METHODS: In this randomised controlled trial, 40 patients undergoing major musculoskeletal oncology procedures were assigned to control and intervention groups. Oxidised cellulose was inserted into the surgical wound after the resection's conclusion before the wound's closure to reduce postoperative bleeding for patients in the intervention group. Postoperative closed suction drain system (Redivac TM) volume, drop in haemoglobin level, allogeneic red blood cell transfusion rate, duration of surgery, and length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS: The postoperative Redivac volume (Control: 432 MLS vs. Intervention: 431.75 MLS), drop in haemoglobin level (Control: 3.12 g/dL vs. Intervention: 3.06 g/dL), duration of surgery (Control: 134 vs. Intervention: 156 min), and allogeneic red blood cell transfusion were lower in the intervention group (Control: 204 MLS vs. Intervention: 170 MLS), but they were not statistically significant (p > 0.05) (Control: 134 vs. Intervention: 156 min). Mean hospital stay was similar in both groups (Control: 5.45 days vs. Intervention: 5.85 days).
CONCLUSION: Oxidised cellulose use does not significantly affect postoperative blood loss, the rate of allogeneic blood transfusion, and hospital stay. However, we believe its use contributes positively but not considerably towards lower postoperative blood loss in musculoskeletal oncology surgeries.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 47 Year 4 pharmacy students in the pre- and post-practical phases (September 2018 and November 2018), followed by the post-resting phase (May 2019). The data collection form in the Sport Pharmacy course was used for the data collection.
RESULTS: Nearly half of the students initially displayed a normal body mass index (BMI). However, after the post-resting period, there was a noticeable increase in the number of students categorized as obese and those with elevated total cholesterol (TC) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels. Specifically, in the pre-study phase, out of 47 participants, 22 were within the normal BMI (47%), six underweight (13%), nine overweight (19%), and ten obese (21%). The intervention phase showed a slight reduction in the overweight category, while the obese category showed an increase. For TC, the pre-phase had 70% of participants within the normal range, with 26% borderline high and 4% high. Post-study, showed an improvement, likely influenced by controlled dietary intake and physical activity. In the post-resting phase, however, there was a regression as the majority did not adhere to the non-pharmacological regimen. FBG demonstrated significant changes after the intervention, particularly within the normal range (≤ 6.0 mmol/L), showing the only statistically significant change across parameters. While the post-resting phase saw a minor increase, it remained below baseline. Approximately 23% continued diet control, while 32% maintained physical activity. Key motivations included health improvement, visible results, and improved well-being, while lack of motivation, time, and study schedules were primary discontinuation factors.
CONCLUSION: The 10-week intervention significantly impacted FBG but had limited influence on BMI and TC. Post-resting outcomes highlight that only a small fraction maintained the non-pharmacological approach, resulting in no marked changes in any parameters. Recommendations include further long-term studies to confirm the sustained benefits and the role of educational institutions in supporting such interventions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the cross-sectional studies were retrieved from the PubMed databases, the Web of Science ISI, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Papers published in English between 2 November 2019 and 23 May 2023 were subjected to further assessment based on their title, abstract, and main text, with a view to ensuring their relevance to the present study.
RESULTS: Following an exhaustive investigation, 59 studies were selected for screening in this systematic review. The most frequently employed method of data collection was the online survey. The study sample comprised 59.12% women and 40.88% men, with ages ranging from 16 to 78 years. The proportion of individuals accepting the vaccine ranged from 13% to 96%, while the proportion of those exhibiting hesitancy ranged from 0% to 57.5%. The primary reasons for accepting the COIVD-19 vaccine were a heightened perception of risk associated with the virus and a general trust in the healthcare system. The most frequently cited reasons for vaccine hesitancy in the context of the ongoing pandemic include concerns about the potential dangers of the vaccines, the rapid pace of their development, the possibility of adverse effects (such as infertility or death), and the assumption that they have been designed to inject microchips.
DISCUSSION: A variety of socio-demographic factors are implicated in determining the rate of vaccine acceptance. A number of socio-demographic factors have been identified as influencing vaccine acceptance. These include high income, male gender, older age, marriage, the presence of older children who have been vaccinated and do not have chronic diseases, high education, and health insurance coverage.
CONCLUSION: Eliminating vaccine hesitancy or increasing vaccine acceptance is a crucial factor that should be addressed through various means and in collaboration with regulatory and healthcare organizations.
METHODS: Data were collected by manually recording of aired advertisements from 16 non-school days (July to September 2020) and 16 school days (January to April 2021). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were used to assess children's rates of exposure to food advertisements (mean ± SD of advertisements aired per channel per hour), the healthiness of promoted foods (as permitted (healthier) or not permitted (unhealthy) according to nutrient profiling models from the World Health Organization), and persuasive techniques used in food advertisements, including promotional characters and premium offers.
RESULTS: The results show that the rates of exposure to food advertisements were higher during school days (14.6 ± 14.8) than on non-school days (11.9 ± 12.0) (p
AIM: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of adding Insulin to dual OHAs (Sitagliptin + Metformin) against adding a third OHA to Sitagliptin + Metformin in achieving glycemic control among patients with uncontrolled T2DM.
METHOD: A pre-post study was conducted between 21 September 2023 and 21 December 2023 at Services Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan. Patients with uncontrolled T2DM with >7% HbA1c were divided into group 1 (Sitagliptin + Metformin plus a third OHA), and group 2 (Sitagliptin + Metformin plus pre-mixed Insulin 70/30). Glycemic control based on HbA1c values, fasting and random blood sugar levels, lipid profile, and body weight were evaluated after 3 months of therapy. The pre- and post- effect was compared by using a paired t-test.
RESULTS: The study included n = 80 patients with T2DM. Between groups 1 and 2, no significant difference was found in HbA1c values (9.1 vs. 9, with p = 0.724). However, BMI, cholesterol, and LDL significantly decreased in group 1 compared to group 2 (p<0.001 vs. p = 0.131, p = 0.023 vs. p = 0.896, and p = 0.003 vs. p = 0.395, respectively). Additionally, the incidence of hypoglycemic episodes was significantly lower in group 1 (7.5%) than in group 2 (47.5%, p = 0.004). No significant difference was observed between the triple OHA and dual OHA plus Insulin regimens in achieving glycemic control.
CONCLUSION: The triple OHA regimen improved BMI, cholesterol, and LDL levels, and reduced hypoglycemic episodes more effectively than dual OHA plus Insulin, despite similar HbA1c outcomes, suggesting it may be preferable for uncontrolled T2DM.
AIMS: This study aims to assess the efficacy of resistance training in preventing sarcopenia among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, the Cochrane Library, and CINAHL until May 5, 2023. Selected literature focused on the effects of resistance training on body fat, muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Cochrane Risk of Bias tool version 2.0 was employed for quality assessment, and data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 2.0.
RESULTS: Eleven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed that resistance training had a significant positive impact on reducing body fat (SMD = -0.250, 95% CI [-0.450, -0.050]), increasing lean body mass (SMD = 0.374, 95% CI [0.178, 0.571]), and enhancing handgrip strength at both the affected site (SMD = 0.326, 95% CI [0.108, 0.543]) and the nonaffected site (SMD = 0.276, 95% CI [0.059, 0.492]). Additionally, significant improvements were observed in leg press strength (SMD = 0.598, 95% CI [0.401, 0.796]) and overall physical performance (SMD = 0.671, 95% CI [0.419, 0.923]).
LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Resistance training is a recommended intervention for reducing body fat, increasing muscle mass, muscle strength, and enhancing physical performance in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Ideal low-intensity resistance training programs span 8-24 weeks, with 20-to-90-min sessions 2-4 times weekly. Regimens generally entail 8-12 repetitions at 40%-90% of one-repetition maximum test, with free-weight resistance training targeting major muscle groups yielding substantial benefits. Further research should explore outcomes across different chemotherapy phases and investigate long-term resistance training effects for a comprehensive view.
METHODS: Twenty-two MED-EL CI recipients (aged 13-93 months) participated in this study. The acoustic CAEP (aCAEP) waveforms were elicited using four speech stimuli (/ba/, /m/, /g/, and /t/) presented at 65 dB SPL in a free-field condition. The electrical CAEP (eCAEP) responses were obtained by presenting electrical pulses through apical, medial, and basal electrodes. The aCAEP and eCAEP data (n = 28 ears) were analyzed using coefficient of variation (CV) and other appropriate statistics.
RESULTS: P1, N1, and P2 peaks were observed in most of the children (92.9% response rate). The CV values were smaller for the latency metric (13.6-34.2%) relative to the amplitude metric (51.3-92.4%), and the differences were statistically significant (p