Social exclusion of people with disabilities in the local community. Barrier-free architecture on the example of Rehabilitation and Leisure Center in Okuninka, Poland

The main barriers to the exclusion of people with disabilities from society are architectural, urban and social barriers of all kinds. Adapting areas and buildings to the needs of people with disabilities is one way of combating social exclusion and an important therapeutic element. In this paper the problem of social exclusion of people with disabilities due to architectural and psychological barriers (social prejudices) has been addressed. The Rehabilitation and Recreation Centre in Okuninka served as an example of a place fully adapted to the needs of the disabled, called barrier-free architecture.

Drug Delivery Using Theranostics: An Overview of its Use, Advantages and Safety Assessment

Following progress in modern medicine, advances have been made in diagnosis and treatment tools. Multifunctional nanomaterials that combine therapeutic and diagnostic functions in a single nanostructured complex are known as ‘theranostics’. To obtain a theranostic, a single particle, usually a nanoparticle, is manufactured to contain a therapeutic element (such as a drug) coupled with an imaging element. There are many kinds of nanoparticles available today that can be used to obtain theranostics, such as liposomes, cyclodextrin, conjugates and complexes, dendrimers, vesicles, micelles, core-shell particles, microbubbles, and carbon nanotubes. Because these materials interact with and should have effects on biological systems, their use may overcome health challenges. Considering the novelty and importance of this subject, this review aims to present general information about theranostics and discuss the safety and presumable toxicity of these constructs. In addition, we describe the methodologies that can be used to assess the safety of theranostics. This review is based on a literature search on theranostics, using the Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct as the main sources of information. The period of publication was not delimited due to the scarcity of information and publications on this topic. Although many promising theranostic systems have been investigated and may revolutionise therapy, when designing new tools, researchers need to find alternatives to minimise their toxicity. The study of the toxicology and biocompatibility of theranostics needs to be continued, including clinical studies, with the aim of benefitting many patients in the future.

Lack of cause-effect evidence for the association between exercise and mortality: a true scientific debate for a false clinical issue

A recent debate raises the issue that there is no cause-effect data from well-powered randomized controlled trials showing that exercise decreases mortality. In this opinion article, we further discuss this issue focusing on the definitions of physical activity (PA) and exercise and the clinical meaningfulness of mortality in the context of PA and exercise. In sum, although mortality is a major clinical outcome, the extent to which its risk should guide PA global recommendations and even exercise prescription is probably negligible, in particular for the large majority of healthy individuals. The debate about prescribing exercise on the basis of cause-effect association regarding mortality is a scientific debate rather than a clinical decision discussion. Health professionals should continuing to stimulate sedentary people to increase their PA and to prescribe exercise adapted to the target population as both a preventive strategy and a therapeutic element, focusing in clinical outcomes individuals consider important.

The role of nelarabine in the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: literature review and own experience

Aim. The analysis of experience of nelarabine use in refractory/relapsed T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) depending on the immunophenotype and the line of therapy. Materials and methods. All the patients with relapsed or refractory T-ALL aged from 0 to 18 years who received treatment with nelarabine as a part of the therapeutic element R6 were included in the study. For all patients a detailed immunological analysis of leukemia cells with discrimination of immunological variants TI, TII, TIII or TIV was performed. Patients administered with nelarabine as a first therapeutic element were referred to the first-line therapy group, other patients were referred to the second-line therapy group. Nelarabine was administered as intravenous infusion at a dose of 650 mg/m2, on days 1-5. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (allo-HSCT) was considered for all patients. Results. From 2009 to 2017, 54 patients with refractory/relapsed T-ALL were treated with nelarabine. Five-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) was 28% for all patients, cumulative risk of relapse (CIR) was 27%. EFS was significantly higher in nelarabine first-line therapy group in comparison with second-line therapy group (34±8% vs 8±8%, p=0,05). In patients after allo-HSCT EFS, OS and CIR were 51±10%, 50±10% and 39,1±9,5% accordingly. The best results were achieved in patients with TI immunophenotype. No toxicity-related mortality as well as severe neurologic complications or discontinuation of therapy associated with use of nelarabine were reported. Conclusion. The use of nelarabine is an effective strategy for the treatment of relapsed and refractory T-ALL. The best treatment outcomes were obtained in patients with TI immunophenotype and in the first-line therapy group. Optimal dosage regimens can be established during controlled clinical trials.

Work–Life and Well-Being in U.K. Therapeutic Prison Officers: A Thematic Analysis

Previous research has clearly demonstrated the positive impact of therapeutic interventions on offenders’ well-being. Much less is known about the impact on prison staff facilitating and delivering such interventions. We employed qualitative methodology to capture a deeper understanding of the work of therapeutic prison officers. Seven prison officers working in a U.K. Category B therapeutic community prison were interviewed about their working lives, including their own participation in therapy. Following a thematic analysis approach, key findings indicated that the physical and cultural work environment was very important to staff; the therapeutic element of their job role, although demanding, was both satisfying and rewarding; and that working in a therapeutic prison environment provided the opportunity for personal as well as professional development. We conclude that further attention should be given to the unique nature of therapeutic prison work and the positive impact it can have on well-being at work.

Can Tai Chi and Qigong Postures Shape Our Mood? Toward an Embodied Cognition Framework for Mind-Body Research

Dynamic and static body postures are a defining characteristic of mind-body practices such as Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ). A growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that TCQ may be beneficial for psychological health, including management and prevention of depression and anxiety. Although a variety of causal factors have been identified as potential mediators of such health benefits, physical posture, despite its visible prominence, has been largely overlooked. We hypothesize that body posture while standing and/or moving may be a key therapeutic element mediating the influence of TCQ on psychological health. In the present paper, we summarize existing experimental and observational evidence that suggests a bi-directional relationship between body posture and mental states. Drawing from embodied cognitive science, we provide a theoretical framework for further investigation into this interrelationship. We discuss the challenges involved in such an investigation and propose suggestions for future studies. Despite theoretical and practical challenges, we propose that the role of posture in mind-body exercises such as TCQ should be considered in future research.

Sanity and Friendship: The Therapeutic Element of Residential Living

In this article, I set out to describe my 7-year apprenticeship with R. D. Laing in London, between 1973 and 1980, 4 of those year which comprised my living in one of Laing’s post-Kingsley Hall houses, Portland Road. My goal is to use the metaphor of friendship to explain how living in a house with no ostensible treatment or therapy can engender a healing experience for the people living in that house, many of whom would be diagnosed as schizophrenic if admitted to mental hospital. Though this particular example of this concept is located in a residential living situation, I believe that it holds much broader application, including individual psychotherapy.

EL PERDÓN EN LA MEMORIA AUTOBIOGRÁFICA: LA REESCRITURA DE LOS ACONTECIMIENTOS VITALES

The present research shows the role of forgiveness as a significant factor in the process of vital reconstruction through the call Autobiographical Memory (remembrance of events experienced). Forgiveness is a significant mechanism in the memory taken it as positive and therapeutic element. Positive Psychology has been studying this construct and endorsing it as a component to achieve happiness and wellbeing. In this research is analyzed the capacity to forgive, the characteristics of its definition and the reasons or circumstances that facilitate it, in a sample of 401 subjects (127 men and 274 women) of different ages (201 youth and 200 older) to observe whether there is a different conception of forgiveness according to age and sex. The results show that young people manifest less capacity to forgive, and men more motivation for revenge, in the definition of forgiveness, young and old consider reconciliation and lack of rancor as the most important factors, and respect to the facilitating factors of forgiveness, older give more importance to passing of time and religious beliefs, and youth for either repentance and ask for forgiveness, regardless of sex.Keywords: Forgiveness, Autobiographical Memory, Positive Psychology, Happiness, Gratitude.Resumen.La investigación realizada muestra el papel del perdón como factor significativo en el proceso permanente de reconstrucción vital a través de la llamada memoria autobiográfica (recuerdo de los sucesos vividos). El perdón es un elemento significativo en el mecanismo de la memoria tomado como elemento positivo y terapéutico. Desde la Psicología Positiva viene estudiándose este constructo y refrendándolo como componente para conseguir la felicidad y bienestar. En este estudio, se analiza la capacidad de perdonar, las características de su definición y las razones o circunstancias que lo facilitan, en una muestra de 401 sujetos (127 varones y 274 mujeres) de diferentes edades (201 jóvenes y 200 mayores) para observar si existe una diferente concepción de perdón dependiendo de la edad y el sexo. Los resultados muestran que los jóvenes manifiestan menor capacidad de perdonar, y los hombres mayor motivación de venganza; en la definición de perdón, tanto jóvenes como mayores consideran la reconciliación y la falta de rencor como los factores más importantes; y respecto a los elementos que facilitan el perdón, los mayores tienen como más significativos el paso del tiempo y las creencias religiosas, y los jóvenes que haya arrepentimiento y se pida perdón, sin distinción de sexo.Palabras clave: Perdón, Memoria autobiográfica, Psicología Positiva, Felicidad, Gratitud.