The Portuguese long version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II (COPSOQ II) - a validation study

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial risks are now widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges for occupational safety and health (OSH) and a major public health concern. The aim of this paper is to investigate the Portuguese long version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II (COPSOQ II), in order to analyse the psychometric properties of the instrument and to validate it. METHODS: The Portuguese COPSOQ II was issued to a total of 745 Portuguese employees from both private and public organisations across several economic sectors at a baseline and then 2 weeks later. Methodological quality appraisal was based on COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) recommendations. An analysis of the psychometric properties of the long version of COPSOQ II (internal consistency, intraclass correlation coefficient, floor and ceiling effects, response rate, missing values, mean and standard deviation, exploratory factor analysis) was performed to determine the validity and reliability of the instrument. RESULTS: The COPSOQ II had a response rate of 60.6% (test) and a follow-up response rate of 59.5% (retest). In general, a Cronbach's alpha of the COPSOQ scales (test and retest) was above the conventional threshold of 0.70. The test-retest reliability estimated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) showed a higher reliability for most of the scales, above the conventional 0.7, except for eight scales. The proportion of the missing values was less than 1.3%, except for two scales. The average scores and standard deviations showed similar results to the original Danish study, except for eight scales. All of the scales had low floor and ceiling effects, with one exception. Overall, the exploratory factor analysis presented good results in 27 scales assuming a reflective measurement model. The hypothesized factor structure under a reflective model was not supported in 14 scales and for some but not all of these scales the explanation may be a formative measurement model. CONCLUSION: The Portuguese long version of COPSOQ II is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing psychosocial risks in the workplace. Although the results are good for most of the scales, there are those that should be evaluated in greater depth in future studies. This instrument may contribute to the promotion of a healthy working environment and workforce, providing clear benefits for companies and employees.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging findings in an isolated abscess of the clivus

We report the finding of restricted diffusion in an isolated abscess of the clivus and discuss the imaging differential diagnosis, with an emphasis on the usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging

Decision Making for Inconsistent Expert Judgments Using Negative Probabilities

In this paper we provide a simple random-variable example of inconsistent information, and analyze it using three different approaches: Bayesian, quantum-like, and negative probabilities. We then show that, at least for this particular example, both the Bayesian and the quantum-like approaches have less normative power than the negative probabilities one.Comment: 14 pages, revised version to appear in the Proceedings of the QI2013 (Quantum Interactions) conferenc

Primary spinal glioblastoma: A case report and review of the literature

Primary spinal glioblastoma (GBM) is a rare disease, with an aggressive course and a poor prognosis. We report a case of a 19-year-old male with a 4-week history of progressive weakness in both lower limbs, which progressed to paraparesis with a left predominance and difficulty in initiating urination over a week. Spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intramedullary expansile mass localised between T6 and T11. We performed a laminotomy and laminoplasty between T6 and T11 and the tumour was partially removed. Histopathological study was compatible with GBM. The patient was administered focal spine radiotherapy with chemotherapy with temozolamide. Serial MRI performed after the initial surgery demonstrated enlargement of the enhancing mass from T3 to T12 and subarachnoid metastatic deposits in C2 and C4, the pituitary stalk, interpeduncular cistern, left superior cerebellar peduncle and hydrocephalus. We review the literature with regard to the disease and treatment options, and report the unique features of this case. Primary spinal GBM is an extremely rare entity with a poor prognosis and a short survival time. An aggressive management of the different complications as they arise and improvement of current modes of treatment and new treatment options are required to improve survival and ensure better quality of life

Divergent mathematical treatments in utility theory

In this paper I study how divergent mathematical treatments affect mathematical modelling, with a special focus on utility theory. In particular I examine recent work on the ranking of information states and the discounting of future utilities, in order to show how, by replacing the standard analytical treatment of the models involved with one based on the framework of Nonstandard Analysis, diametrically opposite results are obtained. In both cases, the choice between the standard and nonstandard treatment amounts to a selection of set-theoretical parameters that cannot be made on purely empirical grounds. The analysis of this phenomenon gives rise to a simple logical account of the relativity of impossibility theorems in economic theory, which concludes the paper

Angeítis primaria del sistema nervioso central: una forma de presentación poco habitual

INTRODUCTION: Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare disease. Clinical signs and symptoms include headache and cognitive disorders associated to multifocal neurological deficits. A definitive diagnosis can only be achieved by means of a cerebromeningeal biopsy. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 15-year-old male who first reported lower back pain and progressive paresis of the right lower limb, later followed by laterocollis on the right side. Magnetic resonance (MR) scanning of the brain and spinal cord revealed a pseudotumoral lesion in the right cerebellum and two lesions in the spinal cord. Dexamethasone was administered and surgical resection of the cerebellar lesion was performed. Following surgery, the patient received corticoid treatment with progressive withdrawal. Full clinical recovery of the patient was achieved. A year later, the same patient was admitted to hospital again because of headaches and diplopia. A new MR brain scan showed a right frontotemporal lesion. Dexamethasone was administered and the patient recovered. Thirteen months later, he reported dysarthria and right-side hemiparesis. An MR brain scan revealed the presence of a number of bilateral lesions in the white matter. Results of a lumbar puncture showed lymphocytic pleocytosis and raised protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid. The laminae from the cerebromeningeal biopsy were reviewed and the results confirmed the hypothetical diagnosis of angiitis of the CNS. Treatment was established with intravenous cyclophosphamide in association with oral prednisone. CONCLUSIONS: Primary angiitis of the CNS is an infrequent disease and its pathogenesis remains unknown. The definitive diagnosis of these patients is histological. It courses spontaneously and generally has a fatal outcome. Treatment, which consists in an association of cyclophosphamide and prednisone, must be started as early as possible