Computer work and musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and upper extremity: A systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This review examines the evidence for an association between computer work and neck and upper extremity disorders (except carpal tunnel syndrome).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic critical review of studies of computer work and musculoskeletal disorders verified by a physical examination was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 22 studies (26 articles) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results show limited evidence for a causal relationship between computer work per se, computer mouse and keyboard time related to a diagnosis of wrist tendonitis, and for an association between computer mouse time and forearm disorders. Limited evidence was also found for a causal relationship between computer work per se and computer mouse time related to tension neck syndrome, but the evidence for keyboard time was insufficient. Insufficient evidence was found for an association between other musculoskeletal diagnoses of the neck and upper extremities, including shoulder tendonitis and epicondylitis, and any aspect of computer work.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There is limited epidemiological evidence for an association between aspects of computer work and some of the clinical diagnoses studied. None of the evidence was considered as moderate or strong and there is a need for more and better documentation.</p

Einnahme von Medikamenten und legalen Drogen in einer städtisch-ländlichen Population mit Flüchtlings-Hintergrund sieben bis acht Jahre nach Übersiedlung

Objective: Research into medical and licit drug use in resettled refugee populations is scarce, despite the fact that mental health status often has been found to be poorer than in general populations. Hence the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of self-rated use of medicine and licit drugs among adults who came to Sweden from Bosnia-Herzegovina (1993/94) and who in 2001 were living in either an urban (low employment context) or a rural (high employment context) region (n=4185). Methods: Prevalence was estimated from a cross-sectional questionnaire distributed to a representative sample (n=650) in 2001 (63.5% response rate). Results: The study population estimates of usage of sedatives (26.5%), sleeping tablets (26.2%) and antidepressants (22.3%) did not differ by gender but did so by region, with a higher urban prevalence. The consumption of alcohol (5.1%) and cigarettes (41.0%) did not differ by region but men reported higher alcohol consumption than women. Conclusion: The high consumption of medicine (compared with general populations) raises the question of treatment efficiency and the need for public health attention and evaluation many years after resettlement. Factors to consider for further research with analytic prerequisites concern indications that regional differences may be influenced, not only by urban employment being lower but also by urban/rural differences in prescription rates and/or access to health care; moreover, there might have been a selection to the urban region of older people, with a more vulnerable family situation, and/or poorer mental health. Finally, the overall alcohol (low) and cigarettes (high) consumption in the study population followed prevalence patterns found in Bosnia-Herzegovina rather than in Sweden.Fragestellung: Über die Einnahme von Medikamenten und legalen Drogen in umgesiedelten Flüchtlingspopulationen liegen erst wenige Forschungsergebnisse vor, obwohl ihr allgemeiner Gesundheitszustand oft schlechter ist als derjenige der Allgemeinbevölkerung. Es sollte daher die Prävalenz selbst berichteter Einnahme von Medikamenten und legalen Drogen bei n=4185 Erwachsenen untersucht werden, die 1993-94 aus Bosnien-Herzegovina nach Schweden kamen und im Jahr 2001 entweder in einer städtischen Region (mit geringer Beschäftigungsrate) oder in einer ländlichen Region (mit hoher Beschäftigungsrate) lebten. Methode: Die Prävalenz wurde 2001 im Querschnitt mittels Fragebogenerhebung an einer repräsentativen Stichprobe (n=650; 63,5% Beantwortungsquote) geschätzt. Ergebnisse: Die Populations-Schätzwerte für Einnahme von Sedativa (26,5%), Schlaftabletten (26,2%) und Antidepressiva (22,3%) unterschieden sich nicht zwischen den Geschlechtern, wohl aber zwischen den Regionen mit höheren Raten bei Stadtbewohnern. Der Konsum von Alkohol (5,1%) und Zigaretten (41,0%) unterschied sich nicht zwischen den Regionen, aber Männer berichteten mehr Alkoholkonsum als Frauen. Schlussfolgerung: Der hohe Medikamentenkonsum im Vergleich zur Allgemeinbevölkerung wirft die Frage nach der Behandlungseffizienz und der Notwendigkeit verstärkter Beachtung durch das öffentliche Gesundheitssystem noch Jahre nach der Übersiedlung auf. Die zukünftige Forschung sollte mit entsprechender Methodik Anzeichen dafür nachgehen, dass die regionalen Unterschiede nicht nur durch die niedrigen städtischen Beschäftigungsraten sondern auch durch Stadt-Land-Gefälle in Verschreibungsraten und/oder Zugang zur Gesundheitsversorgung bedingt sein könnten. Zudem könnte ein Selektionseffekt vorliegen, indem ältere Flüchtlinge mit vulnerablerer familiärer Situation und/oder schlechterer psychischer Gesundheit bevorzugt in städtischen Regionen leben. Schließlich folgt der allgemeine (niedrige) Alkohol- und (hohe) Zigarettenkonsum der Studienpopulation eher bosnischen als schwedischen Prävalenzraten

On the appearance of bile in clinical MR cholangiopancreatography

Purpose: To study the appearance of bile in clinical MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with special reference to its chemical and physical properties. Material and Methods: Gallbladder bile was collected during surgery from 38 patients and studied with respect to chemical constituents. The relaxation rates 1/T1 and 1/T2 of bile were also determined in vitro . In 16 of these 38 patients, abdominal imaging was performed using MRCP as well as T1-weighted GE sequences. Results: For 9 of the 13 chemical parameters studied, a positive significant correlation with 1/T1 as well as 1/T2 was found. The median relaxation rates 1/T1 and 1/T2 were 0.76 and 1.48 s(-1) , respectively. The corresponding ranges were 0.38-3.13 s(-1) and 0.70-5.75 s(-1) , respectively. On the MRCP images a few patients showed gallbladder of poor visibility due to low signal-to-noise ratio. This coincided with a high relaxation rate 1/T2 of bile. On the T1-weighted GE sequences a few patients showed hyperintense gallbladder relative to liver, coinciding with high relaxation rates 1/T1 of bile. Conclusion: Bile was found to show a large interindividual variation with respect to relaxation rates 1/T1 and 1/T2. The relaxation rates increased with increasing amounts of substances in the bile. For some patients (11%) MRCP imaging is unsuccessful due to high relaxation rate of bile

Lifetimes of the 3p 2P1/2, 2P3/2 and 3d 2D3/2, 2D5/2 Levels in Cl VII

The beam-foil excitation technique has been applied to determine lifetimes of the 3p2P1/2, 2P3/2 and 3d2D3/2, 2D5/2 levels in Na-like Cl VII. Using the ANDC method accurate values have been obtained which confirm recent theoretical values and explain some previously noted differences between theoretical and experimental oscillator strengths for transitions in multiply ionized Na-like ions

Accurate experimental lifetimes of excited levels in sodiumlike sulfur, S VI

The lifetimes of the terms 3p2P, 3d2D, 4s2S, 4p2P, 4d2D, 4f2F, 5g2G, 6g2G, 6h2H, 7h2H, 7i2I and 8k2K in sodiumlike sulfur, S VI, have been determined using the beam-foil excitation technique. Most of the decay curves were analyzed by means of the ANDC method which corrects for cascading in a very detailed way. Accurate results were thereby obtained which show that an excellent agreement exists between experimental and theoretical values. Some previously noted disagreements between the results of beam-foil experiments and theoretical investigations are explained as being due to less accurate analyses of the experimental data

Mortality risks among heavy-smokers with special reference to women: a long-term follow-up of an urban population

Increased mortality risks associated with smoking are well established among men. There are very few population-based studies comprising a sufficient number of heavily smoking women, measuring the direct effect of smoking on mortality risks. Between 1974 and 1992, 8,499 women and 13,888 men attended a health screening programme including reporting of smoking habits. Individuals were followed for total mortality until 2005. All-cause, cancer, cardiovascular, lung cancer and respiratory mortality were calculated in smoking categories = 20 g per day with never-smokers as a reference group and with adjustments for co-morbidities, socio-economic and marital status. For respiratory mortality and lung cancer adjustments for FEV1, socio-economic and marital status were performed. Smoking was associated with a two to almost threefold increased mortality risk among women and men. The relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval, (CI) for women who smoked 10-19 g per day was 2.44 (2.07-2.87), and for those who smoked 20 g per day or more the RR (95% CI) was 2.42 (2.00-2.92). Smoking was a strong risk factor for cardiovascular mortality among women, the RR (95% CI) for women who smoked 10-19 g per day was 4.52 (3.07-6.64). Ex-smoking women showed increased risks of all-cause mortality; RR (95% CI) 1.26 (1.04-1.52) cancer (excluding lung cancer); RR (95% CI) 1.42 (1.07-1.88) and lung cancer RR (95% CI) 2.71 (1.02-7.23) mortality. However, the cardiovascular; RR (95% CI) 1.18 (0.69-2.00) and respiratory; RR (95% CI) 0.79 (0.16-3.84) mortality risks were not statistically significant. This study confirms that as for men, middle-aged heavily smoking women have a two to threefold increased mortality risk. Adjustments for co-morbidity, socio-economic and marital status did not change these results