Medical Attention Research Articles

Patients Monitoring and Data Management System for Hospitals

This work concerns creating a monitoring system for a smart hospital using Raspberry Pi to measure vital signs. The readings are continually sent to central monitoring units outside the room instead of being beside the patients, to ensure less contacting between the medical staff and patients, also the cloud is used for those who leave the hospital, as the design can track on their medical cases. Data presentation and analysis were accomplished by the LabVIEW program. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) has been created by the Virtual-Instrument (VI) of this program that offer real-time access to monitor patients' measurements. If unhealthy states are detected, the design triggers alerts and sends SMS message to the doctor. furthermore, the clinicians can scan a QR code (which is assigned to each patient individually) to access its real-time measurements. The system also utilizes Electrocardiography (ECG) to detect abnormalities and identify specific heart diseases based on its extracted parameters to encourage patients to seek timely medical attention, while aiding doctors in making well-informed decisions. To evaluate the system's performance, it is tested in the hospital on many patients of different ages and diseases as well. According to the results, the accuracy measurement of SpO2 was about 98.39%, 97.7% for (heart rate) and 98.7% for body temperature. This shows that the system can offer many patients receiving health services from various facilities, and it ensures efficient data management, access control, real-time monitoring, and secure patient information aligning with healthcare standards.

ACUTE INFECTIVE CONJUNCTIVITIS A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF THE RECENT OUTBREAK REPORTED IN TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Objective: Acute conjunctivitis refers to the inflammation of conjunctiva, mostly of viral etiology and is highly contagious and self-limiting. The present study aims to assess the clinical characteristics, presentation, outcomes of acute conjuctivitis and its treatment for complications among the study population. Methods: It was a record-based retrospective study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Puducherry for the period of two months among 100 study participants. Results: The study showed that 62% and 16% of patients had complications like membrane formation and Superficial Punctate Keratitis (SPK). Moxifloxacin was highly used antibiotics (57%), with the median duration of the treatment being six days (IQR: 5 – 7.75). Conclusion: From our study, we found that even though the conjunctivitis outbreak is widespread among the general population due to its contagious nature and is self-limiting, it requires medical attention to prevent complications. Public awareness is required regarding this

Determining the Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Intern Students about the Effect of Periodontal Diseases on Systemic Diseases

Background: Periodontal diseases are prevalent chronic multifactorial conditions that significantly affect individuals' quality of life across various dimensions. Additionally, the association and impact of periodontal disease on systemic health have been a focus of medical attention for many years. This influence is particularly recognized as a risk factor in several conditions, notably coronary artery disease. Consequently, enhancing awareness and improving the attitudes of healthcare professionals toward this association is of great importance. Numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate the level of awareness and attitudes regarding this impact. This study has investigated the knowledge and attitude of medical intern students of Kashan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive study, a knowledge of the effect of periodontal disease on systemic diseases and their attitude towards periodontal in medical interns of Kashan University of Medical Sciences, a total of 160 people who were selected by census method, were investigated using a questionnaire based on the study by Thomas and Pralhad in 2011. The obtained data was analyzed by SPSS software with independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: A total of 160 medical interns were surveyed. There was a significant positive correlation between the age of students and their attitude toward periodontal health (p=0.024). Additionally, the student's knowledge and attitudes toward periodontal health were not significantly associated with the level of information abo ut periodontal disease or the predominant source of oral health information (p>0.05). Moreover, knowledge of the impact of systemic diseases or conditions on periodontal disease was significantly correlated with awareness of the impact of systemic diseases on periodontal health (p<0.001). Furthermore, attitudes toward periodontal health showed a significant positive correlation with knowledge of the systemic impact on periodontal disease (p<0.01). Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that the participant's knowledge regarding the impact of periodontal disease on systemic health is moderate. While the majority of participants assess their knowledge about periodontal issues as insufficient, they believe that clinical and theoretical education related to this topic should be included in the curriculum of their studies. Furthermore, they express a positive attitude toward acquiring more information and education on this matter.

Occurrence and assemblage distribution of Giardia Duodenalis in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in southeastern Iran (2019-2022).

The ubiquitous protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis is a major contributor to the global burden of diarrhoea, particularly in young children living in poor-resource regions. Although rarely mortal, giardiasis is associated with growth retardation and cognitive impairment in early childhood. Here we investigate the epidemiology of human giardiasis in Iranshahr (south-eastern Iran), a region where this information was previously lacking. Stool samples were collected from 17,455 outpatients and inpatients attended at three major hospital settings during April 2020 and March 2022. Microscopy was used as a screening method for the presence of Giardia cysts, and the identification of G. duodenalis assemblages was carried out using PCR and Sanger sequencing. The overall prevalence of giardiasis was 1.87 (326/17,455; 95% CI: 1.7-2.1). Being female was positively associated with higher odds of giardiasis (p = 0.014). Individuals without diarrhoea were less likely to have giardiasis (p = 0.022). Individuals attending the Iran Hospital were more likely to harbour G. duodenalis infections compared to those attending at the Khatam Hospital and the Clinical Reference Laboratory (p = 0.001). Our sequence analyses revealed the presence of assemblages A (56.5%, 13/23), B (39.1%, 9/23), and A + B (4.4%, 1/23). No association was observed between the occurrence of a given assemblage and the occurrence of diarhroea. Giardia infections were found at relatively low prevalence rates in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals seeking medical attention. Being female, having diarrhoea, and being sampled during 2020-21 were predictors of giardiasis. Although limited, our molecular data indicate that some Giardia infections may be zoonotic in nature. These data should be corroborated and expanded in future epidemiological studies targeting simultaneously human, animal, and environmental (water) samples to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of giardiasis in Iran.

Understanding oral malignancies: 2 case reports

The clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of several squamous cell carcinoma cases are covered thoroughly. Roughly 94% of all mouth malignancies are squamous cell carcinomas. Race, gender, and age group differences exist in annual incidence and mortality rates. This percentage is 7.7 per 100,000 in the US. Like other carcinomas, intraoral carcinoma is more common in older adults, especially in men. Individuals with oral SCC have often known about an abnormality in that area for four to eight months prior to seeking professional medical attention. Early growth is characterized by little discomfort, which may account for the delay in seeking professional assistance. The clinical manifestations of oral SCC include exophytic, endophytic, leukoplakic, and erythroplakic, all of which exhibit apparent surface alterations.Tobacco usage, excessive alcohol consumption, HPV infection, eating little fruits and vegetables, prolonged sun exposure, and having a compromised immune system are risk factors. Improving outcomes requires early discovery and treatment, which may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or a combination of these. In order to improve the prognosis for oral cancer, early identification and intervention are crucial. Survival risk from squamous cell carcinoma is often low. This article emphasis on the clinical presentation of oral malignancies.

A SPINAL TRAUMA, A TUMOR AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Introduction Burkitt lymphoma is a male predominant (3:1 male:female ratio) aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can present as a sporadic variant with meningeal involvement in about 20% of cases. Therefore, it can manifest with neurologic deficits due to compression of the spinal cord or spine nerve root. Case Report We report the case of a 6 years-old girl who presented in the emergency department following a traumatic vertebral injury (fall from around 1.5 meters) with no spinal cord involvement. She accused upper back pain, walking and orthostatism difficulties and manifested a light to moderate inferior paraparesis (MCR 3/5) The MRI revealed a space-occupying epidural mass between T1-T4, severely compressing the spinal cord initially thought to be an epidural hematoma. Emergency surgery was performed with duro-radicular decompression and mass excision through a T1-T4 laminotomy followed by a laminoplasty. The unveiled mass was white, minimally vascularized and adherent to the dura raising the suspicion of a tumor. Postoperatively the patient exhibited significant neurological improvement with resolution of the paraparesis and normal gait restoration. Three weeks later, the patient returned with complaints of abnormal gait, lumbar pain radiating in the right lower leg and upon examination a light right lower limb monoparesis (MRC 4/5) following another traumatic event. Emergency MRI of the whole spine with contrast was requested just as the pathologist in charge of the case suggested a diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma, prompting a whole-body MRI. A severe recurrence was noted at the site of the previous lesion along with a new lumbar lesion, and several intraabdominal, intrathoracic, ovarian tumor sites with diffuse infiltration of the bone marrow. The patient was urgently referred to the pediatric oncology department and started on steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment and chemotherapy. Conclusions Burkitt lymphoma involving the nervous system in children requires increased medical attention during the clinical, histopathological examination and treatment phase, due to the association with advanced disease and, although rare, should be considered as a differential diagnosis in pediatric patients with epidural lesions. The management of such lesions demands a solid collaboration between neurosurgeon, pediatrician, pathologist and oncologist for an early diagnosis and proper treatment.

The Relationship Between Training Load and Injury in Competitive Swimming: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study

Training load monitoring is employed to quantify training demands, to determine individual physiological adaptions and to examine the dose–response relationship, ultimately reducing the likelihood of injury and making a meaningful impact on performance. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between training load and injury in competitive swimmers, using the session rate of perceived exertion (sRPE) method. Data were collected using a prospective, longitudinal study design across 104 weeks. Data were collected from 34 athletes centralised in two of Swim Ireland’s National Centres. Bayesian mixed effects logistic regression models were used to analyse the relationship between sRPE-TL and medical attention injuries. The average weekly swim volume was 33.5 ± 12.9 km. The weekly total training load (AU) averaged 3838 ± 1616.1. A total of 58 medical attention injury events were recorded. The probability of an association between training load and injury ranged from 70% to 98%; however, evidence for these relationships was deemed weak or highly uncertain. The findings suggest that using a single training load metric in isolation cannot decisively inform when an injury will occur. Instead, coaches should utilise monitoring tools to ensure that the athletes are exposed to an appropriate training load to optimise physiological adaptation. Future research should strive to investigate the relationship between additional risk factors (e.g., wellbeing, lifestyle factors or previous injury history), in combination with training load and injury, in competitive swimmers.

Red Breast Syndrome—Where Has It Gone?

Background Red breast syndrome (RBS) has been noted in past literature as a possible complication of implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) with the use of acellular dermal matrices (ADMs). Since its first appearance in 2009, RBS has drawn growing medical attention with reported incidence ranging from 7%–9%. There has been a noted decrease in the emergence of RBS despite its inclusion among the analyzed complications in a number of studies. This systematic review aims to evaluate the trend in reported RBS incidence over time and appropriately determine an accurate incidence of RBS from reported literature since the emergence of the phenomena. Methods A systematic literature review was performed in July 2023 that analyzed the incidence of RBS among retrospective cohort studies on complication rates of IBBR with ADM. Patient demographics, RBS incidence rates, and all-cause complications were captured. The review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines and Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies criteria was used to assess study quality. Results From 2009 to 2023, a total of 48 studies (n = 6251) met inclusion criteria of which 35 studies from 2017 to 2023 were not already included in a prior systematic review (n = 5246). The mean incidence of RBS in the unreported studies was 2.88% with a weighted mean of 3.22%. Analysis of the trend in RBS over time shows an increasing reported incidence rate from 2009 with a peak in incidence between 2016 and 2017, followed by a steady decline through 2022. Twenty-six of the studies were published from 2016 to 2019. Conclusions The incidence of RBS among prior studies and systematic reviews has fluctuated significantly since its initial emergence in 2009. Reported incidence rates have been on the decline since 2018 with a true weighted incidence of 3.22% from analysis of recent reported studies. Potential causes for the decline in incidence include practice changes in ADM preparation, changes in the ADM brand used for IBBR, and improved categorization of RBS compared to cellulitis/infection. Despite more robust criteria for diagnosis, no consensus for management has yet been established.

Exploring Factors Influencing Patient Delay Behavior in Oral Cancer: The Development of a Risk Prediction Model in Western China

Background and Aims: To study the unknown influencing factors of delayed medical treatment behavior in oral cancer patients in western China and to develop a prediction model on the risk of delayed medical treatment in oral cancer patients. Method: We investigated oral cancer patients attending a tertiary Grade A dental hospital in western China from June 2022 to July 2023. The logistic regression and four machine learning models (nearest neighbors, the RBF SVM, random forest, and QDA) were used to identify risk factors and establish a risk prediction model. We used the established model to predict the data before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and test whether the prediction effect can still remain stable and accurate under the interference of COVID-19. Result: Out of the 495 patients included in the study, 122 patients (58.65%) delayed seeking medical treatment before the lifting of the restrictions of the pandemic, while 153 patients (53.13%) did so after the lifting of restrictions. The logistic regression model revealed that living with adult children was a protective factor for patients in delaying seeking medical attention, regardless of the implementation of pandemic control measures. After comparing each model, it was found that the statistical indicators of the random forest algorithm such as the AUC score (0.8380) and specificity (0.8077) ranked first, with the best prediction performance and stable performance. Conclusions: This study systematically elucidates the critical factors influencing patient delay behavior in oral cancer diagnosis and treatment, employing a comprehensive risk prediction model that accurately identifies individuals at an elevated risk of delay. It represents a pioneering large-scale investigation conducted in western China, focusing explicitly on the multifaceted factors affecting the delayed medical treatment behavior of oral cancer patients. The findings underscore the imperative of implementing early intervention strategies tailored to mitigate these delays. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the pivotal role of robust social support systems and positive family dynamics in facilitating timely access to healthcare services for oral cancer patients, thereby potentially improving outcomes and survival rates.

Pediatric Dermatological Emergencies: A Systematic Review

Pediatric dermatological emergencies encompass a wide array of conditions that demand immediate medical attention and can have significant implications for a child's health and wellbeing. Despite the critical nature of these conditions, a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge is essential to improve recognition and management. This systematic review aims to address this gap by synthesizing the latest evidence related to pediatric dermatological emergencies, with a specific focus on studies published between 2020 and 2022. The primary objective of this systematic review is to provide an in-depth analysis of the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, management strategies, and outcomes of pediatric dermatological emergencies. A systematic search was conducted across prominent databases, including PubMED, Embase, and Web of Science. The review includes 21 studies that met stringent inclusion criteria, which were subsequently analyzed for patient demographics, clinical characteristics, diagnostic methodologies, therapeutic interventions, and patient outcomes. The findings from the 21 selected studies consistently highlight the critical importance of early recognition and timely intervention in the management of pediatric dermatological emergencies. On average, approximately 85% of cases demonstrated improved outcomes when appropriate care was initiated promptly. The review discusses various common conditions, including severe drug reactions, cutaneous infections, inflammatory skin disorders, and traumatic dermatological emergencies, shedding light on their epidemiology and clinical features. This systematic review underscores the significance of a multidisciplinary approach, involving dermatologists, pediatricians, and critical care specialists, in addressing pediatric dermatological emergencies. It also emphasizes the evolving insights into the pathophysiology and management of these conditions and highlights the unique ...

Delayed presentation of breast cancer patients and contributing factors in East Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Breast cancer remains a significant public health issue, with delayed medical attention often leading to advanced stages and poorer survival rates. In East Africa, evidence on the prevalence and factors contributing to the delayed presentation of breast cancer is limited. As a result, this study aims to assess the pooled prevalence of delayed breast cancer presentation and identify contributing factors in East Africa. We conducted a systematic review of observational studies from East Africa using PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Cochrane Library, Hinari, and Mednar databases. The Newcastle Ottawa 2016 Critical Appraisal Checklist assessed methodological quality. Publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot and Egger's test, and heterogeneity was examined with the I-squared test. Data were extracted with Microsoft Excel and analyzed using Stata 11. The pooled prevalence of delayed presentation among breast cancer patients in East Africa was 61.85% (95% Confidence Interval: 48.83%-74.88%). Significant factors contributing to delayed presentation included visiting traditional healers (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 3.52; 95% CI: 1.43-5.59), low educational levels (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 3.61; 95% CI: 2.39-4.82), age>40 years (Adjusted Odds Ratio 1.87; 1.03, 2.71), absence of breast pain (Adjusted Odds Ratio 2.42; 1.09, 3.74), distance >5km away from home to health institution (Adjusted Odds Ratio 2.89; 1.54, 4.24), and rural residence (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 3.33; 95% CI: 2.16-4.49). This meta-analysis's findings demonstrated that over half of breast cancer patients in East Africa delayed detection. Significant factors associated with delayed presentation include age over 40 years, illiteracy, rural residence, use of traditional healers, distance greater than 5 km from a health facility, and absence of breast pain. Healthcare stakeholders and policymakers must be focused on raising awareness and educating people to encourage early detection and prompt therapy.

Giardia lamblia risk factors and burden in children with acute gastroenteritis in a Nicaraguan birth cohort.

Giardia lamblia is an intestinal protozoan estimated to cause ~200 million symptomatic infections annually, mainly in children in low- and middle-income countries associated with intestinal damage, increased permeability, and malabsorption. We describe here the epidemiology, incidence, clinical characteristics, and risk factors of acute gastroenteritis episodes (AGE) with G. lamblia detection (GAGE) using a birth cohort of 443 Nicaraguan children followed weekly until 36 months of life. From June 2017 to July 2021, 1385 AGE samples were tested by qPCR. G. lamblia was detected in 104 (7.5%) of AGE episodes. In all, 69 (15.6%) children experienced at least one GAGE episode, and 25 of them (36.2%) experienced more than one episode. The incidence rate of the first episode of GAGE was 6.8/100 child-years (95% CI, 4.5-9.1). During GAGE, bloody stools, vomiting, and fever were uncommon, and children were less likely to be treated at a primary care clinic, suggesting that GAGE is typically mild and most cases did not receive medical attention, which could facilitate higher parasite loads with increased possibilities of establishing chronic carriage. GAGE was more common in children 12-24 months of age (13.9/100 child-years [95% CI, 10.7-17.1]) as compared to other age groups. In our birth-cohort, children living in a home with an indoor toilet (aHR, 0.52 [95%CI, 0.29-0.92]), and being breastfed in the first year of life (aHR: 0.10 [95%IC, 0.02, 0.57]) had a lower incidence of GAGE. In contrast, being breastfed for ≤ 6 months was associated with a higher incidence if the children were living in houses without indoor toilets and earthen floors (HR, 7.79 [95% CI, 2.07, 29.3]). Taken together, GAGE is more frequent under poor household conditions. However, breastfeeding significantly reduces the incidence of GAGE in those children.

Neck pain and distance learning: A pain in the neck for university students during COVID-19

Objective The shift to online learning during COVID-19 led to increased musculoskeletal discomforts and impacted students’ quality of life. Neck pain (NP), once a minor issue, has become more prevalent due to prolonged electronic device use in new learning methods. This study aims to measure the prevalence of NP among University of Sharjah (UOS) students during the COVID-19 online learning period and to investigate the factors that provoked it. Methods This study focused on young adult students aged 17-26 and did not consider gender or athletic status due to the university’s demographics and pandemic restrictions. Demographic data, Neck Disability Index (NDI) assessments, and pain management information were gathered and analyzed using SPSS 24 through univariate and bivariate methods. Results The prevalence of NP during COVID-19, among 325 UOS students was found to be 62.7%, 64.41% of which had NP at the time of doing the survey. NDI scores were found to be skewed. The median was 16% which indicates mild NP while the interquartile range was 19.11. Most participants reported experiencing posterior neck pain (38.77%), primarily attributed to prolonged sitting (81.23%). Factors such as lifting, personal care, and emotional well-being were found to have a significant impact on NDI. Participants who did not seek medical attention exhibited significantly higher levels of neck pain disability, as measured by the NDI. The median NDI score for this group was 20, with an interquartile range of 16.89 while, those who sought medical attention had a higher median NDI score of 34 with interquartile range of 22. Conclusion This study highlights the prevalence of neck pain among UOS students, emphasizing the need for postural improvements and further research on prevention strategies in the UAE.

Workplace Violence in a Large Urban Emergency Department

Workplace violence (WPV) against health care workers (HCWs) is common and likely underreported. Reliable data on the incidence of WPV and its impact on victims are lacking. To prospectively define the frequency of WPV against HCWs in the emergency department (ED), examine whether HCW demographics are associated with increased risk, and explore the impact of these events on HCWs. This cross-sectional study was conducted over 2 months in 2023 (August 28 to October 22, 2023) in the ED of a large, urban, academic safety net hospital in the US. Participants included ED physicians, nurses, and other HCWs, who were asked to complete a brief so-called shift sheet for every ED shift worked during the study period. WPV as recorded on shift sheets. The primary outcome was the number of events per shift. Events were coded for severity (types 1-5) and gender- or race and ethnicity-related bias. Shift sheets asked for the participant's demographics and whether they experienced verbal or physical abuse during the shift. If so, they were asked to provide a description; rate the impact the event had on them; and indicate whether they felt the event was sexist, racist, or otherwise biased. Perceived impact was recorded, and demographic characteristics associated with the likelihood of experiencing WPV were explored using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Among 72 HCWs who participated in the study, 52 were female (72%). A total of 575 shift sheets were returned of an estimated 1250 possible (46%), with 155 events, including 77 type 1 events (50%; shouting, yelling, or insults), 29 type 2 events (19%; threats of physical or sexual violence, death threats, or use of slurs), and 39 type 3 events (25%; physical violence); there was a mean (SD) of 3.7 (1.9) shifts per 1 event. No type 4 or 5 events, which involve physical violence causing grievous injuries requiring medical attention and, in the case of type 5 events, permanent disability or death, were recorded. Ten events could not be coded. Sexist or racist bias occurred in 38 events (25%) and 11 events (7%), respectively. Participants reported how the event impacted them in 133 events. Of those, moderate or severe impact was reported in 32 (24%) and mild to no effect in 101 (76%). There was no association between self-reported impact and coded severity of events. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, a higher likelihood of experiencing WPV on any given shift was independently associated with being in the nursing role (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.9-5.0) and being age 40 years or younger (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2-3.5). In this cross-sectional study of HCWs in the ED, participants experienced WPV once every 3.7 shifts. The nursing role and younger age were associated with increased risk. These results highlight an urgent need to identify interventions to support and protect HCWs.

A Review of an Effective Deep Learning Network for Estimating COVID-19 severity from chest X-ray Imagery: Co Severity-Net

The COVID-19 pandemic has become an integral part of our existence and shows no signs of abating. In 2020, the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic, and its effects have impacted our lives in myriad ways. To detect COVID-19 from Chest X-Ray images, researchers have developed deep learning techniques. Given the severity of the disease, scoring the level of COVID-19 infection can aid in determining the optimal course of treatment and care for patients, as not all COVID-19 positive patients require specialized medical attention. However, the limited availability of a large-scale dataset has resulted in few studies being conducted to estimate the severity of the disease from Chest X-Ray images. Consequently, we propose CoV Severity-Net, a deep learning-based architecture trained on a public COVID-19 dataset curated by experienced radiologists for severity estimation. Our proposal is based on a review of 18 papers from reputable sources such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct.

Hemorrhagic cholecystitis afflicted with glanzmann thrombasthenia patient

ABSTRACT Hemorrhagic cholecystitis is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. If the gallbladder perforates, it can lead to even more severe complications. We present the case of a 27-year-old man with Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia, a rare platelets disorder, who visited the emergency department twice before being diagnosed with this condition. Initially, he complained of ear pain, and later, chest pain. Despite a normal ECG and cardiac markers, he was discharged with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for musculoskeletal pain. However, when he returned with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, an ultrasound revealed signs of cholecystitis. An emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed, which revealed hemorrhagic cholecystitis.

Assessing the hepatoprotective efficacy of Vitis gracilis Wall. against doxorubicin-induced hepatic injury in rats

Context: Doxorubicin is an anticancer drug that can adversely affect the liver. Therefore, seeking medical attention to manage pain and minimize side effects is crucial. Aims: To evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of Vitis gracilis Wall. nanoherbs against doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity. Methods: The study included five treatment groups: T0 (negative control), T+ (positive control with doxorubicin alone), TC (doxorubicin + vitamin C at 0.2 mg/kg body weight/day), T125 (doxorubicin + V. gracilis at 125 mg/kg body weight/day), and T150 (doxorubicin + V. gracilis at 150 mg/kg body weight/day). Doxorubicin, administered intraperitoneally at 0.0019 mg/kg body weight once a week for three weeks, induced hepatotoxicity in the T+ group. Results: Serum transaminases were significantly reduced in the T125 and T150 groups, indicative of the hepatoprotective effects of V. gracilis. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the modulation of key markers, with decreased levels of pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-α and increased levels of anti-inflammatory interleukin 10 in the T125 and T150 groups. The activities of oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase and caspase 3, were favorably influenced by V. gracilis nanoherb treatment. Conclusions: These findings suggest that V. gracilis nanoherbs may effectively attenuate doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity, evidenced by biochemical and immunohistochemical changes. This study provides a foundation for further exploration of V. gracilis nanoherbs as a potential adjunctive therapy in preventing chemotherapy-associated liver damage.

Epidemiology of skin diseases among children attending the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State: a retrospective observational study

Background: Numerous studies have examined skin disease trends in Nigeria, revealing a shift towards increased allergic dermatoses. This research assessed the patient landscape at a clinic and satellite site in Obukpa, Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective study of patients seen in the skin clinic of the university of Nigeria teaching hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla, and the rural outpost in Obukpa between November 2009 and 2018 was carried out. A total of 1851 patients' data were analyzed. Diagnosis was based on clinical findings. Results: There were more females (n=1007 [54.4%]) than males (n=844 [45.6%]). Most of the patients were of school age (6-12 years), and the most typical skin disease category was infectious disorders (32.5%), another categories/miscellaneous group (27.7%). Nearly all patients that presented to the rural outpost in Obukpa resided in the surrounding area of Nsukka (93.4%). Conclusions: Comparing the study findings with an earlier one from the same center, there is no change in pattern, with infectious disorders being the most common skin disease category. However, these are largely preventable and emphasize the need for public enlightenment campaigns and policies to discourage the over-the-counter purchase of prescription-strength corticosteroid creams and antibiotics by parents and caregivers, a prevalent practice before seeking medical attention for their children. In addition, there is an urgent need to strengthen dermatologic training in primary health care settings, especially among pediatricians in Nigeria, to improve access to care.

Health problems and injury management in adolescent handball: the Safeplay one-season cohort study of 679 players

ObjectivesTo assess (1) the 1-year prevalence of previous shoulder, knee and ankle injuries; (2) the in-season prevalence proportion (prevalence) of injuries and illnesses, injury incidence rate (ir) and injury burden (product of ir and weeks with injuries); (3) initial injury management strategies.MethodsWe conducted a cohort study of 679 highest-division Danish handball players aged 14–18. Players self-reported past-year shoulder, knee and ankle injuries at baseline, and weekly information on any handball-related injuries (irrespective of time loss and medical attention), illnesses, exposure hours and injury management over 31 weeks.ResultsAt baseline, 46% (95% CI 42% to 49%) of the players reported a past-year shoulder, knee or ankle injury. The weekly average injury and illness prevalence was 21% (95% CI 19% to 23%) and 2% (95% CI 1.7% to 2.3%), respectively, and the ir was 9.4 (95% CI 8.7 to 10.2)/1000 hours. Females experienced the highest injury burden from knee injuries (ir: 1.7 (95% CI 1.3 to 2.2) × 6.7 (95% CI 4.7 to 8.7) weeks with injury/1000 hours), while males experienced the highest injury burden from shoulder injuries (ir: 1.3 (95% CI 1.0 to 1.7) × 5.7 (95% CI 3.6 to 7.8) weeks with injury/1000 hours). Health professionals were consulted in 58% (95% CI 54% to 62%) of injuries, players independently made the return to sport decision in 44% (95% CI 37% to 51%) of injury recurrences, and used analgesics, mainly (91% (95% CI 85% to 95%)) sourced from home, in 24% (95% CI 21% to 28%) of injuries.ConclusionAlmost half of highest-division adolescent Danish handball players reported a previous past-year shoulder, knee or ankle injury. Any time during the season, 21% reported an injury and 2% an illness. The highest injury burdens were from knee injuries in females and shoulder injuries in males. Health professionals often managed injuries, but players frequently made return to sport decisions independently and commonly used analgesics sourced from home.

Relationship between anemia and occupational fall injuries in female part-time employees: an observational study of large supermarket stores in Japan.

Occupational fall injuries have recently increased markedly in Japan, together with an increase in later-middle-aged females in the labor market. However, the association between anemia, which is prevalent among Japanese females, and falls is unclear. Here, we investigated the association between anemia and occupational fall injuries. Participants were 6,780 part-time female employees aged 35-64 working in Japanese supermarket stores of a retail company who had at least one health checkup each year between 2017 and 2022. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin (Hb) <12.0 g/dL (Mild: 11.0-11.9 g/dL, Moderate-severe: Hb<11.0g/dL). Fall injuries were defined as slips, trips and falls on the same level, requiring medical attention based on the occupational injury data by the company. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for falls were estimated using multilevel Poisson regression, adjusting age and body mass index (BMI). The annual rate of occupational fall injuries was 0.7%. The adjusted IRR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for occupational fall injuries among participants with anemia was 1.71 (1.12-2.60). When dividing anemia into two groups, IRR (95%CI) was 1.46 (0.84-2.53) for Mild anemia and 2.13 (1.18-3.84) for Moderate-severe anemia (p for trend=0.007). In this observational study of employees of large Japanese supermarket stores, anemia was significantly associated with a higher incidence of occupational falls. Our findings suggest the importance of anemia in the prevention of occupational falls.