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The article focuses on the cross-sectional study for the risk assessment of health care workers who are exposed to occupational stress and burnout. Job stress compiles three classes which include job stressors, strains and health outcomes. It mentions that job stressors refer to work conditions that effect workers, strain refer to workers psychological and physiological reaction towards work environment and health outcomes refer to depression or hypertension due to job stressor.

Background: Manganese (Mn) is an essential element but at excessive levels, it is neurotoxic. Even a moderate increase in Mn has been suggested to interfere with neurodevelopment in children. Genetics influencing Mn concentrations and toxicity is unclear. Objective: We assessed, in a cross-sectional study, whether common single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the Mn transporters SLC39A8 (influx) and SLC30A10 (efflux) are associated with neurodevelopment in children. Design: We genotyped SLC39A8 (rs13107325 C/T) and SLC30A10 (rs1776029 G/A and rs12064812 T/C) in Italian children ( n = 686, ages 11-14). We then used linear regression models to analyze associations between genotype, blood Mn concentrations, and neurodevelopmental outcomes including intelligence, behavior, motor function, and sway. Inferred causal relationships were evaluated using instrumental variables (IV) analysis. Results: For SLC30A10 rs1776029, the minor allele (A) was associated with increased average blood Mn of 41% ( p < 0.001), whereas minor alleles for rs12064812 (C) and rs13107325 (T) were associated with reduced blood Mn of 7% ( p = 0.002) and 15% ( p < 0.001), respectively. For children carrying genotypes associated with high blood Mn, we observed lower performance for certain IQ subtests, increased sway, and increased scores for behavioral problems. High Mn genotypes showed odds ratios of 2-4 (p ≤ 0.01) for high scores in tests assessing ADHD-related behavior. IV analyses suggested that several of the associations were mediated by blood Mn. Conclusions: Our results suggest that common polymorphisms in SLC39A8 and SLC30A10 influence neurodevelopmental outcomes in children via differences in Mn homeostasis.

One of the most relevant aspects in the evaluation of occupational stress is concerned with the survey methodology. Several studies adopted subjective and objective methods of evaluation and the debate about the benefits and limitations of both approaches has continued for several years (Frese et al. 1988, Hurrell et al. 1998). To choose an appropriate, specific and focused-on-context evaluation, it is necessary to identify the sources of risk in the investigated area. Then, it is necessary to choose the methods, subjective and objective, more suitable for stress evaluation. In this study we reviewed the psychosocial risk factors that are specific to the health sector and the instruments, objective and subjective, most used in this context. We considered also the methods for the detection of episodes of violence. Finally, we presented the results of a study conducted in the health care sector, which has adopted and compared objective parameters, as potential stressors, and subjective symptoms. The study revealed statistically significant correlations between objective and subjective indicators, suggesting the importance of integrated methods of evaluation.