUSION: The health behavior is unhealthy in large proportion of Lithuanian teenagers and adults. The negative trends in health behavior especially among teenagers may increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases in Lithuanian population. Therefore the elaboration and implementation of effective health promotion programs, which should start in early childhood and would be adopted to the needs of different age groups, is urgently needed.  (+info)

Occupational health problems in modern work environment. (61/357)

Analysis of occupational health problems in Lithuania and their relation to factors of modern work environment is presented. The article analyses the health of transport workers, airlines pilots and stewards, video display terminal workers and its relation to work environment. OBJECTIVE: To investigate and evaluate influence of changing occupational environment to workers' health. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Complex evaluation including several enterprises with different work profile and conditions. Evaluation of work environment, assessment of psychophysiological and ophthalmological data of workers as well as morbidity studies were performed. RESULTS: Occupational environment of transport workers is related with high levels of noise, vibration, mercury, carbon monoxide, welding aerosols, and dust. Main diseases for transport workers are upper respiratory tract and lung diseases, accidents, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders. Cases of temporal morbidity for pilots and stewards are upper respiratory tract and lung diseases, accidents, intoxications and nervous system diseases. The main effects of video display terminal on operators' health are vision fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders. Ophthalmologic symptoms and vision fatigue are related to changes in eyes and central nervous system fatigue, as well as syndrome of "dry eyes". CONCLUSIONS: Changeable work environment is affecting employees' health with specific changes, which depend upon work character, experience and worker's age.  (+info)

Exposure to urban nitrogen dioxide pollution and the risk of myocardial infarction. (62/357)

OBJECTIVES: This study attempted to determine whether long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), an indicator of motor vehicle exhaust, increases the risk of myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: A population-based case-control study was conducted among men aged 25-64 years and residing in Kaunas, Lithuania. The study included all cases of first-time myocardial infarction in 1997-2000. Interviews with patients treated in hospitals elicited information on smoking and other risk factors, including residential histories. A high response rate (77.4%) resulted in 448 cases and 1777 controls. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was selected for analysis as an indicator of traffic-related air pollution. The annual air pollution levels were estimated for the residential districts; thereafter the data were linked to the home addresses of the cases and controls. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, education, smoking, blood pressure, body mass index, marital status, and psychological stress, the risk of myocardial infarction was higher for the men exposed to medium [odds ratio (OR) 1.43, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.04-1.96] and high (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.07-1.92) NO2 levels. The data suggested a stronger association among 55- to 64-year-old men. The risk of myocardial infarction increased by 17% among the 25- to 64-year-old men (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.01-1.35) and by 34% among those aged 55-64 years (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.08-1.67) from the first to the third tertile of NO2 exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that urban NO2 pollution may increase the risk of myocardial infarction and that vehicle emissions may be of particular importance.  (+info)

Evaluating average expenditures per case in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital. (63/357)

The aim of the study was to evaluate average expenditures per case in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital (KUMH). Case is defined as one treatment episode in particular inpatient department. Five cost groups have been used and defined in monetary terms in each clinical category (profile): labor costs; medication costs; laboratory, radiology and anesthesiology (for surgical clinics) services costs; running costs of medical equipment supply; other costs (including costs of patients' meal, laundry, transportation, communication, auxiliary services, heating, electricity, water, buildings maintenance and repair, etc.). Cases were analyzed using case mix dimensions: gender, age, absence or presence of surgical operation, patient separation status and inpatient service groups. During the study average expenditures per case were estimated: surgery--1161.10 Litas, therapy--1312.15 Litas, obstetrics and gynecology--685.82 Litas, newborn and child care--893.54 Litas and intensive care--1292.92 Litas. Relation between expenditures and case mix variables was measured using correlation analysis method. Using multiple regression analysis method, expenditures per case in each clinical category (profile), according case mix dimensions were predicted. Predicted expenses did not differ much from estimated cost per case.  (+info)

Sociodemographic and health behaviour factors associated with obesity in adult populations in Estonia, Finland and Lithuania. (64/357)

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse the pattern of sociodemographic variations in the prevalence of obesity in Estonia, Finland and Lithuania. In addition, the association between obesity and selected health behaviours was examined. METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys were conducted among representative national samples of adult populations in 1994, 1996 and 1998. The number of participants aged 20-64 was 3759 in Estonia, 9488 in Finland and 5635 in Lithuania. The data were obtained from mailed questionnaires (covering sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviour indicators, and self-reported height and weight). Obesity was defined as BMI > or = 30 kg/m2. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity among men and women was 10% and 15% in Estonia, 11% and 10% in Finland, and 10% and 18% in Lithuania respectively. The prevalence of obesity increased only among Estonian men. Obesity was more prevalent among those aged over 50 in all three countries. It was also more prevalent among the less educated women in all countries and among the less educated men in Finland. Obesity was less prevalent among daily smokers among Estonian men and women and Lithuanian men. Physically inactive Estonian women and Finnish men and women were more likely to be obese. CONCLUSIONS: A significant association was found between low educational level and obesity in women in all the countries, but this association was found for men only in Finland. In Finland obesity was also more consistently associated with indicators of unhealthy behaviour than in Estonia and Lithuania. Thus, even though the social gradient of obesity was broadly similar in all the countries studied, differences emerged with regard to the behavioural correlates of obesity.  (+info)