During a 5-month period, 18 (8%) of 212 patients admitted to a psychiatric unit affiliated to a teaching hospital were found to have a catatonic syndrome associated with various nonorganic mental disorders. Signs and symptoms of motor retardation predominated the clinical presentations. In the course of a prospective, open study, all 18 patients were challenged by a small dose of oral lorazepam or intramuscular diazepam. Catatonic signs and symptoms in 2 patients showed an immediate, complete, and sustained response to the medication. The remaining 16 patients were maintained on 1 of the 2 benzodiazepines for the next 48 h when their motor status was re-evaluated. Significant clinical improvement was detected in all but 2 patients. However, 9 patients needed electroconvulsive treatment to achieve further improvement. Short-term benzodiazepine administration proved to be a safe and effective treatment of the catatonic syndrome.

BackgroundWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have become increasingly common among health-related professionals. Special education personnel who serve students with disabilities often experience physical strains; however, WMSDs have been overlooked in this population. The objectives of this study were to investigate the work-related ergonomics-associated factors in this population and to evaluate their correlation with the WMSDs prevalence.MethodsA questionnaire with three domains, namely demographics, prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and ergonomic factors, designed by our research team was delivered to educators who work in special education schools.ResultsApproximately 86 % of the 388 special education school teachers and teacher’s aides in this study experienced musculoskeletal disorders. The lower back, shoulder, and wrist were the three most affected regions. A logistic regression analysis revealed that the participants’ background factors, namely >5.5 years of experience (odds ratio [OR] = 4.090, 95 % CI: 1.350-12.390), students with multiple disorders (OR = 2.412, 95 % CI: 1.100-5.287), and other work-related ergonomic factors (assistance in diaper changing and others duties), were strongly associated with the prevalence of WMSD. Nap habit (OR = 0.442, 95 % CI: 0.230-0.851) and having teaching partners in the same class (OR = 0.486, 95 % CI: 0.250-0.945) resulted in low possibility of acquiring WMSDs. The use of supportive devices was associated with a low WMSD prevalence.ConclusionsThe present study revealed an association between WMSDs and specific job features among teachers and teacher’s aides in special education schools. Future efforts should emphasize examining safe student-handling ergonomics, formulating policies regarding student-teacher ratio, incorporating mandatory break times at the workplaces, and promoting personal health for preventing work-related injuries.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-2777-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Both GLQG and physical stretching are beneficial during recovery following breast cancer. GLQC was more effective in terms of Qol improvements than physical stretching. Both programs brought improvements in anxiety or depression but had were comparable. GLQC group had a greater effect on immunological function than physical exercise.

Objectives: Venous diseases in the lower extremities long lacked an objective diagnostic tool prior to the advent of the triggered angiography non-contrast-enhanced (TRANCE) technique. Methods: An observational study with retrospective data analysis. Materials: Between April 2017 and June 2019, 66 patients were evaluated for venous diseases through TRANCE-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and were grouped according to whether they had occlusive venous (OV) disease, a static venous ulcer (SU), or symptomatic varicose veins (VV). The clinical appliance of TRANCE-MRI was analysed by groups. Results: In total, 63 patients completed the study. TRANCE-MRI could identify venous thrombosis, including that of the abdominal and pelvic vessels, and it enabled the timely treatment of underlying diseases in patients with OV disease. TRANCE-MRI was statistically compared with the duplex scan, the gold standard to exclude deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the legs, with regard to their abilities to detect venous thrombosis by using Cohen’s kappa coefficient at a compatible value of 0.711. It could provide the occlusion degree of the peripheral artery for treating an SU. Finally, TRANCE-MRI can be used to outline all collateral veins and occult thrombi before treating symptomatic or recurrent VV to ensure a perfect surgical plan and to avoid complications. Conclusions: TRANCE-MRI is an innovative tool in the treatment of versatile venous pathology in the lower extremities and is widely used for vascular diseases in our institution.

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The mHIT regimen improves peak cardiac pumping capacity with reducing cardiac after-load and simultaneously increases ventilation efficiency during exercise in patients with HFREF. Thereby, aerobic fitness is ameliorated.

Moyamoya disease is a unique chronic cerebrovascular condition caused by progressive stenosis of the arteries around the circle of Willis with prominent arterial collateral circulation. Noonan-like syndrome with loose anagen hair (NSLH) is characterized by short stature, characteristic facial phenotype, darkly pigmented and hairless skin, mild psychomotor delay with attention deficit disorder, and easily pluckable, sparse, thin, slow growing hair. Mutations in SHOC2 have been reported to underlie NSLH. In this paper, we describe two individuals with NSLH who also have moyamoya disease and in whom heterozygous germline mutation in SHOC2 was found.

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