Work-related musculoskeletal injuries among Australian osteopaths: A preliminary investigation

Background:Work-related musculoskeletal injury (WRMI) is a significant risk factor for registered manual therapists, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and chiropractors. The physically demanding nature of manual therapy has been identified as the common factor in WRMIs among these professions. There is currently no available literature on the prevalence of WRMIs among osteopaths.Objective:This research sought to collect preliminary data to establish the prevalence and characteristics of WRMIs among Australian osteopaths; including body area injured, risk factors and strategies used to manage injury.Method:Registered osteopaths, who were members of the professional association Osteopathy Australia,were invited to participate via an online survey.Results:A total of 160 surveys were completed. The incidence of WRMI was high, with 58% of re-respondents having sustained one or more injuries. Results indicated that the wrist and the fingers are the most frequently injured areas (41%), while the least injured body part was the knee (1.1%). Performing repetitive tasks accounted for 52% of injuries, followed by performing manipulative techniques (23%).Working too many hours per week (43%) and fatigue (38%) were the main factors contributing to Background:Work-related musculoskeletal injury (WRMI) is a significant risk factor for registered manual therapists, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and chiropractors. The physically demanding nature of manual therapy has been identified as the common factor in WRMIs among these professions. There is currently no available literature on the prevalence of WRMIs among osteopaths.Objective:This research sought to collect preliminary data to establish the prevalence and characteristics of WRMIs among Australian osteopaths; including body area injured, risk factors and strategies used to manage injury.Method:Registered osteopaths, who were members of the professional association Osteopathy Australia,were invited to participate via an online survey.Results:A total of 160 surveys were completed. The incidence of WRMI was high, with 58% of respondents having sustained one or more injuries. Results indicated that the wrist and the fingers are the most frequently injured areas (41%), while the least injured body part was the knee (1.1%). Performing repetitive tasks accounted for 52% of injuries, followed by performing manipulative techniques (23%).Working too many hours per week (43%) and fatigue (38%) were the main factors contributing to injury. Conclusions: highlight the risk to osteopaths of sustaining musculoskeletal injuries while working in clinical practice highlight the risk to osteopaths of sustaining musculoskeletal injuries while working in clinical practice

Disordered eating behaviour in young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: The combination of eating disorders and diabetes is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence of disordered eating behaviour (DEB) in young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus to a sample of non-diabetic controls, and to examine the relationship of DEB to glycaemic control. Methods: The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) was administered to 51 individuals aged 18-30 years attending an outpatient diabetic clinic in a large university teaching hospital. Glycaemic control was assessed by the glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c). The control group comprised a consecutive sample of 236 male and female students aged 18-30 years attending a university primary health care service. Results: The mean global EDE-Q score for the diabetes group was 0.82 ± 1.1 (mean ± SD) and the mean for the control group was 1.4 ± 1.3 (mean ± SD). The diabetes group was significantly more likely to have a lower global EDE-Q score compared to the control group. There was no association between the global EDE-Q score of the diabetes group and HbA1c level. Conclusions: We did not find increased levels of disordered eating behavior (DEB) in young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus compared to a non-diabetic control sample.</p

Lentiviral vector mediated modification of mesenchymal stem cells & enhanced survival in an in vitro model of ischaemia

A combination of gene and cell therapies has the potential to significantly enhance the therapeutic value of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The development of efficient gene delivery methods is essential if MSCs are to be of benefit using such an approach. Achieving high levels of transgene expression for the required period of time, without adversely affecting cell viability and differentiation capacity, is crucial. In the present study, we investigate lentiviral vector-mediated genetic modification of rat bone-marrow derived MSCs and examine any functional effect of such genetic modification in an in vitro model of ischaemia. Methods. Transduction efficiency and transgene persistence of second and third generation rHIV-1 based lentiviral vectors were tested using reporter gene constructs. Use of the rHIV-pWPT-EF1 - GFP-W vector was optimised in terms of dose, toxicity, cell species, and storage. The in vivo condition of ischaemia was modelled in vitro by separation into its associated constituent parts i.e. hypoxia, serum and glucose deprivation, in which the effect of therapeutic gene over-expression on MSC survival was investigated. Results: The second generation lentiviral vector rHIV-pWPT-EF1 - GFP-W, was the most efficient and provided the most durable transgene expression of the vectors tested. Transduction with this vector did not adversely affect MSC morphology, viability or differentiation potential, and transgene expression levels were unaffected by cryopreservation of transduced cells. Over-expression of HSP70 resulted in enhanced MSC survival and increased resistance to apoptosis in conditions of hypoxia and ischaemia. MSC differentiation capacity was significantly reduced after oxygen deprivation, but was preserved with HSP70 over-expression. Conclusions: Collectively, these data validate the use of lentiviral vectors for efficient in vitro gene delivery to MSCs and suggest that lentiviral vector transduction can facilitate sustained therapeutic gene expression, providing an efficient tool for ex vivo MSC modification. Furthermore, lentiviral mediated over-expression of therapeutic genes in MSCs may provide protection in an ischaemic environment and enable MSCs to function in a regenerative manner, in part through maintaining the ability to differentiate. This finding may have considerable significance in improving the efficacy of MSC-based therapies. © 2011McGinley et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd