中国2019年HIV感染孕产妇所生儿童的失访状况及影响因素分析

目的 分析2019年中国HIV感染孕产妇所生儿童（HIV暴露儿童）的失访状况及影响因素。方法 资料来源于我国预防艾滋病、梅毒和乙型肝炎母婴传播管理信息系统2019年全国医疗机构报告的HIV感染孕产妇和HIV暴露儿童的基本信息和随访记录,HIV暴露儿童失访的定义为出生后满18月龄无法随访到且21月龄时仍未随访到的存活儿童。采用回顾性资料分析方法,HIV暴露儿童的失访影响因素分别采用χ²检验和logistic回归模型进行单因素和多因素分析。采用SPSS 25.0软件进行统计学分析。结果 在5 039例HIV感染孕产妇中,分娩的HIV暴露儿童5 035例,HIV暴露儿童的失访率为5.62%（283/5 035）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,孕产妇职业为农（牧、渔）民（aOR=0.34,95%CI：0.22~0.53）、婚姻状况为未婚（aOR=0.47,95%CI：0.24~0.93）、初婚（aOR=0.38,95%CI：0.22~0.67）、再婚（aOR=0.36,95%CI：0.20~0.67）与同居（aOR=0.47,95%CI：0.23~0.97）和本次妊娠前知晓自己感染HIV（aOR=0.53,95%CI：0.40~0.70）的HIV暴露儿童失访率较低;孕产妇为汉族（aOR=1.52,95%CI：1.09~2.13）、小学（aOR=2.06,95%CI：1.10~3.89）和初中文化程度（aOR=1.81,95%CI：1.03~3.17）、未抗病毒治疗（aOR=6.21,95%CI：4.32~8.93）和在乡（街道）级助产机构分娩（aOR=5.72,95%CI：1.61~20.27）的HIV暴露儿童失访率较高。结论 2019年我国HIV暴露儿童存在一定的失访,为进一步降低其失访率,提高妇女孕前HIV检测率和HIV感染孕产妇的抗病毒治疗率,对有效实施预防艾滋病母婴传播综合干预措施有重要意义。     

四川省彭州市50岁及以上男性亲密社会网络与性网络对HIV感染的影响

目的 了解亲密社会网络与性网络对四川省彭州市≥50岁男性HIV感染的影响，为中老年HIV/AIDS防控策略制定提供参考依据。方法 采用病例对照研究方法，对2019年4月至2020年10月彭州市新报告≥50岁男性病例组114人和经年龄频数匹配的健康对照组423人进行访谈式问卷调查，采用非条件逐步logistic回归分析HIV感染的影响因素。结果 在病例组中，亲密社会网络规模和性网络规模≥4人的分别占63.16%（72/114）和96.49%（110/114），高于对照组的23.40%（99/423）和11.58%（49/423）（均P<0.05）。病例组的亲密社会网络与性网络重叠的占49.12%（56/114），低于对照组的82.27%（348/423）（P<0.05）。Logistic回归分析显示，亲密社会网络规模≥4人（OR=8.66，95%CI：2.01~37.30）、性网络规模≥4人（OR=1 121.11，95%CI：28.38~4 429.61）、第1个亲密网络成员给予物质支持（OR=6.39，95%CI：1.03~39.75）、多性伴并存（OR=55.50，95%CI：6.22~494.96）是≥50岁男性感染HIV的危险因素；接受过艾滋病知识宣传（OR=0.07，95%CI：0.01~0.37）、与第1个性网络成员有满意的性生活、有好的日常关系（OR=0.02，95%CI：0.01~0.59；OR=0.01，95%CI：0.01~0.26）、亲密社会网络与性网络重叠（OR=0.02，95%CI：0.01~0.38）是≥50岁男性感染HIV的保护因素。结论 亲密社会网络与性网络重叠可减少≥50岁男性感染HIV的风险，应帮助中老年人构建良好且稳定的亲密社会网络和性网络，满足社会交往需求，为预防HIV感染减少高危性行为。     

浙江省大学生拒绝无保护性行为的信心评价及其相关因素分析

目的 分析浙江省大学生拒绝无保护性行为的信心状况及其相关因素。方法 采用分层整群抽样的方法，于2018年10-11月，在浙江省13所高校选取有过性行为的大学生3 718名作为研究对象，评价其拒绝无保护性行为的信心。采用χ²检验法分析大学生拒绝无保护性行为信心的一般人口学特征、性态度、性行为及相关干预情况，采用多因素logistic回归模型分析大学生有信心拒绝无保护性行为的相关因素。结果 共调查3 718名大学生，年龄（20.17±1.38）岁，男生占70.5%（2 620/3 718）。有信心拒绝无保护性行为的男生为74.9%（1 963/2 620），女生为77.9%（896/1 098）。有信心拒绝无保护性行为的多因素logistic回归分析结果显示，男生的相关因素包括不接受临时性行为（与接受的相比，OR=2.247，95% CI：1.828~2.762）、不接受男男性行为（与接受的相比，OR=1.810，95% CI：1.302~2.516）、最近1年发生临时性行为（与未发生的相比，OR=1.345，95% CI：1.051~1.721）、知道学校有HIV自检试剂（与不知道的相比，OR=1.381，95% CI：1.011~1.887）、接受过学校开展HIV感染风险自我评估（与未接受的相比，OR=1.707，95% CI：1.374~2.121）；女生的相关因素包括来自城市（与来自农村的相比，OR=1.816，95% CI：1.225~2.693）、≥ 21岁（与≤ 20岁的相比，OR=1.469，95% CI：1.075~2.007）、接受过学校开展HIV感染风险自我评估（与未接受的相比，OR=1.597，95% CI：1.093~2.333）。结论 男生和女生拒绝无保护性行为的信心均较高。有信心拒绝无保护性行为的保护因素，男生为不接受临时性行为、不接受男男性行为、接受过学校开展HIV感染风险自我评估、知道学校有HIV自检试剂、最近1年发生临时性行为；女生为来自城市、≥ 21岁、接受过学校开展HIV感染风险自我评估。高校应加强大学生性健康教育，减少无保护性行为，推广HIV感染风险自我评估。     

山东省男男性行为人群HIV暴露前后预防用药情况及相关因素分析

目的 了解山东省MSM的HIV暴露前后预防（PrEP/PEP）用药情况并分析相关因素，为PrEP/PEP工作的推广提供参考依据。方法 2022年4-7月在山东省7个城市监测哨点招募MSM进行问卷调查，每个城市样本量为400人。收集MSM社会人口学、性行为、PrEP/PEP用药等信息，并采集血标本做HIV和梅毒抗体检测。结果 研究对象MSM共2 815人，以≤30岁（55.7%，1 569/2 815）、未婚（68.6%，1 931/2 815）、大专及以上文化程度（56.5%，1 590/2 815）为主。PrEP用药者占9.2%（258/2 815）；PEP用药者占10.8%（305/2 815）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示，MSM中PrEP用药的可能性较高的相关因素包括年龄≤30岁（aOR=4.04，95%CI：1.25~13.01）、自我认知HIV感染风险较低（aOR=1.76，95%CI：1.16~2.68）、最近6个月发生群交行为（aOR=1.51，95%CI：1.10~2.09）、最近6个月发生同性商业性行为（aOR=1.69，95%CI：1.16~2.47）、使用新型毒品（aOR=1.53，95%CI：1.11~2.11）、接受同伴教育（aOR=1.56，95%CI：1.03~2.37）、知晓别人PrEP用药（aOR=3.29，95%CI：2.48~4.36）、HIV抗体阴性（aOR=8.40，95%CI：1.12~63.12）；MSM中PrEP用药的可能性较低的相关因素为主要性伴为临时性伴（aOR=0.67，95%CI：0.49~0.90）。MSM中PEP用药的可能性较高的相关因素包括年龄<50岁（≤30岁：aOR=2.41，95%CI：1.02~5.69；31~49岁：aOR=3.33，95%CI：1.42~7.85）、自我认知无HIV感染风险（aOR=1.87，95%CI：1.12~3.11）、最近6个月发生群交行为（aOR=1.68，95%CI：1.23~2.29）、使用新型毒品（aOR=3.86，95%CI：2.94~5.07）以及未接受同伴教育（aOR=1.54，95%CI：1.12~2.12）。结论 山东省MSM的PrEP/PEP用药比例较高。应加强同伴教育和自我认知HIV风险教育，提高MSM中PrEP/PEP用药的使用率。     

四川省凉山彝族自治州2010-2015年社区人群HIV哨点监测

目的 了解四川省凉山彝族自治州（凉山州）社区人群HIV流行趋势及HIV感染者相关行为特征的变化情况,探讨艾滋病传播的相关因素。方法 在凉山州社区人群省级艾滋病监测哨点（德昌县、宁南县和布拖县）,调查对象为年龄≥ 15岁城镇和农村居民,采用多阶段、分层、按比例抽样,2010-2015年共需调查样本量14 092人次。采用问卷调查和血样采集收集调查对象社会人口学、行为学和血清学信息,采用χ²检验比较不同特征人群和各年HIV感染的差异,非条件logistic回归分析HIV感染的相关因素。结果 2010-2015年凉山州社区人群哨点监测完成调查共14 092人次,发现HIV感染者267人,2010-2015年HIV抗体阳性率分别为3.24%（70/2 162）、3.07%（72/2 345）、1.17%（28/2 399）、1.38%（33/2 400）、1.42%（34/2 391）和1.25%（30/2 395）。彝族聚集为主的布拖县HIV感染风险高于汉族聚集为主的德昌县和宁南县（OR=3.83,95%CI：2.25~6.52）;增加HIV感染风险的相关因素包括男性（OR=1.77,95%CI：1.30~2.40）、彝族（OR=4.40,95%CI：2.56~7.57）、离异或丧偶（OR=28.57,95%CI：4.56~178.95）、共用针具吸毒（OR=8.53,95%CI：3.99~18.25）;降低HIV感染风险的相关因素包括初中及以上学历（OR=0.59,95%CI：0.37~0.97）、固定性伴安全性行为（OR=0.21,95%CI：0.05~0.96）、临时性伴安全性行为（OR=0.46,95%CI：0.28~0.76）。结论 2010-2015年,凉山州社区人群中HIV抗体阳性率较高。男性、彝族、小学及以下文化程度、离异或丧偶、共用针具吸毒等因素增加社区人群感染HIV的风险。     

山东省2015年艾滋病防治策略“三个90%”目标进展状况分析

目的 分析山东省2015年艾滋病防治策略"三个90%"（即90%诊断、90%治疗及90%有效）"目标的进展情况及相关影响因素。方法 收集山东省现存活HIV感染者/AIDS患者（HIV/AIDS）检测发现、接受高效抗反转录病毒治疗（HAART）服务的相关信息,分析进展情况。采用χ²检验进行单因素分析,多因素logistic回归模型进行多因素分析。结果 2015年12月31日,山东省估计现存活HIV/AIDS有11 700例,检测发现率61.2%,HAART率74.4%,病毒载量（VL）抑制率81.8%。经同性传播的HIV/AIDS检测发现比例较低（P<0.05）。青岛市（OR=1.30,95% CI：1.05~1.60）、烟台市（OR=1.53,95% CI：1.02~2.31）和威海市（OR=1.96,95% CI：1.07~3.58）的HIV/AIDS接受HAART的比例较高;同性传播（OR=0.12,95% CI：0.06~0.24）、异性传播（OR=0.13,95% CI：0.07~0.26）、注射吸毒传播（OR=0.08,95% CI：0.03~0.17）,羁押场所检测发现（OR=0.29,95% CI：0.21~0.41）的HIV/AIDS接受HAART比例较低;医疗机构接受HAART服务的HIV/AIDS（OR=1.81,95% CI：1.05~3.47）的VL抑制比例较高;同性传播（OR=0.43,95% CI：0.25~0.75）、异性传播（OR=0.49,95% CI：0.28~0.81）,羁押场所检测发现（OR=0.48,95% CI：0.28~0.80）的HIV/AIDS的VL抑制比例较低。结论 山东省2015年现存活HIV/AIDS的检测发现率、HAART率和VL抑制率与2020年实现的艾滋病防治策略"三个90%"目标仍有一定差距,尤其是检测发现目标。需加强检测和艾滋病综合关怀服务。     

吉林省2010－2015年男男性行为人群HIV哨点监测分析

目的 了解吉林省MSM人群HIV的感染状况及其相关因素。方法 2010-2015年,根据《全国艾滋病哨点监测方案》的要求,在艾滋病哨点监测期内,通过横断面调查的方法对吉林省MSM艾滋病知识知晓率、性行为状况、HIV和梅毒抗体阳性率水平等进行连续监测,每个监测哨点样本量≥ 400人。结果 2010-2015年吉林省共监测MSM 7 823人,HIV感染率为5.4%（42/7 823）,HIV感染率呈逐年上升趋势（趋势χ²=110.023,P<0.001）。2010-2015年,MSM艾滋病知识知晓率均>90.0%。最近6个月坚持使用安全套的比例为27.0%（2 112/7 823）,不同年份的差异有统计学意义（χ²=234.038,P<0.001）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,MSM感染HIV的可能危险因素包括外省户籍（aOR=1.797,95% CI：1.185~2.726）、网络招募（aOR=1.717,95% CI：1.332~2.215）、最近1年曾诊断过性病（aOR=1.893,95% CI：1.356~2.643）和梅毒抗体阳性（aOR=4.309,95% CI：3.097~5.995）;可能保护性因素包括最近6个月同性性行为坚持使用安全套（aOR=0.387,95% CI：0.143~0.557）、最近1年曾检测过HIV （aOR=0.632,95% CI：0.375~0.891）。结论 2010-2015年吉林省MSM人群HIV感染率呈上升趋势,坚持使用安全套的比例和HIV检测率均较低,应采取有效措施促进MSM定期做HIV检测和坚持使用安全套。     

浙江省有HIV传播风险的HIV感染者梅毒感染情况及影响因素

目的 了解浙江省有HIV传播风险的HIV感染者梅毒感染情况及相关因素。方法 资料来源于中国疾病预防控制信息系统截至2018年12月31日浙江省现存活、HIV确证时间>1年、未接受抗病毒治疗或HIV病毒载量≥50拷贝数/ml、年龄≥15岁的HIV感染者，收集其人口学特征、性行为特征、抗病毒治疗和梅毒血清学检测结果等信息，采用logistic回归模型分析梅毒感染及影响因素。采用SPSS 19.0软件进行统计学分析。结果 浙江省HIV感染者中，2 275例有HIV传播风险，75.5%（1 717/2 275）进行了梅毒血清学检测，梅毒感染率为8.7%（150/1 717）。在梅毒感染的HIV感染者中，未接受抗病毒治疗占11.3%（17/150），病毒载量为50~999拷贝数/ml占38.7%（58/150）和≥1 000拷贝数/ml占50.0%（75/150）。多因素分析结果显示，男性（aOR=2.04，95%CI：1.06~3.96）、同性性传播（aOR=1.53，95%CI：1.04~2.27）、HIV确证前性病史（aOR=1.98，95%CI：1.35~2.92）和病毒载量≥1 000拷贝数/ml（aOR=1.90，95%CI：1.09~3.30）为梅毒感染危险因素，已婚（aOR=0.47，95%CI：0.29~0.76）是梅毒感染的保护因素。结论 浙江省有HIV传播风险的HIV感染者的梅毒感染率较高，亟须开展HIV感染者分类管理和针对性强化干预，探索开展多病共防共治，加强HIV感染者梅毒筛查和治疗，降低HIV和梅毒传播风险。     

河南省2002－2014年HIV暴露儿童死亡水平及影响因素分析

目的 了解2002-2014年河南省HIV暴露儿童生存与死亡情况,分析HIV暴露儿童死亡的相关影响因素。方法 2002年1月1日至2014年12月31日,河南省开展预防HIV母婴传播工作中发现并报告的HIV暴露儿童1 705例,年龄范围为0~18月龄,存活儿童随访至18月龄。分别对HIV暴露儿童1、3、6、9、12、18月龄进行随访,收集孕产妇母婴阻断服务、儿童药物阻断、儿童传染病发病、生存状况等情况,采用logistic回归对影响HIV暴露儿童死亡的相关因素进行分析。结果 截止2014年12月31日,共随访到1 705例HIV暴露的儿童,其中18月龄随访时存活儿童共1 536例（占90.09%）,随访过程中失访58例（占3.40%）,死亡111例（占6.51%）,HIV暴露儿童累计死亡率为67.39‰,新生儿死亡率为23.07‰,婴儿死亡率为57.01‰。不同年份的儿童死亡率无下降趋势（χ²=1.57,P=0.201）。死因构成以肺炎为主（36例,占32.43%）,其次为疑似AIDS （18例,占16.21%）。死亡儿童均未进行过HIV早期检测。多因素分析结果显示,HIV暴露儿童死亡的危险因素主要是儿童低出生体重（OR=4.97,95% CI：3.12~7.92）。可能的保护因素包括产妇孕12周前初检（OR=0.46,95% CI：0.26~0.80）,儿童联合药物阻断（OR=0.25,95% CI：0.15~0.42）。结论 2002-2014年河南省HIV暴露儿童的死亡率较高,应积极开展HIV暴露儿童早期诊断及抗病毒治疗,预防肺炎等常见传染病,加强营养指导及生长发育监测。     

上海市艾滋病自愿咨询检测门诊男男性行为者HIV与梅毒、单纯疱疹病毒2型共感染状况调查

目的 了解上海市艾滋病自愿咨询检测（VCT）门诊就诊MSM人群HIV与梅毒、单纯疱疹病毒2型（HSV-2）共感染情况及其可能影响因素。方法 采用横断面研究设计,用方便抽样法选取上海市与普陀区的2个VCT门诊,于2015年3-8月招募≥ 18岁、最近1年发生过同性插入性性行为的MSM作为调查对象,招募756名MSM,使用χ²检验和logistic回归法分析。结果 共调查732名MSM,调查对象HIV与梅毒共感染率为3.3%（24/732）,HIV与HSV-2共感染率为1.9%（14/732）,HIV与梅毒、HSV-2共感染率为0.7%（5/732）。梅毒感染者的HIV感染率45.3%（24/53）显著高于非梅毒感染者7.2%（61/679）（χ²=63.11,P<0.001）;HSV-2感染者的HIV感染率34.1%（14/41）显著高于非HSV-2感染者10.3%（71/691）（χ²=21.49,P<0.001）。多因素logistic回归分析显示,调查对象HIV与梅毒共感染的可能危险因素包括外地户籍（OR=3.50,95% CI：1.01~12.17）、初中及以下文化程度（OR=4.46,95% CI：1.54~12.87）和曾使用毒品（OR=4.25,95% CI：1.67~10.82）;HIV与HSV-2共感染的可能危险因素：高中及以下文化程度（OR=6.87,95% CI：1.86~25.42;OR=9.82,95% CI：2.25~42.85）。结论 上海市VCT门诊就诊的MSM中存在一定比例的HIV和梅毒、HIV和HSV-2共感染情况。应关注外来务工人员、文化程度低者和使用毒品者。     

Self-reported health problems among Swedish miners one year after unemployment

Unemployment is considered to be a public health concern sincedeterioration in the health of the unemployed is often anticipated.However, for some groups, such as miners, unemployment mightimprove health due to a cessation of potentially harmful occupationalexposures. This study evaluates the health of 79 miners in oneSwedish iron-ore mine, and 226 age-matched controls from thegeneral population, during one year after the closure of themine. The participants received a questionnaire regarding medicalhistory and subjective symptoms at the beginning of the studyperiod, and after one year. Statistically significant negativeeffects on self-reported health attributable to unemploymentwere not found, although neuropsychiatric symptoms were morecommon among the unemployed miners. The miners reported a statisticallysignificant improvement in grip force (p=0.031). They had asignificantly higher prevalence of symptoms associated withmining related exposures when compared with the population controls;pain in the upper extremities [relative risk (RR)=2.27, 95%confidence interval (Cl)=1.44–3.59), back pain (RR=1.84;Cl=1.237–2.75), vasospastic disease of the fingers (RR=2.05;Cl=1.18–3.57) and obstructive respiratory symptoms (attacksof dyspnea and wheezing: RR=3.67; Cl=1.167–11.6).     

Excès de cas humains et animaux de tularémie en France au cours de l’hiver 2007–2008 : émergence ou phénomène isolé ?

Context

Tularemia is a zoonosis affecting humans and hares in France. We describe the results of surveillance in both species, in 2007 and 2008.

Methods

Human tularemia cases are mandatorily notifiable in France since 2003. In hares, surveillance relies on volunteer hunter associations in all districts of the country. Data from mandatory reports and volunteer surveillance in 2007/2008 were analyzed and compared with previous results.

Results

In 2007/2008, 144 cases were reported in humans and 117 cases in hares. This was a 100% increase compared to previous years. Human cases differed from those of previous years only by the frequency of contact with breeding animals. Human cases without any documented risk exposure were also more frequent.

Conclusion

An increase of tularemia cases occurred in 2007/2008 in both species. Complementary studies are needed to identify the species reservoir in France to understand the causes of this peak of cases.     

Occupational health hazards in mining: an overview

This review article outlines the physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial occupational health hazards of mining and associated metallurgical processes. Mining remains an important industrial sector in many parts of the world and although substantial progress has been made in the control of occupational health hazards, there remains room for further risk reduction. This applies particularly to traumatic injury hazards, ergonomic hazards and noise. Vigilance is also required to ensure exposures to coal dust and crystalline silica remain effectively controlled.     

Manufacture and use of nanomaterials: current status in the UK and global trends

This paper provides an overview of the production and use of nanomaterials (NMs), particularly in the UK. Currently, relatively few companies in the UK are identifiable as NM manufacturers, the main emphasis being the bulk markets in metals and metal oxides, and some niche markets such as carbon nanotubes and quantum dots. NM manufacturing in the UK does not reflect the global emphasis on fullerenes, nanotubes and fibres. Some assumptions have been made about the types of NM that are likely to be imported into the UK, which currently include fullerenes, modified fullerenes and other carbon-based NMs including nanotubes. Many university departments, spin-offs and private companies have developed processes for the manufacture of NMs but may only be producing small quantities for research and development (R&D) purposes. However, some have the potential to scale up to produce large quantities. The nanotechnology industry in the UK has strong R&D backup from universities and related institutions. This review has covered R&D trends at such institutions, and appropriate information has been added to a searchable database. While several companies are including NMs in their products, only a few (e.g. manufacturers of paints, coatings, cosmetics, catalysts, polymer composites) are using nanoparticles (NPs) in any significant quantities. However, this situation is likely to change rapidly. There is a need to collect more information about exposure to NPs in both manufacturing and user scenarios. As the market grows, and as manufacturers switch from the micro- to the nanoscale, the potential for exposure will increase. More research is required to quantify any risks to workers and consumers.     

Investigating clusters in the workplace and beyond

Clusters of disease are common and occur in the workplace and in the general community. They often arouse considerable concern among the population. Investigations have sometimes lead to exciting new knowledge, but in general the investigation of clusters is difficult and often unrewarding, especially for community clusters. In the workplace, investigations are more likely to find associations and even new causes, but still many clusters remain enigmatic. Despite this, there are many reasons for investigating clusters, including allaying community concern and identifying uncontrolled exposures. A structure for investigating clusters in the workplace is suggested.     

Assessing occupational and environmental exposure

Exposure assessment is a poorly understood component of the science of epidemiology. The relationship between exposure to chemicals and ill-health outcomes is often calculated using crude exposure measures such as ever/never exposed or duration. When investigating subtle effects, exposures need to be characterized much more fully in terms of intensity, frequency, duration and route. While occupational exposures tend to be much greater than those experienced from the wider environment there is a need to remember that, for many chemicals, exposure can occur occupationally, environmentally and through consumer use of products containing the material of interest. Inhalation exposure has generally been the traditional focus for most epidemiological investigations but there is now growing awareness of the importance of the dermal and ingested routes of contact and internalization. Quantification of the exposure also needs to be related to a biological mechanism of action and exposure metrics need to be selected accordingly. Occupational exposures can generally be measured using simple well-validated techniques. Environmental exposures require much more sensitive instruments and are more difficult to assess. Exposure modelling, particularly for the environmental fate of chemicals has undergone many recent developments and Monte Carlo techniques can be used to characterize model uncertainty and variability. This approach to exposure assessment can now be used in the setting of the wider environment and will enable a far better understanding of the relationship between exposure and disease.     

Mercury toxicity due to the smelting of placer gold recovered by mercury amalgam

A 19-year-old man developed tremor in both hands and fatigue after starting work at a placer gold mine where he was exposed to mercury-gold amalgam. Examination revealed an intention tremor, dysdiadochokinesis and mild rigidity. The 24-h urinary mercury concentration reached a peak of 715 nmol/l (143 ug/l) shortly before the clinical examination, after which he was removed from working in the gold room [Mercury No. Adverse Effect Level: 250 nmol/l (50 ug/l)]. On review 7 weeks later his tremor had almost resolved and the dysdiadochokinesis and rigidity had gone. The 24-h urinary mercury concentration had fallen to 160 nmol/l (32 ug/l). The principal exposure to mercury was considered to be the smelting of retorted gold with previously unrecognized residual mercury in it. The peak air concentration of mercury vapour during gold smelting was 0.533 mg/m3 (Mercury Vapour ACGIH TLV: 0.05 mg/m3 TWA). Several engineering and procedural controls were instituted. This episode occurred at another mine site, unrelated to Mount Isa Mines Limited.     

How Adults with Acquired Brain Damage Perceive Computer Training as a Rehabilitation Tool: A Focus-group Study

The aim of this study was to explore and describe how adult outpatients with acquired brain damage and referred to occupational therapy perceive computer training with the RehaCom programs, in order to evaluate the method of treatment as a tool in the rehabilitation of persons with cognitive disorders. By using focus-group discussions as a qualitative method of research when analysing the result, five themes with corresponding categories emerged, describing a development of understanding and learning about capacities. Themes describing how the participants could apply strategies to overcome shortcomings in daily occupations and the therapeutic role of the occupational therapist were identified as well. The result shows that a computer training program such as RehaCom can be used as an educational tool, for example, to guide a person who is trying to adopt compensatory strategies to avoid overload by taking pauses. It was found that anything the participants learned was also applicable to occupational performance in daily life.