Objective: To investigate the adverse effect of welding exposure on pulmonary function test and respiratory symptoms in welders. Design: Cross-sectional study Setting: Guangzhou, China Subjects: 350 male welders in an automobile assembly factory and 350 controls in MTR corporation who had no exposure to welding fumes and toxic gases. Methods: The data was collected from Guangzhou No.12 People’s Hospital. This inclusion and exclusion criteria for subjects and controls were set. The relationship between pulmonary function, respiratory symptoms and welding exposure was investigated by comparing the prevalence of abnormal pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms among welders and non-welders. Chi-square was used for comparison of categorical variables. Logistic regression was performed to estimate odds ratios after adjustment for age, working duration and smoking habits. Results: After accounting for age, working years and smoking habit, the adjusted OR (95% C.I.) of pulmonary function among welders and non-welders was 1.425 (0.916, 2.215), suggesting that welders was associated with a 1.43 times as high the odds of being tested abnormal pulmonary function as non-welders. However, there was no significant (P=0.116) difference in odds between welders and non-welders. The differences of respiratory symptoms in odds between welders and non-welders was not significant (P>0.268). But when restricted to smokers, significant difference (p<0.05) in abnormal pulmonary function was found between welders (17.5%) and non-welders (10.6%). Of the respiratory symptoms, only prevalence of cough was found to be statistically higher (p<0.05) among welders (16.1%) who smoked than non-welders (8.0%) who smoked. Conclusion: It is not evident from my study thatwelders who worked in a well-ventilation working environment and well protected by wearing personal protective equipment are subjected to increased prevalence of abnormal pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms. Studies with larger samples and longer period of observation are warranted. Smoking was observed to be the most important factor contributing to the presence of abnormal pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms. Smoking cessation would be needed to carry out in welders. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2006.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 66 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 58-61).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1994. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-93).

M.Med. (Medical Genetics)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pathology, 2012 / Down syndrome (DS) (OMIM #190685), the most common viable chromosome abnormality, is associated with an increased risk of medical complications. The most frequent endocrine abnormalities observed in children with DS involve the thyroid gland, and the risk of thyroid dysfunction increases with age. Global studies have documented a wide spectrum of thyroid dysfunction in children with DS. Due to the paucity of data from sub-Saharan Africa regarding thyroid function in African children with DS, this study was conceived. The main aim of the study was to document the range of thyroid function in a cohort of 391 South African children with DS, seen at the Genetic Clinics from 2003 to 2008. Referral and treatment practices at two tertiary hospitals in Johannesburg were also documented. The majority (84%) of children had at least one thyroid function test (TFT) performed, and the most common form of thyroid dysfunction encountered was subclinical hypothyroidism (25.3%). Notably, up to one third of patients with abnormal TFT results were not referred to the Endocrine Clinics for evaluation, and were thus not receiving the necessary treatment. There were 13 neonates with congenital hypothyroidism; at least two of them were not referred, and thus not treated during the sensitive neonatal period. A significant difference was noted between the results from Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and those from the other two hospitals. The difficulties in interpretation of results obtained from different biochemical machines and different populations, as compared to those used to derive the reference ranges, were raised. Problems with regular follow-up of patients and annual thyroid surveillance were also highlighted. The clinical features of hypothyroidism may be difficult to distinguish from the phenotypic features of DS. Thus, regular biochemical screening, even in the absence of physical signs and symptoms, is warranted in this group of children to ensure that hypothyroidism is treated, and further, irreversible neurological and physical impairment prevented.

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