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Biomedical subjects

I Hadjiolova

Publications and source records attributed to I Hadjiolova.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1982

Changes in the excretion of corticosteroids and catecholamines in tractor-drivers.

An investigation was carried out to study the effect of mechanized agricultural work on the excretion of some corticosteroids and catecholamines in tractor-drivers during a seasonal field work. Group 1 (15 subjects) was examined three times: in the morning hours before starting work and at two intervals during the first and second half of the working day. In group two (11 subjects) the characteristics of the circadian rhythm for 24h were investigated in urine collected at six intervals. The results from both studies disclose a considerable increase of the total 17-ketosteroids, total 17-oxycorticosteroids, free 11-oxycorticosteroids, nor-adrenaline and adrenaline excretion levels which indicates overactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic nervous systems. The circadian rhythms of the examined parameters are characterized by an increasing of the mesors and a lowering of the amplitudes of the rhythmic variations. No significant changes of corticosteroids and catecholamines are established. Considerable interindividual differences in the course of excretion of the studies indices as well as the lack of marked circadian rhythm in about 50% of the subjects are found.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of arterial hypertension among school teachers in Sofia.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the age-related changes of blood pressure (BP) and prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) among school teachers. 168 female teachers between 25 and 55 years of age from comprehensive and technical schools in Sofia were studied. A group of 103 female employees (designers, researchers) served as controls. The age-related changes of systolic and diastolic BP were more pronounced in the teachers' group. An abrupt elevation of mean SBP was disclosed in teachers more than 45 years old and a significant difference of SBP between teachers during the first and second half of the fourth decade was found. The elevation of the DBP with age was more expressed among the teachers than the controls. A strong positive correlation between teachers' length of service and the levels of SBP and DBP was revealed (r = 0.56; p < 0.001 and r = 0.50; p < 0.001, respectively). The similarity in age distribution, body weight and tobacco consumption of the subjects of both examined groups, disqualify these variables as risk factors for the obtained age-related differences. The estimated relative risk for AH among teachers in total was 1.5 and the AH prevalence among teachers over 40 years old was 31%, which can classify this occupation as high risk for AH.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cardiovascular changes at work: relation with some individual risk factors.

Heart rate (HR) acceleration during work which is accepted as a main cardiovascular response to stress could be influenced not only by the work itself but also by some behavioural variables. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of several individual characteristics (age, body mass index, arterial blood pressure, VO2max, leisure time physical activity, Type A behavior and neuroticism) on HR reactivity during work and rest. Sixty-nine male subjects practising several occupations (air traffic controllers, railway station controllers, managers, chemical operators, etc.) participated in the study. The common characteristic of all jobs was the presence of neuro-emotional strain of various degrees. The ECG Holter Medilog 4500 system was used for monitoring the HR during the working day. The HR at work was applied as a single dependent variable in the multiple regression analysis and the independent contribution of the following variables was evaluated: HR at rest, neuroticism and Type A behaviour pattern. They appeared to be the most significant determinants in this model and explained about 23% of the variation in HR during work. As second-rank predictors, age and leisure time physical activity led to a non-essential increase (up to 25%) of the multiple regression coefficient. In order to reduce the risk effects of health-related behaviours and individual patterns on the cardiovascular system it is recommended that a preventive approach based on behavioural modification should be adopted.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cardiovascular changes in operators on 12-hour shifts.

Many alternative shift schedules "compress" the working week into a smaller number of days by adding more work hours per day. The assessment of such work schedules needs to take into consideration the advantages and disadvantages of this style of work on workers' health and well-being. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cardiovascular strain in control room operators in a chemical plant working on an extended workday schedule and to assess their tolerance to the longer shifts. The cardiovascular strain of the operators (11 males and 10 females) was evaluated by ECG Holter monitoring during both the 12-hour day and night shifts. The results obtained indicate a light to moderate cardiovascular strain in the male operators. The higher work heart rate (HR) and more pronounced ECG changes (frequent HR peak values, transient ST-depressions, etc.) indicate a higher level of cardiovascular strain in the female group during the day shift. During the night shift the mean HR values were significantly lower in both groups. At night the HR of the male operators displayed a well expressed circadian rhythm while we observed a flattening of the HR variations in the female group. The results of the job analysis, the time-budget survey and the data obtained by the ECG Holter monitoring indicate in general that the cardiovascular strain in this occupation is acceptable and the chemical operators' job is suitable for a longer shift duration. Nevertheless a need for the improvement of the working conditions and organization, especially for the female operators, is apparent.

Adult↗