The Role of Labour Inspectorates in Tackling the Psychosocial Risks at Work in Europe: Problems and Perspectives.

Significant changes in the past year have taken place in the world of work that are bringing new challenges with regard to employee safety and health. These changes have led to emerging psychosocial risks (PSRs) at work. The risks are primarily linked to how work is designed, organized, and managed, and to the economic and social frame of work.

Comparison of the helical tomotherapy against the multileaf collimator-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy and 3D conformal radiation modalities in lung cancer radiotherapy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare three-dimensional (3D) conformal radiotherapy and the two different forms of IMRT in lung cancer radiotherapy.

Methods: Cases of four lung cancer patients were investigated by developing a 3D conformal treatment plan, a linac MLC-based step-and-shoot IMRT plan and an HT plan for each case. With the use of the complication-free tumour control probability (P(+)) index and the uniform dose concept as the common prescription point of the plans, the different treatment plans were compared based on radiobiological measures.

Comparison of the helical tomotherapy and MLC-based IMRT radiation modalities in treating brain and cranio-spinal tumors.

The investigation of the clinical efficacy and effectiveness of Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) using Multileaf Collimators (MLC) and Helical Tomotherapy (HT) has been an issue of increasing interest over the past few years. In order to assess the suitability of a treatment plan, dosimetric criteria such as dose-volume histograms (DVH), maximum, minimum, mean, and standard deviation of the dose distribution are typically used. Nevertheless, the radiobiological parameters of the different tumors and normal tissues are often not taken into account.

The dependence of patient dose on factors relating to the technique and complexity of Interventional Cardiology procedures.

Dose-area product (DAP) measurements were conducted for 168 coronary angiography (CA) and 89 single vessel percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) to examine the factors influencing patient dose beyond the X-ray exposure parameters. It was found that for CA, the DAP increases with the number of catheters used and with the number of vessels with stenosis. DAP values for patients with a prior bypass surgery, were higher compared to those without such a medical record to surgery.

Quality control and diagnostic reference levels in intraoral dental radiographic facilities.

Objectives: A quality control program in intraoral radiographic equipment was conducted aiming to verify compliance with the latest legal requirements and to measure radiation dose in order to contribute to the establishment of appropriate diagnostic reference levels.

Methods: This study was performed in 191 intraoral radiographic facilities in Northern Greece. The quality control program included visual inspection of the unit, registration of its characteristics, measurement and calculation of several radiological parameters, including entrance surface dose, and overall compliance with legislation requirements.