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BackgroundWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have become increasingly common among health-related professionals. Special education personnel who serve students with disabilities often experience physical strains; however, WMSDs have been overlooked in this population. The objectives of this study were to investigate the work-related ergonomics-associated factors in this population and to evaluate their correlation with the WMSDs prevalence.MethodsA questionnaire with three domains, namely demographics, prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and ergonomic factors, designed by our research team was delivered to educators who work in special education schools.ResultsApproximately 86 % of the 388 special education school teachers and teacher’s aides in this study experienced musculoskeletal disorders. The lower back, shoulder, and wrist were the three most affected regions. A logistic regression analysis revealed that the participants’ background factors, namely >5.5 years of experience (odds ratio [OR] = 4.090, 95 % CI: 1.350-12.390), students with multiple disorders (OR = 2.412, 95 % CI: 1.100-5.287), and other work-related ergonomic factors (assistance in diaper changing and others duties), were strongly associated with the prevalence of WMSD. Nap habit (OR = 0.442, 95 % CI: 0.230-0.851) and having teaching partners in the same class (OR = 0.486, 95 % CI: 0.250-0.945) resulted in low possibility of acquiring WMSDs. The use of supportive devices was associated with a low WMSD prevalence.ConclusionsThe present study revealed an association between WMSDs and specific job features among teachers and teacher’s aides in special education schools. Future efforts should emphasize examining safe student-handling ergonomics, formulating policies regarding student-teacher ratio, incorporating mandatory break times at the workplaces, and promoting personal health for preventing work-related injuries.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-2777-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The objective of this study was to evaluate great toe function in maintaining static and dynamic balance. Correlation among great toe length, body height, and balance performance parameters were also investigated. Thirty females (aged 22.1 AE 1.9 years) were tested in two great toe conditions: unconstrained and constrained. Balance testing was done in the following order: (1) static balance, single-leg stance with right or left foot, eyes open or closed; (2) static balance, stance with both feet, eyes open or closed; (3) dynamic balance, left/right or forward/backward, rhythmic weight shifting; and (4) dynamic balance, target reaching test, eight targets within 90% limit of stability. Significant differences were found in sway velocity between the two toe conditions with eyes open or closed in single-leg stance ( p < 0.05). No difference was found between the two conditions while standing with both feet. For rhythmic weight shifting, significant differences in sway velocity were found in toe conditions and in weight-shifting directions ( p < 0.05). As to target reaching, significance was only noted in directional control scores. Great toe length was correlated with subject's height (r ¼ 0.553, p < 0.05). Our results indicate that constraining the great toe deteriorated the subjects' single-leg stance performance and worsened the directional control ability during forward/backward weight shifting. The importance of the great toe in balance may be taken into account in toe amputation or transfer in the future. ß

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) has been implicated in several respiratory diseases. HuR is known to enhance the expression of genes by binding to 3′‐untranslated region (3′‐UTR) of mRNA and stabilizing mRNA. However, the exact mechanisms by which HuR affects the stability of mRNA and modulates LPS‐induced COX‐2 and cPLA2 expression in human tracheal smooth muscle cells (HTSMCs) are not known. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The expression of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was measured by ELISA, and pro‐inflammatory proteins were determined by use of a promoter assay, PCR or Western blot analysis. Overexpression of siRNAs to knock down the target components was used to manipulate the expression of HuR. Release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by fluorescence dye. The activation of signalling components was assessed by comparing phosphorylation levels, localization of protein kinases or coimmunoprecipitation assay. KEY RESULTS LPS induced COX‐2 and cPLA2 expression via post‐translational regulation of mRNA stabilization, which were attenuated by transfection with HuR siRNA in HTSMCs. In addition, LPS‐stimulated NADPH oxidase activation and ROS generation were attenuated by the NADPH oxidase inhibitors diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI) and apocynin (APO). Generation of ROS induced phosphorylation of p42/p44 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), p38 MAPK and JNK1/2, which was attenuated by DPI and APO and the ROS scavenger N‐acetylcysteine. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These results suggested that in HTSMCs, LPS‐induced COX‐2 and cPLA2 expression is mediated through NADPH oxidase/ROS‐dependent MAPKs associated with HuR accumulation in the cytoplasm. Activated MAPKs may regulate the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of HuR, and thus induce the cytoplasmic accumulation of HuR.

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Here, we provide data on Taiwanese women that demonstrate age-related decline in AMH levels and establish an AMH-based method for detecting PCOS, which may be used as reference data for future AMH studies on Taiwanese women.