Application of the OWAS method in the study of work postures among quarry manual workers

BACKGROUND: Previous ergonomic and epidemiologic studies revealed high postural risk (exceeding the N.I.O.S.H. recommended limits) and relevant damage (significant excess of acute and chronic lumbosacral spinal disease) among the labourers in porphyry quarries in the Province of Trento (Italy). METHODS: An analysis of work postures was made with the OWAS (Ovako Working postures Analysing System) method. RESULTS: A high prevalence of work postures that have a harmful effect on the musculoskeletal system was found. Working methods need to be changed as soon as possible. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the OWAS method permits a detailed analysis of working conditions in order to identify and re-design the activities causing ergonomically problematic postures.     

Determination of bopindolol in pharmaceuticals by capillary isotachophoresis

Capillary isotachophoresis (ITP) with conductimetric detection has been used for separating and determining bopindolol (I) in commercial mass-produced pharmaceutical preparations. The optimised operational electrolyte system consisted of 5 mM potassium picolinate and 5 mM picolinic acid (leading electrolyte, LE; pH 5.37) and 10 mM formic acid as the terminating electrolyte (TE). The driving and detection currents were 50 microA (for 350 s) and 10 microA, respectively. The single analysis took about 12 min. Under such conditions the effective mobility of I was determined as 16.73 10(-9)m(2) V(-1) s(-1) (with tetraethylammonium as the mobility standard). The calibration graph relating the ITP zone length to the concentration of I was rectilinear (r=0.99990) in the range 10-100 mg l(-1). The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 0.90% (n=6) when determining 50 mg l(-1) of I in pure test solution. Sample pre-treatment of the tablets involved ice-cooled extraction of I with methanol. The method was suitable for determining I in Sandonorm tablets with R.S.D. value 1.45% (n=6). According to the validation procedure based on the standard addition method the recovery was 97.3%.     

Costal cartilage grafting for repair of a recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula in a 1.6-kg baby with esophageal atresia

 A large intraoperative tracheal tear occurred during correction of a type III esophageal atresia in a 1,630-g premature baby. It was repaired by primary suture. Recurrence of the tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) was treated operatively with esophageal exclusion and costal cartilage grafting (CCG) onto the tracheal defect. At 3 months of age, successful esophageal reconstruction was performed using a posterior mediastinal colonic interposition. On 27-month follow-up, the child was symptom-free and thriving. Surgical options for TEF recurrence and intraoperative management of the tracheal air leak are discussed. CCG is advocated as an attractive material for tracheal repair even in low-weight prematures. Accepted: 30 April 2001     

A quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of PRRSV vaccination in pigs under experimental conditions

This paper presents a quantitative approach to evaluate effectiveness of vaccination under experimental conditions. We used two consecutive experimental designs to investigate whether PRRSV transmission among vaccinated pigs was reduced compared to control pigs and to estimate the reproduction parameter R. Based upon data analysis and power calculations the series of small-scale vaccination-challenge experiments ended with multiple one-to-one experiments. This new experimental design has considerable power to detect the effect of vaccination on transmission if R is close to but still above one in vaccinated pigs. The last experiment showed that transmission was not significantly reduced and the R for vaccinated pigs was estimated to be larger than 4.9. This is remarkable because duration and level of viremia were significantly reduced by vaccination.     

Bone marrow transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma: prognostic significance of MR imaging

OBJECTIVE. This study in myeloma patients treated with myeloablative therapy and bone marrow transplantation assessed the prognostic value of MR imaging before and after treatment of the bone marrow and the prognostic value of an index reflecting changes on MR images obtained before and after treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. MR images (T1-weighted images before and after injection of gadolinium and T2(*)-weighted images) of the spine and pelvis were obtained 1 month before and 1 month after marrow transplantation in 25 consecutive patients with stage III myeloma. Pre- and posttreatment MR imaging patterns of marrow involvement (normal, focal, diffuse), number of focal lesions, and a "marrow evolution index" (0-8 on the basis of comparison of the lesions [number, size, contrast enhancement] and of the surrounding marrow background on pre- and posttreatment MR images) were determined. Hematologic and MR imaging parameters were correlated with the quality of response to treatment (complete versus partial remission) and with relapse-free and overall survival. RESULTS. Response quality did not differ among categories of patients determined on the basis of MR images. Individual MR imaging parameters did not correlate with response duration and survival. Patients with a low marrow evolution index had significantly longer relapse-free (p < 10(-3)) and overall survival (p = 0.005) than patients with a high index. CONCLUSION. Individual MR imaging parameters before and after treatment had no prognostic significance in our series of myeloma patients treated with marrow transplantation. Comparison of MR images before and after treatment using a marrow evolution index may help predict response duration and survival.     

A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised trial of magnesium-pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-glutamate for hypercholesterolaemia and other clinical–chemical risk factors of cardiovascular disease in a primary care setting

BACKGROUND: Lipid-lowering drugs are extensively used in primary care to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Apart from high total cholesterol (TC), several other clinical-chemical variables are associated with the risk of CVD. Magnesium-pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-glutamate (MPPG) has been found to have a positive influence on TC levels and other clinical-chemical values in some selected populations. OBJECTIVE: To assess, in a general practice (GP) setting, the efficacy and clinical effectiveness of MPPG in the treatment of clinical-chemical risk factors for CVD. DESIGN: Randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial, lasting 12 months. PATIENTS: Adults (25-66 years) in an average Dutch village population with serum cholesterol levels between 7.0 mmol/l and 9.9 mmol/l. INTERVENTION: Subjects were assigned at random to treatment with MPPG (3 x 150 mg daily) or placebo. Clinical-chemical parameters were assessed at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months (t1, t2, t3, t4, t5). Efficacy was measured at t2. Long-term effect (clinical effectiveness) was measured by combining the results at t2, t3, t4 and t5 (t2-5). OUTCOME MEASURES: TC (primary), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, apolipoprotein-A1 (Apo-A1), apolipoprotein-B100 (Apo-B), fibrinogen and lipoprotein a [Lp(a), secondary]. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in the efficacy and effectiveness of TC were found between the MPPG group and the placebo group. The same was demonstrated for the other clinical-chemical values, except for LDL-C (effectiveness, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy and effectiveness of MPPG are too poor to be of relevance for application as a lipid-lowering drug in GP.