Influence of Face Masks on Physiological and Subjective Response during 130 Min of Simulated Light and Medium Physical Manual Work-An Explorative Study.

Background: Undesirable side effects from wearing face masks during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continue to be discussed and pose a challenge to occupational health and safety when recommending safe application. Only few studies examined the effects of continuously wearing a face mask for more than one hour. Therefore, the influence of wearing a medical mask (MedMask) and a filtering facepiece class II respirator (FFP2) on the physiological and subjective outcomes in the course of 130 min of manual work was exploratively investigated.

Save our surgeons (SOS) - an explorative comparison of surgeons' muscular and cardiovascular demands, posture, perceived workload and discomfort during robotic vs. laparoscopic surgery.

Purpose: Conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) imposes an increased risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Technical innovations, such as robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS), may provide ergonomic benefits. We compare the surgeon`s work-related demands of CLS vs RALS for benign hysterectomies.

Effects of a Passive Back-Support Exoskeleton on Knee Joint Loading during Simulated Static Sorting and Dynamic Lifting Tasks.

Due to the load shifting mechanism of many back-support exoskeletons (BSEs), this study evaluated possible side effects of using a BSE on knee joint loading. Twenty-nine subjects (25.9 (±4.

Effects of Face Masks on Physical Performance and Physiological Response during a Submaximal Bicycle Ergometer Test.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic requires wearing face masks in many areas of our daily life; hence, the potential side effects of mask use are discussed. Therefore, the present study explores whether wearing a medical face mask (MedMask) affects physical working capacity (PWC). Secondary, the influence of a filtering facepiece mask with exhalation valve class 2 (FFP2exhal) and a cotton fabric mask (community mask) on PWC was also investigated.

Ergonomics for surgeons - prototype of an external surgeon support system reduces muscular activity and fatigue.

Background: Since the unergonomic postures cannot be changed during a surgery, it seems reasonable to externally support the surgeon's posture in order to relieve the musculature. To evaluate this matter, we conducted a pilot study to investigate if a prototype of an external surgeon support system (S3) relieves the musculature in an objectively measurable manner.

Methods: Simultaneous surface electromyography (EMG) was used alongside a combination of a laser Doppler flowmeter and a tissue spectrometer to record back and leg muscles during a simulated surgical situation.

Agreement between a simple dyspnea-guided treatment algorithm for stable COPD and the GOLD guidelines: a pilot study.

Introduction: Guidelines recommendations for the treatment of COPD are poorly followed. This could be related to the complexity of classification and treatment algorithms. The purpose of this study was to validate a simpler dyspnea-based treatment algorithm for inhaled pharmacotherapy in stable COPD, comparing its concordance with the current Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guideline.

[Indicators of severity in chest trauma].

Objective: We undertook a review of patients with chest trauma attended between January 1992 and June 2005 in order to establish severity criteria in these cases.

Patients And Methods: During the study period, 1,772 cases (1,346 [76%] males) were treated, with ages ranging from 7 to 98 years (mean, 46.4 years).

Axillary thoracotomy versus videothoracoscopy for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Background: A prospective, randomized study was carried out on patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, with the aim of determining if video-assisted thoracoscopy is superior to axillary thoracotomy in the surgical treatment of this condition.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to two groups; video-assisted thoracoscopy (group A; n = 46) and axillary thoracotomy (group B; n = 44). All fit the established criteria for surgical indication (relapse or persistent air leakage after pleural drainage).