EMG Processing Based Measures of Fatigue Assessment during Manual Lifting.

Manual lifting is one of the common practices used in the industries to transport or move objects to a desired place. Nowadays, even though mechanized equipment is widely available, manual lifting is still considered as an essential way to perform material handling task. Improper lifting strategies may contribute to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), where overexertion contributes as the highest factor. To overcome this problem, electromyography (EMG) signal is used to monitor the workers' muscle condition and to find maximum lifting load, lifting height and number of repetitions that the workers are able to handle before experiencing fatigue to avoid overexertion. Past researchers have introduced several EMG processing techniques and different EMG features that represent fatigue indices in time, frequency, and time-frequency domain. The impact of EMG processing based measures in fatigue assessment during manual lifting are reviewed in this paper. It is believed that this paper will greatly benefit researchers who need a bird's eye view of the biosignal processing which are currently available, thus determining the best possible techniques for lifting applications.

Ethnic differences in response to non-selective beta-blockade among racial groups in Malaysia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether racial differences in response to blockade of beta receptors occur among racial groups in Malaysia that are the Malays, Indians and Chinese. SUBJECTS, MATERIALS AND METHOD: 35 healthy male volunteers representing the 3 main racial groups in Malaysia (12 Malays, 12 Chinese and 11 Indians) were studied in a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover and single-blind design. Propranolol 80 mg 12-hourly was given orally for 48 hours. Six hours after the last dose subjects attended an exercise session where resting and exercise heart rate, blood pressure, plasma potassium and glucose levels, resting FEV1 and plasma propranolol concentrations were recorded. RESULTS: No significant difference in plasma propranolol (mean +/- SEM) levels was seen between races six hours after the last dose (Malays, 59.7 +/- 8.8 ng/ml, Indians, 67.6 +/- 19.3 ng/ml, Chinese, 58.4 +/- 7.9 ng/ml). Chinese were least sensitive to the bradycardic and hypotensive effects of propranolol at rest and exercise. Indians and Malays had significant reduction of supine systolic blood pressure with propranolol but not Chinese. Comparison of percentage reductions of systolic blood pressure at supine, sitting and exercise by repeated measure analysis showed the Malays to have significantly higher change compared to the Chinese (p = 0.022). Similarly, comparison of percentage reductions of heart rate at supine, sitting and exercise by repeated measure analysis showed the Malays to have significantly higher change compared to the Chinese (p = 0.040). Average change in potassium concentrations at peak exercise and recovery showed the Indians to have significantly higher increase in potassium levels with propranolol compared to the Malays (p = 0.038). However, no significant interethnic difference was seen in the reduction of glucose levels at rest, peak exercise or recovery. Also, no significant interethnic difference was seen in reduction of FEV1 values. CONCLUSION: We, therefore, conclude that ethnic differences in response to blockade of beta-receptors exist among racial groups in Malaysia. These differences were seen at similar plasma drug levels between races suggesting ethnic differences in drug sensitivity, rather than differences in drug disposition.

Eclampsia in Kelantan.

A review of eclampsia in Kelantan was undertaken from 1983-1988. There were 146 documented cases in the state (66 per 100,000 deliveries). Eight maternal deaths occurred. Sixty seven (45.9%) were primigravida. Six of the 79 multiparous women developed eclampsia for the first time following remarriages to new partners. The multisystem dysfunction resulting from eclampsia resulted in varied maternal complications. Fatal cerebral haemorrhage (3 cases), acute pulmonary oedema (8 cases), acute renal failure (6 cases), HELLP Syndrome (8 cases) and acute abruptio placentae were the commoner complications. The average number of convulsions per patient was 1.3. The mean gestation of mothers who delivered prematurely (28.2%) was 34.6 weeks and that for those at term (71.8%) was 39.1 weeks. The caesarean section rate was 42.5%. The perinatal mortality rate was 185.9 per 1000. The implications of this high maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity are discussed in the light of the health delivery system and patient education. A team approach to medical management of eclampsia with the need for intensive care monitoring is suggested.