Subjective Feelings Of Fatigue Research Articles

Investigation and Correlation Analysis of Self-Care Ability and Fatigue Among Primary Caregivers of Postoperative Patients With Liver Cancer in China.

In the postoperative period, patients mainly rely on caregivers, who experience their own physical and mental fatigue. Caregiver fatigue may affect patient outcomes. This study explored the fatigue status and influencing factors of primary caregivers of patients after liver cancer surgery. A baseline information questionnaire, the Fatigue Scale-14, and the Barthel Index were used to investigate the self-care ability and fatigue status of 191 primary caregivers of patients with hepatic carcinoma who had had surgery. The postoperative hospitalization time and self-care level of patients, whether the primary caregiver had health insurance, subjective feelings of fatigue, the perception that health was affected, and the patients' desired level of postoperative care were correlated with the occurrence of primary caregiver fatigue.

Applicability of Ratings of Perceived Exertion as a Measure of Subjective Fatigue in First Responders: An Exploratory Study

Introduction: Many researchers use Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) as an indicator of subjective fatigue. Recent findings suggest that energy and fatigue are two distinct unipolar moods. Methods: Eleven first responders (FR) participated in a 90-minute strenuous exercise battery where they ended the protocol by completing a graded VO2max test where they were asked to perform until volitional fatigue, measured through RPE. Subjective feelings of mental energy (ME) and fatigue (MF) and physical energy (PE) and fatigue (PF) were measured before the beginning of the protocol and right after. Data was not normally distributed and presented in median and interquartile ranges. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for RPE, post mood state, and changes in mood states. Results: Participants’ self-reported RPE at the conclusion of the VO2max test was 18.27 [18.00,19.00]. Post PE (r=-0.012, p=0.97), PF (r=-0.036, p=0.92), ME (r=-0.13, p=0.69), and MF (r=0.43, p=0.19) displayed insignificant correlations with RPE. Similarly, insignificant correlations were observed between changes in PE (r=0.26, p=0.44), PF (r=0.46, p=0.15), ME (r=0.35, p=0.30), MF (r=-0.43, p=0.19), and RPE. Five participants reported an increase in feelings of PE (15.00 [13.00,19.00]) and seven participants reported lower feelings of PF (-12.00 [-19.50,-8.00]) post assessment. Seven participants reported improvements in ME (22.00 [8.00,68.00]) and three reported a reduction in MF (-13.00 [-27.00, -7.00]). Conclusions: Our findings suggests that self-reported RPE may not be a reliable measure of subjective fatigue in FR populations during acute strenuous exercise. Further our findings support previous work that ME, MF, PE, and PF are four distinct unipolar moods, and researchers seeking to assess fatigue in FR should use RPE with caution as it seems to be a measure of subjective perception of exercise intensity instead of a true measure of subjective fatigue.

A 90- followed by a 30-min nap reduces fatigue whereas a 30- followed by a 90-min nap maintains cognitive performance in night work: A randomized crossover-pilot study

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of combinations of brief naps (a 90- followed by a 30-min nap vs. a 30- followed by a 90-min nap) on sleep inertia, reducing sleepiness and fatigue, and maintaining performance during night hours. MethodsThis randomized, comparative, repeated-measure, cross-over study investigated subjective and cognitive performance in 12 healthy females, evaluated in three experimental nap conditions: 1) from 22:30 to 00:00 and 02:30 to 03:00 (Pre90-NAP group), 2) from 23:30 to 00:00 and 02:30 to 04:00 (Pre30-NAP) group, and 3) no naps (NO-NAP group). Participants’ body temperature, psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) and Uchida-Kraepelin test (UKT) scores, and subjective feelings of drowsiness and fatigue were evaluated. Sleep state was determined by an actigraphy monitoring device worn by participants. ResultsRegardless of timing, both 90-min naps were associated with sleep inertia, and both 30-min naps with minimal sleep inertia. Reaction times were shorter and fewer errors were committed at 2 h post-nap in the Pre30-NAP and Pre90-NAP groups compared with those at the same time in the NO-NAP group. Adding a 90-min nap to a 30-min nap reduced subjective fatigue and shortened reaction times, and adding a 30-min nap to a 90-min nap was effective in maintaining performance, suggesting a synergistic effect. ConclusionsTaking two naps during a night work can mitigate sleepiness and fatigue, and maintain performance. A 90- followed by a 30-min nap reduced fatigue and reaction time, and a 30- followed by a 90-min nap maintained cognitive performance in the early morning.

Prolonged theoretical classes impact students' perceptions: an observational study.

Mental fatigue (MF) arises during prolonged demanding cognitive activity and results in acute feelings of tiredness and a decreased physical and/or cognitive performance capacity. An often-overlooked population that is significantly at risk for the development of MF are university students. The current study investigated the impact of prolonged in-person theoretical classes on the perceptions of MF, boredom, and sleepiness among 27 Slovenian university students (first-year physiotherapy). Their subjective experiences at various time points during a 4-h class interspersed with a 20 min break were assessed with a repeated measures ANOVA and consequent Bonferroni post-hoc tests (significance set at <0.05). Subjective MF and sleepiness significantly increased during the first and the second part of the class (p < 0.05), while they significantly decreased during the break (p < 0.05). Boredom levels only increased significantly during the second part of the class (p < 0.05). Additionally, students who had inadequate sleep the night before the class reported higher levels of MF at the beginning of the class. This study highlighted a significant impact of a theoretical class on subjective feelings of mental fatigue and showed that a break in the middle of the class temporarily alleviated this negative impact. These results emphasize the importance of adequate sleep, effective breaks, and strategies to manage cognitive workload in optimizing students' cognitive well-being and academic performance. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying factors and develop targeted interventions to support students' cognitive functioning and well-being during prolonged academic sessions.

Factors affecting physical and mental fatigue in adults from South Korea: A cross-sectional study.

In modern society, demanding and stressful events contribute to increased fatigue in adults. Moreover, fatigue is the most prevalent symptom of long coronavirus disease 2019. Fatigue is a subjective feeling of tiredness that can be attributed to various causes. This cross-sectional study investigated factors affecting physical and mental fatigue in adults living in South Korea. Self-reported data were collected through an online survey conducted between July 11 and July 17, 2021. The final sample comprised 362 participants, excluding those with uncertain responses. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27.0. General characteristics and variables of the participants were examined through descriptive statistical analysis. Differences in fatigue level according to the general characteristics of the participants were analyzed using t tests and one-way analysis of variance. The correlation between variables was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients. To investigate factors affecting fatigue, stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted. The overall level of fatigue according to participants' general characteristics differed significantly based on alcohol use, economic status, number of chronic diseases, stress, depression, and sleep problems. Factors affecting physical fatigue were depression, sleep problems, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) scores, and number of chronic diseases. The factors affecting mental fatigue were depression, GHQ-12 score, and alcohol use. The variables that had the most significant impact on overall fatigue were alcohol consumption, the number of chronic illnesses, depression, and GHQ-12, in that order. This emphasizes the importance of lifestyle improvement and dietary management in adults for preventing chronic diseases and managing mental health. The results of this study should be considered when planning health services to provide fatigue interventions for Korean adults.

The Effects of Physiological and Mental Fatigue on Driving Performance and an Analysis of Countermeasures

Driver fatigue is frequently associated with automobile accidents. Per electroencephalographic recordings, fatigue is associated with increases in the alpha and theta wave coefficients and a decrease in the beta wave coefficient. For assessing driving performance, one of the most common measures used in the literature is standard deviation of the vehicle’s lateral position between two lane lines. Additionally, subjective scales and questionnaires have been used to assess subjective feelings of fatigue (e.g., Karolinska Sleepiness Scale). Given the importance of fatigue as a risk factor for accidents on the road, it is worth examining the effectiveness of various countermeasures. Rumble strips, which are built into the road, have been found to increase alertness and decrease fatigue immediately upon hitting them, but the effects are short lived. Energy drink consumption and blue light exposure have also been found to decrease physiological fatigue and improve driving performance and are worth consideration.

Effects of 90- and 30-min naps or a 120-min nap on alertness and performance: reanalysis of an existing pilot study

The aim of this study was to investigate alertness and cognitive performance immediately after and until the end of the night shift after taking a 120-min monophasic nap (One-nap) or a split 90-min and 30-min nap (Two-nap) during a 16-h simulated night shift, and the relationship between sleep quality and both alertness and performance. This study was performed in 41 females. Among them, 15 participants were included in the No-nap group, 14 in the One-nap group (22:00–00:00), and 12 in the Two-nap group (22:30–00:00 and 02:30–03:00). Participants were tested every hour from 16:00 to 09:00 for performance on the Uchida-Kraepelin test, as well as for subjective feelings of fatigue and drowsiness, body temperature, and heart rate variability. The shorter the sleep latency, the worse the alertness immediately after the 90-min nap. The 120-min and 30-min naps also revealed that prolonged total sleep time led to increased fatigue and drowsiness upon awakening. From 04:00 to 09:00, in the No-nap and One-nap groups, fatigue was higher than in the Two-nap group. The One-nap and Two-nap groups did not show improved morning performance. These results suggest that a split nap might improve drowsiness and fatigue during a long night shift.

Evaluation of fatigue in young female adults due to repeated exposure to heat in summer and cold in winter.

The magnitude of fatigue (MF) from psychological and physiological responses during repeated exposure to heat in summer and during repeated exposure to cold in winter was evaluated to test two hypotheses on fatigue models. The first hypothesis is that exposure time (ET, min) would be a factor determining the MF and the second hypothesis is that the same fatigue models as a function of the number of exposure repetitions (NR) could be applied to both repeated exposure to heat in summer and cold in winter. In summer, eight young adult female subjects with clothing insulation (Icl, clo) of 0.3 clo first stayed in the control room at 26 ℃ for 15min, moved to the main testing room at 30 ℃ for 25min, 33°C for 15min, or 36 ℃ for 10min, and then returned to the control room. The product of air temperature difference (ΔTa, ℃) and ET was designed to be almost equal among these latter three conditions. The exposure was repeated five times. In winter, the same female subjects with Icl of 0.84 clo first stayed in the control room at 24 ℃ for 15min, moved to the main testing room at 18 ℃ for 30min, 15 ℃ for 20min, or 12 ℃ for 15min, and then returned to the control room. Again, the product of ΔTa and ET was designed to be equal among these latter three conditions. The exposure was repeated four times. The scores of subjective fatigue feeling (SFF) and salivary amylase value (SAV) were recorded when the subjects returned to the control room. Tympanic temperature, skin temperatures and local sweat rates (Sw, mg/cm2/min) at chest, forearm, front thigh, and front shin, and ECG were continuously monitored, except for Sw in the winter experiment. In the summer experiment, the SFF showed a threshold value at ΔTa = 4 ℃ but continuously increased with NR at ΔTa = 7 ℃ and 10 ℃. It was not correlated with ECG variables, but was positively correlated with SAV (R2 = 0.50) and the mean Sw (R2 = 0.76) at ΔTa = 7 ℃ and 10 ℃. In the winter experiment, the SFF showed a threshold value at ΔTa = - 6 ℃ but continuously increased with NR at ΔTa = - 9 ℃ and - 12 ℃. It was correlated with SAV at ΔTa = - 9 ℃ (R2 = 0.77) and score of LF: HF ratio at ΔTa = - 6 ℃ and - 9 ℃ (R2 = 0.49). It was confirmed that ET may be related to the MF and that different fatigue models may be applied dependent on ΔTa during repeated exposure to heat in summer and during repeated exposure to cold in winter. Thus, the two hypotheses were verified.

Individualized Mental Fatigue Does Not Impact Neuromuscular Function and Exercise Performance.

Recent studies have questioned previous empirical evidence that mental fatigue negatively impacts physical performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate the critical role of individual differences in mental fatigue susceptibility by analyzing the neurophysiological and physical responses to an individualized mental fatigue task. In a pre-registered (https://osf.io/xc8nr/), randomized, within-participant design experiment, twenty-two recreational athletes completed a time to failure test at 80% of their peak power output under mental fatigue (individual mental effort) or control (low mental effort). Before and after the cognitive tasks, subjective feeling of mental fatigue, neuromuscular function of the knee extensors, and corticospinal excitability were measured. Sequential Bayesian analysis until it reached strong evidence in favor of the alternative hypothesis (BF10 > 6) or the null hypothesis (BF10 < 1/6) were conducted. The individualized mental effort task resulted in a higher subjective feeling of mental fatigue in the mental fatigue condition: 0.50 (95%CI 0.39 - 0.62) AU compared to control: 0.19 (95%CI 0.06 - 0.339) AU. However, exercise performance was similar in both conditions (control; 410 (95%CI 357 - 463) vs. mental fatigue 422 (95%CI 367 - 477) seconds, BF10 = 0.15). Likewise, mental fatigue did not impair knee extensor maximal force generating capacity (BF10 = 0.928) and did not change the extent of fatigability or its origin after the cycling exercise. There is no evidence that mental fatigue adversely affects neuromuscular function or physical exercise, even if mental fatigue is individualized, computerized tasks seem not to affect physical performance.

Support Your Recovery Needs (SYRN) – a systemic approach to improve sport performance

Abstract Study aim: The aim of this study was to present the Support Your Recovery Needs (SYRN) recovery system based on scientifically confirmed methods, addressing the needs of athletes based on their subjective feelings of fatigue after training or competition. Material and methods: The literature on supporting post-exercise recovery was reviewed. This was followed by an analysis of the effectiveness of selected methods. A time factor was imposed on the selected methods for which efficacy was confirmed. Depending on the type of stimulus and the time of its application, regenerative effects were assigned point values. Results: Within the SYRN approach over a dozen treatments and actions promoting post-exercise recovery have been identified. Conclusions: A methodical and organized approach should allow for the selection of recovery support methods based on their effectiveness, appropriate timing, and the combination of various methods to enhance post-exercise recovery and performance.

Оценка факторов острого когнитивного утомления работников виртуальной организации

The article presents the results of the empirical study of the factors of acute cognitive fatigue of virtual organization employees in the course of its activity. The indices “subjective fatigue feeling” when performing activity and “acute cognitive fatigue index” after performing the task have been assessed. The study has confirmed that a high level of subjective fatigue feeling corresponds to a high level of acute cognitive fatigue index. The study has found that gender, age, and expertise field are significant intergroup factors that help to differentiate the indices under assessment. The factor of subjective assessment of task complexity determines maximum difference of the indices in the group. The analysis of the results helps to define the perspectives for research of optimal functional state of a person in his or her field of expertise in subjective and information class.

Study on human fatigue during monotonous sitting-posture work

Objective: In this study, the occupational fatigue caused by long-time sitting-posture work was studied. Also, the physical and psychological factors which affect on human fatigue of workers suffering from monotonous sitting-position were analyzed. Methods: In 2021, a total of 30 subjects, including 15 males and 15 females, were selected to complete a 4-hour simulated sitting-position assembly task in the laboratory. The "Borg's RPE" was used to measure the subjects' subjective fatigue and feeling of monotony, the polyconductive physiological recorder was used to measure the subjects' EMG, and the wireless motion-capture evaluation system was used to measure the kinematics of the subjects. Results: When engaged in monotonous work tasks, there was a significant positive correlation between workers' monotony and subjective fatigue, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.976 to 0.988 (P<0.050) . At the beginning of work, the subjective fatigue of the neck was more significant (P=0.046) . As working time increased, the back fatigue was significantly higher than that of the neck (P=0.029) . After 4 hours of work, the MPF value of the back erector spinae EMG decreased significantly (P=0.025) . The body posture data showed that the shoulder and neck indicators began to change significantly after about 2 hours of work (P(neck)=0.032, P(shoulder)=0.021) . The waist and hip indicators began to change significantly after about 4 hours of work (P(left hip)=0.031, P(right hip)=0.028) . The flexion angle of the neck first increased and then decreased; the flexion angle of the waist and hip continued to increase with the working time. Conclusion: It was found that the fatigue effect of monotonous sitting-posture work on the operator is mainly reflected in the lower back. The monotony of the work exacerbates the operator's subjective fatigue feeling. The operator should be given corresponding protection and set the work content reasonably. It is recommended to have appropriate activities or short breaks every 2 work-hour.

How mentally fatiguing is play a semiprofessional padel competition? A study of gender differences

Purpose: To quantify the evolution of mental fatigue during an official padel competition. Also, to test the influence of gender on mental fatigue, and the correlation between fatigue, effort perceptions and motivation. Method: Mental load and fatigue, motivation and ratio of perceived exertion of 18 semi-professional padel players (11 males, Mage = 33.68, SDage = 8.36, and 7 females, Mage = 30.70, SDage = 2.36) were quantified with Likert’s scales after three official matches. Repeated measures of ANOVA, with gender like a co-variable, pairwise comparisons when significance was detected and paired t-test when significance was not detected were performed. Pearson’s test was performed to clarify the relation between variables. Results: a significant main effect in repeated measures appear for mental fatigue, without gender differences (F = 8.85; p = .02 in males; F = 5.70; p = .03 in females). This main effect has not been observed for mental load (F = .08; p = .86 in males; F = .36; p = .71 in females) neither effort perception (F = .16; p = .83 in males; F = .43; p = .66 in females), in both genders. Bivariate correlations also suggested that higher levels of mental fatigue and motivation increase the effort perceptions. Conclusion: Play successive padel matches produces an accumulation of mental fatigue that increase the subjective feelings of mental fatigue. This only occurs between matches played the same day. Players with higher levels of motivation report higher effort perceptions. They might imply more resources during matches.

The Effect of a Single Dose of Citrulline on the Physical Performance of Soccer-Specific Exercise in Adult Elite Soccer Players (A Pilot Randomized Double-Blind Trial)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single intake of citrulline at 3 g and 6 g doses in adult elite soccer players performing sport-specific exercise. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study analyzed 18 soccer players from the top divisions of three European countries. Participants were randomized into three groups of six each and performed a field-based soccer-specific test for 18 min. Comparative analysis of heart rate, fatigue and post-exercise recovery was conducted. There were no statistically significant differences in most of the analyzed parameters, nor at any of the time points for lactate concentration. Players' RPE exercise test score did not reveal any differences. Neither a single intake of 3 g nor of 6 g of citrulline malate affected physical performance, subjective feelings of fatigue or post-exercise recovery in adult elite soccer players who performed a soccer-specific test.

Mental Fatigue Effects on the Produced Perception of Effort and Its Impact on Subsequent Physical Performances.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between mental fatigue induced by a demanding cognitive task and impaired physical performance in endurance due to a higher perception of effort. A total of 12 healthy adults and volunteers, who had previously practiced endurance activities for 4 to 8 h per week, performed a one-hour cognitive task involving either the process of response inhibition (Stroop task) or not (visualization of a documentary as control task), then 20 min of pedaling on a cycle ergometer at a constant perception of effort while cardio-respiratory and neuromuscular functions were measured. The Stroop task induces subjective feelings of mental fatigue (vigor: 3.92 ± 2.61; subjective workload: 58.61 ± 14.57) compared to the control task (vigor: 5.67 ± 3.26; p = 0.04; subjective workload: 32.5 ± 10.1; p = 0.005). This fatigue did not act on the produced perceived effort, self-imposed, and did not affect the cardio-respiratory or neuromuscular functions during the subsequent physical task whose type was medium-term endurance. Regardless of the mental condition, the intensity of physical effort is better controlled when the participants in physical activity control their perception of effort. Mental fatigue does not affect subsequent physical performance but estimated perceived exertion, which increases with the intensity and duration of the exercise.

Associations of Cancer-Related Fatigue with Autonomic and Sensorimotor Functions in Children Treated for Brain Tumors: an Observational Study

INTRODUCTION. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition, characterized by a severe fatigue that lasts continuously for more than 6 months and has a significant negative impact on the psychophysiological functions. Cancer-related fatigue is identified as an important symptom associated with cancer, associated with autonomic dysfunction. AIM. To reveal objective autonomic and neurodynamic indicators of the severity of CRF in children suffered of neuro-oncological diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Children (8-17 years old) who were under dynamic observation after neuro-oncological diseases for more than six months (n=67) performed maximal tapping tasks, auditory-motor synchronization, and filled out the questionnaire «The Turkish Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients Aged 7-18». Physiological indices (heart rhythm, peripheral temperature, skin conductance, breathing amplitude and frequency) were recorded at rest and during sensorimotor task. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. The subscale “Sleep-related fatigue” positively correlates with the average frequency of maximum tapping and with the degree of its slowdown towards the end, which also correlates with the total score of the questionnaire. Statistically significant correlations of scores on the subscale “Subjective feelings of fatigue” with LF/HF and pNN50 at rest were revealed. The amplitude of thoracic respiration positively correlates with the scores of “Fatigue associated with daily activities”, “Subjective feeling of fatigue”, and the total score. Comparison of groups with a low and high total score of the questionnaire does not reveal statistically significant differences in the background indicators of heart rate variability, however, in the process of maximum tapping, the RMSSD and pNN50 indicators are higher, and the indicator of nonlinear heart rate analysis SD2/SD1 is lower in the group with low scores on the questionnaire. CONCLUSION. Children with cancer-related fatigue had reduced heart rate variability, lower parasympathetic tone and greater exhaustion during the tapping test. The combination of objective and subjective indicators reflects the dynamics of cancer-related fatigue and the rehabilitation process more reliably

P1479: A BASELINE AUDIT OF THE USE A VALIDATED PSYCHOMETRIC TOOL (ASCQ-ME) TO ASSESS THE UNMET PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS OF A 2021 COHORT OF PATIENTS LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL

Background: Adults living with inherited red cell disorders face myriad social and emotional challenges. While the literature highlights higher incidence rates of depression and anxiety in those with sickle cell disease (SCD) compared to the general population, granular data on the specific emotional experience of these people is missing, resulting in boundaries to accessing mental health care. New disease modifying drugs can now preferentially increase haemoglobin with relatively small impact on crisis frequency or reduce crisis frequency with minimum impact on haemoglobin. Current management of patients still focuses on pain crisis and crisis prevention. At the time of this study, in the UK, hydroxycarbamide and exchange transfusion were the only available disease modifying therapies. Aims: This study aimed to quantify psycho-social functioning and more accurately identify multifactorial level of need in patients living with SCD. Methods: The present study used a validated, detailed, psychometric test, the Adult Sickle Cell Questionnaire Measure (ASCQ-Me), to identify need in a population of adults living with SCD in Cambridge. Self-report ASCQ-Me data was collected from patients (N=59) first on how SCD has affected 5 domains of psych-social impact (emotional, pain, sleep, social, stiffness), and second about the frequency and severity of sickle crisis. Demographic data was recorded based on sickle genotype, age, sex, disease modification, whether patients had fatigue, and whether patients requested counselling at the time of annual review. Results: Patients who reported fatigue had significantly lower scores across all 5 domains of psychological impact than patients that did not report fatigue. However, there was no difference in Hb or HbF levels. When patients were split by disease modification (hydroxycarbamide, exchange transfusion, or no modification) there seemed to be a trend towards worsening psychological impact in all 5 domains for patients in the exchange group, with better outcomes from patients on hydroxycarbamide. There was no significant difference in psychological impact scores when patients were split by sex or sickle genotype. In particular, there was a trend towards higher frequency, but reduced intensity of pain crisis in patients with SC disease, but this did not reach significance. Patients who stated that they would like to be referred for psychological counselling also showed significantly worse scores across all 5 domains of psychological impact. Image:Summary/Conclusion: There is an unmet need in providing psychological support for patients with complex diseases like sickle cell. Our finding that the subjective feeling of fatigue is associated with a multidimensional lower performance in the ASCQ-Me, in addition to disease modifying therapy, psychological support will remain very important and should not be attributed to anaemia alone.

Ergonomic Task Analysis for Prioritization of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Mango-Harvesting Farmers

This paper proposes a mixed ergonomic tool analysis algorithm to prioritize work-related musculoskeletal problems. This study is a cross-sectional study assessing the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) with associated risk factors among 14 male mango-harvesting farmers (all right-handed) with the mean age of 52.28 ± 7.75 years. Four tasks following mango-harvesting processes were analyzed: (1) mango harvesting, (2) mango transporting, (3) mango size sorting, and (4) mango weighing and transporting to the truck. The perceived physical exertion while working on a mango-harvesting farm was based on the Borg CR-10 with a modified Standardized Nordic Questionnaire. Physical risk level due to awkward posture was evaluated by the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and risk due to whole-body posture in association with the level of WMSDs risk was evaluated by the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) score sheets. The subjective feelings of fatigue and posture analysis were normalized and combined using the theorem of power superposition to establish the fatigue effective index (FEI) for determining priorities to solve ergonomics-based task problems. This study indicated clearly that WMSDs are highly prevalent in mango-harvesting farmers, whereas the highest prevalence of WMSDs was reported in the right shoulder, right upper arm and lower back. The result provided the FEI of mango-harvesting farmers, ranked as follows: (1) size-sorting task, (2) weight-lifting task, (3) harvesting task, and (4) transporting task. The authors concluded that mango size sorting should be the first task to be improved to resolve the muscle fatigue problems among male mango-harvesting farmers.

Preoperative carbohydrate loading with individualized supplemental insulin in diabetic patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery: A randomized trial

BackgroundPreoperative carbohydrate drink is used to improve patients’ comfort and recovery, but evidence remains limited in diabetic patients. Herein we investigated the effects of preoperative carbohydrate loading with individualized supplemental insulin regimen in diabetic patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. MethodsA total of 63 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery were randomized to receive either carbohydrate loading with individualized supplemental insulin (Carbohydrate group) or routine management (Control group). The primary outcome was time to first flatus after surgery. Among secondary outcomes, subjective feelings of thirsty, hunger and fatigue were assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (scores range from 0 to 100, where 0 indicate no discomfort and 100 the most severe discomfort) before and after surgery. Adverse events were monitored until 24 h after surgery. ResultsAll patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Time to first flatus did not differ between groups (median 41 h [IQR 18–69] in the Control group vs. 43 h [27–54] in the Carbohydrate group; hazard ratio 1.24 [95% CI 0.74–2.07]; P = 0.411). The VAS score of preoperative subject feeling of thirsty (median difference −33 [95% CI -50 to −15], P < 0.001), hunger (−25 [-40 to −10], P < 0.001), and fatigue (−5 [-30 to 0], P = 0.004), as well as postoperative subject feeling of thirsty (−50 [-60 to −30], P < 0.001), hunger (−20 [-40 to 0], P = 0.003), and fatigue (0 [-20 to 0], P = 0.020) were all significantly lower in the Carbohydrate group than in the Control group. Intraoperative hypotension (40.6% [13/32] vs. 16.1% [5/31], P = 0.031) and postoperative nausea and vomiting within 24 h (31.3% [10/32] vs. 9.7% [3/31], P = 0.034) occurred less in patients given carbohydrate drink. ConclusionIn diabetic patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery, preoperative carbohydrate loading with individualized supplemental insulin did not promote gastrointestinal recovery but improved perioperative well-being.

Faktori povezani sa subjektivnim osećajem umora tri meseca nakon preležane KOVID-19 infekcije

Introduction: The subjective feeling of fatigue is one of the most common post-COVID-19 manifestations. It is characterized by intolerance to physical and cognitive effort that the individual previously tolerated well, accompanied by weakness and other symptoms. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of the subjective feeling of fatigue, three months after recovery from the infection, amongst patients who had been infected with COVID-19, as well as to analyze correlated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 110 patients who had previously contracted COVID-19, and who came for a regular follow-up examination at the Health Center Kosovska Mitrovica, 3 months after recovery from acute infection. A specially designed questionnaire was used, which consisted of the segment with sociodemographic data, the segment with the data on the patient's health status and the course of their COVID-19 infection, as well as the segment of the questionnaire related to self-assessment of the patient's health status after the COVID-19 infection. Results: In our sample, out of 110 respondents, as many as 52 felt fatigue. Factors that were statistically significantly associated with the subjective feeling of fatigue, three months after treatment, were the age of the subject and the presence of chronic disease (p &lt; 0.05). The presence of fever and pneumonia during infection were statistically significantly associated with the presence of the subjective feeling of fatigue, three months after treatment (p &lt; 0.05). Hospitalized patients and those who were hospitalized for a longer period of time were also more likely to feel fatigue three months after recovering from the infection (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: The subjective feeling of fatigue, as one of post-COVID manifestations, as well as the consequent inability of the patient to resume work-related and personal tasks and responsibilities, can be a serious individual and public health problem, which is why it is necessary to appropriately recognize and treat it.