Prevalence of Raynaud’s Phenomenon and Countermeasures for Workers Using an Impact Wrench

The aim of the present study was to clarify an association between the prevalence of Raynaud’s phenomenon in workers using an impact wrench and the effect of various countermeasures to prevent adverse health effects of vibration over a period of 27 yr. The subjects were 704 workers who were regularly using an impact wrench and taking special medical examinations for vibration syndrome in a factory from 1981 to 2008. Practical countermeasures, such as improvement of an apparatus and control of working conditions, were taken twenty times. There were 39 subjects with Raynaud’s phenomenon at least one time during the observation period. The prevalence of Raynaud’s phenomenon decreased after introduction of the improved impact wrench. Thereafter, the prevalence of Raynaud’s phenomenon remained to be about 2–5 % although various countermeasures were taken to keep the working environments warm, reduce the working time, and improve other working conditions. These fi ndings showed that it is necessary to decrease the vibration level of an impact wrench to decrease the prevalence of Raynaud’s phenomenon

Caracterização dos profissionais da atenção primária à saúde de um município pernambucano durante a pandemia da COVID-19

Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar o perfil do profissional de saúde de Unidades Básicas de Saúde de Olinda-PE. Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa, observacional do tipo transversal. Os participantes voluntários foram 33 profissionais de saúde das equipes de Estratégias de Saúde da Família do município de Olinda-PE. Os dados foram coletados pelo Google formulário para os participantes da pesquisa, após os mesmos aceitarem participar da pesquisa e terem assinado o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido (TCLE). As variáveis foram expressas como frequência absoluta. Este projeto foi analisado e aprovado pelo CEP da FMO. A maioria dos profissionais eram os Agentes Comunitário de Saúde (ACS), os técnicos (enfermagem e farmácia) e os enfermeiros. Destes profissionais, 84,8% eram do sexo feminino, idade variando entre 31 a 50 anos, e o grau de escolaridade reflete os profissionais que eram técnicos ou com formação superior. Houve uma prevalência de 50% testarem positivo, destes 60% diagnosticados pelo PCR e apenas 14,3% não relataram afastamento do trabalho. Apesar que todos os entrevistados relataram utilizar EPI, o que não surtiu efeito na prevenção completa. Percebe-se que os profissionais da atenção primária à saúde também estiveram susceptíveis ao coronavírus, apesar de não serem das equipes de linha de frente no combate à pandemia. Isto refletiu também no afastamento destes profissionais nas suas atividades de trabalho

Left atrial volume predicts adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>To prospectively evaluate the relationship between left atrial volume (LAV) and the risk of clinical events in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We enrolled a total of 141 HCM patients with sinus rhythm and normal pump function, and 102 patients (73 men; mean age, 61 ± 13 years) who met inclusion criteria were followed for 30.8 ± 10.0 months. The patients were divided into two groups with or without major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), a composite of stroke, sudden death, and congestive heart failure. Detailed clinical and echocardiographic data were obtained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MACCE occurred in 24 patients (18 strokes, 4 congestive heart failure and 2 sudden deaths). Maximum LAV, minimum LAV, and LAV index (LAVI) corrected for body surface area (BSA) were significantly greater in patients with MACCE than those without MACCE (maximum LAV: 64.3 ± 25.0 vs. 51.9 ± 16.0 ml, p = 0.005; minimum LAV: 33.9 ± 15.1 vs. 26.2 ± 10.9 ml, p = 0.008; LAVI: 40.1 ± 15.4 vs. 31.5 ± 8.7 ml/mm², p = 0.0009), while there were no differences in the other echocardiographic parameters.</p> <p>LAV/BSA of ≥ 40.4 ml/m²to identify patients with cardiovascular complications with a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 88%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>LAVI may be an effective marker for detecting the risk of MACCE in patients with HCM and normal pump function.</p

Daytime nap and nighttime breastfeeding are associated with toddlers\u27 nighttime sleep

The purpose of the present study is to examine the association between toddlers\u27 sleep arrangements and their nighttime sleep duration and other sleep variables. For this investigation, we performed a study in which child activity and sleep levels were recorded using actigraphy. The parents of 1.5-year-old toddlers (n = 106) were asked to attach an actigraphy unit to their child’s waist with an adjustable elastic belt and complete a sleep diary for 7 consecutive days. Questionnaires were used to assess the sleep arrangements of the toddlers. There was a significant negative correlation between nap duration and nighttime sleep duration, suggesting that longer nap sleep induces shorter nighttime sleep duration. Among the sleep arrangements, such as nighttime breastfeeding or co-sleeping, only nighttime breastfeeding predicted shorter nighttime sleep duration. Our findings indicate that shorter naps induce a longer nighttime sleep in 1.5-year-old toddlers while nighttime breastfeeding decreases their nighttime sleep duration

Sleep maturation influences cognitive development of preterm toddlers

Our recent study on full-term toddlers demonstrated that daytime nap properties affect the distribution ratio between nap and nighttime sleep duration in total sleep time but does not affect the overall total amount of daily sleep time. However, there is still no clear scientific consensus as to whether the ratio between naps and nighttime sleep or just daily total sleep duration itself is more important for healthy child development. In the current study, to gain an answer to this question, we examined the relationship between the sleep properties and the cognitive development of toddlers born prematurely using actigraphy and the Kyoto scale of psychological development (KSPD) test. 101 premature toddlers of approximately 1.5 years of age were recruited for the study. Actigraphy units were attached to their waist with an adjustable elastic belt for 7 consecutive days and a child sleep diary was completed by their parents. In the study, we found no significant correlation between either nap or nighttime sleep duration and cognitive development of the preterm toddlers. In contrast, we found that stable daily wake time was significantly associated with better cognitive development, suggesting that sleep regulation may contribute to the brain maturation of preterm toddlers

Preterm toddlers have low nighttime sleep quality and high daytime activity.

A number of studies have been made on the sleep characteristics of children born preterm in an attempt to develop methods to address the sleep problems commonly observed among such children. However, the reported sleep characteristics from these studies vary depending on the observation methods used, i.e., actigraphy, polysomnography and questionnaire. In the current study, to obtain reliable data on the sleep characteristics of preterm-born children, we investigated the difference in sleep properties between 97 preterm and 97 term toddlers of approximately 1.5 years of age using actigraphy. Actigraphy units were attached to the toddlers’ waists with an adjustable elastic belt for 7 consecutive days, and a child sleep diary was completed by their parents. In the study, we found that preterm toddlers had more nocturnal awakenings and more daytime activity, suggesting that preterm-born children may have a different process of sleep development in their early development

センイ ガサイボウ ニ オイテ マク ケツゴウガタ メタロプロテアーゼ セイギョ インシ RECK ワ セッチャクハン ト ゼンゴ ホウコウ ノ キョクセイ オ アンテイカサセル

京都大学0048新制・論文博士博士(医学)乙第12325号論医博第1982号新制||医||975(附属図書館)UT51-2009-D540京都大学大学院医学研究科分子医学系専攻(主査)教授 武藤 誠, 教授 松田 道行, 教授 瀬原 淳子学位規則第4条第2項該当Doctor of Medical ScienceKyoto UniversityDA

Density- and serum-dependent regulation of the Reck tumor suppressor in mouse embryo fibroblasts.

Reck is a membrane-anchored glycoprotein identified as a transformation suppressor. Accumulating evidence indicates that Reck negatively regulates a wide spectrum of matrix metalloproteinases and is commonly down-regulated in a variety of malignant solid tumors. Physiological cues that regulate Reck expression, however, remained unknown. In this study, we found that Reck expression was up-regulated at high cell density, low serum, or after treatment with some kinase inhibitors, such as PP2 (Src inhibitor), LY294002 (PI3-kinase inhibitor), and PF573228 (FAK inhibitor), in mouse embryo fibroblasts. Curve fitting indicated that the levels of Reck protein and Reck mRNA are quadratic in the cell density. Other factors, including serum, extracellular matrix components (type I collagen and fibronectin), the kinase inhibitors, and some of their oncogenic targets (v-Src and PIK3CA mutants), modify the shape of the quadratic curve. Comparison of these modifications implicated Src in Reck down-regulation under sparse conditions, PI3-kinase in serum-induced Reck down-regulation, and FAK in Reck down-regulation at high cell density. Fibronectin and type I collagen down-regulated Reck, supporting the role of integrin-FAK signaling in Reck down-regulation at high cell density. Our study has revealed multiple signaling pathways impinging on Reck in cultured mouse embryo fibroblasts and sets a foundation for future studies to find effective Reck inducers of potential value in cancer therapy