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The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for back pain among health care workers of Saudi Aramco. A validated questionnaire was used to collect information on back pain in the last 12 months as well as relevant risk factors among health care workers at a single Saudi Aramco health care facility. Completed responses were received from 964 of 3,295 workers. Three significant predictors for the presence of back pain were identified: female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-2.7), Saudi nationality (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.4-3.9), and working as a surgeon (OR = 5.4, 95% CI = 1.4-21.5). Educational level was of borderline significance (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 0.98-2.7). An interaction between gender and race was identified, with Saudi females being at particularly high risk of reporting back pain (OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.8-8.5). Gender, occupation, and nationality were identified as risk factors for back pain, and a particularly high risk was seen among female Saudis health care workers in Saudi Aramco. Nationality may be important because of cultural difference between groups, but also because of differences in benefits available.

Background: Several Sedum species, such as S. album L., S. acre L., S. palaestinum Bieb, and S. pallidum are used in traditional medicine to heal wounds, hemorrhoids, constipation, food fungi, and as laxative and diuretic agents. Materials and Methods: In this study, the antimicrobial activities of the hexane, n-butanol and aqueous methanol extracts as well as the essential oil from Jordanian sedum microcarpum (Sm.) schonl were investigated and Analysis of the oil constituents by using Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Conclusion: The hexane extract showed no antibacterial activity against seven strains. The butanol and aqueous methanol extracts were active against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus and the Gram negative bacteria including Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Serratia marcescens. Phytochemical screening of the active extracts revealed the presence of a mixture of quinones, tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids. The essential oil showed moderate activities against the tested strains. Analysis of the oil using Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometer (GC/MS) revealed a complex mixture of aldehydes, mono- and sesquiterpenes in addition to alkaloids. Oxygenated monoterpenes dominated the different classes of compounds detected (36.39%). The major volatile constituents from S. microcarpum included Myrtenol (21.7%), Caryophyllene oxide (8.2%) and z-1, 6-dioldihydromyrcene (5.87%).

This study define prevalence of upper musculoskeletal disorders (UMSDs) and identified physical risk factors associated with upper extremity disorders amongst aluminum factory workers in Saudi Arabia, during the spring of 2015. We administered a survey to 115 production line workers in an aluminum factory. Surveys addressed demographics, work history, job performance, pain and medical history. Three occupational health experts evaluated risk of UMSDs in each department and created an expert scale indicating UMSDs risk. Overall 45.2% of the workers reported at least one type of pain; joint pain was the most common. 39% of non-Saudi reported pain compared to 18% of Saudi. Muscle pain was associated (p ≤ 0.001) with repetitive movement (RR=5.8), lifting (RR=5.75), pushing and pulling (RR=5.17), awkward movement (RR=3.81). Joint pain was associated (p ≤ 0.001) with repetitive motion (RR=7.12), lifting (RR=3.28), pushing and pulling (RR=3.28) and awkward movement (RR=2.64). A logistic regression model including nationality (OR=3.229, CI=1.052, 9.9) (p=0.041), and department indicates that only anodizing (OR=5.286; CI=1.28, 21.77) (p=0.021), was related to muscle pain when using painting unit as a reference.

This article reviews the scientific research concerning occupational contact dermatitis and the related methods of prevention. The information provided herein clarifies some difficulties involved in the confirmation of diagnoses and creating strategies for prevention. Occupational skin diseases, most of which are contact dermatitis arising from exposure to a culpable agent, constitute more than 35% of all work-related disorders. Contact dermatitis can be classified as either the irritant or the unfavorably allergic type. Each type has an alternate pathogenesis, while the clinical presentation is the same. Once the hazardous elements that cause work-related contact dermatitis are identified, the dermatitis can be controlled in some patients. However, in other patients, it can be chronic and disabling. Failure to follow the outlined preventive programs will lead to high rates of occupational contact dermatitis.

Background: Musculoskeletal diseases involving the neck and shoulder regions are the most common occupational disorders around the world. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of neck and shoulder pain among office workers within two worksites in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A validated standardized questionnaire was distributed to Saudi Aramco employees on May 2006 who were performing office job that used computers for a majority of their daily work. The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 15. Results: The study population included 581 office workers, 466 were male (80.2%) and 115 were female (19.8%). Adjusted odds ratio (OR) of neck and shoulder pain during the past 7 days for managerial jobs was 2.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.81–5.78). Adjusted OR of neck and shoulder pain during the past 12 months for managerial job was 5.21 (95% CI: 1.52–7.81). The crude OR of neck and shoulder pain ever for managerial job was 1.58 (95% CI: 1.04–2.49), and when this was adjusted for the two determinants of interest and the covariates resulted in an OR of 1.61 (95% CI: 1.02–2.66). The adjusted OR of neck and shoulder pain, for no exercises and smoking and for being women, was statically significant. Conclusion: Office workers in managerial jobs experience more symptoms of neck and shoulder pain compared with workers in nonmanagerial positions. The result also indicated that moderate or regular exercise reduces these symptoms. Smokers and being women experience more neck and shoulder pain.

International audience; Abrasive water jet milling (AWJM) is a new way to perform controlled depth milling especially for hard materials, but it’s not yet enough reliable because of large variety of process parameters and complex footprint geometries are not well mastered. In order to master the milling device in AWJM, a deep study on the footprint of a single path of the cutting head should first be considered. The flow of the AWJ and the distribution of abrasive particles coming out of the jet are related to the profile measured on the footprint. In this study, experiments were made on titanium alloys specimen to compare several theoretical models to the measured profile of the footprint. This study establishes new models to fit the incision profile taking in consideration the behavior of the abrasive particles impacting the workpiece.

Allergenicity to Prosopis juliflora pollen antigen has been reported from only a few countries, including the US, South Africa, India and Kuwait. In some parts of Saudi Arabia, species of Prosopis have been introduced by the millions as roadside ornamentation. There appear to be four flowering seasons during which pollen grains float in all directions. However, the role of Prosopis pollen as the sensitizing and/or triggering agent of allergic asthma and/or rhinitis in the Kingdom has never been evaluated.A total of 473 allergic patients suffering from bronchial asthma in four different geographical regions (Abha, Qassim, Hofuf and Gizan), and attending allergy clinics and chest disease centers of university and Ministry of Health hospitals in the region were tested for immediate hypersensitivity reaction to Prosopis juliflora allergens. Airborne pollen grains at one center were also studied for one full year, using volumetric sampling techniques.A total of 76.1% patients in Qassim, 37.5% in Gizan, 29% in Abha and 11% in Hofuf reacted positively to Prosopis antigen. Multiple sensitivities to other pollen antigens were detected in all patients. The level of airborne Prosopis pollen detected in Gizan exceeded 90 grains m -3 of air.In view of the documented evidence of Prosopis-involved allergenicity, the role of Prosopis pollen as a sensitizing factor in Saudi Arabia has been confirmed. However, the cause of elicitation of symptoms in many multiple sensitive patients, together with the question of cross-reactivities, needs thorough and detailed investigation. In vitro confirmation of all positive results is also required to incriminate Prosopis as one of the major allergens in parts of Saudi Arabia.

The preparation and characterization of the substituted bis(cyclopentadienyl) zirconium dichloride complexes (η5-C5H4CMe2C9H7)2ZrCl2 (1a, b) is reported. The isomer mixture of 1a, b was treated with different reducing agents such as sodium and n-butyllithium under various reaction conditions. In these reactions CC and CH activation and cleavage reactions were observed. In combination with methylaluminoxane (MAO) 1a, b and 3 showed low activities as homogeneous ethylene polymerization catalysts and no activities towards propylene. Compounds 2 and 3 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.

Corrosion inhibitors represent the most cost effective and flexible means of controlling internal corrosion associated with oil and gas production. Tests were carried out to demonstrate the structure/effect relationships which are effective in controlling the inhibition efficiency. To illustrate this approach, the substituent field effect at the paraposition of 1(Benzyl)1‐H‐4,5‐Dibenzoyl‐1,2,3‐ Triazole (BDBT) on corrosion inhibition has been investigated. Mild steel rotating cylinder electrode in acid media was used in conjunction with Tafel polarization technique, AC impedance measurements and continuous linear polarization resistance method. The nitro group was found to cause a considerable decrease in the corrosion inhibition of the parent compound BDBT. Owing to the induction effects of Br on the aromatic ring the bromo derivative has better inhibition protection than the methyl derivative. The corrosion rate profiles obtained from on‐line polarization technique showed that the inhibition capacity of the studied substituents at the para‐position increases as follows: NO2 < CH3 < Br < H.

The 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts of substituted 1,4-dephenyl-2-butene-1,4-diones indicate that these compounds in CDCl3 solution exist mainly in the s-trans-s-trans (Z) keto (trans Z) configuration and that hydrogen bonding between the NH proton and the carbonyl group stabilize this conformer. However, in dmso-d6 solution, both the s-trans-s-trans (Z) keto (trans Z) and s-trans-s-cis (Z) keto (cis Z) forms are present with the cis Z form dominating over the trans Z with a ratio of approximately 4:1. No enol form was detected for these compounds in these solutions. On this bases the presence of the cis keto (E) was eliminated because it is suggested that in going from the trans Z keto to the cis E keto form, an enol forms will be formed but this was not detected due to the fact that the rate constant of the trans to cis keto transformation is very fast.

Highly fluorescent reticulocyte count a new routine parameter in the hematology analyzer can give the idea of the earliest morphologic change of bone marrow recovery before other test become positive after chemotherapy. A prospective study was carried out in the Department of Clinical Pathology in collaboration with Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) during a period of one year starting from October 2009 to September 2010 to evaluate the bone marrow recovery in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by automated reticulocyte analysis. Total fifty patients were enrolled in this study on remission induction phase. All patients were between 8 months to 15 years age range with a mean age of 5.5±3.2. At the end of the study highly fluroscent reticulocyte count recovery occurred earlier than the current practice of absolute neutrophil count (ANC) recovery.

The recently synthesized compound 1(benzyl)1-H-4,5- dibenzoyl-1,2,3-triazole (BDBT) possesses a considerable number of aromatic systems. A significant number of electrons are available on the three nitrogen atoms of the triazole ring. The inhibition effect of BDBT on the corrosion activity of mild steel in acid media has been investigated. Tafel polarization technique, AC impedance measurements and continuous linear polarization resistance method were employed in conjunction with a rotating cylinder electrode apparatus. The corrosion rate of mild steel in 1 % HCl was reduced by more than 95% in the presence of 50 ppm of BDBT. The BDBT has a mixed inhibition effect with a significant shift in the free corrosion potential to the cathodic direction. Film persistency tests showed that BDBT forms a stable film on the surface of the electrode.

The objective of this review was to describe the scientific evidence for coordinating health promotion at the workplace and to discuss the required future research in this field. Literature review from March 1990 to November 2014 was performed. Using the keywords ′health, promotion, worksite and workplace′, literature was searched in the following databases: Medline, PubMed and Google Scholar; with no time limit. There is emerging evidence that workplace health promotion enhances the effectiveness of effort to promote and protect workers′ health. It proves both cost-effective and cost-beneficial to health promotion at the worksite and subsequently further reduces absenteeism. However, future research is needed to identify the impact of other factors such as age, gender and race on workers′ exposure. There is also a need to develop valid tests to measure the outcome of these programmes at the workplace. Health promotion should be central to workplace planning and should be recognised as an integral part of proactive occupational health. Indeed, the workplace is viewed as one of the most popular venues for promoting health and preventing diseases among employees.

The asymmetrical titanocene dichloride (1,3- t Bu 2 C 5 H 3 )( t Bu 2 C 5 H 4 )TiCl 2 ( I ) has been prepared from (1,3- t Bu 2 C 5 H 3 )TiCl 3 and ( t BuC 5 H 4 )Li. The reactions of I and of (1,3- t Bu 2 C 5 H 3 ) 2 TiCl 2 with an excess of ammonium thiocyanate afforded the S-bonded thiocyanato complexes (1,3- t Bu 2 C 5 H 3 )( t BuC 5 H 4 )Ti(SCN) 2 ( IV ) and (1,3- t Bu 2 C 5 H 3 ) 2 Ti(SCN) 2 ( V ) respectively. A similar reaction of ( t BuC 5 H 4 ) 2 TiCl 2 with excess anmmonium thiocyanate produced the S-bonded thiocyanato complex ( t Bu C 5 H 4 ) 2 Ti(SCN) 2 ( II ) as a minor product and the N-bonded thiocyanato complex ( t BuC 5 H 4 ) 2 Ti(NCS) 2 ( III ) as the major product. Similar reaction of ( t BuC 5 H 4 ) 2 TiCl 2 with ammonium thiocyanate in 1 : 1 molar ratios gave ( t BuC 5 H 4 ) 2 Ti(Cl)(NCS) ( VI ). Crystal structure of III was determined.

To describe the clinical and epidemiologic features of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) cases.This study was conducted in Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization (SAMSO) facilities in the Eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Electronic medical records for H1N1 infected patients who visited SAMSO between June and October 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from suspected patients, and sent to the Ministry of Health (MOH) Regional Laboratory in Dammam, KSA to confirm the diagnosis.A total of 587 cases were diagnosed with H1N1 given an incidence rate of 3.5 per 1000. Most of the infected cases were outpatients. The study showed that H1N1 was more common in the younger age group (median age; 22 years), and in female dependents at all ages, which differs from that reported by other researchers.Influenza A H1N1 was more common in the younger age group and in female dependents, and it was more severe among pregnant women. In addition, obesity did not affect the frequency of H1N1 infection.

Seven plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial (PGPR) strains were isolated from the rhizoplane and rhizosphere of wheat from four different sites of Pakistan. These strains were analyzed for productionof indole acetic acid (IAA), phosphorous solublization capability and inhibition of Rhizoctonia solani on rye agar medium. Strains WPR-51, WPR-42 and WM-30 were selected to test in planta antagonisticactivity on two wheat verities infected with R. solani. These three strains belonging to Azotobacter and Azospirillum produced IAA ranging from 19.4 to 30.2 ug/ml and possessed phosphorus solublization capability. Out of these three strains WPR-51 and mixture of all three strains showed maximum inhibition of R. solani growth. These strains positively affected the germination of wheat as well as increased biomass and root shoot length by inhibiting R. solani growth when tested in pot experiments. PGPRs can be used as biocontrol agents that inhibit root rot and also strengthen the plant for better growth.

The compounds (1,3-tBu2C5H3)2TiCl2 (I) and (1,3-tBu2C5H3)TiCl3 (II) were prepared in good yields from TiCl4 and (1,3-tBu2-C5H3)Li. Reactions of II with methanol, ethane-1,2-diol, sodium oxalate, and 2-pyrazine carboxylic acid afforded various organotitanium complexes. The crystal structure of II was determined.

Increasing consumption of organic products in globalised food chains will require the involvement of thousands more smallholder farmers in many regions of the world. A study of Egypt, China and Uganda identified the three key factors of property rights regimes, cultural differences and social organisation as determents of the supply chain organization and farmers’ degree of direct integration in the export markets. Patterns are emerging where smallholder farmers are being socially and economically linked to larger farmers who may do some processing before the raw materials are handed over to the contracting company. Where transactions costs are high, local communities may develop and contract out the land directly to exporting companies who farm using employees. Four organisational patterns are identified which each leads to different types of livelihood benefits for the producers; preliminary results indicate that income and a reliable market access is the dominant benefits.

This paper reviews the scientific research on occupational back pain focusing on prevention and the Saudi Aramco experience. The challenges of translating the medical evidence into policy for this multi-factorial condition are discussed. Medical science is currently unable to clearly distinguish between back pain caused by work and that possibly due to other causes but affecting the individual’s capacity to work. Back pain affects the majority of people at sometime in their lives and it is costly to medical services and industry. Once the risk factors for occupational back pain are identified, it can be prevented in the majority of cases or else it can become chronic and disabling. Failure to follow preventive programs may lead to a high incidence of occupational back pain.

Background Exposure to natural rubber latex (NRL) may lead to a variety of allergic clinical manifestations that may affect the quality of life (QOL). Aim To assess QOL of patients with different clinical effects of NRL allergy including rhino-conjunctivitis, asthma, anaphylaxis and skin manifestations. Method A questionnaire to assess QOL was mailed to 56 patients who had been assessed and managed for various clinical manifestations of latex allergy at a university affiliated hospital in Toronto, Canada. Results Thirty-one questionnaires were completed and returned. Thirty of the respondents were health care workers. Forty-one percent of the respondents had changed their jobs to reduce exposure to latex and 13% had stopped working. However the respondents did not report a great effect on the QOL related to latex allergy. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that the various clinical manifestations of latex allergy can be managed so that there is no significant interference with QOL.

Occupational physicians are faced with the challenge of estimating the contribution of occupational and non-occupational risk factors to a particular work-related illness for workers' compensation. This paper proposes guidelines for occupational physicians to evaluate claims for presentation to a compensation board. Occupational bladder cancer was taken as an example. Relevant literature was obtained and reviewed. A worksheet was designed to record pertinent information on occupational illness. The procedure for handling a claim is described. Failure to follow such an approach may lead to gross inequities.

Abstract Earlier studies have suggested that both cancer and atherosclerosis may follow a common pathway in the early stage of development and share certain risk factors. One report indicated that the gene responsible for the radiosensitive, cancer-prone, multisystem disorder ataxia telangiectasia (AT) may increase the risk of developing ischemic heart disease. The present studies were carried out to find similarities, if any, between atherosclerosis patients and AT homozygotes or heterozygotes (ATHs) in their cellular/molecular response to ionizing radiation, which acts as a carcinogen as well as an atherogen. Fibroblast cell strains developed from healthy subjects and from AT homozygotes, ATHs, and atherosclerosis patients were compared for (1) survival, by the colony-forming assay and (2) DNA synthesis inhibition after irradiation, determined by [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation, cell cycle distribution, and the expression of p 53 and p 21 proteins, analyzed by flow cytometry. Fibroblasts from the atherosclerosis patients as a group, compared with the healthy subjects, showed enhanced sensitivity to chronic (low-dose-rate) irradiation. A majority of the cell strains representing atherosclerosis patients exhibited varying degrees of radioresistant DNA synthesis (RDS), with roughly 33% showing an AT-like and the rest an ATH-like response. All cell strains with an AT-like and one quarter with an ATH-like RDS were found to be defective in the radioinduction of both p 53 and p 21 proteins, which are concerned with cell cycle regulation. An absence of G 1 arrest after irradiation was observed in cell strains lacking a radioinduced expression of p 53 and p 21 . Cellular/ molecular defects leading to increased radiosensitivity, reduced induction of p 53 /p 21 , and cell cycle deregulation found to be associated with cancer-prone disorders such as AT may constitute important risk factors for atherosclerosis as well.