Introduction: Heavy working conditions and many unpropitious factors influencing workers health participate in development of various health disorders, among other autonomic cardiovascular regulation malfunction. The aim of this study is to draw a comparison of autonomic nervous system functional age and heart rate variability changes between workers with and without mining occupational exposure.Material and methods: Short term HRV was measured by DiANS PF8 device in men with and without occupational mining exposure (exposure for 10 years at least) using standard orthoclinostathic protocol (each phase 300 sec or 300 heartbeats if heart rate under 60 bpm), excluding those with severe cardiovascular, metabolic, or psychiatric diseases, nicotine and other drugs abuse, as well as those, who underwent heavy stress situation during last year.Results: Evaluating 41 HRV records among miners (n=24, age 47.9 ± 6.1 years, exposure 22.5 ± 5 years) and non-miners (n=17, age 48.5 ± 6.9 years) we found significantly increased difference between functional age of ANS and calendar age in miners group (+7.2 ± 7.3 years) over against the non-miners group (-1.6 ± 6.5 years). No correlation was found between exposure duration and functional age of ANS difference. Analysis of HRV parameters show significant reduction in total spectral power, LF, HF and rMSSD in mine workers above 48 years of age. Discussion and conclusion: Our results show that influence of occupational work factors from mining exposure can clearly take part in worsening the reactivity of ANS, which can be associated with greater risk of developing mostly cardiovascular diseases. It is important to think of non-occupational factors improving or deteriorating ANS reactivity and of individual sensitivity to other external factors.

Introduction: The microcirculation of the lower limbs (LL) of diabetics is influenced by hyperglycemia and several factors (hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia) leading to the functional and later the structural changes, manifesting as dysregulation of the peripheral blood flow. Materials and Methods: The study included 39 patients with type 2 diabetes, and the same number of the control group. The digital photoplethysmography (PPG) was used for assessment of the peripheral circulation with reflectance mode, sensing from the 1st and 2nd toe of the LL after acclimatisation of the patient in the supine position. The subjects were also asked to refrain from smoking, to avoid drinks containing caffeine and using of medicaments with vasodilatator function at least 2 hours before examination. Results: The pulse amplitudes and the peak times of the PPG curves were significantly higher in diabetic group than in the control group. The mean pulse amplitudes in diabetics were in the range of 0.69 % 0.86 %, the pulse peak time in the range of 140 - 154 ms. The mean pulse amplitudes in the control group were in the range of 0.37 0.54 %, the mean pulse peak time were in the range of 120 - 133 ms. The PPG findings of the LL were symmetrical (non-significant t-test). We have not found a correlation between the PPG records and duration, compensation of diabetes, age, glycemia, blood pressure, dyslipidemia, smoking and obesity. Conclusion: This simple-to-use technique shows the increased total skin microcirculation in diabetic patients. Microvascular shunting of blood presenting in peripheral nerves and in the skin of diabetic feet are responsible for reduced hyperemia response to any inflammatory process with the increased susceptibility for inquiring the diabetic foot infection.