[160 activities analyzed by the risk of biomechanical overload on the upper limbs in small industry, handicrafts, services and agriculture]. / 160 attività analizzate per il rischio da sovraccarico biomeccanico degli arti superiori nella piccola industria, nell'artigianato, nei servizi e in agricoltura.

We analyzed 160 work activities in the sectors of small industries, handicrafts, services and agriculture to evaluate the risk of biomnechanical overload of the upper limbs with the OCRA Checklist. The aim was to provide a tool available for the risk assessment in activities generally underestimnated for this risk and typical of the Italian production. The information was provided in the form of cards containing easily accessible data, risk scenarios in different timing, along with some of the key prevention interventions that can be realized.

Inverse correlation between mitochondrial size and metabolic competence: a quantitative cytochemical study of cytochrome oxidase activity.

Mitochondria are topologically closed bilayered systems where the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate occurs via oxidative phosphorylation. The ordered architecture (and its extension) of the mitochondria (i.e. inner membrane, outer membrane and cristae) constitutes a critical topographic arrangement for their energy-providing mechanisms. Thus, quantitative estimations of the ultrastructural features of organelles preferentially stained by means of function-related cytochemical reactions reliably report on their potential to supply adequate amounts of ATP. On the basis of this rationale, we carried out a computer-assisted cytochemical study of cytochrome oxidase (COX) activity on mitochondria of different size in the cerebellar cortex of adult rats. The total intra-mitochondrial area of the cytochemical precipitates (CPA)/mitochondrion, the area (MA) and the longer diameter (F(max)) of COX-positive organelles were measured. The ratio (R): CPA/MA was also calculated and referred to as the percentage of mitochondrial inner membrane area involved in COX activity. The regression analysis of R vs MA showed a significant inverse correlation (r=-0.905). The fourfold increase in MA from quartiles I to IV was matched by increases in F(max) and CPA, respectively, but it was also related to a 25% decrease in R. By matching quantitative cytochemical estimations of COX activity within mitochondria with the morphometric assessment of their ultrastructural features, the present study correlates size to the metabolic competence of COX-positive organelles. Quantitative cytochemistry of COX activity is currently regarded as a reliable marker of cellular metabolism; thus our findings support the hypothesis that enlargements in size are inversely correlated with the mitochondrial metabolic competence.

Chronic administration of EGb 761 modulates synaptic and mitochondrial plasticity in adult vitamin E-deficient rats.

A computer-assisted morphometric study has been carried out on synaptic junctions and synaptic mitochondria in the dentate gyrus supragranular layer of vitamin E-deficient rats undergone chronic administration of the extract EGb 761 from Ginkgo biloba leaves (100 mg/kg body weight, daily, from 4 to 7 months of age). Control animals were fed with the vitamin E-deficient diet from 1 to 7 months of age. Numeric density (Nv), surface density (Sv) and average size of the synaptic junctions (S), mitochondrial numeric density (Nvm), volume density (Vv) and average volume (V) were the measured parameters. In EGb 761-treated animals, Nv was significantly increased and S significantly decreased, while Sv was unchanged. EGb 761 administration resulted in an increased percentage of synapses of smaller size. In EGb 761-treated rats, Nvm significantly increased and V significantly decreased, while no significant difference of Vv was found. The population of synaptic mitochondria in EGb 761 -treated animals was composed of a higher number of smaller organelles. The measured parameters report on the structural dynamics of synapses and mitochondria, thus our findings support that EGb 761 administration is able to improve the physiological adaptive capacities of the investigated structures by a positive modulation of their morphofunctional features.

A morphometric study on human muscle mitochondria in aging.

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles capable of significant changes of their ultrastructural features according to the tissue-specific energy demands. In human biopsies of vastus lateralis and anterior tibialis muscles from young (25.0 ± 4.4 years), middle-aged (50.4 ± 7.5 years) and old (75.5±3.9 years) healthy volunteers, we carried out a morphometric study on subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar mitochondria to assess whether age-related alterations of the morphology of these organelles contribute to the muscle performance decay in aging. By computer-assisted methods, we measured: the average area (MAA), the longer diameter (Dmax) and the ratio perimeter to area (pleomorphic index: Plei) of mitochondria. No significant age-related ultrastructural differences were found either in subsarcolemmal or intermyofibrillar organelles. However, in middle-aged as well as in the old group of patients vs. the young one, MAA and Dmax showed a clear trend to decrease, while Plei showed a marked, age-related tendency to increase. Higher percentages of less pleomorphic organelles were found in the youngest group of patients and this was particularly evident in the subsarcolemmal mitochondrial population. In addition to reporting on discrete aspects of mitochondrial ultrastructure, MAA, Dmax and Plei are closely related to each other and provide a reliable index of the muscle mitochondria adaptive response to age. Thus, we interpret our results as indicating a substantial preservation of muscle mitochondrial ultrastructure during aging.