International journal of health sciences

Elastic resistance exercise effects in gait kinematic characteristics and lower limb functional rehabilitation

Aristomenis Karmiris — 2024-08-27

Background: Elastic resistance exercise is a popular type of exercise. Elastic bands are widely used in pre-competition preparation and for sports performance improvement. Purpose: The purpose of the present review is the study of the effect using exercise with elastic resistance bands, in walking kinematics and functionality level after surgical repair of low extremity degenerative diseases. Methodology: A systematic literature review was carried out at Advanced Scholar Google, Cochrane, PubMed and Embase databases, a chronological range from 1999 to 2022. Terms used in the search were as follows: “elastic resistance exercise”, “elastic resistance bands”, “Thera-band”, “arthropathy”, “hip replacement”. Results: Systematic elastic resistance exercise in the frame of a rehabilitation program lasting 8-12 weeks, provides results comparable to an isotonic exercise program, using free weights or constant resistance devices. Elastic resistance bands are commonly used for increasing muscle strength and range of motion and also for static and dynamic balance, walking ability and functionality level improvement. Important benefits observed in metabolic biochemical health biomarkers in the elderly.

Motor sensory physiotherapy intervention in premature infants in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

George Tsigaras — 2024-09-08

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the importance of implementing a customized motor sensory physiotherapy program by recording data about the total days spent and weight gain of preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Methods: Randomized clinical trial of a sample of thirty (30) preterm infants split in two 15-member groups, one intervention group and one control group. An adapted program of motor sensory physiotherapy techniques, while in NICU, was implemented to the intervention group while nothing was implemented to the control group. Both groups met the same entry criteria. The same protocol of motor sensory physiotherapy was applied in the intervention group during the whole period of the study. Results: Data show that customized motor sensory physiotherapy while in NICU improves weight gain and reduces total days of stay. Discussion: Even though adapted motor sensory physiotherapy intervention has a positive impact on the development and outcome of preterm infants in NICU, more research is required on the physiotherapy techniques by studying a larger sample size in NICU.

Physical activity and indices of physical well-being in children and adolescents with trisomy 21

Prosiniklis Polymeris — 2024-09-10

Introduction: Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) is the most common genetic disorder, which is caused by a chromosomal abnormality and presents various deviations in areas such as mental and motor levels. The presence of extra information corresponding in whole or in part to chromosome 21 affects the development of children with trisomy 21, and abnormal gene expression leads to changes in brain function. The overall prevalence of the syndrome is one (1) to two (2) per thousand (1,000) live births, although the prevalence may have variability among racial or ethnic groups. The purpose of this research is to highlight the deviations in the balance ability, the strength of the upper limbs, and to what extent they affect the quality of life of children and adolescents with trisomy 21. Methods: Eighteen (18) children and adolescents with trisomy 21 participated in the research, with three (3) being excluded due to exclusion criteria. Fifteen (15) children and adolescents with trisomy 21 were finally included, of which four (4) were boys and eleven (11) were girls.

Evaluation of patients' satisfaction level with food and food services in King Fahad Military Medical Complex (KFMMC) Hospital – Dhahran, Saudi Arabia: Improving outcome

Malikah Al Shemmery — 2024-09-27

Hospital foods are an integral aspect of comprehensive care given to the hospitalized patients, to facilitates their recovery along with to improves their health outcomes. Every hospital has an obligation to provide the highest level of care for their patients and this includes hospital meals. Patient satisfaction on hospital food services is important quality indicator which reflects on the overall hospital health care standard going in parallel to the quality of other hospital medical services. For this reason, it is important to emphasize on the quality of the hospital meals provided to the admitted patients. As the chief concern of any healthcare foodservice program is quality of its meals which contributes as well to the patient’s overall satisfaction experiences. We carried out satisfaction survey at King Fahad Medical Military Complex(KFMMC), Saudi Arabia to determine based on the patient perception the aspects that may affecting the overall satisfaction level on the quality of hospital food services. Use the results to address any food and food services-related challenges and to regularly identify ways for improving quality of hospital meals, but more than that, to improve patient outcomes.

Predicting hospital readmissions in diabetes patients: A comparative study of machine learning models

Alekhya Gandra — 2024-09-27

This study addresses the high hospital readmission rates among diabetes patients, which contribute to increased healthcare costs and strain on resources. By leveraging machine learning (ML) techniques, the objective is to predict readmissions and help healthcare providers identify high-risk patients for early intervention. Six machine learning models—Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, XGBoost, LightGBM, and CATBoost—were employed using the Diabetes 130-US hospitals dataset, incorporating patient demographics, clinical data, and discharge information. The models were evaluated based on metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and AUC-ROC. Among the models, CATBoost performed the best, achieving an AUC score of 0.70 and an accuracy of 64.2%. The most critical predictive features were the number of inpatient visits, medications prescribed, and the length of hospital stays. These results highlight the potential of machine learning in predicting hospital readmissions, providing actionable insights for improving patient outcomes. Future research should explore integrating real-time health data from wearables and examine the role of social determinants to further enhance predictive accuracy and optimize healthcare resources.

To estimate the prevalence of anaemia in patients of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) admitted in Tertiary Care Centre

Anjali Soni — 2024-09-27

Introduction: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) encompasses menstrual patterns that deviate from the normal and is a common issue, affecting 17.9% of women in India. Identifying underlying causes is essential for restoring regular menstruation. Methods: This study included 240 cases of AUB from the gynecology ward between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, based on specific selection criteria. Objective: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of anemia among AUB patients across different age groups and determine the incidence of blood transfusion required for various AUB types. Results: AUB was predominantly observed in multiparous women aged 41 to 45, often during the perimenopausal period. The most common complaint was heavy menstrual bleeding. AUB significantly increased the risk of anemia, leading to the need for blood transfusions, iron sucrose or ferric carboxymaltose, oral contraceptives, and both injectable and oral tranexamic acid, along with hematinics. While some patients responded to medical treatment, others needed surgical intervention. Conclusion: Among the 240 participants, 44 (18.33%) had severe anemia (Hb < 7 g/dL), 33.33% had moderate anemia, and 30.83% had mild anemia. The study highlighted a significant prevalence of moderate to severe anemia in AUB patients, necessitating various treatment strategies for effective management.

The effect of cholecalciferol supplementation on PTH and increasing the glomerular filtration rate in kidney transplant patients at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center

Fatimah Mohammed Ali Yousef — 2024-10-02

The association between oral cholecalciferol and GFR has been identified in various renal transplant populations around the globe. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral cholecalciferol supplementation on the GFR and serum PTH levels, with other parameters in the Saudi kidney transplant population. A retrospective observational study was conducted on a cohort of 174 kidney recipients who underwent transplantation and had serum 25-Hydroxy VD level tests performed (2018-2022) at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah, KSA. Generalized and linear mixed effects regression models were conducted. The percentage of GFR >60 (25.86% vs 78.16%, P<.0001) and VD insufficiency (< 30 ng/mL) (36.21% vs 6.90%, P<.0001) were significantly different between pre-& post-transplant periods, respectively. After adjustment, significant changes were found in post-transplant GFR, hemoglobin levels, serum creatinine levels, blood urea nitrogen levels, hematocrit levels, PTH levels, and VD 25-Hydroxy from the baseline. Calciferol 1000/2000 IU and 50,000 IU (P<.0001) were significantly more effective in increasing the odds of having GFR >60 as compared to other supplements (P=0.75). VD supplementations may be particularly beneficial in improving kidney function in kidney transplant patients, as this contributes to normalizing GFR levels and creatinine levels and reducing PTH levels.

Integrating psychological interventions into holistic management of chronic respiratory diseases

Devi Sundar — 2024-10-12

Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD), such as asthma, interstitial lung disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have a significant negative influence on a patient's physical and mental health. Stress, anxiety, and depression are common psychological injuries that worsen lung function, and increase mortality, exacerbations, and healthcare utilization in patients with chronic respiratory disease (CRD). Pulmonary rehabilitation is a gold standard non-pharmacological management for CRD—where care delivery strategies are based on a bio-psycho-social model of integrated therapies. However, there are still issues since there are global differences in the way programs are designed and implemented, and there are no standardized psychological assessments or therapies available for patients with CRD. This review critically examines the challenges in standardizing pulmonary rehabilitation programs and the lack of health psychological assessment or interventions for patients with CRD. Additionally, it suggests necessary updates to respiratory physiotherapy curricula with the neuroscience of breathing in clarifying the relationship between psychological factors and inflammation in CRD. The review calls for an urgent need for increased global research funding to enhance psychological therapies as integrated respiratory care management and improve outcomes for patients with CRD.

Brief communication participation in social activities of six individuals with advanced-stage hereditary motor sensory neuropathy with proximal dominant involvement (HMSN-P)

Hiroshi Shoji — 2024-10-22

The intractable neurological disease HMSN-P (hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy with proximal dominant involvement) includes four-limb paralysis and resembles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although the long-term employment and social activities of individuals with severe neurological diseases have increased with improvements in medical/welfare services, those of individuals with HMSN-P have not been reported. We analyzed the long-term outcomes of six individuals with advanced-stage HMSN-P treated in 2018–2023; one exhibited proximal dominant quadriplegia in 2018 and was using an electric wheelchair with full assistance. He had continued to attend Sanshin concerts for 5 years and organized a music festival for the local handicapped population. The other patients similarly exhibited quadriplegia; three were using electric wheelchairs with full assistance, and two were using pushchairs. Four attended music festivals for the handicapped, and all have completed 20–35 years' continuous employment, attended public meetings about HMSN-P, and actively participated in the meetings' discussions.

Workplace stressors and their impact on the nurse managers role

Thokgamo Boitshwarelo — 2024-10-23

Background: Nursing is one of the professions that is known to expose its members to stress. Additionally, nurse managers work in complex health care environments that expose them to a substantial amount of stress. Workplace stressors have a negative impact on the nurse managers’ performance. Objective: To explore workplace stressors and their impact on the nurse managers’ role. Methodology: The study followed a qualitative exploratory inquiry. Participants were nurse managers working in 11 public hospitals in Botswana. A total of 49 nurse managers participated in this study. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data through written narratives. Emerging themes were identified through the use of thematic analysis. Results: The study identified 6 themes that outlined workplace stressors as experienced by nurse managers as follows: shortage of resources; lack of managerial and leadership skills; lack of progression; lack of support from supervisors; staff indiscipline, and nature of work. Participants perceived that exposure to workplace stressors resulted in low morale, customer complaints, and compromised quality of care. Conclusions: The study revealed that nurse managers were exposed to various workplace stressors in the healthcare environment. It was identified that the stress impacted negatively on the quality of care delivered to patients.

Strongyloides stercoralis infection presenting as protein losing enteropathy

Munir Husen A Agael — 2024-10-24

Strongyloides sterocoralis infection poses significant diagnostic challenges, particularly in resource-limited settings where the condition is most prevalent. We present a young male in South Africa who developed a protein-losing enteropathy secondary to Strongyloides hyperinfection, making the first reported presentation of this kind in South Africa. The broad spectrum of potential clinical manifestations complicates this treatable condition's prompt recognition and diagnosis. Despite its therapeutic simplicity, data indicates that the prevalence of Strongyloides infection is significantly overlooked and underreported, highlighting the need for increased clinical awareness and improved diagnostic capabilities in endemic regions.

PHC visits trends effects on control of blood pressure for hypertensive patients following up in PHCs in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Alaa Jadidi — 2024-10-29

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney disease. In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of hypertension is estimated to be 14%. Primary health care centers (PHCCs) play a major role in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of hypertensive patients in Saudi Arabia. This study employed a cross-sectional design to collect data from medical records of hypertension patients registered with primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The data was obtained through a comprehensive review of these medical records. Out of the 16,623 patients included in the study, the average annual visit frequency was 5.5 for females and 6 for males. 65.6% (10,910 patients) completed all four annual visits. There was no statistically significant difference in visit completion rates between males and females. The visit count was found to be negatively correlated with Systolic BP (-0.151, 95% CI [-0.195, -0.165]), Diastolic BP (-0.137, 95% CI [-0.147, -0.117]), and MAP (-0.176, 95% CI [-0.191, -0.161]), with a P-value < 0.001 for all parameters. Our findings indicate that the number of visits to Makkah Primary Health Centers positively influences blood pressure control in hypertensive patients.