Objective: This study determined the correlation between erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and insulin sensitivity in agricultural workers and non-agricultural workers. Methodology: The cross-sectional comparative study was undertaken in 45 agricultural and 45 non-agricultural workers from Nat-Kan Village, Magway Township. Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity and serum malondialdehyde were measured by spectrophotometric method. Insulin sensitivity was calculated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Results: Mean erythrocyte AChE activity was significantly lower in agricultural (3553.99 IU/L) compared with non-agricultural workers (4432.68 IU/L) (p<0.001). A significant high level of mean serum MDA was observed in agricultural workers (0.74 versus 0.28 μmol/L, p<0.001). Median HOMA-IR value was significantly higher in agricultural (2.74) than that of non-agricultural workers (2.28) (p<0.05). The risk of insulin resistance was 2.8 times greater in agricultural workers than non-agricultural workers (OR 2.8, 95% CI, 1.18 to 6.72). Erythrocyte AChE activity had weak negative correlation with serum MDA level (r=-0.357, p<0.001) and HOMA-IR (ρ= -0.305, p<0.05). There was a significant but weak positive correlation between serum MDA level and HOMA-IR (ρ=0.355, p<0.001). Conclusion Organophosphate pesticide exposure lowered erythrocyte AChE activity and increased oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is partly attributed to the development of insulin resistance
Farmers

Introduction: Pesticides are widely used in the agricultural sector to increase production by cutting costs and improving product quality. However, these chemicals come with serious health effects when individuals are exposed to large quantities at once or low amounts over time. Objective: This study aimed to identify the health symptoms and physical assessment findings affecting farmers from their repeated occupational exposure to pesticides in a rural region in the Philippines. Methods: This research study used a cross-sectional design, and samples were drawn based on a multistage sampling of 387 agricultural workers. The target site was in the southern Philippines, and the sample was selected randomly from the identified municipalities. Survey questionnaires were given to the respondents, and a physical assessment was made by medical doctors and trained registered nurses. The data were encoded using SPSS™ 13.0. The statistics used were both descriptive and inferential. Results: The farmers used pesticides in their farms with an average of 2.3 days per week (SD: 2.13). The mean total spraying time was 3.07 hours (SD: ± 14.76) per day. The average amount of pesticide used in an application was 1.33 L per application (SD: ± 6.53). Sixty-three percent (63%) had spills while spraying, and 47% reported having spilled pesticides while mixing. Farmers were assessed and found to have experienced symptoms and exhibited physical assessment findings surrounding the following body systems: general, EENT, neurologic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, and integumentary systems. Abnormalities in laboratory parameters were also observed among the respondents. The mini-mental state examination was done to test if the respondents showed signs of cognitive impairment. The results showed that most respondents (93.95%) had normal cognitive function, while 6.05% of respondents had some level of cognitive impairment. Associations were also tested using Phi Coefficient, and certain pesticide exposure variables were associated with farmers' physical findings and symptoms experienced by farmers. Conclusion This study translates pesticide’s health impact by identifying the common symptoms experienced by farmers and concerning physical assessment findings. The study found that farmers suffered from various symptoms concerning the general health, eye, ears, nose, and throat region, neurological system, gastrointestinal system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and the integumentary system. In addition, the laboratory parameters of the participants also exhibited abnormalities indicative of exposure and possible adverse effects from pesticides.
Farmers ; Pesticides

In electron therapy, low melting point alloy is used for shaping of the field. Electron field shaping material affect the output factor as well as the collimator system. The output factors of electron beams for shaped fields from NELAC-1018 were measured using ionization chamber of Farmer type in water phantom. The output factors of electron beams depend on the incident energy, inherent collimator system and the size of shaped field. Obtained results were followings. 1. In the smaller applicator, output varied extremely according to extent of collimator opening. 2. The higher energy, the output is less varied according to treatment field at small field.
Alloys ; Farmers ; Freezing ; Water

Introduction: Pesticides are widely used in the agricultural sector to increase production by cutting down costs and improving the quality of produce. However, these chemicals come with serious health effects when an individual is exposed to large quantities at once, or low quantities over time. Objectives: The objective of the study is to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practices of farmers, as well as investigate the correlation among knowledge, attitude, and practice variables. Methods: This research study used a cross-sectional design. Samples were drawn based on a multistage sampling of 387 agricultural workers. The target site was in Southern Philippines and the sample was selected using multi-stage sampling from the identified municipalities. Survey questionnaires were given to the respondents to measure knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) on pesticide exposure among farmers. The data were encoded using SPSS 13.0. The statistics used were both descriptive and inferential. Correlation analysis was used to study the relationship among knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results: The results showed that farmers used pesticides in their farms on an average of 2.31 days per week (SD 2.13). The respondents reported that they were exposed to pesticides for about 3.46 months per cropping season (SD: 2.76), as well as from 3.34 (SD 5.92) cropping seasons per year. The mean score of the respondents on the knowledge aspect of the questionnaire was 5.91 out of 10 items (SD 3.28). The average score on practices on pesticide use among respondents was 3.37 (SD 1.75) with 8 items to evaluate practices. Lastly, the mean score on attitude on pesticide use among respondents was 5.34 (SD 3.31) over 12 items. Analysis showed a moderate correlation between knowledge and attitude with Pearson’s r = 0.651 (P <0.0001), also a moderate correlation between knowledge and practices at r = 0.521 (P <0.0001), and a moderate correlation between practices and attitudes at r = 0.443 (P <0.0001). Factor analysis revealed three components for items within practices and attitudes and two for items within knowledge. Conclusion Pesticide use in the Philippines continues to present various challenges in terms of its safety to humans and the environment. Farmers do not have adequate knowledge of pesticides and their proper management from use to disposal. They need to improve knowledge, encourage a healthy and safe attitude and correct practices on the hazards from pesticides, as well as its proper usage and handling. It is recommended that capacity building and training for farmers are initiated to address inadequacies in their knowledge, attitudes and practices.
Knowledge ; Attitude ; Farmers

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignancy commonly found in the oral cavity with incidence rate of 90%. We reported a 63-year-old male patient, non-smoker and non-drinker farmer, complaining of pain, itching, and stickiness in his tongue for the past 5 weeks. The lesion was treated with a topical anti-inflammatory medication and mouthwash, but did not heal. This case is an OSCC management and need to be alerted to the agricultural sector.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Farmers ; Carcinogenesis

We investigated the status of fatigue in a cohort of about 300 citrus fruits farmers in western Japan. The Fatigue Questionnaire for Farmers developed by the Rural Life Research Institute in Tokyo was used in this study. The severity of fatigue was assessed with the fatigue scale for the Questionnaire. The major results obtained were as follows;1. Fatigue scores at the farming season were not so high. It was assumed that the amount of agricultural work was small at that year because the citrus fruits crop was below average.2. The scores of fatigue, labor burden, satisfactory and health priority of the subjects at the farming season were not much high in comparison with those of the slack season. However, the fatigue situation indicated different tendencies between the male and female subjects.3. Comparison among three surveys including this study on farmers producing different agricultural products showed different fatigue situations.4. Forty percent of the questionnaires recovered could not be used for this analysis because of unanswered items. It was suggested that there is need of developing a questionnaire easier to answer for subjects.
Fatigue <1> ; FARMERS ; Seasons ; Questionnaires ; Japan

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify health promotion lifestyle (HPL), farmers' syndrome and related factors of workers in agricultural industry. METHODS: A total of 454 agricultural workers were selected through convenient sampling. Data were collected from July 1 to August 10, 2009. Data analysis included frequency, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS/WIN 17.0. RESULTS: 1. The mean score of HPL was 3.30 and the prevalence of farmers' syndrome was 29.3%. 2. Analysis of farmers' syndrome showed there were statistically significant differences for gender, age, sleeping time, perceived health status, breakfast and exercise. 3. Gender, age, perceived health status, breakfast and exercise were identified as variables influencing the farmers' syndrome. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that we should develop health promotion programs for workers of agricultural industry considering these results.
Farmers ; Breakfast ; Health Promotion ; Life Style ; Prevalence ; Statistics as Topic

The exposures to carbamate pesticides (BPMC specifically) of agricultural workers were estimated by collecting pesticide in air by personal sampler and by analyzing with gas chromatography. Data revealed that the highest BPMC concentration in the aspirated air was 7.7 mg/m3. Concentrations were generally higher in the group whose spray conditions were controlled than the group uncontrolled. Actual concentrations were relatively lower than the values predicted theoretically. These findings suggest that personal sampler be useful in the estimation of pesticide exposure.
Farmers ; Chromatography, Gas* ; Humans ; Pesticides ; Pilot Projects* ; Rural Health

No abstract available.
Deer ; Farmers ; Lyme Disease ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

The fabella has been considered to have a minor clinical significance. However, there have been a few reports describing the fabella as one of the causes of peroneal nerve palsy (PNP). This report describes a 66-year-old farmer who complained of acute neurologic symptoms involving the fabella. Surgical extirpation was performed and neurologic function was recovered dramatically. Recently, there have been no published reports on fabella syndrome with common PNP. Here, we report an unusual case of common PNP with the fabella as a cause.
Aged ; Farmers ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paralysis* ; Peroneal Nerve* ; Sesamoid Bones