Activity

Objective To examine occupational injuries among career women firefighters (FFs). Methods A national cross-sectional survey assessing injury prevalence, types, frequencies, and predictors. Results A total of 3,012 women career FFs were enrolled in the study. Almost a third (31.7%) reported at least one occupational injury in the past 12 months. The most common injuries were dislocations, sprains, or strains (59.3%). Racial minority status, self-rated health, body composition, exercise habits, substance use, mental health, and job dissatisfaction were all significant injury correlates. Nearly 43% of injuries resulted in missed workdays. Additionally, 25% reported incurring chronic injuries. Conclusions Women FFs reported a high prevalence of occupational injury and a significant percentage reported chronic injuries. These data can inform initiatives to curtail injuries in the fire service and better protect women FFs.Objective To understand the neurotoxic effects of manganese (Mn) exposure on monoaminergic function, utilizing [C]dihydrotetrabenazine (DTBZ) positron emission tomography (PET) to measure vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2). Methods Basal ganglia and thalamic DTBZ binding potentials (BPND) were calculated on 56 PETs from 41 Mn-exposed workers. Associations between cumulative Mn exposure, regional BPND, and parkinsonism were examined by mixed linear regression. Results Thalamic DTBZ BPND was inversely associated with exposure in workers with less then 3 mg Mn/m-years, but subsequently remained stable. Pallidal DTBZ binding increased in workers with less then 2 mg Mn/m-years of exposure, but decreased thereafter. Thalamic DTBZ binding was inversely associated with parkinsonism (p = 0.003). Conclusion Mn-dose-dependent associations with thalamic and pallidal DTBZ binding indicate direct effects on monoaminergic VMAT2. Thalamic DTBZ binding was also associated with parkinsonism, suggesting potential as an early biomarker of Mn neurotoxicity.Objective The study aims to examine the association between overtime-working environment (OWE) and individual psychological distress among Japanese workers. Methods Data of 7,786 workers from 101 companies in Japan were analysed. CP-456773 Psychological distress was assessed through a 29-item questionnaire. The OWE was evaluated by calculating the proportion of workers whose monthly overtime was 45 hours or more in a workplace. Multilevel logistic regression was used. Results As 10% increase in the OWE was associated with a 16% higher risk of individual psychological distress after adjustment of individual covariates, including overtime working hours. Cross-level interaction showed that the risk was varied depending on individual overtime working hours. Conclusions OWE was associated with the psychological distress of workers. It is necessary to create a non-OWE at workplaces to prevent psychological distress for workers.Objective To investigate the natural course of activities and participation of children up to 6 months after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Methods A prospective longitudinal cohort study with complete data sets of 231 children diagnosed with mTBI and their caregivers. Main measures Activities and participation assessed with the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation (CASP) and the Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) measured at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-mTBI. Because of a ceiling effect, the primary outcome measure (CASP) was divided into deviant (not maximum score) or full functioning. Results Friedman’s, Cochran’s Q, and McNemar’s tests (CASP) and repeated-measures analyses of variance (CAPE) showed significant increases in activities and participation between 2 weeks and 3 and 6 months after mTBI. Based on the parents’ perspective, 67% of the children returned to full functioning at 6 months postinjury, with only 38% of the children describing themselves as functioning at their premorbid level. Discussion Findings indicate that most children return to maximum level of activities and participation over time after mTBI. In a substantial number of children, however, the level of activities and participation at 6 months postinjury is evaluated as lower than that of peers. The importance of investigating predictors for child and caregiver perspectives is emphasized.Objective To examine the effectiveness of Brains Ahead!, a psychoeducational intervention aimed to prevent long-term problems with activities and participation in children after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Participants In total, 124 children, aged 6 to 18 years, diagnosed with mTBI and their caregivers. Method After randomization, participants in the intervention group received a face-to-face psychoeducational session with written take-home information and follow-up telephone call(s). Participants in the control group received usual care, consisting of a concise information brochure. Primary outcome measures Activities and participation (Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation [CASP]). Secondary outcomes fatigue, postconcussive symptoms (PCSs), posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs), and quality of life (QOL). Results Generalized Estimated Equation analyses showed that both groups improved over the first 6 months post-mTBI, but the intervention group did not differ significantly on the CASP. Mann-Whitney U tests showed that the intervention group reported significantly less fatigue, PCSs, and PTSSs and better QOL compared with the control group at 6 months post-MTBI. Conclusions The Brains Ahead! intervention resulted in significant improvements compared with usual care in reducing fatigue, PCSs, and PTSSs and improving QOL. Lack of an effect on activities and participation may be due to the ceiling effect of the CASP.Objective To determine the feasibility of short-term cardiovascular responses to postural change as a screening tool for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), using heart rate metrics that can be measured with a wearable electrocardiogram sensor. Setting Military TBI clinic. Design Data collected from active-duty service members who had sustained a medically diagnosed mTBI within the prior 72 hours and from age- and sex-matched controls. Cardiac data collected while participants performed a sequence of postural changes. Main measures Model classification compared with clinical mTBI diagnosis. Results Cardiac biomarkers of mTBI were identified and logistic regression classifiers for mTBI were developed from different subsets of biomarkers. The best model achieved 90% sensitivity and 69% specificity using data from 2 different postural changes. Conclusion Noninvasive measurement of cardiovascular response to postural change is a promising approach for field-deployable post-mTBI screening.