Assessment of Disease Severity and Comorbidity Status in Patients with Occupational Polyneuropathy of Upper Extremities

Introduction: Occupational polyneuropathy of upper extremities induced by physical overload is often registered among workers of various occupations. Yet, modern science lacks up-to-date results of a comprehensive assessment of the condition of such patients in terms of occupational disease severity and the presence of concomitant non-occupational diseases. Objective: To establish severity of the occupational disease and comorbidity status in workers of various occupations, to assess their significance for planning measures aimed at professional rehabilitation of patients. Materials and methods: Severity of occupational polyneuropathy and comorbidity status were established in agricultural, construction, industrial, and mining workers. Results: In all cohorts of workers, occupational polyneuropathy is generally registered in middle-aged and elderly people usually experiencing moderate symptoms; in most cases, it is combined with other occupational diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the peripheral nervous system. Miners suffering from this type of polyneuropathy are often diagnosed with chronic industrial bronchitis. Of non-occupational disorders, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, dorsopathies, and osteoarthritis of various sites prevail in all occupational cohorts and limit the ability of patients to work. Discussion: The severity of polyneuropathy and comorbidity status of patients from different occupational cohorts vary and this fact shall be taken into account when planning medical and professional rehabilitation of workers, which is usually hampered due to imperfection of the current regulations on examining professional suitability, according to which occupational peripheral neuropathy cases shall not stop working in conditions of physical overload. Conclusions: It is critical to attend to the flaws of current regulations, which impede effective rehabilitation of patients with occu¬pational polyneuropathy and other associated diseases.

Occupational Disorders, Daily Workload, and Fitness Levels Among Fitness and Swimming Instructors

Few data have been published on occupational disorders among sports instructors, especially regarding those who are expected to continuously practice while teaching. As the number of sports instructors increases, new specific information about their possible injuries, daily workload, and fitness levels is needed. The aim of this study was to assess occupational disorders, cardiorespiratory fitness, and daily workload of fitness (FI) and swimming instructors (SI). An online survey addressing occupational disorders was conducted among 435 instructors (256 FI and 179 SI). In one subgroup (57 FI and 42 SI), cardiorespiratory fitness levels were evaluated using maximal oxygen consumption (V∙O2max) as an indicator. Daily workload was assessed by monitoring the heart rate and perception of exertion (using the Borg scale). Of the two groups, FI exhibited a higher 2-year prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries and SI experienced more upper respiratory tract infections. V∙O2max ranged from 47.0 to 51.9 ml·kg−1·min−1 and was similar for both FI and SI. Regarding the daily workload, female SI had significantly higher mean heart rate and mean heart rate to maximal heart rate ratio compared to female FI, but no significant differences between male FI and SI were found. No significant differences were observed between the perceived exertion of FI and SI. Preventive strategies for the reduction of occupational disorders in FI and SI are needed.

Occupational injuries, daily workload, and fitness levels among fitness and swimming instructors.

Background. Fitness (FI) and swimming instructor (SI) are two different type of trainers that are usually employed in fitness centers and their profession is highly physically demanding because they have to exercise while teaching. To date, data on occupational disorders in FI are limited and there is no information about SI. Therefore, the primary outcome of this study was an exploratory analysis of occupational disorders experienced by FI and SI employed in various fitness centers through a self-reported questionnaire, to provide first data on its prevalence. The secondary outcome was to assess fitness levels, workloads and perceived exertion during a typical working day of SI and FI in order to explore the possible factors associated with occupational disorders in these professional activities.Methods. An online cross-sectional survey addressing physical data, frequency, duration and time of class participation and self-reported occupational disorders was conducted among 435 subjects (FI=254; SI=179). Subsequently, 97 subjects (FI=57; SI=42), were enrolled to investigate physical fitness by maximal oxygen consumption (BO2max), and daily workload by heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE).Results. A total of 621 musculoskeletal disorders and 521 of other disorders were included in the study with 157 and 155 participants that experienced 2 or more injuries during the last 2 years of their career, respectively. FI exhibited a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries and SI experienced more upper respiratory tract infections. aO2max ranged from 47.0±4.0 to 51.9±3.7 ml·kg-1·min-1, and no statistically significant differences between sex and instructor type was found. No statistical differences between instructor type in HRmean and HRmean/HRmax was found. According to sex, female SI displayed significantly higher HRmean and HRmean/HRmax (p=0.018, p=0.022, respectively) than female FI.Conclusions. In conclusion, FI and SI experienced a high prevalence of musculoskeletal and occupational disorders. Moreover, data on FI and SI physical fitness and daily workload monitoring will help to set up guidelines regarding maximum weekly teaching load.

Respiratory Tract Disorders Associated with Changes of the Mucous Membrane in Workers often Exposed to Pathological and Toxic Factors

This article is investigating changes in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract in workers who are often exposed to pathological and toxic factors. Research methods and materials: Air sampling was performed by aspirator and gas analyzer. Collected air was checked for chemical composition. Results and discussions: Air sampling of the working area detected toxic substances such as dust, soot and toxic gases: SO2, N2O5, N2O4, NO2, N2O, CO and H2S. Concentrations of these toxic substance and gases varied from 0.06-15.8 mg/m3. Mechanisms of toxic effects causing occupational disorders by various substances and chemicals described. Conclusions: Respiratory tract disorders including chronic bronchitis, allergic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer in workers exposed to pathological and toxic factors have been described.

Occupational injuries, daily workload, and fitness levels among fitness and swimming instructors.

Background. Fitness (FI) and swimming instructor (SI) are two different type of trainers that are usually employed in fitness centers and their profession is highly physically demanding because they have to practice while teaching. To date, data on occupational disorders in FI are limited and there is no information about SI. Therefore, the primary outcome of this study was an exploratory analysis of occupational disorders experienced by FI and SI employed in various fitness centers through a self-reported questionnaire, to provide first data on its prevalence. The secondary outcome was to assess fitness levels, workloads and perceived exertion during a typical working day of SI and FI in order to explore the possible factors associated with occupational disorders in these professional activities. Methods. An online cross-sectional survey addressing physical data, frequency, duration and time of class participation and self-reported occupational disorders was conducted among 435 subjects (FI=254; SI=179). Subsequently, 97 subjects (FI=57; SI=42), were enrolled to investigate physical fitness by maximal oxygen consumption ( O2max), and daily workload by heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Results. A total of 621 musculoskeletal disorders and 521 of other disorders were included in the study with 157 and 155 participants that experienced 2 or more injuries during their career respectively. FI exhibited a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries and SI experienced more upper respiratory tract infections. O2max ranged from 47.0±4.0 to 51.9±3.7 ml·kg-1·min-1, and no statistically significant differences between sex and instructor type was found. No statistical differences between instructor type in HRmean and HRmean/HRmax was found. According to sex, female SI displayed significantly higher HRmean and HRmean/HRmax (p=0.018, p=0.022, respectively) than female FI. Conclusions. In conclusion, FI and SI experienced a high prevalence of musculoskeletal and occupational disorders during their professional career. Moreover, data on FI and SI physical fitness and daily workload monitoring will help to set up guidelines regarding maximum weekly teaching load.

State of neuromuscular transmission in vibration disease, according to electroneuromyographic test

The article covers the particular features of the neuro-muscular system in vibration disease of various types and severity by electroneuromyographical tests at the Department of Occupational Disorders, Regional Center for Occupational Disorders, Samara Medical and Sanitary Unit № 5 of the Kirov Region (State Budgetary Healthcare Institution of the Samara Region). Changes in excitability and functional mobility of the sensorimotor system, development of vegetative-sensory polyneuropathy depending on the vibration disease type, severity, and the length of exposure to vibration at work are found in vibration disease patients.

Occupational injuries, daily workload, and fitness levels among fitness and swimming instructors.

Introduction: Few data has been published on occupational disorders among sport instructors, especially regarding those who are expected to continuously practice while teaching. As the number of sport instructors is increasing, new specific information about their possible injuries, daily workload, and fitness levels is needed. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess occupational disorders, cardiorespiratory fitness, and daily workload of fitness (FI) and swimming instructors (SI). Methods. An online survey addressing occupational disorders was conduct among 435 instructors (256 FI and 179 SI). In a subgroup, cardiorespiratory fitness level was evaluated using maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) as an indicator. Daily workload was monitored by heart rate (HR) and perception of exertion.Results. Of the two groups, FI exhibited a higher 2-year prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries and SI experienced more upper respiratory tract infections. O2max ranged from 47.0±4.0 to 51.9±3.7 ml·kg-1·min-1, and was similar between FI and SI. Regarding the daily workload, female SI had significantly higher HRmean and HRmean/HRmax compared to female FI, but no significant differences between male FI and SI were found. No significant differences were observed between the perceived exertion of FI and SI.Conclusions. Preventive strategies for the reduction of occupational disorders in FI and SI are needed.

An open-source and low-cost feeding system for zebrafish facilities

Zebrafish is an established animal model used in the fields of developmental biology and genetics for more than 60 years, and among the first models to become genetically tractable. More recently, zebrafish has also become a model of reference for human diseases and systems neuroscience.The current extensive use of zebrafish in research and pharmaceutical companies promoted the development of several commercial husbandry systems specially designed for zebrafish. However, feeding is still a challenging and arduous task that can result in occupational disorders of the personnel working at the zebrafish facilities (e.g. tendinitis, back pain, etc.). To palliate these risks, a commercial robotic approach has been developed, yet its expensive cost makes this solution accessible only to very large fish facilities. Most mid-size and small facilities with limited resources still use manual feeding methods.Here, we propose two custom-made open-source semi-automatic feeding systems for dry and live food, capable of preventing and/or alleviating occupational disorders, improve feeding accuracy and decrease feeding time. Both systems are designed for mid-size or small fish facilities. They are cheap and can be easily and rapidly built using 3D printing and standard electronic and lab components.