There is a lack of reported studies on how the long duration wearing of N95 respirators or surgical facemasks will affect the upper airway functions. Considering the frequency of mask wearing especially in hospitals a...There is a lack of reported studies on how the long duration wearing of N95 respirators or surgical facemasks will affect the upper airway functions. Considering the frequency of mask wearing especially in hospitals and during an outbreak of influenza, it is essential to have such data documented. Therefore, the current study is to establish the effect of long duration wearing of N95 and surgical facemasks on upper airway functions. 47 staffs of National University Hospital Singapore in 2013 were recruited. Each of the volunteers wore both N95 respirator and surgical facemask for 3 hours on two different days. During the period of mask wearing, relative airflow rates were recorded. Smell function test was carried out before and after mask wearing. The results show that no significant change of smell test score was found after removal of both the two types of masks. With N95 respirator, more air was breathed into the upper airways compared to surgical facemask.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the influence of non-oil 95(N95)/filtering facepiece 2(FFP2) facemask wear on retinal thickness, choroidal thickness(CT), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT), and ganglion cell layer thickne...AIM: To investigate the influence of non-oil 95(N95)/filtering facepiece 2(FFP2) facemask wear on retinal thickness, choroidal thickness(CT), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT), and ganglion cell layer thickness(GCLT) in healthy subjects.METHODS: In this prospective study, 53 healthy participants who used FFP2/N95 facemask were enrolled. Participants underwent optical coherence tomography imaging before and at 1 and 4h following FFP2/N95 facemask wear. The last imaging session was performed 1h after FFP2/N95 removal. Retinal thickness, CT, RNFLT, and GCLT were assessed at each session. Vital parameters were also assessed. RESULTS: The pulse rate of the subjects significantly decreased at 1 and 4h compared to baseline values(P<0.05). No significant changes in retinal thickness, RNFLT, and GCLT were observed in the study. CT profile showed a significant increase at all measured locations except 1-mm temporal, 1-mm inferior and 2-mm inferior points following FFP2/N95 wear which turned to baseline values after FFP2/N95 removal. Pulse rate and CT changes at 4h were significantly correlated(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Parasympathetic activation during FFP2/N95 facemask wear might have a role on elevated CT measurements in healthy individuals by virtue of increased choroidal blood flow.展开更多
文摘There is a lack of reported studies on how the long duration wearing of N95 respirators or surgical facemasks will affect the upper airway functions. Considering the frequency of mask wearing especially in hospitals and during an outbreak of influenza, it is essential to have such data documented. Therefore, the current study is to establish the effect of long duration wearing of N95 and surgical facemasks on upper airway functions. 47 staffs of National University Hospital Singapore in 2013 were recruited. Each of the volunteers wore both N95 respirator and surgical facemask for 3 hours on two different days. During the period of mask wearing, relative airflow rates were recorded. Smell function test was carried out before and after mask wearing. The results show that no significant change of smell test score was found after removal of both the two types of masks. With N95 respirator, more air was breathed into the upper airways compared to surgical facemask.
文摘AIM: To investigate the influence of non-oil 95(N95)/filtering facepiece 2(FFP2) facemask wear on retinal thickness, choroidal thickness(CT), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT), and ganglion cell layer thickness(GCLT) in healthy subjects.METHODS: In this prospective study, 53 healthy participants who used FFP2/N95 facemask were enrolled. Participants underwent optical coherence tomography imaging before and at 1 and 4h following FFP2/N95 facemask wear. The last imaging session was performed 1h after FFP2/N95 removal. Retinal thickness, CT, RNFLT, and GCLT were assessed at each session. Vital parameters were also assessed. RESULTS: The pulse rate of the subjects significantly decreased at 1 and 4h compared to baseline values(P<0.05). No significant changes in retinal thickness, RNFLT, and GCLT were observed in the study. CT profile showed a significant increase at all measured locations except 1-mm temporal, 1-mm inferior and 2-mm inferior points following FFP2/N95 wear which turned to baseline values after FFP2/N95 removal. Pulse rate and CT changes at 4h were significantly correlated(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Parasympathetic activation during FFP2/N95 facemask wear might have a role on elevated CT measurements in healthy individuals by virtue of increased choroidal blood flow.
