Occupational Health News and Research

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Family physician answers questions related to Ebola virus

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the outbreak of Ebola in four West African countries is one of the largest outbreaks of the disease in history.

1 Oct 2014

AAN releases new position statement on opioids for chronic non-cancer pain

According to a new position statement from the American Academy of Neurology, the risk of death, overdose, addiction or serious side effects with prescription opioids outweigh the benefits in chronic, non-cancer conditions such as headache, fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain.

30 Sep 2014

Specific nurse-to-patient staffing standards lower job-related injuries, illnesses for nurses

A 2004 California law mandating specific nurse-to-patient staffing standards in acute care hospitals significantly lowered job-related injuries and illnesses for both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, according to UC Davis research published online in the International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health.

30 Sep 2014

Nearly half of hog workers carry livestock-associated bacteria to home

A new study suggests that nearly half of workers who care for animals in large industrial hog farming operations may be carrying home livestock-associated bacteria in their noses, and that this potentially harmful bacteria remains with them up to four days after exposure.

9 Sep 2014

Study establishes significant link between residential greenness, birth outcomes

Mothers who live in neighborhoods with plenty of grass, trees or other green vegetation are more likely to deliver at full term and their babies are born at higher weights, compared to mothers who live in urban areas that aren't as green, a new study shows.

5 Sep 2014

Exposure to certain phenols during pregnancy may disrupt growth of boys

A research consortium bringing together teams from Inserm, the Nancy and Poitiers University Hospitals, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, USA), and coordinated by the Inserm and University of Grenoble Environmental Epidemiology team (Unit 823), has just published an epidemiological study indicating that exposure to certain phenols during pregnancy, especially parabens and triclosan, may disrupt growth of boys during foetal growth and the first years of life.

4 Sep 2014

Sleeping 7 to 8 hours per night associated with lowest risk of work absence

New research suggests that sleeping 7 to 8 hours per night is associated with the lowest risk of absence from work due to sickness.

4 Sep 2014

Cochrane review finds little evidence to support use of sleep or wake drugs for shift workers

Shift workers are taking drugs to help them stay awake or get to sleep despite weak evidence for their benefit, according to a new Cochrane review.

12 Aug 2014

Racial differences in life expectancy vary substantially across U.S. states

Racial differences in life expectancy have declined nationally but still vary substantially across U.S. states, according to a new study by McGill University researchers.

6 Aug 2014

New research reveals how expectations about odors can influence symptoms of asthma

New research from the Monell Center reveals that simply believing that an odor is potentially harmful can increase airway inflammation in asthmatics for at least 24 hours following exposure. The findings highlight the role that expectations can play in health-related outcomes.

23 Jul 2014

Resarchers offer insight into how low-wage jobs affect public health, economy in Syracuse, N.Y.

As low-wage jobs continue to show strong gains since the recession, findings from the Low-Wage Workers' Health Project led by Upstate Medical University is offering insight into how these jobs affect public health and the economy in Syracuse, N.Y., and reflect national trends in issues related to low-wage workers.

14 Jul 2014

Injured patients who have alcohol in blood have reduced risk for developing complications

Injured patients who have alcohol in their blood have a reduced risk for developing cardiac and renal complications, according to a study from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.

6 Jun 2014

SurModics launches BioFX Liquid Nova-Stop Solution for TMB microwell substrates

SurModics IVD, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SurModics, Inc. and a market leader for in vitro diagnostic assay components, today announced the launch of BioFX® Liquid Nova-Stop Solution, a non-corrosive, non-hazardous stop solution for TMB microwell substrates.

6 Jun 2014

Interaction of stress and taste systems could help explain stress-related eating

According to new research from the Monell Center, receptors for stress-activated hormones have been localized in oral taste cells responsible for detection of sweet, umami, and bitter. The findings suggest that these hormones, known as glucocorticoids, may act directly on taste receptor cells under conditions of stress to affect how these cells respond to sugars and certain other taste stimuli.

4 Jun 2014

Sound Physicians agrees to employ, manage hospitalist physicians at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center

Sound Physicians, a leading hospitalist organization focused on driving improvements in the quality, satisfaction and financial performance of inpatient healthcare delivery, announced today an agreement to employ and manage a team of hospitalist physicians at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center in Chicago, Ill.

3 Jun 2014

Research: Women's faces are rated as more attractive in presence of pleasant odors

New research from the Monell Chemical Senses Center reveals that women's faces are rated as more attractive in the presence of pleasant odors. In contrast, odor pleasantness had less effect on the evaluation of age.

30 May 2014

Children who spend more hours in front of screen have high blood pressure

8 May 2014

Study: Too much screen time can cause high blood pressure in children

A new study reveals that children who spend two hours or more in front of a screen (TV, computer, videogames etc.) have over 2.5 fold increase in their odds of having high blood pressure (BP). These odds are increased further by overweight and obesity. The study also showed that children with a low level of fitness had 3.4 times higher odds of high BP than those with a high level of fitness.

7 May 2014

Air, surface sampling techniques used by US government effective in fighting bioterrorism, says study

Air and surface sampling techniques currently used by the US government are effective in fighting bioterrorism and potentially saving lives, a Saint Louis University researcher finds.