Mental Health for the Everyman: World War II\u27s Impact on American Psychology

World War II transformed the American psychological field, bringing the treatment of mental health out of state hospitals and asylums and making psychological medicine available to the average person. This accessibility rekindled popular interest in psychology, leading to a shift in how Americans perceived the study and treatment of the mind. United States would eventually lead the world in psychological research and practical application, and in turn, American society became decidedly more psychological in nature. This research tracks these changes back to steps taken by the American military to analyse and sustain soldiers’ mental resilience and stability before, during, and after the war, and discusses how this resonates in the practice of American psychology today

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor of kidney mimicking as an inflammatory renal mass

Introduction: Renal primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is a rare and aggressive renal tumor with few reported cases in the literature.Observations: We report a case of a 23-year-old male patient who initially presented with features of an inflammatory renal space occupying lesion (SOL) on clinical evaluation and imaging. Guided fine-needle aspiration cytology from renal mass revealed poorly differentiated neoplasm. Left open radical nephrectomy was performed. Final histopathology examination, despite the absence of clinical, radiological and gross features was consistent with a diagnosis of renal PNET. Such uncommon presentation of renal PNET has been rarely reported in the literature. Our patient then received six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy (vincristine 1.5 mg/m2 on day 1, doxorubicin 20 mg/m2 on days 1–3, etoposide 150 mg/m2 on days 1–3, and ifosfamide 3 g/m2 on days 1–3 with mesna every 21 days). The patient developed multiorgan metastasis and progressive disease after remaining disease-free for 14 months.Conclusion: Renal PNET should be kept in the differentials of a renal SOL presenting in adolescents and young adults. All diagnostic modalities concerning SOL of the kidney must be interpreted with caution in order for the appropriate management. Punctures for cytology can be indicated in select cases. Histopathology, immuno histochemistry supported by cytogenetic studies are required for the exact diagnosis of renal PNET. Multidisciplinary approach consisting of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy is recommended to manage this condition in view of its aggressive nature and poor prognosis.Keywords: Renal; PNET; Imagin

Influenza Virus Transmission from Horses to Dogs, Australia

During the 2007 equine influenza outbreak in Australia, respiratory disease in dogs in close contact with infected horses was noted; influenza (H3N8) virus infection was confirmed. Nucleotide sequence of the virus from dogs was identical to that from horses. No evidence of dog-to-dog transmission or virus persistence in dogs was found

Oseltamivir-resistant influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in Dutch travellers returning from Spain, August 2012

Two Dutch travellers were infected with oseltamivirresistant influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses with an H275Y neuraminidase substitution in early August 2012. Both cases were probably infected during separate holidays at the Catalonian coast (Spain). No epidemiological connection between the two cases was found, and neither of them was treated with oseltamivir before specimen collection. Genetic analysis of the neuraminidase gene revealed the presence of previously described permissive mutations that may increase the likelihood of such strains emerging and spreading widely

Vulval elephantiasis as a result of tubercular lymphadenitis: two case reports and a review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Elephantiasis as a result of chronic lymphedema is characterized by gross enlargement of the arms, legs or genitalia, and occurs due to a variety of obstructive diseases of the lymphatic system. Genital elephantiasis usually follows common filariasis and lymphogranuloma venereum. It may follow granuloma inguinale, carcinomas, lymph node dissection or irradiation and tuberculosis but this happens rarely. Vulval elephantiasis as a consequence of extensive lymph node destruction by tuberculosis is very rare. We present two very unusual cases of vulval elephantiasis due to tuberculous destruction of the inguinal lymph nodes.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Two Indian women - one aged 40 years and the other aged 27 years, with progressively increasing vulval swellings over a period of five and four years respectively - presented to our hospital. In both cases, there was a significant history on presentation. Both women had previously taken a complete course of anti-tubercular treatment for generalized lymphadenopathy. The vulval swellings were extremely large: in the first case report, measuring 35 × 25 cm on the right side and 45 × 30 cm on the left side, weighing 20 lb and 16 lb respectively. Both cases were managed by surgical excision with reconstruction and the outcome was positive. Satisfactory results have been maintained during a follow-up period of six years in both cases.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Elephantiasis of the female genitalia is unusual and it has rarely been reported following tuberculosis. We report two cases of vulval elephantiasis as a consequence of extensive lymph node destruction by tuberculosis, in order to highlight this very rare clinical scenario.</p

A Mathematical Framework for Estimating Pathogen Transmission Fitness and Inoculum Size Using Data from a Competitive Mixtures Animal Model

We present a method to measure the relative transmissibility (“transmission fitness”) of one strain of a pathogen compared to another. The model is applied to data from “competitive mixtures” experiments in which animals are co-infected with a mixture of two strains. We observe the mixture in each animal over time and over multiple generations of transmission. We use data from influenza experiments in ferrets to demonstrate the approach. Assessment of the relative transmissibility between two strains of influenza is important in at least three contexts: 1) Within the human population antigenically novel strains of influenza arise and compete for susceptible hosts. 2) During a pandemic event, a novel sub-type of influenza competes with the existing seasonal strain(s). The unfolding epidemiological dynamics are dependent upon both the population's susceptibility profile and the inherent transmissibility of the novel strain compared to the existing strain(s). 3) Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs), while providing significant potential to reduce transmission of influenza, exert selective pressure on the virus and so promote the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Any adverse outcome due to selection and subsequent spread of an NAI-resistant strain is exquisitely dependent upon the transmission fitness of that strain. Measurement of the transmission fitness of two competing strains of influenza is thus of critical importance in determining the likely time-course and epidemiology of an influenza outbreak, or the potential impact of an intervention measure such as NAI distribution. The mathematical framework introduced here also provides an estimate for the size of the transmitted inoculum. We demonstrate the framework's behaviour using data from ferret transmission studies, and through simulation suggest how to optimise experimental design for assessment of transmissibility. The method introduced here for assessment of mixed transmission events has applicability beyond influenza, to other viral and bacterial pathogens

Exploring the Satisfaction and Self-confidence of 3rd Year Medical Technology Students from Manila, Philippines regarding their Simulation Activities during the Enriched Virtual Mode of Delivery

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in medical technology education transitioning from traditional face-to-face classes to online classes, which were delivered through online platforms and online laboratories. Along with these changes, the levels of confidence and satisfaction of students may have been affected. The former affects their willingness to participate while the latter keeps the students engaged in the continuous learning process. With this, the study aims to assess the satisfaction and self-confidence levels of 3rd-year medical technology students regarding the simulation activities utilized during the Enriched Virtual Mode of delivery. A survey questionnaire was used to gather the socio-demographic information and the levels of satisfaction and self-confidence of 293 medical technology students from the University of Santo Tomas in relation to their use of  simulation activities during the Enriched Virtual Mode of delivery. The software IBM SPSS was used to analyze the data gathered statistically through descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation, Spearman’s rank correlation, the Mann-Whitney test, and the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis. Results exhibited that a strong positive correlation is observed between the satisfaction and self-confidence of the respondents regarding their simulation activities. However, the relationship between satisfaction regarding the simulation activities and the respondents’ age and gender was weakly positive and negligible. There was also a negligible positive correlation between the socio-demographic variables and the satisfaction of the respondents, and a negligible negative correlation between the socio-demographic variables and the self-confidence of the respondents

Distinguishing Financialization from Neoliberalism

This article contends that neoliberalism and financialization, although sharing much in common, are not synonymous developments. Not only do strongly financialized nations display structural, economic differences, they are also directed by alternative economic epistemologies, cultures and practices. The argument is made by examining the financialization of the UK economy since the mid-1970s. This shift was not simply part of a broad transition away from Keynesianism and towards free market fundamentalism. It was also one very much guided by the particular economic paradigm, discursive practices and devices of the City of London as financial elites took up influential positions in the Thatcher government. The discussion and case example highlight five epistemological elements specific to finance: the creation of money in financial markets, the transactional focus of finance, the centrality of financial markets to economic management, the orthodoxy of shareholder value, and the intense microeconomic approach to financial calculation. Such elements, in conjuction with neoliberalism’s reliance upon finance-blind neoclassical economics, lies at the cultural and epistemological distinction between fiancialization and neoliberalism. Identifying such distinctions opens up new possibilities for understanding financialization, elites, and the neoliberal condition that brought about the financial crash of 2007-08, as well as the political and economic crises that have followed