A new parasitoid wasp, Aphaereta vondelparkensis sp. n. (Braconidae, Alysiinae), from a city park in the centre of Amsterdam.

BACKGROUND: The parasitic wasp genus Aphaereta Foerster, 1863, belongs to the large subfamily Alysiinae Leach, 1815 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and contains solitary or gregarious endoparasitoids of larvae of cyclorrhaphous Diptera living in decaying organic matter. NEW INFORMATION: A new species, Aphaereta vondelparkensis sp. n. (Braconidae, Alysiinae, Alysiini), from a city park in the centre of Amsterdam (Vondelpark) is described and illustrated. The species was discovered on a so-called taxon expedition, in which experts and citizen scientists collaborate on taxonomic projects. The finding highlights the fact that new animal species can still be discovered today, even in the busiest park of the capital of one of the best studied European countries.

Work participation and arthritis: a systematic overview of challenges, adaptations and opportunities for interventions.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding the factors that play a role in maintaining people with inflammatory arthritis in the workforce may aid the design of interventions to support work participation. The objective of this systematic overview is to summarize qualitative studies that explore experiences of patients with inflammatory arthritis to remain employed or return to work. METHODS: Bibliographic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycInfo were searched until December 2011 to identify any qualitative studies that focused on experiences, challenges or adaptations of patients with inflammatory arthritis to remain employed. Thematic analyses were used to identify any first or higher order themes for which all data were entered into MAXQDA software. In addition, methodological quality was assessed using an eight-item checklist. RESULTS: Of 6338 citations, 10 studies were included. RA was the condition in eight studies. Individual interviews (six studies) were used more frequently than group interviews (four studies). Methodological quality varied from 2 to 8 points and had no effect on the number of themes identified. Thematic analyses showed seven key concepts important to patients, including disease symptoms, management of the disease, socioeconomic issues, work conditions and adaptations, emotional challenges, interpersonal issues affecting work and family life and meaning of work. CONCLUSION: By including studies from different countries and settings, we show a comprehensive overview of themes considered important by patients and strengthen our belief that these factors should be considered in interventions that aim to improve work participation for patients with inflammatory arthritis.

Experiences and needs for work participation in employees with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the experiences and needs with respect to work participation of employees with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. METHOD: Face-to-face interviews in 14 employees with RA on anti-TNF therapy focused on experiences, offered support and needs with respect to work participation. RESULTS: Experiences regarding work participation varied and ranged from fatigue at work, having no job control, not being understood by the work environment or difficulty dealing with emotions as a result of interaction within the work environment. Support by health care professionals for work participation was considered important, especially concerning social or psychological issues. Advice in becoming aware of one's changes in abilities was highly appreciated, as was the availability of professional advice in times of an urgent work issue due to RA. Employees mentioned an increase in social support at work and job control as important facilitating factors for work participation. CONCLUSION: Although patients with RA report improvement in their work functioning after starting anti-TNF therapy, employees continue facing challenges in working life due to RA. For support concerning work participation, it is recommended that health care professionals are more aware of work-related problems in patients with RA treated with anti-TNF therapy.