Presenteeism and Absenteeism Before and After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

BackgroundAbsenteeism is costly, yet evidence suggests that presenteeism—illness-related reduced productivity at work—is costlier. We quantified employed patients’ presenteeism and absenteeism before and after total joint arthroplasty (TJA).MethodsWe measured presenteeism (0-100 scale, 100 full performance) and absenteeism using the World Health Organization’s Health and Work Performance Questionnaire before and after TJA among a convenience sample of employed patients. We captured detailed information about employment and job characteristics and evaluated how and among whom presenteeism and absenteeism improved.ResultsIn total, 636 primary, unilateral TJA patients responded to an enrollment email, confirmed employment, and completed a preoperative survey (mean age: 62.1 years, 55.3% women). Full at-work performance was reported by 19.7%. Among 520 (81.8%) who responded to a 1-year follow-up, 473 (91.0%) were still employed, and 461 (88.7%) had resumed working. Among patients reporting at baseline and 1 year, average at-work performance improved from 80.7 to 89.4. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated that postoperative performance was significantly higher than preoperative performance (P < .0001). The percentage of patients who reported full at-work performance increased from 20.9% to 36.8% (delta = 15.9%, 95% confidence interval = [10.0%, 21.9%], P < .0001). Presenteeism gains were concentrated among patients who reported declining work performance leading up to surgery. Average changes in absences were relatively small. Combined, the average monthly value lost by employers to presenteeism declined from 15.3% to 8.3% and to absenteeism from 16.9% to 15.5% (ie, mitigated loss of 8.4% of monthly value).ConclusionAmong employed patients before TJA, presenteeism and absenteeism were similarly costly. After, employed patients reported increased performance, concentrated among those with declining performance leading up to surgery.     

The German emergency and disaster medicine and management systemdhistory and present

As well for optimized emergency management in individual cases as for optimized mass medicine in disaster management, the principle of the medical doctors approaching the patient directly and timely, even close to the site of the incident, is a long-standing marker for quality of care and patient survival in Germany. Professional rescue and emergency forces, including medical services, are the “Golden Standard” of emergency management systems. Regulative laws, proper organization of resources, equipment, training and adequate delivery of medical measures are key factors in systematic approaches to manage emergencies and disasters alike and thus save lives. During disasters command, communication, coordination and cooperation are essential to cope with extreme situations, even more so in a globalized world. In this article, we describe the major historical milestones, the current state of the German system in emergency and disaster management and its integration into the broader European approach.     

Tendon and Ligament Healing and Current Approaches to Tendon and Ligament Regeneration

Ligament and tendon injuries are common problems in orthopedics. There is a need for treatments that can expedite nonoperative healing or improve the efficacy of surgical repair or reconstruction of ligaments and tendons. Successful biologically-based attempts at repair and reconstruction would require a thorough understanding of normal tendon and ligament healing. The inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases, and the cells involved in tendon and ligament healing will be reviewed. Then, current research efforts focusing on biologically-based treatments of ligament and tendon injuries will be summarized, with a focus on stem cells endogenous to tendons and ligaments. Statement of clinical significance: This paper details mechanisms of ligament and tendon healing, as well as attempts to apply stem cells to ligament and tendon healing. Understanding of these topics could lead to more efficacious therapies to treat ligament and tendon injuries. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:7–12, 2020     

肝内胆管囊腺瘤和囊腺癌的CT、MRI及病理表现

目的探讨肝内胆管囊腺瘤和囊腺癌的CT、MRI和病理特点。方法回顾性分析经手术病理证实的6例肝内胆管囊腺瘤和2例肝内胆管囊腺癌的影像及临床病理资料，将病变的影像表现与其病理大体形态及组织学表现作对照分析。结果6例肝内胆管囊腺瘤，女4例、男2例；2例肝内胆管囊腺癌均为女性病人；8例病人平均年龄55岁。所有病灶均表现为多房囊性肿块，肿瘤囊腔各分房内常为多种液体成分，在CT上可表现为不同密度、在MRI上可表现为不同信号强度。囊内出现多发大小不等的壁结节在胆管囊腺癌内更常见，囊内有分隔但无壁结节只见于胆管囊腺瘤。在7例CT扫描中，4例胆管囊腺瘤和1例胆管囊腺癌可见囊壁或分隔上钙化，囊壁、囊内分隔及囊内结节均为轻、中度延迟增强。肿瘤中出现卵巢样间质见于3例胆管囊腺瘤和1例胆管囊腺癌，且均为女性病人。结论肝内胆管囊腺瘤和囊腺癌是肝脏不常见的囊性肿瘤，影像上多房、囊内有分隔且各分房囊内密度或信号不一致，高度提示肝内胆管囊腺瘤或囊腺癌的诊断，如囊内伴有多发大小不等的结节，则进一步提示囊腺癌的可能。但影像学表现不能区分肿瘤中有无卵巢样间质。     

Differences in Osteocyte Density and Bone Histomorphometry Between Men and Women and Between Healthy and Osteoporotic Subjects

Bone defects related to osteoporosis develop with increasing age and differ between males and females. It is currently thought that the bone remodeling process is supervised by osteocytes in a strain-dependent manner. We have shown an altered response of osteocytes from osteoporotic patients to mechanical loading, and osteocyte density is reduced in osteoporotic patients, which might relate to imperfect bone remodeling, leading to lack of bone mass and strength. Hence, information on osteocyte density will contribute to a better understanding of bone biology in males and females and to the assessment of osteoporosis. Osteocyte density as well as conventional histomorphometric parameters of trabecular bone were determined in cancellous iliac crest bone of healthy postmenopausal women and men and of osteoporotic women and men. Osteocyte density was higher in healthy females than in healthy males and lower in osteoporotic females than in healthy females. Bone mass was reduced in osteoporotic patients, both male and female. In females, trabecular number was reduced, whereas in males, trabecular thickness was reduced and eroded surface was increased. There were no correlations between the parameter groups bone architecture, bone formation, bone resorption, and osteocyte density. These results are consistent with impaired osteoblast function in osteoporotic patients and with a different mechanism of bone loss between men and women, in which osteocyte density might play a role. The reduced osteocyte numbers in female osteoporotic patients might relate to imperfect bone remodeling leading to lack of bone mass and strength. M. G. Mullender and S. D. Tan contributed equally to this work.     

Work and career experiences and emotional well-being of managerial and professional women

This study examined a research model developed to understand emotional well-being among managerial and professional women. Data were collected from 792 women using questionnaires completed anonymously. Although considerable diversity was present in the sample, most women were in early career, married but still without children. Four groups of predictor variables identified in previous research were considered: personal demographic variables. Organizational and situational characteristics, work experiences associated with job and career satisfaction and work outcomes. Work experiences and work outcomes were fairly consistently and significantly related to self-reported emotional well-being. Implications for managerial women and their employing organizations are offered.     

Recognition and management of phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL) are catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumours arising from the chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla. These tumours may be identified incidentally, as part of a work-up for multiple endocrine neoplasia or following haemodynamic surges during unrelated procedures. Advances in perioperative management and improved management of intraoperative haemodynamic instability have significantly reduced surgical mortality from around 40% to less than 3%. Surgery is the definitive treatment in most cases and laparoscopic resection where possible is associated with improved outcomes. Anaesthetic management of PPGL cases represents a unique haemodynamic challenge both before and after tumour resection. In this article we describe the physiology of these tumours, their diagnosis, preoperative optimization methods, intraoperative anaesthetic management and management of postoperative complications.     

Thyroid and parathyroid hormones and calcium homeostasis

The thyroid gland is under the control of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the pituitary. It secretes thyroxine (T₄) and triiodothyronine (T₃). Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. T₄ is probably converted to T₃ in peripheral tissues. Thyroid hormones have a role in growth and development, but their principal effect is the control of basal metabolic rate. Deficiency or excess affects all the tissues of the body, reducing or increasing the metabolic rate, resulting in hypothermia or hyperthermia, respectively. Deficiency during development produces mental retardation. Lack of iodine leads to thyroid swelling (goitre) caused by continuing stimulation by TSH. Calcium is one of the most tightly controlled ions in the body; abnormalities can produce muscle paralysis. Bone is the major store of calcium. Calcium reabsorption by the kidney is controlled by parathyroid hormone (PTH) produced by the parathyroid glands, which lie in the posterior part of the lobes of the thyroid gland. PTH secretion is controlled by blood calcium concentrations. Phosphate metabolism is intimately bound up with the control of calcium levels, as is the metabolism of vitamin D, which stimulates the absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract and, in part, from the kidney.     

Erotic and sadomasochistic foot and shoe*

The foot is an erotic symbol of great power for primitive peoples as well as in highly advanced societies. The foot has always been a badly-treated organ, at the same time an inexhaustible source of contradictory praise and disparagement. The foot and the shoe are inseparable. Since more than 1000 years, the shoe is a sexual symbol and serves as a sexual mode of communication, because it is the cover of the erotic foot. The fetishism of the foot and the shoe has aroused marks of delirious love, always sensual, sometimes mystical. Foot sadomasochism, is a very ancient sexual perversion that consists in taking pleasure in inflicting physical pain to oneself or to others. * Communication submitted: In French, to the CIP International Congress in Buenos Aires (1996); in English, to the BOFSS Congress in Canterbury (2001) Published, in part, in French, in the Encyclopédie Médico-chirurgicale, Podologie, (Elsevier, Paris), 27-140-A-55, 1999,11p     

Physiology and pharmacology of nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are both very unpleasant experiences. The physiology is poorly understood; however, understanding what we do know is key to tailoring a preventative or therapeutic antiemetic regime. There are two key sites in the central nervous system implicated in the organization of the vomiting reflex: the vomiting centre and the chemoreceptor trigger zone. There are five key neurotransmitters involved in afferent feedback to these areas. These are histamine (H₁ receptors), dopamine (D₂), serotonin (5-HT₃), acetyl choline (muscarinic) and neurokinin (substance P). Postoperative nausea and vomiting will occur in around one-third of elective patients who have no prophylaxis. This can result in many detrimental effects including patient dissatisfaction, unplanned admission and prolonged recovery. It is therefore essential that clinicians understand how they can prevent and treat nausea and vomiting using either a single agent or a combination of antiemetics to target relevant receptors. Commonly used drugs include antihistamines, dopamine antagonists, serotonin antagonists and steroids. More novel agents are being developed such as aprepitant, a neurokinin receptor antagonist, palonosetron, a 5HT₃ receptor antagonist and nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid.     

Physiology and pharmacology of nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are both very unpleasant experiences. The physiology is poorly understood; however, understanding what we do know is key to tailoring a preventative or therapeutic antiemetic regime. There are two key sites in the central nervous system implicated in the organization of the vomiting reflex: the vomiting centre and the chemoreceptor trigger zone. There are five key neurotransmitters involved in afferent feedback to these areas. These are histamine (H₁ receptors), dopamine (D₂), serotonin (5-HT₃), acetyl choline (muscarinic) and neurokinin (substance P). Postoperative nausea and vomiting will occur in around one-third of elective patients who have no prophylaxis. This can result in many detrimental effects including patient dissatisfaction, unplanned admission and prolonged recovery. It is therefore essential that clinicians understand how they can prevent and treat nausea and vomiting using either a single agent or a combination of antiemetics to target relevant receptors. Commonly used drugs include antihistamines, dopamine antagonists, serotonin antagonists and steroids. More novel agents are being developed such as aprepitant, a neurokinin receptor antagonist, palonosetron, a 5HT₃ receptor antagonist, and nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid.