Changes of peripheral blood parameters in aerobic dance instructors after aerobic dance instruction]

To investigate the biological load of aerobic dance instruction on the body, a blood biological study was performed on 13 female instructors. The values were compared with 10 female healthy controls. The results obtained were as follows. 1. A significant negative correlation was observed between the total experience of aerobic dancing (in years) and the levels of serum phospholipids. In addition, the numbers of white blood cells and the levels of serum phospholipids, lipoperoxide, uric acid and creatinine were significantly related to aerobic dance instruction time (years). 2. The levels of serum CPK, aldolase, GOT, BUN and creatinine in the aerobic dance instructors were significantly higher than those in the controls. 3. The levels of serum CPK, uric acid, BUN, creatinine and Ca increased significantly after an intermediate class lesson (about 60 minutes). In addition, the numbers of white blood cells also increased after the lesson, but not significantly. Moreover, Significant decreases of the mean corpuscular volume and serum Mg were observed after the lesson.     

Parental provision of transportation for adolescent physical activity.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) is important to adolescents' health. Parent transportation to activity locations is a practical strategy for increasing youth PA that has rarely been examined. DESIGN: Cross-sectional surveys of students and parents. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Ethnically diverse students (N=1678; 712 boys, 966 girls; M age=13.0 years) from 24 middle schools (grades six to eight) and their parents completed surveys (response rate=72%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of parents transporting adolescents to PA locations was studied in relation to adolescents' reported participation in PA during the previous week and their involvement in sports and activity lessons during the past year. RESULTS: Parents transported adolescents to PA locations 2.13 times per week, with boys being transported more often than girls (p=0.03). Ethnic/racial differences in frequency of transport were evidenced (p=0.002). Parent transportation for PA significantly contributed to girls' total PA (p=0.001) and their participation in sports/activity lessons (p=0.001). Transportation contributed marginally (p=0.06) to boys' total PA, but significantly to their participation in sports/activity lessons (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Parent provision of transportation to activity locations is associated with out-of-school PA in a diverse adolescent population. This variable should be targeted for intervention.     

1起甲型H1N1流感暴发的调查

[目的]总结甲型H1N1流感暴发的经验、教训,为今后处理类似突发事件提供参考。[方法]采用现况调查的方法,对2009年10月发生在青岛某大学费县校区学生中的甲型H1N1流感暴发疫情进行调查。[结果]此次甲型H1N1流感暴发共发病16例,罹患率为0.28%。病例分布在2个年级、9个班,发病年龄为18-21岁,男生11例,女生5例,男女之比为2.20∶1。患者临床表现为发热、头痛、头晕、咳嗽、腰腿酸痛等症状。无明确与甲型H1N1流感病例和流感样病例接触史。[结论]这是1起发生在学校由甲型H1N1流感病毒感染引起的暴发疫情,控制措施及时有效。     

A study of exercise programs and instructors for a fitness program in a corporate setting

The objective of the study was to evaluate the importance of diversity in exercise programs and athletic instructors in a corporate physical fitness program. Subjects were 717 Japanese chemical factory employees (male 524, female 193) in Japan who were surveyed using a questionnaire, with a resultant response rate of 84%. Many employees who participated in regular physical activities on a voluntary basis were motivated to exercise for reasons other than health, with a variety of motivating factors suggested. The total number of sports programs in which male and female employees participated voluntarily were 31 and 15, respectively. For employees not yet participating in physical activities but expressing interest in joining a company sponsored sports class, the total number of programs in which interest was shown was 40 for males and 22 for females. Professional athletic instructors from outside fitness clubs appeared to have far more appeal to employees than athletic instructors who were recruited from company employees and given a short athletic instructor course to become health care leaders at the same factory in addition to their regular job. In order to enhance participation in and adherence to a corporate fitness program, it was suggested that the number of exercise programs be increased and that outside professional athletic instructors be employed.     

Supervised and free-living physical activity: no differences in former athletes and nonathletes

The association of past participation in school sports with present physical activity was studied in 265 Caucasian men who represented a broad spectrum of cardiovascular health. In cross-sectional and prospective analyses of free-living and supervised settings, no differences in contemporary adult activity were observed between former athletes and nonathletes (p greater than .05). Statistical control for selection bias effects by age, body mass index, sum of skin folds, exercise tolerance, and coronary health status did not alter the results. Recall of free-living physical activity was verified by significant (p less than .05) correlations with a concurrent self-report of activity and with body mass index and exercise tolerance adjusted for coronary health status. Previous reports of an association between school sports participation and adult activity have failed to control for subject selection bias and confounding variables, verify activity recall, and examine both supervised and free-living environments. Although these data do not support the role of youthful sports participation in adult physical activity, future studies could provide objective measures of school and community sports participation and subjective measures of the sports experience in relation to other sex, race, and ethnic factors.     

Subjective symptoms of female workers sorting goods in summer

Subjective musculoskeletal symptoms are more frequently complained about in cold store work and in related conditions than those experienced in normal temperature work. This cross sectional study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of indoor cooling and cold storage goods on the prevalence of subjective symptoms in summer. Female workers sorting cold storage goods (exposed group) were the main subjects of this study (n=47). We also included a group of female workers engaged sorting dry goods as the unexposed to cold group (n=86). Work load for the two groups were estimated according to the recommended criteria. A self-administered questionnaire covering age, occupational career, smoking, alcohol drinking and physical exercise, present or past history of diseases, individual protective measures against cold or heat, and subjective symptoms (60 items) was used. The air temperature of the site at the start of working time for the workers sorting cold storage goods was 22.2℃ which was significantly lower than those measured for the other two work places (25.4℃ and 25.4℃) of the unexposed to cold group. Environmental temperatures at the foot level at the sorting workshop of cold storage goods and dry goods were ca.16℃ and 26℃ all day, respectively. The surface temperatures of cold storage goods were between -2.8℃ and 9.4℃. The surface temperature of dry goods was 26.5℃. Among the working characteristic items, only daily working hours in the exposed group (5.6 ± 0.6 h) were significantly longer than those in the unexposed to cold group (4.6 ± 0.9 h) (p<0.01). The prevalence rates of finger cold sensation, stiffness in the fingers, pain in the wrist, pain in the elbow, back dullness, back pain, low-back cold sensation, foot cold sensation and pain in the foot in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in the unexposed to cold group (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Pain in the fingers, numbness in the fingers, pain in the foot and foot numbness due to the cold in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in the unexposed to cold group (p<0.05 or p<0.01). These results suggest that indoor cooling and/or job activities related to cold storage goods could, to some extent, affect peripheral circulatory disturbances; and it could be regarded as a factor related to musculoskeletal symptoms among the exposed workers.     

Participation in aesthetic sports and girls' weight concerns at ages 5 and 7 years

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between participation in aesthetic, or appearance-oriented, sports and weight concerns was assessed among young girls. METHOD: Participants were part of a larger longitudinal study and included 197 and 192 girls and their mothers when girls were 5 and 7 years, respectively. At each age, girls' weight concerns and sport participation were assessed and girls were classified as participating in aesthetic sports (dance, gymnastics, cheerleading, baton twirling, swimming, aerobics, figure skating), non-aesthetic sports (volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball, hockey, tennis, martial arts, track) or no sports. RESULTS: Girls in the aesthetic sport group reported higher weight concerns than girls in the nonaesthetic and no sport groups at ages 5 and 7 years. In addition, girls participating in aesthetic sports at ages 5 and 7 years reported the highest weight concerns at age 7. DISCUSSION: Participation in aesthetic, or appearance-oriented, sports may foster a heightened focus on weight and body shape among girls.     

广西人造宝石加工业流动女工职业健康危害现况调查

目的 了解广西人造宝石加工业流动女工职业健康危害状况,为制定保护宝石家庭作坊式加工业流动女工职业健康对策提供参考依据。方法 采用中国疾病预防控制中心职业卫生与中毒控制所统一制定的女工职业健康调查问卷,选择广西梧州市从事人造宝石加工的2095名流动女工进行问卷调查。结果 广西人造宝石加工以家庭作坊、农民工为主,作业场所的卫生设施简陋,存在的主要职业性危害因素有粉尘、噪声、氢氟酸、局部微小振动。流动女工平均年龄为30岁,平均职业工龄为5年,文化程度比较低,未受到职业健康监护;以腰背痛、眼睛不适、头痛头晕的主诉症状为主,且发生率随着工龄的增长而增高。结论 广西人造宝石加工业职业卫生防护措施及职业健康监护未能得到有效的实施。需要加强宣传教育及管理,将家庭作坊纳入职业卫生监管体系。     

Physical activity, metabolic syndrome, and overweight in rural youth.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests significant health differences between rural dwelling youth and their urban counterparts with relation to cardiovascular risk factors. This study was conducted to (1) determine relationships between physical activity and markers of metabolic syndrome, and (2) to explore factors relating to physical activity in a diverse sample of rural youth. METHODS: Data were collected from 4th, 6th, 8th, and 11th grade public school students in the rural Southeastern United States in the spring of 2002. Physiological data included anthropometrics, fasting glucose, lipids, hemodynamics, and skinfold measurements. Psychosocial data included parental support for physical activity, accessibility of physical activity facilities, and safety concerns for physical activity. Behavioral data included self-reported physical activity and sedentary behaviors. RESULTS: After adjusting for sex, race, and age, subjects with low level of physical activity were 3 times more likely to be positive for metabolic syndrome compared to those reporting a high level of physical activity. Subjects reporting a low level of physical activity were 2.4 times more likely to be overweight compared to subjects reporting a high level of physical activity. Students with high levels of physical activity were more likely to have parents who provided money for physical activity lessons and sports teams. CONCLUSIONS: Rural youth with low levels of physical activity participation were at increased risks for metabolic syndrome and overweight. Effective physical activity promotions addressing supports for physical activity are urgently needed in rural America.     

Apocalypse

A 72-year-old man presented with a two-week history of exertional dyspnea and nonclaudicatory pain and swelling in the right lower leg. Elevating the leg for short periods had not helped. The symptoms had begun soon after he took a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for right shoulder pain but persisted after he stopped taking the drug. His history included two-pillow orthopnea, but that had not worsened in the last year. He had not experienced chest discomfort.     

A man with a swollen leg and abnormal globulins

A 72-year-old man presented with a two-week history of exertional dyspnea and nonclaudicatory pain and swelling in the right lower leg. Elevating the leg for short periods had not helped. The symptoms had begun soon after he took a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for right shoulder pain but persisted after he stopped taking the drug. His history included two-pillow orthopnea, but that had not worsened in the last year. He had not experienced chest discomfort.     

Structured physical activity and psychosocial correlates in middle-school girls

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the types of physical activity (PA) in which adolescent girls participate. Understanding this, along with examining specific psychosocial correlates of PA, may help guide the development of effective interventions to prevent the decline in PA in female youth. METHODS: 2791 sixth grade girls participating in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls from six geographical locations completed surveys assessing participation in sports teams and activity classes/lessons in and out of school, self-efficacy for PA, PA enjoyment, physical education (PE) enjoyment, and perceived school climate for girls' PA (data collection: January-May 2003). Correlates of girls' participation in structured PA and sociodemographic differences were explored. RESULTS: 89.5% of girls participated in structured PA: 39% at school and 86% outside of school. Across race/ethnicity, most reported activities were basketball (44%), cheerleading/dance (41%), and swimming (39%). Controlling for socioeconomic status, geographical location, and race/ethnicity, girls with a higher self-efficacy (OR=3.44, CI=1.72-6.92) and higher enjoyment of PE class (OR=1.97, CI=1.25-3.120) were more likely to participate in structured PA. PA enjoyment and perceived school climate for girls' PA were not associated with participation in structured PA. CONCLUSION: Interventions that increase self-efficacy and enjoyment of PE could result in greater participation in structured PA and higher overall PA levels among adolescent girls.     

Perimenstrual symptoms and working conditions among hospital workers in quebec

Perimenstrual symptoms are among the most common disorders of women. Seven perimenstrual symptoms were related to working conditions among 539 hospital workers in a retrospective cohort questionnaire study, as part of a larger examination of health problems and working conditions of Quebec hospital workers. Only 8% of women had experienced no symptoms of discomfort associated with their last menstrual period. Lower abdominal pain, the most common symptom (58% prevalence), was associated with lifting weights (usually patients) in a logistic regression adjusted for parity and contraceptive use. Back pain, leg pain, swelling, and headache were associated with indicators of time pressure and fast work speed. Back pain during menstruation was experienced by 44% of workers. Studies of the prevalence and etiology of back pain, a common occupational health problem among hospital workers, may be confused if perimenstrual back pain is not taken into account. Similar reservations hold for the results on other perimenstrual symptoms that are also likely to occur outside the perimenstrual period, such as leg pain, irritability, and headache. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, inc.     

Moderating effects of team sports participation on the link between peer victimization and mental health problems

This study examined the moderating role of sports participation in the concurrent and longitudinal links of peer victimization with depressive symptoms and externalizing problems. The sample consisted of 1250 participants assessed between ages 7 and 10 years. Children's levels of peer victimization, depressive symptoms and externalizing problems were assessed by teachers. Mothers reported on children's sports participation. Regression analyses revealed that victimized children who often participated in team sports at age 8 years displayed significantly fewer depressive symptoms concurrently compared to victims who rarely participated in such activities. Participation in team sports also counteracted (via a main effect) the longitudinal effect of victimization on depression symptoms two years later. Moreover, victimized children who often participated in team sports showed significantly fewer externalizing problems at age 10 compared to children who rarely participated in such activities. This moderating effect of team sports was partly mediated by a decrease in victimization at age 10. Specifically, victimized children who were part of a sporting team at age 8 were less victimized two years later, which accounted for part of the decrease in externalizing problems at age 10. Similar benefits were not apparent when victimized children participated in individual sports. These results suggest that sports participation may be beneficial in regard to several aspects of development, specifically for children who suffer from peer victimization. However, potential benefits may vary depending on the type of sports played.     

Multivariate analysis on subjective symptoms in forestry workers using chain saw]

This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the prevalence of subjective symptoms in workers using vibrating tools and the duration of chain saw operation and to examine whether the symptoms were relevant to factors other than the usage of vibrating tools. The statistical model of multivariate analysis was adapted to analyze individual data on the subjective symptoms of 317 chain saw operators. The obtained results were as follows: 1. In analysis of covariance, age-adjusted operating year in workers with peripheral circulatory, peripheral neurological and musculoskeletal disturbances was significantly longer than that without such disturbances. For these disturbances, partial regression coefficients of operating year were significantly high in multiple regression analysis. These results show that these disturbances and age-adjusted operating year are mutually closely related. 2. Multiple regression analysis showed that the partial regression coefficients of both operating year and age were low for nine symptoms, i.e. dulling sense of touch, joint pain, headache, dizziness and/or tinnitus, profuse sweating, discomfort of stomach, palpitation and/or dyspnea, hearing disturbance and lumbago. These results suggest that such symptoms were not related to either age or chain saw operation. 3. The results of principal component analysis were visualized in three-dimensional space in order to evaluate the relationships among the symptoms. The analysis showed that peripheral circulatory and neurological disturbances appeared independently and that general symptoms such as easy fatigability, headache, forgetfulness, vertigo and/or tinnitus, easy irritability, sleep disorder, profuse sweating, discomfort of stomach, palpitation and/or dyspnea, shoulder stiffness, hearing disturbance and lumbago consisted of four independent groups. Each group has no relationship with duration of chain saw operation. This suggests other harmful factors of the groups play a role in the prevalence of the symptoms.     

Health and lifestyle characteristics of professional singers and instrumentalists.

Ninety-one instrumentalists and 51 opera singers of the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, were examined, in order to study the frequency of symptoms from the musculoskeletal system and upper airways. The response rate was 91 per cent. Estimates of odds ratios (OR) with 95 per cent confidence interval were calculated, using multiple logistic regression equations, adjusting for age and gender. The frequency of musculoskeletal complaints was the same in singers and instrumentalists. Musculoskeletal problems were however not identical. Instrumentalists had statistically significantly more symptoms from the arm region than singers, OR = 3.1 (1.02-9.5), P less than 0.05. In contrast, instrumentalists had significantly fewer complaints from hip-, knee- and foot joints than singers, OR = 0.2 (0.07-0.61), P less than 0.001. Singers had significantly more symptoms from mouth, lips or throat than instrumentalists, OR = 4.5 (1.7-11.5), P = 0.002. Both male and female instrumentalists had a higher blood pressure. This difference seemed at least in part to be explained by a higher alcohol intake among instrumentalists. We suggest these differences in life style and health characteristics are likely to be caused by professional, ie occupational, work loads.     

Musculoskeletal symptoms and associated risk factors among African hair braiders

African hair braiders are potentially subject to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) because they perform repetitive hand motions for many hours a day together with prolonged standing and/or prolonged sitting. A complete enumeration of African hair braiders was attempted in Oklahoma City (OKC) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). Braiders were identified through the channels they typically use to offer services to clients. Potential risk factors and symptoms of WMSDs were assessed using an oral interview. Participation rates were 95% (18/19) in OKC and 83% (83/101) in DFW. More than 75% of braiders reported discomfort in the fingers, wrist/hand, upper back, and lower back. In multivariate analysis, years worked as a braider but not age was a significant risk factor (p < 0.005) for reported pain in the wrist/hand, time spent sitting during the work day was found to be a significant predictor (p < 0.05) of upper back pain and lower back pain, and time spent sitting and time spent standing during the work day were both significant predictors (p < 0.05) of shoulder pain. Braiders in OKC, where licensing requirements were stricter, were significantly more likely than braiders in DFW to work at home (67% vs. 4%, p < 0.001) and to report pain in the lower leg (p < 0.005) and ankle/foot (p < 0.05). The close-knit nature of the African hair braiding community makes it an appealing candidate for community-based participatory research aimed at further elucidating occupational health concerns and reducing risk.     

Distal lower-extremity pain and work postures in the Quebec population

Objectives. Standing at work has been associated with discomfort and cardiovascular symptoms. Because standing postures vary in duration, mobility, and constraint, we explored associations between specific postures and pain in the lower extremities.Methods. We used multiple logistic regression to analyze associations between work factors and pain in the lower extremities during the previous 12 months that interfered with usual activities. We used data from among 7757 workers who were interviewed in the 1998 Quebec Health and Social Survey.Results. Among all respondents, 9.4% reported significant ankle or foot pain, and 6.4% had lower-leg or calf pain. Significantly more women than men had pain at both sites. Both leg or calf and ankle or foot pain were strongly associated with standing postures, whole-body vibration, psychological distress, female gender, and being aged 50 years or older. Constrained standing postures were associated with increased ankle or foot pain for both men and women and with leg or calf pain for women, compared with standing with freedom to sit at will.Conclusions. Freedom to sit at work may prevent lower-extremity pain. The effects of specific sitting and standing postures on cartilage, muscle, and the cardiovascular system may help explain discomfort in the lower extremities.In Quebec, 59% of employed persons usually stand while working.1 Epidemiological studies have associated prolonged standing at work with lower-extremity pain or discomfort, swelling, venous disorders, progression of carotid atherosclerosis, and pregnancy complications.2^–9 In the laboratory, prolonged standing has been shown to result in lower-extremity swelling and discomfort.10^–12 However, prolonged sitting has also been associated with swelling of the lower extremities, discomfort, venous disorders, and vascular effects.9^,13^–16 The optimal proportion of standing to sitting is unknown.Freedom to alternate sitting with standing also varies, as does mobility while standing.1^,17^,18 These posture variations have biomechanical and physiological implications. It is therefore important to characterize exposures more precisely to identify exactly which type of posture is associated with which health outcome.To our knowledge, despite the considerable public health importance of lower-extremity musculoskeletal and vascular disorders19 and the known relationship between prolonged standing and lower-extremity pain,3 there has been no population-based research on the contribution of different types of working postures to this pain. The 1998 Quebec Health and Social Survey, a provincewide household survey, offered an opportunity to investigate the prevalence, in the general working population of Quebec, of reported lower-extremity pain and the associations of lower-leg or calf, and ankle or foot pain with working postures and other working conditions.