The proposal of a clinical protocol to assess central and peripheral fatigue in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

DM1 is an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by muscle weakness, myotonia, and multisystemic involvement. According to current literature fatigue and daytime sleepiness are among the main symptoms of DM1. Oxidative stress has been proposed to be one of the pathogenic factors of fatigue consequent to DM1. In this study, we investigated the dimensions of experienced fatigue and  physiological fatigue in a sample of 26 DM1 patients (17 males, 9 females, mean age 41.6 years, SD±12.7); experienced fatigue has been studied through Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and physiological fatigue was measured through an intermittent incremental exercise of the forearm muscles using a myometer; oxidative stress balance markers trend during aerobic exercise test have been collected. The occurrence of central fatigue in the sample means that central activation worsens during the motor contraction; interestingly FSS score was significantly correlated to MVC (before and after the effort, r-before=-0.583, p<0.01, r-after= -0.534, p<0.05), and to motor disability measured by MRC (r=-0.496, p<0.05); moreover we found a strong tendency towards significance in the association to lactate baseline (r=0.378, p=0.057).Results are discussed to define whether or not, based on clinical and laboratory grounds, such exercise training protocol may be suitable for proper management of DM1 patients; proper assessment of fatigue should be included in algorithms for data collection in DM1 patient registries.

[Role of reaction times in the health surveillance of a group of complex task workers: public transport drivers]. / Ruolo dei tempi di reazione nel protocollo di sorveglianza sanitaria di una categoria di lavoratori adibiti a mansioni complesse: autisti di mezzi pubblici.

In order to assess the relationship between impaired reaction times and other clinical parameters a study was conducted on a population of public transport drivers, 26 impaired reaction times subjects and 114 controls, matched for age, sex and type of job-task, compared for years of employment, blood pressure, audiometric test, mood disorders, sleepiness and body mass index (BMI). Statistical analysis indicates a close trend to relationship of reaction times impairment with BMI and hypertension; these two variables are also correlated. Our results agree with previous literature: despite the fact that mechanisms underlying the relationship between BMI and cognitive impairments remains unknown, subclinical levels of pathophysiologic changes associated with elevated BMI, could account for the observed differences in our samples. Assessing eligibility in occupational medicine, it could be suitable to evaluate some preventive measures evaluating the efficacy of weight loss on cognitive function and on the ability to work safely.

Quarantine and Mental Health Challenges for Occupational Medicine: The Case Report of a Nurse Infected With SARS-CoV-2.

This case study draws attention to the psychosocial difficulties that emerged in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in relation to the remote management of subjects with psychiatric vulnerabilities following exposure to prolonged quarantine. The case involves a 56-year-old hospital nurse, followed by the Occupational Health Department of a major university hospital in central Italy for mood instability in the context of a cyclothymic temperament. She was quarantined for occupationally acquired COVID-19 and remained positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) via swab test for more than 2 months between March and May 2020. In this case study, we discuss the challenges presented by the risk of a prolonged quarantine in a psychologically vulnerable employee, the need for occupational medicine to provide adequate health surveillance of all health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of telepsychiatry, and the difficulties in formulating a proper treatment strategy.

[Prevention of psychosocial issues and drug addiction in workers employed in building great infrastructures: first outcomes of an experience in the Florence area]. / La prevenzione del disagio psicosociale lavorativo e delle dipendenze negli addetti alla realizzazione delle grandi opere infrastrutturali: primi risultati di uno esperienza in territorio fiorentino.

The research on stress, mobbing, and substance dependence in workers employed in the building of the great infrastructures is part of the project Euridice-Ten. The 75% of the workers employed took part in the research through an anonymous and structured questionnaire. The Clinica del Lavoro of the University of Milan elaborated the data. They point out a high risk of stress, a low level of control, a marked risk of mobbing, a high chronic fatigue in the most exhausting jobs, sleep disorders, problems in the social life as well as at home, in nourishment and at work. Many workers drink too much alcohol and the 9% of the workers know workers who use cocaine.

New talitrids from South Africa (Amphipoda, Senticaudata, Talitroidea, Talitridae) with notes on their ecology.

Based on new talitrid amphipod collections from South Africa one new genus, Capeorchestia gen. nov., and one new species, Africorchestia meridionalis sp. nov., are described and Africorchestia quadrispinosa (K.H. Barnard, 1916) is redescribed. Eorchestia Bousfield, 1984 is redescribed. Based on this redescription Orchestia dassenensis (K.H. Barnard, 1916) is moved to Eorchestia and the Tasmanian species Eorchestia palustris Richardson, 1993 and E. rupestris Richardson, 1993 are moved to Microrchestia Bousfield, 1984. The current knowledge about the ecology of Capeorchestia capensis (Dana, 1853), Africorchestia quadrispinosa and A. meridionalis is summarized.