Upper trapezius fatigue in carpet weaving: the impact of a repetitive task cycle

Introduction. Shoulder disorders are one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders among carpet weavers. The most important cause of these disorders is muscle fatigue. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of carpet weaving characteristics on upper trapezius (UTr) muscle fatigue during a task cycle. Method. In this cross-sectional study, 9 women and 3 men participated. During an 80-min cycle of carpet weaving, a times-series model was applied to assess electromyography amplitude and frequency changes. Result. According to the joint analysis of electromyogram spectrum and amplitude method, the participants experienced 0% force decrease, 0.9% recovery, 18% force increase and 72% fatigue in the left UTr. Furthermore, the rates of force decrease, recovery, force increase and fatigue in the right UTr were 18%, 18%, 18% and 45%, respectively. Fatigue in the right and the left UTr was reported to be the dominant state during one carpet weaving task cycle. Conclusion. Task cycle appears to have a significant impact on UTr fatigue in participants, and UTr fatigue can be considered a serious risk factor in shoulder musculoskeletal disorders. Hence, further studies should focus on better workstations and work–rest periods during various subtasks.     

双酚A(BPA)暴露对WHHL家兔糖类和脂类代谢的影响

为利用和人类更为接近的动物模型来研究在高脂血症条件下,BPA暴露是否能促进脂类和糖类代谢异常,并探索潜在的毒性效应机制,选取渡边可遗传高脂血症家兔(WHHL)模型,通过灌胃的方式将其暴露于400μg·kg-1体重的BPA溶液长达12周。在持续暴露第8周,检测了在空腹状态下,家兔血浆中葡萄糖、胰岛素和脂肪含量的变化,并根据所得结果进行了静脉注射胰岛素耐受试验(IVTT)。在暴露第12周,同样对空腹状态下,家兔血浆中的葡萄糖,胰岛素和脂肪含量进行了检测,并测量了血压和心率。然后,将所有的家兔进行解剖,通过苏木精-伊红(HE)及糖原(PAS)染色分别对心脏和肝脏部位的脂肪及糖原蓄积情况进行了病理学切片分析。同时,检测了肝脏中与脂类和糖类代谢相关基因在m RNA水平上的表达变化。结果显示,BPA暴露8周后促使WHHL家兔发生了胰岛素抵抗现象,导致第12周血糖及胰岛素含量升高,同时也促进了高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)及游离脂肪酸(NEFA)含量的上升。BPA暴露第12周,暴露组WHHL家兔的冠状动脉粥样硬化损伤程度未发生明显增加,但心肌细胞发生了肿胀,胞质中出现了脂肪的蓄积,同时伴随着心律失常。肝脏重量发生增加,肝细胞中同时出现了脂肪和糖原的蓄积现象,相关基因的表达发生了显著上调。研究结果表明,BPA持续暴露可促进WHHL家兔发生脂类和糖类代谢异常,其毒性效应机制可能和胰岛素抵抗及相关基因的异常表达有关。     

A detailed analysis of musculoskeletal disorder risk factors among Japanese nurses

INTRODUCTION: Although Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) represent a common occupational problem, few epidemiological studies have investigated MSD risk factors among Asian nurses, particularly those in Japan. METHOD: We administered a modified Japanese-language version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire to 1,162 nurses from a large teaching hospital. MSD categories focused on the neck, shoulder, upper back, and lower back regions. RESULTS: A total of 844 completed questionnaires were analyzed (response rate: 72.6%). The 12-month period-prevalence of MSD at any body site was 85.5%. MSD was most commonly reported at the shoulder (71.9%), followed by the lower back (71.3%), neck (54.7%), and upper back (33.9%). Alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, and having children were shown to be significant risk factors, with adjusted Odds Ratios of 1.87 (95%CI: 1.17-2.96), 2.45 (95%CI: 1.43-4.35), and 2.53 (95%CI: 1.32-4.91), respectively. Workplace risk factors included manually handling patients (OR: 2.07 to 11.97) and undertaking physically laborious work (OR: 2.09 to 2.76). Nurses reporting pre-menstrual tension were 1.66 and 1.94 times more likely to suffer from lower back and upper back MSD, respectively. High mental pressure was also identified as a significant risk factor for MSD of the neck (OR: 1.53) and shoulder (OR: 2.07). IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The complex nature of MSD risk factors identified during this study suggests that remediation strategies which focus only on manual handling tasks would probably be suboptimal in reducing MSD among nurses. Therefore, to help alleviate their considerable MSD burden, a greater emphasis will need to be placed on job satisfaction, work organization, and occupational stress, as well as the more traditional hazard reduction strategies such as manual handling, work tasks, and other occupational factors.     

邮局分拣工肌肉骨骼损伤工效学调查研究

调查结果表明，以手工操作的我国邮局信件分拣工种主要存在工效学的问题是强迫体位（如过多低头、前弯腰、侧弯腰等），工作单调且具有高频率，同一动作持续时间过长，劳动定额较大以及生理心理负荷较重等。建议采取有效劳保措施，保障分拣工人健康，以提高信件分拣效率     

Circadian Rhythm of Heart Rate,Urinary Cortisol Excretion,and Sleep in Civil Air Traffic Controllers

The examination of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) from the Warsaw Airport (Poland) included 24-hr ECG monitoring. The participants were 10 civil ATCs, 9 males and 1 woman. The study was carried out on a group of 19 ATCs during their duty periods, 14 of them working 12-hr shifts and 5 performing 24-hr duties. The participants collected urine every 4 hrs, and Cortisol concentration was determined. Further, the survey included the quality and duration of sleep, and subjective fatigue in the 62 participants.

In ATCs, shift work modifies natural rhythms of the circulatory system and decreases the ability for intensified mental work at night. In consequence ATCs experience frequent sleep disorders.     

机械行业工效学调查研究

对机械行业工人的慢性肌肉骨骼损伤进行了工效学分析。结果表明，目前我国机械行业工人主要存在的工效学问题是：坐椅高度和坐位工作台高度较高，正常作业范围过大，同一动作持续工作时间过长、劳动时间率偏高、工中休息时间偏少。建议根据有关法规和标准，采取工效学改进措施