Correction: The role of cumulative physical work load in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis – a case–control study in Germany (Seidler et al. 2008)

ABSTRACT: In the original paper (Seidler et al. 2008), there is a mistake in the results of the occupational group analysis. This mistake occurred when the core data set was merged with the occupational group data. According to the modified occupational group analysis (see modified Table 1), OR for chemical processers and manufacturers of plastics products are no longer significantly elevated. Having worked more than 10 years as metal worker is associated with knee osteoarthritis (OR=2.2; 95% CI 1.1-4.4). The knee osteoarthritis risk of plasterers, insulators, glaziers, terrazzo workers, construction carpenters, roofers, and upholsters approaches statistical significance in the long-duration category (OR=3.7; 95% CI 0.9-15.2). For woodworkers, the knee osteoarthritis risk is no longer significantly elevated. Having worked more than 10 years as painter or varnisher is associated with knee osteoarthritis (OR=9.6; 95% CI 1.2-77.9). Finally, we find a significantly elevated OR of 3.2 (95% CI 1.1-9.1) among subjects having worked as physically exposed service workers (storemen, nurses, refuse collectors) for more than 10 years. When subjects with non-service work as main occupation ("blue-collar workers") are compared with "white-collar workers", the odds ratio for knee osteoarthritis is still significantly elevated (OR=2.0; 95% CI 1.3-2.9)

Case Report: Serial Seizures Due to the Pesticide Poison Strychnine, Refractory to High Doses of Benzodiazepines

Drugs and poisons are the most common causes of new cases of seizure at emergency wards, a fact that can be easily missed unless physicians consider its likelihood in mind. In this report, we describe a case of recurrent seizures due to intentional ingestion of a pesticide poison (strychnine) that was refractory to very high doses of benzodiazepines and other anticonvulsants. Our patient suffered from 12 times tonic seizures and generalized muscular spasms, until he underwent anesthesia to control the seizures. Finally, he was discharged without any serious complications

MRI of the lung (3/3)-current applications and future perspectives

BACKGROUND: MRI of the lung is recommended in a number of clinical indications. Having a non-radiation alternative is particularly attractive in children and young subjects, or pregnant women. METHODS: Provided there is sufficient expertise, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be considered as the preferential modality in specific clinical conditions such as cystic fibrosis and acute pulmonary embolism, since additional functional information on respiratory mechanics and regional lung perfusion is provided. In other cases, such as tumours and pneumonia in children, lung MRI may be considered an alternative or adjunct to other modalities with at least similar diagnostic value. RESULTS: In interstitial lung disease, the clinical utility of MRI remains to be proven, but it could provide additional information that will be beneficial in research, or at some stage in clinical practice. Customised protocols for chest imaging combine fast breath-hold acquisitions from a "buffet" of sequences. Having introduced details of imaging protocols in previous articles, the aim of this manuscript is to discuss the advantages and limitations of lung MRI in current clinical practice. CONCLUSION: New developments and future perspectives such as motion-compensated imaging with self-navigated sequences or fast Fourier decomposition MRI for non-contrast enhanced ventilation- and perfusion-weighted imaging of the lung are discussed. Main Messages • MRI evolves as a third lung imaging modality, combining morphological and functional information. • It may be considered first choice in cystic fibrosis and pulmonary embolism of young and pregnant patients. • In other cases (tumours, pneumonia in children), it is an alternative or adjunct to X-ray and CT. • In interstitial lung disease, it serves for research, but the clinical value remains to be proven. • New users are advised to make themselves familiar with the particular advantages and limitations

Protection of p53 wild type cells from taxol by nutlin-3 in the combined lung cancer treatment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mutations within the tumor suppressor <it>TP53 </it>gene are one of the most common genetic alterations present at high frequency in human tumors and have been shown to be associated with resistance to radio-chemotherapy. The lack of the wild type <it>TP53 </it>gene in cancer cells could be exploited for therapeutic advantage using a sequence of two antagonistic drugs. The aim of this study was to selectively kill p53 deficient cells (FaDu and H1299) by taxol and to protect p53 wild type cells (A549) by the prior administration of nutlin-3 in comparison to certain known anticancer drugs (5-fluorouracil, camptothecin, roscovitine).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cytotoxic and cytostatic properties of 5-fluorouracil, camptothecin, roscovitine and nutlin-3 administrating alone or in combination with taxol were investigated in vitro by flow cytometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It was found that nutlin-3 induced growth arrest and protected A549 cells from taxol. FaDu and H1299 cells responded to the same treatments with mitotic arrest and massive apoptosis. Other compounds (5-fluorouracil, camptothecin and roscovitine) revealed weaker selectivity and elevated toxicity in comparison to nutlin-3.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We propose a therapeutic strategy protecting normal cells from taxol while increasing apoptosis selectively in p53-deficient cells using nutlin-3.</p

The effectiveness of group training based on procedure marital infidelity phenomenology on infidelity tendency and intimacy of married traitor women

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention package on the attitude toward infidelity and marital intimacy among the infidel women. Materials and Methods: The present research uses the pseudo experimental pretest-posttest-follow up methodology with a control group to investigate the effectiveness of the formulated intervention package. Population of the research includes all married infidel women who had referred to Entekhab No Psychology Clinic during 2019, with the statistical sample being made up of 30 married infidel women who had referred to Entekhab No Psychology Clinic. Following the introduction of the research objectives to obtain an informed consent from the participants, they were organized into experimental and control groups by observing the inclusion criteria. The standardized questionnaire on marital infidelity and the marital intimacy questionnaire presented by Vandon-Brouck and Bertommen (1995) were used in the pretest, posttest, and follow up stages. Mixed analysis of variance with repeated measures in SPSS v.24 was adopted to investigate the effectiveness of the formulated intervention package. Results: The results implied that provision of training courses based on phenomenological description of the marital infidelity provides the infidel women with sustainably increased average levels of the sexual intimacy, negative attitude toward infidelity, religious encountering, problem-solving skill, and infidelity avoidance. The findings further indicated that such training material might lead to stably enhanced levels of intimacy, affection/amour, agreement and adherence to marital intimacy commitments among the infidel women. Discussion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be argued that designing an intervention package based on the ecological status of the community under study can effectively improve the components of marital commitment and thus if used by therapists. It can be extremely helpful in preventing marital breakdowns in society. &nbsp; &nbsp

Comparison of Effectiveness of Transactional Analysis, Exposure and Response Prevention and Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy on Students' Academic Anxiety

Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of three training courses including transactional analysis (TA), exposure and response prevention (ERP) and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) on reducing academic anxiety among students in Tehran. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was a multi-lateral pretest-posttest with control group. Phillips Anxiety Test (1978) was used to measure the dependent variable, academic anxiety. In this research, 45 students who obtained higher score in academic anxiety test were subjected to three variables (educational methods) in three groups of 15 (experimental group) and 15 people were randomly selected for control group. Results: The results showed significant differences between the pretest and posttest scores of all groups except the control group on the level of anxiety (P &lt;0.05). Also, the difference between the three experimental groups in all four components of academic anxiety (test anxiety, fear of assertiveness, lack of self-confidence and physiological reactions) was significant at P &lt;0.05 level. Discussion: TA, ERP and ISTDP training courses help to reduce students' academic anxiety

Explanation of Infidelity among Married Women in Tehran

Introduction: Considering the lack of knowledge in the field of infidelity and its consequences in the country and the insufficient familiarity with the expressions of infidelity behaviors, the present study aimed at investigating the phenomenological experience of infidelity in married women. Methods: The present study used a qualitative method with a descriptive phenomenological approach. Population of the study included women engaged in infidelity visiting one of the consultation centers in the city of Tehran in the year 2017. Sampling of the population was carried out using the targeted snowball sampling method. Size of the sample was increased up to saturation point and, overall, 10 married women with the experience of infidelity were subjected to investigation. Semi-structured interview method was used to gather data and the data were analyzed through the Colaizzi's method. Results: The results demonstrated that infidelity occurs due to several factors including deficiency needs, the perpetrators' psychological qualities, marital compatibility, consequences expected from infidelity, and etiology of starting infidelity. Discussion: There are several factors involved in women's inclination to infidelity. Based on the findings of the present study, the practical proposition is to arrange therapy sessions and instructional manuals based on the concepts and axes extracted from the analysis of the interviews with people who have shared their phenomenological experience of infidelity with us. Declaration of Interest: None

The role of HEXACO personality dimensions and emotion regulation in predicting depression

Background: one of the main issues in the social health is investigating the factors affecting the quality of life of people with depression. The main objective of the present study was providing the trainings to help in improving the mental health and quality of life in people with depression for the counselors and psychologists. This study examined the role of HEXACO personality dimensions in predicting the quality of life with depression. Methods: The statistical population comprised all people with depression referred to counseling centers in Tehran mental hospitals, 200 subjects were chosen using simple random sampling. The BDI, HEXACO personality inventory, emotion regulation questionnaire, and SF-36 questionnaire for quality of life were used. The collected data were analyzed based on Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. Results: There was a positive and significant relationship between HEXACO personality dimensions and the quality of life in people suffering from depression. The results of stepwise regression analysis showed that all personality dimensions and emotion regulation could significantly predict the quality of life. Therefore, there was a positive and significant correlation between personality dimensions and emotion regulation with the quality of life. Conclusion: quality of life of people with depression can be predicted by emotion regulation and HEXACO personality factors

Affordable Autonomous Vehicles for Deployment after Disastrous Events

In disastrous events such as hurricanes and tornadoes, it has been observed that people get stranded and helpless without a feasible way to escape during those emergency situations. This became very evident during hurricanes, such as Katrina and Ida affecting millions of people seeking immediate rescue efforts. With the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, we envision an autonomous vehicle, AV, which is able to find the most optimal and safest way to help those who are stranded to get them to a safe location. Electric vehicles, EV, and Autonomous Vehicles, AV, is becoming the future; minimizing the carbon footprint, reducing accidents, and revolutionizing the car industry with new car production. The challenge for the next generation is the affordability of these new vehicles and their intelligence. Technology has been advancing making these vehicles autonomous from a level 0 (no automation) to level 5 (full driving automation), but cost is a significant factor making these vehicles very expensive. This research seeks to leverage affordable sensors, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to develop a smart car kit that can be retrofitted to any type of vehicle to make it smart. The novelty of this research is that we are utilizing less expensive technologies, such as, cameras, proximity sensors, and RFID technologies and also that this kit can be used to make older vehicle models smart. The future of work components of this research is the autonomous learning to minimize human risk in disaster recovery

Improvement of Radiation-Mediated Immunosuppression of Human NSCLC Tumour Xenografts in a Nude Rat Model

Human tumour xenografts in a nude rat model have consistently been used as an essential part of preclinical studies for anticancer drugs activity in human. Commonly, these animals receive whole body irradiation to assure immunosuppression. But whole body dose delivery might be inhomogeneous and the resulting incomplete bone marrow depletion may modify tumour behaviour. To improve irradiation-mediated immunosuppression of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) xenografts in a nude rat model irradiation (2 + 2 Gy) from opposite sides of animals has been performed using a conventional X-ray tube. The described modification of whole body irradiation improves growth properties of human NSCLC xenografts in a nude rat model. The design of the whole body irradiation mediated immunosuppression described here for NSCLC xenografts may be useful for research applications involving other types of human tumours