Organic and Inorganic Mercury in Biological Samples of Flouresecent Lamp Industries Workers and Health Risks

Objective The present study aims to investigate the concentrations of Hg and its aspects methyl mercury(Me-Hg) and inorganic mercury(I-Hg) in the biological samples(BSs) of fluorescent lamp industries workers(FLIWs).Methodology Different BSs including red blood cells(RBCs),plasma,urine,hair and nails were collected from the workers exposed to Hg and unexposed persons were selected as control group to measure both the T-Hg concentration as well as its species in different biological samples through quantitative analysis.Health data was collected through questionnaire survey.Results The mean concentrations of T-Hg(31.9 μg/L),Me-Hg(27.7 μg/L),and I-Hg(5.36 μg/L) in RBCs were found significantly(P 0.001) higher among the workers(n = 40) as compared to the control group(n = 40).Similarly the mean Hg concentrations in plasma,urine,hair and nails were also significantly higher among the workers than the control group.The statistical relation between Hg concentration and demographic characteristics observed that workers experience and fish consumption has increased the Hg concentration while age,weight and smoking found no significant effect on Hg concentration in the BSs.Conclusion The study observed that the workers were highly exposed to high concentration of Hg and they are at a high health risk.     

Morphological imaging and CT histogram analysis to differentiate pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor grade 3 from neuroendocrine carcinoma

PurposeTo compare morphological imaging features and CT texture histogram parameters between grade 3 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (G3-NET) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC).Materials and methodsPatients with pathologically proven G3-NET and NEC, according to the 2017 World Health Organization classification who had CT and MRI examinations between 2006-2017 were retrospectively included. CT and MRI examinations were reviewed by two radiologists in consensus and analyzed with respect to tumor size, enhancement patterns, hemorrhagic content, liver metastases and lymphadenopathies. Texture histogram analysis of tumors was performed on arterial and portal phase CT images. images. Morphological imaging features and CT texture histogram parameters of G3-NETs and NECs were compared.ResultsThirty-seven patients (21 men, 16 women; mean age, 56 ± 13 [SD] years [range: 28-82 years]) with 37 tumors (mean diameter, 60 ± 46 [SD] mm) were included (CT available for all, MRI for 16/37, 43%). Twenty-three patients (23/37; 62%) had NEC and 14 patients (14/37; 38%) had G3-NET. NECs were larger than G3-NETs (mean, 70 ± 51 [SD] mm [range: 18 - 196 mm] vs. 42 ± 24 [SD] mm [range: 8 - 94 mm], respectively; P = 0.039), with more tumor necrosis (75% vs. 33%, respectively; P = 0.030) and lower attenuation on precontrast (30 ± 4 [SD] HU [range: 25-39 HU] vs. 37 ± 6 [SD] [range: 25-45 HU], respectively; P = 0.002) and on portal venous phase CT images (75 ± 18 [SD] HU [range: 43 - 108 HU] vs. 92 ± 19 [SD] HU [range: 46 - 117 HU], respectively; P = 0.014). Hemorrhagic content on MRI was only observed in NEC (P = 0.007). The mean ADC value was lower in NEC ([1.1 ± 0.1 (SD)] × 10⁻³ mm²/s [range: (0.91 - 1.3) × 10⁻³ mm²/s] vs. [1.4 ± 0.2 (SD)] × 10⁻³ mm²/s [range: (1.1 - 1.6) × 10⁻³ mm²/s]; P = 0.005). CT histogram analysis showed that NEC were more heterogeneous on portal venous phase images (Entropy-0: 4.7 ± 0.2 [SD] [range: 4.2-5.1] vs. 4.5 ± 0.4 [SD] [range: 3.7-4.9]; P = 0.023).ConclusionPancreatic NECs are larger, more frequently hypoattenuating and more heterogeneous with hemorrhagic content than G3-NET on CT and MRI.     

Childhood,families and the Internet: a qualitative approach on health assets

ObjectiveTo explore the views of the Internet in childhood, identifying both health assets and risks.MethodA qualitative study was performed using 14 focus groups, eight of which comprised boys and girls, four of which comprised parents and two of which were mixed (children and parents) in primary schools in urban and rural settings in Andalusia (Spain). Teachers in these schools were also asked to complete an online questionnaire using LimeSurvey. This study involved 114 individuals: 64 pupils (33 girls and 31 boys), 28 parents (18 mothers and 10 fathers), and 22 teachers (14 women and 8 men). Analysis of manifest content and underlying meanings was carried out. QSR NVivo 9 software was used to facilitate analysis and make it systematic.ResultsOur findings show how the differences in the way parents and children understand health and wellbeing affect the way they discuss the Internet and health. The discussion of results looks at the implications of computer literacy for public health and wellbeing, particularly with regard to health assets.ConclusionsParents and children understand the contribution of the Internet to health and wellbeing differently. Whilst parents emphasize the risks (unsafe environment, relationships and quality of information, social networks, physical problems and addiction), the children emphasize the assets offered by the Internet.     

护理干预对放疗科头颈部肿瘤放疗患者生活质量的影响

目的本文主要研究和探讨护理干预对放疗科头颈部肿瘤放疗患者生活质量的影响。方法将我院2017年2月份至2018年10月份收治的100例头颈部肿瘤放疗患者作为本次研究的对象,在随机原则的指导下把100例患者分为对照组和实验组,每组患者的数量为50例。对照组患者给予常规护理,实验组患者实施护理干预,对两组患者的生活质量、睡眠质量、护理满意度和护理依从性等进行对比分析。结果在生活质量、睡眠质量、护理满意度和护理依从性等方面,组间进行对比分析,实验组都明显优于对照组,P<0.05差异具有统计学意义。结论对头颈部肿瘤放疗患者实施护理干预可以让患者的生活质量、睡眠质量、护理依从性以及护理满意度等都得到显著的改善,从而让患者以一种积极、乐观的心态接受放疗,这对于放疗效果的提高具有重要的作用。总之,这一护理模式应该在临床中进行推广和使用。     

Étude exploratoire de la santé musculo-squelettique du rachis d’étudiants en ostéopathie

BackgroundDuring their training, students in osteopathy regularly undergo spinal manipulation exercises. This exposes the students’ spine to unskilled gestures performed by their colleagues learning spinal manipulation. Discomfort, muscle soreness or moderate pain following spinal manipulations lasting two or three days are commonly reported. In addition, some students may have ongoing spinal musculoskeletal disease (SMSD) during their studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of SMSDs and their maximum intensity in a population of osteopathy students and to determine whether individual differences exist.MethodAn exploratory cross-sectional study took place over three years. Data were collected by means of a self-administrated standardised questionnaire screening for MSD: the Nordic questionnaire.ResultsThere were 733 exploitable questionnaires, giving an average response rate of 91.5%. Average prevalence of SMSD was 98.4% during the last 12 months. Average maximum intensity perceived was 6/10 and 45% of students experienced an intense SMSD (scored between 7 and 10/10). Variation of the maximum intensity of SMSD between “before osteopathy studies” and “the last 12 months” was 1.2/10. This variation was influenced by the number of days students were manipulated during a week (p < 0.0001). On average, students underwent manipulation three days a week.ConclusionThis study confirms the important prevalence of SMSD among osteopathy students. This result led us to carry out a qualitative study for exploring students’ conceptions in health and spinal manipulative practices.     

The Health Belief Model in predicting healthcare workers' intention for influenza vaccine uptake in Jordan

BackgroundTheories of health behavior change are being inadequately adopted to understand the reasons behind low influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers (HCWs). The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is being used to predict intention-behavior relationship while the Health Belief Model (HBM) is being employed to predict actual behavior. The purpose of this study was to test a conceptual model based on the HBM’s constructs to predict Jordanian HCWs’ intentions for influenza vaccine uptake as an alternative to the TPB.MethodA cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in 2016 in a tertiary teaching hospital in Amman-Jordan including a convenience sample of 477 HCWs with direct patient contact. The study instrument was tested for validity and reliability. A conceptual regression model was proposed incorporating the constructs of the primary HBM with some modifications in the threat construct as well as an additional variable about explicit past vaccination behavior (in the past year and/or any previous history of influenza vaccine uptake).ResultsAlmost all the constructs of the HBM demonstrated significant differences between participants intending and those who did not intend to vaccinate against influenza. After adjusting for the confounding variables in the final conceptual regression model, past vaccination behavior (OR= 4.50, 95%Confidence Interval 3.38–6.00, P< 0.0005) and the perceived benefit scale (OR= 1.19, 95% Confidence Interval 1.11–1.28, P< 0.0005) were the only significant predictors of intentions to vaccinate against influenza in the next season.ConclusionTaking into consideration the altruistic beliefs of HCWs and their explicit past vaccination history augments the utility of the original HBM tool in predicting HCWs’ intentions to vaccinate against influenza in a way that is consistent with the predictive ability of the Theory of Planned Behavior.     

甲状腺手术患者围术期优质护理干预效果探讨

目的观察分析在甲状腺手术患者护理中予以围术期优质护理干预的应用价值。方法此研究从本院甲状腺手术患者中选取样本,总例数为80例,研究时间始于2017年4月,止于2019年4月,依据护理方案的异同对患者进行分组,试验组予以围术期优质护理干预,对照组予以常规性护理干预,对比两组护理结果。结果研究可得,试验组护理满意率相对较高,组间数据对比得知与对照组相比统计值合理(P<0.05)。研究可得,试验组并发症发生率相对较低,组建数据对比得知与对照组相比统计值合理(P<0.05);研究可得,试验组预后生活质量相对较高,组建数据对比得知与对照组相比统计值合理(P<0.05)。结论此研究得知,在甲状腺手术患者护理中予以围术期优质护理干预,能提高患者护理效果,降低其并发症发生情况,并进一步改善患者预后效果。     

连续护理干预模式对脊柱骨折伴脊髓损伤患者术后康复效果的研究

目的研究分析连续护理干预模式对脊柱骨折伴脊髓损伤患者术后康复效果。方法本项研究回顾了2017年2月—2018年7月间在某院采取了脊柱骨折伴脊髓损伤治疗的52例患者整个治疗过程的资料,将所有的患者使用数字双盲法将其分为了对照组(n=26)和观察组(n=26)。对照组患者使用护理措施为常规护理措施,观察组使用的护理措施为连续护理干预模式,在患者治疗完成后对比两个不同组别患者在围手术期期间各类指标和出现并发症概率。结果对照组患者手术下床活动时间、住院时间、住院所需费用以及患者并发症发生率均显著高于观察组,组别间数据对比差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论医护人员在进行脊柱骨折伴脊髓损伤患者的护理工作当中,对其采取连续护理模式可以降低患者并发症发生率,缩短患者住院时间,对患者身体的恢复具有显著意义。