ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the prevalence of fatigue among taxi drivers in Kunming city,to better understand their general working and health conditions,and to determine the risk factors associated with fatigued driving.Methods A total of 400 taxi drivers were randomly selected for participation in a self-administered questionnaire survey,which included height and weight measurements.The response rate was 88.3％.The survey consisted of four main categories:personal particulars,social habits,work patterns and sleep profile.The Epworth Sleepiness Scale was used to estimate the level of daytime sleepiness and fatigue.Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the adjusted odd ratios and 95％ confidence interval associated with risk factors related to fatigue among taxi drivers.Results A high proportion of taxi drivers were obese and had self-reported hypertension,diabetes mellitus and high cholesterol.Driver fatigue was associated with very poor/poor self-rating of quality of sleep,having an additional part-time job,and driving more than 10 hours a day.Conclusion The findings of the present study will improve awareness of the work and health conditions of taxi drivers,and contribute toward efforts to achieve a healthier workforce.A lower prevalence of fatigued driving may lead to lower risks of road traffic accidents,lower economic loss,higher productivity,and safer roads for all.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the effects of continuous and intermittent exercises on obesity and fatty liver in rats fed with high-fat diet.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were randomly assigned into routine diet (R) and high-fat diet (H) groups, and each group were subdivided into sedentary group (S), continuous exercise (CE) group, and intermittent exercise (IE) group (n=8). In the CE group, the rats were forced to swim continuously for 90 min once daily, and those in the IE group swam for 30 min for 3 times (at a 4-h interval) daily. Both the CE and IE groups exercised for 5 days a week for 8 consecutive weeks. After the experiment, the retroperitoneal, epididymal, and visceral white and brown adipose tissues, the liver, and the gastrocnemius muscle of the rats were weighed. The lipogenesis rate was determined by incorporation of (3)H(2)0 into saponified lipids, and the blood lipid profiles were analyzed. The body weight and food intake of the rats were recorded daily.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IE appeared to be more efficient than CE in reducing the adverse effects of high-fat diet and sedentarism. Compared with CE, IE resulted in an improved lipid profile with reduced food intake, body weight gain, visceral and central adiposity, and fatty liver. The effect of high-fat diet and different exercises on weight gain, adiposity, fatty liver, and lipid profile in rats was associated to the manner of exercise, time of each session, age, gender, and length of observation period.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intermittent exercise is an important nonpharmacological strategy to control obesity and the related complications.</p>