Diabetic Foot and Work Outcomes: A Review.

The aim of this review article was to discuss impact of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) on employment status and work productivity. We performed a literature search from 2000 to 2023 in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and in national repositories. The major work outcomes studied were presenteeism and absenteeism. Many DFUs patients had a poor social and educational background. Overall, DFUs patients experienced increased loss of productivity in their workplaces: either they had to be absent more working hours than average or they faced increased difficulty in meeting their daily requirements. The total loss in productivity is estimated to exceed almost one-third of anticipated working time, while 15 to 34.3% of DFUs patients expressed concerns about severe changes in their working environment, attributed directly to their condition. More than 1 out of 5 DFUs patients (ranging from 20 to 31.7%) were even confronted with overall job loss and unemployment. Amputations had an even more marked negative effect. In conclusion, DFUs negatively affect employment status and work productivity. Therefore, we need more studies with large participant numbers to increase our experience and to explore potential measures to mitigate these adverse effects.

Physical Activity, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Abdominal Obesity of Pre-Adolescent Children in the Region of Thrace, NE Greece, in Relation to Socio-Demographic Characteristics.

This study aimed to explore the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, and define predictive factors of their occurrence among pre-adolescents in the region of Thrace, NE Greece. A secondary aim was to record physical activity at different times (schooldays, weekends, holidays) and explore associations with characteristics such as gender, overweight and obesity, and socio-demographic conditions. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving children aged 11-12 years. Participating children were measured for height, weight, and waist circumference, and their parents answered a questionnaire. In total, 1929 children were included. Prevalence of overweight was 31.5%, prevalence of obesity 17%, and only 1% of children were underweight. Abdominal obesity was detected in 20.3% of the sample. Overweight and obesity were more frequent in males, who also had higher mean values of Body Mass Index-for-age z-scores (BMIaz) and Waist-to-Height ratio (WtHR). Obesity rates were higher among those not participating in physical activities; however, no significant difference was observed between normal-weight, overweight and obese children in the time spent for organized athletic activities or free play. Logistic regression analysis showed that the probability for overweight/obesity was higher in boys (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.16-1.66) and lower in children whose fathers had a higher educational level (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.60-0.93). The probability for abdominal obesity was also higher in boys (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.10-1.72) and lower in children participating at least one hour/day in an organized physical activity (compared to those with no physical activity (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.51-0.85), and whose father was exercising at least 1-2 times/week (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.591-0.98). In conclusion, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among pre-adolescents in NE Greece was estimated at 48.5%. This is associated with the male gender and not participating in physical activities. The educational level and exercise habits of the father (but not of the mother) affect the probability of obesity and abdominal obesity, respectively.

Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma in a postmenopausal woman complicated with an ovarian cyst: a case report.

Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cystic neoplasm, characterized by subtle symptoms, that occurs predominantly in reproductive-aged women. The pathogenesis and etiology of the disease are yet to be determined. We herein present a 71-year-old woman presented to our clinic with persistent low back pain. The clinical examination showed a palpable mass in the abdominal area. The magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple cystic lesions that occupy the largest part of the pelvis, posterior to the uterus. The patient underwent cyst excision, total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy and lymph node dissection. Postoperative course was uneventful and histopathology of the specimen revealed a benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma. Complete tumor resection is considered the optimal therapeutic approach of peritoneal mesothelioma. Histopathological analysis is required to confirm the diagnosis of multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma.

Shift Work and Quality of Personal, Professional, and Family Life among Health Care Workers in a Rehabilitation Center in Greece.

CONTEXT: Adverse work schedules and conditions may affect the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of workers, impairing quality of life and causing conflict between family and work roles. AIMS: To compare quality of life, professional quality of life (ProQOL), and work/family conflict (WFC) between shift workers and nonshift workers and explore possible associations with demographic characteristics. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: : A cross-sectional study was conducted in a rehabilitation center in Central Greece, recording demographic, occupational, and family characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants answered the World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index, the ProQOL questionnaire [compassion satisfaction (CS), and the burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress scales], and the WFC scale. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 19.0 for Windows. RESULTS: Ninety-one employees (68.7% shift workers) participated, with mean age 33.5. Females reported higher compassion/satisfaction level (P = 0.031). Nursing profession was associated with higher levels of BO (P = 0.021), impact of work to family life (P = 0.008), and impact of family to work (FtW), and WFC (P = 0.008). Parenthood increased the impact of FtW (P = 0.008) and predispose to WFC (P = 0.023). In general, wellbeing was significantly correlated with CS (r = 0.368, P < 0.01), BO (r = -0.538, P < 0.01), and levels of WFC (P = 0.003). Work and family roles conflict was statistically significantly correlated with levels of BO (r = 0.497, P < 0.01), and CS (r = -0.288, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The interaction between general, professional, and family quality of life can guide interventions in the workplace in order to improve workers' quality of life and promote workers' health.