The role of aggressions suffered by healthcare workers as predictors of burnout

Aims and objectives. To examine the prevalence of aggression against healthcare professionals and to determine the possible impact that violent episodes have on healthcare professionals in terms of loss of enthusiasm and involvement towards work. The objective was to analyse the percentage of occupational assault against professionals’ aggression in different types of healthcare services, differentiating between physical and verbal aggression as a possible variable in detecting burnout in doctors and nursing professionals. Background. Leiter and Maslach have explored a double process model of burnout not only based on exhaustion by overload, but also based on personal and organisational value conflicts (community, rewards or values). Moreover, Whittington has obtained conclusive results about the possible relationship between violence and burnout in mental health nurses. Design. A retrospective study was performed in three hospitals and 22 primary care centres in Spain (n = 1·826). Methods. Through different questionnaires, we have explored the relationship between aggression suffered by healthcare workers and burnout. Results. Eleven percent of respondents had been physically assaulted on at least one occasion, whilst 34·4% had suffered threats and intimidation on at least one occasion and 36·6% had been subjected to insults. Both forms of violence, physical and non‐physical aggression, showed significant correlations with symptoms of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and inefficacy). Conclusions. The survey showed evidence of a double process: (1) by which excess workload helps predict burnout, and (2) by which a mismatch in the congruence of values, or interpersonal conflict, contributes in a meaningful way to each of the dimensions of burnout, adding overhead to the process of exhaustion–cynicism–lack of realisation. Relevance to clinical practice. Studies indicate that health professionals are some of the most exposed to disorders steaming from psychosocial risks and a high comorbidity: anxiety, depression, etc. There is a clear need for accurate instruments of evaluation to detect not only the burnout but also the areas that cause it. Professional exhaustion caused by aggression or other factors can reflect a deterioration in the healthcare relationship.     

Clinical and histologic follow-up after antireflux surgery for Barrett’s esophagus

There are few prospective studies that document the histologic follow-up after antireflux surgery in patients with Barrett’s esophagus, as defined by the recently standardized criteria. We report the clinical, endoscopic, and histologic results of patients with Barrett’s esophagus followed postoperatively for at least 2 years. Diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus required preoperative endoscopic evidence of columnarlined epithelium in the esophagus and a biopsy demonstrating specialized intestinal metaplasia, which stains positively with Alcian blue stain. Between April 1993 and November 1998, a total of 104 patients meeting these criteria underwent fundoplication (laparoscopic [n = 84] or open [n = 6] nissen, laparoscopic Toupet [n = 11], laparoscopic Collis-Nissen [n = 1], Collins-Toupet [n = 1] or open Dor [n = 1]). Short-segment Barrett’s esophagus (length of intestinal metaplasia <3 cm) was found preoperatively in 34% and low-grade dysplasia in 4% of patients. All patients were contacted yearly by mail, phone, or clinic visit. At a mean follow-up of 4.6 years (range 2 to 7.5 years), 81% of patients had stopped taking antisecretory medications and 97% were satisfied with the results of their operations. Eight patients have undergone reoperation for recurrence of symptoms. Two patients have died and two were excluded from endoscopic biopsy because of portal hypertension. Sixty-six patients complied with the surveillance protocol, and their histologic results were returned to our center. Symptomatic follow-up of the 34 patients who refused surveillance esophagogastro and duodenoscopy revealed two patients who were taking medication for reflux symptoms. None of the patients have developed high-grade dysplasia or esophageal carcinoma during surveillance endoscopy (337 total patient-years of follow-up). The incidence of regression of intestinal metaplasia to cardiac-fundic-type metaplasia after successful antireflux surgery is greater than previously reported. We suspect that this is a result of longer follow-up and the inclusion of patients with short-segment Barrett’s esophagus. A substantial number of patients with Barrett’s esophagus who are asymptomatic after antireflux surgery refuse surveillance endoscopy. Presented at the Forty-Second Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Atlanta, Georgia, May 20–23, 2001 (oral presentation).     

Organ Donation: Cross-Sectional Survey of Knowledge and Personal Views of Brazilian Medical Students and Physicians

Objective

To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior associated with cadaver organ donation and transplantation among medical students and physicians.

Patients and Methods

We randomly selected 350 medical students, 150 physicians, and 150 intensive care unit physicians. Each completed a questionnaire consisting of 9 self-administered items, from which we gathered data about their knowledge about brain death and criteria for the diagnosis of brain death; their hypothetical behaviors, assuming willingness to donate their own or their family's organs; their trust in physicians; and their confidence in a diagnosis of brain death made by physicians.

Results

We observed that knowledge about brain death increased with medical education level; the best results were noted in intensive care unit physicians. Agreement to transplant organs from brain-dead donors (odds ratio [OR], 4.58), confidence in brain-death diagnosis by physicians (OR, 2.17), and knowledge about criteria for the diagnosis of brain death (OR, 2.26) were predictors of willingness to donate one's own organs.

Conclusion

Enhanced medical knowledge of and involvement in donation are needed to achieve cadaver organ donation.     

A New Radiocolloid for Sentinel Node Detection in Breast Cancer

Background:The optimal radioactive tracer and technique for sentinel lymph node localization in breast cancer is yet to be determined. The dilemma of small particle size with dispersion to second echelon nodes versus failure of migration of larger radiocolloids needs to be resolved. A new radiocolloid preparation with particle size under 0.1 micron was developed with excellent primary/post lymphatic entrapment ratio.Objective:To assess the feasibility of a new ^99mTc radiocolloid cysteine-rhenium colloid in sentinel lymph node (SLN) localization for breast cancer.Methods:Forty-seven patients with newly diagnosed T1 or T2 breast cancer underwent injection of ^99mTc-labeled cysteine-rhenium colloid followed by lymphoscintigraphy. Same day SLN biopsy with patent blue dye and intraoperative gamma probe to identify SLNs were performed.Results:SLN mapping and intraoperative localization were successful in 46/47 (98%) of patients. The blue dye radioactive tracer concordance was 94%. There was one false-negative in a patient with a nonpalpable tumor that underwent ultrasound-guided peritumoral radiocolloid injection.Conclusions:^99mTc-cysteine-rhenium colloid is highly effective in identifying SLNs. It has the advantage of smaller particle size than sulfur colloid with easier lymphatic migration. It has a more neutral pH with less pain on injection and does not require filtration, thereby minimizing radiation exposure to technologists.Presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Surgical Oncology, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 16–19, 2000     

Bariatric surgery improves cardiac function in morbidly obese patients with severe cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Longstanding morbid obesity can be associated with severe cardiomyopathy. However, the safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery in patients with severe cardiomyopathy has not been studied, and the effect of surgical weight loss on postoperative cardiac function is also unknown. In addition, morbidly obese patients have significantly increased mortality associated with cardiac transplantation, often precluding them from becoming recipients. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction < or =35% who underwent bariatric surgery (1998-2005) was performed. Short-term morbidity/mortality, length of stay, excess weight loss, pre- and postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 14 patients (10 men and 4 women) with a mean preoperative body mass index of 50.8 +/- 2.04 kg/m(2) underwent bariatric surgery (10 underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 1 open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 2 sleeve gastrectomy, and 1 laparoscopic gastric banding). The complications were pulmonary edema in 1, hypotension in 1, and transient renal insufficiency in 2. The median length of stay was 3.0 days (range 2-9). The mean excess weight loss at 6 months was 50.4%, with a decrease in the mean body mass index from 50.8 +/- 2.04 kg/m(2) to 36.8 +/- 1.72 kg/m(2). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction at 6 months had significantly improved from 23% +/- 2% to 32% +/- 4% (P = .04), correlating with improved functional capacity, as measured by the NYHA classification. Preoperatively, 2 patients (14%) had an NYHA classification of IV, 6 (43%) a classification of III, and 6 (43%) a classification of II. At 6 months postoperatively, no patient had an NYHA classification of IV, 2 (14%) had a classification of III, and 12 (86%) an NYHA classification of II. Two patients had undergone cardiac transplant evaluations preoperatively and underwent successful transplantation after weight loss. CONCLUSION: The results of our study have shown that bariatric surgery for patients with cardiomyopathy is feasible and effective. Surgically induced weight loss results in both subjective and objective improvement in cardiac function. In addition, surgical weight loss can provide a bridge to transplantation in patients who were prohibited secondary to their morbid obesity.     

Resistance Training with Instability in Multiple System Atrophy: A Case Report

This case report assessed quality of life, activities of daily living, motor symptoms, functional ability, neuromuscular parameters and mRNA expression of selected genes related to muscle protein synthesis and degradation in a patient with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). The patient underwent resistance training with instability devices (i.e., bosu, dyna disk, balance disk, Swiss ball) for six months twice a week. After the six months training, the patient’s left and right quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area and leg press one-repetition maximum increased 6.4%, 6.8%, and 40%, respectively; the patient’s timed up and go, sit to stand, dynamic balance, and activities of daily living improved 33.3%, 28.6%, 42.3%, and 40.1%, respectively; the patient’s severity of motor symptoms and risk of falls decreased 32% and 128.1%, respectively. Most of the subscales of quality of life demonstrated improvements as well, varying from 13.0% to 100.0%. mRNA expression of mechanogrowth factor and mammalian target of rapamycin increased 12.7-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively. This case report describes likely the first nonpharmacological therapeutic tool that might be able to decrease the severity of motor symptoms and risk of falls, and to improve functional ability, neuromuscular parameters, and quality of the life in a patient with MSA.

Key points

• Six months of resistance training with instability alleviate the MSA-related effects and improve the quality of life in a patient with MSA.
• High complexity exercise intervention (i.e., resistance training with instability) may be very beneficial to individuals with impaired motor control and function as MSA patients.
• Caution should be exercised when interpreting our findings as they cannot be generalized to the entire MSA population and they do not allow establishing causal conclusions on the effects of this mode of exercise on MSA.

Key words: Exercise training, risk of falls, motor symptoms, cross-sectional area     

MANAGEMENT OF VARICEAL HEMORRHAGE: CURRENT CONCEPTS

Introduction

The treatment of portal hypertension is complex and the the best strategy depends on the underlying disease (cirrhosis vs. schistosomiasis), patient''s clinical condition and time on it is performed (during an acute episode of variceal bleeding or electively, as pre-primary, primary or secondary prophylaxis). With the advent of new pharmacological options and technical development of endoscopy and interventional radiology treatment of portal hypertension has changed in recent decades.

Aim

To review the strategies employed in elective and emergency treatment of variceal bleeding in cirrhotic and schistosomotic patients.

Methods

Survey of publications in PubMed, Embase, Lilacs, SciELO and Cochrane databases through June 2013, using the headings: portal hypertension, esophageal and gastric varices, variceal bleeding, liver cirrhosis, schistosomiasis mansoni, surgical treatment, pharmacological treatment, secondary prophylaxis, primary prophylaxis, pre-primary prophylaxis.

Conclusion

Pre-primary prophylaxis doesn''t have specific treatment strategies; the best recommendation is treatment of the underlying disease. Primary prophylaxis should be performed in cirrhotic patients with beta-blockers or endoscopic variceal ligation. There is controversy regarding the effectiveness of primary prophylaxis in patients with schistosomiasis; when indicated, it is done with beta-blockers or endoscopic therapy in high-risk varices. Treatment of acute variceal bleeding is systematized in the literature, combination of vasoconstrictor drugs and endoscopic therapy, provided significant decline in mortality over the last decades. TIPS and surgical treatment are options as rescue therapy. Secondary prophylaxis plays a fundamental role in the reduction of recurrent bleeding, the best option in cirrhotic patients is the combination of pharmacological therapy with beta-blockers and endoscopic band ligation. TIPS or surgical treatment, are options for controlling rebleeding on failure of secondary prophylaxis. Despite the increasing evidence of the effectiveness of pharmacological and endoscopic treatment in schistosomotic patients, surgical therapy still plays an important role in secondary prophylaxis.     

Evaluation of the testis function of mice exposed in utero and during lactation to Pfaffia glomerata (Brazilian ginseng)

Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen, popularly known as “Brazilian ginseng,” is used as medicinal plant in Brazil to treat inflammatory diseases in general. Previous studies showed that its extract increases the nitric oxide (NO) levels. Knowing that NO downregulates steroidogenesis and that alterations in the action/production of androgens during perinatal life could alter testis development, the present studies sought to investigate the reproductive toxicity of Pfaffia glomerata on male mice exposed to hydroalcoholic extract in utero and during lactation. The present study shows that P. glomerata extract does not alter body weight, tubular diameter and testis function in male mice. Although a reduction in the testis weight was observed in the animals that received the highest dose directly in early post‐natal life, our findings show clearly that P. glomerata may not act as an endocrine disruptor, and it is not an “antiandrogenic” compound that could lead to testicular dysgenesis syndrome.     

The Protective Role of Self-Compassion on Risk Factors for Non-suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescence

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescence is a serious public health problem. Although self-compassion is a protective factor of mental health difficulties in adult populations, its potential impact on adolescence remains scarcely explored. Therefore, we aimed to test whether self-compassion can mitigate the impact of daily peer hassles and depressive symptoms on NSSI. The participants were 643 adolescents (51.6 % female) with ages between 12 and 18 years, from middle and secondary schools. Self-report questionnaires were used to measure daily peer hassles, depressive symptoms, self-compassion and NSSI. Daily peer hassles were positively correlated with depressive symptoms and NSSI. Self-compassion was inversely associated with daily peer hassles and depressive symptoms and NSSI. Path analysis showed that self-compassion had a moderator effect on the association between depressive symptoms and NSSI. Results suggest that self-compassion can be a protective process, as it may buffer against the impact of depressive symptoms on NSSI. This study presents preventive and clinical implications for educators and therapists working with adolescents.