Prevalence and factors associated with professional burnout in Polish oncologists-results of a nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND: High rates of burnout are observed among health care professionals worldwide, which could have negative consequences on personal and organizational levels. We aimed to evaluate the burnout prevalence and factors associated with burnout among oncologists in Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was conducted using the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) and additional work/lifestyle questions. Descriptive statistics, parametric and nonparametric tests, and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with burnout. RESULTS: A total of 228 physicians participated in the survey, including 168 medical oncologists, 43 radiation oncologists, and 17 from other specialties. Data collected from 211 medical and radiation oncologists were included in the final analyses. Most participants were female (71.6%) and ≤40 years of age (70.1%). A self-reported feeling of burnout was present in 65.9% of participants. Based on the MBI-HSS, 74.9% showed evidence of burnout with burnout subdomains as follows: depersonalization 37.0%; emotional exhaustion 64.5%; low accomplishment 43.1%. There were no differences in burnout rates based on specialization (oncology/haematology-75.6%, radiotherapy-72.1%), career stage, gender, or age groups. Lack of work-life balance was the only significant factor associated with the risk of burnout in the logistic regression (relative risk 2.6, 95% confidence interval 1.3-5.4). Only 20.9% of physicians had access to psychological support in their workplace; however, 70.1% desired such support. Three main factors impacting burnout in cancer care workers were: bureaucracy and administrative duties overload, admissions of many patients, and poor work culture. CONCLUSIONS: Burnout is common among medical and radiation oncologists in Poland. There is a high demand for psychological support and organizational changes in the workplace to reduce risk and mitigate the adverse effects of burnout among health care professionals.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy promotes corneal allograft survival in rats by local and systemic immunomodulation.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are being investigated extensively due to their ability to dampen immune responses. Here, we tested the ability of MSCs from three distinct sources to prolong rat corneal allograft survival. A fully allogeneic rat cornea transplant model (DA to LEW) was used. Recipient rats received 1 × 10(6) MSCs (syn [LEW], allo [DA] or third-party [Wistar Furth]) intravenously 7 days before transplantation and again on the day of transplantation (day 0). A high percentage of untreated and syn-MSC treated allografts were rejected (80% and 100%, respectively). Preactivation of syn-MSCs with interferon gamma also failed to prolong allograft survival. Conversely, corneal allograft survival was significantly prolonged in allo-MSC treated (90%) and third-party MSC treated (80%) allograft recipients. Flow cytometric analysis revealed less infiltrating natural killer T cells in corneas of both allo- and third-party MSC treated animals, coupled with a higher proportion of splenic CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, compared to controls. In the case of allo- and third-party MSCs, results from a delayed-type hypersensitivity assay clearly showed that hypo-responsiveness was specific for corneal donor-associated allo-antigens. Thus, allo- and third-party MSC treatment prolongs corneal allograft survival by suppressing peripheral immune responses and promoting an intragraft immunoregulatory milieu.

Beneficial effect of short-term endurance training on glucose metabolism during rehabilitation after coronary bypass surgery.

AIMS: Our study was aimed at determining whether beneficial modification of carbohydrate metabolism can be obtained after a short-term training program and whether it is associated with an increase in binding and degradation of (125)I-insulin by erythrocyte receptors that suggests a decrease in insulin resistance. METHODS: The study was conducted in a group of 20 patients aged 56 +/- 1.9 years (mean +/- SEM), within 1 to 6 months after coronary bypass surgery. All patients completed 15 training sessions based on 30 min of cycling with a constant load. Before and after a 3-week training program, glucose, insulin, and C-peptide blood levels, as well as binding and degradation of (125)I-insulin by erythrocyte receptors, were determined. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease was found in the blood glucose level, from 111.2 +/- 4.2 to 97.8 +/- 3.5 mg/dL (p < 0.01); this decrease was not accompanied by significant insulin concentration changes. There was also a significant increase in insulin binding, from 0.535 +/- 0.059 to 0.668 +/- 0.042 pg (125)I/10(11) RBCs (p < 0.01), and degradation from 7.64 +/- 0.54 to 9.49 +/- 0.58 pg (125)I/10(11) RBCs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicated that even short-term endurance training in patients rehabilitated after coronary bypass surgery induced favorable modification of glucose metabolism, presumably caused by a decrease in insulin resistance.

Capillary electrophoretic separation of N-acetylcysteine and its impurities as a method for quality control of pharmaceuticals.

Capillary electrophoresis has been applied to separate and determine N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and related impurities. Determination conditions were found to be optimum with 100 mmol/l borate as the buffer, pH 8.40. The limit of detection was established for each substance examined. The method has been validated by examining linearity ranges, precision and repeatability. The method was used to determine the content of NAC in, and purity of, pharmaceutical preparations. The major impurities (N,N-diacetylcystine, N,S-diacetylcysteine and cystine) were determined at levels of 0.1%.

Role of high-resolution pinhole tomography in the evaluation of thyroid abnormalities.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the contribution of pinhole-single photon emission computed tomography (P-SPECT) to scintigraphy of the thyroid gland. Thirty-six patients, referred for thyroid scintigraphy because of palpatory or ultrasonographic findings, were studied after intravenous administration of technetium-99m pertechnetate (222 MBq) using a rectilinear scanner and a single-headed rotating gamma camera equipped with a pinhole collimator. P-SPECT study was acquired on a 128 x 128 matrix, in 30 projections over 180 degrees and an acquisition time of 40 seconds per step. After transaxial reconstruction, coronal slices were compared with planar views obtained by the scanner. The size of the thyroid gland obtained by P-SPECT matched the life-size image of a rectilinear scan, and it clearly delineated the shape and borders of two huge multinodular glands. Its major contribution was in its improved resolution. Pinhole-SPECT identified 21 foci not visualized on planar views, 19 cold lesions, and 2 "warm" nodules embedded in normal tissue of 13 patients. Furthermore, it clearly delineated 18 discrete ill-defined nodules of 13 patients, (single in 4 patients and multiple in 9 patients): 16 cold lesions, and 2 hot foci. When a distinct palpable nodule was present, whether cold (22 lesions) or hot (2 foci), SPECT was of no additional diagnostic value. However, when the palpable nodule was a toxic one, the contralateral suppressed lobe was visible on SPECT only. Two ultrasonographic findings, of 3- and 5-mm in diameter, were neither identified on planar views nor on P-SPECT. In conclusion, P-SPECT of the thyroid gland improves delineation of huge multinodular glands and detection of small nodules (within the resolution of the camera) that could otherwise have been overlooked on planar views of a thyroid scanner. It allows for definition of tracer uptake in tiny discrete nodules and in multinodular goiter, and is a better guide to the physician in fine-needle aspiration of the cold areas.

[Epithelioid cell histiocytoma]. / Das epitheloidzellige Histiozytom.

We report on seven examples of this rare, only recently described benign tumor, which presented clinically as solitary elevated nodules on the lower (n = 5) and upper (n = 2) extremity, measuring between 0.6 and 1.1 cm in diameter. Histologically, all tumors were well-defined with a characteristic epidermal collarette. There were abundant (60-80%) epithelioid cells with prominent cytoplasm, a vesicular nucleus and inconspicuous nucleolus, as well as a number of dilated blood vessels. Immunohistologically, tumor cells did not react with monocyte/macrophage antibodies (KP1, MAC387). In addition, there was no evidence of myofibroblastic differentiation (alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin negative). Thus, while immunohistological markers are helpful to exclude the diagnosis of other tumors, they do not shed light on the differentiation of epithelioid cell histiocytomas. The present cases are identical to those described originally. Recently similar lesions have been described in deeper parts of the corium as well as more cellular forms. Epithelioid cell histiocytoma represents a characteristic, poorly known variant within the spectrum of benign fibrous histiocytomas; it needs to be distinguished clinically and histopathologically especially from Spitz nevus.

Cutaneous angiomyxoma: a benign neoplasm distinct from cutaneous focal mucinosis.

We describe a cutaneous angiomyxoma on the head of a 38-year-old man without evidence of Carney's complex. Complete excision of the tumor appeared to be curative. Histologic examination revealed fibroblast-like cells embedded in a well-demarcated, lobulate, mucinous, and vascularized stroma with a delicate reticulin network. Immunohistologically, the stromal cells were consistently positive for vimentin and focally positive for smooth muscle A-actin but were negative for desmin, KP1, MAC387, factor XIIIa, CD34, Leu-7, and S-100. Cutaneous angiomyxoma appears to represent a myofibroblastic neoplasm that should be distinguished from cutaneous focal mucinosis.

[Sclerotic fibroma]. / Das sklerotische Fibrom.

The clinical and histological diagnosis of sclerotic fibroma is important because of its potential association with Cowden's syndrome. Despite its distinctive histological appearance the lesion is often mis-diagnosed. We therefore present five of our own cases (2F, 3M) in which the tumor was located on the head (n = 2), arm (n = 2) and leg (n = 1), respectively. Clinically, the lesions were white to flesh-colored firm nodules ranging in size from 0.5 to 1.2 cm. None of our patients revealed any clinical evidence of Cowden's disease. Simple surgical excision seems to be curative. Histologically, they were well-circumscribed but not encapsulated dermal nodules composed of stori-form-arranged sclerosing collagen bundles and vimentin-positive fibroblastlike cells interspersed in three cases by a number of alpha-smooth-muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts. Approximately 50% of cells (dermal dendritic cells (DD)) also reacted for factor XIIIa evenly scattered throughout the lesion in contrast to the very few (< 5%) CD34+ DD found predominantly at the lower border, thus possibly reflecting the distribution of these cells in normal skin. Sclerotic fibroma expands the spectrum of fibrous lesions that may express alpha-smooth-muscle actin.

Cutaneous focal mucinosis--a histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of 11 cases.

The histogenesis of cutaneous focal mucinosis (CFM) is controversial. Eleven cases of CFM (5F, 6M; mean age 51 years) from our routine files between 1986 and the present time have, therefore, been examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Histology revealed an increased number of fibroblast-like cells in early lesions, whereas they were diminished or predominantly at the margin in advanced ones. The myxomatous areas showed slight to absent reticulum formation. Similarly, elastic fibers were almost absent, and collagen fibers were fragmented and replaced by variable amounts of mucin. One specimen revealed an epithelial component within the lesion reminiscent of a poorly induced trichofolliculoma. Immunohistochemically, vimentin was consistently present and correlated with the number of fibroblast-like cells. A few (< 5%) CD34+ dermal dendritic cells (DDs) were focally seen within CFM. In contrast, FXIIIa+ DDs accounted for up to 30%. Fibroblast-like cells were negative for S-100 protein, Leu7, desmin and alpha-SMA. The epithelial component within one of our specimens seems to have been induced by CFM and is a feature also seen in (angio)-myxomas. CFM appears to be a mesenchymally derived lesion composed predominantly of fibroblasts. DDs do not form the major cell component but rather seem passively incorporated.

[Pemphigus chronicus benignus familiaris (Hailey-Hailey disease) and bipolar affective disease in 3 members of a family]. / Pemphigus chronicus benignus familiaris (Morbus Hailey-Hailey) und bipolare affektive Erkrankung bei drei Mitgliedern einer Familie.

We report on three family members suffering from both autosomal dominant Hailey-Hailey disease and bipolar affective disorder. As molecular biology techniques have made the localization of genes causing simple Mendelian traits possible as a routine task, the gene for Hailey-Hailey disease will presumably be localized in the foreseeable future. The Hailey-Hailey gene and its chromosomal surrounding will then be a region of interest for linkage studies in bipolar affective disorder.

[Chondroid syringoma. Immunohistologic indications of myoepithelial differentiation]. / Chondroides Syringom. Immunhistologische Hinweise für eine myoepitheliale Differenzierung.

Chondroid syringoma belongs to the group of so-called mixed tumors, like pleomorphic adenomas of the lacrimal and salivary glands. The histogenesis of this tumour is still disputed, in particular with respect to its stromal component. The distribution of cytokeratins (CKs), CEA, EMA, vimentin, S-100 protein, desmin and actin [alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA)] was investigated by immunohistological examination of paraffin sections from a chondroid syringoma of the apocrine type. The neoplastic formations have been classified into tubuloalveolar structures, solid nests/aggregations and stromal cells of varying morphology. The inner-most cells of tubuloalveolar structures were characterized by marked expression of CKs (KL1 and MNF116), CEA and EMA, while in the outer ones there was moderate expression of vimentin, S-100 was expressed to a lesser extent and KL1, weakly but there was marked and consistent expression of MNF116. Whereas the solid nests expressed vimentin, S-100 protein, MNF116 markedly and KL1 weakly, the stromal cells were consistently positive for vimentin, S-100 protein and, focally, CKs and alpha-SMA. Anti-alpha-SMA specifically detects myoepithelial cells. In addition, the partly overlapping immunoreactivity of the intermediate filaments, membrane proteins and proteins in the different structures may indicate a common clonal origin of all neoplastic cells in chondroid syringoma.

[Chronic bullous dermatosis in childhood (linear IgA dermatosis)]. / Chronisch bullöse Dermatose im Kindesalter (lineäre IgA-Dermatose).

A 5-year-old boy presented with disseminated, partly grouped blisters indicative of chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood (CBDC) following a gastrointestinal infection 2 weeks earlier. CBDC has long been differentiated from adult linear IgA disease. Clinical and laboratory studies revealed substantial clinical and immunological overlap between the two blistering disorders, whereas recent investigations suggest heterogeneity of the target antigen involved. Pathohistological and immunofluorescence-microscopical characteristics of a subepidermal blister and linear IgA and granular C3 deposition at the basement membrane together with the typical history and clinical signs were decisive in the differential diagnosis. The disease promptly cleared up after daily administration of 16 mg methylprednisolone-21-acetate tapering and 25 mg dapsone. Immunohistological detection of collagen IV at the base of a blister made it possible to localize the split above the lamina densa. The demonstration of collagen IV stresses the importance of immunodermatopathology in the differential diagnosis of subepidermal blistering diseases.