Mental toughness of resident physicians in a private tertiary hospital in Davao City, Philippines using the mental toughness index

Background@#Mental toughness is believed to be one of the key factors that may help resident physicians endure their training. Objective: Determine the mental toughness of resident physicians in a private tertiary hospital in Davao City, Philippines using the Mental Toughness Index.@*Methods@#The researchers utilized the MTI and added open ended questions to identify positive and negative factors for the Resident’s MTI scores. The questionnaires were distributed to the residents using the online platform. The responses were recorded using the Likert scales and the short answers given were categorized as nominal data.@*Results@#The study had 37 respondents out of 42 total residents with an over-all response rate of 88.09%. The survey showed that female residents have a significantly higher scores. Resident with the age of 31 years and above have greater scores than younger co-residents. The Departments of Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYNE) had the highest scores (50.4, SD, +/- 4.04 vs 50.4, SD, +/- 2.79) among all the clinical departments. The Department of Pediatrics had the lowest mean score of 43.67 (SD, +/- 4.39). The study showed that junior residents have the highest MTI mean scores (49, +/- 3.47) and the mid-level of trainees had the lowest mean MTI scores (46.10, SD +/- 3.51). Residents with previous residency training experience have higher mean scores (50.67, SD +/- 4.37). Support Group was the most cited positive factor identified by the trainees. On the other hand, Personal Reasons were the most frequent negative factor that affect their mental toughness.@*Conclusion@#The study showed female residents, residents aged greater than 31 years, Surgical and OB GYNE residents, Junior Residents and Residents with previous residency training have better MTI scores. Social support groups and personal reasons could positively and negatively impact in their mental toughness, respectively.

Effect of tobacco smoking on tissue protein citrullination and disease progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of the present work was to study the effect of tobacco smoking on disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relation to anti-cyclical citrullinated peptide [anti-CCP] antibodies. The study included 54 patients; 20 non-smokers, 9 ex-smokers, 14 mild to moderate smokers and 11 heavy smokers. Fifteen normal volunteers were also studied as controls. Disease stage was clinically and radiologically determined, rheumatoid factor [RF] and anti-CCP antibodies were measured in serum. Higher percentage of severe disease [stage III] was seen in heavy smokers patients than mild to moderate smokers [54.6% versus 35.7%] and in moderate smokers than ex-smokers [35.7% versus 33.6%]. Lowest percentage of severe disease was seen in non-smokers [15%]. RF and anti-CCP were significantly higher in smoker than non-smoker and in heavy than mild to moderate smoker patients [p<0.01, p<0.05 and p<0.01, p<0.001, respectively]. In smoker patients, both RF and anti-CCP antibodies correlated significantly and positively with smoking index [r= 0.581, p<0.001; r= 0.661, p<0.001]. Also, smoking index and anti-CCP correlated significantly and positively with disease stage [r=0.424, p<0.05; r=0.523, p<0.01]. It appears from our results that, tobacco smoking mostly play a role progression of rheumatoid arthritis through tissue protein citrullination. So all rheumatoid arthritis patients must quit completely to achieve a good control

Cadmium removal from aqueous solutions by ground pine cone

A study on the removal of cadmium ions from aqueous solutions by pine cone was conducted in batch conditions. Kinetic data and equilibrium removal isotherms were obtained. The influence of different experimental parameters such as contact time, initial concentration of cadmium, pine cone mass and particle size, and temperature on the kinetics of cadmium removal was studied. Results showed that the main parameters that played an important role in removal phenomenon were initial cadmium con-centration, particle size and pine cone mass. The necessary time to reach equilibrium was between 4 and 7 hours based on the initial concentration of cadmium. The capacity of cadmium adsorption at equilibrium increased with the decrease of pine cone particle size. The capacity of cadmium adsorption at equilibrium by pine cone increased with the quantity of pine cone introduced [1-4 WL]. Temperature in the range of 20-30°C showed a restricted effect on the removal kinetics [13.56 mg/g at 20°C and a low capacity of adsorption about 11.48 mg/g at 30°C]. The process followed pseudo second-order kinetics. The cadmium uptake of pine cone was quantitatively evaluated using adsorption isotherms. Results indicated that the Langmuir model gave a better fit to the experimental data in comparison with the Freundlich equation

Thyroid function and thyroid autoimmunity in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

An association between diabetes mellitus and autoimmune thyroid disease is well known. We have investigated the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity in type 1 diabetic patients. Seventy-nine type 1 diabetic patients were recruited in the study, and underwent complete investigations for thyroid function, which included free thyroxine, free tri-iodothyronine, and thyroid stimulating hormone, of those only 64 patients had performed thyroid autoantibodies [TAb]; anti- thyroid peroxidase antibodies [TPOAb] or antimicrosomal antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies [TgAb]. They were compared with 127 healthy subjects matched for sex and age. This study was carried out at the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics, Jordan University, Amman, Jordan between 2000 and 2001. In the diabetic group, 7 cases [8.9%] of thyroid dysfunction were detected, 4 of these were diagnosed as subclinical hypothyroidism, whereas the other 3 had overt hypothyroidism and were on thyroxine replacement therapy. In the control group, 6 [4.7%] subjects were diagnosed as subclinical hyperthyroidism. There was a significant difference in thyroid function variables between diabetics and controls. Among type 1 diabetic patients, 7 [9.2%] had thyroid autoantibodies, 5 with positive TPOAb only and 2 with positive TAb; TPOAb or antimicrosomal antibodies and TgAb; compared with 8 [6.3%] in the control group, 4 with positive TPOAb only and 4 with positive TAb; TPOAb or antimicrosomal antibodies and TgAb P=0.68. Biochemical thyroid dysfunction and thyroid autoimmunity were evident in type 1 diabetics who were apparently euthyroid, with no significant difference between diabetics and controls