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Idiopathic plantar hidradenitis in a 5-year-old girl after exposure to wet footwear
Get PDFIdiopathic plantar hidradenitis (IPH) is characterised by tender erythematous papules and nodules which involve the soles of the feet. The pathogenesis of this condition remains obscure, with a temporal association between exposure to cold and moisture and the presentation of skin lesions which may allude to a possible pathogenic mechanism.
We report a five-year-old girl who developed plantar hidradenitis. The patient participated in a school outing wherein her feet were exposed to prolonged cold and damp. She complained of pain in the soles of her feet and was unable to walk the next morning. She was admitted to hospital with a suspicion of infection and discharged the next morning on oral antibiotics. Review by dermatology raised the possibility of plantar hidradenitis and a course of low dose oral steroids was given. The patient recovered fully in five days.
Familiarity with the inciting tiggers and symptoms of IPH in children allows a clinical diagnosis to be made without the need for hospitalization and further investigations. The authors believe that the instigating factors in our patient were prolonged exposure to wet footwear combined with strenuous activity. Further studies are needed to determine the aetiology of IPH.peer-reviewe
Small states and specialisation : domestic politics, foreign policy, and their interface
Get PDFThis contribution focuses on the issue of small states’ foreign policy specialisation.
Specialisation helps small states overcome size-related disadvantages by allowing them to
concentrate resources. However, small states specialise differently in various topics or regions
and have different levels of enthusiasm. I argue that how small state governments make choices
around specialisation offers a great segue to studying the international and regional systems,
the role of domestic factors in foreign policymaking, and the interplay between the two levels.
At the international level, specialisation reveals information about the system’s character. We
can study agency, power distribution, and ideas or identities at the domestic level. The interplay
between the two levels offers insights into how governments are both restricted and empowered
by non-state actors in pursuing foreign policies. Altogether, studying the specialisation of small
states allows us to answer significant questions about international relations.peer-reviewe
European Cancer Organisation essential requirements for quality cancer care : hematological malignancies
Get PDFEuropean Cancer Organisation Essential Requirements for Quality Cancer Care (ERQCCs) are primarily organizational recommendations, giving politicians, managers, oncology teams, patients, and patient advocacy groups a non‐technical overview of the elements needed to provide high‐quality care throughout the patient journey. They are not clinical guidelines, but define the actions necessary to deliver high‐quality care to patients with specific cancer types, here applied to hematological malignancies in Europe.
The recommendations set out an aspirational but realistic standard that should be within reach for most countries, given adequate resourcing. They include the need for (1) fast and easy access to accurate diagnostic tests; (2) clearly established pathways for referral to specialist centers; (3) services to be centralized; (4) continuous monitoring of patient well‐being; (5) treatment strategies to be agreed by a core multidisciplinary team; and (6) patients and their families to be involved at all stages of decision‐making.
The foundation of ERQCCs is quality. This has become increasingly important in all aspects of healthcare as new and complex treatments come into use and pressure grows on resources. Improving quality means delivering cancer care that is timely, safe, effective, and efficient; that puts the patient at the center; and that gives all people in Europe equal access to high‐quality services.peer-reviewe
The impact of AI on economic modelling
Get PDFPURPOSE: The aim of the article is to examine how artificial intelligence is changing
economic modeling, with particular emphasis on its impact on traditional methods, practical
applications, and development prospects.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The paper analyzes the key benefits of implementing AI in
economics, such as improved forecast accuracy, the ability to process large data sets,
reduced model creation time, and real-time analysis. It also discusses the challenges and
limitations, including issues with model interpretability and dependency on data quality.FINDINGS: The development of AI opens up new possibilities that can complement or replace
traditional approaches, introducing greater flexibility and precision in modeling economic
phenomena.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an interdisciplinary field of research
aimed at designing systems capable of learning, analyzing data, and making decisions.
Currently, AI is applied in various areas such as medicine, engineering, logistics, and
economics, offering modern tools that support analysis and forecasting. Thanks to advanced
machine learning and deep learning algorithms, it is possible to process vast data sets and
detect patterns that were previously difficult to identify. In traditional economic modeling,
econometric techniques such as linear regression or time series models (e.g. ARIMA) play a
key role.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Despite their effectiveness in many applications, these methods have
limitations due to the need to adopt theoretical assumptions and the difficulty of analyzing
complex, nonlinear data.peer-reviewe
Small state innovations to strengthen financial resilience in an era of accelerating climate change
Get PDFDespite severely limited human resources, Small Islands Developing States (SIDS)
are crafting state-of-the-art strategies to reduce the impacts of extreme weather and other
external shocks on their economies, and the livelihoods and wellbeing of their populations.
This paper demonstrates how SIDS are challenging the outdated international financial system
and aid architecture. They are at the forefront of developing and trialling innovative financial
instruments that can be used to reduce, retain, and transfer climate risks. In doing so, they are
championing reform of international financial system and helping donors and international
financial institutions to develop better products and services for highly indebted, climate
vulnerable nations.peer-reviewe
Book review : Jamaica’s foreign policy : 1962-2022
No full textJamaica’s foreign policy 1962-2022 is a wide-ranging text, ambitious in scope and
coverage of themes. The authors aim to provide a comprehensive overview and analysis of the
historical evolution of Jamaica’s foreign policy, its international and domestic legal sources,
and its political, socio-cultural, and economic dimensions during the first 60 years of the
country’s independence. In terms of timespan and thematic coverage, it could qualify as the
most comprehensive study of Jamaica’s foreign relations and diplomacy to date. The scope and
length are such that it would have benefited from being divided into two volumes.peer-reviewe
Identifying indicators and targets for the new World Health Organization global framework on infection and prevention and control : an e-Delphi study
Get PDFBackground: The World Health Organization (WHO) recently developed the global action plan (GAP) and
monitoring framework (MF) for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). An e-Delphi survey was
conducted as part of a consultative process to achieve consensus on IPC MF indicators and targets.
Methods: The study was conducted as an e-Delphi consensus-seeking exercise, with two rounds of
sequential surveys. In round 1 participants were asked to assess each indicator and target using a 5-
point Likert scale, and in round 2 to re-assess those that did not reach consensus and to rank all
indicators and targets in priority order. “Consensus” was defined when >70% of the responses fell within
the two positive extreme ranges of the scale and < 5% of the responses fell within the two negative
extreme ranges.
Findings: 86 country representatives along with experts from 63 countries participated in the initial draft
IPC MF development. The e-Delphi study invited 394 participants, with response rates of 36% (142/394)
in round 1 and 69% (98/142) in round 2. Of the 134 indicators and 27 targets included in round 1, all but
one achieved consensus, and 16 showed >5% level of disagreement. In round 2, three indicators were
rejected and participants ranked the top ten global targets and top five national targets. The survey
showed strong support for improving IPC surveillance, whilst research ranked lower due to other
competing priorities.
Conclusion: A high level of agreement on the proposed indicators and targets to be monitored by all
countries to track progress in IPC was achieved through a strong consensus building process. The WHO
IPC GAP and MF was adopted by all countries during the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024.peer-reviewe
The evolving value of the MBA : external factors and career impact
Get PDFPURPOSE: This paper explores the perceived value of MBA programs from an international
perspective, based on empirical data collected in Poland. It aims to understand how
professionals assess the impact of MBA studies on career advancement, skill development,
and especially professional networking, within a broader global debate on the role and
relevance of management education.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A quantitative survey was conducted among 132 MBA
graduates in Poland across multiple industries. The analysis focused on motivations,
networking effectiveness, and perceived outcomes, using statistical methods such as
correlation and variance analysis. The study draws on international literature on MBA
programs and professional development.FINDINGS: Networking and personal growth were identified as the most valuable outcomes,
surpassing traditional indicators like promotion or academic knowledge. A moderate
positive correlation was found between effective networking during studies and the
expansion of professional contacts. Despite recent public scandals affecting local
institutions, most graduates retained a positive view of their MBA experience.PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Business schools should enhance structured, internationalized
networking opportunities, strengthen program credibility, and tailor content to experienced
professionals in diverse global markets.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This is one of the few empirical studies analyzing MBA program outcomes
in Central and Eastern Europe. It contributes internationally relevant insights into how MBA
programs function across different cultural and institutional environments.peer-reviewe
Wind and seasonal variabilities of concentrations of oxides of nitrogen, measured at Giordan Lighthouse Geosciences Observatory, Gozo (Maltese Archipelago)
Get PDFConcentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), as the sum total of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the individual parts, i.e., NO and NO2, (NOx = NO + NO2), and wind speed and direction measurements were gathered over a thirteen-year period (2011–2023) at the Giordan Lighthouse Geosciences Observatory, located on the Island of Gozo, forming part of the Maltese Archipelago (Central Mediterranean). The atmospheric concentration measurements were recorded with a Thermo Scientific Model 42i NOx analyser, which employs the chemiluminescence technique to detect atmospheric traces of NOx concentrations. In this case study, an investigation was conducted to understand the wind and seasonal variabilities of the measured concentrations. The highest NOx concentrations occurred when the prevailing wind originated from the SE, while a broad minimum was observed when the wind blew from the S–W sector. The maxima were primarily associated with land-based sources, predominantly vehicular emissions on the main island, i.e., Malta. The amplitudes for NO, NO2, and NOx in relation to wind direction were 63%, 125%, and 121%, respectively. Significant variabilities were observed during the autumn season. Regarding wind speed, the NOx concentrations reached their peak during high-wind-speed events, which are associated with transboundary pollution. A secondary broad maximum was observed for wind forces between 2 and 4, while the lowest concentrations were recorded at wind force 9. The NOx concentrations exhibited a seasonal maximum in spring and a minimum in winter, which contrasts with the findings from the Monte Cimone station in Italy. The seasonal amplitudes for NO, NO2, and NOx were 46%, 15%, and 17%, respectively. It is evident that NO concentrations exhibited a greater seasonal variability, whereas NO2 concentrations demonstrated significant variability in relation to wind direction.peer-reviewe
Effect of neuromuscular electrical nerve stimulation on quadriceps muscle strength and endurance in COPD patients. A randomised controlled trial
Get PDFIntroduction: Neuromuscular Electric Nerve Stimulation (NMES) is a modality that is gaining interest as part of the management of participants with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Given the increased knowledge of how the muscle changes structurally as the respiratory condition deteriorates, treatment options are being investigated to help maintain and improve strength and endurance in patients who are limited due to poor exercise tolerance and increased dyspnoea and cannot part-take in rehabilitation.Method: Using a randomised control trial design, 33 participants who required admission to hospital due to an acute exacerbation of COPD, with a moderate to severe classification based on the MRC score, were recruited and randomly allocated to an experimental (males: 83.33%, females: 16.67%) or control group (males: 60%, females: 40%). Isometric quadriceps strength was assessed using the hand-held dynamometer, and quadriceps endurance was evaluated with the quadriceps endurance test. Additionally, the rectus femoris cross-sectional area, width, and thickness were measured using an ultrasound. All outcome measures were measured at baseline and upon discharge from the hospital, following the intervention, in all participants. The experimental group received 30 minutes of NMES stimulation on the quadriceps muscles daily throughout their hospitalisation stay (mean days: Experimental – 7.78 days, Control–9.45 days), over and above the usual physiotherapy treatment provided to all participants by physiotherapists in the ward. The control group received only Physiotherapy treatment provided in the ward. All outcome measures were repeated before discharge.Results: Statistically significant improvements in rectus femoris thickness (left and right: P<0.001) and rectus femoris width on the right side (P=0.017) were reported in the experimental group. In contrast, statistically significant declines in mean values for the left and right Rectus Femoris width were registered for the control group (left: P=0.006, right: P< 0.001).peer-reviewe