In the previous paper, the effects of gold-containing compounds on pregnant rats were described. This study was carried out to determine the effects on pregnant rabbits and their fetuses. Materials and MethodsThe test compounds were: SK&F 369 14, SK&F D-39 162, and gold sodium thiomalate.Their formulas appear on page 2.New Zealand White rabbits were acclimated and randomly assigned to control and treatment groups. The animals were housed in air-conditioned rooms at 72'F f 2' and 50% f 5% relative humidity. Alternate 12-hour periods of light and darkness were maintained daily. The animals received PurinaB Rabbit Chow@. Drinking water was constantly available. The females were sequentially mated to males of the same stock (2 consecutive matings, approximately 6 hours apart). Day of mating was designated day 0 of pregnancy.SK&F 36914 and SK&F D-39162 were administered to female rabbits by intubation in volumes of 5 ml/kg of body weight from day 6 through 18 of pregnancy. Gold sodium thiomalate was administered to female rabbits of the same stock by subcutaneous injection in volumes of 2 ml/kg of body weight from day 6 through 18 of pregnancy. Control females received equal volumes of the vehicle during the same period. Body weight records were maintained.All females were killed prior to term and Caesarean section was performed. The uterine horns were examined for implantation, resorption, and placement of fetuses. All fetuses were removed, weighed, and examined for external malformations. Approximately one-half of the live fetuses from each litter were placed in an incubator for observation of their 24-hour survival. Thereafter, every third fetus in each litter was futed in Bouin's solution and examined for visceral abnormalities according to the method of Wilson'. The viscera of the remaining fetuses were excised and examined for gross malformations. About 2/3 of the fetuses from each litter were cleared in a KOH solution containing alizarin red S dye and examined for skeletal abnormalities. ResultsSignificant decreases (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in body weight gain of the females occurred at doses of 2-8 mg/kg of SK&F 36914 shortly after the initiation of dosing 97 98 Szabo. DiFebbo and Phelan and throughout the duration of the study. At lower doses of SK&F 369 14, statistically reduced (P < 0.05) body weight gain was noted after eight consecutive doses. Death following the administration of SK&F 369 14 occurred at 8 mg/kg and higher doses.All females died in the 64, 32, and 16 mg/kg dose groups. The EDm for maternal death for SK&F 369 14 in pregnant rabbits was estimated to be 8. I mg/kg. In the 64 mg/kg group, 50% of the females died after the first dose, and the remaining 50% died after the second dose. In the 32 mg/kg group, 12% of the females died after the first dose, 75% died after the second dose, and none survived the third dose. In the 16 mg/kg group, 38% of the females died after the second dose, and the remainder died during various days of the dosing period. In the 8 mg/kg group, no deaths occurred prior...

A high incidence of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) has been reported in the construction sector. The use of ladders in the workplace has long been identified as a significant risk that can lead to workplace accidents. However, it is unclear if platform types have an effect on the physical risk factors for MSDs in overhead work. The aim of this study is to perform a pilot study on the effects of hand activity on both shoulder muscle loading and task performance while working on ladders versus Mobile Elevated Working Platforms (MEWPs). It is hypothesised that work on ladders would result in greater muscle loading demands, increased levels of discomfort and reduced performance due to the restrictions on postures that could be adopted. A field study (n=19) of experienced electricians on a construction site found that workers spent approximately 28% of their working time on ladders versus 6% on MEWPs. However, the durations of individual tasks were higher on MEWPs (153 seconds) than on ladders (73 seconds). Additionally, maximum levels of perceived discomfort (on a VAS 0-100) were reported for the shoulders (27), neck (23), and lower regions of the body (22). A simulated study (n= 12) found that task performance and discomfort were not significantly different between platform types (ladder vs. MEWP) when completing either of three tasks: cabling, assembly and drilling. However, platform and task had significant effects (p<0.05) on median and peak electromyograpic (EMG) activity of the anterior deltoid and upper trapezius. EMG amplitudes were higher for the deltoid than the upper trapezius. For the deltoid, the peak percentile amplitudes were, on average, higher for ladder work over MEWP work for the hand intensive cabling (32 vs. 27% Maximal Voluntary Exertion (MVE)) and the assembly task (19 vs. 6% MVE). Conversely, for drilling the peak percentile EMG amplitudes were marginally lower for ladder compared to the MEWP (3.9 vs. 5.1% MVE). The general implication was that working on the MEWP involved lower shoulder muscle loading for cabling and assembly task. A difference due to platform type was not present for drilling work.

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