Analysis of extra-cranial germ cell tumors in male children: Experience from a single centre in India

Health profile of workers from different industries in Singapore

INTRODUCTION

Workplace safety and health are interrelated - a worker who is not healthy may cause safety lapses at the workplace; conversely, safety lapses could affect the health of the workers. This study was part of a larger Total Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) programme run by the Workplace Safety and Health Council, Singapore. The objectives were to obtain a baseline health profile of workers across four major industries and identify important health risks for targeted workplace interventions.

METHODS

Five service providers (SPs) were appointed to run the Total WSH programme. As part of the programme, SPs conducted an anonymous basic health survey among workers of participating companies.

RESULTS

The responses of 6,373 respondents from the cleaning, construction, manufacturing, and transport and storage industries were studied. The overall response rate was 62%. Key health issues identified were high rates of obesity (22%) and smoking (24%) and low prevalence of regular exercise and healthy dietary habits. Chronic disease rates were similar to population self-reported rates (hypertension 15%, high lipid 12% and diabetes mellitus 6%). The workers reported high work stress (13%).

CONCLUSION

Health issues are prevalent in the workforce and may affect work and employee safety. It is increasingly important for employees' health to be considered in risk assessments and prioritised in workplace safety and health management systems and strategies. Health promotion interventions should be targeted, and multilevel and multicomponent initiatives should be integrated with pre-existing occupational safety programmes.

Spectrum of Germ Cell Tumor (GCT): 5 Years' Experience in a Tertiary Care Center and Utility of OCT4 as a Diagnostic Adjunct

Germ cell tumors (GCT) are an intriguing group of neoplasm having myriad clinical and morphological presentation. More and more transcription factors are being evaluated for identification of same. To study the spectrum of GCTs in a tertiary care center and the use of a stem cell marker OCT4 as a diagnostic adjunct, a retrospective 5-year (2008-2013) study was carried out. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) with OCT4 was performed on all cases and IHC for α feto protein (AFP), CD30, and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) as per requirement. Cohort included 73 cases (23 males and 50 females). Testicular and ovarian GCTs accounted for 95.83% and 35.71% respectively. In males, seminoma was the commonest (34.78%) followed by mixed GCT (26%). 17.85% of ovarian GCTs were malignant mostly constituted by dysgerminoma (18%). Benign mature cystic teratoma (MCT) constituted 50% of ovarian GCTs. OCT4 immunoexpression was seen in all cases of seminoma/dysgerminoma, embryonal carcinoma, immature teratoma, and seminomatous/embryomatous component of mixed GCTs. Pure yolk sac tumor (YST) and MCT were consistently negative. OCT4 was especially helpful in identification of mixed GCT. A panel of immunohistochemical markers would be a more ideal way to identify and clarify the components because correct identification of the components is important for therapeutic intervention and prognostication. OCT4 being a primordial germ cell marker predicts aggressive behavior and targeted therapy against this should be investigated.