Antimicrobial efficacy of alcohol-based hand gels with a 30-s application

Aims: The objective of this study was to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of alcohol‐based hand gels according to European Norm 1500 (EN 1500). Methods and Results: We assessed the antimicrobial efficacy of 12 alcohol‐based hand gels produced in Brazil, containing 70% w/w or v/v ethyl alcohol as the active ingredient, according to EN 1500, with a 30‐s application. In addition, 70% w/w ethyl alcohol and three alcohol‐based hand rubs commonly used in Europe and effective according to EN 1500 were also tested. Eight of 12 (67%) alcohol‐based hand gels produced in Brazil failed by EN 1500. In contrast, 70% w/w ethyl alcohol and European alcohol‐based hand rubs were approved by EN 1500. Conclusions: In this study, the majority of Brazilian alcohol‐based hand gels showed limited efficacy on hand hygiene within 30 s. Significance and Impact of the Study: The findings of this study may be used as an important argument to motivate Brazilian manufacturers to improve the antimicrobial efficacy of alcohol‐based hand gels, because it is prudent to suppose that alcohol‐based hand gels can be recommended for use in healthcare settings only if they show antimicrobial activity at least similar to that of alcohol‐based liquid preparations, including the traditional 70% w/w ethyl alcohol.     

Manual lateralization in wild redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons) during spontaneous actions and in an experimental task

The dominant use of one hand is a striking feature of humans, but manual lateralization can be found in a variety of other species as well. In primates, the lateralization in hand use varies among species and several theories such as the “postural origin,” “task complexity,” or “development theory” have been suggested to explain this variation. In order to contribute comparative data on this phenomenon from a basal primate, we studied manual lateralization in wild redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons). Data were collected on four groups at Kirindy Forest, western Madagascar, during spontaneous actions and by confronting them with artificial feeding boxes. The lemurs did not exhibit manual lateralization on a group level in either condition. More individuals showed a hand preference in the experimental task, and the preferences were stronger compared to spontaneous actions. The direction of individual hand preferences was not consistent across the two conditions. The results of this study show that measuring manual laterality in different contexts can yield different results. Manual lateralization in wild redfronted lemurs therefore seems to be flexible and situation dependent and probably not ecologically relevant in their natural habitat. Am J Phys Anthropol 153:61–67, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Clinical features and teratogenic mechanisms of congenital absence of digits

To have a better understanding of classification of congenital hand anomalies, clinical features and teratogenic mechanisms of congenital absence of digits including ulnar and radial deficiencies, cleft hand, symbrachydactyly and constriction band were reviewed. There seemed to be four different teratogenic mechanisms of congenital absence of digits. Ulnar and radial deficiencies have the same clinical features and the cause of these deficiencies is closely related to a deficit of mesenchymal cells in the limb-bud due to impairment before the formation of the limb-bud. Cleft hand, central polydactyly and osseous syndactyly were induced by the same treatment at the same developmental stage in rats. Roentgenograms of the clinical cases and skeletal changes of the anomalies in rats appear to demonstrate that cleft hand formation proceeds from osseous syndactylies and central polydactylies. The teratogenic mechanism of a cleft hand seemed to be failure of induction of digital rays in the hand plate. The sequence of anomalies from brachysyndactyly, or the atypical cleft hand, to the congenital amputation, can be regarded as equivalent to the category of transverse deficiency that is bony dysplasia of the hand. Congenital constriction ring syndrome appears after the formation of the digital rays.     

Grasping behavior in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella): grip types and manual laterality for picking up a small food item

This study investigates prehension in 20 tufted capuchins (Cebus apella) in a reaching task requiring individuals to grasp a small food item fixed to a tray. The aim was twofold: 1) to describe capuchins' grasping techniques in detail, focusing on digit movements and on different areas of contact between the grasping fingers; and 2) to assess the relationship between grip types and manual laterality in this species. Capuchins picked up small food items using a wide variety of grips. In particular, 16 precision grip variants and 4 power grip variants were identified. The most frequently used precision grip involved the distal lateral areas of the thumb and the index finger, while the most preferred kind of power grip involved the thumb and the palm, with the thumb being enclosed by the other fingers. Immature capuchins picked up small food items using power grips more often than precision grips, while adult individuals exhibited no significant preference for either grip type. The analysis performed on the time capuchins took to grasp the food and withdraw it from the tray hole revealed that 1) precision grips were as efficient as power grips; 2) for precision grips, the left hand was faster than the right hand; and 3) for power grips, both hands were equally quick. Hand preference analysis, based on the frequency for the use of either hand for grasping actions, revealed no significant hand bias at group level. Likewise, there was no significant relationship between grip type and hand preference.     

Observation of a Paradoxical Temperature Increase During Cognitive Stress in Some Chronic Pain Patients

A total of 224 chronic pain somatoform disorder patients without obvious pathophysiology or psychopathology were found to have colder hands than nonpatients. A paradoxical temperature increase (PTI) in response to a cognitive stressor (mental arithmetic) was noted in a subset of these chronic pain patients. Patients were defined as PTI responders if, during cognitive stress, an increase in digital temperature occurred over a prior eyes closed resting condition. It was found that 49.4% of males and 42.6% of females in a total sample of 224 patients demonstrated PTI. The PTI patients had significantly colder hands than non-PTI patients prior to stress. A concurrent SCL measure of sympathetic activation found no difference between the PTI and non-PTI groups either at baseline or during cognitive stress. It appears from this data that PTI is specific to the peripheral vascular system of these patients and may be a marker of psychophysiological dissociation or trauma blocked from consciousness.     

Comparison of electric hand dryers and paper towels for hand hygiene: a critical review of the literature

Numerous studies are published on the benefits of electric hand dryers vs paper towels (PT) for drying hands after washing. Data are conflicting and lacking key variables needed to assess infection risks. We provide a rapid scoping review on hand-drying methods relative to hygiene and health risks. Controlled vocabulary terms and keywords were used to search PubMed (1946–2018) and Embase (1947–2018). Multiple researchers independently screened abstracts for relevance using predetermined criteria and created a quality assessment scoring system for relative study comparisons. Of 293 papers, 23 were included in the final analysis. Five studies did not compare multiple methods; however, 2 generally favoured electric dryers (ED); 7 preferred PT; and 9 had mixed or statistically insignificant results (among these, 3 contained scenarios favourable to ED, 4 had results supporting PT, and the remaining studies had broadly conflicting results). Results were mixed among and within studies and many lacked consistent design or statistical analysis. The breadth of data does not favour one method as being more hygienic. However, some authors extended generalizable recommendations without sufficient scientific evidence. The use of tools in quantitative microbial risk assessment is suggested to evaluate health exposure potentials and risks relative to hand-drying methods. We found no data to support any human health claims associated with hand-drying methods. Inconclusive and conflicting results represent data gaps preventing the advancement of hand-drying policy or practice recommendations.     

Handedness in nature: first evidence on manual laterality on bimanual coordinated tube task in wild primates

Handedness is a defining feature of human manual skill and understanding the origin of manual specialization remains a central topic of inquiry in anthropology and other sciences. In this study, we examined hand preference in a sample of wild primates on a task that requires bimanual coordinated actions (tube task) that has been widely used in captive primates. The Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is an arboreal Old World monkey species that is endemic to China, and 24 adult individuals from the Qinling Mountains of China were included for the analysis of hand preference in the tube task. All subjects showed strong individual hand preferences and significant group-level left-handedness was found. There were no significant differences between males and females for either direction or strength of hand preference. Strength of hand preferences of adults was significantly greater than juveniles. Use of the index finger to extract the food was the dominant extractive-act. Our findings represent the first evidence of population-level left-handedness in wild Old World monkeys and broaden our knowledge on evaluating primate hand preference via experimental manipulation in natural conditions.     

Across-subject calibration of an instrumented glove to measure hand movement for clinical purposes

Motion capture of all degrees of freedom of the hand collected during performance of daily living activities remains challenging. Instrumented gloves are an attractive option because of their higher ease of use. However, subject-specific calibration of gloves is lengthy and has limitations for individuals with disabilities. Here, a calibration procedure is presented, consisting in the recording of just a simple hand position so as to allow capture of the kinematics of 16 hand joints during daily life activities even in case of severe injured hands. ‘across-subject gains’ were obtained by averaging the gains obtained from a detailed subject-specific calibration involving 44 registrations that was repeated three times on multiple days to 6 subjects. In additional 4 subjects, joint angles that resulted from applying the ‘across-subject calibration’ or the subject-specific calibration were compared. Global errors associated with the ‘across-subject calibration’ relative to the detailed, subject-specific protocol were small (bias: 0.49°; precision: 4.45°) and comparable to those that resulted from repeating the detailed protocol with the same subject on multiple days (0.36°; 3.50°). Furthermore, in one subject, performance of the ‘across-subject calibration’ was directly compared to another fast calibration method, expressed relative to a videogrammetric protocol as a gold-standard, yielding better results.     

Simple Reaching Is Not So Simple: Association Between Hand Use and Grip Preferences in Captive Chimpanzees

We assessed the relationship between grip preference and hand use in chimpanzees in 2 experiments. In experiment 1, we evaluated consistency in hand use and grip preference across 4 food types. The chimpanzees showed population-level right-handedness and there are significant positive associations for both hand and grip use across food types. In experiment 2, we assessed validity of hand use in relation to grip preference in 2 colonies of chimpanzees via the same methodology. Differences in hand preferences between colonies were associated with variation in the observed grip preferences. There was no evidence of rearing effects on handedness in either colony. We discuss the overall results in the context of the evolution of handedness in relation to increasing motor demands as manifest in variation on grasping behavior.     

海南黎、苗、汉族扣手、交叉臂和惯用手的研究

调查了海南居住较为集中的黎、苗、汉族(共3 207人)扣手、交叉臂、惯用手等人类左右不对称行为特征。结果显示：(1)扣手、交手臂、惯用手三型3个民族的出现率均为R>L型,惯用手的R型出现率远较其他两型高,呈高度显著性差异,(P<0.01)。(2)扣手、交叉臂出现率与性别无关。(3)惯用手R型出现率苗族女性明显高于男性,差异显著(P<0.05)。三民族总和出现率为89.06％,是国内外属最低的。(4)扣手与交叉臂、扣手与惯用手,交叉臂与惯用手之间均具有相当明显的相关性。 Abstract：It was investigated that three types of many general indexes of anthrotogical genetics,which include hand-clasping、arm-folding and handedness,just among Li,Miao and Han nationalities in Hainan.There were 3207 people investigated in total.The results showed as follows:(1)The frequency of hand?clasping,arm-folding and handedness is far higher than others(P<0.01).(2) It was proved that there was no signilicant difference between male and female in the frequency of either hand-clasping or arm-floding.(3)It was obvious that the frequency of type R handedness in female of Miao nationality was higher than in male.And the difference was much clear(P<0.05).The total frequency of handedness was about 89.06 percent,which was the lowest rate as far as we known.(4)There was correlation among handedness and hand?clasping,handedness and arm-folding andhand-clasping and arm-folding respectively.     

Metastasis of bronchogenic carcinoma to the thumb

Bone metastasis in the hand is rare. The etiology is quite different from that of metastasis to other bones; bronchogenic carcinoma is by far the most frequent case. Distal phalanges are mainly involved with irregular osteolysis and cortical destruction. Differential diagnosis of phalangeal metastasis includes osteomyelitis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. The prognosis is always that of metastatic bronchial cancer with an average survival of three months. Treatment may involve distal digital amputation or antalgic radiotherapy. A case of bronchogenic carcinoma with metastasis to the thumb is presented. The metastasis was located in the distal phalanx of the left thumb. The primary tumor was located in the lung. Treatment consisted of amputation. The overall survival was five months.     

Handedness and Grooming in Pan troglodytes: Comparative Analysis Between Findings in Captive and Wild Individuals

Grooming is a complex set of motor actions, common in highly social primates. We tested for asymmetries in hand use during unimanual and bimanual allogrooming in 215 captive chimpanzees. In addition to hand use, we coded in the ethogram whether the manual grooming action co-occurred with the use of the mouth. Overall, grooming did not elicit strong handedness at the individual level, but there is a small yet significant population-level right-hand bias for bimanual grooming. Mouth use during grooming had no influence on hand use. A comparison of the findings with previously published data on handedness for grooming in wild chimpanzees suggests that wild apes are more right-handed than captive individuals are for allogrooming. Collectively, the results suggest that role differentiation of the hands is an important factor in the assessment of handedness for grooming, and perhaps additional manual actions of chimpanzees and other primates.     

Not so fast: Speed effects on forelimb kinematics in cercopithecine monkeys and implications for digitigrade postures in primates

Terrestrial mammals are characterized by their digitigrade limb postures, which are proposed to increase effective limb length (ELL) to achieve preferred or higher locomotor speeds more efficiently. Accordingly, digitigrade postures are associated with cursorial locomotion. Unlike most medium‐ to large‐sized terrestrial mammals, terrestrial cercopithecine monkeys lack most cursorial adaptations, but still adopt digitigrade hand postures. This study investigates when and why terrestrial cercopithecine monkeys adopt digitigrade hand postures during quadrupedal locomotion. Three cercopithecine species (Papio anubis, Macaca mulatta, Erythrocebus patas) were videotaped moving unrestrained along a horizontal runway at a range of speeds (0.4–3.4 m/s). Three‐dimensional forelimb kinematic data were recorded during forelimb support. Hand posture was measured as the angle between the metacarpal segments and the ground (MGA). As predicted, a larger MGA was correlated with a longer ELL. At slower speeds, subjects used digitigrade postures (larger MGA), however, contrary to expectations, all subjects used more palmigrade hand postures (smaller MGA) at faster speeds. Digitigrade postures at slower speeds may lower cost of transport by increasing ELL and step lengths. At higher speeds, palmigrade postures may be better suited to spread out high ground reaction forces across a larger portion of the hand thereby potentially decreasing stresses in hand bones. It is concluded that a digitigrade forelimb posture in primates is not an adaptation for high speed locomotion. Accordingly, digitigrady may have evolved for different reasons in primates compared to other mammalian lineages. Am J Phys Anthropol 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

On the Other Hand: Statistical Issues in the Assessment and Interpretation of Hand Preference Data in Nonhuman Primates

I describe methodological and statistical issues in the assessment of hand preference in nonhuman primates and discuss them in the context of a recent paper by McGrew and Marchant (1997) in which they conclude that there is no convincing evidence of population-level hand preferences in nonhuman primates. The criteria used by them to evaluate individual and population-level hand preferences are flawed, which results in an oversimplification of findings in nonhuman primates. I further argue that the classification schema used by McGrew and Marchant (1997) to compare hand preference distributions between species is theoretically weak and does not offer a meaningful way to compare human and nonhuman primate handedness.     

Efficiency Benefits of Live Fluoroscopy in Hand Clinics

BackgroundPostoperative imaging protocols for common hand procedures typically consist of 2-3 plain radiographs at defined intervals dependent on the surgery. Radiographs typically verify reduction, hardware position, and/or evaluate for complications, but also generate costs and alterations in clinic flow. We hypothesize the use of mini-fluoroscopic images will provide comparable clinical data with less cost and improved clinic flow. The objectives of the study were to determine if clinic-based fluoroscopic imaging is feasible for post-operative hand patients and if fluoroscopic imaging results in improved clinic flow (less waiting and more time with provider) and theoretical cost savings using mini-fluoroscopy instead of traditional radiographs.MethodsWith institutional review board exemption, the prospective use of mini-fluoroscopic evaluation of post-operative hand surgery patients was compared to traditional radiographs using time-based cohort analysis. Patients who underwent percutaneous pinning of phalanges/metacarpals, ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation) of phalanges/metacarpals or ORIF of distal radius fractures were included to evaluate common hand surgery patients. Each cohort consisted of a 3-month data collection period with prospective measures of clinic flow (wait times, appointment times, time with provider) and estimated cost compared between the groups.Results24 patients met inclusion criteria for data analysis; 11 patients in the mini-fluoroscopy group and 13 patients in the traditional radiograph group. Appointments using mini-fluoroscopy were 24 minutes shorter (53 vs 77 minutes) from patient check-in to check out time. Check-in time to rooming was 10 minutes quicker (9 vs. 19 minutes) using mini-fluoroscopy. Traditional hand radiographs have a face-value of $734 per appointment/series for a total theoretical savings of $9540 (n=13).ConclusionThe use of mini-fluoroscopy during orthopedic hand surgery post-operative visits provides a feasible, quick, cost effective way to evaluate patients postoperatively, ultimately, resulting in quicker patient appointments and greater time spent with providers. Level of Evidence: III     

Comparative evaluation of the hygienic efficacy of an ultra-rapid hand dryer vs conventional warm air hand dryers

Aims: To compare an ultra‐rapid hand dryer against warm air dryers, with regard to: (A) bacterial transfer after drying and (B) the impact on bacterial numbers of rubbing hands during dryer use. Methods and Results: The Airblade? dryer (Dyson Ltd) uses two air ‘knives’ to strip water from still hands, whereas conventional dryers use warm air to evaporate moisture whilst hands are rubbed together. These approaches were compared using 14 volunteers; the Airblade? and two types of warm air dryer. In study (A), hands were contaminated by handling meat and then washed in a standardized manner. After dryer use, fingers were pressed onto foil and transfer of residual bacteria enumerated. Transfers of 0–10⁷ CFU per five fingers were observed. For a drying time of 10 s, the Airblade? led to significantly less bacterial transfer than the other dryers (P < 0·05; range 0·0003–0·0015). When the latter were used for 30–35 s, the trend was for the Airblade to still perform better, but differences were not significant (P > 0·05, range 0·1317–0·4099). In study (B), drying was performed ± hand rubbing. Contact plates enumerated bacteria transferred from palms, fingers and fingertips before and after drying. When keeping hands still, there was no statistical difference between dryers, and reduction in the numbers released was almost as high as with paper towels. Rubbing when using the warm air dryers inhibited an overall reduction in bacterial numbers on the skin (P < 0·05). Conclusions: Effective hand drying is important for reducing transfer of commensals or remaining contaminants to surfaces. Rubbing hands during warm air drying can counteract the reduction in bacterial numbers accrued during handwashing. Significance and Impact of the Study: The Airblade? was superior to the warm air dryers for reducing bacterial transfer. Its short, 10 s drying time should encourage greater compliance with hand drying and thus help reduce the spread of infectious agents via hands.     

Assessment of motor function of the hand in aged rhesus monkeys

In the elderly, intact motor functions of the upper extremity are critical for the completion of activities of daily living. Many studies have provided insight into age-related changes in motor function. However, the precise nature and extent of motor impairments of the upper extremity remains unclear. In the current study we have modified two tasks to assess hand/digit function in both young and aged rhesus monkeys. We tested monkeys from 9 to 26 years of age on these tasks to determine the level of fine motor performance across the adult age range. Compared to young monkeys (9–12 years of age), aged monkeys (15–26 years of age) were mildly impaired on fine motor control of the digits. These findings are consistent with previous studies that have found age-related impairment in fine motor function. However, the magnitude and extent of impairment in the current study does differ from previous findings and is likely due to methodological differences in the degree of task complexity.     

湖南侗族的手纹研究

报道了湖南通道侗族337例正常人的指纹型、总指纹嵴数（TFRC）、a-b纹嵴线（a-bRC)、atd角、轴三角百分距（tPD)、大鱼际纹、小鱼际纹、指间区纹、掌褶纹、掌纹主线横向指数（MLIT）等手纹参数正常值,并与侗族不同人群和湖南周边不同民族进行了比较,发现湖南侗族手掌真实花纹和掌褶纹分布频率与湖南周边其他已研究过的民族和侗族群体存在明显差异。