Vibration Syndrome Research Articles

Bioelectric brain activity in workers with hand-arm vibration in dynamics

Introduction. A few neurophysiologic studies have shown that changes of the bioelectrical brain activity are observed in hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) patients. There is practically no information about the state of bioelectrical brain activity in the hand-arm vibration. The purpose is to study the dynamics of the formation of neurophysiologic changes in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration. Materials and methods. Electroencephalography (EEG) and registration of evoked potentials (EP) was carried out in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration (practically healthy workers, HAVS individuals who continue to work in their occupation), twice in a connected sample. The results are presented as median, upper and lower quartiles, and extensive indicators. The significance of differences was assessed using Pearson’s χ2 test, Fisher’s angular transformation, and Wilcoxon T-test. Results. In dynamics, there is a change in the EEG pattern from disorganized with a predominance of alpha activity to disorganized with a predominance of delta, and theta activity; a decrease in the spectral power of the main EEG rhythms in all main functional leads in both examined groups. Diffuse changes in the EEG indicate a multisystem nature of bioelectrical brain activity disorders with involvement of the cerebral cortex, stem, and diencephalic structures of the brain. Changes in the amplitude-temporal parameters of EP manifested by an excess of the latency of the main peaks and a decrease in amplitude, indicate an imbalance in the central nervous system, general modulating influences on the cerebral cortex of the thalamocortical systems of the brain. Limitations. One occupational group with different levels of health status – practically healthy workers, HAVS individuals who continue to work in their occupation – was enrolled in the study. Conclusion. The one-direction and progressive development of changes in the bioelectrical brain activity has been established, manifested by a restructuring of the electrical activity of the brain, desynchronization of neuronal activity, an increase in the level of functional activity of the brain, and an imbalance of general modulating influences on the cerebral cortex. The identified changes are a manifestation of the nonspecific part of the pathogenesis of HAVS.

MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS BY ELEVATED DIGITAL SCREEN TIME DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Introduction – The length of time invested in and the various activities carried out utilizing digital devices are referred to as screen time. The COVID-19 pandemic's restrictions on social interactions exacerbated the overuse of digital gadgets for everyday tasks like socializing, education, shopping, working, meeting, and entertainment. Increased screen usage has been thought to have harmful impacts on psychiatric health in studies. Methods – Several journal articles were used as references, with the inclusion criteria of literature that discuss the mental health impacts of elevated digital screen time during the pandemic of COVID-19 and its recommended measures to minimize its adverse mental health outcomes and the promotion of healthy digital habits. Results – During the pandemic of COVID-19, the unprecedented digital life led to higher numbers of anxiety, sadness, confusion, and unpleasant feelings including irritation and violence. it is crucial to know how screen use time evolved during the COVID-19 period of crisis so that the design of health promotion and intervention may be planned and informed. This study aims to discuss the mental health impacts of elevated digital screen time on the pandemic of COVID-19 and strategies to minimize its adverse mental health outcomes, and the promotion of healthy digital habits. Discuss – Boosting collaborative research involving worldwide nations to tackle COVID-19-related public health concerns can improve global evidence and future policies. Increased screen usage has been displayed to have harmful impacts on psychiatric health in studies. Excessive digital use has been linked to attention deficit disorders, social and emotional cognitive impairment, social withdrawal, phantom vibration syndrome, and major psychiatric diseases such as depression, anxiety, and gaming addiction. Conclusion – It is critical to promote good digital practices and good applications of digital media to avoid the negative effects of increased screen time. To prevent hazardous screen usage and other behaviors that may influence the mental health and welfare of COVID-19-affected people, it is critical to harness the evidence available and adopt multimodal strategies. Keywords: mental health, screen time, COVID-19.

Phantom vibration and ringing syndromes among Indian medical students

Mobile phones are now crucial to our everyday routines, transforming how we interact, granting immediate access to information, fostering social bonds, facilitating shopping, advancing healthcare, enriching education, increasing productivity, and broadening entertainment choices. However, excessive phone usage can result in a higher prevalence of physical or psychological disorders. Phantom sensations, such as Phantom Vibration Syndrome (PVS) and Phantom Ringing Syndrome (PRS), describe the experience of feeling vibrations or hearing ringing from a phone when it is not actually vibrating or ringing. The objectives of the present study are a) to develop a self-administered smartphone addiction scale (SAS) among medical students at a tertiary care facility and b) to find out the aggravating factors for PVS and PRS among medical students in a tertiary care hospital. Our study was a cross-sectional observational survey conducted among 473 medical undergraduate students, using stratified random sampling to select the participants. The self-administered questionnaire was developed based on the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), which is validated and efficient for evaluating smartphone addiction. Among the participants, 46% were males and 54% were females. Our study reported that 60% of the students experienced phantom vibration/ringing syndrome, 53% had poor sleep patterns due to excessive use of mobile phones, 58% felt their lives would be empty without phones, 57% thought about mobile phones even when they were not in their hands, and 56% felt the urge to use their smartphones again right after they stopped using them. About 58% of the students preferred talking with smartphone buddies to hanging out with real-life friends or other family members, reflecting poor socialization among young adults. We recommend a qualitative analysis of behavioural and psychological components to explore the root cause of this issue. Literature on the causes of phantom sensations/vibrations has been limited, with existing theories lacking a comprehensive perspective.

Effect of microwave irradiation and conventional heating on high pressure modified white finger millet starch hydrogel properties

High pressure modified (200 MPa and 400 MPa for 10 min) white finger millet starch hydrogels were prepared with three starch concentrations (12 %, 15 % and 18 % (w/v)), by conventional heat treatment (75 °C for 12 min) and microwave treatment (50 s at 900 W, surface temperature 75 °C). The prepared hydrogels were compared to native white finger starch hydrogels for understanding the effect of modification as well as the gel synthesis method. Effect of the storage period on physical stability was evaluated for ten days by evaluating weight loss, water activity, and color. The whiteness index of the prepared hydrogel intensified during the storage period, and water activity was reduced (0.99–0.976). While stored at 4 °C, the hydrogel weight decreased due to moisture migration. The results emphasize that treatment conditions, starch modification, and concentration significantly affected water absorption. The maximum gel strength was identified for conventional heat-induced 400 MPa high-pressure modified hydrogel stored for ten days. 1H NMR relaxation time showed microwave-induced gel synthesis had a shorter relaxation time. The gel microstructure helped to correlate the swelling and gel strength increment in the modified gel sample, as it had a higher wall thickness and a smaller pore size than heat-induced hydrogels. These findings help to conclude high pressure modified white finger millet starch hydrogel synthesised by microwave irradiation can be alternative to conventional heat gelatinisation method.

Vocational rehabilitative decisions after symptoms and findings consistent with hand-arm vibration syndrome in the Swedish surveillance system – a mixed-method design

BackgroundEU workers exposed to hand-arm vibration should be offered health surveillance to detect early symptoms, and findings, of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). To execute the mandatory vocational rehabilitation, the employer needs to be aware of injuries found in the medical check-up. We aimed to analyse: 1) How physicians graded the neurosensory component of HAVS on the Stockholm Workshop Scale (SWS), compared to semi-objective findings. 2) What vocational rehabilitative decisions (VRD) were taken by physicians after examinations. 3) Whether the VRDs differed in relation to the SWS-grading.MethodsData came from 660 medical records - all examinations performed during twelve consecutive months in one large Swedish occupational healthcare company. 572 individuals had data on the SWS from the physician. For the qualitative analysis, we used the inductive-iterative immersion-crystallization method.Results60% of the examined workers had symptoms and 32% had semi-objective findings consistent with HAVS. The physicians’ SWS gradings were underestimated in 59% of the cases with semi-objective findings. The VRDs were classified, relative to communication with the employer, as: “Adequate” (57%), when no injury was present, communication had already taken place, was planned, or was no longer needed in the absence of further exposure, “Semi-adequate” (18%), if no plan for communication was yet established or only communicated through a document with a shorter time until next check-up, and “Inadequate”(25%), when patients refused (20%), or physicians failed to communicate with the employer, despite findings (80%). Underestimated SWS-gradings of HAVS were significantly associated with more “Inadequate” VRDs in the group with semi-objective findings.ConclusionsOccupational physicians underestimate the number of individuals with SWS 2–3 compared with semi-objective findings and regularly fail to communicate to the employer despite findings of HAVS. The underestimation of SWS-grading, followed by inadequate VRDs, excludes many workers from the employer’s mandatory protective measures which may lead to aggravation of an untreatable injury in the affected individual and development of HAVS in their similarly exposed colleagues.

Rat-Tail Models for Studying Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome: A Comparison between Living and Cadaver Rat Tails

Over-exposure of the hand-arm system to intense vibration and force over time may cause degeneration of the vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems in the fingers. A novel animal model using rat tails has been developed to understand the health effects on human fingers exposed to vibration and force when operating powered hand tools or workpieces. The biodynamic responses, such as vibration stress, strain, and power absorption density, of the rat tails can be used to help evaluate the health effects related to vibration and force and to establish a dose-effect relationship. While the biodynamic responses of cadaver rat tails have been investigated, the objective of the current study was to determine whether the biodynamic responses of living rat tails are different from those of cadaver rat tails, and whether the biodynamic responses of both living and cadaver tails change with exposure duration. To make direct comparisons, the responses of both cadaver and living rat tails were examined on four different testing stations. The transfer function of each tail under a given contact force (2 N) was measured at each frequency in the one-third octave bands from 20 to 1000 Hz, and used to calculate the mechanical system parameters of the tails. The transfer functions were also measured at different exposure durations to determine the time dependency of the response. Differences were observed in the vibration biodynamic responses between living and cadaver tails, but the general trends were similar. The biodynamic responses of both cadaver and living rat tails varied with exposure duration.

A study on non-vibration-exposed organs correlated indices as diagnostic biomarkers of hand-arm vibration syndrome.

Explore the feasibility of using non-vibration-exposed organ-related indices as vibration-induced white finger (VWF) diagnostic biomarkers. Individuals were selected from a factory in China using the judgment sampling method. They were divided into control (con), non-VWF, and VWF groups according to the presence/absence of exposure to hand-transmitted vibration and VWF. Blood samples were collected for ELISA tests. Analysis of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was done on six indicators to assess their diagnostic sensitivity for VWF. Area under the ROC curve (AUC) for insulin was 0.909 and was 0.923 for aspartate aminotransferase. Insulin and aspartate aminotransferase could be used as indices for the diagnosis of hand-arm vibration syndrome.

Design of new anti-vibration gloves for workers: ongoing research and preliminary results

Abstract Powered hand-held tools such as drillers, chainsaws, blowers, etc. cause hand-arm vibration syndrome. Common anti-vibration gloves cannot attenuate the vibrations at low frequencies and satisfy workers due to a lack of dexterity and grip strength. Therefore, the study presents a new glove based on an absorber to reduce vibration transmission at low frequencies. The new gloves and the passive absorbers are affordable and made of simple components, rubber rods, and violin strings with different sizes are the base of the used absorbers to attenuate the range of working frequencies. To predict the effectiveness of the fabricated gloves, the study performed experiments using non-expensive tools. A smartphone and a credible Android application (IDynamics) are utilized to measure the response in the wrist when using an air blower 450 W in specific working conditions. Additionally, the study builds a simple test rig to carry out the effect of the new gloves on the dexterity. Accordingly, the suggested low-cost gloves achieve a 50% acceleration reduction at the wrist approximately to the bare hand or any current anti-vibration gloves that are specified for the higher frequencies only.

Effect of fermentation on nutrient composition, antinutrients, and mineral bioaccessibility of finger millet based Injera: A traditional Ethiopian food

Finger millet, like other cereals, contains high amounts of antinutrients that bind minerals, making them unavailable for absorption. This study explores the effect of traditional fermentation on nutritional, antinutritional, and subsequent mineral bioaccessibility (specifically iron, zinc, and calcium) of finger millet based Injera. Samples of fermented dough and Injera prepared from light brown and white finger millet varieties were analyzed for nutritional composition, antinutritional content, and mineral bioaccessibility following standard procedures. With some exceptions, the proximate composition of fermented dough was significantly affected by fermentation time. Compared to unfermented flour, the phytate and condensed tannin content significantly (p < 0.05) decreased for fermented dough and Injera samples. A strong decline in phytate and condensed tannin content was observed in white finger millet Injera as fermentation time increased, compared to light brown finger millet based Injera. The mineral bioaccessibility of Injera prepared from finger millet and maize composite flour increased with fermentation time, leading to a significant increase in bioaccessible iron, zinc, and calcium, ranging from 15.4–40.0 %, 26.8–50.8 %, and 60.9–88.5 %, respectively. The results suggest that traditional fermentation can be an effective method to reduce phytate and condensed tannin content, simultaneously increasing the bioaccessibility of minerals in the preparation of finger millet based Injera.

Phantom Vibration Syndrome: A Review

Phantom Vibration Syndrome (PVS), also known as phantom ringing, is a fascinating yet perplexing psychological phenomenon associated with the ubiquitous use of mobile technology. This review explores the prevalence, potential mechanisms, psychological implications, and management strategies related to PVS. Drawing upon a range of empirical studies and theoretical frameworks, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of PVS and its implications for individuals in the digital age.

Blood biomarkers for occupational hand-arm vibration exposure.

Hand-arm vibration is a common occupational exposure that causes neurological impairment, myalgia, and vibration-induced Raynaud's phenomena or vibration white fingers (VWF). The pathological mechanism is largely unknown, though several mechanisms have been proposed, involving both immunological vascular damage and defective neural responses. The aim of this study was to test whether the substances interleukin-33 (IL-33), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), interleukin-10 (IL-10), endothelin-1 (ET-1), C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20), calcitonin, and thromboxane (TXA2) changed before and after occupational hand-arm vibration exposure. 38 full-time shift workers exposed to hand-arm vibration were recruited. All the participants underwent medical examinations regarding symptoms of Raynaud's phenomena. In 29 of the participants, the concentration of IL-33, MDC, IL-10, ET-1, CCL20, calcitonin, and TXA2 was measured before and after a workday. There was a significant increase in ET-1 and calcitonin concentration and a decrease in the CCL20 concentration after the work shift in all participants. In the group suffering from VWF, but not in the non-VWF group, MDC was statistically significantly lower before the work shift (p = .023). The VWF group also showed a significant increase in MDC after the work shift. Exposure to occupational hand-arm vibration is associated with changes in ET-1, calcitonin, and MDC concentration in subjects suffering from vibration white fingers, suggesting a role of these biomarkers in the pathophysiology of this condition.

Recent trends in reduction of hand arm vibration syndrome for agricultural handheld equipment: A review based on challenges and future directions

A major occupational health risk in the agricultural industry is Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), which is brought on by exposure to vibration from handled machinery. This review thoroughly covers the historical background and prevalence of HAVS in agriculture, highlighting the harm it does to the health and productivity of workers. The goal is to solve the research deficit in this area by concentrating on vibration isolation and dampening approaches. The paper comprehensively examines measurement methods, such as accelerometer-based approaches, strain gauge and force plate methods, wireless sensor networks, for evaluating vibrations related to HAVS. These methods are compared in order to clarify their advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, engineering controls, isolation mounts, dampers, and smart technologies are included in the categories of shock and vibration reduction solutions based on their efficiency and application. Also covered are human factors that affect vibration reduction. The difficulties in putting reduction strategies into practice are underlined. These difficulties include economic considerations, technological limitations, and user approval. In order to draw useful conclusions, case studies demonstrating effective vibration reduction methods in agricultural contexts are provided. Future directions for reducing HAVS in agriculture include interdisciplinary research opportunities, developing technologies for vibration reduction, and a global approach. This review concludes by highlighting the importance of tackling HAVS, providing insights into real-world applications, and suggesting future research initiatives.

Evaluation of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome Owing to Nerve Conduction Study and Cumulative Exposure Index-A 2.5-Year Cohort Study.

This study aims to clarify the relationship between peripheral neuropathy in hand-arm vibration syndrome and cumulative exposure index. 68 participants without symptoms were surveyed. The participants were divided into three groups based on past and current vibration exposure (VE). Comparison among groups according to past VE showed that the median and ulnar sensory nerve conduction velocities and median sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude were significantly lower in past high and low exposure groups than in the past nonexposure group. Comparison among groups according to current VE showed that the median and ulnar SNAP amplitudes were significantly lower in the current high exposure group than in the current low or nonexposure group. Vibration tool handlers have potential peripheral nerve lesions at a certain stage without subjective symptoms of the finger.

Patterns of Internet Addiction in an Italian sample: 100% of the sample experience Nomophobia

Introduction Internet Addiction Disorder, a concept introduced for the first time by Ivan Goldberg in 1995, is one of the most recently identified forms of addiction, but already considered a real psychosocial phenomenon, capable of having a profound impact on different aspects of social and psychological life of individuals. One of its most recently identified manifestations is Nomophobia, a neologism formed from the combination of terms such as “no mobile”, “phone” and “phobia”, which can be understood as the fear of feeling disconnected. It is today considered a situational phobia, characteristic of contemporary times. The most common symptoms include excessive cell phone use and constant anxiety at the thought of losing the internet connection. Others are, for example, “Ringxiety”, ringing anxiety, or the “phantom vibration syndrome”.ObjectivesThis study aims to examine the spread of Nomophobia in the Italian population, evaluating psychopathological correlations that can explain its diffusion.Methods Between January and May 2023, an anonymous online questionnaire was randomly sent to the general population. Alongside with tests to evaluate psycho-social features, the instrument used to study Nomophobia was the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) (Yildrim et al. Comput Hum Behav. 2015; 49:130–7), in its Italian version (Adawi et al. JMIR MHealth UHealth. 2018;6:e24).ResultsThe sample consists of 308 people (189 F, 119 M), with an average age of 32 years (sd 14). In our sample, 100% of the subjects tested positive for Nomophobia. Values indicating a state of severe Nomophobia are found in 12.3% of the sample (F 15.9%, M 6.7%). The young population, between 18 and 25 years old, represents 54% of the affected population, but more than 60% of severe cases (95% confidence interval 50-65%). The severe cases correlate positively (p&lt;0,05) with findings of high impulsiveness. There are no other studies that investigate the psychopathological correlates of Nomophobia among Italians.ConclusionsDespite possible biases, the data obtained are an alarming sign of the spread of internet addiction that characterizes our times, of which the excessive use of cell phones in the form of Nomophobia is an expression. Despite their now undisputed usefulness, mobile devices are capable of causing the onset of serious health problems, starting from exposure to radiation capable of causing dermatitis, tumors, and infertility. Furthermore, they dramatically interfere with driving safety, becoming a major cause of road accidents. Considering these consequences, it appears to be extremely important to characterize the phenomenon, as well as its psychosocial determinants, in order to proceed with its better definition and prevention.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Microvascular abnormalities induced by hand-transmitted vibration reflects in finger systolic blood pressure: a cross-sectional study in China.

Local vibration can cause microcirculatory abnormalities such as blood stasis and symmetrical intermittent digital artery vasospasm. Finger SBP (FSBP) measurement is a potential way of assessing vascular components. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the relationship between the occurrence of the vibration-induced white finger (VWF) and changes in FSBP and then set the application value of FSBP measurements in the early diagnosis of VWF. All samples were judgmental sampling from one factory. Totally 50 patients with VWF were the case group, while 50 without occupational hand-transmitted vibration exposure were the control group. FSBP measurements and epidemiological feature investigations were taken. There were significant reductions in FSBP level and %FSBP index at both 10 °C and 30 °C in fingers reported VWF ( P < 0.05). The %FSBP abnormal rate of the index, ring and little finger in the VWF group was higher than the control (44.00% vs. 18.00%, 78.00% vs. 26.00%, 64.00% vs. 8.00%). The %FSBP of the ring and little finger had a relatively high application value (area under curve = 0.902, 0.737), while their standard regression coefficients were -0.23 and -0.412. The diagnostic cutoff value of the ring finger was 77.60%, while the sensitivity and specificity were 86.67%. FSBP measurements were proven helpful in monitoring and diagnosing VWF prospectively and proved to have great application value in our study. %FSBP of the ring finger was the appropriate diagnostic index in FSBP measurements, while its abnormal value could be set as 80.00%.

Structural, physicochemical and functional properties of high-pressure modified white finger millet starch

The effect of high-pressure processing (HPP) modification (200, 400, and 600 MPa for 10 min) on the physico-chemical, functional, structural, and rheological properties of white finger millet starch (WFMS) was studied. Measured amylose content, water, and oil absorption capacity, alkaline water retention, and pasting temperature increased significantly with the intensity of pressure. All color parameters (L, a, b values, and ΔC) were affected by HPP treatment, and paste clarity of modified starch decreased significantly with an increase in storage time. The samples' least gelation concentration (LGC) is in the range of 8–14 %. An increasing solubility and swelling power are noted, further intensifying at the elevated temperature (90 °C). The structural changes of WFMS were characterized by XRD, SEM, and FTIR spectroscopy. Starch modified at 600 MPa showed a similar pattern as ‘B’-type crystalline, and the surfaces of starch deformed because of the gelatinization. Applied pressure of 600 MPa affected the FTIR characteristic bands at 3330, 2358, and 997 cm−1, indicating a lower crystallinity of the HPP-600 modified sample. According to DSC analysis, even at 600 MPa, WFMS is only partially gelatinized. This work provides insights for producing modified WFM starches by a novel physical modification method.

Effect of pineapple core powder on white finger millet vegan probiotic beverage: Nutrition, sensory and storage

The present study aims to develop, optimize, and evaluate the effective incorporation of pineapple core powder (PCP) in plant-based probiotic beverages using Lactocaseibacillus rhamnosus (LGG). The optimization was carried out using pH, viscosity, and LGG viable load as response variables in the d-optimal mixer design. In optimized products, the changes in pH, titratable acidity (TA), and LGG viable load are observed during fermentation and storage conditions. The optimum condition for developing PCP-added white finger millet probiotic beverage (PAMPB) was 14:5:2:2 for white finger millet, sugar, PCP, and LGG inoculums, respectively. A PAMPB provided a higher LGG viable load of 11.34 log (CFU/mL) within 6 h of fermentation time. The PCP effectively increases the physiochemical properties like total phenolic count (17.64 mg GAE/g), total antioxidant activity, total flavonoid count (8.59 mg QE/g), and water holding capacity (41.52 %) of the PAMPB. In addition, the different sugar profiles and new pineapple aroma compounds like ethyl hexanoate and methyl hexanoate are identified in PAMPB. During the storage of PAMPB at 4⁰C for 21 days, the reduction in LGG viable count was observed from 11.54 to 9.39 log (CFU/mL). Incorporating PCP in millet beverages provides a positive result by increasing nutritional quality.

Effect Of Neurodynamic Mobilization On Reducing Sensori neural Symptopms In Dawung Village Wood Craftsmen With The Risk Of Hand Arm Vibartion Syndrome (HAVS)

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a disease caused by working with tools that produce vibrations that are transmitted to the arms and hands. Prolonged use of vibrating devices can cause sensorineural disturbances with complaints of numbness, tingling and decreased sensitivity. This is due to damage to the mechanoreceptors of myelinated A-? afferent nerve fibers due to exposure to vibration when working with vibrating tools. Neurodynamic mobilization functions to restore the plasticity of the nervous system and the ability of the nervous system. This study aims to determine the effect of neurodynamic mobilization on reducing sensorineural symptoms with the risk of HAVS in wood craftsmen in Dawung Village. The design of this study used a pre-experimental one group pretest-posttest design method. There are 15 samples of wood craftsmen who meet the criteria. The research instrument used the Stockholm workshop scale with data analysis using the Wilcoxon test. The results of the statistical test showed that the final result was p = 0.000, (p &lt;0.05) which means that the effect of neurodynamic mobilization on reducing sensorineural symptoms in wood craftsmen in Dawung Village is at risk of HAVS. These results indicate that the neurodynamic mobilization intervention has effectiveness in increasing blood circulation in the nerves. The conclusion obtained is that neurodynamic mobilization has an effect on reducing sensorineural symptoms in wood craftsmen in Dawung Village with the risk of HAVS.

Applied Force Alters Sensorineural and Peripheral Vascular Function in a Rat Model of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome.

This study described the effects of applied force (grip) on vascular and sensorineural function in an animal model of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Rat tails were exposed to 0, 2, or 4 N of applied force 4 hr/d for 10 days. Blood flow and sensitivity to transcutaneous electrical stimulation and pressure were measured. Applied force increased blood flow but reduced measures of arterial plasticity. Animals exposed to force tended to be more sensitive to 250-Hz electrical stimulation and pressure applied to the tail. Effects of applied force on blood flow and sensation are different than those of vibration. Studies examining co-exposures to force and vibration will provide data that can be used to determine how these factors affect risk of workers developing vascular and sensorineural dysfunction (ie, HAVS).

Physicochemical, sugar profile, probiotic viability, and E-nose aroma profile of probiotic beverage enriched with pineapple pomace

The present study aims to develop, optimize, and evaluate the effective incorporation of pineapple pomace powder (PPP) in millet probiotic beverages. The Lactocaseibacillus rhamnosus (LGG) was used as a microbial culture for the fermentation process. Based on the PPP and LGG combination nine sample mixes were selected and optimized based on the response variables such as pH, titratable acidity (TA), probiotic LGG load, and viscosity using a D-optimal mixer design. The optimized condition for the development of PPP added millet probiotic beverage (PPB) was 14:5:3:1 (sample mix S33) of white finger millet (WFM), sugar, PPP, and LGG inoculums, respectively. The PPB provided a higher LGG viable load of 11.20 log (CFU/mL). The PPP effectively enhance the functional and physiochemical property of the probiotic beverage. The TPC was found to be 18.63 mg GAE/g of a sample, TFC of 7.24 mg QE/g of a sample, DPPH of 72.46%, and ABTS of 71.52%. The different sugar profiles and pineapple aroma compounds are identified in PPB, also they have a higher sensory score. During the storage of PPB at 4⁰C for 21 days, the reduction in LGG viable count was observed from 11.54 to 10.25 log (CFU/mL). These findings may be used to enhance the properties of millet probiotic beverages by adding PPP and usage of PPP as a prebiotic source in the beverages.