The Working Life of People with Degenerative Cerebellar Ataxia.

The aim of the present study was to characterize and analyze the most important individual and organizational variables associated with job accommodation in subjects with degenerative cerebellar ataxia by administering a series of international and validated work activity-related scales. Twenty-four workers (W) and 58 non-workers (NW) were recruited: 34 with autosomal dominant ataxia and 48 with autosomal recessive ataxia (27 with Friedreich ataxia and 21 with sporadic adult-onset ataxia of unknown etiology). The severity of ataxia was rated using the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia. Our results showed that the ataxic W were predominantly middle-aged (41-50 years), high school graduate, and married men with a permanent work contract, who had been working for more than 7 years. The W with ataxia exhibited a good level of residual working capacity, irrespective of gender, age range, and duration of the disease, and they were observed to have a low or average-to-low job stress-related risk. Supporting patients with ataxia to find an appropriate job is an important priority because about 78% of NW search for a job and W and NW have the same potential work abilities (no relevant differences were found in terms of disease characteristics, gender, and work resilience). In this view, introducing NW to work-life may have a potential rehabilitative aspect. Findings of this study highlight that equal job opportunities for subjects affected by cerebellar ataxia are recommended.

[Modelling metallic bars in an orthopaedic laboratory: postural and biomechanical analysis]. / Analisi posturale e biomeccanica della modellazione di barre metalliche in un'officina ortopedica.

Aim of this work is to assess, with an objective technique (i.e. surface electromyography), the upper limb biomechanical load in workers specialized in manufacturing of orthopedic prostheses. We considered two different working configurations (workstation height at 105 and 110 cm) and three different materials to be modeled (aluminum, steel and titanium). Our results showed significant differences between aluminum/steel and titanium bars. As regards the working configurations, we found differences in the muscle activation patterns between the two heights, with an increased exertion of the shoulder muscles at 110 cm with respect to 105.

[Air transport biomechanical risk: reduced mobility passengers' handling]. / Rischio biomeccanico nel settore del trasporto aereo: la movimentazione manuale dei passeggeri a ridotta mobilità (PRM).

As the airport traffic increases there is a continuous increase of passengers with different motor disabilities. Disabled passenger's assistance causes a biomechanical overload in airport workers. Some disabled passengers are classified by IATA as WCHC (wheel chair in cabin or Charlie). Our study, was performed in one of the most important Italian airport on Charlie passengers (about 10% of all assistances). We identified four critical points: 1) wheelchair and baggage moving (unstable load), 2) inclined ramps with worker's backwards steps and braked wheelchair to prevent passenger tipping or falling, 3) transfer from standard wheelchair to bicycle wheelchair, specifically designed for the aisle; 4.) transfer from bicycle wheelchair to aircraft seat. The last two points required sometimes to lift passengers over the armrest and positioning them on a window side seat, causing a serious increase of biomechanical load. For each critical point we have proposed technical and organizational measures to reduce airport worker's biomechanical risk.

Walking strategies of visually impaired people on trapezoidal- and sinusoidal-section tactile groundsurface indicators.

The visual system in walking serves to perceive feedback or feed-forward signals. Therefore, visually impaired persons (VIP) have biased motor control mechanisms. The use of leading indicators (LIs) and long canes helps to improve their walking efficiency. The aims of this study were to compare the walking efficiency of VIP on trapezoidal- and sinusoidal-section LIs using an optoelectronic motion analysis system. VIP displayed a significantly longer stance phase, a shorter swing phase and shorter step and stride lengths when they walked on the sinusoidal LI than when they walked on the trapezoidal LI. Compared with the trapezoidal LI, VIP walking on the sinusoidal LI displayed significantly lower joint ranges of motion. The centre of mass lateral displacement was wider for VIP walking on the sinusoidal LI than on the trapezoidal LI. Some significant differences were also found in sighted persons walking on both LIs. In conclusion, the trapezoidal shape enabled visually impaired subjects to walk more efficiently, whereas the sinusoidal shape caused dynamic balance problems. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that VIP can walk more efficiently, with a lower risk of falls, on trapezoidal-section than on sinusoidal-section LIs. These results should be considered when choosing the most appropriate ground tactile surface indicators for widespread use.

[Walking efficiency of blind people on trapezoidal and sinusoidal section tactile leading indicators]. / L'efficienza del cammino di soggetti non vedenti su piste tattili trapezoidali e sinusoidali.

Gait of visually impaired subjects (VIS) is worse than that of sighted ones. VIS can use tactile ground surface indicators to optimize their walking efficiency. Aim of the study was to compare VIS walking efficiency on either trapezoidal and sinusoidal shape leading indicators. VIS walking on the sinusoidal leading indicators showed a worsening of the time-distance parameters (a longer stance phase, a shorter swing phase and shorter step and stride lengths), reduced lower limb joint excursions and increased center of mass oscillations. In conclusion sinusoidal tactile indicators induce a stiffening of joints and a loss of balance with an increased risk of fall.

[How surface electromyography (sEMG) can help in biomechanical risk assessment in industrial work]. / Il contributo dell'elettromiografia di superficie (sEMG) alla valutazione del riscio biomeccanico nelle attività industriali.

Observational information on muscle activity is related to sEMG activity expressed as a percentage of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). This is the case for the Garg and Moore Strain Index and the Hand Activity Level (HAL) proposed by the ACGIH. This latter involves the assessor recording the levels of MVC in 10% intervals. This degree of sensitivity certainly calls for the use of surface electromyography (sEMG) rather than just observation. Furthermore sEMG signal can contribute to assess muscle fatigue and force with the modern instruments for signal frequency analysis; earlier limitations have been overcome and dynamic assessment can now be done.

[Coordination patterns assessed by a continuous measure of joints coupling during upper limb repetitive movements]. / Approcci innovativi per la valutazione del rischio da movimenti ripetuti dell'arto superiore.

We analyzed the coordination patterns between elbow, shoulder and trunk in a motor task consisting of reaching out, picking up a cylinder, and transporting it back by using the Dynamical Systems Theory and calculating the continuous relative phase (CRP), a continuous measure of the coupling between two interacting joints. We used an optoelectronic motion analysis system consisting of eight infra-red ray cameras to detect the movements of nine skin-mounted markers. We calculated the root square of the adjusted coefficient of determination, the coefficient of multiple correlation (CMC), in order to investigate the repeatability of the joints coordination. The data confirm that the CNS establishes both synergic (i.e. coupling between shoulder and trunk on the frontal plane) and hierarchical (i.e. coupling between elbow-shoulder-trunk on the horizontal plane) relationships among the available degrees of freedom to overcome the complexity due to motor redundancy. The present study describes a method to investigate the organization of the kinematic degrees of freedom during upper limb multi-joint motor tasks that can be useful to assess upper limb repetitive movements.

[Biomechanical risk assessment of manual material handling in vegetables and fruit departments of supermarkets]. / Valutazione del rischio da movimentazione manuale dei carichi nel reparto ortofrutta in un esercizio commerciale di medie dimensioni.

There is little in the literature about the risks of manual handling of material in supermarkets and what there is refers solely to storehouse work. This contrasts with the substantial number of studies of the risk of repeated arm movements among supermarket cash-desk staff. The scarcity of information is partly due to the difficulties of applying widely employed, standardized evaluation methods in this sector. One of the conditions limiting the application of the NIOSH protocol in this retail sector is that lifting tasks are so often closely tied to transport. The biomechanical analysis method we used brought to light considerable risks in many of the steps investigated: unpacking the pallet, unloading the crates from the pallet to the ground, lifting them from the floor onto display stands, and filling the boxes on the stands with goods before the shop opens. Images acquired on site were analyzed in the laboratory. We selected the most indicative images, which were then studied as regards posture and biomechanics using Apalys 3.0 software (ILMCAD GmbH, Ilmenau, Germany). Biomechemical analysis was done on the following movements: unloading crates from the pallet, positioning them on fruit and vegetable department display stands, and filling the boxes on the stands. We obtained a prediction of 2720 to 5472 N for the load at the lumbosacral junction (L5-S1). Simulation of the NIOSH index gave a value of 2.69 in the only case where the Waters protocol could be applied.

[Subjective perception and comfort/discomfort ergonomic evaluation in school environment]. / Percezione soggettiva e valutazione ergonomica del comfort/discomfort in ambienti scolastici.

In order to carry out the present study a school place representative of the entire Italian school have been identified, an Institute within Rome province have been selected. The first step has been the measurement of the dimensional and structural features of the classrooms considered, their furniture and work-posts, also considering the activities carried on in the classrooms and their environmental conditions. Pictures and videos have been shot so as to have a deep analysis of the ergonomic level of the work-posts and, at the same time, an inquiry to understand the needs of the students with respect to the environment "classroom", the work-posts and didactical tools utilized, by means of a multiple answers questionnaire, drawing, and the implementation of the shared design method. Applying with the young users the creative sharing design method it have been produced the "diagnosis paper", where the problems and the criticalities relevant to the well-being and healthiness of the users of the school environment have been listed, and which allow to identify patterns, useful basis for future re-designs. The data obtained have been then the subject of an exact and deep analytical and statistical examination carried on by the multi-discipline.

The functional role of the carbohydrate in human melanoma associated antigens. I. Antigen-antibody complex formation.

Messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNA) for tumor associated antigens (TAA) were isolated from human melanotic melanoma (HMMC-ShA, HMMC-WJP) and amelanotic melanoma (HMMC-Sr, HMMC-KM) cells. The melanoma cells were cultured in standard Eagle's MEM and in MEM supplemented with tunicamycin (Tu). The mRNAs were translated in vitro using wheat germ system. Using a standard immunodiffusion system, TAA from melanoma cells harvested from standard MEM differed from the TAA obtained from cells harvested from MEM supplemented with Tu, whereas, TAA pretreated with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase resembled TAA of cells harvested from MEM supplemented with Tu. The translation products synthesized by mRNA of melanotic melanoma cells resembled TAA extracted directly with 3 M KCl from the cells, but differed from TAA isolated directly from the cells or synthesized by mRNA from amelanotic melanoma cells. Therefore, the melanotic melanoma differed from the amelanotic melanoma cells in their genetic expression. The TAA-immunological reactivities are modulated by a post-translation step regulating genetic expression.

Perchloric acid-soluble serum glycoprotein as an index for tumor cell burden in the early detection of cancer.

Neoplastic cells, particularly human mammary carcinoma cells, shed or secrete glycoproteins which are tumor-specific. These compounds contain N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) and they differ from the bulk of serum proteins and glycoproteins in being soluble in perchloric acid. Graded number of R3230 adenocarcinoma (AdCa) cells were implanted subcutaneously in groups of female Fisher rats. At time intervals, while under anesthesia the spleens were dissected out, and blood was drawn from the animals. The blood was examined for NANA levels and the spleen cells for lymphocyte migration inhibition. The serum perchloric acid (PA) soluble proteins and the PA-NANA levels were time-dependent and increased with the number of implanted tumor cells. Maximum levels were found in sera from blood drawn 196 hours or later from animals which received 1,000 tumor cells/rat, or more. At 72 hours or more after tumor cell implantation, migration of splenic lymphocytes from animals which received 100 or more R3230 AdCa cells per animal was inhibited on contact with neuraminidase-treated formalinized R3230 AdCa cells. The magnitude of inhibition increased with time and with the number of implanted tumor cells. Therefore, blood PA-NANA levels and lymphocyte migration inhibition rae parameters for the in-vivo early detection and monitor tumor cell proliferation.

An effective method of treating long-enduring wounds and ulcers by topical applications of solutions of nutrients.

A safe and effective method of improving repair and controlling infection of wounds is presented. It consists of debridement daily and application topically of a balanced solution of salts, amino acids, a high-molecular weight, D-glucose polysaccharide, and ascorbic acid. Wounds of several causes were treated, namely, second- and third-degree thermal burns, decubitus, varicose, and stasis ulcers, and diabetic lesions. Local infection was controlled early and the majority of the cases responded with quick formation of highly vascular, smooth, infection-free granulation tissue and centripetal epithelial growth. Small- and medium-sized lesions healed spontaneously in 4 to 8 weeks. Larger lesions were readily managed with autografts of skin as soon as satisfactory beds were obtained.