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{L-End}Objective To investigate the prevalence of neck and waist work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and its relationship with occupational stress among express delivery workers. {L-End}Methods A total of 437 express delivery workers in Shenzhen City were selected as the research subjects using convenient sampling method. The prevalence of neck and waist WMSDs and the level of occupational stress were investigated by the Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire and Work Content Questionnaire. {L-End}Results The prevalences of neck and waist WMSDs among the workers in the past year were 47.6% (208/437) and 60.2% (263/437), respectively. The detection rate of occupatioonal stress was 51.5%(225/437). The prevalences of neck and waist WMSDs among the workers of the occupational stress group were higher than that in the non-occupational stress group (51.9% vs 42.6%, 66.4% vs 53.0%, both P<0.01). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of neck WMSDs was higher in workers with weekly working hours >40 hours, workers with poor working posture, and workers with occupational stress compared with workers with weekly working hours ≤40 hours, workers without poor working posture, and workers without occupational stress, respectively (all P<0.05). The risk of waist WMSDs was higher in workers without weekly exercise, workers with poor working posture, and workers with occupational stress compared with workers with weekly exercise, workers without poor working posture, and workers without occupational stress, respectively (all P<0.05). {L-End}Conclusion The prevalence of neck and waist WMSDs, which may be influenced by occupational stress and poor working postures, is relatively high among express delivery workers.
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{L-End}Objective To understand the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and sickness absence due to WMSDs among key industry workers in Shenzhen City. {L-End}Methods A total of 14 949 workers exposed to dust, noise, chemical and radiation (hereinafter referred to as "traditional occupational groups") in some key industries in Shenzhen City, as well as bus drivers, teachers, medical staff, policemen, courier, sanitation workers and video operators were selected as the research subjects using stratified cluster sampling. The Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire was used to investigate the prevalence of WMSDs and sickness absence due to WMSDs in the past year. {L-End}Results The overall prevalence of WMSDs among the study subjects was 56.3% (8 423/14 949). The prevalence of WMSDs in different body parts from high to low was neck, waist, shoulder, back, knee, wrist, ankle, hip, and elbow, which was 37.6%, 35.7%, 31.7%, 25.2%, 18.3%, 15.4%, 14.9%, 12.4%, and 11.6%, respectively (P<0.01). The overall prevalence of WMSDs among different occupational groups from high to low was teachers, video operators, bus drivers, couriers, medical staff, policemen, traditional occupational groups, and sanitation workers, which was 82.2%, 75.7%, 74.9%, 73.9%, 67.9%, 64.3%, 43.3%, and 31.9%, respectively (P<0.01). The overall rate of sickness absence due to WMSDs was 18.3% (2 736/14 949). The overall rate of sickness absence among different occupational groups from high to low was bus drivers, couriers, teachers, traditional occupational groups, policemen, video operators, medical staff, and sanitation workers, which was 31.6%, 24.5%, 20.9%, 20.2%, 15.2%, 12.4%, 9.3%, and 6.7%, respectively (P<0.01). Among different parts of the body, the highest correlation coefficient of WMSDs was found between neck and shoulder ［correlatioon cofficient (r)=0.648, P<0.01］, while the lowest was between neck and ankle (r=0.303, P<0.01). {L-End}Conclusion The prevalence of WMSDs and sickness absence due to WMSDs among key industry workers in Shenzhen City is relatively high. Comprehensive prevention and control measures should be taken according to the characteristics of occupational population to reduce the impact of WMSDs on the health of occupational population.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a modified method for microculturing whole human blood for cytogenetic analysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A novel tube rack was designed to overcome the drawbacks of directly culturing the cells within centrifuge tubes. The fractions of human plasma, human serum and two commercial fetal bovine sera were analyzed with 15% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The influence of adding 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% autologous plasma to the culture on lymphocyte transformation rate and mitotic index (MI) was examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The SDS-PAGE analysis showed a significant difference between commercial fetal bovine sera, and that the components of human plasma were similar to those of fetal bovine serum. The value of MI in lymphocyte was evidently increased along with addition of autologous plasma. However, this has exerted no significant effect on the transformation rate. With the addition of 10% autologous plasma, the MI value has become much higher than the conventional method.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A modified method was established by application of a novel tube inclined rack and optimization of whole blood inoculation. This method is easier and cheaper, and is suitable for application in clinical practice.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Cell Culture Techniques , Methods , Cytogenetics , Lymphocytes , Mitotic IndexABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the cytotoxicity of indium chloride (InCl₃) and its effects on micro-nucleus formation in primary human lymphocytes cultured in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of 24 h exposure to different concentrations of InCl₃(4, 40, 80, 200, 500, and 1 000 µmol/L) in lymphocytes cultured in vitro. The cytokinesis-block method was used to determine the micronucleus level in lymphocytes exposed to different concentrations of InCl₃and the effects of anti-oxidant vitamin C on micronucleus frequency.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lymphocytes exposed to InCl₃of no less than 500 µmol/L had significantly lower survival rates than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Lymphocytes exposed to 80 µmol/L InCl₃had a significantly higher micronucleus frequency than those in the control group (P < 0.05). However, there was no further increase in micronucleus frequency of lymphocytes exposed to 200 µmol/L InCl₃. Lymphocytes cultured in whole blood and exposed to 500 or 1000 µmol/L InCl₃had a significantly increased micronucleus frequency than those in the control group (P < 0.001). The increase in micronucleus frequency of lymphocytes induced by indium could be partially antagonized by 20 or 100 µmol/L vitamin C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>InCl₃can induce an increase in micronucleus frequency of primary human lymphocytes cultured in vitro, which might be associated with DNA damage induced by oxidative stress.</p>