Study abroad programmes and student outcomes: Evidence from Erasmus.

Exploiting admission thresholds for participating in Erasmus, the most popular higher education study abroad programme in Europe, we implement a regression discontinuity design and show that student mobility does not delay graduation and, in addition, has a positive and significant impact on the final graduation marks of undergraduate students. We find that Erasmus mobility improves graduation results for undergraduate students enrolled in scientific and technical fields and for those who apply in the first year of their studies, especially when enrolled in more demanding degree courses. Investigating plausible mechanisms, we find that the positive impact on performance at graduation is stronger for students who visit foreign universities of relatively lower quality compared to their home university. Finally, we do not find statistically significant effects of Erasmus mobility on postgraduate educational choices and labour market outcomes one year after graduation.

Systemic Sclerosis in Males-Deciphering the Enigma of Erasmus Syndrome.

Background: Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by fibrosis in skin and internal organs. Chronic exposure to silica may not only lead to silicosis of lungs but also systemic sclerosis. Systemic sclerosis is relatively commoner in females; however, occupational exposure to silica in males makes them vulnerable to silica--associated systemic sclerosis (Erasmus syndrome). Objective: To describe the clinico-epidemiological aspects of systemic sclerosis in males in a retrospective cohort study. Materials and Methods: The data were analysed retrospectively for demographic profile and clinical characteristics including examination findings, laboratory investigations, and treatments of all male patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis with or without silica exposure, managed from January 2018 to December 2021. Results: Eight out of twelve patients were having silica exposure in the form of stone cutting, cement exposure, and working with concrete. The average age was 55 ± 10.72 years with average smoking exposure of around 24.4 ± 12.8 pack years. Skin thickening was reported by all patients with an average modified Rodnan score of 18.33/51 in diffuse and 7/51 in limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis. Raynaud's phenomenon and sclerodactyly were universal findings, while 9 (75%) patients had digital pitted scars. Antinuclear antibodies were present in all patients and specific antibodies substantiated the clinical assessment in almost all patients. Interstitial lung disease was the most common systemic finding present in 11 (91%) patients and tuberculosis was diagnosed in 2 (25%) cases with silica exposure. Gastrointestinal and cardiac system involvement was seen in 5 (41.6%) and 4 (33.3%) patients, respectively. Conclusion: Systemic sclerosis in males against the gender predilection indicates the role of occupational exposure. Silicosis and systemic sclerosis synergistically add to lung damage, and at the same time, these patients are more prone to infections like tuberculosis.

Exploring the Impact of Occupational Silica Exposure Progressing to Systemic Sclerosis: A Report on the Development of Silica-Induced Systemic Sclerosis Cases.

Erasmus syndrome is an uncommon disease brought on by exposure to silica and later manifests as systemic sclerosis (SSc) with or without silicosis. The body of literature on Erasmus syndrome is scarce. Here, we report two cases of male patients presenting with SSc after silica exposure. One of the patients had worked in the steel industry, and another had worked in the sculpture manufacturing for a decade before the presentation. It is imperative to raise awareness of this uncommon illness because avoiding further exposure remains the mainstay of management. Our case reports reemphasize the importance of occupational history in all patients of SSc.

TransfOrming Transnational intErcultural sensitivity for Midwifery students through an inclusive mobility model: A mixed-method evaluation of the TOTEMM project.

BACKGROUND: Contemporary midwifery curricula require that student midwives have insight and understanding of global health practice and intercultural sensitivity. The current mobility model excludes large numbers of students from engaging in transnational learning. OBJECTIVES: 1) to evaluate midwifery students' experiences of blended mobility; 2) to investigate if the combination of virtual and physical mobility activities supported development of intercultural sensitivity and soft skills. DESIGN: Multi-centre mixed-methods study. SETTINGS: Four European Higher Education Institutions located in England, Italy, Estonia and The Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four midwifery students studying in one of the four partner institutions selected as study sites and who participated in the TOTEMM blended mobility scheme took part in the evaluation. METHODS: Data were collected through two online surveys, face-to-face focus groups and learning analytics. Descriptive summary statistical analysis of survey data was undertaken. Focus group discussions were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings from the quantitative survey and qualitative focus groups were merged using a convergent mixed methods approach. Learning Analytics were interpreted as complementary to the above components, to further triangulate the findings. RESULTS: Both virtual and physical components were evaluated positively by students, with high engagement confirmed by learning analytics. A statistically significant increase in the mean of the Total Intercultural Sensitivity Scale score was seen between the pre- and post-mobility surveys, indicating participation in the TOTEMM mobility model was associated with enhanced intercultural sensitivity. Positive effects on confidence, open-mindedness, empathy, interaction and non-judgment were shared by participants. CONCLUSIONS: TOTEMM is an innovative inclusive approach to enable a diverse student group to benefit from transnational learning, including the development of intercultural sensitivity. The TOTEMM blended mobility model has potential for integration into future midwifery curricula and programmes in the four partner settings involved in TOTEMM and utility for the wider European context.

[A rare case: Erasmus syndrome and tuberculosis]. / Un caso poco frecuente: síndrome de Erasmus y tuberculosis.

We present the case of a 35-year-old male patient, sandblaster for eight years, recently diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and systemic sclerosis, who was admitted with dyspnea and poor general condition. Chest X-ray showed a grade I pneumothorax, and on the chest tomography he presented confluent hyperdense masses associated with a pattern of non- specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), findings compatible with complicated silicosis. Due to the advanced clinical stage, neither invasive diagnostic test nor pulmonary function test could be performed. Initial treatment included placement of a pleural drainage tube, antituberculosis treatment and chronic home oxygen. The patient was referred to the interstitial disease and rheumatology departments for multidisciplinary management, although the infectious condition contraindicated the possibility of immunosuppressive treatment. The patient eventually died under palliative care. Silica inhalation is the cause of silicosis, but it is also implicated in the development of systemic sclerosis (Erasmus syndrome) and although they share a common risk factor, it is rare to find both diseases coexisting. We present the case of a young patient in whom both diseases presented aggressively, with the aim of highlighting the importance of actively searching for expositional diseases and associated conditions.

Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 35 años, arenador durante ocho años, con diagnóstico reciente de tuberculosis pulmonar y esclerosis sistémica, que ingresó por cuadro de disnea y mal estado general. Se realizó radiografía de tórax donde se evidenció neumotórax grado I, en la tomografía de tórax, también presentó masas hiperdensas confluyentes, asociadas a un patrón de neumonía intersticial no especifica (NSIP), hallazgos compatibles con silicosis pulmonar complicada. Debido al avanzado estadio clínico, no pudieron realizarse estudios diagnósticos invasivos ni estudios de función pulmonar. Como tratamiento inicial se colocó un tubo de avenamiento pleural, se realizó tratamiento antifímico y se indicó oxigenoterapia crónica domiciliaria. Se remitió al paciente a consultorios de enfermedades intersticiales y reumatología para un manejo multidisciplinario, aunque el cuadro infeccioso contraindicó la posibilidad de un tratamiento inmunosupresor. Finalmente, el paciente falleció bajo cuidados paliativos. La inhalación de sílice es la causa de la silicosis, pero también está implicada en el desarrollo de la esclerosis sistémica (síndrome de Erasmus) y aunque comparten un factor de riesgo común, es raro encontrar ambas enfermedades coexistiendo. Presentamos el caso de un paciente joven donde ambas condiciones se presentaron de manera agresiva, con el objetivo de remarcar la importancia de la búsqueda activa de las enfermedades por exposición y sus condiciones asociadas.

Un caso poco frecuente: síndrome de Erasmus y tuberculosis / A rare case: Erasmus syndrome and tuberculosis

Resumen Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 35 años, are nador durante ocho años, con diagnóstico reciente de tuberculosis pulmonar y esclerosis sistémica, que ingre só por cuadro de disnea y mal estado general. Se realizó radiografía de tórax donde se evidenció neumotórax grado I, en la tomografía de tórax, también presentó masas hiperdensas confluyentes, asociadas a un patrón de neumonía intersticial no especifica (NSIP), hallazgos compatibles con silicosis pulmonar complicada. Debi do al avanzado estadio clínico, no pudieron realizarse estudios diagnósticos invasivos ni estudios de función pulmonar. Como tratamiento inicial se colocó un tubo de avenamiento pleural, se realizó tratamiento antifímico y se indicó oxigenoterapia crónica domiciliaria. Se remitió al paciente a consultorios de enfermedades intersticia les y reumatología para un manejo multidisciplinario, aunque el cuadro infeccioso contraindicó la posibilidad de un tratamiento inmunosupresor. Finalmente, el pa ciente falleció bajo cuidados paliativos. La inhalación de sílice es la causa de la silicosis, pero también está implicada en el desarrollo de la esclerosis sistémica (síndrome de Erasmus) y aunque comparten un factor de riesgo común, es raro encontrar ambas enfermedades coexistiendo. Presentamos el caso de un paciente joven donde ambas condiciones se presentaron de manera agresiva, con el objetivo de remarcar la importancia de la búsqueda activa de las enfermedades por exposición y sus condiciones asociadas.

Abstract We present the case of a 35-year-old male patient, sandblaster for eight years, recently diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and systemic sclerosis, who was admitted with dyspnea and poor general condition. Chest X-ray showed a grade I pneumothorax, and on the chest tomography he presented confluent hyperdense masses associated with a pattern of non- specific in terstitial pneumonia (NSIP), findings compatible with complicated silicosis. Due to the advanced clinical stage, neither invasive diagnostic test nor pulmonary func tion test could be performed. Initial treatment included placement of a pleural drainage tube, antituberculosis treatment and chronic home oxygen. The patient was referred to the interstitial disease and rheumatology de partments for multidisciplinary management, although the infectious condition contraindicated the possibility of immunosuppressive treatment. The patient eventu ally died under palliative care. Silica inhalation is the cause of silicosis, but it is also implicated in the devel opment of systemic sclerosis (Erasmus syndrome) and although they share a common risk factor, it is rare to find both diseases coexisting. We present the case of a young patient in whom both diseases presented aggres sively, with the aim of highlighting the importance of actively searching for expositional diseases and associ ated conditions.

Predicting of Mechanical Ventilation and Outcomes by Using Models and Biomarker in Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory neuropathy. The Erasmus GBS Respiratory Insufficiency Score (EGRIS) and the modified Erasmus GBS Outcome Score (mEGOS) are prognostic models used in the prediction of mechanical ventilation and outcome. Thus far, there are only few biomarkers for the prognosis prediction of GBS patients, and albumin level is one that is promising. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with GBS from 2013 to 2022 at Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, China, were included. Patients hospitalized between 2016 and 2022 underwent short- and long-term follow-ups. The correlations between EGRIS/mEGOS and mechanical ventilation and outcome were evaluated. Serum albumin level was examined the day after admission. Furthermore, we also investigated whether the level of serum albumin was useful in predicting disease severity or poor outcome. RESULTS: In all, 145 patients were enrolled. Nineteen patients (13.1%) who required mechanical ventilation had higher Hughes GBS disability score (HGDS) at admission and discharge (P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001, respectively), shorter time from onset to admission and treatment (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) and longer hospital stays (P < 0.001) than patients who did not require mechanical ventilation. High EGRIS scores were linked with the need for mechanical ventilation (r = 0.427, P < 0.001, AUC = 0.623). Seventy-one patients were admitted between 2016 and 2022. Of these, 65 patients had a 4-week follow-up and 61 had a 6-month follow-up. Higher mEGOS scores at admission and 7 days after admission significantly correlated with short- (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001) and long-term (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05) outcomes, respectively. No significant difference in outcome was found between different subtypes (4 weeks [P = 0.099] and 6 months [P = 0.172]). Patients with lower albumin level tended to have higher HGDS (at admission P < 0.05, at nadir P < 0.001, and at discharge P < 0.001) and higher properties of the need of mechanical ventilation (P < 0.05) and ICU stay (P < 0.05) than those with normal albumin levels. Those with low albumin levels were also unable to walk independently at 6 months (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: mEGOS scores predicted the outcomes of GBS patients in China, and EGRIS score predicted the need for mechanical ventilation in these patients. Albumin level at admission correlated well with disease severity and outcomes.

Improving knowledge-based treatment planning for lung cancer radiotherapy with automatic multi-criteria optimized training plans.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge-based planning (KBP) is a method for automated radiotherapy treatment planning where appropriate optimization objectives for new patients are predicted based on a library of training plans. KBP can save time and improve organ at-risk sparing and inter-patient consistency compared to manual planning, but its performance depends on the quality of the training plans. We used another system for automated planning, which generates multi-criteria optimized (MCO) plans based on a wish list, to create training plans for the KBP model, to allow seamless integration of knowledge from a new system into clinical routine. Model performance was compared for KBP models trained with manually created and automatic MCO treatment plans. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two RapidPlan models with the same 30 locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients included were created, one containing manually created clinical plans (RP_CLIN) and one containing fully automatic multi-criteria optimized plans (RP_MCO). For 15 validation patients, model performance was compared in terms of dose-volume parameters and normal tissue complication probabilities, and an oncologist performed a blind comparison of the clinical (CLIN), RP_CLIN, and RP_MCO plans. RESULTS: The heart and esophagus doses were lower for RP_MCO compared to RP_CLIN, resulting in an average reduction in the risk of 2-year mortality by 0.9 percentage points and the risk of acute esophageal toxicity by 1.6 percentage points with RP_MCO. The oncologist preferred the RP_MCO plan for 8 patients and the CLIN plan for 7 patients, while the RP_CLIN plan was not preferred for any patients. CONCLUSION: RP_MCO improved OAR sparing compared to RP_CLIN and was selected for implementation in the clinic. Training a KBP model with clinical plans may lead to suboptimal output plans, and making an extra effort to optimize the library plans in the KBP model creation phase can improve the plan quality for many future patients.

David S. Saunders: man of insects and photoperiodism (1935-2023).

David S. Saunders was an outstanding scientist, who devoted his life to his family and to insects. He has made many fundamental contributions to our understanding of how insects reproduce and adapt their reproduction and development to the seasonal changes on our planet. Most importantly, he was a pioneer in demonstrating the role of the circadian clock in insect photoperiodic time measurement, first in the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis, and later in varies species of flies. His books on biological rhythms and insect clocks are important undergraduate, graduate and research reference literature. David was also a brilliant teacher and mentor and played a major role in establishing and teaching a series of successful Erasmus-funded Chronobiology Summer Schools in Europe. He leaves behind a legacy, both professionally and personally.

Pre-Professional International Mobility of European Pharmacy Students-A French Example.

Internationalisation, as well as the need to interact with international partners in academia and in the pharmaceutical industry, brings an international experience to the pharmacist's career, which is essential. The objective of present work is to provide a preliminary study of the current situation of the pre-professional mobility of pharmacy students. It represents the first case study of the international pre-professional mobility of pharmacy students in France, and in north-eastern France in particular. The study is based on a recent preliminary survey among pharmacy students, conducted in 2020 at the University of Lorraine's Faculty of Pharmacy, reflecting the impact of international mobility programmes, such as the European Union educational and training mobility programme Erasmus+, on the pharmacy curriculum. The results of the present work tend to show that, despite a number of barriers to the international mobility of pharmacy students, the outcomes of international pre-professional mobility are rather positive in their globality.

Erasmus students' motivations in motion: understanding super-mobility in higher education.

This paper looks at youth mobility as an ongoing, dynamic, processual experience in the making of an educational trajectory. By exploring the experiences of students who have undertaken more than one mobility experience under the Erasmus + program, we reflect on how underlying motivations change over the course of subsequent mobility experiences. In contrast to existing research, where the focus has been on reported motivations for one-off mobility experience, we discuss the latent motivations driving super-mobile educational trajectories. In doing so, we observe the ongoing reconfiguration of these trajectories through the concept of spatial reflexivity, which results in articulated and augmentative dynamics over time. Methodologically, the paper is based on qualitative material collected in person and online with such mobile young people across Europe.

Dual career in European-funded projects: a critical analysis and review / Dupla carreira em projetos europeus com financiamento atribuido: uma revisão e análise crítica / Carrera dual en proyectos financiados europeos: un análisis y revisión crítica

ABSTRACT This study aimed to review the projects financed between 2014 and 2022 under the ERASMUS+ programme of the European Commission to examine the past and present implementation of the dual career (DC) of elite sportspersons and to highlight potential gaps to guide future project proposals. Findings showed a relevant focus of the financed projects on the micro and multi-dimensional aspects of DC of athletes as the main target group, implementing training courses/programmes in different settings, and partnerships mostly composed by educational institutions and NGOs. In the future, sports bodies should engage more in partnerships, whereas DC of employee-sportspersons as athletes and sports staff should be implemented, with a strong focus on the project's long-term impact and sustainability.

RESUMO Este estudo teve como objetivo rever os projetos financiados entre 2014 e 2022 no âmbito do programa ERASMUS+ da Comissão Europeia de forma a melhor perceber a implementação dos mesmos no âmbito da dupla carreira (DC) de atletas de elite e destacar eventuais lacunas para orientar futuras propostas de projetos. Os resultados encontrados apontam para uma maior predominância dos aspectos micro e multidimensionais da DC, sendo os atletas o principal grupo-alvo, propondo-se a implementação de cursos/programas de formação em diferentes contextos, assim como parcerias maioritariamente compostas por instituições de ensino e ONG's. Surge ainda recorrentemente a nota de, no futuro, os organismos desportivos se envolverem mais em parcerias, e a extensão da DC a outros agentes como os treinadores e árbitros, assim como o alargamento ao enquadramento dado pelo mocal de trabalho (mercado de trabalho), sempre com a tónica colocada no impacto e na sustentabilidade do projeto a longo prazo.

RESUMEN Este estudio tuvo como objetivo revisar los proyectos financiados entre los años 2014 y 2022 dentro el programa ERASMUS+ de la Comisión Europea, para analizar el presente y el pasado de la implementación de la carrera dual (DC) de deportistas de élite, resaltando posibles errores que permitan guiar futuras propuestas de proyectos. Los resultados mostraron un importante foco de los proyectos en aspectos micro y multidimensionales de la CD de los atletas como principal punto a destacar, implementando cursos/programas de entrenamiento en diferentes entornos y colaboraciones compuestas principalmente por instituciones educativas y ONGs. En el futuro, los organismos deportivos deberían participar más con asociaciones, así como que se debería implementar la DC de los empleados-deportistas como atletas y como personal deportivo, con un fuerte enfoque en el impacto y la sostenibilidad del proyecto a largo plazo.

Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment with prognosis for the first six months of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Somalia: Case series.

Introduction: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an acute, immune-mediated polyneuropathy that often leads to severe weakness. Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a proven effective treatment for GBS (class 1 evidence). The clinical course of GBS in individual patients is highly variable and difficult to predict. Methods: It is a retrospective observational study of 10 patients diagnosed with GBS by using nerve conduction studies and lumbar puncture. Results: Fifty percent of the patients were under 40 years old, and ninety percent were male; all but one were treated with IVIG; and forty percent of the total mEGOS obtained was less than 5. The average predicted probability of being unable to walk unaided after 4 weeks was 47.7%, the average predicted probability of being unable to walk unaided after 3 months was 17%, and the average predicted probability of being unable to walk unaided after 6 months was 8.05%. Conclusions: Patients presenting with acute ascending weakness should be identified early, and early IVIG treatment for GBS improves disability as measured by The Modified Erasmus GBS Outcome Scale (mEGOS).

Ghanaian Erasmus+ students' experiences of a semester abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article describes two Ghanaian students' experiences of connecting with learning, faculty, family and friends during an Erasmus+ semester abroad in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic. University faculty members' experiences are also explored. The students describe their experiences of adjusting to new ways of learning online and living through lockdown in a country far from home. These reflections highlight the students' positive learning experiences during a journey of both personal and professional development while also highlighting the challenges of converting to an online learning environment. These experiences illustrate the students' unexpected opportunities and challenges, demonstrating how support from the university faculty, Erasmus+ team and friends, both virtually and physically, helped them through this unprecedented time. This article presents an account of the students' and staff's learning experiences during a semester that was affected by the pandemic.

Erasmus Syndrome: A Rare Occupational Disease.

Erasmus syndrome is a rare syndrome accompanied by interstitial lung disease and scleroderma caused by silica exposure. There are a limited number of case reports in the literature. Awareness of this rare syndrome is important and occupational exposure should be questioned in patients presenting with scleroderma in our country, silica exposure is quite frequent and it should be kept in mind. Here, we report a case of a 41-year-old male patient presenting with interstitial lung disease, scleroderma, and serpiginous supravenous hypermelanosis caused by silica exposure who worked in the denim grinding for a short period of three months.

An Empirical Research on the Behavioral Perceptions of University Students on Their ERASMUS Mobilities Abroad.

The European Union (EU) labor market needs a better-skilled workforce that can work in any of the Member States. In order to develop the skills and competencies of future competitors in this market, several student mobility programs have been set up in the EU, where they can travel to universities in partner countries to further their studies and enrich their academic performance, culture and knowledge. The best known of these programs is ERASMUS (European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students). Because Romania also participates in this program in the exchange of university students, the authors wanted, through this study, to highlight the benefits and challenges of participation in the program, to analyze how international mobilities are emotionally perceived by students and what are the behavioral reasons that determine Romanian students to choose a certain university as a study destination abroad. For this purpose, the authors conducted quantitative marketing research among students from the Transilvania University of Brasov who have been abroad with ERASMUS scholarships. The research results show that an important component in choosing a certain university is not the financial expense during the mobility as might have been expected, but rather the initial desire to study abroad. Students also consider the improvement of their academic performance as an equally important reason for embarking on mobility to the social aspect of getting to know other cultures.

The role of personality and destination in the optimal adaptation of international students to host universities / El papel de la personalidad y el destino en la óptima adaptación de estudiantes internacionales a las universidades de intercambio

Recent studies suggest that the optimal adaptation of exchange students to the host-university is associated to students’ personality, and suggest that lowering anxiety, higher sociability and higher sensation seeking is observed in students with successful adaptations. However, this pattern has only been studied in American or German universities. Accordingly, this study aimed to replicate previous results using a sample of Euro-pean-international undergraduates of the Erasmus Exchange Programme studying in Barcelona. Analyses of variance showed that exchange-students scored higher than locals in Sociability, Activity and in Boredom Susceptibility, but no differences were seen in Anxiety levels. Regression analyses reported that the persona-lity variable that best predicted studying abroad in Barcelona was, on a broad level, Sociability; on a narrower level, Parties and Friends and Boredom Susceptibility accounted for 38% of the study abroad variance. Results confirm that exchange students show a differential personality profile, but it differs in some traits when com-pared to American samples. It is discussed how the destination or university allocation and cultural characte-ristics might mediate the observed differences among samples. It is also discussed the relevance of including both student’s personality and destination characteristics in the study-abroad assessment programmes to facilitate students’ adaptation and avoid stress-related or adaptation problems.

Estudios recientes en universidades estadounidenses sugieren que la adaptación óptima de los estudiantes de intercambio a la universidad de destino está asociada, en parte, a su personalidad, sugiriendo que los es¬tudiantes internacionales más aventureros, sociables y emocionalmente estables se adaptan mejor a su des¬tino. El presente estudio pretende constrastar los resultados anteriores en una muestra de universitarios del Programa Europeo de Mobilidad Erasmus, estudiando en una universidad de Barcelona. Los análisis de va-rianza mostraron que los estudiantes de intercambio obtuvieron puntaciones más altas que los locales en sociabilidad, actividad y susceptibilidad al aburrimiento, pero no se observaron diferencias en los niveles de ansiedad. Los análisis de regresión informaron que la dimensión de personalidad que mejor diferenciaba a los estudiantes Erasmus de los locales fue la Sociabilidad; en un nivel más específico, el rasgo Fiestas y Amigos y la Susceptibilidad al Aburrimiento explicaron el 38% de la varianza de la personalidad característica de los alumnos internacionales. Los resultados confirman que los estudiantes de intercambio muestran un perfil de personalidad diferente respecto a los locales, pero difiere en algunos rasgos en comparación con las muestras estadounidenses. Se discute cómo el destino o la asignación de la universidad y las características culturales pueden mediar las diferencias observadas respecto estudios anteriores. También se destaca la relevancia de in¬cluir tanto la personalidad del estudiante como las características del destino en los programas de evaluación de estudios en el extranjero para facilitar la adaptación de los estudiantes y evitar problemas de adaptación relacionados con el estrés.

The prediction effects of thyroid function in the severity of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an acquired immune-mediated inflammatory disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system (PNS), is usually complicated with autoimmune diseases including thyroid diseases. Herein, we explored roles of thyroid function and thyroid autoantibodies in the disease severity and its short-term prognosis of GBS. In addition, we further investigated the predictive value of thyroid function for GBS respiratory insufficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 219 GBS patients. According to the thyroid function, the enrolled subjects were divided into 2 groups, that is, patients with abnormal thyroid function (case group) and those with normal thyroid function (control group). The clinical characteristics, disease severity, and short-term prognosis of the patients in 2 groups were compared. In addition, we also divided the 219 GBS patients into mechanical ventilation (MV) group and non-MV group according to whether MV was performed within 1 week after admission. The clinical characteristics, disease severity, short-term prognosis, Erasmus GBS respiratory insufficiency score (EGRIS), and the thyroid function were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: We found that GBS patients with abnormal thyroid function had longer duration of hospitalization, higher frequency of cranial nerve damage, and higher incidence of weakened tendon reflexes. Medical Research Council (MRC) scores on admission, at nadir, and at discharge were lower, and Hughes Functional Grading Scale (HFGS) scores on admission and at discharge were higher in GBS patients with abnormal thyroid function group. More patients in the abnormal thyroid function group had myelin, axonal, and myelin-axonal injuries. In the MV group, the time from onset to admission, MRC scores on admission, and the levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3) were lower; the levels of thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and EGRIS were significantly higher than those in the non-MV group. The combination of EGRIS and FT3 serum levels to predict GBS patients with MV, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.905 (95% CI: 0.861 to 0.948, P < 0.05), sensitivity was 88.9%, and specificity was 84.7%. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the serum FT3 levels are negatively correlated with disease severity; the serum FT3 might be a biomarker for the incidence and severity of GBS. Both EGRIS and serum FT3 have a predictive value for the occurrence of acute respiratory insufficiency in GBS patients, and the combination of these two indicators can more accurately predict the risk of acute respiratory insufficiency in GBS patients.

Erasmus+ Program and Nursing Students' Sense of Coherence, Well-Being, and School Success.

BACKGROUND: An international exchange program is an increasing phenomenon across Europe. Any opportunity for students to work or study abroad whilst undertaking their degree program could have a positive impact on their well-being, professional development, and general competences. METHODS: The study was conducted on a cohort of 99 nursing students from the School of Nursing, who were followed before and after a one-month Erasmus+ mobility period. Quantitative data were collected using a sense of coherence, subjective well-being, and sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire. Qualitative data were collected using open-ended questions and interviewing the focus group. RESULTS: Student mobility did not significantly alter their sense of coherence or subjective well-being. A significant positive correlation before and after mobility occurred between the sense of coherence, subjective well-being, and school success. According to the qualitative analysis, the students' experiences were overall positive and stimulating, with many of them noticing better working conditions abroad. CONCLUSION: Although the international mobility of nursing students does not affect their sense of coherence and subjective well-being, it does contribute to changes in certain attitudes related to the profession and living conditions abroad. These findings may prove helpful in planning future mobilities during more favorable periods when school obligations are fewer.

Risk Factors for Mechanical Ventilation in Patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory support is required in 20-30% of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). We investigated clinical and biological risk factors for mechanical ventilation (MV) in northeast China through a retrospective GBS study. The Erasmus GBS Respiratory Insufficiency Score (EGRIS) is a prognostic model for MV in patients with GBS, and its usefulness has been validated in several countries but not in China. Therefore, we intended to validate the EGRIS model in our GBS cohort. METHODS: A total of 252 patients with GBS were included in this study from January 2013 to October 2017. Risk factors for MV were identified via multivariate logistic regression analysis. The prognostic value of the EGRIS was validated via receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (12.3%) required MV (mean age 54.19 years), with a majority being male (77.4%). The risk factors for MV were male sex [odds ratio (OR) 3.720, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.155-11.985, p < 0.05], shorter interval from onset to admission (OR 0.830, 95% CI 0.711-0.970, p < 0.05), lower Medical Research Council sum score at admission (OR 0.942, 95% CI 0.911-0.973, p < 0.001), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio at admission (OR 1.174, 95% CI 1.049-1.315, p < 0.01), and cranial nerve deficit (OR 3.805, 95% CI 1.373-10.541, p < 0.05). The EGRIS had a good predictive ability for MV (area under the receiver operating curve 0.861) in patients with GBS, and a high EGRIS was a predictor for MV (OR 8.778, 95% CI 3.432-22.448, p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in ganglioside administration between ventilated and nonventilated patients. CONCLUSIONS: An elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio at admission and a high EGRIS could serve as predictors for MV in our GBS cohort.