Identification of physically demanding work tasks among cleaners: field study using electromyography.

While chronic forearm pain is a common and debilitating condition among cleaners, the most physically demanding tasks remain unidentified. The present field study examines forearm muscle activity during 9 common cleaning tasks in a real working environment. Seven healthy cleaners participated in this study (age: 35.17 ± 9.62 yr; height: 168.17 ± 8.06 cm; weight: 77.14 ± 13.78 kg; experience: 5.60 ± 3.29 yr). Surface wireless electromyography (EMG) was recorded from 2 muscles on both sides of the upper limb, flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), and extensor carpi radialis (ECR), and normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC). Top-3 demanding high-force tasks (90th percentile EMG) were the rough floor, dirty rough floor, and office floor mopping for the FCU, and mopping high walls, ceiling mopping, and baize cleaning for the ECR. Top-3 static work tasks (10th percentile EMG) were mopping low walls, ceiling mopping, and dirty rough floors mopping for the FCU and mopping of high walls, low walls, and ceiling for the ECR. The study identified the forearm muscles' most physically demanding work tasks during cleaning tasks. The development of better working tools is recommended to avoid high-force overload as well as prolonged static overload of these muscles in cleaners.

Based on hydrogen and disulfide-mediated bonds, l-lysine and l-arginine enhanced the gel properties of low-salt mixed shrimp surimi (Antarctic krill and Pacific white shrimp).

This study delved into the effects of l-lysine (Lys) and l-arginine (Arg) on the gel properties and intermolecular interactions of low-salt (NaCl, 1 g/100 g) mixed shrimp surimi (Antarctic krill and Pacific white shrimp). The addition of Lys and Arg improved the gel strength and water holding capacity of low-salt gels, which were superior to the properties of STPP and high-salt (NaCl, 2.25 g/100 g) gels. These results can be attributed to the role of Lys and Arg in enhancing hydrogen and disulfide bonds within the low-salt gel system, promoting the solubilization of myofibrillar proteins (MP) and consequently increasing the number of MP molecules participating in gel formation. Antarctic krill MP did not show gel-forming ability and exerted a diluting effect on low-salt mixed shrimp surimi gels. Molecular docking analysis indicated the stable binding of Lys and Arg to myosin.

Pediatric asthma control during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: With the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many experts expected that asthma-associated morbidity because of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection would dramatically increase. However, some studies suggested that there was no apparent increasing in asthma-related morbidity in children with asthma, it is even possible children may have improved outcomes. To understand the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and asthma outcomes, we performed this article. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library to find literature from December 2019 to June 2021 related to COVID-19 and children's asthma control, among which results such as abstracts, comments, letters, reviews, and case reports were excluded. The level of asthma control during the COVID-19 pandemic was synthesized and discussed by outcomes of asthma exacerbation, emergency room visit, asthma admission, and childhood asthma control test (c-ACT). RESULTS: A total of 22,159 subjects were included in 10 studies. Random effect model was used to account for the data. Compared with the same period before the COVID-19 pandemic, asthma exacerbation reduced (odds ratio [OR] = 0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.14-0.48], Z = 4.32, p < 0.0001), the odds of emergency room visit decreased as well (OR = 0.11, 95% CI = [0.04-0.26], Z = 4.98, p < 0.00001). The outcome of asthma admission showed no significant difference (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = [0.32-2.20], Z = 0.36, p = 0.72). The outcome of c-ACT scores were not analyzed because of the different manifestations used. Overall, c-ACT scores reduced during the pandemic. CONCLUSION: Compared to the same period before the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of asthma control has been significantly improved. We need to understand the exact factors leading to these improvements and find methods to sustain it.