Particle therapy masterclass

The aim of the new Particle Therapy MasterClass (PTMC) was to develop an educational and training environment in which anyone can learn about fundamental and applied research in particle therapy. The PTMC was recently integrated into the International MasterClass 2021 online programme that attracted 1500 students from 37 institutes in 20 countries, worldwide. The PTMC focuses on the topic of cancer treatment, a particularly sensitive and socially relevant topic. The main idea is to (a) provide a basic understanding of cancer radiation therapy, (b) demonstrate that fundamental properties of particle interactions with matter, which are used for detection in physics experiments, are also the basis for treating cancer tumours; and (c) show that the same accelerator technologies are used in both, research laboratories and therapy centres. For the hands-on session, the open-source professional treatment planning software matRad is used, developed for research and training by the German Cancer Research Center – DKFZ. Ultimately, students are shown “what physics has to do with medicine” and what are the various possibilities that physics and STEM studies may open up for job opportunities in fields that are lacking expert personnel.

Chronic Pain among Individuals Experiencing Homelessness and Its Interdependence with Opioid and Other Substance Use and Mental Illness

Chronic pain and substance use disorders are serious conditions that are prevalent among homeless populations. The aim of this study was to examine the association between chronic pain and substance use among individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness. We analyzed cross-sectional data from two sites of the At Home/Chez Soi study (Vancouver and Toronto) using bivariate statistics and multivariate logistic regression. Substance use and chronic pain parameters were assessed with the Maudsley Addiction Profile and purpose-designed short instruments. The sample comprised 828 participants. Mean age was 42.4 years and 54% reported chronic pain. In bivariate analysis, chronic pain was significantly associated with use of opioids and stimulants, daily substance use, polysubstance use and injecting as route of administration. In multivariate analysis, only daily substance use (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.02–2.09) and injecting (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.08–3.05) remained as significant associated factors, whereas neither use of opioids nor use of stimulants specifically were significantly associated with chronic pain. Among participants with chronic pain, daily substance users (50% vs. 22%, p < 0.001) and injectors (66% vs. 24%, p < 0.001) were more likely to use non-prescribed medication for pain. Participants with daily substance use were less likely to receive professional treatment (52% vs. 64%, p = 0.017) and prescribed pain medication (42% vs. 54%, p = 0.023). Our findings suggest an association of chronic pain with patterns related to severity of substance use rather than to specific substance use in homeless persons with mental illness. Interventions aiming at prevention and treatment of chronic pain in this population should consider severity of substance use and associated risk behavior over use of specific substances.

Key Success Factors for Medical Service Quality of Early Treatment and Rehabilitation for Children in Taiwan

Early treatment and rehabilitation medical service is one of the important items in rehabilitation medicine. The service quality is critical for developing organizational sustainability. Therefore, the key success factors for the quality of such services are worthy of study. The main focus of this study is to explore the key success factors of the quality of early treatment and rehabilitation medical service in Taiwan. This study adopted an expert questionnaire for professional therapists related to rehabilitation care in Taiwan, and developed a total of 5 evaluation dimensions and 17 key success factors according to the concept of SERVQUAL. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to analyze the expert questionnaires. The research results show that reliability is the most important dimension to construct quality early treatment and rehabilitation medical services. The seven key success factors affecting the quality of early treatment and rehabilitation medical services are in the order of “Professional treatment meets the needs of the case”, “Therapists have professional knowledge and skills”, “Professionalism gives parents and the case confidence”, “Professional advice can be understood by parents”, “The treatment equipment is consistent with the treatment provided by the therapists”, “Provide professional treatment in a timely and appropriate manner”, and “Therapists are enthusiastic and professional in handling case problems”. The practical implications of the research findings are also discussed in the study.

Syrian refugees perspectives on substance use

Background Little is known about Syrian refugees ‘perspectives on substance use. Syrians have been the largest groups of refugees in Germany since 2014. To investigate Syrian refugees’ perspectives on substance use we applied a qualitative study design. Methods Five semi-structured focus group discussions with a total of 19 refugees were conducted in 2019 among the difficult to reach population of Syrian refugees. Audio recordings were translated and transcribed, and inductive thematic was analysis conducted. Results The following common themes were identified: (a) perception that substances are widely accepted and available in Germany; (b) availability of substances is linked to rules and norms in Germany which are different in Syria, (c) and to the intention to escape not only the past (d) but the present and finally that (e) mental health professional treatment for substance use is associated with shame. Conclusions Findings support Syrian refugees ‘perspectives of substance use as a way of escaping past and present in a socio-ecological understanding which includes past and present exposures. Understanding the explanatory model of Syrian refugees can inform future interventions to prevent substance abuse and design tailored interventions. Further studies with Syrian refugees in more countries are needed to better understand resettled refugees’ perspectives on substance use. Messages The intention to escape past and present elucidates links between the context of using substances and context of feeling rejected. Context specific knowledge of substance use is necessary which includes past and present factors.

Electronic Medical Records for (Visceral) Medicine: An Overview of the Current Status and Prospects

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Electronic medical records (EMRs) offer key advantages over analog documentation in healthcare. In addition to providing details about current and past treatments, EMRs enable clear and traceable documentation regardless of the location. This supports evidence-based, multi-professional treatment and leads to more efficient healthcare. However, there are still several challenges regarding the use of EMRs. Understanding these challenges is essential to improve healthcare. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the current state of EMRs in the field of visceral medicine, to describe the future prospects in this field, and to highlight some of the challenges that need to be faced. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> The benefits of EMRs are manifold and particularly pronounced in the area of quality assurance and improvement of communication not only between different healthcare professionals but also between physicians and patients. Besides the danger of medical errors, the health consequences for the users (cognitive load) arise from poor usability or a system that does not fit into the real world. Involving users in the development of EMRs in the sense of participatory design can be helpful here. The use of EMRs in practice together with patients should be accompanied by training to ensure optimal outcomes in terms of shared decision-making. <b><i>Key Message:</i></b> EMRs offer a variety of benefits. However, it is critical to consider user involvement, setting specificity, and user training during development, implementation, and use in order to minimize unintended consequences.

The Importance of The Dental Hygienist in Implantology: A Narrative Review

Dental implants have become a standard treatment in the replacement of missing teeth. If maintaining good oral health in a mouth without prosthetic elements requires proper self oral hygiene and professional maintenance, preserving implant health requires even more accuracy and consistency. Dental hygienists are fundamental in the management of the bacterial biofilm, in the context of prevention, education and professional treatment of the patient. This review explores the importance and the role of the dental hygienist in oral implantology.

Management of Gingival Bleeding in Periodontal Patients with Domiciliary Use of Toothpastes Containing Hyaluronic Acid, Lactoferrin, or Paraprobiotics: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Periodontitis is an irreversible oral disease causing the destruction of tooth-supporting tissues. In addition to scaling and root planing (SRP) procedures, patients should achieve a correct domiciliary oral hygiene in order to maintain a healthy status. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of different toothpastes in reducing gingival bleeding in periodontal patients. In addition to a professional treatment of SRP, 80 patients were randomly divided into four groups according to the toothpaste assigned for the daily domiciliary use using an electric toothbrush: Group 1 (Biorepair Gum Protection), Group 2 (Biorepair Plus Parodontgel), Group 3 (Biorepair Peribioma PRO), and Group 4 (Meridol Gum Protection) (control group). After baseline (T0), patients were visited after 15 days (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3). At each appointment, the following periodontal indexes were assessed: bleeding on probing (BoP), full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS), and modified sulcus bleeding index (mSBI). All the experimental toothpastes caused an immediate significant modification of the three clinical indexes measured, except for the control product. Biorepair Peribioma PRO, with its paraprobiotic content, was also the only toothpaste causing a prolonged effect, reducing BoP even at T3. Accordingly, both hyaluronic acid and lactoferrin appear as reliable supports for the domiciliary management of periodontal disease. In spite of this, paraprobiotics are likely to show the most important benefit thanks to their immunomodulating mechanism of action.

Controlological perspective for a study of social control of crime

The article aims to consider the possibilities of using the controlological (critical) perspective in the analysis of social control of crime. The author reveals the main provisions of the new sociology of social control, or, in other words, the controlology. These provisions have received support in modern concepts of social control. The article shows the difference between controlological representations from the classical legal discourse. This difference, first of all, concerns the perception of institutional violence of state institutions for combating crime and ensuring security. Discussions, which reflect a critical view of crime control, unfold along three main lines. The first one concerns the consideration of control not only as a tool for maintaining the order established by the state, but also in terms of its negative consequences for individuals and society. The issues related to the selective control of the activities of persons holding a certain status in power and influencing the design of the legal field are considered. The second direction is associated with the analysis of the goals of social control. The methods of segregation of persons against whom the indictment has been issued are presented. In relation to them, the principle of behavioral homogeneity, which manifests itself both in a certain professional “treatment” with prisoners, and in arousing a persistent negative attitude towards them among the population, is implemented. The issue of social and cultural victimization of prisoners is considered. In the third direction, a critical perception of the subject of the activity of crime control agents is traced. Here, the focus of researchers is on the concept of “reliability”, which is discussed in relation to the assessment of crime risks, security means and the legality of actions of control agents. The basic provisions and conclusions in the article are supported by statistical data and the results of various studies.

Potrayal of Post-Traumatic Stress Diorder Among Flood Survivors

This study aims to look at the description of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in flood survivors. PCL-C was used as an instrument to measure post traumatic stress disorder. This study used the PCL-C scale from Weathers and was developed by Solichah. Data analysis was performed used descriptive analysis techniques with the help of SPSS version 22. Based on the results of the analysis, it was found that subjects who experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who were in the high category were 24.6%, 61.5% moderate, and low 13,8%. The implication of this study stated that individuals who have symptoms of PTSD after experiencing natural disaster need professional treatment to reduce their symptoms. Intervention is needed to make the individuals can overcome their obstacles and function better

Escaping the past and living in the present: a qualitative exploration of substance use among Syrian male refugees in Germany

Background Syrians have been the largest group of refugees in Germany since 2014. Little is known about Syrian refugees` perspectives on substance use. The aim of this study is to investigate the perspective of male refugees from Syria and to foster specific knowledge and understanding of substance use. Methods We applied a qualitative study design. Five semi-structured focus group discussions with a total of 19 refugees were conducted in 2019 among the difficult to reach population of Syrian refugees. Audio recordings were translated and transcribed. We used a hybrid approach by integrating inductive and deductive thematic frameworks. Results We identified common themes. Firstly, refugees perceived that substances are widely available and accepted in Germany. Secondly, refugees perceived that rules and norms in Germany differ from rules and norms in the home country and favor availability of substances. Thirdly, substance use is related to the intention to escape the past. Fourthly, substance use is related to living in the present through connecting with others and being part of the community. Finally, mental health professional treatment for substance use is associated with shame. Conclusions Findings support Syrian refugees` perspectives of substance use as a way of both escaping the past and coping with psychosocial difficulties in the present in a socio-ecological understanding. Understanding the explanatory model of Syrian refugees can inform future interventions to prevent substance abuse and design tailored interventions. Further studies with Syrian refugees in more countries are needed to better understand resettled refugees` perspectives on substance use.