Factors affecting employee safety productivity: an empirical study in an OHSAS 18001-certified organization.

Objective. The purpose of the study is to examine the relationships between safety behaviours (safety compliance and safety participation), their determinants (safety motivation and knowledge of safety) and their antecedent (safety training) affecting employee safety productivity, an economic benefit of occupational health and safety (OHS). Methods. The study was carried out with employees participating in the basic OHS training, which is mandatory every 2 years for all personnel due to the related legal obligation. The data required for the research purpose were collected by surveying 453 employees. The collected data were then tested using the methods of exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Results. The findings of the analyses showed that safety training, safety knowledge, safety motivation and safety compliance affect the improvement of employee safety productivity, one of the economic benefits of OHS. The study also suggested that safety participation does not influence the improvement of employee productivity. Furthermore, a new scale concerning employee safety productivity has been brought to the safety literature. Conclusion. It is suggested that organizational managers wishing to increase employee safety productivity focus particularly on training regarding the safety knowledge, skills, motivation and compliance of employees.

Safety priority, safety rules, safety participation and safety behaviour: the mediating role of safety training.

Objectives. This study explores the effects of employee perception of the management's safety priority, safety rules and safety training on safety participation and safety behaviour decided by management, as well as the mediating role of safety training on the other four dimensions. Methods. The study covers employees working in 27 metal companies classed as hazardous/very hazardous in Turkey. The research data were collected by surveying 822 employees in the metal sector. Collected data were tested through explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses, in that order. Results. The findings of this analysis indicated statistically direct, positive effects of safety priority on safety rules and safety training, such an effect of safety rules on safety training, and again such effects of safety training on safety participation and safety behaviour. Besides, indirect relationships were detected between safety priority and safety rules and safety participation, and safety behaviour through the mediating role of safety training. Conclusion. Employee participation in health and safety issues as well as safe behaviour in the workplace depend on management prioritizing health and safety issues as much as production, formulating safe working rules, procedures and practices using comprehensive and regular training programmes.

Electromyography and Inertial Motion Sensors Based Wearable Data Acquisition System for Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study.

Development of wearable data acquisition systems with applications to human-machine interaction (HMI) is of great interest to assist stroke patients or people with motor disabilities. This paper proposes a hybrid wireless data acquisition system, which combines surface electromyography (sEMG) and inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors. It is designed to interface wrist extension with external devices, which allows the user to operate devices with hand orientations. A pilot study of the system performed on four healthy subjects has successfully produced two different control signals corresponding to wrist extensions. Preliminary results show a high correlation (0.42-0.75) between sEMG and IMU signals, thus proving the feasibility of such a system. Results also show that the developed system is robust as well as less susceptible to external interferences. The generated control signals can be used to perform real-time control of different devices in daily-life activities, such as turning ON/OFF of lights in a smart home, controlling an electric wheelchair, and other assistive devices. Such a system will help decrease the dependency of disabled people on their caretakers and empower them to perform their daily-life activities independently.

The Relationships Between Control Measures and Absenteeism in the Context of Internal Control.

BACKGROUND: The study tries to show the effect of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation implemented via plan-do-check-act methodology on accident and sickness absenteeism. METHODS: The data for the study gathered via a questionnaire from a large-sized organization operates in production and maintenance of passenger coaches in February-March 2019 in Turkey. The data analyzed via structural equation model analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that there are statistically meaningful relationships between OHS protective measures, training and informing of employees, and employee participation and accident and sickness absenteeism. In addition, a meaningful relationship between internal control and accident and sickness absenteeism was determined. Statistically meaningful relationships between emergency measures, and health surveillance and internal control, and accident and sickness absenteeism could not be determined. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the actions implemented by organizations to reduce absenteeism should be as per OHS legislation.

Comparison of blood carbonic anhydrase activity of athletes performing interval and continuous running exercise at high altitude.

The effects of high-intensity interval and continuous exercise on erythrocytes carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) activity levels were scarcely investigated up until now. Here we present a study focused on the CA activity from erythrocytes of athletes experiencing interval and continuous training for 6 weeks, during cold weather and at high altitude (> 1600 m). We observed a 50% increase in the blood CA activity at the second week after initiation of the training in both interval and continuos running groups, whereas the control group did not experience any variation in the enzyme activity levels. In the trained individuals a mild decrease in their body mass, BMI and an increased [Formula: see text] were also observed. The CA activity returned at the basal values after 4-6 weeks after the training started, probably proving that a metabolic compensation occurred without the need of an enhanced enzyme activity. The unexpected 50% rise of activity for an enzyme which acts as a very efficient catalyst for CO2 hydration/bicarbonate dehydration, such as the blood CA, deserves further investigations for better understanding the physiologic basis of this phenomenon.

The relationships between OHS prevention costs, safety performance, employee satisfaction and accident costs.

Little is known about the costs of safety. A literature review conducted for this study indicates there is a lack of survey-based research dealing with the effects of occupational health and safety (OHS) prevention costs. To close this gap in the literature, this study investigates the interwoven relationships between OHS prevention costs, employee satisfaction, OHS performance and accident costs. Data were collected from 159 OHS management system 18001-certified firms operating in Turkey and analyzed through structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that OHS prevention costs have a significant positive effect on safety performance, employee satisfaction and accident costs savings; employee satisfaction has a significant positive effect on accident costs savings; and occupational safety performance has a significant positive effect on employee satisfaction and accident costs savings. Also, the results indicate that safety performance and employee satisfaction leverage the relationship between prevention costs and accident costs.

Does phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia affect retrobulbar blood flow?

PURPOSE: To investigate with color Doppler imaging the effects of phacoemulsification surgery under topical anesthesia on retrobulbar vessels hemodynamics. METHODS: In this prospective study, color Doppler imaging was used to measure the maximum (Vmax) and minimum flow velocity (Vmin) of the central retinal vein, and the Vmax and Vmin, pulsatility index and resistance index of the central retinal artery, nasal, and temporal posterior ciliary arteries, and ophthalmic artery blood flow before and 1 day after phacoemulsification surgery under topical anesthesia. RESULTS: After phacoemulsification surgery under topical anesthesia, Vmin of the central retinal artery increased (p ≤ 0.05), whereas the other variables showed no significant change. CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification surgery under topical anesthesia has a minor effect on retrobulbar blood flow. Therefore topical anesthesia should be suitable for patients with ocular perfusion disorders (eg, glaucoma).

Eyelid myoclonia with absence seizures in a child with l-2 hydroxyglutaric aciduria: findings of magnetic resonance imaging.

l-2 hydroxyglutaric aciduria is a rare, autosomal recessively inherited metabolic disorder of organic acid metabolism. A 5-year-old boy presented with eyelid myoclonia with absences that proved difficult to control with first-line anticonvulsants. An electroencephalogram produced profoundly abnormal results, with generalized spike-and-wave discharges. The patient became seizure-free with a combination therapy of clonazepam, levetiracetam, and lamotrigine. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated subcortical white matter and basal ganglia alterations. Urinary organic acid analysis demonstrated increased excretion of l-2 hydroxyglutaric acid. Although rare, seizures can occur as a presenting sign of slowly progressing organic acidurias, e.g., l-2 hydroxyglutaric aciduria. Both eyelid myoclonia with absences and l-2 hydroxyglutaric aciduria comprise rare disorders. To our knowledge, this case report is the first of l-2 hydroxyglutaric aciduria presenting with symptomatic eyelid myoclonia with absences.

Does ranibizumab (Lucentis®) change retrobulbar blood flow in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration?

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of intravitreal ranibizumab on retrobulbar blood flow in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Thirty-one eyes of 30 patients with neovascular AMD were examined prospectively by both color Doppler imaging and fundus fluorescein angiography. Color Doppler imaging was used to measure the maximum and minimum velocities of the central retinal vein, peak systolic/end-diastolic velocities of blood flows, and pulsatility index and resistivity index values in the central retinal artery, nasal/temporal posterior ciliary arteries (NPCA/TPCA) and ophthalmic artery. The t test for paired samples was used for comparing retrobulbar blood flow values before and after intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis®) injection in the study and control groups. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) difference between the pre-injection and post-injection end-diastolic velocities of the NPCA and TPCA and resistivity index values of TPCA. The other parameters showed no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: Our results show that intravitreal ranibizumab injection increases retrobulbar blood flow.

Effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) therapy on retrobulbar blood flow parameters in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab on retrobulbar circulation in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHOD: Thirty patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration were assessed prospectively by both color Doppler imaging and fundus fluorescein angiography. Spectral Doppler analysis allowed the measurement of the maximum velocity (Vmax) and minimum velocity (Vmin) of the central retinal vein (CRV), and peak systolic (PSV), end-diastolic (EDV) velocities of blood flows, and pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) values in the central retinal artery (CRA), nasal and temporal posterior ciliary arteries (NPCA, TPCA), and ophthalmic artery (OA). The t test for paired samples was used to compare retrobulbar blood flow values before and after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. RESULT: PSV and EDV of the NPCA and PSV of the TPCA were significantly decreased after intravitreal bevacizumab injection (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the other parameters. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that intravitreal bevacizumab therapy has a measurable effect on retrobulbar blood flow.

Color Doppler twinkling artifact in intrauterine fetal demise.

PURPOSE: To determine whether twinkling artifacts on color and power Doppler sonography could be used as a new sonographic sign of intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD). METHODS: In this prospective study, 24 consecutive pregnant women with IUFD were included after fetal sonographic examinations. Sonographic examination included gray-scale, color, power, and spectral Doppler imaging. The sonograms were then analyzed for the presence, appearance, and intensity of the twinkling artifacts. RESULTS: Twinkling artifacts on color Doppler were observed in all of the 24 IUFD as a rapidly changing color Doppler signal complex associated persistently with different parts of the fetal body. The artifacts were localized especially in the neck, back, and iliac regions. Artifact intensity correlated with the time elapsed since death. CONCLUSION: Twinkling artifact was noted in all dead fetuses on color, power, and spectral Doppler examinations. Thus, the observation of these artifacts may be considered as a new sonographic sign of fetal demise, which may reflect the time elapsed since death.

Second-trimester diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta associated with schizencephaly by sonography.

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a congenital connective tissue disorder characterized with multiple bone fractures, short limbs, membranous calvarium with wormian bones, and sometimes blue sclerae. Osteogenesis imperfecta is rarely accompanied by other major malformations. Although associations with microcephaly, congenital heart defects or anencephaly have been reported previously, association with schizencephaly was not found on literature review. We report a case of osteogenesis imperfecta associated with schizencephaly diagnosed at 21 weeks of gestation using 2-dimensional ultrasound. The present case shows that prenatal ultrasonographic examination is a very important tool to detect such intrauterine abnormalities in which, management of pregnancy would be changed significantly compared to normal pregnancies.

Anatomical variations with joint space measurements on CT.

This study has been performed to demonstrate the type and frequency of the anatomical variations of the sacroiliac joint according to age, gender, Body Mass Index and childbirth, and the influence of the anatomical variants to the uniformity and width of the joint space. It was conducted on 400 consecutive patients without sacroiliac complaint who underwent pelvic CT scanning for various reasons. Patients' ages were 15 or above. Anatomical variants that we observed were accessory sacroiliac joint (70 patients, 17.5%), iliosacral complex (38 patients, 9.5%), bipartite iliac bony plate (22 patients, 5.5%), semicircular defects on iliac/ sacral side (19 patients, 4.8%), crescent like iliac bony plate (14 patients, 3.5%) and ossification centers (4 patients, 1.0%). The mean joint space width of the 400 patients was 1.72+/-0.57 mm (from 0.77 mm to 4.39 mm). In adults below 40 years of age, the measured width was 2.49+/-0.66 mm. In older patients, 1.47+/-0.21 mm. Joints which presented anatomical variants (206 articulations) had a non-uniform joint space in 164 (79.6%), whereas uniform joint space were seen in 42 (20.4%) articulations. The joint width were less than 2 mm in 193 (93.7%) articulations and in 13 (6.3%) articulations were greater or equal to 2 mm. This study has demonstrated that anatomical variations and joint space are independently related to age, gender, Body Mass Index and childbirth in patients. We believe that all this information is helpful to interpret and examine the sacroiliac computed tomography images.

Cephalopagus conjoined twins presented with encephalocele: diagnostic role of ultrafast MR imaging.

Conjoined twinning is a rare abnormality and cephalopagus is a very rare form of conjoined twins. We report a case of cephalopagus conjoined twins with encephalocele and omphalocele which diagnosed by ultrasonography and ultrafast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 24 weeks of the gestation. Ultrafast MR imaging can provide image quality superior to two dimensional ultrasonography and should be considered an adjunct to ultrasound for antenatal characterization of some anomalies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cephalopagus conjoined twins with encephalocele and omphalocele which diagnosed by ultrasound and ultrafast MR imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging based classification of anatomic relationship between the cochleovestibular nerve and anterior inferior cerebellar artery in patients with non-specific neuro-otologic symptoms.

In this study, we aimed to assess anatomical relationship between the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) and cochleovestibular nerve (CNV) in patients with non-specific cochleovestibular symptoms using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). One-hundred and forty patients with non-specific neuro-otologic symptoms were assessed using cranial and temporal MRI. Classification was performed according to four different types of anatomical relationship observed between the AICA and CVN. In type 1 (point compression), the AICA compresses only a limited portion of the CVN. In type 2 (longitudinal compression), the AICA approaches the CVN as both traverse parallel to each other. In type 3 (loop compression), the vascular loop of the AICA encircles the CVN. In type 4 (indentation), the AICA compresses the CVN so as to make an indentation in the nerve. The anatomical relationship between the CVN and AICA was encountered in 19 out of 140 (13.6%) patients (20 ears). The VCC was unilateral in 18 patients (94.7%) and bilateral in one patient (5.3%). There was no other vascular structure causing VCC to the CVN except for vertebral artery that was seen in 2 out of 140 patients (1.4%). These were unilateral cases. There were tinnitus, vertigo or dizziness, hearing loss, and both hearing loss and vertigo in 5 (25%), 13 (65%), 1 (5%) and 1 (5%) ears of 20 patients, respectively. There was no relationship between the cochleovestibular symptoms and type of compression (p>0.05). Neurovascular relationship between the CVN and AICA can be imaged properly using MR and MR based classification may help reporting this relationship in a standard way. Although, MR images can show the anatomical relationship accurately, diagnosis of vascular conflict should not be based on imaging findings alone.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis presenting with excessive subarachnoid hemorrhage in a 14-year-old boy.

Cerebral venous thrombosis presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is very rare. We report a case of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis as an initial manifestation of SAH. A 14-year-old boy was admitted with progressive headache, nausea, vomiting, diplopia, and gait disturbance. Cerebral computed tomography scan showed a widely SAH in the basal cisterns, bilateral sylvian fissures, and anterior interhemispheric fissure. Cerebral angiography was performed to detect any aneurysm in intracranial vasculature as a cause of SAH; however, the totally thrombosed superior sagittal sinus, galenic vein, and straight sinus were the sole abnormal findings.

Ethmomaxillary sinus: a particular anatomic variation of the paranasal sinuses.

We assessed the morphological and radiological characteristics of ethmomaxillary sinus (EMS), which is an enlarged posterior ethmoidal air cell occupying the superior portion of the maxillary sinus while draining into superior meatus. This study is based on 1450 patients submitted to CT examination of the paranasal sinuses between 1998 and 2002. Sequential CT scans were obtained in the coronal plane in all the patients with 2.5- to 5-mm section thickness and were evaluated for EMS. The diagnosis of EMS was made when there was a posterior ethmoidal cell occupying the superior part of the maxillary sinus while draining to the superior meatus. When EMS was diagnosed, the morphology of the septum between the and maxillary sinus, and width of the superior meatus, were noted. The EMS was found in 10 of 1450 (0.7%) patients. The coexisting anatomic variations were concha bullosa (50%), upper concha pneumatization (20%), maxillary sinus hypoplasia (20%), uncinate bulla (10%), hypertrophied inferior concha (10%), paradoxic middle concha (10%), and septate maxillary sinus (10%). There was no relation between EMS and sinus disease. The EMS is a rare anatomic variation and does not appear to be associated with sinusitis. The EMS is not a well-studied anatomic variation, and the literature is lacking adequate information about this anatomic variation. This study performed in a large series of patients will possibly contribute to better understanding of this particular anomaly.

The congenital absence of the radius, scaphoid, trapezium, thumb and hypoplasia of the lunate.

The congenital absence of the right radius, scaphoid, trapezium, thumb and hypoplasia of the lunate are described in a 9-year-old boy. He had full extension of his elbow, while flexion motion was limited to 90 degrees. His hand was radially deviated. The thumb was absent. The index and middle fingers were united and immobile. The ring finger had movement only at the metacarpophalangeal joint, while the little finger had full motion. Complete blood count fell within normal ranges. He had no other malformations or mental retardation. No hereditary family history was found and there was no consanguineous marriage. This case is different from cases mentioned in the literature due to lunate hypoplasia and the anomalies of the index, middle and ring fingers.