No abstract

BACKGROUND: Industrialization and rising standards of living have contributed to a growing amount of solid waste and consequent disposal problems. Solid waste collection is among the occupations with the highest risk for musculoskeletal disorders. OBJECTIVE:We have conducted this study to assess musculoskeletal complaints and work-related stress levels among municipal solid waste (MSW) collectors. METHODS:The subjects were all currently employed at the MSW Department of the City of Ankara, Turkey. Validated questionnaires were completed by 267 MSW collectors. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (22.0 version). RESULTS: Upper back pain rate was 89.1% among the collectors. 47.9% of collectors reported having had upper back pain during the last 12 months and 38.7% had experienced it during the last month. 80.9% of the sample complained of shoulder pain. Wrists/hands and neck pain rates were found at rates of 78.7% and 67.8% respectively. Psychological demands, were significantly higher among MSW collectors living with moderate-severe pain. CONCLUSIONS: Ergonomics education, healthy work habits, occupational safety training and improvements in the psychosocial work environment should be considered.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a major hazard for sewing machine operators. Ergonomics education is recommended for reducing musculoskeletal disorders at workstations. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an ergonomics education in reducing the exposure to risk factors for WMSDs among sewing machine operators. In this study of 278 workers, their exposure to the risk of WMSDs was assessed using the quick exposure check scale prior to them attending an ergonomics education programme and then again 3 months after the programme. The scores for risk exposure before the education programme were moderate for back (static) and back (dynamic), high for shoulder/arm and very high for wrist/hand and neck. The results obtained 3 months later were low for back (static) and shoulder/arm, and moderate for back (dynamic), wrist/hand and neck. Based on our results, ergonomics education can reduce the exposure to risk factors for WMSDs in the workplace.

In the study, 38 male adult Wistar Albino rats with weights 200 +/- 20 g were used by separating them into four groups: Control, Vitamin C, Diabetes, Diabetes + Vitamin C. Body weights and fasting blood glucose were measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. AA, TBARS, GSH, NOx and glycogen levels of soleus muscles, and AA level of blood were measured. The results were compared using Anova variance and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results showed that AA levels in blood increased with vitamin C administration; AA, GSH and NOx levels in the muscle were low and MDA and glycogen levels were high in diabetics; and that vitamin C in the given dosage partially corrected these values. These results indicate that higher dosage than daily 20 mg/kg Vitamin C is required for being effective on metabolic and oxidizing events in diabetic rats.

The aim of this study is to determine the relation between diabetes and vaginal candidiasis in terms of oxidative biomarker levels in a vaginal candidiasis model of the diabetic rats by evaluating malondialdehyde (MDA), sulphydrile groups or glutathione (RSH), and ascorbic acid (C vit) levels. All rats were randomly divided into five groups. All of the groups were observed for 21 days. In the treated diabetes groups, MDA (0.90, 0.68 nmol/ml and 3.78, 3.79 nmol/g tissue, plasma and vaginal tissue, respectively) and RSH (227, 171 nmol/100 ml 0.38, 0.37 micromol/g tissue, plasma and vaginal tissue, respectively) levels were found to be decreased while the levels of C vit were found to be increased (0.49, 0.37 micromol/l 2.39, 2.01 nmol/g tissue plasma, and vaginal tissue, respectively) (P < 0.05). In the groups of untreated diabetes, vaginal candidiasis were found to be more serious and oxidative biomarkers were found to be increased (MDA 1.30, 1.26 nmol/ml and 7.82, 2.37 nmol/g tissue and RSH 258, 145 nmol/100 ml and 0.31, 0.46 micromol/g tissue) while the antioxidant C vit levels were found to be decreased (0.24, 0.17 micromol/l 1.33, 2.66 nmol/g tissue) (P < 0.05). RSH, plasma MDA, blood glucose, and tissue MDA levels of vaginal candidiasis embedeled diabetic rats, were found to be higher than those in untreated diabetic and untreated vaginitis enbedeled rats 'P < 0.05'. Vaginal candidiasis caused oxidative stress in diabetic rats working together. Systemic oxidative stress biomarkers were found to be affected from vaginal candidiasis although it was a local mucosal infection.