-
Brain Sciences May 2024In this study, to discuss the influence of concussion risk from the long-term use of American football helmets on collegiate teams, accident cases during the game are...
In this study, to discuss the influence of concussion risk from the long-term use of American football helmets on collegiate teams, accident cases during the game are replicated based on game videos by simulations using whole-body numerical models and helmeted finite element human head models. The concussion risks caused by collisions were estimated using the mechanical parameters inside the skull obtained from finite element analyses. In the analyses, the different material properties of helmets identified by free-fall experiments using headform impactor-embedded helmets were used to represent brand-new and long-term-use helmets. After analyzing the five cases, it was observed that wearing a new helmet instead of a long-term-use one resulted in a reduction in the risk of concussion by 1 to 44%. More energy is attenuated by the deformation of the liners of the brand-new helmet, so the energy transferred to the head is smaller than that when wearing the long-term-use helmet. Thus, the long-term use of the helmet reduces its ability to protect the head.
PubMed: 38928538
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14060537 -
Biomolecules May 2024Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder due to which people have trouble sleeping, followed by daytime sleepiness, low energy, irritability, and a...
Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder due to which people have trouble sleeping, followed by daytime sleepiness, low energy, irritability, and a depressed mood. It may result in an increased risk of accidents of all kinds as well as problems focusing and learning. Dietary supplements have become popular products for alleviating insomnia, while the lenient requirements for pre-market research result in unintelligible mechanisms of different combinations of dietary supplements. In this study, we aim to systematically identify the molecular mechanisms of a sleep cocktail's pharmacological effects based on findings from network pharmacology and molecular docking. A total of 249 targets of the sleep cocktail for the treatment of insomnia were identified and enrichment analysis revealed multiple pathways involved in the nervous system and inflammation. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and molecular complex detection (MCODE) analysis yielded 10 hub genes, including AKT1, ADORA1, BCL2, CREB1, IL6, JUN, RELA, STAT3, TNF, and TP53. Results from weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of insomnia-related transcriptome data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed that a sleep cocktail may also ease insomnia via regulating the inflammatory response. Molecular docking results reveal good affinity of Sleep Cocktail to 9 selected key targets. It is noteworthy that the crucial target HSP90AA1 binds to melatonin most stably, which was further validated by MD simulation.
Topics: Humans; Molecular Docking Simulation; Network Pharmacology; Protein Interaction Maps; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Dietary Supplements; Sleep
PubMed: 38927034
DOI: 10.3390/biom14060630 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2024Global warming has led to an increase in the number and intensity of extreme heat events, posing a significant threat to the health and safety of workers, especially...
PURPOSE
Global warming has led to an increase in the number and intensity of extreme heat events, posing a significant threat to the health and safety of workers, especially those working outdoors, as they often have limited access to cooling strategies. The present systematic literature review (a) summarizes the current knowledge on the impacts of climate change on outdoor workers, (b) provides historical background on this issue, (c) explores factors that reduce and increase thermal stress resilience, (d) discusses the heat mitigation strategies, and (e) provides an overview of existing policy and legal frameworks on occupational heat exposure among outdoor workers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this systematic review, we searched scientific databases including Scopus (N = 855), Web of Science (N = 828), and PubMed (N = 202). Additionally, we identified relevant studies on climate change and heat-stress control measures through Google Scholar (N = 116) using specific search terms. In total, we monitored 2001 articles pertaining to worker populations (men = 2921; women = 627) in various outdoor climate conditions across 14 countries. After full-text assessment, 55 studies were selected for inclusion, and finally, 29 eligible papers were included for data extraction.
RESULTS
Failure to implement effective control strategies for outdoor workers will result in decreased resilience to thermal stress. The findings underscore a lack of awareness regarding certain adaptation strategies and interventions aimed at preventing and enhancing resilience to the impact of climate change on heat stress prevalence among workers in outdoor tropical and subtropical environments. However, attractive alternative solutions from the aspects of economic and ecological sustainability in the overall assessment of heat stress resilience can be referred to acclimatization, shading, optimized clothing properties and planned breaks.
CONCLUSION
The integration of climate change adaptation strategies into occupational health programs can enhance occupational heat resilience among outdoor workers. Conducting cost-benefit evaluations of health and safety measures for thermal stress adaptation strategies among outdoor workers is crucial for professionals and policymakers in low- and middle-income tropical and subtropical countries. In this respect, complementary measures targeting hydration, work-rest regimes, ventilated garments, self-pacing, and mechanization can be adopted to protect outdoor workers. Risk management strategies, adaptive measures, heat risk awareness, practical interventions, training programs, and protective policies should be implemented in hot-dry and hot-humid climates to boost the tolerance and resilience of outdoor workers.
Topics: Humans; Climate Change; Heat Stress Disorders; Occupational Exposure; Hot Temperature; Female; Male
PubMed: 38926816
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19212-3 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024In recent years, the number of roadway floor rock burst accidents is increasing, which seriously restricts the safe production of the mine. Therefore, safety evaluation...
In recent years, the number of roadway floor rock burst accidents is increasing, which seriously restricts the safe production of the mine. Therefore, safety evaluation method of bottom coal thickness in thick coal seam roadway was studied. The research results shown that the stress concentration area of composite floor is distributed in coal seam or rock stratum with large elastic modulus. With the increase of floor rock strength, the stress of coal-rock composite floor increased gradually, but the displacement and energy decreased gradually. When floor rock strength was equal to bottom coal strength, the increase of floor stress and displacement with the change of bottom coal thickness was the smallest, which was 34.29% and 33.61% respectively. The elastic strain energy decreased from 14.58 to 9.85%. With the increase of bottom coal thickness, the stress and displacement of coal-rock composite floor increased first and then decreased, and the elastic strain energy decreased gradually. It puts forward the safety evaluation method of bottom coal thickness: floor failure depth → reasonable thickness of bottom coal → safety thickness of bottom coal. It can provide reference for design of roadway bottom coal retention and surrounding rock control in thick coal seam face.
PubMed: 38926598
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65708-8 -
BMJ Open Quality Jun 2024Patient safety learning systems play a critical role in supporting safety culture in healthcare organisations. A lack of explicit standards leads to inconsistent...
BACKGROUND
Patient safety learning systems play a critical role in supporting safety culture in healthcare organisations. A lack of explicit standards leads to inconsistent implementation across organisations, causing uncertainty about their roles and impact. Organisations can address inconsistent implementation by using a self-assessment tool based on agreed-on best practices. Therefore, we aimed to create a survey instrument to assess an organisation's approach to learning from safety events.
METHODS
The foundation for this work was a recent systematic review that defined features associated with the performance of a safety learning system. We organised features into themes and rephrased them into questions (items). Face validity was checked, which included independent pre-testing to ensure comprehensibility and parsimony. It also included clinical sensibility testing in which a representative sample of leaders in quality at a large teaching hospital (The Ottawa Hospital) answered two questions to judge each item for clarity and necessity. If more than 20% of respondents judged a question unclear or unnecessary, we modified or removed that question accordingly. Finally, we checked the internal consistency of the questionnaire using Cronbach's alpha.
RESULTS
We initially developed a 47-item questionnaire based on a prior systematic review. Pre-testing resulted in the modification of 15 of the questions, 2 were removed and 2 questions were added to ensure comprehensiveness and relevance. Face validity was assessed through yes/no responses, with over 80% of respondents confirming the clarity and 85% the necessity of each question, leading to the retention of all 47 questions. Data collected from the five-point responses (strongly disagree to strongly agree) for each question were used to assess the questionnaire's internal consistency. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.94, indicating a high internal consistency.
CONCLUSION
This self-assessment questionnaire is evidence-based and on preliminary testing is deemed valid, comprehensible and reliable. Future work should assess the range of survey responses in a large sample of respondents from different hospitals.
Topics: Humans; Surveys and Questionnaires; Patient Safety; Safety Management; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 38926135
DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2023-002738 -
European Respiratory Review : An... Apr 2024This review quantifies the mean treatment effect of exercise-based interventions on balance and falls risk in people with COPD. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
This review quantifies the mean treatment effect of exercise-based interventions on balance and falls risk in people with COPD.
METHODS
A structured search strategy (2000-2023) was applied to eight databases to identify studies evaluating the impact of exercise-based interventions (≥14 days in duration) on balance or falls in people with COPD. Pooled mean treatment effects (95% confidence intervals (CIs), 95% prediction intervals (PIs)) were calculated for outcomes reported in five or more studies. Inter-individual response variance and the promise of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) were explored.
RESULTS
34 studies (n=1712) were included. There were greater improvements in balance post intervention compared to controls for the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (mean 2.51, 95% CI 0.22-4.80, 95% PI -4.60-9.63), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (mean -1.12 s, 95% CI -1.69- -0.55 s, 95% PI -2.78-0.54 s), Single-Leg Stance (SLS) test (mean 3.25 s, 95% CI 2.72-3.77 s, 95% PI 2.64-3.86 s) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale (mean 8.50%, 95% CI 2.41-14.58%, 95% PI -8.92-25.92%). Effect on falls remains unknown. Treatment effects were larger in male mixed-sex groups for the ABC scale and SLS test, and in balance training other exercise-based interventions for the BBS and TUG test. Falls history was not associated with changes in balance. Meta-analysis of individual response variance was not possible and study-level results were inconclusive. Eleven promising BCTs were identified (promise ratio ≥2).
CONCLUSION
Evidence for the effect of exercise-based interventions eliciting clinically important improvements in balance for people with COPD is weak, but targeted balance training produces the greatest benefits. Future exercise interventions may benefit from inclusion of the identified promising BCTs.
Topics: Humans; Accidental Falls; Postural Balance; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Exercise Therapy; Male; Treatment Outcome; Female; Aged; Risk Factors; Middle Aged; Recovery of Function; Lung
PubMed: 38925795
DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0003-2024 -
BMJ Open Jun 2024This study aimed to develop a patient-centred approach to the burden of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) through modelling. The main objective was to identify...
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to develop a patient-centred approach to the burden of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) through modelling. The main objective was to identify potential improvements in managing this life-threatening cardiovascular condition and to provide evidence-based recommendations to optimise outcomes.
DESIGN
We developed a predictive model along patient pathways to estimate the burden of ATAAD through the years of life lost (YLLs) metric. The model was created based on a systematic review of the literature and was parameterised using demographic data from the German healthcare environment. The model was designed to allow interactive simulation of different scenarios resulting from changes in key impact factors.
SETTING
The study was conducted using data from the German healthcare environment and results from the literature review.
PARTICIPANTS
The study included a comprehensive modelling of ATAAD cases in Germany but did not directly involve participants.
INTERVENTIONS
There were no specific interventions applied in this study based on the modelling design.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES
The single outcome measure was the estimation of YLL due to ATAAD in Germany.
RESULTS
Our model estimated 102 791 YLL per year for ATAAD in Germany, with 62 432 and 40 359 YLL for men and women, respectively. Modelling an improved care setting yielded 93 191 YLL or 9.3% less YLL compared with the current standard while a worst-case scenario resulted in 113 023 or 10.0% more YLL. The model is accessible at https://acuteaorticdissection.com/ to estimate custom scenarios.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides an evidence-based approach to estimating the burden of ATAAD and identifying potential improvements in the management of pathways. This approach can be used by healthcare decision-makers to inform policy changes aimed at optimising patient outcomes. By considering patient-centred approaches in any healthcare environment, the model has the potential to improve efficient care for patients suffering from ATAAD.
Topics: Humans; Aortic Dissection; Germany; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Aged; Aortic Aneurysm; Life Expectancy; Adult; Acute Disease; Aged, 80 and over; Cost of Illness
PubMed: 38925695
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078398 -
BMJ Open Jun 2024A vital component of a prehospital emergency care system is getting an injured patient to the right hospital at the right time. Process and information flow mapping are...
OBJECTIVE
A vital component of a prehospital emergency care system is getting an injured patient to the right hospital at the right time. Process and information flow mapping are recognised methods to show where efficiencies can be made. We aimed to understand the process and information flows used by the prehospital emergency service in transporting community emergencies in Rwanda in order to identify areas for improvement.
DESIGN
Two facilitated process/information mapping workshops were conducted. Process maps were produced in real time during discussions and shared with participants for their agreement. They were further validated by field observations.
SETTING
The study took place in two prehospital care settings serving predominantly rural and predominantly urban patients.
PARTICIPANTS
24 healthcare professionals from various cadres. Field observations were done on 49 emergencies across both sites.
RESULTS
Two maps were produced, and four main process stages were described: (1) call triage by the dispatch/call centre team, (2) scene triage by the ambulance team, (3) patient monitoring by the ambulance team on the way to the health facility and (4) handover process at the health facility. The first key finding was that the rural site had multiple points of entry into the system for emergency patients, whereas the urban system had one point of entry (the national emergency number); processes were otherwise similar between sites. The second was that although large amounts of information were collected to inform decision-making about which health facility to transfer patients to, participants found it challenging to articulate the intellectual process by which they used this to make decisions; guidelines were not used for decision-making.
DISCUSSION
We have identified several areas of the prehospital care processes where there can be efficiencies. To make efficiencies in the decision-making process and produce a standard approach for all patients will require protocolising care pathways.
Topics: Humans; Rwanda; Emergency Medical Services; Triage; Ambulances; Rural Health Services; Transportation of Patients; Patient Handoff
PubMed: 38925682
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085064 -
American Journal of Veterinary Research Jun 2024To collect medication error (ME) data during the perianesthetic period from small animal clinics.
OBJECTIVE
To collect medication error (ME) data during the perianesthetic period from small animal clinics.
SAMPLE
6 small animal general practice veterinary clinics.
METHODS
Small animal general practice veterinary clinics were recruited in this prospective observational study, with staff given a presentation on medical errors and instructed on how to submit medication error reports to an online reporting system. Errors were classified according to type and timing.
RESULTS
A total of 2,728 general anesthesia or sedation procedures were performed, with 49 ME reports submitted. One duplicated report of the same error was excluded, resulting in a ME rate of 1.8%. Most reports (69% [33/48]) were near misses. The remaining 31% were MEs that reached the patient but did not cause harm. Wrong dose errors were the most common type (63% [30/48]), of which 80% (24/30) were calculation errors. Premedication/sedation and maintenance were the most reported stages, at 47% (20/43) and 23% (10/43), respectively. None of the MEs reported resulted in an adverse event, with an approximately 2:1 ratio of near-miss to no-harm MEs. The observed patterns of MEs reported, including type and timing, represent a target for further education.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
These results quantify the ME rate in general practice veterinary clinics, providing an initial benchmark for MEs during the perianesthetic period.
PubMed: 38925141
DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.24.04.0119 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jun 2024Isolated tibiotalar dislocation is an extremely rare injury. They are most often caused by high-energy trauma.
INTRODUCTION
Isolated tibiotalar dislocation is an extremely rare injury. They are most often caused by high-energy trauma.
CASE PRESENTATION
The authors report the case of an acute pure posteromedial tibiotalar joint dislocation in a 45-year-old patient, which occurred as a result of a road traffic accident. The reduction was performed as an emergency procedure under general anesthesia, followed by a 6-week cast immobilization. Twenty months after the injury, at the last follow-up, a very good functional result was observed, with a stable and painless ankle and satisfactory mobility.
DISCUSSION
A pure dislocation of the tibiotalar joint without an associated fracture is a rare injury. The posterior type is the most common dislocation. Treatments include close reduction, short leg cast immobilization, and open dislocation. However, certain factors can lead to unfavorable outcomes, such as delayed therapy, damage to the inferior tibiotalar ligaments, anterior tibial artery rupture, and soft tissue damage.
CONCLUSION
It is rare for a tibiotalar joint dislocations to occur as an isolated injury. The necessity of immediate orthopedic intervention in the management of this lesion is demonstrated by our observation.
PubMed: 38924923
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109933