ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the intelligence and grip strength of orthopaedic surgeons and anaesthetists. DESIGN: Multicentre prospective comparative study. SETTING: Three UK district general hospitals in 2011. PARTICIPANTS: 36 male orthopaedic surgeons and 40 male anaesthetists at consultant or specialist registrar grade. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intelligence test score and dominant hand grip strength. RESULTS: Orthopaedic surgeons had a statistically significantly greater mean grip strength (47.25 (SD 6.95) kg) than anaesthetists (43.83 (7.57) kg). The mean intelligence test score of orthopaedic surgeons was also statistically significantly greater at 105.19 (10.85) compared with 98.38 (14.45) for anaesthetists. CONCLUSIONS: Male orthopaedic surgeons have greater intelligence and grip strength than their male anaesthetic colleagues, who should find new ways to make fun of their orthopaedic friends.
Subject(s)
Anesthesiology , Clinical Competence , Hand Strength , Orthopedics , Adult , Attitude of Health Personnel , Humans , Intelligence , Male , Middle Aged , Physicians , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Rgs2 (regulator of G-protein signalling 2) gene recently was reported as a quantitative trait gene for anxious behaviour in mice and male Rgs2 knockout mice have been shown to be more anxious than wildtype mice. Therefore we investigated four non-coding single nucleotide polymorphisms in a sample of 173 patients with panic disorder and 173 matched controls of German descent. At the genotype level all four SNPs were associated with panic disorder (p = 0.02-0.05). At the haplotype level the strongest association was observed for a haplotype containing SNP3 and SNP 4 (subgroup men and men with agoraphobia: p = 0.01 and 0.03). This points towards a functional polymorphism at the 3' end of the gene. Our results support the hypothesis that variations of the Rgs2 gene play a role also for the development of anxiety in humans.
